Just Go It was a great show, the food was SO AMAZING. The drinks were good, the service even better. The space is very intimate and romantic. Only negatives is I'd def take a lyft next time, the area is SO SKETCHY outside. I was worried about the car the entire time, and it's also not an area I'd just be walking a couple blocks in either. Also the 20% service fee that apparently is also not a tip (I should have taken a picture of the verbiage on the menu) on top of a living wage %9 while then tipping %20 because our server was so attentive and good we felt bad and didn't want to not tip her, even though we were already paying around 30% more than our bill... thaaaat got confusing. So that original $200 bill quickly became $400. I just wasn't expecting to pay that for dinner,, but honestly everything was so great, I'd do it again and just be more mentally prepared next time for those numbers lol. read more

Black Cat - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had a really good time seeing a show at the black cat, and I went in knowing that I was going to upcharged to all hell from all the reviews that I saw. Still it didn't feel super good when I left. Considering there's an additional 30% in service charges and city charges, I didn't really feel the service was good enough to warrant additional tip; I found the wait staff to be kind of dismissive and curt when we didn't order a lot of food, even though we were planning to order multiple $20 cocktails through the night. The cocktails that I heard a lot of good things about were also pretty mediocre, not very alcohol heavy and incredibly sugary. It is cute that they make a separate cocktail for the performing artist however. The music was fantastic, and the acoustics and the aesthetics of the venue were great too. The value proposition just isn't really there for me, and it's hard to believe that it's worth it especially since there are a lot of places in the city that don't charge this aggressively. Also the tax came out to more than 10% of our bill which means either they're charging tax on the bill with these 30% additional fees included or they're hiding fees in the tax part of the bill, both of which are kind of scummy. I would recommend this place not for food or drink or service, but definitely for the music if you're in a financial situation to throw down a couple hundred dollars without worrying about it at all read more

Black Cat - Elote - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went for my bday and had an amazing time! The place was stunning, upstairs and downstairs. The wine was great and so was the food. My waitress was amazing also! Was always there when I needed something and had an amazing attitude. The only down side, the city location. Sad to see the city in such conditions. Shout out to the artists that night. An amazing set! Even if to enjoy a nice vibe and some drinks upstairs. It's worth a visit! read more

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Lots of good memories here. Came here pre-covid and had a delicious pork bourguignon (I know, yes pork) and recently returned and had a pretty good pre-fixe dinner. The bands are all great, and I was so sad to hear about the theft and vandalism they faced during covid. read more

It's NOT a "supper club". It is a music venue with food and drink. Crowded seating at small tables. Cocktails were good. After that, all downhill. Food and food service was awful. I ordered a $20.00 caesar salad, burger, no bun, no cheese. Salad was sparse but okay. I got a burger on a bun with cheese! I sent it back. I then got a burger, no bun WITH cheese. I just didn't eat it. 22% tip added to all bills. Music was over-the-top loud -- Stern Grove concert volume in an 800 sq. ft venue Not something you can savor and enjoy. Just loud! They clear the place out after one music set so a whole new audience can attend the second set. Not a place I would go back to. read more

Our first time experience Pros: GREAT JAZZ!!! Cons: Food isn't great *Ihop expectations at best. Service wasn't attentive. Cocktails weren't made properly, I mean you're at a jazz club you expect good cocktails right?!! Location: ooommmffg. Every corner before entering had homeless people, encampments and feces!! I'm from Bay born and bred but it's gotten worse like waaaaay beyond bad!!!! Sorry, this will be our last time going. We truly loved the jazz as all the artists that played was phenomenal. But we didn't feel safe at all. read more

Things went sideways when we ordered the wagyu beef steak (med rare). It was overcooked and tough. The waitress was polite, asking if we wanted another. We declined. The manager, Jason, came down and said "we have to talk." He walked upstairs, I followed him. Upstairs he began challenging me on our assessment of the food. He repeatedly asked if I knew what Wagyu beef was. I found the question offensive. (Not that it matters, but 3-weeks ago I was enjoying Kobe beef in Tokyo--I know a little about Kobe, Wagyu,...) I then interjected, "this is ridiculous, and I'm not going to debate you." I asked for his full name, he refused to give it to me. Things continued, and he then said, "that's it I'm kicking you out." This is by far the polar opposite of good customer service. Jason, should be fired. His behavior repels customers, and will threaten the business. Not only will I never return, I'll make it my primary mission to tell everyone how dysfunctional the BC management (Jason) is and how crappy their food is. Sad because the musically the BC is a jewel. -Jeff read more

Black Cat - Jason, the BC manager wanted to argue with me, the customer about what a med rare steak. So insulting and flat out wrong! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've seen some really amazing music here, and some that's just ok--not the venue's fault, of course. The decor is great, I just love the ambience. Lots of cool art. Great sound, lighting, etc. I find the service good, they sort of stay out of the way which is exactly what you want when you go somewhere to hear music. I would give the food a B+, and agree with the people who have said it's overpriced, but again, I think that's kind of what you should expect when you have dinner somewhere that's mostly about the show. Black Cat, please stop adding a "suggested tip" when you have a service charge on the bill already... not cool... The drinks are great and they have some good nonalcoholic ones. I think the show prices are super fair, which kinda compensates for overpriced food/drinks. It's a small, intimate venue and a really special place in my opinion. I've stayed for all three sets for a performance before. Just pleeeeease stop trying to trick people into double tipping. read more

My friends brought me here for my birthday. My first time here but would love to come back again. The food was great, the service and the staff was very helpful. I really, enjoyed the whole experience. read more

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So let me say this is not the review I had planned to write. I actually intended to address the fantastic time I had that night, with a great performance by the Theo Croker band. But I just reviewed my bill and what an outrage! So I bought tickets in advance and paid a service charge for those tickets. No problem and to be expected. But after the show, I got my check in the dimly lit club, saw the bottom line, $183 for drinks, a burger and my partner had shrimp and grits. Ok still cool. I added a 20% tip. Now, looking at my tab and I find the Black Cat had already added a gratuity and "service charge" to my bill totaling $40. The server never mentioned this, even after seeing I added a tip. And what the hell is a service charge at a supper club? I paid the service charge for the tickets, but I'm paying for the food and the drinks and there was no self-serve option, so again, what the hell is a service charge in a restaurant? And stealing a second gratuity is unconscionable. Bad business practices! They can rebate me $40 and I may give them another chance. Otherwise, I will never go there again... even if they razed Miles Davis from the grave! read more

Loved the atmosphere! Get the skewers! We went for a Ticketed Event which just felt more private which made the experience well worth the price. Area is a little ok they had a drop off and pick spot in front for ride share which is nice. read more

Black Cat - Back seating area by bar pretty good view of everything - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Not sure why this place has such bad reviews, I had an incredible experience. I bought tickets to see Keyon Harrold perform (tickets we're only $10!) and I got there around 8:40, ordered a drink at the bar but then was taken down to the room where the show would be. My friends and I were sat at a table pretty close to the stage and we ordered some food which was delicious!! We got the brussel sprouts, halibut ceviche, and a beef dish that our server recommended. All of the food was delicious with the brussel sprouts being the stand out. The drinks were ok, nothing special. The performance started around 9:30 (so they give you like an hour to eat) and it went until around 11. The show was absolutely incredible. The jazz was absolutely beautiful, the crowd was engaged, and I just had so much bliss listening to the music. The only downside is that the Black Cat is located in tenderloin which is not the best part of SF... hella homeless people that are not afraid to harass you. The best bet is to park in parking garage that is less than a block away or just Uber straight to the place. I definitely will come back for another show! read more

Black Cat - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

The music was very good. We had booked "elevated" seats with a view for the 6:45 seating on a Friday night. We were immediately "upgraded" to a seat in the very front as they were not crowded. Band was excellent classic jazz. Problem #1. 8% service charge on $50 seats = $4. Why? I reserved them directly on their website as instructed by phone. We ordered cocktails. She had the "buttered rum" old fashioned, and I had some citrusy gin connection. Good drinks but price a bit high at $18 per. Food - cheese platter -$15; Shrimp with grits $21; and a "blue cheese wedge salad" with bacon, and cranberries. The cheese was ok. 3 medium shrimp in shrimp & grits. Tasty but waaay too few shrimp. S/b 4-6 minimum at this price. Also they should know that folks split food so 3 shrimp for $21 - really?!! Wedge salad was "petite" for $14 and wanting lettuce, bacon and blue cheese!! Problem #2 bill An 18% gratuity is ALREADY INCLUDED ( but disclosed NOWHERE) and THEN THEY ADD A $10.10 service charge !! I mentioned this to the manager but his attitude was such that he probably could've cared less. As a former restaurant owner, I pointed out that you can't legally collect a mandatory 18% gratuity, nor an additional $10.10 service charge unless it is disclosed in the menu. He shrugged his shoulders and said you're right, but made no effort to correct the bill. I did it for them, removing the $10.10 service charge, reducing my overall charges from $195 to $185. Too pricey, with too many hidden charges. Sad because the music is good and we used to be regular customers prior to Covid. We will look for better jazz venues with less hidden pricing, and much better food for the price. read more

What a find. A great old fashioned jazz club. Intimate, with great acoustics. Food was pretty good, though portions are small. Next time I'll just order snacks. Bar tender was was helpful and friendly. Drinks are pretty expensive, though. $18 each. But it is a great place to listen to live music in a cozy pleasant and attractive environment. Can't wait to come back. read more

Two stars and here is why: ambiance was good, music was pretty cool, enjoyed those vibes very much. With that being said, the menu is overpriced for the portion you actually receive. Here's what I ordered with prices to help. I also posted a few pics of some of the dishes we got. All in all, the food and drinks weren't worth it but the music was the main event and their only saving Grace. I just wish they didn't make you spend 30 bucks per person to order off of their menu. Like I paid for the tickets to get in here, I didn't appreciate it mainly because the food was just okay and everything is overpriced. Go for the music, be forced to cough up extra dough for a bunch of food you probably wont enjoy. We ordered: Carne Asada tacos ($21) these were sparse with the carne Asada and actually had more cheese on it than meat, more tomatoes than meat... more everything but meat. From what I could taste, it was decent, definitely not worth it. They were super small too, don't let the pics on here fool ya. I tried to take a pic of a taco in my gf's hand to show how small it looks. The plantain chips were tasty. All cocktails ($18) I actually had their cider which was $15 but it was delish and came in a fancy lookin little bottle, which I thought was cute. Shrimp croquettes ($15) you get 4 little nasty "shrimp" tasting potato filled (we think) balls. Couldn't taste the shrimp, it tasted more fishy than anything. Don't recommend Our friends ordered the Brussel sprouts and said they were really good, but they had to order two because the portions were way small. Same with the gnocchi they ordered, they said it was delicious as well, they just wish there was more for the money you spend. Not to mention their website labeled the gnocchi as a "large plate" item but instead it came to the table as an appetizer (I guess is what you would call it lol). Oh, when you get your bill there is like a fee/charge, I guess it's for the business to operate in the city? Not sure, but felt it was unnecessary for the customer to cover that, just because y'all already forced me to buy something off of your okay menu. It kinda felt like extortion lol. But anyways, it wasn't all bad, I enjoyed the music and vibes but most likely will not be returning. read more

Black Cat - Small ass overpriced carne Asada tacos - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Band was excellent and 5 stars. The price is steep but I don't mind paying that for a great experience. The service was really bad this time around. The waitress seemed to have an attitude. Just not too friendly. We ordered our second round of drinks about 30 min into the show. We never received them. When I inquired about it, I was told our drinks were accidentally given to another table but they were making us new drinks. We didn't receive our drinks until the show was over and were asked to finish them upstairs. Meanwhile several other tables were still able to enjoy their seats. I received the check and returned it promptly. The waitress came back about ten minutes later with a look on her face like why are we still sitting there. I was still waiting for my card I explained. She came back and said she left it at another table accidentally. It was just really bad service and it was my wife's birthday. I expect more when I spend about 200.00 to 250.00 between tickets and drinks. read more

I went to listen to Joel Wenhardt. Great atmosphere. Reminds me of the jazz clubs you see in the movies. Great vibes and food and service was good. Romantic and relaxing to spend some time at. You'll enjoy the experience!! read more

Came with a colleague for a show, some drinks and bites to eat and while it's a bit cozy (as most Jazz clubs are) I had a great time. The vibes were immaculate, the music fantastic, the atmosphere excellent, and the food and drinks delicious. If this place was in the east bay I would probably be here once a week! read more

A fantastic, intimate setting with excellent service and good food and drinks. Black Cat is worthy in every way.

I visited Black Cat back in March as part of my birthday event. There were over 20 of us, as we loved it. I went back this past weekend, and it was great. It's not in the most desirable area, so brace yourself for that. However, once inside you will thoroughly enjoy yourself. I have not tried the food, but the drinks are great, the staff is wonderful and the music is so entertaining. read more

If your ever needing a good date night, the black cat is the place to go. Enjoy some live jazz music, great food, tasty drinks and an intimate setting. Purchase your tickets for whatever night and artist you want to see through the Black Cat website then make a reservation if your wanting to sit down for dinner prior to the show. There's a $20 minimum for each person, I recommend getting the pre-fixe because it's the best bang for your buck and you'll get the full experience. I went all out and got the charcuterie board, deviled eggs, and duck fat fries to start followed by the three items in the pre-fixe (tuna tartar, roasted summer squash and crème brûlée). All of these items were filled with amazing flavor, plated perfectly and without a doubt some of my favorite eats. Was very surprised by the deviled eggs and wish I had the recipe to them!! Every drink was delicious and fitting to the theme of the Black Cat. I recommend getting the Castro daiquiri if you like something with coconut! read more

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As a jazz-head, this is my go-to spot for jazz in San Francisco. You can't find a more archetypal Jazz club anywhere else. It's in the heart of the worst part of town (the tenderloin), and is hidden downstairs as a legitimate speakeasy. Great drinks, delicious plates (shoutout to Chef DJ), and excellent service. The servers are always very accommodating and have always let me stay for the following set if there are open seats and I'm by myself. Ambiance is amazing with perfectly low lighting in a very cozy and intimate setting. Creative seating options Acoustics and sound quality are also excellent. The Black Cat is a special place. read more

Black Cat - vibez - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I hit the early show of a great jazz trio, the downstairs room is a perfect vibe for a date night and the dinners. The waiters and bar staff were super nice and attentive. This spot is a great early dinner and jazz set spoot that also allows for a secondary spot some place in the city. Mac & Cheese entree worth a try. Music lovers...a perfect spot for great jazz. read more

Black Cat - a band playing in a dimly lit room - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had a wonderful experience at the Black Cat. The food was delicious as well as the service being very attentive. They also had a very 1920s pre-flapper ambience, if you know what I mean. Definitely worth a revisit whenever I travel back to SF. read more

Black Cat - Keylime pie - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I know this isn't Black Cat's fault, but you should know: it's on one of the gnarliest corners in the Tenderloin. My date arrived about a minute before I did. She immediately ducked in to wait in the foyer because there were 10+ leering crackheads directly in front of the door. The actual space was more cramped, echo-y and louder than, say, Mr Tipples. More expensive but not more classy. Vibes are kinda off. I'm sure they have good acts on some nights, but the night we went the lead guy was super full of himself and gave 4-minute self-aggrandizing speeches between each song, about how this next one was came to him in a dream in 2005 in which the ghost of Thelonius Monk told him the meaning of love. read more

We went on a Friday evening because this place has been on the bucket list for a while, and deeply regret it. The vocalist came on stage wearing jeans and a hoodie. Okay if you're going to smash it, but she didn't. She was clearly drunk or high, screech laughing on stage about things that no one in the audience understood. She might be a decent singer when she's not, but I couldn't tell you. At one point she drew the hoodie completely closed around her face while she was singing and sort of giggled into the microphone or something. Glad she was having fun, but definitely not the experience I came for. Also minorly irritating, the ticket checkout is deliberately misleading. They clearly want you to feel you're supposed to order the prixe-fix menu to make the reservation, when it turns out you don't need to. All in all this evening was a waste of $200. read more

I've been here a few times. Entertainment is always great. Food has gotten much better and is quite good too. I always have a really lovely time. But there's an embryonic-looking manager who is simply obnoxious. You know that "you're lucky to be here and it's a chore to have you here" kind of attitude. It would be a much warmer, happier experience without him. He has always been very snippy with us, and how he talks to his staff shouldn't be allowed in this day and age. read more

Walking in, the staff were very welcoming and let us order drinks while we waited for our 8:45 reservation time. Going downstairs, the atmosphere gives gorgeous noir, low-light, jazzy vibes. For the food, I loved the shrimp and grits and the cheeses board. My favorite drink was the French 75 and my boyfriend loved the olive martini. My only gripe was reading the menu in the lowlight, but you're able to use your flashlight before the set starts. But the music was absolutely phenomenal! I'd never been to a jazz club before and i was very impressed. It was an amazing dinner, but the music was why we came. I didn't know jazz going in, but I had such a good time. read more

Black Cat - Menu for downstairs - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

We had a fantastic evening, every staff person was welcoming, thoughtful, and kind. Our server Carina was the best. Drinks were outstanding! The food was delicious! Entertainment and venue were excellent. We'll be back! Thank you for a delightful evening! read more

We enjoyed very much this jazz lounge. Service and environment is fantastic! I totally recommend this bar. read more

I went to Black Cat a few months ago and absolutely loved it. Although it's not in a great part of town, once you enter the vibe is very elegant and it feels like you're in a very authentic 1920s speakeasy. We booked a spot a day in advance and I was admittedly a bit shocked by the price, but the service and music made it all worth it. We were escorted downstairs before the performance and were given a menu with a wide variety of options. There are really good cocktails and several non-alcoholic options as well, and the truffle fries and chocolate lava cake were some of the best I've tried! We ended up having a super relaxing and enjoyable night and I would definitely recommend coming here for date nights or for a chill time with friends. read more

To start, the food was surprisingly really good! A friend and I came down for the experience but we had ordered the elote, parmesan fries, and bouillabaisse. I would say the best thing out of those was the Parmesan fries. We had a reservation so waiting to be seated wasn't a problem, the walk from the Civic Center Bart station wasn't as bad as others would make it out to be despite it being in pretty much in the middle of the tenderloin and dark outside. The ambiance is amazing and the music was soooo great(we saw the Mathis Picard trio with Vuyo Sotashe as a special guest). It can get pretty loud in most of the seats, so if you're worried about that I would get one of the tables in the back. You get about two hours to order, eat, and enjoy the show(the first hour you can eat and chat and the second hour is more reserved for the music). The waitress was very sweet, constantly refilling our drinks and checking in so the service was great. For just two people the bill ended up being around $60 which isn't bad at all.....that is, before all of the added fees(that are outlined on the menus). So with the added 20% service charge AND 10% safety benefit tax AND a tip(because it feels expected) it ended up coming out to around $100 which is kind of ridiculous. So even though it was truly an amazing experience, it's really more of a once in VERY long while kind of thing. Great for a date night as the seating is very close together and pretty intimate. Amazing ambiance, good food, excellent music, lovely service, and mildly sketchy location makes for a great visit if you don't mind all the fees! read more

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Whew, it's been awhile since I've visited the Black Cat, a date spot my partner and I used *to love*. Some friends visiting from out of town suggested we all go together, so we made reservations and went last night. We wait upstairs for about an hour past our reservation time. It's not super crowded and the speakers are very loud, it was hard to hear the host or each other while we wait to be ushered downstairs. Everyone's drink order arrived maybe after 10 minutes of waiting but for some reason I didn't get my drink, "the vax" until 20 minutes after I'd ordered it. So I sit there "unvaxxed" waiting for it to be time to go downstairs for music. When the downstairs area is ready for us, we walk down, and are immediately met by a server with the most frantic energy I've ever seen. She's talking to a few people in front of us when she sees...us, which is when she waves her hands around frustratedly and shakes her head in cartoonish disbelief. Apparently we went down the wrong staircase (there are two leading downstairs from the main level) and she shoos us to the other side of the room as if we are a nuisance to her. We head to the other side of the room, looking at each other and laugh nervously, trying to shrug it off and still have a good time. We stand around waiting for someone to tell us where to sit for our reservation. Another staff member looks at our info and points to...the other side of the room where we'd first arrived. We shuffle back to the staircase we originally came down. Along the way, we pass the server who had theatrically dismissed us. She squeezes my arm a little too hard and says "I am SO sorry about that!" in a very unsettling sing-song voice. She's obviously overwhelmed, maybe she's swamped with tables, whatever. We take our seats. In the time we wait for the music to begin, there is some discussion about leaving now to get a refund. The experience up until this point has left us all feeling a little unsure about if the night will improve but we decide to stick it out and at least hear some jazz. When the musical act went on, they were all very young and there were certainly some talented musicians among them. It had a very casual feeling to it, though, like they were a bunch of friends at practice. A bit of an open-mic night vibe, except with reservations involved, a $30 food minimum, $18 cocktails, and so-so seats. Our server seems much more even-keeled and kind than the one we first interacted with. That being said, my second drink of the evening takes another 20 min to get to me, after everyone else at our table gets theirs. Maybe just not my night? The food was pretty good, but the portions were def on the small side. The brussel sprouts and the papas bravas were my favorite, the squid in the calamari and squash seemed a little on the sparse side, and the aioli that came with the chips was not a flavor I enjoyed. All in all, I'll probably stick to Club Deluxe for an optimal, no-nonsense jazz club experience. read more

Excellent intimate atmosphere . Arrived looking forward to some live music and a bit of food . I was blown away by the amazing live music , the performers were also extremely personable which took the experience up a notch . There is a $30 minimum for each person. There are lots of options on the menu , all fresh and innovative . We had the oysters , grilled scallops , gnocchi , tacos , buratta . My husband tried the French 72 which was a twist (in my opinion) a classier/fresher Moscow mule . Can't wait to come back ! read more

Simply the best place for live Jazz, blues and R&B. What a treasure to find this sleepy place in the heart of Tenderloin of SF. Have been twice in the past month and all I can say is wow.. Seriously, every seat in the house is solid. Sound system rocks too. Food was surprisingly good (i say surprisingly because most times, food at a club is second nature.. yet not in this case). Try the duck fat fries and kale Cesar salad.. they were sumptuous. Lastly, the staff is on the money and attentive.. this is a good sign that solid management is in place. Cheers, Sammy read more

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Waited nearly an hour to be seated. This spot seems like they care more about pushing cocktails than the actual music. If Theo Crocker is on the bill...AVOID! Not worth your money. Apparently, the band showed up late so all the sets got pushed back? 10pm reservations didn't get seated until almost 11pm. Band didn't come on until after 11:20pm. On top of that, the band sounded awful. Completely disjointed. Sounded like noise most of the time. As an avid jazz fan, the whole experience was painful. I'd rather go to Mr. Tipples. Service is inconsistent. The bartenders upstairs were not very attentive. The bartenders downstairs were nice but not skilled. Didn't know how to make some simple classic cocktails. Standard cocktails are $18. Neighborhood is sketch. read more

Great music Good cocktails (but pricey) Ok food Terrible business practices (check your bill carefully) Outside of their control, but the fast deteriorating conditions in the neighborhood don't help read more

Was there last Friday and I Don't recommend it, the waitress advised me I had to order a minimum of two alcoholic drinks before I could close the tap! Never heard of such a thing... Not happy about the service and also the overall experience was not pleasant. I wouldn't go back again read more

Dinner review. Popcorn (soy sesame) - 4/5 Popcorn (lemon) - 3/5 Burger - 3/5 Lamb shoulder - 1/5 Overall, "I've experienced better." read more

Black Cat - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We went to the Black Cat for our anniversary since we'd like to hear jazz. I wasn't sure about the food, but I knew that the artists were top-notch. We were surprised by how good the food was and how the ambience of both food and jazz really enhanced our experience. I was quite impressed with the service too. read more