The It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Tiki pop-up kicked off recently at Simon’s Bar in Budd Dairy Food Hall. The 21-and-up event will be going on Friday and Saturday nights for the next several months. For the pop-up, Simon’s Bar on the second floor has been decorated to feature pineapples, plants and island imagery, with tiki heads hanging on the walls.
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We tried three cocktails. The Toucan Slam incorporated Middle West pumpernickle rye and Campari with pineapple, lime and cinnamon for a deep, complex and uncommon flavor that still hit tropical notes.
Summer’s Passion, dubbed a Budd Dairy Fav on the menu, was more traditional: Rum, passion fruit, lime, and pineapple ginger beer made for a purely summer cocktail with an unexpected tartness.
My personal favorite was a classic: the Pier Pressure Colada – a frozen, quintessential piña colada packed with pineapple and coconut flavor. It’s billed as an non-alcoholic drink, with options for guests to add their liquor of choice.
Tables include menus with QR codes allowing guests to order from all restaurants in the food hall. Our advice: Pair your tiki drinks with dishes from the Jerk Spot for a true tropical escape.
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This article originally appeared on Columbus Monthly: Get a First Look at Budd Dairy’s Tiki Pop-Up, It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Tiki
Reporting by Linda Lee Baird, Columbus Monthly / Columbus Monthly
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