My rating is solely based on what I came for. I came to hear live jazz. It was absolutely awesome! Musicians from all over in a jam session. Just raw jazz. No frills! Nothing fancy! Just good music. It wasn't crowded either. Food? The shrimp basket was yummy! A bit overpriced, but good. Wings were okay. Service? Um, everyone is nice! But, don't bring high expectations on the service. Waitress was really nice, but the overall service was sometimes 'forgetful'....as in forgetting what you ordered. And some of the drinks on the menu weren't available. But, again....I came for the live music and this place delivers! Literally, a no frills spot to hear great music! We will definitely be back! read more

It was an early night and the spot was cool. I received great service from my waiter. I don't know his name.

Great for music but the bar needs to expand what they offer on the menu. The food is regular, I would recommend eating before you arrive. What was also disappointing was that they didn't have any good bourbon to make their old fashioned. I asked about 4 different bourbons and they didn't have any of them. So I opted for a margarita instead. You can go to eventbrite to reserve your seating. The promoter charges $50 per table for 2 seats. read more

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The restaurant is now called Moca. I went the other weekend for the first time with friends. We had a great time, flavorful drinks, good food. The menu is still developing but I'd love to try more. The DJ and music were a vibe! read more

I went for Sunday brunch, which is $24.99 per person. They advertise that you get a carafe of mimosa but you actually only get 1 included in the price. Then you can buy a carafe for $15. Brunch was also advertised to have a DJ but there was no DJ, just a playlist running. Additionally the brunch is supposed to be from 11a-3p. We arrived at 11:06a and had to wait until 12 noon for some of the food to be brought out. Although, it is all you can eat, you do not serve yourself. I suggest that no one show up until at least 1p because we left around 1p and they were still bringing out different dishes. Apparently the owner/chef does not start cooking all the items until they open and you must plan to spend the entire 4 hours there in order to get a chance to sample everything they are preparing for the day. Despite all those negatives and a few more, I still give this place 3 stars because of the service and owner. They are genuinely nice people and you can tell that they love what they do. But they can improve on the aesthetics of the place and timeliness. read more

Cafe 4212 - Red beans, collards and cabbage - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Was invited out to enjoy jazz and, after reading the reviews about parking mishaps, decided to take an Uber. I noticed that there was an available parking lot right next to the establishment, in which I saw people were parking, but I'm not sure whether or not I'd classify it as a safe area to park for this establishment. There were a few available spots on the street right outside the place, so if I had driven, I would have been thrilled. I read prior reviews about the parking situation, so I suppose it would depend on the night. Cafe 4212 is a decently sized jazz bar/restaurant where you have the option of sitting at the bar, within the lounge area, or outside on the patio. I opted to sit at the bar and quickly ordered a drink. I swiveled in my chair to take in the rest of the decor of this dimly lit bar while appreciating the vocal talents of the singer the night and her band. She sounded marvelous, although at times the music was overpowering, however, I loved her voice and her repertoire of music, which actually inspired me to visit a karaoke spot after. All in all, not a bad spot to hear some music and chill for a couple of hours. read more

Upon arrival parking was a breeze , entry was a bit embarrassing. Lady at the front insisted that I only purchased an entry ticket. When indeed I paid for a table. Literally saw my name in all caps on the list on her podium. The owner however, was quickly available saw the dilemma and walked me and my husband to our table. He also informed us about the patio area and glad the suggestion was made, it is a total vibe. The waitresses were very attentive and on top of our request. My husband ordered the fish and fries , there were no words soooooo tell the chef great job! The artist tho, I was in awe with each performance but that band that was there ........ cmon doc it was too much to contain they really did more than I could take amazing work. The lounge was nice, seating is great , u can see the stage from every part of the club. I celebrated my bday this night and it is one for the books. Thank you all for your wonderful service. read more

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Strictly Street Salsa has recently been hosting a new weekly Wednesday night salsa dancing at Cafe 4212. I have attended it two weeks in row & I am now totally hooked! Cafe 4212 is located inner city off Alameda road. Street parking is available on both sides of Alameda. There is a dedicated security guard that walks back & fourth watching over cars parked on the street. No cover charge, and upon your first Yelp checkin, you get a $5 off a premium beverage, not a bad start eh? Raul Edwards, director of strictly street salsa, makes a tremendous effort introducing new comers to the rest of the group. Such a warm and welcoming host, breaking the ice & making everyone feel at home, no other salsa venue does that for the record. Place starts to get busy ~ 9 pm as DJ begins playing Timba, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue tunes. There is a spacious & slick dance floor and is well ventilated. Couches & tables & chairs are throughout the Cafe. Bar service is great, in fact the appetizers & beverage prices were very decent, compared with other inner city venues. Good service, friendly atmosphere, & good tunes, is certainly a great way to end your hump day :) read more

Cafe 4212 - New Wed night Salsa Venue - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This is a good first of the night spot - where you go to get drinks and warm up before embarking on an epic bar crawl night - lol. The spot itself is pretty decent, appointed with all the usual tables, chairs, bar seating and TVs for sports events if something is going on. I like the buffet but as others noted, the food isn't always kept coming but hey, it's free. WINNER! read more

Cafe 4212 has been open for many years, I've attended numerous events here for 10+ years, it's a great space, nice patio as well. I will say, after so many years.....their bathrooms can use a serious upgrade! There is 1 large stall, which, I suppose, is supposed to be a handicapped stall, then 1 other stall that is painfully tiny and narrow.....and with a crooked toilet....balance yourself accordingly! What's equally disappointing......are the drinks, since I've been coming, the drinks are severely lacking in quality and flavor, I honestly do not understand why the bartenders are not properly trained. I'll return in the event other events are planned there that I'm interested in, but as I've done in the past....I'll have my drinks elsewhere. read more

Husband and I decided to visit to hear some comedy and live music. Arrived early as suggested but waited outside for awhile as the place looked empty. Eventually we went inside and sat at the bar. The comedians were not funny. Not at all! Like not even a heehee or haha but tried to use profanity to get a laugh. Nope!! Not working. There was also an issue with the microphone which was irritating. The live music was really good but extremely loud. I'm assuming they bright their own mic. Because the space is small it really echoed. The food is finger food and nothing special. Place got really crowded really quick. Next time we will do a table. read more

This is authentic jazz at its finest. I went on a Monday night and it was awesome. They had various jazz artist throughout the city dropping in to play some of the most soulful music your ever have the privilege to experience. I felt blessed to be in the building the talent was just mind blowing. The dude singing sounded just like the sounds from the roaring 1920's. I was thinking the whole time I was there that this must be what the good old days my grandma talked about felt like. Just a bunch of people dancing, having a great time, grooving to the beats. To top the night off their incredible Chef came around to the tables to give us samples of some of his signature dishes! I was a huge fan of the fish and grits. The drinks here are basic cocktails but they know how to give a good pour and the prices were very reasonable. A new Monday night hang out for me for sure. read more

Cafe 4212 - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

Awesome awesome vibes! We've been 2x now - once as a date night event and the second time with in laws. You'll definitely want to reserve seating in advance. Mariam Echo is effortlessly entertaining! The swag, the vocals, the improvisation - I'm here for it all! Friday and Saturday nights: Eats, Beats & Jazz! You don't want to miss. Waitress service could be a little faster for sure but, it's always packed so I get it, I guess ‍ Mariam will have you so entertained, you'll forget you ordered anyway! read more

I had a really good time here last night, Monday night. There was a live jazz band and they performed very well. This is an intimate setting and the crowd wasn't too big and not to small. Everyone was enjoying themselves. The service was good and the food was amazing. We got the fried catfish with cabbage and mashed potatoes and it tasted just like my grandma's cooking. My boyfriend couldn't stop raving about the food. The drinks were very inexpensive too. I will definitely return on a Monday night to enjoy the music, the cheap drinks and the food food. Perfect venue. read more

You will not be disappointed. Love this type of vibe then you will love this place. Food was great. Service was too.

Depending on your style, there was a party for the owner on this particular night and in my opinion if it had not been for the party there wouldn't have been any guests. Dance floor was not being utterly used, and by utterly, I mean nobody was on the dance floor. As usual the women were 5 to 1, and the 5-8 mens that was in there were holding down chairs. I will give a plus for the adequate usage of such limited space, and the set up of the club. Didn't get a chance to explore the patio, so that remains to be reviewed.. read more

Came here for their Sunday Brunch not too long ago and really enjoyed myself along with my date. The food is great and the staff was even greater. If I lived in the area, I'd come here every single Sunday. The place even had live entertainment along with a DJ spinning 90s hip hop and r&b hits. It's truly was a vibe in there. read more

Cafe 4212 - Mimosas - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Went to my friend's birthday brunch. I got there a bit late and brunch was ending...I hate that I missed it. Although my friend stated that hey kept running out of things and had to wait for them to refresh the food often. I wasn't to upset about missing the brunch be cause we decided to stay and party on the patio. Which was serving free Malibu frozens and bbq. We only got one free Malibu frozen . But I was okay with that...they were only $5 and they were good and refreshing! However the bbq was not ready and after a few hours. We were told by the waitress that they just came back from the store and were seasoning the meat. Possibly would give it another try just not for Sunday Funday! read more

I had Sunday brunch today and this place is a gem. They have a great Patio area too.

A neighborhood dive bar type of feel, if you are into that kind of thing. A friend and I decided to stop in here because they were a choice for Black Restaurant Week. We enjoy trying new places. On their flyer on BRW's website, it stated that it was a Thursday steak night. When we got there I tried ordering a Moscow mule and the bartender said they didn't have the ingredients to make it (but offered me Makers and ginger ale ). I asked could she make me a Makers and lemonade and she said she would have to make the lemonade. "That's cool! Do you make good lemonade?" Her reply was, "No." With a super unpleasant attitude. At least she was honest but I was over getting a drink by then. We asked about steak night she said they ran out of steaks. How? The place was minimally packed. By then, we decided to leave. read more

Loved the vibe, loved the music, loved everything. I came here on a late night with friends after dinner for an event. On the outside looking in, youd think it was some tiny hole in the wall. However, it's very big and spacious on the inside. I didn't order a drink or food so I cannot speak on that but I will say one of the employees did rub me the wrong way. Only because she made it seem as if we weren't ordering anything then we couldn't sit at the table. Luckily my friend informed her that another employee cleaned off the table for us and said that it was okay. Idk if she was trying to hustle/ play is but that didn't sit well with me. Besides that I truly enjoyed myself. read more

This place is open on Sundays for brunch. The buffet has many items, chicken,turkey,fish,gumbo,greens,grits and more. None of the food was appetizing. The fried chicken taste like Banquet frozen heat and serve. The gumbo didn't even resemble a gumbo taste. The food lacks seasoning. The ambiance is nice. The buffet is overpriced due to taste and choices, it should be $5.99. The staff were nice but I'll never come back. read more

I went here last week to an event and the place was understaffed. It took over an hour for my food and when I inquired, I was told I only ordered food 30 min ago. Not so. The server messed up and then when I asked about my order she put it in. When I went back to check on my order, the server called the cook out, he came out and proceeded to give me a plate with cold fries and when I said something this man says "Well I can make you some hot fries if you want" *blank stare, crickets" Who wants cold fries? I asked for the manager and when the server called him over and whispered in his ear, he never came over or acknowledge me. I will NEVER EVER EVER go back to this place. read more

This is the place to be for your Sunday brunch, if you didn't know now you know. Café 4212 have the best brunch to me hands down and unlimited mimosas are to die for. Well I only had two and that was good for me. The food was delicious, I went with my classmates for our 15 year class reunion and just about everyone was raving about how good the wings were, but me unfortunately I didn't get a chance to try them, but maybe next time. I can say the Mac and cheese was a big hit for me and the waffles and the cabbage. I will be going back soon to try the other delicious things that they had on the buffet. I believe they had over 20 plus dishes that they where serving for brunch. I know next time to just get a little bit at a time, oh yeah you really didn't need any syrup on the waffles because they where already sweet, but if you want that extra sweetness, do what you have to do and add that syrup on top. Hands down I will be returning Sunday after next because this Sunday I'll be out of the country, and I'm bring my BestFriend so that we can pig out together. read more

Omg this place is AHHHHMAZING!!! We had the cutest bartender who was gorgeous and gave us great drinks. I forgot her name but she had blue hair and the best makeup I've ever seen she was so pretty! The inside of this jazz lounge is sooooo nice and clean. Dressed with tons of gorgeous paintings. The band was so phenomenal. Such great talented men who played tonight. The staff were so nice and friendly. I wish we didn't eat before we came so we could try all the food. The people inside were sooooo welcoming and I hugged one of the gentlemen inside for being so kind to me! I think he was a regular or a manager. He was older and sooooo sweet. I wish we lived in Houston to come here more. Such great drinks, talent, and amazing people and music. I love this place! read more

Anyplace where I can feel comfortable singing along to my favorite tunes and doing a little 2-step is my kind of place. Located in 3rd ward off of Almeda this is definitely a cool ,hip and urban spot for all 25+. While there is no age restriction I'd say this is for the more mature crowd. Cafe 4212 is a restaurant by day a lounge by night, that caters to the mature night owl. They specialize in great events that surround the black community and urban culture. Great drinks, great staff and even better service. Street parking only. Stop by for a great time. Tell Walter I said HELLO!! read more

Awesome jazz bar! My girlfriend and I came here on a saturday night for dinner. The place was packed. Dinner tables are somewhat cramped but it adds to the ambience and isn't uncomfortable. The music was excellent! We had a lot of fun and will definitely come back. I wasn't expecting much from the food but it was actually pretty good. The dinner we had was prix fixe with a starter salad, chicken/jambalaya/veggie entree and strawberry/ice cream/brownie dessert. The service was also great considering how busy it was. Overall, highly recommended!! read more

I met a co-worker here on a Thursday night....This is the best Jazz Venue I have ever been to in Houston...There were amazing professional Musicians from New Orleans and other places....I also go the vibe that they were connected to Texas Southern University since the Host was a KTSU DJ....The place was packed and everyone was have a good time....They mixed good drinks and had great service....I will be back for sure...By far the best Jazz bar in Houston I have found so far....I love that his part of Almeda is bouncing back...I call it Lil' Harlem.... read more

This is the first time I've ever been here. I got invited to a business networking event, and it turn out that they double book the event tonight. It's all good, I enjoy the jazz and blues they been jamming in here. Great atmosphere, and great food! Remind me of the southern part of the country that I used to live in. They get really pack in here, great hang out place if you like their jazz night. read more

Cafe 4212 - Shrimps with cheese grits, oh so good!!! - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

One thing I love about Houston is the hidden culture. I met some friends here on a Friday night and it was crazy packed. The Dj played R&B tracks remixed house style. They have a cute little patio out back if you want to get away from the crowd. I gave them 3 stars due to the slow service. I waited 20 minutes for a class of wine from the bartender and we waited an excessively long time for the hookah we requested. Over all I would give it a second try because I enjoyed the grown and sexy mature adult crowd. And if you're a fan of house music, it's worth a shot. read more

So I finally went here! They have some event every 3rd Friday now with a different DJ in each room. So old school hip hop/r and b in the front and zydeco/reggae type (maybe) DJ on the humidity filled patio lol. Drink prices were ok. You could always find somewhere to rest your feet in the indoor area. The outdoor patio was nice but only had 1 fan on a humidity filled night in Houston and was PACKED with mostly african american folks in their late 20s 30s sweatin and dancin it out. Unfortunately I had sprained my ankle so couldn't dance but that humidity was a KILLER anyway if you intend to stay lookin good. All in all a good time, decent wine, and wow look out for the mixed drinks. Got 1 after a glass of wine and there's no shortage of liquor in there and too much liquor is no reason for complaint lol. Nice friendly female bartenders who actuallly treat females the same as males. Thank you for proving me wrong about female bartenders. I'll be back before I leave read more

We came here for brunch for someone's birthday. This place has so much promise. There is a great layout and it is huge with great lighting. It is so sad that it is not able to be run sufficiently. It is run like a homeboy's house and not a business. For 24.99 you are a supposed to get a buffet with a complimentary mimosa. Our waitress was very sweet, but she may have been overwhelmed because it took a while(15-20 min) to get my original drink. Went through the buffet line the first time and they were already running out of food so I got a little bit of each of what was left. Later I tried to go through again and was told by the server who was eating a plate full of food behind the buffet that they were out. Then another server goes to open many pans and say yea we are all out. Later on, someone who I assume was the owner cake to talk to us and says y'all get everything you need. WE went on to say no we were told you were out. He says no and calls one of the Guys who I previously asked. He says hey did you tell them we didn't have any food and this guy goes on to lie in front two other women who heard him say the same. Unprofessional! I am all for supporting black business, but its gotta be better than this. read more

I love this spot as well, has a great atmosphere, and nice group of people. R&B Music was nice. Everybody dancing and enjoying themselves. I have not tried the food yet. I think there drinks are rather pricey. I ordered a skittles and it was $18. But that was all I needed. Lol. Its very spacious inside as well. The front side is none smoking and a huge patio out back for smokers. Overall a great place to mingle. Cost is $10 to get in, not much but when the drinks are expensive there should be no cover charge. read more

My Rating for Cafe 4212 is NO STARS!!! It is Sweltering HOT!!! in this place. The drink prices are inflated. The wait staff suck and management does NOT seem to value taking good care of patrons who have paid over $200 for bottle service. Its obvious the owner is only interested in raking in money, not investing in an air conditioning system to adequately cool this so called UPSCALE HOT BOX!!!! Signed, NOT IMPRESSED read more

We went friday night to celebrate my birthday. Paid the fee to reserve an area for 25-30 people so we were expected. The service was subpar. Some food was great other peoples food was cold, some French fries were great others refried and hard, chicken cold. Some tickets weren't even turned in when the orders were taken, drinks are watered down, 2 people ordered same drink 2 different glasses 2 different taste. i chose this place for the hip hop dj but it was more old skool r&b with a little hip hop. The atmosphere was nice. But be careful where you park 2 cars had busted windows that night, mine was 1 of the 2. Parked in lit post office right next door. We wont return. read more

Thank You Cafe 4212 & Wanda for making my Husband 45th Birthday Party Memorable. Wanda made sure everything was perfect for the event. We had a wonderful time the Food was awesome and the drinks was on point. I soooo loved the Special Drink that was named after my husband and offered to guest for a great price. The gorgeous paintings matched the Red / Black decorations beautifully. The DJ keep the Club Jammin and floor packed like a Old School Party. Ironically I passed Cafe 4212 several times and never realized it was a club. Thanks to my Sister/Friend for recommending it was a great choice. I look forward to my next visit. read more

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Great ambiance. Cover charge was 10.00.I attended on a Saturday night... Live band in front and dj on patio. Good drinks. Tasty fried catfish. Friendly bartenders read more

Great music, friendly staff and musicians are the best. They are truly a band of brothers!! They spotlight the talents of the older and younger musicians while remembering those that have passed on! Great night at Cafe 4212 during April to celebrate Jazz read more

I went there with my wife and 2 friends June 30th-- great R&B band --woman singer sang some great stuff-- Erika Badu, Sade, --- great funky vibe-- huge patio in the rear of the club. Everyone i met was friendly. Food was good--limited snack menu--had fried catfish and chick wings. Drinks were strong. You are pretty close to Downtown with views of the downtown skyline in front (Third Ward) read more

Let me start this review by saying that I have never dined here. This review is based on my experience with booking this place for a private event. Contacted Mr. Robinson via email to discuss using this facility for a private event. He emailed me back suggesting that we set up a meeting to discuss my event. He and I met, and I gave him a rundown of what I was planning to do. He seemed very interested in my idea and ended our meeting with him promising to email me the next day with his decision. The next day came and went and I never heard anything from him. After a week, I sent him a followup email, because I know we all get busy, especially if you are a business owner. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear from Mr. Robinson and its been over 2 weeks now. Its funny how things work out though...I follow Cafe 4212 on Twitter and I am a member of their Facebook group. I've been getting tweets and Facebook messages about upcoming events at Cafe 4212 since my initial meeting with them, but no one has the common courtesy to email me or at least followup on the meeting we had. Surely this cant be the proper way to operate a successful business? As far as private events go, this is not a place I would suggest considering. Take your business somewhere else. read more