Thread: Where are the nightclubs?

In reading some of the threads, many a dancer has commented that she has never seen a 5 part set at a club. Most dancers do a 10 minute routine at a restaurant with CD or a stage show. So, where are the places that still hire a live band, a singer, and the dancer does a 5-7 part set?

I'll start:

Uncle Sam's Village Cafe-Dearborn, MI

jillana's in Chicago, IL

Athenian Corner in Lowell, MA has a live band, thurs-sat.
Byblos in Norwood, MA Fri-Sat
Karouns-Newton, MA Fri-Sat

Belly Dance Showcase hosted by Var and Cyriana at the Mediterranean Kabob Room, Monrovia CA. This showcase is hosted about once a month, as space and musicians are available. They usually play 4- and 5-part routines.

Let me ask you a question about Juliana's. How was the service there? Was the staff nice? Just asking because I would really love to see a 5 part set but I have had a not so good experience with their staff. But that may be because I was there with one other person. Were you there with a big group? Maybe they pay more attention to bigger groups....

Originally Posted by EzmaSiddiqah

jillana's in Chicago, IL

Originally Posted by damariz

Let me ask you a question about Juliana's. How was the service there? Was the staff nice? Just asking because I would really love to see a 5 part set but I have had a not so good experience with thier staff. But that may be because I was there with one other person. Were you there with a big group? Maybe they pay more attention to bigger groups....

Hi there! Juliana's is nice, but the service like some of the other arabic places may not be as good. I grew up in the restaurant business in Chicago, was training waitstaff since I was 16. I can tell how well service is by the moment one sits down. These places are good to go see the entertainment, but food/ service falls by the side. For Juliana's, there are 2 shows. If you stay for both, you may need to pay 2 cover charges. One time I went to another restaurant, It took them 30 minutes to even see if I wanted to order something, then another 30 minutes to bring me coffee. If that was my parent's restaurant, the waitstaff would be reprimanded and we would not have customers. It's the entertainment that brings the customers. Be warned- check your bill.

[QUOTE=nbahri_rhythms;335039]Hi there! Juliana's is nice, but the service like some of the other arabic places may not be as good. I grew up in the restaurant business in Chicago, was training waitstaff since I was 16. I can tell how well service is by the moment one sits down. These places are good to go see the entertainment, but food/ service falls by the side. For Juliana's, there are 2 shows. If you stay for both, you may need to pay 2 cover charges. One time I went to another restaurant, It took them 30 minutes to even see if I wanted to order something, then another 30 minutes to bring me coffee. If that was my parent's restaurant, the waitstaff would be reprimanded and we would not have customers. It's the entertainment that brings the customers. Be warned- check your bill.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately this is so true in Chicago.

Originally Posted by nbahri_rhythms

Hi there! Juliana's is nice, but the service like some of the other arabic places may not be as good. I grew up in the restaurant business in Chicago, was training waitstaff since I was 16. I can tell how well service is by the moment one sits down. These places are good to go see the entertainment, but food/ service falls by the side. For Juliana's, there are 2 shows. If you stay for both, you may need to pay 2 cover charges. One time I went to another restaurant, It took them 30 minutes to even see if I wanted to order something, then another 30 minutes to bring me coffee. If that was my parent's restaurant, the waitstaff would be reprimanded and we would not have customers. It's the entertainment that brings the customers. Be warned- check your bill.

I've never paid a seperate cover charge at Juliana's---they just have
a 2 drink minimum. I've also never had problems with their service, and
acutally they have a great new system now......there's a cordless bell--
kinda like a doorbell at your table, and when you want the waiter you just
press it and he comes!! ..g.: I asked our waiter if I could take the bell
and him home!! ..l;,
The show is just great there, and the atmosphere is so fun! I enjoyed both dancers when we went in December.

I go to Jillana's by myself, they treat me wonderfully, I feel like family, very safe. Good service and food and entertainment!!

Also the House of Shimmy at the Roseland Ballroom bimonthly in Taunton, MA

There is also Al Hambra in Chicago.

Now there the service is absoulutely the worst I've ever experienced at any Arabic club bar none. It's very beautiful though and my best friend Alexandria dances there so I put up with it when I visit.

really? I went to the Alhambra and was delighted with the staff. The food was good too.

Originally Posted by norma

There is also Al Hambra in Chicago.

Now there the service is absoulutely the worst I've ever experienced at any Arabic club bar none. It's very beautiful though and my best friend Alexandria dances there so I put up with it when I visit.

Originally Posted by norma

There is also Al Hambra in Chicago.

Now there the service is absoulutely the worst I've ever experienced at any Arabic club bar none. It's very beautiful though and my best friend Alexandria dances there so I put up with it when I visit.

Too true - they really are bad and their food isn't all that great. There are other places with great food and pretty good service without full entertainment but on the whole I have yet to go to a ME restaurant where the service is excellent. And this is really weird because hospitality is such a high priority on the Arabs' list of must-dos. And I really hate to say THIS but men do get more attention than women which is shooting themselves in the foot. My money is as green as a man's!

Originally Posted by KDizzle

Athenian Corner in Lowell, MA has a live band, thurs-sat.
Byblos in Norwood, MA Fri-Sat
Karouns-Newton, MA Fri-Sat

Other live band venues/nights in the metro Boston area:

• Red Fez in the South End, Turkish/American on Fridays, Arabic on Sat
• Middle East in Cambridge, Turkish/American on Wednesdays (plus a couple of dancers will do 15-20 minute sets to CDs on Sundays, any style)
• Basha Cafe in Cambridge, Turkish on Thursdays, Arabic on Saturdays (this Saturday marks the return of Layaleena to Cambridge)

I feel sure there's other places I'm forgetting...

Originally Posted by norma

There is also Al Hambra in Chicago.

Now there the service is absoulutely the worst I've ever experienced at any Arabic club bar none. It's very beautiful though and my best friend Alexandria dances there so I put up with it when I visit.

I haven't been there yet--I want to go, but what's keeping me from it is
that I've heard more people say the same thing as you than saying anything good about it.

Originally Posted by ANISAHDANCER

I haven't been there yet--I want to go, but what's keeping me from it is
that I've heard more people say the same thing as you than saying anything good about it.

You should go once, just to experience it for yourself. But pack your patience and lot of cash.

Originally Posted by badriya_al_ahmar

Other live band venues/nights in the metro Boston area:

• Red Fez in the South End, Turkish/American on Fridays, Arabic on Sat
• Middle East in Cambridge, Turkish/American on Wednesdays (plus a couple of dancers will do 15-20 minute sets to CDs on Sundays, any style)
• Basha Cafe in Cambridge, Turkish on Thursdays, Arabic on Saturdays (this Saturday marks the return of Layaleena to Cambridge)

I feel sure there's other places I'm forgetting...

There is also a new place in West Roxbury, called Club Sultan. Though I am not sure how well it is doing. I haven't been there yet.

In NYC the Lafayette Grill, Mezzo Mezzo and The Woolworth Tower Kitchen have live music and full dancer shows.
Also the Grisley Pear where Scott Wilson plays but its not a nightclub, more of a dancer venue.

There are two places in North NJ I can think of

Aladin in Hackensack NJ
The Nile in North Bergen NJ

Most other places may have a keyboardist (or other melodic instrument) and a drummer.

Originally Posted by norma

You should go once, just to experience it for yourself. But pack your patience and lot of cash.

..l;,..l;,..l;,

Norma, are they this bad in Detroit, the mecca of ME clubs in the USA? Of course, I know we will still all go because we just can't stay away. But with the economy this way, we may just go a little less. Who wants to waste their money these days in this recession with places that are so flippant about it?

Okay - I'm done now. :soapbox:

Most places in the DC area have full 20 minute shows, but none have a full band anymore. :( There are a couple places with "three piece" keyboard based band- but that just isn't the same.

Originally Posted by bonnywhiteford

Norma, are they this bad in Detroit, the mecca of ME clubs in the USA? Of course, I know we will still all go because we just can't stay away. But with the economy this way, we may just go a little less. Who wants to waste their money these days in this recession with places that are so flippant about it?

Okay - I'm done now. :soapbox:

It's hard for me to comment on the service in clubs. When I went to clubs locally, I was well known as a dancer and pretty much treated like a star. I never paid for anything at any club I went to.

When I did perform and was invited to tables, my table was always waited on promptly. Big tables with regular customers usually received better service. But a table with a few ladies who didn't drink much and didn't order big dinners and mezza, not so good service.

But times sure have changed. The era of the house dancer is pretty much over and so is the era of the big spenders although I'm sure there are some still out there. I haven't been to a club locally in awhile. It hasn't been worth it for me as the quality of entertainment has really gone down as far as I'm concerned. But I've been getting the hankering to visit the old stomping ground soon. If it ever stops snowing here in Detroit!

Originally Posted by norma

It's hard for me to comment on the service in clubs. When I went to clubs locally, I was well known as a dancer and pretty much treated like a star. I never paid for anything at any club I went to.

When I did perform and was invited to tables, my table was always waited on promptly. Big tables with regular customers usually received better service. But a table with a few ladies who didn't drink much and didn't order big dinners and mezza, not so good service.

But times sure have changed. The era of the house dancer is pretty much over and so is the era of the big spenders although I'm sure there are some still out there. I haven't been to a club locally in awhile. It hasn't been worth it for me as the quality of entertainment has really gone down as far as I'm concerned. But I've been getting the hankering to visit the old stomping ground soon. If it ever stops snowing here in Detroit!

This is what I am seeing too, here.

in san diego we have zorba's
its the only place left with a live band and regular shows

not anymore :)
Greek Town now has a live band - 2 keyboard players and a singer (Iraqi musicians)