Post #647057 by AceExplorer on Mon, Aug 6, 2012 6:28 AM

[Edited a few minutes after posting - I somehow blew my "paste" and went back to restore lost material about Bosko's contributions, and to clarify a few things, oops, sorry... Trying to take my foot out of my mouth...!!!]

Great concept, but an unfortunate and "thin" execution of tiki from the standpoint of cocktails... I hate walking into places with high hopes and then am disappointed. In this case there appears to be very little true tiki "behind the bar" and beyond the carvings among the pop-culture tiki stuff. But at least they have real Bosko carvings! They have a very nice web site. The online drink menu certainly is a hint that legacy drinks are not likely to be found there even though they talk up their version of a Mai Tai. I find it interesting that many bars seem compelled to do "their own version" of a Mai Tai. But the good news is that lots of people seem to have fun there, and that it can raise awareness and act as a "gateway experience" to those who may later come to discover more tiki and Polynesian pop in other places. I'll raise a glass to that! Someday a patron to Solomons Island Tiki Bar will Google the place and this message thread may come up in the search result. To that patron: "May your discovery of Tiki Central, and more tiki, also be enjoyable and worthwhile!"

A co-worker of mine just came back from Las Vegas and she took me up on the suggestion to visit Frankie's Tiki Room with her friends. She told me this morning that she "saw the light" that is true cocktail craftsmanship and described it as a real eye-opener. Now I can continue by telling her about places like the Mai Kai, Hukilau, Tiki Caliente, Tiki Oasis, etc.

Our work is still just beginning. I'm glad we continue to help spread the word about good cocktails and share our worthwhile experiences. There's a whole world out there that needs rescue from high fructose corn syrup, food coloring and mediocre or bad rums.

[ Edited by: AceExplorer 2012-08-06 06:36 ]