This place advertises itself as Jazz & Supper club. It is not a good choice for either of these. We have been to this place twice, once in October of last year and once the last weekend.The whole place is of the size of a typical living room and they pack nearly 25 people in the small space, with no room for anything, including waiters serving food, patrons trying to walk to the restroom etc. In such a small space, they play extremely loud music. There is no need for microphones, as you would be sitting virtually a few feet away from the band. I find it very jarring and had a borderline headache. On my first visit, they sat us in a corner (not what we reserved), from where we could not even see 2 of the 5 band members. As to the quality of the musicians, I am no expert, but I think they did their best. The first time we paid $15 per head for the tickets and this time $45. All this might sound fine, except when you learn about their business model, as I will talk about next.Coming to the supper part, it's a collection of overpriced bar food. For example, for a high priced Hummus platter, you wouldn't get the expected pita bread to go with the tiny quantity of hummus they give. Instead you get a few thin crackers! After this dining experience the first time, we decided we could spend the same amount elsewhere nearby and eat real food. Problem solved, right? Wrong! After we had decent food elsewhere for about the same amount we would have spent here, we arrived there on time. The bar tender, playing the good cop showed us the menu book where it says the suggested minimum on food/drinks is $30 per person. Within a few seconds, the manager showed up, playing the bad cop, and sternly told us that we agreed to these terms while reserving tickets and therefore it's not just a suggestion. After adding miscellaneous charges (as one other reviewer goes into more detail), the amount is $42 per person, whether you eat their crappy food or not. The fact that you have bought tickets for the music has no bearing on this. The manager in fact frankly said that that's how they make their money.There is nothing unusual about cover charge in a bar, where you don't pay for the music. There is also nothing unusual about cinema halls basing their profits on overpriced popcorn (but hey, nobody chases after you if you decide not to buy that overpriced popcorn)! This is a hybrid business model, where you are expected to spend about $50 per person on food and also buy tickets for the music.If your idea of great way to spend an evening is to pay about $95 per person listening to loud/jarring music in a claustrophobic setting, this is perfect. Or if you're like me, who likes their Jazz to be a peaceful experience and who likes to spend money only in good food, I would suggest staying away from this place. Heck, you could order pizza and listen to Jazz on good home speakers, over this and still have a better time.We came to SF in BART train, trying to avoid some parking hassles. Civic center seems to be a close enough stop. But the 8-min walk to this place is not very pleasant. You would encounter a variety of shady characters on the street, usually smoking cigarettes or weed, generally looming about, but they mostly keep to themselves, except for a couple of them who might ask you for money.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jaydubs 21
This place delivers! The atmosphere is very cool. Dark and swanky for sure. The toilets are black! But what is really noteworthy - staff. They are accommodating and attentive. I work in the service industry so my standards are high, and staff impressed me. Cocktail program is excellent and cocktails come out fast! The food is very good, nothing you haven't seen before, but what they do, they do very well. Try the steak frites.Let us not overlook the talent. Black Cat does a great job booking top talent in this genre of music.You cannot go wrong here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Cody McCoy
I came to see Julian Davis Reid on keys, with the band Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few. OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!! Julian was unbelievable, as was the rest of the band!!!!!!!!! If you see them playing at Black Cat, get tickets ASAP- they kept selling out!Also the ambience and food = superb
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Demare
Phenomenal jazz bar. Excellent music. Expensive, though.
constanza vila
The jazz club exudes a vibrant atmosphere with a stellar band. While the main artist we went to see Sasha Berliner fall short, her musicians and specially her drummer stole the show, delivering exceptional energy and skill that elevates the overall performance. A must-visit for jazz enthusiasts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Saint Olivetree
Overpriced place with endless fees. Be prepared to pay a total of 50% extra of your bill(besides the tickets). No thanks
martin diller
One the best Jazz venues in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Juan Felipe Cerón Uribe
Great music and atmosphere, and 2/3 people loved the food. Very overpriced though, with an out-of-the blue 30% extra on the check.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jake Xie
Had an amazing time! I showed up about 45 minutes early to the show and the staff were very friendly to me while I waited for the rest of my party to show up. Nina was absolutely AMAZING and was able to move us from our table in the back to a table right in front of the stage. Amazing experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Luiz Bitencourt
Terrible experiente. Got kick out saying it is an 40% cost increase for each beer cause they want too.
there is a lot of great here. The drinks are quite good, the music room is very good. the booking is excellent. since you pick your seats you don't have to get there early for some kind of scrum. if you know where to park nearby it can be an easy place. there are two annoying things. first is the idea of seating in waves, only needed if you are getting food. you can show up 5 minutes before downbeat if you want drinks and the music. second is all the added fees. multiple extra charges on the bill and none are a tip. i get a place like this has to make money in the food and drinks but whoa if you are on a budget def try to pay the 25 bucks 'minimum' and i hope they don't add all the fees to make it 40 bucks. that being said i had a great time, excellent room excellent sound.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Francisco Lomas
This place has the best service and music was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Luis Valente
Great place for a jazz night. The food was better than e expected and the jazz ensemble was great. We had a great time!
Mauricio Cruz Loya
The music was good. However, this place has deceptive pricing with lots of hidden fees/charges, constant pressure to keep consuming drinks/food throughout the night to remain inside (despite paying for a ticket) and a rude manager. Not recommended.
This place advertises itself as Jazz & Supper club. It is not a good choice for either of these. We have been to this place twice, once in October of last year and once the last weekend.The whole place is of the size of a typical living room and they pack nearly 25 people in the small space, with no room for anything, including waiters serving food, patrons trying to walk to the restroom etc. In such a small space, they play extremely loud music. There is no need for microphones, as you would be sitting virtually a few feet away from the band. I find it very jarring and had a borderline headache. On my first visit, they sat us in a corner (not what we reserved), from where we could not even see 2 of the 5 band members. As to the quality of the musicians, I am no expert, but I think they did their best. The first time we paid $15 per head for the tickets and this time $45. All this might sound fine, except when you learn about their business model, as I will talk about next.Coming to the supper part, it's a collection of overpriced bar food. For example, for a high priced Hummus platter, you wouldn't get the expected pita bread to go with the tiny quantity of hummus they give. Instead you get a few thin crackers! After this dining experience the first time, we decided we could spend the same amount elsewhere nearby and eat real food. Problem solved, right? Wrong! After we had decent food elsewhere for about the same amount we would have spent here, we arrived there on time. The bar tender, playing the good cop showed us the menu book where it says the suggested minimum on food/drinks is $30 per person. Within a few seconds, the manager showed up, playing the bad cop, and sternly told us that we agreed to these terms while reserving tickets and therefore it's not just a suggestion. After adding miscellaneous charges (as one other reviewer goes into more detail), the amount is $42 per person, whether you eat their crappy food or not. The fact that you have bought tickets for the music has no bearing on this. The manager in fact frankly said that that's how they make their money.There is nothing unusual about cover charge in a bar, where you don't pay for the music. There is also nothing unusual about cinema halls basing their profits on overpriced popcorn (but hey, nobody chases after you if you decide not to buy that overpriced popcorn)! This is a hybrid business model, where you are expected to spend about $50 per person on food and also buy tickets for the music.If your idea of great way to spend an evening is to pay about $95 per person listening to loud/jarring music in a claustrophobic setting, this is perfect. Or if you're like me, who likes their Jazz to be a peaceful experience and who likes to spend money only in good food, I would suggest staying away from this place. Heck, you could order pizza and listen to Jazz on good home speakers, over this and still have a better time.We came to SF in BART train, trying to avoid some parking hassles. Civic center seems to be a close enough stop. But the 8-min walk to this place is not very pleasant. You would encounter a variety of shady characters on the street, usually smoking cigarettes or weed, generally looming about, but they mostly keep to themselves, except for a couple of them who might ask you for money.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
This place delivers! The atmosphere is very cool. Dark and swanky for sure. The toilets are black! But what is really noteworthy - staff. They are accommodating and attentive. I work in the service industry so my standards are high, and staff impressed me. Cocktail program is excellent and cocktails come out fast! The food is very good, nothing you haven't seen before, but what they do, they do very well. Try the steak frites.Let us not overlook the talent. Black Cat does a great job booking top talent in this genre of music.You cannot go wrong here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I came to see Julian Davis Reid on keys, with the band Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few. OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!! Julian was unbelievable, as was the rest of the band!!!!!!!!! If you see them playing at Black Cat, get tickets ASAP- they kept selling out!Also the ambience and food = superb
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phenomenal jazz bar. Excellent music. Expensive, though.
The jazz club exudes a vibrant atmosphere with a stellar band. While the main artist we went to see Sasha Berliner fall short, her musicians and specially her drummer stole the show, delivering exceptional energy and skill that elevates the overall performance. A must-visit for jazz enthusiasts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Overpriced place with endless fees. Be prepared to pay a total of 50% extra of your bill(besides the tickets). No thanks
One the best Jazz venues in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great music and atmosphere, and 2/3 people loved the food. Very overpriced though, with an out-of-the blue 30% extra on the check.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Had an amazing time! I showed up about 45 minutes early to the show and the staff were very friendly to me while I waited for the rest of my party to show up. Nina was absolutely AMAZING and was able to move us from our table in the back to a table right in front of the stage. Amazing experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Terrible experiente. Got kick out saying it is an 40% cost increase for each beer cause they want too.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Parm fries were good, crab cakes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
there is a lot of great here. The drinks are quite good, the music room is very good. the booking is excellent. since you pick your seats you don't have to get there early for some kind of scrum. if you know where to park nearby it can be an easy place. there are two annoying things. first is the idea of seating in waves, only needed if you are getting food. you can show up 5 minutes before downbeat if you want drinks and the music. second is all the added fees. multiple extra charges on the bill and none are a tip. i get a place like this has to make money in the food and drinks but whoa if you are on a budget def try to pay the 25 bucks 'minimum' and i hope they don't add all the fees to make it 40 bucks. that being said i had a great time, excellent room excellent sound.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
This place has the best service and music was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Great place for a jazz night. The food was better than e expected and the jazz ensemble was great. We had a great time!
The music was good. However, this place has deceptive pricing with lots of hidden fees/charges, constant pressure to keep consuming drinks/food throughout the night to remain inside (despite paying for a ticket) and a rude manager. Not recommended.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1