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New Luau in Beverly Hills? |
Bongo Bungalow
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 20, 2007
Posts: 1226
From: Indiana
|  Posted: 2008-10-24 03:26 am Permalink
Bongo Logic:
If high-dollar, high-style-with-a-touch-of-tiki places start opening up in high-dollar locations... This may lead to mid-dollar, mid-style-with-a-bunch-of-tiki "knock-offs" around the country.
Have heart because maybe the new wave of tiki bars is growing. Didn't the original wave occur just after tough economic times? Aren't people eager for some escape from reality?
This BH Luau is a very good sign!
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3388
From: HELL
| Posted: 2008-10-24 06:30 am Permalink
just wanna say hi to all those folks directed to this site by the L.A. Times article on the luau.............."HELLLLLOOOOOO!!!.....
I can seeeeeeeeee yooooooooooouuuuuuu!!!!
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Mongoloid
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 25, 2008
Posts: 555
From: Long Beach
| Posted: 2008-10-24 07:46 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-10-24 03:26, Bongo Bungalow wrote:
Bongo Logic:
If high-dollar, high-style-with-a-touch-of-tiki places start opening up in high-dollar locations... This may lead to mid-dollar, mid-style-with-a-bunch-of-tiki "knock-offs" around the country.
Have heart because maybe the new wave of tiki bars is growing. Didn't the original wave occur just after tough economic times? Aren't people eager for some escape from reality?
This BH Luau is a very good sign!
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Thats a very good point, take for example car manufacturers whenever a successful car is produced there is always a competing company that mimics that model, sometimes for the better sometimes for the worse. If you have a successful tiki bar that is on the somewhat high end side there will no doubtedly be a shift towards making that more obtainable for the average Kanaka. Supply and demand will be a driving force among these times more then ever, to create and submerge yourself into a world of temporary bliss and stiff drinks. This might be the Cadillac of tiki bars but a Volkswagen can still get me to that same desired destination. Cheers to the future!
Aloha Nui Loa
[ This Message was edited by: Mongoloid 2008-10-24 08:17 ]
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10556
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2008-10-24 09:49 am Permalink
Here we go, now THIS is being talked about and already accepted as an example of the NEW form of Tiki style:
...even as the owner disavows the title "Tiki", but calls it "Polynesian panache". Polynesian in name, "The Luau", but where else? It is these mixed messages that the place is sending out that make me classify it as a MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
After years of reading articles about the new Tiki wave just being around the corner, I am kind of pragmatic about articles such as this. So pragmatic (and ambivalent about the Luau) in fact, that I wasn't mentioned in the article, probably because in my phone interview with the writer I expressed doubts that did not fit in with his agenda of high end Tiki (I am surprised he didn't mention the Mahiki as a prime example of that theory--while I believe it actually might have been one of the main impulses for the Luau's Beverly Hills set).
This is not to say that this is not a well-written and balanced article, I think the writer does an admirable job at describing the place accurately and objectively, noting its lack of actual Tikis, and giving the Tiki traditionalists and Tiki Central their voice without being condescending, kudos for that.
And after all, as they saying goes, there is no such thing as bad press (meaning anything that is printed about a subject is good as it creates more public awareness).
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Coco Joe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: 721
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2008-10-24 2:29 pm Permalink
Here's some funny photos of celebs at this joint
http://www.celebritymound.com/?p=13836
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2400
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2008-10-24 9:37 pm Permalink
Did Joe Walsh know it was the 2008 Luau or did he think it was the 1978 Luau?
“It's hard to leave when you can't find the door” 
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Coco Joe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: 721
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2008-10-24 9:56 pm Permalink
I have just returned from this joint. I was pleased that as soon as we sat down they offered us a free drink on their opening night woohoo!! Food was amazing! The drink menu only has a hand full of tiki drinks and the waitress said they'll have the rest next week or so. We had a pearl diver, luau coconut, mai tai, and the drink served in a pineapple (sorry but forgot the name). All very good and strong. Oh and Martin Denny was playing loud the whole time.
One think that I didn't care for was the hindu hand sculpture all over which is the logo.
[ This Message was edited by: Coco Joe 2008-10-24 22:15 ]
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2676
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2008-10-24 10:35 pm Permalink
Prices ?
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Coco Joe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: 721
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2008-10-24 10:53 pm Permalink
Prices aren't bad at all. Drinks are $12-$18. Food kinda varies...I had a delicious Halibut wrapped in banana leaf with coconut rice for $24 (servings are pretty big and they encourage people to share). Our bill came out to be $88.
There is a bar area with only a couple old dudes hanging out. My gal works close so I'll be hitting the bar up a lot once the drink menu really gets going.
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[ This Message was edited by: Coco Joe 2008-10-24 23:03 ]
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Tikitatt
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Jun 08, 2004
Posts: 299 | Posted: 2008-10-24 11:27 pm Permalink
What is the parking like and is there a dress code?
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Coco Joe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: 721
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2008-10-24 11:40 pm Permalink
There's a parking garage with a $3.oo flat fee a block away and it's casual but no shorts. The have a kids tiki drink that is also served in a coconut or pineapple...would be nice for a family
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twowheelin'tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 28, 2002
Posts: 712
From: santa monica
| Posted: 2008-10-25 11:32 am Permalink
how does David Spade do it.....
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AlienTiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 08, 2005
Posts: 419
From: MAUI No Ka'oi
| Posted: 2008-10-25 12:24 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-10-24 21:56, Coco Joe wrote:
One think that I didn't care for was the hindu hand sculpture all over which is the logo.
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Hindu hand sculpture is the logo?  Is there statues of Buddha in the bathroom?
Looks like a shipping container of PNG and Balinese, tourist kitsch vomited in this place.
I've got and idea how about we decorate the place with Hindu, Buddhist art/junk from Bali and throw in a tiki or 2 with some PNG stuff(it's cheap and abundant) and there you have it , we'll call it The Luau.... Laaaaaaaaaammmme!
The place is a big step above Vegas Vic's. The bamboo on the walls and the ambient lighting look right and if they stick to the drink recipes at least they have that going for them. That being said, I doubt I would make a special trip to see the place next time I'm in town.
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Tikitatt
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Jun 08, 2004
Posts: 299 | Posted: 2008-10-25 12:34 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-10-24 23:40, Coco Joe wrote:
There's a parking garage with a $3.oo flat fee a block away and it's casual but no shorts. The have a kids tiki drink that is also served in a coconut or pineapple...would be nice for a family
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Thanks for the heads up Coco Joe...
Mahalo,
Tikitatt
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TIKI-RAY
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 844
From: Alta Loma, California
| Posted: 2008-10-25 3:13 pm Permalink
Heres the link to the LA Times piece in Sundays Image section .
<http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/>http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/
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