Post #305916 by Registered Astronaut on Sat, May 12, 2007 3:38 PM

On 2007-05-12 09:49, christiki295 wrote:

On 2007-05-10 10:51, Registered Astronaut wrote:

.

What incentive did they have for running the restaurant responsibly and doing the basic things one should do to be profitable? Taking a hit on a restaurant is chump change compared to how much they'll be able to make with it out of the way. The info I have heard from some "ask not to be identified"-type sources at Trader Vic's is that Hilton simply wasn't even trying to make it work.

It seems Trader Vic's wasn't keeping up on their end of the bargain either. Numerous posts before the closing comlained of bad food and service at the Bev Hills location and watered down retro-lounge new locations. TV's is a poorly run business, just take a look at their website. An smattering of mugs, syrups, rums, t-shirts, etc. could be sold to us eager to eat up all that crap. To be even cooler they could do limited editions. The restraunts could've updated their menus with fresher, more relevant food fare and outreached to the tiki community by hosting after parties for art events and the like. But they don't. They keep talking about how they invented the Mai Tai. The story is impressive, but c'mon. I invented a few drinks myself, do I get wooden leg too?

The company is under the delusion that they are still an upper-eschelon, $100 just-to-sit-down establishment. The real reason anybody goes there is
A. for the drinks
B. Because they've been going there forever and feel familiar with the menu (because it hasn't changed since 1960)

In agreement HumuHumu, I think us TikiPhiles need to stop making apologies for establishments that don't reciprocate our love. TV's 90210 further kicked us in the groin to add insult to injury by raising the cocktail prices. They better let me do a cannonball from a balcony for what they want for a navy grog.

The ONLY THING TRADER VIC'S HAS LEFT ARE THE COCKTAILS...after all, Bahooka is cool to look at, but the food and drinks suck. No matter how womb-like an authentic tiki temple is, if the fare is sub-par, the enchantment "melts like ice cream on the altar of the sun (Jets to Brazil)."

The fact they didn't do limited edition mugs is also false. In 2004, the Mai Tai was $6.00 with an appetizer. For an additional $6.00 one could get the "60th" anniversery of the Mai Tai glass. One side has the original recipe, the other side some TV philosophy. They would not sell the Tiki Bowl.

The comment that Trader Vic's is a poorly run business is not worthy of a response.

Regarding their cuisine, the pupus on the menu remain and are just as tasty as ever.

The idea that people go there because they grew up going there is just silly. I didn't grow up going there and, based on my 3 visits to TVL in 8 nights, only a handful of customers dinning have been of the age to have done so.

The quality of the cuisine at the prior location has been well docucmented.
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=10007&forum=1&hilite=Trader%20Vic's%20anniversary

Trader Vics did share the love - pupus and cocktails were free to any and all on the opening night. While there have been rumours of more such opening nights happening, judging by the 200+ people who mobbed the place last night, almost to closing, such may now be unnecessary.

The new Trader Vic's Lounge offers an even better tiki experience than the proir location (yes - I said it).

[ Edited by: christiki295 2007-05-12 10:25 ]

Limited edition mugs in, what was that... 2004? I'm not trying to start arguments. I'm sorry if it sounds like i'm badmouthing all that Trader Vic's ever was. Not the case. I have read nearly all his old books, from the Bar Manual to the Rum Cookery and Drinkery. I think he was a very interesting character, a great barman, a chef that took risks in the culinary climate of the time, and kindof a quirky, funny chauvinist. What I do want to be clear on is that aside from the drinks, Trader Vics does not live up to its old reputation, and we should not be angry at the Hilton, or whatever the name of the real estate company is that owns it. While I do not claim to be a food critic, it doesn't take one to realize what a mediocre dining experience was TV's 90210. Judging from what other's have said, they felt the same about the food. I actually posted a thread on what a rip-off I thought it was before any of this commotion, I won't go to the trouble to dig it up 'cuz its not worth it. I will eat medicore food, 'cuz I can't afford to eat nice for every meal. who can? Just don't charge me $150 for it thinking I won't notice.

In their defense of these prices on their behalf, having spent time in the hotel industry, I know that high prices keep the riff-raff out. Hotels and restaurants will raise prices despite whether anything has happened to substantialize it. But I doubt a restraunt in the Beverly Hilton would turn from a nice eating establishment to a dive bar because they weren't charging twenty bucks for a plate of Chow Mein.

If Trader Vic's was running a better business, they would be tapping into the current interest in Mid century and Tiki that is sweeping southern California. Yes, its probably not profitable to build a huge new Polynesian temple smack dab in the middle of Beverly Hills. And I don't think the poolsde bar is a bad substitute, after all, I'd be a hypocrite, since I said all they are good for is the drinks anyway. But like HumuHumu pointed out, they're new offerings have missed the mark, it is quite obvious they have lost touch with what made them great in the first place. Infact, I am still amazed (albeit, happilly) that the cocktail menu has been so preserved over the years. So I applaud them for that.

Don't apologize for them, they don't care about you. Seriously.