2 new bars (NYC and Chicago) - General Tiki

T thejab Grand Member (1 year) Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 2992	T thejab Posted posted on Mon, Feb 10, 2003 7:24 PM Good reviews, boutiki. Is it too much to ask to have a new tiki bar with good drinks, nice ambiance, and appropriate music?!! I anyone listening?! If anyone with any plans to open one in the future is listening, hear this: Mai Tais do NOT contain pineapple juice! Read and memorize the Grog Log, Intoxica, any old Trader Vic bar guide, and the Don the Beachcomber recipe book. Then MAKE your bartenders make them right and if they won't, tell them to TAKE A HIKE! Sounds simple to me. You'll be one-third done. Turn down the lights (way down) and don't use anything one would find in Margaritaville such as monkeys and parrots (yes parrots). Don't mix the contemporary tropical look with the original Polynesian look and you will be two-thirds there! Don't play Reggae, classic rock, Jimmy Buffet, or anything else that one can hear in every bar on every street in America. Who needs to hear Marley or Hendrix again? I certainly don't, and if someone does they can go elsewhere. Play exotica, anything Hawaiian or Polynesian. Should be about a million songs to choose from in these categories. Ask anyone here on TC for suggestions. Did I say NO REGGAE? Do the above 3 things and you will have accomplished what many have tried over the last 10 years and failed miserably. Good food would be nice but bad food doesn't stop people from going to the Tonga Room. It would also be nice if the place had good service but this may be asking too much as it seems like good service is impossible to find in a bar these days (with a few exceptions).

Good reviews, boutiki. Is it too much to ask to have a new tiki bar with good drinks, nice ambiance, and appropriate music?!! I anyone listening?! If anyone with any plans to open one in the future is listening, hear this:

Mai Tais do NOT contain pineapple juice! Read and memorize the Grog Log, Intoxica, any old Trader Vic bar guide, and the Don the Beachcomber recipe book. Then MAKE your bartenders make them right and if they won't, tell them to TAKE A HIKE! Sounds simple to me. You'll be one-third done.
Turn down the lights (way down) and don't use anything one would find in Margaritaville such as monkeys and parrots (yes parrots). Don't mix the contemporary tropical look with the original Polynesian look and you will be two-thirds there!
Don't play Reggae, classic rock, Jimmy Buffet, or anything else that one can hear in every bar on every street in America. Who needs to hear Marley or Hendrix again? I certainly don't, and if someone does they can go elsewhere. Play exotica, anything Hawaiian or Polynesian. Should be about a million songs to choose from in these categories. Ask anyone here on TC for suggestions. Did I say NO REGGAE?

Do the above 3 things and you will have accomplished what many have tried over the last 10 years and failed miserably. Good food would be nice but bad food doesn't stop people from going to the Tonga Room. It would also be nice if the place had good service but this may be asking too much as it seems like good service is impossible to find in a bar these days (with a few exceptions).

Post #22587 by thejab on Mon, Feb 10, 2003 7:24 PM