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A toast to Tiki bars
By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff Writer Nothing conjures up the laid-back, waterfront imagery of Florida quite like a Tiki bar. Sitting on a wobbly bar stool in a Tiki bar, one can truly experience the Zen of Florida. There's land, sea and sky. There is also food, drink, a whole cast of colorful characters and often some beach music. If you can stand a little heat, then it's always Tiki time. And talk about casual. That's the credo of the Tiki. No shirt? No shoes? Hey, Mon, no problem. With an abundance of waterfront, Citrus County also has an abundance of Tiki bars. They stretch from Homosassa to Crystal River. A typical Tiki bar has a thatched roof, a nearby kitchen and a cooler full of beer, tropical drinks and sodas. Bathing suits are permitted, mostly. A Tiki bar has to be very near the water. One of the marvels of the local Tiki bar scene is that the bars are accessible either by boat or by car. Over the recent Memorial Day weekend, the Tiki bars serviced loads of boaters who popped in for a rendezvous with their landlubber friends. At community events such as the raft races, the Tiki bars are swamped with boaters. The float crowd is so thick that one can just walk from one boat to the next. Tiki bars are also a great place for romance. Most of them feature an entertainer, usually playing beach music accompanied by an acoustic guitar. After a frozen drink or two, a glorious sunset and a couple of tender ballads, the "love meter" rises as high as the afternoon humidity. Most of the Tiki bars serve a decent meal, usually limited to hamburgers, chicken wings and sandwiches. Some, such as the one at the Homosassa Riverside Resort, have a more extensive menu. Cravings on the Water at the Best Western Motel in Crystal River features Cuban-American foods and serves an authentic, tasty Cuban sandwich. -- Contact arts and entertainment reporter Jorge Sanchez at 860-7313 or e-mail at Tiki TimeOK, so you've listened to Jimmy Buffett's Cheeseburger In Paradise and you're looking forward to checking out a local tiki bar. Here are a few worth visiting. CRACKER'S BAR AND GRILL: 502 NW Sixth St., Crystal River. A full-service restaurant, karoake and a nice view of Kings Bay. 795-3999. CRAVINGS ON THE WATER: 614 NW U.S. 19, Crystal River at the Best Western Hotel. Serves Cuban-American food, drinks and has live entertainment Saturday afternoon. Parrot Heads meet here on the third Friday of the month. Has roomy dock. 795-2027. HOMOSASSA RIVERSIDE RESORT: Cherokee Way, Old Homosassa. The upper floor has great views of the river and sunsets. Food and drink available. Boat dock. 621-5080. KC CRUMP/KIBBIES DOCKSIDE: 11210 W Halls River Road, Homosassa. Serves food and drinks. Live music Thursday through Sunday. Boater-friendly with 50 slots on the dock. 628-1500. THE PORT HOTEL TIKI BAR: SE Paradise Circle, Crystal River. Food and drink. Live entertainment on most weekends. 795-3111. THE SEAGRASS PUB AND GRILL: 10386 Halls River Road. Food and drink available. Riverfront dock. Live entertainment nightly. 628-3595. THE SHED: 5300 S Cherokee Way, Homosassa. Serves food, beer and wine. Dock has eight extra-roomy slots. Usuallly has live music on weekends. No cover. 628-5714. THE OAR HOUSE: 2518 U.S. 19 N, Crystal River. Not on the water, but still has a pretty decent tiki bar in the rear of the property. Food and drink available. Live entertainment. 564-1540. ALLIGATOR ANNIE'S (At Plantation Inn) 9301 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River. Has a swimming pool for guests, food and live music. Also has a nice, grassy point often used for weddings. 795-4211. POLLIWOG'S RESTAURANT: 5725 N State Road 200, Hernando. Outdoors area on the Lake Tsala Apopka waterfront has bandstand, bar, picnic table. Live music Thursdays and karaoke Wednesday and Saturday. 860-1179.
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