- 5 weeks ago
Step inside some of the most wildly imaginative dining spots ever created! From Victorian horror and haunted houses to tropical paradise vibes, we revisit themed restaurants that once dazzled guests and those still bringing their unique experiences to life. Whether it’s a marine adventure or a medieval tournament, these spots offered more than just food—they served up unforgettable entertainment and atmosphere.
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00:00Shake it up with a juicy burger, endless fries and beer combo, just $9.95.
00:05Oh yeah!
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:09And today, we're counting down our picks for the restaurants that dare to be different.
00:13Five of which are no longer in existence.
00:15And five where you can still check out their crazy themes.
00:19Offering a wild place to shop and eat, this unique restaurant recreates the sights and sounds of the Amazon right
00:26here in the heart of the West End.
00:29Number 5. Miss. Jekyll and Hyde Club.
00:33Victorian horror, weird science and burgers collided in this retro-themed restaurant that opened in early 90s Manhattan.
00:40New York City's most terrifying haunted attraction.
00:43The Jekyll and Hyde Club was a unique dining experience complete with a repertoire of characters lifted right from gothic
00:50literature.
00:50Its cocktail menu included drinks like Death by Poison and Kiss of Death.
00:55And the entire atmosphere was meant to evoke a 19th century haunted house dining experience.
01:00I kind of expected to see like an eyeball floating around.
01:02I know, an eyeball in the drink would have been really nice, I think.
01:05Or like a hums of bloody steak, you know.
01:07If you're ready to book your trip, we've got some bad news.
01:11Attempts to expand the restaurant failed, with the last of its two locations being shut down in 2022.
01:17It's too bad. It sounds like a horror fan's dream.
01:20Located at 1409 Avenue of the Americas at 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
01:25Remember, anything can happen at Jekyll and Hyde.
01:29Number 5. Still. Margaritaville.
01:32When Jimmy Buffett died in 2023, legions of fans mourned his loss.
01:37But luckily, part of him still lives on in the tropical atmosphere of the Margaritaville restaurant chain.
01:42Named after his most famous song, the place's vibe is a total manifestation of Buffett's easygoing and idyllic tropical-themed
01:50persona.
01:51Wisting away again in Margaritaville.
01:55From the food to the beach-inspired decor, the island theme runs deep through the entire place.
02:01Its menu includes Cajun-inspired items, seafood, southern comfort dishes, and, of course, a comprehensive selection of margaritas.
02:09And don't worry, if you lose your shaker of salt, they've got plenty.
02:13All of those tourists covered with oil.
02:17Number 4. Miss. Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon.
02:21And Lone Star restaurants? Well, they're done in Colorado.
02:24Their website no longer lists any locations as being in Colorado.
02:28We checked on the one out in Golden, and we found this sign that says the restaurant closed Friday.
02:33Western-themed steakhouses are a dime a dozen, but considering its heyday was the 1990s and 2000s,
02:40Lone Star's saloon-style interiors and its floors covered in peanut shells makes a lot of us super nostalgic.
02:46Beer and a thick, juicy steak.
02:48Across the hardwood floors and the peanut shells, he walked to the bar.
02:51The dang, he fell.
02:52The love that is, the Lone Star.
02:54They had big, hearty steaks that were always cooked right.
02:57It took the fancy ambiance of other steakhouses and made it feel rustic and celebratory.
03:02While you could compare it to places like Texas Roadhouse and Outback, Lone Star somehow felt unique.
03:08Our mesquite grilled steaks come with steaming baked sweet potatoes and such, but they say we need fruit.
03:13We've got a raw high breeder, Pecos peach, and beer.
03:18Over the years, it scaled back and retired many of the things that made it special, including the server's line
03:24dances.
03:24At one time, it operated over 250 restaurants in the mainland United States.
03:30The location in Guam is the only one still in operation.
03:34See you Saturday.
03:35Bye, guys.
03:36Stop in and check out the new Lone Star Steakhouse.
03:39Number 4. Still, Planet Hollywood.
03:42You might ask yourself, what do a bunch of celebrities know about owning a restaurant?
03:47My God, you have a lot of passion.
03:50Planet Hollywood has landed on the end of the continent.
03:53All of Key West is lined up to see the stars, baby.
03:56With financial backing from stars Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Demi Moore, and Bruce Willis,
04:03Planet Hollywood opened in 1991 to huge fanfare.
04:07Sold on their names and those of other famous supporters, the restaurant was meant to reflect the glamour of the
04:12movies.
04:13Our own Chris Raggi hosted the grand opening of Planet Hollywood's newest location,
04:17and he kept thousands of fans pumped up for a stream of stars.
04:21Hey, everybody. Samuel L. Jackson. Show them the love. Watch out.
04:25Motifs like red carpets, Hollywood memorabilia, and replicas of movie props lined the walls and hung from the ceilings.
04:32Business notably slowed down once the 21st century hit.
04:35Planet Hollywood and the All-Star Cafe, and it's just a great day at Muddle Beach, and I'm so excited.
04:42Locations closed, leaving only a couple of restaurants and hotels carrying the Planet Hollywood name.
04:48But after years of semi-obscurity, a new Planet Hollywood opened in Times Square in 2025.
04:55Number 3. Miss. Dive.
04:57While they were busy co-founding DreamWorks Pictures,
05:00director Steven Spielberg and former Disney chair Jeffrey Katzenberg made a play for the dining industry.
05:05Well, the first mistake with the shark was they made a big mistake and they built it for fresh water.
05:10Dive! Exclamation point included was marine-themed, shaped like a giant yellow submarine,
05:16with a menu full of sub-related puns, including submarine sandwiches, obviously.
05:20Half restaurant, half ride.
05:22The dining room would be timed to simulate submerging into deep water every hour or so.
05:27At the press of a hydraulic button and pulling a lever back,
05:30supposedly the shark comes shooting out of the water headfirst.
05:33And this has absolutely happened, because David Brown and Dick Zanuck were there watching with me.
05:37Honestly, considering who was behind it, we're sorry we won't get a chance to try it out.
05:41There were plans to create a chain, but Dive managed to open only two restaurants before closing.
05:47You're gonna need a bigger boat.
05:49Number 3. Still. Rainforest Cafe.
05:53Swing in now for our steak and shrimp platter for only $13.99.
05:57Feast on our juicy, tough sirloin steak, paired with our succulent coconut shrimp, fried to a golden brown.
06:03It seemed like the coolest place ever when you were a kid.
06:06But if you lost track of the jungle-themed rainforest cafe and its fake foliage ceilings and primate animatronics,
06:12never fear.
06:13Well, unless you're scared of animatronics.
06:15Cascading waterfalls, tropical fish tanks, chattering gorillas, and of course, the trumpeting elephants.
06:23This place is still around and seemingly going strong.
06:27Waterfalls, nature, and lifelike animals are the backdrop for the restaurant's standard American classic-infused menu.
06:34But that volcano cake dessert is still the star after all these years.
06:38More limited in its scope, there are just under two dozen locations,
06:42including permanent spots at several Disney resorts worldwide.
06:45It's also an important message that we do not inherit the earth, but borrow it from our children.
06:51Number two, Miss, Cheeseburger in Paradise.
06:55In 2002, the Jimmy Buffett brand expanded with yet another restaurant based on one of his biggest hits.
07:01Cheeseburger in Paradise specialized in, you guessed it, cheeseburgers.
07:11And the paradise came in the form of island-themed decor.
07:14Palm trees and rustic wooden tables and chairs gave the place a fun beachside resort bar vibe.
07:20Like Margaritaville, the cocktails were a major selling point.
07:24Unlike Margaritaville, Cheeseburger in Paradise never quite caught on.
07:28It says that it's with great regret that we must inform you that Cheeseburger in Paradise in Indianapolis will close
07:34Tuesday, August 21st.
07:37Not quite as nice as its predecessor.
07:39It closed its last restaurant in 2020, but it was trending downward for years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
07:45Luckily, you can still order a Cheeseburger in Paradise at Margaritaville.
07:50Your meaty cheeseburgers.
07:54And life was good.
07:56Escape to Cheeseburger in Paradise.
07:59Number two, Still, Medieval Times.
08:02Across its 10 North American locations, visitors at this themed restaurant feast like kings and queens in an arena that
08:09overlooks a jousting field.
08:10Medieval Times dinner and tournament is a meal and a renaissance fair rolled into one.
08:15We have your feast.
08:16Thank you very much.
08:17Oh my god.
08:17Thank you so much.
08:18Roasted chicken.
08:19Roasted potato.
08:21I like mashed potatoes better.
08:24Mashed potatoes?
08:24Yeah.
08:26Thank you so much.
08:27Thank you so much.
08:28Featuring a skilled cast of performers, sword fighting and jousting on horseback, dinner here is a two-hour commitment.
08:35The menu is modern, family-friendly comfort food.
08:39With roast chicken, spare rib, and potatoes, but the experience is still incredibly unique.
08:44We do have a four-course meal.
08:47They are served chicken that is wonderfully seasoned with potatoes and corn on the cob.
08:52The vegetarian options, they do get a three-bean stew.
08:56A night out at Medieval Times plays out like a Shakespearean drama with all the boring bits cut out.
09:02My family lay murder, did you cheer?
09:06I'm sorry.
09:08Winch, can I get another, what's this called, peasant punch?
09:11Oh, this junk got me leaning.
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09:29Number 1. Miss, the official All-Star Cafe.
09:33We're going to talk about your favorite team, your favorite sports personality.
09:36We're going to have them right here with us from the All-Star Cafe right here in Las Vegas.
09:41Pooling their combined fame, athletic celebrities like Shaquille O'Neal, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey Jr.,
09:48Monica Sellers, and Andre Agassi opened the official All-Star Cafe in 1995.
09:53Their combined star power turned it into a supercharged sports bar.
09:58It had everything from memorabilia to huge TVs for watching games to all the American favorites you could want to
10:04eat.
10:04And you never know when they'll show up.
10:07Mom, short.
10:08It's the official All-Star Cafe.
10:11Ken Griffey Jr., 301 Lifetime Average.
10:13The last one closed in 2007.
10:16In the 90s, sometimes it seemed like athletes were bigger celebrities than movie stars.
10:20But the idea that they'd get together and pull a plan at Hollywood is kind of nostalgic in itself.
10:25So if you go, bring the right stats and the right card.
10:29Visa.
10:29Because the All-Star doesn't take American Express.
10:32301 Lifetime Average.
10:34Number one.
10:35Still, Casa Bonita.
10:37Okay, show of hands, how many of us thought South Park made this place up?
10:41Oh, awesome.
10:43That was cool, huh?
10:44The show's creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, now own Casa Bonita, a beautiful pink paradise of a restaurant with
10:51a Mexican-themed interior.
10:52After its four other restaurants closed, Parker and Stone stepped in to save the Lakewood, Colorado location.
10:58It's not a joke, and that's the thing, it had become a joke.
11:02And we were sad that it had become a joke, because you could see what this place was in the
11:0670s when they built it.
11:07You know, they were trying to make a little Disneyland here.
11:09Its most famous feature is a 30-foot waterfall complete with professional cliff divers.
11:14The expansive dining room is an atmospheric-themed dining experience that employs several varieties of performers.
11:21Casa Bonita made headlines in 2025 when its workers went on strike, demanding better pay and protections.
11:27Showing their signs, saying that UPS strikes are going to be what they're looking for, because they want just better,
11:33higher pay, and they also want safer aspects as well.
11:38The strike ended a few days later, and the place has since returned to presenting a fantastical dining experience.
11:44We get back in there, and we get just kind of back to our roots. It's actually, I think, obviously
11:48healthy for us now.
11:50Which restaurant would you book a reservation for? Tell us in the comments.
11:54I like the notes that you know I like, relatively true.
11:55Bye-bye!
11:55seemly to speak. Bye
11:55-bye! Bye
11:55-bye!
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