A Tiki Thirstday Escape August 15, 2019 - Other Events

DC Dr. Coruba Tiki Socialite Joined: Jun 02, 2008 Posts: 333	DC Dr. Coruba Posted posted on Thu, Oct 11, 2018 10:41 AM Apologies for letting way too much time go by since the last post! Some catching up is in order. House of Foong Lin, whose cocktail DNA goes back to the long closed DC Trader Vic's, has always been a place to get a decent Mai Tai and a host of other Tiki classics (I like the HoFL Navy Grog better than the Trader Vic's version). And some really good Chinese food. The only thing stopping them from being a first rate Tiki bar was the decor. Until recently. Earlier this year, Chef Fu green lighted a fairly extensive Tiki makeover of the bar and lounge. Not being able to source a local contractor with bamboo/thatch/matting experience, he tapped into our local Tiki community and found someone who agreed to tackle the makeover. This Tikiphile along with his family and joined by other Tiki friends, worked weekends and spare evenings for over 6 months to do a damn fine job of Tiki-fication. Before: And After: Though obviously and throughly biased, I think this makeover vaults HoFL into being THE best Tiki bar in DC. To be fair, there ARE spots which are doing the craft cocktail approach to Tiki drinks. And if the pedigree of absolutely everything in your glass right down to the artisanal ice is paramount to you, other bars may be to your more to you liking. But for me Tiki is far more than just what I sip. I want the bamboo, thatch, matting, and Exotica music too. A really good Tiki bar experience is more than a sip, it is escape. Something you can get lost in, if only for a little while. What also sets House of Foong Lin apart (and imo above the others in DC) are the local Tiki people that support it. Not since the long closed Honolulu has any other DC Tiki bar managed to inspire that feeling of Ohana in its regulars. For many of us it isn't just going out to a restaurant, but a meeting place, our Tiki version of Cheers. And though HoFL is now fully Tiki 7 days a week, Tiki Thirstday still meets EVERY Thursday night as DC's longest running Tiki social. Drop on in, you'll be glad you did. For dates, address, and more details of this weeks Tiki Thirstday, go to the FIRST post of this thread. Aloha! Dr. Coruba

Apologies for letting way too much time go by since the last post! Some catching up is in order.

House of Foong Lin, whose cocktail DNA goes back to the long closed DC Trader Vic's, has always been a place to get a decent Mai Tai and a host of other Tiki classics (I like the HoFL Navy Grog better than the Trader Vic's version). And some really good Chinese food. The only thing stopping them from being a first rate Tiki bar was the decor. Until recently.

Earlier this year, Chef Fu green lighted a fairly extensive Tiki makeover of the bar and lounge. Not being able to source a local contractor with bamboo/thatch/matting experience, he tapped into our local Tiki community and found someone who agreed to tackle the makeover. This Tikiphile along with his family and joined by other Tiki friends, worked weekends and spare evenings for over 6 months to do a damn fine job of Tiki-fication.

Before:

And After:

Though obviously and throughly biased, I think this makeover vaults HoFL into being THE best Tiki bar in DC.
To be fair, there ARE spots which are doing the craft cocktail approach to Tiki drinks. And if the pedigree of absolutely everything in your glass right down to the artisanal ice is paramount to you, other bars may be to your more to you liking. But for me Tiki is far more than just what I sip. I want the bamboo, thatch, matting, and Exotica music too. A really good Tiki bar experience is more than a sip, it is escape. Something you can get lost in, if only for a little while.

What also sets House of Foong Lin apart (and imo above the others in DC) are the local Tiki people that support it. Not since the long closed Honolulu has any other DC Tiki bar managed to inspire that feeling of Ohana in its regulars. For many of us it isn't just going out to a restaurant, but a meeting place, our Tiki version of Cheers.

And though HoFL is now fully Tiki 7 days a week, Tiki Thirstday still meets EVERY Thursday night as DC's longest running Tiki social. Drop on in, you'll be glad you did.

For dates, address, and more details of this weeks Tiki Thirstday, go to the FIRST post of this thread.

Aloha!
Dr. Coruba

Post #790432 by Dr. Coruba on Thu, Oct 11, 2018 10:41 AM