Historic Fort Lauderdale restaurant and Polynesian show shuts down — for now
South Florida’s tourist season may be about to begin — as much as it can begin during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But for now, the mighty Mai-Kai Restaurant, a mainstay on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, will not be open.
The Polynesian-themed restaurant, famous for its powerful rum drinks and tiki show, won’t be seating and entertaining guests because it’s temporarily closing. No 2 for 1 happy hour at the funky Molokai bar. No kitchen-sink-sized Mystery Drink dramatically served up to tables of rowdy bachelors or bachelorettes. No birthday Pupu platters. No shirtless dancers crawling over fire or twirling giant, flaming, Samoan knives.
No reason for the shutdown was given in an email or on the restaurant’s Instagram account. As of now, there’s no reopening date.
Flaming knives, deadly rum and Pupu platters: Why Mai-Kai is still a tiki legend
“We are proud to be one of the most unique dining and entertainment venues in all of South Florida,” the restaurant said in an email. “Since we opened our doors in 1956, it has been our pleasure to transport our guests to the warmth and magical aura of Polynesia.”
The restaurant, created by brothers Bob and Jack Thornton, tried to ride out the pandemic by offering to-go drinks, including its most popular beverage, the Barrel o’ Rum. The restaurant was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
