I haven't seen the Tiki Road Trip book yet, some of these may be listed in there, but here is a quick-list of NYC area tiki joints (I think this is all of them actually) listed in order from coolest to so-so:
Chan's Dragon Inn, Ridgefield NJ
(very cool. vintage. restaurant & bar)
Zombie Hut, Brooklyn NY
(great new interpretation. bar only. pays homage to classic tiki in a few ways. If you see Renee-the owner-behind the bar, tell her you saw the bar being talked about on-line. Fun, classy lounge. U should go)
Jade Island, Staten Island
(cool, vintage. Talked about this place on a separate thread. Alot like Chans. Cool decor, etc. Sucky commute if you are a car-less New Yorker that doesn't live in Staten Island)
Lee's Hawaiian Islander, Clifton NJ
(cool. vintage. bar and restaurant. Also alot like Chan's in Ridgefield perhaps a notch or two lower on the cool/vintage scale however. Points taken off for waiters NOT in Hawaiian shirts)
Otto's Shrunken Head, Manhattan
(new interpretation. sorta cool. bar only. This rating is based on my last visit which was a while ago. Maybe this place will be more appealling since the smoking ban went into effect in NYC, because one of the things that I do remember was that the place was filled with cigarette smoke, and that kinda stuff doesn't usually bother me, but it did in there for some reason. I've passed by the place a few times and the window next to the entrance is kinda cool. So maybe the next visit will be better.)
Waikiki Wally's, Manhattan
(new interpretation. bar and restaurant. unfortunately not cool. On entering this joint you would think it has the most promise, but it is the BIGGEST dissapointment. Big on the scale of the fun sorta way the place is designed and big because it is in New York City. When New York City theme restaurants suck, they REALLY suck. I ate at this place once earlier in the year. It was OK , that is after the weird stench that permeated the place when we walked in finally disappeared. Tiki mugs and Scorpion bowls were cracked, etc. Months later I visited again just for a couple of drinks and a second chance and was disappointed again. Cracked mugs AGAIN, watery drinks nowhere near the original recipes (mai-tai & zombie). Possible frustration is in store for any strict 'by-the-book' tiki-phile, and certainly a huge let down for anybody who has visited some of the mind blowingly cool Tiki places in other parts of the country. Enter at your own risk my friends.)
So there you go. Happy motoring and confusion to our enemies. Mahalo! :sheckymug:
[ Edited by: donhonyc on 2003-04-30 14:40 ]
[ Edited by: donhonyc on 2003-04-30 18:17 ]
