This year, restaurants dressed for the occasion. | Kory Aversa
Willy Wonka outfits, rat hats, and Carrie Bradshaw look-alikes: Here’s how restaurants are dressing up for Halloween
Halloween is here and everyone’s dressed up — even our favorite restaurants and food brands. Fishwife showed off an array of tinned fish costumes. The Los Angeles izakaya Ototo is temporarily taking on the form of a Japanese 7-Eleven, while the Minnesota barbecue truck Animales is imitating McDonald’s. In Washington, D.C., restaurant staff is dressed in the form of Chester the Cheetah, Pirates of the Caribbean characters, and even produce. And Taco Bell’s just going as itself: In a seemingly Eras Tour-inspired move, the chain just launched a Decades menu, in which it’s reviving dishes from its old menus (like the Maximelt of the ‘80s) as well as the requisite, time-appropriate cups.
Across the country, some restaurants have gone all-in on great staff costumes. Here are a few of our favorites, beginning with a “scrumdidilyumptious” take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from Brooklyn’s L’Appartement 4F, which is also hiding a golden ticket inside a box of its famous croissant cereal.
The theme is pink at the LA bakery Friends & Family, which is also offering a selection of Halloween cookies, including a “dull skull” and a “disco headstone.”
Pink seems to be in! Kitty’s in Hudson, NY is going for a Carrie and Carrie Bradshaw mashup. Eyeball cosmo, anyone?
Meanwhile, it’s double vision at The Grey in Savannah, with two chef Mashama Baileys.
At Maximo in Houston, it’s all about variety, from Bob Ross to Michael Myers, and the festivities are going on all weekend.
Cleveland’s Larder Delicatessen & Bakery has costumes, caviar, and “Challah-weenies.” What more could you want?
New York City’s HAGS is doing a one-night-only Ratatouille-themed dinner, and yes, there seems to be a Remy look-alike in the kitchen.
In Washington, D.C., pets got to join in the costume contest fun.
And we’ll certainly be staying tuned for the results of the annual staff costume contest at D.C.’s Busboys and Poets.
