Mai-Kai Restaurant
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The Mai-Kai is a tiki-themed restaurant located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It opened on December 25, 1956 and is one of the few "Grand Polynesian Palaces of Tiki" still in operation today.
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[edit] History
The Mai Kai was opened by Bob and Jack Thornton in a time when many attractions of this sort were spreading throughout Florida. They spent a million dollars to build the restaurant in 1956, and earned a million dollars the first year of operations. When it opened, it was in a rather open field. Fort Lauderdale was a seasonal place and at that time they were only open durng the tourist season. For many years it sold more rum than any location in the United States.
Several signature creations of the Mai Kai are: the Mystery Drink which features a silent dancer giving a lei and a kiss along with a huge flaming cocktail accompanied by gong; the Derby Daiquiri which was invented by Don the Beachcomber trained head bartender Mariano Licudine.
The Mai Kai became rather expansive in time; it includes eight dining rooms, a bar, tropical gardens with walking paths and waterfalls, a stage in the center to showcase the Polynesian Islander Revue floor show, and a gift shop.
Today, the Mai Kai is much like it was in the 1960s. A wooden slat bridge is crossed to reach the porte cochere and valets. A maître d' greets visitors, and in the beautiful restrooms there is an attendant, which the restaurant says is "a luxury missing from too many places today".
The restaurant is now run by Bob's wife Mirielle, whom Bob met when she joined the Mai Kai as a Tahitian dancer. She is in charge of the Mai Kai's Polynesian Islander Revue. As new dances are added to the show, Mirielle first visits the island where the dance originates to ensure it will be performed properly. One large dining room overlooks the show.
The waitresses at the Mai Kai's Molokai Bar are attired in bikini tops and wraparound sarongs. For many years, a Mai Kai calendar was offered featuring the women of the Mai Kai. This worship reaches its zenith with the Mystery Drink, delivered by the Mystery Girl, which is supposedly "an experience that must be witnessed to be fully appreciated".
[edit] The Mai-Kai Gardens
Since the very beginning, the Mai-Kai has taken advantage of the nearly year-around growing season and sub-tropical climate to its fullest advantage. Some of the palms and orchids are over fifty years old.
[edit] Polynesian Artifacts
The Mai-Kai contains many genuine Polynesian artifacts, some that are over 100 years old.
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
- Jeff Berry: Sippin Safari. SLG Publishing (June 2007), ISBN 1-59362-067-7.
- James Teitelbaum: Tiki Road Trip. Santa Monica Press (May 1, 2003), ISBN 1-891661-30-2; 2nd edition released June 1, 2007.
