Post #284506 by Mai Tai on Fri, Feb 9, 2007 3:07 PM

If you are going to the Trader Vic's in Palo Alto, which is in the South Peninsula part of the Bay Area (basically a part of Silicon Valley), then you should also check out Martini Monkey at the San Jose airport, and perhaps Smoke Tiki in downtown San Jose as well, since they won't be too far away from the Palo Alto Trader Vic's. Otherwise, that particular Vic's is kind of removed from all of the rest of the tiki action which is primarily in the East Bay and San Francisco.

The drinks at Martini Monkey are definitely worth checking out. The bartender there, Jay, makes some top notch cocktails - some claim that he may be the best bartender in the whole Bay Area!!! If you go to Smoke Tiki, I would avoid going on Friday or Saturday nights, because it will be absolutely over packed with a fake I.D. yielding teenage to early twenty-something hip-hop crowd. I haven't eaten any of their food yet, but I hear that they make some really awesome bbq.

Other than those two places, your list sounds fairly complete. San Francisco Vic's has a great price fix menu, $25 I believe for a 3 course meal, and $5 mai tais! But remember that that their kitchen can close on the early side, especially on a slow night. Make sure to order a Stinker from Lars, he makes them a special way, and they are not to be missed! Palo Alto Vic's has a special on Mai Tai's, and a couple of other drinks I think, during their happy hour - maybe someone else here in the know can elaborate more. Make sure you post when you are going to be at Forbidden Island and other places, that way us Bay Area folks can hook up.