Remembering one of the last great tiki bars

December 18th, 2007

Filed Under Food Finds, Restaurant Review |

While growing up in Columbus, Ohio going out to a really fancy restaurant was a big thing. It was an even bigger thing when you got to go to the Kahiki Polynesian Supper Club. (I encourage you to click on the link and go to the Kahiki Supper Club Video in the bottom right corner to see the inside of this historical building.) Now this tiki bar was in it’s heyday back in the 60’s and 70’s and it never really updated…ever. But the kitschy appeal as time went on made it that much more fun. I remember going there for my birthday once, for prom, for family gatherings and my first really fancy date with my husband. The outside of the building was beautiful and resembled a war canoe. Large Easter Island statues stood on either side of the entrance with their “hair” aflame every night. As you walked in, there was this really cave-like entrance with a black light and the water that ran down the lavaesque walls looked like milk. To the right was the gift shop, which I loved to stroll around as a kid and then the Beachcomber Bar. To the left were the restrooms which had huge clamshell sinks ala old Coco Palms style and portholes. If you walked a little further, there was a staircase leading down to the disco which later became the banquet/party rooms. Man, if you were able to sneak down there it was just the coolest thing as a kid. Right in front of you is this big fountain shaped like a head.

As you enter the restaurant, there are various huts named after the Hawaiian Islands, things like puffer fish lights on the ceiling, high back wicker chairs, heavily varnished tables and booths that sat you either on the aquarium wall or the “rainforest” wall. The centerpiece of it all was a HUGE 80′ tall mask fireplace. It looked downright evil yet entrancing. Now before my honeymoon in 1996, this was my only exposure to “polynesian” culture. Now that we’re more than well versed in many aspects of Hawaii and Polynesian tradition, we know that some things weren’t exactly representative of Hawaii. Like I don’t remember hearing steel drums in Hawaii…ever. But they have a wonderful steel drum band there. The food is more Chinese, American and I suppose a tad of what is now known as Pacific Rim but nowhere were there real Hawaiian dishes like a plate lunch, kalua pig, huli huli chicken or any of the things you’d come to expect on a regular menu at a local restaurant. But there were “tropical” dishes so I suppose that’s close enough as you’re going to find in the midwest! The rainforest side of the restaurant was basically a pipe over the windows that would leak during the “storm” while the “wild birds” (aka-sparrows and robins and a few other birds) flew around. Do I wish they had more authentic representations of the islands? Sure. But whatcha gonna do? Well, if you’ve got big business in the form of Walgreen’s breathing down your neck because you’re sitting next to a CVS pharmacy, then you take your business of 39 years and fold the restaurant. Yes, this beautiful restaurant that lumbered over our city since the 60’s and intrigued everyone to react whether positive or negative, to its closing day was reduced to rubble so Walgreen’s could compete next to CVS. It was an atrocity. We went for our last dinner in it’s final, crowded weeks when everyone came from cities near and far to say their alohas to this central Ohio landmark. The owner was sure they would reopen downtown on the riverfront but this did not match our mayor’s vision for the city and he would not green light the project. It saddens most central Ohioans or anyone whose ever been there because they’re a dying breed and our dreams to seem to be on hold for ever seeing Kahiki restaurant reborn. Kahiki Foods, their frozen food subsidiary, have done incredibly well and can even be seen in Hawaii grocery stores. But for those who crave Kahiki’s restaurant menu, what is a person to do?

Well, you head on up to Hilliard, Ohio (northwest central Ohio) to Tropical Bistro where the chefs and employees of Kahiki, with the blessing of Kahiki bigwigs, now prepare the exact same menu! Some of my personal faves are the crab puff pupu, Hong Kong Steak, Malagasy Chicken, the Tahitian Mermaid *yum!*, Islander Flaming Beef Teriyaki and Teriyaki Chicken. They have a great lunch buffet if you want the basics. My only complaint is the Pina Passion drink is served in a ceramic pineapple and they used to be served in a whole pineapple which was half the fun. One of the highlights of this wonderful restaurant is their ukulele player Francis who lived in Kona and played for Jamesons. He is a delight, filled with aloha spirit and loves to talk story.

Aloha and A hui hou Kahiki. We hope your treasures will one day be unveiled to bring your ambience and menu together again. Mahalo Tropical Bistro for allowing the Kahiki loyalists to have a place to go to reminisce and make new memories as well!

Update: Sadly The Tropical Bistro has closed. It was in a horrible location and we knew it wouldn’t last long there. One can only hope they might choose a new location but I won’t hold my breath. Sigh.

(To see the heartwrenching pictures of Kahiki being dismantled, click here)

Kahiki Restaurant picture courtesy of Kahiki.com