Jambo Grille

I got to Jambo Grill at 2:45 PM and checked it out, a little nervous for yet another crummy zoo meal. However, I was pleasantly surprised. At the Jambo Grill, a bunch of standard meals were pre-made, meaning that I asked for a cheeseburger and fries, and was immediately handed some. I also asked for a fountain drink and got one, deciding on iced tea. There were no straws or lids, either because they were out of them or didn't think they were environmentally friendly, but that suited me because I actually got exactly enough drink so I wasn't either left thirsty or needed to feel guilty about wasting some of it. As for the food, it was good. The cheeseburger wasn't perfect, but was tasty and cooked well, not burnt or under-cooked. The French fries were not piping hot, but they were warm and had the right amount of salt. There were paper cups for condiments, and I got two ketchup, one honey mustard, and a barbecue sauce, and used all three types for a variety in my fries. This was inside a building, and the atmosphere was prefect. Service was perfect too, and I got what I wanted instantly. Only real downsides are that since this is zoo food the price was quite expensive ($18.16), and since it was pre-made it wasn't fresh and piping hot, but that's the trade off for getting food fast. All told, I was pleasantly surprised and had a nice meal.

Surprised by the negative reviews. This was exactly what I was inspecting, if not better. The setup is the standard cafeteria/food court style typical of tourist traps, with a nice variety on the menu. Given that the food is actually pretty good, the prices are reasonable for what it is. Overpriced drinks as expected but not a big deal. Staff are super friendly. The building has a neat design reflecting the zoo theme with floor to ceiling windows so you can look out at the cheetahs, zebras, and giraffes, as well as a patio across from the giraffe exhibit. All in all a neat little restaurant, I’m glad we decided to get food here.