Underwater Eateries

Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 12th September 2008 at 02:23 AM, Filed in Unusual Hotels

I have always fancied having a decent sized fish tank in my bathroom – I think it would encourage me to slow down a bit and take more relaxing baths rather than just grabbing a quick shower.  However, my bathroom isn’t really large enough, but until that day I have had to make do with visiting aquariums and a few’ under-water’ dining experiences.  This seems to be something of a trend as more and more restaurants are opening worldwide offering the chance to nosh while you gaze at fish.  Here’s a list of a few – perhaps I should visit them all and compile a top 10 list!
Ithaa Reataurant
Maldives – Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (part of the Hilton Group) – boasts the Ithaa Undersea Restaurant 16th below sea level.  Currently this has to be the most ‘extreme’ aquatic dining experience.  Unlike many restaurants of this genre, you sit in an acrylic tunnel (some describe is as 180 degree, others as 360 degree views) – but anyway, the fish are all around you rather than just on one side / ‘wall’.  This restaurant is about 5 meters below sea level reached by a spiral staircase at the end of a jetty.  The cuisine is described as ‘western fusion’ and you need to budget at least $120 for lunch or $220 for dinner – but then nothing’s cheap in the Maldives.  As this isn’t an aquarium, but actually under the sea you will be able to see all sorts of marine life – including sharks and sting rays depending on the light – so lunch may be the better option.  Hum – not sure what happens if the roof springs a leak though.

Dubai – Al Mahara Restaurant at the Burj al Arab Hotel – This infamous 7 star hotel has a restaurant accessed by a ride in a ‘submarine’ – well, an elevator with video portholes.  The seating is arranged around an oval aquarium filled with all manner of marine life from reef sharks to eels.  The cuisine is seafood, I guess it had to be, and currently holds the title of being Dubai’s best seafood restaurant, although I have read some reviews describing the food as mediocre.  You definitely need to book ahead to ensure getting a table.

Israel – Red Sea Star Restaurant – again about 5 meters below sea level situated by a coral ‘garden’.  Each table has 2 windows into the sea (one in the wall and one in the ceiling about the table) and has seating for 105 guests.  I don’t think the food here is memorable, but again pretty much seafood themed with paella.  The interior does look rather basic and a bit ‘café’ like.
Red Sea Star Restaurant
Waikiki Hawaii, Oceanarium Restaurant – this restaurant looks into a 280,000 gallon aquarium.  It serves a lot of seafood and some nights has a buffet, but not the best quality food – a lot of pasta, steak and some reviews state the fish is tasteless.

Orlando, Florida, USA – SeaWorld – Sharks Underwater Grill – of course you need to get into the Seaworld Park (and pay your entry fee) to be able to dine here.  It is probably best if you book ahead to guarantee a table, but if you may be lucky and get a table on-the-day – but I’d recommend going straight to the restaurant as soon as you get into the park to try to book a table for late in the day.  We did this and I think we got our table for about 1.45.  The restaurant is quite dimly lit which gives it quite a mincing feel – which works with the large number of sharks swimming by.  The food has a Carribean influence – my dish (blackened sea scallops) were quite spicy.  It’s not the cheapest theme park restaurant (you wouldn’t expect it to be) but we thought it was worth the money.  The kids loved it, and of course it pro-longed the day’s aquatic experience with something to watch during lunch.  The funniest thing was the members of the public taking shark diving experiences in the aquarium.  They were in a small cage that moved at a snails pace through the tank (it must have taken at least 50 minutes to travel a very few meters) and the cage inhabitants possibly didn’t realise they were being watched with restaurant lighting being so low.  Seaworld Article Link

Orlando Florida, USA – Epcot, Coral Reef Restaurant – Yup, Orlando has 2 aquarium themed restaurants and this is the Disney’s one.  We didn’t dine here, but did take a look inside.  The lighting is brighter than the Sharks Underwater Grill (not sure if that’s good or bad) and the views of the fish didn’t seem as good.  We had already eaten at the Sharks Grill and just didn’t fancy Coral Reef as much – we weren’t that taken with the menu either.  Reviews seem to state that even with a reservation you can expect to have to wait 20 or 30 minutes and the reviews of the food are mixed – some say it is over priced / small portions. All in all I think we’ll go back to Sharks when we return to Orlando later in the year.

Valencia, Spain, Submarine Restaurant at L’Oceanografic – I haven’t been there, this looks like a great marine complex with some 45,000 animals.  The restaurant is in the centre of the complex with 2 levels, the upper level has views over the lake and the lower level into the aquarium.  Cuisine is described as traditional Valencian.

Sweden - Utter Inn Utter Inn Link – an underwater bedroom ‘cabin’ for 2 people.  Food can be delivered or bring your own.
Florida, Key Largo, Jules Undersea Lodge – you have to scuba dive 21 feet below the surface of the Emerald Lagoon to get to this small under-sea lodge (previously a research lab), so it isn’t for everyone.  It can accommodate up to 6 people at once and it is possible to book the services of chef to come down and prepare a gourmet meal.

Dubai, Hydropolis Hotel – will it ever open??  It is claimed that this super-luxurious underwater resort will be completed in 2009 and will be 66 foot below water level.  As / when it does doubtless there will be a few eateries – watch this space.

Shanghai, China – the Songjiang Hotel, is currently a concept 400 bed 5 star resort hotel with various ‘eateries’ to be set in a 100 meter deep quarry.  Probably won’t get built!

TV – Sponge Bob Square-Pants – if all else fails watch an episode of this cartoon with your 5-year-old for the ‘Crabby Patty’ experience at bikini bottom!!

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