This place was great. How do you change the culture and reputation of a town? Like this! A super cool music venue, with wine, full bar and tasty nibbles and an incredible lineup of talented musicians. Everything about this venue was spot on / ambiance, service, atmosphere, acoustics and vibe. Located 56 miles north of New York City in the Village of Brewster, Uncle Cheef is Hudson Valley's home to exciting live music curated by Tonight Show musician and five time Grammy award winning saxophonist, Ian Hendrickson-Smith (aka Uncle Cheef). American "Tapas style" share plates, a full bar featuring craft cocktails, a hefty wine list & an emphasis on tequilas & mezcals, all served lovingly in a warm, magical space. Yup. My only request...some blues, some rock some variety outside of jazz. read more

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Great spot to hear some great music. Food was very good, staff attentive. We had a weird table that was built around a pillar in the middle of the place. Would be better for two parties of two than one party of four, so be careful when selecting a table. Looking forward to going back! read more

Uncle Cheef - Music Venues Near Me - Brewster, New York

Wowee wow wow! What a cool addition to Brewster! First; location: it's a little loopy, but if you are familiar with the area, you know you can reach this spot numerous ways; from 684,84, 22, Main St. so pretty centrally located, but Waze it if you don't know the area. For the older folk (me apparently) you'd remember this building as the Italian restaurant/banquet hall of Sortinos. More recently it was the two level Bull and Barrel. Well bye bye line dancing and mechanical Bull! Hello NYC jazz! Fun, casual but elegant; intimate and candlelit. But don't be shy if your single, this is not necessarily a smug date night only place. There were many singles of varying ages happily sitting at the bar enjoying the fabulous cocktails, generous portions of tapas (more coming on that) and a select wine menu which was thorough without being overwhelming and redundant. Thursday nights music is by donation only, with the expectation you will spend at least $25 on your dining and drinking. Seems fair to me and it was. As a first timer, I was not going to commit to a Friday or Saturday night where music is an extra $20 per head. Needless to say, the talent was so friendly, personable and accessible (they hung out at the bar between sets, stepped off the stage to highlife the solos of the others) and so incredibly GOOD, that I put MORE in the mailbox than I would have on the weekend (that's psychology for you!) every seat is a good one, but I LOVED our high top against the far wall because we could take the whole room in. The tapas servings were more like dinner bowls. I had the Buffalo tator tots and the roasted Brussels sprouts, which was topped with a piece of mozzarella. The men had sliders which they said were delicious. Even with the three of us sharing my choices, we still didn't finish, so those generous portions are to be noted when you are sharing numerous "small" bites. We had to leave early because Thursday, but highly recommend this spot and hope to get there again soon. Oh; another tip, this is the top floor of what was Bull and Barrell. Be prepared for an indoor stair climb and a smallish but not crowded at all room but one that you MUST make a reservation for. Obviously you could get lucky as a walk in, but after that roundabout drive, it would suck if you got turned away. Oh! And make sure your phone is charged, you will need it for the menu. I sometimes leave mine in the car for dinner to give my full attention to my guests, so that would have sucked to. And shout out to our waitress who was prompt, pleasant and available to whisper in my ear so I could hear her over the band. And to the great kitchen staff who got our food to us even before our cocktails arrived..oops..no harm done. read more

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A hidden gem behind a brick building in the randomest part of Brewster. Don't let the outside fool you, you'll be a fool if you don't check this incredible jazz lounge. As soon as you walk in, you don't even know what you're about to be treated to. A high chandelier, cozy fireplace vibes and a long set of stairs open up to a waiting area where the hostess with the mostest will explain the whole run down to you. She'll ask you if it's your first time attending and explain how things work, because yup, people don't read things on the website anymore and end up complaining or whatever. Either way, don't be annoyed at her, let her explain and do her thing. She's literally just doing her job to make things easier for everyone, it's part of the Uncle Cheef experience. If you've been there before, no sweat, she totally wont re explain everything. When you walk into the main room it feels like you've walked into a speakeasy Jazz bar giving all the vibes. The disco ball is what does it for me. From the dark decor, to the warmer colors and cozy atmosphere. Uncle Cheef, the staff and artists are here to give you an amazing time. Reservations are highly recommended as this place gets pretty full (especially for the first show and on the busier nights/weekend). No matter where you're seated, you'll have the best seats in house since they've literally thought of everything, especially the swivel chairs! There is a cover charge of $20pp and a $25 min pp of food and drink which is totally easy to do. It just means you'll be getting a drink and a snack or full dinner if you wish. They have delicious tapas style options with plenty of choices for the vegetarians. Highly recommend the eggplant meatballs, they're out of this world! The cheesy tots are for sure a must. We had the pleasure of listening to the talented Benny Benack III and his crew and we had such an awesome night. You for sure don't have to be into jazz to enjoy this place but if you are, you'll for sure love it even more. Bottom line: a great place with lots of regulars to listen to incredible and talented musicians, delicious tapas and drinks (the food in my opinion surpasses the drinks). Overall a great spot to visit and revisit to hang with friends, celebrate or enjoy a date night out. read more

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What an incredible hidden gem! Beautiful jazz music by talented musicians! The ambience is incredible and cozy. The brunch menu was delicious and there was something for everyone. I highly recommend the French toast apple cider doughnuts. The waiters were very attentive. While there is a per person minimum, it is very easy to meet. I will definitely be back! read more

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Got there for the 5:30pm show on a Sunday eve. The hostess was also our waitress and she was very helpful when it came to suggestions as to what to order. The drinks were spot on. They weren't so strong that we felt tipsy, they were balanced and well made, shout out to the bartender! To start we got the French onion soup and dates (THE DATES OMG DROOL). We were pretty hungry so we got a ton of food. The band was playing Brazilian jazz and it was so chill. We stayed for both sets, enjoying the music, ambiance, and food. Love that it's a low key spot and so well run. Will not be my last time. 10/10 read more

Uncle Cheef - Music Venues Near Me - Brewster, New York

There's a cover and a minimum purchase of food/beverage items: most things are $10-$20, so it's easy to hit their minimum quickly. The musician I saw was just fantastic, and I had really lovely servers. My Old Fashioned was perfect. The mushroom & walnut pate special was fabulous, and by beet & burrata salad was lovelyyyy. Will definitely come back for more amazing music read more

In the back of a brick building, go up the stairs and you begin to hear the music. It was a Sunday afternoon, Brazilian Jazz (Jobim, Gilberto, etc.) performed by Tyler Blanton and 3 other outstanding musicians. The rotation of musicians changes but I personally hope Sunday Brazilian Jazz will be around for a bit. So impressed with the acoustics and the feel of the room. Hip, comfortable, nicely lit, well appointed, cozy in a modern way. Found out from Uncle himself that every consideration was taken to make the room as acoustically receptive as they could. The table stands are filled, artwork packed between wall and frame, the tiles on the ceiling, drapes behind the stage, custom shutters on the windows and a stage that has tires (!) underneath it to keep vibrations to an absolute minimum. About 30 minutes in we noticed how great the sound was. The bar is beautiful. (So was the bartender) The drinks are as pretty to look at as they are fun to consume. I included the QR code in the photos for the bar as well as the food. The Food. YUM. So much better than any of us expected from a "music lounge". I ordered the goat cheese filled dates which had a sweet and salty goat cheese with pistachios that cut the sweetness of the dates down to size, served warm. Our eyes rolled into the back of our heads. Then I was smart enough to order the Red Beans and Rice, made by the Uncle himself from a recipe handed down through generations of his New Orleans relatives. My companions had sandwiches Amy & Nancy respectively. I got a bite of the Nancy but my other friend looked as though he'd slap my hand if I tried for a bite of the Amy. We were too full to try the FERRIS ACRES ice cream but Im going back for that. Now, for Uncle. I don't want to tell tales but lets get to THE ROOTS of things..... He's the saxophone player in the legendary Roots!! NO WONDER this place is above average and that the acoustics are perfection. There will be streaming of the live music to come, cameras are in place, microphones and the all important knowledge of how to accomplish this. There's a recording studio which could be an attraction to the musicians, attracting those artists that are so close to breaking through. Big, ambitious plans that I am keeping my fingers crossed for. Great destination spot or if you are traveling between the city and your weekend country place. On the way up to unwind or the way back to make the Weeknd last a moment longer. Great destination place to bring your honey and get cozy. Great destination place. Period. End of sentence. I highly recommend reservations as leaf peeping season begins because this will become your winter hangout. Plenty of parking. Suggested donation to the band. Wednesday -Saturday. Sunday is Brunch only at this point. read more

Wonderful venue. Amazing ambiance. My friend lives nearby and didn't know about it Needs signage and some Marketing locally just a suggestion Amazing venue. Will be back !' read more

Wonderful chill jazz club with a great brunch. Glad to see the decor is actually built to accommodate the music. Cocktails and brunch dishes, tapas are tasty. The crab Benedict, deviled eggs, Brussel sprouts were a hit. Brazilian jazz musicians were very good. One of the best brunch options in the area. read more

Uncle Cheef - Brazilian jazz - Music Venues Near Me - Brewster, New York

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Nicely put together room. Good quad trad jazz group played w a particularly strong pianist. 2 somewhat short sets. Tapas was good quality but pricey for the serving size and could use some more healthy options but still workable. The reason for 3 stars instead of 4: the hostess (owner?) did an introduction of rules at the door to each visitor asking if we read the website. Sorry, rules for schools, this is a jazz club and I'm just there for some music, conversation, cocktails and a bite. I don't read your website for how much I need to spend on what and which set blah blah blah. She then reiterated on stage another set of drinking rules etc after charging $20/pp for the band. For what it's worth, our group spent over $650 table of 6 and I don't like the aggressive posture both at the door and then to the crowd. After the 1st, the place was at least 1/2 empty, maybe because of the rules. Whether this place survives or not is TBD. It ain't cheap but their Brewster rent likely is. They need to calm the approach down a little, just a short mention of 1 drink pp per set is ok and leave it at that. Otherwise, people will not make it a regular haunt. It's worth trying and hopefully they ease up at the door and their stage intro. I'd recommend giving it a shot and their owners a little time to create the vibe. read more

Recently had the pleasure of visiting the "up and coming" Uncle Cheef Club located in Brewster, New York and what a great night it was. The staff was so accommodating and friendly from the moment we entered the club. Looks are very deceiving when you look at the club from the outside and once inside, the ambiance is more like a place in Downtown Manhattan, almost making you forget that you're in the Hudson Valley. Now to the food.... The portions are very generous, taking into consideration that the prices are very reasonable. I had the Buffalo Tater Tots which were very tasty (considering they're Tater Tots) and more than enough for two people to share. My wife had the Hummus & Pita dish which was also a HUGE serving, which was also a very generous portion. I was indeed pleasantly surprised at how fresh and how good the food was considering that sometimes with places like this, the Entertainment is their primary focus, and food secondary. It looks like they've hit it out of the park with both. The Entertainment... On this night we had the pleasure of watching Rick Germanson and his Band Members perform flawlessly on the stage, allowing us to capture every nuance in this small setting. They created a vibe that once again was nothing like ANYONE has seen in this area. We were also honored to be joined at our table (for a very nice conversation) by Mr. Nat Reeves, a Hartford, Connecticut Native that has been playing the Bass since he was 16 years old. Mr. Reeves, along with his other band members gave a truly soulful, and at many times, heartfelt performance that resonated through all the patrons in attendance there. There was a moment that a gentleman in the rear of the club complained about people talking loudly but I think we should all remember this is a Club and quiet conversation should never be a problem (as long as its not disrespectful to the performers). To all my Hudson Valley people looking for a GREAT time in a Local Club, THIS IS THE PLACE. Great crowd, awesome ambiance, attentive staff, just nothing bad at all to say. To Jenny (whom we met and loved) and Ian (Uncle Cheef), I wish you nothing but continued success on a place that I know both of you put your heart and soul into. JB read more

Uncle Cheef certainly has that "Cool Jazz" feel to it. A totally relaxed atmosphere to this club as there are no poor views to the stage. We were fortunate enough to listen to trumpeter Philip Harper and his band perform. As for dining - The menu (tapas style shared plates) is somewhat limited as there is no fish or chicken options. That being said all our evening selections truly worked. The Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Beef and Eggplant Meatballs, the short rib sliders (delicious), and cheese & charcuterie selections were all winners. Service was professional, polite and alert all evening. Of note - we were seated at a high top table which can suddenly become a bit small when your multiple orders of food arrive from the kitchen. We had a fine evening. Here's hoping Uncle Cheef has a long stay in Brewster. read more

I've been a few times to this outstanding live music lounge. There is live music Wed - Saturday and Sunday brunch. The music is always good as the performers are all top level professionals from NYC! If you want to discover something different and exciting, I'd suggest the Brazilian Jazz Sunday Brunch. The music is fantastic and the brunch menu delicious. read more

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Run to Uncle Cheefs! This is a top of the line musical venue. You are greeted by super friendly staff and ushered into The space which is beautifully done, great lighting ( a pet peeve of mine!) , spacious and thoughtful. The food was shockingly delicious ( not usual for a music venue) and the drinks perfectly executed. The prices are super reasonable, and would be much higher in clubs of this caliber in NYC. Much thought and care was put into every aspect of this place. Now the really important part, the music! These are top of their craft musicians. All curated by Uncle Cheef himself, who we had the great pleasure of hearing as well. This is a 5 star club that rivals any place in Manhattan ( Dizzy's for example). Ian is a perfect host to all, taking time to speak with everyone. His staff is professional and delightful. Cannot sing the praises of this place enough! If you love EXCELLENT music in a gorgeous space, this is where you want to be. read more

Finally ... someplace cool in our neck of the woods! A softly lit room with the intimate, sophisticated feel of an elegant and welcoming jazz club (which it is). A smiling, convivial staff. Comfortable seating. Great craft cocktails. Interesting and tasty food (the red beans & rice hit the spot). And then there's the music. Wow! An eclectic lineup. Top tier players. Terrific acoustics and not a bad seat in the house. This place is far beyond the norm in our area ... something other than another Italian restaurant - not that there's anything wrong with that ... and, yes, I know, there are other options. Pizza or Asian anyone? :) But seriously. Cheef's is a cut above. Check it out. It's a winner! read more

Amazing experience Putnam County is so lucky to have a venue like this. The food was absolutely delicious. Wonderful service and the music was incredible. read more

This venue is an outstanding, exceptional, unique treasure!!! You will not find better ambience, service, food or jazz musicians anywhere. We have thoroughly enjoyed our 3 visits and can't wait to go back! It is also a great late night and romantic spot. Please give it a try! Make reservations in advance. Grammy award winning saxophonist Uncle Cheef was there all 3 times we went. He sometimes joins the musicians on stage. He warmly greeted us and thanked us for coming. read more

Way, wayyyyyyyyy Overpriced... food was decent but portions very small but music was subpar ..............

Wow, what an amazing night! Sexy swanky jazz club vibes. There are two viewings we reserved the earlier one. The cocktails were delicious (we had Paloma, margaritas) and the food was excellent as well. We had the mushroom bruschetta, meatballs, shrimp n polenta, deviled eggs and every dish was delicious. And then the MUSIC.... amazing musicians performed a solid set. The owners/staff were hospitable and gave us an awesome date night. I want to check out the brunch read more

Uncle Cheef is an amazing addition to the area, you almost forget you're in CT and are transported into Manhattan! You walk upstairs to a classy, sophisticated jazz club that has ample amounts of seating and a nice sized bar. There is a $20 cover charge on Saturday and Sunday and a minimum spend of $25pp but you easily hit the minimum with a drink or some food. We ordered the ribs, meatballs and shrimp and they were all delicious! The live music is tasteful and entertaining. Definitely would recommend & I plan to come back! read more

This is a great jazz spot! You go for the music and everything else is a bonus. The service was good and the food was ok. We ordered 6 items: crab crostini, wings, mac and cheese, beans and rice, cachuterie board with goat cheese with duck salami. Lemon cake for dessert. The mac and cheese skip, it was hot but tasteless, just noodles and butter, no noticeable cheese flavor, and breadcrumbs 2/5. The waitress wanted feedback I told her it was tasteless a hot gooey flatliner. We paid for it all so I'm gonna be honest. The wings subpar no real sauce/flavor 3/5. My husband asked for hot sauce for Buffalo wings. But the crab, board, and rice and beans were great. The board was laid out nicely and the variety was good. 5/5 Crab was flavorful a little greasy, but good 5/5. The beans and rice hubby said 5/5. The lemon cake 4/5 the cake was good. The cream was flat. The music, artists, and bar carried the experience. We had a bottle of wine and a margarita. Wine prices were fair and great choices of tequila. I would go again, the atmosphere was great! The people were nice and the vibe was Jazz. The table layout was good. You have room to enjoy yourself. You can stay for both sets. I love that...we will be back! Hubby took me for my birthday...it was a great evening! I'm fair and honest...try it out. I think you will like it! read more

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We had the wonderful opportunity to see the debut of vocalist Dominic Pagliaro, accompanied by Naomi Nakanishi on piano and Peter Robinson on bass. If you can, make a point of seeing this performance! Domenic not only sings some of the classics beautifully but adds in a little history, humor and emotion to make this a very entertaining performance. Uncle Cheefs is a great venue! The food was wonderful and fresh and the space is warm and inviting with wonderful acoustics! You will not be disappointed! read more

Uncle Cheef - Music Venues Near Me - Brewster, New York

Great Ambiance, music & service! Brewster's greatest gem. Musical talent you only see in the city until now. Much cheaper cover than what you'll pay in the city & FREE parking! Check it out...you'll love it! read more

What a great space! We had potato and leek soup, short rib sliders, pink Negroni. Everything was perfect, service was on point. Ian the owner is super nice, very cool dude. World class live music in Brewster. Reasonable prices. Come out and support, you won't be sorry. Tell your friends read more

The music was good. The food was OK. We were there because my daughter wanted to see an artist that was playing that night. I would go again. I don't mind walking stairs, but it's a walk up read more

Brazilian jazz brunch was definitely a unique, fun experience. The ambience is perfection; dark, acoustically pleasing and a great venue with a very good vibe. The crab benedict was outstanding; homemade fluffy english muffins, perfect hollandaise. The avocado toast was great. The shrimp and polenta was a little bland and small, but good. The service is where the place fell short a bit... it was not a full house but we waited forever for drinks, forever to get a dish fixed that was inaccurately delivered (it happens, but taking an entire meal to put the right dish out was unfortunate) ....just super slow and the waiter just sort of disappeared a bit. BUT everyone was very friendly so only one star off. We would definitely come back, it's a gem to have in the area and the food was good, the band was great and definitely a step up for a nice brunch! read more

Disappointed 120$ music fee for 45 minutes of music and food and that's just the fee. Plus ok food

Fun and sophisticated atmosphere right in Brewster. Went later on a Wednesday evening and it was lively. A great place to enjoy an excellent cocktail and chat. read more

What more could the Hudson Valley ask for? Amazing musical talents, delectable food menu choices, fabulous craft cocktails...all in Brewster's backyard! Do yourself a favor and make a reservation to experience this up-and-coming musical venue. read more

Uncle Cheef - Music Venues Near Me - Brewster, New York

When you describe Uncle Cheef it must begin with the ambiance/music. It is a classic Jazz club that also serves food. It's an intimate club where there are no bad seats. The stage is the focal point of the facility. We were lucky enough to hear the outstanding Art Cherry and his trio . The evening ended with three amazing Jazz guitarists joining them on stage. It was a memorable performance. The service is professional and seamless. The waitstaff anticipates your needs . This is an NYC cocktail bar in Brewster,NY. The bar staff made flavorful cocktails perfectly. The food is well prepared but it isn't a dinner destination. Most of the options are small plate /appetizers. The food is well prepared but the options are limited with the focus on the bar service. If you are looking for a cheap date option this is not for you. If you want a quality music experience it is definitely worth the price. Uncle Cheefs is now on our list of great local options. read more

Great to have a spot like this in Brewster. The live music was excellent. Food and drink prices a little hefty.

Excellent venue to watch jazz. Best in westchester in my opinion. Food was good as well but the environment is the real draw at this place.

music awesome service very good food not so great wish they could get that part together I want to come back to hear the music dumped a half bottle of hot sauce into my red beans and rice and it still was tasteless Happy that jazz players have a first class spot to perform read more

A Gem in Brewster. We came into this new restaurant jazz venue without any expectations. Growing up near NYC I was fortunate enough to experience great jazz clubs. So when this opened I was eager to go. We had a part of 6 that evening and I was in love with this restaurant and music venue. From the food to the live jazz the experience was amazing. We have been back many times and may I say when you walk in Uncle Cheef and Jenny welcome and treat you not as customers but family. I would recommend giving this place a try however you will go back. read more

Amazing music, great space and wonderful food! Very nice to see this super fun place open in our area!

Please don't leave Brewster Unclecheef!! We have been waiting for a place like this in this area. Great music man. Great friendly service. We will definitely visit often. read more

I can never say enough about just how special Uncle Cheef's is. Various members of my family go there during their regular business hours (the Sunday Brunch is fantastic!)...and the music, food and professionalism of the staff is always top notch. But this review is to give UC a very special shoutout for the AMAZING job they did hosting my son's college graduation party. My son was an art major, and we wanted to do something special to showcase all of his beautiful work. UC was the perfect venue and they allowed us to set up the space like an art exhibit to feature some of my son's artwork to display. The ambience, music and food selections were all top notch. Jenny and her staff were so kind and courteous to all of our guests (there were about 60 of us), and everything flowed so well. If you are planning any kind of event, please consider Uncle Cheef as a very serious option. You won't be disappointed!!! read more

this business false advertised to make extra money for themselves. food was at best ok, service slow. not a place I will return to.

Excellent music lounge. Intimate setting. Ian and wife are warm and inviting. Taking time to talk and know new customers. Music is awesome. Great new addition to this area read more