On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Restaurants, Dance Clubs
Neighborhood: Theater District50th St-Broadway (1)
49th St-7th Ave (N, R, W)
50th St-8th Ave (C, E)
Loading...
You don't go to this place for the food. You go for an interesting experience. Sure this experience was more unique back in the early 90s, however still fun.
Starts off with a journey to the dining area. It's a closed space capsule that uses hydraulics to shake the diners en route to the dining area. So they close one door, and open one on the other side, the kids will feel like they are traveling through space.
So when you enter, it's a big cave with interesting stuff for the kiddies to look at. Martians hanging out everywhere and making visits to the tables to entertain the earthlings.
Seriously, my food was a 5 on a scale from 1 to 10. Edible, but a shame to waste a meal in Manhattan on such sub-par food. But then again, it was an interesting experience.
Would I go back? If someone was visiting NY, was really into Mars, wasn't fussy about food, had kids, and I couldn't get reservations at my top picks, I would TOTALLY GO BACK!!! If it were up to my 2 year old daughter, we would be back here weekly.
This is a really cool place to take people that are from out of town and/or have small kids. They'll get a kick out of it and it's manageable for the adult crowd.
From what I've heard, they have some happy hour specials (but seriously, who would go there for that?), and the people there look like they want to kill themselves, but who can blame them?
The food is exactly how you would expect, mediocre, but if you have kids or are with them, what more can you expect?
Usually I don't write reviews for businesses that already have a substantial amount of feedback, but this one (as short as it will be) I feel needs commenting on.
Against my better judgement, and the advice of Yelp, I decided to come here for the experience while in NY for the day. When you enter, they tell you that they're going to charge you $2 per person for the cheesy space ride to Mars and that it will be added to your bill. Okay, whatever. I'll live. Well after that painful experience, we managed to find our way to the hostess (the building is a rather confusing maze of tunnels plus it's kind of dark in there) and were seated promptly. And that's it. We waited 15 maybe even 20 minutes and NO ONE CAME! No drinks, nothing. So we left. Not giving them their $4 for the cheesy ride was our way of sticking it to the man after that one. Good thing we managed to find a place with service across the street. That will be the last time I ignore Yelp for the sake of adventure.
Dinner at a cheesy themed restaurant was a reward for our kids for their good behavior on a 9-hour train ride. Mars 2112 was definitely a journey...after a nauseating spaceship "ride" to the red planet, where I almost lost my appetite, we were let off into a crazy mini-theme-park. The floors and walls are red faux stone, various aliens stopped by to greet us at our table, and intergalactic screens projected alien advertisements to all the patrons. My husband & I were prepared for a total culinary disaster, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Of course, they funnel you thru an arcade and gift store on the way out... fortunately our kids were as tired as us.
My generous rating reflects the fact that this placed continued the peace in our lives for a few more hours after an exhausting journey...I wouldn't come near it if there wasn't some parental pay-off involved.
Dear Mom,
I am sorry. Now I am much older and wiser. I know all the wonderful food that New York has to offer, and I apologize for making you take me here over and over as our family's pre-Broadway meal. I am sorry that I made you wait in a line that curved around the plaza in font on 3 different occasions. I am sorry that after an hour and a half drive up from the Jersey Shore I made you deal with poorly costumed aliens and a menu that makes TGI Fridays look gourmet. I am also sorry I made you go on the space shuttle ride even though you get motion sickness from Ferris Wheels. However, I would like to thank you for catering to my needs as an eight-year-old which involved martian waterfalls, chicken fingers, theme park rides, corny decorations and a gift shop rather than oh, I don't know an actual good restaurant.
Love,
Lauren
I was very generous and gave this place 3 stars because it is a really fun place for kids. From the 'ride' to get you to the main dining room to the arcade upstairs, it's every kids dream. The only problem is that their food is border line inedible. For the food, I give it 1 star - 2 tops.
I came here once after a day of touristy activities (Nat History museum followed by seeing the tree in Rockefeller plaza) and I was with 3 other adults and 4 kids. It was a perfect way to unwind and have a beer at the end of a long day. The kids ran around with the Martians and the adults tried to drink their headache away. Do no go here unless you're with young children (age 4-11) because the food is bleh.
The FOOD is horrible!!!!!
We went with my lovly one and 2 kids to "enjoy" a Thanksgiven dinner.
My son throw up after that trip in our car on the way to Brooklyn.
I personally, apologize, had diarrea! :)
It was not funny to pay 100$ for over spicy chicken wings and smelly indian rise with turkey stuffing....Hello...are you crazy or what?
They made me and my family sick anf I had to pay 18% tip included???
I also work in the business where people give me a tip and I work very VERY hard to please my client and being very nice, here you can see opposite!
I was waiting them for half an hour, we was hungry after show in Madison Squere Garden, we had such a nice Canadian show with Cirque De Solel and than I COMPLITELY spoiled my evening.
I would never go there!!! NEVER! NEVER!!!! NEEEEEEEEEEEVEEEEER EVER AGAIN!!!!!
I will give you a million places to go in NYC!
I've never eaten here, probably never would.
I came for the Halloween party. The decor suits a Halloween atmosphere, so it was an all around a good choice.
The bouncers are absolutely ridiculous. There's too much drug usage going on in here.
The space is large enough, though, so a large crowd wasn't a problem.
I came, drank, but would probably not return. Probably because the bar was overpriced.
It is what it is. Come for the experience, if that.
Dear Tourists : You are being ripped off.
To make this review a little more legitimate, I will have you know that this is the worst food I have ever tasted. In my life. Sorry Mom and Dad, for making your wallets a part of this tragedy.
Good for kids. Food is meh. Pricey but not a shock given location.
30 seconds after I stepped foot in Mars 2112, I knew I was being hoodwinked by a variety of co-conspirators, chiefly my then girlfriend, the restaurant itself and the embarrassing cadre of adults parading around in cheaply made extraterrestrial attire. I could place the blame squarely on the shoulders of the ex-girlfriend, whose infantile pining led her to celebrate her birthday there, but I'm letting myself off too easily if I do that. While I felt duty bound to accompany my ex on her mission to hob knob with rubber clad intergalactic interlopers, I knew going in that I was doomed. Mankind was doomed. And I was helpless to do little more than smile and feign awe at the most apocalyptic dining experience in New York City.
I was uneasy heading in Mars 2112 because the throngs of pumped up tourists outside the restaurant were getting on my nerves. To me it was just another forgettable theme restaurant, but to them, it was a martian mecca that deserved its own dining homage. It's easy to forget that majority of the tourists that travel to New York have spent years saving up to get here. They come from towns where the local cereal factory is a rallying point for civic pride. Eating at Mars 2112 is quite possibly the pinnacle of their worldly aspirations. I don't begrudge them their right to waste money at a culinary black hole like Mars 2112. I do, however, judge them for it.
The lobby of Mars 2112 is resembles a futuristic hangar, complete with a simulated spaceship ride to the sub level dining area. Little kids were going absolutely batshit over this concept. A veteran of utilizing commercial transportation apparatus such as elevators and escalators, I wasn't particularly impressed. As previously stated, the kids lapped this up and their parents allowed them carte blanche to express their sheer ecstasy, resulting in ear splitting screams and the rancorous fragrance of child sweat intermingling with bad space shuttle smell. There's a reason why they don't allow children to go to space. Mars 2112 makes a remarkable case for not only letting them go, but leaving them there.
After we landed in the dining area, a plague of cheaply costumed waiters and waitresses descended upon us. I cannot recall exactly which one seated us, but the gender neutrality of the waitstaff made me very uncomfortable. If at any point my waitress (or waiter) was flirting with me for a better tip, I was none the wiser. Ordering a burger from a restaurant employee dressed like Mister Softee cloaked in a purple snuggie was an awkward experience that caused me a considerable amount of shame.
The burger was ok. Nothing special. It's my safe bet when I go to theme restaurants. Then again, I have no idea how this particular burger was cooked, by whom, wearing who knows what. Everyone else opted for cutesy items like the Copernicus Chicken Parmigiana and the Promethean Pork Chops. Everyone enjoyed their food, the atmosphere and the whole Mars 2112 experience. My ex smiling. The kids howling in delight. People with giant latex heads serving food and drinks. They deserved each other for allowing themselves to be fleeced by a completely dehumanizing spectacle.
I was the only real alien in Mars 2112.
Another off-Times Square tourist trap - don't do it, even if you think your kids will like it. Avoid, avoid.
I only went there to try the wings because my friend raved about em. I must say they were delicious. They had a kick to them. Almost, sinus clearing when you took your first bite.
Sorry Mars2112 I really do not like giving bad reviews but think of mine as a way to improve your pretty cool concept. I havent been to your restaurant in 10 years and like I said the concept is cool and the overall space while a little tired really doesnt need much to update it to 2010. First of all the simulator - lets be serious its time to update video screen inside - a cheap fix that will give you so much more punch. Next the restaurant inside update the graphics on the displays add a few lasers just something to make the place a little more futuristic and CURRENT. Now the food..... Guys seriously your getting killed here on YELP because people say your food sucks and seriously it could be a lot better. Your in NYC you have access to the best food suppliers in the world take advantage of that. I know times are tough but your not fooling anyone. Forget your location - forget the cool concept if you keep getting YELP reviews like this and chowhound reviews they public will drive you out of business, Improve your menu!! Make the burger good! Go over to five guys - Im not joking for $5 their hamburger blows yours away and take the curry chicken off the menu. I spent $200 and my whole party of 9 was really disappointed.
It's fun but the food bleh. I would like to go here for a party or new year's celebration, though.
For those who reviewed this restaurant poorly---um, what exactly were you expecting? If you go to a themed eatery that claims to have you dining on a simulated martian surface, I think there has to be a healthy suspension of cynicism and lowered expectations for a "fine dining" experience. Go in with a sense of humor--you'll only go once, after all!
Waitstaff in spandex and hokey costumes who know just how hokey they look--surely no worse than the original Star Trek! Neat decor that will keep you looking at the "details," and provide some memories for you and your adult friends. Dorkey sounding "American" food choices, surely you can laugh at some of them.
The "real" cons--long lines and paying to get in/ overcharging for food
Applebees-rated food and typical selection.
Waitstaff who want to shove their UFOs up Uranus
So, when I was told that my birthday dinner was going to be at a themed restaurant I was part skeptical, part crazy excited. Walking to the venue, I saw the sign and I was even more skeptical...I would advise to make reservations so you won't have to spend too long waiting for a table, especially on a prime night (Friday, Saturday).
The "hangar" was complete with neon signs with alien PSA announcements everything from the next arriving shuttle to health tips for your travel. The all metallic everything was slightly off putting and the lines are normally hella long so ladies, don't wear heels. The touristy atmosphere added to the theme as lots of people were taking pictures.
The shuttle was a good touch but the younger kiddies weren't really feeling it, wasn't too long which was good.
The theme got stronger as we got off the shuttle, the red cave was a cool and the ambiance was soft and red hued all around...just don't look too close at the "rock" as it is obvious, it isn't rock. lol.
The service was prompt, our waiter looked like he had practiced faking a good time at work for long enough so it was almost slightly genuine and there was a "martian" walking around and waving at you. While you're waiting for your food, asking him questions is hella fun...like...how do you eat with such big hands? Do you have X-Ray vision? etc as they only respond with gestures. ;D
The food was okay, and pricey...so you're definitely paying for the theme...you're paying a hell of a lot for the theme but that's okay because the theme is good.
The walk out into the gift shop was kind of weird, though I would understand why you wouldn't want to go back on the shuttle if you're full. Gift shop items are overpriced and slightly out of date (and by slightly I mean dust ridden)
I would recommend this for kids and adults with a twisted sense of ADVEEEEEEEEEEENTURRRRRRRRRRRRRE! (Its a Marvelous Misadventures of Flap Jack reference...google it, it's worth it.)
It was fun.
I went here for my birthday and it was everything I expected it to be.
If you go during a weekday, it's actually pretty empty. There were only a few people with us on our trip to Mars and then the restaurant filled only a handful of tables.
I highly recommend that you take the shuttle to Mars. It's quiet enjoyable and you really get to see the New York skyline...nevermind that it's more than a few years old.
Once you're on the planet, they have funky cactus-like plants with lights on them. They also have a bar and arcade room with skeeball. It's truly what I expected Mars to be like.
The restaurant greets you with a few aliens, so make sure you bring your camera.
The drinks are pretty weak, and yes, that includes the shots.
No one loves me the way my best friend loves me. She understands and accepts that I am a HORRIBLE TERRIBLE EVIL person who loves nothing more to watch people suffer for my amusement. And so, she brought me here. To Mars 2112 to have one of the most hilarious dinners - EVER.
Think of Mars 2112 as a bizarre sci-fi themed S&M restaurant, and you start to have an idea why this place is SO FRICKIN' FANTASTIC!
Before you get dressed up in your silver PVC best - know that the average age of the patrons here is about 10. The thing though is that Mars 2112 wasn't planning on catering to kids (just look at the menu and you'll see what I'm talking about. No kid will order a grilled halibut with a coconut mango salsa) - it just happened, because kids - like perverse adults named Fenny - love to watch human misery in action.
The food? It tastes like reheated leftovers.
The booze? It tastes like rotgut swill.
So why the 4 stars?
Because you have miserable, angry full grown adults dressed up as space aliens. Dancing in their hot, stifling, smelly costumes. Posing in pictures for your perverse pleasure. They hate every ghastly moment of their existence...if they could gnaw off their own leg to get out, I'm sure they would.
Such absolute and complete degradation of humanity *MUST* be celebrated.
Come for the misery...stay for the hilarity!
Okay, it may be just me, but this place really gives off a Pizza Planet feel from the "Toy Story" film. With similar themes, extraterrestrial lifeforms wandering around the restaurant, yeah imagine seeing one while you're eating your meal, and a separate arcade room. Yep, definitely reminds me of Pizza Planet.
Overall, it was a decent experience. Decent food. Food you'll find at many other places. And the mini thrill ride ($2 entry fee) to the restaurant was quite enjoyable.
But, I would have to say that this restaurant is more suited for children and family, not adults looking for a romantic evening whatsoever.
Wow. I don't know how this place is still open. Mars seems to be enormous, but very sparsely populated.
We had to pay two bucks to get in (?!) and boy, oh, boy, do I wish that was all we paid. The servers were really, really nice - like another reviewer, I feel sorry for them. They seemed like cool people.
When we walked in, I said to my friend "It smells like ketchup." To which she replied, "Good, I'm craving fries." This, fellow Yelpers, is the right attitude for this joint.
The food was bo-ring. Standard fare. Burgers, grilled cheese. iceburg lettuce salads.
But listen - this is a theme restaurant off of Times Square. In the spirit of Planet Hollywood (and more highly populated planet), and Hard Rock Cafe, it delivers - especially for the preschool set.
Wow, I started to think about this, and I got really conflicted.
On one hand, Mars 2112 is fantastic. It's a themed restaurant, but they've really gone all out. On the other hand, it sucks, in ways that even a kid can spot.
From a kid's perspective, what's not to like? A motion simulator ride that takes you to Mars (think: "Star Tours"), pretty goofy and silly, entertaining for the smaller kids but probably boring for older ones and adults. Inside, a Mars cave theme, very well done, with a two-level restaurant and all sorts of interesting things to look at. Staff wandering around in goofy costumes. An arcade.
Well, from the kid's perspective, the arcade: "it sucked." Because a lot of stuff just wasn't well-maintained. We've been to Chuck E Cheese in the morning, and watched them test, open, repair, and clean all their games when they open, which our local ones do _every_ morning, which probably explains why they usually work. But even so, they occasionally break. Here, it seems unlikely that they're bothering with any of that. When a normally easygoing kid gets ticked off and walks out in frustration, something is wrong.
From an adult's perspective, I didn't appreciate the $2 "entry" fee, only to discover that the menus were also priced rather steeply. Had the food been outstanding, maybe I could understand that, but it was fairly mediocre-to-average. You could get a better meal at Applebee's, and I think for a fair bit less money.
Service was average to good. That's impressive, considering these poor people walking around in uncomfortable-looking costumes and uniforms and stuff, but then again we did go during a slow time.
Disappointing, though, was that they have a "teleporter" to return you to earth, but it "wasn't running", so you basically just walk out the door and suddenly you're back on earth. Good way to ruin the illusion of being on Mars. It gave a definite impression of "we've got your money, have a nice day, there's the exit."
Overall, the facility is over the top, very well done, a fun place to see. Food is average. Gameroom gets no stars. Exit gets no stars. Service was adequate to good. Overall, entertaining, at least once. A visit with young kids will be enjoyable. Try to make sure they don't see the arcade (and avoid disappointment), and try to visit at a non-prime time, and you'll probably have a better experience.
You know when things are soooooo bad, it could be good? Kind of like Rocky Horror Picture Show? Yeah. This is not it. There was no camp to this at all. It was so bad, that it was well... BAD.
+ across from The Winter Garden/Mamma Mia!
... that's about all the positives I can give it.
- the food did NOT taste good... my friends and I ordered different food -- chicken wrap, pasta, and a burger... yet we all felt SICK afterwards.
- waiters weren't very enthusiastic... they were forced to do this "can can" dance thing to some 80's bad techno music... you can tell from their face how much they enjoyed it. It was quite depressing.
- the simulation ride ($2/person) to your table was boring.
- the decoration/design were really lame...
- let's face it, people dressed up in costumes... kinda creepy.
Hmmph. I am REQUIRED to give at least one? Shoot.
Here we go again... another theme restaurant where this one has a stimulation ride to kill time while you wait for your table. This resturant is themed to aliens where wait staff are dressed in space gear for NASA. It's like the X-Files comes out of the TV screen onto your plate. The food is just average. Theme restaurants are totally not my forte as my former love was celebrating a birthday years ago here with a friend.
The service is just average also. It's good for children as it'll entertain them with aliens and space which is has better entertainment than a space museum.
This is a good place for kids! I am taking stars away because the characters tend to get stuck in one area for long periods of time verses working the entire restaurant. We have been four or five times and every time we had a waiter training while serving us. (thumbs down) Nothing is worse then trying to get your 5 year old to sit still while two grown people try to review the menu and the order you just made, four or five times.
The food was average but so was the pricing. It is okay for a quicky lunch. Venue is huge, jsut needs a little more attention.
I hate Mars 2112, mainly because it was such a disappointment! A year or so before I moved, I was visiting a friend in the city and we went on a theme restaurant tour of New York. Ninja was the highlight; Mars 2112 was the low point.
It costs money just to enter the building to experience the ~ambiance~ or what have you, I believe it's $5 that's added onto your bill. That's ridiculous when you're already paying a crapload for the food.
We waited to "go to Mars," and when we finally got on the spaceship, it broke. One of the hostesses started it over again, and then it broke yet AGAIN, leaving us sitting in the dark in a broken ride. A few minutes later, she just opened the back door and told us to go into the restaurant. We asked if we could get the entrance fee knocked off because of this overwhelming disappointment (seriously!) and the woman informed us this wouldn't be possible because we're paying to enter the building, not for the ride. Her words.
The food was awful and overpriced. I had a hamburger. How hard is it to eff up a hamburger. None of the Martian actors came to our table to talk to us. Yes, we were two adults in the restaurant, but we paid our money just like everyone else, so shouldn't we get some of the Mars 2112 experience? Apparently not.
I'd say don't waste your time. There are much better theme restaurants in New York.
The theme is what makes this place unique. You see aliens walking around just bothering the patrons and you ride a "space ship" to get into the restaurant. This place looks like it would be good for kids, but as a college student, it was a moderate experience at best.
The food wasn't anything special. I really don't even remember what I ordered, but the nachos were humongous and really good, very loaded. That was the redeeming quality for this place.
This place is actually still open? Good lord. Worst place ever. I can't believe I let my friend bring me here..what a waste of a night in NYC.
Wait...there was a fake spaceship ride? That would have been cool :/
I'm giving this place one star because my 3 year old son really believed he was at Mars and had a great time.
Other than that it pretty much sucked. His kids mac and cheese is double the cost of a typical kid's meal at a restaurant. What's sad is that his food was tastier than mine.... and I ordered the most expensive thing on the menu which was almost $30. The meat was very dry, vegetables weren't tasty.. I had a lot of food to go that I didn't even want to eat the next day.
Overall the place sucked, but if you want to treat your kiddos take them here.. if you don't think you can stand the cheezyness then there's a bar where you can get hammered.
But really, I felt like a stupid tourist wasting my money.. I wish I went to Dave and Busters instead.
This is a space themed restaurant in Times Square. Keeping that in mind, here are my thoughts on Mars 2112.
Pro - Eating in space.
Con - Terrible space food.
Pro - It's awesome.
Con - We saw bugs on the table.
Pro - You ride a space ship to get to the resteraunt.
Con - The whole place is kind of rundown and dirty.
Pro - The wait staff wears space outfits.
Con - The wait staff is (understandably) kind of mean.
Pro - It was awesome.
Con - It was overpriced.
Overall, it was a slightly more run down version of exactly what you might expect. It's definitely worth going here once for the funnies or to subject someone to a hilariously awful birthday party.
A sorority sister encouraged my friends and I to go to the "Mars Restaurant" in NY.
We almost strangled her when we went inside.
She went once when she was 15 and thought it was cool...yeah 15 and under would be the only person to think this.
If you get motion sickness on those rides with screens that just move you around, then don't go.
Also if you like to pay 15 bucks or more for a cheeseburger, then feel free but be prepared to wait a long time.
Also - the "Welcome to Mars Earthlings" greetings got a little old and after our ice water took 10 minutes to come out we left.
Just don't go.
Unless it's a child's birthday, stay away.
Our friends who live in New York love this place. I've put off writing this review lest they find it and I offend them, but the food here is pretty awful. (Sorry, guys.) And it's not like it's cheap either. $20 or more an entree!
The ambiance *is* pretty cool - it is a theme restaurant after all. (I particularly like the pipes filled with lights that surround one of the hallways.) However, the exterior on an empty sunken plaza is pretty sad.
I wish there were more aliens (they had pretty splashy Martian costumes) and that they came by more often. I was never able to get a good picture of one (that's how fast they went by).
Service was below par. They had a bathroom attendant in the women's bathroom. I've heard of them in the men's room but never the women's. That's a first. The concept of bathroom attendant is ridiculous to me.
The best thing about this place is the arcade - lots of cool big kid games. While I don't really remember it my local friend swears that the bar is really cool-looking. On our last visit he tried to sucker us into going here again, but we wouldn't fall for it.
This is easily the grossest place I've ever been to in New York.
I read the reviews on Yelp and considered them, and ultimately I felt like I could go with some friends if we engaged a sense of humor and a generous amount of booze. It would be funny, right? You take a spaceship... how funny. Or not.
It wasn't funny or campy or anything, this shit was nasty. First of all, you have to pay $2 to just GO INTO the restaurant, even if you're eating there. What is that about? I guess people run out when they see the inside (people at the table next to us actually did that...)
Second, they totally did not commit to the theme. Is that too much to ask? The place looked trashed, there were some half hearted attempts to make the restaurant look intergalactic, mostly in the form of spinning rainbow lights and a sad guy in an old, jacked up alien costume.
Our waitress wasn't even wearing a space themed costume, although she did call herself our 'space captain' half heartedly. Other than that, there was some crap from the gift store around, a big screen that was covered in dirty children's handprints and rock walls. And non stop Yanni music - actually I mean one non stop Yanni song. They played the same song for an hour. Really.
Third, I didn't come here for the food, but for $18 hamburgers, you'd expect the food to at least be served hot. Instead, everything was cold. And my hamburger bun fell apart. Fuck you Mars 2112. Judging by the amount of food on the floor laying about, the people who had eaten there the previous day or two did not enjoy their meals either.
And then, to top things off, when you leave the restaurant (via transporter - I won't bother describing it, it's just as crappy as the rest of the restaurant), you end up in the gift shop. Because the experience was so great, you'll really want to remember it with gifts.
Also, the bathrooms were overflowing and decorated with sponge art.
Food was ok here. When you enter theres like a theme park like ride to the eating area. lol weird place tho
Okay, I want to give this place 5 stars just for how bad it is. If you just knocked up your underage girl and need a shotgun wedding, this place would be great for the reception! The shuttle should be considered for the actual proposal... nothing like slipping that ring on her finger as you pass the rings of saturn. Oh, and speaking of ring, you could get it at the arcade within!
Seriously the costumes are dirty on so many levels... stained felt costume... inappropriate spandex on the male alien...
Captain Jose came to get our drink orders and when he came back for our food orders didn't remember that we already ordered drinks. Food was crap - especially for the price. Who decided Alfredo Sauce was suppose to be as bright as (and possibly made out of) Velveeta?
Overpriced, crappy service, might be good if you're really really drunk with a large group.
I am not a fan of themed restaurants for a reason: the food is usually sub par and overpriced to compensate for the themed experience. Mars 2112 falls perfectly into this category.
The ride to get into the restaurant was just okay, maybe a 5 out of 10. Even the kids that I had with me (my cousins, ages 5-12) were pretty unimpressed. When we exited the "space craft" and entered the restaurant, it looked pretty cool...very mars-esque. After we were seated we were greeted by a slew of different "aliens" that took pictures with the kids and gave them balloons etc. Then, the lights flickered and the music got louder and the aliens broke out in dance: something between the electric slide and the soul clap. It was pretty funny watching the kids "boogey" with the aliens....but where was our server? Finally, after making mention of it, our server shuffled over to our table and 30 minutes later, our food came out.
The food was pretty tasteless and WAY over priced. I have never seen a kids meal be so expensive (the mac and cheese was WAY overpriced and looked like Kraft brand). I ended up getting a salad which is usually a good "go-to" food when you're not sure what to get (after all, you can't mess up a salad...can you?). It was awful: the lettuce was browning, the tomatoes looked old and the crumbly blue cheese was scarce. The kids barely touched their food and ate the fries only, which meant that an hour or so later we had to stop for food again.
When I got the check at the end of the meal, I had a hard time coughing up the dough for 7 half eaten meals, sub par food, and less than average service, but I did it. Lesson learned. Mars 2112 was a one time, "just went so I could say I did it" kind of place.
I don't know what to say about my journey to Mars 2112. I'm torn between the one-star and the five-star. On one hand, the food was mediocre at best, and the waitstaff was somewhat surly. But there was a spaceship ride to enter the restaurant! It was a poor man's Star Tours. I think that alone was a high point. It was so bizarre.
My dining experience was kind of surreal. It had an overwhelming air of comedy, though that may have been just my friends and I. There was a party of 50 sorority sisters entering behind us. There were a lot of jokes about how things are different IN SPACE. The TV showing some bizarre heavily made-up actor giving Martian News to the bad music that was blasting in the bar was pretty awesome. I like to think that there's actually an audio portion to the newscast, and it wasn't just a loop of the Martian making strange hand gestures and giving us knowing looks.
The food, as I said, was pretty meh; not absolutely terrible, but nothing great, either. Not worth the $15 I paid for a cheeseburger, but I can't walk into such a restaurant and not expect to be taken advantage of. The drinks, though; this was a very strong Gin & Tonic, and I typically don't care for the G&T, but this was delicious.
They really try to milk you for all you have, as evidenced by the (taken from the Disney playbook) exit- you have to leave through the Mars 2112 Gift Shop.
I had a blast at my dinner. The food was not as "astrodelicious" as the signs told me it would be, but I didn't expect it to be. Oh, we also found a tiny bug crawling across our table. It made my friend scream. You stay classy, Mars 2112.
ok. i'm going to be blunt... this place is cheesy.
the spaceship ride sucked and i hated paying money just to enter a restaurant. i mean... seriously? really? i have to pay to be harassed by people in spandex suits? no thank you.
sidenote: try not to look the "aliens" in the eye or they will come over to you.
but i digress... the food was just ok. i forgot what i even had, meaning that it wasn't even that memorable-- good or bad. the dessert was kind of gross. it was some weird, flavorless cake with hershey's (yes! hershey's! *barf*) syrup on it and ice cream. it was kind of average, and i could have made it at home.
the drinks were pretty bad-- as in they didn't taste good. however, they got the job done as i had a hard time focusing on 'phantom of the opera' later on in the evening.
I am from Boston and went to Mars 2112 on a mini vacation. My boyfriend loves planet hollywood and espn zone, and someone recommended this place to us as being similar.
It is a neat concept...but definitely an over priced chuck e cheese. its $2 addmission per person (which is crazy). you can watch a video to prepare you for your trip or just be instantly transported (we went for the instant trasportation) then you wander down this long hallway before being greeted by another hostess who seats you.
Anyways, it seemed like a decent place...very rain forest cafe-ish. the menu was kind of limited...
***HOWEVER--as we were finishing up our nahcos (which werent that good) I SAW A MOUSE. thats right a little MOUSE run from the table behind us to the table across from us. I told the hostess, who went to get a manager (but never came back), i told our waiter and he joked about it! Now i dont know if this is a typical thing at a NY restaurant, but its just gross. No one seemed to care which was more upseting. then our waiter suddenly had to leave...dumped our check on the table while we were eating our cold burgers...and left.
needless to say, i wasnt overly impressed!!
Neighborhood: TriBeCa
Category: Japanese
Secaucus, NJ
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: American (New)
Hoboken, NJ
Category: Spanish
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: Italian
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
A (hopefully) growing list of theme restaurants in…
Who comes here for the Statue of Liberty or Times…
Some of the darkest moments in my life began the…
Here are some of the places we visited while…
We try to avoid the typical tourist…
Looking for some places that as a New Yorker you'd…
Some of the most interesting experiences that I…
