Having a bunch of friends with different culinary desires and needs sometimes limits us in choices of restaurants. Last night after not having been to Tiki’s for a year and  half it’s where we ended up with the gang. Arriving at 7:15 on a weekend night a couple of years ago would have meant a  long wait. Perhaps the airline collapse and declining visitor count is really taking it’s toll, as we got right in with our party of seven. Actually, the place never really filled up.

I have a very roller coaster opinion of Tiki’s. One time I’ll think “we should come here more often” and the next time I’ll think “why do we come here?” We had a great time and good food the last time; it was Halloween 2006. Staying with the roller coaster metaphor, I’d say last night we were half way down the hill. My major problem with Tiki’s is value. The prices are kind of high for what you get. If you are lucky to be seated outside then that helps add to the value, but I’ve never been seated outside.

I supposed it’s time to talk about food. I had the Cobb Salad ($14). It was solidly good, but nothing too exciting here. It was nicely composed, but it didn’t distinguish itself from any other Cobb salad. It’s pictured above.

Ed had the “local” plate of lau lau, kalua pork, etc. I think he enjoyed it very much. He kept mentioning how good i

t was.

I know he loved the purple mashed sweet potatoes.  John had some kind of fish and it looked wonderful. He was perplexed by the long beans surrounding it. A new experience for John. Tim had the Gnocchi with Kalua Pork without the pork. He enjoyed it. I tasted it and was glad I didn’t order it. Just not my thing. Howard had a house salad and fried calamari katsu steak. He didn’t notice that the calamari with a cream sauce, his achilles heel.  So, this wasn’t a favorite of Howard’s.

I’d report on the remaining two diner’s dinners, but alas the seats were ultimately left for Elijah. The service was good throughout. Overall, not a bad experience, just nothing special for the price.