Post #516640 by GatorRob on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 3:58 PM

Ugh. This is a difficult topic. Critiquing the Mai-Kai's drinks is a little like critiquing your mother's makeup. Sure, she may have a little too much lipstick on, but dammit, she's your mother and you're not going to criticize her, at least not in public. But, since you've raised the topic...

Chip is right about the back bar. And he keyed me in on that a few years ago. The drinks are more consistent when you order from the back dining rooms. It's true. And you don't have to scream over loud bands back there either. I love the Molokai bar, but I'll take a quiet table for 2 (or 4 or 6) in Tahiti or Samoa with some soft exotica playing any day.

The drinks are better back there, but that doesn't mean they are always great. Same goes for the food really. I've had the best ribeye I've ever eaten at the Mai-Kai and I've had pretty mediocre ribeye at the Mai-Kai. Same goes for the Orange Papaya Duck, one of my favorites. The potential is there for greatness, but for whatever reasons on any given night, they don't always achieve it.

But does that make me question whether I'll drop another $100 there? Oh, hell no. Name another Tiki palace that can match it in size and grandeur, history and tradition. It stands alone really. There are many other places that I love, but the Mai-Kai is the Grande Dame of Tiki.