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La Maison du Jazz
Category: Arts & Entertainment Jazz & Blues Nightlife Jazz & Blues Jazz & Blues [Edit]
2060, rue AylmerMontréal, QC H3A 2E3
(514) 842-8656
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
11 reviews for La Maison du Jazz
11 reviews in English
-
Review from Sean D.
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had a great time here this past weekend. It's the kind of spot where at one point I looked around thinking, "why the heck haven't I been here before!" The music was awesome, and just the right volume. I was there with friends and we could still talk and also watch the show.
If it wasn't for the food I would have rated it 5 stars. The food was good, but not 5 star good. I ordered the rib eye. Nothing spectacular, and unfortunately that fries that accompanied it seemed like they were frozen from a package. (my apologies if they are not...)
Whether you are a jazz music fan or not I am sure you will have a great time here. The audience was of mixed ages from early 20's to experienced ones...service was a little slow, but with the music to enjoy it wasn't a big deal.
Not noly will I go again, but will bring my guests here in the future. I'd be proud to share this place as a representation of Montreal culture. -
Review from Andreas D.
Montréal, QC
Now I consider myself a fan of jazz music, but with over a decade of going out in different clubs and bars throughout Montreal, I never once thought to visit the House of Jazz. After going there for the first time to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday, I will definitely consider going back before going to many other places.
Since it was Saturday night there was a 10$ cover charge. It was the birthday boy's idea, so nobody really complained and I was just happy we paid 10$ to get into a jazz bar rather than a strip club.
The first thing you notice as you walk in as how much of an old school feel this place has. It easily felt like I can be in a New York or even in a New Orleans jazz bar. The lighting is great, and the accessories and pictures throughout the bar make for a great atmosphere while you sit back and enjoy some good music.
I did not get a chance to sample anything from the food menu but did try their signature alcoholic coffee drink which was pretty good, although a little too sweet for my taste. The one thing that bothered me and my group of friends, was how hot it was in the bar. This was an early October evening and it felt like it was well over 30 degrees in there, which had most of us sweating.
A second visit to the House of Jazz is definitely in store for me in the future, as I am curious about their food items and menu. I'll just make sure to visit on a weekday to avoid the 10$ cover charge on Friday and Saturday. -
Review from G J W.
1/30/2012
Yeah well, it wasn't what we'd expected and was frightfully expensive. $50+ for two tiny, thin cocktails and less than 10 minutes of music on a Saturday night . The doorman said we could sit at the bar but then we were diverted off into a "doctor's waiting room" already occupied by a large party. The two of us were the only outsiders in the odd side room and felt like party crashers. We also could not appreciate the point of enjoying the performance by watching it on low quality video on big TV screen and hearing it through speakers in the ceiling in competition with the conversation of folks who could have cared less about the . We were given the choice of enduring it or leaving. We left, but were still nicked for the cover charges, the mandatory coat check fees, drinks and the rest.
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Review from Rich B.
3/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is nuts.
I'm surprised that every review isn't about the decor of this club. It's kind of beyond description; it was actually a bit dizzying.
Also, no one mentions the panda bears out front. Some sort of panda bear jazz group? Or the awesomely cheesy Blues Brothers guy tacked on the corner of the building? Or the retro cocktail menu?
What an experience.
To be fair, once you get past all the nuttiness, the staff was all friendly, our drinks arrived quickly, and people who listen to more jazz than I do thought the combo playing that night was good. -
Review from Teena D.
12/10/2010
The company I work for recently had our Christmas party there (there were 85 of us and we took over the restaurant).
I imagine it would be a fun place to have supper and stay for some tunes. But it wasn't conducive for an office party. It was too small for cocktails before dinner. It got roomier once we sat down for supper.
Supper was good ... cole slaw, fries, 1/4 chicken, a couple ribs and dipping sauce. It tasted like St. Hubert's.
The music during supper was really LOUD and we wouldn't hear each other. We had to ask to have it turned down a bit. The band was good. -
Review from La C.
Toronto, ON
11/13/2010
Ambiance was nice, but music was just okay. Service from the bar was BAD.
The bartender with the sour face and attitude should not be working with the public. She was rather curt, bordering on rude, and looked like she was ready to pound someone in the head at any moment. I saw how she spoke to other clients who were also taken aback by her abruptness.
We ordered our drinks and asked for a glass of water at the same time. The drinks came, but no water. She dropped off the bill and quickly whisked away without giving us a chance to ask for that glass of water she had forgotten to bring. It took a while to get her attention again, and when I asked for the glass of water, she nodded and whisked away again. Another 10 mins later, still no water. Had to wave down another bartender for that glass of water. WTF? We ordered 2 drinks for $9 each, so a small glass of water shouldn't be so difficult to pry from them. Or is this simply how Montreal bars operate?? -
Review from Lindsey J.
5/29/2009
On my first night in Montreal, I was much later than the rest of my party due to a long wait at the border. As such, they had eaten already and I had not. The concierge at my hotel that suggested that we try this place that was right around the corner to please all. His comment, "you won't be disappointed." He was right.
For a purportedly famous place, this wasn't half bad. It's billed as a jazz and dinner club with live jazz music every night it's open. First off, the place was small which gave it an intimate feel. It was full but but not crowded and we didn't have to wait for a seat (of course we was there on a late evening on Thursday too). Being the only one in my party who was eating, we sat at the bar which didn't have great views of the stage. This didn't bother me because I don't go to SEE jazz, I go to HEAR jazz and the club has great acoustics. The tables (with few exceptions) have good stage views. Table space is at a premium, BTW. The jazz was a blues-jazz type improv group and was great. Regardless of whether you eat or not, it's a $5 cover charge for shows.
As for the food, the menu was mostly salads and barbeque chicken and pork ribs. Now I am a vegetarian, but when the wait staff says their best dish is the chicken and pork ribs combo, by golly, I'll have the chicken and pork ribs combo. And for someone who hasn't eaten meat in the last 15 years, it wasn't a bad way to fall off the wagon. The pork was falling off the bone, the chicken was succulent and the portions were enough for two people. The ribs are barbeque'd Memphis-style with a brown sugar and tomato based glaze and the chicken is grilled with the a less sweet barbeque sauce on the side. The club's decor is funky and seedy: they have crystal chandeliers and old brass instruments on the wall with endless paintings. The dress code: Montreal nice (chic dresses or skirts for the ladies, button down shirts and slacks for the men; no sneakers). The prices were downside: the entree was $25-30/plate, add on a drink ($7), the $5 cover charge and tax, and the bill was a hair over $45...for one person. Not what I normally would have spent on one meal during a casual night out.
Would I eat there again? No. Why? I'm just not that into meat. Would I go again for the show? Absolutely; even on the off nights, the jazz is white hot. -
Review from Loree B.
8/6/2008 6 photos
Went with my collegues here one night to see a tremendous jazz singer, Michelle Sweeney. One of my co-workers makes it a point to go here each time she's on a business trip here. Though it was packed and the drinks were pricey- we actually lucked out and made our home at a table right in front of the stage. It was a blast! It's definately a great ice-breaker place. The decor is amazing- I could wander and gaze at it for hours (check out the pics). I'm sure the restaurant area is expensive and romantic, but I'm sure worth a try.
Listed in: Bonjour, Montreal!
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Review from Shannon C.
1/20/2009
Jazz was pretty good. Scene was definitely interesting. Food was not amazing but not terribly overpriced either. The $5 cover was added to our bill which we found convenient. Atmosphere is really chill at this spot. Had a good time but not sure that i would go back. Heard this place was a much livelier spot when it was the old Biddles. Perhaps it's becoming a bit dated?
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Review from shannon w.
6/26/2009
When I showed up, at 7:45pm, there was not much going on. The music supposedly starts around 8:30pm. But they have a really fascinating, and endlessly entertaining clip reel playing while you wait. It is all sorts of old jazz clips (Satchmo, Ma Rainy, Herbie Hancock) and it is hooked up to their great sound system. I was on my own, so it kept me entertained.
The music was pretty mellow when I came. It was a piano led quartet, nothing earth shaking, but decent. The food was ok. I ordered the ribs/chicken combo. The ribs were tastey, but not tender the way you want your BBQ, and the chicken was dry in spots, but again, tasted good. I would say the star was the cole slaw. (of all things) Desserts were nothing to mention, and a note to iced tea drinkers, theirs is sweet, as, I suppose, you would expect from a BBQ place. The service started off alright, but by about 9 I was pretty sure my waitress was the only person working the floor. It prolonged the meal quite a bit, but seeing as how I was charged an extra $5 to see the show (on top of the rather pricey food) I was fine with the extra wait. Hell, at least they weren't rushing me out to turn over the tables.
The decor is absolutely awesome, hard to describe. Looks great, though. Lots going on!
This place would be better if you were with friends. -
Review from Bill U.
11/10/2008 2 photos
The House of Jazz in Montreal has a sophisticated atmosphere that feels like a classic movie. We had fantastic seats for dinner around 8:30 and stayed straight through to the second act that started after 10:00. The entertainment was spectacular. A few technical notes to consider if you go: parking is available on the street, and was a much better option than the pay lots (which were having cars towed after the lots closed early on Saturday, around 9:00PM!). The Maison du Jazz charges $5/person cover regardless of where you sit or if you have dinner. They also charged $2/person coat-check (which is not optional). Reservations are only available before 8:30, so we were fortunate to walk-in and still get a table; afterwards the wait was over an hour at best, and I did not see a table open up until we left at 11:00PM. If you do manage a seat, plan to linger and have a few rounds to celebrate your coveted spot. Dinner options were basically limited to steak or barbecue chicken. My strip steak was cooked well beyond the medium-rare that I requested, but was otherwise ok. Cocktails were made to spec and cost around $9 a pop (a bottle of wine would be much more economical, perhaps a nice Cava from Spain). If you time it just right, a trip to this Jazz club could be one of the most memorable moments of a visit to Montreal; if you're just a bit late you may spend a miserable night on the cold street. Oh and one last thing: dress well, look cool. Most men wore blazers and the ladies had cocktail dresses.
