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The Jazz Kitchen

4.2 (297 reviews)
Closed • 6:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
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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Reviews With Photos

Alex R.

After all of these years, I finally made it to the Jazz Kitchen. It's embarrassing that it's taken so long to visit this staple of College Avenue. We happened to go on a night that a band was playing. It was a great night! Food was amazing, music and atmosphere was fun. Service was outstanding!

View of stage from our seat
Mandy C.

Visited with friends to see the special Christmas show with Sarah Scharbrough. We had great seats, thanks to my friend booking an excellent table! The setting here is dark and somewhat mysterious, as you might expect a jazz lounge to be. But it's a lovely place to see a show, and the way the tables are arranged, there's not a bad seat in the house. The sound quality was excellent without being overwhelming in the smaller space. Wait staff were friendly, but unobtrusive. We ordered food and wine, and were served quickly, which allowed us to eat leisurely throughout the show (important as we were at the first seating of the afternoon). Our meals were delicious and I really enjoyed the freshness of my crab cakes. Despite being in landlocked Indiana, they were delicious! There's a reason the Jazz Kitchen has been hopping for so long. Go check it out for yourself!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Vocal Ease

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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

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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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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3 years ago

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

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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

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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

Read more highlights

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The Quarter

4.2(59 reviews)
1.4 mi•Broad Ripple

At first read, the menu wasn't very appealing. Lots of fried foods but the server was so fun and…read moreengaging we decided to stay! We started with spicy pimiento cheese and a gigantic pretzel for the table. That pretzel fed 6 of us. Onward to dinner - my husband and I spit a voodoo burger and shrimp Po'boy. Both were delicious and tater tots as the side were a fun option. The atmosphere is top notch as is the friendly wait/bar staff. We didn't sit outside but next time we'll enjoy some fresh air and cocktails there.

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. If you're familiar with Yats, it's similar, with a much larger seating area (inside and on the patio), at more than twice the price.

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The Jazz Kitchen - tradamerican - Updated November 2026

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