Chris’ Jazz Cafe

I went here for New Year’s Eve with some friends before we ventured over to other bars in the city. The band playing was very good. Great vibes and a chill atmosphere. I didn’t order any food so I cannot judge that aspect of the café, but I had a pretty decent Moscow Mule. The bartender was a lovely girl and she was attentive.
I’d definitely come back again; I love any place that showcases live music!

I’m not sure where to start. I went to Chris’ Jazz Café last night for a date night, and I truly wish we had just stayed at home. I ordered a Riesling and received a Pinot; no big deal. The wine, both of them were EXTREMELY flat. It almost tasted as if they were watered down. The food was just OK; I guess that’s what I’m giving the 1 star for. The mac and cheese is not good; not sure what other reviewers are talking about when they praise it. I’m biased; I’m a GREAT cook, but it was bland. I ordered the Jambalaya, it had a nice spice to it and it was served fairly quickly after being ordered. I ate VERY slowly, I was trying to wait for my replacement wine after I had told the waitress, 45 minutes later, I got it. We had 2 different waitresses, which I did not like… It made me feel awkward as a customer. I literally would start off talking to one and the other interrupted at one point and was whispering to her and then they both walked off! UMMMM HELLO?! Remember me, the customer that was talking to you ladies a second ago? The customer! We had tickets reserved online, we got there early and were sat in the very back, where the door to outside was constantly being opened and closed; wore my jacket the entire time. I got dressed up for date night and my husband couldn’t even see what I was wearing because I would have froze to death. Not sure in what realm it’s courteous to sit people who come on time in the back in, but it made 0 sense to me. The table next to us had an extra table attached to it, so of course they separated it and it all equaled less privacy for my table. Instead of the avg foot of space between most of the parties, I had 6 inches. LASTLY, the music… They were highschoolers… now don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of kids/​teens out there with talent; however, the whole dynamic of the club was not intimate jazz/​date night/​sexy singles/​after-​work crowd… It was Parents/​Grandparents watching their kids at a recital; LITERALLY. Parents taking photos, videotaping. I felt like I was at a school jazz band concert. No Bueno. Chris’ Jazz Café had this as their description of the band:
Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra with Joe Bongovi
High energy big band led by Joe Bongovi
They really ought to tell people that they are children; changed the whole dynamic of the «café», and we probably would have gone another night.

I had the Dizzy bbq sandwich last night. Really good just a bit hard to eat without cutting it in parts. Our server was very attentive. The music was really great just don’t expect to be able to talk a lot if you sit close to the stage. But I would definitely go back.

It’s a little On the pricey side $ 30.00 pp cover charge Plus Meal & Drinks our total was $ 127.00 + Parking. It is a Very Intimate Setting, Our Waitress «Z» Was Very Attentive, The Food Was Good, and The Drinks were nice & strong!~

A very intimate live jazz music right in Central Philadelphia. Definitely a hidden gem.
I arrived during an Open Mic Night featuring Saxophonist Victor North hosting the event. As a jazz enthusiast, it’s always great to hear jazz musicians in their element especially without the pressure and just want to jam. Let me tell you, there’s a lot of talented young jazz musicians in this awesome city.
With great live jazz music, must come great drinks and entrees. Ask the bartender for their specialty drinks and you’ll be satisfied with their array of tasteful drinks. And to accompany such drink, try out their Mac & Cheese. WOW — the perfect blend of cheese and crunch.
I’ll definitely be back!

Service is everything and this place was lacking in this department. Our server seemed to be intoxicated but maybe it was her personality until she begun to confuse things about our bill and order. Manager comped out dessert grudgingly but when we told him of the huge Roach that decided to die next to our table, he said it was normal and at least it was dead. Hmmm food was delicious but service left a bad taste in my mouth. Will not be returning… very disappointed in how this was handled and don’t want to eat where roaches are the norm.

Lunch was good but had to ask my coworker to grab a turkey hoagie for me because the portion was so small.

This is the place that a lot of jazz joints in NYC wish they could be.
Came here on a complete whim while spending a couple of nights in Philly a few weeks ago. What an absolute treat! Classy décor and atmosphere, friendly and attentive staff, and an inspired yet reasonably priced menu. Brilliant mac and cheese, but do NOT pass on their perfect shrimp and grits if that’s your thing.
Soul Patrol played the night my wife and I were there, and we will not soon forget how the music, the mood, and the meal made for the perfect evening. I’ve rejoined Unilocal after a long absence just to be able to express how much I wish Chris’ was in New York (but Philly’s not that far, so I’ll be back!)

We came here on a random night during a recent trip to Philly. It was a lot smaller than the pictures let on. It was great.
Loved the drinks, mac & cheese and the band. The calamari wasn’t that flavorful but we weren’t there for the food so we didn’t mind.
My only regret is that we didn’t have room for dessert. It seems like the waiter was walking around with a tray of it and explaining the individual plates to every customer. Awesome sauce.

Took my mom here for her 50^th. She loved it and the musicians were great. I’ve never seen her have such a great time! The food was really delicious. We shared the pasta special that night which was pasta with mushrooms. Wine selection was ok. Nice atmosphere. Dress up or keep it casual. :)

We loved it here! My boyfriend’s mom has been begging for months to see some live jazz, so we thought it’d be a great Mother’s Day present to take her here for dinner and see a show. We were not disappointed!
The band was INCREDIBLE and I wish I could remember their name, because I’d highly recommend you go see them. Most of the food was phenomenal as well, though I’m not so sure that the crab mac and cheese is as good as everyone says it is (if you’re really looking for the best mac and cheese in Philly, check out Cedar Point. Half the price, double the flavor!) That aside it really was a just WONDERFUL experience and we will definitely be back for another show and another fabulous meal!

Seriously smooth jazz in a chill, candlelit setting. What made it enjoyable for me was the fact that people actually come here for the music, and the musicians themselves seem to enjoy performing here. The jazz itself definitely lives up to the mark — the musicians here are legit. Close your eyes, and you can imagine it’s like a club from the old days, minus the cigar smoke. The Friday night that I visited, there were four bands, attended by some Fulbrighters and other jazz connoisseurs, as well as a rowdier bunch at the bar, farther from the stage area. I only tried the mac & cheese here, but the entrées passing by my table looked simple and elegant, like they would have been nice to share with a date. So bring a special friend, grab a fork, and have some dinner and a glass of California Zinfandel to go with all that jazz.
The best bands are on around 8−11pm, the crowd begins to thin around midnight!

Classic spot. I hand’t been here for about ten years and not a lot has changed. Hung out at the bar because it seems a little discouraging to sit in the seating area (cover fee plus a $ 10 drink fee that you use toward your drinks – a way to make sure you are paying for your seat). Hanging at the bar is just as good though, I nursed a few $ 3 Coors throughout the night. Fun and relaxing atmosphere. Haven’t tried food.

I came here two nights in a row because the mac and cheese and service were both excellent. Seriously, get the mac and cheese. It’s on the late night bites menu as a smaller portion and also served as a dinner entrée with crab. Unfortunately, the 2^nd night I wen they were out of crab and shellfish, so I opted to just get the basic mac and cheese. It’s breadcrumby heaven.
A+ sound in here. I’ve been to some places with live music and really crappy set-​ups, but everything here was nothing short of amazing. This place is obviously a lot more high energy on Saturday nights than Friday nights. Friday was mostly vocalists and some bossa nova, Saturday was an excellent few bands and a surprise vocalist who came on and had a neo-​soul sort of vibe to her. She was very captivating.
Funny story: my virgin Shirley Temple was sort of watery but my boyfriend’s alcoholic beverage was on the stronger side. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?

I was pleased with the food and drinks I had. I had the seasonal sangria and the chicken spring rolls from the bar list and both were delicious. I also tried a little of my date’s cheesecake and it was soft and sweet. It didn’t have that dry and thick taste that some cheesecakes can have.
The entertainment was also great. They had a band covering Billie Holiday songs.
I’d only shave off one star because of the tightness of the café and the draft that was coming in from outside. I understand that, on the cusp of Spring, they wanted to let some air in and as well as attract patrons, but it just was a bit chilly, and I was in the inner part of the café.
Otherwise, the service and food were great and I’d definitely go back and suggest it as a place for friends to visit.

I would give them 5 stars for their music. I never had food there but if food were bad, I would still give 5 stars. I have been there couple times, the musician there were phenomenon. Real professional and one of top notched.
I used to go jazz clubs in NYC pretty often. You can’t get seats easily like this place, and definitely not affordable like this place. But the music at Chris, as good as the ones in NYC. I am glad they are so close by.

We decided to close out our Saturday by stopping by Chris’ Jazz Café; neither one of us had been there before.
We walked in and were seated almost immediately. About 15 minutes later our waiter acknowledged us. I tried to order a beer off their menu but it took 5 tries to find one that they actually had in stock. My wife had a glass of wine.
The only food we ate while here was a dessert. It arrived not how it was described, but was still good.
However, what helped CJC earn this 2-​star review was the mysterious $ 20 entertainment fee that appeared on our bill. This was especially a surprise to us since not only were we not told about it ahead of time, but we arrived during the bands last song. The entertainment we had was watching them pack up their stuff.
As far as aesthetics, this place looks like it could be someones basement and not the high-​end place they would prefer you to think it is.

Last night was my second time visiting this place and i absolutely enjoyed it.
We came for some cocktails and some jazz. The band playing was very very good!
Our server was very friendly and attentive. Didn’t get any food just drinks, but I was impressed by everything else that i will definitely come back for that.

I find it difficult writing a review for Chris’ Jazz Café. There are a number of things to consider.
MUSIC: There aren’t many places that I know of in Philadelphia to hear this quality music (If you know of a good one, let me know). Jazz clubs are few and far between, and some don’t last long. The music was excellent, there is no other word for it. Absolutely, the music earns 5 stars.
HOUSE SETUP: My first problem with Chris’ is that the setup is not ideal. This place seems to identify itself as a restaurant first, a bar second, and a jazz club third. I dislike that you are watching performers on a closed circuit TV while sitting at the bar, because there is no good view of the stage. I dislike that the dining room is in a «L» shape, with one half of the dining room to the side of the stage, making it difficult to watch the performers. Ideally, come with one other person, and make sure that you get a table by the stage.
FOOD: The shrimp and grits appetizer is absolutely terrific, and the best thing that I tasted that evening. The shrimp was smokey and well seasoned, the grits were cheesy. This is something to go back for again and again. However, it should be an entrée. It is very small, and if they made this available in a larger size as a meal I would come even when there wasn’t any music playing.
Amuse-​bouche was served with our tasting menu. It was chicken salad of some sort. I thought this was a waste, tasted like what I had in my middle school lunch. (to be fair, this was not one of the courses on the menu and provided «compliments of the chef»)
Caprese salad was the appetizer. Very good. I am not entirely sure how the tomato was prepared, but it reminded me of the texture of salmon. It paired well with the capers and mozzarella.
Gnocchi with mushrooms and cream sauce. I did not like this at all, the texture of the gnocchi was all wrong, they almost tasted soggy. With the cream and mushrooms it seemed like a bowl full of mush.
The duck was cooked well, not the best I’ve had but good. I would have liked a little bit more of a crisp of skin, but even having duck on the menu is going to at least please me a little.
Strawberry cobbler was the final course, this took a while to come out. Out server reported that this was because they made it from scratch. I don’t understand why strawberry cobbler would take that long. It tasted fine. Not something that I would order if it were on the menu.
ATMOSPHERE/​SERVICE: This place has decidedly labeled itself as a classy place, multiple servers bring all plates to the table at once, with planned, simultaneous placement of all plates at once. Silverware is switched in between each course. However, tables are jammed in practically on top of one another, and all of those servers get a bit close for comfort trying to cram into a small space to set the plates.
I think the service is a bit stuffy, and it doesn’t belong in this setting. I prefer my jazz to have a little bit of grit to it. I would like it if they lost a bit of the «white glove» airs. It is understandable that the tables are packed in (and they should be, get as many people in to listen to this music as you can), but they need to tone down the high brow a bit.
I overheard a few of the people working grumbling about some of their service staff being in training. Some mistakes in the evening were blamed on this.
MANAGEMENT: Know that they will not answer any of your questions about the tasting menu. This isn’t a problem for me, but they seem to like keeping the tasting menu as an «adventure.»
I wasn’t pleased with the management’s handling of a couple of situations. Know that the tasting menu may (I still haven’t gotten a straight answer about this) include the $ 20 cover to get in on weekdays, but does not include the cover on weekends.

This place was great! My husband and I were visiting Philadelphia for a quick getaway weekend and this happened to be the second place we went to. We walked here after going to Nodding Head (meh), because we were in search of something else. When we saw Jazz on the outside we peeked in to see what it was about. It was just what we were looking for! Very laid back, the doorman was great, although I do not remember his name… I think it started with an R.
There was a cover for the band, but it was very reasonable. It was $ 10 to sit closer to the band, or $ 5 to sit at/​near the bar area. We chose to sit at the bar, because although we really enjoyed the music/​band we also wanted to talk… it was our anniversary weekend after all.
The band was spectacular, but due to all of our travels we were tired and only stayed for one set.
We sat at the table right in front of the window, which was perfect. It was one lonely high top table with a lit candle and a view of the outside. Super nice. I ordered a moscow mule, that the hubby and I shared (he had just done a beer flight), and that was pretty tasty. Weak, but tasty. They do take your I.D. when you order this, apparently due to the copper mug being expensive?
If we lived in the area, we would most definitely go to Chris’ Jazz Café often.
Good stuff.