I recently updated the list of hookah bars in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There are 5 hookah bars there. (the list below is sorted alphabetically):

1- Hookah Kings Lounge

9784 Coors Blvd NW Ste A

(505) – 897 – 1668

2- Hunab Hookah

3400 Constitution Avenue Northeast

(505) – 232 – 0223

3- Pars Cuisine

4320 The 25 Way

(505) – 345 – 5156

4- Petra Cafe & Restaurant

115 Harvard Dr SE

(505) 266-2477‎

5- Relux Hookah Lounge

1950 Juan Tabo Blvd NE # J

(505) 299-2989‎

Egyptian Cafe – (765) 743-0500

130 Northwestern Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906.

A little over a year ago I wrote a review about Egyptian Cafe two weeks after the opened. It wasn’t a very good review, but boy have they changed. In fact it is the new rendezvous for me an my friends. Following are reviews of their food, hookahs, and service.

Hookahs

Egyptian offers three different hookah prices. The only difference between the different levels is the tobacco. They all use the same type of hookah.

• Premium ($9.95): Egyptian uses Layalina tobacco for their premium hookah. It’s not exactly premium tobacco but they do a good job in packing the hookahs. The refills for premium hookahs are $5.95.
• Skyzz Flavors ($12.95): Uses Skyzz tobacco and is a little better than the premium. I personally like the premiums better. Refills for Skyzz flavors are $6.95.
• Golden Layalina ($18.99): This is Egyptian’s best tobacco. I think it is overpriced for West Lafayette. I have not tried the tobacco yet so I don’t know how good it is.

The hookahs at Egyptian Cafe are generally very good. They are packed well and the hookahs themselves are of good quality. If they made longer (deeper) holes in the hookah bowls (so that it smokes better), they would be almost perfect.

Food

The food menu is mostly Middle Eastern food as well as sandwiches and burgers. There is not much to say about the food. It is good and not expensive. I especially like their chicken sandwich.

Service

What separates Egyptian Cafe from competition (Hookah Lounge) for me is service. We (and most customers) go to a lounge to sit down, relax, and have a good time. Quality service is what makes that happen. By quality service I don’t mean servers going around couple times a minute to make sure customers are OK. Neither do I mean that in this case the hookahs come out fast (a good hookah takes as long as a well done steak to make). I mean friendly employees that like their jobs and employers who value their customers.

At Egyptian,

• Employees treat the customers as friends not as customers which makes all the difference.
• They don’t rush you to order and keep ordering.
• The owners/managers realize the importance of repeat customers and those who go there often. They don’t necessarily treat the repeat customers different than others but make sure that those customer know their business is highly valued.

These 3 basic but important points are what has made Egyptian so much more successful since last year and what has caused Hookah Lounge (the competition) to lose so many of their repeat customers.