When it's tiki time, there's no other place to be. And, when it's tiki time, Lava Letch is the drink for me! When I first discovered that Frankie's had a drink with ginger beer, I was flabbergasted. I thought tiki drinks were all fruit and punch, but uh-uh. The Lava Letch is one of the best ginger beer concoctions in town.
I have been to Frankie's on a couple of occasions, and each time has been vastly different. First time, we arrived, it was slammed, dark and smoky, and we weren't ready to brave the crowd or smoke, so we didn't stay long.
Since then, I have learned a secret to the tiki gods: show up with a group early so you can take over the tiki hut! The tiki hut ensures a good night. You may want to consider carpooling as parking is tough, but at least it's not New York! I mean, they do have a lot, even if it is only 20 spots or so.
Yes, it's still smoky and dark, but they're 100% committed on the decor, the vibe, and the bodacious drinks. It's a hard to find well-executed combo for good bar times.