Post #578874 by Ragbag Comics on Fri, Mar 4, 2011 5:52 PM

False alarm, friends: Trader Vic's Chicago is still rolling along.

We just went there for dinner last night. There have been some changes, but all seem to be for the better.

We've had a tumultuous relationship with Vic's since they reopened... Food-wise, our first few visits were outstanding, then we had a couple of full-blown bad turns, and a handful of mediocre ones. The drinks have consistently been excellent, however, and their bartenders are some of the best around.

We continue to go there because (a.) we gotta support the cause, and (b.) it's the only true tiki haven within Chicago city limits (read: accessible by public trans so I can get stinky drunk and still get home in one piece.) Also, though it's certainly not the Palmer House (and it's on Rush Street- the highest concentration of Ed Hardy morons in the city)I think they did a SUPERB job recreating the vibe of the original Vic's with modern twist (when they aren't playing Aerosmith and football.)

This time, the food was quite excellent (I HIGHLY recommend the Ahi Tuna sandwich- it was outstandingly good!) Also, the menu was revamped so there are many lower-cost option so you can pop in and grab a $15 entree as opposed to a $30 to $40 entree.

We heard something from a little bird there that might explain the precipitous drop in quality of reviews on Yelp and other review sites...

Apparently when they opened, they had a chef who was outstanding and passionate and created most of the items on their menu. He left and was replaced with someone lacking in the passion department, which resulted in a discernible drop in quality. He has since (just within the last month) been replaced with someone who clearly knows his stuff.

We had a GREAT time- they played surf & 60's instrumental music the entire time, the food was excellent, and it was $5 Mai Tai night. I had five, so it was nice to be able to hop on the Red Line and get home in one piece.

No Trader Vic's means I won't be able to do that anymore...

I get the feeling there are people there whose hearts are squarely in the right place, perhaps they just need some guidance in the ways of True Tiki. If anybody local wants to start a Trader Vic's night (I recommend Mondays for $5 Suffering Bastards) I'd be game. With the new lower-cost food menu, a bunch of us could come out, grab a delicious-and-affordable dinner and grab some of the best tropical cocktails in the city limits.

Anybody up to the task?