Charlie O’s Bar & Grill

Great music and friendly service. A much better experience than I thought I was going to get after readings some of te reviews. The food is okay, but there is NO cover for the music so of course it will be more than you might expect to pay. If you like jazz, you have to check it out

SUPPORT JAZZ.
So that places like this don’t close down :(
Loved the vibe, intimacy, and music at this place! Had many a friend perform here over the years. Sigh…

I love jazz and everytime I came to this bar, they had a great jazz line up. I am so sad it closed

On August 31, 2011… Charlie O’s closed its doors and dimmed its lights for good. I didn’t think I would be so devastated by a small jazz venue but it really made me sad.
It made me think I should have gone more just to say I was there. I still have my Charlie O’s coaster which I will treasure for as long as it survives in my office.
I have sweet memories of singing with Jack Sheldon… of singing/​clapping/​shouting with Justo Almario… just chilling listening to Plas Johnson… of fighting back tears when moved by a John Heard solo (on his bass)…of holding my wife’s hand while listening to a ballad. This was my ‘joint’!
All these things are now just nostalgia and sweet memories. Oh how I wish they would come back… bigger and better… but alas, no plans to reopen from what I hear.
Thank you Jo-​Ann and Charlie for bring such great music to the SF Valley! For keeping it Straight Ahead! And for allowing us to be a part of jazz history… Charlie O’s will be sorely and mournfully missed. Dig?

So, yes it’s true that Charlie O’s has closed.
I worked here, and I didn’t work here long but this place became a haven for me very quickly. I consider Charlie O’s to be family, and it was an honor and a privilege to work here. Amazing music, great vibe, and wonderful people I won’t forget anytime soon.
Thanks for everything Charlie O’s, you will be missed!

Whenever I get the craving for that big band, jazzy, bluesy, feeling that reminds me of those mornings in my grandmother’s kitchen in Huntington Park listening to 530AM, I scoot myself into those brown pleather chairs at Charlie O’s to soak in the memories.
I was getting that feeling again so I clicked into Charlie O’s calendar and found that tonight is the night that offers one last chance to savor those memories with the musicians of a bygone time. Charlie O is closing his doors for good and I’m heartbroken. This was a place that every person who has true love for this City should experience, and I’m sad to see that it will now become that sentimental story that we share reminiscing on the good times we had.

This review is for 04/​08/​2011. I have been in the San Fernando Valley for most of my life and my friend who has been in the Valley for less than a year recommends me a place that is so close to my home. How can I miss this place in my own city?! Thanks to my friend, I found a great jazz place called, Charlie O’s.
My friend and I arrived to Charlie O’s around 8pm. There is a valet service, but not for Charlie O’s. You can park on the lot or have valet Service for $ 3.50. So, we decided to park on the street instead and save the change for the drinks and food.
We walked in through the back entrance and it became a total new world. I have never been to a jazz-​type bar. It was like I went through some sort of portal. I left Van Nuys and all of a sudden I entered jazz country in less than a second. I swear this was Star Trek when you go through the Holodeck.
We sat at the counter and were greeted by our bartender, Matt. Matt is something else. I never knew guys like him were in the area. I really got to visit the South and see what I have been missing most of my life. You got an authentic jazz band and you got a bartender that seems to be from one of the bottles or from a movie.
We ordered Fried Zucchini which came with ranch. It was pretty hot and delicious. I don’t have prices since we were celebrating. We had a bunch of drink from Cranberry Vodka to a Sidecar. Everything else in the world didn’t matter any more. I just had fun watching and listening to the band perform. It was awesome to talk to other patrons and listen to their stories too. For my friend, it felt like home.
Place is amazing and I will be back here. I might have to take up jazz again like I did when I was little. Now, that I am an adult, its time to appreciate jazz and places like this a little more. This review is dedicated to my friend and to the great future in store.
The Unilocal Universe. Where are you traveling today?

Sketchy on the outside *and* inside is right; but don’t let it scare you away, it’s a great venue to see some live jazz.
We were here on a Saturday night and we saw the John Heard Trio; They were good, they played great together w/​good improvisation, but I’d like to come back on a different night and check out different bands.
It was a little packed, but also fed that jazz atmosphere of cozy seating and the opportunity to meet complete strangers. If you want to sit up front of the band, you have to order food, otherwise, if you’re only here for cocktails you gotta sit at the bar or find seating at the tables along the wall.
So 70s and so delicious for the eyes and ears.

It’s hard to find good jazz in the valley, but Charlie O’s is the exception. This place has live music 6 nights a week. As other reviewers mentioned, the drinks are pricey, but to be expected since they don’t charge a cover.
The biggest draw back, is that the stage is pretty small, and you unless you are eating dinner, you can’t sit in front of the stage, but off to the side.

Charlie O’s is a diamond in the rough — physically, being a comfy lounge in the middle of run-​down Van Nuys, and figuratively, housing awesome live jazz music in the midst of the insult-​to-​music played on pop radio.
I took my fun jazz-​loving parents and BF here midweek — this was the perfect thing to enjoy with them! We had such a great time listening to The David Eastlee Quartet… He played the guitar, Andy Langham tickled the ivories (and rocked them too!), John Belzaguy was on bass, and Ramon Bonda was on drums. They all were great, but Andy Langham really impressed me, and John Belzaguy rocked a bunch of solos on a bass! After the first set Eastlee came out to thank us for coming out — what a class act! He gave us FOUR free CDs of his music (but my dad tipped him at least)!
The experience and music was by far five stars… Let’s talk about the logistics of the place now. The waitress (on a Wednesday) was a mean ol’ coot who hounded everyone to buy more than they’d like. I was expecting to spend on drinks, of course, because there is no cover at Charlie O’s. This lady though — she has got the death stare down pat! She really good at making you feel terrible too. (Her poor husband!) I understand customers need to buy drinks, but you can be nice about it! What a concept! Maybe they should implement a two drink minimum like some other clubs, so she doesn’t have to be so mean. I went back on a Monday, however, and there was a younger waitress, who was nice, polite, and not pushy! Wonderful! Hopefully when you go, you get the nice lady… Otherwise just be strong and don’t let that lady crack you! Stick to the beverage consumption you planned on when you walked in, or you’ll be like me and not feel so great the next day because some old lady made you do it!
Parking is pretty easy. They have valet, but it’s not necessary when there is tons of street parking on the street in front and down the side.

Thanks to a fellow Unilocaler, I was FINALLY able to check this place out last night after passing by it on several occasions and thinking its too sketchy. As we walked in, everything completely changed. Such a cozy little spot… almost made me want to ask for a hot cup of cocoa, but of course, I opted for a beer instead.
What a great place to come get your jazz fix!
i can’t speak for the food though, so all these other Unilocalers could be right about it being over priced.
Parkings is quite convenient and crowd is very mellow… no hollywood wannabes here.

STRAIGHT AHEAD!
Jazz that is. This Club is the Real Thing. SERIOUS JAZZ. No sappy Kenny G/​John Tesh swill — this is Straight-​Ahead JAY AYY DOUBLE ZEE
So cool that Chuck Niles used to hang there. Food is secondary to the music but fine. Good steaks, chicken, ribs, burgers. Drinks are generous but since they don’t charge a cover are a little pricey.
But WAY worth it to see so many living legends. All the «A» list session players and A– list headliners in L.A. and beyond. Don’t miss.
* Pros: The JAZZ, The FOOD, The DRINKS
* Cons: Small Stage, Chef-​Mate Chili

I do love this place. It can be a bit pricey but if you like that old school feel of Jazz in a bar this is a place to go. I also love that I can bring my daughters and let them experience Jazz first hand. It is a small space and the people there are all very friendly.
The only real problem I have is that they are a bit over priced. Not that I wouldn’t pay to go repeatedly I just wish the cost wasn’t so high so I could go back more often.

One of the best kept secrets in the valley!
This is the place to go if you like real jazz music. No cover charge. They host live performances 6 nights a week starting at 8pm. I’ve been coming here for years and it never gets old for cool cats like myself.
The crowd is old, young, and everyone in between. Be forewarned… this isn’t a spot to come mobbing in with a bunch of heads to drink and get rowdy. This is for jazz enthusiasts who are there to listen to the musicians… and the staff will quickly check you if you start getting too loud.
The drinks are pretty expensive as is the food, but jazz in the valley of this caliber is worth every penny. Keep on swingin’!
RIP Charlie

If you want to hang out with the hipsters of yore (old people from the late 50s and 60s era) then this is the place to be.
I came here for a friends birthday. its small and kinda amazing. Jazz is one of those arts that is about to go the way of the dinosaurs and to see these old dudes put the cab calloway in the valley is a real treat.
I did not eat here but if they served steak i think i might fall in love. anyways… i did drink, slow gin fizz, now thats an old lady drink thats hard to find these days but they had it.
i took one star off because i ended up paying about 70 $ in fizzs. but whatever. it was fun and nice.

I love this place, it has great food and strong drinks. I use to work down the street from here and use to come here at least once a week. Bartenders are very friendly and cool here. They have amazing live Jazz bands here all the time. My professor at CSUN actually mentioned Charlie O’s during class. Only thing is this place is pretty pricey, but the food is really good.

I came here to do a jazz report the other day and this spot is perfect if you want to listen to some jazz… but thats about all its good for.
DO NOT BUY FOOD HERE… even their salads costs anywhere from 12 to 24 bucks, its insane… on the appetizer menu there are only 2 items under $ 10, a baked potato ($ 6) and garlic bread ($ 5)…on top of that they charge you a $ 5 split fee for shared meals.
This place is in Van Nuys but they charge you like your in Beverly Hills.
In sum, I would only go here to listen to a jazz band, and mabey drink some water… if it doesn’t cost too much.

WOW!!! I have spent the last few hours trying to decide which one was worse:
$ 9.00 for a glass of Stella
OR
$ 5.00 for a glass of Sprite
For those prices I want to see some strippers. Lots and lots of strippers.

For an up close and personal jazz listening experience, not many bars can compete with Charlie O’s. The quintet this night was almost bumping up against the bar in this cozy place. And none of that Kenny G faux-​jazz here. These old timers were putting it down and riffing with the best of them. My date and I eventually moved to the other end of the bar for conversation’s sake, but the jazz groove was an excellent soundtrack to a lovely night.
Now as mentioned, there is no cover, so it’s made up on pricey food and drinks. We only had fries to munch on ($ 6) while we sipped our drinks. Maker’s & h2o ($ 9), Jack & diet coke for her ($ 9) and Patron shots ($ 13). The drinks were strong and the bartender was attentive and always made sure our glasses didn’t get empty.
Live music every night, a vintage well worn bar and a nice staff, I look forward to checking out Charlie’s again.

How to review? How to review… hmmm???
Well, the music was fantastic! Absolutely inspiring and wonderful and just pure Jazz. I enjoyed it sooo much that I would consider coming again. BUT, the service and the prices were crazy!!!
Half a rack of ribs and a beer for 31 plus dollars. They add gratuity to parties of 3 or more! Wow!!! My friend and I shared a full rack of ribs and they charge a 5 dollar plate sharing fee. They should have just told us and we would have ordered our own half racks for the same price. Completely disappointing. The service wasn’t great either. We felt unwelcomed because we arrived 30 minutes before they closed. Wow. They told us to come back again at 8 pm next time.
Will there be a next time, maybe for an 8 dollar beer and that’s it to listen to Jazz. An 8 buck fee for good music and a bevie is worth it. :)