Post #340482 by arriano on Thu, Oct 25, 2007 10:38 AM

We went to Trader Vic’s Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon/early evening and here’s my report:

This is a place still very much in transition in that they have not finished decorating or trying different things. While we were there the owner ordered all the white table cloths removed and replaced with tan ones. There was also an elderly Asian man named “Mike” there that our waiter told us was a consultant who had worked at TV for 44 years – I presume those of you in the know will be able to identify him better than I have. Anyway, he was wandering around, straightening things here, move things there.

The outdoor bar hasn’t yet been completed. At one point sun blazed through the big windows blinding staff and guests so something is going to have to be done about that. The upstairs lounge is still under construction. Several men in suits were wandering around pointing at things and having very serious discussions. While I have doubts that TV Vegas will ever satisfy most of us with its décor, it was obvious from the short time I was there that they’re still working on the place. I have a feeling it will improve, but again I doubt it will ever be the tropical oasis we think it should be.

Apparently the owner of TV Vegas owns a big linen company and also operates the club Pure in Caesar’s Palace.

Our waiter was great – very friendly and stopped by our table to chat with us regularly, talking about the restaurant, other places in Vegas, etc. etc. Even though he was from L.A., he’d never been to the Trader Vic’s in Beverly Hills. But without us even commenting about the décor, he said that when he first came to work he expected the place to look like Disneyland’s Tiki Room.

I had three drinks and my girlfriend had two. But now here’s the most distressing part of our visit: I had a Mai Tai, Navy Grog and a Tonga Punch – all tasty but I was barely even buzzed. Now I’m not exactly a light weight, but I would expect after three cocktails like that I’d definitely be feeling it. Compare that to the next day when I had a liter of beer at the Hofbrauhaus and was definitely feeling the affects. My girlfriend who is often pretty tipsy after one cocktail also felt only vaguely buzzed. So now I’m pondering the unbelievable – is it possible that the TV Vegas skimps on the rum?? I hate to think of such a thing, but I can’t think of any other explanation and I wasn’t seated close enough to the bar to watch the drinks being made.

Could have been an inexperienced bartender, could have been the big buffet I had before absorbed the alcohol well – I don’t know. Anyone else have a similar experience?