Ed U.
Yelp
I'm not sure how to describe this newish bar on Grand Avenue. How about "whimsically posh" or maybe more accurately "pirate-meets-tiki"? Owners and sisters Narges and Nala Gardizi worked at Trader Vic's in Emeryville for over a decade (review: https://yelp.to/VW8MRIWBIQ), so they know a thing or two about what makes a tiki bar work.
With Kona Club right up the street (review: https://yelp.to/g4htOuL2Ue), they probably knew they had to come up with something unique and introduced more of a pirate ship vibe with surreal portraits of humanized animals on the wall. It's too stylish and meticulous to be mistaken for a dive bar, but whatever hybrid it's supposed to be, the sisters succeeded.
Jamie W. and I hung around for just one round since customers appeared epoxied to the seats in the back lounge area and the bar itself was getting a bit populated. We chose winners though. Jamie had the $16 Black Tot Grog with bourbon, vanilla liqueur, pineapple, allspice, and intriguingly, activated charcoal (photo: https://yelp.to/HeJ9ZOwMAw).
Shiver me timbers, me hearties. I decided to go more tropical with the $13 Coconut Mojito which mixed coconut rum, coconut milk, pineapple, lime, and of course, muddled mint (photo: https://yelp.to/PE0jurlBG7). Both sisters were present and working hard. Their efforts were paying off as we're curious to try their other craft cocktails at a quieter time.
DRINKS - 4 stars...superior craft cocktails to bring either your inner pirate or beach bum out
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...evocative decor with the unique animal paintings
SERVICE - 5 stars...sisters are doin' it for themselves
TOTAL - 4 stars...pirate meets tiki...yep
RELATED - Looking for a tiki bar? Here's a collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3SpoS3c