IT’S “OFF THE HOOK-A” AT DOWNTOWN WPB’S NEWEST HOTSPOT
Ft. Lauderdale favorite, Off the Hookah, to open second location on Clematis Street
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2009) – Building on the success of its Ft. Lauderdale location, Off The Hookah owner, Ehab Atallah, announced his plans for a second location at 314 Clematis Street, scheduled to open in December 2009. A family-owned and operated restaurant and nightlife destination, Off the Hookah will occupy 14,000 sq. ft. in the former Z Gallerie space.
Its unique blend of Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine is dished up in a lively hookah bar offering entertainment at every turn. Known for world-ranked ‘flair’ bartenders who juggle, flip and dazzle when mixing cocktails; live performers; belly dancers; Flamenco and Brazilian dancers; and an international array of live bands, the restaurant also boasts more than 25 flavors of its hookah namesake, including apple, blueberry and mint. The herbal product (no tobacco) costs $20-$25, which lasts up to an hour and a half and is available anytime.
“In our first location, we were curious how people would react to the unusual combination of food, hookah and entertainment. The market’s response far exceeded our expectations,” said Atallah. “Now we are ready to take the concept to bigger markets, and Clematis is the right move at the right time. We fit best within a hip, urban Downtown where patrons want more adventurous experiences.”
While the entertainment and hookah bar are well known, Off The Hookah prides itself on serving up some of South Florida’s best Mediterranean and Japanese dishes. The restaurant will serve a lunch buffet featuring carving stations, salads, kebobs and more for those seeking quality food and quick service, and then offer an expansive menu for dinner. Most of the Mediterranean dishes are recipes courtesy of Atallah’s mom, who is of Egyptian decent and is often found cooking in the kitchen. Favorites include homemade falafel and hummus, as well as ground beef, shrimp, chicken and vegetable kebobs, gyros, filet mignon, lamb chops, and a fresh catch of the day.
Though it seems unlikely at first that Off the Hookah also would boast a full Japanese menu, it was an addition made in its Ft. Lauderdale location well received after a nearby sushi restaurant closed. The concept stuck so the entire back half of the Clematis location will be dedicated to the Japanese component of Off The Hookah. With deep red and black accents, the space will feature a large sushi bar serving up house rolls including the King Tut and the Cleopatra, as well as traditional favorites such as spicy tuna, rainbow and Mexican rolls. Guests also can opt to dine at traditional Japanese tables sunken into the ground.
The rest of the space, which seats up to 300, will have a sophisticated and sleek ambiance that evokes the feel of chic, internationally inspired living room complete with lots of bold gold, red and black accents, gold leafing and Venetian plaster. Expect to dine predominately at casual Egyptian-style beds and couches or in a Moroccan space where you can relax on the floor surrounded by plush pillows.
With a prime location ideal for people watching on Clematis Street, Atallah said he’s also pushing back the front of the space in order to create a 2,000-sq.-ft. outdoor patio area. Patrons sitting outside can enjoy live entertainment and hookah, and order off the full menu.
Off The Hookah will be open every day for lunch and dinner, and will remain open through late night. For more information, visit www.offthehookahfl.com.
For more information about Downtown West Palm Beach, which has welcomed more than 30 new businesses in the past 15 months, contact the Downtown Development Authority at (561) 833-8873 or visit www.westpalmbeachdda.com.
