Why do dinner and a show when dinner can also be the show? While themed chain eateries like Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood are nothing new, some restaurants go much farther — even out of this world — to make the dining experience as special as the food they serve. Want to make sure your meal comes with a heaping side of memories? Check out five of the most unusual restaurants in the U.S.
Casa Bonita - Denver, Colorado
Some people think this Colorado legend is merely a figment of a cartoon character’s imagination, but the pink wedding cake building along West Colfax Avenue is all too real — and recently reopened after South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone bought the “Disneyland of Mexican restaurants” and poured an estimated 40 million dollars into the renovation. But the birthday party staple is back, including cliff diving gorillas, puppet shows, mariachi bands, unlimited sopapillas and — thanks to James Beard award-winning chef Dana Rodriguez — a menu that is now perfectly delicious. We’ll see you in Black Bart’s Cave!
The Airplane Restaurant - Colorado Springs, Colorado
Just an hour from Denver, another quirky restaurant concept has taken flight ... this time in an actual airplane. The Boeing KC-97 tanker was one of the largest planes ever built, and now families and aviation enthusiasts alike can enjoy classic American fare in the aptly named Airplane Restaurant. Built in 1953, the plane is now a 250-seat restaurant, bar, and museum dedicated to historic plane memorabilia, and features steaks, salads, burgers, and seafood, including the (self-proclaimed) “World’s Biggest Fish Sandwich.”
The Space Bar - Titusville, Florida
Planes aren’t the only things that fly. As the home of Area 51, Roswell, New Mexico has an assortment of out-of-this world attractions ... including a McDonald’s that’s shaped like a flying saucer. But over in Florida, The Space Bar gives visitors an astronaut’s-eye-view of the real deal. This rooftop bar and restaurant has an enviable position overlooking the Kennedy Space Center. The location allows visitors to enjoy NASA, Boeing, ULA, and SpaceX launches while nibbling on deviled eggs and Cubanos and sipping on craft beer and signature cocktails like the tequila-forward “Skyrockets in Flight.”
SafeHouse - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
When spies want fries, they may accept a mission to infiltrate SafeHouse, Milwaukee’s espionage-themed bar and restaurant. Agent Moneypenny will need a password to grant you admission — but you can also complete a “clearance test” to prove that you aren’t a double agent. Once accepted, tuck into some Tradecraft Tacos or Stasi Twists (German pretzels). Keep your wits about you when ordering the Spy’s Demise ... the potent rum-based cocktail might just cause you to blow your cover.
Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar - San Francisco, California
Mai tais and merriment are the order of the day at this Polynesian-themed spot in San Francisco’s iconic Fairmont Hotel. The fantastic setting was created by Mel Melvin, a celebrated Hollywood set designer for MGM. He turned the hotel’s 1929 indoor pool into a tropical lagoon (complete with a floating stage barge that holds a Top 40 band) and surrounded it with thatched huts just perfect for people-watching. Following a $1 million restoration in 2008 and an inventive refresh of the cocktail menu, the reinvigorated Tonga Room is once again at the top of the list of classic Tiki palaces. (Pro tip: Have a bite before braving potent potables like the 1934 Zombie, so you don’t miss the house made Spam with passionfruit mustard. And definitely save room for the chocolate banana tart!)
