Rain Forest Cafe
145 Jefferson St.
(at Fisherman’s Wharf)
San Francisco
(415) 440-5610
California/international family style
Avg: $15
Bender Rating: 4
Credit Cards: All major
Famous dish: Rasta Pasta, Brave New World Pizza

  Rain Forest Café: Fisherman's Wharf Gets Jungle Fever

All the excitement of the Brazilian rain forest -- without those pesky piranhas -- that's the idea behind the Rain Forest Cafe, the newest addition to Fisherman’s Wharf. Since opening in June 2000, the combination family restaurant and gift shop has managed to do the impossible: draw locals to the Wharf. In fact, explained managing director Rick Peters on a busy Friday night, “Most of the customers you see are from the Bay Area.”

The 33,000-square-foot facility is decorated with thousands of feet of hand-applied “foliage” reminiscent of the deepest jungles, enhanced by colorful tropical flowers, banyan trees and fountains. Animatronic jungle animals -- an elephant, gorillas, leopards and more -- roar, trumpet and growl on cue. Every 20 minutes or so, the “sky” above flashes alarmingly and diners are treated to a simulated tropical rainstorm.

Just entering the place is an adventure, as you pass under the huge, custom-designed aquarium overhead and hike up a wooden staircase to two floors of dining rooms, escorted by your khaki-clad guide.

What about the food? Well, it’s what we’ve come to expect from theme restaurants: huge portions, with funny names and plenty of stuff for kids and parties ready to share. For starters, try the huge “Awesome Appetizer Adventure,” which stars crispy Chicken Rain Stix, Mango Buffalo Chicken Wings, Mojo Rib Tips, Smoked Shrimp Guacamole and -- only in the Cafe’s San Francisco location -- warm Big Blue Crab Dip. Although Rain Forest Café is a worldwide chain, they make a genuine effort to make each location unique, with fresh, local ingredients like San Francisco seafood.

Also available only in San Francisco are Tuscan Chicken, marinated with balsamic vinegar and tomato and charbroiled with Kalamata olives, red-skinned garlic mashed potatoes and a chive-mustard sauce; Jumbo Black Tiger Shrimp seared on a cedar plank and served with potatoes and braised Napa cabbage slaw; and Crispy Fish & Chips fried in Japanese breadcrumbs. Of course, there is a creamy New England Clam Chowder in this location too, served in a locally-baked sourdough bread bowl with a Caesar salad.

“People hear, ‘theme restaurant,’ and they think the food’s not going to be good,” said Peters. “We are proving them wrong." Rasta Pasta, with grilled chicken and cavatappi pasta tossed with walnut pesto, broccoli and spinach in a garlic cream sauce, is one of the most popular items on the menu; but the pizzas come in a close second, with flavors like smoked shrimp and chicken with Smokin’ Mojo BBQ Sauce.

The 1/2-pound Rainforest Burger, starting at $9.50 (cheese is included; bacon and sauteed mushrooms are extra) was, in the words of our 12-year-old companion, “the best burger I ever ate!” and comes with home-made potato chips. There’s also a Rainforest Natural Burger, made from mixed veggies and brown rice -- a nice touch -- prepared with spinach and mixed greens with Spicy Safari Sauce.

Other entrees include a Hong Kong Stir fry in a slightly too-sweet sauce, with vegetables and your choice of meat over jasmine rice; a Tree Top Filet 9 oz. tenderloin steak, charbroiled and served with a grilled portabella mushroom with potatoes and Napa slaw; “Jumbalaya” Shrimp with chicken, andouille sausage and rice in a Cajun sauce; sandwiches and huge entree salads, including a Volcanic Cobb Salad and a Chinese chicken salad with a signature dressing.

Fresh-squeezed juices are a bit pricey at $3.99 and the smoothies, blended with nonfat frozen yogurt, are too small to merit their $4.50 price tag. There are also cool theme cocktails, like a green margarita called the Tree frog and an intriguing Key Lime Colada.

Desserts are large, if not memorable -- there’s a six-inch-tall Giant Chocolate Volcano cake with caramel and chocolate “lava” and tons of whipped cream; but the Captain’s Choice Key Lime Pie is a refreshing, light item and the Monkey Business Coconut Bread Pudding comes highly recommended.

-- Lisa Tsering