Post #122388 by lanikai on Thu, Oct 28, 2004 10:19 PM

Tiki's Grill and Bar

This newish Bar that doesn't seem to have an original name yet, has been open for a while and caters to the tourons heavily. Now and then some locals can be seen. Offers good contemporary live Hawaiian music and that ubiquitous "Jawaiian" now and again for your listening pleasure. Visually, it's an interesting mix of
two styles; Decor is modern yuppie bar with fairly elegant modern style fixtures, lighting, stone pavers, upscale furnishings/seating and then we have the fish netting in some of the ceiling, L.A. style "retro" graphics here and there, (leopard print, "tiki art", etc..) with two five foot tall styrofoam/plastic Japanese/Chinese interpretation of
tikis (yes, that's a new style, now...) some good "old style" Tiki restaurant carvings, and a large five foot fiberglass mascot in front looking as if it may have been chased out of a Disney cartoon of the 60's...
Some of the restaurant resembles a museum: a backlit tiki. then a few feet of wall. then a tiki picture. then wall. then a tiki statue. then a yard of wall. then a frontlit tiki. then more wall.
Aaahhh. design by committee.
Decorated by "professional restaurant decorating company".

Of course, had to sample their Mai Tai, which will setcha
back six bux. (One for the barkeep, always.) Watched with a keen eye and thirsty palate as the barkeep prepared it: a shot of light rum, a good dose of their mix which contained Passion fruit juice, orange juice and simple syrup (rock candy syrup). Some Pineapple juice. Then, float a jigger of dark rum. So; Two shots of rums, both Myers. I had him reiterate the recipe so i didn't miss a thing. Didn't appear different than most, but wanted to hear how they verbally "sold" their drinks, so;
I asked him was that a special MaiTai? Tiki's Grill and Bar MaiTai? No, he replied; "just your average simple straightforward MaiTai." But then, we settled into our seats and perused the table tents, (literature
defining the bar and drinks served) and found, among some wild apocryphal overview of their take on what a "tiki" is, that their recipe for their special five dollar custom house MaiTai had also a shot of
Gold Rum. The printed recipe calls for three shots; light, dark and gold... hmmmm....
Asked the hostess what is the decor called; what's thier inspiration, their motive.
She replied "oh, just the tiki style the tourists excpect to see".

Kapena was playing that night and the place was
full, everyone having a great time, and the hired help all were great, friendly, and accomodating.