Some dining experiences really live up to the term as true experiences. I’m not talking about Nobu Malibu or French Laundry or any of that hoity-toity culinary pablum. No, no. Rather, dear friends, I speak of the one, the only, Rainforest Cafe.
Rainforest Cafe NYC rumors spread
If you’ve never been to a Rainforest Cafe (which, sorry), it’s a restaurant filled with animatronic animals, often corresponding with different climates and themed rooms set up throughout the establishment. Here’s a pretty good visual refresher:
@naughtyfork Im having my birthday party here #fyp #foryou #rainforestcafe #review ♬ African Safari Tourism ( Upbeat Happy Kids Adventure Lion King Baby Animals )2.3 – SupernovaMusic
The food at Rainforest Cafe is…well, no one’s going for the food, but if you went as a kid, there was nothing else like it.
How many Rainforest Cafes are there?
Unfortunately, some regions of the US have been sadly lacking in cafes relating to the rainforest.
While we have 16 locations (out of the 23 worldwide), the East Coast has been a bit of a dead zone for the establishment, with two restaurants in Jersey and…that’s it.
However, there are rumors swirling around that this may change shortly. New York City, the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, may be building a Rainforest Cafe in the near future. I know what you’re thinking: “I could swear there was one in Times Square,” and yes, that’s a reasonable assumption.
It’s the perfect touristy location for the business, matching many of its other chosen spots (Vegas, Atlantic City, Disney World, etc.). Additionally, NYC has had similar themed eateries that prove the market is ripe, such as Mars 2112 and Jekyll and Hyde.
But TikTokers have been tracking down some recently dropped clues that indicate yes, indeed a Rainforest Cafe is NYC-bound.
Clues hint at an NYC Rainforest Cafe opening
Most prominent of the hints is a recently posted TikTok of RC mascot Cha Cha the Tree Frog wandering the mean streets of Manhattan:
@chachathetreefrog Cha! Cha! has made it to his destination! Have you been able to guess where he is yet? All will be revealed soon. 👀🐸 #fyp #rainforestcafe #chachathetreefrog #nostalgia ♬ original sound – Annija
Themed entertainment journalist Caryle Wisel notes that now is a perfect time for The Cafe to make its grand NYC debut, arguing that people are craving immersive, themed experiences, especially in a post-Covid lockdown world.
@carlyewisel Is this the official resurgence of themed dining??!! #rainforestcafe #themeparks ♬ original sound – carlye wisel
Perhaps in the “not helping” category, the Empire State Building announced that Rainforest Cafe was coming to the landmark earlier this year:
The date of that article? April 1st, 2024. What a tease. But perhaps, like any joke, there may spring a kernel of truth here? Were seeds planted from this goof? Time will tell.
Either way, the people of New York are ready.
Keep on high alert, NYC Rainforest Cafe heads. If Cha Cha posts a video of himself dining with Fran Lebowitz, I think we can assume it’s game-on.
The Daily Dot has reached out to Rainforest Cafe for comment and will update this story with any new developments.
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