HOLLYWOOD — Think Lord of the Flies meets Benihana.

Of the growing number of theme restaurants, there are those where hip patrons dine in the dark; those where they can view jousting; and even eateries for those with eating disorders.  It's all quintessential California style.

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"I have to admit there was something quite satisfying about sharing a marmot carcass with total strangers. Oh, and the egret kidneys are simply divine!"
— Mick Lamm, Sávägê diner

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The new leader of the fine dining experience, Sávägê, allows diners to get in touch with their primal selves. Granted, this trendiest of Los Angeles concept restaurants isn't for the timid.  It's a dash of showmanship and a pinch of primal with a sprig of fear thrown in.

Located in an abandoned warehouse that has been converted into a veritable jungle, Sávägê supplies patrons with a loin cloth and spear upon entry.  Diners are then grouped in "clans" and set loose to take down supper. There is a wide selection of game to choose from including gazelles, zebras, hyenas, and an impressive selection of winged creatures.
Once you’ve made your kill you can either rip off the hide and start digging in or drag the beast over to one of the many fire pits and do a little roasting.

Diners not only get the thrill of wringing the necks of Canadian geese or slitting wild pigs' necks, but meals such as the exotic Wildebeast Cordon Bleu allow diners to crack open the rib cage of the giant beast, stick their head into the garlic-fried guts and sample the first steamy bite.

Sávägê redefines the meaning of dinner theatre.  In the late-night hours, you can take center stage and try your luck wrestling a Burmese python or a Nile crocodile (while waiters stand ready to extract you from any real danger).  In the end, either the diner or the waitstaff gets the honor of killing the creature, at which poiint master chef Fifi Ledoux Bonjoulei steps in, chops it up on the spot and dishes it out for everyone's savory enjoyment.

“We must admit that we are first and foremost wild animals,” says owner Jel Mellon. “When things get wild, we become connected with our Neanderthal ancestors.  You haven't truly eaten until you've taken down your own food."

While the trendy theme restaurant experience at Sávägê is normally safe, there are no guarantees (and patrons must sign waivers).  At least one patron was reportedly horned in the buttocks by an ox while she was paying for her bill

Sávägê is now offering two-for-one dining special dinners, so if you're in the Southern California area, go pound your chest and get in touch with your primal self at Sávägê.

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