Almaza Hookah Cafe

by Frank W.

It is nicely decorated though I think the plasma TVs in the dining area playing an Arabic version of MTV are out of place.   Their mezze, an assortment of appetizers, seemed outrageously overpriced at $24, so we ordered baba ghannou, roasted eggplant with lemon juice and garlic dip served with warm pita triangles.  It was good, but I thought the addition of olive oil detracted from the taste and texture.  My wife's entre was kafta kabob, minced lamb with chopped onion and spices and served with tziki sauce while I ordered lamb kabob.  The kafta kabob was too light on the spices.  I ordered the lamb kabob medium rare and it ended up being both fatty and overcooked.  Our entrees were accompanied by rice and a bland salad.

by Patrick C.

I give it 3 stars due to the food was okay but not great.  The hummus was so-so...and the beef was dry.  Though it gets 4 stars for the atmosphere....with a live DJ and great music.  O...and another 4 stars for the females...HOT!!

by Allison J.

Thursday night salsa night is fun. I arrived at 10pm and was surprised to hear no latin music and was greeted by a relatively empty restaurant. But as the next hour passed, I could see the place filling up and by 12 midnight the place was packed.What the heck?This place is in a Smith's shopping center? It was a great vibe though the DJ music was a hodge podge of everything latin. Yes... even the tubas.Don't expect a strong drink or an amazing bartender. I think these guys were hired for their looks not their skills. Stick with the beer, shots and simple 2 ingredient drinks. You'll be happier and I'm sure they will too.

by Naaila H.

the filet mignon kabob thingies with rice is something i get everytime i come here.its never been busy when i went so i cant say the service was bad because the ratio was like 5:1. its no something i eat everytime i go back to vegas but it is something i try to eat.ps try the cheese appitizer. =)

by Evon D.

CHECK YOUR RECEIPT BEFORE YOU LEAVE AND DON'T PAY USING YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD!!! i have gone here a dozen times and it never fails, one of our cards will always get over charged.. They will add to your tab so don't ever leave your card on an open tab. Pay for drinks as they come. The food is good but very very overpriced. The hookah is also very expensive as are the drinks. At night they try to turn into a club and have bottle service and a DJ so forget having a nice quiet dinner. After the last experience of being overcharged last month i vowed never to go back.

by Crystalia Y.

Service here is terrible unless you know someone. Hookah here is terrible unless you like herbal hookah. Herbal hookah is much harsher and lacks flavor unlike your average tobacco based hookah. The only thing this hookah lounge has going for it is that it serves alcohol which appeals to the 21+ crowd.

by T L.

I ordered a lamb kebab which was fine. My friends ordered a beef shwarma (a bit unrecognizable, unlike the traditional shaved but it arrived in big shred) and a filet kebab (inedible as completely well done)They were having a happy hour special that included a free app with entree. It took three discussions to get them to honor it as they insisted it was only 1 free app for our 5 person, 5 entree table. Ordered Tanqueray cocktails but Bombay Sapphire arrived. They charged for the more expensive Bombay Sapphire.Really, if you are going to keep pulling fast ones on your guests, please do everyone a favor and close.

by Poorna R.

This place was great when it first opened. I remember the owner used to give us free appetizers and the customer service was great...but my return trips to Almaza have been progressively disappointing. Customer service has declined considerably, and while the food and hookah are good, it's not worth being ignored half the time, or shooed to another table for another party, even though you made reservations in the first place. A lot of the old waiters/bartenders have left, and their replacements leave something to be desired. I recommend checking out Chandelier on St. Rose and Eastern...it's a lot better.

by Michael P.

Been going here on and off for years now and the place is kinda a mixed bag. The hookah and the food have always been pretty consistant and good. The service has seen better days and seems to be high in turnover. Turns into a mini-club on the weekends which can be fun. However, underage wannabe douches can creat havoc some nights. Just go with an open mindset have fun and enjoy your hookah and food.

by Yasmin G.

I'll never go back. The food is mediocre, the hummus tasted like beef jerky! The kebabs were dry...The lowest point of all is the service. Unless you have a reservation, be prepared to be moved around the restaurant when someone who has one comes in. Even if you have one, be prepared to be asked to move or leave if the owner's friends come in and need a table.The hookahs are a rip off, they pack the coals too tightly to ensure that your smoke doesn't last for more than 20 minutes. When we complained they played stupid, when we rearranged the coals ourselves to get a better smoke, they became very irritated.