251 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada
Atmospheric haunt featuring a schedule of live jazz performances & Canadian bistro-style fare.
I love the Jazz Bistro. On my last visit, I was actually performing so I had the opportunity to see the magic before the proverbial curtains opened. The management is super personable and it shows in the way the staff interacts with each other and patrons. Service was fast. The food was great. I had the burger which was cooked to perfection. I loved seeing the sparkling bar that was kept exceptionally clean. Now, I was singing so i just watched all the fancy cocktails go by but I got to drink some delicious peppermint tea with some of the best honey I’ve had in a minute….so winning. I loved that there is additional seating upstairs so if you are looking for the music to be the background music to your night out or if you want to be front and center with all the action—options abound. Regardless, If you’re looking for a swanky yet down to earth live music venue in the city this is it.
Live music was absolutely fantastic but the service was mediocre at best. I was visiting from out of province, purely to see the show that we booked a reservation for in advanced. We were then seated on the second floor tucked away in a corner, which would have been fine if our server didn’t keep forgetting about us. It felt that our table was out of view from everyone, and it didn’t help that we were up real close to a table of four that was chatting super loud, making it almost impossible to hear the music. During the second set of music, management did a way better job of getting others to quiet down. Some better tables cleared up so we were able to move to a better position. But even after being seated at a table where our server passed by plenty of times, he still failed to check up on us and see how we were doing. Live music venues are such a treat and I think the Jazz Bistro is a great gift and hub for jazz. As a student, going to a place like this is a privilege and I expect more for the price you pay. It’s disappointing that the service for such a highly regarded place was not up to par.
Perfect jazz for a night out. Service was amazing. I am giving it 4 out of five because our reservation was for the main floor but they moved us to second floor. Meals, appetizers etc.. all good. I recommend this place.
It is just OK ! If the service was better, it would have been great. But no one knew how to serve a plate, clear a table or pour glass of water without spilling it over the table. I don’t think any of the servers had hospitality education, or they just don’t care. I give my experience 4/10, but if only one person have smiled at my face or greet me warmly, my experience would have been much different.
Loved the food and the atmosphere there. I'd recommend making a reservation for the 8:00pm show since that's the main set. We didn't end up seeing the show at 5:00 other than a sound check even though it said there would be one. but overall the experience was still a great
Great service, food, and live music by true musicians. We had an awesome experience and are planning to go back. It was nice and relaxing because with a reservation, we could stay for the whole show and order from the menu at our own pace. They played for 2 hours with a break in between. It was very worth it!
We chose this spot as we were attending a show at the Mirvish Theatre. Greeted nicely and we had a nice seat close to the piano player. Music was great and had a nice atmosphere. The food was okay. Definitely not over the moon. However, the ambience was great. Overall happy with the experience. Just found that as the place got packed the service went downhill. Between our main and dessert I think we waited over 45 minutes. I only ordered the gelato. They definitely need to staff up.
Great experience from the very beginning to the last sound of the music. Booked tickets for Jill Barber's show. The process of booking and confirmation of the table was very smooth. They really care about it. We were greeted by the staff and offered right away drinks which arrived very fast as the servers are really above and beyond !!! We ordered pan seared red snapper and rigatoni. Both were sooo delicious. At decent price. And the show was absolutely delightful. Brilliant Jill Barber performing French songs from her last album 'Encore' was unforgettable. The concert was simply out of this world. Thank you Jazz Bistro for inviting Jill. So the atmosphere was really wonderful. We highly recommend this place. And will be coming back again and again not only during TO jazz festival as it is great place not only for jazz lovers. P.S. Very good location if you want also to explore Toronto downtown. Parking is available just behind the building or the cheaper one on the property of the Ryerson University @ 300 Victoria Street ($9 flat rate Mon-Fr 5AM-5PM and on weekends 6AM-6PM).
Never coming back here again. Got there at 5pm when they opened and we were only people there in our section next to stage at back. We ordered 2 salads and a charcuterie and drinks. When others started coming we had finished our salads and waiting for our food. Its now 645pm and others in our section got their food and same server and we still dont have ours Bear in mind we told them we have the show at 730 and what did the server say dont worry you will get your food before 730. So basically leaves us no time for dessert nor coffee now. Really thats the reply you give to a customer. Who now has been waiting 2 hours for dinner We are ready to cancel and ask again wheres the food and he says its coming now after everyone else is already almost finished their dinner. Finally get the food my fettucine bolognese the meat is cold to lukewarm and pasta overcooked so really what do i say, now u rush to get our food. Told him was not happy with my meal. On top of all this cant even get water. Waited a few times and server isnt even come to ask all ok or can I get anything else except when he gave us our appetizers. I finally got up to get the water jug myself and another server saw me and brought it instead. I mean i have heard the place is decent and only good thing was the music and piano playing. After telling him I wasnt happy he come with bill after having to find server he brings and says we took the fettucine off . I paid and then noticed he didnt taken the fettucine off the bil.( why lie to me) I was just to upset and very dissappponted in the whole ordeal and never will I recommend this place for food ever again. Not worh the money nor the service level not what we expected or the food. Im sure the music is always great but our ordeal will not be forgotten and turthfully he knew we were not happy so not even tell manager about the food. Wow. Anyways will never recommend this place evr
I loved the atmosphere, the very good staff, and the lovely people working there.
It is a beautiful place. We came for live jazz music, it was our first experience and it was amazing. Thanks to the band Northern Dragon! Also for and service were on the top. The only thing is I didnt leave tips and someone from kitchen came to me and was asking me Was the service or food bad?, I said that everything was perfect but he was kind of pushing me to pay tips. We see you didnt leave tips. Why?. He was asking me these questions again and again.Pushing me to pay tips left a little bit negative impression. Please,understand that people are in different financial situations and its not mandatory to pay tips.
Ok for date night not for company party as I went for
Late night jazz jam at its best. I was totally unaware. Amazing local talent. Great bar staff. A definite must if your a jazz enthusiast. I will for sure return Food : 5/5 |
If I am spending hundreds of dollars for average food, i expect the people greeting to be nicer. I love the music and the atmosphere, but a very sad experience.
Inconsistent policy and poor service experience: I recently dined at Jazz Bistro with a group of five, expecting a nice evening with good food and music. While the food quality was excellent, the service was incredibly disappointing. Despite my previous visit with a group of five when no gratuity was automatically added, this time we were surprised with an 18% gratuity charge. This change was applied without any prior notice, which felt misleading and inconsistent. On top of that, the service itself left much to be desired. Our waiter was inattentive and left us waiting for unreasonably long stretches before taking our orders or checking in on us. It was frustrating to be overlooked repeatedly throughout the evening. Jazz Bistro has potential with its quality food and ambiance, but the inattentive service and surprise gratuity charge have made me reconsider coming back.
The performers were outstanding; however, the service was disappointing. Firstly, we reserved a table on the second floor, and they gave us a table on the forst floor. Secondly, and more importantly I called ahead to inquire about birthday celebration options, and they informed me that a cake could be provided. I was fine with this, as I m not particular about the details. Unfortunately, they called while I was driving with the guest of honor to confirm the arrangement and then greeted her when we arrived as the birthday girl, ruining the suprise Despite this, they failed to bring out the cake or provide any other special service for the birthday. Ultimately, I simply ordered a dessert at the end. In summary: the food was mediocre, overpriced, and served in small portions (which I had anticipated). The live music was excellent, but the customer service was abysmal.
The jazz is amazing, but the gelato makes me disappointed. It tastes like normal ice cream and artificial.
Very good food - the burger and striploin steak were delicious. The ambiance is just wonderful! Perfect night out enjoying some good food and even better jazz.
We had such a nice dinner at Jazz Bistro. It was our first time dining with live jazz and we can t wait to go back. Food was pretty good, I really liked the squash risotto.
Amazing staff and made my friend s birthday remarkable!
beautiful place with a lovely ambience. the staff were very polite and our server was a sweetheart and very helpful. the live music was great and the food was yummy, the dessert was especially delicious. will come again!
Jumped in before a show at Mirvish. Stayed at the high tops by the street. Great gnocchi. Great service. Cheese platter was lacking though. They should just combine it as part of a charcuterie.
The service was not so great. We booked a table via OpenTable and they put us in a corner. There was a table available near yhe performers during our whole visit, but we were told that it was reserved. The food came before the cutlery. We ordered the Gnocchi and Lamb but it was served cold and was nothing special. The performances were good, but they have a cover charge for $15.00 per person. Overall experience was not so great, Id say for the vibe, its better to get appetizers and drinks and enjoy the performance.
We came only for the entertainment. This is a really great venue for live music. A beautiful bar, a big stage, great sound, and room to dance on the dance floor.
Such an incredible experience from the get-go. The staff were so kind in allowing us a seat with good view of the band (who were also incredible), our server was very attentive and the food came out very fast. Our new favourite Jazz spot!
Nice place
I want to start off by saying that I thoroughly enjoy this venue, and as someone who has resided in this neighborhood for 15 years, it s always been a great experience. The food is delicious, the staff are super friendly, and the performances never disappoint. That being said, I do have an issue with how a couple things are managed 1: A $20 per person cover fee when you re already spending $300+ on food/drinks is greedy to me. 2: Then to have the audacity to tack this cover fee onto the overall bill, resulting in the customer being taxed on top and then expected to tip on that, is just plan disrespectful and frankly, poor customer service. 3: Server/Staff knowledge of the menu needs to be maintained. I asked 2 different servers for 2 different items, which were on the menu, and neither of them knew what I was talking about until I pointed it out. 4: This point is a me problem, but the amount of accumulative dust on the chandelier and the window railings on the second floor that over look the stage, sent my OCD into overdrive. It did distract from the overall experience. Again, lovely venue/experience, but they need to work on gratitude and customer appreciation, especially in this economy.
Food was good Customer service was poor. The waiter didn t acknowledge us at all after order was taken. Had to find hostess just to get our bill. Was told cover charge was applied toward the food instead was billed 40 dollars on top of our food. I understand the bands need to be paid but please be more specific in your wording. I also felt the way it was explained was done in a condescending manner.
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! It was our first time. Out of town guests wanted to enjoy Jazz and we all had a great time - gem of a place. Entertainment: Fantastic trio (plus a very reasonable volume i.e. not too loud) Atmosphere: Lovely inside - beautiful bar and elegant interior design - we want to come back just to sit at the bar - the front windows are floor to ceiling and open up completely to the street - so nice Location: Green P parking and subway steps away - very easy Service/Staff: Professional and attentive service Food - while the music is the big draw, the food was very good - enjoyed the Caesar salad, mushroom gnocchi, spaghetti bolagnase, fish and chips, and half chicken - the cheesecake was excellent too!
Great food, service and ambience. Would definitely recommend!!
I recently visited the jazz bar and had a mixed experience. While the music was absolutely fantastic, creating a wonderful ambiance that any jazz lover would appreciate, the rest of the experience fell short. The drink I ordered was okay in taste but lacked substance, being flimsy and disappointingly shallow on alcohol content. Additionally, the waitresses were quite rude, which dampened the overall atmosphere. It s a shame because the music was top-notch, but the service and quality of drinks need significant improvement.
First trip back to the Jazz Bistro since the pandemic, not sure why we waited so long. Beautiful room, food is a notch above, classic cocktails. Snappy and charming service from our bartender, Daniel. Sitting at the bar for dinner is the way to go always!
We came in fur the first time and the place looked great - and we ordered dinner and then the jazz musician started about 630 and played so loud that we could carry on a conversation - which I feel is totally inappropriate during dinner time - if the jazz musician wants to play loud during drinks or after people have eaten that is great - especially, when we are going to a musical across the street - we do not need the loud music during dinner
Such a great night out to hear wonderful music and great food.
Very poor service and drinks were terrible. Music was fantastic but not good enough to overcome the lack of service and poor attitude. Too bad, was looking forward to a great experience here. PS - don t remove reviews, just fix the issue.
Absolutely great service by Zoey! Amazing delicious food! Fantastic atmosphere! Great music! Vegetarian options: Seafood Spaghetti!
Absolutely great service by Zoey! Amazing delicious food! Great atmosphere! Fabulous music! Food : 5/5 |
Few drinks and some jazz. Great date night spot before you have a later dinner.
While I wasnt expecting much from the food, that didnt seem to disappoint.. from what little we got. The food was OK. Nothing special, but good enough. We had ordered appetizers and drinks, which came within a good amount of time, but our mains, ordered at the same time, never came out and they knew we were going to the show and had to leave. It was disappointing that we had so little to eat before our show, and the waiters just said the kitchen was busy. What, really? Food was coming out... just not ours. Anyway, the music was good and we had a seat on the second floor, which was OK as we could look down at the musicians, but it didnt feel as personal up there. More like a concert rather than an intimate setting. All in, an OK experience, but I wont go back for food and will always ask to sit downstairs.
Worth a visit if you are a music lover. A fantastic listening venue. The kitchen is great and the staff are lovely.
Great patio at street level. Amazing server, Vince. Veal Marsala was delicious.
I don t really do reviews, but after going here, I need to. Me, my mom and my boyfriend went to check out this place, because of hearing the jazz music from the street side. As soon as we walked in we were told that there would be a $10 cover charge for each person, which this would be going to the band. Then we were seated down. Their menu was small and their specialty of the day was sold out. There were only a few things to choose from after that. We ordered a rigatoni, fettuccine bolognese and their jazz bistro burger and diet coke. Everything was flavourless. Including the soda. The burger had a burnt taste to it. The rigatoni just tasted like plain pasta with a little beef and the bolognese was just plain bland. Like none of our food had a sprinkle of salt. Good thing they were kind enough to replace the flavourless diet coke with regular coke. Upon getting our bill, (my mom would usually pay and doesn t read the receipt) but this time since we didn t enjoy the experience and the food, we checked. In the bill we were charged $20 each for the cover charge which was not what we were told in the entrance. I complained (nicely) and they removed the extra charge. As much as I love jazz music, their band was not enjoyable. The drummer had a solo that lasted about 3 minutes and didn t sound like it had rhythm, it was just like a kid playing with drums to make noise. I do not recommend this place. Save your money. There are other places around that s worth your time.
Wonderful..thoroughly enjoyed
The place is incredible, the artists are very good, the service is decent but in my personal opinion the tip should be deserved with good treatment and customer service, if that does not happen then there is no reason to tip and much less have to endure let an administrator come and demand it from you with the justification that the waiters charge the minimum wage and the tip is really their payment. That made me feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, triggered, etc. If they are so interested in the payment of their workers, then the establishment should pay them better and not the minimum wage. That is not the clients fault. I also know that this minimum wage job collects $200-$500 or more in tips daily, which makes their payment higher than that of many, plus taxes do not affect their tips. EARN YOUR TIP WITH GOOD SERVICE AND BE MORE RESPECTFUL TO YOUR CUSTOMERS. MONEY IS NOT ASKED. IT IS EARNED.
Their cocktails, and music is good! However, for food it was nothing special.
Love this place
Amazing place
Last night, my boyfriend and I visited this jazz bar, excited for an evening of live music as it was my first time. The musicians were exceptional, delivering an engaging and soulful performance that truly brought the place to life. Unfortunately, our experience with the service was the exact opposite. As a Black couple, we felt blatantly discriminated against. Despite the waiters attentively serving every other table throughout the night, they ignored us completely. No one checked in on us, and only after it became glaringly obvious did they refill our waters. We ordered fries, but after they were served, we were once again neglected. Even when we wanted to settle the bill, the service remained inattentive. The contrast between the superb music and the discriminatory service was stark and disappointing. Not coming back.
Was headed to show at Mirvish Thursday evening and decided to check this place out. The gentleman outside was very friendly told me to let them know was going to show. Host showed me to bar. Downhill from there. Not one of the staff acknowledged me. Didnt say hi or will be with you in a minute not a word. Waited for over 7 mins and just got up and left. The only thing the piano player was on point. Wont be back. Train your staff to be hospitable and welcoming its the least you can do.
Was there on a private event! Good place for gatherings, with three different floors including one roof top space! Heart of the city, at Victoria Street Toronto, Jazz Bistro is a place where you can plan gatherings! Super friendly staff with some real good choice of ales n food!!
Food and drinks were ok. Ambience was great, and we loved the music. (Colin Hunter & The Joe Sealy Quartet)
When we arrived a lovely doorman greeted us. This place is small and intimate but very accommodating. I made a reservation and they found a great spot upstairs to fit us in especially since I had a baby with me as well. The staff are very helpful and friendly and our waiters never left us hanging. The live music was nothing short of great and if you dont have a clear view of the stage from where youre sitting then they provide flat-screens to view it. Loved the Jazz vibes and atmosphere, great place to take someone whos into jazz. I would recommend making a reservation. Parking: Parking lot is next to the venue. About a 1 minute walk. They charge $7 every 30mins
band is amzing! drinks and fries are also good. 20 dollars for entry
FOOD It was okay. My pasta was nothing fancy and my husbands burger came out very salty. COCKTAILS Drinks were great. I would rather get drinks here and go somewhere else for food. SERVICE It was very speedy. From the moment i was waiting to be seated to leaving , I would say the servers here were great. ATMOSPHERE Loved it. The black and red decor really matched the live music all came together very well. Band had music guests go on stage to sing. Overall I would say people come here more for the drinks and music.
love to go here for a night out
The red wine in glass was great and so was the the dip and bread served as an appetizer. The tip was included in the bill but i didn t check and didn t take my copy Parking: Other than the paid street parking if you re lucky to find one, greenpark is a few steps away
Disgusting places
I went to the friday jazz jam. a hot mess of jazzy notes all up in your face. you couldnt have walked out with a frown on your face if you tried. jazz or non-jazz lovers will delight. just good music.
Incredible time. Always a great band with a great sense of humour. Good is great and everyone working there is welcoming!
Jazz bistro is an amazing spot for live jazz!!!
Great vibes! Great performers. The food could ve been better
Great live music!
Best Jazz in Toronto
The restaurant had an incredibly beautiful and tranquil atmosphere. The staff were professional. The appetizer of warm olives with freshly baked bread was excellent, the fish and chips were excellent, the chicken was somewhat tasteless, and the dessert was ordinary. The best place for romantic meetings.
Amazing venue
Lovely place. Went here for my moms birthday yesterday. The food and service was outstanding and the performers were incredible. Would highly recommend.
The absolute worst experience. Organized a dinner and show for my husband s birthday. We specifically went to see the band that was scheduled. I had booked 3 weeks earlier. Upon arrival, the band playing was not the band that was supposed to be playing. When I mentioned this to the hostess Caterina, she couldn t have cared less. We came a long way in downtown Toronto traffic. Never again. No professionalism and no quality of service.
Had a wonderful time grabbing dinner and a show. The wait staff was friendly, the show was great, the acoustics were fantastic, the interior was well decorated and set the mood, and the food was good. My two small gripes were that my steak was under cooked but it wasnt a big deal, and part of my order was mixed up with another tables. Still, it wouldnt stop me from coming back because the food actually was tasty and every other part of the evening was well done.
Really cool jazz bar. Great atmosphere and would definitely go back.
Very nice place
Saturday closing hours aren t as posted. The last set ended at 10:45pm and they started closing up
Very nice, do expect to spend a bit but sometimes its nice to ball out, especially with some very nice jazz music. Really great for a night out. Kid-friendliness: A bit loud, and they serve alcohol, good for a date, definitely not great for a child.
The atmosphere was inviting with live music setting the mood. However, the mussels had a very unpleasant odor, and the chicken could ve used the sauce directly on the bird. On the upside, the complimentary bread was fresh and a nice touch. Overall, while the ambiance was enjoyable, improvements are needed. Service could ve been better too.
Great jazz bar with amazing musicians. Food and service was great. Clientele are a little snobby.
Place was fantastic. From the food to the atmosphere. The music also was wonderful. Can t wait to go back again. Learn more of our adventures on IG: andrew.anne.adventures Food
Mismanagement with their reservations and their explanation did not seem to add up so they were lying at the end for sure.
Service was very slow. The food was average. The GM scolded us for talking while being seated before the band was even on. It seemed to set a bad tone for us for the evening - he then reminded the audience to be quiet at intermission. I ve been to other jazz bars in the city that are more relaxed and more fun. The band was very good - the atmosphere not so much.
Fantastic experience.
Vegetarian options: Not many options but good food Food
Great looking place, the night we went the band playing was very good. Food was good, had the lamb shank and the red snapper, both tasted very good. Service was a bit slow. Cocktails were good.
Waiters need training. Chewing gum while serving is poor show and they were generally inept. Waitress Dakota was good. Draft from door area. But the worst thing was that the tip percentage was on top of the two cover charges totaling 70 cad. No one pointed this out to this Irish visitor Kieran and son (table 19 on 22 Dec 6:45 pm through to 9pm) Musicians great thanx
Such a cute spot, amazing music and beautiful atmosphere, food is nothing to write home about but it s good. Everything else makes up for it.
Top-notch food and drinks paired with some of the best musicians in (and outside) Toronto. Highly recommended!
We were able to enjoy their New Year s Eve special night which had a special pre-set menu. Overall, the food was delicious and the entertainment was outstanding and we had a great night. But, I m not giving 5 stars because our service did not match the quality of their food and atmosphere. We had to ask several times where our dinner was as tables around us were served already and we watched complete their meals. We were finally served but this same situation happened with the dessert. Everyone was up dancing while we were the only table waiting to get served at 11:56 pm.
What an amazing venue! Loved the quality music and atmosphere.
Had a great night! dinner and good music awesome!
Food
We saw Jacob Chungs Christmas performance and the musicians there were absolutely amazing! They had a ton of energy and it was a lot of fun to just sit there and listen to them. The audience here makes the atmosphere very nice and energetic too. You could tell everyone there enjoyed jazz music. I wouldnt come here just for the food though, but would definitely come again for the music!
Second time visiting. Definitely go here for the performance, not for the food.
Everything here was out of this world! From service, to music, to food. We came here for my birthday and everything was top notch. Special shout out to our server Lawrence for giving us wicked wine and drink recommendations. We will definitely be back.
Decided to go to the Jazz Bistro to celebrate a special occasion and when we arrived it was obvious that the message we left, with our reservation, was not read. The entertainment was great but unfortunately the staff is not well trained in hospitality.
One of my favourite restaurants! The service and ambience here are always impeccable and the food never disappoints. My husband booked this place on a whim for my birthday party and ever since then, we ve returned multiple times. Such a gem of a place. Make sure to order the lamb shanks when available and don t forget to try their old fashioned cocktail.
Excellent venue to see live jazz and enjoy good food. Excellent spot to enjoy jazz
Our favorite place!!!
Amazing music atmosphere and service, food and drinks were ok
I have never posted a review in my life, but I feel I have to after our experience here. The place is beautiful, but thats where it ends. We had reserved a space for a large group (50+ people) and the service was terrible, we didnt get the A/V services we asked for and were provided one server/bartender for our entire group who made countless errors with tabs and orders. At the end of the night they proceeded to charge us an additional $2,500+ over and above the individual tabs, for absolutely nothing, and tried to justify it as a room rental fee that was never previously discussed. Although we continued to correspond with the manager for a week after the event, he had no interest in working with us to find an amicable solution. None of our guests will ever go back to this establishment - and nor should you.
Come here for the jazz, not the food. Food was basic, lacked flavor and very expensive. It felt like an after thought. Pro tip : Skip the food. Grab a drink at the bar and listen to some great jazz!
It was a very fun date night. However its very pricey. The cover should be no more than $10/person, although all the food was very delicious the portions were very small. The musicians they hired were off the charts good. The service staff was excellent, the decore and atmosphere was beautiful and cautious to make sure everyone could enjoy the live music. But for 2 people we spent close to $200 without even getting a main dish or dessert. Otherwise this was a very delightful date night but in a very fun romantic venue.
Fantastic Jazz bar in the city, great atmosphere! Reservations seem to be a must if youd like a good table, but the staff work hard to accommodate you in a pinch. Really great music and decent food.
Disgusting menu... nothing to choose from... from first course and main course. Very expensive, does not justify itself at all, not professional musicians. The music is disgusting.. I thought it was a warm-up, but it turns out it was a concert. Believe me, I understand music, the rating for this restaurant is zero and the musicians are zero. I advise everyone not to go there.
Food pretty good. Service pretty good. Jazz was good, but in that bldg, ridiculously loud. Food : 4/5
Wonderful place to catch live jazz music. Food is a little pricey and the menu is not large.
Had to update this review - one year later and the place is dead, and in sad repair. Broken toilets, broken lightbulbs, just not being maintained at all. The only good thing was the music. Saw Wild Blue Herons live here, they were incredible! Beautiful venue, great food and service. About $30-40 for main course, wine starting at about $50 a bottle. Menu is small but well executed. Acoustics are great, seating done well so everyone can see and hear properly (not a given in a music club, sadly). Staff are very lovely.
Fantastic service, great staff, great food... As for the music, which is the reason for me to go, it was awesome...
Perfect place to hang out.
We came to the Jazz Bistro for a live Jazz band performance, which was very good,we enjoyed the atmosphere very much. We ordered a board of cheese which contained 3 sorts of basic cheeses , grapes, walnuts, and kreckers. What disappointed me was the fact that the grapes were rotten and the cheese was too basic. The cocktails were nice. Overall, I would recommend the place, although it would be nice to have a better quality of the food there.
My favorite place to dine while in Toronto. Always stop in for a relaxed boujee meal. Its always a blast experiencing local music. They also have great service with yummy drinks.
Food is great, musicians are amazing! One of the servers almost forced us to pay tips even quoting a number saying that «it s all like that in Toronto » we re not exactly tourists and we sometimes choose not to tip. I don t understand how someone can have the audacity to force the customers to tip! Even hitting the ok button while we were still not decided whether or not to top. Because « their boss might be mad « if they see there was no tips. It is already overpriced!! I mean come on, super rude staff. Will never go back there again!
Great food, wonderful atmosphere and live music every night that they re open featuring some of the city s finest (and out of town guests).
The food was quite plain and they wanted to charge us extra money for coming in 20 minutes before a jazz show ended, even though we can specifically to watch (and pay for) the next show. We just wanted to have some time to chat before the music was playing so thats why we came in earlier. Pasta was served with cranberry or something else that was sweet and I cant recall which was very odd. Servers seemed unhappy and food was disappointing.
Not a perfect dinner but atmosphere and performance was incredible. We enjoyed try it, you will not regret
Had to get out of the rain and stumbled on this little gem! Had a blast
The service was was awful. Food overpriced. Outside of the music I wouldnt recommend to anyone
Great food and service as well. The live music was great too as it made the experience that much more enjoyable. Give them a try if your going to Mirvish theatre as they are across from eachother.
I celebrated my birthday there this week, and we were so well received. The service was great, food was scrumptious and the music tied the whole package together. I highly recommend!
The jazz pianist was beautiful but several times ask for tips. The food was tasteless and expensive. The server got our order wrong and never did a follow up, so we ate what we got. So would I go back? Definitely not!
Good people,good food, good music.
Wonderful!
My partner have been regulars at Jazz Bistro for several months. The food, the service and the ambiance always seems to come together exceptionally well to make it the perfect spot for a great evening out together. We recently had Jazz host our wedding and it was simply a flawless experience. From dealing with Ted (the manager) and Laura (events lead) to the Chef and the service-team - they simply could not do enough to make our special day flow perfectly. The third floor event space is perfect for smaller events (we had approximately 50 guests) with indoor and outdoor space. From the impeccably wonderful feed to the friendly, highly-responsive service, the Jazz team exceeded any and every hope or expectation we had. Whether its for a night out or hosting a special event, this wonderful spot deserves consideration! Wheelchair accessibility: There is an elevator
Music was great. Food was expensive. But will go back again.
Come for a jazz night, the food is normal. Just grab a drink and enjoy the music!
Was all good till we got shushed for being too loud for the music.
Super high quality music Good food Very good servixe focused in being not noisy on the music Food : 3/5
Always a good experience here. Just a note that there is a cover fee of $15. Food was surprising good, especially the seafood spaghetti. It was a fun experience to request my favorite song to the band as well.
Amazing staff and the bans I have seen are always fantastic!
Exceptional night! We visited from Australia because we love jazz. Ted and Aaron were amazing. Fantastic music but for us it was the brilliant service and hospitality of the staff. Do yourself a favour and go! Very affordable too!
Recently, we had a retirement party for a group of 80-100 people. Nice decor, desert was amazing, but other food. We used the 3rd floor of Jazz Bistro. I absolutely didnt like how finger food was served - no tissues, no forks, no mini plates, no chopsticks. How can you eat rolls and sushi? Considering the price range in the venue, and also parking cost me $30 for 2+ hours, I will not come back.
This is my first time posting a review on google but felt the need to do so. My wife loves Jazz music and this venue came up in my search so I made a reservation through OpenTable. Heres my account of the experience. Staff were attentive, friendly and extremely responsive. The food was fresh, flavourful and I was truly impressed with every dish we ordered. As a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the Veggie (Charcuterie)Board. The spreads were so good we requested additional bread to make sure we worked through it all! In a nutshell it was an AMAZING experience. Vegetarian options: As a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the Veggie (Charcuterie)Board.
Toronto needs more places like this
We missed on the stake special the muscles were not good but they didnt charge for it, the lamb rips are good and the atmosphere and music was excellent, I would recommend it
I came here for the first time the other day and I waited over 35 minutes to be served. The place wasnt even that busy We were told to be quiet when the band started, I have never been to a live entertainment before they expected the customer to be quiet. We got stared down when we spoke . I never felt so uncomfortable and unwelcome to a restaurant I wont be coming back
Excellent music and venue. Service was a little slow but good overall. Wil be back..
Came for the Jazz, but pleasantly surprised with the classy atmosphere, great food and service
Good food and good atmosphere, I just wish we werent so rushed after dinner. Basically, as soon as the band finished, the server brought our bill while we still had full glasses of wine and had JUST received our desserts. Right after that, the lights came on and the staff were congregating right in front of our table with the band, to the extent that I had to ask one employee if he could stop leaning on our table. Weird lack of awareness on the part of the employee, but the message was clear that we shouldnt still be there. This was just after 10pm on a Friday night, so its not like it was super-late or anything.
First time coming to the Jazz bistro. Came for a family party. Great food, fantastic impeccable service especially by our server Aaron and his team. Loved the music. Will definitely come back again. Highly recommend!
Great music and atmosphere. The food was fantastic and our server went out of their way to accommodate us. Great time.
Awesome experience! After previously visiting Jazz Bistro my husband knew he wanted to have his birthday there. We booked his birthday event and we couldnt be any happier with how the night turned out. We went with a preset menu and all of the dishes tasted great. Our guests loved the music and really enjoyed themselves. Thank you to all the staff who helped with planning the event. It was really a success. Big thank you to Eren and team who were so kind and such a pleasure to our group that night. Everything went so smoothly thanks to their service. Highly recommend Jazz Bistro for any occasion!
Nice!
Among the worst dining experiences of my life. There was a deliberate attempt to prolong our meal service to force us to stay past 8pm. At that point, an unexpected $100 was added to our bill for the privilege of enjoying a live performance. This eventually led to an unsettling encounter with the manager named Ted. Our efforts to engage in a civil discussion regarding the unexpected charge were met with an unfortunate and inappropriate escalation, culminating in obscenities and veiled threats of physical violence. In light of these experiences, we find it difficult to recommend this establishment to others. It is our sincere hope that issues such as these are addressed promptly and professionally by the owner, for the benefit of future patrons.
I was looking forward to visiting Jazz Bistro after being recommended by my friends, but unfortunately my visit to Jazz Bistro was a disaster. The ambience of the restaurant was decent, but the service and the food were awful. The burger I ordered took over an hour to arrive after I placed my order. When I did receive my order the burger wasnt edible due to being overcooked. At this point I wanted either my money back or a new burger. When I talked to the staff I was called a liar and verbally insulted. Please dont waste you time or money coming to this Bistro like I did. I would advise the management to treat their customers with respect and not insult them when their is something wrong with the food.
Unfortunately, my group had a pretty bad experience at the restaurant. We were unaware there was a cover charge for the 8pm show when we entered. When we were told this cost, we informed the hostess we would not stay until then because that was not the intention of our visit. We had 1h 45mins to eat before the concert began. We went because the menu looked like it had good options for all dietary needs. While we ordered our mains in advance, we got them when the concert started and finished eating ~20 minutes into it. I m sure someone who appreciates jazz may have enjoyed it but we did not as our main intention was to go somewhere to talk work. In terms of food, the appetizers were alright. The squid salad was quite tasty but it was small. Unfortunately, the mains were not good other than the lamb. The fettuccine was tasteless and overcooked and the gnocchi was overly sweet. Most things looked much better than they tasted. Quite disappointing but the real disappointment was when we tried to ask for the bill. We were informed cover was going to be charged. But we stayed ~20 mins of an expected 2.5h show only because the food came later than expected and we couldn t stay because of the noise level. A few members of our team tried to negotiate this and were able to reduce it halfway but the negotiating process was something that surprised me. The Manager (Ed? Ted?) at the location was rude to us, lost his temper a few times, swore, said some demeaning comments and my coworker said the potential of calling cops was brought into the conversation. All that for the discussion of cover costs! Our entire party was rudely surprised and left for a nearby restaurant whom treated us nicely and offered some great food. Interesting experience, I wouldn t revisit again though.
Great experience until they included tip on the bill and don t mention anything, and it was not even a large group.. ! Ended up tipping twice
Simply one of the finest music clubs in Toronto!!!
The staff and talent there were amazing. The food was great for a Bistro and the atmosphere is unique for Toronto. Everyone there was great and polite and it was packed.
As a music place Jazz Bistro never disappoints. As a restaurant its average at high prices
Great acoustics, band was tight, staff charming as heck
Low quality food but expensive, it is overrated restaurant,nor recommend anyone.they overcharge you mandatory for 20%tip that considering high price food ,it would be so costly
The music is great I would give 8/10. The wine menu is good 7/10 the food quality is subnormal I would give 3/10 I had the half chicken and it was more like a quarter chicken I couldnt find any beast in there! With some almost raw broccoli... My wife had a terrible linguini that she couldnt eat... We ended up paying $238 for the two of us... I will not go there again. They also charge $20 per person for music and mandatory 20% gratuity... I think the experience is not worth it.
One of my favourite places in the city (but Im a jazz nut so Im a bit biased). While Toronto boasts lots of live music venues, Jazz Bistro is the citys last remaining serious jazz room -- the type of jazz supperclub you can still find in cities like NYC. What do I mean by that? Well, usually the performers have to compete with the din of the crowd. Not here. Jazz Bistro does its best to uphold a quiet policy where guests are politely asked, at the outset of each set, to please keep their conversations discreet (or non-existent) to allow everyone to listen to and enjoy this wonderful music. And wonderful it is. Jazz Bistro books a stellar variety of Canadas finest musicians and vocalists, as well as international talent. And this is date night central. The atmosphere is just about as vibey and sexy as you can get. The dimly lit room with that incredible, one-of-a-kind (literally) black and RED Steinway grand piano, the red velvet curtains...its a whole mood. And despite what other reviewers have had to say, I always enjoy the food here!! Steak frites, cheeseburger, pasta, fish, Ive tried them all and always enjoyed. Sorry if it sounds like Im fan-girling out, but Jazz Bistro is my happy place -- a classy, mellow spot to truly savour the art of jazz. FYI the space used to be The Top o the Senator, as anyone familiar with Torontos jazz scene would already know. I saw Diana Krall perform here before she made it. Special shout-out to manager Ted, who always takes great care of me. PS I noticed a review from someone complaining about having to pay a cover charge, even though he admits he was told about the cover charge when entering the venue. I later heard about this particular incident from one of the staff, apparently it was a doozy. From what I was told, a customer refused to pay cover and started yelling, swearing and making a scene. And now I see in his Google review, he flipped the script. Man, some people...
The venue was truly delightful, boasting an outstanding atmosphere. Its interior was tastefully adorned with a striking red and black aesthetic, featuring a magnificent chandelier that caught our eyes. The bar area exuded a charming retro vibe reminiscent of classic 1960s or 1970s movies, which we adored. We indulged in delectable French fries and excellent drinks, thoroughly enjoying the experience with my girlfriends. The staff pleasantly surprised us with complimentary garlic bread, and the live performance was beyond exceptional. As a jazz enthusiast, this place was a perfect evening chill spot, and Im definitely planning to return for a full dinner experience. The crowd was equally fantastic.
I have never done this in my 60 yrs of life but feel compelled to do so here. I had the chicken. It was extremely dry with no flavour and if that s not bad enough you serve a chicken leg and advertise it as a half chicken - shameful
I enjoyed great performances and a fun atmosphere.
I highly recommend Jazz Bistro. The food is amazing. We had stake and the red snapper and were do delicious. Plus great jazz music.
A great music venue, among the top jazz clubs in the country, with excellent food and atmosphere. I am writing especially as a follow up to the George Coleman show last night, with Jean Michel Pilc, Pat LaBarbera, Ira Coleman, and Rich Irwin. George Coleman brought some real magic into the room; there was an immediate and deep sensation of connection from his sound and approach with the history of the music...including for me his time with Miles Davis ... this is very special. This was a stellar world-class band. George Coleman also invited several young guest musicians from town, performing his octet arrangement of Marvin Gayes Whats Going On - connecting it to these times. There was a electrified feeling in the room. I really appreciate the Jazz Bistro programming this concert, which does a great deal for the city and music community. I highly commend the club for this - thank you!
A chic establishment with a great atmosphere! I was with my wife and daughter. We really enjoyed it.
Best live jazz venue in Toronto. Great music and atmosphere, in a nice location
Music was great!! Stunning loved the musicians. Very grand royal vibe! $20 cover charge. A bit of different jazz - not exactly traditional jazz instruments- but great performance. Food was okayish. There was a bit of extra salt overall. From complimentary bread to squid salad to vegan gnocchi. It became great with tobacco. Red sniper main course was yumm! Service was good! Drinks were okay too. I liked my old fashion but my sis didn t like the chai blossom too much.
Just all around lovely, love everything about this spot.
The surprise cover charge of $20 per person added to your bill was not appreciated. If you are staying for dinner and ordering drinks, you ought not be charged cover. Otherwise it is a cool place. Decent food.
I had a deeply disappointing experience at this restaurant, encountering both fraudulent practices and hidden expenses. The conduct of the waiter and general manager was utterly appalling. Dining alone, I ordered fish and chips, only to find it tasted old. Upon receiving the credit card machine and checking it, I discovered that the waiter had added an 18 percent tip without my consent. I immediately brought this to the waiters attention, to which he replied that the restaurant has an automatic 18% gratuity policy for solo diners. Nowhere was this policy communicated to me during my visit, making it a deceitful attempt to overcharge. This is not only unethical but illegal. To add insult to injury, the waiter attempted to justify this practice by referring to the restaurants website policies. After spending 15 minutes checking, he claimed that the website had been updated and did not currently include an 18 percent gratuity tip for solo diners. This lack of transparency is unacceptable. Upon further escalation, the general manager intervened, scolding me for not wanting to comply with their 18% gratuity policy for one-person dining. This manager argued that they implemented this policy due to college students not tipping well, impacting the waiters livelihood. However, tipping is a voluntary gesture, and if you have concerns over the waiters livelihood as a general manager, you should pay them more rather than force customers to tip through deceptive means. Besides, I was charged an additional fee for a band performance, which I was okay with. However, in my experience dining at numerous downtown restaurants, this is the first to attempt to enforce an 18 percent gratuity tip for a single person. I am utterly disgusted by this establishments practices and have decided never to return. I strongly recommend choosing an alternative restaurant to avoid falling victim to their deceptive and fraudulent tactics. In fact, my lawyer advised me that deceptively adding an 18 percent gratuity for a single person dine in without reasonable notice and pressuring the customer to oblige can amount to fraud, which is punishable by a prison term of 2 years.
Great experience here last night. The staff was friendly, and the music and vibes were amazing. We will absolutely be back on the regular. Im happy to have found this place. 5 saxophones and 5 stars
They charged us $30 for two persons due to the live band and we did not know about that charge. They should have told us about the cover in advance as other places do.
The band is great! Food and drinks are ok. You would expect the wait staff to have the right training for a proper restaurant dine in. I recommend the music n drinks. Wasn t too impressed by the dining experience.
My first visit to the Jazz Bistro was almost 2 years ago and my wife and I were so excited to come back. We were pleasantly surprised and so happy to have the same waiters as on our first visit. Joey and Safe gave us another unforgettable experience from start to finish, and the live music, BETTER THAN EVER. Will definitely recommend to our friends.
A wonderful place to eat and relax after work or before a Mirvish Show.
Very good!
Server was very nice but lacked training. Food was amazing. Location was excellent with Mervish Theatre across the street. Live music is great but I didn t care for the random fusion jazz.
The jazz lounge atmosphere of my dreams. High quality performance. A large family kindly let us crash their private event here and we had a great time
I love this venue, both as a place to enjoy great music and food. But my first thought is that, as a performer, it s a great place to PLAY music! The whole JB team is so welcoming and professional. It s always a treat!
Amazing food, service, and music. Doesnt get any better.
The chef came out to make sure he whipped up a high end Vegan option for me! he wanted to say thank u for giving him a creative leaway & it was so delicious! The music was unforgettable & lovely! me an my party enjoyed the whole atmosphere & I can t wait to bring my FP here for Valentine s day! Dietary restrictions: Vegan
Visited this place on Dec 15th. The band performing were called Doghouse. Good music but not traditional jazz, more on the gospel/ country side. Overall vibe was nice, but the service was a little slow. We were seated for a good 15-20 mins before someone came to take our order. The staff were very nice and friendly though, and once our orders were taken we didn t wait too long for the food. The food was mediocre. The burger and steak were both too salty and the steak was actually pretty awful. If you go here, don t expect much from the food but the entertainment will be worthwhile.
The food was great but not necessarily great value.
The food and entertainment was excellent. The service was dismal. We sat for thirty minutes before anyone came to our table .
The best!!!