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Barfly Jason Genegabus |
Traffic drives barfly
to drinkDRIVING down Kuhio Avenue last week, there were two thoughts that kept running through my head.
Unfortunately, both reeked of negativity -- first, having to peel myself off the leather in my truck made me curse the muggy weather that has dominated our islands recently, and second, exactly who said yes to screwing up the traffic flow in Waikiki by removing lanes on Kuhio?
As I crept past the Waikiki Trade Center, silently complaining about having to wait behind a trolley as it disembarked passengers in the middle of the road, a boisterous group of tourists caught my attention as they walked into what appeared to be a storefront on the makai side of the street.
That's when I saw it -- a sign advertising jello shots for a buck. I wasn't moving very fast, so I was also able to catch a glimpse of a dozen frozen daiquiri machines lined up against a back wall. It was hot, and I was grumpy. What a perfect time for a daiquiri!
Most bars have some sort of gimmick they use to get customers through their doors, whether it's live entertainment, free pupus, cheap beer prices or a variety of games to help pass the time.
For Paradise Daiquiris, which opened with little fanfare about two weeks ago, the gimmick is an icy concoction served up in a plastic cup.
These aren't your parents' daiquiris, made to order in a blender with crushed ice and fresh fruit as well as the always-important ingredient, light and/or dark rum. The drinking experience here is a cross between hanging out at a house party and going to 7-Eleven for a Slurpee.
With folding metal chairs and uncomfortable wooden barstools as the only seating options, it's obvious this bar isn't trying to cater to an upscale clientele.
Order a daiquiri, and you've got a choice between an eight-, 12- or 16-ounce disposable plastic cup. I got flashbacks of parties from my college days as I watched the bartender work from a stash of bottles on a small table behind the bar.
And forget about using a blender -- each of the dozen different flavors available here are dispensed from machines. While definitely faster and easier to serve, it also means you have to mix your drink well before taking the first sip. If you don't, most of the liquor will end up rising to the top of your cup, throwing off the taste of the cocktail.
Paradise Daiquiris
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily
Location: 2301 Kuhio Avenue
(Across the street from Scruples)
IF YOU decide to brave the chaos on Kuhio and visit Paradise Daiquiris, remember that parking and drink prices are issues to keep in mind when heading into Waikiki.
It took me three separate attempts -- once in the mid-afternoon, once during pau hana and once around 10 p.m. -- before finally finding a parking spot earlier this week. Unless you're willing to spend a good half-hour (or more) searching, just shell out three bucks to park at the Waikiki Trade Center and walk an extra block Diamond Head to get to the bar.
I also had a hard time spending $6.25 for a large daiquiri here, especially when it wasn't a "real" mixed drink. Sure, the bar is located smack dab in the middle of tourist town, but we're not talking about ordering something at Tiki's, Duke's or the House Without a Key. Five bucks seems like a more reasonable price, if you ask me.
ALTHOUGH THIS place doesn't seem to have a lot going for it, I've got a feeling there might be a few fun nights here, especially when a lot of tourists are in town. There's also a second floor lounge that the bar's owners are in the process of remodeling, and it looks to have a lot more potential than the tile floor and fluorescent lights of the main room downstairs.
Also keep in mind that the entire International Marketplace district, of which Paradise Daiquiris is a part of, is scheduled for an overhaul in the next few months. So enjoy those daiquiris and $1 jello shots while you can, before the party ends and this bar fades away in the name of progress.
How much for a Bud Light?
Domestic bottles are available at Paradise Daiquiris for just $2.25, but why drink a beer at a bar with the word "daiquiris" in it? A dozen different flavors are on tap here, including "Banana Cream Pie," "Razzberry Rum," "Russian Quaalude," "Chocolate Kiss" and "Rum Runner." Small ($4.25), medium ($5.25) and large ($6.25) sizes are available, or get a sampler tray ($4) and try all the flavors!Get things to do?
A single television set, pool table and Megatouch game machine are all located near the bar. Sit closer to the front door, and you can entertain yourself by watching tourists walk past and betting with a friend whether or not they'll come in after standing at the doorway and staring inside for a minute or two.What about the grinds?
There isn't a kitchen at Paradise Daiquiris, but the management wisely displays a delivery menu from nearby Round Table Pizza for customers who might get hungry. You can also bring in your own food, so it might be wise to stop for some grinds before heading over here for a frozen drink or two.And the help?
A lone bartender was the only employee working during the Barfly's visit earlier this week. While there wasn't much of a crowd, having only one pair of hands behind the bar meant waiting for drinks was inevitable. It also meant the bartender had to rush from customer to customer, which ended up costing my friend money since he didn't hear that she had asked for a daiquiri with two flavors mixed together. Instead, he made two drinks -- one of each flavor -- and charged her for both.
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Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.