Angela Von Buelow
(227) reviews
6/3/2007
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ Went in for lunch and had the crispy duck salad. Service was adequate. I agree with Kushnir that the décor is a generic “island” theme, resembling what I'd imagine the Best Western in Hawaii would look like. The food was okay but not worth the price. I did not have a drink, which may have improved my evaluation. I enjoyed checking out the bar with all the Buddha Belly glasses and the Bamboo shot glasses. I would be up for going back for cocktails and some small plates but would not return for a real meal.
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CaliMax
(2) reviews
1/7/2007
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ Went for the first time last night, and I liked it. Now I don't know what the old trader vic's was like but the new one is fun and fresh. I tried a couple cocktails off of their HUGE list. My date had the original mai tai but with vodka instead of rum as suggested by our waitress. The food was excellent and the price was reasonable. We both got prix fixe 3 course for $25. I ordered an additional side of creamed spinach ($6) because i like to compare differen't places' preparation. The food was all about par for that price level but my dessert was amazing. Too bad I was already stuffed from the previous two courses. When you go to trader vic's get the banana fritters! Overall a wonderful, entertaining, alternative eatery. I would go back but not immediately.
2 3 course meals
extra side
4 drinks
$90+tip ”
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Tioga Pass
(16) reviews
11/22/2006
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ I go there for the best mai tai's in the world. The food happens to be phenomenal as well, but it's quite pricey (the drinks are too).
I think this Trader Vic's has the best polynesian decor of all of them (I've also been to the one in Beverly Hills & Palo Alto).
”
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kushnir
(405) reviews
2/5/2006
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ If you only experienced the (1960-1980's)Trader Vics when it was on Cosmo Pl, with the valet parking, the dark, cavernous dinning rooms decorated in monstrous bamboo and palm trees. Sort of a cross between the Tonga Room and swiss Family Tree House in Disneyland, The polynesian music, the drums, the uniformed staff, but NOOOOOOO, they had to move into a sterile can't even tell it's polynesian except for a few nickynaks around! upscale sterile venue. The food and service was sub par. Now I am compareing it to the original restaurant. If you just fell off the truck, and came in , the experience is ok, but it's sad to see what it could have been and what it is and what it was! Now it is overpriced, overcooked and overrated! The new digs which use to be Star's restaurant, is confusing, as was the experience. For what you wind up paying for dinner for 4 , they should give you the glassware the drinks come in! Parking is acceptable, experience is not! Sorry no return here. Sad to say! ”
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mapleleafgirl
(480) reviews
12/5/2005
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ I popped in for happy hour here a few months ago. I believe they have a couple drink specials, but none of the real yummy drinks and they had a few FREE food items. The atmosphere is excellent, fun... but not super silly, kinda classy. Anyway I only sampled the free food bar but had a look at the menu...and it is a bit pricey for what it is. I would happily return for thier yummy well presented (and YES expensive) cocktails...I had a couple and they were ...mmmmmm....yum and yes they do pack a bit of a punch. THOUGH if you want MUCH less atmosphere and yet yummy even stronger cocktails for less---hit Trad'r Sam in the Outer Richmond! ”
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sfmallon
(8) reviews
8/11/2005
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ Just went to Trader Vic's for the first time last week. The ambiance is an interesting, but good, combination of classy and kitschy. The service was fantastic and the food and drinks were very good. To eat we just got a few appetizers, all good: crab cakes (excellent), Caesar salad, and veggie spring rolls. The drink I got the peach something? (with fresh peaches & rum) which was yummy sweet and deceptively strong. ”
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jpierson
(412) reviews
6/11/2005
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ It is nice to have another restaurant in the neighborhood, even if it is one that is still sorting out the details. Rooted in cuisine that prides itself on 107 ways to make spam, it is not entirely fair to come here expecting Tin Pan. First, Tin Pan was way cheaper, and there were better pairings there than a mai tai. Speaking of, Vic's food was better with each mai tai, and after three, you're in for no more than a decent bottle of wine would set you back, and at that point, I would be able to sing the praises of a bowl of Styrofoam, so let them help you help yourself into the correct polynesian mind set--The food is alright, it's all very pricey, I should be upset, but I've had three mai tais, so it's all good. Basically, a trip to Maui without the $2000 plane ride. UPDATE! The mai tais are as good as ever! We grazed on pupus all night, and they were awesome. We had one crab, two different shrimps, a beef, raw fish and the egg roll. All were great. All is well! ”
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Mrees
(23) reviews
3/1/2005
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ Nice enough but nothing to write home about. Amusing decor, extraordinary selection of liquors but the food, while pleasant, was not particularly memorable. Not exactly bad, just not memorable. Traders Vics reputation seems greater than the experience. The staff uniforms too are not at all sophisticated, they teeter on the edge of parody. ”
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k1ki
(93) reviews
2/17/2005
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ I went here on my 21st birthday and enjoyed it a lot. The food was pricey and not too memorable, but the drinks were great. The atmosphere is definately what you are paying for. I would recommend for birthdays, group gatherings, and a place to take out of town guests. ”
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punks
(110) reviews
1/5/2005
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ I won't go back again. Service terribly slow. Food was about a 5 on a scale of 1-10. Expensive entrees (avg. $26) and appy's (avg. $14). Drinks filled with ice and weak. Food mediocre. Bill for two with two apps, two entrees and a drink each was $104, not incl. tip. We split scallop app and tartare app. Then friend had mahi-mahi w/mac crust and beurre blanc. Sauce had no lemon and NO mac nuts. Had to request side of sauce and nuts. My duck was cooked medium instead of medium rare. Bad service. ”
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JohnnyCan
(62) reviews
11/21/2004
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ What a disappointment! The staff was inexperienced and not really knowledgeable. I guess you have to figure out who would wear those ridiculous and oppressive chinese clown costumes as uniforms. It was so dark I thought they were trying to hide something. And it stinks like paint and chemicals. The service was slow, the drinks were mediocre and the food was just terrible, appetizers through the main course. Everything fried and greasy. Stay away. ”
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Chadder Box
(185) reviews
11/18/2004
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Cuisine:
Polynesian
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Civic Center |
| “ After 30 years this SF native, inventor of the "Mai Tai" and tropical drink specialist has just returned. Located in the old "Starz" location, Trader Vic's is beautifully decorated with polynesian masks, canoes, bamboo ratan ceiling, beautiful bar. Menu is seafood heavy but also offers up the standards (chicken, steak, pork) & all seems to be prepared w/ a polynesian twist. The mai tai was great but at $9, leaves alot to be desired (at minimum another mai tai) I only went for drinks but would like to return to eat when someone else is paying the bill. $$$$ ”
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