Tomi Jazz Reviews Summary

Category: Jazz club New York

Address: 239 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022, USA

Phone: +16464971254

Rating: 4.6
based on 313 reviews.

Atmosphere

Pros:

  • "Super intimate and cozy atmosphere with great music."
  • "The atmosphere is dark, intimate and whimsical."
  • "The ambiance is very intimate and has an elegant chic vibe given the live jazz performance every night."
  • "The vibes feel eclectic, yet intimate."
  • "The ambiance with the homey decor and live band can’t be beat."
  • "The atmosphere was cozy and relaxing, while there was a live band playing near the entrance."
  • "The ambience of the bar is the killer, just like they moved you to another side of the world, homey-blacksmith kinda things."

Cons:

  • "The space was really cramped, just sitting there I kept having people keep bumping into me."
  • "It's pretty dimly lit as you'd expect, and pretty cramped inside."
  • "The space is really intimate but they have a communal table around the performers which is imo bad placement as it’s super claustrophobic."
  • "The space was really crowded and since the restaurant is underground it was a bit suffocating."
  • "Almost claustrophobic feeling but not enough to make you feel uncomfortable."
  • "Inside is really small and I felt a bit stuffy."
  • "The restaurant is super cramped and feels very suffocating."

Service

Pros:

  • "Staff are brilliant and so attentive."
  • "Staff were patient and attentive!"
  • "The staff was very welcoming, accommodating, and helpful."
  • "Staff were very friendly."
  • "The friendliest of servers I've ever met."
  • "The servers are very attentive!"
  • "Service was fast & one of the friendliest servers i have met in a while."

Cons:

  • "The service can be slow at times, but they are always buzzing."
  • "Service was pretty slow."
  • "Service was ok."
  • "Service was strictly okay- not exceptional."
  • "We had to wave down our waiter when we needed something."
  • "Understaffed as it takes forever to get someone's attention for small requests."
  • "But server kept looking our dishes and staring us."

Food

Pros:

  • "The food pairs well with one of the excellent Japanese whiskeys available."
  • "The food is delicious, especially the avocado spaghetti and vegan croquettes."
  • "Highly recommend trying all the dishes on the menu."
  • "The food is always phenomenal. The Cod Roe Spaghetti is a must."
  • "Food was good. Upscale Japanese food executed well enough!"
  • "The food was really delicious & satisfying, especially the spaghetti, which was creamy & flavorful."
  • "The food was amazing. I recommend getting the fried oysters, shrimp croquette, Japanese curry dish!!!"

Cons:

  • "Food was not too special but the drinks were good."
  • "We got rice balls that barely had any salmon."
  • "The menu was simple and all the food we ordered were just plain."
  • "Their food is not amazing, but it’s ok."
  • "The crab cream croquette was good but I didn't taste any crab in there."
  • "Food is okay just regular Japanese food."
  • "The jazz music was good, but the food was not."

Music

Pros:

  • "The music was amazing."
  • "Live jazz and whisky!! Don't think I can complain about such a place at all."
  • "The music was lovely, and was great accompaniment for fantastic food!"
  • "Jazz was super fun and lovely."
  • "The Jazz is solid!"
  • "Live jazz band featuring asian artists was *chefs kiss*."
  • "Great atmosphere and music."

Cons:

  • "The night we went the band was just OK."
  • "Worst of all, the jazz music was not impressive at all and it really did not worth the wait."
  • "Quite an expensive place and disappointing we couldn't see the band playing."
  • "Musicians do not play saxophone which was a bummer."
  • "Although there was a jazz band playing, the music was so loud that it detracted from the relaxed atmosphere."
  • "Music is tooo loud, I can’t even hear my friends’ voices."
  • "Music can get extremely loud that I'd have to scream across the table."

Price

Pros:

  • "Bonus is that their menu items are extremely well priced, we didn’t feel like we were getting robbed at the end of the night."
  • "Overall I thought it was pretty affordable for the high quality."
  • "The food is great, the prices are surprisingly ok."
  • "Prices are reasonable for what it is, and the menu items are very interesting."
  • "The cover fee is cheap."
  • "Amazing experience all around. Great food that's not too costly."
  • "The food is not only reasonably priced but absolutely delicious."

Cons:

  • "Also after 3h+ waiting, got in at 2AM when there’s no live music at all we were charged $10 per person to “cover the music”."
  • "Cost: $10 cover Friday and Saturday nights, and a $10 minimum per person every night. For such a cool hangout, they could easily double or triple this and I'd still come."
  • "They have imported Japanese beers on select and a huge selection of whiskey (though a bit pricey)."
  • "Top of the menu is long lists of expensive drinks."
  • "It’s so disappointed that we were charged for the CD playing."
  • "This place is very disrespectful of their customer's time and comfort."
  • "Way better jazz and way better japanese elsewhere in the city."

Waiting Time

Pros:

  • "Be prepared for a long wait even if you come early (2+ hour wait) but it's so well worth it."
  • "Be prepared to stand and wait for a while. The line can be slow moving and very long, but if you're expecting it - completely worth the wait."
  • "I’ve been wanted to visit here, and on my 4th trial- i finally got to get inside!"
  • "The only downside is the wait which can be quite variable. But HIGHLY recommend as one of my favorite jazz bars in the city."
  • "A must go if you’re visiting NY. Usually it is a long wait more than 1hr+ BUT it is worth it."
  • "Always a line here but totally worth it."
  • "The wait in line was definitely worth it."

Cons:

  • "If the queue goes further than the Thai restaurant, don’t bother."
  • "Be prepared to wait online for a solid hour."
  • "We waited over 2 hours just to be seated next to the toilet."
  • "It is a very small place so it is a LONG wait."
  • "Every time I come here I wait at least an hour, the most being 2.5 hours outside in a line because this place is tinyyy."
  • "We had to wait 4 hours standing outside to get in."
  • "The wait can be brutal."

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