The review: Hookah wars
You've read the sneak preview. Now, read the real deal. I went to two hookah bars who are right across the street from each other on the same night.
Here is a link to my official Baltimore Sun newspaper review. I wonder if I'll hear from one of the owners on this one. Drama!






I've been The Baltimore Sun's nightlife and local entertainment reporter for a couple years, and it's surprising how much the scene has grown in that time. Most of Baltimore's bars and clubs are unpretentious places with fairly cheap drinks and plenty of character. I like dancing and think this city needs more clubs, but nothing beats having a cold, locally brewed beer with friends in a comfortably full corner bar.
Comments
Don't worry about it Sam. If Zeeba Lounge bans you, you are more than welcome to go to Huckas on Boston Street haha (does anyone know if they still have hookahs there?).
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | November 13, 2008 10:17 AM
" ... or go up in smoke like its predecessors."
Nice.
Posted by: Mark Twain | November 13, 2008 11:08 AM
A cover charge is an agreement you sign up for at the door, with full knowledge.
A minimum per person charge is hostage-taking.
And it's always conveniently printed pretty small, isn't it? Sorry, that's just seedy.
Adjust your rates, charge a cover, offer more services, or get out of the business.
(I'll make an exception if the charge is so commonplace that it becomes the standard...but the only one I can think of is comedy clubs, and at least they notify you about the two drink minimum in big letters on the ticket. And even then I don't like it.)
Posted by: Patchen | November 13, 2008 2:07 PM
Zeeba's arrogance needs a reality check, maybe to be checkmated.
Arabian Nights sounds like their still a little gawky which they'll out grow if they remain people friendly.
Posted by: jacqui | November 13, 2008 7:13 PM
shisha, the name for the flavored tobacco smoked with hookahs. We settled on mint chocolate ($15), which cost a couple of bucks more than other choices, but tasted divine. Some people at the table next to ours ordered hummus, and it looked so appetizing we asked our server for some. It was scrumptious.
After we'd smoked the shisha and eaten the hummus,"
My first thought was "hummus tobacco?" Thanks for clearing that up...it wasn't sounding scrumptious at all.
Posted by: Jeff | November 13, 2008 8:07 PM