Blue Note

This was my first time at Blue Note and while I expected the space to be tight; it was extremely tight and clustered as most table seating appeared to be about 6 people to a table. As you can imagine, not hardly enough elbow room to move or even consider eating. The policy requires a $20 f&b minimum per person which is fine but it is also proven a little difficult to do so when you don’t have much table to actually enjoy a meal (if that’s what you ordered). Don’t plan to have a full meal in this environment especially if you are a bit particular about germs. Go for a drink and leave it at that. I consider the room size of Blue Note to be a large bar that is perhaps railroad style. It’s limiting. This is just in regards to spacing and enjoyment. The talent and music is the true highlight and gem in this space. Either way, plan wisely and perhaps keep hand sanitizer and/or a mask handy given the uptick of upper respiratory illnesses rising. Precautionary measures would be wise in such a confined space! I even joked they if you had to go to the restroom-GOOD LUCK! Once you are seated, you will probably never move again until the show ends. BUT, Chris Botti was great along with his special guests! The performance itself, 10 out of 10! The venue though historic, 5 out of 10.

What a crazy intimate venue; there is no bad seat. We arrived early to get choice seating, and to enjoy a pre-show dinner. The food was good, a little pricey perhaps, but delicious. The highlight was really the show, though. The night we were there we caught The Bad Plus....and they were phenomenal....but so was the lineup for the rest of the month.

Went for a Cima Funk concert. Never been there before. It has a cozy/intimate type feel to it, but the place was extremely packed on that night. They tried to squeeze people into tables, and it was uncomfortable. A table for 4 would be turned into a table for 6. The food was on the pricey side, but good. The drinks were also good, not watered down. Service was good, we got our drinks/food rather quickly.

The Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC is a total respite from the chaos of the city. Whether you're making a special trip to see a particular artist or whether you're just popping in on a whim to stand by the bar and have some drinks while watching whoever's playing, it's a pleasure to visit this iconic venue. The best time of year, however, is when trumpeter Chris Botti and his band arrive for their month-long residency in December, which runs through January. He's an iron man who puts on two shows a night, and if you plan ahead, you can get the best seats. I recommend center stage, but back by the wall. When you're right up on the stage, you could end up facing the wrong way, and in order to see the band you'd have to twist your neck like an owl. It's too close in a very crowded space. The Blue Note is like the size of a studio apartment, and yet they have like 50 table tops or something to fill. Book your tickets ahead of time, and arrive early, especially in the winter and ESPECIALLY on NYE. Otherwise you'll be on the wrong end of a long line in the cold. Their door policy sometimes doesn't seem to make sense; they'll let the non-ticket holders in first to fill out the bar space, and then let the people lined up in after those first folks are let in, which just makes it more crowded as you're trying to check your coat and get seated. That's the one thing they could do a little bit better, but dress warm and you'll be fine.

Food is OK. Maybe a 3 1/2. It's not bad, but seriously, who cares? It's good enough to soak up your drinks and meet your spending minimum. It's delicious if you're into bar food. You're not here for the food anyway. You're here for amazing live music and to be so close to your favorite musicians that you can see the sweat off their brow and catch the spirit when that music hits your spinal cord!