Rainforest Cafe — Restaurant in Tempe

Disappointed is a vast understatement. Terrible service, dirty atmosphere, and felt incredibly rushed. Used to go to rainforest cafe as a kid in Schaumburg IL and was super excited to bring my 5 year old daughter for her first time to this Tempe location with my husband. I was hoping for a fun experience with kid friendly staff the way I remembered it but even our first interaction with the host was bland and rushed. Our table had a bunch of old food/trash from previous guests and the surrounding area. Our server didn’t even wait for us to get settled, much less look at the menu, ignored my excited comments about it being my daughter’s first time here and rushed us to put in a drink order. Since I hadn’t looked at menu to see what fun drinks were available, was offered no recommendations and she just stood impatiently waiting as I tried to fumble through the menu, I just ordered a sprite. With it being our first time and having a 5 year old we needed a little extra time decide what to order, our server came by 3 times within an incredibly short period of time asking if we were ready to order even though we were clearly still reading/discussing the menu items. She made 0 attempt to interact with my daughter, and when the thunderstorm came on & my daughter got spooked right as our server came by the final time, instead of trying to make it fun or acknowledge her being scared, our server talked right over her little wimpers of fright and rushed us again to get the order in. When we were brought the wrong dish my husband inquired about it and was told that we had ordered wrong and the dish was what we said we wanted. My husband disagreed with her & said that he had even pointed to the picture of the correct dish while ordering it and she responded by saying “oh I can’t see, I just heard you say steak and shrimp, - not the trio part” she said she could get us something else but it would be another wait and at that point we were all so over it. Nothing about our time was fun for any of us and definitely not worth the $100 for horrible service and an...

I really enjoyed this place. Let me begin by saying, me and my Wife do not frequent Tempe alot. We have only driven past this mall a few times. My Wife would always say that she would like to go inside to take our son to this kid friendly restaurant "The Rainforest Cafe".

Yesterday, we did just that. I can tell you that we can eat just about anywhere as long as its sufficiently clean. We have been living in Arizona for 9 years now and I have eaten from Foodtrucks and restaurants of all sorts . Fine Dining establishments like the Wrigley's Mansion, Tìa Carmens (whose chef is really amazing), Carcara, Mariposa in Sedona, Francine, Wren and Wolf, The Henry and the list goes on, we have been to them all numerous times, but I can tell you that NONE OF THESE PLACES can come close to the great taste and DELICIOUS MEALS created by the Chef in this Rainforest Cafe restaurant!!! Mariposa charged us $250 for dinner that tasted like cardboard!! Here we met with food that was so delicious and flavorful it wh liken e a mix of Carribean, Southern and New Orleans creole styled flavors!!

Our waitress was Casey who was very attentive to us and explained the menu and the meals very professionally. She kept a genuine smile on her face and she was very relatable to our desire to have adjustments made to certain meals we ordered. She was kind and smiling from beginning to end. She also gave my son extra crayons when he lost the first set he was given.

If you want really good tasting delicious food go here!!! My second recommendation would be Tia Carmens for flavorful food surprise and Carcara's third. In terms of ambiance and elegance thats an entirely different rating which I would say Francine and Tia Carmen is at the top followed by Carcara. I will not say Mariposa even though they have the most beautiful view because the food is just...

Rainforest Cafe is a unique dining experience that appeals to those looking for something different, especially families with young children. The restaurant's immersive environment is its standout feature, designed to resemble a tropical rainforest with animatronic animals, simulated thunderstorms, and lush greenery. For anyone who enjoys themed restaurants, this is a fun, visually engaging place to eat.

The menu at Rainforest Cafe is broad, offering a mix of American and international dishes like burgers, pasta, seafood, and salads. While the variety is impressive, the food itself tends to be average. The quality is generally consistent, but it doesn't particularly stand out in terms of flavor or presentation. Portions are generous, though, and the kid-friendly options are a plus for families.

Service can vary depending on location and time of day. During peak hours, the restaurant can get quite crowded and noisy, which may lead to longer wait times for a table or food. The staff is usually friendly and accommodating, though the overall pace can feel a bit slow when the restaurant is busy.

Prices at Rainforest Cafe are on the higher side, especially considering the quality of the food. It's clear that part of what you’re paying for is the atmosphere rather than just the meal itself. For some, the experience may justify the cost, while others might find it less than ideal for a regular dining spot.

In summary, Rainforest Cafe is a decent choice if you’re looking for a fun, themed environment to enjoy a meal, especially with children. The food and service are generally good but not exceptional, and the prices reflect the novelty of the experience more than the culinary offerings. It's worth a visit for the ambiance, but maybe not for...