Best Restaurant to Come Back From the Dead
Rising like a rum-soaked phoenix from the retro ashes, Mai-Kai is back — and more tiki-fabulous than ever. After a years-long renovation that had Fort Lauderdale’s kitsch-loving faithful holding their collective breath, this 1956 Polynesian palace has reopened its bamboo doors, blending midcentury magic with a polished new sheen. It’s still all here: the flaming cocktails, the swaying hula dancers, the waterfalls and the carved totems that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a vintage travel poster. The menu spans from pupu platters to crispy duck and teriyaki sirloin, all served with a wink and a side of hip-shaking spectacle. In the new era, insiders know the real power move: swinging by for happy hour in the Molokai and Bora Bora Bar areas, where the drinks are half-off until 7 p.m. and the vibe is full-on escapism. Call it a comeback, a resurrection or a reawakening — just don’t call yourself a local until you’ve sipped a “zombie” under the torchlight once again.