Hook Up With A Hookah At Sahara
One thing that any entrepreneur will tell you is that if you want to stay ahead of the game, then you must be inventive. Whether that means that a business is bringing in the latest merchandise or the hottest concept, those that rest on their laurels will find it tough to compete. Let's say that you are a restaurant owner in Buffalo and you're feeling the heat from your competitors. What do you do? Maybe you open a patio, or add more specials to your menu, or offer a free after dinner drink, who knows. What I do know is that the guys over at Sahara Grill are constantly brainstorming new ideas that will keep them ahead of the pack.
Last summer they introduced a wide selection of smoothies and yogurt drinks that went over big time. So what's new this year? Hookahs! What an awesome idea. These molasses tobacco hookahs are available to smoke on the restaurant's patio throughout the warmer months. The health impact is supposedly very minimal due to the type of tobacco (.5%) used, and much of the enjoyment comes from the fruits and juices used to pack the water pipe. How cool is that? The restaurant issues plastic replaceable tips for health purposes along with self-igniting coal. Each 'session' lasts for up to two hours (if you have the time) and goes for $9.95. The tobacco comes in an assortment of flavors, so there is a new hookah experience every time you visit. Pictured in the above photo are Frank Zaid (standing), and his friends Shariffa and Ibrahim Numan.
Obviously I was totally transfixed by this new Elmwood activity and hung around inquiring about the process of both production and utilization. At first I thought that the hookah behind the juice bar was merely ornamentation, then Frank pointed for me to look out the window and I spotted Shariffa and Ibrahim lighting up and sharing tokes at their table. That was when Frank decided to show me (below) the process from start to finish... for the magazine ya know. The self-igniting coal is just as fascinating as the hookah... it actually looks like a mini sparkler when lit. Many of the fruits and juices are the same used for the making of the smoothies, so it seems a natural fit for these guys to offer it to their customers. And the smell of each tobacco pouch is really something.
This is a very social activity and looks like a lot of fun to try. I am not saying that you should go out and smoke every day. This is apparently an activity that is of social nature and is a treat, not something you do after rolling out of bed in the morning. Now if I could only get these guys to serve up some bubble tea we would be golden. Stop on into the Sahara Grill located at 976 Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. This is the place with the authentic Mediterranean cuisine and the most interesting (and only) hookah pipes. 716-885-0200
I think it just makes non smokers not want to enjoy eating outside which is something most Buffalo people look forward to in the summer.
Very cool!
Sue: the hookah 'smoke' isn't in the same ballpark as cigarette smoke. I suppose a good way to describe it is that it feels like you're breathing in and exhaling flavored air as opposed to smoke. I'm an adamant non-smoker who can't stand having to be around cigarette smoke - and I have absolutely no qualms about being around a hookah or even taking part.
I used to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and they have a very successful hookah bar there - everyone toking *inside*. It's not a hostile breathing atmosphere at all - on the contrary it smells delightful with all of the flavors being tried. It's a fun place to unwind after dinner, or after a loud night at a club - everyone sort of lays around on comfortable cushions and pillows and chills out.
bubble tea indeed. maybe an oxygen bar as well.
sahara already has great food along with the weekend belly dancer performances. i hope this place sticks around for a while. they are very unique and their creativity (in menu and atmosphere) is overflowing!
Hookah bars are entering the Chicago scene as well - nice to see a Buffalo business ahead of the curve :)
Great Site!, way to be rocking the hookahs! I own www.downtownhookahs.com, and I use the www.hookahwholesalers.com for all my purchasing, they have some really great products and services, just thought I would pass it along
Enjoy your hookas! I'll pass.
great place...great concept. always like having diverse businesses on the street. now lets just see the people of Sahara clean up the side walk and area in front of the restaurant more often. The block where Sahara is located has seen a revitalization with 'room' entering and having a high end fabric store 'elmwood village fabrics'.
Love your restaurant guys...food is great...lets just keep that area pretty and clean!!!!!
From a health standpoint, is hookah as dangerous as cigarette smoking? My son smokes hookah and it freaks me out because we have many relatives that have smoked cigarettes and have died from lung cancer. Please help???
Jacquie, A couple things... Are you sure that he's smoking tobacco? And though no tobacco smoking is good for you the guys at Saharah fill their hookas with a tobacco product that is .5% (low). I made sure that this was the case before I promoted their hookah smoking.
I've been to Sahara before and I have to say I had an awesome time smoking hookah there. Their menu is awesome and their service really attentive. Sometimes I do enjoy smoking at home as well. Sahara doesn't have too many hookah tobacco flavors but they do have a large selecrion. The only suggestion I would make is to look into blueberry and blackberry. Those shisha flavors are awesome.
we can produce all kinds of hookahs to you according to your design,