DINNER IS SERVED

Why settle for a meal in an ordinary restaurant when you can feast high up in the sky, underwater or even in an igloo? We look at some of the world's weirdest eateries

- RICHARD VAN RENSBURG

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT

Are you all strapped in? Your meal is about to be served...

If you're eating at Dinner in the Sky, you'd better be able to stomach heights: your food will be served at a table hoisted 50m into the air by a crane.

It's not for the faint of heart but if you don't mind a bird flying by while you dip into your dessert, you're in for a treat.

Three chefs prepare your dishes in a little nook in the centre of the table while you and 21 other diners relax in the comfort of safety-belt-equipped chairs, enjoying the view 16 storeys above the ground.

The concept of a "flying dining table" was born in 2006 when Hakuna Matata, a Belgian company that markets exceptional experiences for food enthusiasts, joined forces with The Fungroup, which specialises in providing cranes to amusement parks.

Since then, more than 5 000 Dinner in the Sky events have been held in 60 countries, including in South Africa - there's currently one in operation in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Many are operated in collaboration with world-renowned chefs such as Pierre Gagnaire, Paco Roncero and France's "chef of the century" Joël Robuchon, who once cooked for Prince Albert in the sky above Monaco.

If you're a foodie always on the lookout for dinner with a difference, there are plenty of other places to try too.

A FISHY EXPERIENCE

Love the ocean? Then you'll definitely want to add this destination to your bucket list.

At Ithaa in the Maldives, you can tuck into delicious seafood at a restaurant located 5m under the waves.

Although other underwater restaurants have opened their doors in recent years, this one was the world's first. Its transparent walls provide diners with a panoramic 270-degree view of turquoise-blue waters teeming with marine life.