Offbeat eateries -- Star Trek, the experience

Tired of the same old Applebee's and Cracker Barrel fare? Well, fortunately, you're living in the 21st century, where choice reigns. We've pulled together some suggestions for places that offer novel dining experiences.

Live long and prosper. If, on reading that phrase, you automatically raise your hand in a Vulcan salute, middle and ring fingers spread to form a V, you are the target audience for the restaurant at the Star Trek Experience.

The Las Vegas attraction features interactive adventures, a museum, gift shop, and a restaurant, Quark's Bar and Restaurant, based on the setting and character from Star Trek: Space Station Deep Space Nine. The restaurant setting is as replete with Gene Roddenberry's favorite props as a Cracker Barrel is with American kitch.

The menu, standard family fried fare, is cutified with lame names such as Picard's Pockets and the Photon Torpedo, at prices that make one wish for a replicator of one's own. The only saving grace might be the Warp Core Breach, made with 10 oz. of liquor. A couple of these and I might be able to choke down a Hamborger. Or maybe not.

Missing on the menu, surprisingly, is a William Shatner Cheesy sandwich. Scotty -- beam me up some Tums.