The brief variation: Since 1956, the Mai-Kai cafe features supported American and Cantonese-inspired dishes and products while entertaining friends with its renowned tiki tv show. The Mai-Kai stays a favorite with both natives and visitors visiting the Fort Lauderdale, Fl, place for the amazing atmosphere, stirred fare, and romance-inducing waterfalls, lagoons, and tropical home gardens. Throughout the years, folks from nationwide have actually checked out the Mai-Kai to celebrate engagements, wedding anniversaries, birthdays as well as to breathe new lease of life into time evenings. If you’re searching for superb dinner with a lively floor show, reserve a table in one of the special, lush dining spaces within Mai-Kai.
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Since starting in 1956, the Mai-Kai cafe happens to be regarded as certainly South Florida´s many distinctive and captivating dinner and enjoyment places. The Mai-Kai authentically recreates a Polynesian village with tiki torches, a wooden plank connection access, and luxurious tropic home gardens.
“The Mai-Kai has extreme assortment of museum high quality Oceanic items â tiki carvings and face masks â that were accumulated for the 1950s and sixties as well as have become a draw for a number of enthusiasts and pupils observe,” Mai-Kai management Kern Mattei mentioned about the restaurant’s decoration.
The Mai-Kai continues to be operate because of the exact same family exactly who unsealed it over 60 years back, and it’s really been voted “greatest Tiki Bar in America” by Coastal lifestyle Magazine â along with additional awards in Islands mag and also at Critiki.com. In 2014, the Mai-Kai happened to be included with the nationwide enter of traditional Places.
While those designations interest the crowds of people, the bulk of the Mai-Kai’s business comes from residents. “the Molokai Bar has once a week regulars whom come for our well-known happy time, many of them becoming business specialists,” Kern mentioned. “All of our meals and programs are ideal for special events, so we see from high-school sweethearts to 50-year wedding anniversaries â therefore it is really a place for everyone.”
Impressed Cuisine Transports Diners to Island Shores
Diners are interested in this South Florida solution for its mouthwatering food. From the moment you start the selection, you will discover a lot to talk about along with your time; namely tips decide what to pick from the bistro’s expansive choices. Should you take to the Oysters Rockefeller (oysters shucked and baked with new spinach and old Parmesan) or get the Canoe Appetizer (infant back ribs, tuna poke, and shrimp tempura roll) which is ideal for two? You might like to choose both, but that is only the beginning of the decadence.
Kern informed you of some dishes couples don’t wanna overlook. “lots of people check out the Mai-Kai to try our Peking Duck. It really is a complete duck that acts two and is perfect for sharing,” the guy mentioned. “We additionally provide USDA Prime Steaks, and our very own nyc Strip, cooked within wood burning up Chinese Ovens, is completely tasty. For treat, we have some tableside flambé meals, like our very own Banana Bengali, that’s rum flamed apples offered over vanilla extract frozen dessert.”
The Mai-Kai can well-known for its inventive and potent person beverages. The restaurant requires exclusive â and accountable â way of the exotic drinks. Diners can pick the potency of their own beverage by staying with the menu’s categorical listings: non-alcoholic, moderate, medium, and powerful. Rum lovers will like the variety of above 40 rum-infused cocktails. Take to the owner’s specialty, dark Magic, or even the favorite of countless reviewers on TripAdvisor, the Zombie.
Partners are also encouraged to take pleasure in some after-dinner discussion with tropical products, like light Gardenia Lei for an icy finish or the Mai-Kai’s popular Kona java Grog with coffee, rum, honey cream, and spices, and that is set ablaze tableside providing your evening an unforgettable finish. Then merely relax and enjoy the tiki program whilst sip on your own products.
Take in the amazing Ambiance because of the state’s Longest-Running Polynesian Show
The Mai-Kai’s warm environment motivates a calm conversation and an enchanting background for a date. “The Mai-Kai features a vintage sense without appearing or experiencing old,” Kern stated of this environment. “The décor is traditional tiki design with monster tikis, waterfalls, torches, and a thatched roofing system on the outside. Tiki poles, monkeypod dining tables, black velvet mural art, and oceanic items adorn the interior. It’s a genuinely special dining knowledge.”
Pick one of this uniquely embellished spaces to take pleasure from meals or head outside. “we now have outside sitting in our warm gardens one of the tikis and falls, and during the cold winter several months, this is the the majority of intimate place to be,” Kern mentioned. “soothing which includes refreshing exotic drinks, delicious meals, and great organization inside our gardens can’t be conquer.”

After dinner, site visitors can enjoy an authentic Polynesian overall performance in a lush tropical environment. “friends can get observe Polynesia’s rich heritage in dances such as the Hawaiian marriage song, in which two young fans tend to be separated immediately after which reunited in-marriage,” Kern said. “or perhaps the spirited Tahitian solo drum dancing competitors from Polynesia’s biggest yearly cultural gathering â the âHeiva I Tahiti.'”
Annually, Mireille Thornton, the Mai-Kai’s holder and choreographer, produces brand new interpretations of village existence in the Southern Pacific to keep the shows new and vibrant. In 2010’s tv show boasts more musicians, drums, and extremely colorful halloween costumes that illuminate the phase. The step-by-step outfits tend to be hand-sewn and reflect the spirit of Southern Seas.
Each one of these aspects combine to speak the culture regarding the Polynesian individuals during the turn associated with the 20th millennium. The tv series is supposed to be enthralling for all ages, and, since Mireille creates new interpretations each year, friends might have a new experience every time they head to.
The Mai-Kai Creates a Place for Couples to Linger some Longer
People really love the Mai-Kai, therefore shows in separate web evaluations on the unique activity location. David Weiser liked every element of his go to, and stated the food, beverages, and tv show had been highlights.
“the meals was tasty, and now we tested plenty. The tropical drinks are potent if you prefer them to end up being (you can order tiki beverages in a range of alcoholic talents). But it is the improvements inside the demonstrate that actually impressed myself,” David said.
“This culturally painful and sensitive piece now identifies and distinguishes the dances and societies of several pan-Pacific countries. The cast of dancers and artists are really skilled and come from all around the globe. The climactic flame dance could thrilling.” It’s small variations like those who David mentions that produce a romantic date night at Mai-Kai very memorable. The employees cares about visitors and takes satisfaction in every single detail, from exotic plants on the speech from the meals with the carefully built halloween costumes associated with the dancers. It really is a big reason people return.
As soon as we questioned Kern to inform united states about one of his true preferred tales in regards to the Mai-Kai, he relayed an account about a rather nostalgic and enchanting few. “We host most wedding receptions and receptions here at the Mai-Kai, as our tropical gardens will be the great destination to hold nuptials. We’ve a special couple which was married right here 17 years back, and, annually since their unique wedding ceremony, they go back to commemorate their anniversary by renewing their particular marriage vows within our gardens. The audience is recognized to assist them commemorate around.”
Very apply your own Sunday best (the restaurant has a gown code), make a reservation, and treat someone special to a great night of flame dancers, area fare, and plenty of festive umbrella drinks in the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.






