A Walk on the Wild Side at Phoenix Restaurant

 
 
 

Rachel Roland is a mom on a mission - exploring beautiful Arizona (and beyond!) with her two little companions, Jeremiah and Sarah, in search of the best restaurants, attractions, and products for you and your children. See what she has in store for your family today!

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There is one place in the valley where you can eat lunch surrounded by exotic plants, fish, and wild animals - Rainforest Cafe!   The Rainforest Cafe at Arizona Mills is a fun and laid back spot for lunch or dinner - and is especially a hit with the kiddos.  First, they're definitely a kid-friendly and family-focused restaurant.  As you can see in the photo above, Sarah loves her Cha Cha (the tree frog) cup filled with raspberry lemonade ($7.99).  The children's menu is extensive and ranges from ribs and pasta to burgers and pizza.   Jeremiah and Sarah split a Shrimpkens meal (popcorn shrimp and dino-shaped chicken nuggets) and had sides of fries and carrot sticks.

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If you're fortunate, you'll be seated near one of the huge fish tanks in the restaurant.  These provide endless entertainment and conversation while waiting for your food.   Occasionally, though, there is a bit of a disturbance in the restaurant - a 'thunderstorm' rolls through and the lights flash and all the animatronic animals in the Rainforest Cafe start making noise.  This can be terrifying (Jeremiah cried the first time we were there!) or exhilarating, depending on your child.  Jeremiah (5) and Sarah (3 1/2) both aren't afraid at this point and find it quite entertaining.  

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In addition to the fish tanks and sporadic thunderstorms, there are also animals all around the restaurant that you can visit while waiting, too.  There are elephants, a family of gorillas, a huge fountain, and more.  There's also a great gift shop to browse before or after your meal with lots of fun merchandise.  

Rainforest Cafe is located at the Arizona Mills Mall, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, #573.  Visit and have a 'wild' time today!    

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Photo courtesy Red Phoenix Photography

I'm Rachel - a mom, wife, and 'green' blogger at Small Steps On Our Journey.   If you want me to come visit your place of business, have any questions on this article or suggestions for a future article, you can email me at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tweet me at @rachelroland, or connect with me on Facebook.

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