Rainforest Cafe

If you think you can just "stroll" into the Rainforest Cafe at Gurnee Mills on a Saturday night, I admire your optimism, but your stomach will regret it. The Logistics (Pro-Tip Alert): We checked the app at 4:30 PM while heading into town, hoping for a 6:00 PM slot, only to find the "jungle" was booked solid until 7:15 PM. Moral of the story: Book your reservation before you’re actually hungry. Despite the crowd, the hostess was a total pro; she handled our "starving from a 3-hour road trip" faces with grace and managed to get us seated by 7:00 PM. The Feast: • The Starter MVP: We kicked things off with the Awesome Appetizer Adventure. If you’re questioning your life choices, the Chimi-Cha-Cha Eggrolls and the Spinach & Artichoke Dip will set you straight. They were the undisputed stars of the table. • The Mains: The Steak & Shrimp was cooked to perfection. A quick note for the discerning palate: the coconut shrimp comes with a very specific dipping sauce—it wasn't my personal favorite, but that’s a flavor preference, not a kitchen error. The quality was top-notch. • The Comfort Food: The Creole Mac & Cheese is bold and flavorful—a great "grown-up" version of the classic. The "Wild" Factor: What truly elevates this location is the staff. Our server was lightning-fast and incredibly kind. When it came time for my daughter’s birthday, the legendary "VOLCANOOOO!" chant and birthday song made her day. We also have to give a massive shout-out to the Balloon Artist. He had the patience of a saint while my girls suffered through a total "decision paralysis" crisis. He stayed incredibly sweet, listing off dozens of creations until they found the perfect one. That level of patient service in a high-energy environment is rare. The Verdict: Is it loud? Yes. Is it a sensory overload? Absolutely. But the Rainforest Cafe delivers exactly what it promises: a high-quality themed experience with a staff that genuinely cares. Pro Tip: Use the app to scout wait times at least 3 hours in advance. It’s the difference between a happy safari and a "hangry" one.

Rainforest Café is one of those places that feels less like a restaurant and more like you accidentally walked into a Disney ride that also serves fries. The whole vibe is so fun — the thunder sounds, the animals randomly moving, the glowing tanks — it’s basically dinner and a show, but the show is a bunch of animatronic gorillas staring into your soul (in a cute way). One thing I’d like to mention is the servers take long, when I went there was barely anyone though. ( during dinner time like 5-6) Food-wise, it honestly depends on what you order. Some of the stuff, especially on the kids’ menu, tastes pretty normal — like nothing wild or life-changing. But honestly? It’s the experience that makes it totally worth it. Sitting in the “rainforest,” watching the lights flash like a storm is happening, and hearing elephants every few minutes just makes everything feel extra. Their burgers are solid, the pasta is good, and the smoothies taste like vacation in a cup. If you’re going for a fun time, cool atmosphere, and something different from your usual restaurants, Rainforest Café definitely hits the mark. It’s one of those places where even if the food isn’t fancy, the vibe alone makes you wanna come back.

we had an incredible time here for our friend's 30th birthday. jordan, our server, was fantastic - so sweet and funny! great food and drinks. wonderful, nostalgic ambiance. can't wait until our next visit 🐯🙈🦍

Jordan was great to ensure she made my daughter feel like an independent little person coming back to take her order even though I had already ordered for her. We have an allergy and she got the manager to take our order so it was cooked with care! Cannot recommend her enough. Thank you so much!!

We came for lunch on a Wednesday. Food was delicious. Our server was Colleen. She was attentive, charismatic, and such a breath of fresh air. Overall we had a wonderful experience. Even the music was a fun touch. Would highly recommend this location. Thank you Colleen!

Wonderful experience. I got the Beef Pot Roast and man was it TASTY!! They don't have a very wide selection, probably typical for Rainforest Café (my first time here), but I still liked what I got. There was also a gentleman who went around making balloon animals for the kids, and my niece and nephew loved it! They even allowed us to bring my little sister's homemade birthday cake and cut it for us. How lovely! PS. my brother and his wife are both vegetarian, but come here every year for their birthday so they must have decent veggie-friendly options.

had a great time eating here, food was amazing and honestly for 3 people it wasn’t to expensive. our server was amazing and had great attitude the entire time. The guy who makes balloons will only go over to tables with little kids tho, i would’ve loved to get a balloon animal ngl. The only part i would say i had a problem with was all the dust on everything right above where you eat, if you look up everything is covered in dust

Absolutely loved the service here and the food, family friendly and great! The experience was an adventure! Definitely good for date night too! Came with my husband for the first time and the staff were so attentive! Had such a great time!!!! Jen was so great check on us and made sure we were good the whole time! What an amazing experience!!

I love the rainforest cafe, so nostalgic. I would recommend stopping by for the ambiance and the entertainment more than anything. Obviously with the food, you have to order smart and adjust expectations. I will say that the burgers are pretty safe and the Korean lettuce wrap appetizers were good. My drink was flavorful and I got to keep the cup. Service was great! I really wish they'd do something with the empty fish tanks though, that's the only thing. Even fake fish or AI lol

Came in with two of my kids because they "wanted to eat at the jungle restaurant." I already knew what I was getting into, but here goes: We were seated quickly because it was early (5pm.) what was annoying was that they tell you to check in a retail (and we all know why) and about three families waited while the retail guy was on the phone and didn't even look up to acknowledge us. After about 5 minutes we were sent back to the host, where we waited again and had to tell them the same information we'd already given to the retail cashier. The floor by and beneath our table had old food scattered about, and they started sweeping it up halfway through our meal. While I appreciate the attempt, at that point, just wait until we're done? Children's portions are laughable. Food is mediocre at best, and way over priced for what it is. Both my kids came home and basically ate another full meal (they are 5 and 6.) I came home with an upset stomach. Hoping my kids got it out of their system.

This was a similar experience to what we received at the T-Rex restaurant at Disney Springs. The animals come alive, move, and make noise every 15 minutes as a thunderstorm is simulated. The food was actually really good and the staff was friendly. The restaurant was clean and it was interesting. They have water falling from the ceiling in certain spots and smoke comes out of the water. We would go back for sure.

Good atmosphere for sure. My 5 yo is the jungle animal phase so this was just the right spot. Great location since it's near the water park too. The kids menu options were great but the standard menu items were hit or miss. We enjoyed the ribs but the fajitas left much to be desired.

Went on a Friday the wait wasn't too long. About 15 minutes. They register your number so you'll get a message when your table is ready. The food was ok. I had a steak and potatoes. The staff are very nice and helpful. The kids love all the animal sounds and movements.

My daughter had a gift card from her bday for Build-A-Bear, and after multiple times of being sidetracked, I knew we weren't going to be home in time for lunch. I saw that Gurnee Mills still hosts a Rainforest Cafe, and was super excited to share the experience I was robbed of as a child (half kidding). Well, whomp whomp ... Rainforest Cafe was something made of MAGIC in the 1990's and early 2000's and unfortunately, 1999 is exactly where this cafe has stayed. The animatronics are outdated, and the quality of sound was absolute trash. I'm shocked this location survived over the Chicago location. There are ZERO fish in the giant tanks, where they have giant fake green stalks, and have increased the bubble flow to try to hide the fact that the tanks are now empty and boring. The food is also nothing to write home about. The kids mac and cheese is such a weird texture and had zero flavor. I ordered a lame burger with fries, and the cost is still $3 to upgrade to a plant based burger which gave me a good giggle, as this menu clearly hasn't been updated since the 2000's. The dishes look like an average American plated dish and are BORING. The plates are worn, the seats are worn, but the staff continued to fake it until they made it the entire time. Props for hiring a good team, but that's the only place where I can give Rainforest Cafe in Gurnee any props.

Came for lunch for my baby's 1st birthday. Michael was friendly and very attentive. Drinks were delicious. Was a miscommunication about what souvenir cups I received with the drink. Manager on duty fixed it and gave me the cups I wanted and was quoted I could have. Great service and management. Will be back.

This jungle-themed chain continues to weather challenges that led to the closing of several of its locations. The spectacular theme park-style décor replete with animatronics, though dated, continues to attract families with children. Not recognized for serious dining or an innovative kitchen, the chain continues to focus on comfort food and family faves. Menu prices seem fairly steep for food quality that's often perceived as ho-hum. Customers seem to come more for the experience than the chow. If only (parent company) Landry's would provide a seriously upgraded menu with better value ... Gurnee Mills and its immediate surroundings offer no fine dining, so in truth there's little competition. But, hey, the food here is actually not bad! My Missus and I visited for a weekday lunch with several friends. So, we walk into a completely EMPTY restaurant and the hostess greets us curtly with, "Do you have a reservation?" Gimme a break! [Note to the manager: Please instruct your hostesses to say, "Welcome to Rainforest Café! How many in your party?"] Things actually went fine once we were seated. Our server (they call 'em "safari guides") was helpful, efficient and witty. The Missus and I ordered Blue Mountain chicken sandwiches, and our companions feasted on burgers, fish n' chips, and shrimp tacos. The kitchen overlooked a special request and had to remake one of the items; apart from that error, our meals were quite fine. Here, you feel like you're on vacation. We never tire of the thunderstorm effects and the flapping elephant ears. Before or after the meal, it's always fun to browse in the adjoining gift shop with its many unique items.

Stopped in to Rainforest Cafe today, hoping the food would be as good as the last time we were here, and also hoping that the service would be better! Happily, both goals were met! I had the blackened fish tacos again, because they were just that good last time. They did not disappoint! Yum! Hubby had the Rainforest burger. Cooked to perfection, and very juicy and delicious! Fries were hot and fresh...unlike last time. Service was great. Timely, attentive, and sweet server.

Pure nostalgia! Loved this place growing up. I finally got to share it with my children and we had a BLAST! The decor is still perfect... outdated? NAH pure time capsule into a slower, colorful, simpler time of the 90s. The service was superb and the food was wonderful. We even got lucky to be there when the balloon artist was there. The kids LOVED it. Please don't change anything. So many great memories were made. Thank you!

We stopped here on our way to Great Wolf Lodge (5 min away) because we thought our two year old would enjoy the atmosphere. He liked seeing the different animals and everything and we liked how we could walk in the gift shop while we waited for the food. The food itself wasn't terrible, but wasn't anything special. The mozzarella sticks that we started with weren't very good. For our meals we had a burger, salad & stirfry. The burger was comparable to one that I could make on the grill at home. The stirfry was not authentic tasting and the salad was just meh. It satisfied our tastebuds & our son had fun, but if you're looking for a place to enjoy good food I suggest going elsewhere.

This location was underwhelming to say the least. Service was very quick at 12pm which should have been our first warning but we stayed and ordered got the family to eat. The second red flag were the prices for simple plates. There were 3 adults and two kids but we paid $130-$150 including tip. We ordered 2 Taste of the Islands, one order of the sampler as a meal and two kids meals. The taste of the islands was ok, the description says with lots of seasonings and spice but I didn't taste much anywhere but the shrimp. $32 for tilapia and shrimp feels like way too much. Tilapia was enough but not shrimp for that price. Sampler was honestly disgusting. I don't know how you can ruin artichoke dip and mozzarella sticks but they did. Nuggets were the only good thing in there. My husband paid $20 for chicken nuggets. Kids meals were average but too high priced not enough fries. This location is not worth the money at all.

i drive here from the city of chicago with my girlfriend because we love this place. one time i spent $50 in the gift shop. i want cha cha to officiate our wedding. please? if cha cha is unavailable, i will take maya or tuka. per my girlfriends request, tracy tree can't come to the wedding, because my girlfriend thinks i'm flirting with her. we would, unironically, get married here. one time i did call and ask what the rate for renting out the restaurant would be, but they didn't know. the bathrooms here are fantastic. i really do feel like the queen of the jungle in there. i do wish, however, that the fish tanks had fish in them. right now it feels like some post-apocalyptic ocean. this is also a good place to watch star wars edits on your phone and share them with the tiger family. they were gagged, to say the least. they also want the acolyte to be renewed. we also celebrated my girlfriend's first week of med school here. the waitress was so slay and we liked her, but unfortunately i do not remember her name. hope you're doing well queen. we'll definitely be back, the rainforest cafe calls to me like the green goblin mask. 15/5 stars.

This is one of those places I wanted to go to as a kid and never got the chance. Went recently for my nephews bday, and let's just say you can love this place as a kid, but as an adult, you won't have as much "fun". It's located inside of the mall. We walked up to be seated seeing that the restaurant is clearly empty we were told it would be about a 20 minute wait. That's fine we figured short staff most likely. We finally got the text our table was ready and made our way to our seats. I will say it looks like you're in the rainforest and it's definitely cool to see. My niece and nephew loved seeing all the animal decoration and seeing the rain. Our server was very friendly and answered the questions we had. Here's where the two stars comes in. The food was not good. I wasn't expecting fine dining quality but our entrees were all misses. The only thing they had going for them were the appetizers. We ordered Korean Fried Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Beef Lava Nachos. The lettuce wraps were tasty could have used better lettuce. Our pieces were falling apart. The nachos were also pretty good. But the main entress. Fish and chips were tough and overcooked. The chicken and steak in the fajitas had no taste it was just so bland and dried out. The pasta was just that very bland pasta. You can't go wrong with a burger, it was your average burger. The thing that gets me the most is their pricing. I don't mind spending on an experience but please make sure I'm getting my monies worth. My nephew enjoyed his bday dinner and complimentary cupcake so thats all that matters. Will I be returning? I don't plan on it.

I my wife and I could give No Stars if we could. At Check in the young lady was Rude and insisted we had to join their Membership to eat there. Which was not true. She then asked us do you have the app for the RFC? We said yes because we have ate at other locations. She then ask did you have a reservation? We said no there is over 35 tables I see that are empty. She then smarted off to my wife and that is when I said let's go. This place was empty and their employee is turning people away. We would have spent most likely $60 to $70 for the two of us. Guess they don't need the business. Will never go to this location ever again. Then as we were leaving if you get the membership for $25 we can sit you right away. No thank you!!!

My local rainforest closed so was happy to find one in Illinois/Wisconsin. It's in a mall. Easy to find since the rainforest theme starts in the parking lot. It's a chain so you know what you get. Decent food that is a tad overpriced. But you are paying for the atmosphere.

Five stars solely for the ambience and service, not the food. The first time I tried to come to the rainforest cafe was on Easter 2024. I came from an hour away and probably should've planned ahead better. It was 6pm, one hour before the restaurant was supposed to close and when I asked for a table they told me no, reservations only. I asked if I could sit at the bar and just order one drink but they said no. Then I asked if I could just sit at the bar and not order anything just to feel the beautiful ambience of rainforest cafe but they said no, so I went home. The restaurant was about 1/2 empty at the time. I'm sure everyone just wanted to go home too. I tried not to cry. The next attempt at going to rainforest cafe was for my birthday a couple weeks later. I definitely came equipped with a reservation. Walking into the restaurant towards my table felt like a great feat. I sat next to the rainbow wall and got to walk around a little bit during the occasional animotronic "show" to look at all the robotic animals. I loved the darkness in the restaurant paired with the scenery of the faux greenery and the falling raindrops. I wondered why they didn't have any real or fake fish in their fish tank. They could easily tether a fake fish into the tank. Still the tank had the bubbles running and looked very nice. The bar had brighter lighting and was positioned under a large mushroom. I don't believe I ever saw any stairs and while one path was slightly narrow it should be wide enough to fit a motorized wheelchair so I believe this restaurant is accessible (there are alternative paths but that one was pretty). I don't know how high the bar table is though since I didn't walk up close to it. My waiter was very kind and friendly. His friendliness and hospitality gave him this sort of rizz (charisma). He was very good at his job and catered to my requests. I saw the balloon man J making balloon animals for kids and the waiter was able to put me in the queue. Balloon man J comes to rainforest cafe and provides free entertainment in exchange for optional tips. My friend got the monkey in a banana tree balloon and I got the butterfly wand balloon. I didn't have cash so I Venmo'd him a tip. He was a very kind balloon man and having him in the restaurant definitely adds to the ambience. The food. I didn't come here for the food so none of the stars in my rating are attributed to the food. I ordered a cha cha frog cup with a slushee because I obviously needed the cup. I ordered a souvenir cup with some sort of beverage that I thought would taste like a piña colada but it just tasted like a smoothie that someone made at home with alcohol, my friend said the same of her different drink. The whipped cream on my drink was actually very good though. I ordered the beyond burger. I liked the French fries. The burger was very simple no fancy sauces on top just the patty, two slices of that fake yellow American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, bread. A bottle of ketchup on the side at the table. Personally I don't really like the beyond burger brand something about it gives a gasoline flavor I prefer the impossible brand or actual veggie burgers but the vegetarian options were limited. The only other option as a vegetarian was a taco salad with no meat on top and I was too hungry for a salad. I ate my entire meal no crumbs left behind. It's a kids restaurant so you can't expect some intricate burger. I got what I expected. I loved my experience at rainforest cafe.

I really think consideration for Rainforest Cafe as a dining option starts with, "Do we want to eat a meal next to animatronic gorillas and be interrupted by thunderstorm flashes every thirty minutes?" If so, you've checked the first box for a satisfying Rainforest Cafe experience. From the giant tree frog ICEE cup to the loud elephant noises trumpeting from the speaker, the Rainforest Cafe delivered the experience we were hoping for and then some. Looking at reviews, I can agree that what you pick really does matter. The flatbreads were great, would order again. The beastly burger, much better than expected, juicy, flavorful, and sufficient. The fajitas left a lot to be desired. But then I remember, I came here because I prioritized the leopard that nods its head up and down at me every few minutes over the food. Our kids loved it and the experience was worth every cent. Would I come back apart from my kids requesting it for their birthday, unlikely. But if they do, I'll happily pay for it, while strategically choosing certain entrees over others. And last but not least, I need to give a huge shout out to Jordan. What incredible, kind, attentive service. For a place that is charging for ambiance and service (I'm just being honest), we felt like she gave us more than we paid for. She definitely contributed to making our experience at this Rainforest Cafe hard to rate lower than four stars.

Came here on a weekday evening with family for a birthday dinner. The restaurant was expecting a large party and had many tables blocked off but the party arrived ~30 minutes after we were seated. However, they received their food before us and we had to ask several times if our food was coming. There were 4 kids in our group and they were all tired and a few of them fell asleep waiting for the food. Our food came and they forgot to prepare my dish. We also belatedly realized at the end of our meal that they forgot to give all 4 kids the drinks that came with their kid's meals but we were so tired we didn't even bring it up. We shared the following: Korean fried chicken lettuce wraps (hand battered chicken tossed in gochujang sauce, Asian slaw, topped with pineapple salsa, peanuts, served with crisp lettuce cups): chicken was flavorful and had a slight kick. Awesome appetizer adventure (chimi-cha-chas, spinach & artichoke dip, cheese sticks, chicken strips): pretty standard but good for groups to share. I had the anaconda pasta (gluten sensitive pasta, local garden vegetables, mushrooms, basil, shaved parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, white wine tomato sauce) and fusion margarita (Cazadores Blanco Tequila, Bacardi Pineapple Rum, Midori Melon liqueur, pineapple juice, sweet & sour). The margarita literally tasted just like pineapple juice and nothing else. The anaconda pasta was just okay but didn't stand out.

Really fun place, I know the food isn't great, but everything else from the animatronics, stuff sold, and more is awesome fun. A throwback to fun

I needed to come on here and say I had an AMAZING experience at Rainforest Cafe! I have always dreamt of coming to one when I was little and at the age of 20, I was able to do it. My friend and I came in on a busy Friday, the weekend before Christmas, and we were seated right away. Not only that, the server was WONDERFUL!! If you guys come here and are served by Dina, you guys are in good hands! Dina was wonderful and always made sure we had everything we needed. Not only that, but the food was amazing!!!! We had an appetizer plater that satisfied our various cravings and it came out really quickly. For our main course, it was also really delicious! I got the Coconut shrimp which I highly recommend. My friend got the Rainforest burger which she claimed was also amazing!!! Now here comes the best part, the dessert was the best thing ever!! We got the Volcano/lava (I forgot the name) brownie and ice cream dessert!! It came with a sparkler and was really good! The brownie was so soft and the ice cream with chocolate and caramel drizzle ended our amazing night!! Not only that, but this place is so family welcoming! The place made it so amazing with the jungle like decoration and they also had a person making balloons for the children:) really made me feel like a kid again! If you are indecisive about coming, don't be!! It's an awesome experience:)

Had fun. Food was decent. I wish the fish tanks still had fish. Staff was extremely nice.

Kid friendly do not recommend the food but love the animals and all the surroundings.

My first time here and I'd come back. Not for the food or drinks, but just the fun atmosphere. Although, the food was decent. I had the alfredo ravioli with mushrooms and steak. I also had a margarita. The drink wasn't great. All in all, it was a fun experience for me and my kid.

We recently visited Rainforest Cafe with a group of friends, and it was fantastic! We had made a reservation for six, and it was definitely a smart move because we got great seats and excellent service. Stepping into the jungle-themed atmosphere brought back so many memories from our childhood. We all tried different dishes and loved them. The Sparkling Volcano dessert was a showstopper and a must-try! We're already planning our next visit to explore more of the menu. Rainforest Cafe blends delicious food with a nostalgic ambiance perfectly. It's a must-visit for everyone!

We are nostalgic about this place because we have gone for our kids' birthdays since they were little. The one near us in Woodfield closed but whenever we are up by Gurnee, we will make a point to come here for dinner. There are always interesting new items on the menu, which keeps things fresh and interesting. And they contracted with balloon artists who go table to table (for tips) and make fun creations for the kids - we even saw him do an elephant for an elderly lady in a wheelchair Food and drinks were all good - it's not going to be top notch fine dining scale, but if you put decent good dishes with the ambiance, it's definitely worth the visit

Came here for the Ambiance, food, service, and atmosphere the day was excited! Service was prompt and the server was amazing. The kids love the place, the only down side was they were cleaning the fish tanks and the alligator was not working. I have the steak fajitas and they were great, nice & steamy, the side ingredients were such a nice compliment. The kids loved the volcano and be prepared to share since it's a huge portion. Will definitely be back!

Today the 14th of September 2024 we visited rainforest Cafe in Gurnee Mills illinois. We drove two and a half hours to get to the restaurant but it was well worth the trip. The server Karla was very professional and attendance. The food was absolutely Superior, in fact we called the chef out to the table the compliment him on the very tasty dishes. We loved all the decor the moving animals The sounds the rain coming down kids had a wonderful time and so did as adults. It was a long drive there but it was well worth the money it was well worth the atmosphere, the service and the tasty food. I was able to meet with Mark the manager and told him how wonderful his staff was and the food. Mark was very professional and very upbeat and I just really had a good feeling about the entire day. Thank you so much for making the day a memorable one for us and our grandchildren. I will recommend this restaurant to everyone I know. It was well worth the trip Lynda Norton Dixon Illinois ​​

So disappointed! My kids food was inedible and my chicken/rice/beans dish was $25. My sons got mini hot dogs and the mini cheeseburgers. I truly wouldn't even feel comfortable with them eating what they were served. Our waitress Jen seemed to only have us and one other table. It took her about 15 minutes to greet us once we were sat and immediately wanted us to order everything at once. I understand you go for the outdated animatronics, but the food and service is such an oversight. So sad!

Tony our server was fantastic. My little girl was so delighted as it was her first time here in Gurnee. Attentive server! They made it so special. Loved the themed part of the restaurant .

wait to wait 20 minutes to sit down not to bad, its been at-least 29 minutes still no drinks. The lighting is nice the knifes and forks are a little dirty, im not very happy with the waiting time. I ORDERED FIRST and i still haven't gotten my food while a bunch of people have. I'm getting hungry. Kids running around. Finally got my drinks 10/10 they are amazing y'all should definitely try these drinks! Still waiting on food. It's been about 9 minutes still waiting the drunks are really good but not filling. Id rather have my food, We still haven't even gotten our SOUP appetizer. Finally got our food but with our appetizer which is kinda weird, the fries are good 7/10 the blue mountain chicken sandwich 8/10. 8/10 for the shrimpkims. Mac and cheese 7/10. Pulled pork sandwich 8/10.

We had great service and the Amazon burger was excellent! Very tasty. Very kid friendly

The food was really good until the cheesecake. That "cheesecake" was NOT the New York cheesecake that I know. I waited more than 15 minutes to get this "cheesecake" when the restaurant was empty but, it was very sour, had a green tint everything was just off. I asked them to switch it out because I thought they gave me key lime pie but no, they said that was their cheesecake and there is nothing they can do about it... Its very disappointing that they couldn't just switch it out for a different slice, at least they took it off of the bill. To add.. when we left, the person working in the store part of the restaurant was EXTREMELY rude.. rolling her eyes, ignoring me AND giving me attitude. I wont ever come here again.

Compared to the rest of the busy, chaotic mall, my meal was just as much an oasis as it was a rainforest. That said, what was an estimated 30 minute wait for two, turned into a 50 minute wait before I got the text (which IS a great feature), however, larger groups had longer waits. It's a large place, but with many tables closed for social distancing, there was only a small number of staff on hand. It sounded like the frazzled manager was getting the business from a family or two who had waited almost two hours for their table, but my service was quick and friendly. Food and beverages rolled out in no time. And I know what you're thinking. This place. Overpriced and overhyped. Well... maybe a bit. But a simple soup, salad, and appetizer turned out to be more than enough for two, and everything we had was good. So I didn't spend a fortune, and I got to enjoy fake animals and weather. I'm a sucker for atmosphere. Maybe it's because restaurants like these are being endangered themselves, but it felt good to be there. Even with a squeaky tiger tail, and no fish (in the tanks, not on the menu), and Tracy the Tree giving us the silent tree-tment... I enjoyed myself. I hope to do so again.

I didn't even realize this place has only three stars until coming to write this review. We had a really great experience! Everyone was super friendly, food was delicious and came out fast, price was high, but what isn't the closer you get to Chicago? We were pumped for the thunderstorms and got to sit through three of them. Also, we ordered cocktails in the souvenir glass which lets you take the glass home. Can't quite believe it was only $14 total for the cocktail and glass. Anyway, I'd recommend this place and we'll definitely go back.

I am very sad to see this one completely go downhill as the last Rainforest Cafe in Illinois. We didn't even get to sit down because we were turned away from an EMPTY restaurant because we didn't have reservations. First of all, when did Rainforest Cafe take reservations? Second, we showed up at 6:15 and the restaurant apparently closes at 7. What kind of restaurant has this turned into? I am not kidding when I say that the place was empty. I so disappointed in seeing this one sputter out. It was fun while it lasted

I just celebrated my birthday here, I was super excited to have dinner here with my family because I love the atmosphere. Our reservation was at 6 pm, we didn't receive our food until about 730pm. I have a coconut allergy, which I told the waiter and asked for a substitute. Not only did I not receive the substitute, but a plate of coconut shrimp was sat in front of me. When I tried to call the server back, she had an attitude like she was too busy to deal with me. But then the manager came out to say they take food allergies very seriously. Really!!!. I will say they did comp my dinner, but then we had to wait almost 30mins just to get our checks to leave. Probably won't be back.

Nice bartender and good To-Go order! I stopped in here on a Saturday Covid evening to place a To-Go order at the bar. The restaurant did a nice job with social distancing and everything looked nice and clean. My order was taken by Rolando at the bar and he was very nice in answering my questions. I ordered the Pastalaya since I figured it would travel well. And, it did! It was a little spicey and had a bunch of protein mixed in- chicken, sausage, and shrimp. It had plenty of flavor and I was able to mix it with plain pasta at home and ate at least 4 meals out of it. I also ordered a side of Caribbean rice but I was kinda hoping for some coconut or fruity flair, but instead it was what I would consider Cuban rice, a darker rice mixed with maybe black beans. It was OK, but not what I was going for. I would recommend the Pastalaya though and I appreciate Rolando's niceness at the bar while I waited for my order. If you're looking for something different to take home during Covid times, I would recommend this dish. Enjoy!

My son and I both enjoyed our meals here, me the burger and him the kids pasta. The service was attentive and friendly and the food good quality. You pay a little bit more for the ambience but I think it's worth it. If you don't like it there's other places to eat. The only disappointment was their reward system was off-line and I don't plan to be back in this area for several more months.

My food was good and came in a timely fashion. My friends who ordered waited a little longer and some of there food was cold and missing items. I'm glad my food was good but that makes me not want to come back. Then they want to charge 13.50 for a drink not even a double shot

Service was sooooooooo slow. Food was okay. Avoided ordering dessert, because we knew it would cost our evening more time. Reservation was at 5:30, and we left at 7 pm. Ambience was pretty good, but would not do this again.

We hosted our daughter's baby shower here. We had the most wonderful staff. Our server Glenda and hostess Simi were the best. The food was really good and served fast. We were able to bring in our own cake too. Everyone had a great time.

Horrible service and overpriced mediocre food, they pretend they have no tables open when 80% were open! Horrible experience

Had inconvenience and both the staff and manager where rude and triggering. Honestly last time going there.

I've been several times to rainforest as a kid and I took my boyfriend for the first time yesterday and it didn't disappoint. The way my boyfriend's eyes lit up at the cool experience and his shock at the lightening and thunder was worth every penny our waitress was super sweet, and really made our visit super special for his first time. We had the creole Mac and cheese, the meatloaf and the volcano (of course) the Mac was amazing, the meatloaf was just about perfect, a bit on the dry side but if they had an extra cup of bbq sauce on the side it would be perfect. The volcano was a bit on the pricy side but it's their flagship item soo I expected that. Overall surprised me and my expectations.

Fun place for kids. Pretty pricey for adults and the food wasn't very good. I loved the food options for kids and my kiddos really had a great time

I went to rainforest cafe once in elementary school. It left such an impression that I took my boyfriend here on a date, 15 or so years later. It absolutely holds up. Food is surprisingly good, and the drinks ain't bad either. The ambiance and theming continues to impress. Amazingly kid-friendly, down to the rounded corners on the tables. Great for kids and kids-at-heart. Everyone should go to a rainforest cafe at least once. Minus one star for the price - they don't skimp on portion size, but almost $20 for three tacos is more than I want to spend.

Me and my friends always go here, and we always have a GREAT time. However, during our most recent visit, we had the pleasure of being served by Dina. Dina was amazing, incredibly friendly, and truly made our day. She was a breath of fresh air, and I will definitely be requesting her again. We got the Awesome Appetizer which truly lived up to its name! Try the coconut(?) sauce and honey mustard!! We had a fantastic time and will be going again ASAP!!!

Look. The only reason a reasonable adult chooses to go here is because either they lost a bet or they have one or more children and they want to offer them something "special". So it is with my wife and I and that's what we did to close out a kids weekend of fun at Fright Fest. I have been to this restaurant in the past both at this location and others and I have come to expect bad food, obsessive noise and either parents or kids behaving badly. Today they were short staffed so we we were offered a 30-40 minute wait. Fine. Surprisingly we were seated within 18 minutes. Then the menu shows up and it's no longer a novel of mediocrity. Shrunk waaay down. Got the special. Blackened fish tacos with a jalapeño and black bean sauce. It. Was. Excellent. Add in a wandering staff member making balloon animals for the kids and there you have it. When my kids age out of this phase I won't be back thereafter but for now-this place was great and better than before.