Experience Fine Dining Like Never Before at L.A.’s Mind-Blowing Interactive Restaurant!

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Daren Ulmer, who used to oversee music at Disneyland, often highlights the fact that the well-known Enchanted Tiki Room attraction started out as a Polynesian-themed restaurant in Walt Disney’s original plan. He remarks, “That was his initial idea,” emphasizing the practical issues that led it to transform into just an audio-animatronics show instead. “He had a great concept!

Ulmer, currently leading Mousetrappe – an autonomous production house with clients like Disney and Universal Studios – is venturing into immersive dining with The Gallery, a unique restaurant situated in downtown L.A. (330 W. Olympic Blvd.). This establishment employs cutting-edge projection mapping to turn the 80-seat room’s walls, ceiling, and shared tables into dynamic, often interactive video screens that sync with the progression of the meal’s storyline. The idea is that customers will be attracted to a restaurant experience that transcends the ordinary, similar to how music festivals such as Coachella, successful film franchises like Marvel, and art events such as Meow Wolf generate profits in their respective entertainment sectors.

The inaugural event, named Elementa, features Joshua Whigham, our resident chef, and showcases an original Debussy-inspired soundtrack by Ulmer. This five-course meal, priced at $200 per person (excluding beverages), promises a unique dining experience. The menu unfolds with a root vegetable dish accompanied by digital flowers that react to guest movements. Subsequent courses include a duck presentation adorned with the classic molecular gastronomy touch – foam, accompanied by pixelated bubbles that pop across the table. The meal concludes with a hamachi and seaweed platter, where schools of bright fish swim playfully among coral on the plate (though at times, the digital effect may experience a slight delay).

The first show, called Elementa, has original music by Ulmer and is $200 per person (not including drinks). Joshua Whigham, our resident chef, oversees this event. The meal starts with root vegetables served with moving digital flowers. Later, there’s a duck dish with foam on top, and bubbles float around. The last course is fish and seaweed that looks like it’s swimming under coral (but sometimes the digital part may pause for a moment).

The Gallery, incorporating short artistic interludes, aspires to distance itself from the cheesy, less sophisticated connotations often linked with its genre, much like Medieval Times. Instead, it seems to strive for a more budget-friendly version of Alchemist, a renowned Danish restaurant known for its two Michelin stars and modernist cuisine, characterized by integrated visual projections.

Ulmer is collaborating with Chuck Fawcett, a seasoned animatronics expert who has worked on various projects for Disney, Warner Bros., Sesame Workshop, and Jim Henson Productions. They are exploring different locations, starting with the obvious choices like Las Vegas and Orlando, but their primary focus is on perfecting the initial version of their project called Elementa. After its completion, there will be a series of other productions. Ulmer explains that they don’t want to be limited in their style, hence their planned lineup includes gospel-style brunches, diverse matinee shows for all ages, and partnerships with film and music legends who can offer unique perspectives. Additionally, there will be holiday feasts, and Ulmer is particularly excited about creating one inspired by A Christmas Carol. The question remains whether they should go with a traditional Dickensian approach, a more modern Baz Luhrmann style, or something as mysterious as Sleep No More-esque.

The opening of the Gallery took place simultaneously with the yearly Themed Entertainment Awards, an event that brings together experts from the amusement park industry. This year, it was hosted at Universal. Consequently, the room was buzzing with industry insiders. Ulmer comments, “It was exciting to witness their reactions,” further explaining, “We have a unique perspective on how stories can evoke emotions and create lasting memories.

You can find this tale in the April 16 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Consider subscribing by clicking here.”

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2025-04-19 21:24