Strike hunger at one of these themed restaurants
Two college favorites—hamburgers and horror movies—have united to create a hauntingly delicious dining experience at Des Moines’ newest burger joint, Zombie Burger + Drink Lab.
The restaurant is a hit in the undead community, debuting unique eats like the “Walking Ched” burger, featuring a bun made of breaded and deep-fried macaroni and cheese, and the “They’re Coming to Get You Barbara” burger, which squeezes American cheese, caramelized onion, bacon, and its signature Zombie sauce between two grilled cheese sandwiches.
At the full-service bar, customers can enjoy a spiked milkshake, Zombie Burger’s twist on the burger joint staple, and those without a sweet tooth can enjoy their drink of choice garnished with frozen eyeballs. From the lobby to the dining areas, customers can let their eyes wander over the zombie cartoons or read “What to do in case of a sudden zombie attack.” The creepy details throughout the space provide guests an appetizing and entertaining dining experience.
Zombie Burger is the newest establishment of Orchestrate Hospitality, a hotel and restaurant management company. Paul Rottenberg, the company’s president, attributes Zombie Burger’s great success to the restaurant’s atmosphere and food quality.
“There’s an excitement at the point of arrival; every time you walk into the restaurant, you get a little surprised and excited,” Rottenberg saids. “But people come back for the incredibly high-quality products and service—the hamburgers are clearly the star of the show.”
Zombie Burger is not the first to claim fame through their one-of-a-kind burgers. McGuire’s Irish Pub in Pensacola, Fla. has been serving peculiar patties since 1977. The restaurant menu features the Skippy Peanut Butter Burger, the Hot Fudge Burger, and the Grand Burger— made with filet mignon— which comes with champagne and caviar and runs for $100 a pop.
For $210, compared to Zombie Burger’s $5-$10 menu, one can enjoy an extravagant dining experience at Alinea restaurant in Chicago. With over 20 courses, a dinner here lasts over three hours and requires reservations months in advance.
Somewhere inside this price range lies the cuisine of NINJA, a New York seafood restaurant that is designed to replicate a ninja castle of the feudal days. Their philosophy focuses on an “accurate re-creation of the ninja castle.”
It seems like great food is no longer enough for our entertainment-craving society—restaurants all over the country are now serving an experience along with your meal.
“It’s hard to do average in the restaurant business,” Rottenberg said. “To stand out, that is really something spectacular.”
