San Antonio & Austin Texas TX tiki bars? - Tiki Travel

M mikehooker Grand Member (3 years) Austin Joined: Jul 17, 2014 Posts: 1211	M mikehooker Posted posted on Sun, Mar 29, 2015 2:45 PM I found myself in Houston twice in the past few weeks so took the opportunity to check out the Lei Low and must say I had a really nice time on both visits. While Isla has been getting some rave reviews from tikiphiles and the press, my one experience there was very poor and it appears they're having an identity crisis as first they declared they are not a tiki bar, but an "island" bar, then a couple weeks later claiming to be the only tiki bar in Austin. Besides the excellent rum selection which they inherited from my beloved Pleasant Storage Room (RIP), the cocktails and decor left a lot to be desired in my mind. Lei Low on the other hand, nailed it. Tucked on the end of an unassuming little strip plaza about a mile off the highway, you walk into the quaint space and are immediately whisked away. The outside world is forgotten as tributes to tiki temples of the past adorn the walls and several carvings are scattered throughout with some so inconspicuously placed I didn't even noticed them til my second visit. Travis was the bartender both nights I went and he proved to be knowledgeable about tiki history and quite skilled at making drinks. No, not everything was perfection, but nothing was even close to bad, and some drinks were incredible. Night 1 Barefoot in the Sand This one was rich and delicious, like a painkiller in overdrive. Their tiki butter consists of brown sugar, ice cream, bacon fat and some other things. B-26 Marauder Perfectly spicy and a great color thanks to their fresh made hibiscus grenadine. Mai Tai I was reluctant to try this based on it being Hawaiian style and not Vic but Travis insisted I give it a shot to see how it stacks up. They ordinarily serve this on tap but he made me one from scratch. It was OK, nothing like what I make at home, but certainly looked nice. He sent me home with one of their new mai tai glasses, a bunch of swizzles, stickers, and a menu. Night 2 Brought a friend along. He was equally impressed with the decor and quality of the drinks. We had... Zombie Didn't blow me away. Kinda slushie-like and not very complex but not a bad drink at all. Mexican Flying Circus I'm not much of a tequila drinker but I really enjoyed the flavors of this one and recommended it to a stranger who was undecided on his next drink. He loved it. Fire at Aku Aku That house infused Jamaican jerk rum is somethin' else. This was my buddies drink so I only had a sip but remember it being minty and spicy which I like. Bonus points for being on fire. Rum Barrel They ordinarily serve this in a bowl but Travis reworked the proportions for a single serving. Honestly don't remember how this one was. I should also add I let him know how fond I am of Luxardo cherries so he made a point to disperse them to me at regular intervals throughout night. Now that's service! I might be back next week to try more of the menu.

I found myself in Houston twice in the past few weeks so took the opportunity to check out the Lei Low and must say I had a really nice time on both visits. While Isla has been getting some rave reviews from tikiphiles and the press, my one experience there was very poor and it appears they're having an identity crisis as first they declared they are not a tiki bar, but an "island" bar, then a couple weeks later claiming to be the only tiki bar in Austin. Besides the excellent rum selection which they inherited from my beloved Pleasant Storage Room (RIP), the cocktails and decor left a lot to be desired in my mind.

Lei Low on the other hand, nailed it. Tucked on the end of an unassuming little strip plaza about a mile off the highway, you walk into the quaint space and are immediately whisked away. The outside world is forgotten as tributes to tiki temples of the past adorn the walls and several carvings are scattered throughout with some so inconspicuously placed I didn't even noticed them til my second visit. Travis was the bartender both nights I went and he proved to be knowledgeable about tiki history and quite skilled at making drinks. No, not everything was perfection, but nothing was even close to bad, and some drinks were incredible.

Night 1

Barefoot in the Sand
This one was rich and delicious, like a painkiller in overdrive. Their tiki butter consists of brown sugar, ice cream, bacon fat and some other things.

B-26 Marauder
Perfectly spicy and a great color thanks to their fresh made hibiscus grenadine.

Mai Tai
I was reluctant to try this based on it being Hawaiian style and not Vic but Travis insisted I give it a shot to see how it stacks up. They ordinarily serve this on tap but he made me one from scratch. It was OK, nothing like what I make at home, but certainly looked nice.

He sent me home with one of their new mai tai glasses, a bunch of swizzles, stickers, and a menu.

Night 2

Brought a friend along. He was equally impressed with the decor and quality of the drinks. We had...

Zombie
Didn't blow me away. Kinda slushie-like and not very complex but not a bad drink at all.

Mexican Flying Circus
I'm not much of a tequila drinker but I really enjoyed the flavors of this one and recommended it to a stranger who was undecided on his next drink. He loved it.

Fire at Aku Aku
That house infused Jamaican jerk rum is somethin' else. This was my buddies drink so I only had a sip but remember it being minty and spicy which I like. Bonus points for being on fire.

Rum Barrel
They ordinarily serve this in a bowl but Travis reworked the proportions for a single serving. Honestly don't remember how this one was.

I should also add I let him know how fond I am of Luxardo cherries so he made a point to disperse them to me at regular intervals throughout night. Now that's service! I might be back next week to try more of the menu.

Post #740341 by mikehooker on Sun, Mar 29, 2015 2:45 PM