Old school tiki bar hidden by the pool in the Beverly Hilton. Â The drinks even come in kitschy tiki cups. Â The food was mediocre, but the drinks actually were pretty good so long as you are in a tropical mood. Â And there are a lot of tropical drinks to choose from. Â The drinks are pricey though at $14+, so you are better off either going at happy hour (50% off mai tais) or just getting a bowl for 4 at around $30. Â It looked like mostly hotel guests when we went so don't expect too much of a scene. Â Our server was very attentive and patient though despite our table being a little rowdy.
Review Source:I had no idea how Luau- themed Trader Vics was, so it surprised me slightly the decor/atmosphere of the place. Generally, I believe this place is more popular for large groups!
For dinner, we shared the Cosmo Tidbits (Spare ribs, coconut prawns, Crab rangoon, and Char Siu Pork). If we did a redo, I believe we'd rather try the Duck Tacos, as the appetizers didn't stand out too much.
For our entrees we ordered off the specials menu. The Rib-eye is HUGE, and pretty standard. I enjoyed the Filet Mignon, which was tasty as well. I was happy paying the Groupon price, but would consider it overpriced without the discount.
However, I will say that the service was amazing! Very very attentive!
The bar is good, but the food is nothing to get excited about. Â For such a nice hotel, you'd think the menu would be better. Â They give you a bar menu, a menu for the hotel restaurant (I forget the name) and there's no consistency to the two. Â The worst part is that everything is overpriced for the quality. Â It was a disappointment.
One bright-side...I got 50% off my drinks from a Yelp check-in offer!
The worst decision by far made by the Beverly Hilton was to close the original Trader Vic's Restaurant they had there for many a decade and replace it with this. Now, this is not at all bad. It is a very nice bar with beautiful decor. Right off of the main pool, the atmosphere is very resorty. The service is signature Beverly Hilton - 5 Diamond. I just miss the old Trader Vic's.
Trader Vic's was a restaurant I frequented with my family when I was a little girl and through my high school years. As an adult, my husband would take me there when we needed to unwind or have a date night. He even proposed to me there. Trader Vic's has been there in the background of my life's stories and I yearn for those good ol' days. Not a good decision, Beverly Hilton :(
Before I go on, let me blabber on about the worlds best mai tais. They are found right here, at Trader Vic's. If you mosey up to any bar and ask what they put in their mai tais, and the words 'orange juice', 'pineapple juice', 'grenadine', or 'simple syrup' comes out of their mouths, you are drinking a very poor imitation of an original. Â NO ONE does mai tais like Trader Vic's! (except for my friend Tanya, who used to bartend for Trader Vic's but now works at Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas) Classic Tiki Drinks are the best & made the BEST here.
Now, the service..... IMPECCABLE. And I know why. The reason's name is Chai Rojana, General Manager of Trader Vic's. He ran the old restaurant and is still at the helm. This man is a shining example of what hospitality and service should be everywhere & every way. I have been fortunate to meet this man on several  occasions and no matter how long it had been since we had been to TV's, Chai remembers us, remembers what we drink, and greets us like old friends. He makes sure his staff is well-trained and is a direct reflection of himself. My hat's off to Chai. If I ever open my own Polynesian-style bar/restaurant, I want Chai as my GM. My investment would be safe in his hands. Â
Love the mai tais, love the atmosphere, food has gone waaaay down in quality, miss the old place.
This place is great concept for Hawaiian lounge and Tiki bar. They have so many variety of drink menu and very unique. Â It's comes with beautiful Tiki cup and real flower was floating in the drink. Â Food was decent. Â Price was a bite high I thought. Â Food was typical chain restaurant quality . Â Not much spectacular that what I expected. Â I wish they were playing Hawaiian music and turn down the light a bit . That would make better atmosphere to the lounge bar. Â Music in restaurant is as much important as food in restaurant I believe. Â They are located in very high end area, hope they will improve some more.
Review Source:Went here pre concert at Staples and was not dissapointed. Â Again, it is always great to try new places, but I still believe you need to know what you are getting before you go and understand that.
Trader Vic's ----- NOT CHEAP, if you are tight on cash or looking for a cheap eats place, aaaah hellooooo, stay out of LA Live. Â Seriously.
Ambiance ---- cool Tiki Bar theme inside, although it was funny the music being played inside was not "island theme" but country (maybe because Carrie Underwood concert at Staples that night???) . Â Anyway, very nice inside. Â Someone wrote your must eat outside... seriously ??? you are in the middle of downtown and are eating on Olympic Blvd..... hellooo, LA is NOT NY, just go inside and enjoy what you went to Trader Vic's for ------- Cheesy Tiki !
Service --- OK, made a reservation for a Tuesday (concert at Staples) on Open Table. Â Got seriously stuck in traffic and called to tell them we would be late. Â No problem moving my reservation back and when we got there BAAAM they sat us immediately, place was crowded. Â Kudo's. Â Wait staff was OK, could have checked on us a little more and took a little bit to get dishes out (but I did order something from the Wood Grill Oven and knew it would take longer... they tell you that on the menu straight up). Â The waitress took our drink order, which I ordered a specialty drink with keep it cup, she was so cool she asked if I wanted the USC special commemorative one, of course and she brought me that one already cleaned and wrapped !!! AWESOME.
Food - Â Food was very very good. Â I had the Hawaiian Pork Chop, very tasty piece of meat. Â Other's at table had the Ahi Tuna (very very good), Sweet n Sour Chicken (was pretty tasty but is fairly basic SnS Chicken dish) and Salmon dish (very good as well). Â So again, It is a higher end priced restaurant downtown, so not cheap.
Drinks ---- not cheap, but DAAAMN, heavy pour so they are strong. Â So OK, no problema paying more when you get a stiff drink. Â So no problem here.
Overall, nice place to eat for a nicer dinner. Â Not an everyday restaurant or some place you are going to go all the time, but if you want something different and are OK spending about $35 pp including a drink, then heck ya give it a shot.
To be a tiki drinker to begin with, I have been in so many tiki bars and Trader Vics.
However, Trader Vics in Beverly hill and Atlanta are one of my favourite. The drinks here are awesome, and made to perfection.
I highly recommend : Zombie and Scorpion :D Â just because they have 3 kinds of rum and some unqiue flavor. Love it!
I bought some tiki mugs here as well, which added high value to my collection. Totally worth the trip to LA :))
I can't believe how awesome this place was on my first visit, and how bad it turned out to be on our second visit!!!! NOT going back there again!
IF YOU ARE JUST GOING for the DRINKS, GO FOR IT.. their food is NOT GOOD at all!!!! We got this mix green salad, it wasn't fresh. and it didn't have any taste to it. and it was hella expensive too. SERIOUSLY??!!!!
don't think I'll ever go back here for dinner. We also had their duck appetizer. EW!!! Just don't order it.
And if you are ever here, please do yourself a huge favor, and sit outside by the pool. It's so boring inside. On my first visit, we sat outside by the pool. Drinks were awesome. Really tasty. On my second visit, they didn't have available heaters outside by the pool, and it was cold, so we had to sit inside. Just don't sit inside.
Lover Trader Vic's! The food is delicious. The drink menu is outstanding! The zig Kahuna was very good. Fork tender steaks, lobster, tasty chicken skewers...yum! Dessert was a really treat too. I recommend the sampler. It is pricy, so don't plan on a cheap date here.
I love the Hawaiian/tiki theme and love that Trader Vic's does such a great job with it. It was nice to see the tiki mug made just for LA.
Don't forget to get your parking validated.
My reviews for California are a bit skewed as I've only been here on business and did not have to pay out of my own pocket. Â With that being said, would I ever be able to afford the Beverly Hilton Hotel or Trader Vic's on my own? Â That would be a negative.
What I will say is that the staff and service at Trader Vic's was excellent. Â Their famous Mai Tais will sneak up on you, so be careful. Â Menu is pretty sparse but people probably aren't coming here for the food.
Very retro, very cool. Â Do drinks here and then move on to a different spot for dinner.
Just had this place tonight. I really enjoyed it! I can't speak for my friend's dish, she didn't seem to enjoy it too much. But I would go back just for that awesome chicken curry. Nom nom nom.
Like how Mexican restaurants bring you chips and salsa, this place brings you crackers and peanut butter to start out! HOW COOL.
I ordered the chicken curry and it was deeeeelish. It came with a hard boiled egg and rice, and a little 6 compartment plate of toppings like nuts, raisins, tomatoes, chutney, and banana. I was into it.
Service was great, I saw a lot of people ordering what looked like Mai Tais, didn't get one myself but they sure looked good!
The decor is really beautiful. Â We had a group of 20 and we seated on outdoor sofas around a large table. Also, the service was great; there was always someone a few feet away when we needed them.
That's it for the positives. Â The drinks are EXPENSIVE. Â My $14 drink (The Colonel's Big Opu) was decent but definitely not worth that much money. Â We ordered a TON of appetizers including Edamame, BBQ Pork Ribs, Crab Rangoon, Butterflied Crispy Prawns, Crispy Calamari, Egg Roll, Steamed Lobster Dumplings, Sushi Rolls and Grilled Scallops . Â Everything was ok but nothing really stood out. Even at 50% off, these items are not worth it.
Luckily, I didn't have to pay. Â Call me cheap but I will never come here if I have to pay for myself.
Nice decor and ambiance, but drinks are so expensive!
Went here after a gala at the Hilton. Decided to split one of their signature drinks for $27 with a few friends. The drink arrives in a decorative bowl that seems like it would be better suited as a planter. Supposedly it's made for four people but there was so much ice it, we were quickly left searching around the bottom with our long straws. Don't get me wrong the drink was very delicious but at these prices you expect more...
I also wouldn't recommend this place to parties any larger than six. There is a nice outside area with comfy looking couches to lounge on but those were off limits. =( So our party had to make do with three tables pushed together. Don't think I would come here again, there is just so many other places that serve tasty fruity drinks for cheaper.
Five stars allll the way!
The Wok Fried Noodles and Chili Ramen are to die for. To. Die. For. Gifts from the Noodle Gods.
But you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
Get the Tiki Bowl or the Scorpion Bowl to share - they're delicious and not harsh at all (...which may be a little dangerous, haha :D).
If you prefer to drink individually, get the Starburst cocktail, and make sure to have some coffee before you leave - some of the best blends I've ever tasted. Plus it'll wake you up so you won't be too inebriated to drive :0) However, if you are, the Beverly Hilton is the perfect place to stay, trust me!
The service is always great and upbeat, there is always great music, and a good time is always guaranteed!
One of the best times I had in L.A. was when we came here then went to the Conga Room at L.A. Live. If you have the time and a designated driver, do it! The places go hand in hand.
I love the food and beverages at Trader Vic's - you'll have a great time!
Here is their menu: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beverlyhilton.com%2F_files%2Fpdf%2FTraderVics_Menu.pdf&s=48df97248132e962e72e2a36ce5a654ccabacd6c99721ede48689d526f3d3d37" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.beverlyhilton…</a>
Went to Trader Vic's for the first time last weekend expecting to sit in a big straw chair and be attended by people in Hawaiian shirts while they brought me fruity cocktails in a pineapple with an umbrella.
Apparently, that was the OLD Trader Vic's.
The new Trader Vic's (which is a remodeled pool side version of the old one) is not as Polynesian flashy, nor was anyone in Hawaiian shirts, but the fruity drinks were delicious!
I had a drink called the Potted Parrot which was very refreshing and came with a parrot stirrer for me to keep. My friends had the classic Mai Tai and the Menhume juice which they also enjoyed very much (and the Menhume juice comes with a special stirrer for you to keep as well).
Service was also excellent, and the crowd was very mixed. However, for a Saturday night, it was fairly lonely (which worked out since I was in jeans and tennis shoes worrying I'd be out of place). I am assuming once the weather picks up, this place will be very popular.
I wish I had known about the "new" Trader Vic's much earlier!
One of my friends decided to celebrate her birthday poolside at Trader Vic's last weekend, and I'll admit, I was at first a bit skeptical when I saw the evite--but this place was definitely GOIN OFF on a Saturday night when we arrived, and I think many of us will definitely be returning again.
Most westside hotel pool bars are pretty tame in the late evenings (ie Avalon, W, Viceroy), but this place was definitely a party scene, and one that's a refreshing change from the Wilshire "default" bars (Cabo, Q's, South, etc) to hit up on a Saturday night.
There aren't really enough poolside hangout spots on the westside. Downtown, you have the Standard, in Hollywood, you have the Tropicana Bar, and now in Westla/BH--we finally have an awesome pool scene at Trader Vic's that definitely trumps them all.
For those of you who haven't been, Trader Vic's is completely remodeled and now in a different part of the hotel. It's bar area opens right up into the pool area, and there's tons of tables and loungey cushioned chairs that you can hang out at, without the need of bottle service (which is VERY rare to find these days in LA). Set against the backdrop of the hotel's exterior above the pool is a huge hundred foot wall with projected surf videos to set the mood, along with tropical colored lighting and a DJ spinning all night long.
The bartenders are a bit slow, (and it looks like some of them have probably been working there their whole lives), but that being said they were all pretty nice, and had to deal with the crazy drink menu of random tropical items that everyone was ordering. I didn't try any food, but may head out there again a bit earlier to check it out.
The only small complaint is that they charged tax on everything they sold at the bar (wtf?!), so even if you paid in cash, each drink would come out to like $10.43 or $9.74, which was really annoying. But to make up for it, they handed out free rock candy sugar sticks at the bar, and the drinks, while definitely a bit pricey, were well-made.
An inside tip on the parking there--if you head north of Wilshire Blvd, adjacent to the hotel, there's about three blocks of free parking without any restrictions, if you don't want to shell out for the valet (which can also take surprisingly long if you stay till the end of the night).
Also--another note--this place closes super early at 1am, so definitely more of a place to start the night off, rather than shut it down.
Vic, what the hell hae you've done? The problem with this place is that it's only for drinks and only if you want to pay high prices for drinks. Not worth it at all.
The look is also off. I only went to the original trader vic's once and only once. It was a memory that will always stick in my mind and the shrimp were tasty and one reason why I love them so. The lack of food, including shrimp just leave the desire for extremely potent alcohol high and dry.
Also, the price. I need to drinks at the very least to loosen me up on paying $15 and up per drink. Not good at all. You're paying for the fact that you're in BH. Avoid this and just hit up Tiki-Ti...
Or for that matter, go to the real Tiki-ti so you can actually soak up that masked rum with a tasty plate of food.
I live basically within walking distance from Trader Vic's, but I have only been here once previously. Â But I was over at a fundraiser at the Hilton, so some of us went down for a few drinks afterwards.
At first, the people at the restaurant didn't want to put together a bunch of tables for us... until they found out that the general counsel for Hilton Hotels was with us. Â Then the service improved a hundredfold ;) Â Good for us, but it didn't speak so well for the rest of the customer service. Â Also, I can't speak to the prices, since we were comp'd. Â Also, I only had beer, so I can't speak to the quality of the drinks.
The clientele was... lame. Â I was with my party, but being a peoplewatcher I was scoping out the scene. Â There were a few callgirls sitting at the bar, so unless you have a deep wallet this wasn't a great place to go to meet people (granted, it was a Tuesday night).
The ambiance inside was... lame. Â Old place, not an interesting decor at all. Â Outside is where you want to sit, at one of the tables around the pool.
We didn't have any food, so I can't speak to that either.
Overall, it wasn't really a fair test of this place, but from what I've heard it's gone downhill over the years. Â Would I go back and try it again? Â Sure. Â But only because it's close to home.
Came here with friends for drinks and since I don't really have anything to compare it with, I thought it was a nice place. Apparently, the original Trader Vic's looked nothing like this one. The pool area is nicely lit at night and I mean it's a place where you could people watch if you wanted.
Make sure you get your parking ticket validated -- it truly sucks that even after validation you still have to pay even if you were only there for less than an hour. Plus, all the drinks there average freaking $15 each. I don't think so!!!
A couple of friends and I stopped by here last Saturday night. Â We had one of those large drinks that require enjoyment with a 2 foot long straw. Â I was starving so we ordered the Dragon Roll and the Salmon Tartar. Â Meh to all of the above.
We lingered at the bar and the little area next to the pool. Â There was a dj spinning some pretty good music and my friends and I started an impromptu dance party but stopped because we were embarrassing our other friends (and ourselves). Â Completely forgettable experience.
I was brought here by my honey on Saturday night for a quick dinner and drinks .. he did alot of hoopla about this place but it really fell short of what was hyped up... It is in the Hilton as it says on the address and it is a very average tiki terrace type of place by the pool.. The prices are OUTRAGEOUS $$$ for what you get... I got two drinks and an appetizer and with tip it was $45.00! and these drinks were nothing major.. very average size glass and the fried calamari was ok.. nothing too special.
The real entertainment was the by the pool with some party that dressed as if they got into a fight with their shower curtain on the way out and the curtain won! Heck one lady was wearing a white dress with huge palm leaves all over it and this other was wearing some outfit similar to what you would wear while getting a hair cut....
will I be back.. doubt it.. well doubt it to Trader Vic's.. far many other places with bigger drinks and larger food portions
They make a damn good mojito here. Â And strong! Â I realized about halfway through my third that I was nearly under the table so I passed the rest of the drink off to my equally intoxicated friend. Â That didn't turn out so well for her... but that's neither here nor there. Â
So then we had to get some food to soak up the alcohol. Â The eggrolls and the scallops were standouts... but I don't remember much else. Â I think the wontons were kinda gross. Â Calamari was mediocre maybe... Â and that's about all I've got.
I agree with Mitch W...Samoan Fogcutter!! Â It's da bomb...lots of fruity, coconutty, alcohol goodness served up in a rockin' Hawaiian-style mug!
Albeit it's not NEARLY as cool as the original Trader Vic's (I mean, what can match that really? Â hmm?), the newer "lounge" still offers up the same ol' bevvies we all know and love. Â So that's a good thing people...remember, glass half full!
They have killer Mojitos...I recommend them highly! Â The Hot Buttered Rum, while a "35 year old tradition" at the place, left little to be desired in my opinion...but by that time I was so tweaked off my Mojito and the wine from my DELISH dinner at Circa 55 for DineLA week that I can overlook it.
The place is kind of stylish...more so outside. Â Lots of booths inside as well as plenty of seats to plop your rear in around the bar itself. Â Don't hesitate to ask what's in a drink...they'll be more than happy to answer any and all questions! Â
Very friendly staff...in fact, our waiter from the restaurant got us a table to meet friends after dinner. Â How nice right? Â And our server was very accommodating once we did sit down and start imbibing.
I recommend coming here to just chill with some tropical drinks...lovely for a dressed down, low key night or perhaps with relatives...also a great little place for a pre- and post-dinner cocktail. We were dressed up and felt just as much as home as the hotel guests in jeans and T's.
Trader Vic's...there's one in London, there's one here in LA. But I have to say, I don't get the whole Tiki thing. And nope, I've never been to Hawaii. Is that were I'm going wrong?
Anyway, I roll into this place after a black tie function in the Hilton and the place is filled with party-goers, some hotel guests and people like me in a tux. It's not the kinda place I normally go to, but it's pleasant enough and there were plently of strangers who had made an effort to dress up, smile and be friendly.
LA Conservatory sent me a flyer telling me that historic Trader Vic's was being demolished. Man, this is what is going on?! A hotel chain bar wouldn't make it anywhere near the 'protect and conserve' list in Europe. Sorry LA Conservatory...
They redid this place - located in the Beverly Hills Hilton - recently. No one seems to know this because it would be impossible to tell. The hotel restaurant is called circa 55. ironic. The entire place is circa 55. Including trader vics and the people who hang out there.
But we went for the trademark drinks. The ones that are supposed to fuck you up but taste like they wouldn't. Guess what - they don't. 4 of us went through 3 huge scorpian bowls at a cost of 30 bucks a person and I was sober as a nun. Â I would have a better buzz off of 3 beers.
I was also impressed  that the pool furniture I was sitting on still had the tag on it.
Oh Trader Vic's.
So when I was a young little lady, our very rich cousins used to take my fam of 4 out once a year for a nice dinner. This was one of their fave places and looking back on it now and sitting in the very booth that we once had one of these dinners in last night, I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous it was to think that THIS was a nice dinner out with the millionaire relatives.
Now don't get me wrong, the place is totally charming and kitsch and they have the big drinks with 4 straws and magnolia flowers floating in them, but considering how much money they had, it's humorous to me now that this was their choice and all of us kids had to share a lobster tail. But then again, they did wear khaki pants and penny loafers, so there's really no accounting for taste or tact ;)
Anyhoo, for shits n giggles, I came here last night with a couple of gals who also hadn't been here since before they could legally drink or on prom night and it was pretty entertaining. We went with the Mai Tai's, the Scorpion and some other drink that I can't recall, but came in the same nifty glass bowl with the flower. All were good, all were strong and all carried out their alcoholic duty.
We also got the calamari and all I can say about this dish was, if you haven't eaten all day and you are ready to pass out, you'll enjoy it. Was this awesome calamari, heaven's no, but hey, it was food. We also tried the Crab Rangoon app and it was again, just okay and did the job it was supposed to.
As for the overall, I loved the drinks, but honestly their menu could use a major revamp. I am all for so so food in a funny environment, but the so so food should then be priced so so and not as expensive as this food was. For three girls, 5 drinks and 2 apps it was over $100 without tip. That is just ridiculous. So sorry TV's, you are only gettin 3 out of me.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, ok?
I'm sorry to not give this place a 5 star experience but I can't say anything that great about this place.
The drinks are cheeky, their big but too much with the fanfare.
The service has no fanfare, in fact they had little energy.
If you are not actually at the hotel already I see no reason to stop on in.
If anyone ever asks me for a dining recommendation for a restaurant with truly outstanding service, Trader Vic's gets that vote, hands down, no competition, no buts.
Food is yummy and comes out quick. Â Everything is delicious, from the bread to the Kung Pao to after-dinner tea.
Drink menu is wildly detailed and insane and amazing and wonderful and I feel buzzed just thinking about it.
And, yes, I did almost burn this mother down, and the staff responded (appropriately) by bringing out an additional birthday sundae to mask the scent of charred Sprinkles napkin. Â That is attention to detail.
Trader Vic's is all about you. Every time I have come here, the staff has gone above and beyond to make sure that you have everything you need and bring out your food and drinks with hardly any wait.
I have come here for a large party where we took over the back of the restaurant, for dinner with friends and simply for drinks in the bar. In each scenario the service has been impeccable. The drinks are strong, beware, but they are super tasty and they have a wide range of options to choose from. The food is deliciousand I LOVE that you get peanut butter with your bread (I'm a big peanut butter fan).
I think the highlight of my most recent trip here was having my bestie (the lovely Kate E.) almost burn the place down attempting to light the candles of my yummy Sprinkles birthday cupcakes.
Classic Beverly Hills dive bar. Well, not really a dive bar, but for Beverly Hills it qualifies.
This is where you can get "that drink." You know, the one you see in 60's movies where they give you a real pineapple with a straw poking out of the top? It's tasty and overall it's a great place to go drinking with friends because they also have different types of bowl drinks to share - all with very long straws.
Service can be a little spotty - like, they'll completely ignore you at times. It's an odd staff.
*******************************************
 WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!!
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The fruity drinks don't mix with anything else. Do not go here and touch the fruity drinks after drinking wine, vodka or (shudder) tequila.
You will have a hangover that lasts THREE DAYS!!!! I'm not kidding, this is not a joke. Take it from one who has tested the theory on multiple occasions.
This review is about the Trader himself.
Victor Bergeron, founder of the world's famous Trader Vic's.
People like him inspire me.
People like him make me appreciate more about hospitality industry.
People like him make me appreciate my life itself.
Like many other people who were born in the late 1800s to early 1900s, they went thru hell compared to our generation.
For him, it was no exception.
He lost a leg when he was 5 by an incident.
Growing up in SF, he wet thru the SF earth quake,
then the Great Depression followed by national Prohibition
not to mention WWI and II
But he was a happy camper
Ambitious, driven, blunt...
He is quite blunt, read some of his books out here to find out more.
He is indeed the father of Mai Tai
tropical rum concoction
So everytime I go there, I raise a glass to his accomplishment and concoctions that will be sipped forever worldwide
Update 10/07 - Another one bites the dust. No matter how long I've seen it coming, it didn't make it any easier. Trader Vic's is no more. Sure, you can still get some of the signature cocktails poolside, but that's no nearly the same. Not even close.
...
Oh, the memories ... and not just mine. My gran used to hit happy hour here in the 50's when she still had an office in Beverly Hills. My gran doesn't remember much, but she does recall the Mai Tai's (which are damn good).
This is mid-century Tiki at it's purest. Part of what I love about T-Vics is that not much has changed since then - including some of the bar and wait staff!
The vibe is old school and cool, the drinks are stiff, and the appetizers get tastier with every drink (pass on the sushi, everything else is good - especially if it's fried!). My poison is the Scorpion which is served up with a big gardenia floating on top. Don't be fooled by the girlish exterior- it's a sweet, smooth concoction that'll knock you on your ass. And if that's your goal, just go straight for the Scorpion bowl (it serves 2-4, depending on the crowd and who has to work in the morning).
I've had dinner here a few times and despite being a bit pricey, it's very good, even if only for the kitsch value.
This is one local spot I'll be very sorry to see go - it's slated for demo (date still TBD) to make way for condo development and a possible Waldorf-Astoria hotel. Damn shame and a big mistake if you ask me. But until then, I'll be there drinking up!
Tip: There are some libations that have actually been pulled from the menu over the years for being too strong (I shit you not). As for my faves on that list, there are some things even I won't reveal, but if you ask real nice, one of the older waiters likely will ; )
This is by far the best restuarant in the world, according to me. It is true that I am easily amused but this is the only chain restaurant that I will ever worship. Appetizers in the bar are the way to go and the first time you go there you must order the Samoan Fog Cutter. You can try every other drink on the menu but you will always come back to that so save your money. You need a lot of money to eat here but it's worth it.
Suggested appetizers are Flaming Cho Cho Beef, Spare Ribs, and Duck in Plum Sauce.
I usually save the dining room for special occasions or when I'm eating with more than just my wife. I pretend my wife is my mistress when I eat there because I see a lot of that going on there.
Celebrity sitings tell the whole story. I've seen Betty White, and the cast from that Amish reality show that was on a few years ago. That's it.
Dress up when you come here, don't be a jerk. Non plasma TV in the bar is a nice touch. Music is also awesome; Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter, etc.
The Vandals make a point of going to all the Trader Vics whenever possible. Hamburg, London, Tokyo, etc. There used to be one in the Plaza hotel in NYC. Those were the best of times. I used to be so happy there I would smoke a cigarette.
I am a big tiki fan, so I was very excited to finally go to Trader Vic's. My boyfriend and I went for our 2 year anniversary. We started in the dimly lit bar and ordered a Tiki Bowl. It was a rum and orange juice concoction topped with a fresh gardenia, served in a large bowl flanked by Easter Island tikis. We sipped that with really long straws.. it was great. It was also $18.50.. ouch.
Finally it was time to be seated for dinner, and we were led to our table. The restaurant is quite elegant.. don't forget, this is Beverly Hills. We were seated and immediately our waiter was there to take our drink order. I ordered a Potted Parrot and my boyfriend ordered a Gun Slinger. We were served bread accompianed by a peanut butter dipping sauce. The drinks are extremely tasty. We shared an appetizer of chicken satay.. very delicious. For dinner I had chicken chow mein and he had pork chops. The food was very good and the portions were big. The service was superb and not rushed. I loved my first experience at Trader Vic's and I can't wait to return again.
Dinner for 2 with 3 drinks came to $120ish.
As I walked into the bar decorated with bamboo and fish nets, I will have to admit, I was hesitant. Â It didn't seem like it could live up to my expectations of a Southern California Beverly Hills landmark.
...it's not probably not the last time I will be wrong. Â I was way off the mark. Â Trader Vic's is way cool.
The place has a chill, laid back atmosphere. Â The delicious drinks kept flowing and the service was impeccable. Â They didn't even mind when my drunk co-workers and I started acting up. Â
Trader Vic's is not much of a mingling bar, but it's great for fun evening with a group of friends. Â I recommend the Pina Colada, the Navy Grogs, and the Scorpion Bowls!!!!
5-Stars for their unnpretentious atmosphere and tasty drinks at Trader Vic's. Â Here's to you Vic.
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