Horus Too

Horus, in Egyptian culture, was once known as the powerful God of war and sky.

The nicotine-free hookahs at the new Hell's Kitchen chill-spot do not produce visions of deities. They do, however, bring together souls on an unusually warm October night.

Huddled en mass at a cozy table set out on the unfinished wood patio, conversation was easy. The staff at Horus cleared the trials of the day with free-spirited attitudes and warm, genuine smiles. From my porch seat the interior of the place appeared simple as well. A "railroad" style set-up, with polished tables reflecting the glow of tea-lights.

There are some rare things in New York. It's rare to not get shit on by a pigeon in your tenure here. It's rare not to smell offensive body odor in a packed subway car. And it's rare to find a place that can make you forget all about YouTube, club music, sidewalk congestion, career longings, and text-based relationships.

The hookah would have been enough, but I had to have more. Let's face it, it could have gone South right then. My lovely October dream spilt over poor food. Such was not the case.

I ordered a lamb kebab sandwich. The spices were surprising, powerfully flavorful, and well appointed. My only perplexion was that a shortage of pita bread led the kitchen to serve it on an Italian sub. Culture clash.

Once I'd satisfied that craving, the feast led me to another. Thirst. I had only to think it before Vodka shots arrived on the house -- a reward for our happy patronage and boisterous (getting more so by the minute) energy. And when we ordered ourselves another round we found we'd been there long enough for the first hookah to have run its course.

We ordered a second, and this is where things became amazing. Filling the base of the "deluxe hookah" was wine, not water. The taste was full, intense, and delicious.

As a cap to the evening, we had cafe-au-laits made to order. Frothy and rich, steam rising to the cobalt blue sky above us.

Truly divine.

INFO:
Horus Too
416 West 46TH St. (btw 9/10TH Avenue)
212-956-9661