Riz Raz

I read Mike's review, but I can't help feel it might be bit hard on Riz Raz. What the previous chef did, I can't comment, but I can comment on my time here.

I only came for a Persian tea and a hookah, but I actually really liked my half hour here. This area of town is home to a number of African and Persian venues, all offering authentic Hookah (Shisha to some), experiences.

My Persian tea was entirely on the money, bringing back memories of breakfast at an the house of an old Iranian friend of mine. As for the food, while I didn't eat, I saw people who did.

They all looked pretty happy, certainly nobody dying a food hygiene related death.

Located in the Kebab shop and bar-crammed area of Western Road, Riz Raz is by no means a monopoly holder. However, this is not necessarily because of its competition. Local paper, The Argus recently ran a story about how the previous chef had been struck off after admitting to 17 breaches of food hygiene regulations.

I don't know what's happened since but I would imagine they've sorted it out, as they're still open and doing good business. Needless to say I wouldn't have gone here to eat in the first place but if you're on Western Road it's not like you're going to be short of alternatives. It's primarily a smoking bar for those who want to chill out and maybe watch some foreign football.

Smoke some shisha, eat all you can, watch the world go by. It is easy to almost miss the rather discreet Riz Raz amidst the hustle of Western Road, but it's a really cool place to hang out for a few hours if you're looking for an alternative to an alcohol-fuelled evening. With all you can eat Egyptian buffet during the day, by night Riz Raz becomes an out-and-out shisha joint. Suck those pipes and enjoy the heady rush of the flavoured tobacco, then from your prime position, watch the hustle and bustle of Western Road and its colourful inhabitants. Shisha has become somewhat "in" here in Brighton, but Riz Raz keeps it real, rather than jumping on the bandwagon and you feel its authenticity will be what keeps business booming when the fad passes the rest of the city by.