Cafe 290

07/05/09

great place, awful service

by izlez07

Only 2 waitresses for the entire restaurant who kept messing up the orders. definitely need more staff. Overall ok experience with great music

• Pros: Great atmosphere, grown and music is awesome
• Cons: only 2 waitresses for the entire restaurant,

06/08/09

ITS NOT BEBOP, BUT IT GOT SPIRIT.

by KWLDIII

IT NOT BEBOP JAZZ, BUT I DIG THE SOUNDS. IT HAD THE R&B TEXTURE WITH A TASTE OF SOUL. THE GROUP THAT NIGHT WAS RICH AND TRUE TO THE VERY END. THEY PLAYED AS A UNIT, AND EACH ARTIST HAD SPACE TO TRAVEL WITHIN THE MUSIC, YET THEIR SOUND WAS TIGHT!

THE CLUB SETTING IS MORE OF A JOOK JOINT, A HOLE IN THE WALL, OR A CHICKEN SHACK WITH A TOUCH OF CLASS! REMEMBER, THE SMALLER THE ROOM, THE BIGGER THE PARTY. THESE ARTISTS ARE PLAYING WITH EMOTIONS.

YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR ENCOUNTER AT CAFE 290 IF YOU GET THERE EARLY.

• Pros: THE SETTING IS GREAT & THE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY
• Cons: NO MOVEMENT ^^ THE SPACE IS LIMITED ^^ COME EARLY ^^

05/24/09

A little piece of West Village in Atlanta

by Xine

While many Atlanta natives might think the food is expensive, by NYC standards the food actually is great and priced accordingly. But you don't come for the food or the ambience, you come for the music. The professional musicians who perform here are outstanding. It's like 'Village Vanguard' or 'Smalls' in the West Village w/o the outrageous cover. Granted this might be b/c right next to the bar/live music there's the sports bar, pool table, foosball table, and a big screen t.v. If you come with friends who want to chill, the sports bar/ game room is great. If you want more of laid-back or robust night of jazz, go to sit down area. It's a 'Fat Cat' w/ Blue Note quality music and service!

• Pros: Amazing Live Music, great $ drinks!
• Cons: Sports Bar next room

06/14/08

Not what I expected

by addingtm

I went to Cafe 290 looking for some decent food and some good jazz. I had read other reviews on here and thought I would try it. Here is the lowdown.

Hostess: Pleasant

Bartenders: Unattentive, playing around, not recognzing you. It took me 15 minutes to get recognized that I was even there before I got a drink.

Food: Very limited unless you want to pay for very high priced steaks and pasta dishes. I got a Fried Chicken Salad that cost me 14.00. Not only that, it took 45 minutes to get it without anyone explaining what the hold up was. Also it was slow this time of night.

Music: It was R&B night. Not Jazz. It was ok, if I was in the mood for R&B, but I wasnt. I also was told it would start at 8 but didnt start until 9.

Clientele: I dont know where other reviews felt like there was a good mix but I felt like I was out of place.

I left after only being there for 1hr and 1/2.

Would I recommend this to others? Well, eat before you go. Make sure you are clear what kind of music you are looking to hear and it's ok.

I might go back another time, not ruling it out completely.

• Pros: Not too crowded
• Cons: High priced food, music isnt jazz, inattentive waitresses and bartenders, long wait for food

05/15/08

Excellant live jazz, good cuisine,and the best cheesecake for a jazz club.

by dmac303030

If you want to hear live jazz,have a good meal,and enjoy meeting good people of atlanta,here is your spot. I first went to Cafe 290 in 1997 and had a great meal,enjoyed the ambiance and had a chance to sit in with the live jazz ensamble which are there on sundays. I play the saxophone and Gary and team are great,if you can sing or play a musical instrument this is your spot.

• Pros: Great jazz,nice ambiance,and the best cheesecake.
• Cons: Parking is limited on Sundays

02/19/08

Best Jazz club

by Madblackwoman

I really enjoyed the jazz band they were great. We took my mom to Cafe 290 for her birthday wrong thing to do. When you have not eaten dinner. Eat before you go there and it would not be a bad idea to go ahead and get your drink on before you go in the door.LOL Their prices are crazy. But you will love the jazz band.

• Pros: Jazz music is good
• Cons: food and prices are bad

08/28/07

Great Music But Don't Expect Much Else

by panther1914

The best part about Cafe290 is the music. If you are going for any other reason, then stay home. This place has some of the best live music in Atlanta. You even have some mid-level and superstar artisit that may drop in from time to time. The place is really two clubs in one. Both sides are old and run down. To the right is a old sports bar with a few pool tables. No charge to go in that area. The bar side, where the music is has a $10 cover. Seating is VERY limited so get there early unless you have a dinner reservation. The food is nothing to write home about and very pricy but again, you are not going for the food. The well drinks are very pricy as well so budget accordingly. If you want to sit at the few seats that are available, go early in the evening. This place is highly recommended for the music and relaxed atmospher. Don't expect much else and you will have a good time.

• Pros: music, music, music
• Cons: pricy drinks, limited seating

08/20/07

$$$ = crazy

by cruzinatl

After perusing so many wonderful establishments and in Atlanta, I remembered a sweet ole' spot and decided to come back on a Sunday night. I was looking forward to enjoying the cool jazz and light atmosphere I was so reminiscent of. My babe and I put on some duds and enjoyed a leisurely ride with the top down to Hilderbrand Rd: Cafe 290 We entered to find a $10 cover, no problem, the entertainment is well worth it. We ordered cocktails, $8.50 a piece, whoa! at Cafe 290? hmmm, ok. We ordered a light bite, an appetizer priced at $7.99. We received three, yes, just three, [old fish] fragrant crab filled mushrooms caps. We sent those back. Our waitress suggested their stuffed shrimp, we said fine. She returned to us with shrimp cocktail. By this point we agreed, close enough. Our bill arrived. You do the math: two drinks each and one appetizer, about 42 bucks right? Wrong! It came to $51 and change. Our waitress did not bring an itemized bill at first either, only when we asked. It was then that she explained that on Sunday night an 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill. She added that the gratuity was not mandatory. But again, do the math: $42 + 18% is $49.56. She actually allowed herself a 22% tip. So, that was our night. $$$ = craziness. Not quite the way I remembered it to be .... You be the judge.

• Pros: Wonderful jazz on a Sunday night
• Cons: Pretty darn pricey to me

04/08/07

Great Jazz - Nice Vibe - Not Pretentious

by northfultongirl

Just tried this spot out for the first time this past weekend....went on a Friday night. The most awesome sax was being played by a guy that I have never heard of. Still do not know who he was...

The band was hot. There was a girl that was a beast on an electric violin - her fingers were smokin'...I was mesmerized. I will def be back.

The place is kinda old, not very contempo - relaxed atmosphere.

Not pretentious - come as you are, if you over dress you will be sorry.

Drinks are nice and strong...good spot for couples and dates.

• Pros: Variety of Great Live Jazz
• Cons: Building Kinda Run Down....But Worth the visit

12/20/06

You'll forget about the lackluster decor once the sprightly jazz takes over.

by Contributor

The Scene
One half run-down sports bar with billiards and a battered foosball table, one half dingy jazz lounge with some of the best live acts in town: Cafe 290 opened in 1981, and the decor looks like it hasn't been touched since. For the steadfast crowd that frequents this wood-paneled shanty, that's its appeal: unpretentious, friendly, and totally focused on providing top-notch music.

The Draw
The crowd is racially diverse and most have hit 30 or 40. You'll find lots of couples and very few pickup lines. With live jazz 365 days a year, you never know what you'll get. It could be a man with a drum machine, could be Peabo Bryson (yes, he's played here before). The seafood- and steak-heavy menu is impressive for a jazz club/sports bar, but it's not five-star. The real virtue is the free-pouring bar.