09/11/08

kan zaman

by nanismommie

I'VE BEEN TO THE HOOKAH BAR SEVERAL TIMES FOR MANY YEARS...I LOVE THE PLACE....FOOD IS AMAZING AND CHEAP... THE WAITRESS ARE ALL FRIENDLY AND GIVE WONDERFUL SERVICE.... THE HOOKAH IS GREAT... ITS $10 AND LASTS FOREVER.... IF YOU COME DURING THE WEEK ITS SLOW AND NOT TO MANY PEOPLE...A PREFECT TIME TO JUST HANG OUT, STUDY CHILL WITH YOUR FRIENDS.... ON THE WEEKEND ITS LOTS OF FUN.... COOL DJ, WHO PLAYS ALL REQUESTS AND THE SEXIEST OF CLEVELAND DANCEING ON THE FLOOR.... SO MUCH FUN...

• Pros: FOOD, MUSIC,SERVICE,EVERYTHING!!!
• Cons: COVERCHARGE

11/27/07

The food is decent and the hookah is relaxing... but the music definitely isn't!

by littleangryfinn

I went to this place several times only because it's the only hookah bar in the Cleveland Metro area (to my knowledge). Although the hummus was very good, the rest of the menu is just average, and the prices were higher than the quality of the food. The hookah is good - they offer a variety of flavors. One hookah costs $10, which is a fair deal since each lasts about 1 1/2 hours. Smoking a hookah is a very relaxing experience. Unfortunately, here at Kan Zaman the experience is anything but relaxing. They blast dance and pop music on the overhead TVs, even during the daytime: usually they just switch on a Middle-Eastern Music Video channel and play it at a volume similar to that of a large sports bar. The music is annoying and brings down the mood of the hookah experience. I've been to other hookah bars, and the atmosphere has been much more relaxed and chill. All the times I've been here, my party was the only group in the whole place. And even though we were the only group - the service was horrible and unprofessional! I had to walk to the back of the restaurant to get my waitress' attention, otherwise be stuck waiting a half hour. On a separate note, my boyfriend and I were in the area and stopped by for lunch a little after their posted opening time, only to have the cleaning crew turn us away because they "weren't ready". We ended up waiting outside in the cold for 40 minutes before they'd let us in! After that experience we decided not to return.

Bottom line: If you want good Middle-Eastern food, don't go here (go to Aladdin's). And if you want to smoke a hookah, I seriously suggest you buy your own - I did and it was absolutely worth it. This restaurant/bar does not offer a good experience.

• Pros: Hookah, Average Middle-Eastern Food
• Cons: Service, Ambience, Loud Music, Not the safest Area

10/02/06

good food

by waelayyad

As long time residents of the cleveland, we had always wished there was a good Middle-Eastern restaurant with good food, good entertainment and a nice family atmosphere where we can go, have a good time and feel safe and comfortable. Our relatives and friends in Montreal, Canada enjoyed a dozen of such restaurants and we had none.

visit us online at hookahbargrill

09/30/06

Best Hangout Spot, Relaxed As Hell, Incredible Hookah Experience, Friday and Saturday nights are hoppin', Sunday nights are chill

by drummermusk

Kan Zaman is more of an experience to my friends and I rather than a place to eat. We are High School Seniors and in our community lack a hang out place. On Friday nights the music is bumpin... (a mix of arabic and hip hop, and sometimes arabic hip-hop) there are belly dancers which adds to the experience and when the belly dancers clear the stage one brave group of friends always goes up on the dance floor and in no time everyone is comming up and having a good time. I'm guessing Saturday nights are the same, but I'm not sure. Sunday nights (and im assuming the weeknights) are really dead, this is a good opportunity to grap one of the incredible all-booth seats and relax with some friends and enjoy the hookahs and deserts. The customer service is poor because of the level of servers, but is sadly made up for in breast size and low cut shirts :) The hookahs are incredible, they last all night (we were there for like 2.5 hours) but that was for only 2 people. I would only recommend 2 people per hookah if they are going to be hitting it all night, but if one person in the group will only hitit a handful of times your all good to have 3 per hookah. The price has recently gone up on the hookahs, they now are $9. Try the watermelon, its really good as well as the strawberry and mango. There are also positively a dozen of other flavors (the review only named a couple). CHECK THE PLACE OUT... TRY SOMETHING NEW... IT IS AN INCREDIBLY FUN EXPERIENCE... YET RELAXED AS HELL

• Pros: Experience, Hookahs
• Cons: Service, Cover Fee on Fridays and Sturdays

05/28/06

It's a bar... but great food.

by phoenix5807

The food's authentic & tasty with ample portions. Nonetheless, Kan Zaman is a bar. I went on Arab Night, hoping for an authentic experience. The belly dancer was white & patrons treated her like a stripper (dollar bills flying). The "live music" was an Arab wedding singer, but he wasn't bad.

Drink prices are average, but the beer list is short (nothing on tap). Waitresses can't serve alcohol & coctail waitresses weren't attentive.

We had the vegetarian platter & spinach pie. The platter was great, especially the baba ghanouj. Skip the pie.

This is the only place in Cleveland you can get a hookah. The vibe is all wrong, though. If you've been to a hookah lounge, you'll be disappointed. There were a dozen flavors, but the bowls were skimpy & didn't last long.

Go at dinnertime for the food. Skip the "Arab nights," dancing, music, & the bar rush.

• Pros: vegetarian options, hookahs, food
• Cons: atmosphere

11/03/05

Excellent place to eat

by noverbo

Food was excellent. No waiting. Taboule was one of the best I have ever had. Good selection of middle eastern dishes at a very reasonable price. Nothing over $10 and plate comes with everything you would want to eat. Absolutely a fantastic choice. Big time recommended!

• Pros: Inexpensive, Tasty, Prompt serving
• Cons: Off street parking, Not best neighborhood

11/19/04

A Very Nice Change of Pace!

by bkspeck

I visited Kan Zaman not knowing what to expect. I had never tried Middle Eastern food before, but it now ranks as one of my favorites! The food was delicious - my favorites being the Hummus, Baba Gannoush, and the Tabboule. I liked it so much, I've even made my own Tabboule at home!

The entrees were simply delicious - Cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of spices. Then came dessert - Baclava! After dessert, we smoked the pipe. VERY different! Very mellow, and relaxing... and I'm not a smoker!

I've been back a few times since... and I look forward to going on Arabic Night to see the Belly Dancers!

• Pros: Price, Food, Relaxed Atmosphere

05/20/04

not all it's cracked up to be

by scain2

I went on a wednesday night when I was visiting cleveland. I was disappointed to find absolutely no music, not even a background radio. In addition, there was no belly dancing, which I had told my friends and family about. The place was practically empty, which should have tipped me off. The hummus was good, but the rest of out appetizer were so so. The majority of the entrees we ordered were dry and overcooked, strange since we were practically the only people there!

• Pros: hummus, price
• Cons: , entrees lacking, no music

01/29/04

Belly up to Arabic line-dancing, live music and Middle Eastern treats in a jovial, homey atmosphere.

by Contributor

The Scene
There's a long, arcade-like feel to the space, reminiscent of real Middle Eastern restaurants, with busy ceiling fans spinning from a drop-lattice ceiling, cushioned benches, big mirrors and a huge TV screening unsubtitled movies. A relaxed, party atmosphere prevails, especially on "Arabic Nights," when the place gyrates with live music and belly dancing.

The Food
Ample, made-to-order portions of Middle Eastern fare entice diners to try something novel. A less-pungent, more-sweet baba ganoush rates high, as does the fresh, heavy-on-the-tahini hummus and a soup of robust lentils and parsley. The shish tawook entree contains three hefty skewers of cubed, marinated chicken, which mix nicely with the accompanying tangy garlic mayo. Slightly sweet, cilantro-laced Khaliya chicken rates ho-hum, but fried kibbee loaves crammed with meat, pine nuts and onions yield an earthy twang, especially when dipped in yogurt. Skip the bland rice pudding and other desserts and opt for the fruity, sweet hookah pipe.