Lei Lounge has the potential to be something really fresh, clean and hip, but it’s mediocre food, service and sanitary standards leave it just short of the mark. 

There are plenty of tropical cocktails to choose from. The fire pit patio and cabanas are sexy and make patrons feel like renegade escapists from Lost or Survivor who luckily stumbled on the island’s gay bar.

The food is decent IF you go into the experience thinking of it as upscale bar food and not a restaurant’s bar menu.  This place is definitely bar first, restaurant second.

I’d call the food ‘carnival chic’ as there is a lot of fried items (sweet potato fries, calamari, rock shrimp, spring rolls) but dipping anything in tempura batter makes it seems a little more high class than funnel cakes at the Del Mar fare. 

Overall, Lei is a sexy spot surrounded by gay bars and restaurants on Park Ave. and just a few doors down from the Diversionary Theater making it a great place to grab a drink before/after the show.