Tiki bar renaissance in River North, Logan Square
CHICAGO (WLS) -- For years, you had to venture into the basement of the Palmer House to get those fun rum drinks and crab Rangoon with a side of bamboo, but a pair of expertly curated tiki bars call Chicago home: one in trendy River North, the other in laid-back Logan Square.
Like a warm breeze from the Pacific, Three Dots and a Dash - in a River North basement below Bub City - has led the resurgence in all things tiki. A list of more than 200 rums find their way into cocktails made with freshly-squeezed juices served in festive glasses and punch bowls.
"When tiki had its heyday, back in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s it was almost a way of life. People decorated their homes, there was such a big culture. But I think for us now it is all about having fun," said Diane Corcoran, the Beverage Manager at Three Dots.
It's hard not to have fun sipping the namesake, featuring aged rum and allspice. Add to that a compact menu of Polynesian bites like crab rangoon or ahi tuna with avocado, then throw in the occasional flaming potion with extra long straws, and you've got a ready-made party.
On a desolate corner In Logan Square, the tiki sign beckons at Lost Lake, where the same guy who built the program at Three Dots has set up yet another, albeit more rustic version of tiki.
"What we try to do is put our own twist on it, but paying homage to these great tiki bars that we had here in Chicago from the 40s, 50s and 60s," said Paul McGee, one of Lost Lake's owners.
The namesake contains Appleton rum with fresh pineapple, lime and passionfruit juices, plus a bit of Campari. The Tortuga Punch is a Trader Vic's throwback, made more interesting with sweet vermouth and orange curacao.
"These drinks are a little bit larger than most drinks that you have. We like to put a lot of booze in there and have a nice backbone to all of the other flavors that are in the drinks," he said.
McGee says there is food to help soak it up a bit - eggrolls, spicy peanuts - the usual salty, spicy stuff to encourage drinking, which, in the depths of winter, isn't so bad.
"It's bitter cold and you come in here and it's like a tropical oasis," said McGee.
Three Dots and a Dash
435 N. Clark St.
(312) 610-4220
Lost Lake Tiki
3154 W. Diversey Ave.
(773) 293-6048
Hala Kahiki
2834 River Rd., River Grove
(708) 456-3222
