Strong Water isn't just a place to grab a drink, it is an entire experience from the moment you…read morewalk through the door. We were escorted inside and our hostess immediately started introducing us to the lore of the place: a capsized ship with the space decorated using pieces recovered from the wreckage. The room is VERY dimly lit, and we actually stood near the entrance for a moment while our eyes adjusted, but honestly that just added to the atmosphere. On the way to our reservation in the Captain's Quarters, our hostess gave us a little tour of the main room and even pointed out the bathrooms for later. Once we sat down, we met our bartender, Drew, who was fantastic. He walked us through the different menus, explained the food and cocktails, and really added to the experience throughout the night. I'm normally a whiskey drinker, so I started with the Southeast Spice Trade while my girlfriend ordered the Pineapple Whipped Colada. Both were delicious, but half the fun was watching Drew make them. You could really see the amount of care that went into the craft and presentation of every drink. For food, we ordered the chicken katsu and ahi poke nachos. I was especially excited when the nachos arrived and I realized they were made with wonton chips. I'm a sucker for wonton chips, so those were an immediate win. We obviously couldn't stop at one round of drinks, so next came the Tarobi Colada and Zombie King. Drew told us a little about the history of the Zombie King and gave us a lesson on rum, so I had to try it, plus it came in one of the coolest mugs I've ever seen. The Zombie King was easily my favorite drink of the night. The flavor was fantastic from beginning to end and dangerously smooth. I didn't even realize how much it had hit me until I stood up. Even leaving was part of the experience. We finally checked out the bathroom and the door has what feels like TEN different locks on it. It genuinely felt like I was locking myself inside the bathroom of an old pirate ship. Between the storytelling, incredible atmosphere, Captain's Quarters, food, cocktails, and especially the service from Drew, this was such a memorable night. Strong Water completely commits to its theme without sacrificing the quality of the drinks. Absolutely an experience worth having, and we can't wait to come back.

We have returned to Strong Water several times in recent months, so it's time for an update. We…read morefirst returned in early June since they introduced some new cocktails and food to the menu. The other visits were just because this is by far our number one place. Recently added cocktails: Buzzin' Jungle Bird (Jamaican gold rum, coffee infused campari, dark rum, pineapple, lime, hemp orgeat, cane, Angostura bitters). This is a great spin on a jungle bird, with some complexity and coffee flavor. I'm usually not a big fan of coffee, but it is at a good level. Chi Chi (Whey vodka, pineapple, lime, date, honey, coconut, salt). This has a great creamy texture which I believe comes from the dairy component of the whey vodka. It is well balanced with some sweetness, and I could taste the coconut and date flavors. Lapu Lapu (Asian rum, Jamaican rum, dry curacao, lime, orgeat, demerara). It is juicy, well balanced, and served with a flaming sugar cube on top. This is the cocktail they chose to serve at their booth at Tiki Oasis recently which says a lot, try it! Thai Me Down (Barbados rum, coconut liqueur, papaya, lemon, demerara, Thai basil). It is served old-fashioned style, and was light and perfectly balanced. Those Thai inspired flavors were all noticeable. Demerara Dry Float. They added and took this one off the menu as of now. It was a balanced light citrusy drink which was served with a delicious sidecar of Hamilton 151 rum infused with banana chips. I sipped half of that and mixed the rest into the cocktail. It was served with a beautiful ice shell. I'm guessing it was too labor intensive, and took up a lot of space in their freezers. Recently added food: Ahi Poke Nachos (marinated ahi tuna, masago, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, furikake, green onion). This is such a tasty starter with so many textures and flavors. I love that the nachos are wontons too, and not just chips. Crab & Cream cheese wontons. Nice crisp wontons with a good amount of crab and cream cheese inside. The chili sauce and spicy mayo adds another layer of flavor, and there is a slice of jalapeno on top for a little heat. Pan-Seared Scallops. This was an excellent lighter entrée. The four scallops are cooked perfectly, and even have a little dollop of caviar on top. I liked the mix of veggies and really liked the bed of potato puree underneath. Steak & Eggs (8oz hanger steak, crying tiger glaze, Nam Jim Jaew sauce, sunny eggs, rice). I normally wouldn't try steak & eggs for dinner, but I can't resist a good hanger steak. It was cooked a perfect medium rare and I appreciate that it was pre-sliced. The crying tiger glaze and sauce were so flavorful. There's plenty of rice to soak up any left egg yolk or sauce. Recently added desserts: Dubai Chocolate Lava Cake. This was excellent, but it's definitely sweet and rich. Save some room if you plan on ordering this. Ube Flan Cake. I'm usually not a fan of flan, but I have to try anything with ube and this was good. The cake had nice ube flavor, and I liked that the flan was a little firm since the looser custardy/gelatinous texture is not for me. This is definitely a lighter dessert than the lava cake. It's not a new drink, but I also had the Naval Grog for the first time. (Lost Voyage rum, overproof white rum, allspice dram, lime, grapefruit, demerara, honey). It is boozy with nice spice notes. Other repeat cocktails enjoyed were Tales from the Black Lagoon (my favorite), Missionary's Downfall, Agave Parrot, Singapore Sling, and Serpents Grasp all of which are excellent. Their cocktails, food, ambiance, and service are always top notch. Thank you Ying, Erica, Greg, Jordan, Joey, Iris, Karen, Kyle, Joy, and John for your wonderful hospitality during our visits. We will return again soon!

Prepare to visit the islands of Hawaii. Guest will be treated to island life ambiance and treated…read moreto foods that transport you to Kona. We started with the latest addition of cocktail to the menu, a monkey pod mai tai with crafted liliko'i foam toping of the combination of rums, orgeat and paired some pupus as companions to our drinks. We tried the island wings, crispy rice and firecracker shrimp. Would recommend these as they were quite delicious. For a main course, my wife and I shared the sticky ribs and furikake fries which I must saw were amazing. I really enjoyed the Dole Whip frozen delight. The blend of rums, pineapple snd coconut was fabulous snd my personal favorite. The speed of delivery was really good thanks to Angelica. Aloha!

It was Disneyesque. Perfect. I had the Navy Grog, delicious. The pupu platter was fantastic. Their…read moreceviche was spot on. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The absolute best speakeasies are transportive, sending the guest into an immersive state of…read moresuspended reality for a while. From the sign as you enter, through the teeth, to the throaty-red textured walls, The Belly of the Beast encases guests in the whimsical journey down the whale's gullet. Who knew getting "swallowed" would be such fun? Keeping with the throaty theme, the space inside holds a few tables. It's an intimate space with ambient lighting and cheery Hawaiian/beach music. Puppets hang here and there, as well as other thematic, decorative details. My friend and I shared a few mouthwatering apps and imbibed a few delicious concoctions. Our wonderful bartender frim "outside" even came in with us, which made our experience even more personalized. We especially appreciated the complimentary shots! Our food was delicious and plentiful for apps: spam musubi, edamame, sliders, and shishito peppers. Now this is a big deal: my friend has celiac disease. She needs to be very cautious when ordering food. She self-advocates but much relies on the knowledge of servers. Our wonderful bartender, now our server, was very diligent and knowledgeable, and double checked ingredients with the chefs. Accommodations were made. Good times rolled on! Extra heaps of thanks on that! We fully enjoyed every minute of our (generous+) 90 minute time slot here. The service was amazing, the food delicious, and the cocktails made with magic. It was worth the drive, and one I'll gladly make again at next opportunity.

The Belly of the Beast - Pinocchio Speakeasy at Stowaway Tiki Bar, Tustin…read more The Belly of the Beast is a Pinocchio-themed speakeasy tucked inside Stowaway Tiki Bar in Tustin, and it's definitely a fun experience. You actually enter through the mouth of a whale, which immediately sets the tone. The decor and theming are really well done, with plenty of unique details that make the space feel immersive. The atmosphere is more intimate and private compared to the main tiki bar, which makes it a nice change of pace. The food menu is limited, but what we tried was good. The drinks were definitely the highlight. I had the Farewell Jimmy, Smoke the Monster Out, and Geppetto's Last Words--all three were great. Smooth, tropical, flavorful, and definitely potent. Service was okay, but nothing particularly stood out. Overall, The Belly of the Beast is a cool place to check out if you enjoy themed bars and unique experiences. For me, it's probably more of a one-time experience rather than somewhere I'd regularly return to. Still, the creativity, decor, and cocktails make it worth experiencing at least once.

Fun ambiance. Great cocktails! Service was also great too. It feels like the Tiki room. Very…read morenostalgic.

First time at Stowaway last night, loved the tropical tiki vibe! Place was packed when we got there…read morearound 6 pm. FREE parking available right in front. The shareable small bites were incredible--the Poke Bombs were indeed da bomb (pun intended), and the Tempura-battered Spam Musubi served with a sweet teriyaki-esque glaze and sriracha-mayo is an absolute must-order. Both items were so good that we ended up ordering them again. The drinks were great -- Three Dots and a Dash, Smoking Rita and the Lava Flow instantly transported me right back to Hawaii. Huge shoutout to Michelle and David for providing such warm, friendly, and attentive service. We will definitely be back!

Trader Sam's is always a must for us, and a huge part of what keeps us coming back is the drinks,…read morethe hospitality and the amazing bartenders! Stephanie, Veronica, and Melissa are all fantastic bartenders and we are always sure to grab a drink when we see them at the bar. They consistently make our cocktails perfectly every single time, and you can tell they really know their craft and care about the guest experience. They're incredibly attentive without ever making us feel rushed. They give us time to enjoy our drinks, take in the atmosphere, and decide what we're in the mood for next while still making sure we're taken care of. That balance of great service and letting us enjoy the experience is something we really appreciate. In terms of drinks the Mojitos and specialty cocktails are to die for. They're always perfectly balanced, refreshing, and packed with flavor. Whether we're in the mood for something tropical, fruity, or a little stronger, they always seem to know exactly what to make. What we especially appreciate is that they're just as creative when we don't feel like drinking. They've made us customized mocktails that are just as fun and delicious as the cocktails. It's not just a basic juice or soda thrown together. They actually take the time to create something unique based on what we like. When it comes to food I recommend the pupu platter, salmon and ramen. They are some of my favorites! The pupu platter has a nice variety of foods that can definitely be shared amongst friends. What I especially love to come for though is a late night bowl of Ramen. Their broth has so much depth and flavor, not to mention the noodles are always cooked perfectly. Trader Sam's is always such a great experience for us. Great drinks, great service, great music and bartenders who genuinely care about what they're serving. We always look forward to coming back

We've had dinner and drinks here many times, but this was our first time having breakfast…read more Our host, Lisa, was very friendly. We've met her here a few times before, and it was nice to see her again. Our server was very nice as well. I had the Lomi-Lomi Salmon Sandwich, and it was really good! It was also much bigger than I expected. We were here on D23 day, starting from the park opening time. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure were both so crowded, so having a nice, quiet, and relaxing breakfast was exactly what we needed. We had a great time and really enjoyed our breakfast!

I think this is on everyone's speakeasy list!…read more Make sure you make a reservation It is very packed. They offer bar seating and booth / table Follow the wall from Randy's donuts and Look for a wall of Japanese sake/beer barrels and head towards the restaurant - the rolling boil. There will be a check in host and stand there and wait (it will be located up against the wall with a big secret door right next to the hostess station) It's very New York inside. When I first came in Spring with the amazing, Karen, the menu and everything was great Now, I took my friend who was in town from Nashville and it was a brand new theme. It's the great Gatsby. Even our waitress, Jasmine was dressed for the occasion. I would say this place is known for Absinthe. They have cocktails featuring it or you can get one of the huge apparatus (huge and glowing green) which, if you are into it? I highly recommend. Just one of the huge apparatus makes one regular drink. Or, what Karen and I did, was split it and make it into a shot for the both of us. The waitress comes out and shows you how it works and goes over everything. Karen, who I came with, was a pro and knew her way around it. She showed me the ropes lol. Honestly, if you are here? When in Rome. Go all out and try it, since it's where they shine here. They took off a few menu items and added some themed drinks. ( a couple new champagne themed drinks) They have big entree items but I suggest small bites and sharing and mostly coming for the drinks. There's no bathroom inside, so you do have to leave the bar and go to the closest one (over behind Randy's donuts) and then enter the speakeasy again Both times coming here I've never had an issue. It's a small, packed place. And yet they still have the cocktails flowing and the food coming out in a good time. So the food and drinks are good Atmosphere is lovely. Service is good. Especially for it usually being very busy in here This place is located inside the Anaheim packing district. So I suggest hitting up a couple other spots before or afterwards for some more food or drinks P.S. it is very dark In here. They never cared if we used our light to look at the menu. However, they do not want flash photography They also do not strictly enforce a dress code (my friend from Nashville asked) however, they suggest dressing business casual and not too underdressed

Date night for mom and dad away from the kids type of night. Very mellow and chill. Small but cozy…read more I loved the Gatsby decor. We chose to be seated at the bar. Service was decent. I really liked the clarified strawberry drink, similar to strawberry and cream. I ordered a drink after that unfortunately forgot the name (photo attached with a tall glass) but there was no special cocktail craft taste to it. Just hard liquor taste and undrinkable :( the bartender kindly offered another drink. Unfortunately none of the food was the least bit good. Steak and fries was ordered medium rare and cooked to medium well with what seemed like no seasoning was on there at all. Crab cake was just ok and the slaw beneath it was drenched in a vinaigrette that was just sour and unpleasant. And the Mac and cheese, as we were very hopeful and looking forward to, was probably the blandest Mac and cheese we ever had. We asked the lady bartender for salt and she handed us, no exaggeration (and you guys will probably think I am) a salt shaker with 10 grains of salt in it and said "looks like there's a lil something you could still get out of there" My jaw dropped. But yeah. The shredded meat on top of the Mac and cheese was cooked beyond the point of edible. That one was unfortunately sent back bc we just couldn't eat it. We were bummed over all mostly about the food.

Took a great meal here within a food hall. Open, chill, other businesses so you got movement but…read morethey have a TV for sports and full bar. Had about 3 different recommendations for drinks... if you're into craft cocktails on the sweeter side but still good, this is your place. As for the food, im big on seasoning. Oysters are Oysters... onion mignonette wasn't bad, the other sauce I didn't really feel or taste. Pot stickers standard. Loco moco I have a bone to pick because im Hawaii once or twice a year so I need more seasoning in a gravy called bacon grazy. Service wasn't bad but we must have came around a shift change and training a new employee. Left alone a while, training someone but the interactions we did have was good. Solid 3 stars with little to work on but is a place I'd come back to try,

I was here for dinner with couple of friends after work. This restaurant is located inside…read moreEastvale food hall. I had the most amazing Lobster Mac and Cheese! It was super delicious! Service was amazing. Ambiance is very nice.

Another rad tiki bar in So Cal! As soon as you come to the top of the stairs you are instantly…read moretransported to the Pacific! We ordered the pineapple fried rice and Pork Luau sliders with fries.. Everything was cooked to perfection and the drinks were on point! We went midweek on a Wednesday and participated in trivia night that was lots of fun! Also took advantage of the Happy Hour Specials that they had between 5-6 pm.. Our server and host were very attentive and never let our water glasses go below half...If Tiki Bars are a thing for you; you owe it to yourself to get Tongafied!

Man, what happened to this place? It used to be a great spot to soak in the tropical atmosphere,…read moresuck down a couple classic tiki drinks, and nosh on the ever-popular pu pu platter. While the first two points are still valid, the food has gone downhill in a big way. It's now $27 for the pu pu platter and it tastes like they bought everything from Costco. Cheap quality frozen garbage. My "beef skewer" looked like a stray flap of rubber from a discarded tire. The chicken was a fat, ugly blob. Coconut shrimp is clearly of the frozen variety. Same for the egg roll. Look, I get it, some foods just come frozen. But this place also has a kitchen, this is a signature appetizer, and there's no reason you can make this stuff fresh, on hand, on the day. I'm fed up with places that raise prices and lower quality and the only way they listen is by doing this.

4 stars for service! Despite the name-it's not an actual…read moretiki bar-more an actual dive bar. Bartender was fantastic and friendly! Pretty chill vibes on a Sunday, lots of TVs with various channels and sports playing Full bar and a variety of canned drinks and taps available. Overall cool spot for a drink and nice view. (And this is from a female perspective-so be mindful that the staff is in bikinis but the bartender I had was beautiful & sweet!)

Went here thinking it was a tiki bar... and it was more like a trashy onlyfans bar. It was so dead…read moreand hot inside. It's a ran down bar that use to be a tiki bar back in the day. Now it's where tweakers work at and just a regular dive bar. Will never go back. Ladies don't bring your man here.. he'll be staring at the bartenders wearing the skimpiest bikini and thong.

A must stop for any goonies lover…read more The entrance leaves a lot to be desired, but I suppose it add more to the magic and experience once you've entered. It feels like we're are navigating the caves from the movie and the bar is the treasure ship. Once you enter there is decor and memorabilia spread throughout (whether any of it is authentic or not I'm not sure) they have speciality drinks after the movie and the bartender was very attentive. Overall it was fun to experience and a nice spot to explore while going around San Clemente.

Really bummed out. My husband grew up in San Clemente, loved tiki bars and his favorite movie was…read moreThe Goonies. He sadly passed away recently and his memorial is this weekend, so we tried to go to Lost Inferno to celebrate him with all his high school and college friends. We called in advance and the person we spoke to said we couldn't make a reservation unless we could guarantee 20 people, but we could walk in with a smaller group no problem. Of course we got there right when they opened and they told us they couldn't seat us for an hour. We joined the wait list and walked to a bar a couple doors down waiting for the text that our table was ready. We received a text that our table would be ready at a specific time and then 2 minutes before our table was supposed to be ready we get a text saying we were removed from the wait list with no clarification or follow up. I understand being busy/booked up, but I would have liked to have received accurate information. We could have made reservations online if we had been told. I wore his favorite Goonies Hawaiian shirt and everything expecting to have a nice time talking about my husband. I guess I'm glad we never had the opportunity to experience this level of service with my husband, and guess I won't be back seeing that he's dead and all. Edited to add tips - don't believe anything they tell you on the phone and if you really want to go, make a reservation, and apparently they will close for you if you can guarantee 20 people.