Food Bloggers Talk Dome Dining. What Do They Love Most?

An incredible dining experience takes more than delicious food and attentive service. Ambience also dramatically impacts the overall effect, from lighting and decor to furnishings and music.

A dining dome helps create the perfect setting for a memorable meal. Restaurant guests love being in their own little bubble, whether they’re enjoying an intimate dinner for two or just want to keep young ones close during a family meal.

To give you a flavour of how dome dining can delight patrons, seven food bloggers reminisce about their own experiences, including what they loved most.

I absolutely love the intimate and unique setting of dining in a dome. I’ve had the pleasure of trying it at The Restaurant at Meadowood and The French Laundry, and it was an unforgettable experience both times. The food, of course, was incredible, but what I loved most was being able to enjoy such an amazing meal while surrounded by nature. The views were breathtaking, and it felt like I was truly in my own little world. It’s definitely an experience that I would recommend to anyone!

Some of my favorite dishes that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying while dome dining include the foie gras torchon with quince jam, roasted duck breast with blackberry sauce, and the chocolate souffle for dessert. 

I’ve been lucky enough to experience dome dining on two different occasions – once for a special anniversary dinner and once for a friend’s birthday. Both times were truly memorable. The first time, the dome was decorated with twinkling lights and candles, which created a romantic setting. And for my friend’s birthday, the dome was filled with fun balloons and streamers. It was a great way to celebrate her special day!

I had nothing but great experiences during dome dining, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and special event. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just looking to treat yourself, dome dining is definitely an experience you won’t miss!

Lori Walker is a registered dietitian and food enthusiast. She loves to taste different types of food in different restaurants and experiment in her own kitchen. Lori has experience working in both the food industry and as a dietitian. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading books and playing sports. She writes the EasyKitchenGuide.com blog.

When one of my best friends got engaged, he and his fiancé had a celebratory dinner party for close friends at a hip biergarten in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It was the middle of December and quite chilly outside, but we were all warm and toasty in a dining dome set up on the roof. We enjoyed a delicious meal and some excellent German beer while we shared stories and laughed the night away. With a spectacular view of the lake and light snow flurries falling all around us, it was a truly magical experience that none of us will ever forget.

Mike Collins is obsessed with food and can usually be found in his backyard grilling steak or smoking a pork shoulder for friends and family. Mike writes about his BBQ adventures at ThrillingGrilling.com.

Dome dining is an extraordinary experience for anyone with an adventurous side. It brings the best of both worlds, refined and rustic. It’s a sight to behold, especially during the autumn months. You can see the trees shedding their colorful leaves.

As you enjoy your food, you are surrounded by nature without mosquitoes. That’s something one can’t avoid while camping outdoors. My first dome dining experience was at Tequila Jack. 

Enjoying Tequila Jack’s authentic Mexican food was the highlight of my dome dining experience. The innovative idea of dining in a dome while overlooking the sunset at River Lee is something everyone should experience. If you like spicy food, it’s about time you try Tequila Jack’s food. 

John Hubbard, founder and CEO of Montana-based online blog Urban Dare, which aims to help people learn about what they need to have fun and be safe in the great outdoors.

My husband and I tried a dome dining experience once a few years ago, I can’t recall the exact place, but it was in Las Vegas. The dome was placed inside a private garden, behind the restaurant, and the dome itself was decorated with plants and fairy lights. The theme was a fairytale secret garden, and it looked beautiful. It made us feel like we were in a magical setting, and it really set the romantic mood for us! Being inside the dome also felt like we were in a little bubble of our own, which helped us immerse in the experience of just us two and the food. 

The food itself was very nice, it was a full four-course meal, with a few options to choose from, and I remember having a beautiful red velvet cake for dessert!

Jennifer Gregory is the founder and CEO of Vegas Food & Fun, an up-to-date online resource for people traveling to Las Vegas, that offers the latest information about food, entertainment, and travel.

I recently went out for a meal as a celebration of a close friend’s engagement and, because I’m a huge foodie, I was really excited to learn how nice the restaurant was. It was a dome dining experience which I was a little apprehensive about but turned out to be very impressed by. There were ten of us in this single dome which was much larger than I expected. The interior had a bunch of flowers, plants, and lights all around it which created a very calming atmosphere. The dome was located among others, outside the restaurant, with a view overlooking the nearby natural landscape. For me, the highlight wasn’t actually the food itself, but the ambience and the decorations around us.

Michael East is the founder of Griddle King, an online platform dedicated to outdoor living,  griddles, and grilling advice. Based in the Rockies, and a keen traveler, Michael enjoys nothing more than sharing his passion and expertise with the culinary world.

I love the dome dining experience mostly because it resembles being outside and dining outside without having to embrace the elements and the chill in the air. I have also dined in domes when it was drizzling and the sound of the rain can be so peaceful. I have dined in domes all around the world, but my favorite experience was dining at night at a restaurant overlooking the Thames and Tower Bridge in London. The occasion was a girl’s night out and I loved that the Christmas decorations were up and in full spring, making the experience truly festive and fun. It also makes for amazing photo ops! 

Vanessa Gordon, CEO and Publisher of East End Taste, EastEndTasteMagazine.com.

Domes for dining are the next best thing! We love it especially for an intimate date where we can spend some quality time with good food! It started during covid but we are very happy that some kept this cozy dining concept. Usually, when places offer dome dining experiences, it is a little more expensive. However, in my husband’s and my opinion, it also comes with service, good food and drinks and a very relaxed atmosphere. It’s in the name, an experience, as dinner should always be!

Ilse Dumont is a culinary adventurer and traveled the world to work with food. From street food to luxury dinners, she and her husband enjoy every experience and love to share it on CulinaryAmbition.com.

As these food bloggers have suggested, dinner in a dome sets the bar high for being one of the most memorable dining experiences around, especially if the food and service are as exceptional as the setting (like igloo dining at Taypark House). 

With domes, you can offer restaurant guests the chance to dine in their own little bubble, and enjoy a private dinner with the people they care about most. When kitted out with fairy lights or candles, soft furnishings and relaxing music, the atmosphere can feel like something straight out of a storybook – absolutely magical. And if you’re able to offer dome dining on a roof terrace or out in the countryside, the spectacular view will elevate your guests’ experience to an entirely new level.

Many restaurants use domes for outdoor dining in the winter months, helping to boost revenue in what would otherwise be a slow season. Large dining domes (like Hypedome M) can accommodate groups of around ten guests, making them ideal for special occasions. They’re very popular at Christmastime – decorate them with pine cone garlands, candy canes, sparkly baubles and perfectly placed mistletoe – and watch the bookings flock in!