Eat & Drink
Originally published on Friday, 27th March 2009
Trader Vic's
Forget going without socks, it's at this time of year, when the sun teases us with an impromptu performance of what we hope is to come, that I get cravings for a pina colada.
And there's nowhere in London that does kitsch cocktails quite as well as Trader Vic's. There's something that takes you straight back to the first 'exotic' holiday you went on as a kid when you walk into the place (admittedly whether it was Vegas or a themed restaurant in Blackpool), and, some may be interested to know, was the main inspiration behind Mahiki.
But there's nowhere quite like the original, with its 'Love Boat' style decor, Seventies tinged desert menu - where else can you get ice cream flambe with kumquat sauce - and, of course, its famously extensive cocktail list - from Mai Tai to Passion Punch, order a 'mini canoe' to share and grab a straw each.
But of course, ahem, this is supposed to be a restaurant review so I should probably report that the place has a pretty extensive food menu, featuring crab cakes with red pepper vinaigrette and Cantonese style steamed sea bass, and is now doing suckling pig on a Friday and a monthly changing special of three courses and a cocktail for £25.
So, not somewhere to take your seriously foodie friends perhaps but certainly good, retro fun.
Hours: Hours: Mon-Sun 6pm-12.30am • Bar: Mon-Thurs & Sun open til 1am & Fri-Sat til 3am
Place: London Hilton, 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE
Cost: £40
Web: tradervics.com
Book: 020 7208 4113
