So even though I injured my knee last week and promised to stay inside all weekend, it ended up not to be. An unfruitful hospital trip led me to going to the Rainforest Cafe with the delightful Michaela, a work colleague (who wanted to be mentioned so there you go, Mics!).
It was amazing inside. Even as an adult I was still looking at everything in wonder and particularly liked it when there was thunder and lightening. The animals were animatronic-ed up and the foliage, flowers and waterfalls made you feel like you were sitting in the rainforest. Our table was tucked away with a view of the aquarium and it was a very pleasant table. One gripe is that the tables are quite close together, it would be nice to have a bit more space.
So what did we order? Firstly, some drinks at the snake bar. I had a Very Berry smoothie which was delicious and Mics had a Pina Colada which she said had a bit of a chemical-y after taste. They were quite expensive too, coming in at £12.40 before we'd even sat down.
The menu was quite varied and allowed some choice. Meats, fish, salads, pastas, 'international' dishes were described in detail and although the starter choice was smaller, it was by no means less detailed. I was looking forward to my dinner!
We ordered the following:
Starters
- Iggy's enchiladas (Pan-fried chicked strips, oyster mushrooms, roasted bell peppers, caramelised onions & cheddar cheese, tossed with Cajun spices, wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla & served with a Mediterranean salsa & guacamole)
- Caribbean Coconut prawns (Tender skewered tiger prawns, rolled in coconut flakes & fried to a golden brown, with mango sauce & lime wedge served on a banana leaf)
Mains
- Calypso Chicken sandwich (A tender char-grilled Cajun chicken breast with bacon, cheddar cheese fondue roasted red peppers, lettuce & a zesty lime & red ginger mayonnaise, served in toasted rustic bread with fries)
- Highland Primal Steak (Center-cut, choice Scottish strip steak, aged 21 days, char-grilled to perfection, with green peppercorn sauce & herb garlic mash potato)
The starters were good. I asked for the mushrooms to be taken out of my enchiladas but was informed that as they were wrapped in the morning (not so fresh!) they wouldn't be able to accommodate this. I didn't mind but it did mean I had to pull apart my enchiladas to get them out myself which was a shame. The guacamole was delicious as was the salsa but they weren't as spicy as I'd hoped. I was told that the coconut prawns were also very nice and they did look good on the plate.
The mains were mixed. The calypso chicken sandwich was dry and although it had some interesting flavours, it was pretty inedible with the dryness and the crunchy bread. It gave me major dry mouth when I tried to eat more than a mouthful! My steak was not medium-rare as I'd asked but more medium-well. If I hadn't been hungrier I would have sent it back as I believe it cooked off the flavour. The mash was brilliant and very garlic-y and the peppercorn sauce was also really nice and creamy. It was just the meat that let it down and I felt a bit disappointed to pay £20 for it!
After the meal my friend complained about her chicken sandwich and the manager told her she'd 'asked too early to get it taken off the bill'. As if that should even matter! He actually only took half off of the bill and then the 12.5% discretionary charge added it back on again. I was a bit pissed off at how much it cost for a simple meal out and it made me determined not to fall into a tourist trap again.
Also - Watch out for food poisoning! Since getting back to her house, my friend has been incredibly ill and is actually writing to head office to complain. We're not sure if it was uncooked prawns or tainted chicken that has caused the illness but either way, it's not a sign of a good restaurant!
Damage: £65 with the added drinks
Vitals
The Rainforest Cafe
20 Shaftesbury Ave, London, W1D 7EU
Tel: 020 7434 3111
Website: http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/
Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus
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