Habibi's Lounge — Restaurant in Boston

I had an incredibly distressing and dangerous experience at this restaurant, and I feel compelled to warn others, especially those with food allergies. Before ordering, I explicitly informed the server of my severe dairy and egg allergies, explaining that even a small mistake could result in anaphylaxis. The server consulted the chef and what I assume was the manager to double-check. They assured me with 100% confidence that the dish I ordered contained no allergens. To be extra cautious, I asked to leave off the garlic sauce, but they insisted I include it, promising it was safe.

When my food arrived, I noticed a white sauce on my plate and immediately grew wary. I tested it by lightly touching it to my tongue, and within moments, my mouth and throat went numb and itchy. The reaction was intense, unlike anything I’ve experienced before in my lifetime of managing these allergies. I quickly took Benadryl and asked for the check, requesting that the chicken wrap be removed from the bill as it could have seriously endangered my life.

When I respectfully informed them that there must be milk or egg in the dish, their response was shockingly hostile. They accused me of lying about my allergy and even suggested I "get my allergies checked." My lips were visibly swelling as I showed them the reaction I was experiencing, yet they doubled down on their defensive and aggressive behavior. They refused to take any responsibility, didn’t offer a single apology, and instead acted as though I was at fault.

Their complete lack of accountability and hostility left me in disbelief. They never acknowledged the gravity of the situation or expressed any concern for my well-being. Instead, they treated my valid concerns with disrespect and accusations. To make matters worse, the final bill included multiple unexpected charges.

This experience was both dangerous and deeply upsetting. If they had simply informed me they couldn’t guarantee the dish was allergen-free, I would have respected their honesty and chosen something else. Instead, they put my health at serious risk and handled the situation in the most unprofessional and disrespectful manner imaginable.

I’ve already submitted a report to the Allston Public Health Department and hope this establishment will be investigated further. I urge anyone with food allergies, or anyone who values decent service and accountability to avoid this restaurant. This was an utterly shameful experience, and I sincerely hope no one else has to endure such a negligent and hostile encounter.

Last thing I'll mention is that I ended up in the hospital that night and I am just happy I didn't take a full bite as I probably wouldn't be writing this...

I didn't want to write this but feel we have to now after reflecting on the experience we had. We visited on Saturday, and I have to say, our server was amazing—kind, caring, and super understanding. She explained the hookah policy to us in a respectful way, letting us know that every three people require one hookah. I mentioned that only three of us were smoking, and she listened, making it clear she understood where I was coming from. Her patience and professionalism alone made her service a 5/5 experience. Then came the manager, and that’s where everything went downhill. He was rude, dismissive, and had absolutely no regard for customer service. Instead of having a conversation, he aggressively demanded that we get two hookahs—no discussion, no flexibility, just pure attitude. I even told him we had traveled from North Carolina, hoping he’d at least show a little understanding, but he doubled down in the rudest tone possible, insisting that we must get two. His hostility was so off-putting that my friends were offended and decided to leave.

And here’s where it gets ridiculous—the moment we actually got up to go, suddenly he backtracked and said we could get just one hookah after all. After all that aggression and standing his ground so stubbornly, he completely switched up at the last second. It was almost laughable how ridiculous he looked after fighting so hard just to backpedal the moment he realized he was losing business.

Honestly, if it weren’t for our server, this entire experience would’ve been a disaster. She was the only bright spot in an otherwise frustrating situation. Management needs a serious...

Well, i used to go there all the time the vibe was beautiful but lately im very disappointed. The new management is not pleasant, no respect at all. I witnessed something today it was humiliating, a girl was kicked out from the place and humiliated in front of everyone for a table that she reserved online and was charged $50 (pending on her account). She went to the table and he was rude asking her to change her table or to leave and screaming at her face, and if she refuses to go he will call the police. Sir that was not necessary, your customer service is 0 im sorry and it breaks my heart to give one star to a place was one of my favorite places. Change the attitude and remember Custmer always comes first. You have to be more polite to other people.

I was trying to reply to what you wrote and i wasn’t able too, so i will continue here. Sir i was not part of the party you mentioned i was sitting in a different place, it was me and my colleague we were two people sitting in the corner And i didn’t say any of the words you mentioned, and i spoke with Michael and told him how i felt in a nice way .so basically you are lying. You don’t have to get offended because i shared how disrespectful you were to a woman of color. Don’t accuse people, that’s not nice, and we saw you recording the girls when they were leaving like that was not enough after what you did. And you came to my table and you said im sorry guys about that, sir as a manager of a place we have been going to for years for fun you just destroyed the vibe. We...