Post #768778 by oroborean on Sun, Sep 18, 2016 6:17 PM

just got back from a trip to San Diego and False Idol. full disclosure, i live in San Francisco, so my benchmark for tiki bars is Smuggler's Cove, and despite the Martin Cate connection, this is no Smuggler's Cove.

what stands out the most is that this place is designed to be an experience, and it certainly delivers. if you don't have a reservation, getting in at all is a challenge (but not an impossible one). if you know where to be and when, you can get in within an hour of opening. the crowd this weekend was mostly hipster locals, with a few tiki aficionados thrown in for good measure, maybe that will shift in time. the decor is top notch, no doubt. only minor complaint is that the restroom is actually outside, which makes for a pretty constant flow of door opening. also, the volcano wasn't working this weekend, so i'm looking forward to going back in a few months to see. the custom glassware is tasteful, but not jaw-dropping. i brought some home.

if you're able to get a seat, then you actually get service, which was awesome. no trips to the bar or waiting in line, unless you want to chat with the bartender and they're not too busy (good luck). my server was friendly and attentive, but really didn't know rum (yet). they don't currently have a rum list, though that is supposedly in the works, and there isn't any of the rum education angle that you get at the Cove.

the menu is somewhat limited (for the jaded), but wide-ranging. we eschewed cocktails available at Smug Co under the assumption that they would be pretty close to the same thing, though in hindsight that might have been a faulty assumption. also, favored rum cocktails over the fair amount featuring other base spirits.

the drinks my party had were: Hanalei Nights, Mai Sha Roa Na, Lona, Steve's Rum Barrel, Alkala's Rum Barrel, and Le Fantome. My favorite was Steve's Rum Barrel, but Hanalei Nights was a very close second. this was the only commercial cocktail i've had with Plantation's Stiggin's Pineapple, and it was an excellent showcase for this rum. Least favorite was Le Fantome, which is sort of like a zombie except instead of having all that fun spice it's got agricole and champagne flavors (which i suppose explains the french appellation). drink i most wish i'd tried: Polynesian Forty Niner (orange-chai-infused bourbon, pear brandy, lemon and orange, with Don's Gardenia Mix (no rum)).

some of the drinks had no garnish at all, and those that did had only a mint sprig or a lonely orchid, though i did see a Three Dots and a Dash with its customary embellishments. i attribute this to the whole work-in-progress feel i got from the experience, one that i am eager to monitor over coming months.

[ Edited by: Bora Boris - Image straightening - 2016-09-19 08:36 ]