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Welcome to The Magic Time Machine

LOCATIONS

Welcome to The Magic Time Machine, a culinary experience like no other, nestled in the heart of Dallas at 5003 Belt Line Rd. This vibrant steakhouse and bar is not just about the food—it's an adventure that taps into both nostalgia and imagination. Visitors of all ages flock here, ready to be entertained and delighted by the eclectic atmosphere and whimsical character-driven service.

Imagine being greeted by Spider-Man or Harley Quinn as you step into a world where every corner boasts a new theme—a bustling arcade upstairs, themed booths reminiscent of beloved childhood memories, and a salad car that adds a playful twist to your dining experience. This restaurant uniquely combines dining with immersive storytelling, making it the perfect spot for families and those looking for a memorable night out.

  • Eclectic Ambiance: The décor is a delightful mishmash of colors and themes—each seating area a new adventure. From the Mario room to whimsical fairy tale settings, there’s always something visually engaging to discover.
  • Dynamic Characters: The waitstaff embraces their roles with enthusiasm, often embodying beloved personalities such as Wario, Luigi, and Wednesday Addams. This adds a layer of entertainment that enhances the dining experience, captivating children and adults alike.
  • Food Highlights: While patrons have shared mixed reviews about the overall quality of the food—including impressive steaks and juicy burgers—most agree that the focus here is on the joy of the experience rather than fine dining. The signature dishes, like the Roman Orgy family-style meal, offer generous portions that invite fun and sharing among friends and family.
  • Kid-Friendly Features: Perfect for birthday celebrations, The Magic Time Machine offers balloon animals, caricature artists, and playful “potion” drinks that bubble with excitement, catering specifically to younger guests. Many families return to this spot not only for the food but for the enchanting atmosphere that leaves lasting memories.

Of course, as with any whimsical dining experience, there are some areas for improvement—most notably the need for more efficient service to minimize wait times, and some patrons have noted the restaurant could benefit from a little sprucing up. Nevertheless, The Magic Time Machine thrives on its ability to transport guests into a fantastical realm where the joy of food intertwines seamlessly with entertainment.

If you’re seeking a place for a family outing or a vibrant celebration, head to The Magic Time Machine to create unforgettable memories. It’s more than just a meal—it’s a chance to relive your childhood through the eyes of your children and experience the extraordinary together.

So grab your family, don your favorite character costume, and prepare for an evening filled with laughter, joy, and deliciousness. The Magic Time Machine isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an adventure waiting to happen.

START YOUR REVIEW OF The Magic Time Machine
Shelby J.
Shelby J.

I give this place four stars out of five because the restaurant in and of itself needs some improvements... there were several interior elements that were in desperate need of repair and a deep clean. Also, the wait was unexpectedly long. We were told a 30 to 45 minute wait when walking in an hour after opening (the place opens at 4:00pm) and we ended up waiting closer to 60 minutes. (After being seated, I wonder if this is due largely to the fact that the wait staff are responsible for cleaning the tables. Not exactly an issue per se... I worked as a waitress myself at a sports tavern and I was responsible for cleaning my tables. But the place I worked was much slower in terms of foot traffic. There were three tables within our view that sat there at least 10 to 15 minutes with finished plates and empty seats. That's 10 to 15 minutes extra that patrons will have to wait. I feel as if this restaurant needs dedicated bussers. The wait staff cannot be expected to work fast and efficiently if they are expected to take on extra work that lies outside of their main priorities... just a thought.) We spent the majority of our time in the arcade upstairs. This restaurant caters to a much younger crowd, so the room was incredibly loud and chaotic. If we come back, we would definitely prefer to wait in the car. However, this place was SO fun and interesting. The staff was unlike anything I've ever come across before. It was as if the owner hired a bunch of theater kids and put them in a servers apron. We were waited on by a lovely gentleman dressed as spider man. (Other characters we saw were Wario, Luigi, Professor Snape, Spider Gwen, Cinderellas Fairy God Mother, Wednesday Adams, and KISS) It was such a joy watching the other wait staff joke around with their tables. Clearly there is a lot of creative freedom when it comes to how the waiter/waitress chooses to interact with their tables as their chosen character. Spider-man played a game with us as we were packing up our food to leave for the night. Not only was the wait staff incredible, the design aspect of the restaurant is nothing short of extraordinary. Everywhere you look has something new or different to see. There is NOTHING consistent design or theme-wise about this place, and I mean that in the best way. Anyone of any age can find enjoyment. I would love to come back dressed up as a character myself someday. Finally... the food was good. You can tell that it was prepared with fresh ingredients. The burgers were especially tasty... thick juicy patties and fresh toppings made it phenomenal. Some dishes were pretty expensive, such as the steaks. Others were priced fairly, such as the burgers and the pasta dishes. As good as the food was, I get the impression that most don't go there for the food. They go for the show. And this is a show you won't want to miss.

Krissy Fagan ..
Krissy Fagan ..

Always a good time had by all and we go there almost every year for my autistic sons birthday.

Karen M.
Karen M.

The ambiance was great. We had Harley Quinn for our waitress and she hammed it up pretty well. We celebrated two bdays there and were given a cookie with a scoop of ice cream on top. I had the top sirloin which was cooked well. Compared to the food at the San Antonio location, this one was WAY better.

Steve B.
Steve B.

Oh my goodness, what a fun place. I am not going to go to the lengths necessary to describe the fun, crazy atmosphere. Each seating area had. A different theme and the servers were all different characters that they played in role. We all had the Roman Orgy (don't judge me). This is a family style meal that includes really good roasted chicken, a huge platter of brisket, corn on the cob that was phenomenal, roasted new potatoes and lots of different fruit. There were four grown men at our table and we did not come close to finishing the food. Definitely a fun place to go when celebrating something, or with a big group.

Tank G.
Tank G.

I see that this place has mixed reviews and I get it, it is not for everyone. However, my kids loved every minute of it, which makes it A-OK with me. Yes, the common theme of many of teh reviews is that the place is run down and needs some upgrades. Yes, that is very true, but it works. The restaurant has a huge private parking lot and a very large dining room. Many of the booths are themed such as a bus, a carousel, Mario Brother, a space ship, The Great Pumpkin and many others. We were seated at a plain booth. We should have requested a themed one. The restaurant has many characters running around including Shaggy, Ariel, Harley Quinn, and Batman. We had Deadpool as our server and he was awesome. Very funny and kept the littles engaged. He was also attentive and friendly. All meals include trips to what they call the salad car, a salad bar on a car. The restaurant also has a ballon guy come to your table to make ballon animals for your kids. He works for tips. There is also also a caricature person at the front of the restaurant that will draw pictures for you. They are $10 a picture. They resturant serves special drinks called potions that bubble when you push dry ice into them. You can get them with an adult beverage added in, if you are of age. I highly recommend them. They were fun and really neat. The restaurant serves ribs, steaks, salmon, burgers, pasta, fish and shrimp. For the littles they have pizza, and chicken tenders. I ordered the burger with fries. and my littles got pizza. It took about 20 minutes for us to get our food. My food was ok. The burger did not have real bacon and did not taste fresh. Neither did the fries. It was edible, but I have had much better. Either way may kids had a blast. They loved the characters. They both got ballon animals and they asked to come back. If my food was a bit better, this would have easily been a 5-star joint. I would still return here in a heartbeat. This is a fun and unique spot and I highly recommend checking it out.

David B.
David B.

Such an interesting concept. Amazing service from weird Barbie didn't actually get her real name A little bit like Willy Wonka's big candy room but for make believe It was actually pretty good. I don't know if getting some new carpet and a few other little things in there would actually help or hurt the look. It's so unique and you can definitely feel like it's very intentional The important thing was the service the service was amazing and tremendous from weird Barbie I think they really do a great job. And for smaller kids I think it's a great option for birthday parties especially if you can schedule it ahead of time so you don't have a long wait . Little kids long lines empty stocks are no Bueno ha ha

Jessica B.
Jessica B.

This place is for kids if you want to enjoy it!! I had all the nostalgia coming in. The smells, the sights, the characters!! I had not been here since I was 5, and wanted to take my 5 and 3 year old for my son's birthday. We were in the Mario room, which is a circular room, booth style. Our waitress was Harley Quinn and she was fantastic. She was hilarious and age appropriate for my kiddos. They got a huge laugh with her playing peekaboo with them. They have a photographer come around and take your photos. Those are $10/photo. They also have a balloon artist that works on tips. For a drink we got the fizzy potion drink - $2.99. They can choose between red, blue, green, or ugly (all colors mixed) Kids menu- $8.99 and they are pretty large meals. It also included salad car which has a good assortment. It also comes with a side and a cookie for dessert. Adult meal- I got the shrimp fettuccine. It was on the pricey end but really good. This also included the salad car. I got a salad, potato salad, and a bean salad. My only "complaint" is that there is some adult theme to the menu. Like calling a meal item an "Orgy". I'm not a prude but the whole place is geared towards children, so make it child like.