Post #227298 by Humuhumu on Tue, Apr 18, 2006 12:14 PM

I had very similar concerns before I visited the Monterey Hula's. Indeed, I believe that when they first opened years ago, their concept was a little more simple; geared a bit more to generic modern tropical Hawaii. Technically, the name isn't Hula's, it's Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Bar, but that's such a mouthful (and the extra words pretty much just state the obvious anyhow), that everyone just calls it Hula's.

After building the place (which is just a few blocks from Munktiki HQ, and you can get your drink served in a Munktiki mug), the owners got a bit more into vintage Polynesian Pop. They expanded the restaurant into a side room, which this time was decked out in true PolyPop fashion -- bamboo booths, lauhala matting, velvet paintings, and the biggest Tiki Tony carving I've ever seen. The Mai Tai I was served was an honest attempt at the Trader Vic's recipe -- no pineapple or grenadine -- and was very, very close. The main dining room area is still more simple (though it has a number of cool carved panels, which I think were done by Bosko), but that side room is awesome. When we ate there, we spoke with one of the owners, and he told us he was dying to go all-Poly-Pop at their next location.

In my opinion, the news of Hula's opening a location in your town is perhaps as good as if Trader Vic's was. It still has all the potential pitfalls of any new spot: who knows what the decor really will be, or the drinks, or the food -- but the decor & food in Monterey are way better than the modern-day Vic's I've been to, and the drinks are about on par with the average not-the-best-but-still-good Vic's bartender.

Critiki - Ooga-Mooga - Humu Kon Tiki

[ Edited by: Humuhumu 2006-04-18 12:16 ]