11 Over-the-Top Themed Dining Spots

The 1990s marked a peculiar shift in the restaurant world. Rather than focusing solely on great food and ambiance, many new spots made entertainment their top priority. Featuring cutting-edge animatronics, surprise celebrity appearances, and live performances, these places blurred the lines between dining and theme parks.

While themed restaurants are often associated with the tail end of the 20th century, several of them are still running today (and some even have roots that go back further). From Mars 2112 to Planet Hollywood, let's revisit some of the most ambitious concept restaurants ever created.

1. Mars 2112

Anyone who strolled through Times Square in New York City between 1998 and 2001 might have spotted an unusual attraction with a flying saucer perched out front. Mars 2112, the space-themed restaurant, transported diners to a subterranean world designed to resemble the Martian surface. The setting was enhanced with 'lava' pools, glowing space rocks, and staff dressed as aliens.

2. Titanic Theatre Restaurant

Replicating the Titanic's final journey might not sound like the ideal night out, but that's exactly what the Titanic Theatre Restaurant in Williamstown, Australia, offers. The venue is designed to resemble the ill-fated ocean liner, complete with four funnels atop its roof. Visitors can enjoy 'lower deck dining' and either order à la carte or opt for a set prix fixe meal with entertainment. As the restaurant's website assures, 'survival is guaranteed and so is a good time.'

3. Dive!

Themed restaurants were so trendy in the 1990s that even Steven Spielberg jumped on the bandwagon. In 1994, a year after the release of Jurassic Park and Schindler's List, the director launched Dive! in Century City, California, alongside his producing partner Jeffrey Katzenberg. The submarine-shaped restaurant was inspired by Spielberg's passion for nautical adventure tales, offering torpedo-shaped bar stools, portholes that filled with water, and a menu of submarine sandwiches. The concept initially did well enough to open a Vegas location, but both restaurants eventually closed by the early 2000s due to disappointing sales.

4. Fashion Café

The Fashion Café, an establishment backed by supermodels Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington, opened its first location in New York City’s Rockefeller Center in 1995. Four more locations followed throughout the 1990s, including one in London. The blend of dining and high fashion never gained lasting appeal, however, and the chain went out of business by 1999. In 2000, founders Francesco and Tommaso Buti were arrested on charges of fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.

5. Casa Bonita

Although the Mexico-themed chain began in Oklahoma City in 1968, the most well-known location is in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Casa Bonita, which opened in 1973, remains the sole surviving branch. After entering through the grand entrance, guests are greeted by a vast interior filled with faux rock formations, gold and silver mines, and classic Mexican-style buildings. Perhaps the most iconic feature is the waterfalls, where cliff divers occasionally perform daring jumps.

6. Rainforest Café

Since the early 1990s, the Rainforest Café has brought the charm of a vibrant jungle to malls and theme parks worldwide. Known for its life-sized animatronic animals like elephants, gorillas, and crocodiles, the chain creates an immersive experience with waterfalls and simulated thunderstorms. Though the company’s popularity has waned over time, more than 20 locations are still in operation globally.

7. Rollercoaster Restaurant

Located at the renowned Alton Towers theme park in the UK, the excitement continues even after guests sit down to dine. The Rollercoaster Restaurant features a complex rollercoaster track that delivers food from the kitchen straight to diners' tables. Just like passengers on a real rollercoaster, meals take thrilling twists and turns, but diners are safely secured, ensuring no messes are made along the way.

8. Official All-Star Café

In the 1990s, instead of watching live sports games, fans could visit an Official All-Star Café to enjoy stadium-style food in a sports-themed environment. Created by Planet Hollywood, the venture was endorsed by famous athletes like Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, and Shaquille O'Neal. Following its 1995 debut, several locations opened, but by 2007, the chain had faded from existence.

9. Planet Hollywood

When Planet Hollywood launched in New York City, investors such as Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone brought immediate star power to the venture. These celebrity backers were expected to attend grand openings and occasionally pop into the restaurants. While most patrons never encountered a celebrity during their meal, they dined surrounded by real movie props and Hollywood-themed décor. After an initial boom, Planet Hollywood's stock took a sharp dive in the late 1990s. Today, only a handful of locations remain.

10. Television City

For those who preferred pretending to be a TV star over a movie icon at Planet Hollywood, Television City offered an immersive experience. Located in New York City, this restaurant featured 130 television sets and even had a studio where guests could host their own TV segments. Unfortunately, this innovative concept lasted only three years, closing shortly after its 1996 debut.

11. T-Rex Café

Located at Disney Springs in Florida, the T-Rex Café invites guests to step into a prehistoric world. To enter, diners must walk beneath a massive fossil. Inside, they’re treated to a thrilling atmosphere with animatronic dinosaurs, ancient-themed décor, and simulated meteor showers, making for an unforgettable experience.