Post #119940 by JTD on Sun, Oct 17, 2004 6:58 AM

Trip report #2 (my first one went off into the ether never to be seen again). It's been a month, but the memories are pretty fresh

Burlington VT - Great little city on the shores of Lake Champlain. Also home to University of Vermont (UVM). So, on weekend nights parking is damned near impossible. I was nursing a bum leg and spent 20 minutes driving around looking for a spot before I gave up and walked a half mile or so. I recommend you stay at the nearby Wyndham Hotel for which James (Primo Kimo) can get you a discounted rate.

Kahiki Moon is in the basement of a mid-rise office building in downtown. Upon entering the lobby, the entrance to Kahiki Moon is right in front of you. Tikis beckon you down the stairs. As I went down the stairs and my field of vision opened up on the room, I got more and more excited. I could barely keep myself from bounding down the last few steps.

The hostess greeted me at the landing. Although the booths looked inviting, I opted for the bar. It was about 6:30-7:00 p.m. so the bar was pretty quiet. About half the booths were filled with early diners.

The Host: James couldn't have been any more hospitable. We chatted, he showed me around the restaurant, showed me the back office where he had a few more tikis that weren't yet on display. Kahiki Moon seems to be doing well as James was bursting with ideas on what more he could do, add things, and how to make things even better. All that on a very busy night. Cheers to Primo Kimo!

Bar & Drinks: Extensive menu of classic tiki drinks (words only, no pics). I had many and they were all well made, garnished right and serve in the appropriate tiki-bar barware. Pricey, but you get you money's worth. Lupe (?) the bartender was knowledgeable and very much a craftsman. I sat at the base of the "L"-shaped bar. That allows you to look out over the rest of the room and take in all the decor. It's also closer to the head. The bar itself has an acrylic top beneath which are classic tiki-bar paper items and photos for your viewing pleasure (when you're face down on the bar - ha). The stools are carved tikis with cushions on top. They're a little tough to maneuver, but that's a small price for having something so cool!

Fun fact: in less than two months of operation, Kahiki Moon had become the largest buyer of Rum in the State of Vermont.

Food: Fine dining. It made me think "this is what Trader Vic's should be trying to do". I had the Hawaiian Pork Chop with asparagus and sweet potato grits (or polenta or something like that). It was outstanding and Flintstone sized.

Crowd: Quiet, dinner crowd 7-9. Some couples, some work/business, a family or two.
10 p.m. and later, younger adult crowd, maybe even a few UVM seniors and grad students. Pretty crowded by 11 p.m. after live music had startd. Remained crowded until closing time.

Decor: It's awesome, but I'll let the photos tell that story. My favorite items: 1) Keigs fountain (in the Witco style, natch) behind the bar. 2) James's classic swizzle collection display. 3) The fish tank. Tons of great works by several TCers, especially Keigs and Flounder.

I can't wait to go back.
-JTD