My husband and I have visited Jazz Alley a number of times. We generally enjoy the performances and find that the club has a nice atmosphere. However, this last time when I called for reservations,... More

My husband and I have visited Jazz Alley a number of times. We generally enjoy the performances and find that the club has a nice atmosphere. However, this last time when I called for reservations, the hostess asked if I wanted to have dinner also. I told her I was hesitant to do so because of our unsatisfactory dinner experience previously. She suggested that we give them another chance. We did and I was sorry for it. The show was scheduled to start at 7:30 PM and we arrived at about 6:10PM. Our waiter took our drink orders and it seemed to take a little while for him to return. We then ordered our meals and appetizers, calamari and a salad. My husband enjoyed his salad, but the calamari, which was lightly fried and quite tender, was spoiled by the strange tasting pepper dipping sauce. It left a bad aftertaste. The food selection is quite sparse and unsurprising, so I opted for something safe, the salmon. My husband had the seafood stew. The stew was spicy and he enjoyed it, but it took over an hour for the food to arrive. It showed up at our table about the same time the show started. My salmon was underdone (and overpriced) and the green beans were salty. I sent it backed. The waiter offered to have it reheated, but since the outside appeared to be cooked and the inside was underdone I said no. He offered a free round of drinks or free dessert. Not quite compensation for a nearly uneaten meal, but I didn't feel like arguing and opted for another round. If you decide to see a show at Jazz Alley go for the 9:00PM show with drinks, you'll have a much more pleasant experience. Too bad, with all the great food in Seattle, that you can't get it at the same place you enjoy great music.
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Alex and I ventured over to Jazz Alley for his birthday dinner earlier this month. Following website recommendations that you can get better seating if you eat there as well, we made reservations... More

Alex and I ventured over to Jazz Alley for his birthday dinner earlier this month. Following website recommendations that you can get better seating if you eat there as well, we made reservations for both dinner and the show. The show portion of the night was fantastic. We saw John Pizzarelli and his band, and I can't stop raving about the show. For around $25 a person, it was a superb deal. The dinner, however, was not as good. The prices were steep, and the food was just okay. I would suggest eating somewhere else, and then having dessert at the site.
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This is the place to listen to Jazz, but bring your money. They provide class acts in a great surrounding. Check their web site for who is playing and pricing, but you can always expect a quality... More

This is the place to listen to Jazz, but bring your money. They provide class acts in a great surrounding. Check their web site for who is playing and pricing, but you can always expect a quality showing. Its not really a place to frequesnt all the time - unless your wallet is bottomless, but once a year for locals and a must do for tourists. Order your favorite drink and sinkinto your seat.
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I recently had the pleasure to visit Jazz Alley to hear Stanly Jordan play a solo set. Jazz Alley is probably one of the best all jazz venues I have ever set foot into. The entry fee is very... More

I recently had the pleasure to visit Jazz Alley to hear Stanly Jordan play a solo set. Jazz Alley is probably one of the best all jazz venues I have ever set foot into. The entry fee is very affordable (most shows range $20-$30). I have seen the same artists play at Blues Alley in Washington DC for 3 times the price. Reservations are recommended in advance although walk ins are welcome due to availability. Reservations can be made by phone, on line, or tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster (although not recommended due to outrageous ticketmaster fees). The sound in this place is fantastic and there seems to be not a bad seat in the house. The food is ok and overpriced but to be expected for this type of venue. The drinks are reasonably priced and a limited scotch list is available. If you are a looking for a place to see a great jazz show, Jazz Alley truly is the premier venue for jazz in the Pacific Northwest. See you all at the Ahmad Jamal show.
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