Tag: LosAngeles

We had a great time in West Hollywood at The Lucky Tiki’s first New Year’s Eve party. The ticketed event began at 9:00 and included all inclusive food and drinks. Food included hot dogs from the adjacent Tail o’ the Pup, sushi, and also some Chinese favorites such as chow mein and egg rolls. Drink orders for anything off the regular cocktail were at the bar or from a couple servers who circulated mainly to those seated. A champagne toast capped the evening at midnight.

For a first time event there were a lot of things done well here, especially the bar staff who worked very hard for that three plus hours making constant cocktails. We also salute Genesis and Shane for also keeping up with deliveries of the wild frenzy of orders and sticking to the script for some of Lucky Tiki’s signature display cocktails such as Elvis in Hawaii. Overall our drinks were of the same quality that we had on our previous visit, with one exception, and we were pleased to check out the expanded cocktail menu that includes some tiki classics such as the Three Dots & a Dash that I thought was pretty good.

For an inaugural event there are some things that could be tweaked. While there was an expansion of seating on a heated patio, there simply weren’t enough chairs for those in attendance. I suspect some might not have cared the least, but for a three hour event some of us really needed the chairs and I felt sorry for those who arrived too late to snag one. Having more passed appetizers would have enhanced the experience as well.

One of my Mai Tais was pretty bad, far too limey. It was replaced by another one (and later another) that were better but not really at the same level of quality as the other cocktails on the menu. I give a lot of leeway for the nature of the event but I suspect that the problem lies with the orgeat – and it needs to change. The rum needs to be bolder than Flor de Caña Eco too.

Given the quality of the event and all-inclusive food and drinks NYE was certainly a great value. We had a lot of fun hanging out with our impromptu table-mates and socializing with a few familiar faces. The tropical music was on point and again I must praise the staff for a great job on this event.

We took the opportunity to check out a tiki bar was new to all of us and ventured over to The Hula Hula Room last Sunday night. The bar is located in a Torrance strip mall but the bright logo assures you that there is quality inside, including an all-new interior featuring tikis, neon lights, tropical wallpaper, and some Hawaiian touches. Music leaned retro and Hawaiian, very much to our delight.

The staff was super friendly, though with the question about my Tiki Ti shirt still learning about the genre and other tiki bars. Nonetheless, our drinks were well-prepared and the team showed interest in our visit (“How’d you hear about us?” “Uh, we’re tiki people…”). The bar wasn’t busy, with a few groups coming in and out during our visit.

The cocktail menu features a number of classics, including a pretty reasonable Mai Tai and an inspired Three Dots & a Dash that uses Kuleana Hawaiian Agricole rather than Martinique Agricole. I enjoyed the Aloha-Rita, which is a Margarita with Prickly Pear Syrup and Black Lava Salt. Mrs. Mai Tai loved the Tropical Espresso Martini and a Ube-forward frozen cocktail. The Pali Highway Sunset is a Lychee liqueur cocktail with Aperol and Orgeat that our entire table loved.

This isn’t quite a must-see in the Southland, with so many stellar representatives spanning the San Fernando Valley all the way through Orange County. But we’d be so pleased to consider The Hula Hula Room our neighborhood bar and the quality is a step up from dive-leaning tiki bars.

We met up with some friends and they suggested Damon’s in Glendale. Who were we to argue as we’ve been coming here for years and enjoy the old school ambiance and bamboo laden decor that date back to 1937. The Hawaiian theme is present in every corner and while the bar can get a little rowdy with locals, the dining room is more relaxing. Look for monkeys on the menu and with appearances in the restaurant, even in the large outrigger suspended from the ceiling.

Their cocktails aren’t really craft – but I did enjoy the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai. Mrs. Mai Tai loved the All Skrewed Up Daiquiri, with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, banana, banana liqueur, lime, and pineapple. Served blended and frozen.

The dining experience is a throwback. Everyone gets a Damon’s salad with their meal, even if (like me) you ordered an entree salad for dinner. They still serve thick steaks that are beloved and we also liked their classic garlic toast. Service was friendly and prompt as always. Glassware and shirts are available for purchase.

We visited for dinner on a Wednesday and by the time we left the entire restaurant floor was packed. It warms the heart to see that the diners of Glendale are supporting the institution rather than just the new hotness. Long live Damon’s.