This is a selection of favorite writings and images from the now-defunct TBRP,
which was very active from 1995 to 2003, and sort of half-active from 2003 to 2007.
Now it is gone.

The Tiki Bar Review Pages site was replaced by the book
Tiki Road Trip in 2003 -  the second edition of which (2007) is available NOW.
This is an archive - these pages are no longer updated!
Some information will be out of date.  Some of this writing goes back to 1995.
See Tiki Road Trip (2007 edition) for the most up-to-date information.

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Tiki-hunting disasters in Cleveland:

The Bamboo Palace at 16610 Lorain is just a really gross Chinese restaurant.

Tradewinds at 319 E. 200th St in Euclid (or thereabouts) is a crappy old local pub.  No Tiki.

The Islander Grille is at 7581 Pearl Rd. in Middleburg Heights.  A few doors down is the Islander Cleaners (!) (7563 Pearl), and around the corner is The Islander Apartments (7711 Normandie).  Clearly there was a Polynesian Dynasty in Middleburg Heights at some point, but there isn't so much as a stick of bamboo left in any of the three locations.  Nothing Tiki whatsoever.

However: all hope is not lost!

You CAN get a Mai Tai in Cleveland - and there are some top-notch Googie hotspots too.

But, of course, you'll have to pick up a copy of Tiki Road Trip for the scoop.

Scroll down for vintage memoribilia from three Ex-Tiki palaces in the Cleveland area.


Kon Tiki Ports
Cleveland, OH 





Bali Ha'i Restaurant,
Cleveland

bh
I wanted to include this picture of the Bali Ha'i restaurant in Cleveland on Euclid Avenue (UPDATE: The sign is now gone).
It is essentially just a typical Chinese Restaurant, but there is a small lounge.  If you look carefully, behind the bar, you may spot one or two Tiki mugs.  Aside from the cool signage though, there is no real reason to stop by.



The Beachcomber
Grand River, Ohio

I followed the tresure map on this matchbook to the Beachcomber in November of 2000, and there wasn't so much as a stick of bamboo left in the place.  It has changed it's name, and is just a crappy redneck bar now.  The people working there were super rude to me before, during, and after making my enquiries as the the previous nature of the place.  Skip it!

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all images courtesy of: James


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I have maintained this web site since 1995.
I write and create photos because I enjoy it.
People tell me they enjoy reading this site, so I keep it going.    
However...
This site has cost me a lot of hours, and a lot of money.
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