Growing up I never had a huge interest in food but after joining the military and being exposed to a lot of different cultures and cuisines I got over that pretty quickly. I wasn’t always stationed in the most interesting places… Omaha, NE and San Angelo, TX aren’t exactly cities of tasty cuisine. However, I got to meet some pretty kickass people, especially when I was deployed, and my eyes were definitely opened to the world of damn good food. This probably explains why I decided to go to culinary school after six years in a completely unrelated field. After living and growing up in places where the most common restaurant was something like a Denny’s or Applebee’s moving to Portland was pretty fucking awesome… so much to choose from!


Anyway, this got me thinking about restaurants that bring something a little extra to the table…

A little something to entice the appetite

After a little bit of searching I found some restaurants that have taken an idea and run with it. Not all of the food looks appetizing (you’ll see what I mean) but they’re proof that if you have an idea that’s crazy enough and the money to get it going the public will eat that shit up… literally… the eating part, not the shit part cuz that is just fucking gross.
So, there are a lot of unique restaurants but I kept my list down to 5… don’t want you guys to get bored reading about 50 sweet restaurants plus I can’t do all the work for you, get off your ass and research this shit yourself!!
Ok, first up!

1. The Modern Toilet in Taiwan


The Modern Toilet  is located in Taiwan and was started by Eric Wang, a completely appropriate last name if you ask me, who was originally a street vendor that sold ice cream in hand-size toilet cups. The restaurant serves small entrees in urinal shaped dishes, while larger dishes are served in the toilet-shaped bowls and noodles come in small bathtub-like containers. A few, possibly gag-inducing, plates are various curries and chocolate, soft serve ice cream… yummm, “I’d like my food to look like shit please…”

2. Cabbages and Condoms in Bangkok

The things we do for money...

Mint flavored maybe???

Trying to figure out why the red one looks terrified behind that heart he is holding

Alright, when hunger strikes you what comes to mind? Safe sex and condoms, of course!! The Population and Community Development Association also know as PDA (which is entirely ironic and appropriate for this particular restaurant) runs many restaurants throughout Thailand under the same name in order to promote safe sex and AIDS awareness. Luckily if you do end up on Thailand and hunger for a delicious Thai food and sex education combo meal you will be well taken care of. Also… in case you’re wondering… condoms have nothing to do with the cuisine just the décor… unless eating rubber is your thing but I think you might have some fetishes that need to be addressed… have fun with that!

3. Dans le Noir in Paris, London and Moscow

"What the fuck did you just say? Bitch be talking crazy over there!"

What could be more appetizing than not seeing what you’re digging into? Personally, I like to see the food I eat, especially since I’ve learned a lot about presentation and plating throughout culinary school. This restaurant aims to take away your sense of sight as you plunge into a world of darkness and explore your environment with your other senses. I’ve heard that when one sense is taken that your other sense will compensate… so, basically you have a room full of hypersensitive and less inhibited folks. Careful not to say something you don’t want the person across the table to hear cuz he may not be able to see you but his newfound super hearing will still be capable of judging you… plus the majority of the servers are sight-impaired so imagine their hearing abilities!!

4. Hospitalis in Riga, Latvia

Better than wearing a condom on your head I suppose

"MMM, yes... I'd like my steak already digested please."

Remember when I mentioned that not all the food served looks very appetizing? That last picture is what I was talking about; I’m not even sure how to describe that plate besides it looking like a slop of shit… I can not imagine that tasting good… maybe that would best be served at Dans le Noir where you wouldn’t even know that you’re eating a plate of goopy crap since you wouldn’t be able to see it.
Anyway, Hospitalis is a hospital themed restaurant that was started by a couple of real doctors, with a sick sense of humor apparently. All the décor is kept as realistic as possible and comes from real hospitals. You’re utensils are actual surgical instruments, hopefully sterilized after they were last used to dig through some guy’s guts. Drinks are served in laboratory flasks and test tubes by bartenders dressed as doctors while food is served on stainless steel plates by servers dressed as nurses… scandalous little nurses. If you choose to you can be submitted as a patient and be served in hospital theatre or bound up in a straight jacket and be hand fed your meal… time to fulfill those secret, little nurse fantasies!!

5. Dinner in the Sky anywhere you want bitches!!

"Awww, fuck... I dropped my knife!"

Ok, the skydiver in me could not resist adding this to my list… how fucking badass is this thing?!??! The idea came from an entrepreneur in Europe and the setup can be rented for 8-hour sessions… I couldn’t find a price so I’m guessing its batshit crazy expensive. The platform can fit 22 diners with 3 chefs/servers in the middle. You are strapped to your chairs, a lot like a pilots or race car drivers I imagine. I would love to grab a group of my jump buddies and raise hell on this thing but 150 feet is just not tall enough to jump off and I’m sure we all would be tempted; especially after a few drinks… maybe they can make it higher someday!

So, there you have it! Some extreme restaurants and I didn’t even scratch the surface… I’m sure there is a lot more fun to discovery out there so get to it!!