The Shameful Tiki Room is located on the north side of Queen W between Brock and O'Hara close to Cowan begins in Parkdale.
Lots of places have changed in the WQW transformation from old stores and antiques to restaurants, bars and new things. This stretch of Parkdale between Roncy and Dufferin has really changed. I grew up in this area and I even worked in the area around 20 years ago so I get reacquainted from time to time and coming back never gets old.
I don't know how long this place has been around however it is a complete transformation of what is going on. If I had to describe it it's sort of like taking an indoor vacation from the outside world. I entered the place coming from the outside on a hot and sunny day and I have to say my Transitions (auto-tint glasses) didn't have time to adjust. It's really dark inside at first but as your sight adjusts perhaps you may be able to eventually see like I did.
So when you are able to finally see what is around you and where you're going you'll notice that this place in fact a tiki bar. Short of fire lit torches inside it's like an evening in the South Pacific kind of theme with the servers wearing appropriate clothing and the booths and bar match. The drinks on the menu have barrels of rum to measure how strong the drinks are. One barrel is weak while 4 is stronger.
The menu is basically all tropical type cocktails. You want beer? Not here my friend. Everything is essentially fruit mixes with liquor. Lots of rum based drinks so drinks are going to be sweet anyway. There do seem to be some small plate type apps and we decided to give a try to a few. Jerk chicken skewers and crab type dumplings. The food was not that good but if you're here for drinks of the sweet and fruity variety I suppose this is the place. For somebody like me that isn't really into these kinds of cocktails I still went with it and had a rum barrel first and then a hurricane afterwards. Both were good, both were sweet and both are again, the kind of drinks I wouldn't normally ask for but they were still good and this is coming from someone that doesn't really like these kind of drinks.
When we were ready to leave and opening that front door and being before 7pm it was still so bright outside. Opening that door was a shock. Being indoors in such a dim place really plays on your senses.