Need a Trader Vic's replacement.....

.... but not necessarily a Tiki bar. I meet a friend 4 times a year in the Loop for drinks and appetizers/dinner and we always used to go to Trader Vic's, mostly because my friend likes Mai Tais. We both liked the vibe of the bar - kind of dark, lots of happy people (I don't know if this is because they were guests at the hotel and were happy to be out of town or because they were drunk....), comfortable nook-y tables, and decent finger food. Obviously we're not too concerned about price - the food at TV's was, frankly, overpriced and the drinks were usually around $8-10 each - our tab by the end of the night with drinks and several shared appetizers was usually around $125-. Neither of us are 20-something hipsters so please don't recommend any place where we'll stick out like a sore thumb. I was thinking that a hotel bar might suit the bill - any suggestions?

Harry Caray's has bought the rights to Trader Vic's and they plan on opening it back up within the year. They are doing a "pass the tiki torch" promotion in the near future, from what I hear. Until then, The Motel Bar fits what you are looking for if you can snag a couch or booth. It's at 600 W. Chicago Ave., around the corner from Japonais. I also really like the bar in the Sofitel Hotel. It is pretty dark, nice low top tables, plus you can order from the bar or the restaurant.

I am a sucker for the Martinis at the intercontinental served up in the crystal decanters, really almost 1.5-2 martinis for 10 bucks. The assorted nuts are tasty, and the couches and chairs are comfy. The crowd is hotel, generally happy, if not slightly pretentious, but hell when you are drinking martinis in a swank Michigan Avenue hotel, what would you expect. It's a scene for sure, but not intense, and more class and chill than attitude.

And as fellow LTH poster "AB" can tell you, for 7 bucks they'll hook you up with a thick white bread PB and J with a side of fries, even though this is not on the menu, and only requested when you have had too much to drink, and your catholic sidekick isn't eating meat during lent on Fridays (that would be me.)

For those who do need a tiki replacement http://www.hala-kahiki.com/ in River Grove

I'm a big fan of Hala-Kahiki, but there's one big drawback to the place that may make it an unsuitable replacement for Trader Vic's: no food. Not only will they not serve you anything more than pretzels, they will confiscate food from you if you bring it in. I took a friend to Gene & Jude's for a coupla hot dogs [and how convenient is it to have Gene & Jude's right there for an unhealthy night of celebration?] and he decided to save his fries to have with his drinks. A staff member came by and requested that we give him the fries because food was not allowed in the bar. He later explained that they wanted to keep the room clean and the smell of food would seep into the bamboo.

So, ya gotta eat before or after those potent drinks, but not during.

Giovanna

Harry Caray's and Trader Vic's are "passing the Tiki Torch" Tuesday at 12:30 at 33 W. Kinzie. They will have hula dancers, fire throwers and be serving up some mai tais, the original recipe. Their bar staff has been trained by one of the bartenders from Trader Vic's. The CEO of Trader Vic's is going to be handing Dutchie Caray the Tiki Torch to symbolize their purchase.

Giovanna wrote:I'm a big fan of Hala-Kahiki
Giovanna

I wish I could be a Hala Kahiki fan, but my last few visits have been pretty miserable. Unfriendly and careless service. Smoke so thick inside the bar it makes it almost impossible to breathe. I would recommend the outdoor patio in the summer as an escape from said smoke, but refer back to the service- they basically forget about you if you're sitting outside. I ordered 2 different drinks the last time I was there, and they both tasted like ice and nothing else... but strangely gave me a headache afterwards anyway. And, as Giovanna mentioned, no food aside from the pretzels.

Don't get me wrong, I really, really want to like this place, especially since I live 5 minutes from it and I'm a huge tiki fan, but I can only see myself going back for the attached gift shop in the future.

I plan on heading out to Tiki Terrace in the next few weeks (although reservations have been hard to get on the weekends) and will report back.

Ryan - thanks for the info. That's a hoot. I may have to stop by and check it out!

Giovanna wrote:A staff member came by and requested that we give him the fries because food was not allowed in the bar. He later explained that they wanted to keep the room clean and the smell of food would seep into the bamboo.

So, ya gotta eat before or after those potent drinks, but not during.

Giovanna

I'm sorry to hear Hala Kahiki is so rigid about the no-food policy, but I can't say I'm surprised. Never saw anyone eating anything but pretzels there.

Seems, because the place is always fairly full (especially after 10:00 on weekends), they just figure they don't need to serve food, and they may be right (although some appetizer things would be nice, I suppose).

Must say, when I try to come up with a rejoinder to your Italian beef analogy, I find I have mostly unacceptable descriptors.

Hammond

as a long time fan of trader vics, i have to say that i am apprehensive about harry carey's acquisition of the franchise. MOST of the draw to trader vics was found in the atmosphere of a dungeon which had not been changed in 50 years, and i am not sure that i trust a sport's bar operation to do it justice. frankly, i was even repulsed by the television sets that TVs had set up in recent years, it was far better without the unnecessary distraction of the world outside. I am unoptomistic about TVs opening as a sad shade of its former self, an unfortunate characature of itself.

i spent my NYE at TVs this year, and indeed i am sad to see it go. a replacement? i am not sure that anything can replicate the charm of the original. by the way, i do second the recommendation of Motel on chicago.

Erik.

magpie1140

Smoke so thick inside the bar it makes it almost impossible to breathe.

I just figured out something that bothers me here:

It's a really smoky bar and they're worried about the smell of FRENCH FRIES sinking into the bamboo?

Giovanna

Chef Shangri-La in North Riverside at 26th and DesPlaines has terrific tiki decor and a reasonalbly priced menu. They'll be celebrating Chinese New Year on Sunday Feb 19 and Sunday Feb 26. Traditional Chinese dancers on the 19th and the Cocktail Preachers on the 26th. I think shows are at 3:00 and 6:00.

Firedancer outside Harry Caray's


Aloha Chicago dancers inside Harry Caray's


Passing the Torch Day menu

SushiGaijin wrote:as a long time fan of trader vics, i have to say that i am apprehensive about harry carey's acquisition of the franchise. MOST of the draw to trader vics was found in the atmosphere of a dungeon which had not been changed in 50 years, and i am not sure that i trust a sport's bar operation to do it justice.

I don't think you need to worry about this. I was at the event where they passed the tiki torch, and everybody seemed pretty committed to a classic, no-windows Trader Vics. Supposedly all the decor is in storage waiting for the new site. My understanding is that Trader Vic's relationship with its franchisees is rather more hands-on than most. And on the day, at least, the mai tais were very good. They're serving them at Harry Caray's until the new Trader's opens. (With a commemorative glass, $15.95).

I'm just curious if anyone has dirt on the Trader Vic's revival in Chicago? On the official Trader's website, they say that the new Chicago location is slated to open "Late 2007." Does anyone know whether Harry Carey's is still on board and whether they have a location picked out? I've heard nothing in the press that would indicate that late 2007 is doable at this point, and seeing as the old Trader's was such an institution, you'd think we'd be hearing something by halfway 2007 if it really was happening.

Thanks!

I haven't heard any recent updates about the Chicago Trader Vic's situation.
Check http://tikicentral.com for more info as it happens.

On a much more self serving note, my Hawaiian band (the Windy City Islanders) is playing at the Tiki Terrace tomorrow night June 15th, no cover charge, great food and drinks, it's in Prospect Heights on Wolf Road.
Their site is http://thetikiterrace.com

And James Teitelbaum has also just come out with 'Tiki Road Trip 2', which is pretty much the de facto reference guide for such places.
Tell him Craig referred you...
http://www.tydirium.net/tiki/tikiroadtrip.html

Just found this thread... thanks for the props, Craig!

FWIW, I keep hearing that The Trader has a location secured at State and Rush, in the building once occupied by The Grotto, near Hugo's Frog Bar.

"Later this year..." (the mantra since 2006!)

Outstanding news! I just found a 40-year-old copy of "Trader Vic's Pacific Island Cookbook" at a charity shop in Winnetka a few weeks ago, and was wistfully recalling the heyday of such places - the Trader Vic's on Fifth Ave. in Scottsdale, AZ, the Kon Tiki Ports downtown here, and wondering if I was ever going to find a decent pu-pu platter or umbrella-studded drink in a cored pineapple again. I'm a happy gal - to me, these places were a yearly birthday demand, and I miss them greatly. (It's actually a good cookbook, too. This dude got around.)

Thanks!

Wow - funny to see my moldie-oldie thread resurrected, especially since my tiki loving friend and I are hitting the Tiki Terrace in Des Plaines this Friday. On weekend nights you have to make a $17.50 reservation which covers the Don Ho-esque show and one entree (pu-pu platter and the many, many drinks will be extra). Since Trader Vic's doesn't seem to re-opening anytime soon this will have to do!

I would love to try the couple of Tiki places in area, but they just aren't accessible to me. (The one in Riverside might be, have to look into it.)

The Bottom Lounge claims to have a 5000 SqFT "Volcano Room" that is Tiki inspired, along with 100+ Rums. Now I've heard that that space isn't actually ready yet, I'll have to check and see.

Bottom Lounge
1375 W. Lake St

SSDD

Finally made it to Hala-Kahiki last night. No smokiness in the bar, but sat outside anyway. Great atmosphere, and the Beachcomber cocktail for two - with possibly some of the longest straws I've ever seen - was tasty, slightly sweet, and it masked the alcohol content (which I don't think was at all excessive). But the variety of drinks and the ambiance - both inside and outside - make this a very interesting destination.

But, as noted above, no food other than pretzels.

I have to agree with SushiGaijin's desire for a subterranean Trader Vics. I was very excited to learn last November that the Trader Vics in Las Vegas had just opened, but I actually can't even begin to convey my disappointment when I visited.

Note: Sorry if this is OT and belongs in "Beyond", but I'm purposefully trying to indicate what I *don't* want the new Chicago Trader Vics to be like.

1. It's actually on the strip (will State and Rush be much better?)
2. It's part of the Planet Hollywood retail/hotel complex. Has to have 3-4 story (at least) windows in front and the main room is about the same.
3. Stainless steel and glass everywhere. The only nod to tiki I remember were the admittedly gigantic carved (or molded to look like the were carved) tiki god statues
4. Traditional barware and the hotel-type uniforms of the servers at least reminded me a little bit of the old location in the Palmer House.
5. Food was easily $15-20 for pu-pus and upwards of $30 for anything substantial.
6. Dance music
7. Drinks were as you would expect of 20-something, disinterested servers who would rather be working Ghost Bar. Of course, they were also extremely pricey compared to the old Vics.

I know Chicago <> Vegas, but a corporation is a corporation and that's what own's Chicago franchise now. The only reason I think Vic's in the Palmer House flew under the radar for so long is they were waiting to do a whole retrofit of the hotel and couldn't be bothered with micro-managing one restaurant.

-Jay

Yes, Trader Vic's fans have more or less universally panned the Las Vegas location, and yes, State and Rush is a little bit disappointing as a location for the new Chicago location.
But I will take it!

The best Trader Vic's left in the US of A are in Atlanta and Emeryville. Dallas is not half bad either. San Francisco is gone (again). Beverly Hills is gone. The Palo Alto location is not unlike Las Vegas - in other words, not so Vic's-ish. Scottsdale AZ, Seattle, and the new Florida location are somewhere in the middle.

Internationally, Japan and Germany have nice Vic's, as does London. Avoid the one in Spain. I haven't made it to their handful of middle east(!) locations yet.

I was once reprimanded for including a link to my web site within a post, but since it is not feasible to cut and paste the entire text of my book on Tiki bars into this post, I will risk directing interested parties to this link for further reading:
http://www.tydirium.net/tiki/tikiroadtrip.html


aloha!

shadesofjay wrote:The only nod to tiki I remember were the admittedly gigantic carved (or molded to look like the were carved) tiki god statues
4. Traditional barware and the hotel-type uniforms of the servers at least reminded me a little bit of the old location in the Palmer House.
5. Food was easily $15-20 for pu-pus and upwards of $30 for anything substantial.

I don't know how recently you visited the Chicago TV's before it closed, but it hadn't had much tiki kitsch decor for years -- more of a nautical theme -- and it was very expensive as well.

It was expensive, but worth it on the (towards the end) odd occasion when the staff had their shit in gear.

Face it(I do hate the generalization)

but, if those who bought the franchise ever get it running, it's gonna be frathole tourist crap

the one's who purchased it don't get it and if they ever did they don't care...they'll reduce it to some misapprehended Guido/Chet destination and that'll be the end of it

sigh

Only tangentially related, but when I was in Amman, Jordan, a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised and amused to discover a Trader Vic's in the hotel.

Christopher Gordon wrote:if those who bought the franchise ever get it running, it's gonna be frathole tourist crap

the one's who purchased it don't get it and if they ever did they don't care...they'll reduce it to some misapprehended Guido/Chet destination and that'll be the end of it

Where do you get that idea?

As far as I know, Trader Vic's corporate is still in the same hands as always and still as hands-on as ever. Their local partner that will open the new TV is the management of Harry Caray's, which is a good restaurant by any standard and surprisingly good for one with a celebrity/sports tie-in. I don't expect them to mess it up.

LAZ wrote:

Christopher Gordon wrote:if those who bought the franchise ever get it running, it's gonna be frathole tourist crap

the one's who purchased it don't get it and if they ever did they don't care...they'll reduce it to some misapprehended Guido/Chet destination and that'll be the end of it

Where do you get that idea?

As far as I know, Trader Vic's corporate is still in the same hands as always and still as hands-on as ever. Their local partner that will open the new TV is the management of Harry Caray's, which is a good restaurant by any standard and surprisingly good for one with a celebrity/sports tie-in. I don't expect them to mess it up.

Harry Caray's may be a good restaurant(I've never dined there, don't care to, but have never heard anything particularly bad). I don't see how the HC upscale sportsbar/steakhouse concept translates to the world of Trader Vic's. Also, they've been sitting on the franchise for how long now?

Why do I imagine it'll be frat/tourist mayhem if it ever opens? Because how else are they gonna make a profit? They'll have to sell the TV's concept to twenty-something trendoids who have no clue about the history or purpose of the chain. One hopes they don't superlounge/upscale it, I have my doubts.

I was a longtime patron of The Loop TV's and up until it's last several months it maintained a high level of service and atmosphere. I was very sorry to see it go downhill.

Christopher Gordon wrote:...they've been sitting on the franchise for how long now?

Two years, five months, twenty-two days, eighteen hours, and fourteen minutes, by my reconing!


But seriously, Chris and LAZ, you're BOTH right:

Trader Vic's corporate does keep a close watch on their franchises, and takes steps to make sure that the Trader Vic's in places like Jordan, Tokyo, USA, and Germany all have the classic Trader Vic's feel and certain standards to them (um, so maybe the dropped the ball in Vegas...).

Haray Caray's people are putting the cash in, but they are obligated to conform to the Trader's way of making food, serving drinks, providing service, and decorating the interior.

BUT... the location DOES virtually guarantee a disappointment in the one area that the corporate bosses have no control over: the clientele.
It is almost a certainty that what someone called 'guidos and chads' will invade the place, simply given its location and the surrounding businesses.

dish wrote:Welcome back, Vic: An outpost of Trader Vic’s will open this fall at Newberry Plaza (1030 N. State St.)

So it looks like you can get drinks and some Cosmo Tidbits, then head over to the Morton's flagship for dinner without even leaving the building.

Hi all,

Been trying to find an opening date but haven't had any luck. Anyone know?

My wife and I were in SF recently and went to the one in Emeryville for afternoon of Ribs, Eggrolls and, of course, drinks. The bartender there said November 21. I'd sure like to be there for the opening.

Let us know if you have any info lth members.

Thanks,

John