Psycho Tiki D in Chicago the week of 01/04-01/09/10 go to page 2 - Other Events

PTD Psycho Tiki D Tiki Socialite The river Styx, can you pay the toll? Joined: Oct 13, 2006 Posts: 1857	PTD Psycho Tiki D Posted posted on Mon, Mar 31, 2008 3:26 PM Chicago, what can I say? Intrigued and disappointed at the same time. Intrigued by the stay power of two well established venues, yet disappointed by the lack of marketing that either could greatly benefit from. Not only that, (and I am sure to fault myself for either the time of day or the time of year, being it was spring break), NO TCer's to speak of! Where I was amazed with the interior decor at both places, which predominately were overwhelmingly representitive of some incredible Witco carvings, both lacked personality via any type of take away signature representation; i.e. no mugs or shirts with logos or establishment name! While both venues are very classic in their tiki design, I would have to pick Chef Shangrila over the Hala Kahiki. Even with the "gift shop" at the Hala Kahiki, nothing I couldn't find at any other gift shop in a mall or tourist venue, save maybe the Witco Llama bar and stool hidden in the backroom with a price tag of $500.00 and a few Coco Joe's items on a shelf. No puffer fish to be found! I ate dinner at Chef Shangrila and it was o.k. Didn't drink because I was driving, so no comment on the quality of the drink menu there. I really was blown away with the lamps in this place, simply an amazing display and well worth the stop. Hala Kahiki was different in that it offered only drinks and again, was very well decorated and themed. I did like the outside area even though it was not looking good due to the winter and could only imagine what it was like in spring and summer! Had two drinks, not great, but the the vibe was good. The real irritation was the music fading in and out, they have to fix that, the speakers were clipping out and that was annoying! That being said, both places are definitely worth a stop by to visit, but I would skip both for the Tiki Terrace if I had to make a choice between the three. When I went to the Tiki Terrace last year, the drinks were great, the food, even better, floor show excellent and they had stuff to buy with their name on it (altough the bar was tiny)! Pictures later! PTD

Chicago, what can I say? Intrigued and disappointed at the same time. Intrigued by the stay power of two well established venues, yet disappointed by the lack of marketing that either could greatly benefit from.

Not only that, (and I am sure to fault myself for either the time of day or the time of year, being it was spring break), NO TCer's to speak of!

Where I was amazed with the interior decor at both places, which predominately were overwhelmingly representitive of some incredible Witco carvings, both lacked personality via any type of take away signature representation; i.e. no mugs or shirts with logos or establishment name!

While both venues are very classic in their tiki design, I would have to pick Chef Shangrila over the Hala Kahiki. Even with the "gift shop" at the Hala Kahiki, nothing I couldn't find at any other gift shop in a mall or tourist venue, save maybe the Witco Llama bar and stool hidden in the backroom with a price tag of $500.00 and a few Coco Joe's items on a shelf. No puffer fish to be found!

I ate dinner at Chef Shangrila and it was o.k. Didn't drink because I was driving, so no comment on the quality of the drink menu there. I really was blown away with the lamps in this place, simply an amazing display and well worth the stop.

Hala Kahiki was different in that it offered only drinks and again, was very well decorated and themed. I did like the outside area even though it was not looking good due to the winter and could only imagine what it was like in spring and summer! Had two drinks, not great, but the the vibe was good. The real irritation was the music fading in and out, they have to fix that, the speakers were clipping out and that was annoying!

That being said, both places are definitely worth a stop by to visit, but I would skip both for the Tiki Terrace if I had to make a choice between the three. When I went to the Tiki Terrace last year, the drinks were great, the food, even better, floor show excellent and they had stuff to buy with their name on it (altough the bar was tiny)!

Pictures later!

PTD

Post #370495 by Psycho Tiki D on Mon, Mar 31, 2008 3:26 PM