Serious Tiki Bar Survey... - General Tiki

T thejab Grand Member (1 year) Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 2992	T thejab Posted posted on Fri, Jun 21, 2002 12:46 PM I can see a new Polynesian restaurant possibly working in a very large city like New York of Los Angeles if it serves real good food that's different than other restaurants. For example, gourmet Polynesian like Sam Choy's or Roy's in Hawaii and elsewhere. Otherwise, I would forget the restaurant idea. I just don't see why people would flock to a place that serves burgers and pizza just because there's a few tikis around. People probably go to Red Robin because it's a good place to take the kids. But my idea of a classic polynesian restaurant is more for adults. I see them as adult playgrounds, where one can drink and eat in an exotic and sexy atmosphere. Leave the kids with a baby sitter! My parents needed an escape once in a while, so they would leave us with a baby sitter while they attended wild costume parties and romantic restaurants. I actually enjoyed those nights. I guess people don't trust baby sitters as much these days as they did back then. However, I think a new tiki bar with no food (or limited to small plates, tapas-style) that's done right would survive and prosper in a big city with a large bar scene, and maybe in a college town like Columbus. It should have excellent drinks. I don't think any school-trained bartenders would be good enough. It would be better to find a person that is already into collecting old cocktail recipes and has practiced a lot, either at home or at a bartending job. Music should be lounge and exotica with guest DJs on certain nights. I live in Oakland, CA, and until 3 years ago nobody would be downtown at night except for the homeless. Then the Ruby Room opened in an old bar. They have different DJs each night playing various style of music from punk to old soul. The drinks aren't that great but the place is packed every night, even after the dot-com bust. The same goes for Radio, that opened about 1-2 years ago. It took a while to catch on, but now it's packed most nights. If it can work in Oakland, it can work in any city. I have absolutely no idea about the cost.

I can see a new Polynesian restaurant possibly working in a very large city like New York of Los Angeles if it serves real good food that's different than other restaurants. For example, gourmet Polynesian like Sam Choy's or Roy's in Hawaii and elsewhere. Otherwise, I would forget the restaurant idea. I just don't see why people would flock to a place that serves burgers and pizza just because there's a few tikis around. People probably go to Red Robin because it's a good place to take the kids. But my idea of a classic polynesian restaurant is more for adults. I see them as adult playgrounds, where one can drink and eat in an exotic and sexy atmosphere. Leave the kids with a baby sitter! My parents needed an escape once in a while, so they would leave us with a baby sitter while they attended wild costume parties and romantic restaurants. I actually enjoyed those nights. I guess people don't trust baby sitters as much these days as they did back then.

However, I think a new tiki bar with no food (or limited to small plates, tapas-style) that's done right would survive and prosper in a big city with a large bar scene, and maybe in a college town like Columbus. It should have excellent drinks. I don't think any school-trained bartenders would be good enough. It would be better to find a person that is already into collecting old cocktail recipes and has practiced a lot, either at home or at a bartending job. Music should be lounge and exotica with guest DJs on certain nights.

I live in Oakland, CA, and until 3 years ago nobody would be downtown at night except for the homeless. Then the Ruby Room opened in an old bar. They have different DJs each night playing various style of music from punk to old soul. The drinks aren't that great but the place is packed every night, even after the dot-com bust. The same goes for Radio, that opened about 1-2 years ago. It took a while to catch on, but now it's packed most nights. If it can work in Oakland, it can work in any city.

I have absolutely no idea about the cost.

Post #2565 by thejab on Fri, Jun 21, 2002 12:46 PM