postcard courtesy Ray Brown
Regular readers of my "Ask Vance" column (you know who you are — I'm not allowed to give out the names of state prison inmates) know that my futile search for a decent photo of the exterior of the Luau — the Polynesian-themed restaurant on Poplar — has caused me to suffer from bouts of neurasthenia, jungle madness, and infestations of botflies.
Or maybe it only seems that way. I just can't understand why such a distinctive and popular restaurant didn't leave behind more tangible evidence of its existence. I've seen some Key magazine ads (mainly illustrations), a tiny menu, and some partial shots of the exterior in a few East High School yearbook ads (the school was just across the street). But so far, no clear image of the restaurant exterior, with its distinctive giant stone head guarding the entrance, like something transported from Easter Island.
But Dr. Ray Brown, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at Christian Brothers University, recently shared a few good memories of the Luau. Among other things, he says, "I remember it well – a great buffet at a reasonable price. Just the ticket for a hungry (and cash-challenged) college student — you could get by on one meal a day."
Plus he shared this old postcard with me, showing the decidedly bizarre interior. Look closely, and you'll see all sorts of bamboo structures, hanging plants, odd carvings, lumps of bright coral, clumps of bananas, and a lot more. It was definitely sensory overload.
I was amused at the caption on the back of the card. Calling it by its proper name — the Dobbs House Luau — the postcard says the restaurant at 3135 Poplar "offered a unique experience in dining. The exotic setting of a Polynesian paradise with the exquisite flavor of authentic Polynesian dishes imported from the Islands. The end product of years of research — the world's finest Polynesian food. Also featuring our famous steaks and roast beef."
The world's finest Polynesian food? At a cluttery, kitschy restaurant on Poplar? Well, who am I to judge?
Thanks for sharing the postcard, Dr. Brown.
