Blue Wisp Jazz Club

The food was edible at best, the beer was good and at a decent price. The service was a little lacking and the jazz concert on the tv was interfering with the live music. While I am sad this venue closed down, I can not honestly say I would have been in any hurry to return.

The music is almost always spectacular! They do a great job in creating a scene that takes you back in time, which I love. The people I know are always excited to go back for this very reason.
However — the food service SUCKED. Nobody ever came over to ask us what we wanted or anything. WE had to search THEM down! Absurd. The drinks are very average and watered down. On the bright side, their dessert was delicious!
I do like this place. They have some work to do though.

Just stopped in for a beer. 1pm on a Friday. Great selection. Some local beers. Great bartender. Worth a stop. Can’t wait to check it out when the music is playing!

Bartender was helpful finding se
Good local brews on tap. Large selection of brews, didn’t have everything tapped we were looking for, but the bartender was extremely helpful finding one we
Both liked. The inside is very nice, was told it was recently redone and they did a great job. Looking forward to coming back for some
Jazz at night, definitely a place if come
Back to grab a drink.

Before dinner drinks were great, as well as our appetizer of Tuna Tacos.
We then ordered 2 items off the menu, then were told that they were no longer available.
Waitress was very immature, and service was slow. We were there on a Thursday night, so there was no excuse for the slow service with so few people being in the restaurant.
1) Crab cakes were more filler than crab meat, and were barely warm
2) 2^nd choice New York Strip (after Rib Eye from menu not available) Sauce was unappealing, and tasted like gravy.
3) Center Cut Pork Chop not available, so ordered Cider Salmon — Served with under-​cooked haricot verts and roasted potatoes
Should have ordered a sandwich, because this was not fine dining.
Won’t be back.

Music was nice, the meal was average at best.
Our concierge recommended this place because we were looking for a show, and also needed to eat dinner as well. This place combined them both. I should have gone with my gut, because usually you can’t have both the food and the show be good when combined in one place.
We arrived a little later than we had planned, so we opted to listen to the bar band ($ 2) versus the headliner ($ 10), because we decided we would simply eat and retire for the evening. The hostess told us the food was the same in either venue. The band in the bar was fine.
From the menu this place sounded like one of those places where the dishes are average, and they try to cover that up by slathering sauce on everything. And I was right on that fact. The food was really not that good. I forced my meat down, so I wouldn’t be hungry later, but everything else on the plate just wasn’t that good.
I’m generally glad we went, but likely won’t go back, unless I had already eaten and just needed drinks or a snack.
After we left, we went to the Hilton 2 blocks away and had a Fabulous dessert and listened to their bar band for free. In retrospect I wish we would have eaten in that beautiful lobby restaurant, if their entrees were anything close to the quality of the desserts!

Caught the «Jingle Jazz» night with the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra. They were were great! Nice big band arrangements of holiday songs. Definitely see this group if you get the chance.
Also, had a tasty Shrimp Po Boy and a local draft.

I’ve gone here at least five times and always had a pleasant experience. The music is always top-​notch and the food is always tasty. I’ve had great luck with bartenders and servers. Nothing bad to say at all about this place. I’d give it five stars but the food and drinks are a bit pricey.

The food was exceptional and the music was very entertaining! It really blew our expectations out of the water. We are looking forward to going back for a date night again soon!

It is tough enough to find live music in Cincinnati, let alone Jazz. The BW is a great place to hear live Jazz and the food is pretty good as well. When we got there there was a high school group playing and sounded pretty good. The next group was a little loud on the organ but very good as well.
We would definitely go again!

An iconic jazz club in Cincy. I have always loved the Jazz but on this visit the appetizer and service was so bad that I could not stay for the music. It makes me sad because Cincy needs this place. They had better wake up or they cannot stay in business. Whoever is managing this place should fire themselves. Now, on a positive note, a waitress who was not our server looked at our appetizer and immediately apologized and took it off our bill. After we were served our original server never came back! WOW!

I am always preaching why a reviewers experience would drop from 3 stars down to 1 and this is a classic example: don’t treat customers like like crap.
After an absolutely AMAZING meal at Sung, my boyfriend and I wanted to continue our romantic date night out (which we never really get to do) and we wanted it to be special. So we thought… hm how bout a little live jazz and a glass of vino?
We walk in and are immediately turned off by the conversations the other patrons were having with the bartender. Everything they asked for she seemed to be «out of» when in reality half of what he was asking she just couldn’t find, and the other half they really were out of. The drink menu was not up to date, and only two of the taps had handles on our side. This place was a mess.
I wanted a glass of champagne — after running back and forth she tells us they only have it in bottles. Fine, I asked how much? She replied, «50 or like 75?» Justin replied, «Well which is it?» She starts to go ask again, and we are like never mind (it’s going to take forever). Can I try this Sauvignon Blanc? «Wow this is really sweet» I said, she replies «Why don’t you just order a chardonay then?»
After this extremely long process of elimination on what they actually had in the bar, I said «You know what just give me a glass of this malbec, I know I will like that.» (Mind you the price on the menu reads $ 11) I see her go over and dump in some Gato Negro or whatever that drug store swill is. I call to her attention that I wanted the malbec that was on the wine menu. She replies, «Well I just saw a malbec so that’s what I poured.» WHAT?! Since when does this become the standard?
THEN – we got into a huge fight and I said, I don’t want that malbec I want the one on the menu that I ordered. I said I don’t want to pay $ 11 for that glass of wine that I didn’t order and I don’t like. She says, «I DON’T MAKE THE PRICES. I JUST SERVE THE DRINKS.» Not kidding.
Justin and I are sitting with our jaws on the floor at this point. Then her attitude just keeps going and she says, «fine how about I just give you that glass for free.» I say, I don’t even want this I just want the wine I ordered. Extremely frustrated I call a friend to tell them to just pick us up instead of meeting us here.
This was one of the worst displays of customer service I have ever received. Not only that, but this place has some serious issues with their menus. After this absolutely horrible experience it was all Justin and I could talk about – and he is usually defending anyone in the service industry because he knows how it is. But this was above and beyond. We were completely disgusted. We will never come back here.

My wife and I took advantage of being downtown without the kids last week and stopped in to the Blue Wisp Jazz Club for a drink and appetizer. The Blue Wisp has been around since 1977 but has moved several times. They most recently moved into a space at 700 Race Street last year.
I was pleasantly surprised by the inside of the space. While it is dark like you would expect from a jazz club, it is not dirty or dingy. Jazz memorabilia lines the walls and live music is featured nearly every night. I’m told there is a separate performance space that can be used for ticketed shows and larger acts. On the night of our visit a simple three-​piece band was providing music for the few tables gathered around the large central bar.
The staff was honest with us and told us that they were very short-​staffed and that certain food items could take some time. Therefore we went with a quick option and sampled the spinach & artichoke dip ($ 9). The dip was pretty standard, yet tasty, but the crispy pita chips that were served with it were very unique and appreciated. They were freshly sliced and fried to a golden crisp. I honestly wasn’t expecting much from the food, but now we may have to venture down that way for dinner sometime in the future.

Blue Wisp was really fun. They even had our favorite beer (Kona’s Koko Brown) on tap for only $ 4 a pint. The music was great, there was a high school group that came on for a while and then an adult group both were very enjoyable. The food was tasty and our waiter was nice, helpful and attentive. I waited for their late night menu to eat, which they start serving from at 11, and had a delicious italian sandwich. We’ll probably be back soon for a big band night.

I understand that I came in on Opening Day, and that sports really aren’t the Blue Wisp’s thing, but I had one of the most disappointing experiences downtown at this bar.
First we came in and there was a soap opera playing on the television directly above us at the bar. When we asked for channel to be changed the bartender flung, literally flung, the remote at us.
They ran out of glasses when we first arrived and began to serve beer in plastic cups that held less volume than their glasses did. However they still charged full price for the beer. I felt cheated because I was basically paying full price for less beer than the person sitting to my right. After this we simply finished our beer and left to look elsewhere for a place to watch the first pitch.
Perhaps I’ll return to the Blue Wisp during a really great jazz night and I’ll get a fantastic drink that’s served by a courteous waitstaff, but for now my impressions of this place is negative.

I like this place a lot. The bar space is large and has a certain charm to it. They have lots of good draft beers and a nice bottle selection too. There is usually some kind of music going on at all times, which, if you like live music, is awesome. The menu is small, but very tasty. My wife and I both got the mac n’ cheese the last time we were here and it was made with a real cheese sauce and cavatappi noodles. Service was friendly.

I REALLY wanted to love this place. It has history and great music. I assume when bands are playing it is better.
Stand alone guitar player was great, love seeing someone play a guitar with absolutely no effort.
Bar staff was friendly, while not terribly organized or efficient.
Stay away from the food at all costs!
Wings– ordered buffalo, came out w/​o ANY sauce at all. Tasted as if they went from freezer to fryer. Old oil.
Tried one of their «recommended entrees», the Mac n Cheese bowl, with Shrimp.
This MAY have been OK for a kids plate. The «shrimp» amounted to about one boiled/​gummy shrimp with absolutely no seasoning or taste cut in about 8 pieces and put on top of spiral pasta.
Pasta was hot, I will give it that, but sauce was absolutely horrible. Appeared as if it was straight velveeta (and I do enjoy velveeta every now and again) with cream and a roux added. Maybe saying a roux may be a bit optimistic, because it just tasted like raw flour was added to thicken (you could taste and «feel» the grittiness of the flour).
Enjoy the drinks and music, but food wise… Heard food is fairly new at this place. Either go back to no food, or go to less items that can actually be executed.
Décor (for such a great location), left something to be desired. Just random crappy posters on the wall. So much more could be done with the space with just a little imagination. Over ½ the tv’s in the main room were actually powered off!
This place is an institution in this city. Run it as such!

Through tinted windows, it’s hard to tell how cool the cats at Blue Wisp are. Right as you walk in the front door, an enormous, polished mahogany bar welcomes you. Along the wall are simple black tables and chairs, which compliment the milky blue walls. Behind the bar, you’ll find an older gentleman mixing your cocktails or pouring a beer. One look into his eyes and you can see what years of jazz is all about.
In a separate room is a performance space, with dinner tables surrounding a platform stage. Blue Wisp has regular jazz bands, and you can even find some performers on weekday evenings. Open from lunch to late night, you’ll enjoy more than some good tunes here.
Blue Wisp’s food is phenomenal. At first, I thought this place was more a bar. Or at the very least, sold bar food, like wings. Not the case… besides, do you picture jazz musicians eating wings? Courses consist of meals from reubens to gourmet macaroni and cheese, cobb salad, blackened tuna and more. Whether you want an entrée or quick bite, you can be fed.
I had the mini Philly sandwiches, which came on soft, buttery Ciabatta. There were three to a plate and came with a side of crisp fries, all for $ 7.00. The price was right for a filling dinner. With plenty of beers on tap, dozens of wines, and pint-​sized mixed drinks for $ 9.00, you’ll find something you’ll love.
Another plus: since the performance room and dining room /​bar are separate, you can stop by to eat if you aren’t in the mood for music.
I hadn’t been to the old Blue Wisp, but now that I’ve checked out its new location, I plan on coming back again and again.
Price per person: $ 13.00

Maybe I went on the wrong day. The vast majority of you guys seem to have enjoyed yourselves, seeing as how they have a 4 star average.
For me, however, this place was a tad bit below mediocre. I went for happy hour, sat at the bar, ordered a couple drinks, and then finally looked around and noticed that there were literally three other customers in the entire place.
I asked the bartender what their happy hour specials were and he acted like I was inconveniencing him. He said everything is cheaper, aside from food, but declined to explain the actual specials. Maybe he was too busy with the other two tables. We looked at the menu, which looked like standard (Cr)applebee’s fare. The food had no jazz/​cajun feel to it at all. Pretzels, wings, and burgers… how original! Come to think of it, the whole place looked like it was designed in the Applebee’s/Chili’s/etc. model with tacky decorations strung about in every direction.
The ‘band’ consisted of one guy holding his instrument in one hand while texting with the other hand. A soundtrack played in the background. I’m giving them 2 stars instead of 1 because we got a good recommendation for a place to have dinner. I’ll try it again just because it’s near my new place, but I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it to friends or colleagues.

In this crowded marketplace, first impressions count for everything as far as I am concerned. Well, here are my first impressions of Blue Wisp in their new location at 7^th & Race…
Rude service almost bordering on the pathological, no proper lighting for the band and performers on stage… and an owner who couldn’t give a damn when I pointed this out. «We can’t afford spotlights» was his exact response, meaning we got to pay $ 20 each to see burlesque dancers move about in near darkness and a tight 4-​piece jazz band who needn’t have bothered to dress up. Let’s just say I have closets at home with better lighting than the Blue Wisp offer their acts.
They lost at least $ 80 in income from us as a result of an incompetent server who waited 30 minutes — and just as the band were coming on stage — to ask us if we wanted any food or more drinks. So, we ordered minimally with a simple order of fried pretzels, which then took a further half an hour to reach our table. They were lukewarm and tasteless. We had to ask twice for our check at the end and then line up with many other people — most also complaining about receiving their drinks/​food late or not at all — to even pay it. I did not hear one apology at any time from any member of staff.
The Blue Wisp comes across as a cheap unprofessional set-​up with a business model apparently designed to piss people off and deter them from ever coming again. It worked for us. They don’t want us, we don’t want them to have any more of our money. Simple.