Latest Reviews
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This is a tourist place.Beer geeks with be severely disappointed.The show is fine. Parts were enjoyable. Some of it was hard to follow as the sound sy…
Robert Johnson
Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge
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Happy Hour in the Molokai Lounge is the best kept secret in Fort Lauderdale. Drinks are rum based with fresh fruit. There are over 50 specialty drinks…
Elmo Freen
Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge
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It wasn't memorable. The service wasn't great either. The food was fresh. I had the mahi because the snapper had run out. It was good. My friend had t…
About
Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge is open for Fine Dining. Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge serves American, Seafood, Cantonese and Steak dishes. Incorrect or missing information? Make a report, or claim the restaurant if you own it!Details
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9 Reviews on “Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant & Lounge”
It wasn’t memorable. The service wasn’t great either. The food was fresh. I had the mahi because the snapper had run out. It was good. My friend had the crusted mahi. The place is overrated. I probably won’t be back. Even the plate was chipped.
Horrible horrible!!! My reservation was at 10:30pm and was told I’ll receive a text message which i never received at 11pm i had to ask about my table a young lady take my husband and i by the stage and asked us to wait a minute left us there for 10 minutes when back and they didn’t had a reason, i end up leaving upset will never go again!!
This place is basically for tourists, but every local should go at least once. The food is okay and overpriced; however, you are really paying for the show. Especially nice environment once it gets dark and the have torches Lit.
Our experience at this place was overall very good. The staff is friendly, service is pretty good, and the show and all that stuff is pretty cool. The whole building itself is a sight to see. The food is very, very good. Not roll-your-eyes great or anything, but it’s pretty good. However, we will never come back here. Why? It is so outrageously overpriced that it’s almost funny. Adult entrees are one thing, but kids meals? My God. $17 dollars (yes, you read that right) for chicken fingers and fries. $17 dollars for Mac n cheese (you also read that right). And those are two of the cheaper options on the kids menu. Your two kids could split one kids meal here and it would still cost more per kid than most places. Based on that principal alone, we won’t be returning. And they charge you extra if you’re sitting in view of the show. Total cost for me, my wife, my sister-in-law and our two children (we all drank regular soft drinks or water): $192.46…not including the tip. Totally ridiculous considering what you get. Which, remember, is good, but definitely not worth THAT price.
TOURIST TRAP!!!! Eat elsewhere, small portions and overrated! Go someplace else and save your money
First time here bad waiter ordered my steak medium rare got it back rare never again
There is nowhere else like it!. This is a guide for first-timers.I have been to the Mai Kai many, many times. I’ve never had a bad experience.This is a historic restaurant that was opened in December, 1957, and thankfully, hasn’t changed much since then. Their food, service, and drinks have been good enough to keep them in business for over 50 years, and rightfully so.When you arrive to the Mai Kai, expect to pay for parking. I know, you’re grumbling, but this is a classic dining restaurant. A high-end dining experience begins with a valet. Should you chose not to use the valet, you still have to pay for parking. It’s only a few dollars, but if you’re really concerned about that, park at the Publix across the street and walk over. Parking is limited, and this helps to prevent the lot filling up quickly with tons of cars.When you walk in, it will be dark. It’s mood lighting. The whole idea is to be transported to an exotic place. There are alcoves, and exotic plants, and the ceiling in places is gorgeous, filled with fish traps, glass floats, and other ephemera. Look up, and make sure to explore the grounds. There are all sorts of things you won’t see anywhere else, especially in South Florida. Well, maybe a trip to Ripley’s. Antiques from the South Pacific can be found all over the place…but I’m getting off track.To the left when you walk in, is the Molokai Bar. They have outstanding Happy Hour specials on drinks and appetizers. And speaking of the drinks, they’re phenomenal. These are tiki drinks, as they’re supposed to be. Not the blended, overly sweet cocktails of the 80’s, but as they were intended to be in the early/mid-20th century. Now, they can vary widely in taste, from tart, to sweet, to boozy, to complex, to spicy. Be warned if you’re not used to drinking this style of cocktail, you may not like them. Talk to your waitress to figure out what cocktail is best for you.The appetizers are delicious. They’re traditional pu pu platter items. They’re made fresh, and aren’t just deep fried frozen crap. And anything made in the Chinese ovens is outstanding. I’ve never had a bad food experience there. Again, you can’t go wrong with anything cooked in the Chinese ovens. To some, it can be heavy. Be smart about what you order, and ask questions about things you don’t know about. It can vary from pork shoulder that melts in your mouth, to spicy and delicious curries and fresh seafood dishes. It’s not cheap. If you’re not comfortable spending that much on dinner, stick to the appetizers during Happy Hour, and you won’t be sorry. Heck, we’ve gone to the Molokai and had cheap and amazing cocktails and appetizers for dinner.On to the show! Get there early. Even if you’ve made a reservation, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll be seated up front. Here’s why: If they seated people in the upper section, or the one to the side (both of which are good vantage points), and people didn’t show up for their reservation then you’d be angry that people weren’t seated there. Point is, don’t be mad when you get there right before the show starts and you’re not seated up front. The show is great. It doesn’t change much, so don’t expect to see something different every week, but it’s always entertaining. It’s also one of the best, most authentic floor shows you’ll see in the entire US. Did I mention there’s FIRE?! There is fire.After dinner, I suggest getting one (or more) last cocktails, and take a stroll through the gardens. On a cool evening, it’s paradise. And without hopping on a plane and heading to New Zealand or Papua New Guinea, it’s as close as you’re going to get.