Hooka bar - Hype Goes Against Teahouse Concept by: Taraneh Arhamsadr Staff Writer I have long been a hooka enthusiast, constantly in search of a new hot spot with quality shisha (tobacco) and a warm environment. I’ve seen almost everything Orange County has to offer in that department. So when I began to hear whispers from friends about a wonderful new hooka bar called Habibi Café, I had to see it for myself.

It’s often said among hooka smokers that Westwood Village is the hip and happening place to be, especially for UCLA students. The village is home to Habibi Café, which has been in business for years. The newer Gypsy Café is also located on the same block, across the way from Habibi.

We at the New University decided to test out these popular spots to see if they lived up to all the talk. Walking through the village on a Monday night, we noticed that Gypsy Café was full of people while the more established Habibi’s was virtually empty. As college students, we of course ran toward Gypsy to be with all the people.

As soon as we were seated, we began perusing the menu for the shisha tobacco flavors and hot drinks. The prices seemed a little high ($12 for a regular hooka with shisha and charcoal), but it wasn’t too bad.

After waiting about 10 minutes to be approached by the waiter, we ordered a hooka with apple shisha and some tea—only to have the waiter immediately tell us that each member of the party needs to order $10 of food in order to have a table at all. Otherwise, we couldn’t stay.

That struck us as extremely ridiculous. What about people who come to a hooka bar after dinner? Were they not allowed to enjoy hooka and tea the same way paying dinner customers were? Was it just because we weren’t regulars and didn’t know the ropes or have the “hook-up”? Why, why, why?!

Anyway, after agonizing over it for a few minutes we got up and headed over to the empty but cozy Habibi Café, hoping that they wouldn’t hit us with some other stupid requirement for spending time in their exclusive presence.

Upon arrival, we saw a sign above the door reading, “Thank you for your loyalty.” Ooh, was there a feud going on between the old café and the new? It sure seemed like it!

The menu immediately disappointed us with a disclaimer that said customers seated outside had to pay a 15 percent gratuity, no matter the size of the party. Because of our wonderful luck, we were, in fact, sitting outside on the patio. A separate disclaimer said that customers had to order $10 of food each, but only on the weekends. Still ridiculous, true, but at least we were in the clear.

In any case, we enjoyed a high-quality smoking experience (at $13 for a large hooka with shisha) and a few cups of mint tea ($2.75 each), tolerated the $5 gratuity on top of our tiny order and finally drove back to Orange County mildly satisfied.

Why is hype annoying? Because it works! I had heard rave reviews about Westwood Village and its great bars for some time, and it finally made me want to make the drive to L.A. and experience it for myself. Using hype as a tool, these bars impose strange money-making policies because they know that based on their location and popularity, people will pay up.

I’ve learned my lesson. From now on, I’ll be happy with my refreshingly nonexclusive Hidden Café in Anaheim. And for all of you hooka smokers out there: Ignore the hype and enjoy the experience.

Hype is such an annoying concept. It’s so powerful, drawing people to the newest craze through word-of-mouth, shiny advertising and outright saturation. But more annoying than hype itself is the fact that it sucks in even those who are fully aware of its existence—like me, for example.