T-Rex Cafe
1847 Village W Pkwy, Kansas City, KS, 66111
T-Rex Cafe Menu
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Address :
1847 Village W Pkwy
Kansas City, KS, 66111 - Phone (913) 334-8888
- Website https://www.trexcafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Anna V.
I went here for the first time after great wolf lodge and it was a trip to remember! I love their service here. there was a little struggle in the beginning because we got there 10 minutes after it opened and we had to wait 10 minutes more to get a seat. One of the girls took us up stairs and we sat in a really nice booth that's perfect for little kids, no booster required! Our waiter was incredibly sweet and he made us feel welcome! He also informed us about what happens every 30 minutes {meteor shower} the good arrived fairly quickly and their shark water was TOOO DIE FOR. I loved it. It was a sprite with coconut and oh man I peed it was great! Not going to lie there was limited amount of things I could eat on the menu but it was well worth the money. I definitely recommend the T-Rex cafe!
(5)Doug S.
I have to say that after reading some of these reviews I was expecting the worse at T-Rex and I came away surprised. It is obviously geared towards younger kids but we had five teenage girls and they all enjoyed it. First off, the atmosphere is great, very well laid out with lots of dinosaurs to take up your time. The staff was very friendly and always in top of things. Never waited for a refill or to have our empty dishes taken away. The food way overshot my expectations, all food came out hot and plentiful. I had a rigatoni with sausage ragu and it was flavorful with just enough ragu. I also had a bowl of tomato basil soup which was spot on. It came with a wedge of garlicky, cheesy type bread that was very dunkable in the soup. All others raved about their meals. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is the price, rather expensive but you pay for the atmosphere. I would recommend T-Rex to any parent that has kids or any dino enthusiast. Same company that owns Rain Forest Cafe.
(4)Tom M.
The ambiance is cool and it's a fun place but the food is expensive, small and honestly not great. The service was fine. I had nachos and it didn't come with salsa. ?? For an additional $1.50 I could get some caso dip. The chips were kind of stale. My son and a $20 bowl of chicken fetuchinni. You'd think that would be huge but it was pretty small. In ok with paying for good god but this place need to work on the taste and quality of their food.
(2)Paul L.
Pretty cool looking place but good luck trying to get service when you want to buy something like a t-shirt. We were 2nd in line and waited over 10-min while the staff stood around talking. Then the family behind us was invited to go check out at another line. We went to the other line and the cashier left her post. So, we left the shirt behind and don't plan to came back.
(1)Bryan A.
The atmosphere is amazing! Plenty of photo-ops and bank draining opportunities. The food was better than expected, but not great for the price of the food. The portions are massive, so just plan on that. Be prepared to drop some serious coin and be prepared to get your "NO" muscle working to avoid leaving there with more than needed.
(3)Jarrod V.
The wife and I were doing our usual spiel about restaurants. "Where do you want to eat?" "I don't know. What are you in the mood for?" "I don't know, whatever is good." My wife got an idea and said, "Let's go to the T-Rex Cafe!" Since we moved to KC, we haven't yet visited the Legends so I quickly agreed and we took off. I knew it would be tough to get a seat, being Sunday lunch time after all. We walk in and the hostess tells us there is a 45 minute wait. As she is about to hand us a notification device, she stops and says that she has a table for 2 ready right now. Perfect! Very lucky that everyone waiting was a group and no couples other than us. We were seated in the volcanic section near the Parasaurolophus. We ordered the fried cheese as an appetizer. I got the Chicken Fried Steak and my wife got the cheesesteak, I don't recall what their silly themed names are. There is a variety of foods in their menu including burgers, pizza, rotisserie chicken, St. Louis style ribs, and fish. When we ordered, a "meteor shower" just occurred. The "meteor shower" supposedly occurs every 1/2 hour. The lights dim and the sound of rumbling and crashing are heard. All the animatronics go off with dino roars and grunts. This lasts about 30 seconds. It should be renamed to "make all the little kids cry every 1/2 hour" as the littlest of the kids in the restaurant get scared and scream and cry. Easily very scary for the young and unprepared. While we waited, there was also someone wearing the dino mascot suit walking around and taking pictures with the kids. Of course, you can buy those pictures in the gift shop after your meal. By the time another meteor shower hit, my wife and I got our food. The chicken fried steak was huge! The server heard my remark and said "we do have boxes to take home the leftovers." I cut in and found it was mostly the coating on the outside and not that much meat. When I got to the meat, it was clearly something pulled from a package and not fresh. The meat was unnaturally flat. However, despite this, the breading and meat were tasty, just not enough gravy. I got their mashed potatoes and waffle fries with this as well. Yes, I know, lots of starch. The potatoes were nice, but the fries were great! Probably some of the best waffle fries I have ever had. The seasoning on the waffle fries reminded me of Arby's fries, which I love. Amazing and highly recommended! My wife's meal was equally as huge. She said it was tasty. She gave me a piece that was just meat and cheese. I thought it could use a little seasoning. We both took home half of what was on our plates. The food was, as many put it, mediocre, except for the waffle fries. There are still several things I would be willing to try on their menu, same with my wife. The decor is really the attraction here. I never went to Rainforest Cafe and this is a different take on the same theme, except with dinosaurs. I have 6 nephews and I think they would love it. Most parties, if not all, had children. That's what this place is about. It is a bit on the pricy as well. This would be a nice once-in-a-while treat for the kids. Lastly, we visited the gift shop. Lots of different dino themed items. Lots of shirts. They have a Build-A-Dino area which is run by the Build-A-Bear people. Lots of stuff your kids will beg for. All in all, we liked our visit. We will probably return with nephews and hope for better food If you want a fine dining experience, go somewhere else. If you want an entertaining afternoon for your kids, there are few better.
(4)Shannon E.
So my sons birthday was coming up, and we reserved online. The woman who helped me book the party was fantastic. We were told that we pay like 34$ for each kid and that lets them eat, drink. Play in the Dino dig place, and build a Dino workshop. And adults pay as usual. Our group had 12 people. 4 children 8 adults. The atmosphere is wonderful, really it is. Busy!!! But cool. I didn't see the meteor shower they spoke of though. Since our party was big, we knew it would be expensive, and we realized that it would be difficult, but our bill when we left was about 800$!!! And that doesn't include the gifts we got at the gift shop. I saw these weird charges on my receipt, and from what I understand, we were charged x amount of dollars per person for ordering items that required the BBQ. We were also charged per person for a banquet fee? Our waitress was nice at first, but as the evening picked up she slacked big time. At the end of our meal we stil had menus at our table and plates stacked up. I actually had to find someone to help remove plates. Again, I get that we were a big party, but for what we were paying, I think the service could've been much better! Like I said, she was nice but obviously wasn't use to dealing with a large party. As far as drinks go. We all were happy. I had the raptor Rita and it was delicious! And the glasses we got were very cool too. Now to the food. So we first got two appetizer samplers. It had ribs which were AMAZING, onion rings which weren't good. Motz sticks and quesadilla which were good, and queso which was awesome!! The French fried tasted freezer burned. when our meals came, our steaks were way undercooked, and none of our food was even hot. It was like warm and cold. I was so disappointed because i knew the food could've had potential. I had pasta which was good, but again. It wasn't hot. It tSted like it had been sitting out for quite a while. They added 150$ in gratuity (which we would've tipped well anyways) but I was extremely disappointed in the service. On my child's birthday, I want to relax and enjoy my time with him. Not trying to clean the mess off the tablebe and search for trash cans because our server hasn't come to check on us. Shed come every 20 min or so? I was very disappointed but my son had fun so I guess I'll just have to suck it up. The kids loved it, and had a blast. It really is a cool place, but for the price and service, I wouldn't recommend it for a big event. It's more of a place where you go in with a couple of friends. But I did not feel like our party was a party, and I could NOT believe how expensive it was. It was 600$ JUST FOR FOOD AND DRINKS! Don't get me wrong, we love food but it most definitely was NOT worth 600 I would've rather paid 600$ in drinks haha. And it's very busy in there. Lots going on and very busy. The place was clean. No disappointment there. Overall, the TREX cafe is a typical over priced name brand place. Was our time terrible? No. Disappointing? Yes. Did the kids have fun? Yes. Would I do it again? Not a chance!!!!
(3)Tyler A.
Given I am a young man, who took his girlfriend, and we are not the market they are aiming for, I was still a little disappointed. The food Is very average tasting for a 17 dollar plate. The steak in my chicken fried steak was minimal. But the atmosphere and the staff Is why I am giving a 4/5
(4)Dawn R.
Food is good, not great. But really, nobody comes here for the cuisine. It's all about the dinosaurs! I was in town visiting with my kids and we took my 3 yr old granddaughter here for lunch. Yes, it's a bit of a tourist trap but if you've got little ones, especially on a cold or rainy day, this is a great place to spend some time. They have a shop where you can purchase dino-themed merchandise, and a "build-a-dino" area where they can make their own stuffed dino to take home with them. Sadly, they took out the duck game, which Lily loves, but she still had a great time. Once you're past the shop, you get into the real fun. Dinos are everywhere! And they MOVE! And not just dinos, but gigantic bugs, fish, and all types of prehistoric flora. Periodically, a "storm" pops up, which just adds to the fun, although some of it can be a little scary for skittish little ones. Do yourself a favor and get up and explore, don't just stay in your seating area. If you do, you'll miss out on all the great displays they've done such a good job on.
(4)Kate B.
Adults will definitely feel like they are getting ripped off here, as the food is way overpriced and not much to write home about. Still, there is a fairly extensive menu considering it is a kiddie restaurant, and little ones will love what you're really paying for - the fun atmosphere! Good luck steering them away from the gift shop.
(4)Joelle B.
The only reason I am giving this place 2 stars is because the atmosphere is awesome. The Gant dinosaurs all over the place were very cool and the kids loved it for that reason. However, once we sat down and looked at the menus, we were in shock. Everything was very expensive, way more than we expected. The thingnis, the food we got wasn't that impressive. Not that we got a lot of it. The very small salad I got (iceberg lettuce with a few tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots) was $7, and would have been a $3-4 side salad anywhere else. The kids meals were $7-8 and the corn dogs were ok but for the price there weren't that many and the "fresh fruit" side was 3 orange sections. My younger daughter only wanted fries, the side was $3.50 and it was only a handful of fries. They were pretty good though. My husband didn't even get a meal because a burger was $15, and the ones we saw going to other tables didn't look that great (or big). Oh, and this was lunch. The saving grace for us was that because we had our Great Wolf Lodge armbands on, we got a free appetizer, and the queso and chips were quite tasty. However, if we'd had to pay for them, the $10 price tag would have been pretty ridiculous for the amount we got. Totally not worth it.
(2)Steven F.
T-Rex is one of my "must-eat" restaurants in Kansas City. The food is great, but the real draw is the interior. It's more of an "attraction" than a restaurant. The interior is full of gigantic animatronic dinosaurs and an aquarium. There is a mining/archaeology area for the the little ones which is an upcharge but well worth it if you are waiting for a table. The food is good. Better than the name would make it sound. I had a burger that was really excellent. The service is fine. The wait time for a table is always incredibly long, so be warned. Interior- 5/5 Food- 4/5 Service- 4/5 OVERALL- 4/5
(4)Kelly S.
We went on a Saturday night so the wait time to be seated was about an hour and a half. We looked at everything in the shop and also the went into the back to look in the cave area, sift for rocks and look for dinosaur bones. Great atmosphere and the light show is pretty cool. There were tons of tables open that were clean and could fit our party of five, but I guess there wasn't enough staff to take on the load. Once we were finally seated the waitress took our order but she put my sons order in wrong and didn't put their grandmothers order in at all. So I took away two stars for the long wait to be seated, our orders not being correct and both the hostess and waitress complained about being too tired. The one in Orlando was way better!
(3)Jessi B.
You're paying strictly for the decor/ambiance at this place. Food was subpar at best. Wait staff did ok but we went on a Monday evening and there was no wait and the place was only 1/2 full. The double dip appetizer was 9$ and my fiancé and I who have both worked in food service numerous times could tell the queso came out of a can and was no where near 9$ :-/ My daughter got Mac & cheese and again the stuff out of the Kraft box I make at home for 1$ tasted better. My fiancé's burger and waffle fries was probably the best tasting item we got and it was 15$. This place is a bit ridiculous. You're better off going to Applebee's and using the leftover $$$ to go to a museum with real dinosaurs.
(2)Derek N.
Ate lunch with a party of four. As usual, the wait to be seated was long. We waited 45 minutes to be seated after checking at 11:45. Yes, kids love it that much. The decor is full of dinosaurs and lots of things to entertain the kids. It's cold like a freezer. I guess they are recreating the ice age? The food isn't bad. I'd call it average. We had two salads at lunch. Both had grilled chicken. Between the two of them, there was maybe 1/2 a cup if chicken. The kids had chicken nuggets with pre-packaged applesauce. The biggest problem was that it took 40 minutes for our food to arrive. This isn't the first time that's happened. Between the wait to be seated and the slow service, we spent over two hours "eating" lunch.
(2)Andrea B.
Went there this evening with a total of 4 adults and one child, all friends. We got there at about 8:30pm we were told that we could pick up a pager at 9:00pm, at 9 o'clock we picked up our pager, 15 minutes later it buzzed. So far so good or so we thought. We were seated in the you're an embarrassment back corner, then after almost 20 minutes a server tried to deliver food we had not order. At this point we had not even had our drink order taken. We finally left without food despite having been in the building for almost an hour. On our way out the hostess said "have a nice night." I told her that we would not because we'd never seen our server. Very disappointed t-Rex. Oh and the child with us really enjoyed her corn dog at Culver's where we actually had dinner.
(1)Josh T.
Well what can I say. The decor is awesome. The service is terrible. We have waited for over an hour and still not had anything to eat. It is a good thing that the grandkids wanted to dig for dinosaurs. I am glad the kids love it, because I do not. Overpriced and a poor excuse for a restaurant.
(1)Kyron C.
Wow talk about a walk in Jurassic park. I had a prehistoric time that will go down in my history books. What can I even say about those Dino shaped chicken nuggets?! Nom nom nom! Who knew trex meat was so juicy and delicious. I swore they went extinct years ago but man this place somehow found it! Highest recommendation!
(5)Mike C.
If you like the " Rain Forest" restaurant, you will love this place. The kids meal offer milk, & juices which are a plus. The service are excellent & yes the manager do come around the tables asking how's everything? The foods are good, but not excellent. But the atmosphere was breath taking. We will come back. Highly recommended.
(5)Karyn C.
OWNER RAIN FOREST CAFE 1847 VILLAGE WEST PARKWAY KANSAS CITY KANSAS Dear Sir or Miss Hope you are right location! Anyway, July 2012, I visited Shawnee KANSAS! If I remember from school, KANSAS is call Sun Flower State, am I right? The lady from the Salvation Army church take me all over, one the places was here! If this is righ location, was very "CHILD FRIENDLY," sorry, those the words Po Po (Grandmother in Cantonese) uses! Child Friendly, had fish tank, all kind dinosaurs that move, roar, make noise! I liked the stegosaur, the lady had me put up my hands like I was greeting him! That is perfect timing, it made big noise! There was also an area, think was additional admission fee, where I was able to explore and pretend to dig for fossils! If this is right location, please know I very much enjoyed visiting this Rain Forest Cafe! I always enjoy anyplace Child Friendly! I thank the lady taking me here, was hours of fun! Karyn from Oakland California (The Golden State)
(5)Sara S.
We came for the atmosphere and the kids of course but I was pleasantly surprised by very good food and good service! We were there on a weekday for lunch so it was busy but no wait. The decor is fantastic for the kids. My two sons were a little frightened by the meteor shower that happens every 30 min (it's mostly just loud and lights get darker). But otherwise they loved it! The kids menu had a good selection, especially considering my two year old who won't eat sandwiches, hot dogs and barely touches a hamburger. The pasta option was great. My oldest had the popcorn shrimp and really liked it. I had a tropical salad and it was excellent. The fruit was fresh and the shrimp was nicely seasoned. My husband had the chicken fried chicken and the portion was huge! I tried it and it had a nice light breading. Our waitress didn't write anything down, which always makes me nervous, but she got it all correct and brought drink refills without us asking!
(5)Amy R.
This place is great if you want to walk in and check out all the cool dinosaur decor. We waited 40+ minutes for our food after ordering. We arrived about 1130 for lunch. It wasn't busy, we had no wait for seating. I don't mind waiting a reasonable amount of time for my food, but this was too long. The prices in relation to the amount of food are too high.
(2)Tutti S.
My grands love this place all around. Visiting is a must whenever we are in town. The food is tasty and you get plenty. You don't sacrifice quality for quantity. Quesedilla appetizers are so good I may have them for my meal next time.
(4)Rodney S.
Great places for kids, but this place could be an absolute knock out, if the food wasn't SO bad! Horrible food with crazy prices, with a great atmosphere.
(2)Zachary D.
This is a great place to take the kids, or to have drinks. The atmosphere/decor is the main attraction, it is awesome! However, the food isn't that great. There will be children.
(3)Ashlee V.
Decent food. ... really fun for the kiddos. .. We have a 4 and 6 year old and they loved it. It's pretty pricey for what you get. .. but you're paying more for the experience
(4)Alyssa M.
My children --- both 6 have loved this place since they were infants. I LOVE IT! Food is tasty. Which is surprising because many attraction restaurants have horrible food... not the case at Trex Cafe. I like the entire place... the dinos and the upstairs aquarium. The restrooms could use a good cleaning! NOTE TO MANAGEMENT:::: CLEAN YOUR RESTROOMS!!! How the trex comes to the table and takes pic is cute... I usually buy the pic... the kids love it! The downstairs store doesn't really have bad prices. But across the street at Five and DIve or whatever it is called... has less expensive dino stuff...
(5)Aaron E.
Subrate food for high prices. Seriously, $2.99 for soda water and $2.99 for each refill. You have lost your mind. If it wasn't for the great attitude of our waiter you'd get one star. The Dino experience simply isn't enough justify the low quality/high price ratio.
(2)David G.
This dino-themed restaurant is excellent for kids and a general disappointment for their parents. The ambiance is great fun with large, animatronic dinosaurs, beautiful aquariums, and an occasional "storm" complete with loud rumbling and flickering light. For an additional charge, your kids can dig in a giant sandbox "dino dig," wash some mined rocks, and look at some amazing minerals and stones in a faux cave. If you really want to destroy your budget, do all of the above and buy a cheap piece of crap that will break in the car on the way home from the gift shop. The menu offers a pretty good variety with nice portions but is definitely overpriced for the quality. We have made two visits with our kids, and both times we felt the food was the lackluster player at this exciting venue. Service has been okay at both visits. Bottom line: Your kids will love it. You may not.
(3)Frank R.
Better than disney experience at resteraunt. Food was above average Great service and clean
(5)Ryan G.
Great atmosphere for kids. Fun place to eat. The food is decent. This is one of those place, it seems, with a pretty big menu- satisfaction regarding flavor depends entirely on what you order. I realize that some might think this the case with just about anywhere, so please allow me to put it a different way... I once ordered the BLT and it was really good. Another time I ordered the pizza and it was unbelievably bad. Make sense? Not the worst place I've ever been to, far from the best. The difference is how much fun my kids have at a place like this. Makes it all worth it. At least I know I can get the BLT. ;)
(3)Chris G.
This place had a really cool atmosphere and design. Great place to take the kids, and my wife and I enjoyed the details that they put into the decor. For that part it is 5 stars. The food was not bad, not great, just middle of the road; really about what I'd expect. The prices are high for what you're getting, and it's pretty loud in here, but that is in-line with my expectations too, because it's obvious that you go here for the atmosphere. The game area was pretty lame, as some of the "arcade" games weren't working, and the prices were too high. If you are going to have a rock hunt, charge the kids not the parents; we're over collecting rocks by this age. I give it a 4 stars because the atmosphere was great, service was good and the food was decent. Would recommend as a one time place to take your kids...
(4)Adam J.
Ate here with a 2.5 and a 5 year old. This is like a Rainforest Cafe for dinosaurs and fish. The decor was neat, although my kids weren't too interested in eating wanting to walk around instead. The food was expensive and hit and miss. The tortellini wasn't good, fish taco was good. Maybe best for a drink, appetizer at the bar and walk around inside a bit...then go elsewhere to eat.
(3)Billy S.
The food was fair. The constant up selling from the waitress was very annoying. Very expensive and the atmosphere didn't really impress my 2 young children. They were bored and ready to leave before finishing their $13 kids meals. As we were trying to pay our bill, the waitress again tried to push some $25 membership program. Uh...no.
(2)Josh B.
I went here with my Fiancee and her family that included her two nieces. I was pretty excited because I have been to Rainforest Cafe in Chicago many times and enjoyed my experiences. Our waitress started out alright but slowly got busy and was really unable to deal with our table. She got our drinks out at a reasonable amount of time but that is when things went downhill. Me and my lady decided to head down to the bar to get a drink for ourselves so her parents would not have to pay. After standing there watching the bartenders make drinks for everyone else for 5 minutes, I decided to ask for a drink menu. As I was waiting I observed that the bartenders were very slow and inefficient. This comes into play later in our dinner. Our food came out and we asked for some ranch. I was able to get through more than half my meal before that ranch ever came. It was not our servers fault however since she had a tray of drinks that probably took the bartenders forever to make. The food I thought was kind of pricey but that did not bother me as I expected good food. I ordered fish and chips and when it came out I was thoroughly disappointed. The fish tasted very fishey and it was obvious that freshness was of no concern to them. The waffle fries were so greasy and yet they were not even very crispy. The guy next to me ordered the lasagna and the plate was hot so the server brought the plate out while holding it with a napkin. He then proceeded to leave the napkin on the plate and stuck to the side of the lasagna. This place was over priced and the food was pretty bad. Yeah great for the kids but I would rather just make good food at home and buy them a fishtank.
(2)Ray S.
So we came here during lunch and I think they were clueless as to what they were doing. It wasn't busy and they said it was a 15 minute wait. Half an hour later we just walked out. Why? After visiting a dirty restroom and sitting at the *sticky* bar while looking at the dirty tables that hadn't been bussed, the decor that was dirty and falling apart, the employees just standing around, I seriously was concerned about the quality of the care they would be putting into the food they were serving. Reading the reviews about overpriced and gross food didn't encourage me any. So we made a lap around the place to look at the pretty fish tanks and walked out. Not regretting that choice.
(1)Charles V.
An incredible atmosphere and amazing detail. My 6 year old son would have spent the night here if we had given him a chance. Many of the dinosaurs are automated and move throughout your meal. Every 30 mins the place has a meteor shower where all of the dinosaurs roar and move along with other special effects. You really need to walk around and take the whole place in. Gift shop is a little pricey but has some neat stuff. Menu wasn't huge but had a little something for everyone. Great kids menu and we got a free appetizer for showing our Great Wolf water park bands. Kids loved the slushies that come in the huge cups. I had the mushroom ravioli in lobster sauce and it was amazing. My wife had the combo platter and it was a lot of food that I helped her finish. Kids loved their pasta and finished the whole meal. The only reason I am not giving a 5th star was that our waiter had tables throughout the huge area so refills were scarce and he didn't make many trips to our table. We spent about 90 mins at the restaurant and enjoyed every minute. I am sure it helped that it wasn't very busy on this winter Tuesday night.
(4)suckity s.
This was the worst experience I have ever had to deal with. An hour wait to be seated. An hour wait for food and it came out cold. The waitress was on her phone when she took the bill money and "forgot" to give us the correct change. Never ever ever again
(1)Aaron F.
Called ahead, told they would not take a reservation and the wait was 45 minutes on a Monday afternoon. When we arrived the restaurant was not busy and we were sat upon walking in. 20 minutes for the server to greet us, 20 more for drinks to arrive, and 40 minutes after that the food arrived. Food was good, and the manager made things right with the bill for waiting. As others have said you come to T Rex for the atmosphere, definitely not for the service.
(3)J B.
Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. That's what you go for. You expect higher prices for food to offset the cost of the experience, but $16-17 for a burger with fries?! Food isn't to my liking. I have yet to find something I really like. Service is hit or miss here too. Local-level management is great, but Landrys corporate management is a joke to deal with of you have any problems. Overall, the kids will have a blast, but you will pay highly for it.
(2)Stephanie Q.
We were staying at great wolf lodge nearby and I was looking for a place for dinner for our 7 plus 5 friends visiting us at the hotel. I read the reviews in yelp and decided to skip it but one if the friends taking us said it was good. I am so glad we listened to her. We had two nine year olds who were enchanted by the incredible decor. Our teen boys loved it and we sat at the Octopus round table that seated all 12 and it was one if the most conversationally friendly meal with a large group I have ever had. The service was warm and super friendly. It was a little slow but we were there for the experience not a quick nite. My husbands salmon was fabulous. I had a salad with cranberries and pecans that was absolutely delicious. It was a slow time in this area and I can imagine during speedway or stadium events or prime summertime it is probably crowded and there would be a wait but injury loved the place and the surrounding area seems very upscale with neat shops that if we would have had more time I would have enjoyed.
(5)Kurt T.
I had been wanting to take my family here for over a year. The wait time scared us away a year ago. We arrived at 12:30pm and were told the wait would be 70-80 minutes. There were tables in the bar area that were empty that we asked about and were told they were for sitting waiting customers. We wandered around and let the kids play. The atmosphere is great and the kids entertainment area is great as well. Not enough to entertain six year olds for hours, but enough for 30-45 minutes. We eventually found seats at the bar 60 minutes into our wait. We ordered snacks for the hungry kids. Drinks came quick, but cheese sticks and onion rings took 20 minutes to arrive. Another group asked about one of the group of three tables that sat empty the entire time we waited. The bartender informed them that those were for bar seating and were served by the bar and they could sit there. That would have been nice to know 80 minutes ago. A few minutes later it was our time to be seated. The hostess walked us through the restaurant and tried to sit us at one of the tables behind the bar that had sat empty since we arrived... No thank you. They did promptly sit us somewhere else, and our service after being seated was great. The food was okay. Pretty good for a place that is obviously about the atmosphere. Portion sizes were massive and prices fare considering portion sizes. If there with children definitely get dessert! T-Rex reminds me of Casa Bonita in Denver. It's fun to go to for a weird special occasion, but you'd never actually recommend it as a normal restaurant to go to.
(2)Josh B.
If you like dinosaurs and mediocre cuisine this is the place for you. T-Rex Cafe has a dino-dig, build-a-dinosaur workshop, dinosaur themed statues, and well just dinos every where. But the food, well it is edible and in big enough portions. The food isn't bad, just not really worth the price. But you aren't going for the food, you are going to see all the crazy dinosaurs on the wall.
(3)Kristina R.
I came with my sister with downs syndrome for her birthday with my two cousins. We made a reservation and got seated around 6:40, we had our order placed by 6:50 at which point we were told they were out of bananas(my sister wanted a strawberry/banana smoothie) and waffle fries. I ordered a side Caesar salad to be brought out before my food. At 7:20 I asked the waitress for my salad as it had been 30 minutes and she said "I'm not the kitchen, I don't decide when the food comes out." She then brought me a salad that was hot and mangled at which point we asked for a manager. The manager giggled and then said "yea everyone has been upset about the waffle fries and left." I then received a salad a few minutes later a new one and the manager came back and said this should have been yours, I said "so Lupe just brought me a random salad?" The manager again giggled and said "Yea she did, I'm sorry." We received our food after sitting for an hour at our table, my bronto burger was missing cheese, my cousins chop chop salad had no chicken, and my sisters Caesar wrap had no chicken (we had asked for them to add this). It was an awful experience and a waste of money. The manager offered no sympathy just giggled and smiled at us as we complained and Lupe was unfriendly and did not care. The only positive was when we asked for a different server and go Clayton who tried to make things right but could not as our food was miserable and the manager did not try to correct the issues that had occurred. My sister came for her birthday and this was anything but a celebration. I really think this store needs to be evaluated because the experience was terrible. If I could I would but zero stars for this. We go every year for my sisters birthday, but after last nights experience I do not think that will happen.
(1)M S.
Great place for kids....not so great for parents. Food is so-so and pricey. Decor is fun dino themed. Loud bass music will drive you berserk, I promise.
(3)Melisa V.
okay, that's it. came here with a friend and our toddler sons after going to see a movie this morning. since my son can't stop talking about dinosaurs, I thought he would enjoy T-Rex much more this time and that the subpar service and food wouldn't matter as much. not only were both boys terrified when they walked in (and the hostess could not have cared less) the service was actually worst than I remembered. our original server actually pawned our table off on another server when he realized we weren't going to be ordering that much. the boys shared a chicken nugget kid's meal while my friend and I shared a chop salad. it took more than 30 minutes for our food to arrive. as we were eating, the manager decided to come over and check and was moving on before we could even really answer her. I guess I just don't understand how a restaurant geared toward kids could have such an apathetic group of people working there. honestly, I think the main reason we didn't say anything was because we didn't want any additional comps or incentives to return. for being one of only two T-Rex restaurants in the country (the other being at Downtown Disney in Orlando) you would think they would care a little more about service and the quality of their food. Unless you, or your child, really love dinosaurs, there's really no reason to waste your time or money here.
(2)Chris W.
We were in town for a quick get away weekend when my wife came across T-Rex. Thankfully she read a yelp review recommending reservations before we headed down there. If we hadn't had the reservations we would've been looking at an hour and a half wait! It was quite the experience - from all of the foam animatronic dinos to the meteor shower light show. My six year old had a blast. Now I wish the food could compare to the experience. I had the ribs, my wife had the honey chicken and the kids with chicken nuggets. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It just seemed to be thrown together on the cheap. I guess for the prices I expected a little more. With that said our server was very prompt and made sure that drinks were full and continually checked in on us. Along with that, my six year old hasn't stopped talking about the dinosaurs for two days after eating supper there. May be worth another shot the next time we're in town for the atmosphere alone!
(3)Lee B.
Great for kids. Service was excellent. Food is OK, but I hope you don't go to a restaurant named "T-Rex" for haute cuisine!
(4)Amy C.
We went here for my husband's birthday. We went to eat lunch and the atmosphere was so fantastic. Even for adults! The "meteor shower" every 30 minutes wasn't that great. We splitted "Trixie's Fried Cheese" for our appetizer, which was good but not amazing. My husband got a "Gigantosaurus Burger". That was a lot of hamburger for one person! I ended up getting "Chickasaurus Chicken Fried Chicken". That was really good and the garlic mashed potatoes were awesome. The staff was knowledgable about the food. But I wasn't really into them trying to sign up for this rewards card (which costs money). Especially if I'm not from around there. And the restaurants that are also on the list for the rewards are no where near where I live. But we ended up going back that same night for the "Chocolate Extinction" dessert. We were too full from lunch, and I'm glad we didn't get it then anyways. This dessert could probably go for a family of 4. And it was just the two of us! But I will definitely go back just for the atmosphere and delicious food!
(5)Tiffany R.
AWESOME place for children. So many activities such as fossil digging, breaking stone & also build-a-dino. Having dining areas ranging from the ice ages up to a live aquarium, this place should be on everyone's to do list if in the area. Tip: Highly recommend you eat before you go. Kids have no interest in food because there are so many other activities around the place. The food is over priced for the same thing you could cook at your house.
(3)Kyle F.
Whoever designed the exterior, they deserve a ton of credit to just get customers through the door. The atmosphere is pretty insane, if you're looking for a nice ambient and quiet evening--don't come here. I've never seen this place quiet or dead, it's always packed. The food is decent and if you're in the area, it's not your average sit down restaurant. For what it's worth, the food is okay but the atmosphere isn't my kind of crowd. Honestly, I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. Been there once, haven't been back since.
(3)Anthony S.
I give this place one star only because of the decor and neat experience .. Waited an hour for a table then waited an hour for food .. My son loved the place but we'll never be back.
(1)Sara D.
*ahem* I'd like to be the first to say that TRex Cafe is NOT just for kids! After going to a concert at Sandstone, me and 4 friends decided to check out the Legends. I am about to be 25 and the rest of them are in their middle-30s. Out of all the places in the Legends, we choose TRex Cafe and had a great time! Dinosaurs, and jelly fish, and wooly mammoths are everywhere you look. There are many aquariums with beautiful fish. Everything on the menu is named after a dinosaur. It was pretty late on a Saturday night (10 PM maybe?) so we got pretty focused service. Yes, we were the only table without children and yes, we were the table having the most fun. We stuck with just appetizers and alcohol. My coconut chicken strips were good; the sauces a bit odd. I had some sort of frozen margarita. It was huge and didn't taste like alcohol. But I have a huge headache today, so there must have been something in it. There were also big ice pieces in the bottom of the glass so it wasn't mixed properly. After hearing several tables being sung to for their birthdays, we decided to tell our waiter that we were there celebrating my birthday. (which was actually 6 days away so it wasn't a total lie!) He said he would bring the staff over to sing to us. We asked: "What do we get as a dessert?" He told us that they don't give free desserts for birthdays. What kind of dinosaur restaurant only sings but doesn't bring dessert!?! I think he was lying to us. 4 appetizers and about 7 drinks cost us well over $100. But my friend picked up the tab, so I'm not complaining!
(3)Jay P.
Made my granddaughter really happy with the fun atmosphere. The food is actually pretty good too! Service was fine and overall a great place to take your kids to.
(4)P M.
The place gets a third star for ambience. Its quite a set up and every kid will love it. The food, however, is incredibly lacking. I am certain this place has to have a huge freezer on site to keep all of their premade / frozen food. The jello thay came with my sons chickens nuggets actually came in the jello cup it was shipped in. It wasnt even legit Jello either... but some generic version. Disappointed over all.
(3)J L.
The kids will love the themed decor, but the food & drink is pricey and lots of gimmicks to lure you in and empty your wallet.
(3)Matthew G.
Amazing staff, excellent service, one of a kind atmosphere. This place saved our vacation after world's of fun was a giant disappointment and food there was scarce. I have never been inclined to speak with a manager because I enjoyed my experience, always the contrary. Here however I felt my servers manners and knowledge of the establishment deserved pointing out, as well as managements attention to detail in regards to maintenance of tanks, the restaurant, and shop. Also the food is not the cheap crap they usually petal at kid friendly places and there is a soundtrack of dinosaurs playing so you can enjoy your meal without hearing other people's habits or children crying.
(5)Shawn H.
In the same business model as Rainforest Cafe we have T-Rex Cafe. They're pretty much the same. My wife and I went here with my 7 year old daughter. The food was poor and overpriced. What is with the trend of coating everything with coconut shavings? Coconut chicken with coconut syrup dipping sauce? C'mon, we get it, you're trendy. Unfortunately the food didn't equal the decor. The decor was dark, two stories full of criss-crossing pathways and filled with salt water aquariums and animated dinosaurs. It was entertaining for one visit. It doesn't warrant a return visit. Didn't spend enough on the food? There's a gift shop! YEAH! With build-a-dinosaur! My child had to have that. Many other trinkets and stuffed animals and tee-shirts were available. C'mon, you love your child don't you? Then you have to buy more stuff! The middle class curse: guilt. How do you satisfy that guilt? With material purchases, of course. So sad, but so true. cheap crap = love
(2)Kris L.
Ok first off if you come here for the food you are a complete idiot. It's called T REX CAFE! There are dinosaurs everywhere! That being said, yes the food was awful..barely edible. I came here with my 4 and 2 year old nieces and they LOVED it. The atmosphere was perfect for children with fantastic dinosaurs (moving and making noises) at every turn. You can also Build-a-Dino (like build a bear) for about $20. Adorable. The service wasn't bad. I probably won't be returning here unless my nieces beg me...and I'll be eating before I go.
(3)Susanne W.
They weren't busy when we got here but it still took 40 minutes to get our food. Entrees were cold and we were in a hurry. Manager did give a discount but seriously... $13 for a burger you could at least serve it warm. Next time we will just feed the kiddo and the adults will eat elsewhere.
(2)Rob R.
Great atmosphere for the kids. Service was very inattentive on this visit. No anticipation of our needs and most things required asking twice. Food tasted like it sat under a heat lamp for too long.
(3)Jason A.
Went here with low expectations but with the intent of entertaining my kid while I scarfed something down. I was surprised to find another Rainforest Cafe-like restaurant in KC. Sure, you pay for the atmosphere, but you will have plenty to look at with the kids while you wait for a table or food. I ordered the talapia fish tacos (blackened). They were great. I'll go back if I'm with children, but I don't see a reason to go without kids. Can't really see 'stuffing a dino' coming in handy with adults....my kid loves that thing.
(4)Jamie D.
I think the food is actually really good. On par with Applebee's or even Cheesecake Factory. And the atmosphere is awesome! And with passes from great wolf lodge, the appetizer is free! Try the coconut chicken or pizza--excellent!
(5)Jocelyn R.
I enjoy T-Rex Cafe because my 6-year-old son likes it, but if I didn't have a kid, I can't imagine that I would ever want to eat here. The food is fine (I do love waffle fries, so points for that!), but it's the atmosphere that you're going for, lots of fun animatronic dinos, flashing lights, etc. It's a good place to take out-of-town guests who are visiting with their kids, I will say that.
(3)Scott P.
Sunday evening of Labor Day weekend. Called ahead for a 6:30 reservations. Seated immediately. Not very busy. Waitress was not happy to be there. Asked twice for water. Placed order and waited OVER AN HOUR for food. The food was okay. Nothing special. Waitress forgot drink for the child in our party. Then wanted to give it to us to go after we pointed it out when paying. Just an okay place. I get that kids would be into it. But I won't be headed back.
(2)Ken M.
This place has a great atmosphere. My toddler absolutely loved it. The place was a little loud for my tastes, but there was good energy. The service was a little slow, though it was a Friday evening, so that could explain it. There is SO much for kids to see and touch that it can actually be hard to keep them in their seats. The food was good, but pretty pricey. It's hard to stomach paying $4.99 to add on a side salad to a meal. Still, the portions are huge, and we took the equivalent of one meal home. All in all, we'll be back, but not for a while...
(4)William H.
I don't know how to put this in a polite sort of way. If I had to choose between eating at T-Rex again or a shovel full of dog feces with a bottle of catsup I would have to ask for some time to consider my options. In my 40 years of living this was absolutely the worst food I've ever attempted to eat in my life and the service wasn't much better. I took my young nephew to this place because it was his birthday. My mother came along for the ride. We checked out the dinosaurs and all of that. Very cool. That was where the good times ended friends. I ordered the meat loaf. First of all, it took a good 45 minutes to get it. Every single one of us had empty glasses for 20 minutes before our waiter showed up again to refill them. Finally, the food got there. Keep in mind, I've eaten in some bad places before but have always been able to finish my meal. I could not continue the streak after the day I pulled up a chair at T-Rex. My meat loaf came and I had a feeling when I looked at it that I wasn't gonna like it. This stuff had a shape to it that made it look as if it came out of a can and retained it's shape. Similar to what you see when you dump out a can of Ol' Roy for the German Shepard. So, now it was time to dig in and sample the goods. I couldn't even finish half of it. The other food that came with it was equally disappointing. I thought maybe it was just me. I looked at my nephew's plate. It was 3/4 full and he had also had enough. I couldn't believe it. That boy would eat the paint off the walls if you handed him a little salt and pepper. I turned to my mom and glanced at her plate. More of the same. What a waste of money. This stuff wasn't cheap either. Not for what it was anyway. It wasn't in the upscale price range but more expensive than eating at a chain such as Applebee's. Needless to say, I would never consider eating there again and if I hear anyone saying they're considering trying the place I go to great lengths to spare them. My advice is to go in, check out the dinosaurs, buy the kid a little trinket, and get out as fast as you can!
(1)Kurtis A.
This place is a nice touristy place that is basically a dinosaur version of the Rainforest Cafe. I've been here a few times, and to the Rainforest Cafe a few times( in Chicago) and I can tell you that the real difference between there and here isn't the set up. The difference is that while both places are expensive to eat ate, only the Rainforest Cafes food is worth it. That's not to say that the food here isn't good, but it's way overpriced for what it is. I could go almost anywhere downtown and get better food for less money. The staff here is always been a bright spot here when I've come. They were always on top of all of my wife and I's needs. The little shop is always fun for the kids and will give you something to remember your trip by. My advice, eat here once so you can say you did, but be prepared to spend and spend.
(3)Dayana P.
Great place especially with kids. Good food, cool environment. Tons of fish everywhere and just plain fun. I want to go back for sure.
(4)Megan H.
Short and Sweet. This place is horrible if you are an adult. Food is way over priced and poor. Now...if you're a 3 year old it's heaven.
(2)Ben B.
Didn't meet my low expectations. I expected a tourist trap, not a tourist trap with lousy service. Even better, thanks! Teenaged-greeter with headset at the door was totally unprofessional. When we approached her to tell her our seating requirements, she gave us the "wait one" finger and then proceeded to ignore us for about five minutes. Solid! Finally seated we were blessed with the least happy waitress in the place. Again, thanks! Place was mostly empty but we still managed to wait extra long for our food. Once the food arrived, it was decent (better then I thought it would be). Over all I can say with certainty that I will never, ever step foot in the T-Rex cafe again. If you absolutely must go, you will go once and probably never again. This struck me as a place that survives on one-time business with few repeat customers. Why any of this suprised me...I'll never know.
(1)Kelsey C.
I went here with my 16 yo brother and dad, so we didn't really fit in the said demographic that this restuarant was going for. However, I really like dinosaurs and thought it would be cool to at least check out. They have really cool themed areas (as shown by the pictures) and every 15-30 minutes (i can't remember) there is a 'meteor shower' where the lights change, music comes on, and meteors appear on the ceiling and main tv screen. It's pretty cool to watch. Like everyone else said before, the animatronic dinosaurs are really cool too, some of them are almost life-size so it really makes it seem real. But let's get one thing straight-- I went here for the atmosphere, and will not be coming back for the food. It was really overpriced and not good at all. Absolutely not worth it! For 3 people, our meal was almost $60! Totally ridiculous. They didn't give my brother a free refill on his 'ocean water' which was just sprite with a flavored syrup poured in...totally outrageous. It was $2.50 per glass!
(4)Kevin B.
A great place for the kids and close to lots of shopping and other cool things. It's big, new and a fun concept. A little pricey but it's a theme restaurant.
(4)Kevin S.
I was in KC to train staff and was staying at Holiday Inn Express next to Legends Mall so my co-trainer and I walked over each night to eat somewhere. We had heard about this place and had been told it was just for kids. Well, we were on our way to another place and saw the giant imitation dinosaur skeleton and the Build-a-Dino workshop sign outside (my co-trainer has a 15 mo. grandson back home) and we decided we just had to take a peek inside. We were met by an automated Dino and a friendly host. We asked to see a menu and were impressed. He encouraged us to tour the restaurant before we were seated, which we did before and after our meal, snapping multitudes of pics. My friend built a Dino for her grandson and bought him a book at the gift shop. Then we eat. Very friendly server and he was so efficient. Manager was helpful too and wanted to ensure we were satisfied, which we most certainly were. After our meal, I admitted I wanted to make-a-Dino, too. So I made a wooly mammoth, which I then dressed. My friend decided she needed to dress her grandson's Dino, too. Of course, someone helps you stuff your Dino and both the young woman that helped us before our meal and the young man who helped us after were very helpful. They said they get a lot of adults who make-a-Dino. The man even dressed our Dinos. Oh and our food was very good. No more pricy than anywhere we ate this week. I had the salmon and my friend had a shrimp pasta dish. We both left with our inner children very happy!!!! Be prepared to spend some money and Leave your inner cynic at home.
(4)Andrea H.
The only reason that I am giving 3 stars is because my son really likes it here. He enjoys all the dinosaurs and fish tanks. The prices that we have paid are outrageous, and the food that we got was less than impressive. The staff is rushed, making them not as friendly or accommodating that you would want them to be. The "check in" to get a table is a little ridiculous. The host will give you a card to literally go stand in a line that is 2 feet away so they can seat you. Seems like a huge waste of time. The food is not that good either. You are pretty much paying for a show.
(3)James G.
Great place to go in and look around. Food is horrible and over priced. Kids would probably love it for the animated dinosaurs and such.
(1)Joseph L.
Well you pay for the experience not the food. Atmosphere is amazing for young boys and girls if they're into dinosaurs or not. Not much for the adults. Face it, the only people going to this restaurant are families looking to entertain their children. Why else would anyone spend that much money on mediocre food?
(2)Steven P.
Great place to take the kids, the food was good and they had a good time.
(3)A T.
Food mediocre. Service okay. Food way overpriced for quality. Decor was awesome. Would not return to eat.
(2)Brian H.
Fun, fun, fun for the whole family! And good food, but you will have to wait!
(4)The Zen Chef N.
Came here with my toddler last month, decor outside & inside was impressive as if you stepped back into dino era. My kid loved it, but the food & service wasn't as impressive as the decor. Food came out mediocre & not warm or hot. I guess what they lacked in quality & flavor makes up for the decor, because it was pricey and not worth coming back. Experience once was enough.
(3)Starr A.
This place is like a theme park. You'll pay for every part of the experience a la carte, so be ready for that. The kids loved the dinosaur decor, and they've begged to return. We didn't participate in any of the activities because of the cost ($2.50 for digging in the dirt, for instance), especially since lunch was pretty pricey. The food was bland chain food. But you don't go to a place like this for the food. You go because it's a spectacle.
(3)Ganesh S.
Great place for kids and kids at heart. We went there on Christmas eve. Our server was really nice. Was kind enough to help us out with the menu as my wife is a vegetarian. We ordered the pizza and the veggie Wrap, kids got the Dino chicken and shrimp. Food was good, atmosphere was awesome. Would love to take my kids back again some day.
(4)Chad E.
First off, if you can't take a little sound and light show every 30 minutes, don't come here to eat. The atmosphere is great for young children. They will love the dinosaurs, fish, giant octopus, etc. The food is good, but it's certainly not great. Strangely, the food is not why we come to this restaurant.
(4)Stacy L.
We just walked around and checked out the atmosphere & decor. It was great. There was a build a dinosaur, like build a bear, and it took everything I had to not build my own. If I had children, we would definitely go back. It is like the Rainforest Cafe with Dinosaurs.
(4)Jeremy J.
Okay, I wish a place like this had existed when I was five because I would have loved it as much as my niece and nephew do. Sure, the food isn't the best and all the multicolored lights and loud noises put me into a catatonic state, but the kids love it and that's really what matters. I really have to show my appreciation to the staff too, they seem very adept at handling the hordes of children.
(4)Holly Y.
We were skeptical the first time we went b/c we'd heard that the prices were high, the wait was long & the food isn't that great. The food was very good, there was no wait b/c our family already had a table & the prices were a little higher, but they were worth the price! We went a 2nd time by our choice & loved the food even more! The atmosphere is great and our son always has a ball and he eats his food! Prices are a little higher but I would go for sure!
(5)Jeremy W.
Good food, I enjoyed the Chicken Fried Chicken and sides as well as the Caesar salad. I also had a margarita and thought it was rather on the expensive side for a meal and just 1 drink for $43 but we did have a large party so gratuity was added on top. The desert was pretty tasty as well and fed all 8 of us so I would probably consider going back if another friend wants to have their birthday dinner there.
(3)Ryan B.
If you like Rainforest Cafe, you have to check this out. The size of these dinosaurs are amazing, and they also move. We decided to stop in between Lunch and Dinner, oh lets say 2:30PM. I spent about 25mins walking around with my kid looking at all the dinosaurs! We ordered our food and had our appitizers delivered to our table. I had the tenders, they were small and didn't have much of a taste to them. We also had some callamari, which was alright. Our waitress didn't check up on us and another girl refilled our drinks right before our main meal arrived. I ordered the lasagna and the edges were hard and a little burnt. My girl had a meal that had Fish, two types of shrimp, and some fries. The presentation looked amazing and when she tasted it, she said it was nasty. I took a bite and it wasnt too tasty. I wonder how old the fish was, or if it was even stored properly... my sons food just looked like they bought it from a grocery store, some dinosaur shaped nuggets and popcorn shrimp. He ate it all. We then went to the Build-A-Dino that was also inside the same building. my son build his own dinosaur and named him Spike. The woman who helped him was very friendly and nice. We shopped at the gift shop and bought some things. We then had to leave and go on with our travel across the country. For the kids, it's worth it. I'd try the food again, but wouldn't go during the down time of the restaraunt, maybe during dinner. perhaps the food would be better.
(3)Phil V.
Got talked out of my favorite BBQ place in favor of this kid-friendly dinosaur themed gem. The Good: Waiter was nice; Scenery is unique and somewhat entertaining. The Bad: Half the place is a gift shop...and after ordering they encourage you to walk around to see the place which leads you (and your kids) to the aforementioned gift shop; food is marginal; not cheap. Should have imposed my will on my family and stayed away....next time I man up.
(2)Cassie M.
This is a first and according to their website, the only T-Rex thus far although one in Florida is coming soon. Have you been to a Rainforest Cafe? Same premise but this large scale themed restaurant is based on dinosaurs and undersea life. It is quite a cool place for kids to eat complete with many aquariums as well as animatronic dinosaurs. In their shop, they also have a Build-A-Dino, sister to the Build-a-Bear. We did not eat the food so cannot comment but on atmosphere alone for kids, this is the place to be. On a Sunday lunch it was a 2 hour wait. Across the sidewalk at this mall, we walked right into another restaurant. It does have draw.
(4)Noelle M.
This place would get 5 stars just for the ambiance- it is like Jurassic Park meets Disneyland meets Denny's! ahahah! The food, though...is not anything to write home about. The usual round up of burgers, cheese sticks, etc- nothing that was that great. Creative drinks that were pricey and not very strong...and the service was slow, ate at the bar waiting for our table then actually ended up leaving before ordering at the table because our server never came by.
(3)Dane S.
Other reviewers are mostly correct: the food isn't the best. But that's not why you go to a place like this. It is terrific for children--lots and lots of stuff to look at. A very cool interior. The reason I give it four stars, though, is actually for one thing considering the food. I have a gluten allergy and one of the cooks, upon learning this, came out to our table, sat down, and discussed different things he could do. He said lots of the children who come into T-Rex have food allergies, with gluten the top allergy, so he has equipment set aside for making gluten-free food. He cooked up an absolutely fantastic batch of gluten-free boneless buffalo chicken wings with GF fries. He made the sauce from scratch. I would absolutely return because of (a) this particularly meal this cook made, and (b) the excitement our children had for the interior (and exterior).
(4)Jesse T.
I came here expecting the worst; a themed restaurant with lousy food and service. I was instantly proven wrong. My 4 year old son loved the atmosphere. The food was great, as was the service. I'd consider going back again, even without a kid to entertain.
(4)Ericka J.
Phenomenal place!! We took our son who loves dinosaurs in celebration of his 6th birthday!! We all loved it! The service, food, and entertainment were excellent for families!!
(5)D G.
The first time we went here with our daughter we were impressed with the food quality. Then we came back a few times and changed our minds on that. Service is always less then par and everything is overpriced. There is one high point on the food and its the french onion soup. That came out way too salty the last time we got it. My 3 year old daughter doesn't really like the food. Sure she loves everything to look at but that gets old.
(2)Kristen S.
I can't believe it...I liked it! We went on a Saturday night with a group of 13, 5 of whom were children under 5....torture, right? Wrong! We had a reservation, but the restaurant wasn't crowded. (Note: Saturday night may be a good night to come herewith your kids!) We got seated upstairs and it was actually pretty quiet and pleasant. Sure, there is some animation and noise, but quieter than downstairs I think. And the food was decent! I got an entree of 3 kinds of shrimp. All 3 were tasty. My husband got a steak and thought it was pretty good as well. Our order came in in a pretty timely manner for a large group, and seemed well-cooked. Best of all,our kids were entertained so we actually got to eat a meal without much interruption. Overall a good dining experience and we'll probably be heading back.
(4)Rochelle G.
Came here on a Wednesday night in December. Decided to go there cuz I just landed and was starving. We decided on T-Rex because there was some special for kids on that night and we had 3 kids with us. There was like a 15min wait, but there was a lot of interesting stuff to look at while we waited. The place looked like a dinosaur version of Rainforest Cafe. The food on the menu was overpriced. I ordered chicken strips and a cotton cany martini. The food was okay. The martini was good but not strong and I got to keep the souveneir shaker.
(2)Olathe R.
Fantastically fun place for dessert. If you want to experience T-Rex on a budget, I recommend taking the kids for dessert. Kids desserts are affordable (about $2 to $4 if I remember correctly.) Adults can split a dessert because they're dino-sized (about $9 to $15). The featured Chocolate Extinction dessert with dry ice easily serves 4, but was a bit dry last time. We like the Ice Age Indulgence, & it's plenty for 2. Our favorite appetizer is the coconut curry chicken. Delicious! ! We were served 5 pieces on top of waffle fries. But....I can't recommend the super-saurus appetizer. (Disappointed 2 visits in a row.) The mozarella sticks are so-so; quesadillas "meh"; & cheese dip was sort of... almost... solid?? But SURPRISE!! For entrees, the lasagna is reeeally good. ("home" made, right there at t-rex) For an extra fee, small children can enjoy the PALEO ZONE. They'll enjoy using dry paint brushes to discover and uncover "dinosaur bones", hidden in sand & attached to the floor. Skip the gem mine, though. It's $5 or $6 for a bag of 5 gems hidden in gravel. One dunk in the water... and it's all over in 3 seconds. ~~ EXTRA TIPS: The lights on the main level have a sort of strobe effect as lights "roll" across walls & tables. If you're sensitive to lights, you might request the 2nd floor. You'll want to go upstairs either way to see the fish tank. There's one by the restrooms that is not near other tables. (Public elevator is available if needed. You may have to ask, but it's to the right of the stairs, tucked back a bit.) Note: Some children 3 & under may be frightened at the restaurant's entrance.
(4)Dana R.
This is a kids place. The decor is amazing. The food is horrible, so skip right to dessert. Try the volcano cake. It's big enough for four and is delicious. The drinks are also good, though very low on alcohol. I liked their cotton candy martini. Its pricey and the kids will want to build a dino and/or dig for dinosaur bones so make sure and take plenty of cash.
(4)Jonathan B.
This was not my first time dining at T-Rex Cafe. First of all it's a great place to take the kids.... just not on a weekly basis. Prices are high and the food, while good, has room for improvement. As we went for lunch on a weekday, and the place was nowhere near packed, I expected quick service. I was wrong. We waited about 30 minutes just for an appetizer. When it arrived we had less than 5 minutes before our main entrees arrived. My fish tacos were soggy and I could barely taste the fish. I should have stuck with just an appetizer. After eating we went to look in the gift shop. It took us 10 minutes to find someone to make a purchase there. Overall I was rather unimpressed with that particular visit. If you have kids, love dinos yourself, or are looking to experience a meal in a unique setting, it's worth stopping by. If not, there are many other places nearby that are more worth your time and money.
(3)Adam R.
Great place to eat if you have kids, food is pretty good too. I loved the dinosaur theme.
(4)Becki G.
When you first walk into T-Rex you immediately feel the crunch from what you are most likely about to spend. A massive dino-sized gimmick that is going to overwhelm you so you don't notice how bad the service is and how mediocre the food is, right? WRONG! Despite what others may have said, this is a fun place (not just for kids!). Here are some rules; go when it's not a weekend dinner time. Trust me on this. Dinner during the mundane week or a lunch meal is better. Share a plate with your date if you don't want to spend too much on food. It's a little overpriced, but the food is very good. I have no complaints and I think their menu is creative and diverse. My husband and I shared the ap sampler the other day and it was more than enough food and everything was great. If you have a larger family, you can order two or three plates and share between you. One plate is enough to share between at least two people, I promise! I've collected two hurricane glasses from past visits. You can order one of their wonderful specialty drinks and upgrade a couple bucks to the larger size and get the glass for free! Extensive kids menu was fabulous. When we take our four year old daughter out to eat with us we usually pick the same places because of their kids menu. She's picky, and some restaurants don't even have one thing she will eat on their menu, T-Rex had most of the things she liked so it was easy getting her to choose something. She had the dino nuggets and some corn. Love that they serve lightly breaded kids nuggets, our daughter hates super breaded and crispy chicken and I don't know of any other place that has nuggets lightly breaded except for the drive thru of your choice. Service is fantastic. Our server was very friendly and seemed to enjoy her job (nothing worse than a server who acts like they have someplace better to be), she checked up on us just enough but not too much and even the manager swung by. The atmosphere is fun, lots of huge moving and roaring dinos, a couple floor to ceiling fish cylinders with beautiful live fish and a meteor storm hits about every 20 minutes or so and that's fun. Lots of fun stuff for kids and a great gift shop. Some items are pricier but we bought a "grab bag" of little dino's, 8 for about $12 and I thought that was reasonable as the dinos seem to be good quality. Great fun place. We don't go often because we are Northlanders but we try to go a few times a year because it's fun. If you make it a special treat it's much more worth the money and the trip (if you are farther out.)
(4)cord f.
I would say that everyone needs to go at least once. I have two kids (age 10 and 6) and they just love it. Yes, the food is overpriced but it's not bad if you split your meals. When we go I will order the burger and share it with my wife and the kids most of the time get the pizza to share. We always order water when we go out to eat (I think all restuarants our overprice with soda). The portions of their food is very large so sharing a meal is the way to go. We, of a family of four can go and eat there for about $25 including tip. Then we let the kids go to the play area while mom & dad shop. We also went to the one at Disney World and it does not compair in anyway. It is only on one floor and not as big (to me). I talked with some workers that have been to both and they agree KC's is better.
(4)Jessica D.
I was really excited about this place due to my unnatural love of rain forest cafe (same company develops/ owns them both), but alas, it let me down. The food was yucky and even more overpriced than rain forest. When I told the 17 yr old servicer about how gross my 12 dollar veggie wrap was, he rolled his eyes and walked away. The same style giant animatronics rule over the restaurant much like the rain forest cafe but I just didn't like them as much. There also isn't very much seating for a party of two so we sat in some pretty crappy seats even though the place was empty.
(2)Britanie F.
If you like Rainforest Cafe you will like this! They are sister companies. As expected it is a little pricy, but they have a lot of food options that would please the whole family. I love the atmosphere and the staff is always really nice. When we lived in Florida we used to go quite a bit. Since moving here, this location has the same quality of service and food. It is nice to have a "taste of home". I love their drinks and deserts! I recommend getting a reservation. Even when it doesn't look busy... they are busy. Once there was a 2 hour wait and it looked like we would just be able to walk-in. Haha We learned our lesson.
(4)Jenni H.
This T. REX is NOT like the one in Florida but still fun for the kids. From the time we sat down to order to leaving our time here was approximately 2 1/2 hours. They're painfully slow. Our server was very nice and attentive to our table; however, some food arrived much later than the majority of the dishes. It seemed that was a kitchen or second floor communication issue (we were part of a large party on the second floor). The food is good overall and very overpriced. I would give the gift shop a ten all the way around. The employees are wonderful with kids and have extra patience for them. If you eat at this cafe on a weekend, I would allot a 3 hour time allowance.
(2)Patrick P.
Avoid this place like the bubonic plague. I would have given trex cafe negative stars but one star is the lowest rating yelp will allow. Specifically: Made reservations for 5 pm today, it is now 6:34 and we have yet to receive our meals. The food is WAY overpriced. I will probably be a fossil myself before I get my meal. You've read my review; consider yourself warned.
(1)Sarah M.
This is the second time I've been unhappy with this restaurant. We waited 50 minutes for our food without explanation or apology. The manager was unapologetic and said they aim to get food out in 20 minutes and that he would look into it. Then he avoided speaking to us again. For a place that caters to children it's ridiculous to make then wait that long for food. The restaurant wasn't even full. I don't know if they figure that it doesn't matter if they upset tourists because they don't count on repeat business or what but as a local I won't be recommending it to anyone.
(1)M.O L.
I really enjoyed the environment. This is my first visit and I've learned a lot from this one place. First off, I have to say this place is rather cool. Love the decorations and all that extra stuff that kept the children from being fussy. Secondly, the server was such a wonderful individual and she was very attentive. The place was packed and still our server still gave us the services that we deserved. Here is my reason why two stars were taken away: 1. The price of the food is over the top. For example: $6.99 for a kids meal: 5-6 chicken nuggets + over-cooked fries (fries were dry and one could taste the burnt taste) and a carpi sun drink. $25 for a 2-oz stake (a little more or less) + fried green beans + Shrimps + mash potato and some gravy. 2.Wait time for the moment seated to receiving food is long: Wait time is a hour close to two hours to receive the food. There have to be a better way. By the time our good got to us the kids were restless and starving. 3. Server only receive 30% of tips: This really sucks because we were looking forward in tipping the server for her services. We found out that the server only receive 30% of the tips. We tipped anyways but left the cafe with the feeling of unfair for our server. I would go back to the cafe, but only if the kids wanted to.
(3)Reid R.
Staff is friendly...but the food reminds me a truck stop. Flavor, what flavor. I'm thinking they use reduced for quick sell ingredients... or pre-frozen dishes at outrageous prices!!!! If you want to have a drink or stop in for a cool time 5 star, but eating here is suicide 1 Star!
(3)Lakshmi R.
Interesting place to have a meal. Kids would enjoy the most. Though the price seem high, the quantity is quite good enough. They said there would be a small show every half n hour. But it was nothing so great or interesting though. Worth a visit if you have kids. Else nothing much amusing!
(3)Brandi W.
The sevice was terrible and over priced. Took an hr to get our food and it was cold. Not a happy mom...
(1)Jamie M.
Our 2nd time here, both times we came down to Great Wolf Lodge for a stay and had to hit this place because our son is crazy about dinosaurs. Our experience was the same both times. The atmosphere is great and the kids loved it. Service was decent- our waiter did a little magic show for the kids, and that was nice. The food though is way overpriced and really not that good. With our wolf lodge wristbands we got a free appetizer. We picked the fried cheese sticks. They tasted like something the Schwanns guy forgot about in the truck's freezer for a year. They were obviously frozen and reheated. My daughter got the spaghetti off the kids menu. It was awful. She ended up eating half of my wife's burger. My son had the kids grilled cheese. I don't know how you screw up a grilled cheese, but it wasn't good at all, I had the BBQ bacon burger. It was alright- not $15 good, but maybe $8 good. This was pretty much our experience the first time here too, except with different subpar food. If we go back, it will just be to look at the dinosaurs.
(2)Christopher C.
Food is way overpriced. The atmosphere is attractive but not enough to make me want to pay that much to eat at this place ever again. Sampler platter for 17$. Go to Applebee's and pay 11$ and its probably better.
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