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    Tai Tiki Polynesian Grill Opens in Fireproof Building

    A new Short North eatery has opened at 1014 North High Street. Tai Tiki Polynesian Bar and Grill has opened next door to Pies and Pints in the Fireproof building.

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    Tai Tiki is the sister restaurant to Tai’s Asian Bistro on Lane Avenue, popular for their plentiful helpings of Chinese and Japanese food. Owners Tai and Gail Liu opened Tai’s Asian Bistro 10 years ago after working at the Kahiki, the massive Polynesian supper club that closed its doors in 2000.

    Restaurant construction started in November and finished up in mid-May. The interior of Tai Tiki seats about 100, with patio containing standing room and seating for about 20. Tai Tiki is a more upscale restaurant that Tai’s Asian Bistro, with no menu carryover aside from sushi.

    “There’s lots of eclectic things about the menu,” said general manager TJ Zan Heybe. “It’s not as much about Polynesian food as it’s about great old Kahiki drinks, and the Polynesian concept at heart.”

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    Highlights of the dinner menu include pan-seared scallops, shrimp pad thai, garlic island strip steak, and a marinated Indoniesian rack of lamb. The lunch menu contains slightly smaller portions of more casual fare, like sliders, salads, and a number of chicken and shrimp dishes. Their full sushi menu is available at both lunch and dinner, with specialty rolls like the Blue Jacket roll and the Columbus Crew roll alongside caviar, maki, and sashimi offerings.

    The drink menu offers 30 different wines, in addition to a range of local and import craft beers, and an impressive sake list. The true highlight of the drink menu is their range of cocktails, a mix of modern tiki drinks and Kahiki-inspired creations. The Volcano Drink, a large ceramic punch bowl filled with a mysterious ‘tropical blend,’ intended for sharing with two to four people, is one of the main Kahiki carryovers. Modern drinks include a cucumber gimlet, ginger martini, and a blueberry mojito, among others.

    Tai Tiki’s grand opening will be held this Saturday, May 30. All proceeds made that night will be donated to Nellie’s Catwalk for Kids, a nonprofit that benefits pediatric cancer research funding. Tai Tiki is open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

    For ongoing discussion on Tai’s Tiki, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.

    For more information, visit www.taitiki.com.

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    Rebecca Wagner
    Rebecca Wagnerhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Rebecca Wagner is a former staff writer at Columbus Underground who reported on local food and restaurant news. She's a graduate of Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
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