by Ed A.

Note: I would rate this place a 0 or negative if I could.  I've driven by this place a few times. It is a Middle Eastern restaurant/nightclub on Route 1-9 in North Bergen. I called one night last week and asked if they had hookah, and they said they did. I asked them the price, and they said $12. Reasonable enough I thought.Last night, I called the restaurant and asked them if they had cover. The man who answered told me they did not, so I figured it would be a good time to try out this place.I drove there with my girlfriend, and asked for a seat for 2. The inside is fairly big, and they also had a dance area. Apparently, there was a large party present (someone's birthday?), and many people were dancing. There was also live music (all Middle Eastern themed).We sat and were brought menus. We had already eaten dinner, so we requested a hookah menu. The waitress informed me of the 4 flavors they had (3 fruits and 1 mixed fruits). We ordered the apple flavor and declined food or drinks.We waited for about 20 minutes before they finally brought the hookah. We started enjoying it, when about 10  minutes later the waitress came back and informed me that they would be charging us $15 per person as a "music charge'. Now, I've been to many establishments in the past where they impose a music charge. This is normally called "cover". I told her that I called ahead and was told that there would be no cover. She said she'd let her manager know.This bothered me a little, but it only got worse. I was next approached by a male waiter (?) / employee who had an irritating tone, and said that normally people go there to eat and drink and hookah, and that they would be charging me since I didn't meet the minimum charge. I tried (as calmly as I could) to repeat what I told the lady - that I called ahead and there was no cover, and that no one told me there was a cover at the door, and furthermore that I was able to order just the hookah AND START USING IT , and only then was I informed of the charge. If they would have told me there was a charge to begin with, I wouldn't have stayed.This seemed to irritate the guy, and he just left us alone. Eventually, we wound up ordering a beer each ($5 each), in an effort to appease everyone involved (they eventually had a belly dancer come and perform, so I figured at least ordering a drink would be sufficient).Not so. When the bill came, a) the hookah was $20 although a few nights ago it was $12 over the phone, and b) they added $20 per person to the bill anyway as an "open food  charge".  I informed the waitress that I would not be paying it, at which point she sent out the manager. The manager - also in an irritating tone - informed me that people usually come to eat dinner and so there was an "open food" charge because we didn't meet the requirement. I - for the third time - went through the fallacy in the logic of not informing someone of a minimum (especially after I called and confirmed there was no cover), and only telling me after I began consuming the hookah.He offered to bump it down to $10 a person. I offered to pay him $0 because that was all he was getting. He left, and came back with the adjusted receipt.They then added 18% gratuity to our party of 2 right on the check.Needless to say, this was probably the most absurd hookah experience I've ever been to (even trumping the time cops raided the hookah place I was in because apparently they didn't have a license). If you want hookah, just go to NYC. At least you'll know up front what the prices are, and won't be treated like a second class customer.