Retro-Raunt: Pub Tiki

Drawing for Food visited the Pub in Pennsauken a bit back, a retro experience in and of itself but they also did some research on the history of the Pub that we found fascinating.

• There were once 5 Pub locations
  • Pennsauken (Still open)
  • Little Pub at 1421 Sansom Street (Now Chris’ Jazz Cafe)
  • 1522 Chestnut Street
  • Hunting Park and Allegheny Avenue
  • Pub Tiki at 1718 Walnut Street (Now Knit Wit, Cosi, TD Bank)
• Founded by Morris “Duffy”J. Shoyer (1914-1995)

Here are some fun facts we found about Pub Tiki:

• Opened in the mid-1950s
• Closed in 1977
• Interior featured a glowing map of the South Pacific and a waterfall
• The Missionary’s Downfall was the most expensive cocktail at $1.20

A Hawaiian hukilau of special rums and fresh exotic juices served in a whole fresh pineapple

• All drinks had a minimum of 1 1/2 ounces alcohol
• 3 Tiki mugs from Pub Tiki recently went for $188.49 on eBay.
• GQ food writer Alan Richman took a date to Pub Tiki in 1965, his senior year at the University of Pennsylvania and also mentioned the restaurant in his book, Fork it Over: the intrepid adventures of a professional eater .
• Phyllis Stein-Novack reminisced that the “Polynesian” food served there “was sort of Chinese, the addition of cherries and pineapples.”
• Dinner Menu from Pub Tiki [Arkiva Tropika]
• Cocktail Menu from Pub Tiki [Arkiva Tropika]

Are we ready for a Tiki renaissance?

The Pub [Drawing for Food]