Inside Lani Kai, Soho's New Hawaiian-Themed Cocktail Haven

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Tonight, Julie Reiner, cocktail maven and owner of Brooklyn's Clover Club, opens her new Soho joint Lani Kai. She transformed the bi-level space that once held Sam Mason's Tailor into a spacious Polynesian/Hawaiian (not tiki, she wants to make clear!) hangout. And instead of the inventive cocktails from Eben Freeman and the sweet and savory stylings of Mason, these rooms will now churn out Mai Tais, Hawaiian Iced Teas, and huge bowls of rum punches. On the menu, chef Craig Rivard serves pupu platters, poi doughnuts, ahi burgers, tuna poke, and duck potstickers.

Reiner explains on the menu that Lani Kai is her attempt to blend her two favorite places—Hawaii and New York—and told Eater last night that she'd like the bar to feel like a nice resort lounge. Check out the offerings below.

Raw

Oysters
East and west coast oysters served with a sake
mignonette and spicy Asian cocktail sauce.
Served by the piece (3 piece minimum). MP

Hamachi
Yellowtail sashimi served over a yuzu soy with an
edamame puree. $14

Tuna Poke
Ahi tuna done poke style with chilies, sesame, soy,
macadamia nuts and cucumber, served with taro
root chips. $15

Steak Tartare
Grass fed beef with scallion, soy, sesame, Japanese
mustard and quail egg, served with taro root chips.
$14

Sliders
Order per piece?

Pork Bun
Five spiced pork belly confit in a house-made bun
with Lani Kai secret sauce, pickled Japanese cucum-
ber and bibb lettuce. $4

Ahi
Ahi burger grilled and served on a house-made pate
a choux bun with wasabi aioli and pickled ginger. $8

BBQ Short Rib
Braised short rib dressed with ginger barbeque sauce
and topped with a crunchy slaw. $5

Lobster Roll
‘Nuff said? $7

Grass-fed Beef
A classic, served on a brioche bun with house made
pickles, red onion, lettuce and secret sauce. $5

Small plates

Crab Wontons
Lump crab mixed with mascarpone cheese in a crispy
wonton, served with a creamy mustard sauce. $8

Char Su Baby Back Ribs
Ribs roasted in Chinese barbeque sauce, garnished
with crushed macadamia nuts and scallion. $13

Duck Potstickers
Long Island duck roasted and wrapped in a crispy pot
sticker, served with a spicy soy ginger sauce. $8

Delicata Squash Tempura
Rings of delicata squash lightly battered and served
with a spicy honey mustard. $8

Grilled Chili Squid
Octopus tossed in citrus and chilies then grilled and
dressed in a Vietnamese vinaigrette and served over
mezuna greens. $12

Chicken Wings
Naturally raised, spiced wings, roasted and served
crispy with a creamy Thai-basil sauce. $10

Pupu Platter
Choose four from the small plates section?

Luau Platters
These platters are intended for table sharing, please
allow a few extra minutes for preparation.

Snapper
Whole Red Snapper prepared Tempura style
and served over a salad of daikon, beet, carrot
and lotus root chips. $65

Ribeye
2lb grilled bone-in Ribeye, sliced and served
with lettuce cups, fried shallots, Hawaiian purple
sweet potato chips and bean sprouts. $85

Something Sweet
Poi Doughnuts
Doughnuts served with a warm caramel & rum
dipping sauce. $8

Cocktails
Spice & Tropical Tea

Pacific Swizzle
White Rum infused with rosehip, lemongrass and
hibiscus tea, lime juice, and passion fruit. $13

8 Days A Week
Jamaican, Haitian, Guyanan Rums, toasted coconut
milk, demerara, vanilla syrup and Donn’s spices. $13

Hawaiian Iced Tea
Vodka infused with tropical black tea, mint tea
syrup, lemon juice and H
2O. $13

Mi Changito
Cognac, Aged Martinique Rum, Amaro, vanilla,
coffee and banana. $13

Boozy and Stirred

The Black Pearl
Bourbon, Black Strap Rum, Demerara, Aromatic
Bitters. $13

The Tree House
Rye Whiskey, Dark Rum, Macadamia Nut Orgeat,
Mole Bitters. $13

Witchy Woman
Reposado Tequila, Aged Rum, 5 spice infused Amaro,
Sherry. $13

Crystal Skull
Jalapeno infused tequila, Mezcal, Dry Vermouth,
Arrack, Maraschino, Absinthe and orange bitters. $13

Another Day in Paradise

Hotel California
Dried apricot infused Old Tom Gin, Pisco, lime
and pineapple juice, toasted almond orgeat,
and Peychaud’s bitters. $13

Leilani’s Fizz
Lychee, Gin, lime juice, lemongrass syrup,
and club soda. $13

The Tides
Cachaça, Falernum, Cane Syrup, lime and grapefruit
juice, Peychaud’s Bitters. $13

La Tropicalia
White and Aged Rum, Curacao, toasted almond
orgeat, mango, lime, Absinthe and aromatic bitters.
$13

Isle Of Islay Swizzle
Blended Scotch, coconut liqueur, house falernum,
passion fruit, and lemon juice. $13
The Lone Palm
Gin, ginger syrup, melon, basil and lime juice. $13

Liquid Luau
Large profile beverages meant for sharing?

Gold Coast Punch
Aged Rum, Pineapple, lime, allspice and Cham-
pagne. $65

Lani Kai Planters Punch
Raisin infused aged rum, Jamaican Rum, lime, dem-
erara and Angostura Bitters. $52

South Maui Sangria
A tropical white sangria with mango, lemongrass,
Cognac, Amaretto and Lychee juice. $52

Brain Freeze
Bermuda Triangle

Rum Flights
Intro to Cane
La Favorite Blanc
Appleton V/X
Zafra 21 ... $20

Reserve
Mt Gay XO
Rhum JM 1997
Goslings Family Reserve ... $35

Ohana (Cocktails by our Friends and Family)

Green Destiny (Brad Farran)
Shiso leaves, Gin, Dry Vermouth, Grapefruit, and
lemon juice. $13

E Kipa Mai — Come To Me (Eric Alperin)
Mezcal, Agave Syrup, Pineapple and lime juice,
Amaro. $13

The Maya Well (Phil Ward)
Raspberry tea infused blanco tequila, ginger,
pineapple, and lime juice. $13

The Sugarhill Gang (Brian Miller)
Aged Rum, Calvados, toasted almond orgeat,
cinnamon bark syrup, lemon and orange juice. $13

Old School

Ti Punch
White Martinique Rhum, cane syrup, lime. $13

Queen’s Park Swizzle
Aged rum, Mint, demerara, lime and Angostura
bitters. $13

Mai Tai
Aged Martinique and Jamican Rums, lime juice,
toasted almond orgeat and Curacao. $13

Knickerbocker Royale
Aged Rum, Orange curacao, lemon, fresh raspberries,
and Champagne. $13