Recently I tried out Trader Vic at the Hilton on Park Lane, we haven’t been there for ages. This place is so old and kind of out of fashion that it by now deserves to be fashionable to have a drink here, again. Considering that various boutiques and shops are selling retro 70’s tables, home furnitures and chairs at astonishing prices, even in Selfridge’s, the type my grandma throw in the bin a few years ago. The waitresses wear long dresses with the sides of the skirts cut open showing a lot of leg, nearly up to the bum…and most of them are guess what, no not 55+ but late 20’s and quite gorgeous. The clients are according to the decor, some Samsonite businessmen from all age groups but mainly 55+ and various ethnic backgrounds, I noticed quite a large amount of “fruit cocktail boozers” from the Middle East, then there are, surprise surprise, some single (on business? hehehe) women, which also sit around, sipping on Perrier waters and fruit juices. The music band got stuck in 1970’s and the decor reminds of a Polynesian beach joint, from about the time when the musicians were born. Cheesy salsa, some known and less known hits, Brazil beats and some unidentifiable other tunes, but not to the point that it gets totally annoying. They also serve some food, but we did not go there, although the large Tandoori like ovens in the glass shielded kitchen look interesting.
ENOUGH cynicism, the history of Trader Vic’s is interesting and Victor J Bergeron is to be considered a pioneer. “It all started when Victor Jules Bergeron was a waiter at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel and owned a grocery store on San Pablo Avenue in Oakland. His son - Victor, (Jr.) - grew up loving the food business, living with the family in an apartment above the store and helping out downstairs.” so one can read on www.tradervics.com “In 1932, with a nest egg of $700 and carpentry help from his wife’s brothers - plus his mother’s pot-bellied stove and oven - the ebullient Victor built a cozy pub across the street from the store and called it Hinky Dink’s. His pungent vocabulary and ribald air made him a popular host, as did his potent tropical cocktail concoctions and delicious Americanized adaptations of Polynesian food.” Somewhere along the lines in 1944 the Mai Tai Cocktail was also invented by a Trader Vic. The customer was served the rum based drink and said “Mai Tai Roe Ae” which means “Out of this world” in Tahitian.
Images from Trader Vic’s
Trader Vic’s is located at the London Hilton Park Lane, 22 Park Lane, W1Y 1BE, England. There are several other Trader Vic’s around the world, from Dubai to Munich.
cliffwaterford
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Pingback by QYPE « Touch Base - culinary and other notes from London — April 21, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
As managing director of the above company I often entertain customers at the traders vic london, On the evening of 26th April I took 3 of my key staff plus a direct of one of the uks leading retailers,that particular evening the said restaurant had a major problem, the service was slow and the food when it eventually arrived was cold and over cooked needless to say I complained to the manager, who without hesitation replaced the meals,unfortunatly the reordered main course was equally uneatable, in addition the wine list was out of date and several types of wine we ordered were out of stock.I was not charged for the main courses and left for a better venue. on leaving the table we could not help noticing old food deposits under the table.we were also aware of other customers complaining about service and the condition of food served. I have nodoubt that i will not return or recommend the traders Vic.
Comment by Mr graham Barley — April 30, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Hello Mr Barley, you should try Cookbook Cafe at the InterContinental London on Park Lane, it’s just next to the Hilton, fab food at great value price, a very special venue! http://www.cookbookcafe.co.uk
Comment by cliffwaterford — May 7, 2007 @ 11:51 am