Post #559285 by leisure master on Tue, Oct 12, 2010 10:28 AM

Just a few thoughts before this thread goes into overdrive.

Definitely don't be looking for a tiki-kitsch factor at Lani Kai. That is not what they are about. This will not be the Trader Vic's replacement we're all wishing for...but then again they are not claiming to be.

Since day one they have gone out of their way to correct anyone who said the place was going to be a tiki bar. They have always referred to themselves as a "Polynesian" themed bar, meaning they are trying to create a low-key tropical atmosphere, as opposed to a kitchy-tiki place, which is more like what Painkiller has been trying to create and what some people associate with Otto's Shrunken Head.

Lani Kai is also taking a different approach than Hurricane Club, which did embrace the tiki bar designation early on and therefore should be judged as such (to their detriment in my opinion). HC is really beautifully decorated, but it is not tiki. I associate a "Trump-Lounge" with a bar that has a loungy-feel with modern design, sleek furniture, lots of mirrored walls and shiny surfaces, etc. and HC wasn't that to me.

Maybe I am in the minority here, but when I went into HC for the first time, I felt like I was walking into the Copa, the Cocoanut Grove or some other exotic supper club back in the day - really something where people would dress up and catch a great nightclub act like when you see people at the supper club in old movies. Again, exotic but no tiki...but....this is not back in the day and ultimately I think HC will not really be my kind of place, as I think HC will be the place where the beautiful people will eventually land.

Back to Lani Kai - I agree with the comments on their sign - it looks like an old matchbook cover and I believe they will have matchbooks with their logo.

Nicole and I were fortunate enough to visit Lani Kai on Friday for one of their trial nights and the drinks and food are fantastic. The food menu was not extensive, but had a good variety of pu-pu type items (awesome crab rangoons, anyone?) and a couple of "Luau Platters" which are HUGE plates of fish or beef to serve like 6 - 8 people. The drinks have fresh ingredients, homemade orgeat and other syrups and the cocktail menu has both plenty of classics and originals. And you will certainly not be limited to the drinks on the menu. You have Hawaiian native Julie Reiner (Flatiron Lounge, Clover Club) as the primary owner and Joe Swifka (of Elettaria Mahalo Monday fame) as Head Barman. This place will be anything but snooty. Julie has built her whole career on opening places that are accessible to all - no dress codes, secret passwords, hidden doors, 3-day-advance required reservations, bottle service or velvet ropes. This place will be the same.

While I don't see Lani Kai as a "20-somethings" place, I am sure those folks will flock here for a while until something else is the next big thing in town. That's just how it works - the kids were at Painkiller when it opened, they were at HC when it opened and they will come here. Let the place find a groove and I think it will be a very likable place. Ultimately, the beautiful people will go back to the douchey ultra-lounges in the Meatpacking District and like I said, if they want a tropical setting they will go back to the Hurricane Club with its bottle service and eventually the velvet ropes that will protect the to-be-opened "Tiki Disco" from all the unbeautiful/unworthy people.

I think the best way I can describe Lani Kai is that to me it felt like what a great hotel bar would be in an upscale Hawaiian resort, possibly back in the 70's or 60's, but it's only my impression. It is not a huge place, but it is very relaxed with subtle thatched design walls and unpainted wood furniture and custom designed bars having a tropical look, there are lots of orchids and other exotic plants, but no kitsch. A really great place, but it will not be the darling of TC - I do understand the "boring" comment and some may find it to be just that.

Actually, in writing this post I came to the conclusion that I really love that NYC has four places taking faux-Polynesian cocktails in different directions - we have Otto's for the low-brow high-kitsch factor, Painkiller for the high-end tiki mixology with tiki-theme, HC for the supper club/"ultra lounge" experience and now Lani Kai for the low-key tropical atmosphere.

Depending on who you ask, all of these places will have pluses and minuses - but that means they should each ultimately find their own crowds. I wouldn't want them to all be trying to do the same thing - except for making good drinks - but even that varies from place to place.

And by the way - I completely agree that even with all this recent tropical cocktailery going on, a Trader Vic's would be awesome and could totally slide in here nicely with a whole other groove.

OK, sorry - that was more than a few thoughts...

I'm not an alcoholic, I'm an enthusiast.

[ Edited by: leisure master 2010-10-12 13:11 ]