The Jazz Kitchen

30 YEARS!! We are crazy for waiting so long to visit the best entertainment in Indianapolis. Four women vocalist, each so different, yet voices so beautiful!

I had the sea bass special of the night, baked perfectly. Sorry, omitted photo.
Salmon, salads and pork chops around the table. Not a crumb left on any plate.

Parking can be difficult, so we parked at grocery across the street, sorry.

We will be back soon. Cost of entertainment, excellent food and drinks was VERY reasonable.

We stopped by the Jazz Kitchen on a Monday night during "Walk-In" night. We can see why this is a neighborhood staple--great ambiance! Definitely feels like a jazz club. However, there were a few odd things about our visit, the first being that it was our first time here and we felt out of the loop.

We arrived for dinner at 5:30pm, and when we finally asked when the "Jazz Jam" session started around 7pm our waitress said "well, this night is usually just for regulars, so they like to visit before they start. Maybe 8pm?" That being said, we were gone before any Jazz started, which was a bummer. It would have been helpful if she had asked "first time here?" or "what brings you out tonight"? At $30 a plate, I just expected a higher level of customer service. We were also told when we walked in that we would be sat with strangers (my social anxiety was in high-gear), but it was pretty empty and no one ever joined our table (though I was anxious the whole dinner in anticipation, haha!). Just a weird experience with a lack of guidance from the staff.

The only vegetarian options were a strawberry fields salad or a vegan roasted vegetable/quinoa bowl. I was hoping for 2-3 options (I think a previous menu had veggie tacos?). We also ordered the two vegetarian apps (Fries + Pepper Artichoke Dip) which were okay. I wish they fries were a little more crispy + seasoned. The dips were also odd.

Hopefully I can come again and hear some proper Jazz! Now that I have visited, I am wiser.

This place is a local treasure of good vibes and excellent music. The Jazz Kitchen has been around since 1994 and I haven't had a bad meal here no matter how many times I go. The vibe is intimate. If you love jazz check this place out.

Usually this is my number choice if finding a spot to take someone new in town. The ambiance of the decor and the music makes it a major impact on someone who hasn't been to Indy.

I recently went for their Sade Tribute with talented Blackberry Jam. If you going for a event make sure you get your ticket early because they sell fast. For good seating , come at least 30 mins early . We sat in the main dining area.

There is a minimum of $15 per person during the show but the drink and food is worth it.

On Thursday they have Latin Night. And Monday are Monday Jam Nights.

First of all, if your music lover, this is an amazing venue. They're literally isn't a bad seat in the house. Generally when I get into a music venue, expect the food to be just OK but here it's absolutely delicious. We went to see Rock E. Bassoon and it was amazing. We didn't realize that they were in effect and opening act but the guy they opened with was really great. Definitely worth checking this place out.

I've enjoyed the Jazz Kitchen twice now, each time more impressed than the last. What I appreciate most is how respectful guests are of the artists; there's a no talking rule, and they mean it. The food is always excellent, the service is top-notch, the music is fantastic - what more could you want? No, really, what else is there?

Emma is our server and she's friendly and personable. We are here to see the famous guitarist Norman Brown.
Sad to say that Emma was not what I expected :-/
I wasn't too happy with where we were seated because I seen the servers more than the artists' .
So all the stars I have is for Norman Brown. NOT THE JAzz kitchen!

I've long wanted to check out Indy's iconic The Jazz Kitchen, easily one of our best spots for live jazz since it first opened in 1994. It's got a national reputation for its live jazz performances (including national acts), wonderful cuisine, and top-notch atmosphere.

Part of my hesitation has always been the parking situation in this area of what is essentially on the line of SoBro and Broad Ripple. It's always been street parking along with some options across the street at Fresh Market. They all seem to perfectly co-exist, however, and I was grateful that someone else was driving so I could really check out the scene for possible future visits.

Street parking directly in front went away with the addition of a bus line, though street parking continues to exist. We parked in the Fresh Market area and they seem to have plenty of parking. As a wheelchair user, I find unpredictable parking a bit harrowing and it can get in the way of my attendance at a venue.

The other modest disclaimer here is that I was at The Jazz Kitchen for a special event rather than a traditional concert/dinner situation. This was an awards ceremony with food options and a live DJ in place of live music. I will admit that it felt weird to have my first experience here not include jazz.

First off, the venue is beautiful with amazing acoustics. It definitely gets a bit loud and as a speaker (and one of the presenters for this event) you definitely hear any conversations in the crowd. However, hearing the acoustics immediately made me want to attend a concert here.

If I understood the venue correctly, and it was set up differently for this event, the main area is to the left when you enter. There's a center bar and an area to the right for those who don't want to attend the concert (but will actually hear the music). I was in the main area and food was set up in the back area.

I was impressed that the stage had a small ramp set up, though I'm not sure if this was a Heartland thing or a Jazz Kitchen thing. Regardless, as a wheelchair user it was appreciated (it wasn't quite ADA and I did end up needing a little assistance - a combo of its grade and my lack of strength from recent surgery).

The venue was set up nicely - even full, it was surprisingly accessible for the most part. There's some side rows that would not be wheelchair friendly, however, wheelchair options are pretty plentiful here.

The restrooms are a bit narrow, however, I was able to get in them. There were two urinals and one stall. It's not perfectly accessible, though it's certainly very workable and better than a ton of music venues.

Servers were friendly and every employee I met was a delight. I was able to get iced tea - since I had surgery recently, I was playing things pretty safe. I tried a couple of the food options (shrimp and a jerk chicken option) and both were amazing. I had a hard time not going back for more. I was also impressed with how quickly servers handled a toppled over bottled water - I suppose for a jazz club I shouldn't be surprised that it was smooth.

During good weather, they have some outside options. The entryway is a bit narrow - this made it a bit difficult to depart since you had to pass a "red carpet" where photos were happening, but for daily event management it makes sense.

The Jazz Kitchen tends to be an evenings only establishment with concert costs separate from dinner (think like a comedy club where there's often a minimum for drinks/food in addition to the show).

While I'm still a bit intimidated by the parking situation, this was a blast and I'll no doubt be back.

Frequent this spot often and I am a huge fan! Always good ambiance, food and music!
Drinks and service are not always consistent but still a fav hang.

Great food, and wonderful live entertainment. The setting is quaint with low lighting.

We normally eat prior to show, and go to
Kitchen for drinks and dessert. WHY? After attending Colts game, we got dressed in the car to arrive prior to the doors opening. Dinner at JK was option, so we opted for that, being marginally primed with Nachos and Popcorn. The artichoke/cheese dip was really good, pita bread warm and not dry. Frites were sizable portion to share and came with three Dipping sauces, including ketchup. The my Black Blue Salad came one a flatbread platter, four pieces of perfectly cooked flatsteak couple with artisan salad mix and balsamic dressing.... It's steak and salad, and it was perfectly executed. Drinks are always great here. Bartender gets free reins and never pours lightly. Coffee is dark and really good with the Chocolate Decadence, it was welcome dinner finale'. We went for Sarah Scharbrough Christmas show and really enjoy this tradition. Great night out! Thanks to JK team, staff, doors and all. Really nice night out.