Millions of people around the world eat at restaurants every day. Some people are looking for a break from cooking, others want to celebrate with a special meal, but many are looking for a totally unique and entertaining event.
While it is not crystal clear why, strange concept restaurants are creeping up all around the world -and finding success! We’re not talking about serving foods that are made from one thing but look like something entirely different or even new types of cuisine. When I say strange, I mean seriously unusual dining experiences. The best guess on how these restaurants stay open is that they create a novel experience for people seeking new, exciting, and affordable activities.
Surprisingly, there are too many restaurants that fit the bill – strange, creepy, haunted, bizarre to list them all. So, here are a few concepts that might spark your interest.
- Calico Cat Cafe in Tokyo – One of dozens of restaurants in the region that keep pet cats in the restaurant for patrons to interact with while they eat.
- Devil Island in China – This prison-themed restaurant aims to give diners a peek into what prison life can really feel like. With each table surrounded by rusting bars and diners led to tables in handcuffs, this concept is consistent if nothing else.
- Dinner in the Sky in Belgium – Each diner is strapped into a chair and the entire table of guests hangs about 150 feet off the ground via a crane.
- Dick’s Last Resort in the United States – If you like to be mistreated by restaurant staff then this is the place for you. Expect insults from your waiter and even dunce caps with the insults written on them.
- Ninja New York in the United States – Head through secret tunnels where ninjas might just jump out at you then eat in the subterranean dining area.
- Dans Le Noir in France – Legally blind servers bring your meal in this completely dark dining room.
These high-concept, oddly themed restaurants are not for everyone. But, for many they are simply a tourist attraction. Opening a restaurant like the ones listed may not be the most popular choice for restaurateurs, but they are certainly holding a place in today’s culinary landscape.
When opening a restaurant, it is important for a concept to be developed right away and maintained throughout every aspect of the business. One thing any restaurant owner can take away from these wacky restaurants is how to really immerse customers in your concept.
The existence and success of restaurants with wild concepts and themes proves that diners are open to new and unique takes on the dining out experience.