We all have watched TV shows and movies and wished the characters to be real (if you haven’t, what are you doing here? Read the title!). But for a foodie like me, the case is a little bit different. Yes, I do love the characters, the plot, and other things, but sometimes I can’t stop wishing that the restaurants in the show and movies were real.
Sometimes the food looks so delicious and inviting that I can’t help but wish that the restaurant serving it was real. Other times, I wish it was just because the place looks so great and fun. The main characters from the TV show or movie always have a special place to hang out and that makes me want to hang out at that place too.
I won’t believe it if you tell me that you haven’t wished for the same thing too. If you ever loved a show too much, the staple coffee place has been your imaginary coffee place to feel like the main character. So, I have compiled a list of restaurants that are from TV that I want to be real; for their food or for the sheer fun. Here’s the list of fictional restaurants in TV shows and movies that we wished were real.
1. Central Perk from F.R.I.E.N.D.S
The famous TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. gave us a lot of things. It gave us memes, friendship goals, relationship goals, and some wholesome moments that’ll stay with us forever. But what it gave us the most was the urge to sit in the Central Perk and sip a hot cup of coffee. Honestly, I’d love to sit in the cafe to just look at the gang’s shenanigans. Phoebe’s performance of “Smelly Cat” would just be a cherry on top. If I am ever late from my visit to this coffee shop, I can just scream, “We were on a break!”
2. The Alamo Freeze from Friday Night Lights
If you love football and footballers, this is a place that you would want to visit just because of that. I would love me some ice cream if Matt Saracen would be the one serving it (on second thought, I’d love me some ice cream if anyone would be serving it to me).
3. JJ’s Diner from Parks & Recreation
If there’s someone who knows her waffles, it is Leslie Knope. So, if she says that the waffles from JJ’s diner are the best, you better believe it. Their waffles are served with a heavy dose of whipped cream, which I love, by the way.
Their noble service, which Leslie appreciates the most, needs to be rewarded. I would just love to have those extra heavy waffles for breakfast. Who knows, maybe like Leslie, I’d end up spending $1000 on waffles too (in a year!). While we’re there, we may also try to break Ron Swanson’s egg-eating record (which seems fairly impossible to beat).
4. Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls
Even though Luke hated serving people and didn’t even bother to remove the hardware store sign, the diner was still a great place to eat for the people of Stars Hollow. Their coffee is Lorelai approved and honestly, who doesn’t want some fries and coffee every now and then. Also, I’d like to know what the hype about the cherry danishes was. Just become real already.
5. Gusteau’s from Ratatouille
I know being served by a rat doesn’t sound like the best thing but trust me! Remy’s food is worth the hype. Just see how a peasant’s dish transformed into a gourmet meal (I am talking about the ratatouille he made). Also, the soup he makes that saves Linguine’s job is worth a try. Even if you argue that Gusteau’s closed at the end of the movie, we can still find great food at La Ratatouille, Remy’s, and Ego’s little joint.
6. The Krusty Krab from Spongebob Squarepants
If you loved Spongebob Squarepants as a kid or still do as an adult (I have no shame in admitting that *in Squidward’s nasal voice*), then, most probably, you’d want to eat a Krabby Patty. I know that the Krusty Krab is underwater and the ingredients of the perfect Krabby patty are unknown, but I can’t convince my heart otherwise (*dreams of living in a pineapple under the sea*).
7. Los Pollos Hermanos from Breaking Bad
I know this fictional restaurant was less of a restaurant and more of a front for meth operations by Gus Fring but I still hope it was real. I would pass on the meth and just order the delicious-looking fried chicken. Also, it is kind of impressive to see Fring managing and somewhat toggling between the meth and fried chicken business (*takes notes for further business ventures).
8. The Peach Pit from Beverly Hills ‘90210’
Wanna know where all the cool teens and bands are hanging in Beverly Hills? It’s definitely The Peach Pit. Oh! If you want to visit a club, The Peach Pit has you covered as well. Welcome to The Peach Pit After Dark.
9. Monk’s Cafe from Seinfeld
Monk’s Cafe is the place where the four kinda adults of Seinfeld sat down and discussed the woes of their adulthood. Honestly, I’d just like to visit the cafe and sit in the booth to vent about my life. If someone gives me funny anecdotes on that, I’d really appreciate that.
10. Bluth’s Original Frozen Banana Stand from Arrested Development
Chocolate-dipped strawberries? Nah! Too mainstream. Chocolate-dipped banana? Sounds like the best kind of dessert to me. The Bluth’s Original Frozen Banana Stand seems like the perfect kind of stop for a dessert fanatic like me. Also, the double chocolate-dipped frozen banana called the “G.O.B” is the ultimate frozen banana.
11. Vesuvio from The Sopranos
Want to feel like a mob boss? Why don’t you visit the Vesuvio and stir up some drama! Order delicious Italian food, have a chit-chat with other mafia people, and run away before the place burns down. Sounds like a plan to me.
12. The Frosty Palace from Grease
Well, I’d visit this grand ice cream and soda shop for the exteriors and the delicious-looking milkshakes. Hanging out with Rydell High students also sounds promising. But to be honest, I’d be there for the milkshakes.
13. Bob’s Burgers from Bob’s Burgers
Bob’s burgers from the animated TV show is an eccentric and fun place to get your burgers. It may have a ‘re-re-re-grand-opening’ every now but I’d still try it. Discard the rumor about the burgers being made from the human remains from the crematorium next door. Also, don’t forget to try candy or “I Have Created A Muenster” Burger.
14. Cafe Nervosa from Frasier
Another fictional cafe from another TV show, Cafe Nervosa, is the go-to hangout place of the psychiatrists and snobs, Frasier and Niles. The name of the cafe is also a subtle nod to the leads’ professions and personalities. Have a cup of coffee with a side of some psychoanalysis. Well, the latter is optional.
15. Joe’s Pie Diner from The Waitress
Fans of the show might point out that it was named Lulu’s Pies when Jenna bought it, but I thought it’d be good to stick to the name. If you love pies with eccentric names, this is the pie joint for you. The pies were innovative with the recipe and their names and were inspired by the current happenings of Jenna’s life. Some of the ‘dark’ pies that I lived were ‘ I Hate My Husband Pie’ and ‘Earl Murders Me Because I Am Having An Affair Pie’. Absolutely delicious!
16. Pop’s Chock’Lit Shoppe from Riverdale
I know a lot has happened in and to the Pop’s diner since Riverdale began. A speakeasy, an attempted murder, breakups, patch-ups, and so much more that it is hard to keep track of now. But given all that, you can’t deny that the food doesn’t look amazing. The milkshakes, the burgers, the fires, all of it look appetizing. You should’ve guessed from the way Archie says, “So good!” when Veronica asks her about the onion rings at Pops.
17. Tiana’s Place from The Princess And The Frog
As a kid who’s grown up watching Disney movies, this was a refresher. Tiana was not your average princess. She didn’t want a knight or a prince. She just wanted to fulfill her father’s dream. Apart from the fact that she is a damn hard-working girl, she is also a great cook. I mean, have you seen the desserts she makes. I just want Tiana’s Place to be real to see Tiana realize her dream and eat everything that looks so good on screen.
18. “The Best Burger In New York” from How I Met Your Mother
Fans of the hit TV show might remember Marshall’s obsession over the ‘best burger in New York,’ and the wild goose chase ensues after that to find the said joint. They are also joined by Regis Phibin in this extensive search. There are a lot of obstacles, but in the end, they do find the burger joint. I want to try the best burger in New York too. Maybe Marshall will give me the directions, now that he knows where the joint is.
Conclusion
So, this was my list of fictional restaurants in TV shows and movies that we wished were real. I tried to cover the classics to the new ones that really made an impression. Is there any other fictional restaurant that you wished was real? Mention them in the comments below. See you next time with another extensive yet fun article. B’Bye!
