Nothing compares to the authenticity of eating a meal in its country of origin, but nowadays it’s more than just the standard of the food which makes a restaurant impressive. Follow this guide for my picks of wonderfully wacky restaurants from around the world. Why go all-inclusive when you can dine with a corpse…?
Nuremburg, Germany
The main attraction of Baggers Restaurant is not the traditional German meals prepared with fresh, high quality ingredients sourced from local regions. It’s not even the hyper-modern way of ordering through a computer system. This restaurant is ‘Event Gastronomy at its best’ because meals are delivered by a complex system of metal tracking – like a rollercoaster for your plate!
This sounds ideal for child-friendly restaurants, where colouring sheets are entertaining for all of five milliseconds, but there must surely be difficulties when serving soup.
Tokyo, Japan
If you’ve always wanted a pet but never had the money or space, visit Calico Cat Café, where you can adopt a cat with no strings attached for the duration of your coffee.
The cats are loved and cared for by the restaurant owners, and diners can cuddle and pet the animals until both parties are utterly content. At the other end of the scale is a mock cannibalistic restaurant, where sushi and sashimi are served inside a startlingly lifelike dead body with realistic “blood” dripping from any cuts. Cats or corpses, you decide.
Taipei, Taiwan
When dining abroad, do not be fooled by the names of restaurants. D.S. Music Restaurant sounds like a place to relax whilst tucking into Taiwanese delicacies, but this couldn’t be much further from the reality. The restaurant is actually designed to replicate a hospital, where diners are pushed to their tables in wheelchairs. The “nurses” ask you trivia questions and reward correct answers with shots squirted straight into your mouth via syringe.
The food is a mixture of Westernized Japanese, Chinese and Thai, so if you’re less adventurous with your meal choices this shouldn’t be too much of a culture shock… except for the raunchy showgirl performance at the end, of course. It’s not an entirely accurate portrayal of time in hospital, but hey, you’re on holiday!
Bangkok, Thailand
Cabbages and Condoms is a restaurant with a heart-warming aim – to support the Population and Development Community Association by spreading awareness of family planning and reducing poverty. Their commitment is clear as the walls are decorated with condoms from all over the world, and their slogan promises “our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy”. Their passion to make a difference is inspirational, and a branch has recently opened in Oxfordshire.
Chicago, USA
Warning: Chain restaurant Dick’s Last Resort is not for diners who have no sense of humour. By entering, you submit yourself to ridicule from the obnoxious staff, and you may have to wear a two foot dunce cap covered in insults for the entire duration of your meal. Food is affordable but far from healthy. The pun-filled menu, which deserves an appreciative chuckle for imagination at least, includes ‘Big Clucking Sandwich’ and ‘Lil Bonerz’.
Brussels, Belgium
For the thrill-seekers, Dining in the Sky is a table suspended 50 metres from the ground showcasing the best of Brussels’ cuisine. After a world tour, the table is now steady over Mont des Arts serving some of the rarest dishes and fine wines to non-acrophobic diners. Michelin-star chefs from around the globe have cooked for these sky-high parties, including Yves Mattagne and Lionel Rigolet, so you can expect to pay thousands for this experience. Just don’t drop your fork!
So next time you’re abroad, don’t be fooled by the oilcloth fabric tablecloths and smiling waiters. You may have stepped into the zany side of foreign eateries which will provide you with brilliant tales to tell the relatives back home. Have you visited any of these restaurants, or anywhere equally bizarre?
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Sarah McLaughlin is a blogger with a passion for food, travel, and food whilst travelling. Current projects include learning to bake. She writes for Wipe Easy Tablecloths.