Vanish Lounge

Extremely rude staff. No thanks. You'd think with all of the competing hookah lounges in the area they would have better costumer service.

Okay, where to start, came across this Hookah Lounge via a basic internet search...read a few comments and decided I would check it out.  So last night, Friday night, I arrived, and let me say this...there's some Pro's and some Con's associated with this establishment...A MUST READ FOR ALL INTERESTED PARTIES...

Pro's:
- See Con's Listed Below...

Con's:
- First, getting there was waay too easy.  Once there, there was ample enough lighting and free parking, and actual places to park, which all confused me...

- The family/friend-based atmosphere produced smiles and general hospitable notions and gestures throughout, which had me questioning my surroundings...

- The reasonably-priced Cover Charge of $5.00 shocked me, as I had set aside at least $20.00 for the Cover Charge...now what do I do with this $15.00...

- The perfect strategic emplacement of security made it too difficult for a conflict to ensue...man, I was lookin for some conflict...

- Friendly smiles from the Staff behind the Cash Register were unexpected and caused me to engage in conversation with strangers...smiling and laughing unwillingly and beyond my control...stop, I'm trying to look hard...

- Due to the constant, but not annoying assistance of the "floating" staff, I was unable to sit unattended in need, my Hookah didn't go without attention and I didn't get an opportunity to change/maintain my own Hookah, thanks a lot Proactive Vanish Lounge Staff! Geez! With your superb customer service and stuff

- Waay Too Many Flavors to choose from, and all at (low) reasonable prices, I mean come on!  Casablanca Hookah Lounge downtown San Diego charges $25.00 and has half of the flavors to offer. I mean I had to rely on the friendly assistance of the beautiful staff behind the cash register to assist me in making my choice...and then ended up saving money in comparison! Seriously!

- Too many serious Hookah smokers, I mean I was just unable to blow those cool Hookah Smoke Circles (basically I choked).  And while waiting to play a game on one of the two (that I noticed) newly felted pool tables, I was distracted by admiring the conservative, complementary decor, comfortable seating (seriously, plush leather and swivel bar stools, I almost fell asleep!), all while watching my show (Martin...dude is a fool!) on one of the 5 or 6 huge flat screen TV's mounted on the wall!

- Waay too many beautiful women, seriously, I mean the 3 - 1 ratio of Women to Men, all elegantly dressed, and with friendly personalities (basically they smiled, waved and spoke), all had me confused on who to try to steal some eye contact from! I'm literally turning my head every 3 minutes (I left with no numbers though, only a sore neck!)

- They had a real DJ, DJ Nemo? He was actually DJ'ing, and not using an IPod/Pad/Phone or Pandora, saddening.  His Non-Stop Hit-After-Hit music from Old School To New School, Hip-Hop to Latin, and Pop 40's, kept the crowd involved, women dancing (some with other women), line dancing, salsa dancing, and a bit of grinding (yes), which all induced the uncontrollable non-stop movements of my body limbs to the upscale beat  (Stop it Mr. DJ!)

- NO ALCOHOL!  Yes, that's right, a "Dry" Hookah Lounge! (Actually, all jokes aside, I honestly considered this as the only real Con; however, that was upon my initial assessment, as the night went on, I enjoyed myself just as much without alcohol, seriously, I didn't have to worry about taking a taxi, getting a designated driver, or the police (which were everywhere in La Mesa last night, which reminds me, drive safe out there, especially for Memorial Day Weekend, and don't drink and drive!)  I actually felt good this morning not waking up with a hang-over). But they have PLENTY of beverages for purchase, at reasonable prices, from Red Bull, to Gatorade to bottled water and slushies! They even have plenty of snacks. Trust me, it works out great without the alcohol...probably my first, but I forgot all about not being intoxicated after a while (mainly after seeing so many beautiful women...)

- Finally, my Hookah lasted waaay too long!  I mean with the 5 x extra Coals that they initially supplied, the brand new clean Hookah Thingy, filtered water, and this extraordinary new flavor that the ladies behind the register picked out for me (which by the way was a bit girly, I'll definitely be trying something a bit more manly tonight), all for about $15.00...couldn't help it, I ended up having to leave some behind!

BOTTOM LINE: if you can put up with those horrendous Con's mentioned above, I would definitely recommend this as your only Hookah Lounge in Southern California!

*See ya Tonight!  First one to find me at the register tonight and mention to me how this review changed your life... your Hookah, drink and snack is on me!

**We must share the Hookah (I get to pick the flavor, and take approximately 75% more puffs.  The drink can not exceed $1.00, and I get to pick the snack.

Been here a few times but the hookah really sucked today.