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    The Jazz Kitchen

    4.2 (295 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Jazz Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    THE JAZZ KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Live music
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - The Jazz Kitchen

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    Ann Hampton Calloway entertaining!
    Brenda J.

    I didn't eat! After a hot humid day at work, smooth jazz and a couple glasses of Chardonnay was perfect! Our server assured my Chardonnay was replenished. It was tasty (2 glasses for) $23.00 (before tip.) The performer was Ann Hampton Calloway, and she was fantastic!

    Erica D.

    What a gem! We stopped here for dinner on a Monday evening, after getting in from Seattle. Service was top notch, live music was great (and such a pleasant surprise for a Monday evening), and the food was delicious. We had crab cakes and salmon, as well as a brownie dessert. All great!

    Pomme Frites
    Lisa M.

    We just tried the Jazz Kitchen tonight. They were doing Open Jazz. It was a great experience to see a variety of performers and different people coming together to enjoy this unique experience. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. The Cajun/ creole food was delicious! This is one of those places everyone should experience who lives in Indianapolis.

    Shrimp and crawfish pasta Dirty martini
    Ashten S.

    Loved our experience at the Jazz Kitchen! The shrimp and crawfish pasta was delicious, the dirty martini was made perfectly, and the service was great. We were checked in on often, and never went without a refill on water or drinks. If you sit near the stage, it may be a little loud - too loud for conversations, but the music is worth the trade off!

    Franke H.

    Went here for a concert. I only had a drink and dessert. I saw the rebirth brass band. It seems like they have great shows that come through. Prices were pretty reasonable. All of the seats were a good view of the concert. One of my first times hanging out in Indianapolis from Chicago and I had a great time.

    Stefanie W.

    It's been a long time since I stepped into Jazz Kitchen but it still gives the old soul spirit! We attended a tickets event and was seated on the main floor with a party of 6! Sadly, I didn't order any food, but plan to when I return. The staff is collectively kind and willing to help w a novice to the scene. Not only was the entertainment 5 stars, the people on attendance were very friendly! If you're looking for something different, please check out this local dive and support live music! Grateful for the seats and fun establishment. Parking could be better but it happens.

    Bar
    Norman O.

    Night out with a friend's birthday party with friends and my wife, which was a great time. The food was good, I recommend Sacthmo's Etouffe a very good Louisiana stew. The waitress was excellent, she checked on us every 10 minutes or so, that I really appreciated. The ambiance was a very chill and romantic atmosphere. The sounds of Duke Tomato was very entertaining that kept us bobbing our heads, chair dancing, finger popping, and singing. Well the cocktails were good that made an even funnier night!

    Michael S.

    Thank you bunches Ms. Dorothy for your patience in waiting with me for my special guest to arrive and taking very good care of our needs and making sure our food was fresh and hot!!!

    Menu
    Tami P.

    Great place for a date night or night out with friends or for drinks, dinner, or both! The Jazz Kitchen is great for groups or an intimate date. The food was incredible! The service was great! And to top it off, we saw a great musician! A perfect spot for a great date night! Looking forward to go back to the Jazz Kitchen!

    Vocal Ease
    Hannah F.

    I waited too long to try the Jazz Kitchen. What a vibe! First off the place is gorgeous and is an intimate place to watch live Jazz. The guests were all dressed to impress and respectful throughout the show. We were seated 30 minutes before the show and were able to order food and drinks. I ordered the white chocolate blueberry bread pudding and it was a 10/10! So good. The prices for tickets and food were reasonable for a lovely night out without completely breaking the bank.

    One of the stages
    Richard P.

    I've long wanted to check out Indy's iconic The Jazz Kitchen, easily one of our best spots for live jazz since it first opened in 1994. It's got a national reputation for its live jazz performances (including national acts), wonderful cuisine, and top-notch atmosphere. Part of my hesitation has always been the parking situation in this area of what is essentially on the line of SoBro and Broad Ripple. It's always been street parking along with some options across the street at Fresh Market. They all seem to perfectly co-exist, however, and I was grateful that someone else was driving so I could really check out the scene for possible future visits. Street parking directly in front went away with the addition of a bus line, though street parking continues to exist. We parked in the Fresh Market area and they seem to have plenty of parking. As a wheelchair user, I find unpredictable parking a bit harrowing and it can get in the way of my attendance at a venue. The other modest disclaimer here is that I was at The Jazz Kitchen for a special event rather than a traditional concert/dinner situation. This was an awards ceremony with food options and a live DJ in place of live music. I will admit that it felt weird to have my first experience here not include jazz. First off, the venue is beautiful with amazing acoustics. It definitely gets a bit loud and as a speaker (and one of the presenters for this event) you definitely hear any conversations in the crowd. However, hearing the acoustics immediately made me want to attend a concert here. If I understood the venue correctly, and it was set up differently for this event, the main area is to the left when you enter. There's a center bar and an area to the right for those who don't want to attend the concert (but will actually hear the music). I was in the main area and food was set up in the back area. I was impressed that the stage had a small ramp set up, though I'm not sure if this was a Heartland thing or a Jazz Kitchen thing. Regardless, as a wheelchair user it was appreciated (it wasn't quite ADA and I did end up needing a little assistance - a combo of its grade and my lack of strength from recent surgery). The venue was set up nicely - even full, it was surprisingly accessible for the most part. There's some side rows that would not be wheelchair friendly, however, wheelchair options are pretty plentiful here. The restrooms are a bit narrow, however, I was able to get in them. There were two urinals and one stall. It's not perfectly accessible, though it's certainly very workable and better than a ton of music venues. Servers were friendly and every employee I met was a delight. I was able to get iced tea - since I had surgery recently, I was playing things pretty safe. I tried a couple of the food options (shrimp and a jerk chicken option) and both were amazing. I had a hard time not going back for more. I was also impressed with how quickly servers handled a toppled over bottled water - I suppose for a jazz club I shouldn't be surprised that it was smooth. During good weather, they have some outside options. The entryway is a bit narrow - this made it a bit difficult to depart since you had to pass a "red carpet" where photos were happening, but for daily event management it makes sense. The Jazz Kitchen tends to be an evenings only establishment with concert costs separate from dinner (think like a comedy club where there's often a minimum for drinks/food in addition to the show). While I'm still a bit intimidated by the parking situation, this was a blast and I'll no doubt be back.

    Ebonee D.

    This place is a local treasure of good vibes and excellent music. The Jazz Kitchen has been around since 1994 and I haven't had a bad meal here no matter how many times I go. The vibe is intimate. If you love jazz check this place out. Usually this is my number choice if finding a spot to take someone new in town. The ambiance of the decor and the music makes it a major impact on someone who hasn't been to Indy. I recently went for their Sade Tribute with talented Blackberry Jam. If you going for a event make sure you get your ticket early because they sell fast. For good seating , come at least 30 mins early . We sat in the main dining area. There is a minimum of $15 per person during the show but the drink and food is worth it. On Thursday they have Latin Night. And Monday are Monday Jam Nights.

    Peter White
    Nina E.

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

    Paella  A Jk Specialty  Serves Two

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    It had great ambiance. The food was delicious, the portions were ample and the service was prompt. What more could you ask for?

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    1 year ago

    Always fun, great music and delicious food!! A "must" if you're visiting Indy or looking for an amazing time

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food, entertainment and ambience was amazing! I am looking forward to returning to this venue the next time I visit Indy!

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    2 years ago

    The food is delicious. It has a great atmosphere and excellent service. I love this place . The music is always good.

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    2 years ago

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

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    Page 2 of 8

    Ask the Community - The Jazz Kitchen

    Are there tables for two, or are parties of two seated with two other people at a table for four?

    There are tables for just two ppl.

    How is the food? Are there nights without entertainment?

    I haven't had a bad dish from the Jazz Kitchen. I recommend the crab cakes. As far as entertainment, they have bands most evenings. I believe the exception is Thursdays...which is when they have salsa night. The website has an event listing.

    Does the lounge serve food?

    Yes.

    Can you bring minors to the Jazz Kitchen? Our 17 year old loves jazz music and wondering if we can bring him here?

    Not the atmosphere

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Jazz Kitchen

    Returned to Indy for my daughter's basketball tournament looking for a place with good food and live music.

    Mentioned in 28 reviews

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    Upland College Ave Tasting Room

    Upland College Ave Tasting Room

    4.1(235 reviews)
    0.6 miMeridian Kessler, SoBro
    $$
    Casual dining
    Takes reservations

    The vibe of this place is so fun! There's a main restaurant space and then an archway that leads to…read morethe half that's the bar. Since it's a corner space, it has tons of natural light and even has outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is on a busier road, though, so you'd have to be okay with that if you choose an outside seat! The bartender was not only helpful but went above and beyond. He talked with us about beer, but also came over and chatted with us about the card game we were playing. We got to try at least 3 or 4 beers on a flight and they were all great. I ended up going with the lemonade beer and it tasted like summer! We will definitely be back when we want a place to kick back and relax with some great beer!

    Upland is kind of an Indiana staple for good reason. Good beer (presumably. I'm sober lol) and…read moredefinitely good food. Coming in on a Thursday night, we experienced a bit of a rush for seating but we were sat quickly enough and then got our subsequent service fairly quickly as well. This location I think is cozier than others, where it's more sectioned off into a couple different areas with a family friendly area at the front and the bar area a little more separated. We got a nacho to start. It is huge. It can be a whole meal. We accidentally made it most of ours! I got a sweet plum burger as my main dinner. I had about half of it for dinner and saved the rest for later. I didn't think it was anything super special since the sweet plum sauce doesn't really come through in the way I would have hoped. For dessert, we got a strawberry and vanilla ice cream. I wish we could have tried the brownie, but the snow storm of Jan '26 probably made supply chain difficult. Altogether, under devour, starter, 2 mains, and dessert was $40. Pretty good deal if you ask me! I'd certainly come again!

    Photos
    Upland College Ave Tasting Room
    Upland College Ave Tasting Room
    Upland College Ave Tasting Room

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    The Northside Social - Beet Salad

    The Northside Social

    4.2(353 reviews)
    1.6 miBroad Ripple
    $$

    Went here with some friends and was blown away by the food!…read more But a few other things that I loved as well. -Parking is super easy as there is a lot for all of the businesses in that area - There's indoor and outdoor seating - The menu has a lot of amazing options but not too many where it's overwhelming -Drinks are reasonably priced THE FOOD WAS AMAZING! All of us were raving about the flavorful Brussels sprouts, how big the calamari steak frites were, and how tender the truffle burger was. I am going to be thinking about this meal for awhile. As an added bonus, the atmosphere was nice and relaxing. I highly recommend this spot to anyone who loves good food! Also, I was craving dessert and got the triple chocolate cake to take home and gosh, I wasn't disappointed.

    I'd heard interesting things about this place, so I decided to finally come with my mom and try it…read morefor dinner on a recent Sunday evening. We were greeted warmly upon arrival and taken to the patio, as requested. I can't remember our server's name, but she was nice! However, towards the end of our visit something turned and seemed off, though we weren't sure what was going on. I opted for the margherita pizza, which they add pesto to, making it a bit different. I didn't love the taste, and actually ending up removing the tomatoes when I ate the leftovers the next day, which made a significant difference. My mom ordered the fried chicken plate, which comes with two sides and she enjoyed it. Reservations recommended!

    Photos
    The Northside Social - Bar area seating

    Bar area seating

    The Northside Social - Stout Braised Brisket

    Stout Braised Brisket

    The Northside Social - Outside

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    Outside

    Big Lug Canteen

    Big Lug Canteen

    4.3(716 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    I actually ended up eating at Big Lug twice during my trip, and that's probably the best…read morerecommendation I can give. I always order the Cuban when a new restaurant has one on the menu, and Big Lug's did not disappoint. It was juicy, flavorful, and one of the better Cubans I've had in a while. On my second visit, I went with the blackened cod tacos on corn tortillas (you can also get flour tortillas, and they offer shrimp and breaded fish options). They were fresh, perfectly seasoned, and absolutely delicious. Both visits I ordered the spicy garlic cauliflower, and it was outstanding. The homemade blue cheese dressing took it to another level. If you're on the fence about ordering it, don't be--it was one of my favorite things on the menu. The outdoor walk-up bar creates a really cool, laid-back atmosphere, making it a great place to relax whether you're meeting friends or just enjoying a meal by yourself. The staff was friendly, the service was excellent, and both meals came out quickly. I don't usually eat at the same restaurant twice on a trip, but Big Lug earned it. If I'm back in the area, it'll definitely be on my list again.

    Big Lug is a very cool spot right off the Monon, and even better if you have a pooch with you!…read moreUnfortunately, our experience with the service was pretty disappointing. We sat right in the middle of the main thoroughfare and were completely ignored for at least 15 minutes before we finally flagged someone down. The guy, "H," apologized and said, "Oh, my bad--it's all good." We figured, no big deal, let's move on. We ordered pretty simple food, apps and were then going to put in some entrees once apps arrived. We asked for waters and a water bowl for our pups. He brought two waters--with no straws--and no dog bowl. We assumed he was going to grab the bowl, so we waited... and waited. Then I noticed him at the end of the bar leaning against some boxes, texting. So I finally got up, interrupted him and asked for the dog bowl. His response, "oh my bad." Our appetizers came out, and naturally, we asked for silverware. A few minutes later, I spotted "H" in the corner on his phone again. At that point I was thinking, seriously?! So I got up again, interrupted "H's" text convo and asked for silverware. His response again was, "Oh, my bad." I didn't respond to him I just turned around and went back to my seat. Honestly, the whole experience started feeling more like a self-serve restaurant than table service. It's a chill spot and we weren't being needy whatsoever. We never asked for any refills- we were merely asking for the basics. We wanted to order more food, but by that point we were pretty turned off and decided to just get the check. Then came the final straw: my guy had his license and credit card sitting on the table because he hadn't brought his wallet out for our monon trek. When "H" came back with the checkout thing, without question or hesitation - he grabbed the card and swiped it. We didn't even realize what happened until afterward. Maybe that's standard there, but I've never had a server just take my card without asking. Usually you get a "hey do we want to use this card? Or something to confirm. And of course the tip structure is skewed so the min is 20% unless you want to try to figure out to manually enter in 15% (which most ppl don't -incl my guy), so we left 20% and left irritated and still hungry. "H" didn't seem hungover or anything--he just genuinely seemed like he did not not give a shiiiit. We had to get up three separate times to get things we had already requested: the dog bowl, a couple straws, and silverware. (Basics) And a quick note on the 7-Layer Hoss Dip: don't expect seven layers. It comes in a small thick ceramic bowl and was basically beans, guacamole, a tiny bit of corn and some hard cheese on top. Definitely would not recommend it. Way too "beany" and not worth $16 at all. The southwest rolls were decent- very fried tho. Cheesecake Factory's are better ;) The location and dog-friendly atmosphere are great, with the exception of the homeless camp right at their patio entrance, but unfortunately, the service really took away from the experience. Hopefully this was just an off night, because Big Lug has a lot going for it.

    Photos
    Big Lug Canteen - The Big Lug Patio

    The Big Lug Patio

    Big Lug Canteen - Nashville Hot Chicken salad! So addicting!

    Nashville Hot Chicken salad! So addicting!

    Big Lug Canteen - They made a Pirate Cat beer!

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    They made a Pirate Cat beer!

    The Quarter - Espresso Martini

    The Quarter

    4.2(59 reviews)
    1.4 miBroad Ripple

    This is an interesting place. It's basically a fast food place run by 2 people. There's someone…read morein the 'kitchen' (basically a shack next to he main building) preparing all the food. And there's a bartender inside who takes care of all the drinks. You order from one of the tablets outside nest to the shack (directions on how to order could be a lot clearer as there is no one in the dining room or the outdoor patio to direct you to the tablets). There's a little sandwich board on the ground with some instructions scrawled on dry-erase marker. After you order and pay on the tablet (cash not accepted). You wait until you get a text on your phone to let you know to pick up your order from the sliding window at the shack. The inside is a basic bar with a full drink menu and several beers on draft and in bottles. You can pay for your drinks with cash or card. The food is actually pretty good, but quite pricey for the level of service and the amount of food you get.

    The Quarter was a great spot for Southern-style food. We especially loved the gumbo and the…read morechicken, both were flavorful and well-prepared. Unfortunately, the service left a lot to be desired. We were never greeted or checked on during our visit and had to go up to the bar anytime we needed something. The bartenders seemed more focused on socializing with friends than serving customers, and it often took quite a while to get their attention. We understand it's a bar and people are there to have fun, but even a simple greeting and a little more attentiveness would have made for a much better experience.

    Photos
    The Quarter
    The Quarter
    The Quarter

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    The Jazz Kitchen - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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