Post #22646 by tikibars on Tue, Feb 11, 2003 12:51 PM

Although Boutiki has some valid points re: Rock-A-Tiki (you can't diss Trader Vics, even if they do go out of their way - in the Chicago location - to make Tikiphiles feel unwelcome), I must reiterate that unleashing such venom upon a place you admittedly haven't visited is unfair.

I have also noticed that not a single neo-Tiki bar has opened, anywhere, that truly captures the old-school vintage Tiki Bar feel. Some come close... but none really anil it. To be honest, their tacky advertising aside, Rock-A-Tiki is truly amazing inside, and one of the better of the new school of Tiki Bars.

Go early on a weeknight to avoid the loud juke, or get there early and program the juke with the exotica and lounge favorites that are included, go on a Friday when a DJ spins lounge, surf, garage, and exotica - this is as close as you'll get to good music. Admittedly, it's not perfect, but come on - the place is called ROCK-a-Tiki - and although I am adamantly in favor of traditional Hawaiian music in Tiki Bars, at least this place is letting you know what you're in for before you even get there!

Here's my review:

"Rock-A-Tiki Lounge, 1942 W. Division, Chicago, IL (773) 384-tiki

Rock-A-Tiki Lounge was opened in November 2002 by Dion Antic, who also owns a handful of other hipster bars in the Chicago area. This trendy Bucktown spot will impress even the most jaded Tikiphiles, as careful attention has been paid to finer details in an attempt to have Rock-A-Tiki seem as true to the classic Tiki Bar mileu as possible. The design staff (DSK Designs) has a firm grip on the classic Tiki concept, and have added quite a few beautiful little touches.
Custom murals (including a few wonderfully politically incorrect nude hula wahines), pufferfish (lit from within in three colors), miles of bamboo (occasionally broken up by rock walls), a dozen vintage table lamps, a salt water aquarium, and several rooms worth of bamboo furniture (scoured from Vintage Deluxe and every other antique store in town) give Rock-A-Tiki an authentic old-school Tiki Bar feeling. Of course, several six-foot tall Tikis and a floor-to-ceiling Moai-ish ‘doorman’ make the bar what it is. The carved Tiki poles (by Mai Tiki) that are used as bar stools are a great throwback to some of the best loved mythic Tiki Bars of yore. Another row of carved Tiki poles, vintage Oceanic Arts work in a Marquesian style, support the palm-frond roof of the bar. The surface of the bar is a thick layer of Lucite poured over an array of seashells. The ceiling above the bar is painted with stars, further illuminated by vintage Orchids of Hawaii lanterns. Requisite black velvet paintings line opposite walls in the front half of the room, which also houses three large booths.
The musical selections are mixed. Although there is some Exotica and surf music on the jukebox, loud rock music prevails on most nights. Given the local clientele - and the very name of the bar - this shouldn’t truly come as much of a surprise to anyone. A DJ spins on weekends from a booth fashioned to look like a lifeguard chair, complete with Rock-A-Tiki life preserver.
Of the fifty beverages on the menu, about half are served in Dynasty Tiki Mugs, and are extremely strong. Variations on all of the classic Tropical Drinks are present, as well as a large selection of new libations. Hell in the Pacific, a Rock-A-Tiki creation, has a complex nutty flavor. The Frozen Bikini is a refreshing fruity daiquiri served on a Dynasty Lono mug. The Polynesian Lemonade comes in a cute little mini-Scorpion Bowl.
Some of the recipes could use some work, however. The $10 price tag per potion that seems fair at the Mai Kai or Trader Vic’s doesn’t always seem appropriate for Rock-A-Tiki. It isn’t the amount of booze that makes a drink great (and worth an entire sawbuck per), it is the care and preperation that goes into the recipe. Drinks are only worth ten clams if they are not only strong, but they taste great.
The food, on the other hand is an unqualified success. Almost everyone involved with Rock-A-Tiki recommends the coconut shrimp, and we found the grilled papaya salad to be healthful and delicious. The grilled ahi tuna BLT is a triple-decker, loaded with fresh chunks of succulent tuna and some flavorful wasabi mayo. Served with a mango salad, it complements the Tropical Drinks well.
As the only Tiki Bar currently in existance on Chicago’s north side, Rock-A-Tiki does an excellent job of ressurrecting Tiki Culture in a town that once had almost a dozen Tiki Bars within the city limits."

...