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A warm, sensuous tradewind floated into my life the other day, and that would be Trader Vic's. I came here for a party the other night, and had quite the balmy experience, despite the chilly temperatures that have invaded Los Angeles recently. My gathering reposed on the lanai, which was a little cold at first, until I discovered something wonderful - The Mai Tai. Their version of this timeless drink is tropically potent. It warmed me right up. It's definitely not for the faint of heart, but for the adventurous drink explorer.
Although I was tempted to get another, I went for the safe choice and switched to the House Red. I didn't catch the varietal or name, but I think it was a Pinot Noir. It cascaded down my throat like lava from a volcano. Incredibly satiny and smooth.
Crystal, our server, took impeccable care of us, and I never wanted for a single thing. I did not sample any of the food, but the offerings looked appealing. Because I'd planned to be in Downtown for awhile, I found a convenient parking lot a couple of blocks from LA Live for only $10.00 for the duration of the evening. Will most assuredly be back to try some of their Roast Pig and Happy Hour.
Sometimes what you really need is a tiki bar: a strong drink in a ridiculous container, on fire. In this case, I recommend the Stinker at LA Live's Trader Vic's. Go on, do it. You'll feel much more relaxed afterwards.
It'll cost you $10, which is really quite a deal for a drink this size.
Happy hour is fairly early, so keep that in mind: 3 to 6 pm. There seem to be specific drinks and appetizers that qualify, rther than a discount on everything at the bar.
Food is good, if you come for dinner, but expect to pay upward of $50 for two, without drinks.
Service has been great each time we've gone to either the restaurant or the bar.
For an intro to the downtown experience, bring your out of town guests over earlier in the day and have lunch at Noche Buena in Olvera Street, then show them the shiny side of the Downtown coin with a show or game at Staples Ctr or Nokia, and combine that with dinner and/or drinks here.
Fake tiki bar, holla. I can't decide whether this place is awesomely bad or just bad. Got greeted at the door with an "A-LOW-HAH" in a Valley accent.
I was driving and opted for a virgin Mojito. $6 for a mint lemonade that was maybe 5 ounces. Also got some hummus & pita. Give it up for fake grill marks.
The band was so loud (and not quite hittin' the music) so we decided to freeze our patooties off and sit outside... and then got to hear the music piped out there, just at a lower decibel. No, the music has nothing to do with catching the Island vibe, unless if Roxanne makes you think about luaus and leis. Some outdoor heaters would be much appreciated, people.
I'd give it three stars if our drinks had faces on them, but they didn't.
Trader Vic's has been in LA for years. When it was in Beverly Hills, it was sort of a land mark. I guess that being a land mark doesn't need to have good food or well manage restaurant.
The food wasn't bad, but it was great (not even good). It's mostly just gimmicks. The staff were very friendly, but not well trained at all. For a restaurant at this caliber, the staff need to know how much drink to pour, the vintage of the wine and the most basic, their menu. If their waiters do know the menu well, how do they expect their customers to be informed.
While I can not comment on the food, I really think the main reason why anyone would go to Trader Vic's is for the drinks and ambience. I met up with a group of Yelpers for a farewell party and noticed right away the place is an odd contrast to LA Live. It has a little bit of a tiki bar vibe mixed with some contemporary architecture. I figured I had to have a mai tai to get started and it was alright but a little heavy on the ice. Not bad for a drink if you are in the area but seeing as Paul F. spent almost spent close to $200 for a meal and drinks for two, I will save my lunch money for Mozza or Providence.
Checked in early Saturday night, before a deplorable concert at Disney Hall, for a quick dinner. The place was overwhelmed with a collection of dreadful customers leftover from the USC/UCLA game. The restaurant has style, our server (waitress) was very good, and the food superior. But the clientele! My God, where are the holes these people crawl out of? Many were headed for Diabetes. Fat and gross is not the word. I have never seen a more unattractive collection of fat, bulging Americans, in my life. There were people outfitted in USC exercise wear that should have been barred. Ah USC - University of second choice! Frankly, I think most of the customers wouldn't know chic dining from Arbey's but they had the bucks. As for where this place is located - it is a cross between Tokyo and "Blade Runner"! Now back to the restaurant -- the goof ball hostesses, creepy looking blondes, said there was no immediate seating but the dining area was half empty. In the bar, the host, along with our waitress, was very accommodating. The quick nibbles good, the drinks stingy (but they got the Gin Martini right), and the hamburger quite good. Visit this place when the USC folk are gone - not on weekends. A welcome addition to the downtown scene. Valet parking is convenient.
I came here tonight to get some dinner and I ordered the veggie and tofu stir fry with moo shoo pancakes. It was very good and I asked for a side of hoisin sauce so it tasted like moo shoo veggie.
I like sitting in the bar area to watch sports and they will serve the full menu there.
I came here the other night after a Laker's Finals game. I ordered their non-alcoholic (I had to… Read more »
Expensive drinks? Check! Expensive food? Check! But it is definitely an experience. The food is Asian/Hawaiian with a twist. The mixed drink list is extensive and to be honest with you, is what we really came for. I ordered the Miso Sea Bass and it came out raw! I had to send it back to be recooked. The woman had the wasabi crusted fillet mignon, which was quite tasty. Overall 2 entrees, apps, and drinks + dessert = $180 with tip ouch...Would come back just for drinks before a Laker game....
There's nothing better to cure a hungry tummy than bar food.
One was slightly hungover and the other was kinda hungry. We saw Trader Vic's across the way and the decision making switches were totally on.
Beers, Vodka Maitai to quench the thirst.
Hummus, Pita, Fries and Pork Sliders to make the "RAWRRR" in the belly shut up.
The Hummus and Pita are always good here. Really creamy Hummus but easy on the garlic. Warm pita wedges. Good stuff.
We tried the pork sliders but eh. It was just too bready and the pork was kinda dry. The Fries were awesome though. Crispy and sprinkled with something a little spicy.
Great happy hour at Trader Vic's!
I'm not sure if it was the fact that I've been trying to organize a dinner here with friends for the last three or four months, but much like most things in life, expectations and reality did not come even remotely close in crossing paths.
As a fan of the original Trader Vic's, I was really hoping to see the old place alive and well after closing down in BH, but the new location in LA Live just didn't seem to have enough kitsch to meet the standards of the tiki theme. Yeah, it had a good amount of it, but just not enough. It really felt toned down. Even with Bahooka out there, It would have been nice for the king of tiki to return to it's once great form.
If everything else wasn't up to bar, the drinks at least were one thing that made the trip undamaged. The drink menu is perhaps the best and only reason to come to Trader Vic's. The drink menu has something for everyone. The presentation alone for the drinks gets top ranks. Sadly, the food brought it down.
The food wasn't all that impressive. At least not the entrees. At best I would give it 2 stars. Especially when you're paying top dollar for the plate and feeling like you didn't get the quality that you're paying for. My duck breast really didn't blow me out of the water and I could hit up China Town if I wanted better quality duck for a lot less.
I pretty much had to settle for a plate on the menu because nothing was thrilling me at all. If anything, I'd say the appetizers are a better choice. You have to eat something or before you know it those drinks will hit you like a ton of bricks.
I'll come back here again. Hopefully next time I'll just ignore dinner and stick to what the place is good at. The drinks. Toss out the idea of dinner and grab yourself some booze and an appetizer or two and you'll feel like the trip was well worth it.
i can't write another half assed review, but here it goes anyway-
good oj, good prime rib, good bbq tofu.
especially dug the three man band in the lounge.
ps
we happened to come the night the adult entertainment convention was going on, goddamn were there some strange looking characters lurking around. just our luck, it was porno star gallore in there! gross.
As Bec says, you're paying for ambiance. The food is lack luster and they served us crab/cream cheese wontons with spicy mustard and gave us confused looks when we asked for sweet and sour sauce.
Where are they hiding the hookers?
Having grown up on the original Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills, let's just say I grew accustomed to little ho with my Don Ho so that's what kept going through my mind, but here at the new T-Vic's, that ain't so.
Admittedly I've been reluctant to even step foot into this location, still a bit heartbroken over the loss of one of my fave local watering holes, but being in the area at LA Live tonight, I decided to get over it and check it out. This is Trader Vic's 2.0. A slick, polished modern version of the classic that's not so much polo club Hawaiian kitsch as it is Tiki chic.
They brought the old fire burning oven from the previous location and it sits at the back of the dining room in an open glass case for all to see. On the weekends they do their Kalua Pig which is roasted whole in that oven and served with some thin pancakes, orange sauce and Polynesian style fried rice. For $26 a person, it's actually pretty reasonable considering you're not likely to drop a couple hundred on a suckling pig and then piss off your gardeners digging a firepit in your yard to cook it up. At least not on a regular basis.
Otherwise, the menu is about the same with a handful of new additions like the Spicy Spider Roll on the bar menu that was beautifully presented and a tasty nibble to break the fall of my liquid meal. Staff were young and pretty and not at all the old timers I've grown to know and love, but they were pleasant and attentive and I can't really complain about that.
Moving on to the most important part... the cocktails. The paper may be brand spankin' new but those are the same ol' cocktails, reliable as ever. Tonight I had my usual Scorpion and he had the Suffering Bastard (apropos, no?). Mine wasn't served quite the way I'm used to it... the glass was a bit different and clear (as opposed to the milk glass bowls they used to be served in) and instead of the usual gardenia floating atop there was an orchid. Decorative flowers may seem like a trivial point to harp on, but if you have any idea how fragrant a fresh gardenia is, it kinda made the drink. Anyhoo, both were well made and strong enough to put a grown man on his ass. Just the way I like 'em.
Four stars to the new Trader Vic's... and one extra for pure nostalgia's sake. Next time I have a hankering for a little reminiscing over a pint or two of hard tropical liquor... I'll be back. You can count on it.
Polynesian themed restaurant- genius.
Dining room designed to feel like you're on vacation on an island- genius.
Fake parrot in my fruity drink- genius.
Crispy duck tacos- genius.
Blonde surfer type waiter- double genius.
Inauthentic yet yummy polynese(?) food- genius for the white people.
Loved it.
I never got a chance to visit the old Trader Vics in Beverly Hills, but I'm happy to say that this is a cool spot if you 1. Dig the whole Hawaiian/Polynesian theme (check) 2. if you want to daydream you're sipping on a Mai Tai at a Hawaiian Bar while listening to Hawaiian music and watching Hula dancers (check) 3. If you want to get away from the typical bar where barely turned 21 go to (check). We had a mixer there about a month ago, and the service was fantastic!
They have an extensive drink menu, of course all Polynesian, fruity themed..but their signature Mai Tai rocks, and their signature L.A Trader Vics drink, The Big Kahuna is tasty and refreshing especially on a hot summer evening. Can't complain...Trader Vics is thee spot for me at least!
Came here on a date about a month ago, and I was definitely impressed--not by my date or the fact that he chose to come here, but by the restaurant itself. When I was observing the restaurant from the outside, I couldn't help but wonder if it was related to Trader Joe's in any way? I remembered seeing the Trader Vic's tiki logo guy on some of the Trader Joe products, but I wasn't sure. Anyway, I digress. So the restaurant is very hawaiian/tiki themed. On the night I went, there was even a drum performance accompanied with dancers.
So on to the food.. I ordered a seared ahi tuna, which was in fact DELICIOUS. It was cooked to perfection--not too raw, not too cooked. The sauce drizzled on top made it even more delightful. My date ordered a salmon which was up to par with my entree. We also ordered some crab cakes which was one of the best I've ever tried! For drinks, we ordered a bottle of sake, along with two iced teas. The iced teas were a two thumbs down, but made for a great chaser to the sake.
The service was AWWEEESOME. Our waiter was very inexperienced (since he'd only been there a few weeks), but attentive. Prices were a little pricey, but definitely worth it.
$$$??? I guess it was over 30 bucks a person (mid $40s), but we paid for the birthday boy and everybody loaded up on a few of those umbrella drinks, so $40 something a person isn't bad.
Can't say I really liked the original Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills, so I didn't go into this new location with much expectations. The couple of times I've been to the Beverly Hills Trader Vic's, I was always surprised at how they were able to find/hire so many old cantonese waiters, who are willing to drive all the way out to Beverly Hills to wait tables...cuz its not like there's a shortage of restaurants in chinatown & monterey park.
Well the food at the LA Live Trader Vic's was actually decent. I stayed away from the steaks, cuz at the Beverly Hills location, I vaguely remember them tasting like chinese chasu =P. I ordered a salmon filet which was pretty good, but not as good as Roy's downtown. A friend ordered the shredded peking duck, which was presented very well, but I'd rather get the real thing at a chinese restaurant.
The highlight of the restaurant has to be their wide selection of tropical theme cocktails, but I'm sure the novelty wears out after the first or second visit. Take away the drinks selection and I'd probably only give this place a 2 stars rating.
Great service, great desert, great atmosphere, quality food, but too pricey. The place is trying to be a little too fancy. The drinks are good but not very strong.
Unique but expensive. Come for drinks and snacks.
On a drinks & atmosphere basis, Trader Vic's is pretty fantastic.
As a restaurant, it's fairly meh. Dinner for six, all with different entrees, could not produce one solidly positive response. The best entree item was the couscous that came with my chicken! At prices that can buckle an expense account, this is not a desirable reaction.
Skip dinner and stay with the booze and appetizers, you'll be happier, and I'd have given it an extra star.
4.5
I can't give it a full 5 stars yet. The burger I had yesterday was kind of eh. I asked for it medium rare and the patty wasn't seasoned so the idea of plain raw meat in the middle was a tad disgusting. And yet, there were no juices running out of it.
I also lamented the fries didn't have enough of their yummy seasoning.
My friend's chicken skewers looked good though and came with a nice slaw on the side.
We had a fantastic server. She steered me to the Queen Park's Sizzle. My god, it's very rare I get buzzed off one drink. But two? Dangerous! How the hell did I manage to get home?
Ten hours later, I woke up wondering if I got dragged onto a ship and made to swab the deck. Wow, what a drink!
In any case, it was very nice to sit outside and observe the few Lakers fans who found their way to this side of LA Live.
3.5
I was very sad when the Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills closed down. I loved that place.
But…
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Disclaimer: I'm a Tiki connoisseur , so I'm going to be more harsh on this place than your average Joe.
1.) Oceanic Arts clearly supplied the decor, which is definitely a plus, but there's not enough of it. Not enough kitsch, not enough character...nothing that makes you feel like you are walking into a restaurant with some history.
2.) Drinks are overpriced. A $10 drink at the Tiki Ti is like three $10 drinks at Trader Vic's.
3.) The music on "Tiki Tuesdays" was last-minute canceled two out of the three times I've gone on a Tuesday. An email to the manager inquiring about the unpredictable entertainment schedule yielded no reply.
It's not a bad place to have a drink downtown, but if you are looking for a Tiki bar or even a unique/special bar, there are better options.
Just sad.
I was bummed when the old one closed down and had high hopes this place would reinvigorate the tiki bit but the downtown locations sucks. It's part of a LA Live conglomerate and the mood inside was downright sleepy. I think maybe 2 or 4 other people were there and it was a FRIDAY night around 10 pm.
Drinks were just okay, decor felt like corporate tiki. Fries were good.
For a fun vibe I'd rather go to Duke's in Malibu or one of the few tiki bars we have left in LA. So sad cause we really need more tiki!
After the closing of the original L.A. location of Trader Vic's, I was all fired up to try the new L.A. Live location, what with it's fabled Scorpion Bowl and all. Nevermind the fact that I didn't actually end up trying the Scorpion Bowl...maybe it would have earned Trader Vic's an additional star, who knows? As it is, I can only justify 3 stars at this point.
My favorite ride at Disneyland is the Tiki Room and my favorite podcast of all time is Tiki Bar TV, so I'm sure it comes as no surprise that the decor at this place was right up my alley...Polynesian kitsch to the max, and I reveled in it! If only it were practical to decorate my apartment in a similar manner...now THAT would be something!
Sadly, though, the service didn't stack up...I'd have to say that it was my biggest complaint of the evening. Our waitress was just really blah, and as dumb as it sounds, having a lame-o waitress can really make a difference in your enjoyment of the meal, even if you're having a good time with friends.
Anyway, we started with a round of Mai Tai's, of which Trader Vic's is apparently the originator (their menu reads "Home of the Original Mai Tai", so...there's that). With this knowledge, perhaps I expected too much, but...it was DEFINITELY not the best Mai Tai I've ever had. It wasn't bad, but if you're gonna go around claiming you invented it, it needs to be better than good, it needs to be AMAZING. This wasn't amazing.
We decided to forgo a second round of Mai Tai's in favor of the Rum Giggle, a rum, amaretto and juice drink that comes in a FABULOUS fake conch shell (it was all things gloriously tiki). The drink itself was...a bit tart for my taste, but we polished it off just the same.
We began our dinner with the Beef Gho-Gho and the "No Chopstick" Egg Roll, both of which were very good...no complaints here! I enjoyed both dishes a lot, and since good food can make up for bad service, I was optimistic about the rest of the meal, and with *mostly* good reason. I can't say the food was totally worth it because of the Bongo Bongo soup that I ordered pre-entree, which was a Veloute of fresh oysters and spinach glazed with cream...yikes. It was horribly fishy and honestly hard to stomach...it was just way too overpowering for me. However, my Pork Chop Hawaiian Island entree with potato hash, onion marmalade and BBQ pineapple-plum sauce was a big improvement, so I was willing to overlook the soup. The potato hash wasn't memorable, but the pork chop was great, so all by the end of the meal, all was forgiven. You can't win 'em all, eh?
I'm sure it comes as no surprise when I say that, overall, the food was pretty hit-or-miss, and the cocktails that we ordered were less-than-impressive. However, I'm willing to give this place another chance (and I'm also willing to admit that maybe my experience wasn't superb due to what I ordered...), if for no other reason than it gives me an excuse to sit for a few hours and drink in the delicious tiki-ness that is Trader Vic's.
Beautiful polynesian getaway on the inside. The outside, not so much. Granted, it's located at LA Live in downtown L.A. so what can you expect. However, there is no need to provide patio seating here. Unless you want a lovely view of cars whizzing by on the gritty streets of L.A.
A group of 12 of us ventured out to Trader Vic's to celebrate our friend Chad's birthday. The BF and I started off by sharing the Tiki Bowl. Wasnt' too impressed with this very tart and not so fruity concoction. However, it did deliver on potency. Plus is was adorned with a beautiful fresh flower that I later put in my hair. That was a lovely touch. I followed that with a Planter's Punch which was very tasty and equally as potent. It was quite a scene with most of us sharing libations made for two or more. There were straws everywhere. Haven't seen so many straws at one gathering since the glory days of cocaine.
Now that we were getting fairly sauced, we decided to order something to eat. Hence avoiding the amateur pitfall of drinking on an empty stomach which leads to total douche baggery later. So the BF and I decided to share an order of the Pork sliders with a side of their spicy fries. Damn those lil' sliders were tasty. The fries were perfectly crisp with a bit of a kick. Yummy!!!
Our server, I believe her name was Claudia, was very friendly and accommodating. She put up with our motley crew the drunker and more "festive" we became. Not like we were hanging from the light fixtures or dancing on the tables but we were definitely a lively group.
Do yourself a favor and don't drive to Trader Vic's if you can avoid it. The blue line stops at Pico Blvd. and it's only a few blocks walk once you get off the train. This way you can avoid the steep parking prices and get your drink on safely. We were lucky enough to get a show on the train back to LB. A not so stable woman on the train was convinced that one of our friends was Satan and started preaching at the top of her voice about Satan crawling on his belly and trying to seduce her. Good times but almost a buzz kill!
A little bit of Hawaii in Downtown LA.
My friends and I came here for drinks at the bar/lounge area and had a great time. It's a nice place to meet up and chat before bar hopping around Downtown. There was live music and a hula dancer for entertainment while we were there. The drinks were fantastic. I had the Peach Tree Punch and it was sooo good! I want to try the Scorpion Bowl next.
Done right!!!
I have never been a fan of multiple chain restaurants and never really expected much from them. Trader Vic's is a diamond in that rough, serving up great food with a cozy Polynesian themed decor.
With its dark and dimly lit restaurant, one might think romantic, but its quite loud due to the ambient chit chatter of other patrons. The staff seemed to be friendly as can be. Our hostess was quite cordially, as well as our server.
The bread basket and peanut butter spread they bring is a great starter while enjoying pre-dinner cocktails. We started off with an order of the steamed vegetable dumpling appetizer. These dumplings were nothing short of delicious. They are served with a special dipping sauce in a bamboo steamer tray. Full of flavor, these dumplings are a must.
My GF ordered the cantonese sea bass which was prepared wonderfully. Steamed and flavored to perfection, it is served with a bowl of rice. I ordered the BBQ sea scallops. These scallops were BBQ'd perfectly and glazed with a robust yet palatable sauce. I paired my entree with the yam scallion puree, which complimented the dish accordingly. Their dessert menu wasn't anything spectacular. We decided to go with the chocolate kumquat rolls as suggested by our server. They aren't very good, due to its weird after taste.
Food, two glasses of wine, two glasses of scotch, came out to $160.00, plus $20.00 valet. I would definitely come back to try their other dishes, however I think Roy's Fusion has a slight edge over Vic's
Bon Appetit'
So got there early to meet up some friends for a birthday dinner...sat at the bar and a cute girl next to me helped me pick out a drink cause the drink menu had a HUGE selection of hawaiian drinks...i was thinking vodka tonic but you definitely have to have one of their many signature drinks if you come here....
Once we got our table, I can tell you the ambience of this restaurant was definitely appealing and comfortable...very relaxing atmosphere just like hawaii...the only thing that could be good or bad is that it is a little dark inside which is good if you are on a date and would like some privacy but bad if you are in a group...
Selection of food was pretty good and tasted very well...especially the sea bass...yet..the reason why I gave Trader Vic's a 4 out of 5 Stars was because the portions were very small. Once again, not to sound like a fat ass..lol...but seriously...if you come here expecting a lot of food...forget about it...the portion is below average but quality if very good....
So to sum it up...
Yes I recommend coming here more than once...
Yes for a date place...
Yes for dinner before/after Nokia LIve/Staple Center event...
I was taken here for a surprise birthday dinner.
WHAT I LOVED:
- crispy duck tacos with hoisin sauce
- tiki decor (with original outrigger canoe and big carved tikis)
- really cool Trader Vics plates, glasses, silverware
- melt-in-your-mouth miso sea bass
- chocolate kumquat springrolls (ready for heart disease?)
- cocktails only $10
- hula dancers
DID NOT LOVE:
- LA Live location
- Sports playing on TV at the bar
- Too much ice in cocktails
P.S. Tiki-Ti's drinks are still better, IMHO.
If you are able overcome the ever present urge to sing out "In the TIKI-TIKI-TIKI-TIKI-TIKEEEE ROOM," there is much to enjoy about the newly opened Trader Vic's at LA Live.
I was deeply disappointed when the original Trader Vic's closed down. Not because I was a regular, but it always seemed like going there and having a Mai Tai was one of those quintessential, classic LA experiences. Upon hearing that they were opening a new location in Downtown, I've been itching to cross that Mai Tai fantasy off my list!
A friend and I dropped in for dinner at 6:30 on a Wednesday night. The place was, unfortunately, pretty empty. (I imagine there are a lot more patrons when there is an event at the Staples Center or the Nokia Theater.) What the hostess may have lacked in personality, our waitress, Onika, more than made up for in enthusiasm. She was attentive without being overbearing, she gave honest and thorough suggestions on the menu and the somewhat daunting three (or four?) page cocktail menu, and (shock! gasp!), she seemed have genuine knowledge and love of the food!!! Crazy, I know.
Service and atmosphere aside, the food and cocktails were outstanding. My Mai Tai was a bit on the slushy side, but was refreshing and nicely balanced. I ordered the chicken curry and my companion ordered the fried rice, and we were very pleased with both. Everything is presented beautifully, from the etched cocktail glasses, to the dinnerware, to the cute Trader Vic's take-away handle bags (and biodegradable containers!). Overall, it was a truly pleasant experience.
There is a nice bar at the front part of the restaurant but, currently (and sadly) they only offer happy hour from 4 to 6. If the manager is listening, please, please, please consider extending those hours (at least on a couple of days a week) for those of us who don't get off work that early! Thanks.
i had a mai thai, i was craving it bad. hit the spot.
for a friday night, this spot was dead. no complaints there. more room at the bar. =)
i'm looking forward to coming back and trying some of the house drinks, if any.
any recommendations?
Went with a friend last night and while we had a good time, I don't know if I'll be going back any time soon...
The drinks were good, as was the food, but the cheesiness was a bit much. My friend and I felt we like were on a Hawaiian vacation and eating at some cliched hotel restaurant with all the hula dancers. We were basically expecting a livelier version Roy's, not a cheesier one.
Our server left a bit to be desired too I think. Not that he was inattentive, but was actually TOO attentive. It was a Saturday night, but it was apparent they were not busy considering time and location, yet the server was over every 5 minutes trying to get us to place our orders (we wanted to take our time and order courses separately) like he need to turn over our table as quickly as possible. He may just be an inexperienced waiter though and hasn't found the right balance of attention to pay to customers...
Overall, if you're looking for a great Hawaiian Fusion meal, go to Roy's. If you're looking to have a good meal and get trashed with a large group of friends on some over priced fruity cocktails, go to Trader Vic's.
My first review in a long time. Almost two years to the day that Beverly Hills closed they open a true Tiki palace in LA. I was invited to the pre opening on Friday. Boy did this place energise me. .
Live entertainment, the hula dancers were hot and the music too.
, The food cooked in the Chinese oven was great and drinks like the Gun Club punch and my Mai Tai were perfect. $10.00 for a Mai Tai today? Thats a deal in my book.. It was hard to tell the patrons from the staff. Everyone was having such a good time.
They are planning a grand opening event sometime this summer where Olympic boulevard will be shut shut down both ways.
Fire dancers, music, hula dancers, have to go back for that
Way to go LA Trader Vic's!.
I really like this restaurant Trader Vic's it is super cute. They give you these little guys with their butts sticking out in your drinks, it's funny. The only problem I found at this restaurant was that they didn't know how to divide the check, so it got confusing for the waiter and us.
Best Themed Restaurant in LA!
Best Tropical Drinks in LA! (Most of them $10)
Absolute Best Mai Tai EVER (Only $10)
Good Food (Had pork ribs (very lean) skewers (yummy)
Good Staff
Good Entertainment
I never imagined yelping a spot at LA LIVE...it's so commercial but TRADER VICS is TOP NOTCH!
I was here during the NBA Finals. Ordered a mai tai. It was pretty bad. Way too much crushed ice and bitter to the taste. Mai Tai at Tiki Tai, much better. The girl next to me actually grimaced upon tasting hers.
Service is poor. Despite there being several bartenders, they were too busy shooting the breeze with each other. When I finally flagged one down, he gave me a weird look.
I accidentally spilled my drink. The bartender wanted to charge me for another. When I complained, some middle-eastern manager came over and instead of apologizing, asked me if i spilled my drink on purpose. I said you have got to be kidding. He wasn't.
After conferring with the bartender they did not charge me. But the damage was done. Maybe staff should have been trained on Customer Service 101.
Awesome Place! The decor is gorgeous and the drinks are amazing. They definitely carry a punch. It's great to have Trader Vic's back after Beverly Hills Closed their restaurant. I specifically enjoyed their wasabi crusted filet mignon and their famous Mai Tai.
Not bad! I hate themed restaurants with no substance, and to their credit, they have substance! Went there with two friends on supposedly "booked solid" night, and it ended up only filled to half-capacity ... so that was annoying.
But we're here to speak food, so let's get on with my portions:
DRINKS
Big Kahuna (rum, passion fruit nectar, etc): $12
Rum Giggle (various rums and amaretto, etc): $20 [for two ppl]
APPETIZER
Duck Tacos: $9
MAIN
Chai Tea Duck Breast (with yam/scallions puree): $24
DESSERT
sampler (cheesecake, banana fritter, some roll, and ice cream): $14
Dessert was a total wash! Pass on the dessert, not worth your money! I'm a super avid duck eater (:X) and I can attest that the app and main courses were pretty good. The tacos had a very nice texture to them between the shell/cucumber/duck mix. The main course was very tender, slightly rare (as it should be) and the sauce/purree/sauteed green beans were an excellent combination! I was so enamored by their speciality drink menu that I forgot about having wine with my meal.
Overall, much better than I anticipated and I will definitely be going back!
I'm going to keep this review really short. I love this place. I just wish it wasnt so expensive.
I too was sad when the Beverly Hilton Trader Vic's closed, and then Bellevue, WA changed hands...I thought all was lost...but I am happy to say LA Live Trader Vic's is great! Perhaps not as spectacular as the late Beverly Hilton, or Emeryville but it's got what counts. The drinks and regular menu (for the most part) are there and the decor is excellent. I will be making many return trips.
I've never been to Trader Vic's, so I can't really compare it to the original in Beverly Hills. I went there for drinks and "apps" as they kept getting referred to. I like the kitschy decor, i dig really over the top cheesy kind of joints. It reminded my of the Tikki Room at Disney. The waitress was very patient and picked out a drink for me. I got the Pupule Punch. I have no idea what was in it, considering there wasn't much a description on the menu. It just said, "liquors and fruit"...sounds great, sign me up. It was pretty, and rather tasty...I didn't really taste the liquors...the name kind of implied I was gonna feel something. I didn't.
The "apps" that arrived were really nothing special. The poke tuna wasn't very spicy....it was very salty. The crab stuff fried wontons were OK, except for the empty wonton. It looks like the crab escaped and went to a better restaurant. I believe there were also chicken skewers on the table. Clearly they weren't memorable. The coconut shrimp were good, they were light and crispy, not at all greasy.
My experience there wasn't a negative one, but it also wasn't a positive one. Like I said, I haven't been the to original so I don't know how it compares. But this particular Trader Vic's was more about the decor and less about the food. Now I understand places like this are more about the ambiance and experience, but good lord when the drink is named "punch" give me a freakin punch.
Late Night Happy Hour
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Lucky Hour from 4-7pm weekdays
Neighborhood: Downtown
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