11/24/08

Overpriced...

by mike866

No this is not somewhere that I would ever revisit. I went to eat dinner and I got a drink where they added $24.00 for a cover charge that was not posted. don't they usually charge covers when enter???

• Cons: cover charge for poor jazz

03/25/08

Singer was a drama queen

by lamomma

Six friends, my husband & I went for his birthday. I made reservations which was not a problem. They sat us in the back, which was fine for us. What they neglected to tell us is that we needed to be quiet while the band played. The singer shhhh'ed us on the mic, as if she were our 5th grade English teacher. She promised to sing my husband happy birthday but never did because she was mad at us for not being attentive to her. What a drama queen!! After the first break she even had the manager come up and ask us to be quiet during their set. I'm not sure what they were expecting with a party of 8. Did they think that a group of 30somethings weren't going to talk throughout their dinner? We all had babysitters & were enjoying a night out with friends.

The food was good, a bit over priced, but you definitely go for the music. Which was incredible. No complaints about the band. They were awesome.

Our waiter, Aaron, was fantastic too. He was always there & had a great personality.

The club is small, quaint and has a great atmosphere. However, there's a band fee ($10) per person atop the price of dinner. We spent nearly $400 bucks!!! Maybe we expect too much but we thought with us spending so much the would have waived the extra $80. It seemed a little stiff.

All in all we had a great time but if we go back we'll just go for the 2 drink minimum & band fee.

• Pros: Great wait staff, cool atmosphere
• Cons: Can't talk during music, pricey average food

06/01/07

Reservations leave little to be desired

by sierra1194

1) Called and spoke with Eric several times about faxing over a copy of their menu so I can plan the evening meal ahead of time and for some reason, he is 'unable' to perform this simple task although he assures you that he will, many times over. 2) Made reservations but Eric did not take a credit card number so I get the feeling, a reservation for a certain table is NOT GUARANTEED so that when I show up at the door with my large party, we will be redirected to where we may not be seated together. I DON'T GET A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS PLACE AT ALL. Poncho's music maybe great, but interacting with a nightclub that is possibly less than ethical leaves little left for the otherwise wonderful musical experience. I don't want my experience to be spoiled by some character (Eric) who says yes, yes,yes, but knows that he and the LaDeeDa club owner can't and won't deliver as promised by way of seating reservations, etc. The Spaghettini Grill in Seal Beach looks more and more promising ......

• Cons: Ambiguous Reservations, Conflicting Info regarding Cover charges and fees, Lack of Integrity

02/11/07

Good music, bad reservations

by mishadurnoi

Quoting Jerry Seinfeld "they can take reservations, they just can't keep them". Now, afterwards, I was told that it is common for many misic clubs not to hold reservations, but this was the place I experienced that personnally, when I made a reservation for a large group. The music was very good quality, the type of crowd - I agree with the previous post.

• Pros: music
• Cons: not firm on reservations

01/23/05

Fabulous music; lame crowd

by itsalltrue

La Ve Lee nightly features some of the finest jazz music to be heard anywhere on planet earth. The booking is knowledgable and consistent; the sound mixing and system superb. The bar, unlike the editorial review description, is small, narrow, with far too few stools, and a surly tending staff...not snooty...surly. The crowd is a mix of hip adult African-Americans and an odd mixture of caucasians and Asians, many of whom are on dates and don't seem to have been to a jazz club before. The decor is best described as ramshackle but functional. But the point of it all is the musicians and the sound system. They are incredible.

• Pros: Brilliant jazz & R&B, The bands are close, Super audio
• Cons: , Don't expect romance, Too hip for the crowd

Cozy but sophisticated jazz club with an emphasis on Latin and South American rhythms.

by Contributor

The Scene
This stylish club consistently makes top 10 lists of L.A. jazz venues. Depending on the night, you might hear any of a range of styles, including funk, fusion and R&B, but most popular and prevalent here are Latin and Brazilian jazz acts. The lineup always changes, but regulars include the talented percussionist Pete Escovedo--who often performs alongside son Peter Michael, and daughter (former Prince protégé) Sheila E--and brilliant Latin jazz pianist Freddie Ravel. A long bar with comfy stools lines the front wall, but the best seats in the house are the cushy red ones surrounding the white-clothed dining tables, so be sure to make a reservation. Dinner is available until midnight.

The Draw
This club draws serious jazz aficionados who come to listen to the music. So if you're really just looking for a backdrop for conversation, go elsewhere.

08/27/02

A favorite spot

by marmonk

I love La Ve Lee - We go all of the time. They have a great rotation of musicians who come through. My personal favorite is sax man, Donald Hayes who plays with Ricky Lawson and a great keyboardist named Herman.

The food is great - you have to try the salmon and chocolate mousse cake!

06/04/02

Jazz in the Valley

by bpike

Good greek food. The quality of the music can vary widely from night to night. But when Pancho Sanchez comes to town, it is the place to be.

• Pros: latin jazz