What Is a Theme Restaurant?

A theme restaurant is a restaurant that has a distinct theme in its décor, name, food or any combination of these. Many theme restaurants can be found throughout the world, with themes such as medieval time periods, jungles and famous individuals. Commonly located in tourist areas, theme restaurants often cater to tourists’ desire to eat at novel or unique establishments. Many people believe that the food at a theme restaurant is less than high-quality food because so much attention is placed on executing the theme, but this is not always the case.

Depending on the geographic location and the focus of the restaurateur, a theme restaurant might appear in a variety of locations. Many theme parks have themed restaurants to carry the park’s theme into every aspect of the tourist’s stay. Larger tourist destinations might also have theme restaurants because of the large number of new patrons to the area. A theme restaurant owner might easily attract a large number of patrons who are visiting the area and have never seen or heard of the theme restaurant.

One aspect of a theme restaurant that sets it apart from other restaurants is the fact that the theme is present in every aspect of the restaurant. The theme decorations are present outside, in the lobby area, where customers eat, in the serving pieces, in the food and even in the bathrooms. An exaggerated and extravagant portrayal of the restaurant’s theme is what draws many people in to eat. This type of restaurant usually requires a large investment of capital, so owners expect to draw large crowds based on the theme.

Although not a traditional theme restaurant, many restaurants host theme nights. These might be nights based on a specific food or regional cuisine, entertainment theme or something fun, such as a murder mystery night. A restaurant might draw a large crowd for these special events without investing money in the constant portrayal of the theme.

People who are interested in opening a theme restaurant should do quite a bit of research before starting that venture. Careful execution of the chosen theme is crucial, so care must be taken in purchasing everything from the correct serving pieces to décor, seating arrangements and staff members' uniforms. All of these pieces together might cost quite a bit of money, but a restaurateur must also consider the quality of the food that he or she hopes to serve as well as the quality of the customer service at the restaurant.