USA Today's 10 Best Tiki Bars Around the USA - General Tiki

K kenbo-jitsu Tiki Socialite Southern CA Joined: Jul 27, 2011 Posts: 367	K kenbo-jitsu Posted posted on Wed, Nov 26, 2014 11:44 AM On 2014-11-26 10:38, kkocka wrote: So its not like this abomination then? Yeah. Wow. Rose's lime juice. I only hope Jeff Berry doesn't click on that link. That will ruin his day. I feel I need to interject here though in defense of the Tonga Room. Smuggler's Cove and the Tonga Room are both at home on the list, but for different reasons. Comparing them head-to-head isn't really profitable because they are two very different things. Smuggler's Cove is a newer bar (bar only) and, yes, its cocktail variety and quality are absolutely top notch. Hands down. No question. It is also, however; small, crowded, stuffy, and NOISY!!! The Tonga Room is more like a time-travel experience to the mid-century tiki heyday because it is a rare survivor from then. The history aspect of it alone should give it a lot of points from us TC'ers. It is an enormous, elegant, full-service restaurant with over-the-top décor. There is a big lagoon INSIDE THE RESTAURANT, where is rains every hour or so INSIDE THE RESTAURANT! It's hard not to smile at it. True enough, neither the cocktails nor the food have been top notch when I've been, but hopefully they are improving that now and, in any case, it's only part of the experience.

On 2014-11-26 10:38, kkocka wrote:
So its not like this abomination then?

Yeah. Wow. Rose's lime juice. I only hope Jeff Berry doesn't click on that link. That will ruin his day.

I feel I need to interject here though in defense of the Tonga Room. Smuggler's Cove and the Tonga Room are both at home on the list, but for different reasons. Comparing them head-to-head isn't really profitable because they are two very different things.

Smuggler's Cove is a newer bar (bar only) and, yes, its cocktail variety and quality are absolutely top notch. Hands down. No question. It is also, however; small, crowded, stuffy, and NOISY!!!

The Tonga Room is more like a time-travel experience to the mid-century tiki heyday because it is a rare survivor from then. The history aspect of it alone should give it a lot of points from us TC'ers. It is an enormous, elegant, full-service restaurant with over-the-top décor. There is a big lagoon INSIDE THE RESTAURANT, where is rains every hour or so INSIDE THE RESTAURANT! It's hard not to smile at it. True enough, neither the cocktails nor the food have been top notch when I've been, but hopefully they are improving that now and, in any case, it's only part of the experience.

Post #732197 by kenbo-jitsu on Wed, Nov 26, 2014 11:44 AM