Waikiki Wally's
New York, NY 10009
Phone: (212) 673-8908
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- 1st Avenue
- Directions:
- F at 2nd Ave
- Hours:
- Dinner: Sun-Thu 6pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-11pm, Bar: Sun-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-4am
Editorial Review for Waikiki Wally's – by Kat Kinsman
The Scene
The gods have at long last answered the prayers of NYC tiki devotees with a Polynesian outpost that doesn't miss a trick. An elaborately constructed grass-shack bar, working waterfall, island murals and live cockatoo may convince patrons to peer around for Don Ho (who, in attendance opening night, gave Wally's his benediction).
The Food
The menu immediately allays fears of frozen-pu-pu Polynesian: It offers paper-thin-skinned Kahlua pork rolls and five-spice squid salad atop sweet taro puree. Entrees such as ponzu-marinated salmon and panko-crusted opah are artfully dressed--a thick crust of sesame seeds, tangy orange salad or soft coconut rice smartly accentuates ocean-fresh fish. Traditional libations meet stringent Trader Vic standards, while innovative ingredient updates make Wally's Downfall and the Tidal Wave welcome additions to the tiki canon.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Where to SitHula lovers who wish to canoodle in private should skip the more brightly lit dining room and head to the lounge.
The ExtrasWally's is happy to roast a whole pig luau-style for private parties. The sarong-swathed staff will gladly drape your guests with leis.
What to DrinkStandard concoctions like mai tais and rum runners are available in three sizes for your drinking pleasure--tiki mug, scorpion bowl and volcano bowl.
User Reviews for Waikiki Wally's
06/25/2008 Posted by Bellapoop
My friends and I go to Wally's all the time and we never leave feeling disappointed. The whole ambience of the place delivers good times and unexpected run-ins with unusual, yet friendly and charismatic, people. While you are sitting at the bar sipping down mai tai's while eclectic music is playing in the background, you can watch the bartender innocently entertain you while he flips liquor bottles in the air and shuffles mixers and glasses from hand to hand, or be easily distracted by the playfully kind Tranny's shuffling through from Lucky Cheng's. Later in the evening, as a larger crowd gathers in, you can have a great time with your own group of friends or mingling with other groups. All-in-all Wally's is a fun bar to be to top off your night with a lively, fun bartender, descent happy hours, and great drinks.
Pros: Awesome Bartender/ Great Drinks
Cons: Food could be better
06/02/2008 Posted by cocoa73
This place was a disaster. I made reservations for an afterwork outing to celebrate a friend's graduation. The place looked pretty nice online and we were pretty excited. We got to Wally's and the place is one step above a hole in the wall. There were two other people there, two women having drinks. There were sixteen of us and they seated us right away as they has our tables already set up. Unfortunately, they gave us two food menus and two drink menus for all sixteen of us. The waitress seemed to be pretty spacy and had to keep going back to the bartender to ask questions about happy hour (with the exception of 2 for 2 beers, there was no happy hour). Themed drinks were $9 for what was pretty much a coffee cup. They finally brought water to our table, which consisted of 1 pitcher and a stack of small dixie clear cups, placed at one end of the table. We decided at some point that we were going to leave after one drink and not eat there. This is when all hell broke loose. The person sitting in front of me had gotten up from her chair. I didn't notice at the time, but she was doing some kind of leg shake, jig thing and looked quite disturbed. The other end of the table got wind of this and went into a panic. After following her eyes and the rest of our party, I realized that there was a cucaracha (I can't type the english word), a big one, crawling towards me. Apparantly, my friend has shaken it loose from crawling up her pant leg. I stepped on it, and got up from the table. After everyone had gathered up their things we were making a bee-line for the door, only to hear "What's the big deal, it's only a little ......" Oh, by the by-in all the melee, the you-know-what (he was not little, by any stretch of the imagination) hadn't died and had made his way across the floor. I stepped on him again and this time, finished it. I hope that wasn't their mascot or something. This place is a dump is what I'm saying. Avoid at all costs.
Pros: I made it out alive
Cons: Bugs...bugs...bugs...
Users Like You Also Viewed
Temple Bar
332 Lafayette St
New York, NY 10012
Lucky Cheng's Restaurant
24 1st Ave
New York, NY 10009
