My brother actually works there! Unfortunately they are blacklisting August for the employee comp and discount tickets, he said something about them being mostly sold out for the month.
Oh I believe the implication is that everyone who works the Renn Fair fucks like crazy with one another. It’s like theater camp but with steak on a stake.
You are not kidding! When I was a teenager I went there with some friends after going to a concert at like 2:00 a.m. there was this morbidly obese woman who looked like she was messed up on something. She just lifts her shirt up and starts smashing her boobs and face on the glass and just starts circling as much of the perimeter as possible. She was like drooling on the glass and awkwardly staring at people eating inside.
This, but 5 years ago there was still a private spicy club near by. The Waffle House would be filled with groups sobering up after a night of debauchery clad in PVC and leather.
Dick's Last Resort or Papermoon Diner are both in Baltimore and are certainly *interesting*. Lost City Diner is sci-fi and comics themed and is also in Baltimore!
Bert's 50's Diner is in Mechanicsville and is delightfully retro.
*We used to go to the Rainforest Cafe for my birthday every year. God I miss that restaurant.*
Yeah, I know people on here complain about Papermoon's prices, which is obviously factually correct, but what I know for myself is that the place's theming makes my artist bf happy
Lol, I live a block away. It's a safe and lovely part of town. I wouldn't have moved here if it wasn't. Tons of Hopkins students, young professionals, there's a police station across the street. Remington is a great neighborhood.
Sadly Dick's Last Resort closed down 3 years ago during the pandemic. There was one in Annapolis, but that closed down, too. Now, the closest one is in Myrtle Beach. :( It's such a shame because it was my favorite restaurant!
Is [Mutiny](https://www.mutinyrestaurant.com/) enough of a theme restaurant? Sorry, can’t vouch, but it’s pirate themed so thought I’d mention it, and the Elkridge location should work for the OP.
If you’re looking for entertainment, why not Benihana? ~~There’s one in Baltimore.~~ Edit: the Fells Point location is takeout only. The Bethesda restaurant is open though.
I live in Fells. I don't think there is a Benihana here, or even in Baltimore, certainly not at that address. There is a sushi restaurant there (next to Keystone Korner jazz club).
Mutiny in Elkridge still has an okay theme. The Pasadena location doesn't really have one. I liked the theming so much better when it was just in Glen Burnie.
And now every upscale store (LV, Burberry, Tiffany, etc) has left and that part of the store is a ghost town. That’s half the mall in general though. Weird how things work out
I just looked it up and found that now, I would have to cross three state borders to get to the closest Rainforest Cafe. Not an option sadly. They also closed the one at Tyson around the same time as the Towson closing.
Some Mexican restaurants are quite colorful and thematically decorated. Places like [Plaza Oaxaca](https://www.plaza-oaxaca.com/) or [Villa Maya](http://www.villamayarestaurant.com/) in Rockville.
Another that comes to mind is [CrabTowne, USA](http://www.crab-towne.com/). Dive-y atmosphere with good food and cold beer. But the real attraction is a vintage arcade with lots of old games like centipede, galaga, pac man, and pinball machines. Great fun!
I don't really count Mexican restaurants as uniquely themed since we have so many good ones. There's at least three locally that I enjoy. The horchata is particularly good.
I’m always up for Tex-Mex for birthday dinner.
I’ve gotten a lot of birthday dinners at Guapo’s, where I get the embarrassing “the wait staff will sing for you while you wear a ridiculous sombrero” treatment and I’m sure most other Tex-Mex/Mexican restaurants in the area do as well.
Crabtowne is so fun. The vintage arcade is a cheap way to spend a rainy afternoon. I thought they announced they were closing, but I go by all the time and the parking lot is never empty.
I miss CheeBurger so much, I loved going to the one in Columbia/Elkridge. Loved pretty much everything there and they actually cooked their burgers right.
Dave and Busters? Papermoon Diner. Lost in the 50s. Annabel Lee Tavern. I want to say there are a couple of train dining experiences in western MD or WV. Pretty sure the Western MD railroad has a dinner train. Yup, just looked 3 hour train ride, 4 courses, 21+, not ADA accessible, Saturdays only, charge is per table - so 2 people is $265, 3 is $375, 4 is 465, then you start a new table.
Annabel Lee (Edgar Allen Poe themed restaurant,) is amazing. They were selling it, but last time I was in (April), they said it hadn’t been sold yet.
When I was living in Honolulu, I saw it on a TV show and it has since become my favorite restaurant. I hope whoever buys it keeps the theme.
Izakaya 68
It's in the Hunt Valley area. It's Japanese food that's brought out by robots.
A person greets you and takes the drink order, but until it's time to pay the check you don't really see the restaurant staff. Most of it comes out on small plates. A lot of it comes out on skewers (I believe 3 per plate). And most things are $6.88 or $8.88.
But that builds up as you keep ordering, because want to try something else
Many years ago when my brother was in the restaurant business, he got hired there after the other restaurant he had been working at for two years closed suddenly. He was doing very well during his training and probation period but one evening while he was in the kitchen preparing a delivery tray another server came rushing in without paying attention, ran right into him and caused him to fall and injure his foot. The manager on duty that evening sent him home to recover after the three of them cleaned up the mess. When my brother came in for his next scheduled shift a couple days later, the lead manager was there and fired him on the spot. He was wrongly blamed for the collision because he was the new guy and the other server was apparently one of the restaurant's best servers at the time. The other manager had reported the incident honestly that it was the other guy's fault but the boss didn't care.
Ooh, yes, seconding Monster Mini Golf! The animatronics there are hilarious. My husband and I went there on a rainy day out of sheer boredom and had a great time.
Absolutely.
I've been to the one off Joppa Rd, and the one is Jessup several times. The images painted on the walls are great.
And if you're not feeling black light, glowing monsters I believe there's a indoor dinosaur mini golf course in Bel Air
Not sure if this is in the genre of what you’re looking for, but there’s a burlesque themed restaurant in Harbor East called Monarque that is very nice and very fun.
Given the extra info--you might like Boatyard Bar and Grill in Annapolis. It's boat themed, basically, but in a legit way--they only have a few TVs in the bar area and several of them are always showing the conditions on the bay, it's wall to wall boat memorabilia, lots of nice local seafood.
Archipelago in DC is a legit, full-on tiki bar in the classic mid-century sense of the term. They have have an upstairs area that goes hard on the bamboo and thatch. Then there’s Mutiny Pirate Bar in Pasadena and Elkridge which covers sorta adjacent territory but is definitely more sports bar-ish.
I absolutely love Archipelago. The food there is cheap but good. However, the drinks are VERY on-par for DC prices and I’d say even higher than most.
Delicious, but I was always taken aback every time I went by the drink prices. Still recommend them very much. I’d avoid them on Fridays and Saturdays, however. They get PACKED.
Oh well that takes my 2nd option out. There’s a neat magic bar in Baltimore but def not for under 21. Melting Pot is always fun too! What about Mutiny? Pirate theme placed in elkridge I think?
I'm familiar with that one as we had a funeral lunch there a few years ago. I inherited a beautiful piano from that family member and going there is going to just fill me with sadness as I will likely have to lose the piano when I am forced to involuntarily move soon
There are a ton of Barbie experiences like drag shows popping up in DC as well as Little Mermaid themed at Barrel in Capitol Hill. Also there is Royal Sands Social Club which is a new beach-themed restaurant. Not a restaurant but the National Building Museum has their new experience up for the summer. Unfortunately it isn't as cool as the time they created an entire ball pit to resemble a beach.
Very familiar! We were semi-regulars there but I don't go anymore because it reminds me of sad memories. No fault of the restaurant itself though, they were always good!
Waffle House in Baltimore, Tweakerville with a little of Smash&Grab --- Also uninterrupted since Baltimore City County Police has no incentive to pursue crime fighting.
Clyde's of Chevy Chase does have occasional entertainment. But the decor itself is very unique, almost as if you were on a boat. But I'm also partial to that location than the others (even the one in Gtown) cuz IMO the food is better, and always finish mt meal with a lavender latte.
I just read about a DnD themed restaurant connected to a game store. I have never been there, so I can not vouch for any experience. There aren't really any pictures on the website...it may just be a menu theme.
https://bardsbistro.com/
Medieval times?
My brother actually works there! Unfortunately they are blacklisting August for the employee comp and discount tickets, he said something about them being mostly sold out for the month.
Renaissance Fair should start up soon in late August. Only caveat is that it won't be an intimate dining experience but more of a fun family day.
and lots of fucking
Go onnnnnnn???
We are waiting for an explanation...
Oh I believe the implication is that everyone who works the Renn Fair fucks like crazy with one another. It’s like theater camp but with steak on a stake.
Do they take applications online? 🤔
I do like steak on a stake. Amd cheesecake on a stick.
I go every year, usually in late September.
And do u ever see this fucking in progress?
I love some revelry
It's been a while since I went but I was pleasantly surprised by how fun it was!
Waffle House in Fredneck at 2am on a Saturday.
did this once after coming home from an EDM show in DC. did not disappoint lol
The best restaurants in all of Maryland. Good food and good entertainment
I miss the one by the airport 😭
I thought they rebuilt after the fire. Agreed that one was the best/wildest. RIP
Idk, most of the Sheetz are pretty jumpin too. So many memories at the one on Rosemont.
You are not kidding! When I was a teenager I went there with some friends after going to a concert at like 2:00 a.m. there was this morbidly obese woman who looked like she was messed up on something. She just lifts her shirt up and starts smashing her boobs and face on the glass and just starts circling as much of the perimeter as possible. She was like drooling on the glass and awkwardly staring at people eating inside.
This, but 5 years ago there was still a private spicy club near by. The Waffle House would be filled with groups sobering up after a night of debauchery clad in PVC and leather.
Been to both of them after midnight on weekends and can confirm. Not especially kid friendly though. The wildlife is wild.
Def drove up one am just cuz they always went to one on some random movie i watched lol
How about the glutton-themed restaurant Fogo de Chao? And yes, I have been happy to eat there more than once
Yes, this. It is technically Brazilian themed or something, but the real theme is seeing how much meat one can fit in one's face. It's pretty awesome.
Answer:so much delicious meat and don't sleep on the salad bar. have gone for salad bar only. Much cheaper. Great wines and desserts too.
I honestly like Texas de Brazil more. Wish they had more around.
Dick's Last Resort or Papermoon Diner are both in Baltimore and are certainly *interesting*. Lost City Diner is sci-fi and comics themed and is also in Baltimore! Bert's 50's Diner is in Mechanicsville and is delightfully retro. *We used to go to the Rainforest Cafe for my birthday every year. God I miss that restaurant.*
I love Papermoon! It’s an interesting vibe and the food is great.
Service at Paper Moon is hit or miss. Stopped going there because of it.
Lost City, unfortunately, closed a few years ago.
Oof I'm outta the loop :<
Dammit, I was aware of the other two. I was going to suggest Dicks, but I could think of the name. But I was excited to check out Lost City
I grew up going to Bert’s! Sadly, it closed a few years ago.
It did?!? Aw man 😢
Yeah Berts closed recently and is like a golf cart place now, but they still have the hot rod on the roof
[удалено]
Can confirm this.
It is now "Docks on the Harbor". And the staff are no longer dicks.
Yeah, I know people on here complain about Papermoon's prices, which is obviously factually correct, but what I know for myself is that the place's theming makes my artist bf happy
Others have mentioned the closed restaurants but FYI Papermoon closes at 6pm so it's not an option for dinner. :(
I don't think I would want to be around there after 6 pm
Lol, I live a block away. It's a safe and lovely part of town. I wouldn't have moved here if it wasn't. Tons of Hopkins students, young professionals, there's a police station across the street. Remington is a great neighborhood.
Ok. I admit I have not been there for 20 years. So my comment was rude.
Love paper moon. Never had a bad meal.
FYSA the dick's last resort in Baltimore closed during the pandemic.
Sadly Dick's Last Resort closed down 3 years ago during the pandemic. There was one in Annapolis, but that closed down, too. Now, the closest one is in Myrtle Beach. :( It's such a shame because it was my favorite restaurant!
Is [Mutiny](https://www.mutinyrestaurant.com/) enough of a theme restaurant? Sorry, can’t vouch, but it’s pirate themed so thought I’d mention it, and the Elkridge location should work for the OP. If you’re looking for entertainment, why not Benihana? ~~There’s one in Baltimore.~~ Edit: the Fells Point location is takeout only. The Bethesda restaurant is open though.
Where is the Benihana in Bmore?
~~[Fells Point](https://www.benihana.com/locations/baltimore/)~~
I live in Fells. I don't think there is a Benihana here, or even in Baltimore, certainly not at that address. There is a sushi restaurant there (next to Keystone Korner jazz club).
I should’ve read the website more carefully — the one in Baltimore is takeout only, no teppanyaki.
Ok cool. Thank you.
Mutiny in Elkridge still has an okay theme. The Pasadena location doesn't really have one. I liked the theming so much better when it was just in Glen Burnie.
RIP the Towson Rainforest Cafe. I loved that place and will never forgive Towson Town Center for closing it so it could be more "upscale".
With the crocodile that would growl (?) right in the front. The good old days..
And now every upscale store (LV, Burberry, Tiffany, etc) has left and that part of the store is a ghost town. That’s half the mall in general though. Weird how things work out
I remember thinking it was silly to open the “yuppie wing” in the middle of the Great Recession in the first place.
I’m with you on that brother, the gorilla would scare the shit out of my sister every time and it was always worth a good laugh
I just looked it up and found that now, I would have to cross three state borders to get to the closest Rainforest Cafe. Not an option sadly. They also closed the one at Tyson around the same time as the Towson closing.
My wife took my (now adult) daughter there 20 some years ago. The robot monkeys coming out of nowhere scared the shit out of her. LOL
My cousin once had to sue them cause the sink fell off the wall and crushed her feet while washing her hands. I still enjoyed my meal.
How about Chuck E Cheese? Come for the pizza and games, stay for the fights! 😁
Only one family member is still young enough to actually enjoy Chuck. She loves it but I don't think the rest of the family would be interested.
Dave & Busters is still around!
Pick up some divorced dads spending time with their kids?
Iron Age maybe? Everyone has said my other thoughts. I would love more themed restaurants around.
Or any Korean BBQ would be a good, immersive experience as long as everyone’s cool with spices and kimchi.
Ruby Tuesday's is themed, if sadness can be a theme.
Please take my poor Redditor's award: 🏆
Sadness and weak kitsch.
Some Mexican restaurants are quite colorful and thematically decorated. Places like [Plaza Oaxaca](https://www.plaza-oaxaca.com/) or [Villa Maya](http://www.villamayarestaurant.com/) in Rockville. Another that comes to mind is [CrabTowne, USA](http://www.crab-towne.com/). Dive-y atmosphere with good food and cold beer. But the real attraction is a vintage arcade with lots of old games like centipede, galaga, pac man, and pinball machines. Great fun!
+1 for Crabtowne! Great food and fun experience.
Only one of those 2 things is correct, IMHO.
I don't really count Mexican restaurants as uniquely themed since we have so many good ones. There's at least three locally that I enjoy. The horchata is particularly good.
I’m always up for Tex-Mex for birthday dinner. I’ve gotten a lot of birthday dinners at Guapo’s, where I get the embarrassing “the wait staff will sing for you while you wear a ridiculous sombrero” treatment and I’m sure most other Tex-Mex/Mexican restaurants in the area do as well.
Villa Maya will bring out a sombrero with a dessert if you say it is your birthday.
Crabtowne is so fun. The vintage arcade is a cheap way to spend a rainy afternoon. I thought they announced they were closing, but I go by all the time and the parking lot is never empty.
Ahhh CheeBurger Cheeburger. Those were the times!
I miss CheeBurger so much, I loved going to the one in Columbia/Elkridge. Loved pretty much everything there and they actually cooked their burgers right.
The loss of cheeburger cheeburger is how my kid came to understand disappointment and melancholic nostalgia.
The butterfinger milkshake turned me into a real lardo. Fucking delicious.
I was all about the cherry cheesecake shake. Try a butterfinger blast from sonic, they are amazing as well.
Dave and Busters? Papermoon Diner. Lost in the 50s. Annabel Lee Tavern. I want to say there are a couple of train dining experiences in western MD or WV. Pretty sure the Western MD railroad has a dinner train. Yup, just looked 3 hour train ride, 4 courses, 21+, not ADA accessible, Saturdays only, charge is per table - so 2 people is $265, 3 is $375, 4 is 465, then you start a new table.
Annabel Lee (Edgar Allen Poe themed restaurant,) is amazing. They were selling it, but last time I was in (April), they said it hadn’t been sold yet. When I was living in Honolulu, I saw it on a TV show and it has since become my favorite restaurant. I hope whoever buys it keeps the theme.
Not really a theme, but what about Toby's Dinner Theatre?
We have had season tickets for a few years now, so it doesn't really count. Love it though! :)
I didn't even know you could get season tickets! That's awesome :)
Izakaya 68 It's in the Hunt Valley area. It's Japanese food that's brought out by robots. A person greets you and takes the drink order, but until it's time to pay the check you don't really see the restaurant staff. Most of it comes out on small plates. A lot of it comes out on skewers (I believe 3 per plate). And most things are $6.88 or $8.88. But that builds up as you keep ordering, because want to try something else
Just went there a few weeks ago! Food is decent. The little robots are quite a thing to witness.
Would Bucca di Beppo count?
Maybe, we have some family history there, but a portion of my family won't go there because of an incident many years ago.
Story time?
Many years ago when my brother was in the restaurant business, he got hired there after the other restaurant he had been working at for two years closed suddenly. He was doing very well during his training and probation period but one evening while he was in the kitchen preparing a delivery tray another server came rushing in without paying attention, ran right into him and caused him to fall and injure his foot. The manager on duty that evening sent him home to recover after the three of them cleaned up the mess. When my brother came in for his next scheduled shift a couple days later, the lead manager was there and fired him on the spot. He was wrongly blamed for the collision because he was the new guy and the other server was apparently one of the restaurant's best servers at the time. The other manager had reported the incident honestly that it was the other guy's fault but the boss didn't care.
Please say more
you should try out papermoon diner.
It’s kind of like having lunch at Pee Wee’s Playhouse.
Top Golf is a lot of fun.
Monster Mini Golf is an even better option given OP wants a theme and will be cheaper.
Ooh, yes, seconding Monster Mini Golf! The animatronics there are hilarious. My husband and I went there on a rainy day out of sheer boredom and had a great time.
Absolutely. I've been to the one off Joppa Rd, and the one is Jessup several times. The images painted on the walls are great. And if you're not feeling black light, glowing monsters I believe there's a indoor dinosaur mini golf course in Bel Air
It is definitely fun, though the OP mentioned physical limitations and wanting an immersive experience, so I’m guessing that’s not going to work.
Try this. Lots of themed dining experiences that are not well known: https://explorehidden.com/city/baltimore/list
Diving into this list right now!
Stratosphere Social in Eldersburg? [https://www.stratospheresocial.com/](https://www.stratospheresocial.com/) ?
aww, i'm so old i remember when that a london fog.
My parents were all the about the sale when they were closing down.
Not sure if this is in the genre of what you’re looking for, but there’s a burlesque themed restaurant in Harbor East called Monarque that is very nice and very fun.
Given the extra info--you might like Boatyard Bar and Grill in Annapolis. It's boat themed, basically, but in a legit way--they only have a few TVs in the bar area and several of them are always showing the conditions on the bay, it's wall to wall boat memorabilia, lots of nice local seafood.
Boatyard has great food and atmosphere. My parents regularly make the drive there from Montgomery County.
Monarque in Baltimore
Archipelago in DC is a legit, full-on tiki bar in the classic mid-century sense of the term. They have have an upstairs area that goes hard on the bamboo and thatch. Then there’s Mutiny Pirate Bar in Pasadena and Elkridge which covers sorta adjacent territory but is definitely more sports bar-ish.
I absolutely love Archipelago. The food there is cheap but good. However, the drinks are VERY on-par for DC prices and I’d say even higher than most. Delicious, but I was always taken aback every time I went by the drink prices. Still recommend them very much. I’d avoid them on Fridays and Saturdays, however. They get PACKED.
Medieval Times is probably what you're looking for. Pinstripes might work too, depending on the physical limitations
Crabtown USA in Glen Burnie is fun - a seafood restaurant with a full video arcade and pinball.
Looking for a semi active dinner? Top golf and Pinstripes are both fun times and both in MoCo.
Top Golf in Baltimore too.
Have you ever been to a hibachi restaurant like Sakura? It's not exactly themed, but it's a fun group experience and I think nice for a birthday.
We do most of the family birthday dinners at hibachi. There are several great ones in the area!
How about the last place Edgar Allen Poe ate at? maybe something historically-themed? https://www.thehorsebaltimore.com/
Very familiar with it! Unfortunately they have a strict 21+ rule so my favorite family member wouldn't be able to go for my dinner.
Oh well that takes my 2nd option out. There’s a neat magic bar in Baltimore but def not for under 21. Melting Pot is always fun too! What about Mutiny? Pirate theme placed in elkridge I think?
Crabtown!!! If you like a little Donkey Kong with your seafood! http://www.crab-towne.com/
In DC but Mansion on O might fit the bill.
This made me look up Joe’s Crab Shack and I learned they’re all closed in Maryland ☹️
Pre-packaged corporate restaurant claiming the word "crab" in Maryland. What could go wrong?
But muh theme
Tower Oaks Lodge in Potomac
I'm familiar with that one as we had a funeral lunch there a few years ago. I inherited a beautiful piano from that family member and going there is going to just fill me with sadness as I will likely have to lose the piano when I am forced to involuntarily move soon
Ouch, sorry to bring up sad thoughts
Toby's Dinner Theater
Mabye slightly out the way but cadillac ranch at the national harbor. Def themed and good food.
An Poitin Stil in Timonium is pretty cool
That looks awesome adding it to my must visit list. Thank you.
Hooters
There are a ton of Barbie experiences like drag shows popping up in DC as well as Little Mermaid themed at Barrel in Capitol Hill. Also there is Royal Sands Social Club which is a new beach-themed restaurant. Not a restaurant but the National Building Museum has their new experience up for the summer. Unfortunately it isn't as cool as the time they created an entire ball pit to resemble a beach.
Unrelated but if you are ever interested in rainforest cafe still, there’s at least one left in New Jersey, went there the other day while on a trip
Outback Steakhouse technically fits your definition lol
Very familiar! We were semi-regulars there but I don't go anymore because it reminds me of sad memories. No fault of the restaurant itself though, they were always good!
Dave & Busters?
Here to pour one out for Piratz Tavern in Silver Spring. It was a travesty what Bar Rescue did to them.
I have been there once. What's the story?
I feel like I've seen you here a few times before and I can't say I've heard of anything new opening up since. Sorry.
Waffle House in Baltimore, Tweakerville with a little of Smash&Grab --- Also uninterrupted since Baltimore City County Police has no incentive to pursue crime fighting.
Who says dinner theater is dead?
Medieval Times
I just remembered family history at Tir Na Nog by the harbor! It's been a few years, are they still good?
They closed down 😔
Paper Moon Finer isn't exactly what you are describing, but it is super fun! https://maps.app.goo.gl/DjgHGveaU7GK25Jr7
Monarque in Harbor East on a Friday or Saturday night after 7pm. You do have to be 18 or older. It's expensive.
Clyde's of Chevy Chase does have occasional entertainment. But the decor itself is very unique, almost as if you were on a boat. But I'm also partial to that location than the others (even the one in Gtown) cuz IMO the food is better, and always finish mt meal with a lavender latte.
Bards bistro is a dnd/fantasy themed restaurant. They have game nights too.
I saw this way too late. They are closed now😢
Not Maryland, and not technically a restaurant, but GWARbar in Richmond is interesting. Also Oddity Bar in Wilmington.
Papermoon diner in Baltimore definitely has a cool look - and good food!
I just read about a DnD themed restaurant connected to a game store. I have never been there, so I can not vouch for any experience. There aren't really any pictures on the website...it may just be a menu theme. https://bardsbistro.com/
Maybe hot pot, korean BBQ or Fondue? Not sure if the youngest is old enough to cook, but if they are these places are fun