Post #696899 by tikilongbeach on Mon, Oct 21, 2013 9:36 AM

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as "a restaurant or bar decorated in a simulated Polynesian theme that usually serves exotic cocktails".
To add to that, it is escapism and a fantasy mix of what people want to believe an exotic, tropical island is like.
Back in the day there was a sense of the forbidden and mystery in eating at a Polynesian restaurant. The artwork, crazy ceramic cups, fountains, lighting fixtures, nautical articles, carvings, tapa cloth, music, clothing, food, bamboo and rattan decor were all very foreign to people at the time. Special effects such as rain and tropical bird noises added to the feeling of, "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore". From floor to ceiling you are immersed in a different world. That's tiki to me.