The Experience, Emeryville: Trader Vic’s Lounge
The Experience:
Lounge around in the lounge!
Aloha, Spring! Step into the season of sunshine, sandy toes and tiki vibes! The crew at Trader Vic’s says it’s time to sip on something sweet, feel the warm breeze and let the good times roll with their classic Mai Tai’s!
It’s the place where fusion flavors meet tropical vibes. Take a break and visit their lounge for a drink and some Tidbits & Pupus.
Try their Veggie Spring Rolls – julienned vegetables in a a crispy spring roll wrapper served with sweet chili sauce. Or the Crispy Prawn – the original ‘crispy prawn’ finished with a light crispy panko crust for the avid shrimp lover. And then there are the classic Cheese Bings made famous at the Beverly Hilton in the 80s. This dish is a nutmeg seasoned béchamel with Gruyére cheese & smoked ham, rolled in a crepe and finished in a crispy panko crust.
You’ll find more tidbits on their lounge menu plus some delectable ‘small plates. Enjoy the afternoon light as the sun begins to dip and you slowly finish off your Mai Tai.. 510-653-3400
About Trader Vic’s + the Mai Tai
Decades ahead of his time, Vic ‘The Trader’ Bergeron chose to offer Chinese dishes alongside the then-contemporary Continental cuisine, creating maybe the original fusion menu. Today, Trader Vic’s continues the tradition and still uses the Chinese Wood-fired Ovens featuring dishes from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia, and Japan. And, as we all know, Trader Vic’s claims to be home to the original Mai Tai.
According to the Trader, Vic Bergeron, “In 1944, after success with several exotic rum drinks, I felt a new drink was needed. I was at the service bar in my Oakland restaurant. I took down a bottle of 17-year-old Jamaican J. Wray Nephew rum, added fresh lime, some Orange Curaçao from Holland, a dash of Rock Candy Syrup, and a dollop of French Orgeat, for its subtle flavor. A generous amount of shaved ice and vigorous shaking by hand produced the marriage I was after. Half the lime shell went in for color, I stuck in a branch of fresh mint, and gave two of them to Ham and Carrie Guild, friends from Tahiti, who were there that night. Carrie took one sip and said, “Mai Tai – Roa Ae” In Tahitian means “Out of this World- The Best”. Well, that was that, I named the drink ‘Mai Tai.’”
(Victor Bergeron and Carrie Guild featured below in 1970)
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday:
- Lunch 12pm-3pm
- Lounge 12pm-9:30pm
- Dinner 5pm-9pm
Where:
9 Anchor Dr
Emeryville
