Post #574358 by leleliz on Wed, Feb 2, 2011 11:54 AM

If I lived in SoCal this would be the one bar that I would hit nightly...ok well maybe every other night...because I loved it so much.

Not only is the decor beautiful, the bar stools comfortable, the flaming torches outside completely cool, the patrons a friendly bunch of tiki and non-tiki lovers alike but the drinks (all 4 different ones I tried) were awesome and Josh the bar manager was the male version of Suzanne from my beloved Forbidden Island.

Joe Banks' photos can't even do this place justice as awesome as THOSE are. I was immediately impressed and got the same vibe of escapism I do everytime I head to Alameda.

I had the Catnip, Blue Hawaiian, Sup and tasted the All Black. Then for good measure I did another Sup and Blue Hawaiian (that may have been the reason I was feeling so rough the next day come to think of it...) and each cocktail was tasty and well balanced.

The All Black was taken off the menu but Josh whipped one together anyways with hardly any hesitation. Our drinks were quick to reach us and both Josh and the female bartender whose name I do not recall were not only attentive to our rather large party but to everyone else who was waiting to be served.

Their drink menu is not super extensive but I am sure as the bar matures that will increase as well. All I know is that Blue Hawaiian was hands down the best I have ever had. God bless them.

Looking around I would say 99% of the patrons were drinking tiki drinks and there was only a beer bottle or two to be seen in hand. I like that. I like that you can get all different types of people in a tiki bar drinking tiki drinks that are well made and everyone is enjoying themselves and their beverage(s).

My only complaints were :

1. They have no signature mug yet to buy and take home. I NEED a mug so hopefully this happens by my next visit

2. Their menus are being redone and I guess some had been stolen so the menu they had was a hard to see (esp after a cocktail) chalkboard hanging above the bar. I am sure they will find a way to fix this but until then I heard both bartenders repeatedly and happily explain the drinks over and over again to each guest who inquired what was in what and how they tasted.

As for the concerns over the music...umm they were playing Frank Sinatra. and Exotica.

Tiki No is a must stop for anyone heading to SoCal and if you live down there and have not been what are you waiting for. Maybe they will open Tiki No II up here and then between that and FI I will have Tiki Heaven!