5 One-of-a-Kind Dining Experiences in Seriously Cool Places
People tend to flock to the big cities for culinary adventures, believing little interest exists elsewhere. But oh, what they’re missing.
In small and mid-sized cities across the country, you’ll find unique eateries that provide not only fantastic food but also once-in-a-lifetime experiences you’ll never forget.
We’re talking about shipping container food courts. Laundromat diners. And a futuristic drive-in theater with some seriously amazing treats.
Here are five of our favorite one-of-a-kind dining experiences outside big cities — and where to find them.
In This Article
1. Sparkman Wharf
Tampa, Florida
Once a plaza retail center, Sparkman Wharf Dining Garden is located on the Garrison Channel in downtown Tampa. This outdoor dining venue is an incredible example of what a re-imagined space can become. Ten walk-up eateries are housed in brightly painted shipping containers where hungry customers can order next-level menu items created by the city’s most highly acclaimed chefs. Imagine high-end food carts without wheels. The dining garden currently features Gallito Taqueria, Half Moon Seafood Company, Edison’s Swigamajig and more.
Meals are either eaten at the few tables located in front of the containers, or you can hang out on the nearby artificial lawn where you’ll find plenty of fun and games like cornhole, shuffleboard and an oversized game of chess. If you aren’t in the mood to play games, there’s a large high-definition TV and a stage area for live entertainment.
Outside of the main dining garden, Sparkman Wharf also houses several boutique fitness studios, storefronts and about half a dozen other restaurants. Of course, you’ll likely want to hit up LightHaus Beer Garden, an open-air Biergarten offering a selection of wine, seltzers and more accompanied by sweeping views of Tampa’s waterfront.
2. Four Brothers Drive-In
Amenia, New York
Four Brothers is not your grandma’s drive-in. This family-owned locale in Dutchess County, NY, is the brainchild of brothers John and Paul Stefanopoulos, who dreamed of bringing back the glory of the old-school drive-ins but with a futuristic twist. And that they did. In an effort to create a world-class venue, they designed the drive-in to act like a town square: somewhere people could come together to spend quality time. To break the mold, they created what is now the only drive-in theatre with a full-service restaurant/theatre combination and electric car chargers (free!) in the nation. Additionally, a full-service restaurant menu and car hop service offer really good food, cocktails and milkshakes.
Knowing that guests would be traveling long distances to experience their venue, they decided to feature anything but the ordinary pre-show events. While guests wait, they can watch live wood carvings, go on pony rides, watch magic shows and more. Guests can even enjoy a playground and arcade and catch a round of mini golf on-site. There have even been hot air balloon launches! Guests too tired to drive home after the show can keep the party going all night long with on-site camping or a stay in Four Brothers’ Hotel Caravana, a hotel in an airstream (note: it books fast).
3. Harvey Washbangers
College Station, Texas
Nobody likes losing hours of their life to doing laundry in public. Well, nobody except for the folks living in College Station, TX, where the best craft beer and burgers in town just so happens to be served at a local laundromat. Yes, really.
Friday night is the perfect time to separate your whites from your darks and head to Washbangers, where you can load up the machines and then head to the attached bar to order up a Banger Burger, Cowboy Up Dog or a Giant Pretzel and spend the rest of the evening dining and drinking the State’s top craft beers. Even better? Washbangers offers several food and drink specials throughout the week, and on Sundays, kids eat free after 5 p.m.
Don’t worry, the restaurant features a cool lightboard that lets you track your clothes’ progress and stay on track. Rotating taps mean you can enjoy sipping on something new every time you run out of clean socks and have to run a load or two.
4. The Airplane Restaurant
Colorado Springs, Colorado
You may not be able to get a good meal in the air anymore, but you can still get a fantastic one served in a plane. The Airplane Restaurant is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker built in 1953. Before it became a place to dine and drink, it was used to refuel aircraft all around the world.
Now — grounded for good in Colorado Springs, CO — this 275-seat restaurant features hundreds of photos and artifacts that tell the story of the history of aviation. There are limited seats available for dining in the actual body of the plane, so if you want in-flight entertainment, definitely call ahead for a reservation. And the menu features classic American fare, with items like the Rueben von Crashed (yikes!) and a Philly Flyer. There is an impressive variety of margaritas to choose from (undoubtedly inspired by someone’s experience with excessive turbulence). For those who prefer whiskey, there’s always the Canadian Bomber.
5. Bors Hede Inne
Carnation, Washington
Experience what it was like to dine during the Middle Ages at this dinner theater. Designed to recreate a 14th-century village inn at the Bors Hede Inne in Carnation, WA, you can expect to be greeted as any traveler of the period would.
Located in the Camlann Medieval Village, nestled in a country setting, customers enjoyed being waited on by servers in traditional garb who don’t break character. Not even for a moment. When you open the heavy wrought-iron door, visitors are welcomed by the hosteler (innkeeper) and led into the dimly lit dining hall. During the winter, the great fireplace is lined with drying wood that warms the room.
The menu consists of dishes like Fenberry Pye, Bourblier de Sangle and Sanc Dragon, all prepared from 14th-century recipes and served on platters. The environment transports you back in time, and the experience doesn’t end with the bites and sips. Prepare to be entertained with era-specific music and storytellers who have time traveled quite a distance to remind you what meals were like long before TV screens were mounted in every restaurant.