While visiting Tipsy's parents in the scenic Dallas area for the holidays, we were lured on a Tipsy Field Trip to Trader Vic's, located in the former Dallas Hilton, now the Palomar Hotel. It was originally opened in 1967 and operated until 1989, at which point it was bought and shuttered by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The Maharishi apparently didn't have a taste for alcohol and so was not as thrilled to have a tiki lounge in his basement as I would. However, for whatever reason he was thankfully in no hurry to use the space, and so it sat unused for the better part of twenty years. When the Palomar folks bought the place, they restored and renovated as much of the original restaurant as was possible. The addition at the front of the hotel necessitated the construction of a new entrance hallway, but it looks pretty good to me. Here are some pictures from our visit. I will refrain from posting too much information, because a very elaborate discussion thread is available at tikiroom.com, with some fabulous photos of the restored restaurant, and some from before the restoration.

Here is the new entrance, which is several yards in front of the old entrance, as far as I can tell

This entryway connects the old entrance to the new one, under an addition that the Palomar added to the old Dallas Hilton

The Tiki Bowl was probably the least favorite of the drinks that we tried, but it's hard to pass up a drink served in a big ass tiki bowl

The Fog Cutter is a tiki classic, especially served in this kitschy glass

This was the only non-classic tiki drink we tried, called Hendrick's Delight. Consisting of Hendricks, Pimms, muddled lime & orange, with a splash of lemon juice and brown sugar syrup.

We also tried the Navy Grogg and the Zombie. I don't know so much about the tiki lounge as to consider myself an expert. But I have made a lot of these drinks and I think Trader Vic's does an enjoyable job. As far as atmosphere goes, it was great. A gentleman by the name of Ricardo was our bartender, and his service was fabulous. He was somewhat new to the craft but was full of curiosity which is I think essential to someone in this business. Trader Vic's is a major international organization and as such they obviously are not going to be the most "authentic" tiki experience (they have a pimento dram, for example, but upon closer inspection I observed that it contains high fructose corn syrup); on the other hand they are one of the big names in tiki, have been doing it for decades, and this particular location and its artifacts are relics from tiki past. Despite its shortcomings, it felt like an important destination for the Tipsy Texans to investigate.

I have no idea what Ricardo served me in this coconut. But I know I drank it. And liked it.