Butcher Juice Bar and Hookah Cafe brings LIC some more authentic flavor
Butcher Juice Cafe & Hookah Bar, 49-16 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City
We got wind of a hookah bar opening above the Butcher Deli at 49-16 Vernon Blvd (corner of 50th St next to the parking lot) a while back, and didn’t hear anything again until recently, when signs have emerged announcing the Butcher Juice Bar & Hookah Cafe.
Located upstairs from the deli, you walk upstairs (entrance is to the left of the deli (big yellow sign, you really can’t miss it) into a modestly decorated cafe with a few hookahs scattered about, and a television playing old black and white Egyptian movies.
Butcher Juice Bar & Hookah Cafe, 49-16 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City
After witnessing the explosion of trendy, upscale hookah bars all over downtown Manhattan, the Butcher Juice Bar & Hookah Cafe has more of the flavor of something you’d find on Steinway St in Astoria (or perhaps in Cairo). Unpretentious and clean, very homey and comfortable.
The fresh juice selection is extensive, tons of exotic tea & coffee, hookah prices range from $10-20 depending on what you choose, and there is a great offering of Middle Eastern vittles (including dessert), all on a handwritten menu. (No alcohol.) Hours are from 2pm – midnight. And the guy who runs the place is very welcoming and friendly. Looks like a very promising addition to the hood.
People are such suckers. You inhale up to 200 times the amount of smoke with those things than you do from cigarettes. A “promising addition”? I think not.
How clean can the place be with smoke everywhere? yuck.
I do not really see the point of hookah bars, but I do want to point out:
1. They do not smoke tobacco – no nicotine – just herbal mixtures(whatever that means).
2. As Liqcity already mentioned – no alcohol – just juice(does anyone monitor for hidden flasks?).
It is because of these “rules” that they are allowed to exist and flourish throughout the city and various neighborhoods.
I must say that the room is a big improvement over the old “upstairs” at the Butcher Deli, and if these owners have honest intentions, we will no longer see drunken riff-raff sprawled about up there.
You don’t have to smoke the hookah. I usually don’t, but I like the sweetened mint tea usually served at joints like this. Hookah bars are basically just Arab tea houses. It’s just some flavored tobacco that you smoke communally. It’s nice to see some Middle Eastern culture here… and I agree it is nice that it’s not some yuppy trendy overdone thing. I like simple.
Well according to top chef LIC is known for it’s middle eastern food. I know shocked me too. I think in the past I would have thought LIC was known Italian but now I think sushi.
WOW – photo looks much better then the old place!
I’m surprised by the number of haters in LIC.
8, wtf are you talking about? It’s called giving an opinion. Do you have to go along with the herd to meet your approval? If you don’t like “haters,” go back home to Indiana.
#9 – you are a never-ending source on entertainment.
#9, it’s not Indiana, it’s Michigan. Bearded Michigan rust-belt refugee hipsters. Get it right.
er #8.
i think #9 is the same guy who is always talking about how great the ‘free market’ is. that’s another good one!
apparently its good to have an “opinion”, unless its different then his. in that case, you should move to indiana or something…
i give that place 2 months. It looks pretty lame! sorry. When does Dutch Kills open? i need a $15 drink, NOW!
I tend to agree with 14. The only thing that will save this place is the food. Otherwise, I can’t imagine many people will go upstairs over a deli to sip juice and cough.
wow. do people really not know about hookah bars?
I think #14 was kidding.
I’ve been to a lot of hookah cafes- and generally the establishments use those fans that “suck” up the smoke so it’s not a major problem. The shops are usually arabic- so they don’t provide alcohol- it provides a social atmosphere, and depending on where you go it can either be very diverse or mostly middle eastern. I really enjoy these places- but they are not for everyone. I’m not a smoker and dont particularly like cigarette smoke… or any other kind, but I do like smoking hookahs on occasions and the smoke really isnt an issue because these pipes use water. They can also be a nice alternative for people who enjoy a low key atmosphere and dont drink alcohol and don’t frequent bars- like myself.
Yeah no one in the ‘new’ LIC where this is located drink alcohol. How quickly we forgot about Blend’s liquor license disaster! At least they may do okay if they offer free wi-fi to get the vegan hipster middle american slackers from Michigan crowd.
You forgot to mention beards and rust-belt refugees.
16, hookahs? of course I know hookahs! I’ve been smoking hookahs since I was a child. All of my friends and family smoke hookahs too. What family event, including Thanksgiving, would be complete without mom taking out the family hookah? What a silly question!
#19 –
I’m worried about your anger issues and your blood pressure. I think you might want to call Dr. Jay:
http://gawker.com/news/no-scrubs/williamsburgs-hipster-doctor-will-diagnose-you-via-im-302311.php
#19 & #20- it sounds like your reaction was directed towards my comment… I cant tell if the comments on this site are vehemently sarcastic or trying to be humorous- either way- I don’t live in LIC, who said anything about being a vegan from Michigan? Not familiar with Blend and their liquor license disaster, and don’t know what a rust belt refugee or a beard is… could you fill me in? I simply dont drink because I’m allergic, so I tend to stay away from bars in terms of night life. I believe that alcohol is prohibited within the Islamic religion- so that’s why many hookah shops (which are often run by Muslims) dont provide alcohol. At least that has been my general observation and experience
What’s the deal with Blend’s liquor license? Did they ever get that thing?
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I really don’t understand the appeal of smoking a hookah. Can anyone explain it? And do they serve beer?