Cicada

10/17/09

Cicada Club Sundays are DEAD!

by Victoryismine at Citysearch

You have to pay $10 (+ $7 parking!) or pay for an expensive 4 course meal in order to hear REALLY REALLY HORRIBLE singers accompany lousy unrehearsed bands?!! Then have to deal with a mean old crotchety announcer/promoter Maxwell Demille on top of it?! Even if you love old style jazz you won't find anything good here. I had a better time watching the Gong Show back in the '70s!

I had high hopes initially. I've seen them all: Janet Klein, Christine Nelson, Jennifer Keith, Ginger Pauley and Richard Halpern- ALL CRAP!!! Every one of them is sterile and sings with zero emotion- generally not on pitch either or with some fake annoying nasal voice trying to sound '20s. Does Demille coach them to sing like this? What's going on?

Don't waste your time. Don't waste your money.

& Cicada Restaurant- maybe it's time for a change! oh and ps- get some new waiters that aren't incredibly rude. thanks!

pps- you might want to do something about that smell of death.

• Pros: none
• Cons: EVERYTHING!

10/10/09

Cicada Club is old and tired.

by Swingadilla1931 at Citysearch

Unlike other guests posting here, the $10 cover charge would not bother me, its not much to pay for live entertainment...that being said, $10 is too much to pay for Cicada Club. Maxwell De Mille does not keep things fresh and fun, instead he rotates the same tired bands over and over, nothing changes here. Mr. De Mille himself is borderline arrogant and obnoxious, he couldn't spend a few minutes to mingle and speak with guests, he won't dance with any of the ladies ( my girlfriend included) he won't even take photos with anyone ( we asked and he blew us off). The bar menu really does not live up to the standards of a five star restaurant and the price fixe requires that you get a whole 3 course meal, too much food. Cicada Club also has lots of snotty regulars and staff, De Mille included. I have given this place a couple of chances but next time will spend my $10 elsewhere.

• Pros: Art deco atmosphere, nice cocktail menu, great bartender.
• Cons: No new bands, snobby staff, smokers on patio, snobby guests.

09/01/09

Insulted by the waiter. Heavens!

by LadyCurmudgeon at Citysearch

Last Sunday night at the Cicada Club was very enjoyable, the dancing was lively, the music inspiring, the clientele picturesque, the fare delicious and I felt an evening of such fine frivolity was richly worth the price, that was until the incredibly rude waiter reared his ugly head at the close of this otherwise delightful evening. First, he interrupted the engaging conversation I was having with a few friends at my table to inform me that the bill had to be paid immediately, because he had to “close the books,” even though people were still dancing, and the establishment seemed far from turning out the lights and placing the chairs upon the table.

Then, when I coyly asked him if he thought we looked like deadbeats and were attempting to avoid paying our bill, he became belligerent and extremely unpleasant, and launched into an angry tirade involving, I believe, his economic status. Perhaps the management of the Cicada Club should suggest to their waitpersons that a wooden box at Hyde Park is a more appropriate venue for lectures pontificating upon the economic positions of the privileged and working classes, and not to patrons who have just spent $250 on a dinner for two, including a hefty tip for the obviously disgruntled and politically frustrated waiter.

How unfortunate. The incident was like enjoying a fabulous dinner, only to have the lingering gastronomic pleasure destroyed by a putrid after dinner cocktail. It left a bad taste, and I won’t be going back for more.

• Pros: Fabulous place for fun
• Cons: Rude waiter

08/06/09

Long time Cicada Club goer disappointed

by photogent1941 at Citysearch

I have been going to the Cicada Club ever since last year, but I will not be going anymore. With the economy in a slump Maxwell Demille has to be crazy to be now charging a cover charge to get into his club, and the new food prices? Are they insane. In order to just sit in the restaurant you HAVE to order from a fixed price menu, getting more food then you need to eat for more money then you need to spend, plus the menu is now very limited. You'd maybe expect for these new charges, there are some improvements in the musical line up, but it seems the only people who preform at the club any more is Jennifer Keith and Christine Nelson, they were there last week, and now they are back this week. The one good show at Cicada Club that remains is Richard Halpern's show, and the occasional big events that are way overpriced. I know a lot of regulars who will no longer be attending. Maxwell Demille certainly has a knack for alienating his customer base. Cicada used to be a great place to come, relax, have some drinks, now I will be looking for a new place to spend my Sunday Nights.

• Pros: Good music, Good cocktails.
• Cons: Ridiculous cover charge and new expensive menu, no new music

08/02/09

Boring, pricey disappointing for anyone under 75.

by Scubaduba at Citysearch

This place is completely dead, reminds me of the parties they give at my granny's retirement home. What really bugged me about this place was that they had the audacity to charge a $10 dollar cover charge. What was it to cover? Its not like this place is a real club, the music that was chosen for the evening was really not worth paying for, not only was the music boring, the singers could not carry a tune. For free, I could have just stayed home and watched American Idol auditions on You tube. I will give this place one star though, it does have very good cocktails and a good bar tender as well, although the bar is way too crowded. Usually in a club, there is more then one bar, and usually in a restaurant there is no cover charge.

• Pros: Nothing
• Cons: Entertainment (not worth $10 cover charge),boring.

08/02/09

Cicada Club is an expensive travesty that is not worth it!

by JeanGenie at Citysearch

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I caught a glimpse of the Cicada club on its webcam and we thought it might be a nice place for a romantic evening out. With two children and living in Woodland Hills, its a long drive downtown, plus expensive to get a babysitter, but we thought it would be worth it.

We get there, first off there is $7, which should be expected in LA, but then a $10 cover charge just to get into the restaurant. Ridiculous! We then go in, and we sit down. Both my husband and are light eaters, the only thing the restaurant will lets us do is order off of a fixed price menu when all we wanted to do was both get an entree and split a desert and starter. So ridiculous! Later we found out we didn't even need to pay the $10 cover charge. Our waiter was all over the place, we had to ask him twice to bring the menus.

Then the entertainment starts, whover cast the young women singing clearly did not have his or her head on straight. They band was alright, but the singers were really subpar.

Needless to say, we left early, there wasn't ANY reason to stay.

Save your money. Steer clear from this place.

• Pros: Nice atmosphere
• Cons: Cover charge, fixed price menu, waiters, bad singers.

06/24/09

Miserable evening with the satin dollz

by Mrgio at Citysearch

The satin dollz show was a huge waste of money, Maxwell Demille cuts costs by fooling customers into thinking they are going to see a different show, but really we paid him to see the EXACT same show from last Feb. What a waste of money, my girlfriend and I think the Satin Dollz are great, but next time we will just see them for free at the Mint. I would have to agree with other posters that Maxwell is not a very good host. After being tricked out of our money, we don't think he is very nice either. Boo Maxwell. Be honest with your customers.

• Pros: Nice dance routine
• Cons: Maxwell Demille, the same show, nothing new.

06/07/09

Only fair vintage night with a sourpuss host.

by PDQPlum at Citysearch

I have to agree with the previous poster. All the staff at the cicada club are as cold as ice, and Maxwell DeMille is the biggest sourpuss meanie of them all. The man SIMPLY could not be bothered to interact with guests, when we asked him if he would take a photo with us he was got very impatient with us and snapped at us to hurry up. We won't be going back to your club, "Maxwell DeMille"

• Pros: cold, unfriendly cicada club staff/manager
• Cons: nice interior space

05/28/09

Bland vintage night.

by MinicutieAWD at Citysearch

We went for the vintage event " Cicada Club." two sundays ago, the restaurant serves up nice fare and the restaurant has nice waiters, but the manager of the club Maxwell Demille has all the charm and warmth of a tacky ice sculture, he does not greet guests or want to dance with the ladies, my mom asked him if he would dance with her and he turned her down. He seems like he is trying to be snobby and its a real turn off to the guests, the doorman is also kind of cold. The sound system is real sub par, it screams with feedback so we can't he the sub par singers. Blah.

• Pros: Good food, nice service
• Cons: Unfriendly staff

04/25/09

A real let down

by ChetArt at Citysearch

What is cicada club about? Pricey food, lackluster entertainment ( the singer last sunday was pretty bad), and good, but expensive cocktails and women dressed up in vintage clothing. I heartily recommend this place if you want to pay top dollar for a food drink, and lots more for expensive food and don't mind listening to amateur bands. Otherwise, stay home and save a few bucks.

• Pros: Great bar
• Cons: Pricey food, lackluster entertainment.