Fiji Island, Roanoke, VA (restaurant)

Name: Fiji Island
Type: restaurant
Street: 627 Townside Road
City: Roanoke
State: VA
Zip: 24014-2213
country: USA
Phone: 540-343-2522
Status: operational

http://www.fijiislandroanoke.com/

Description:
this polynesian/chinese restaurant sits on the relative outskirts of this remote Virginia town. the tikis per square yard was relatively low, but the hostess desk had a tiki mask backlit with a red lightbulb, there was matting, bamboo and murals on the walls, and the classic if amateurish menu included a full line of drinks and polynesian food.

opened in 1972 (or before?), currently owned by Charles Chang, originially of Taiwan.

it appears that the venue is kept going by a music club in the basement: http://www.theclubatfiji.com/MainPage.htm

[ Edited by: Johnny Dollar 2011-10-27 06:08 ]

As promised, we made it to Fiji Island en route [from instead of] to Hukilau 2004. All in all, my vague recollections of the place were met by a better experience than I had remembered.

Fiji Island sits up off the main commercial strip (Franklin), and the view from the road is mainly of the roadside architecture of this sign.

The building’s entrance presents the aspect of having perhaps been a straight-up chinese restaurant that might have been tikified at a later date. We cannot verify or deny this. The building both inside and out has this chinese/tiki hybrid feeling. It pretty much works… All tikis are painted in Disney-esque style, probably not unlike those as originally at the Honolulu in Alexandria, Virginia.

Details of the entrance and door tikis.

The lobby presents these views straight on, and the “Tiki Room” sign to the left. The masks are clearly less Polynesian than “other,” but the bamboo and fake waterfall work together with all the parts. Sadly the mask on the maitre’d stand no longer had the backlit red lightbulb as I originally recalled.

These pictures don’t do entire justice to the interior. The low lighting doesn’t draw attention to the ceiling tiles, which aren’t so blazingly white until you take a flash photo :wink:

All the exterior walls are painted black instead of matting, and there is a preponderance of chinese red on woodwork, but again the low light levels worked with it. There were quite a few backlit murals, some of cartoonish tikis like on the menu, and another of a abstract dragon/countryside.

The soundtrack sounded like the same exotica soundtrack as at the Honolulu. It was loud enough to get the proper vibe – but be warned, toward the end of our stay the music venue in the basement started creating some less than exotic sounds.

The drinks are served in either the relatively vintage (i.e. not modern made in china version) “grasshopper” mug (no markings), bamboo mugs, and I saw white wahine mugs and “ipo bowls” behind the bar but did not see any service with those. Several of the drinks came in large glass bowls. The quality of the drinks was okay, not terribly strong but the Mai Tai was a close cousin to the Honolulu Mai Tai, and the Fogcutter was pretty dead on if not a tad sweeter. The garnishes were about average, but hey, they were there.

Each folded napkin placesetting had a plastic lei (whee!). The Pu-Pu “Plate” was sufficiently blazing and the Pu-Pus were about average to good, with the beef sates being the best of the selections.

Waikiki Kitty and I split the Crispy Duck that was really good and brought a tear to our eyes in its recollection of the Honolulu crispy duck.

SADLY, although bananas flambé was on the menu, they did not have the proper ingredients!!! We were very disappointed about that. When we return I swear we will call with reservations and a request that they have bananas in the kitchen.

To sum it up,

we found the Fiji Island to be a close cousin to the Honolulu. That would be the not quite so pretty or graceful cousin, but a strong family resemblance :) The size was about three times that of the Honolulu, and its presence in a rather remote town probably owes to its continued existence. The locals love it, and in speaking to some original customers, found that it is more than three decades old, and at one time had a sister restaurant in Charlottesville, Virginia at the Holiday Inn. Our waiter and the visible staff were all asian (-americans?) and professed no knowledge of Tiki Road Trip or any self-aware tiki culture. Out waiter appeared pleased with the notion that someone might travel from out of town to visit the place :). The food was decent, the drinks not so expertly mixologized as from a former Trader Vic’s bartender (go figure), but the tiki décor (except for the red phallic tikis - ?) and soundtrack appear from the same era as the Honolulu. We don’t expect droves of people to travel for hours to visit Fiji Island, but we found it to be a fascinating bit of urban archaeology, and would visit it regularly if it did not require five-plus hours of driving to get to it…

Speaking of travel and accommodations,

as an added attraction, a period-appropriate “Motor Lodge” is down the hill and across the street from the Fiji Island. We dug on the pink sinks, commode and bathtub. It was a fun addendum to the experience, so we thought we’d include it.

Aloha!

[ Edited by: Johnny Dollar 2010-01-30 12:41 ]

First of all, just so ya know J$, WillTiki here is the same person as Will on the MDDCtiki forum.
On to the post...
The "sister" restaurant in Charlottesville is the place I first remember seeing anything Tiki. I was born in Charlottesville, but we moved away when I was 2. When we would return to visit relatives, we almost always went to this place for Chinese food since it was such a treat then. You see, we lived on the "Eastern Shore" (Delaware+ Maryland+ Virignia = DelMarVa) which at the time had only your basic local seafood and steak restaurants. I was fascinated by the decor, the drink mugs etc.
Cut to me as a student at the University of Virginia (YouVeeAy)I commandeered my freshman dorm RA as driver and dragged a whole heard of folks to the place for dinner and DRINKS. As yes, my first Tiki hangover...
The waiters here did not seem to even know that ID should be checked let alone do so.
We had an absolute blast and went back for repeat performances throughout college even though beer reigned supreme otherwise during those years. I will definitely trek to Roanoke for a little nostalgic nosh and nip.
Thanks J$

Wow! Time to pull out the tiki magnifying glass. C'ville is my hometown and I didn't know there was a tiki bar. The closest reminents I could find was "Ming Dynasty" It was formally "That Steak Place" in the 70's and even today it has the bordello red velvet wallpaper. There is a tiny bar in it and the bar has some tiki mugs but that is it. You can't drink in the bar; it simply stands as "Ode to Tiki" So I thought the trip was over but then I found out The Cavalier Inn had a tiki bar in the 70's. By the way the Holiday Inn turned its restaurant into a Red Lobster and now it is Days Inn. The old Days Inn is the new Holiday Inn. Welcome to my confusing town but no tiki in it today.

I had come across these images of the matchbook and menu from Fiji Island and had originally assumed they were from the the Fiji Island in Maumee, Ohio.

After figuring out that the matchbook was the same design as the ones from the South Pacific Restaurants located in Arlington, Virginia and Silver Springs, Maryland its pretty clear that they are from the Fiji Island in Roanoke. I wonder if they were originally owned by the same family.

Here are some current photos from the restaurant website.

Anybody been lately?

DC

damn dustyc! you compelled me to dig back into the memory banks. have not been there since 2004 (6 years! damnnnn) but i reposted the photos we took when we visited there last (see above).

good call on the SP / FI connection! fascinating web of history we uncover, the more we dig!

j$

J$,

Thanks for re posting your old photos, I was bummed to see all of the red Xs when I opened the thread, those are great.

You need to get a search party organized and take a trip to see how the place is holding up.

South Pacific = Fiji Island. Tiki Transmission Tradition!

DC

ok i contacted willtiki who had made that comment above about the charlottesville tiki establishment. he does not have a name for the place as of yet, but here is what we do know:

the polynesian / chinese restaurant was next to, and loosely associated with the white house motel on route 250 in charlottesville. the restaurant was between the white house motel and the town and country motor lodge. the motels and restaurant buildings are no longer there - that commercial strip has become infested with car dealerships. their addresses were

white house motel
1448 richmond road, charlottesville, va 22911

town and country motor lodge
1344 richmond road, charlottesville, va 22911

so... i guess we can say, "they paved the air-conditioned paradise, and put up a parking lot."

other snippets of info are:

I know it was open and serving fiercely strong drinks as late as the beginning of my first year (Fall of 1982) since a bunch of us went there with my dorm R.A. Oh how times have changed. I was 17 no one else was older that 19, and my RA was buying all of us strong cocktails!

a bit more research turned this up... http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2004/04/15/COVERmoderne3.2.html
is the existing building listed on that site as "the aloha restaurant" our lost tiki establishment? i'll have to ask willtiki.

the aloha restaurant is now a kia dealership - the building is ca. 1955-1956, designed by architect stanislaw makielski.

[ Edited by: Johnny Dollar 2010-02-06 05:31 ]

[ Edited by: ChefMike 2010-02-06 08:28 ]

I think this may be it...just a phone number though
http://www.activediner.com/Chinese-Gourmet-Restaurant/restaurant/Charlottesville/VA/US/profile/21646

yeah, chefmike, that's definitely the location... i have put a message into the architectural historian in that link above to see what she might know about the establishment.

The Aloha Restaurant in Charlotteville was the first place I discovered Tiki. I took a date there in about 1981, and when I graduated from UVA in 1982, my whole family went there to celebrate.

This was a large, clean restaurant with a fair amount of bamboo and thatch, but not over the top. Lots of tiki touches, typically Americanized Chinese food that I remember as being very good, and great drinks. The only drink I remember the taste of was the scorpion, still one of my favorites.

Although it's hard for me to compare with such an early experience, Aloha set the standard for me. Later in the 80s, I visited Hawaii Kai in NYC, and in the 90s, Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, Trader Vic's in Hollywood, Honolulu in Alexandria, VA, and Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus. And many more after that, from Honolulu to Koblenz. (I'll have to post links to my essays... I'm new to this site. I had some entries in Tiki Road Trip too.)

Between the highs and lows, Aloha holds its own, and I don't think I would be alone in that opinion.

I don't think I have any pictures from there, I'll post a photo of a matchbook when I get a chance.

Crap, there's a tiki restaurant in Roanoke?!!

I was just there LAST WEEK, and would have made the pilgrimage had I BUTT KNOWN. Won't be back until next year, if Pele doesn't strike me down first for the sleight.

On 2010-03-07 06:34, WyrdNet wrote:
The Aloha Restaurant in Charlotteville was the first place I discovered Tiki. I took a date there in about 1981, and when I graduated from UVA in 1982, my whole family went there to celebrate.

This was a large, clean restaurant with a fair amount of bamboo and thatch, but not over the top. Lots of tiki touches, typically Americanized Chinese food that I remember as being very good, and great drinks. The only drink I remember the taste of was the scorpion, still one of my favorites.

Although it's hard for me to compare with such an early experience, Aloha set the standard for me. Later in the 80s, I visited Hawaii Kai in NYC, and in the 90s, Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, Trader Vic's in Hollywood, Honolulu in Alexandria, VA, and Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus. And many more after that, from Honolulu to Koblenz. (I'll have to post links to my essays... I'm new to this site. I had some entries in Tiki Road Trip too.)

Between the highs and lows, Aloha holds its own, and I don't think I would be alone in that opinion.

I don't think I have any pictures from there, I'll post a photo of a matchbook when I get a chance.

that would be kick ass, wyrdnet! thanks for filling in more history! :)

Here is my souvenir of the Aloha Restaurant, a matchbook. Front, back, and inside shown. Compare location shown on map with other research in thread above.

Note that the book has a shiny silver finish, almost like chrome.

[ Edited by: WyrdNet 2010-03-07 20:19 ]

in this quasi-jeffersonian building, right? wild! only in charlottesville... tiki and jeffersonian modernism... :)

excellent... i started a thread of its own for the aloha... here. hope you all don't mind if i port the relevant info over to it.

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=35784&forum=2&0

fiji island is still going strong... even got some love locally, with an invokation of trader vic.

http://www.roanoke.com/food/reviews/wb/277208

Fiji Island cultivates exotic flair
This Roanoke stalwart still serves tasty Polynesian and Chinese cuisine.
By Dolores Kostelni

Hong Kong chicken

Photos by SAM DEAN The Roanoke Times

Flames blaze above a pu-pu platter at Fiji Island.

See all of our reviews - from users and Roanoke Times reviewers - at plateup.roanoke.com, and add your own.

In the 1950s, Trader Vic's Polynesian restaurants brought exotic flaming foods, mai tai cocktails and tiki culture to the states. The tropical menu and totem decor, along with live hula music, made for a fun experience, and the restaurant chain became phenomenally popular.

Roanoke's Fiji Island restaurant carries on this spirit in its concept, name and totems, combining Chinese cuisine with many Polynesian-influenced dishes.

The vibe

Few restaurants convey the warm welcome that Fiji Island extends. Whether it is Charles Chang or his wife, Wu, at the front desk, the sincerity of their greeting creates an immediate pleasant feeling. One or the other Chang escorts your party to a white cloth-covered table in the spacious dining room, places menus on the table, and names your server.

Tables, which look festive with colorful leis decorating each place setting, are arranged in separated sections in the tiki-adorned dining room, including a raised stage area. The adjacent Aloha Room accommodates private parties and overflow diners.

Meet the owner

Owner Charles Chang arrived in Roanoke from Taiwan in 1972 and went to work cooking at the original Fiji Island, his brother's restaurant. He took over the restaurant in 1975 near the Franklin Road Kmart, after becoming a certified executive chef in the American Culinary Federation and actively participating in the Roanoke Valley Chef's Association. To this day, he continues to be a part of both groups and has been the chef's association's longtime president.

When I spoke to Charles Chang about his many years in the restaurant business, he allowed that "every day brings me achievements I work for when I see my clientele leave happy and satisfied."

Chang enjoys visiting guests at their tables, making conversation and creating a comfortable environment in his restaurant.

The menu

The dinner menu at Fiji Island is extensive, creating innumerable variations on a theme. Entree selections come with house salad and fried rice.

The menu starts with 10 appetizers ($1.25 to $9.75) ranging from a simple egg roll to a more elaborate pu pu tray for two. Other options include barbecued spare ribs, crab rangoon and onion rings. Soups by the bowl are $1.25 and include the usual hot and sour, wonton and egg drop.

From there, the progression goes to entrees ($7.95-$11.95), with beef, chicken, pork, seafood, combination dishes, lo mein, vegetables, fried rice, chow mein, and sweet and sour preparations. This section rounds out with two chicken salads, four vegetarian dishes, and four chow mein mixtures ($7.95). The list concludes with five fried rice combinations and 13 chef's specialties ($7.95-$11.95).

Gourmet specialties include wide-ranging cross-cultural preparations ($9.95-$18.95) such as steak Kobe Diane teriyaki, surf and turf (market price), orange roughy, New York steak served with baked potato, Bora Bora steak, beef shish kebab, Hawaiian chicken, scallops in wine sauce and a seafood platter. A children's menu with prices under $5 consists of items such as chicken fingers with fries, popcorn shrimp, macaroni and cheese, and cold noodles. Desserts ($1.75-$2.50) such as banana flambe for two, ice cream, and cheesecake end the menu.

What I tried

When we visited Fiji Island for the first time, our decision to have pu pu tray for two ($9.75), a dish we hadn't had for a long time, started the meal on a fun note. This classic, with its miniature hibachi, featured a feast of thickly battered fried oysters, tender chicken pieces, crab rangoon, an egg roll and falling-off-the-bone barbecued spare ribs, which we roasted tableside over an open flame. Next, we ordered tasty soups -- hot and sour and egg drop -- before getting in to our crisp, chilled, crunchy iceberg lettuce salads.

Entrees -- steak Kobe Diane teriyaki and Hong Kong chicken -- followed quickly. Despite an overwhelming quantity of teriyaki sauce, the two precisely cut pieces of steak lacked juiciness and beefy flavor. The golden fried breast of Hong Kong chicken balanced with an assortment of vegetables was excellent.

On another occasion, I had an 8-ounce sirloin steak broiled to order, which came with a nice, large baked potato, but the steak was upsettingly dry. I also enjoyed a substantial taste of the volcano shrimp in a tomato-wine sauce.

Going to Fiji Island for lunch makes good sense -- it's a real bargain. The menu features a wide assortment of dishes similar to the dinner offerings, which are served in abundant portions and at reasonable prices.

My dining companion and I decided to have an order of tasty, tender dumplings with dipping sauce. The six steamed dumplings were juicy and well-seasoned, and the fried ones, like pot stickers, gave crisp and soft textures with each mouthful. Shrimp with vegetables and steamed rice provided a colorful serving brimming with tasty ingredients, while my partner enjoyed a heaping plateful of shrimp lo mein.

Even though cheesecake is a dessert option, neither of us had room for anything more than fortune cookies and a cup of jasmine tea.

Sunday brunch ($7.95) brings two dozen or more items to the hot and cold buffet. Among the offerings are chilled peel-and-eat jumbo shrimp, chicken teriyaki, delicious meatloaf, fried rice, tender golden fried General Tso's chicken in a zesty sauce, sliced beef with green peppers, fresh fruit, chilled lettuce with an assortment of dressings, and desserts.

Not to be picky, but ...

Lack of attention by the staff does a disservice to the Sunday buffet and patrons, with the mostly empty chafers looking forlorn for some time before being replenished. The overcooked, watery vegetable assortment disappointed me tremendously.

During my trips to Japan, I relished the sensuous texture and flavor of Kobe beef, an exceptional grade raised in the port city of Kobe. Fiji Island's menu lists "Kobe beef teriyaki," an inaccurate name. When I spoke to Charles Chang about this, he explained: "The meat is locally bought beef tenderloin, but not the very special Kobe beef. I will correct the menus to read 'Kobe-style beef' instead."

The next time I go ...

I am looking forward to having the Hunan-style shrimp and pork with chili sauce and shredded pork with spicy black bean sauce. This combination brings together some of my favorite ingredients in a single dish.

The bottom line

Over the years, Fiji Island has developed a loyal group of fans who appreciate the Chinese and cross-cultural Polynesian influenced preparations served in abundant portions at reasonable prices. It's an unusual and fun dining experience at "The Fiji."

so add to its history: opened in 1972 (or before?), currently owned by Charles Chang originially of Taiwan.

I plan on visiting Fiji Island in December (around Christmas). Anyone in town or local want to join me? I spent 25+ years in VA growing up oblivious to tiki, etc. I can't wait to immerse myself in hillbilly tiki (hey I'm from here ....I've earned the right).

Lava

[ Edited by: HotLava 2011-11-19 14:09 ]

On 2011-11-19 14:06, HotLava wrote:
I plan on visiting Fiji Island in December (around Christmas). Anyone in town or local want to join me? I spent 25+ years in VA growing up oblivious to tiki, etc. I can't wait to immerse myself in hillbilly tiki (hey I'm from here ....I've earned the right).

Lava

enjoy! take pictures!