Le Souk--CLOSED

12/09/09

LE SOUK-HAREM OPEN

by saiid007 at Citysearch

I got to hear-drop on a conversation between two waitress talking about their new much improved website and I couldn't help myself but to ask for the URL: thus, i'm sharing it with you...

www afridom net/lesouk-harem/

i love le souk-harem! try the chicken tanjine(?)

• Pros: best HOOKAH/ GOOD LOOKING WOMEN
• Cons: Website uninformative...

11/11/09

The best for Hookah, Dancing, and Dinner

by MFDemby at Citysearch

I will miss this place. They always had a great vibe. The DJs with some of the best music, great food, fast and long lasting hookah, and a friendly staff and crowd. Everything came together in a large space that felt incredibly unique to New York. Le Souk will be remembered as a landmark that changed the neighborhood.

Whenever I think of hookah, I think Le Souk. Whenever I think belly dancing, I think of Le Souk. Whenever I think of the Alphabet City or even the Lower East side, I think of Le Souk. For me, Le Souk was the place to go for great food, belly dancing, and hookah.

They will surely be missed.

• Pros: Everything
• Cons: they are now closed

10/26/09

flat out disgusting

by ericzig at Citysearch

I attended as part of a group of about 20 this past weekend. We were seated in a back area which looked similar to a turkish prison and smelled of mold and mildew. We were told because of the group size we would have to order from a price-fix menu at $45 which is understandable; however 1 person in the group has food alergies and when asked the manager for a regular menu was told NO! The food was flat out disgusting - I was really surprised I didnt get sick from it. The main course - chicken breast looked and tasted like some cross between cat food and canned chicken. Dessert was never served and instead a check was brought to the table. Waitstaff barely spoke English and the service was poor. The entire place was filthy - the bathroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a week. Overall a terrible experience- i would never go back and neither should anyone else

• Pros: didnt get sick
• Cons: everything

09/30/09

Disappointing

by sk3ny at Citysearch

I took my husband and some friends here for my husband's bday party tonight. When we walked in I was disappointed at how small the place was, as well as at the odor of cheap floor cleaner. The food was great and the waitress fiendly. However, I had to ask twice before someone brought a new coal for our houka pipe *shouldn't have had to ask at all); to top it off, there was NO BELLY DANCER---the very reason I had chosen the place. THe unapologetic manager told me she ust wasn't showing up. To top off a night of disappointment, when we ordered dessert, they had RUN OUT OF COFFEE. Can you imagine a Middle Eastern restaurant without coffee????? Embarrassing, to say the least, for the hostess of a party....

• Pros: good food
• Cons: poor service, management

09/27/09

DON'T GO!

by mttc at Citysearch

I went to Le Souk on Saturday night with friends to celebrate a birthday. Even though we had an 8:00 reservation, and there were many tables available, we were told to wait at the bar until our table became available! They finally sat us down after 8:30 PM because we threatened to go somewhere else. One of the reasons we went to this restaurant was for the entertainment. They claim on their website to have belly dancers that perform at 8:30 PM. At the restaurant, we were told that the belly dancers performed at 9PM, but when they hadn't come on by 10:30, we decided to leave. Here's where it gets worse ---- a friend had purchsed a gift certificate that we intended to use that night; however, the waitress told us they don't accept gift certificates on the weekend. We told them we were never told that and asked where it said the gift certificates were not valid on the weekend. At that point, the waitress had the manager come over to explain to us that they make it very clear gift certificates are not valid on the weekend. We asked him to produce something that stated this fact, which he was unable to do. He then decided he would take our $200 gift certificate, but could not credit us for the difference - our bill was for only $130!!! So in the end, they screwed us out of $70!! One of my friends had been to the restaurant a couple of years ago and said they clearly don't draw the crowd they used to - wonder why...

• Pros: food ok
• Cons: everything else

04/06/09

No respect to their customers or their own employ

by dreamshore at Citysearch

My friend had a "going away" party. We had about 21-25 people that day. When we showed up at the restaurant, there was this girl sitting by the entrance and informed us that the restaurant is under "renovation" and sent all of us their joined restaurant Horus Cafe 2 blocks away (this place should be called "Horrible Cafe" ). We later found out from our party organizer that Le Souk did not called her about this until 3 hours before the reservation. Which puts me into suspicion that they probably got "shut down" by the cit due to some sort of violation.

When we finally got through all the trouble going to the other location, we were greeted by a rude manager who insisted that we must wait at the bar until most of our party arrived. First of all, the bar was hardly a bar. it was only a 3 feet by 3 feet area. All of us were already annoying by the fact that we had to change location unannounced, and now we were forced to cramp at the bar even though we clear saw our tables are already set up. We should be buying drinks only if we feel like to, especially we already have reservation set with drinks. Finally, they sat us down after 80% of us showed up. The host of our party was the last to come since it was supposed to be a surprised party. While we were waiting (which was only about 10 min or so) the restaurant was being very inpatient and asked us if we were ready to order every other minute!

The party menu we ordered was a $45 per person family style set menu. The food was decent but it was definitely not worth $45 in terms of portion or selection(chicken, vegies, rice...etc.). The manager sported his same rude manor when some of us had to stand up to let some people going to the restroom, he stormed over and tell us that " You have to sit down right now". We were stunned and felt like we were not being treated respectfully as their customers. At the end, each of us spend avg. of $75 per person. That's about $2000 for our party and we thought we should deserve some respect. But no, one of our friend needed to break a $20 bill. They refused to break the bill and told us that the bar was closed. What kind of lame reason was that?! The restaurant turns into a night bar after hour, how could they tell us that the bar was closed?! They just didn't want to do it for no apparent reason.

I rarely leave a long negative review for any business, but if you have any respect for yourself, do not go to Le Souk or Horus Cafe. No one deserves to be treated that way at a restaurant you pay money to get the service anywhere.

• Pros: Food is decent
• Cons: Over rated, over priced

03/04/09

"If you are looking for a great vibe, they got it"

by 1Luv24 at Citysearch

I don't know of too many places that has a great vibe like Le Souk does. I used to go a lot, years ago and I went recently and still had a great time. I have read some reviews about people having a hard time getting in. Although this may be true to some extent I think it is important to dress nice, look good and have a good crowd with you. I think this goes for most places... So the neighborhood is not the most pleasant, but that shouldn't stop anyone from coming to eat here and having a great experience!

My advice for those having trouble getting in is, don't be cheap (I know times are hard, but...), make reservations, eat some tasty food then stay and have drinks the rest of the night while listening to great music and watching the belly dancers.

• Pros: Good food, great ambience
• Cons: Parking is tough around here

03/02/09

I love this place

by kda77 at Citysearch

This place is way to fun, for those that wrote negative comments

I would find that weird when every time I've gone only but the best times;)))

IT'S HARD TO GET IN IF:

YOU LOOK BUSTED/HAVE A BUSTED LOOKING GIRLSFRIEND OF BOYFRIEND/SNEAKERS ON/

IF YOU LOOK BROKE HAHA WALK AROUND WITH A SAUSAGE CREW (WAY TO MANY GUYS)

So with that said before you leave your house LOOK IN THE MIRROR !!!!! WOULD YOU GO OUT WITH YOURSELF SOBER???? OR DO YOU NEED A DRINK????

Le Souk keeping it real:))) and the bouncers Love them

• Pros: Fun times
• Cons: wish they had 10 floors

02/26/09

BEST SPOT ANY DAY OF THE WEEK

by Lesoukrox at Citysearch

I dont care what any other review says. You have to go there to experience it and judge for yourself. But in my opinion EVERY single time i go, whether its a monday night, wed night, or sunday night..i Always have a blast..Great great music...cool down to earth friendly people. Drinks could be a lil better but hey alcohol is alcohol. the decor is fab..i love the whole arabic loungy type look. It has two floors...the bottom is usually a house/ravey type vibe and the top has your arabic/hip hop/ pop /old school house spinning. And everyone i have brought gets hooked..must be for a reason ;-)

01/31/09

The Meatpacking District comes to Alphabet City!!

by circlechangey at Citysearch

If you want an experience typifying the demise of this neighborhood-ie, you are a meathead/floozie-Le Souk is for you. Met at the door by a thoroughly ridiculous wannabe w/ a clipboard, who turned me away apparently b/c I didn't comport w/ her B&T notion of coolness. I tried to explain that I used to come here 8 yrs ago when the place was actually cool-needless to say, this was unavailing. Sigh. It's a horror show now - stay away.