Tropical Bistro, Hilliard, OH (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

H Humuhumu Member San Francisco Joined: Aug 22, 2002 Posts: 3691	H Humuhumu Posted posted on Wed, Mar 29, 2006 8:45 PM I don't know of a single tiki place that has it all. I won't go into nitpicking what's wrong with each place out there, because it misses the point -- there's a lot of good to be seen, if you keep your eyes peeled for it. But if you're looking for bad, you will always find it. I will offer up one great example, though. The Tonga Room here in San Francisco seriously rivals the Mai Kai in the looks department. It's stunningly gorgeous. Palapa huts, 15' tikis, a lagoon in the middle complete with rainstorms, a lava-rock backed bar -- it has to be seen to be believed. But it sucks ass. Seriously, we have a terrible time there. The food is terrible, the drinks are terrible, the service is atrocious. We happily go there with visitors from out of town, because everyone should see it at least once, and because it doesn't feel right to totally turn our backs on a place that has so much history, and so much potential. But between parking, one drink for each of us, and the cover charge, Hanford and I spent $60 there a couple weeks ago. That's $30 per drink. Crappy drinks. And we didn't get to keep the mug. We just can't afford that. So instead, we go to a tiki bar (SF Trader Vic's) that is downright boring in the decor department. We go there weekly, because we get good service, good drinks, and it's friendly. No place is perfect, but if you're able to enjoy a great night out with friends in a friendly environment, you're ahead of the game. Add in great food & great drinks, and you're flying high. Yeah, the pictures look less than exciting, but there's something to be said for not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Keep coming back, and it sends the message to the owners that more tiki = more customers.

I don't know of a single tiki place that has it all. I won't go into nitpicking what's wrong with each place out there, because it misses the point -- there's a lot of good to be seen, if you keep your eyes peeled for it. But if you're looking for bad, you will always find it.

I will offer up one great example, though. The Tonga Room here in San Francisco seriously rivals the Mai Kai in the looks department. It's stunningly gorgeous. Palapa huts, 15' tikis, a lagoon in the middle complete with rainstorms, a lava-rock backed bar -- it has to be seen to be believed.

But it sucks ass. Seriously, we have a terrible time there. The food is terrible, the drinks are terrible, the service is atrocious. We happily go there with visitors from out of town, because everyone should see it at least once, and because it doesn't feel right to totally turn our backs on a place that has so much history, and so much potential. But between parking, one drink for each of us, and the cover charge, Hanford and I spent $60 there a couple weeks ago. That's $30 per drink. Crappy drinks. And we didn't get to keep the mug. We just can't afford that. So instead, we go to a tiki bar (SF Trader Vic's) that is downright boring in the decor department. We go there weekly, because we get good service, good drinks, and it's friendly.

No place is perfect, but if you're able to enjoy a great night out with friends in a friendly environment, you're ahead of the game. Add in great food & great drinks, and you're flying high. Yeah, the pictures look less than exciting, but there's something to be said for not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Keep coming back, and it sends the message to the owners that more tiki = more customers.

Post #223894 by Humuhumu on Wed, Mar 29, 2006 8:45 PM