The Quick variation: Since 1956, the Mai-Kai bistro features offered United states and Cantonese-inspired dishes and beverages while entertaining guests featuring its celebrated tiki tv show. The Mai-Kai stays a preferred with both natives and visitors visiting the Fort Lauderdale, Fl, place for the exotic atmosphere, impressed food, and romance-inducing falls, lagoons, and tropical gardens. Over the years, folks from nationwide have actually visited the Mai-Kai to commemorate involvements, anniversaries, birthdays also to inhale new way life into time nights. If you’re looking for superb eating with a lively floor program, hold a table within the distinctive, luxurious dinner spaces at Mai-Kai.
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Since beginning in 1956, the Mai-Kai restaurant was regarded as certainly one of Southern Florida´s the majority of distinctive and captivating dining and enjoyment spots. The Mai-Kai authentically recreates a Polynesian village with tiki torches, a wooden plank connection entry, and abundant tropic home gardens.
“The Mai-Kai has a big selection of museum top quality Oceanic items â tiki carvings and goggles â which were obtained inside the 1950s and 1960s and then have become a draw for all collectors and pupils observe,” Mai-Kai Manager Kern Mattei said concerning cafe’s design.
The Mai-Kai continues to be operated of the same family exactly who opened it over 60 years back, and it is already been chosen “most useful Tiki club in the us” by Coastal dwelling mag â and different accolades in Islands mag as well as Critiki.com. In 2014, the Mai-Kai happened to be added to the nationwide Register of ancient spots.
While those designations attract the crowds of people, the bulk of the Mai-Kai’s company is inspired by locals. “the Molokai club has actually regular regulars which come in regards to our popular delighted hour, a lot of them getting company experts,” Kern stated. “Our meals and shows are ideal for special occasions, therefore we see everything from high school sweethearts to 50-year wedding anniversaries â so it in fact is somewhere for everybody.”
Stirred Cuisine Transports Diners to isle Shores
Diners are interested in this Southern Fl basic because of its mouthwatering food. As soon as you open the selection, you will discover a lot to speak about together with your time; namely simple tips to determine what to choose from the bistro’s expansive offerings. In the event you try the Oysters Rockefeller (oysters shucked and baked with new oatmeal and old Parmesan) or get the Canoe Appetizer (infant back ribs, tuna poke, and shrimp tempura roll) that’s perfect for two? You can also select both, but that’s only the beginning of the decadence.
Kern informed all of us of a few meals lovers wont should overlook. “Many people go to the Mai-Kai to test our Peking Duck. Its a complete duck that serves two and is ideal for sharing,” he said. “We also serve USDA Prime Steaks, and all of our New York Strip, made in our wood using up Chinese Ovens, is totally tasty. For dessert, we some tableside flambé meals, like all of our Banana Bengali, and that’s rum flamed apples supported over vanilla frozen dessert.”

The Mai-Kai normally fabled for their inventive and effective sex drinks. The restaurant requires exclusive â and responsible â method to its warm beverages. Diners can pick the potency of their cocktail by staying with the selection’s categorical directories: non-alcoholic, mild, average, and strong. Rum lovers will love the assortment of significantly more than 40 rum-infused cocktails. Decide to try the property owner’s favorite, dark secret, or the favorite of many writers on TripAdvisor, the Zombie.
Couples may also be motivated to enjoy some after-dinner dialogue with exotic beverages, like the light Gardenia Lei for an icy finish or perhaps the Mai-Kai’s well-known Kona Coffee Grog with coffee, rum, honey ointment, and herbs, and that is set ablaze tableside offering the evening a remarkable finish. Subsequently merely settle-back and relish the tiki show when you sip on your beverages.
Absorb the unique atmosphere aided by the Country’s Longest-Running Polynesian Show
The Mai-Kai’s tropical environment encourages a calm discussion and offers a romantic background for a date. “The Mai-Kai has an antique feel without looking or feeling old,” Kern mentioned on the atmosphere. “The décor is actually classic tiki design with icon tikis, falls, torches, and a thatched roofing system on the outside. Tiki posts, monkeypod tables, black colored velvet mural art, and oceanic artifacts adorn the inside. It’s a genuinely unique dining experience.”
Pick one associated with the uniquely adorned spaces to relish meals or head in the open air. “There is outside seating inside our warm gardens among tikis and waterfalls, and during the cold winter several months, it’s the most romantic location to end up being,” Kern mentioned. “soothing with some energizing tropical products, tasty meals, and fantastic organization in our landscapes cannot be beat.”
After dinner, website visitors will enjoy a geniune Polynesian overall performance in a lush tropic setting. “visitors can get observe Polynesia’s rich heritage in dances for instance the Hawaiian marriage tune, in which two young enthusiasts are divided after which reunited in-marriage,” Kern mentioned. “Or the spirited Tahitian solamente drum party opposition from Polynesia’s largest yearly cultural celebration â the âHeiva we Tahiti.'”
Yearly, Mireille Thornton, the Mai-Kai’s manager and choreographer, creates brand-new interpretations of village existence in Southern Pacific to keep the shows new and dynamic. This year’s tv show boasts even more musicians, drums, and extremely colorful halloween costumes that light the stage. The detail by detail outfits are hand-sewn and echo the heart regarding the Southern Seas.
All these elements incorporate to communicate the culture on the Polynesian folks through the turn of this 20th century. The tv show is meant to end up being enthralling for every ages, and, since Mireille generates brand new perceptions each year, friends may have an innovative new knowledge every time they head to.
The Mai-Kai produces someplace for partners to Linger slightly Longer
People love the Mai-Kai, and it also shows in independent on the web product reviews associated with the unique enjoyment place. David Weiser loved every part of their visit, and said the foodstuff, drinks, and show were highlights.
“the meals had been tasty, and then we sampled a lot. The exotic beverages tend to be effective if you’d like these to be (you can order tiki products in various alcohol strengths). But it’s the improvements into the demonstrate that actually amazed myself,” David mentioned.
“This culturally delicate part now determines and differentiates the dances and cultures of several pan-Pacific countries. The cast of performers and musicians are incredibly talented and come from worldwide. The climactic fire party is really thrilling.” Its little contacts like the ones that David mentions that make a night out together evening at Mai-Kai therefore remarkable. The employees cares about friends and requires pride in every single detail, through the exotic blossoms towards speech of the food with the very carefully built halloween costumes associated with performers. Its a huge good reason why folks return.
Whenever we requested Kern to inform all of us about one of his true favorite stories regarding the Mai-Kai, he relayed a tale about a really nostalgic and romantic few. “We host lots of weddings and receptions only at the Mai-Kai, as our tropical landscapes include best destination to hold nuptials. We’ve an unique pair that was hitched here 17 years ago, and, annually since their particular wedding ceremony, they come back to celebrate their unique anniversary by renewing their wedding vows in our gardens. We’re recognized to help them commemorate with us.”
Therefore apply your Sunday most useful (the cafe does have a dress code), make a reservation, and address special someone to a fun night of fire performers, area food, and plenty of festive umbrella products at Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.
