Friday 03 / May / 2024
Talk of pirate ships transports me back to Bali. This might seem odd, as Indonesia is a land best known for its beaches and age-old temples, but Bali also boasts some of the most uniquely done theme restaurants I’ve ever seen, including a pirate theme establishment where my childhood whimsy was reawakened as I fantasized about doning an eye patch and head scarf and setting off in search of my treasure chest. See, over the years my gourmet interests have inadvertently gravitated more towards the ambiance of an eatery, be it for an elaborate sit down meal or a quick coffee at any café. And as my more sophisticated appetites for various fine cusines has been satisfied, I find that this aesthetic attraction is taking yet another turn as I am drawn less to formal, composed decor and more towards those that are quirky, different, even bizzare. I felt this same childlike fascination a few years back in a far away fairyland in the heart of Disneyland Paris where I was completely bedazzled by the visual excitement around me. With my own head spinning, I tried to calm my frenzied little one as we explored every corner of the sprawling park. When our stomachs growled in hunger I thought, let’s just grab a quick burger, but I changed my mind when I spotted Pizzeria Bella Notte. It wasn’t an ordinary fast food restaurant, but a theme restaurant serving Italian cuisine in a fantastic space inspired by the Disney classic, Lady and the Tramp. The interior resembled a medieval fortress in Florence — the architecture, murals, and stone sculptures adding the charm. Later in our trip we visited Walt’s, another theme restaurant based on the life of Walt Disney. The place was filled with objects and documents depicting the historic moments in Walt Disney’s life. An old fashioned piano, a fancy elevator, knick-nacks and drawings covered every corner of the restaurant with The Adventureland room featuring a mini pirate ship. I don’t remember the food, but I’ll never forget those meals. Intrigued by my own growing obsession with theme restaurants in different parts of the world, I wondered how this concept of dining for entertainment evolved. A quick look into the history told me that the credit for the first theme restaurants goes to the cafés and cabarets in Paris, which weren’t exactly restaurants at all, but gathering places built around a particular concept to create a different environment for guests. These cafés were weird and some were morbid, too. There were cafés in which waiters were made to dress up like convicts and the paintings and décor depicted war and death and one of the café even used coffins as tables. Over the years the dark concept restaurants have been overtaken by more playful concepts, from the famed rock-and-roll themed, Hard Rock Cafe; to rainforest themed eateries in which you can eat in the simulated wilderness of the forest, complete with sounds of waterfalls, lightning, and rains; to automobile-themed restaurants where diners can sit in vintage car seats for their meals. Over the past few years, Muscat has witnessed the openings of a number of so-called theme restaurants of its own. So, ignoring the food offerings and focusing instead on the conceptual designs, I set out to explore these dining destinations. Three of them stood out to me as especially memorable, which is exactly what I hope to find when I go in search of a restaurant to feed my imagination as much as my stomach. The Jungle As soon as you walk in to The Jungle, you will be greeted by green creepers and trees. Walking towards the main dining area, the lush greenery continues. The faux, etched stone walls and the ceiling offer a tribal vibe, and even the crockery follows this feel. The sound of rain water and crashing thunder mingle with the calls of animals and birds, as well as the roar of a dinosaur (apparently this is a pre-historic jungle).The colourful, unconventional wildness décor is playful and especially delights children, who can be seen exploring the space while parents peruse the rather exotic, grill-heavy menu. **media[515033]** The Jungle Restaurant Near Qurum Park, Qurum +968 9569 0658 junglerestaurant.net Mumbai Chennai Express There’s nothing quite like the old-world charm and nostalgia of waiting at the train station and seeing the bogey coming chugging towards the platform. If you grew up in India everything about Mumbai Chennai Express restaurant, from the doors to the interiors, will remind you of the trains that you took as a kid. The interior of the space emulates the inside of an Indian Railway compartment with walls and seats that are a mirror image of a train car. The concept was initiated by the managing director, Sivakumar, the year the Bollywood movie Chennai Express was released and the idea is all the more novel by the fact that here in Oman there is no rail service as yet. **media[515032]** Mumbai Chennai Express Next to the Savoy Grand Hotel Apartments, Azaiba +968 2422 0973 1947 Indian Restaurant Entering 1947 is a bit like stepping into the pages of an Indian history book. An homage to the year India earned its independence, the vintage look begins right at the entrance where a huge cannon is set among classic wooden carvings. Inside the walls are adorned with pictures of Indian freedom fighters and the tables are covered in newspapers from that time. The ambiance is rounded out by speeches echoing over the sound system. There’s plenty to read and look at, which makes it a great place to subversively get Indian expatriate children interested in Indian history. **media[515034]** 1947 Indian Restaurant Behind the Al Maha Petrol Pump, Al Ghubra +968 9224 1112 facebook.com/1947Muscat —[email protected]
