Contrary to a more systematic and time-sensitive approach to the multitude of posts I would like to make
after returning home from Tikiyaki's very special road trip up north (lots to come!), after reading your post,
I felt passionately inspired to reply.
My first question is....have you personally experienced Smuggler's Cove?
I'm going out on a limb, but my instinct is to speculate that you have not.
If you had, you never would have posted this thread as a skeptical question.
I finally had the chance to experience Smuggler's Cove this past Friday night in the beautiful rain of Downtown
San Francisco as part of our voyage up to perform at the Palo Alto Trader Vic's.
Let me just say that every single aspect of the establishment exceeded my expectations (which were very high!).
Not a single iota of detail was unaddressed when planning this amazing Rum womb.
To put it very simply--those that are expressing negative opinions in their Yelp reviews DO NOT GET IT!!!!
Smuggler's Cove is more Tiki than most bars that set out to be "Tiki," period.
Comparing it to one of those new "Trader Vic's" (and I use the term in quotes because as far as I'm concerned,
they're only TV in name and theory to those who afforded the franchise) is ABSURD to say the very least.
And, to even mention the "B" word in any discussion of the place is absolute TRAVESTY!
I would also say that Smuggler's Cove elaborates on many more than just one aspect of Tiki Style.
Let's examine the evidence.....
First of all at it's most basic level, to follow Bigbro's argument that it has to have Tiki, to be Tiki (as opposed to
"Tiki Style"), it does. While they are not everywhere and overwhelming, they are present and make a definite impact.
Next, the environment is compact and intimate with no windows or any sense of the outside, relaying an incredible
sense of escapism and real-world sensory deprivation.
Next, what sort of elements have stood the test of argument and time as being quintessential aspects of a Tiki bar's decor?
Tapa Cloth--check.
Old, haggard looking wood--check.
Low light lamps of all shapes and sizes (puffer fish, fishing floats, a one-of-a-kind OA crate lamp, fishing floats containing
shrunken heads)--check.
Nautical/Sea Explorer items (while not explicitly "Tiki," have been determined by the majority as contributing to "Tiki Style"...
beat-up shipping crates, a life-sized canon, a giant anchor)--check.
A Frames and Thatched Roofing--check.
Rock and Water Features-check.
Exotica Music in the background--check.
And, very importantly, the Cove visually pays tribute to those forefathers of Tiki establishments that came before.
Paying attention, the patron can find nooks that house artifacts honoring the Matson lines, Skipper Kent, Victor Bergeron,
"Tiki" Bob Bryant, and a special place next to the main bar with a stunningly simple yet powerful altar-like presentation of
photos of Vic and Donn. It's as though they are omnipresent and always watching overhead.
As far as the cocktails go.....in this day and age when Mixology has reached a new level of sophistication and more and more
are becoming aware of and studying (thanks mainly to Jeff Berry and people like Martin that have the cujones to offer these
drinks) the "classic Polynesian cocktails" that just a few years ago, most bars considered a thing of the past, kitch, unpalatable,
too sweet (insert your chosen negative description), to offer such a variety, all executed with the grace and precision of a ninja,
is truly unbelievable.
Where else in the entire world can you go and experience the above mentioned environmental stimulus and order such concoctions,
without which, there would be NO "Tiki" bars, as a Grog, a Bombo, a Daiquiri, an El Floridita Cocktail?
Of course, this is not to mention their follow-through on all of the most quintessential "Tiki" drinks like a Fogcutter, Mai Tai,
Zombie, Navy Grog, Scorpion, etc.
Is that all? Not even close...try adding custom drink ware, swizzle sticks, over 200 premium rums...I could go on.
To summarize, those folks on yelp just DON'T GET IT!!! Watered-down Trader Vic's, the "B" word---absolutely NO comparison!
There is almost no place in existence right now that has the vision and execution that Smuggler's Cove does.
As far as I'm concerned there are many other well established and universally described "Tiki" bars that could take some serious
lessons from Smuggler's Cove.
Now back to the time-sensitive post-show stuff.
