Andy’s Jazz Club

A great night spent here! Mike Smith’s band was awesome, definitely great music. Food was delicious too, recommend the teriyaki steak tips, the main course roasted chicken was also juicy and yummy. Thumbs up for Andy’s Jazz club!

This is a place you come for the music. The bar and food are of secondary importance (but still important). I sat at the bar, had a Manhattan and a Ceviche, and it was delicious. The ceviche was fresh, and came with homemade fried plantain chips. Really enjoyed the music, but as others have said, there is some room for improvement. Service was slow, and the bartender was not particularly friendly. The musicians were extremely talented, and have set a new bar for me for live jazz.

Great chill atmosphere for good music and food. A must see for first time visitors to Chicago!

Nice jazz. improv so its authentic and easy on your ears. nice vibe, relaxed crowd. I’d give it 5 but. if you’re a party of one table seating is not offered and service at the bar was not top notch. don’t let that discourage you from a visit. I’m definitely going to give them another shot!

Went here in a Friday night to see the lowdown brass band. There was a $ 15 cover per person. We arrived shortly after their first set and managed to be seated at a table, even though they were super packed and there was tons of people at the bar. We were seated in the back, and we had a direct view of the band (there really doesn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house). We were helped by a waitress right away, and she was really efficient which shocked me because, like I said, they were packed! The band was amazing! We ordered the baked Brie appetizer, which was so good! Their mojitos were excellent too (one month later we are actually still talking about how good they were)! We didn’t have to wait long at all for the food or drinks, all arrived fairly quickly after ordering! Also, side note for the ladies, the bathrooms were nice and clean! I really enjoyed our evening here, and would certainly return on future visits to Chicago!

We went there on a Saturday night and sat at the bar for a few hours, enjoying a couple sets by the jazz bands. It’s got a simple, laid-​back vibe, the room sounds good, the barmaids were on the ball, and the food (Cajun Shrimp Risotto) was excellent. I think it was $ 10/​head at the door, well worth the price. Will be back, for sure.

Hadn’t been here in about 15 years, and decided to see how I like it now. In truth, very little had changed. Same room, same great acts. Drinks are well-​made by bartenders who really keep up with a packed house. Menu is simple, but pretty much offers anything you’d want to eat.

Sunday night live jazz. Band was great. Food was really good… we had open faced catfish and (full sized) tilapia tacos with side of mixed veggies. Outstanding service by Danielle.
We’re staying at the Hard Rock Hotel so the concierge gave us Biz card good for $ 5 off at the door. Will come back again!

We have been dying to try this place and were finally able to make it work for Wednesday night (³⁄₂₃)! The only reason this place is getting 1 star is because the music was phenomenal. However, customer service did not live up to the expectations.
We experienced issues with our waitress, Kendra, right off that bat. She brought the menus quickly but took forever to follow up for questions, drinks or appetizers. We ordered Parmesan fries for an appetizer so when it came time to order our burger & chicken sandwich, we asked if we could swap the fries that come for veggies. Kendra informed us that there would be a «slight upcharge» but there was no issues.
When we received our sandwiches, the chicken sandwich was a completely different sandwich (open faced catfish) so we sent it back. As we waited, we noticed the burger did not have the cheese that was requested. Once the chicken sandwich was brought back correctly, we waited another 10 minutes before Kendra checked to make sure everything was correct which is when we told her about the cheese. She took the sandwich back and had them add melted cheese.
Once we were finished with our meal, we were excited to stick around, have another cocktail, and listen to more great music. We waited another 15 – 20 minutes before she finally asked if we needed anything else.
When we went to pay our bill, we noticed that we were charged full price for the veggie sides instead of the «slight upcharge» that Kendra originally explained. We wanted to bring this to her attention and understand the mix up, but instead of coming to check on us, she sat in the corner scrolling through her phone which was conveniently placed inside of a check presenter so fellow staff members would not notice. After another 30 minute wait, we finally got up to talk to her about this which is when she informed us that we could swap fries for a side salad and would need to pay full price for the sides. That piece of information should have been told to us after she spoke to the kitchen staff and got that information… not when we question the charge on our bill.
I was so excited to experience Andy’s and see live jazz music but highly doubt that I will be paying the cover to experience terrible service again. Disappointed is an understatement.

Things I really loved here: The music was sensational. The first group was Chris Foreman and the rest of the guys that made up his band. They are the classical jazz musicians and played an array of their own music and some of the other great Jazz artists. The second group was the Guy King Quartet. A lot more on the blues side with jazz overtures. Both groups were easy to listen to and made for a great way to start the night.
I had a gin and tonic — using the Hendricks gin and it was so bloody good. Not watered down and smooth. I enjoyed my drink and my companion enjoyed his as well.
The biggest disappointment was having to cough up $ 15 per person just to get into the place. Wait, I have reservations, am going to buy a decently priced meal, some drinks, and you want to CHARGE me just to get in through the door and call it the musicians fee? Not a fan of this.
Another disappointment was the food. I had the steak and mashed potatoes. For the twenty something price, I expected real mashed potatoes.
I’m glad I got to experience this place but due to the cover and the food, I can’t honestly say that I would go back again.

I have recently really started to appreciate Jazz and would have to say I’ve become a little obsessed with America’s classical music. Along with the blues, its forefather, it is one of the first truly indigenous music’s to develop in America. I have been excited to experience the Jazz club scene since I have moved here from south Florida but I couldn’t find anyone that was truly interested in going and checking out the scene until one of my friends was in town for a business trip and he just so happened to be a little obsessed with it himself and was actually in a Jazz band when he was younger. So it was game on from that point and just needed to find the right place!
I saw that Andy’s had great reviews so we decided to check it out. It was a Thursday night and we arrived at around 6:30 and they told us the entrée fee would be $ 15 a person. My friend gave him his credit card but the guy said that they only accept cash for the entrée fee. So we had to dig around for cash or go across the street to the ATM. They also told us that there was a 2 hour limit but did say that if they were not packed then we could stay longer. I thought the fact that they only take cash for the entrée and that there was a 2 hour limit was quit odd but was still staying very optimistic to try this out. Since we were the first to arrive we had our choice of where we wanted to sit so we choose right up front in the middle of the action for the dinner and show. My friend ordered the Moscow mule to and was served in the traditional copper mug (I had a few sips and have to say it was one of the best I’ve had) I ordered my usual Dirty Martini but had to send it back to be fixed because it wasn’t dirty enough but they hit it right on the nose the 2^nd try. We decided to skip the appetizer and go straight for the entrée. We both were thinking about the Cajun Shrimp Risotto but we decided to order one and then the Mustard Crested Halibut for a little variety. By this time the band was setting up and our entrée’s came out right when the music was starting. It was perfect timing! The Cajun Shrimp was so so but the Halibut was absolutely amazing! We sat there and allowed the drinks to flow as we enjoyed the company of an old friend and the energy of Chicago earthy grooves of soulful jazz. We were tapping our feet to the speedy, hard hitting rhythms of be-​bop jittery, atonal forays of free jazz. I felt like I was in heaven. We stayed long past the 2 hours and they never said a word. The server was very attentive It was an amazing experience and was very pleased with my first experience in a Jazz club!

Came here on Monday because there was nowhere else to go. What a pleasant surprise! The quality of the music is impeccable. World class jazz. Food is good. Service could be a bit better.
We had Seviche –great! Salads –one came too vinegary, so we asked for a replacement. The look we got was… condescending? … but they did replace it.
Drinks are good. Ambiance as expected. So, solid 4 stars.

Surprisingly good food considering you come more for the music. The mustard crusted halibut was really fresh and delicious. The salads aren’t bad either and you can add meat to them to make them more of an entrée.
You’ll have to pay a cover to get in even with dinner reservations but the music is worth it!
If you’re looking for a fun random night of music and pretty decent food then this is your place.

Great chill spot with live jazz and good food!!! I recommend this place for a nice date or funny relaxing time with your girls!!!

Our Chicago-​savvy friend recommended Andy’s for dinner and a show, and we were so glad we listened! The atmosphere inside is delightfully old-​fashioned, with gussied-​up patrons, stylized line drawings and a wall full of framed photographs. It’s also VERY crowded, understandably, as they want to squeeze in as many paying customers as possible — I was just grateful we were seated by an aisle, as I’m a little claustrophobic!
I ordered a moscow mule to start, which was served in the traditional copper mug and had a nice kick to it (hey, wonder if that’s how it got the name?) and my husband had a draft beer. Later, we split the Cajun jambalaya, which was fabulous — fluffy rice topped with a vegetable-​studded spicy sauce and beautifully fanned-​out slices of crispy duck breast. It was very fairly priced at $ 24; it probably would have only served one hungry diner, but we had already enjoyed appetizers and cocktails somewhere else.
But for once, the food has to be secondary in my review, because the real reason we were there was the music. I used to go to jazz clubs all the time in college and absolutely loved them, and as soon as the music started I wondered why in the world I had stopped going at all. It was incredible. The group wasn’t well-​known (at least to me) but they were amazingly talented, a combination of American and European musicians who worked together to create musical alchemy. It was such a thrill to hear their solos, feel the electricity in the air and see how hard they were working (major sweat happens when you play with energy!)
Reading some of the other reviews, most of the negative comments seem to center around their fees and policies, but in our experience they were much stricter on paper than in person. We ordered one drink each and split one entrée, but no one raised an eyebrow. We stayed longer than our allotted two hours, and again, not a word or nasty look from anyone. The only person who was censured by the management while we were there, truly deserved it; he had had way too much to drink and kept trying to sit down at tables while they were being cleared, but the clever FOH manager was having none of that. We actually appreciated her taking charge of the situation, as it distracted from our experience. And finally, the cover charge? Totally worth it. $ 15 each for two hours of top-​quality live music is something of a bargain in a big city. Andy, our hats are off to you, and we’ll see you soon!

I wanted to get the Chicago jazz experience while I was in town on a Saturday night so I came here. We called ahead to see if they would be able to seat us when we arrived and we were accommodated. There is a $ 15 cover fee on Saturday’s and a 2 hour table seating limit. We arrived around 9 so we had some time to wait until the next set was up.
We were sat and ordered some wine and some appetizers. We went with the teriyaki steak tips and the ceviche and these were some amazing choices. The steak was cooked perfectly and the flavour of the teriyaki was perfect. I loved the ceviche with the plantain chips, it made for a unique pairing that really worked. We were going to order some mains, but decided after this that we were kind of full.
The band started around 9:30 and consisted of some of the works from their influences as well as some original stuff. They were pretty good and we enjoyed the lovely sounds or their instruments while we sipped on our wine. It’s a pretty good place to enjoy some jazz music over dinner and drinks.

Enjoyed some live jazz after dinner here! They have food & drinks, for those wondering if they can eat, drink, & be jazzy! Ha. The band was very talented. It was my friend’s first jazz show, & after her 2^nd glass of wine, she was very persuasive & the band was nice enough to let her take a picture with them. So nice. Awesome place to check out if you’re looking to explore some of Chi’s music scene. Wish we had a laid back, casual place like this back in the Bay Area! Would come back again to support more local talent (;

Solid Jazz club in the heart of North Side Chicago, which is a great part of the city. The vibe was exactly what I was looking for, mellow yet fun. I went on a Monday so it wasn’t packed at all. Cover was $ 10, which is what it is for the week ($ 15 for the weekend). There was a great band with several trumpet players taking turns. Kinda of a rehearsal vibe, which I actually liked, given that it was a relaxing Monday. They did get into it however, so don’t think you won’t hear some great music. The stage is large for the room and central, so you will get a great view anywhere you sit.
The bar is right next to the entrance so on packed nights that might be a minor issue, but the bar was very large and the bartenders were friendly and prompt. Stiff pours also and I found the drink prices to be very reasonable. I could have sat there all night! Check the website for times but I believe they have live music nightly.
I didn’t try the food but it did look good. If I’m back in town I would definitely go back and probably get dinner as well. Go check out some live jazz… you will be glad you did!

Service was excellent! Good music, management was very attentive to our needs. I highly recommend for a great night out with friends.
Best Bloody Mary in Chicago!

This is such a great place. Not because of its surprisingly decent food, the acceptable availability and good music groups performing, it is because of the nice combination of all of this and more. The menu is not bad at all with options for everyone (including our vegetarian friends) and fair prices. Not sure why they need the cover fee, I would rather pay for more drinks, get happier and enjoy the show even more. A win-​win. Isn’t it?
A Recommended dinner and a show duo.