Trader Vics

So, I got a copy of the report from the Chicago Health Department which shows they had several code violations. Here is a summary (I wish I can upload the report)
1. They failed to post the most recent health inspection report which is required to be posted in front where customers can view it. They had posted an older one.
2. They had visible insect and rat droppings in the kitchen and bar area.
3. They had standing water in the kitchen sinks because the sink drain wasn’t working properly.
4. They didn’t clean very well in bar area so was cited for that.
There were more violations but too much to include and the above were the major ones. I’m glad that I made the complaint to the Chicago Health Dept. because look at those violations.
I was impressed that the Chicago Health Dept was right on it. Within a week from my complaint, they went out to visit the restaurant. In the report, which you can obtain a copy if request is 30 days after filed complaint, indicates dates for the restaurant to correct the violations. Then the health dept follows up with another visit and documents correction and all is in the report.
I was very impressed with our Chicago Health Dept. They are here for us and take our health seriously. Great job Chicago Health Dept and FAIL Trader Vic’s.

Alrighty, so I hit up Chi-​Town for some St. Patty’s Day shenanigans. My annual trip, almost. I love Chicago for their food and this was the first downtown restaurant of my trip. I checked this place out on a recommendation from a friend and it didn’t disappoint! We went all out too. It was 4 of us and we started with appetizers and drinks, moved on to entrees, and couldn’t finish. Really good food and fast service.
Had lots of drinks. The rum keg was pretty tasty and definitely strong, although it didn’t taste like it. It’s huge too, so it definitely feeds more than 1 person. The second drink was a similar multiple-​person drink… although I forget what it was called. It was a mai thai with 2 coronas tipped upside down into it, served in a ceramic conch shell. The coronas went well with the mai thai and it turned out really good, although not very strong at all. I also had the Trader Vic’s Sling, which was pretty dang strong and served in a huge glass. Definitely getting your money’s worth with the drinks here.
Appetizers were a combo platter and the ahi poke. The appetizer platter had ribs, which I did not get to try but everyone said were amazing. Egg rolls were really good and heavy on the meat, which is great when you see most places toss in filler veggies for most of it. Good flavor and fried pretty crispy. Oh, and they were huge! The beef cho cho tasted amazing and was really fun to cook over our mini hibachi flame. Coconut chicken was a bit tough but tasted really good, especially with some of the hot and sour or spicy mustard sauces. Fried shrimp were on there too, which were really big and tasted great with the sauces. The crab rangoon were interesting. Usually you’ll get some fried wonton filled with some cream cheese glob with fake crab taste, but these actually chunks of crab meat in there, the real stuff! Gave it a real flavor and texture, so it stood out against all of the other crab rangoons I’ve had. The ahi poke was amazing. I like good ahi and this made me happy and glad I ordered it. It was served like steak tartare, with some guacamole on top and chips on the side. Not traditional at all, it was a nice spin to see. The ahi seasoning was tasty, not overpowering at all. It was good with the chips and guacamole or by itself. And there was a lot of it! Definitely another good deal that I’m going to make sure to get in the future.
Next up came the intermediate plates of sushi! I love sushi. We got a Mt. Vic, which had crab, scallop, and eel. Lots of seasfood on this one and it was really good. Kind of the massive calorie count fusion roll, lots of california style showing through, and it was pretty good. A bit too heavy for my tastes, but my friends enjoyed it a lot. We got an avocado roll next, which was very standard but I was pleased that it was a big hunk of roll, not the tiny little finger things you normally get with these non-​specialty rolls. The final sushi roll was the Crunchy, which was your standard roll with batter and fried… except I don’t know what they did to this one but it was completely different than any other similar roll I’ve had. The crunch was thicker, harder, and more american that I’m used to, but it worked really well and even though I know crunchy rolls are on the american side of fusion, it was really good.
Finally, the entrée! I had the seared ahi tuna sandwich (told you I love ahi…), which was served with some mayo and a healthy portion of avocado on a really good brioche roll. I gotta say, the fries were terrible. Very soggy and just barely cooked. Those kinds of fries are fun to pick out and eat along with the correctly cooked ones, but an entire plate of it… no thanks. The sandwich, on the other hand, was great. A little bit past seared, but not overly cooked. The bun made the sandwich too. I was about ready to explode though, so I only ate half of it.
Overall, service was awesome, the food was awesome, and the drinks were awesome. I’m definitely coming back here.

Interesting interior? Check.
Hawaiian theme? Check.
Great food? Nope.
On a recent visit to Trader Vic’s, my family and I were excited to feel the Hawaiian warmth radiate our chilled bones and palats. Unfortunately, we were disappointed and left feeling rather cool. The sushi was ok and decently priced. The appetizers (egg rolls and crab rangoon) had us wishing we had rolled into a Chinese restaurant for better. The main course (Sea Bass — very salty and covered with an artificial butter flavor, Pork Chop — over cooked, dry, and bland) were less than thrilling. Overall, we left the restaurant thinking we overpaid for what we got and won’t be going back. Too bad since Hawaii is so far away.

I’ve never actually had a Mai Tai, so when my friend decided to come here for her birthday last night, I was excited to try one at the place that claims they invented it. And I did, and it was not bad! Supposedly it means «out of this world», well maybe if you like sour rum drinks, then yes, but the important thing here is that it was STRONG, and only 8 bucks. Good deal! Everyone else enjoyed their different drinks as well and I appreciate the drink menu and its creativity.
The food, on the other hand, was just so-​so. Definitely OK to munch on with a few drinks, but it was nothing special and I don’t think I’d go here for dinner. We all tried a few different appetizers. I ordered a roll and it seemed like it had been pre-​rolled much earlier in the day or something… and it was bland somehow. A friend joked that the egg rolls were like Chi-Chi’s chimichangas! Funny, and slightly true. But, like I said, good to munch on, not so sure about a whole meal here.
The interior was very nicely decorated, but it wasn’t as warm and inviting as I was expecting it to be– more of a «classy» tiki-​bar if that’s possible! In a nutshell, come here for the drinks… try the Mai Tai… but don’t expect a 5-​star meal, it isn’t what they are known for.

What do you need on a freezing cold Chicago night? To feel like you’re transported to Hawaii or a tropical island. It warms you right up!
Huge list of tropical drinks along with the regulars. My rum and diet coke was smooth and delicious. Their rum is so good. The Birthday girl that I was with could barely finish her last drink since it was so strong. At least you know they don’t hold back on the alcohol!
Apparently they invented crab rangoon? IDK — that’s what I was told my someone in my party… it was delicious. I wasn’t a fan of the lobster bisque — it was very thin and a little flavorless. Truffle mac and cheese was delicious as was the egg rolls. A few people in our party ordered sushi and it looked really fresh and good.
The décor is really well done. Sometimes tropical can look cheesy but it was actually very modern looking, classy, clean and cozy.
The service was good but he’d disappear for long periods of time, which was slightly annoying. But overall this place is great and I shall return!

Its a polonesian place.
they play music thats not comon and gives everything a light hearted beachy feel, and lets face it, thats what its about. If you wanted to listen to some rock music go to your local joint.
The drinks are phenomenal. Vics is the home of the mai tai. And boy is it good… its blasted with flavour and not a sexist drink and after 2 your feeling pretty damned good.
The food. HOLY S*IT… sorry, but really
im not a sea food person like at all… but the Misso Sea Bass is just… there are no words. No fishy smells or tastes. it melts
the wasabi fillet: its really really difficult to mess up steak. but for some reason, the best steak i have EVER had was from here
the scallops another none fishy miracle
the service is pretty good to. everyone wants to make you feel welcomed and relaxed, they explain everything, offer you everything with out being pushy and on top of you all the time…
i got there often and the business is getting better and better, there is a wait list now sometimes
and the last time i was there i witnessed a guy proposing… and she accepeted… you know it has to be good if that kind of stuff goes down there

It’s good.
The décor is Polynesian, but they made it a little less kitschy than you would expect. Actually it was kind of calming – or maybe that’s because of the lack of people. We were there on a Friday night and most of the tables were empty. That actually made it nice and we wanted a respite from the bustle.
The drinks are great – especially the mai tais. Very fun.
The food menu is shorter than it was previously. We had gone about a year ago and there have been quite a few changes. I think they have decided to focus on being a fun bar.
The food is good – probably a bit over-​priced for what it is though. The start was standard boring dinner rolls with peanut butter. What happened to the old flatbread? It was way better.
The fillet was very good, but the wasabi sauce was dull. Hardly any bite at all. Mashed potatoes were fine but boring. Could have come from a bag.
Husband had crispy duck, which he liked. However, a year ago, the duck was bigger.
Son had the hamburger (with a fried egg on it) which he enjoyed. The french fries were delightful.
Overall the food was fine – just a bit over-​priced for what it is.
The service was excellent.
Close to a 4 star, but points off for boring rolls and sides.

We went here last night after dinningbat cite. What a wondeful oldschool bar. They kept all the orignal drinks. This is the instuition that invented the mai tai. Drinks are huge. The service is so nice here. They really try to make you feel at home here. I will come back noext time I’m in town. I had a planters punch, Singapore symphoney. My friend had a suffering bastard (a rum drink), and a peach punch.

Trader Vic’s Evening of Oddities and Bizarre Waitress
OK, we will start this off with the most «interesting» part, then work our way back to that point from the beginning of the adventure. The waitress «gave herself» a $ 100.57 tip on a $ 78 meal. I am not not making this up, when we received the check, there was already «$ 100.57» tip printed where the customer is supposed to sign. Feel kind of bad about giving two stars review, for what would be a 4-​star place on a good night. But you can see why the management might like to know about this.
Arriving: The location is not obvious from the street, because you can vaguely see the Trader Vics neon sign inside but not really read it. Just find the 1030 building, go in the main entrance, turn left, and you are there ! Not hard, but not obvious. There is no seating in the lobby, so either stand around, or go inside the restaurant and hope your friends will also be able to find it.
In a sentiment which previous reviewers have mentioned, I liked the «Old» Trader Vic’s in the Palmer House Hilton better than this, in terms of the ambiance and the décor. But it’s still pretty good, and with the same tiki-​bar theme. Trader Vic’s doesn’t pretend to be «5-​star» anything, it’s just a place to go for fun.
The Peanut Butter: table is set and we receive the basket of bread to snack on while waiting. This small cup of beige paste, with the bread, what is it? I am the first of the group who dares to try it, and find it tastes like an ordinary sweetened peanut butter. I don’t know when they started with this concept (a novelty to us). It’s OK for a fun place, but they should explain what it is, and also offer regular whipped butter. One of our guests has nut allergies, so the mystery spread is like asking for trouble.
The drinks: a large Scorpion Bowl to be shared between four people. Came with 4 large-​diameter, but short, straws. My friend was disappointed, it seems they used to have very long straws, so that the giant drinks in bowls could be shared, without having to pass the bowl all around the table. Waitress says «Oh, we still have some of the long straws», goes and returns with some straws which she leaves on a plate. OK, but why are there only two straws, for 4 people? Turns out they are 4 regular 9-​inch drinking straws, which they stuck together at the ends to make two «long» straws. Hmmm ?
The food: The grilled asparagus was excellent, the burgers were described by our guests as «very good», and the pork chops as mediocre. Was accidentally given a second Caesar salad. That’s fine with me, because an $ 8 salad actually costs them less than $ 1 to make. And it was fine with the waitress as well. «Oh, did we give you another salad? Well, that’s fine…» And also, my friend was given the wrong side dish: she ordered one kind because of her dietary restrictions, but was brought the wrong thing anyway.
The Second-​degree Burns: When my friend was handed her plate, it was so hot that she was actually burned by it. Her thumb and forefinger started swelling up, and clearly would blister soon (definition of 2^nd-​degree burn). Oops.
OUCH. Given the erratic service up to this point, and now a minor injury, she asked to speak to the manager.
Manager came, listened attentively to the «critique» of the service problems, and generously offered to give all four people a free cocktail as compensation. It was a good gesture.
After the free drinks, we get the check, to which had already been added a $ 100.57 tip !
Call back the manager AGAIN, show him the check. He goes back to find the waitress, returns and says «She hit a wrong button». Um, she would’ve had to hit about 5 wrong buttons to type this, and there is no mathematical relationship between the amount of the tip and the $ 78 meal. The tip is MORE than the meal?
My friend wrote «THREE STRIKES, AND YOU“RE OUT! Zero.» on the tip line.
This waitress just seemed nutty. Maybe the tiki statues put a curse on her. But probably she just doesn’t like being a server at Trader Vic’s.

I decided to take a friend there for her birthday. Neither of us had ever been and we were both excited to try it. We were not disappointed. From the moment we walked in it was like being taken back in time and to an island getaway. I commented that I needed to check in on FourSquare and the hostess informed us that a free sushi appetizer would be sent to the table for checking in.
The mai tais were delicious but not too strong, but a generous size. We both started with soup and chose the lobster bisque. Fantastic. Creamy and rich with nice pieces of lobster in the soup. The entrees were well prepared and presented nicely. I had chicken which was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The waiter brought out a scoop of ice cream sprinkled with toasted coconut for my friend’s birthday, we shared it and by the time we were finished eating we were full, happy and satisfied. Truly a memorable evening for us, and especially for my good friend. Thanks, Trader Vic’s for providing such a fun and festive backdrop for our celebration. We’ll be back!

So sad. As you can see this is my 3^rd review of the «new» Trader Vic’s. I started off as a fan when I hosted a successful bachelorette party there in the private room last summer. I continued to enjoy visiting the restaurant with my family but decided an occasional visit was probably best. After another visit I’m extremely disappointed and will sadly probably not go back.
Sure, they have the same rum drinks and fun tiki kitsch but they changed their historic menu. Gone is the flat bread with homemade peanut butter spread (though you can ask them to whip some up in the back), gone are the beloved Polynesian themed entrees and desserts. I had been salivating at the thought of my favorite curry dish (which by the way came with about 8 mini toppings to put in the curry including currents, coconut flakes and sunflower seeds) and was SHOCKED to find that the menu now contained less than exciting steak and chicken dishes. On top of the now bland menu items the prices remained as high as when they were presenting specialty dishes. I settled on some sushi rolls which were generous in size and the quality was decent.
Trader Vic’s remains a fun destination for drinks but unless they bring back their historic menu I don’t think I’ll be running to come eat their $ 32 steak entrée anytime soon.

We were pretty disappointed that Trader Vic’s was not better than what we expected.
We had looked at their menu online ahead of time just to get an idea of what we’d like to order. Immediately after we were seated, I glanced at the menu and they didnt have the dish I wanted! I asked about the dish I had seen on the online menu and was advised by our waiter that they took that particular dish off. Our waiter was extremely friendly though, and he must have spoken with the chef, because he offered to have a dish made that was similar to what I wanted.
We ordered the scallops and shrimp in a cream sauce with noodles (added per request). This was a disappointment, especially since I just had the most delicious seafood pasta dishes in San Francisco.
We also tried the prix fixe menu ($ 29) and we ordered the wonton soup, petite filet, and the coffee crème brûlée. The wonton soup was a bit bland, the filet was good though, and the crème brûlée was watery!!! Our waiter had seen how terrible our crème brûlée was, so he went to get us another. However, turns out the entire batch of crème brûlée was watery. So instead, he replaced our dessert with a cheesecake. Too bad we arent real big fans of cheesecake.
Overall, service here was EXCELLENT! Everyone was very attentive. It was the food that was a disappointment.

An eternal classic.
I will start with a caveat: Trader Vic’s (the entire concept, history and meaning of the greater whole) is essentially my idea of heaven.
Having been a former frequenter of the Palmer House location, in its dark, low-​ceiling, lush hideaway atmosphere, I was skeptical of what its relocation would mean. The most dreaded word in current lingo is the term «re-​imagining,» and that’s something I fear.
I should not have.
The new Vic’s, while not the same as the classic one of years gone by, still maintains an authentic Trader décor, albeit in a much airier atmosphere. I rarely actually eat at the Trader’s, although this recent visit did involve some appetizers that were definitely worthwhile.
But who goes to Trader Vic’s for the food? There is only one true reason: the Mai Tai.
After the Palmer House location closed, I moved to Austin, Texas, and had not had a chance to make the trek up to Dallas to the Vic’s there before it was shuttered last year, so the Mai Tai was by now a distant memory. I had looked up the recipe on the ol’ interweb, and, with electric ice crusher in one hand, and aluminum shaker in the other, I spent my time here in Austin perfecting the traditional Trader’s Mai Tai, and, of course, attempting to order said drink anytime I visited a place that should know how to make one. One pineapple juice soaked atrocity followed another and faded my original memory until I began to doubt my own concoction.
I needed the real thing.
So, when fate brought me back to Chicago, I naturally had to order the classic. Nearly six years of anticipation made the wait unbearable, and although I KNOW the bartender was not lollygagging, it felt like forever. As luck would have it, we were seated close enough to see that the mixologist was creating the drink the old fashioned way… no bottled mixes. And finally … it arrived. Sitting in the new anniversary tumblers, with a half a lime in the bottom and a sprig of mint on the top, it was the most perfect thing I had ever seen. And I sipped…
My first impression was this: my own Mai Tai was DEAD ON, and, well, all these other morons who think they know what they are doing… (I’m looking at you, Hula Hut in Austin, and El Tropicano in San Antonio)… you kids are just the Glenn Beck of alcohol; passing off blatant lies wrapped up in familiar names, with no justification or respect for the truth.
My professional advice: Have two.
To those who call Vic’s «Kitschy» — I beg to differ. Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic… they invented this. Kitschy is a bar with «tiki bar» signs purchased from the Hobby Lobby and tacked to the wall.
This is the real deal.
— — — — — — —
addendum: In response to Arch’s review:
The mai tai has not changed in price. It was $ 9 for several years at the Palmer House location, half price on Thursdays. Guess which day I preferred to go?

Once you get to be married going out to bars loses a bit of its appeal. I mean, what’s going to happen? I’ll meet another woman I want to marry? That would be very awkward for my current wife, who is usually sitting right next to me, and I’m not going to put her through that.
Bars like the one at Trader Vic’s are an exception, though, due to the unique atmosphere and the plethora of excellent drinks available. The food continues to improve, and the French Onion Soup is incredibly delicious.

I don’t know what it is about fruity drinks and Hawaiian décor that puts me in a happy mood – maybe it had something to do with the company – but nothing says relaxing like a mai tai (though I’ve had better mai tais in Hawaii), a wicker chair, and good service.

Saturday night out with Mom is complete with some fruity cocktails. The drink menu is extensive with calorie-​laden fruity punches but thankfully they at least pack a punch. I had a peach-​y rum drink complete with a half peach. 11 $ — yes, but at least I felt it afterwards.
Then the food — my mom and I are both gluten free diners and our server was very knowledgeable about our options (no separate gf menu though) and even had the chef modify my moms scallop dish. I had the wasabi crusted filet and these amazing potatoes. Not just regular mashed potatoes — mashed yellow sweet potatoes with scallions, sweet & savory and my favorite part of the dinner by far.

I have really mixed feelings about this place.
My friend suggested we try Trader Vic’s after work one night. We kicked off our girl’s night with a Caipirinha and a Mai Tai. Our server, George, brought out our drinks and scurried away just as my friend was starting to ask him a question regarding the menu. I saw the exact same thing happen to a table behind us.
After we finally placed our order – some sushi and a sashimi salad – we didn’t see him for a long time. The bus boy treated us 10x better than our actual server. He brought our food out, cleared plates and checked in on us often. Maybe George was taking a 30min break, who knows?
The food was quite good – Mt Vic Roll, which included eel, avocado, shrimp, scallop and crab. And my sashimi salad was awesome! Three different kinds of fish on a bed of seaweed salad and land greens with a soy vinaigrette.
In short, we liked our food and drinks, but the service was pretty bad. Next time we’ll sit in the Tiki Lounge. Or better yet, we’ll just go to Sola.

…DISCLAIMER: Tiki Bar review ONLY…
A phenomenal choice to kickoff a bachelorette party with a group of positively scorching hot women. While it is downright Hawaiian thematic to the gills, Trader Vic’s manages to not be entirely too cheesy while still maintaining a bubbly, vivacious vibe. Cheers especially to Kevin behind the bar who treated us phenomenally and even subbed my fluffy pineapple upside down shot for a real big girls Jameson after Ang elegantly dumped mine in her lap ;)
TV’s signature cocktails are deliciously dangerous… what do you give 13 girls who roll into your bar like a muthertruckin’ freight train? MAI TAI’s! Fruity, punchy, strong as hell Mai Tai’s. Just what the bad decision doctor ordered. Loved ‘em!
Seems like a truly fun atmosphere for a birthday dinner or large group soirée — clearly we enjoyed the bar vibe tremendously — Heeeey-​Ooo! Trader Vic’s in Beverly Hills has always been tasty and entertaining so I see no reason why the Chicago spot would be any different.
Be back soon TV… keep the Mai Tai’s cold and the bartenders hot!

Kitschy with a capital «K» that’s for sure! Go with the right attitude cuz Trader Vics is a place to laugh and have fun all the while with a parrot sticking out of your drink!
The first time I stepped into a Trader Vics had to be about 20 years ago in Toronto. I remember sipping my drink in a coconut shell and poking myself in the face with the mini umbrella that was stuck in it. Fast forward to Chicago where the original was in the basement of the Palmer House Hilton.
While the old location was dark and musty– this new reincarnation, while still dark (especially in the bar area) is clean and has all the fun that Trader Vics is– crazy named drinks with toys sticking out of them, Hawaiian food, and funny little things around that made me laugh (check out the curse on the bathroom door!)
After drinks at the «tiki hut» bar– we were seated in the main dining room where we could watch the chef cook things up in a Chinese Grill. Know before you go– that any of the entrees that are cooked in that grill take 45 minutes (the waiter should warn you). But the smell alone of the apple wood from that grill makes your mouth water when you walk in the room, and tempts you to order off the grill menu versus the traditional Trader Vics menu where the items come up right away.
We ordered a bunch of appetizers that were okay but not great; egg rolls, raw oysters and the crab Rangoon’s. The story goes that Trader Vics actually was the creator of Crab Rangoon’s back in the 50’s (true? I don’t know but the Rangoon’s were quite tasty!)
Our entrees were only so so. My wasabi encrusted filet was quite good– but the two fish dishes at the table lacked flavor. The mahi-​mahi had a weird texture and the sea bass was good but bland.
For dessert– go with the banana fritters. Deep fried bananas with whipped cream and ice cream with a caramel sauce– seriously worth every calorie!
Not an every night place– but when you want to let your hair down and pretend the sea breezes are blowing through that hair– check out Trader Vics. Just be careful not to poke your eye out with one of the interesting drink accessories!

If you can’t have fun at Trader Vic’s, I’m going to dub you a sourpuss. Sure, the Polynesian décor is a bit cliched but for a couple of hours, lighten up and suspend your disbelief: let’s have mai tais in Tahiti!
I came her on a Friday night with a largish group and the wonderful staff quickly found a prime table for us in the lounge area. We ordered mai tais, which aren’t just fun and games here. No no no, they’re very serious, stiff mai tais. But delectable, too. I also tried the ‘Siboney’ cocktail: dark rum, passion fruit, pineapple and lemon. Almost as good as the mai tai and only $ 6! Also, the perfectly round, crushed ice TV’s uses just does it for me.
Trader Vic’s serves an extensive menu including sushi so you won’t go hungry– I tried a bite of my friend’s tasty grilled tuna sandwich with fries. Speaking of delicious, so is the crowd. Wow, does TV’s attract a diverse group of patrons! Well done.