Tikiphiles Rejoice: Paul McGee And The Melman Brothers To Open A Tiki Bar

Ever since Paul McGee announced he was leaving The Whistler, rumors have swirled about what exactly he was going to do next. We knew he was joining up with Lettuce Entertain You, and we had heard something about a country bar with the Melman boys. Frankly, a country bar (no matter how good the whiskey list) didn't really get us cocktail nerds going, so our attention waned. Imagine our newfound excitement when we heard that half of the project was going to be a brand new Tiki Bar!

McGee has been a promoter of tiki-style cocktails for years, and we've enjoyed his tiki nights at the Whistler. Tiki in Chicago, aside from those brief moments at The Whistler, has been in something of a deep freeze since Trader Vic's closed last year. Looks like the rum, umbrellas, fruit juices and palm fronds are coming back. Below the country-themed bar will be "a sophisticated 4,000 square foot Tiki lounge" where visitors can "enjoy classic drinks featuring fresh-squeezed juices and other exotic ingredients." The tiki bar (no name yet) will have it's own private entrance, and supposedly will boast the city's most extensive rum collection.

To assuage the fears of those accustomed to Melman properties like Sub 51 and Studio Paris, this will not be a nightclub, nor will the focus be on the scene. McGee told Time Out Chicago that the tiki bar will be serious about the quality of the drinks (we wouldn't expect anything less) and R.J. Melman emphasized that, unlike nightclubs, bars are "inclusive."

We couldn't be more excited about this. One of the best mixers in the city, with a serious personal love for tiki drinks, will be mixing up our Royal Hawaiians, Mai Tais and whatever else he comes up with. Plus, we don't have to feign enthusiasm about yet another pre-prohibition style cocktail bar with arm-banded mixologists. You can bet we'll be there on opening night.

The new bar will be located at 435 N. Clark Street.

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By Anthony Todd in Food on February 10, 2012 9:20 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Babette_Verveille

shit yes! excited about the country-themed bar as well...

Use Psychology

This is bullshit. Rum is for plebs and river north doens't need another overpriced bar. You can guarantee the cocktails will be 12+ each and not the more reasonable $8 from the whistler.

randomcha

What the hell does "rum is for plebs" mean? The same way that whiskey, beer, or alcoholic beverages in general are for plebs?

Use Psychology

Rum is something you trade to Africans to get more Africans to grow more sugar to make more rum to trade for more Africans. You make your sailors drink it so they'll shut up about the whole process, too. Real men drink whiskey.

sat3911

I thought rum was for plebs? You seem to be implying that it is for slaves now. Or did you misunderstand what the plebs are?

Navin_Johnson

Given that those workers were slaves, I suppose a bit of rum for their labors would have been a step up.

ChicagoD

Wait, isn't whiskey something you trade to Native Americans to take their land? Wanna try vodka? I don't think that's been traded for anything more than regrettable sex.

Oh, and you're an asshole.

Use Psychology

Maybe if you're French or American.

ChicagoD

Touche. No Scots or Irish immigrants ever interacted with either Native Americans or "First Nations." Certainly no "Canadian" would ever have done this.

Weak and stupid argument. Troll better.

Chuck_Sudo

Rum is something you trade to Africans to get more Africans to grow more sugar to make more rum to trade for more Africans.

Detective Shaved Longcock, is that you?

Real men drink whiskey.

Real men don't have to say "real men drink whiskey."

sat3911

He never said he drank whiskey.

Use Psychology

They do when talking to random chai.

Lindsey Bahr

Get your story straight. Are you a snob or of the people? 1% BS contradictory rhetoric. Go back to the Gold Coast.

randomcha

Cautiously optimistic. Paul is the guy to do it--and if he pulls it off, then it's a harbinger for more Chicago tiki bars! Us tikiphiles deserve a whole variety of tiki establishments to choose from, and there's plenty of room in this town for more than one.

slickpoetry

Just drive out to Hala Kahiki when your jonesing for some Tiki.

Navin_Johnson

I think it's the driving aspect that puts that place on the back burner. It's awesome though, if you can convince some poor soul to be your d.d.