Mai-Kai Restaurant

Doesn't Recommend

ppinesmarg

Joined 5 years ago

SAVE YOUR MONEY, so many other NICE places in town!. I took my family to the Mai Kai last night, 1st you wait on BUSY Hwy1 to park your car, the service started off good and went down hill from there. After we received our appetizers and main dish (over priced and everything is an extra charge) we did not see our waitress again. I had to get water for our party and clear the table of the dirty dishes myself. When I complained to what seemed like a man in charge he "barked" at me "she is busy, your gonna be here for at least another hour anyway." The show was good and the dancers were GREAT. They then had the nerve of automatically adding a $64.00 tip to our bill for service that was awful. We will never go back; their are sooo many other nice RESTAURANTS in Ft. Lauderdale. SAVE YOUR MONEY! I give Kudos to the valet they were working their buns off. We received our car much quicker than I thought we would.

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jwr007

Joined 6 years ago

Twilight Zoni-ness, hey now!. The show was cheeky, food was 50/50 .... And neither my date nor I could understand the announcer guy.

Here is my best impression. "Welcome ladies and gntlma hey and kizz... now your gonna wan kosa wi smalla hey!!! , and the dancers fru Polaneeesaaaaaa.... hey now ..... enjoy !! .......here they rrrrrrrrr!" ....... You will understand when you go believe me (just have another of their famous drinks - you'll be fine).....and you will go because of its legacy..

Now, I must set the stage for the night I decided to go to Mai-Kai. This was my first time to the restaurant as well as the first time my date had been as well (mind you this was our "first" date). I was really trying to impress so taking her somewhere with a stellar reputation is of course in order. I looked on line for the best in Ft Lauderdale and paid attention to $$$$ as this would surely never fail??!! Summary: Budget Vegas show with locally hired Latin?s (okay some of the girls had skill in the hips) impersonating Polynesian dancers.

At first we were seated on the main floor at what seemed to be the extended children's table - seriously at the end of adjoined tables with a dozen kids. The staff was polite and relocated us - much better.. now on the elevated level (Oh, did I mention the air conditioner was on the fritz - little fans tried oscillated in vein in an attempt to keep everyone cool - wasn't working for my date.....she was HOT! .... ya I mean hot ! - sorry... back to my review.

The new seating was much better?.beside a large party of Latinos. There was one guy though that was too funny and it seemed that every time he ended a complete sentence it was with a drum roll sound .....ya know BRRRRRRRRR......( We both LOAOOOOOO - thank you for having a great sense of humor SM :-) But, what is the restaurant suppose to do about that?!

Let me save you $130 - Fire will the grand finale. Out of town parents would love it, you should do it at least once for the experience.

JWR

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robertinflorida

Joined 6 years ago

I always seem to go back. It's an ok place if you don't mind blowing the electric bill money... I still can't get my arms around a 4.00 side order of rice

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cranklanston

Joined 6 years ago

Barrel o Rum. I am a local and I go here 2 or 3 times a year. I have seen the fire show many times and it's still pretty good. I like the barrel o rum drinks and the Crab Rangoon the best. I get the duck or crispy duck. Yes, it's too expensive, but if you're in a mood to go it's really a gas. I went one time with friends to the bar and ordered appetizers. I loved it, they choked when they saw the price. I paid the bill just to shut them up. Then they relaxed and enjoyed it. I have been there about 30 times and have never had a service problem or a crummy waiter. And I have enjoyed the food that I got. I usually buy something in the gift shop because they have some weird stuff in there.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Vintage tiki memories from the golden age of cocktail lounge culture.. In Short
Founded in 1956, Mai-Kai is a visual marvel that's also one of the country's last true tiki bars. It boasts a thatch-roof exterior and multiple dining rooms--each decorated in hard woods and bamboo, as well as an outdoor garden with a waterfall. Nightly hula numbers and daring torch dances. To accompany the dazzling floor show, the kitchen offers an enormous seafood menu. Dishes range from sushi to lobster bisque.

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kevinjohn808

Joined 7 years ago

Cool, Retro Ambience -- Mediocre Food. Friends were raving about the retro Mai Kai. How cool to find an old Tiki restaurant in original condition! I agree that the place is a throwback to another era, but so is the food.

We went for appetizers and cocktails. The drinks were strong and tasty. The food left a lot to be desired. Everything we ordered --and we ordered almost everything on the appetizer list-- was sub-par. Either salty or bland. The Mai Kai should alter their standard 50's fare to taste good to the clean palate of today. They have certainly raised the prices to reflect modern wallets. Nothing impressive about the food at all. Service was for the most part cheerful and attentive.

I would not return for a full dinner judging from the food we tried. No floor show could make up for the lackluster fare.

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kevdem

Joined 8 years ago

The best service you could asked for!. Great show! Want to impress friends from of town? Bring them here! The food was wonderful, but the service was the best I have ever had! The atmosphere, was perfect! It was worth evry penny!

You could not ask for better dining!

Doesn't Recommend

anasi

Joined 11 years ago

You must be kidding.... My husband and I were eagerly anticipating our evening at the Mai-Kai while we were in Ft. Lauderdale for our honeymoon. We are terribly disappointed to say that our server was negligent (we had a dirty plate on our table for over an hour, we left before it did!), the CHINESE food, albeit good was grossly overpriced and were child size portions. Drinks were insanely expensive, and I've tasted better deserts at a fast food restaurant. The show was the one saving grace of the evening, although we missed parts while our waitress stood in front of us as she talked to another table at length. Even the Maitre d' was lacking in courtesy.

Doesn't Recommend

rickyk

Joined 11 years ago

not again. The restaurant is over priced. You leave there hungry.I will not go there again. The show is 45 min. long the food stinks.

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twloopie

Joined 11 years ago

Amazing!. This place has it all. Great show, fabulous food and a drink menu that is out of this world. I couldn't believe when the waitress handed me the drink menu - I thought it was the food menu because it was so large. My boyfriend and I enjoyed it so much, we only wish we had found it sooner. I can't wait to go back next time we're in Florida. Make sure you walk around outside too.