Texas Tiki??

What the heck is wrong with the third coast??
With 370 miles of coastline and boating communities spread over the entire state – why can’t Texas have at least one decent Tiki bar along its coastline??
I live between Houston and Galveston on the Gulf and there is no decent Tiki culture here.
The Balinese Room reopened recently but it is basically a tourist trap. :(

Thanks

GCG

[ Edited by: GulfCoastGasser 2008-09-05 11:48 ]

[ Edited by: GulfCoastGasser 2008-09-05 12:12 ]

Careful Dude! You don't want to mess with Texas! Besides, I've heard there is some Aloha Spirit in the San Antonio area!

Whoa there, hoss. Them's fightin' words.

Sorry compadre, U R outta luck.

Dallas has an awesome Trader Vics. You might want to make a pilgrimmage.

[ Edited by: GROG 2008-09-06 10:14 ]

Of course Texas doesn't suck - but it does lack Tiki-class.

BTW-I am a 5th generation Texan, but I can still tell we could IMPROVE things!

Gasser, there may not be the kind of restaurants you expect to see such as in Florida & California, but Houston boasts one of the largest populations of Polynesians thanks to Continental Airlines. The culture is growing every year. Check out some of these links:

http://www.aloha-bbq.com/

http://www.mauitacos.com/tx.htm

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2007/10/spam_musubi_at_aloha_grill_on.php

http://alohacafesealy.com/

http://www.myspace.com/grassskirts

http://www.manutahitexas.com/

http://houston.citysearch.com/profile/map/44527464/houston_tx/maui_wowi_hawaiian_coffees_smoothies.html

[ Edited by: Mateotiki 2008-09-05 12:14 ]

Mateotiki

I stand corrected.
Obviously I was uninformed and ignorant.
Sorry if I offended anyone. Really.

However - you must admit with such a large Polynesian population, miles of coastline, palm trees and a general laid-back attitude - it is a mystery why Houston-Galveston is so sparse in Polynesian clubs or restaurants.

Trader Vics in Dallas?? Why?? (Yes I knew it was there but Dallas can't compare to Houston for "island attitude". :) )

[ Edited by: GulfCoastGasser 2008-09-05 12:38 ]

Someone on the island must have a tiki bar, at least a home bar with tikis in it.
http://www.villageoftikiisland.com

On 2008-09-05 12:32, GulfCoastGasser wrote:
Trader Vics in Dallas?? Why?? (Yes I knew it was there but Dallas can't compare to Houston for "island attitude". :) )

Island attitude? It's about escapism. It doesn't matter where any tiki or Polynesian establishment is located. It's about where you're transported to once you walk through the door. To me, the laid back "island attitude" conjures up images of a bunch of college kids getting drunk on margaritas and Corona while listening to Buffet after a day of getting stoned out on Daddy's boat. Not the type to appreciate any "real" tiki establishment. The people that frequent the Trader Vic's near me tend to be a little more sophisticated than that. Not always, but usually.

Trader Vic's was looking to possibly open in Houston but they haven't found the "right" location yet. If the business continues to grow it'll happen, just don't know when. When you can, make the trek to Dallas and check out Trader Vic's. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

p.s. thanks for changing the title.

Yeah....Houston, Galveston, Conroe and everything in between....there ain't shizzit here that's tiki...perhaps a few ice houses with a palapas and wooden parrot carvings, surf themed tshirts and sea shell resellers...sucks bad :(

We do have badd ass Mexican food though!

Trader Vic's in Dallas is badass.

My brother and I have escaped the margaritaville bars here in Houston by building our own little tiki bar oasis in the backyard. The best thing about it is the imported puffer fish with internal lights and the Polynesian record collection I've built up :)

...whoops, can't forget about the $100 Mai Tai's

:)

[ Edited by: Deckhand_Davy 2008-09-05 14:29 ]

[ Edited by: Deckhand_Davy 2008-09-05 14:32 ]

Chief Bartender and I were in south Texas earlier this year and bemoaned the lack of tiki. We hit Tiki Island near Galveston, but there wasn't any tiki to be found. A sad omission to the Gulf Coast.

Where were all you Texans when we had the Texas Tiki Gathering in Austin in July at Koitiki's??

Or the gatherings organized by Kenike at Trader Vic's in Dallas (of which i missed the last one myself, dangit)??

Join the party(s)! THAT is how you make tiki life thrive :wink:

Still crossing her fingers for our TV's to re-open,
F in Houston