Just take Date Night to an intimate Polynesian Paradise at Fort Lauderdale´s Mai-Kai eatery
The brief type: Since 1956, the Mai-Kai restaurant has supported US and Cantonese-inspired meals and beverages while enjoyable visitors along with its renowned tiki tv show. The Mai-Kai stays a popular with both natives and vacationers visiting the Fort Lauderdale, Fl, region for its amazing atmosphere, influenced fare, and romance-inducing waterfalls, lagoons, and exotic gardens. Through the years, people from everywhere have actually seen the Mai-Kai to celebrate engagements, wedding anniversaries, birthdays plus to inhale new way life into big date nights. If you’re looking for exquisite dining with a lively floor program, book a table in one of the unique, lush food spaces in the Mai-Kai.
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Since opening in 1956, the Mai-Kai restaurant has become considered certainly Southern Florida´s the majority of special and captivating food and enjoyment locations. The Mai-Kai authentically recreates a Polynesian community with tiki torches, a wooden plank connection entrance, and rich tropic home gardens.
“The Mai-Kai has a big number of museum top quality Oceanic artifacts â tiki carvings and goggles â that have been obtained inside 1950s and sixties and just have become a draw for most lovers and college students observe,” Mai-Kai Manager Kern Mattei said towards bistro’s decor.
The Mai-Kai still is operated because of the exact same family members whom unsealed it over 60 years back, and it’s really been chosen “Best Tiki pub in America” by Coastal life mag â and various other awards in Islands Magazine as well as Critiki.com. In 2014, the Mai-Kai happened to be put into the National enroll of historical spots.
While those designations appeal to the crowds, the majority of the Mai-Kai’s business originates from locals. “Our Molokai pub provides once a week regulars who come for our well-known delighted time, a lot of them getting business specialists,” Kern said. “All of our dinners and shows are perfect for special occasions, and now we see many techniques from high school sweethearts to 50-year anniversaries â so it in fact is a location for everybody.”
Stirred Cuisine Transports Diners to isle Shores
Diners are drawn to this South Fl staple because of its mouthwatering cooking. From the moment you start the selection, you will discover a lot to share with you together with your day; namely how exactly to decide what available the bistro’s expansive choices. In case you decide to try the Oysters Rockefeller (oysters shucked and baked with new oatmeal and old Parmesan) or have the Canoe Appetizer (baby straight back ribs, tuna poke, and shrimp tempura roll) which is perfect for two? You might like to select both, but that is precisely the beginning of the decadence.
Kern informed you of some meals partners don’t wish to overlook. “lots of people check out the Mai-Kai to try all of our Peking Duck. It is an entire duck that serves two and is ideal for posting,” the guy mentioned. “We also provide USDA Prime Steaks, and the nyc Strip, prepared inside our wood using up Chinese Ovens, is totally tasty. For dessert, we have some tableside flambé dishes, like all of our Banana Bengali, and that’s rum flamed apples served over vanilla extract ice-cream.”
The Mai-Kai normally fabled for their inventive and effective sex beverages. The bistro requires an original â and accountable â way of its warm drinks. Diners can choose the potency of their own cocktail by sticking with the selection’s categorical lists: non-alcoholic, minor, method, and strong. Rum enthusiasts will love the selection of more than 40 rum-infused cocktails. Take to the particular owner’s favorite, Ebony Magic, or the specialty of many reviewers on TripAdvisor, the Zombie.
Lovers will also be motivated to delight in some after-dinner conversation with warm products, like the light Gardenia Lei for an icy finish or even the Mai-Kai’s well-known Kona Coffee Grog with coffee, rum, honey lotion, and spices, and that’s set ablaze tableside offering your night an unforgettable finish. Next only relax and relish the tiki tv series whilst sip on your products.
Absorb the unique atmosphere because of the state’s Longest-Running Polynesian Show
The Mai-Kai’s tropical setting inspires a relaxed dialogue and provides an enchanting background for a night out together. “The Mai-Kai has actually an antique experience without appearing or experiencing old,” Kern mentioned associated with the environment. “The décor is traditional tiki style with monster tikis, waterfalls, torches, and a thatched roofing system externally. Tiki poles, monkeypod dining tables, black velvet paintings, and oceanic items adorn the interior. It’s a unique eating experience.”
Pick one for the exclusively embellished areas to enjoy food intake or mind outside. “we’ve external sitting inside our exotic home gardens among the list of tikis and falls, and during the cold winter several months, this is the most enchanting spot to end up being,” Kern mentioned. “Relaxing with many energizing tropical beverages, tasty food, and fantastic business in our gardens can’t be beat.”

After-dinner, website visitors can take advantage of a traditional Polynesian overall performance in an abundant tropic setting. “visitors can get observe Polynesia’s wealthy heritage in dances including the Hawaiian marriage song, where two youthful lovers are separated and then reunited in-marriage,” Kern said. “and/or spirited Tahitian solamente drum dance competition from Polynesia’s largest yearly social occasion â the âHeiva I Tahiti.'”
Annually, Mireille Thornton, the Mai-Kai’s owner and choreographer, creates new interpretations of village existence in South Pacific to help keep the shows new and powerful. This year’s tv series boasts even more artists, drums, and extremely colorful costumes that light the phase. The detailed outfits tend to be hand-sewn and reflect the character with the South Seas.
Most of these elements merge to speak the society associated with Polynesian individuals throughout the change from the twentieth century. The tv series is meant to be enthralling regarding years, and, since Mireille creates brand new interpretations yearly, friends can have a brand new knowledge whenever they visit.
The Mai-Kai Creates somewhere for partners to Linger just a little Longer
People love the Mai-Kai, and it also shows in separate web evaluations regarding the unique activity place. David Weiser enjoyed every element of his see, and stated the food, beverages, and show were shows.
“The food ended up being delicious, and now we tested much. The warm drinks tend to be strong if you like them to end up being (you can get tiki products in a range of alcoholic strengths). But it is the improvements in show that actually amazed myself,” David stated.
“This culturally painful and sensitive piece now determines and distinguishes the dances and cultures of a range of pan-Pacific isles. The cast of dancers and performers are extremely skilled and originate from all over the globe. The climactic flame party is actually thrilling.” Its little details like those that David mentions which make a night out together evening at Mai-Kai therefore remarkable. The staff cares about guests and takes satisfaction in every single detail, from the exotic blooms into the presentation associated with food into carefully created outfits associated with the performers. It is a large reason why individuals return.
As soon as we asked Kern to share with you about one of his true favored stories regarding the Mai-Kai, he relayed an account about a rather emotional and intimate couple. “We host a lot of weddings and receptions here at the Mai-Kai, as all of our tropic home gardens will be the best spot to keep nuptials. We’ve a particular couple that was married right here 17 years ago, and, yearly since their own wedding, they go back to commemorate their unique anniversary by renewing their unique wedding ceremony vows within our landscapes. Our company is honored to assist them commemorate with our company.”
Very wear your Sunday finest (the bistro comes with a dress code), make a reservation, and address special someone to a great night of flame performers, area food, and plenty of festive umbrella drinks during the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.