Trader Vic's

It's akin to going-in an out-door. The ultra-lounge (remember these are people who would pile into warehouses for Raves) concept does not mix with the Tiki-lounge vibe. The result is a mess which does neither group much good. I've heard for some time it's changing it's theme to a Sammy Van Hagar tequilla bar (how exciting). It's difficult because you can't simply appeal to these narrow tiki collectors who are looking for nostalgia.

This place is really not all that bad. It is a nice contemporary polynesian/topical restaurant that had some really neat decor (I did not go upstairs to the lounge). It just doesn't look, taste, or sound like Trader Vic's. Give it another name and more consistent food quality and I'd be all over it! It was extremely windy the day I was there, so they weren't serving on the patio, but on subsequent days, I saw many people eating and drinking out there as I passed by. I could imagine it would be very nice to spend a summer afternoon sipping a cold tropical beverage, while watching the people and the Bellagio Fountains from the large patio.

The one drink I ordered was a "classic Trader Vic's Mai Tai made the old-fashioned way from scratch". What I got was not that. It wasn't a bad drink, and wasn't toooo far off, but it wasn't a mai tai. It wasn't served in a TV Mai Tai glass, there was no mint, and I think there was a bit of OJ in it. Most of the food we had was good, but there is certainly room for improvement. Service was quick and friendly, of course there were only about four tables of people, so there wouldn't have been much excuse for anything less.

I know that there have been a lot of negative things said about this place, but I enjoyed myself both times I went. The first time I went with my tiki honey and friends and had dinner in the dining room and the second time we went by ourselves and had lunch on the patio. Both were very different experiences, but both were enjoyed.

We went to Vegas in October 2009 and this Trader Vic's has closed. Gone the way of so many others. We were told that the space is being remodeled into some kind of high-end club.

It is a Cabo Wabo now. I was really surprised to see it gone.

It's really sad to see this location go. Should have opened it in any other property but Planet Hollywood.

Despite the low tiki factor, this TV had a pretty cool vibe. I hate to think what has happened to the large tiki columns.