Charlie O's Jazz Club

11/17/09

Worst experience at a restaurant/club...

by JohnCharged at Citysearch

They boast that there is no cover charge. I went here to get credit for a jazz class I was taking, so I wanted to just enjoy music and not have to dish out money. I loved the talent of the musicians, but EVERYONE working at Charlie O's was rude and elitist. The food was an embarrassing. A coke was $5. Refills are $5. Fried zucchini was around $10. I went here when I was 19, and will NEVER go back. I advise you to never go here even once.

• Pros: Great music
• Cons: too many to list

04/27/08

BEWARE OF CHARLIE O'S

by jazzfan1205 at Citysearch

Before you decide to patronize Charlie O's, please check into the fact that they charge you cover in a clandestine way - through your drinks. A group of friends went here recently and upon receiving the bill, saw an outrageous amount given the number of rounds we had. When we spoke to the owner (Charlie), we were notified that this was because "they don't charge a cover fee." Hmm...this is odd since the owner DOES charge a cover fee but rolls it into your drink cost.

Most establishments that have live music and wish to charge their guests to pay for the talent in some capacity give them the choice up front as to whether they want to pay (whether it's $10, $15 or $20) - not as a percentage of what drinks they select.

A real letdown for what should have been a classy night. None of our party will be visiting this place again anytime soon based on these poor business practices and lack of concern when we politely gave the owner the chance to make things right.

Recommend against visiting this place.

• Pros: Decent jazz sets
• Cons: Deceiving drink costs, uncooperative ownership

02/07/08

Best Real Jazz Joint in LA

by uburoi at Citysearch

Charlie O's is the finest Jazz joint in Los Angeles, bar none. There are nicer clubs and some great ?listening spaces,? but if you want to go to a friendly local bar that plays straight-up swing, big-band, bop, and cool jazz, then look no further, you are home. Charlie O?s is the place to go if you are really into the music--night in, night out, you will not hear better.

As for the food, it helps to pick the right items. I have always had very good luck with the baseball sirloin and the center cut pork chops?both were excellent. I would recommend steering clear of the fried stuff and sticking to what?s on the grill, it costs a bit more, but I think it is a real step above some of the lower-end items.

Same goes for the drinks, if you want a top-shelf martini, you?re going to pay for it, but the Miller Lite is still reasonable off the tap if you lack the means. The wine list could use some work, in my opinion, but the liquor selection is top-notch.

Now about the prices, keep in mind that the band has to get paid. Nothing?s free, ladies and gentlemen, and if you want to hear top-notch music, you can either pay at the door or you can pay at the bar and through the kitchen, but either way, the band must be properly remunerated (and they should get paid, and paid well, those aren?t teenage rock ?n roll bands up there, folks, but some of the finest musicians in the country, show some respect for their decades of hard work and buy another round for everyone at the table). I know, I know, I?m a working class guy myself, and I?ve had some tabs at Charlie?s that have put the bite on my paycheck, but I can?t say I?ve ever had a bad time, or that the money wasn?t well spent.

Go to hear the music, the house rhythm section of Roy McCurdy and John Heard (get well, John) is alone worth the cost of a few drinks. On a good night, you?ll find out why Jazz is far from dead. See you there.

• Pros: Great straight-up Bop, Swing, Big-Band, and Cool Jazz, REAL Jazz, no phony hipsters
• Cons: Lighting is so-so, I hate lookinbg at acoustic ceiling, some food is blah, wine list is dull