Michigan’s Rainforest Cafe Is A Relic From A Different Time

I'm a sucker for a good gimmick, and I am an even bigger fan of food. So themed restaurants really speak to me: Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Bubba Gump, Margaritaville, practically any restaurant at Universal Studios or Disney World, or Medieval Times, to name a few of the ones I've been to.

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But the one that has always given me real glee is Rainforest Cafe, a restaurant that simulates what it's like to eat inside a gift shop rainforest. When I lived in Orlando, I'd been to both locations in Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs (which has a volcano on top that simulates a volcanic eruption).

Rainforest Cafe has been in decline over the years. What started as a man turning his home into a rainforest turned into a unique restaurant with over 45 locations in the US and many more internationally. But RC is now down to 16 locations in the US, and one of those final locations is here in Michigan. When I learned that none of my friends had experienced Cha Cha! and the Wild Bunch, we planned a trip so they could witness the splendor for themselves.

Great Lakes Crossings' Rainforest Cafe

Located in Auburn Hills, this Rainforest Cafe opened in 1998, shortly before the company was bought out by Landry's Restaurant Inc, and assumedly not much has changed since then. 

The exterior features waterfalls lining the walls, fog machines among the "greenery" that create an eerie atmosphere, and dim lighting. The dim lighting is a double-edged sword. While it adds to the ambience, it simultaneously hides how aged everything looks and making it difficult to read the menu (which is almost a blessing in disguise, because once you DO see the prices... yikes).

The animatronics of the animals around the "forest" are the same; there is still a "thunderstorm" every 30 minutes, shooting stars across the ceiling, Tracy the Tree speaks every couple of minutes, and the animals are always making their rainforest noises. The iconic fishtank is the only live animal in the place, which is said to cost the franchise hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in upkeep

READ MORE: America's Oldest Aquarium Can Be Found In Michigan

But honestly, if you're going here, you need to lean in to it, prices be damned. So, since it was my birthday, I treated myself to the Rib, Steak, and Shrimp Trio, and later I was surprised with the Sparkling Volcano, Rainforest Cafe's signature dessert.

Is Michigan's Rainforest Cafe Worth It In 2026?

As I said earlier, if you're going to come here, you need to lean into it. It is not cheap, the food isn't going to win any awards, but its location in the mall makes this a good stop on a trip. After hanging out with Cha Cha and the Wild Bunch, we walked around the mall and went to Top Golf, another destination you can only find in Auburn Hills.

If it weren't for this, traveling for a family dinner would be a tough sell. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't fun pretending to freak out about a thunderstorm, getting pumped about seeing a shooting star, and hearing the safe wisdom provided by Tracy the Talking Tree.

But hey, at least if you order a cocktail, you get to keep the glass cup.