Tiki Lounge Escape
By Chris Murphy
Since the 1940s, Tiki bars have been one of the ultimate escapes and quite possibly saved us after World War II as the soldiers returned from the South Pacific. Out of the daylight, with exotic Polynesian music, mixed with the bamboo and the tastes of rum cocktails, many enjoy drinks inspired by “Trader” Vic Bergeron and Don the Beachcomber. The Tiki Lounge in Modesto has returned, and this incarnation is a return to the vintage and beautiful Tiki experience, with craft cocktails that will please the rum connoisseurs. Modesto’s Tiki is enshrined in the “Book of Tiki” and was part of the original Ken Kimes network of Tiki themed lounges and motels.
Les Knoll and Gina Rossi both have a history connecting to the Tiki and have reimagined this A-frame legend for todays’ Tiki culture. The Tiki has many memories for many Modestans. My wife Becky and I used to escape to the Tiki to get lost, playing darts and enjoying the jukebox and Mai Tais. Gina once worked at the Tiki and Les was an early regular, and when the opportunity came to reopen this legendary space, they eagerly took it on and bring their other bar expertise to the Tiki.
First, a flashback walking in the back door, the neon “Tiki” still greets you. Inside, it’s a full Tiki transformation with comfortable couches and oversized chairs, cool vintage Tiki art and greenery, glass floats, a restored bar and best of all, the fire pit is back with a great dark corner behind it. The front patio features tiki umbrellas and is a good hideaway from McHenry Ave.
Now open daily, 3 pm until 12am or whenever, the Tiki is a welcome escape. Kaitlyn Cavanaugh leads the bar team and has been developing a rum forward cocktail menu with Les and Gina along with other surprises.
First, you will find a classic 1944 traditional Mai Tai that will please the pickiest Mai Tai fan. Made with an aged gold rum blend, orgeat, curacao, fresh lime with lime and mint garnish. Perfect. There are many variations of this drink with special tropical fruit versions and a new Tiki Mai Tai. You can even experience a special TikiTini with coconut and silver rums with fresh moonshine coffee and cream.
Special to this spring menu is a special line of Gin drinks. Gin is the perfect complement to the Rum flavors and one of my immediate favorites is the “Saturn”, complete with a special ring garnish featuring Dry Gin, lemon, falernum, orgeat and a dash of bitters. Out of this world.
Also on the tiki deck are the Summer Hurricane with Captain, prosecco, passion fruit and the Almond Storm with amaretto dark rum, bitters with fresh lime, great twists on some favorites. Of course, any of your other favorite cocktails or beers are on the menu.
The key theme of the new Tiki Lounge is respect to the Tiki culture and traditions and the memories of Mitch Maisetti and Pater Mah loom large in the Modesto Tiki history with a nod to the future of Tiki culture and a fresh cocktail menu.
The bar team includes Karma Mize and other familiar faces. It’s great to have two successful partners team up on this Modesto icon. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have already. It’s comfortable, fresh but a familiar and friendly escape. If those walls could talk.
The Tiki Lounge
932 McHenry Ave, Modesto. 209-840-7925
@tikimodesto and IG@tikicocktaillounge
Hours – 3pm till midnight or until they close, till 1 am Fri and Sat
