Cooking With Jazz

If you are a fan of Cajun food, Cooking With Jazz is probably on your list of favorites. Unfortunately Chef Steve is closing his doors very shortly. April 22^nd is the last day the restaurant will be serving their amazing ethnic dishes.
I had to get my CWJ fix one last time so I went last night to celebrate my birthday with my husband and closest friend. The place was packed and the food was delicious.
We started with some Dixie beers and Jalapeño martinis. Than appetizers… boiled craw fish to share and my husband had a bowl of spicy seafood gumbo. Now that I got your attention and your mouth watering LOL, the entrees…
I had the Seafood Big Mamu (my usual there) and asked for it Extra Spicy. It was the best I’ve had. My husband had the Jambalaya which he always raves about and my friend had a crispy horseradish fish dish. Everything was wonderful and I’m sad to say it was our last meal at CWJ. C
Chef Steve, I wish you well in your next chapter…

This was hands down my favorite restaurant, I’m ridiculously sad that they’re closing. I went for what will probably be last meal there this weekend and brought a bunch of people with me who had never been there before, which could either be seen as incredibly kind or incredibly cruel. GO BEFORE IT’S GONE– they’re closing April 22^nd.
My favorites since my last review have changed to the tasso and shrimp ravioli, the stuffed eggplant, and the seafood big mamou. The flavors and textures are just out of this world.
I would strongly recommend buying chef Paul Prudhomme’s cookbook (Louisiana Kitchen), which seems to share some strong similarities with chef Steve’s menu. They’re selling it at the restaurant and they also link to it on their website. I know I can’t go through life without eating this food again and neither should you!
I just wanted to say I’ll miss you guys. I’ve been eating with you since you were in College Point, and was beyond thrilled when I heard you be reopening. I don’t care how long it takes, if and when you decide to give it another shot I know I’ll be there to happily support your business again. I wish you all the best!

HOW does this place get such raving reviews?
After our trip to NOLA two years ago, my husband and I have been on the search for good Cajun/​Creole food in the NYC area. We decided to give CWJ a try this past Saturday and we were sorely disappointed.
Being a Cajun/​Creole restaurant we thought it was casual, especially from its bar-​like exterior. We walked in and were immediately uncomfortable with the white table linens and all the dressed up patrons. Additionally, we clearly saw 4 – 5 empty tables but the hostess made a big point of spending 20 minutes «in the back» trying to see if they had any availability. I understand they may have reservations but when we were leaving there was still clearly 3 empty tables.
The restaurant layout is very odd; it’s clear that this was originally two stores combined into one as it is in a sort of L shape with no windows whatsoever which made the whole restaurant very dark. The décor on the walls was tacky Mardi Gras colored Christmas lights and a few cheap masks/​t-​shirts/​posters here and there.
We ordered the specials, which were the baked oysters (I don’t remember what it was called because the waitress spoke waaay softly) and the BBQ shrimp. I also ordered the shrimp and tasso ravioli and crawfish etoufee.
The shrimps didn’t taste fresh; in fact, my husband was not a happy camper a few hours later at home. The ravioli was waaaay spicy and the crawfish etoufee lacked any real Cajun/​Creole taste. Just a lot of pepper. We did not enjoy this meal whatsoever.
I think the best thing about our meal was the bread basket. It was warm and fluffy and I enjoyed the variety of cornbread, jalapeño bread, etc.
The entrees cost $ 32, which was a huge kick in the stomach. Our dinner total was approximately $ 100. We felt robbed. I mean, really… that’s way too much for food of this calibre.
I would never recommend this restaurant, ever.

Four of us went to CWJ a week ago. The food was EXCELLENT, just like it has always been. We arrived early, & we were able to enjoy conversation, since the band started tuning up just as we were heading out the door.
I know a lot of Unilocalers remember Steve’s old place in Whitestone, & I’m guessing that you remember the Green, Jalapeño jelly beans. They have been missing in the new place & Steve says he can’t find a supplier. If you know of a place selling Jalapeño jelly beans, please bring it to his attention.
Conflicts of interest: According to Unilocal!I should not mention conflicts of interest, but you want to know the truth, right? Well Here is my conflict. The food at CWJ has LOTS of sugar, salt, & spice. On top of that, much of it is fried. It tastes WONDERFUL. Most likely because of the sugar, salt, spice. & frying. My doctors tell me I should avoid sugar, salt, spice. & fried food in my diet. :-(Eating at CWJ is a GIANT conflict between enjoying food & making my doctors happy. :-(

I’m not really sure how this restaurant received so many excellent reviews. I suspect the mashed potatoes are instant — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If dinner is going to cost $ 150 for 2 people in an outer borough, you expect something a bit nicer than dirty t-​shirts thumb-​tacked to a wall and beads strewn about. The cocktails are very small with little alcohol. I really don’t get it.
I’m giving it 2 stars because the staff is very nice. The food, forgettable. The prices excessive. The décor, tacky at best.

Apparently I used to frequent this restaurant when I was around the age of 4 (yes it closed and reopened since then). So when I finally got the chance to go I was excited to see what my four year old self thought was fantastic! I went with my parents and my boyfriend so I got to try out a lot of food and it was all excellent!
My mother had the fried oysters, I just couldn’t get enough of them (and I’m not a huge oyster fan but will occasionally eat them). I had the fried eggplant. It was spicy and had an amazing texture that made my sizzling tongue coming back for more. My boyfriend had the alligator sausage… WOW was it good! I forgot what my dad had, probably because he didn’t share. For the main course I had the buttermilk fried chicken, which was very good since it also had some spices on top of it. My mother had the almond in-​crusted salmon which was very good, and was just as good as leftovers the next day! Don’t remember what my Dad or boyfriend had, but it was all excellent!
If your in the mood for some Cajun cookin’ you must stop here. Also the food seems to be a passion of the chef’s, like he brings his childhood memories and love into his food, which makes it even better!

This is my new favorite restaurant, the drinks, bread basket and service are excellent, but the food is up another notch! Delicious, bold, rich flavors. Well cooked food. Well spiced but not too spicy. Perfectly seasoned, very memorable meals. The basket of bread they give you is an excellent start. The muffins are alright, but the thick rolls, one with jalapeño I believe are really good. The mixed drinks are well priced at $ 8 and quite delicious. I like the Hurricane best.
The fried oysters are the best I’ve ever had, very crunchy on the outside and the usual gooey center, great contrasting textures. The batter is seasoned well as is the remoulade. The shrimp and bacon ravioli is very rich and slightly spicy, thick Cajun flavors, great dish. I’m not sure what the «Stuffed Eggplant» is stuffed with but it is delicious. Very bold flavor, another creamy rich sauce, slightly spicy but not overpowering, which is a theme here. Excellent appetizers!
The entrees are just as good. I’m not a huge fan of chicken so the Red Beans and Rice is my least favorite dish, but it is not bad at all and well cooked. The Sausage on that dish was the one item I actually did not enjoy. The other entrees were fantastic. The Blackened salmon was spiced perfectly, just enough to not overpower the fish, not spicy, but spiced! Perfectly cooked and a good size portion. The Shrimp and bacon pasta dish was another very rich dish. Another spicy cream sauce, great flavor and a huge portion. The blackened pork (chops?) special was amazing and everyone at the table agreed. Another perfectly spiced dish. Big flavors! The best dish I’ve had here was the slow roasted boneless duck in pecan gravy. Amazing dish! Large portion of a duck breast and parts of the thigh I believe off the bone and bathed in a rich dark pecan sauce. The skin was not quite crispy enough, but it was still excellent, and something I highly recommend. The duck itself was extremely tender and lean.
Everyone I’ve eaten here with loves it. Very unique food for the area and something to absolutely go out of your way for. The gentleman who plays guitar and sings on Wednesdays is very good and his song selection is fun (Beatles, Grateful Dead, James Taylor, etc). The prices are a tad higher than I would expect, but its well worth it. The servers are friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and attentive. The chef is a nice guys and walks around to see how people are enjoying it, great vibe. Highly recommended!

The best outside of N’awlins. Laissez les bon temps rouler! Merci, Chef Steve.

We all love Chef Steve. From his crazy pants to his funky hat, he is truly an example of the New Orleans flavor you will experience if you eat here.
The food is great. I love spicy food and they do it well. My fiancé does not eat anything that even approaches spicy. Their ‘not so spicy’ side of the menu has some great dishes on it as well. She recommends the Herb Spiced Chicken. I recommend anything on the Spicy side!

What a cool place in my family ‘hood, though I’m sure plenty of quaint and interesting spots are all around — one just never thinks of Fresh Meadows as a culinary heaven. The service is super friendly and you definitely get a sense of family here.
The food is tasty and includes some great unusual items you wouldn’t ordinarily find, like gator meat. Servings are big so be careful if your eyes get bigger than your stomach!
The bread basket is key — with just about every kind of bread (some jalapeño bread, corn bread, raisin bread, etc.). Everything is baked fresh on the premises too!
Vegetarian options are extremely limited, from what I could see that night, so do be aware of that.

What a wonderful place in the neighborhood! I came here after checking out all the Unilocal reviews, and I was not disappointed! Get the cajun specials. They were good. I got the blackened catfish, and Fiancé got the pecan crusted salmon and we LOVED IT! However, Sister got a pasta dish and felt like it was good, but not terribly special in any way. The waiter was so patient in answering Sister’s questions about where all the meat came from (she has become a very animal-​conscious person).
I was very pleased with the bread basket. In fact the #1 reason I wanted to try this place was because of how many of you Unilocalers wrote about the amazing bread basket. There are so many types of bread in there and all of them were very good! Sister had gotten an oyster and brie appetizer which was really good. The sauce was amazing and the oysters were quite large. After eating the oysters, dip some of the tasty bread into the sauce and clean that place up, because it really is that good!
The portions are quite large, and we all ended up bringing some food home. I really wanted to try dessert, but I was much too full. Next time then!
P. S. we walked in some fairly extreme rain to get here, and I’m not sure if it was totally worth soaked jeans and socks, but I certainly did not regret coming!

this neighborhood is gettin’ better by the day! 3.5 — 4
Cooking with Jazz is bringing a level of service and food into the neighborhood that is kickin’ things up a notch. The décor, staff and food was great. Additionally, this place has great business! people are piling in because its just good in here!
My sister, her fiancé and I only ate from the cajun jazzy food, not the less cajun-​y side of the menu. I had the seafood pasta ($ 18) + brie oysters ($ 9). The seafood pasta, although had lots of quality huge pieces of seafood, is just ok/​good. After consuming the seafood… its just pasta in a good meat sauce. Brie oysters, however, was amazingly fatty and worth every single calorie. Will def. dig in on those mega sized oysters and mega Kcals again!
My sister and her fiancé both had fish dishes which they thoroughly enjoyed. None of us were able to finish our entres and we all took the left overs home for late night yum yums
the best part was hands down, the complimentary bread. I hardly ever eat bread in restaurants because I usually find it a waste of stomach real estate. however, DIG IN ON THE BREAD HERE. DO IT. (its the only vegetarian thing available. well, the bread and booze)
I dont recommend traveling toooo far to get here. but i certainly 100% recommend coming here if you’re in the neighborhood.
.
ps– NO american express and CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays

I loved this place from the moment we stepped in. The first thing I saw were smiling faces. The décor was cozy and inviting, and the food was absolutely amazing!
First they brought us a bread basket. In it was corn bread, jalepeno and cheese bread, molasses bread (tastes better than it sounds), banana nut muffin, buttermilk bread, a yeast bread, and another bread. I could go there for the bread alone!
I ordered the red beans and rice. This has to be the best red beans and I rice that I have tasted. It came with a big piece of chicken and a skewer of sausage. The meat was tender and not overdone. My daughter got the chicken fingers and, although I don’t like chicken fingers at all, the breading used made it pretty decent. Plus it wasn’t burnt to a crisp and/​or hard as a rock like it is normally served at other places.
My husband got the Jambalaya, extra spicy. I didn’t taste it but he had no complaints.
The service was great. Our water glasses were always filled and I got all my questions answered. We even got to talk to Chef Steve afterwards. He was chilling at the bar talking to the customers (it had slowed down by this time).
I think I’ve found my new go-​to restaurant.

Pretty good. OK.
The food was fine. Alligator sausage seemed average but the buttermilk chicken was boneless and tender.
Service was fine. No complaints.
The downsides: I realize this place is popular. We felt very rushed while eating. Also, we were packed in there. The man next to me just as easily could have reserved a seat on my lap. Did not make for a fun experience.

I thought it was okay!
First of all, the restaurant is really cozy. Warm yellow walls and wood bar. Complimentary FRESH BAKED bread and cornbread. Waitstaff is absolutely wonderful and friendly. The restaurant was about only a ¼ full and the food served super FAST.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the peanuty sauce they use in their chicken wonton and something similar in their stuffed eggplant.
Chicken Jumbalaya and Blacked Catfish were PHENOM though. Tender and flavorful. But it felt like hit or miss because the other two dishes were not that hot.
Next time, because there probably will be a next time, I’ll definitely try their alligator sausage.
I’ll recommend it to folks, but warn them to order from the specials and signature dishes and avoid the «non-​cajun» menu.
PS: I just remembered, THEIR CHEESE CAKE IN STRAWBERRY SAUCE IS AMAZING.

What an oddity — cajun cooking in New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s childhood neighborhood. He was raised here in Jamaica Estates by his mom and dad (Pops was the first Cuomo to occupy the governor’s mansion).
Given its fish-​of-​water context, Cooking with Jazz does a decent job with creole cuisine. Okay, so it doesn’t feel quite authentic. But who cares? This friendly restaurant has a lovely family-​run feeling to it. And the food is quite tasty.
We went there in February, soon after its reopening. (There had been a fire that closed it down.) Hard to judge how good this restaurant will be. Both the food and service felt a little newbie…
We had one entrée and a few appetizers. Everything was fresh but nothing was spectacular — yet. So I don’t want to say anything except to encourage everyone to support this well-​intentioned eatery.
But…there was the issue of the bread pudding with vanilla sauce. It arrived with no sauce. I asked two different waiters about this and they both insisted that the sauce was there. One said it had seeped into the top of the pudding; the other said that it had soaked in under the pudding.
I finally had one of the waiters take it back. To his credit, he returned to report that the kitchen had run out of vanilla sauce! We were offered the sweet potato pecan pie instead. While it was good, hard to tell its full potential because it arrived refrigerator cold… not even warmed to room temperature.
I don’t know if either dessert is still served that way now. But I’d definitely like to go back to see how Cooking With Jazz has evolved. Given the good energy of this place, I’m hoping it will only keep getting better and better.

This place is amazing! They even make broccoli taste awesome! The Chicken Jumbalaya is a must have and the bananas foster is the best I have ever had. My favorite part, though, was the pepper bread rolls… LOVED them!
The service can use some tweaking but the food makes up for it!
Highly recommended!

I was beyond excited that this restaurant re-​opened after a decade hiatus! This was my fave neighborhood restaurant growing up
The new space is def. much larger than the older location with two dining areas. but on a quiet night, the space can seem cold and uninviting. Cozier /​smaller = better.
Food was still good, but not quite as good as my memory. the artichoke app was a little too watered down…
maybe it was an off night. who knows? i’m on the fence about coming back. hoping that it won’t ruin a memory

THIS PLACE ROCKS !!! A fitting place for a mother’s day celebration…
My son took me out here for mother’s day… he always does surprise me with a good «find»…
Mom…I am taking you out for Mothers day., but. instead of Sunday. it will be on Friday. after work. to get away from the crowd…
Fine…where are you taking me…
Surprise Mom. is it okay for you to come to the house after work, Jason will be home so we’ll all start from there…
Sure…Okay…see you then…
Called Camille to meet me there .but luckily we bumped into each other at the bus stop .so we arrived there together… a few minutes later, Ronald arrived…
We ended up at the restaurant. called Cooking With Jazz which is just a few blocks from his house…
There was music playing as we walked in… the atmosphere was great… We were greeted by the host, looked at our names on the reservation list and promptly seated us on the first table as you walk in… the place was full… and lively… the lightning and the décor was totally New Orleans… the tables were a little bit close to each other you can hear every conversation on the other side… few times people just make a mess and bump into each other just getting out of the table… well…as long as the food is great… who cares how the tables are arranged…
We started our meal with appetizers .
.Alligator sausage (Delicious)
2 pounds of crawfish
Fried Oysters…
Grilled Catfish
Entrees are the following:
Grilled Acorn with Seafood Diane Cajun (Mixed seafood, shrimps, scallops, clams, Oysters and chunks of Salmon cooked with Herbed rice …
Grilled Catfish with Mashed Potato with Vegetables.
Chicken Etouffe-​Chicken Smothered in a rich brown sauce served with garlic Mashed Potatoes …
Steak-chef’s favorite Prime Rib Eye with Mashed potatoes and Brown Garlic Butter.
.
Dessert
Bananas Foster
Bread Pudding
As a foodie myself I certainly can say that this is one of the best cuisine and the best place I’ve been so far in the Queens area… We also met the Chef, Steve Van Gelder who was gracious enough to go from table to table asking how the food was… proud of his creations which was certainly appreciated by everyone… Nice work Chef Steve… Can’t wait to try the Jambalaya on my next visit…

So glad to see Cooking with Jazz back!
Atmosphere: Wow this space is much larger than what they used to have in Whitestone. They can really pack them in, tables were quite close to each other. You almost feel like you’re part of your neighbor’s conversation. The live jazz definitely gives the place a happy and upbeat vibe. I also love how they provide crayons so you can draw on the paper covered tables.
Service: Everyone was friendly and accommodating. Water glasses were filled constantly, dirty plates were whisked away in a timely manner. Our waiter even remembered to bring us our wine with the entrees as we had requested at the beginning of the order.
Food: Just as good as I remember! They start you off with a basket of corn bread, banana muffins, regular and jalapeño rolls. For an appetizer we had the Stuffed Eggplant, which is SO delicious. Very flavorful with just the right amount of spice and heat. Entrees: I had the Jambalaya. A large dish with 2 mounds of jambalaya with a blackened chicken cutlet and a piece of Andouille Sausage nestled in the center. It was wonderful, spicy, but not to the point where you couldn’t taste what you were eating. My fiancée had the rice and beans which also came with the blackened chicken cutlet and a piece of Andouille Sausage, a scoop of rice pilaf and some wonderful saucy red beans. The portions were quite large and well worth the price (which is very reasonable). From everything we read, we had to try the bananas foster, Which was warm and sweet, topped with vanilla ice cream, it was heavenly.
Chef: Chef Steve came out into the dining room a few times to walk around and say hello and make sure everyone was happy.
A great night, thanks to Cooking with Jazz!

Cooking With Jazz has reopened in a new location after many years.
It was a much lauded Cajun/​Creole restaurant during the 90s at its Whitestone location.