Wanted to update the info on this place, because some of the reviews below are obsolete. Â This place is no longer in the basement. Â It's a large, open space with some creative decor. Â I thought the beer selection was decent. Â There were 4 different Berkshire Brewing Co. beers on tap - as well as others. Â Full Bar. Â The food choices were a little limited, but I got the enchiladas and thought they were great. Â But the most important thing about this place is the music. Â The regular sunday evening line up was great to see. Â Great jazz. Â The house band did an instrumental set for an hour. Â And then it became an open mic/jam event - that was equally as good as the house band. Â There was a 16 year old kid on the piano, and a bunch of 60 & 70 year old guys singing and playing saxaphones. Â It was a hoot! Â Overall, this is a great jazz and community joint.
Review Source:First time I came back after they move to this new location. I see it is bigger. More comfortable. Â The food is still good and the price competitive to cheaper. Â Yes. the selection of beer is not greatest. Â The service improved. The music is great! Â
It is not an easy business to run... especially out in the suburb without the massive volume of people (like JohnnyD) Â Sometime I wonder how people feel if this place turns into a "Not Your Average Joe" Â (with $12 burger, $18 entree & $$ drink) with some music. Is that what people want? Â will this business model work better? Â If you want to listen to live music (from locals and afar) without driving all the way to Cambridge, I highly recommend supporting local small business.
The bands are usually very good. The sound system is decent.
The food was okay before the move to the new location, but has gone downhill. The spinach artichoke dip didn't have any identifiable artichokes in the first few bites which is when we sent it back because it was so salty it was inedible.
The waitress was quite good.
Music good. Â Food not.
You got to love this place because it's the only place out here in the otherwise culturally dead suburbs, where you can hear good, live music. Â When they bring in some of the bigger, louder blues bands, the place really starts to cook and ends up being a good scene with lots of potential. Â Their recent move to a larger venue from their original site is a definite step up. Â Now, if only they can get a chef who can put out a decent pub menu, they'll hit the ball out of the park. Â For now I'm just happy to have the beer and the music scene.
Go for the music, not the food.
Went to hear a friend's band - OK place to go hear a small group, even though it's in the back basement of a Credit Union. Â Windows though, so you don't feel so much like you're in a basement. Â The food, while not bad, was mediocre home cooking, and WAY overpriced. Â Service was kind of slow, however our server was attentive and pleasant. Â Beers (espeically tap) are seriously limited. Â I'd go back for the bands, but totally eat elsewhere. Â Cover was $12.50 (yikes!) but it all went to the band.
I really want to give this place 4 stars because this place as a music venue is awesome. Went to see my sister sing on a Friday night (she was awesome by the way) however, the service was downright horrible. The waitress was nice, and the first thing she did was take our drink order and then we didn't see her again for at least 20 minutes. We finally had to wave her down to order food. When we finally ordered food it must have taken another 20 min to get it. I had a chicken wrap and it had a measly amt of chix in it. For 8 bucks def not worth it. I really like coming here because it's a nice location. But something needs to be done about their service :(
Review Source:Music great. Â I would not recommend anything else about the place. Â Hard to find, website messed up, reservations messed up, menu does not reflect what is available, service is unacceptably slow. Â I would go there again only if I really wanted to see the performers, and then, would bring my own food.
Review Source:I came here to see a friend's band play. It was a very unique place, not one we are accustomed to. A lot of arty/yuppies in their 40s, not that it's a bad thing. The decor was very late 80s/90s and also not necessarily a bad thing - just arty/sophisticate who listens to jazz late 80s/90s.
Hard to describe but I felt a bit like I was in a timewarp is all.
We walked in and didn't pay the cover (didn't know about it) sat at a table out front and ordered plenty of drinks. I reviewed many of the reviews about this place and I am not at all surprised that the owners/managers mentioned the need to earn money, as during set break the owner basically asked people to buy an extra drink as that it how they are able to stay open. Bordering on declasse but I suspect owning and operating the venue is a labor of love, not one of high profit margins. We did our part in ordering 3 rounds.
Sorry to others that may disagree. This place is not good in anyway.
1) Only one beer company on tap
2) Often out of the most basic and popular liquors
3) No name jazz musicians
4) 5 dollar cover charge
5) Your lucky to see a hot girl within 5 miles of here
6) It is the size of most peoples living room
7) The bartenders fail to follow simple instructions
The room is cozy, and the music is great, but the attitudes of the employees eclipse any bit of redeeming quality this business might possess. I arrived at 6:15 pm on a Saturday. My boyfriend is a professional musician who was performing with the Love Dogs because a couple of their members could not be there.
While he was setting up, I sat at the bar. The bartender, Lee, did not greet me, he just scowled. He remained nonverbal for quite some time. I saw a 'band menu' sitting on the bar, which would have interested my boyfriend since he came right from another gig, and had not eaten dinner. The bartender ripped the menu out of my hand and shoved a regular menu in front of me. The incident remained nonverbal for several minutes until he finally snapped at me, "Do you want something?" The place was not busy yet, and I was the only person at the bar. There are no more than six seats at the bar.
When my boyfriend approached me, I told him that this was one of those places that treat guests of musicians poorly. At this point, Lee felt he should speak to me by interrupting my conversation saying that he did not know I was with the band. So, let me get this straight. A single female approaches a bar that is known for its night life. And she gets treated rudely. Don't they want to keep women around so more men are drawn into the business?
I accompanied my boyfriend on a Saturday night fully expecting to buy dinner and a couple drinks, and did not expect a discount. I did expect a welcome since we would not be leaving for at least 6 and a half hours. If my boyfriend was entitled to a dinner, or a discount, then I was helpng him by getting that information while he was busy.
Lee proceeded to tell me that people with the band don't usually sit at the bar. So he made it VERY clear I was not welcomed to sit there. Since I was alone, a table (many were open at the time since it was so early) was not offered to me because they were expecting a crowd that night. The tables sit two, and it was not even 7pm yet. So this situation was ridiculous.
My boyfriend and I were so offended, I went down the street to a pizzeria and bought us a couple sandwiches and a bottle of water. He didn't even want to eat their food since they were so snotty. And his dinner would have been free. I certainly was not about to give them any of my money at this point, plus, there was no guarantee I would have had a good dining experience.
Then, the band was introduced. Since the females in the band were being replaced by substitute musicians, this was referred to as, "The bitches aren't here tonight." The person making the reference thought she was being funny because the group is named the Love Dogs. Not funny. I am not sure any female, hard working musician would ever want to be referred to as 'the bitches', just by default of gender, and her band's moniker.
This was the first time I was ever at the Acton Jazz Cafe, and hopefully the last. The anti-female sentiment is just a little too devaluing for me. I wasn't even welcome to eat my dinner at the bar. Lord knows, I was not welcome to 'waste' a table. Is this because I am female, or a guest of a band member? The bartended already stated he did not know I was with the band. So it must be my gender.
Money hunger seems to be an interesting theme. There is a 'Membership Drive'. They want you to pay $35/month, billed to your credit card on the 25th of every month. According to their web site, "Membership helps the Acton Jazz Cafe to meet its monthly bills in a timely manner..." But the speech before the show from an employee was about how a cover charge goes straight to the band and the band works for only what is collected at the door, and the cafe needs to pay their bills by the patrons ordering food and drink. But if they waive the cover charge when people help them pay their bills, aren't they taking from the bands? Either way, the message is about money, money, money. If they had a good business with good service and decent food, they would not have to look so desperate.
I shared my story with some people at the local pizzeria. Apparently, the Acton Jazz Cafe is not known for their service. No one was surprised.
There are great shows booked, and the musicians are top notch. It's a good thing your money at the door goes to them. I would only recommend that you go for the music.
I'm torn about this place. It's amazing to see culture in Acton that's not a high-school musical, but at the same time, this is not filling the gap. The music, while surprisingly high quality, is usually the same type of pop-jazz rather than that dirty improv shit that George A and I dig. No beatniks here, just your average fan of live jazz. Â If a major part of the Jazz experience for you is atmosphere, this place suffers. Â It literally is inside of a strip mall, next to a copy place and a hair salon. Â Last time I was there, there was a drink minimum too. Â It's also too loud to talk, so it might not be the perfect date place. Â I'd say hold off on visiting this place until the Love Dogs are playing. Â If you've got nothing else to do in Acton, I guess it's a good option. Â But there's still the commuter rail in South Acton that can take you to Porter and the red-line, so you can find your way someplace better with ease.
Review Source:Who knew little old Acton had a hoppin' live music scene!
The place is cute, unpretentious, with decent food and dessert and respectable options on tap. It's a great (and one of the only) low key wind-down with a drink option in the area. It tends to get louder and more crowded once the music begins, and a lot of the patrons tend to be regulars, but friendly, welcoming regulars. The music on the couple nights I've been has been good, if more dated than what you'd hear at a similar place in Cambridge. I've been watching their website, and it looks like they have some quality shows come through too!
The fifth star is taken off due to the food prices being too high. They have their reasons for keeping the prices high (they've been through bad times) but I think that's mainly due to having an amateur management.
Besides that, Acton Jazz Cafe hosts the best blues jam sessions in Boston, hosted by BJ Magoon. I've spent quite a few nights there and I can confidently say that this is the kind of place that makes you feel you're a regular the moment you step in. Everyone is nice, service is attentive even on the busiest night. Great ambiance, and the band lineup is usually very strong.
They almost went out of business a few years ago and had a membership and collected donations to keep afloat. I think they need a little better cost management, and they'll keep bringing good music and good times to Acton and surrounding area for many years to come.
First off, the fifth star was taken away due to the location. Ok, now for the gushing...
This place is incredible. The music is amazing - from what I've heard, some huge names in jazz come thru here. This was a wonderful place to relax and draw in a social environment while taking in some great music. There's some pretty interesting art up on the walls, and you can tell that the place has history.
There's definitely an older clientele. Everyone seemed to be pretty friendly, which was nice because you're definitely stepping into what seems to be an established group of regulars.
I'll definitely be looking for reasons to return here in the future.
Bottom line: If you are a jazz fan this place is definitely worth going to, and if you live in Acton then it's about the only place to go for a drink. Just don't expect a young crowd or a particularly lively experience (unless it was just the night I was there).
I lived literally across the street from this place for years and didn't know it was there. It's very easy to miss. My neighbor went there alot and pointed it out to me.
It's one of very few places in Acton to get a drink, and it was very good music the night I went. The place was not very busy, definitely an older crowd (35+) of regulars, but seemed friendly. My neighbor is a regular and we got to talking with the owner, who is very nice. Service was attentive.
The beer was a little on the pricey side, but interestingly the mixed drinks were served in pint glasses rather than smaller cocktail glasses, so I guess it's a decent price if you don't drink beer.
The only thing that soured the night for me was that they kind of snuck us with a "music charge" on the bill of 15/head. Maybe they had something posted but we didn't notice. I wasn't too angry though because the music was very good (I've been told this place is world class for a jazz club).
Overall good music. Â The room was packed on Thursday night. Â Everyone was clearly a regular. Â Relaxed ambiance, and very friendly staff. Â An institution in its own right, with local freelance musicians, as well as some big New England names.
The atmosphere is a little too wholesome for my Jazz taste, however. Â If you expect a smoky room filled with lusty Jazz sounds, much of which is improvised, imperfect, and brilliant, and a dance floor where shadowy types mingle in trance, this is not exactly it.
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