Rainforest Cafe

Restaurant

Rainforest Cafe

306 South Avenue, Mall of America, Bloomington, 55425, MN

After closing for a year, MOA’s most beloved family restaurant moved to the third floor near the Crayola Experience and other big restaurants (including Bubba Gump and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville) in early 2016.

The new Rainforest lacks the colorful aquariums and waterfall of the original but still dishes out plenty to keep kids entertained while they wait for food: a talking tree, elephants and animatronic gorillas that add jungle sounds to the come-and-go thunderstorms with sound effects and lightening.

The restaurant, which can seat more than 300 diners, serves mostly American fare-burgers, ribs, pasta, salads and pizza. Some have a tropical twist such as its Chimi-cha-chas (Mexican egg rolls), a tropical island chicken salad, coconut shrimp and macadamia-crusted tilapia and “mojo bones’-ribs with a zippy sauce.

Go easy on ordering if you plan to split the photo-worthy volcano dessert made of brownies and ice cream, dripping with chocolate and lit with a sparkler.