By snoadmin
While people of all ages take to the streets at The Pike in Long Beach
to visit shops and grab a bite to eat, something even better takes
place upstairs.
Mai Tai Bar, located on the upper floor near the bridge at The Pike,
offers good drinks, food, live music and a general place for people 21
and older to kick back while watching the sun set behind the palm
tree-laden Rainbow Harbor.
People who enter the bar are welcomed by torches adorning the walls
outdoors. The friendly staff immediately takes care of visitors upon
entry, and it consistently offers fast service for food and drinks.
The bar is mainly indoors, but it does have a large outdoor patio. The
interior includes many comfortable couches, a few cabana-style rooms
and, of course, the large bar acts as the centerpiece. Tables are
removed later in the night to make room for more people.
The bar serves classic mai tais, piña coladas and martinis. Bar-goers
can also try signature drinks, including Long Beach Iced Tea and North
Shore Lemonade, all at reasonable prices.
Also on the menu, cheaply-priced food such as shrimp skewers, spinach
and artichoke dip, pizzas, pulled pork sliders and key lime pie.
People who stick around until midnight can enjoy the Big Warm Deluxe
Chocolate Chip Cookie with milk, as it is only served at that time.
When sampling the food and beverages, the bar-goers can tune in to the
various sports programs broadcast on large flat-screen televisions.
Mai Tai Bar also has live music everyday. While its Web site provides
a calendar of events, the bar does occasionally change its music
line-up without notice.
For example, islander Bruddah Nappy was scheduled to perform
tropical-themed songs on Friday. Instead, another singer gave his own
rendition of classic songs with his acoustic guitar.
Mike Myrdal, a San Diego native who doubles as a member of a Dave
Matthews tribute band called Stepping Feet, played music that sounded
like Jack Johnson and sang like he was Matthews’s identical twin.
Myrdal’s individual style shined through at Mai Tai Bar on Friday. He
performed unique versions of songs from various genres such as
Coldplay’s “Green Eyes,” Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville,” John Mayer’s
“Why Georgia” and Sublime’s “What I Got” and “Santeria.”
Overall, Mai Tai Bar provides a mellow atmosphere with good food,
drinks and music, and it evokes a tropical escape for those who wish
to get away from their troubles.
The bar is open from 4 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on weekdays and from noon
p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy hour is from 4 p.m.
to 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. everyday.
Mai Tai Bar is located at 97 Aquarium Way. For information about the
bar or its live entertainment call 562-435-1200.
