Let me tell you, Red Cat Jazz Café is the place to be if you love the arts and the jazz scene. This place is absolutely top-tier, and I honestly believe it deserves to be discovered by more people especially young artists and creatives. The owners are some of the sweetest, most welcoming people you'll ever meet, and the bar drinks are amazing. So if you're looking for a place to dress up, enjoy great music, sip on delicious cocktails, and have a cute, vibey night out, Red Cat Jazz Café is the place for you. read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

We had a super fun time at the Red Cat Jazz Cafe! We went on a Saturday night and my husband purchased tickets online to see the live jazz band. The band was phenomenal! They did do not offer food but they have a bar and a menu with drink options. I did not order a drink but my husband ordered an old fashioned and he said it was ok. I would like to come back again to see the live jazz band. read more

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This is my first time visiting this establishment. I came for Poetry Night, hosted by Black Snow. The building is a rehabilitated brick building in downtown Houston. I do like the brick wall, it gives the business character. Please note this establishment does NOT currently serve food. They do have a bar but it seemed short on variety. The bartender was really slow and it took forever to get a drink when there was only 1 person in line. I have a philosophy, if you have to wait an unacceptable amount of time to get a drink, ya probably don't meet it. I found the drinks expensive for what was offered. The bartenders were from Bar Divas. I was totally underwhelmed! The business is only open Thursday through Sunday, with live music Saturday an Upon arriving I pulled into a coffee parking lot to verify the address. The attendant informed me there was a $10.00 parking fee and that it would cost more across the street. I chose to park free on the street. I despise these parking lot vultures. I am reserving my recommendation until an additional visit. read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Menu - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

Red Cat Jazz Cafe is back. It was a pure coincidence stumbling upon this legendary scene that provides some amazing sounds. I was a walk in their is a cover fee which is normal for live performance it was $20. The host was great let me know what to sitvv v outside of reserved tables. The view is still amazing and the vibe is also. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is because they have a bartender/cocktail waitress but she never stopped at the table to ask if I needed a drink only went to the reserved tables. This maybe their policy for them to only come from behind the bar for guest who reserved but their should be a way to let people know that or have a separate person to come to the other tables. Other than that everything was great. I will be back for more. Welcome back to this business Houston has missed you read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Bar - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had an amazing time.. get there early for a great seat. The music was so good I felt like I knew the guy on the keyboard from church.. I didn't have food but I did get a drink a little pricey but it was worth it... the restroom was open not a lot of privacy. Clean ,nice vibes , people were very friendly welcoming ... the outside atmosphere was cool too my husband was outside smoking his cigar and finishing his drink from another lounge and he was not hassle to pour his drink out... however we understood we couldn't bring it into the cafe.. a very sexy read more

Red Cat is back! Great space, music and vibes. Drinks are strong and well priced. Parking is available on the street or nearby lots. Looking forward to the food options they will be having with the food truck. You can order Uber Eats for now. read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Live jazz - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

We went last night to catch THE GUMBO JAM - live music jam session and mannn it was a VIBE!! The entrance was a breeze, cut photo backdrop in the front, amazing cocktails and the Gumbo was amazing! The bartender was attentive and gave a great pour. The live music, spoken word and singing were all great! Can't wait to return next month. read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Cute back drop in front of - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was looking for something fun to do online when I saw that the legendary Red Cat Jazz Cafe had returned. I decided to check it out with a friend, and it was a truly amazing experience. It is clear that jazz is back in Houston, and I am so pleased to have been there to witness it! The atmosphere was soulful, and the talent was top-notch. Located right in Midtown, the club was incredibly easy to get to with plenty of nearby charm. This is a must-visit for any music lover! read more

Came in before dinner service and the staff and owner took care of us. We had the gumbo and it was delicious. My lemon drop was good and strong. The music and ambience is perfect. We will be coming back! Thank you guys for making our stop a great experience. read more

Amazing atmosphere! Great vibe! Amazing food! And out of this world jazz music. Service was great! Drinks are definitely worth it!

I must eat dinner like a senior citizen. When we first tried to get in the door on a Saturday to have a meal at the Red Cat Jazz Cafe, we were turned away and told to return at 7:30. They were really polite about it but they looked at us like we were high when we showed up an hour early. So, dine late. Or at least at the time when I suppose normal people eat. When we finally did return and get a table, we noticed that all of the tables up near the band were reserved for the evening. As we listened to the band warm up, we looked over the menu of Cajun offerings. The spinach and articoke dip was nice and warm and the pita chips were fresh. As we were eating, someone came from the kitchen with more chips as they were afraid we didn't have enough with our appetizer. My husband and I both ordered the chicken with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. After the filling appetizer, I knew there was no hope of me finishing the meal even though it was very good. Red Cat Jazz Cafe would probably have been more fun if we had been hungry at a more reasonable hour but it was fine for the time we dined there. For future visits I would suggest reservations and dining after 8. read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came with a friend for the jazz and jokes night. We got there early and didn't realize they had a scandal viewing party which was a complete bonus. After scandal the Jazz musicians started promptly at nine without their keyboardist who was late. It was distracting watching him try and set up around his band members who were playing but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do. Once everyone was there the music sounded good. The comedy performers were mediocre with the funniest person being the mc. One comedian seemed to have bee given more time than he had prepared for so after a while he was just babbling on stage so we left. The venue is nothing to rave about but it was clean and had nice bathrooms. The food was horrible- bland, overpriced and low quality. I mean it was really bad and the wine was of the lowest quality The waitress was friendly but you can tell she wasn't adequately trained. My salad and dinner came out at the same time and I think I was suppose to get bread but that never came. At the end the worst was the check service. I was overcharged for wine and didn't realize it until after I paid. The waitress attempted to bring me a new bill but didn't bring me a record of the previously canceled check. She tried to assure me that it was fine but offered to send over then manager who could explain something about their ops being PayPal? He never came but sent over $)6.00 to reimburse me. What they still didn't get was that I paid taxes and tip on the incorrect amount. It's only a few dollars but it's the principle of the whole thing. All in all a very underwhelming experience. My advice is to go for the entertainment. Pay cash and order a basic well drink from the bar. read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Started right on time. Keyboardist was late but the show went on without him. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

Sunday Brunch consisted of scrambled eggs ham and turkey, no carving stations . Green salad some type of fish and pastries grits and Russell Potatoes with seasoning plus fruit and chicken wings . Food needed seasoning it was hot but tasteless, ordered mimosa @4 each other beverages $3.77 . Plates were chipped/dirty which shouldn't be served on, plastic red cups had seen better days . Service was a little off , we had to wave her down a few times I thought I was in a parade , because I waved several time . But the Jazz performance was nice which made up for the disappointing meal. #EatingismyHobby# read more

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- $10 before 10pm and $20 after 10pm... (decent: if before 10pm of course ) - Friendly Staff, surprisingly... ( a plus ) - Great music... (saturday night Dean James) - 95% African Americans... (fyi) - 1 Waitress, 1 Waiter for the whole cafe... (not good) - The whole middle center tables were "reserved", and empty most of the time. (not cool)... - Nice contemporary design (nice)... - Drinks is average $7... - No drink menu, you have to know what you want... - No food is served here... - Water is free... - Parking: I parked one block over by a meter and therefore didn't pay for parking. (yay)... - Parking across the street was $10 (fyi)... - Once we left homeless people approached us, we talked to them, they were friendly, but still. (FYI)... - Cover charge can be paid with cash or credit card. If you pay with cash bring small denomination bills like 1's, 5's and 10's... We tried paying with 20's individually and she didn't have change, so me and my friends just decided to pay each other back since the lady could not give us change.... Over all I enjoyed my self and will return. read more

Red Cat Jazz Café - Dean James on Saturday nights. - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Houston, Texas

My wife purchased tickets here for NYE. Overall it was ok. I wouldn't recommend it for a NYE party, but we had a great time there. I love the fact we truly received what we paid for. She purchased VIP tickets and we initially shared a table with an older couple front row center! The host was very kind and even took our picture where a photo booth was set up. The music performances and band were very entertaining. One of the performers was even kind enough to sing my requested selection, hence an enhanced rating. We enjoyed our experience and would encourage anyone to try it out and see if it's your flavor. read more

My wife and I were extremely excited about the return of the Red Cat. I'd been once and she'd been several times to the old Red Cat in the old location--and we both had fond memories of the experience. We went last night (Saturday) expecting to chow down on some appetizers or perhaps heavier fare, get our drink on, and enjoy some live jazz in a pleasant atmosphere. Well, we were sadly disappointed. My first ill feeling came as we were trying to find the place. It's a good thing we knew the address because there's no sign posted outside. We were greeted by a $20 cover charge each, which seemed a bit much but hey...we wanted to patronize the nation, hear some good jazz, and return to this supposedly reborn club. The second bad feeling came when we sat down and my wife stated the old club was much more "restaurant-like." I honestly couldn't remember the old look, as I'd only been once, so in an effort to just go with the flow I remarked that perhaps this new look was in an attempt to be more of a jazz club that serves food, rather than a restaurant that has live jazz. The waitress came over and we immediately asked for menus, since we'd held off all day waiting to do this. Her response? "I'm sorry, we don't have menus...but the bartender can make whatever you want." We replied that we meant for the food. Waitress: "Oh, we don't serve food." Somewhat perplexed, I confirmed, "This is the Red Cat Jazz Cafe, right?" She affirmed, so I pointed out that the website indicates they have food. At this point we were pretty much done, so I accompanied her as she went to confirm with the hostess that they don't in fact serve food. I pointed out to the hostess that their website has a Menu/Catering button, and she had the nerve to respond that "yea but if you click on it, nothing comes up." When I told her they should probably remove the button then, the only thing she could think to reply with was that the owner was working on doing that. I didn't bother pointing out that such a website modification would take no more than 2-3 minutes, and did not require several months of planning and strategizing. Rather, I just requested a refund of our cover and we left. Thankfully the parking lot attendant was ok with returning our $10 parking fee as well...since we'd only been in the place 5 minutes. We did find a place to dine and enjoy live music, and once we arrived home much later I checked the Red Cat's website again just to confirm that my eyes had not deceived me. When you click the Menu/Catering button, you get a page asking that you call them to set up catering. There's no actual menu, but my first assumption from that would be that they just hadn't added the menu to the website yet...not that they didn't serve food. More importantly, the Home page intro states "Red Cat Jazz Cafe is back and better than ever relocated in downtown Houston on 711 Franklin Street providing better parking, live music and southern cuisine..." Can you say FALSE ADVERTISING?" I want to see the Red Cat survive, but come on folks...you can't disappoint like this then follow up with lame excuses. Also, beef up your web presence. This is the 21st Century and you will not survive with a barely updated Facebook page and inaccurate website. Don't know how to do it yourself? Surely some staff member's son, daughter, niece, nephew, your neighbour...someone near and dear to you could manage your web presence. I will probably try Red Cat again, because I'm sure now that I know what to expect I can just plan to go when all I want is liquor and music. //endrant read more

The worst brunch I've ever experienced. The food tasted like the cheapest frozen meal you could buy at at a grocery store. The selection is small and food runs out quickly so after about the first 5 people getting a hearty serving of the food, it's gone and you have to wait about 10 min per food item to be put out again. People in other reviews repeatedly talked about the stale waffles and potatoes and pork chops... that was not even there. I could pick from 4 hot food items. The oranges in the fruit salad were mixed into the salad with the skin still on and the sticker still on the skin. I was expecting "amazing jazz" as the voice message says when you call the place but it was a solo guitar performance with the artist taking too many breaks and us listening to a recording instead. Honestly, the most delicious thing there was the water. Our waitress was also delightful. Upon exiting, a group of guests that just finished brunch was deciding between supplementing this meal with Jack and the Box or some other fast food place. My bf and I decided to try overriding our brunch experience by going to another place nearby that was well rated on Yelp and the funny thing was that the entire large group that sat in front of us at Red Cat was already at this other place, probably trying to salvage their brunch experience too. Very very disappointed. read more

Have passed by this spot many times and always wondered what was going on. Now I know, great music and laid back atmosphere. We sat at the bar and listened to the band knock out some great R&B and Soul. The people around us were really friendly and curious as to our accents!! Apart from that I was conspicuous by the fact I was wearing my 'new' Blue suit and must have appeared slightly overdressed for the occasion. On the downside, within 15 minutes of us getting there they had run out of Grey Goose and Belvedere and only had the 'house' Vodka left. I was offered the chance to sample before I bought and did so. What I noted, apart from a potential replacement fuel for the Space Shuttle, there was no way I could use it so I settled for a Long Island I T and the way the lady mixed that was something to behold (measures, what measures!!) and it tasted good as well. Forgot to mention, in their defense, we didn't roll in there until after midnight so I can partially forgive them for running short on the Vodka (& RedBull). I will definitely visit again. ftr I did not eat so cannot vouch for their grub read more

This kind of place is exactly what Houston needs but it needs to be be done right. I went here on a Saturday night with 2 other friends and was highly disappointed. I now understand why they closed the first time and don't think they'll be open much longer the way things are looking. First of all the cover was $20.00 for this antiquated and musty lounge. It doesn't appear that any renovations were done when this place was bought and reopened. I get the feeling they threw in some tables and chairs hung a few pictures and said open the doors. The "sound system" and I use that lightly was sub par at best. How can you open a Jazz club with poor sound? That's like opening a pizza shop with an oven that doesnt bake well. Halfway through the last set the band had to apologize for the sound and asked the crowd to work with them. My last issue was the service or lack there of. There was 1 waitress there for the entire place. I'm so serious, on a Saturday night! So you would have to flag her down to get a drink and wait about 15 minutes for them to arrive. On the last round we ordered 3 rounds at once to get us through the night. Its sad when patrons are happy to sip on watered down drinks just to keep from waiting 15 minutes for refreshed ones to arrive. The 2 stars I gave are solely for Dean James and his band. That was the only thing even worth rating. Its sad that a large metropolitan city like Houston only has this to offer for live smooth jazz. If your in the mood for live music in a trendy and comfortable setting I check out Eddie V's, Sambuca or Scott Gertners. read more

Worst brunch of my life No organization at all, rude arrogant staff.. From the beginning, we arrived and nothing was ready, they had no food or music, no tables ready, we had to wait for everything. FYI there is no Jazz band, just one guy with a guitar singing whatever he wanted but Jazz.. The buffet took about 40 minutes to be ready, by that time all the tables were full of hungry people, so of course when they finally announced you can go to the buffet a 50 people line formed, another 25 minutes wait line. And it got worse, after the 25 person the food run out, there were no plates either, no silverware anymore, it was a total disaster. I tried complaining to the staff and they were very rude, they don't apologize, they were very arrogant and pretty much ignored me. By the time I went back to my table (with the little food I could grab) the waitress had brought my coffee and it was cold for all the waiting, I complained again, she just took the cup without letting me speak and said "yes I know", brought me another one (and charge me both coffees). I asked for sugar, she said some else has it (pointing at the other tables), I didn't know if she wanted me to look for it or what, she looked at me upset and finally she brought it, and a couple of minutes later she took it away from my table without a word, didn't ask us or say anything, just walked by and took it away and gave it to the next table. Later we ordered another coffee and took about 20 minutes to arrive. So we left, paying for an extra coffee, paying for a kids buffet adult price (they don't have a kid price buffet) and very upset we couldn't try the food we wanted form the buffet, we couldn't even had eggs. I will never again try this place. read more

WARNING WARNING sub par brunch for $20...is not worth it. The ambiance is nice. Some of the plates were fine china, but the plastic salt and pepper shaker was out of place. Oh, there was only 1 salt and pepper shaker for my section. We were told that the waffle make was broken and there will be no waffles today. The food was all right, just below the luby's (has pancakes and waffles) weekend breakfast level. The table next to me was young lady and her daughter, requested extra roll. The staff advised that they are limited and will check with kitchen. The fruit (3 grapes, 2 slices of oranges and half of a strawberry) was good. It seems as though the staff wasn't prepared for such a big group After the review the food choices, THE ONLY REASON I STAY FOR MY FRIEND BIRTHDAY PARTY! Birraporetti"s and Pappadeaux are near by of Sunday Brunch service...Helpful FYI If you have any question contact me 832 651 8785 read more

The two stars are for the music only. The music here is always awesome. Service, on the other hand is always terrible. As much as I love music, I wont come here for lack of professional and courteous service. It's always the same story: Drinks take forever to be served, food is delayed so much that by the time it gets to your table its cold. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

Mouse!!! I was having a great evening listening to the music when I heard some ladies screaming and I thought they were just drunk. But then a mouse casually walked next to our table (we were in the back). It was finally picked up by the staff after I had to sit on my table for a minute. I understand this is the Bayou City but this mouse seemed sick since it walked so slowly around so many people. (Where's that infamous red cat when you need it?). The manager came by I think b/c he heard me say I was going to post this on Yelp but he should've at least comped us a drink :-) Great music, slow service, and, please, beware the menu!!! (I still give three stars for good atmosphere and quality of music.) read more

There are much better places to go to for live music than this joint. & for someone who loves music, i know that half of the sound is the atmosphere. This lounge isn't too bad if they didn't have the laziest and careless servers. My drinks came late and the food is waay sub par, especially since my blood is creole & i know what cajun cooking tastes like. None of the entree's i've ever had here were even decent. And you have to pay a cover charge? Maybe its me. Maybe i drink with my pinky up and walk in suede shoes on red carpet everywhere i go, even in a port-a-poty. I could be that brutha, but im far from it. This spot is not the place to be. read more

I just tried their Sunday brunch. I came here at the old location years ago for open mic night, which I loved. The old location was much nicer to me. This location is more cramped, less sophisticated and has bad acoustics. The decor is all mismatched, and the tables are too close together. Our poor waitress had a hard time being efficient with the cramped layout, but she was sweet nonetheless. The food in the buffet was mostly cold, not replenished quick enough (people were waiting in line for food more often than not) and the items on the line kept changing. I felt like they were just cooking up whatever they could find in the kitchen instead of having a clear plan of what was to be served, then only bringing it out to the chaffing dishes AFTER it got cold in the kitchen. The grits were good, but anything is good that is full of butter and cheese. The eggs were fluffy and simple; the waffles tasted chewy like they were microwaved; and I think I've seen those pastries at Costco. The fish was overcooked, but had good seasoning. The location of the buffet line is awkward. People in line for food are up on the guests sitting in the bar. We ordered carafes of mimosas that were more orange juice than "champagne", but still cost 25 dollars a pop! I'm sure the sparkling wine was $2.99 a bottle at most, so I felt it was way overpriced. I understand up selling, but that was a bit ridiculous. The live entertainment was excellent, but wasn't a jazz band (it was a one man show), but he was very talented and friendly. Jawad, I think was his name. Unfortunately he finished early and was replaced by way too loud music tracks. Our glasses of overpriced mimosas, I mean orange juice, were trembling from the bass. We held on tight to our glasses for fear of spilling a drop. There were a ton of staff just standing around on phones or talking to each other instead of seeing to the guests. That is a big pet peeve of mine. I don't like walking out a door of a restaurant without being told goodbye and/or thank you, and I don't like having to hold the door open for myself, especially with 3 or 4 hostesses standing right there with apparently nothing to do. I'd suggest Sambuca's for a better downtown live jazz meal. Also, the website says the seatings for brunch are at 11PM and 1AM instead of 11AM and 1PM. Oops! There should be information on parking on the website as well. read more

I purchased a Groupon for Sunday Brunch in 2013 that ran until April 2014. I purchased the groupon with the intent to take some friends that were coming into town a couple of weeks after the OCTOBER purchase. Reservations were required and when I went online they had nothing available until DECEMBER! This was not going to work. I went to their website and emailed, I contacted groupon and was advised to contact the restaurant directly. I received no response to my email so I emailed again a week later with still no response. I called and was told another time to call to speak with a manager and did so 3 times before I contacted the Better Business Bureau. I have filed a complaint and have still not received a response from Red Cat! Is it too far fetched to ask for my $40 back since no services were received? I did all this MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION. I doubt I will ever receive a response but I do know that my yelp review cannot be deleted by them! You have been warned. I hope by seeing the other horrible reviews that this place will soon go out of business for their poor business practices and subpar social responsibility acts. read more

What happens to a business that has a prime location and great concept but executes it poorly? Red Cat Jazz.! I left the Cafe off the name since the place no longer sells food, so can you really call yourself a cafe? Do not get me wrong, I had a great time with my girlfriends and I'm on vacation too :P---I made the most of the experience, BUT before I began to partake of my adult refreshments, my first impression walking into the cafe was not of a jazz club but more of a hole in the wall. There was entirely too much black and not enough cool colors to make the place indicative of a jazz club. The lopsided tables did not help to change my first impression--especially when you see cheap white napkins folded under the table to balance it. Reminded me more of high school lunch time more than anything. Upon seeing this, I think that is when I decided to go to the bar. They had some drink special going on, but I usually have my norm to make my evening start of quickly--a hurricane! Unfortunately, the bartender informed me that he did not have all the ingredients for my request; instead he could substitute champagne? When I asked him would he make me something else if I didn't like it, he gave me no answer. Really? You want me to pay for an experimental drink? I think not! Lucky for me, there was a gentleman at the bar who purchased my drinks for the night. My second drink was actually MUCH better by another bartender. He made the best (and strongest) Long Island I had, but be forewarned: $10 is the least you'll pay for the drinks. Fair trade since you can find free street parking and get in free before 9pm on Thursdays. As far as the live music is concerned--pretty good. Not a big dance floor in the place, so when a line comes on you may be squished, but most of the people were really friendly and mature. On the other hand, I could have did without the spoken word artist that night. He had partaken of too many drinks before hitting the stage and was making no sense--just using a lot of profanity. Overall, I didn't have to stand all night in my heels, seats were pretty comfortable, they played a mixture of music to dance and groove to, and the bathroom was clean. In fact, it looked like the bathroom had been renovated although it became a tight squeeze to get in and out of the stalls once a lot of people were trying to use the facilities. I'd go back again to see if my first impression was biased by others who came to the old Red Cat and told me this present one is not as good--especially without the food to balance your alcohol intake! If I had to pay for parking and cover, I would not come to this place, but being able to accommodate a group of friends impromptu is an advantage. read more

Decent little hole-in-the-wall joint in downtown Houston. Cover charge was $10 and the jazz music here is pretty chill. Sat at the bar with my brother-in-law and nephew and together the 3 of us enjoyed a nice conversation with a bartender who was fighting thru her first night there. For the most part she did good with the drinks, taking our suggestions and consulting with another coworker when asked to make a drink she wasn't familiar with. One side note though. If you're a smoker and want to step outside with your drink u can only do so at the back of the club. That being the case just be aware that there's a gay club next door so you're likely to be sharing your space with there patrons on the patio. read more

The most this cafe' had to offer was the atmosphere. Great location, live music was pleasing, and most of the wait staff was welcoming and helpful. However, for Brunch sadly I would not recommend it. 1) We requested a reservation for 25, and received seating for about 15. 2) You have to pay for brunch before being seated, (mind you the menu is not available anywhere), and then you have to come back and swipe cards/pay cash for Taxes and Gratuity. The menu when we were there consisted of Grilled Porkchops and Fish, some type of Potato, Cheese eggs, Waffles, mixed vegetables, rolls, and salad. Personally, this is not a brunch menu to me. The food was ok, but I've most definitely had better. There was no line, nor was it very busy at all. And I see why. As an African American I love to support black businesses, but I felt all these individuals cared about was money; not providing an exceptional experience for their patrons. HOWEVER, I've been to this place for night events and loved it. I'd just avoid the brunch. read more

This is one of those 'It was good, BUT.....' spots. As long as you don't go in expecting a night at Sambuca or House of Blues, I'm sure you'll have an enjoyable time. The atmosphere and decor leaves so much to be desired. But, if you just want to hear some good music, this place work I ordered wings that were drowned in hot sauce. And the emcee was just awful. I think he believed he was a comedian. He stunk worse than week old diapers. He killed the whole vibe between sets of the performer of the night, Andre Pitre. The act was awesome. Played a mix of new, old and original music. I guess the wait staff was overwhelmed by the full house, because service was slow at best. FYI, if you make reservations for two, you may get stuck sharing a table with strangers. I guess it really doesn't matter once the music starts. Again, just trying to help you set your expectations. Long story short; I'd come back knowing what I was in for. read more

You might imagine this to be the kind of place to don your best beatnick outfit, snap your fingers and say the word "cool" alot, but it's not that pretentious. It is a cool place to get a drink after work and listen to music. Its muted red and black color scheme enhances its laid back environment. A bit of a warning - if you're the self-conscious type, try not to come during performances. The front door is placed right by the stage area. If you come while somebody is up, get ready to strut your stuff while you make your way back to the bar. read more

So glad that this Cafe has been reopened and is under new ownership! The new name is AL J Bar and Lounge it's open Thurs. - Sat for now. Definitely one of my favorite places in the downtown area. read more

The Sunday Jazz brunch is buffet only. Limited selection and uneven quality. I liked the grits, but one of my friends did not. The scrambled eggs were very wet and runny. The fish was tasty, but I would pass on the pork chops. The seating is very cramped and the setup is a little awkward. Make sure you're not sitting near the speakers if you want to have a conversation. Overall, I would say it's not bad, but definitely over priced. read more

HORRIBLE! I went for a colleague's birthday brunch and it was all horrible. The buffet ran out of food and had to wait over 30 minutes to refill. The drinks were okay and poor waiters/waitresses were receiving the backlash. They ran out out pastries as well. As the party and I were exiting, the trash can was overflowing with empty pastry containers from either Sam's or some grocery store. No authentic from scratch cooking. The musician ignored my request so that he can rush and leave. Just not a good experience. I have heard this before about the restaurant but still wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. I will never go again. read more

This place is great! A friend and I went on a Thursday night, arriving around 11:00. There was a $10 cover charge and Sylvester LeBlanc was performing that night. I was a little leery of paying that much to get in, but it was totally worth it. The atmosphere was mature (most of the crowd was at over 35) and the music was perfect. Fortunately for us it wasn't crowded, because the tables are pretty close together. A booth opened up shortly after we got there, though, and of course we grabbed it. I had the Red Catfish Strips appetizer. Not too pricey and really tasty. The apple martini was well made, not too strong. The waitstaff was attentive and very polite. Overall, it was a great place to spend an evening. read more

We loved their Sunday brunch! Couldn't decide where to go for brunch, so checked Groupon. Saw the deal and knew from past experience (with other places) to make a reservation before buying the Groupon. No problem making a reservation, so got the Groupon and were all set. Then read the yelp reviews and was a bit concerned.... when we arrived, the hostess was seating people. Had to wait a bit, 5 min? She was asking people if they had a Groupon or LivingSocial deal and processing that before seating. She was very friendly, welcoming, and efficient. Looked like every table was filled. When we were seated, a server quickly came over, introduced herself and took our drink orders. Went up to the buffet line - Eggs, grits, sausage, ham, pasta Primavera, porkchops, fried fish, chicken wings, biscuits, waffles, Sam's-club like pastries & some muffins. They were out of plates when we walked up, but some or quickly brought. The food was being replenished promptly. It was all quite tasty!! The one musician playing was very good. Ambience was very nice Service was good - The server apologized for delays, but there really weren't any. Plates could have been removed a little quicker but it didn't bother us at all At the end, I mentioned the negative reviews. The lady said that they've hired new kitchen staff and additional servers. Look forward to going back! read more

I am sure everyone's experience is a little different. Disorganized seating, stained table cloth, cold foot. Out of most foods, ran out of plates often. Friendly people but poor service. No Jazz band but a solo guitar. Not bad but that's it. I would not recommend the Cafe for brunch. read more

I like the new location. The ambiance is nice but the lighting is awful!! We were all enjoying the music from the band but the overhead lights were shining directly in our faces instead of on the band. Some people put their sunglasses on! We asked if they could tone down the lights a bit. They adjusted it temporarily but then wound up turning them back up. "Red Cat, please get proper stage lighting for the band and create a pleasant atmosphere for the patrons." We miss the appetizers also. read more

I used to work at a preschool that wanted to start offering lunches and snacks as part of the tuition. To do that, at least 3 staff members needed to be food certified. And unless a full on kitchen was built, they could only get the license that allowed them to "cook" using hot water and a microwave. Why am I telling you? Because this is how Red Cat Jazz "Cafe" (let's use that term loosely) cooks their food. How I know: Everything tastes prepackaged and looks identical to the batch before. The roast is mostly fat, dried out meat, with the same herbs over and over. The pastries looked like they came from Sam's, straight out of a box. The eggs were made with just adding water to a mix. The waffles are not freshly made. Fresh waffles are imperfect. These have no flaws, which actually turns out to be a bad thing. And they were cold. We are thrilled to have paid with Groupon. You are wasting money doing it any other way, if you must try this place. Now for the bad (You thought we were already there, huh?): - No bacon! Whuuuuut? Who serves brunch with no bacon? These guys. - Grits were super salty and I'm a salt lover. - Fruit consisted only of strawberries. - When we asked for butter, we were shown a huge block of butter. On a plate. The syrup was cold too. - (I wish I could bold this but there isn't that feature on Yelp, so I shall do all caps) NO SNEEZE GUARDS OVER THE FOOD. This means allllll the people talking and laughing while waiting in line, get to spread their germs. They have all food in chaffing dishes/buffet warmers but no covers. All the food loses heat and gets covered in germs. YUK. BIG YUK. Really. Save yourself from this experience and pay $10-15 more for a real brunch. Also, I would ask the owners to please turn on the lights. We had to use our phone flashlight to see our food. Lastly, the seating hostess caught me looking at the waffle on my plate with scrutiny. She said there was cinnamon in the waffles. Ok. But they are cold. I told her it was all cold. And pointed out that there were no covers. She agrees. But is quick to mumble something about it following code and that they are working on it. Considering the other complaints, I'd say they have a lot to work on. Reservations are needed because it's small. Which is good for a jazz joint. But not for brunch. Hubby and I are actually off to have a real meal elsewhere because we are still hungraaaaay. Neither of us got filled up. There were only 11 items: Eggs, Potatoes, Turkey (which didn't make an appearance again), pork chops, roast slices, fish, sausage, grits, pasta, waffles and salad. Blech. Never again. read more

I have to say that this place is just a-ok. I recently went on a saturday evening.When i arrived there was a $10 cover charge. Which was not bad considering the wonderful music that was playing. When i got to the bar to order red wine i asked to see a menu to see what choices i had...well the bartender told me they only had one kind. SO i asked what kind, merlot? shiraz? or atleast the name, his response was red wine. so i ordered "red wine". The lack of variety turned me off. Once again the music is what made this place ok. i might try it another time if a jazz musician i love comes to Houston. read more