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Jazz - A Louisiana Kitchen
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
1823 W 39th StKansas City, MO 64111
Neighborhood: Volker
(816) 531-5556
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 1:30 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
63 reviews for Jazz - A Louisiana Kitchen
Review Highlights
"...the perfect neighborhood spot for good eats and live music."
(in 12 reviews)
"My crawfish etoufee was loaded with mudbugs and SPICY."
(in 13 reviews)
"Awesome, great dirty rice."
(in 4 reviews)
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Robin C.
11/13/2011 6 photos
Feels like New Orleans...even down to the bras hanging above the downstairs bar. This location is definitely my favorite, but if you're looking for clean and spacious, head to their Village West kitchen (although when the bands play there, it's impossible to have a conversation).
I don't know what they put in their butter - maybe just garlic - but it's similar to crack. Normally, white boring bread would not tempt me, but I usually end up cleaning out all 3 little butter dishes with my bread..never even using a knife.
This place has pretty decent food, although most sauces are very creamy and heavy. Last night I subbed cheesy grits for the rice and found myself eating a Shrimp & Scallops Pontchartrain soup. Stick with the rice it comes with! Saturday nights can be very crowded, but the downstairs bar is first come/first serve. Overall great value: for $60 we got 2 entrees, 2 pounds of crawfish, and a bottle of "Jazz" Merlot. Service is friendly and attentive even when the place is packed. The crawfish came out without hand wipes and when I asked our server if she had any with her, she said no. No big deal. Two minutes later she comes back with a glass of lemons, small glass of water, a mound of napkins and quick explanation on how to make your own wet wipes. I'm not sure how this was more efficient than finding the stack of hand wipes, but it was very thoughtful.
Bonus: they have a big gluten free menu! -
Review from Amy E.
8/14/2011
Wow. This ranks as my worst restaurant experience of all times. No exaggeration. Every facet of the experience was horrible. I used to love this place. Back in the mid-2000's, for a period of about three years, I ate lunch here at least once a month, and often more. Tasty food, good atmosphere, etc. So when sweetie and I found ourselves on 39th Street, I decided to take him to Jazz since he never had been. I actually quite anticipated sharing the restaurant with him. I now wish that we had run the other way. This place is the epitome of a dying restaurant taking its last breaths.
This review is going to be lengthy, but I want to describe exactly why the place is getting one star. (I would give it zero stars, if that were possible.) After being seated, we waited for the server. The place was half-empty, there were plenty of servers, but the woman who turned out to be assigned to our table must have passed us at least eight to ten times without stopping. Ten minutes went by before she approached us. In that time, we were noticing that the place had a very depressed vibe to it, an utter lack of energy that seemed to be reflected in all of the servers' attitudes. They all seemed listless, unengaged, not so much bored as not even present. As if the life had been sucked out of them. Finally the server approached, with that same attitude, and took our orders for beer.
Fifteen minutes later we still hadn't gotten our beer. From across the restaurant we could see our glasses sitting on the counter of the bar. Slowly coming to room temperature. Yay. Finally, an older man who had been busing tables took it upon himself to bring us the drinks (without our asking). Good man! In those fifteen minutes, three separate groups of people came in the front door. (The main entrance and hostess are in the back.) It was clear that they weren't sure if they should sit, or wait, and yet server after server passed these people who clearly wanted tables, and not one single server looked at them, or said anything, or went to get the hostess. All three groups of people eventually turned away and left.
Fast forward a bit. The server finally had taken our orders and we saw our food approaching from the direction of the kitchen. Excellent. The atmosphere might have been terrible, but I knew the food would be good. I had ordered my favorite, the coonass chicken (dislike the name, but oh well). In the past this dish was always delicious, a chicken breast smothered in a rich brown sauce loaded with seafood, with good spicy rice and steamed veggies to the side. The guy put my plate before me, and I knew right away that something was very wrong. There was no brown sauce with seafood. None. What the cook had done, he had taken some of the rice from the side and put it on top of the chicken, along with a few shreds of imitation crab and one, yes one, tiny crawfish tail. That was it. And the whole plate was swimming in liquid released from the soggy veggies. It was terrible.
And sweetie, his meal was even worse. He had ordered what was supposed to be a hot sandwich with ham and turkey, smothered in Mornay sauce. What he got was a disaster. The bread was burned black, and I mean black/charred/like-a-cinder on one side, and white on the other. The sandwich, which was ice cold throughout, was layered with the cheapest possible deli-type cold cuts, the Mornay sauce was lukewarm, and on top were crumbled bits of sausage that were so burned and dried out and old that they were... well, I don't even know how to describe them. For the first time in all the years I have known sweetie, he called the server over and sent the meal back, ordering something else off the menu. The server took the plate over to the bartender, who must also have been the manager, said something to her while showing her the food. And the manager/bartender looked across the room at sweetie with the nastiest glare. Un-freakin-believable.
Fifteen minutes passed before sweetie received his new meal, a blackened chicken breast that was supposed to be topped with sauteed mushrooms. The meal, again, was terrible. The chicken was overcooked and flavorless, the mushrooms not sauteed at all, and the plate was swimming in liquid released from the soggy vegetables, as had happened with mine. He barely ate a few bites, before pushing it away.
At that point, we asked for the check. We just wanted to pay and leave. They hadn't comp'd us for sweetie's replacement meal, no surprise there. We didn't bother to ask. We paid our check in full and fled.
I am truly horrified, even now, days later, that any restaurant kitchen, anywhere, would send out the food that was served to us that day. I am embarrassed for the place. And I'm wondering if maybe the servers' attitudes could be explained by the fact that they all know the place is drawing its last gasps of air. -
Review from Jessica L.
Columbus, OH
1/18/2012
I was in town for a convention and found this restaurant in a book in our hotel room. We took a leap of faith in hope of experiencing the local jazz scene. I was really impressed. It was by far the best food I had in KC and have had anywhere in a long time. I was with four others, and we all sampled each others dishes. From the lemon pepper chicken to the jambalaya to the blackened chicken fettucine and dessert, our tastebuds were jumping for joy.
We went on a Saturday night and the place was hopping. We had to wait about an hour and a half for a table (keep in mind a party was in the entire lower level) but the jazz group that was there just added to the atmosphere. I would love to have another meal from Jazz and highly recommend it to anyone debating on going. You won't be disappointed! -
Review from travis c.
Overland Park, KS
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food is decent for the sea food, but its not all that great of a place. decent drinks, but on some it seems like they just used a koolaid mix with rum... not exactly anything you could do in 5 min at home. and with its location, not really worth the trouble of going.
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Review from Hannah L.
Kansas City, MO
7/31/2011
We love Jazz! I always try a new dish and each one always brings me back to the heat and spice of New Orleans.
My favorites include crawfish etoufee, blackened catfish po'boy, creole coleslaw, hushpuppies, dirty rice, fried pickles and so much more. They have some unique specials like Voodoo balls (stuffed hushpuppies with sausage & rice) and A La Mer sauce (creamy, crab and seafood sauce) that they serve alongside the Voodoo balls and on chicken. If you don't like heat, be sure to tell your server. Everything is made to order, but my food is usually quite spicy (I love a kick!). My only complaint is they don't put cajun beans in the bloody marys, but their wide beer selection kinda makes up for it.
The atmosphere is laid-back, casual, funky with pure Southern flair. Servers have always taken good care of us and they have live music most nights. A great place to meet up with friends, have a few cold ones, enjoy some great food and a walk down 39th Street afterwards. -
Review from Joe L.
Kansas City, MO
1/14/2012
I was skeptical when someone told me there was a restaurant in Kansas City with good creole food. Jazz does a pretty good job cooking up seafood dishes in a place that couldn't be farther from a body of water. Pretty good overall, but one negative point. My wife ordered a Rum Runner and I have to say, hands down, it was THE WORST DRINK I have ever had. Seriously, it was disgusting.
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Review from Megan H.
6/20/2011
Took the hubby here for Fathers Day....
I am very picky when it comes to Cajun/Creole cuisine. My dads side of the family is from NO and I have been spoiled having had some of the best Cajun food served to me growing up from family members and visiting NO.
One of my favorite dishes is Crawfish Etouffee. This is what I ordered at Jazz. I think the chef must be a fan of salt! I could hardly stomach eating it because it was so salty.
On the other hand my husband ordered some Oysters and was happy.My 3 year old had some popcorn shrimp, ate all of it! and the service was good. I think I may just be more particular because I know what to expect with authentic cajun/creole food. -
Review from Sarah U.
Kansas City, MO
5/19/2011
So, Jazz is not the place maybe to bring a first date, but for some fine fried creole goodness Jazz Restaurant on 39th Street is the place to be.
Jazz's menu offers a wide variety of appetizers and entrees. My personal favorite is to start with a dozen oysters on the half shell followed by the beer battered shrimp, hush puppies and a side of fried okra, all washed down with one of their many delicious beers on tap or from a bottle. My husband is a fan of the fried alligator and jambalaya.
I've never had a bad dish, or, more importantly perhaps, a bad oyster at Jazz.
The reason I rated Jazz with four stars instead of five is the service. While the wait staff is mostly courteous, they're not often very attentive, and I've actually had quite bad service there a few times. But the food, and the great music on the jukebox, make up for it in my opinion, and I keep coming back.
Jazz's walls are covered with graffiti, the "Mike was here" kind, all over the many t-shirts, paintings, and mardi gras masks that serve as decoration. The interior is wood paneled and dark, but this gives the restaurant a certain ambiance, I think. There is also a patio for those who love sun, and / or love to smoke, so if you don't enjoy a side of second hand smoke with your meal, the patio may not be for you.
Don't get me wrong: I LOVE Jazz, and going there is definitely a treat for me. Just be prepared for what type of experience you're going to have before you go, and loosen your belt for all the fried, Cajun goodness coming your way! -
Review from Joi B.
Updated - 5/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Still dig it for the ambiance...and the cornmeal dipped fried pickles. The cheesy grits are the eff bomb. Although at first I wasn't sure about the Cajun Mary, three sips in and I was loving it, possibly thanks to the herbed salt they put around the rim. And yes, I ordered another.
But... I don't know what was up with the service the other night. I can forgive her because she was nice, but it took forever for her to take our order and she was pretty absent overall. Again, I can forgive because at least she was nice.
One other thing: it doesn't mention the hush puppies are not vegetarian and I guess when I was there last time for my friend's bridal shower, they made us a special order of hush puppies sans bacon. I've had hush puppies in other restaurants and I've never known them to be made with bacon grease and bits in them. I'm sure this will make many people a fan, but a little warning on the menu would be nice. Hell, some vegetarian options aside from cheesy grits, fried pickles and a side of vegetables would be nice, too. We do exist in this city, Jazz. Some of us even want to eat in your restaurant. Hell, when I go to New Orleans, I usually don't have a problem ordering something off the menu in many places.
I'll go back for the Cajun Marys and cheesy grits. In other words, on hangover Sundays.Listed in: Volker, Best Bloodies in Kansas City!, Fried Pickles in Kansas City
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/26/2011
Let the good times roll, as the saying goes, and *all that Jazz!* (Excuse me as I lapse into… Read more »
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Review from Jeff H.
Kansas City, MO
6/26/2011
This fabulous food deserves **so much more** than the location in which it is offered. The building itself (which doubles as a bar called "Jimmie's Jigger" ) is as dark and grungy as New Orleans and needs an industrial-strength sandblasting and power washing, or preferably half a dozen sticks of dynamite. Hence, the deduction of stars from what is probably a five-star meal.
I love the Chicken a la Mer, a house specialty, wonderfully rich and flavorful. The Gumbo is terrific. Everything down to the bread and butter on your table tastes great.
I see where Jazz has opened a location behind Community America Ballpark at the Kansas Speedway. I'll be taking my Chicken a la Mer cravings west. -
Review from beatriz m.
San Francisco, CA
7/28/2011
This place is ok. Food was fine until i found a hair in it. I know it happens, and I would be fine if the attitude was better. Instead the waitress said "ok" and walk off!!! I went discreetly to tell her, because i didnt want make a big deal with my friends, but the attitude she had I found extremely disrespetful.
I will never spend a dime in this place again. -
Review from Kayt B.
Phoenix, AZ
11/4/2011
Good food, good local brew on tap. Underwheming in he live entertainment category. I travel a bit, not always on the weekends either. It seems incredibly difficult to find good live music on the off nights, even in the big citys.
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Review from Charlene R.
Kansas City, MO
11/6/2011
Everytime I leave the airport in KS I have to stop to get some crawfish and a few Irish Car Bomb. If you like crawfish check it out along with the stuff mushroom/crb cakes. Mmmm. I al most forgot about the live Jazz it was off the chain. Different group every week.
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Review from Layne E.
Springfield, MO
7/19/2011
I like to sit on the patio and people-watch. Yup, that's creepy, but I don't care. 39th Street is a fun neighborhood.
I like their gumbo, as well as the Chicken a la Mer. We had a really great waitress who took care of the 5 of us with no problem at all. -
Review from Jill H.
Kansas City, MO
3/25/2011
i LOVE Jazz! The food is delicious! William, our server last night, was fantastic and hilarious! The music last night was fantastic and my leftovers today were just as good as it was last night! I always love the service....the servers are all friendly and know the menu so well!!
Go there...you won't be disappointed. I never am. -
Review from Tom O.
3/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
"Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!"
And roll, they do. Jazz is without a doubt THE place to get your fix of Cajun/Creole food in Kansas City. There are other places that make an attempt, but Jazz rules. Now, remember... This is Kansas City, not New Orleans, so if you are one of those people who feels the need to compare apples to oranges, then you will probably be saying to yourself, "Well, I had better in New Orleans." I'll bet in New Orleans they Yelp about BBQ and say, "Well, I had better in Kansas City." Right? So give them the props for being the best at what they do here. OK?
Now, the ambiance is kind of like TGI Fridays collided with a shack in the bayou. Nothing glamorous, but kind of interesting in a train wreck kind of way. Lots of stuff on the walls to peruse. I have never had an issue with the service. It isn't Five Star Fine Dining, so it's fine for what it is. I have always had whatever I have desired soon after requesting, or before.
The food is good. Period. It may or may not be the most "Down Home" authentic New Orleans grub, but it's good. Some of it is REALLY good. I have eaten here several times, and ordered food to go, and have always been pleased. If you are vegan or non-swimming vegetarian, the pickins' are slim. If you will eat anything, then the menu is pretty extensive. There are a lot of different preparations of several basic proteins, and I respect them for calling Krab what it is, instead of calling it crab. (One is Pollock that has been magically transformed into something else, and the other is a crustacean.)
Some of the standouts that I have enjoyed are the Stuffed Zucchini appetizer, the Gumbo, the Seafood St. Charles, the Crawfish Etouffee, and the Jambalaya. My favorite thing is the Seafood St. Charles. I was intrigued by the description of "Coconut creole containing shrimp, scallops, crawfish, oysters and krab." What it is, is a spicy tomato/roux/trinity kind of stew, with a subtle sweetness in the spice. I get it with Jambalaya instead of Dirty Rice and it's really filling and freaking delicious! It has a spiciness that grabs your attention, but doesn't numb your taste buds. This is a dish that requires a lot of the bread to sop up all the sauce. The bread... It is soft white French style bread, and it's really good, especially with the Cajun Spiced Butter.
The live music is a nice addition to the atmosphere as well. It is not too loud or overbearing, but provides that "special" touch. All in all, I will continue to frequent Jazz, and I would recommend it to everyone who will give it a reasonable chance. Enjoy yourself, relax, and "Let The Good Times Roll!" -
Review from J-Man I.
Kansas City, MO
2/17/2011
Somewhere between 3-4 stars for me. The food is probably 3 stars ... but the atmosphere and live music are a big plus, so I'll make it a 4.
They usually have some sort of decent beer special. I think the first time I went it was $3 24oz cans of PBR ... and last time they had $2 draws of Boulevard, which is a pretty solid deal anymore.
UPDATE: Ive been here several more times I went I have enjoyed more every time. I highly recommend. I like taking friends from out of town here, its a good chance of place spot. -
Review from ChiKurt S.
Tacoma, WA
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome, great dirty rice. Had chicken a la mer not too heavy. Good spice level.
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Review from Sarah M.
Kansas City, MO
3/26/2011
I love this place and have been going here since middle school. Their pasta dishes are sooooo good, and even good warmed up the next day.
The last time I went I did turn into a crazy person, I devoured the crawfish, they were so amazing. My boyfriend stared at me in horror as I attacked every last piece of edible food on the plate with my bare hands, including the potato at the end.... so just make sure you have a wet wipe handy!!
I would recommend Jazz to anyone! Their food is amazing and not super pricey, and the atmosphere is good, especially when the band is playing! -
Review from Beau S.
Kansas City, MO
4/29/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I'm very bias because I love Louisiana creole/cajun food, but I love this place! First time, I sat on the patio for lunch and got a cajun bloody mary (pretty good), half dozen oysters (very fresh), fried okra (fried perfectly - nice and crunchy), a fried catfish po-boy (awesome) and cajun cole slaw (I'm done with regular slaw as of now). Since I've tried the blackened catfish and shrimp which was great, very flavorful. I now want to live there and try everything!! I'm definitely hittin up their .75 oyster Thursdays and I gotta go when they have music too. I will now be regular!!
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Review from Holly M.
Kansas City, MO
5/19/2010
I love Jazz ! I'm an even bigger fan of the Chicken Ala Mer at Jazz ! I don't think I've ever had a bad meal here.
I prefer to sit outside when scarfing down vittles here, though....I don't care for the crowded seating and loud music inside. Sadly I can only visit in the warmer months.
Not all that keen on the service. Seems like everytime I go, the waitresses forget something....silverware (actually not a big deal, I'm not too proud to stick my face in my plate and eat without utensils when dining on the Ala Mer)....sides.....drinks.....I feel like I'm forever begging for things.
That being said...it still gets 4 stars....the food & the Bermuda Triangles trump the poopy service.Listed in: Yummers
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Review from Justin F.
Blue Springs, MO
4/11/2010
I've given Jazz chance after chance to impress me and it just isn't going to happen.
Food=Meh
Service= Meh
All my friends rave about it and I'm just not understanding why. I've probably been back 4 or 5 times trying something different every time and still have not found anything that excited me. I'm not even judging it on "Authenticity". I've never had real New Orleans cuisine. I'm judging it on "Is it good food" and it's not.
Don't waste your time, money or precious taste buds here. Walk up the street to Blue Koi or D'Bronx or pretty much any of the other restaurants on 39th street and you'll have a much better experience. -
Review from Rachel H.
Martinez, CA
4/2/2010
We went here for lunch. The food was ok, the service was ok... everything was just ok. My friends raved about it so we decided to meet up, and I wasn't impressed, but I wasn't disappointed. Make sense?
I ordered some sort of grilled fish with rice and veggies. Everything tasted pretty good, but what doesnt when its doused in butter?
My friend has a severe dairy allergy and the restaurant was able to accommodate her, which was nice.
One other time my husband and I came here to see a band at night. We sat at a table for over an hour and nobody came to serve us. We got bored and left. It would have been a lot more fun with a beer in my hand. -
Review from Shea S.
6/15/2010
This is the perfect neighborhood spot for good eats and live music.
We hit up Jazz on a Friday night after work and were greeted by a lively Cajun band. The atmosphere was fantatstic.
My guy had the fried shrimp. I had a crawfish po' boy. Not the best po' boy of my life, but still tasty. We ate the bread and seasoned butter like it was the last meal we'd ever eat. It was the butter. We were addicted.
Next time, I'll try the etouffe or jambalaya. I hope that next time is in the very near future. -
Review from Chris D.
Olathe, KS
3/28/2009
Top reasons that I am embarrassed to love this place:
1. Its a chain restaurant. I hate supporting chains. I am Jack's compromised integrity.
2. The interior (and exterior for that matter) is grimy and does not appear to have had any significant cleansing since the Royals last had a winning season (any clue when that was?)
3. The best things on the menu consist of sub-par seafood (almost certain to have been previously frozen) covered in rich, fatty cream sauces.
But I just cant help it.
Top reasons that I am proud to love this place:
1. They have Turbo Dog on draft. This is delicious beverage put out by Abita. Amongst my favorites.
2. Live music. I've only been on Friday or Saturday nights, but they always have a decent three man band performing. Can be a bit loud, but makes for a great atmosphere.
3. Stuffed catfish. You just have to try it. If you are the least bit concerned about your health, you may want to eat raw veggies for breakfast and lunch in order to prepare for this dinner.
- Be warned, if you go for dinner on the weekend, expect a hour wait.
- Pro tip, http://Restaurant.com usually has Jazz GC's for sale, $10 for a $25 GC. You can purchase, print, and head to dinner. -
Review from Jamison U.
Kansas City, MO
4/1/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I think if your looking for cajun style food in Kansas City , look no further. If you think your going to get the food of New Orleans in KC, get back on the plane.
Jazz is certainly one of my regular haunts, the oysters are among the best the Midwest has to offer, the fried gator, catfish bites, all top notch. I am a fan of crawfish creole with jambalaya, but I have eaten a number of other dishes.
Service varies based on crowd, so be prepared for that (its always good in my experience, its just better some times).
The live music is never real loud, which helps them being not so great. often however charming and fun!
Overall this is a great stop for a taste of something different. -
Review from brandon J.
Kansas City, MO
11/9/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Food is not great it's meant to fill your stomach . Great crawfish special 2 beers and a pound of crawfish for 11 bucks good way to waste 2 hours with a friend
But do go great local people not corporate robots -
Review from Julie G.
Kansas City, MO
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, great music. Went on a week night, so it wasn't so busy, and the parking was easy. Great date place!
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Review from Heather K.
Kansas City, MO
4/10/2008
Well, I'll be damned. No one's hit this one up yet? Great location. Cute place. The food is really good, in that you're-gonna-have-a-heart-attack-on-the-way-home kinda way. My favorite was the stuffed zucchini. I love it when someone takes a delicious and healthy vegetable, stuffs it with crap, deep-fries it and tops it off with more crap. Beautiful. I had the chicken. It was fried and topped off with alot of crap. On rice. My friend had the chicken. It was also deep-fried and topped off with lots of crap. On rice. But his had more sauce, so it was a totally different dish. They say.
They have an extensive menu, mostly consisting of, that's right, deep-fried crap on rice. But it's delicious and evil. I will not eat here often, but I will love it when I do. -
Review from James C.
Kansas City, MO
3/14/2008
I went there last Friday for their "Happy Hour" which consists of 1/2 off appetizers. Pretty sweet, as they have good ones like fried pickles and catfish nuggets.
Even though it was busy, we were seated quickly and brought bread and butter. I actually liked the bread and butter here more than other places because they don't try to "fancy" it up which only ends in the bread getting all tough and chewy.
The food was plentiful, good-tasting and cheap. I am a fan of all three of those qualities. They have unique sides like cajun cole slaw and hushpuppies, so it doesn't just taste like you're kickin' it at Captain D's but with a mark-up and live music.
As for the cleanliness? Hey, it looked clean to me, and judging from all the business they were getting most of KC weren't going to complain, either.
So join the rest of us good, solid midwestern citizens, and get your grub on at Jazz! Word. -
Review from Bill B.
2/12/2009
This restaurant has live entertainment in its back dining room every night starting at 7 pm. The happy hour is 4 - 6 pm on M-W, with substantial discounts on the appetizers, including the oysters.
But they get their oysters only once a week: on Thursday. So don't expect to find any left on Wednesday. In fact the last of them are usually gone by the end of the weekend. The best days for oysters here are Thursdays and Fridays, with Thursdays being a fantastic deal.
Not only are the oysters at their freshest on Thursdays, but the price drops to even less than the happy hour price, and for all day, not just for happy hour. While listed as an appetizer on the menu, you can order enough for dinner (about 1 1/2 dozen will do it) at the bargain price on Thursday. If you are there on Thursday after 7 pm, you also can enjoy the live jazz. Can't beat that for a "deal."
New Orleans? Well, no, this is a Texas chain. But you won't find a deal like their Thursday deal in New Orleans (if you like oysters). -
Review from Kev L.
Kansas City, MO
10/3/2008
I am from Louisiana.
I absolutely love Cajun/Creole food. It is my blood.
I will defend it to the death.
That said, This place is disgusting, a disgrace and not recommended.
At all.
For many years, I have lived in Kansas City. One of the most depressing things here for a long time was the lack of a TRUE and AUTHENTIC Louisiana restaurant. And for many years, the only options here was Jazz.
Sure, La Croix Creole Bistro was available, and man, it was some darn good creole food, but unfortunately (rumor has it) the owner had to go to Iraq, and sure enough, Kansas City's one and only real Louisiana kitchen was out. (Boudreaux would later come to the rescue, please see my review there).
However, Jazz is a disgrace to any and all people associated with Louisiana. The food here is laughable, and pathetic. If any of you have read my reviews, I am very generous when listing my thoughts and even when I run into bad service, I tend to try to find a few positive items.
I have to say there is absolutely nothing good I can say about this place. Gumbo is the one single standard you judge ANY Cajun/creole restaurant. Jazz's interpretation of Gumbo is a gumbalaya (a cross of Jambalaya with Gumbo) And the flavor of the dish was not rustic, very flat and totally unexpected for the characteristics you would expect in a gumbalaya. As a gumbalaya this dish was marginal. As gumbo, it was insulting. Pepper is not the secret ingredient to gumbo. Roux is what makes or breaks Gumbo and whoever made the roux was a total rookie.
And let's get to the Boudin. (Pronounced "Boo Dan") Boudin if you have ever heard of it is a Cajun rice sausage. It has a very similar consistency to Haggis and has bold pork flavors. The Boudin here is awfully weak. And the fact it is served with red beans and rice makes sense. They need the red beans and rice to cover the weakness of their version of the sausage.
I have not had the Po-Boy here, but my brother has (He moved up after Katrina) He told me that it was more of a shrimp sandwich, and when he confronted the waiter in regards to the sandwich, he was told that it was an authentic PO-boy. My brother then had to unfortunately school this person in letting them know that a REAL PO-boy has so much shrimp in it, the shrimp that falls off the bread is enough to make a whole sandwich all over again. I was not there for the altercation, but my brother is just as serious about food as I am and would not exaggerate.
Boudreaux is a much much better choice of Cajun/Creole fare. And even though Boudreaux also has it's few faults here and there, at least they don't screw up gumbo not nearly as bad.
Take it from a Cajun transplanted in KC, Please, stay clear of this place. -
Review from tom k.
Kansas City, MO
Updated - 9/6/2009
I'm going to also consider myself in the "dragged here" category.
If I'd had my druthers I'd steer clear of this place unless it was the last restaurant in kc, but there is a strong, loyal following that seems to think of this place as something unique to the city. I'm just bored with everything about this place. The menu is gigantic and some employees are uncomfortably unprofessional. I also think it's way overpriced ($15 plate) for what you get.
The place isn't really bad, but just achingly mediocre. Kansas City has 200 places that'd mop the floor with jazz.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2009
Although I think the food at Jazz is decent and a nice change of pace from typical, KC eats; there… Read more »
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Review from Jeff H.
Virginia Beach, VA
1/28/2008
Jazz is just what you want in a cajun sit down restaurant. I've yet to have a bad item from the menu and for some reason I am always willing to try something new. I think I've had over half the menu.
Sometimes the service is a little slow but the waiters and waitresses are pretty attentive. I think the kitchen gets backed up. They have a good beer selection also as well as a full bar.
Jazz is pretty kid friendly but it gets a little smoky after about 7 PM. You also have to deal with med school nerds getting their drink on. Overall, though it's a fabulous place to get your Cajun food needs. -
Review from Alberto S.
Kansas City, MO
5/15/2011
I was disappointed by the lack of flavor at this hopeful Louisiana style restaurant. I ordered the shrimp creole and it lacked the customary new orleans spiced flavor.
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Review from Shovelle S.
Portland, OR
3/14/2010
Even though its a chain its pretty close to cajun here in KC. At least that's been our luck. I love the laid back vibe here along with some fantastic live musicians. Spicy food and live music? Can't go wrong there. Especially with the chicken a la mer, which I've ordered both times I've gone. It is fantastic!
Not to mention its in one of my favorite neighborhoods. -
Review from Daylon H.
Kansas City, KS
2/10/2011
This place is not out of business. The food is wonderful (as long as you are a fan of Creole food) and I am a huge fan of the Thursday $.75 oyster on the half shell special. I have only been able to make it for the Thursday special once, but I certainly hope it continues! As far as cooked food, I always get the seafood little mamou pasta which is AMAZING! I order the half order (which is still gigantic and I always need a box) and I don't really want to know what the full order looks like. The atmosphere is cozy (read: not extensively pristine or overly sanitized) but that's what makes it that much more enticing. I would recommend dropping by this place for a beer and some good food if you are in the are and have no prior engagements.
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Review from david p.
6/19/2009
A business colleague suggested this place while on a visit to KC. I love cajun/creole cooking (I've been living along the southeast Texas gulf coast for the past 12 years), and even though this is a chain hundreds of miles from the Louisiana coast, I thought I would check it out. Big mistake.
The restaurant is in an eclectic neighborhood, and the building itself comes close to being classified as a dive. We started off with oysters, and surprisingly, they were a good size and tasted pretty fresh. Things for me and the rest of our party went downhill from there, though. The cooks/chef need to realize there are other ways to spice up cajun food other than adding tons of white, black, and cayenne pepper. Just because something is spicy doesn't mean it's cajun, and just because something is cajun doesn't mean it has to be spice. Even hot sauce couldn't overpower the peppery flavor in my crawfish etouffee. In fact, all I could taste was white pepper in the dish. Others in my party said the same thing...their dishes were overpowered by the pepper that the cooks used.
If there are other cajun restaurants around the KC area, I suggest checking those out before you think about Jazz. -
Review from John P.
1/24/2011
You must order the Crab Cakes a la mer or the Chicken a la mer, you cannot go wrong with that combo. It is simply to die for. This place is kind of a hole in the wall, it kind of reminds me of a southern Juke Joint in Mississippi or something. The music is good and a real plus while your eating.
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Review from Angelina H.
Independence, MO
1/26/2010
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
This Cajun queen is on my top 10. The decor may not be fancy, but once again, the food is where it's at, baby. I could make a lunch from the appetizer menu alone. Top 4 choices: Boudin balls, Krab cakes a la mer, fried crawfish tails (delectable), and beans and rice with Andouille. Several appetizers become half price during happy hour, 3 to 6, M-F.
Dinner is always a good call. I am known to favor the Chicken A La Mer (okay, the a la mer is a spicy seafood sauce rife with shrimp and crab, and I think it tastes great on everything). I am also a fan of the shrimp Po Boy sandwich. I have never taken anyone here who did not leave a convert. The 5 dollar hurricanes are a great combo with any of their succulent menu offerings. There are also nights with live blues/jazz, and great week night specials.
Dessert:
One word. Beignets.
Served with a chantilly whipped cream that will call to you in
your dreams, these traditional Cajun doughnuts are about 2
dollars, and love to dance with a nice cup of chicory coffee, or
one of the many liquer enhanced varieties of coffee they feature.
There is also a fruit filled beignet dish on the menu, but those
who have tried it always come back to the originals, which are
not "too" sweet, and don't send you home feeling "too guilty" :)
The other reason I love this place: You can draw or write on the walls, the tables, and pretty much anywhere. Bring your own sharpie.
