Coda

We are very lucky to have friends who have great taste in music and in bars. Friends that, when they say they're going to a bar (that we've never been to) to listen to a band (that we've never heard of) and do we want to come, we go. And we always have a great time! (In fact, I probably need to start a list of places we've been to with these friends, as it will be a listing of awesome bars...)

Coda is one of the places that they suggested, and I'm glad that they did! We met up last Friday night to check out a couple of bands, including the awesome and interestingly named Deep Fried Squirrel (a bluegrass band that I am now definitely a fan of).

Coda is an interesting place, and I would like to learn more about the building's history. The bar is not very big, but the space is cool, the bartender is friendly and quick to get drinks, and it really is a very good place to listen to live music. The sound was excellent, and it was never so loud that we couldn't talk if we wanted to. Our friends had snagged a table near the back, and while the bar wasn't very full when we first arrived, by the time Deep Fried Squirrel had finished their set, we were very happy to have had the table and extra space as it filled up quickly.

The crowd was a mix of just about everything you can imagine - hipsters, older couples, "cool" kids that looked barely old enough to drink, hippies -  you name it, and they were there. What's awesome is that everyone was having a good time and the crowd just seemed to fit well together - Coda seems to be a bar where anyone can come as they are, and no one will bat an eye.

As we had already had dinner, we didn't eat, but the menu looked decent, if typical for a bar. What's interesting is that the "kitchen", so to speak, is right there out in the open, at the end of the bar, so you can see everything that's going on. We also didn't partake of any of the cocktails on offer, but a lot of them did sound good, and I would certainly try one...or more than one...the next time we're in.

The ladies room is a huge single stall that is very clean, and quite nice. They even had a space heater in there on this cold January night, so that you don't freeze when you're doing your business.

All in all, I was definitely a fan of Coda, and my first visit most certainly won't be my last!

Good food and good friends.  Coda has been in business for over 3 years now, and they just keep making it better.  Clint, Dan and Annie own the place and run everything themselves, which helps add to the Coda experience.  There's not a bad item on the menu.

The only positive I can think of for this review is that the food, when we finally got it, was not horrible. It was not great, but it was average and filled us up, but was not by any means a treat or great food. Everything else was not good and we couldn't wait to leave after our meal and having paid a cover to get in to hear a bad band. Their website also said if we came early there was no cover, but when we showed up there was a cover and when we told the door man what the website said, he simply said that's wrong. Needless to say that started the experience out on the wrong foot. Actually, I take that back, it was bad before we arrived, we had actually tried to eat here a few times before we finally were able to. A few times the place was not open, one time we came by it was a private party, and we couldn't eat there. The fact that we came by many times to try and eat here to try it should indicate that we were wanting to really try it as it looked interesting and the you can't get in to eat here was kind of a challenge. Sadly, it was a challenge that was once overcome, that lead to a let down in every way, other than being able to check eating here off the list.

The music was not good, that we had to pay the cover for just to get in, even though the website said there was no cover if we arrived early. The service was slow, and I mean very slow. Not only was the service slow, but the lady was rude and took her sweet time to take our orders, bring us our drinks and she had an attitude. We got the vibe that this is a place where regulars come often, but if you are new, they do not treat you well. We did not feel weclome and it is rare that we have not felt welcome eating at a place like this.

The music was also very loud, and we could not really hear each other while talking. If we had gone to a concert or a club I would expect the music to be this loud, but not at a bar and grill that is projecting the look and feel of this place. The food when we finally got it was not all that great either and it was expensive for what we got. A place like this we did not expect to pay as much as we did for everything and it was certainly not food at the level of quality that would be expected at that price range it was.

Over all I am giving the place a one star because I would not go back nor suggest it to anyone.