Sahara East

by Courtney L.

I came here on my birthday.  It's a cool hookah bar.  The tent is really pleasant on a hot summer night.  The food is nothing special but not too bad.  Definitely a young, college crowd.  Fun!

by Victor L.

This place is terrible now. 5 years ago, even if it was crowded, it was still fantastic. The staff was great, the music awesome, occasionally dancing, birthdays, womanizing, outdoor in the summer, and great to go to during the afternoon and relax. The hookahs would have enough tobacco that a refill on coal would be necessary, we could sit there for hours and chat and discuss whatever. The only problem, although at the time it was just funny, was the underage kids going here and not knowing what hookah was and the culture behind it. They were total idiots trying to get "high" and acting all goofy. Now they are more annoying than ever, and the biggest reason why I stopped going was because they started putting less and less tobacco until it burnt out within a half hour. Couple that with the price raise from 10 to 13 then 15 bucks, and its just not worth it anymore.

by Rachel H.

I had an awful experience here on Saturday. The hookahs were weak and we never got new coals, even though it was not busy at all. It was cold inside. The waiters made not-funny jokes. The tea couldn't hold a candle to the mint tea at Sultana. The waiter brought over our check before we were even finished and said we had to pay immediately so they could close out the cash register from the lunch shift or something (and it was like... five or six at night... granted a lot earlier than I usually hookah but they were really mean about it. I had to go out in the cold to an ATM when I wasn't even done with my hookah or tea since they don't take plastic). Ugh.AND THIS IS WHY I WILL NEVER AGAIN GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT YELPING IT FIRST. It didn't process that they included gratuity in the bill (our own fault I know), so we tipped on top of the tip... for horrid service. Thankfully we only left like a two dollar tip. Jeez, next time I'm sticking with Sultana.

by Elaine S.

2002-2003 - the years I discovered the city. One of my friends in high school introduced me to hookah and whenever I hung out with her, I felt like I was such a badass even though I have and always will be the biggest dork. Since then, for some reason, whenever the idea of smoking hookah comes up, I inevitably wind up at Sahara East for better or for worse. It has been the place where I have historically wound down the night. And it will always be the place where city adventures began for me.Quite honestly, though, the service isn't wonderful. The hookah isn't bad. I've never ordered their food. But their teas are pretty decent when paired with the hookah. I would recommend mixing flavors, and sitting underneath the tent in the back. Keep in mind, my stars are based on my memories there.

by Mark K.Joey C.Anna L.Lawrence L.E C.

It's pretty pricey for some hookah...There are much cheaper places in Astoria that offer good food and great hookah. The crowd for this spot has changed. It used to be a much older crowd but newly legal 18 year olds are coming in and stinking the place up. It's a good place for some hookah, but if you're going to with someone be prepared for a bill over $30.I used to go here when I was in college back in 199something or other!!!   My classroom buddies were studying for our Middle Eastern Politics exams, and we enjoyed the hookah here very much!After college, I brought my ex and our friend here, and they completely fell in love with it,and it became our spot..( That a**hole brought a date here after we broke up....what a douchebag..LOL)You do have to get the waiters' attention, since it's very rustic service,and it feels like you're in an actual joint in Lebanon, or somewhere like that...The Arabic pop music that they put is really enjoyable.Oh yeah, they refill your coal for your hookah for free!! Nice place overall....Need to go back and catch up!i like this place!normally for hookah I go to Horus, but I like this place a lot better. It's bigger than it seems (love the back/outdoor space), hookahs are WAY cheap and free refills (i think), and the music was good!also, try the fruity drinks, they are delicious!!!They have food here but its not really about food. They have hookah and its decent enough. Go during the school year and prepare to be blinded by throngs of local college kids not old enough to drink. They'll line up around the block as it gets later. Once your coals start crumbling, the owner will chaperone the bill up until the point you pay up. That's the hint to leave and if you don't get it, he'll hover over your little table until it dawns on you.This has a really nice atmosphere. Hookah is only $10, last time I checked, and they have approximately 40 flavors. I've heard good things about the food, but I've never had it.

by Porsha M.

I came here on a whim with a few friends.  It was cold outside, so we didn't get to sit in the back patio area, which looked like it may have been fun on a warmer day. We ordered a few hookahs and plates of hummus after we'd settled into a table towards the front of the venue. It's a wonder that our waiter was able to hear us...the music was really pretty loud...and seemed inappropriate seeing how we were pretty much the only people sitting there. It's a good place to partake in hookah...and that's about as far as it goes.

by Patricia R.

Typical overpriced hookah spot, it was very crowed when I went during the summer. They don't card, so that explains the young crowd. Overall it was a decent time but I'm not dying to come back neither.

by Deborah H.

I checked this place out on a Friday night and it was very chill and low-key.  I arrived earlier than the rest of my party and they let me sit at a huge table alone so I wouldn't look stupid standing outside by myself (though I guess I looked equally stupid sitting by myself at the huge table).  Hookas are 15$ each, or 25$ for their "special" ones, which we didn't try.  There's nothing especially good about this place...  Bad aspects include the disgusting bathroom, blaring hip hop (the likes of 50 cent, Beyonce, etc), no alcohol (I'm not sure if it was just the night we went, or if their liquor license was revoked?), and really expensive non-alcoholic drinks (5$ for bottles of Poland Spring water!).I'd return if I really want hooka at a chill spot, but I'd probably check out some other places first.

by Mark K.

It's pretty pricey for some hookah...There are much cheaper places in Astoria that offer good food and great hookah. The crowd for this spot has changed. It used to be a much older crowd but newly legal 18 year olds are coming in and stinking the place up. It's a good place for some hookah, but if you're going to with someone be prepared for a bill over $30.

by Srinivas R.

Given that we ended up here 3 nites in a row on my visit to NYC,  I think it deserves some praise. The staff is awesome, and treats my friends like royalty. The beers tend to be a bit warm which kind of sucks. I told my friend "Dude, going to the same bar every nite in a city like this is like being Hugh Hefner, and sleeping with the same girl every nite."