RESUME
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles County
Damon's Steakhouse
317 N Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA 91203
Okay, this is going to be a bold statement: Damon's Steakhouse reminds me of a Valley version of Old Tony's. There, I said it.
Yes, it's missing the beautiful 360 degree ocean view, but it has that old-school charm that makes certain restaurants/bars far superior to others. As soon as you step in through the back door, this Polynesian-themed restaurant transports you back to the Golden Girls-era. Seriously, it reminds me so much of that episode of the Golden Girls where Blanche tries to seduce this standoffish guy, so she rents this tiki-themed hotel room that has all these remote-controlled sex contraptions. It's like that, minus the sex contraptions. This place totally feels like Reno, Nevada.
Like Tony's 'Firechief', Damon's also has a famous cocktail: the 'Chi Chi' (however, I don't believe you get to keep the glass). There is also a singer/guitarist next to the bar who plays pleasant listening music. What song do we hear upon entering?? 'I've Got a Name' by fucking JIM CROCE?!?! Yeeeah buddy, you're getting a tip for that one.
I very much enjoyed Damon's. Can't wait to come back and try a juicy, bloody steak!
Rating: x
Yes, it's missing the beautiful 360 degree ocean view, but it has that old-school charm that makes certain restaurants/bars far superior to others. As soon as you step in through the back door, this Polynesian-themed restaurant transports you back to the Golden Girls-era. Seriously, it reminds me so much of that episode of the Golden Girls where Blanche tries to seduce this standoffish guy, so she rents this tiki-themed hotel room that has all these remote-controlled sex contraptions. It's like that, minus the sex contraptions. This place totally feels like Reno, Nevada.
Like Tony's 'Firechief', Damon's also has a famous cocktail: the 'Chi Chi' (however, I don't believe you get to keep the glass). There is also a singer/guitarist next to the bar who plays pleasant listening music. What song do we hear upon entering?? 'I've Got a Name' by fucking JIM CROCE?!?! Yeeeah buddy, you're getting a tip for that one.
I very much enjoyed Damon's. Can't wait to come back and try a juicy, bloody steak!
Rating: x
Purple Orchid
221 Richmond St
El Segundo, CA 90245
Review coming soon!
Tonga Hut Tiki Lounge
12808 Victory Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91606
Review coming soon!
Orange County
Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar
1150 Magic Way
Anaheim, CA 92802
When planning a trip to Disneyland, there are several things to consider. When should I go? What should I wear? Where can I get a drink?
Weekday… tennis shoes… Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar...
So Trader Sam’s is not actually in Disneyland; it's right around the corner at the Disneyland Hotel. Chad and I learned about this little gem when desperately scanning the internet for dive bars in the area. Although not a dive in any sense of the word, Trader Sam’s is dark, exciting and intimate; the perfect place to relax and escape from the bevy of screaming children and overeager foreigners.
Trader Sam's is the hidden island oasis of Disneyland-land. After a day of walking and dodging double-strollers, nothing sounds better than a fruity rum cocktail in a keepsake ceramic tiki glass; and Trader Sam's has got you covered. I'm especially a fan of the blue skull glasses the Shrunked Zombie Head cocktail comes in (see left).
The space and theatrics alone are the major reason to visit. Whenever a specialty cocktail is ordered, the entire bar goes into "shipwreck" mode: the bartenders cheer and squirt "rain" water on the guests, the lights flash on and off, thunder sound effects blast from the speakers and it really feels like a silly, Disney-good time. Some of the bar stools actually move up and down, which startled us after a few Krakatoa Punches.
Trader Sam’s also offers food, including an Ahi tuna appetizer, which is probably the closest thing to sushi in the Disneyland area. Score and bonus.
I don’t think I could be any more infatuated with this place. All the right elements are there: atmosphere, drinks, chill staff. It is a product of Disney, so the drinks are measured and overpriced, but given the options you have for bars in the Disneyland area, this is your absolute best bet.
Rating: x
Weekday… tennis shoes… Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar...
So Trader Sam’s is not actually in Disneyland; it's right around the corner at the Disneyland Hotel. Chad and I learned about this little gem when desperately scanning the internet for dive bars in the area. Although not a dive in any sense of the word, Trader Sam’s is dark, exciting and intimate; the perfect place to relax and escape from the bevy of screaming children and overeager foreigners.
Trader Sam's is the hidden island oasis of Disneyland-land. After a day of walking and dodging double-strollers, nothing sounds better than a fruity rum cocktail in a keepsake ceramic tiki glass; and Trader Sam's has got you covered. I'm especially a fan of the blue skull glasses the Shrunked Zombie Head cocktail comes in (see left).
The space and theatrics alone are the major reason to visit. Whenever a specialty cocktail is ordered, the entire bar goes into "shipwreck" mode: the bartenders cheer and squirt "rain" water on the guests, the lights flash on and off, thunder sound effects blast from the speakers and it really feels like a silly, Disney-good time. Some of the bar stools actually move up and down, which startled us after a few Krakatoa Punches.
Trader Sam’s also offers food, including an Ahi tuna appetizer, which is probably the closest thing to sushi in the Disneyland area. Score and bonus.
I don’t think I could be any more infatuated with this place. All the right elements are there: atmosphere, drinks, chill staff. It is a product of Disney, so the drinks are measured and overpriced, but given the options you have for bars in the Disneyland area, this is your absolute best bet.
Rating: x
Santa Cruz County
Hula's Island Grill and Tiki Room
221 Cathcart St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Review coming soon!
Ventura County
Ventiki Tiki Lounge and Lanai
701 E Main St
Ventura, CA 93001
We find ourselves in Ventura one weekend and decide to try a new place called Ventiki. It’s a great little tiki-themed bar with an extensive fruity cocktail menu and tasty looking food rolling out of the kitchen.
After the first round of drinks, the bartender hands us a couple of cards and explains the Ventiki challenge: Drink all 19 of the house cocktails and receive a t-shirt and a Ventiki mug. No time limit and can be completed over multiple visits but must be certified by bartender on your drink card. Great, right? It gets better.
The first 100 rum-swilling, salty seadog patrons to complete their card will have their names immortalized on a plaque. 48 have completed (as of March, 2014).
On the menu:
Mai Tai
Jet Pilot
Zombie
Shrunken Head
Lapu Lapu
Voodoo Temptress of the Seven Pleasures (I’m excited for this one…)
Suffering Bastard
Blue Hawaii
Cobra’s Fang
Alter of Sacrifice
I.C.C of ‘73
The Fuzz
Navy Grog
Strand Local
Dr. Funk
Scorpion
C-Street Savage
Lagoon of Forbidden Desire
$25 Dollar Mai Tai (The Mai Tai with all top-shelf alcohol)
Naturally, Chad had to win this challenge. His strategy: to drink the "bad" ones first (aka, anything with Gin or Anais). Voodoo Temptress? CHECK. Dr Funk? CHECK. One of the owners, Scott, warned us about a couple of the drinks (order the Dr Funk light on the "funk", was one of his suggestions), but honestly, all the drinks tasted great. My personal favorites were the Mai Tai, Alter of Sacrifice, and I.C.C. of '73; all had the perfect amount of sweet and spice, and if you're a light weight like me, they'll hit you quick and leave you feeling drunk for a while; a whole lot of bang for your $10 to $15.
If the drinks alone are not enough to convince you to visit Ventiki; the food, ambiance, and engaging staff will.
FOOD - Fresh sushi, poke bowls, pulled pork, ribs, even a Spam option..literally, I would order one of everything on the menu if I had the financial and stomach capacities.
AMBIANCE - Maui is my favorite place in the world, so anywhere that can re-create that hybrid of serenity and culture gets my stamp of approval. But it's not that Ventiki just threw plastic leis and palm trees around their bar and called it tiki...no, no. The attention to detail is meticulous; everything from the light fixtures, to the tiki mugs, to the straw-hut roof is completely on-point.
STAFF - Because we literally spent two whole days at Ventiki, we bonded with the owners, Scott and Carrie, as well as the various bartenders. It was insightful to talk business and booze with Ventura locals, and it is majorly impressive to see a local business doing so well within their first nine months of business.
Back to the challenge...Ventiki is significantly more crowded at night, but we are able to find a station to sit, snack, and slurp down a few more cocktails. I stick with my new best friend Mai Tai, while Chad knocks a couple more off the list. Wearing down, but still sturdy, he opts to finish the remainder of the list the next day.
Three more drinks to go...including the dreaded finale - The $25 Mai Tai (dreaded mainly because of the $25 price tag, YIKES!). With little struggle, Chad conquers the final three and joins the 48 others on the hall of fame plaque!!!
WAY TO GO, CHAD!
Although he's still feeling the hangover today, we at The Underbelly are extremely proud of his achievement. If you're in the Ventura area, stop on by Ventiki. Always a good time.
Rating: x
After the first round of drinks, the bartender hands us a couple of cards and explains the Ventiki challenge: Drink all 19 of the house cocktails and receive a t-shirt and a Ventiki mug. No time limit and can be completed over multiple visits but must be certified by bartender on your drink card. Great, right? It gets better.
The first 100 rum-swilling, salty seadog patrons to complete their card will have their names immortalized on a plaque. 48 have completed (as of March, 2014).
On the menu:
Mai Tai
Jet Pilot
Zombie
Shrunken Head
Lapu Lapu
Voodoo Temptress of the Seven Pleasures (I’m excited for this one…)
Suffering Bastard
Blue Hawaii
Cobra’s Fang
Alter of Sacrifice
I.C.C of ‘73
The Fuzz
Navy Grog
Strand Local
Dr. Funk
Scorpion
C-Street Savage
Lagoon of Forbidden Desire
$25 Dollar Mai Tai (The Mai Tai with all top-shelf alcohol)
Naturally, Chad had to win this challenge. His strategy: to drink the "bad" ones first (aka, anything with Gin or Anais). Voodoo Temptress? CHECK. Dr Funk? CHECK. One of the owners, Scott, warned us about a couple of the drinks (order the Dr Funk light on the "funk", was one of his suggestions), but honestly, all the drinks tasted great. My personal favorites were the Mai Tai, Alter of Sacrifice, and I.C.C. of '73; all had the perfect amount of sweet and spice, and if you're a light weight like me, they'll hit you quick and leave you feeling drunk for a while; a whole lot of bang for your $10 to $15.
If the drinks alone are not enough to convince you to visit Ventiki; the food, ambiance, and engaging staff will.
FOOD - Fresh sushi, poke bowls, pulled pork, ribs, even a Spam option..literally, I would order one of everything on the menu if I had the financial and stomach capacities.
AMBIANCE - Maui is my favorite place in the world, so anywhere that can re-create that hybrid of serenity and culture gets my stamp of approval. But it's not that Ventiki just threw plastic leis and palm trees around their bar and called it tiki...no, no. The attention to detail is meticulous; everything from the light fixtures, to the tiki mugs, to the straw-hut roof is completely on-point.
STAFF - Because we literally spent two whole days at Ventiki, we bonded with the owners, Scott and Carrie, as well as the various bartenders. It was insightful to talk business and booze with Ventura locals, and it is majorly impressive to see a local business doing so well within their first nine months of business.
Back to the challenge...Ventiki is significantly more crowded at night, but we are able to find a station to sit, snack, and slurp down a few more cocktails. I stick with my new best friend Mai Tai, while Chad knocks a couple more off the list. Wearing down, but still sturdy, he opts to finish the remainder of the list the next day.
Three more drinks to go...including the dreaded finale - The $25 Mai Tai (dreaded mainly because of the $25 price tag, YIKES!). With little struggle, Chad conquers the final three and joins the 48 others on the hall of fame plaque!!!
WAY TO GO, CHAD!
Although he's still feeling the hangover today, we at The Underbelly are extremely proud of his achievement. If you're in the Ventura area, stop on by Ventiki. Always a good time.
Rating: x