Entering the Tropical Bistro, you traverse a long corridor to come to the hostess stand, along one wall is a fishtank with a Moai (This is taken from inside the restaurant, so you can see the Moai).

Near the fishtank is the bar area on an upper level overlooking the main dining area.

After a drink or two, descend the ramp between the gigantic golden foo dogs and pick a table, either in the main area, or one of the more private rooms.

Here, I'm looking from the rear of the restaurant towards the bar area (look left) this pagoda shaped central focus has a small trickling fountain, a conch shell, some lucky bamboo, and a lamp from the Kahiki.

Peering down in at the fountain.

Tiki mugs hold lucky bamboo.

Even though the main dining area is relatively open, the space is broken up really well by being on multiple levels and having neat nooks and others rooms utting off at angles.

This is a fairly typical booth, note the monkeypod tables from the Kahiki.

This is the entrance to a back dining room up several steps from the main floor. While I don't know if the name is at all offical or not, I've heard it affectionately referred to as 'the hall of waters'. *

Why the 'hall of waters'? Due to the watery motion lamps with bird soft sounds that feel like windows on 3 sides of the room.

Also near the back is a sushi bar adorned with tropical flowers.

Through the double doors at the back right of this picture (but actually at one's left as you come down the ramp) are several rooms that can be divided or opened into a private space, this is where we Tikiphiles gathered.

One of the first things you notice in the private room is the huge undersea mural, complete with a Honu!

The next few pix are four, count 'em, four tables full of happy Central Ohio Tikiphiles!

Happy Ohana!

And now we know why the Ohana are so happy, exotic libations!

Finding all these Ohio Ohana really brought me to the edge of tears, being a former Ohio girl myself! It's good to see Tikidom thriving there.

And then, they caught me *compeltely* off guard- this June trip was actually a belated Birthday trip, and so, out of nowhere a "Big Mama-San" appeared- that would be a volcano bowl filled with ice cream and goodies with dry ice wafting from beneath! Can't begin to say MAHALO enough! Ah, Kahiki birthday memories!

Dishing out the good stuff!

So then, just as we're getting ready to head on out for a sort of round two, Chiselslinger brings in one of his carvings as a gift to the Tropical Bistro.

We were in awe- and all smiles! This was just a REALLY special moment.

Tikifying the Tropical Bistro- one Tiki at a time!

(Couldn't decide which one of these two pix was better, so enjoy both!)

So here we are, walking out the door, and there's this entirely unrelated bunch of people all having a great night out, and they ask me to document the occasion- so naturally, I do. This is just the kind of place the Tropical Bistro is, a place where couples can have a romantic evening, or people can gather their own ohana and celebrate! Aloha spirit abounds, from the moment you walk in to the moment you walk out- then start looking forward to whenever you can next return!