Cecil's Restaurant & Bar

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  As a new comer to West Orange, there have been many suggestions of places to try in the area.  Last night I acted on one of the suggestions and went to Cecil's.  The place was packed and rocking due to the fact Cecil's is closing at the end of the week.  It's a shame this jewel was neglected by the community until the closing date was posted.  
  
  I've been to many clubs around the USA and I'm rating Cecil's among the top due to the ambiance of the place and the quality of the music performance.  The sound system was fabulous too - not too loud and the brass was brilliantly miked.  
  
  To Cecil, thanks for being a wonderful host and living up to everything a great neighborhood jazz club should be.

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  Posted on 02.21.12 Judy S.

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  Perhaps this place is independently wealthy and really doesn't need real customers!
  My girlfriend and I showed up to hear some good Jazz right before closing down our evening about 12:30 am and the place was nearly empty. We went to the bar to order drinks when one of the female bartenders tells us we must pay $15 a piece to sit in this empty bar! I thought perhaps some top named group was performing an exclusive music-set. NOPE it was Cecil himself performing. I told her I was unfortunately not fimiluar with Cecil and therefore not willing to pay $30 to sit in an empty club and also pay for drinks. She just looked at me with this exasperated face obviously this was not the first time she has heard this! She must really hate her job. Now she didn't even get a tip. We simply walked out without spending a dime. Won't be back to place again. I didn't realize Cecil's was so independently wealthy. I guess he just needed a place to play his music and oh by the way lets charge people to listen to me practice. Felt like I was in the twilight zone!
  
  Dee

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  Posted on 02.08.12 Dee R.

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  Came to support a hip hop artist, but respectfully listened to jazz. NO LIFE iN THE MUSIC!!! The host (the drummer) had the audacity to get on the mic and tell people to stop talking? I'm sure the musicians play great pieces....you just don't feel it. I'd go to Skippers in a heartbeat!! I asked the waitress for Moscato...her response..."umm what's that". really...c'mon son! It's wine! Seriously?! ugh  I'd stick with skippers in Newark and have a great time with some old heads and a cool bartender who knows what they are serving.

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  Posted on 12.13.11 Ca Misha H.

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  What the heck is wrong with NJ Yelpers?  You'd think the Montclair contingent would have jumped all over reviewing Cecil's... all right, you're gonna leave it to The Man to review the jazz club in West O?  The Man never backs off a challenge.
  
  I have a friend, a lawyer practicing out of Newark for twenty years or so, and he's recently opened a nice corner suite off Northfield.  He's also gotten into jazz in a big way, so he invited me out one night.  It happened that I came by the night before my move to Nutley from Paterson (P-Town, Silk City, That Crying Shame On the Passaic, etc.)
  
  I'm a (very) amateur drummer, so I was scoping Cecil's chops all night.  The brother is on the money, real quick hands and good movement across a tight kit.  Plays with electric organ and bass, has an open invite apparently for lots of jazz talent because around midnight, musicians start taking up spots in the lounge, gear carefully stowed off the main path.  Sitting in usually leads to some wonderful improvisations, Cecil propelling the whole show forward.
  
  So, as a jazz venue, this is the real deal.  There is no lite jazz feel here at all, that shit ain't gonna make it on Cecil's stage.  As a bar, well, hell, I enjoyed myself immensely.  Here's a kick in the head, my favorite brew that night was named for Thelonious Monk.  His *son* is sitting next to me at the bar, a respected jazz musician in his own right.  Yeah, I know, TS Monk is right *there*, and I'm resisting the urge to be fanboy dumb and talk drumming with the guy.  Any joint you can grab a beer and rub shoulders with this level of musician is a winner for me.
  
  I can't review the food, but that may change at some point if I can leave the house a little earlier next time.  And the day after my Cecil trip, I had my first hangover in seven years, and suffered mightily for it.  I wouldn't have skipped the trip, but I probably should have skipped the last two pints...
  
  -C

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  Posted on 10.30.07 Christopher W.

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