The Singin' Bowl

It's like that Drake song "Started From the Bottom"...now we here. Literally. I've been a patron of Singin Bowl since January of 2012 (barely two months of being open). Back then we sat on the floor, now we sit on leather couches. From no TVs to three HD TVs. From a handful of hookah flavors to over fifty flavors across several brands. No doubt about it, Singin' Bowl is doing big things for Pelham and the surrounding community.

Whether you're a regular or a newcomer, it's always a good idea to check the fanpage on Facebook to see what events they have lined up that night (they also have pictures up there, too). Here's a pretty good rule of thumb:

Sunday - Wednesday: Less crowded days. Might be sports playing or some light music.
Thursday - Saturday: More crowded days. DJs will be present. Can be packed as early as 9PM.

The alcoholic beverages selection is a lot more refined now and even has "signature drinks" for special prices. There is no draft system, but there is probably at least ten beers you could choose from for a pretty reasonable price. Drinks are best ordered with cash, and at the bar in my opinion. That way no one forgets to make it, and no one forgets to pay for it. It can get a little confusing for the staff when it's a packed house.

Once you become a "regular", you can expect some perks here and there such as mixing flavors for free, upgrading to two/ice hoses for free, or other complimentary gifts. It takes a lot to become a regular though, knowing your server's name doesn't exactly count. Best way is to come in on slow days (Sun-Wed) and chat them up.

Another thing that always gets overlooked in the reviews for SB is the retail shop they have at the front. They have so much merchandise for smoking related needs, that it'd be odd to go out of your way to shop elsewhere. I know for a fact that SB is only one of two places in the area that carries Starbuzz shisha, and SB has the bigger selection. If you ever end up at the back of the line on a packed night, consider buying some equipment on the spot and chilling at home.

All things considered, hookah is still a growing trend - and the Singin' Bowl is going to remain the forerunner in this business for a long time. They have a lot of firsts working in their favor, and have a pretty dedicated fan-base. Plan out your night, and you'll never be disappointed.

Note: This will be the last update for the foreseeable future.

The atmosphere of the Singin Bowl has definitely changed since I first started coming here over a year ago. Business has definitely picked up, and the place begins to get a lot more crowded early on than before. If you want to be seated on a weekend, prepare to get there very early. I'm talking well before 10PM. If you're looking for a quiet place to chill, go earlier in the week. You will not find quiet Thursday-Saturday.

The shisha variety is still the same, and I like sticking to my favorites. I highly recommend Joker and Lucky. The drink variety has also expanded, from beers to mixed drinks, to shots. The mixed drinks are a bit pricy; they've gone up in price to around $6 or $7, depending on what you get. I've never ordered a shot here, but I can imagine it's a bit more than a mixed drink.

Going back to my first topic, they have been trying to accommodate the larger rushes. I recently waited with a friend around 15 minutes to be seated, and the owner ended up asking a group if we could share a table. The same evening, we waiting over an hour for our hookah, which did not arrive after several inquiries. It was being made by the 1.25hr mark, but at that point, we cancelled our order and left. It was frustrating, but the owner did offer compensation for the trouble the next time I came in, which was wonderful. If you're here and have been waiting a while, don't be afraid to speak up. The staff is willing to help, and open to fixing any issues you may have with an order or bill.

We were in the mood for Hookah and after checking this place out online, it seemed like the better place to go.  We went on a Tuesday night and the place was packed so the only open seats were at the bar.

We were shocked to see that drinks were $6 each and decided to have 2 each.  The service was good even though the staff was busy.  

When we got the bill it was not priced out by line. We were there for 1.5 hours, had a total of 4 drinks and 1 Hookah for a total of $55 before tip.  A bit pricy, but since there is no competition around, it makes sense that they are a bit on the higher side.

Overall it was a good experience.