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Another legendary American drinking/dining outpost is under threat of demolition. San Francisco's Tonga Room, located in the Fairmont Hotel, may be forced out after more than seven decades of pushing Mai Tai and pu-pu. It seems the tower of the Fairmont in which the Tonga and its adjacent Hurricane Bar located is slated for redevelopment into condominiums. Plans for the new construction do not include the restaurant. No definitive word has been said, but blogs and forums are buzzing over the developments and petitions are circulating to save the tiki landmark. Now, some may say that the Tonga's food is somewhat meh or the drinks are overpriced, but who can argue with an indoor rainstorm? Or an indoor lagoon with a band floating on a little raft playing luau music? Multi-headed goddesses and a buffet in a canoe?
The Tonga underwent a big-budget renovation only last year, so it seems silly to tear it down now but, hey, it also seems silly to build luxury condos during a real estate downturn.
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3-13-2009 @7:25PM boss sauce said... Why save it? People love the idea of the Tonga room, but the Tonga Room itself kinda sucks. Maybe fun for a drink or two once or twice, but it's really just another San Francisco tourist trap.
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3-13-2009 @7:44PM CookingSchoolConfidential.com said... I just spent five years in the Bay area and never once went to the Tonga Room, despite the fact that it was on my list.
I can see I am going to regret that, alas.
C'est la vie.
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3-14-2009 @11:09AM Dr. Electro said... I tried the Tonga Room in 1972. I was already a veteran of that little conflict on the other side of the Pacific. Although the tiki huts in Hawaii were beter the Tonga was fun. Also a nice cange from basic American fare.
I have also been to Hurricane Bar. I was less impressed with it. My wife and I were planning a trip to San Francisco. She has never been and Tonga was one of the places I wanted to take her to.
As previously stated: c'est la vie.
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3-15-2009 @2:14PM KF said... My sister and I were both in SF last weekend and we lucked out with a great room at the Mark Hopkins for under a hundred (thank you priceline!). We decided, because the Tonga Room was on its way out, we should make a visit to that room, and, get a cocktail at the Top of the Mark, as well. We started at the Top of the Mark, and found that a let down. The room was only "Meh" and the drink was good, but overpriced. The selling point is the view, and nothing more. Won't ever need to do that again. We then went across the street to the Tonga Room. It wasn't even quaint, really. Maybe in the 1950s-1970s when the Polynesian theme was in its hey dey, I would have been charmed, but it was just meh, the drinks were meh, overpriced, and we hightailed it out of there to get a fantastic drink elsewhere (Ruby Red Grapefruit Martinis at the Daily Grill, Union Square -- best ever). I've done it, I've crossed it off the list -- and won't miss it now that it's gone.
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