Post #481174 by JackLord on Thu, Sep 3, 2009 11:56 AM

Ah, the Diamond Head! A place close to my heart; a place that figures in the years from childhood to my early post-college days.

I went to the Wisconsin Avenue location a number of times (forget it Tikiphiles, they razed the whole block years ago). It was my first true exposure to Tiki, although I did not know it at the time. Whenever we would pass it in the car, I would gaze at it and think of Hawaii 5-0.

Furthermore, I grew up next door to the owner- Mr Shao. A very hardworking, nice man. He previously owned the Seven Seas which was at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Military Road/Missouri Avenue. That building is still there. I call it the Omega Man building because it looked like where Heston lived in the movie.

Anyway, my fondest memory is when my parents took me there after landing my first job out of college. Sure enough, there was Mr Shao with a smile, congratulatory handshake and a Tiki Grog on the house. That place was class all the way.

Mr Shao passed away around 10 years ago and his wife moved out to the burbs. But his sons stil run a couple of pretty good restaurants, sadly not Tiki. They carry on the tradition of a smile and a drink on the house.

I toy with the idea of naming my home Tiki bar after the Diamond Head. Although its a "typical" name, it would honor a great place owned by a class act.