A Disappointing Visit to Mai-Kai - Tiki Drinks and Food

CAA Chip and Andy Member Corner table, Molokai Lounge, Mai-Kai. Joined: Jul 13, 2004 Posts: 2277	CAA Chip and Andy Posted posted on Thu, Mar 25, 2010 6:41 AM On 2010-03-25 06:12, GentleHangman wrote: ...The Mai Kai operates with the back bar drink assembly rooms of yore, and in my opinion, should have no difficulty maintaining perfection and consistency in their classic drinks. The only reason I can think of as to why this is not so today is . . . laziness. Yes. And No. The issue is one of laziness on the bartenders sakes. It is also one of the 'usual customers.' It is kind of this weird negative feedback loop between patron and bartender. I'll use a specific drink as my example for this rambling thought.... the Rainbow Barrel. It is the base juice mix of the Rum Barrel and then four of five various flavors of vodka are added. Personally, blech, but it is a popular variation of the drink that more and more people are asking for. It is innovative on the part of the Mai Kai and completely within the premise of keeping customers happy and returning. But to bastardize the Rum Barrel so horribly seems to go against the spirit of the place. Or does it? To us, it is the Mighty Mai Kai, 50 plus years and still going. To everyone else it is that neat place where we have our anniversary / wedding / birthday / bar mitzvah dinner every month / year. Oh, and they have some pretty strong drinks and some of them are even on fire! It really all does come down to one thing..... Us. Not Tiki Central Us, but the individual Us. Each of Us. Each person that goes to the Mai Kai. Once a lifetime, or once a month, it doesn't matter. We have to go, we have to enjoy it, we have to show interest in the drinks, the food, the people. "They" know if your interested, and even if they don't tell them you are. It makes a difference. When the place is packed with the local Ohana, the drinks are always better, more consistent, more yummy. If you just wander in and blend in, your drinks will do the same.

On 2010-03-25 06:12, GentleHangman wrote:
...The Mai Kai operates with the back bar drink assembly rooms of yore, and in my opinion, should have no difficulty maintaining perfection and consistency in their classic drinks.
The only reason I can think of as to why this is not so today is . . . laziness.

Yes.

And No.

The issue is one of laziness on the bartenders sakes. It is also one of the 'usual customers.' It is kind of this weird negative feedback loop between patron and bartender. I'll use a specific drink as my example for this rambling thought.... the Rainbow Barrel. It is the base juice mix of the Rum Barrel and then four of five various flavors of vodka are added. Personally, blech, but it is a popular variation of the drink that more and more people are asking for.

It is innovative on the part of the Mai Kai and completely within the premise of keeping customers happy and returning. But to bastardize the Rum Barrel so horribly seems to go against the spirit of the place.

Or does it?

To us, it is the Mighty Mai Kai, 50 plus years and still going.

To everyone else it is that neat place where we have our anniversary / wedding / birthday / bar mitzvah dinner every month / year. Oh, and they have some pretty strong drinks and some of them are even on fire!

It really all does come down to one thing..... Us. Not Tiki Central Us, but the individual Us. Each of Us. Each person that goes to the Mai Kai. Once a lifetime, or once a month, it doesn't matter. We have to go, we have to enjoy it, we have to show interest in the drinks, the food, the people. "They" know if your interested, and even if they don't tell them you are. It makes a difference. When the place is packed with the local Ohana, the drinks are always better, more consistent, more yummy. If you just wander in and blend in, your drinks will do the same.

Post #519780 by Chip and Andy on Thu, Mar 25, 2010 6:41 AM