HOUSTON'S NEW DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM FEATURES AN ARRAY OF DINING OPTIONS AND FAMILY AMUSEMENTS: Destination provides out-of-the-ordinary dining and amusements experiences

Houston, Texas - OCTOBER 23, 2002

HOUSTON - Whether enjoying a light lunch, meeting friends for drinks after work, or celebrating a special occasion, visitors to the Downtown Aquarium will find many fun and innovative choices for quite the uncommon dining and entertainment experience. Included in the unique experience is the Marina Matinee Café, a restaurant designed to look like a seafaring vessel, where visitors can dine in a seaside village atmosphere. Among the amusements offered are the chance to ride a carousel, board a train and soar on a Ferris wheel.

"We have created an exciting array of dining experiences at the Downtown Aquarium, with so many different places for families to eat and have a good time," said Fertitta. "Each restaurant offers a unique experience, and visitors will enjoy the 'underwater dining experiences' at Downtown Aquarium."

Aquarium Restaurant
For those seeking an exciting, unique and upscale dining experience, the 400-seat Aquarium Restaurant offers seafood dining in an extraordinary setting. Guests dine amongst the fish and coral with the illusion of being at the bottom of the sea, with lagoons ensconced in the ceiling providing a spectacular underwater dining adventure

The restaurant is located on the second floor, giving guests the pleasure of ascending a grand staircase spiraling around a 50-foot-high acrylic cylindrical aquarium.

Guests are seated around the 100,000-gallon centerpiece aquarium and are treated to floor-to-ceiling viewing through acrylic observation panels, enabling them to watch the Aquarium's marine biologists feed the collection of fish. Guests also can dine on the second floor patio, which has spectacular views of the Wortham Theater Center and the beautiful downtown skyline.

Marina Matinee Café
Located on the Downtown Aquarium's first floor, the 125-seat Marina Matinee Café provides a culinary adventure like no other. It features a whimsical seaside dining experience, with the best of vintage nautical-based movie clips and television programs shown on enormous cinematic screens covering the walls. There are no traditional dining tables here-guests are led to their very own seafaring vessel, which is firmly anchored to the deck along the restaurant's waterway. Surrounded by water, guests can dine on some of the Marina Matinee's best dishes including delicious sandwiches, huge salads, gourmet pizzas and a variety of fresh seafood. The Café is open for lunch and dinner, as well as for late-night visitors to downtown and patrons of the nearby Theater District.

The Dive Lounge
Also located on the first floor and overlooking the beautifully-landscaped plaza and dancing fountains, The Dive is an upscale bar offering an option for before and after dinner beverages for downtown visitors and late-night theater patrons.

The Ballroom
The third floor of the complex features a stunning 6,000-square-foot ballroom that can accommodate any size group or reception. It can be divided into two rooms to accommodate up to 300 guests each, or one large facility for 600.

Guests will enjoy reaching the ballroom as they wind around a 50-foot circular tank-shaped aquarium that extends from the ground floor.

The ballroom, which is a unique venue for any occasion, is equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment and offers unparalleled views of Buffalo Bayou, Wortham Theater Center and the entire Houston skyline.

Either before or after enjoying a meal in one of the Downtown Aquarium's restaurants, visitors will have the chance to enjoy the amusements, which will feature several rides and attractions. Designed by Chance Rides, Inc., the largest single manufacturer of amusement rides in the United States, the amusements include the C. P. Huntington Train, a Ferris wheel and Carousel, as well as dancing fountains.

The C.P. Huntington Train will entertain visitors with a 10-minute train ride throughout the complex, before travelling along the lush landscape to the Shark Voyage, where a 200,000-gallon, acrylic shark tank awaits. Guests will hop on the train and begin a ride that takes them right to the center of the enormous shark tank. An audio presentation will be made as the train travels through the middle of the tank for up-close examination of these amazing animals.

The Diving Bell Ferris Wheel, which resembles a diving bell, offers outstanding views of downtown Houston.

The Carousel also has an aquatic theme, and passengers have the chance to ride on a shark, seal, dolphin, alligator, seahorse or in a custom chariot. The Dancing Fountains offer computerized pumps and nozzles to create a melodic rhythm of dancing water, as it spouts extremely high from the ground. Children and adults of all ages enjoy frolicking in the cool filtered water.

The Periscope, an observation tower, offers a panoramic view of Houston. The Arcade offers six midway-style games for the entire family, including XXX. Visitors also will enjoy the Treasure Chest Gift Shop, which features sea-related merchandise and "gifts from under the sea," including souvenirs, apparel, toys and stuffed animals. "Landry's is delighted to bring an entertainment complex of this caliber to downtown Houston for children of all ages," said Fertitta. "This is a venue that families will enjoy visiting year-round."

Landry's Restaurants Inc., is the nation's second largest and fastest growing casual-dining, full-service seafood restaurant chain. Publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Landry's owns and operates approximately 279 restaurants, including Landry's Seafood House, Joe's Crab Shack, The Crab House, Rainforest Café, Charley's Crab, Willie G's Seafood & Steak House, The Chart House, and Saltgrass Steak House, as well as Kemah Boardwalk, a magnificent 40-acre, family-oriented themed entertainment destination. The company employs 28,000 workers in 36 states.

Downtown Aquarium is located at Bagby and Memorial Drive. For more information, call 713/223-FISH or visit the web site at downtownaquarium.com.

Back to Press Releases