Charlies O's Jazz Club (Reported Closed)

Doesn't Recommend

nstomp

Joined 3 years ago

Rudiest owner & employees. Doesn't even deserve 1star

Was there a couple of nights ago and watched the owner being very rude & nasty. She called several patrons F-----g G-d D---n B----hes over and over. Seems they were from out of town and brought about 40 high school Jazz musicians to listen to the music. I overheard the patrons ask for the soft drinks or the automatic added tip to be taken off their groups ticket because the kids had to wait 2- 21/2 hours to get their food & the price of the soft drinks were not on the menu and pushed the cost over board for the kids. The owner refused and was yelling at all of them. I was so upset & embarrassed for all them, especially the kids to hear this, that I left. I don't know what the outcome was, but I will never go back there & I will tell everyone I know not to go. There are many other places that will appreciate our business.

Doesn't Recommend

JohnCharged

Joined 4 years ago

Worst experience at a restaurant/club.... 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.

Doesn't Recommend

jazzfan1205

Joined 5 years ago

BEWARE OF CHARLIE O'S. 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.

Recommends

uburoi

Joined 5 years ago

Best Real Jazz Joint in LA. 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.

Recommends

robotron

Joined 7 years ago

Great jazz / Terrible food. I really enjoyed Charlie O's - the music was just great and I would definitely go back. The problem is that the the food is just terrible (and quite expensive) - not sure why they don't seem to be able to turn out something edible. To make matters worse, if you want to sit at a table, you have to order dinner so it's kind of hard to avoid. It's kind of strange because there are often empty tables which presumably would be filled if either the food were better or they just allowed you to pay a cover charge to sit at a table (and made the bar no cover the way it is now). I'll go back, but I'd be much likelier to go back if they fixed these (relatively simple to fix) problems.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Nightly performances beckon serious jazz fans to this intimate Valley supper club.. In Short
The fire-engine red and yellow exterior strikes a sharp contrast with the dimly lit, mahogany-walled interior where jazz enthusiasts from across the city listen to local musicians with a reverent appreciation. Featured musical line-ups attract everyone from an older crowd who grew up with the legends to local university music students eager to experience jazz first-hand. Popular menu choices include a sauteed mushroom appetizer and feature various cuts of steak, such as a top sirloin or porterhouse.

Recommends

chip1

Joined 10 years ago

STRAIGHT AHEAD!. Jazz that is. This Club is the Real Thing. SERIOUS JAZZ. No sappy Kenny G/John Tesh swill - this is Straight-Ahead Jazz. So cool that Chuck Niles hangs there. Food is secondary to the music but fine. Good steaks, chicken, ribs, burgers. Drinks are generous but since they don't charge a cover are a little pricey. But WAY worth it to see so many living ledgends. All the "A" list players in L.A. and beyond. Don't miss.