Just take Date Night to an enchanting Polynesian haven at Fort Lauderdale´s Mai-Kai Restaurant
The Quick Version: Since 1956, the Mai-Kai bistro has offered American and Cantonese-inspired meals and drinks while enjoyable friends with its popular tiki show. The Mai-Kai stays a popular with both natives and tourists browsing Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area because of its amazing ambiance, impressed fare, and romance-inducing falls, lagoons, and warm gardens. Throughout the years, people from from coast to coast have checked out the Mai-Kai to celebrate engagements, wedding anniversaries, birthdays in addition to to inhale new lease of life into day nights. If you’re looking for superb eating with a lively flooring show, book a table within the distinctive, lavish dining areas during the Mai-Kai.
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Since opening in 1956, the Mai-Kai bistro happens to be considered among Southern Florida´s many special and captivating dining and entertainment places. The Mai-Kai authentically recreates a Polynesian community with tiki torches, a wooden plank link entrance, and lavish tropical landscapes.
“The Mai-Kai features extreme collection of museum top quality Oceanic items â tiki carvings and masks â that were accumulated when you look at the 1950s and sixties and have come to be a draw for all collectors and college students observe,” Mai-Kai management Kern Mattei stated about the restaurant’s decoration.
The Mai-Kai is still run of the same family who unsealed it over 60 years back, and it is already been voted “greatest Tiki club in the usa” by Coastal life mag â in addition to some other accolades in isles mag and at Critiki.com. In 2014, the Mai-Kai was even put into the National enter of Historic Places.
While those designations appeal to the crowds of people, the majority of the Mai-Kai’s company arises from natives. “Our Molokai pub has actually regular regulars which come for the well-known pleased hour, many being company pros,” Kern said. “Our dinners and programs are perfect for special events, and we also see sets from highschool sweethearts to 50-year anniversaries â as a result it in fact is a location for everyone.”
Impressed Cuisine Transports Diners to Island Shores
Diners tend to be attracted to this South Florida basic for the mouthwatering food. From the moment you start the diet plan, you will discover plenty to generally share together with your go out; particularly just how to determine what available the bistro’s expansive choices. In case you try the Oysters Rockefeller (oysters shucked and baked with fresh spinach and old Parmesan) or obtain the Canoe Appetizer (child back ribs, tuna poke, and shrimp tempura roll) that’s ideal for two? You could also pick both, but that is just the start of the decadence.
Kern informed united states of some meals couples will not need miss. “a lot of people go to the Mai-Kai to try all of our Peking Duck. It is a whole duck that serves two and is also ideal for posting,” the guy said. “We in addition provide USDA Prime Steaks, and all of our New York Strip, prepared within our timber burning Chinese Ovens, is totally delicious. For treat, we now have some tableside flambé meals, like all of our Banana Bengali, that is rum flamed bananas offered over vanilla frozen dessert.”

The Mai-Kai is fabled for their inventive and effective sex drinks. The cafe takes a distinctive â and liable â way of its warm products. Diners can choose the potency of their particular beverage by staying with the menu’s categorical lists: non-alcoholic, minor, average, and strong. Rum lovers will cherish the selection of above 40 rum-infused cocktails. Attempt the owner’s specialty, dark Magic, or perhaps the ideal of numerous reviewers on TripAdvisor, the Zombie.
Partners are encouraged to enjoy some after-dinner talk with warm drinks, like light Gardenia Lei for an icy finish or perhaps the Mai-Kai’s famous Kona java Grog with coffee, rum, honey ointment, and herbs, and that is ready ablaze tableside giving your own night an unforgettable finish. Then merely settle-back and relish the tiki tv show whenever sip in your beverages.
Soak Up the unique atmosphere with all the Country’s Longest-Running Polynesian Show
The Mai-Kai’s exotic setting motivates a calm dialogue and provides an enchanting backdrop for a date. “The Mai-Kai has actually a classic sense without appearing or experiencing old,” Kern said associated with atmosphere. “The décor is classic tiki design with icon tikis, falls, torches, and a thatched roofing externally. Tiki poles, monkeypod tables, black colored velvet mural art, and oceanic artifacts adorn the within. It’s a genuinely special eating experience.”
Select one regarding the exclusively decorated rooms to enjoy a meal or head outside. “we’ve outside sitting within our warm home gardens one of the tikis and falls, and during the winter several months, it is the many intimate destination to end up being,” Kern stated. “Relaxing with a few refreshing warm beverages, delicious meals, and great company within landscapes can’t be conquer.”
After-dinner, visitors can enjoy a geniune Polynesian overall performance in a rich tropic setting. “friends should expect observe Polynesia’s wealthy history in dances including the Hawaiian wedding ceremony tune, in which two youthful enthusiasts tend to be split up after which reunited in-marriage,” Kern stated. “or perhaps the spirited Tahitian solamente drum party competitors from Polynesia’s biggest yearly social party â the âHeiva I Tahiti.'”
Annually, Mireille Thornton, the Mai-Kai’s proprietor and choreographer, produces brand new perceptions of town life into the Southern Pacific to help keep the programs fresh and dynamic. This present year’s tv series boasts even more performers, drums, and extremely colorful outfits that illuminate the phase. The step-by-step halloween costumes are hand-sewn and reflect the nature of Southern Seas.
All of these factors integrate to speak the tradition of this Polynesian folks throughout change on the twentieth millennium. The tv series is meant to end up being enthralling for many many years, and, since Mireille produces new perceptions each and every year, guests might have a knowledge whenever they visit.
The Mai-Kai Creates someplace for Couples to Linger just a little Longer
People love the Mai-Kai, and it also demonstrates in separate web critiques from the special entertainment location. David Weiser liked every part of their see, and mentioned the meals, drinks, and show had been features.
“the foodstuff was actually delicious, and we also sampled many. The tropical beverages are potent if you’d like these to end up being (you can get tiki beverages in a range of alcoholic strengths). But it is the improvements into the show that truly pleased myself,” David mentioned.
“This culturally sensitive and painful part now identifies and differentiates the dances and countries of numerous pan-Pacific islands. The cast of performers and musicians are incredibly gifted and originate from all over the globe. The climactic flame dance is actually thrilling.” Its little touches like those who David mentions that make a romantic date night at Mai-Kai so unforgettable. The staff cares about friends and requires satisfaction in almost every detail, from the tropical blooms toward demonstration regarding the food on the very carefully built halloween costumes for the performers. It really is a large reasons why folks return.
Whenever we requested Kern to inform all of us about one of his favored tales concerning Mai-Kai, he relayed a tale about a very nostalgic and passionate few. “We host most wedding events and receptions at the Mai-Kai, as our very own tropic home gardens are the great place to hold nuptials. We an unique couple that has been hitched right here 17 in years past, and, every year since their unique wedding ceremony, they go back to commemorate their own anniversary by renewing their own wedding vows within home gardens. We are honored to assist them to celebrate with our team.”
Thus apply your own Sunday most readily useful (the restaurant does have a gown code), make a reservation, and treat that special someone to a fun nights fire dancers, island fare, and lots of festive umbrella products during the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.