by Lisa R.
2.5 stars, and I'm rounding down because it isn't A-OK.I had a house-guest who smokes pipes and cigars. We tried to find a local cigar bar last year with no luck, but when I saw the hookah lounge on 5th street, I thought it might be just the ticket.I called first and got friendly help. The 75 flavors of tobacco were certainly encouraging and I was very curious to see one of these lounges.I have no idea what they're usually like, but this one definitely caters to a young crowd. A barely legal crowd in fact. That doesn't bother me since they were all nice kids. The owner and staff are barely older than the customers.What made the lounge less pleasant than it could have been are:1. The low rent furnishings some of which looked very used and gave me the creeps. Hint: Do not put fabric covered couches in this sort of lounge. Stick with vinyl.2. The video games being played by the staff and their friends on the TV that dominates the room (at least the sound was off).3 The loud rapper music booming over the speakers. They did turn it down when I asked them too, but it was still a bit too loud and didn't go with the vibe of hookah smoking at all.4. The walls are painted Dark Red with a giant mural of a Jimi Hendrix type character that makes the place feel like a pot smoker's hangout.Too many things about this place reminded me of the broken down frat houses I visited in college where a bunch of guys try to keep the party going and going and going.The service was excellent and that's important since they need to keep replacing the coals used to heat the tobacco.The tobacco was highly flavorful and a bowl of it lasts more than an hour, so there's real value for your $15 (a bowl can be shared by up to 5 or 6 people). I did like seeing the streams of visitors arriving and joining already established groups. We let another group try our flavor and they let us try their's. The staff had their own hookah going with a house flavor they call skittles, and they were happy to let us try that as well.Again, my problem is with the druggie vibe that came out of the decor and music and video gaming that would discourage a more credible crowd of patron. Hookah smoking should occur in a reflective, meditative environment that is condusive to both relaxing and to conversation. If there is going to be music, it should be traditional Middle Eastern music that befits the origins of the Hookah.I felt quite safe there despite the neighborhood being a bit less than desirable, and parking is directly in front of the lounge door. I recommend this lounge for the quality of their product (papaya guava rocks!) and for their service, but they need to step up their game considerably to become less of a kid's hangout and go more mainstream. I wish them all the best. They are young and have plenty of potential but they could use more focus.
