Rainforest Cafe

I made a priority booking on-line at least 3 weeks before I wanted to go. The occasion was to celebrate my daughters 8th Birthday, which happened to fall on Mothers Day too.

The on-line priority booking was confirmed, only to be cancelled 10 days before we were due to go. The voicemail message simply said "we've had to cancel your 12.45 pm booking. Please ring to arrange a booking for after 17.30 pm, or on a different day at your convenience". No explanation was offered.

I immediately rang the restaurant to find out why we had had our reservation cancelled. I was told that the entire restaurant had been booked out from 10.00 - 17.30 (so I'm guessing it was a corporate function). I explained that it was my daughters birthday and that I didn't want a different date. I couldn't make the booking for after 17.30 as I'd ready booked to go on the London Eye at 17.00. I couldn't come after the London Eye trip as I needed to get my 8 year old and 4 year old home at a reasonable hour as they would have school the following day.

I asked to speak to the manager, who took 5 days to come back to me. Eventually they offered me a reservation, to eat my lunch at 11.00 am, and that I would need to vacate the restaurant by 12.30. The manager went on to add that the entire restaurant would be empty except my party and another party who'd also complained. For my inconvenience they offerd me a 15% discount - whow!!!

So, to sum it - even if you do book in advance, it's still no guarantee that you'll get the table you're after - personally I'd recommend you go somewhere else that value's it's customers, more that a quick buck!
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, March 01, 2008

Rubbish -

Went there with 2 Kids - 7 and 5, had to wait 40+ minutes for a table, while we waited we bought 4 drinks for £13, £4.20 for a bottle of budweiser,

The first thing is that there is a cramped toy shop on the ground floor which effectively is a place for them to flog you Tatt..

We had to complain that we had been told we would have to wait 35 minutes and ended waiting longer.

You don't get to choose where you sit either

Got the table, ordered the food - service can be up to 20 minutes, fortunatley we only waited 10 minutes, ordered 1 burger meal for the kids to share , BBQ ribs and a Mexican burger, the food was average at best, if you like bland meat/burger meals with chips then you'll like this place.

Got 3 more drinks 2 buds and an orange Juice.

Kids liked the atmosphere - although my older one said it is so over done and they try too hard with all the deco. I had to agree.

The worst bit is the cost - we ended paying £50 for 3 drinks and 3 taste less meals - its an absolute rip off for what you get.

You're better off going to a Chinese around the corner.

Won't be going there again.
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Bobby Lall
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Friday, February 22, 2008

Had booked this restaurant for my daughter's birthday, for a party of 10 - to go on her birthday. We had arranged that her party would be on the Saturday and she would go with family to the Rainforest Cafe with family. (10 in total)She has been before and was looking forward to it. I must say I think that the food is ok and for a child friendly restaurant the loos and changing facilities are awful.

They rang and cancelled the booking as they had something else on. They were most unhelpful trying to offer me a place for after 5.30 pm - not at all suitable for a 6 years and 18month old child.

I would not rely on them for special celebrations, particularly not for children, as it is very hard to explain to small child that their celebration has been cancelled as the restaurant is either incompetent or has decided that another booking is more lucrative.

I would not recomend this restaurant to anyone.
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Lucy Hampton
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Thursday, February 21, 2008

Try not to go there without a booking, listen carefully to what the staff tells you to do as the seating procedure is a bit different from the rest of the restaurant in london due to the high volume of people eating there. Book well in advance if planning to go during school holidays week ends, xmas. They do not book a specific table in front of anymals, just a specific section, but be aware if you do so you might wait longer for you table to be ready on that area.

Follow all of this and you will be fine! Is a beautiful place!

Kids will love it and adult will too as the waiter/ess will take care of you and the kids!

Food is very good but better when not really busy.
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MAXINE
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, December 14, 2007

I went there a while back and will NEVER go again! The food was cheap, tastelss, very expensive and it looked dreadful. We waited over an hour for a table.There were no waiting seats so we had to sit on the floor getting trampled on by passers by. The effects were tacky and dull even the children were not impressed The service was very slow and hard work.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Visited the Rainforest cafe 4 weeks ago as part of a weekend trip to London to celebrate my dad's birthday. I had booked the table 5 weeks prior to the trip to ensure that the weekend went without any problems.

Given that I had booked the table this far in advance we were upset to find that we were seated in the back of beyond, next to the washing up room (or so it sounded) and I had to move my chair every time a member of staff wanted to get past. I explained this to our waiter and we were told that they were very busy so we would need to wait another 30 mins for a new table, which we could not do as we had tickets to see a show.

Our meals arrived and we were all very pleased with the quality of the food, but be prepared to dig deep - we ordered 3 main courses, 2 desserts and 1 bottle of wine and the bill was over £130.00.

Overall the experience was ok, but the seating arrangements really spoiled things.
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Nataliet
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 6
Monday, December 03, 2007

Went there today (Nov 18th) for the second time in two years.

Personally, i can't stand the place, find the food incredibly bland and boring and then there's the shocking cost. The service is patchy. The guy on the desk at the top of the stairs looked bored out of his mind and spoke gobbeldygook like a robot: "Birthdays or Allergies? You take ticket to elephant downstairs and they tell you when is a table." No explanation, no smile, no charm.

My children, on the other hand, loved the place but its appeal is really just that, childish. Parents were struggling with buggies up and down the stairs with no lift available and no staff lending a hand. I feel this place takes the p**s big time but like other places in the West End, gets away with it because of its location.
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David Tarpey
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Sunday, November 18, 2007

I absolutely loved it here. The food was superb and the surroundings and lighting effects made it all in all a very enjoyable experience.
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brigitte walton
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

We love Rainforest Cafe and have been several times - On the weekend it get's really busy so great for kids who really enjoy the buzz and noise. We don't have kids so prefer it quieter in the week. The food can be hit and miss, but the waiters always make good suggestions and when we've listened to them we've had a great meal. It is a bit expensive but better than TGI's on price. We've always been amazed at the service there - much friendlier and atttentive than anywhere else we've eaten.
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Robert
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Monday, September 17, 2007

The worst food ever!!! It was simply disgusting! AVOID!!!
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, September 10, 2007