Vol. 5, No. 11, November 2008
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Welcome to the Jungle
For tasty food and a unique floorshow, take your wild things to the Rainforest Café
Don’t be alarmed. The big green guy, called Nile, is one of many animatronic wonders at the unusual restaurant, which also features a baying elephant and her baby, chattering monkeys and parrots, an “Aztec face” with glowing red eyes, and cascading rain walls in a jungle of greenery.
Every half hour or so, a “thunderstorm” rolls in, complete with simulated thunder and lightning. The dining room contains enormous glowing saltwater tanks with more than 300 beautiful, exotic fish.
When it comes to Amazonian atmosphere, the Rainforest—which has been called “part adventure, part restaurant and wholly entertaining”—has no peer.
But that’s not the only reason to visit. While the ambience is fun, especially for kids, the menu—“American fare with a tropical flair”—is satisfyingly delicious.
For instance, what might have been standard-issue chicken tenders becomes luscious Caribe chicken: hand-breaded, fried and served with a coconut-curry sauce (we asked for seconds). The chicken burritos known as Chimi-Cha-Chas burst with sweet corn, black beans, roasted red peppers, citrus zest and a four-cheese blend wrapped in a crisp wonton skin; accompanied by fresh pico de gallo and sour cream, they’re tart and crunchy. The Coastal Calamari is so light, it will make believers even of those who usually pass on the deep sea delicacy. (Try all three of the above by ordering the Awesome Appetizer at $15.99. It’s enough food for two hungry adults.)
Among the most popular menu items:
• Macadamia-Encrusted Tilapia, brushed with Coco Lopez, topped with a crushed nut crust, paired with shrimp skewers and served with mango puree and Teriyaki glaze.
• Jungle Steak and Shrimp, a char-grilled 7-ounce flat iron steak served with shrimp scampi and shrimp skewers.
• Mojo Bones, a rack of slow-roasted St. Louis spareribs basted with tangy barbecue sauce and served with fries and slaw.
The Rainforest Café offers a wide assortment of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and soups. Specialty drinks include the Rainbow Colada (with Captain Morgan spiced rum), Panama Punch (a real one-two punch of Myer’s dark rum and Bacardi 151) and the Green Python (with Midori melon liqueur and Skyy citrus vodka).
For dessert, treat the whole table to the Chocolate Volcano, a giant brownie served warm with vanilla ice cream, fresh whipped cream and caramel and chocolate sauce. At $13.99, it’s plentiful enough to feed four.
We were impressed by the cordial wait staff; our server Jerry stopped by several times to make sure all was well. It was fun to talk with resident marine curator John Kaba, who dives daily into the big tanks to care for and cavort with the fish, and even runs a fish hospital on the premises!
General Manager Mike Stirm says the Rainforest is “for kids from seven to 70. In terms of places in Atlantic City to take the kids and feel really comfortable, this is the place to go.”
RAINFOREST CAFE
Boardwalk at Trump Plaza, Atlantic City 609-345-5757 • Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., until 10 p.m. Fri. & 11 p.m. Sat. Accommodates parties of 50 or more
CHEF’S CORNER
You say it’s your birthday? Top off your meal with the decadent Chocolate Volcano: a tower of rich brownie cake topped with ice cream, whipped cream, fudge sauce and caramel sauce. It comes with a sparkler on top.
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