Every now and then, people find themselves filled with that spontaneous feeling and the want to try something new. I always find myself overcome with this sensa– tion when it comes to food. I found myself along San Francisco’s Pier 39, and I saw the Rainforest Cafe. My curiosity about the interior led me straight in.

This is definitely not your average restaurant. As I walked through the safari-themed store,
a hostess approached me and asked if I wanted to eat at the cafe. The restaurant was packed with not only guests, but also stuffed mechanical animals. I was also surrounded by the constant noises of the jungle (which eventually became a ruckus). Don’t expect to do much talking here, because you can’t even hear yourself think!

As I was led to my seat by the safari guide, he informed me that
I had just missed the rainstorm
and he was sure it was not over. At first, I was filled with excitement, but throughout my dinner I heard about five rainstorms during which the whole place was filled with thunder, rain and the cry of every animal going berserk for a few minutes.

The ambiance is only half of the experience. After I looked through the menu, I ordered a tropical smoothie; when it arrived, it was about half the size of a normal drink and double the price. The smoothie that looked like it was intended for a child was $8, and there were still no free refills. Still hoping that this was going to be a worthwhile experience, I ordered the suggested appetizer “Raging Thunder Buffalo Wings,” which again fell short of my expectations. Dinner rolled around and I shared a platter that consisted of
a small steak and coconut shrimp. Neither of them was satisfying, but at least the coconut shrimp came with a dipping sauce that helped ease it down my throat. Disappointed by my meal, I didn’t even order dessert.

Overall, my experience at the Rainforest Cafe was not worth the money I paid. The slogan is “A wild place to shop and eat,” but it should be “A wildly overpriced and earsplitting place to shop and eat.”

My advice is to pay it a short visit for the interior, but don’t stay for the poor quality and expensive dinner. I was so upset by my meal that I didn’t even order dessert.