562585 Sun Oct 05 20:27:10 -0700 2008 28 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4084204 I just saw The Luau was reemerging on Bedford Dr...!!!! I have such memories of the old tiki joint... So, does anybody know the scoop on it??? Sun Oct 05 20:27:10 -0700 2008 180965 bellabar 1 4084224 I googled your title and came up with a bunch of stuff on both the old place that was a special occasion place for my family and the new place that is supposed to open soon. I have mentioned here that when I was a kid I would order their drink called a Bo Lo that was a fruit and rum drink served in a hollowed out pineapple. It was supposed to be served sans rum but more often the bartender screwed up and I received the adult version! The only entree that I remember really liking was their Shrimp Curry (ordered spicy/hot) that was served with a lazy susan of condiments including shredded coconut, Major Grey's Mango Chutney, peanuts, rasins....... Those were the days! http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=The+Luau+in+Beverly+Hills Sun Oct 05 20:45:33 -0700 2008 4084204 10864 sel 2 4084236 I can't wait....!!!! I checked out the photos of the old Luau... check out the drink prices!!!! Sun Oct 05 20:54:19 -0700 2008 4084224 180965 bellabar 3 4084282 I met the new bar manager last week - she said they will have the same drinks as the original! Sun Oct 05 21:28:01 -0700 2008 4084236 11416 shebop 4 4084298 I would be very surprised if this resembled the old Luau in any way, shape or form. Sun Oct 05 21:38:40 -0700 2008 4084282 54187 deadre 5 4084309 The door was open when I walked by the other morning..... I peeked inside and it looked great... Retro tiki with a hip twist.... I'm sure it will be quite the hang out... It will probably become the native westsider's friday night hang to replace Trader Vics... I miss Trader Vics on Christmas Eve.... Perhaps the Luau will be the new tradition.. Sun Oct 05 21:47:23 -0700 2008 4084298 180965 bellabar 6 4084327 Hopefully the food will be better. Memories are great, but the food was terrible! Sun Oct 05 22:03:11 -0700 2008 4084309 35893 Friend of Bill 2 4520989 “I really love this place. I called to make a last minute reservation and the hostess was very accommodating for a Friday night. The food was really great. It was the type of food that is traditional and yet, they add a kick to it that makes it fun and unique. I loved the salmon wrapped in a Banana leaf and the chicken curry was sensational (I didn't know what Jidori chicken was, now I am a huge fan) it comes with something called LUAU NAAN. It was so good. The pupu platters that they served as an appetizer were amazing (better than Trader Vic's). That combination was truly inspiring. I think it's a great place for a date or just a night out with some friends. Its chic without being overwhelming. I felt very comfortable there. We had Mai Tai's which were made with all natural ingredients nothing artificial here. Finished dinner with Key Lime pie that was superb. The bill was reasonable. We will be back." Thu Mar 19 19:12:23 -0700 2009 4084224 275857 CAROL_P 1 4084426 Luau represents Chef Makoto "Mako" Tanaka's newest restaurant. Most may know him from his Mako restaurant on Beverly, and more recently, Robata-Ya on Sawtelle. I had a chance to briefly speak with the executive chef, and he hints at a Hawaiian-fusion style cuisine. I am looking forward to trying it. Mon Oct 06 00:52:54 -0700 2008 4084204 11933 J.L. 1 4087007 The Grand Opening is looking like the 20th of this month. Mon Oct 06 21:34:09 -0700 2008 4084204 25247 Veggietales 2 4125058 Anyone been the the new Luau yet? Thu Oct 23 16:27:12 -0700 2008 4087007 60801 Obessed 3 4125115 Yes, I was at the opening last night. There were three kinds of drinks served - a mai tai, something blue made out of vodka and rum, and a pina colada type drink that they called a Morino or something like that that was a sort of rum/pineapple/coconut iceee. That was my favorite one, but there's more ice than drink (and it's not a slushie like a margarita, but more like a shaved ice concoction). The passed apps were a spare rib that I loved (very retro in flavor - both sweet and tangy), kobe meatball that I also loved (also more on the sweet side), a very good chicken curry (in a little pastry shell), fried shrimp (didn't try it), lots of different pulled pork apps (none of which I went back for, for seconds), and a veggie wrap (didn't try it). There was also a chicken leg or wing that was always gone when it got round to me. Beautiful room, both a throwback but modern (kudos on the design), cozy feel, and the food is promising (if one has a craving for polynesian fusion). Thu Oct 23 16:54:28 -0700 2008 4125058 42095 yogachik 4 4125235 Sounds like the kobe meatball served at Mako is now making at appearance at this new restaurant, yum!! Although, at Mako, it isn't served with a sweet/sour sauce. Thu Oct 23 17:54:05 -0700 2008 4125115 74451 vinosnob 5 4125314 The meatball did not have a sweet and sour sauce. It was a little bit sweet. Thu Oct 23 18:30:08 -0700 2008 4125235 42095 yogachik 5 4125529 So right - Mako consulted for the menu here. That is why it deserves at least a try - let the nostalgia die, as the pics do not look ANYTHING like the original way back when. Thu Oct 23 20:40:24 -0700 2008 4125235 10359 carter 6 4156370 I happened to talk to the interior designer, and she wanted to have fun with it, but not be out-and-out kitschy. I think that's the direction the food is going, too. And it turns out Jeff Berry, who's like, a professional rum lover, decoded the original drink recipes. Yes, they were written in code. Here's an article about rum and Luau: http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/luau-la-rum-goes-upscale-tiki-tags-along/4910 Fri Nov 07 11:31:06 -0800 2008 4125529 50449 Papuli 1 4156884 Going to Luau tonight for dinner. Fri Nov 07 15:03:12 -0800 2008 4084204 74451 vinosnob 2 4159946 The place was packed mostly with the crowd that used to go to the original luau. After a 20-25 minute wait, we were seated. Of course, I had to do the mai tai challenge and compare their mai tai to Trader Vic's. Luau's ($14) is strong like TV's, but not nearly as sweet which I really appreciated. I can't pick one over the other; they're both solid tiki drinks. As for the food, it's leagues above TV's, but that's too be expected since the chef from Mako is handling the menu. We started with the pupu platter for 4 ($60) which included coconut shrimp, spare ribs, kalua pig spring rolls and kobe meatballs. BTW, these are the same meatballs that are served at Mako, but at Luau they are lightly brushed with a sweet pineapple glaze. All were tasty, but $60 is a bit steep for only 16 pieces. The entrees are meant to be shared family style and we ordered the filet mignon with red curry sauce (which comes with naan bread and jasmin rice), the tuna tataki (which comes with a wasabi and pea puree) and a side order of fresh corn. Again, everything was well executed with nice flavors. I also ordered another tiki drink; it was called something "blue" due to the large amount of curacao. I didn't care for it that much; tasted like spiked OJ. Overall, I won't be running back to Luau for dinner. For the money we spent (~$65/pp), I can get much better food elsewhere, but it was a fun, kitchy experience. Sun Nov 09 11:40:41 -0800 2008 4156884 74451 vinosnob 1 4225918 So I went to Luau last night...it was a friend's birthday and she wanted to go here. There were 5 of us and we had a blast but it was due to the company and I will not likely return. The space & atmosphere were fun but the food was okay, nothing to write home about and it ridiciously priced. The wine list was absurdly expensive (~$20+ for a glass of medicore wine). We stuck with the foo-foo fruity drinks - they were tasty but added up at $14-$18 a drink. We started with 4 appetizers - then split a fish dish, lamb chops (5 small lamb chops for $42), and the pei chicken (this was probably the best dish and the most value for the money as it was an entire chicken). We had 3 side dishes - including fried rice which was not so good. We had 2 desserts which were fine. All said in done our bill was close to $500 (inlcuding tip). Definitely not worth the price for what we got. Sat Dec 06 15:50:22 -0800 2008 4084204 60801 Obessed 2 4228445 My sister and I took my mom for her birthday tonight and we could not have been happier! We had glazed ribs, unagi on risotto cakes and firecracker shrimp for starters - which were all wonderful - then ono, lychee chicken, and halibut for main courses - the mains were very large portions - we could have skipped one - but they were all so tasty that we were glad to have them to try! Key Lime Pie with Macadamia Crust and Coconut Cheesecake for dessert! The staff was exteremely friendly and attentive - we'll definitely be back! Sun Dec 07 22:48:14 -0800 2008 4225918 11416 shebop 1 4335332 Sorry to say this is like going to see a remake of a classic film. No umbrellas in the over-iced and wildly over-priced drinks--the Scorpion Bowl was $35--and lasted about 40 seconds. The Navy Grog was missing the rock sugar swizzle stick and any other semblance of garni. Food is as remembered fondly from my teens and the room is nice looking but we never really went for the food. Sat Jan 17 17:13:37 -0800 2009 4084204 258080 TheDukeBH 1 4335977 I went to the Luau quite often as a kid and teenager. The best thing on the menu in those days was the pressed almond duck....I have fond memories of going there after senior prom with a group and ordering those sweet fruity drink . It doesn't sound like the new one can ever recapture those "Gidget" days. I'm sorry to hear most of you were disappointed with the new version. I might have to pass on trying it and just be happy with my memories. Sun Jan 18 02:47:49 -0800 2009 4084204 257330 delishdonna 2 4521083 "Be happy with my memories" sounds like a good idea. The Luau was the place to order "Scorpions" with a gardenia in the middle of the big drink; order rumaki, sit in big straw chairs and be terrified that you would be "carded." I am thankful for the memories. (One advantage of growing older). Thu Mar 19 19:49:42 -0700 2009 4335977 67720 maudies5 1 4941978 Did Luau already close? I tried calling to make a reservation but it just keeps ringing and ringing... Wed Aug 12 20:28:43 -0700 2009 4084204 1101323 cidneyd 2 4942707 http://theguide.latimes.com/restaurants/luau-venue Thu Aug 13 07:04:23 -0700 2009 4941978 108169 Servorg 3 4942948 http://la.eater.com/archives/2009/07/28/the_shutter_one_sunset_luau_club_sushi.php Thu Aug 13 08:14:08 -0700 2009 4942707 1099850 budsoftaste 4 4942983 I'd actually looked at that one first but decided not to link to it because Eater LA said the closing was "unconfirmed" and the LA Times posted a big, bold "CLOSED" on their page (and say what you will about the LA Times - they confirm the facts in cases like this before putting it up in virtual print). Thu Aug 13 08:20:36 -0700 2009 4942948 108169 Servorg 5 5159895 Keys were turned back to the landlord a couple of weeks ago. Thu Nov 05 19:41:49 -0800 2009 4942983 10359 carter 2 4942839 Ouch. To paraphrase Thomas Wolfe, perhaps "you can't go home again." Happily, I have food memories of the old Luau (and 2 prized salt shakers from the old place). Regretfully, I was in my late teens when it closed (and missed out on the Scorpions). Thu Aug 13 07:43:32 -0700 2009 4941978 11509 cagey