4. Restaurants

The Phoenix

302 W 8th St, Kansas City, MO, 64105
  • (816) 221-5299
  • Store is closed

The Phoenix Menu

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  • Caroline B.

    One of our absolute favorites in the Kansas City music and restaurant scene. Great drinks and specials. Always friendly service. They've even got a dog-friendly patio! And when it comes to music, they keep their schedule fully booked and always entertaining. You've got to check this place out--at least once a week.

    (5)

  • Jeffery S.

    It must be the lunch service or something because I've been here many times on lunch break and service is consistently shoddy. Even if you're the only people in there- it takes forever for the servers to get to you. One time the server dropped our plates off and didn't return for another 20 minutes. Well after we were done eating and needed to pay because we were already looking at returning late. Ordering and eating a soup and a salad should never take more than an hour. This last experience takes the cake though. I ordered a bowl of soup and a side salad. Soup was brought me to cold- however that's forgiveable. I also asked for vinegar and oil and what was brought to me was...oil. It was supposed to be a vinaigrette but there was no vinegar to it. I sent the soup back and asked for vinegar and the server brought me easily 1/3rd less than the original amount of soup back and then another container of the same dressing aka oil. It looked like oil, tasted like oil, it was nothing but oil. I asked for vinegar and she said sure and instead brings me another house vinaigrette and this one tastes like lemon oil. She states that perhaps it's just too oily for my preference. I asked about vinegar again and she admitted she had no idea where it was kept. I was getting frustrated and asked for a different dressing altogether. I'm not sure if their vinaigrettes are just *really* gross or if my server didn't pay attention in science class and doesn't know that vinegar and oil separate therefore you need to shake them up before serving.....Either way, I hope their dinner service is better because lunch is always bad.

    (4)

  • Meredith R.

    Overall, I had an enjoyable time at The Phoenix and would return if I was with a group that was interested in some live jazz. Prices were not terribly high, but there is a $5/person cover to get it. The performer we saw was quite good and had the crowd very entertained. Our waitress was slower than molasses though and didn't seem too "with it". We arrived around 7:30 and stayed for about an hour (until the band was finished). It is street parking only, which means you may get lucky or you may circle the place a while before finding a spot. One thing I found very strange was that a Shirley Temple was ordered by a member of my group (due to them not being able to have alcohol). We were (luckily) informed that they make their own grenadine and that it has liquor in it and that they do not have a regular grenadine. That's a bit of a bummer for designated drivers, pregnant woman, recovering alcoholics, etc...

    (4)

  • Joe T.

    We really enjoyed the Phoenix the salmon was good and so where the crab cakes. The band was nice and the prices were very reasonable for a restaurant in this area They also have a nice patio outside behind the restaurant also...The waitress was very nice and food came to you in reasonable time.

    (4)

  • Anna K.

    Love the music! Food is okay. Great place for an evening out with friends! I won't comment on the waitresses - they are great but I can see the poor men just going crazy .... Oops!

    (3)

  • Kelly K.

    Great jazz venue downtown! The food service was a little slow, but they have the best onion rings I've ever eaten! Bartender was friendly and great to chat with.

    (4)

  • Sherry W.

    The music and the Devi d at The Phoenix is awesome. They have a great Jazz Brunch from 10am - 2pm. If you like Bloody Mary's, you'll enjoy the a you can drink bar.

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    As a music fan this is a good place. There isn't much of a stage but the sound is fantastic. It's not too loud and the acoustics make it very clear. The staff is sometimes slow on a very busy night but they make up for it in the friendliness.

    (4)

  • Barbara S.

    This place is loud, crowded and lively and I love every inch of it. The bartenders aren't always the quickest and the bar area tends to be exceptionally crowded almost every night of the week. They constantly have live music (they even have a brunch band on Saturday mornings). The music is loud, I will say that. Not much conversation is going to happen while they're playing. The band is set up by the door and one of my favorite things to do is actually sit outside on their patio when the weather's nice because you can still hear them play! Generally, there's a cover -- $5. Their food is good (I always get the sweet potato fries) and although there's not much room, sometimes people get up and dance a little. Good place to bring someone from out of town and show them a little KC jazz.

    (4)

  • Bryan S.

    Atmosphere is great and the music is the best. The service is just extremely slow and they are always understaffed. I've been there 4 times where it took 45 minutes to get a burger or an appetizer. It's too bad they can't keep up in the kitchen cause it's a great place to hear live music. If you want to just listen to music then go and sit at the bar. Hell you could probably bring in your own drinks and they wouldn't notice and you get get away with it due to the limited staff but maybe they'll staff up and improve the service. If you enjoy live music and don't care about timely service this is your place.

    (3)

  • Courtney R.

    I love the Phoenix! The atmosphere and jazz are incredible. Friday nights, Lonnie McFadden between 5 pm-8 pm, is a great night to go for jazz. $5 cover. Lonnie has so much personality and is made for singing and the stage, his pianist and drummer are great as well. It's a great place for entertainment in Kansas City. Get there early for a table and seat, it's tough to come by seats after 6:30 pm on Friday. It's loud, so don't plan on having a heart to heart with someone here over drinks. The service has always been wonderful and the staff are friendly. Drinks are AWESOME! Try the one with smoke in it! The crab cakes, sweet potato fries and firehouse chicken are our go to menu options. Great jazz, great ambiance, great drinks, decent food...only thing more I could ask for here is more space for more seating, but don't let that stop you!

    (4)

  • Clarice W.

    I don't have enough good things to say about The Phoenix. But for starters, here's a list: 1. Early HH (starts at 4:00 I believe?), for those who like to get the party started (or ended) early. 2. HH specials: $6 house martinis and 1/2 off all apps. 3. Lonnie McFadden, who is there on Friday evenings, is just phenomenal and covers a variety of jazz, blues, and motown songs as well as some of his own originals. 4. Lonnie McFadden tap dances at the end of the set!!! 5. For a $5 cover charge you get to see this great man. Some have complained about this but remember you're not just going to a bar, you're going to see a performance. You can tell that Lonnie McFadden truly loves what he does, and that feeling is contagious. And totally worth the $5. 6. I don't know how she did it in the crazy crowd, but our server checked in on us frequently and made sure we were never hungry or thirsty the whole evening! Care to add to my list? Go to the Phoenix and check it out!

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    This place is a jazz club by night, but we were there for lunch so were treated to blues music over the speakers as we settled in at our table. For all that they had ONE waitress runninng around serving everyone, service was great and the food came out fast! My friend and I split the crab cake appetizer as our entree and then each got the sweet potato fries. The crab cake was tasty, with a drizzle of aioli, though the texture was distressingly fish stick-y. The fries were great, crisp and thick, not greasy or underdone. This place doesn't appear to be terribly big (? -- we were sitting off in a side room so maybe I missed a larger space) so when the joint is jumping it may really get loud, but at lunch time it was fairly mellow. Definitely a good choice. This one rises high to the top of our restaurant picks in KC.

    (4)

  • H W.

    Great atmosphere, food and entertainment!! The waitress was handling us (a big party) and the rest of the bar wonderfully. Piano player was awesome and had go-go dancers with his act. Super fun night!

    (4)

  • Colin T.

    Been here multiple times over the last year and loved each occasion. Just did their jazz brunch from 10-2 on Saturdays and loved it. Great swing jazz band and delicious food. Highly recommended for all jazz and food lovers out there.

    (5)

  • Melaina C.

    We came for the Saturday jazz brunch. As soon as we walked in the door, the whole place smelled like rotten eggs. It was such a strong smell I could barely take it. The whole place is very dirty and dive-bar like. The band we saw didn't really seem happy to be playing there and they weren't that good. My boyfriend ordered the chicken omelet, and I ordered the crab cake florentine. They were both good.

    (3)

  • Brandon B.

    This place is great. The atmosphere was nice and laid back, and our server (Tuesday) was extremely helpful and polite. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5, is the food. Oy...painful. I didn't expect to get stellar tacos at a jazz joint, but this was a poor excuse for a taco. And the spinach & artichoke dip appeared to be a glob of béchamel with no cheese or artichokes, and minimal spinach. Our server read the situation well, and took care of everything in a prompt manner. I decided for the time being, I'll stick to coming here and enjoying the music after dinner. :) The house band was great, and I enjoyed the open performer night. I will be back soon!

    (4)

  • Patrick M.

    Great lunch spot, fun dinner and jazz place, love the chipotle wrap! Plus, they have a waitress named Tuesday, for real.

    (5)

  • Matt R.

    I came here after looking it up on a search one Saturday morning. I was staying here on business for a few months.. The Saturday brunch atmosphere is perfect.. Low key and great music.. Great morning jazz thephoenixkc.com/saturda… And they have a great small menu which means the quality is there.. I have had two brunches both have been great I have had the Crab Cake Florentine Benny Two crab cakes topped with steamed spinach, poached eggs, Canadian bacon and house made hollandaise . Side of grits. 13.5 And the Good ol' Steak n Eggs 6oz. filet, home fries and two eggs your way 13.5 I loved both of them They also offer a "Bloody Mary bar"on Saturdays they pour you the vodka and you do the rest you can make it anyway you like they have the condiments out on the bar with your choice of Bloody Mary mix a great way to get your Saturday started:).. The crab cakes with poached eggs was fresh and incredible! And the steak had tendon issues but was very tender and very well seasoned .. The bartenders are fantastic they make you feel like you are at "cheers" they make you feel apart of the "family" my interactions with Tuesday,Lou,and Adam were fantastic so inviting and for a guy from out of town made me feel right at home.. At times if they are busy at night the wait for things could take awhile as they are sometimes staffed low.. But they work their asses off even though the service may not be top notch on these nights. Everything else makes up for it I love this place and the people !! I would highly recommended the Phoenix jazz club

    (5)

  • Victoria R.

    Met friends there last nite, totally the best band ever played! Played a lot of Crosby Stills and Nash...not the usual wonderful jazz, so totally unexpected. Great atmosphere and prices, reasonable cover. Hope RockPaperScissors becomes regulars on their live music calender!

    (5)

  • Prescott B.

    We went for a late dinner and to hear the great music on a Friday evening in August. Small high table near the bar with great sightlines to the small stage, very solid food but it was overshadowed by the fantastic music and club scene. Too loud for much talking. Will certainly be back next time I go to KC

    (4)

  • Bugbunny_V K.

    The drinks are okay - like others mentioned. The food is just meh. I came with the intentions of having dinner and drinks. After eating the free sweet potato fries, I couldn't bring myself to eating anything else. The fries were meh. Very bland even with the dressing.

    (3)

  • Julie M.

    I cannot give enough love to The Phoenix! Awesome music, great atmosphere and they never disappoint with the food! Not even breakfast?! Their brunch is one of my very favorites. True KC gem :)

    (5)

  • Jamie W.

    EDIT: I dropped my 5 stars by two... Because the food has progressively gotten worse and worse. Even the wings now taste so generic, and my food is consistently either overcooked or undercooked. I still come here about twice a month, and as the service is still amazing, the food has gone from great to just sloppy and kind of gross. Hope they do something about it :( (Here's my original review) I love this place. The ambiance is perfect. The food is amazing. The service is always good. I live around the corner so I find myself here quite often... They have live music every night, (mostly jazz) and a pretty decent happy hour (half price apps and some drink specials) $15 bottles of house wine on Mondays is my favorite special. The service has always been prompt and friendly. The pace is a tad slower, (but I think that's part of the appeal of this place) so if you're expecting super fast bar food then you should probably go somewhere else. The food is very good and takes a normal amount of time to cook... My favorite thing here is the spinach and artichoke dip (OMG) and the Phoenix Cobb salad (I get mine with salmon... They are very generous with their portions, and they also have AWESOME wings!) They have a pretty decent beer selection, an interesting and eclectic cocktail menu, and they even sell cigars! This is the kind of place where you can bring a group and have a few drinks and enjoy the music, or even just come by yourself and have a relaxing evening with good food and good company (Krysta, one of the bartenders, is a complete doll. She works Mondays and is so friendly and personable... And also very easy on the eyes, you'll want to come back just to see her!) I definitely recommend this place, especially if you live in the neighborhood.

    (3)

  • Stephen H.

    This is an old reliable joint in Kansas City. The other reviewers are dead on: make sure you get there early if you want to get a table. Lonnie McFadden normally holds down the early Friday shift - which, if you live in KC and you haven't seen this man perform, you need to - and if you get there during his set (4pm to 8pm I think - check the calendar on the website, don't quote me!) you'll be resale set up for the other later music, if you want to stay, drink and listen the night away. Last time I was there there was a girl who had brought her own hula hoop as a dancing accessory. For a while I tried to discreetly look at her peripherally, but it got hilarious enough at one point to just turn my chair and watch her.

    (5)

  • Jeff D.

    Went for Saturday brunch. Bloody Mary bar is excellent, service outstanding. Had the crab cake eggs Benedict, very good. I'm not a jazz fan, but the music was nice. Great atmosphere. Glad we checked it out!

    (5)

  • Katelyn L.

    When I was in town for work this place was recommended to me, but the atmosphere wasn't explained very well. We got there around 5:00pm and the place charged a $5 cover (which is nothing compared to most covers, but unexpected since we were only looking for a simple dinner). The place was completely packed already, not an empty chair in the place, tons of people standing around, and there was a Jazz group playing very loudly. The music stage is right by the front door and the place is extremely small, so no matter where you sit you can hear the music loud and clear. No one is in the front door to greet you so I searched for a waitress to ask (more like yell) if it's seat yourself; she said yes and told me that the place is usually packed by 4:30pm for the live music. Luckily two nice gentlemen at the bar gave up their seats to me and my friend when they discovered that we were looking to eat dinner. Once we sat down it was much better. The food is quite good and the drinks are very reasonably priced. The music is entertaining, but a little loud for my liking because you have to yell at the person next to you to have a conversation. I would recommend this place to go out with friends, have a decent meal, decent priced drinks, and listen to some fun music. But if you're going to want to talk to anyone in your party while you're eating dinner, this place probably isn't it.

    (3)

  • Laura F.

    I have been here a few times now, and I like this place. The first time I was here was for some Jazz, and the second time was for happy hour specials. When I was here for Jazz, it was a fun experience. I came with my family the first week I moved to KC. The band was good, but I thought the acoustics could have been better. It was so loud that I could barely hear anyone else at my table. The place is not big, either, so there isn't a lot of space to sit further away from the band, if you wanted to have a conversation during the show. The second time, happy hour, was with a group of friends. We were there between the 4-5 hour, and there weren't many other people in there. The happy hour specials were pretty good. Both times I remember the service was good, not bothersome but attentive enough. I do not particularly remember the food either time -- nothing really was memorable, but not bad enough to be a strong negative. Overall, a nice place to enjoy some music and have some decent food.

    (3)

  • Juelz T.

    My husband is returning after almost 20-years... And he still loves it! Enjoy a fun date night with your honey or a new flame! :)

    (4)

  • Jason E.

    They need to staff up. The place was a mess - full of frustrated patrons over lunch. It took 20 minutes to get a menu and a water. We had to go find our waitress to pay. I was late getting back from lunch. Too bad because the food is pretty good and I like the outdoor seating. - I was just told that my photo of all of the uncleared tables was removed. Yeah I'd be embarrassed too.

    (1)

  • Bill B.

    It is very hard for me to know what to say about this jazz club. Having lived in many of this country's best music cities, such as Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Boston, St. Louis, and Austin, I usually do not expect to find really outstanding jazz groups in KC. In fact, I usually find better jazz in Paris, Prague, and London than in KC. But I was really impressed by the jazz group I heard at the Phoenix. We were there during happy hour, and the drinks and food were very reasonably priced and good. But something went seriously wrong, and there is no way that we'll return --- ever. Perhaps I should have taken more seriously the negative reviews on Yelp. For bar food, what we ordered was fine. But I really resent it, when I am lied to, and all that is done to compensate me is with money. I ordered the stuffed salmon. It was very good, but not "stuffed." According to the menu, lobster, crab, and shrimp were supposed to be stuffed in the salmon. No such stuffing was inside the salmon, on top of the salmon, or below the salmon. There was no lobster, crab, or shrimp anywhere on the plate. Not even a tiny speck. Nothing. I complained to the server, who returned saying that the kitchen said it was there, but they would give me a free glass of wine anyway. I do not need handouts to buy a glass of wine. But I do not like being lied to, and no glass of wine is compensation for that. I complained again, and said I wanted the missing seafood ingredients brought out to me. The server returned saying that the manager was going to discount my bill by $10 in addition to providing the free glass of wine. I never asked for a free glass of wine or a discounted bill. I only asked repeatedly for the missing seafood from what I ordered, which I never received. If I had simply been told the truth, which I assume was perhaps that they did not have the missing ingredients from the stuffed salmon or did not want me to taste them, I would have understood. I had no interest in being "bought off" with a free glass of wine or a discount. I just wanted what I ordered or the truth. I have rarely felt so insulted by a club, restaurant, of bar. Yes, I received a free glass of wine and a $10 discount, neither of which was appreciated. What I wanted is what I ordered, and I never received it. This is particularly sad, since we were greatly enthused, before I was so blatantly insulted about what I never received. Something is very wrong here.

    (3)

  • Lorena M.

    I have been here twice. Lunch and late night drinks. Both times have been great experiences. The food is DELICIOUS. No joke. Really good. Drinks were alright. Service is good, the waitstaff has always been friendly and helpful. When they have live music its really cool and they have really talented people perform. My only complaint is that it is a small place so it can get cramped and the music can be really loud. But I work downtown and I love going for lunch. Reasonable prices and good quality food.

    (4)

  • Yolanda K.

    Went last night for the first time after seeing the positive reviews. We ended up not eating because we were not that hungry but we did have a few drinks that were perfectly made. I'm not sure if we went on the wrong night but we were expecting jazz music but instead the music was a mix between soft rock with a little hip hop. I'll return again on a Friday night in hopes that there is actually jazz music and to also try the food on the menu.

    (4)

  • Polly P.

    Live music is apart of the Phoenix like marshmallows to Rice Krispy treats. There is always some type of musical ensemble. You can walk in and one of the McFadden Brothers tap dancing on the top of the grand piano. The next day, you might catch the Everette DeVan band with lots of KC great voices adding into a artists jam session. The half price apps during happy hour are pretty good. It normally is pretty packed around that time. Sometimes, good things come to those that wait. They do have daily specials besides what is on the menu. I always have them create me something. The drinks are good. They have a good selection. It is the wait staff that does it for me. They are nice and friendly All in all, a nice place to go..

    (4)

  • Cathy C.

    An accidental night out started at a horse show and ended at the Phoenix. When we arrived, the place was humming, in between Lonnie McFadden (damn, we just missed him) and the JLove Band. We found a table and within a few minutes had drinks and a free Yelp-app order of sweet potato fries on the way. JLove took the stage and the fun was under way. The first time I was here, I thought the food was average, but they've upped their game since then. I had scallops over Parmesan risotto with carrots and brussel sprouts; the sprouts were a little under done, but the scallops were perfect, and the risotto was delicious, creamy and cheesy with a zing of lemon juice. My friend ordered a meatball sandwich with bleu cheese-sounds strange, but it was excellent. The meatballs have some heat that sneaks up on you. The bread pudding and chocolate raspberry torte sounded really tempting, but this amounted to my second dinner of the evening, so I left that for my next visit. This is a great place to hang out and hear music. First, it's an oasis of bright lights and color in an otherwise drab and deserted nighttime landscape, and the happy vibe spills outside even on cold nights like tonight. Inside, the dark interior is punctuated by candlelight and neon; stained glass windows and brick was add to the warmth. Our waitress was gracious and efficient, checked on us frequently without being overbearing. JLove's singer greeted us as she walked by after their first set and asked if we were having a good time, to which we responded with a rousing "YES!" If the quality of the music every night is like this, I need to be here more often!

    (4)

  • Ben R.

    Best Saturday brunch in KC! The music is fantastic and the brunch menu is affordable and delicious! Wait time for food prep was a little long, but it was easy to wait with an environment like this!

    (5)

  • Kai G.

    Cool jazz bar a couple of blocks west of Main on 8th. Live music in the evening. Food is ok, drinks are reasonable.

    (4)

  • Darren D.

    We decided to visit KC on a whim and found high recommendations on Yelp regarding this restaurant and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, it went down hill quickly when we found out it was open mic night and the talent was sub par. The bartender was friendly enough, but was slow to offer refills and return with water. The menu had traditional pub fare that we decided to try. After flagging down the bartender we ordered dinner. Fifteen minutes passed before the bartender informed me they were unable to prepare my ordered meal due to not having all the ingredients. The bartender did take 15 percent off the bill due to the inconvenience. However, the food was sub par at best.

    (3)

  • Heather P.

    Typically this is not a place that I think to go because I'm not willing to invest the time to get there early enough to get a table on a Friday or Saturday night. But on a particularly stressful Monday, a friend and I decided we needed a break and Jazz sounded perfect. Our server was spectacular. She was the only server in a packed house read: every single seat full with standing room and while we did have to wait for a very long time for a few things, we never once minded. This review would have been just as positive had she not bought our first round of drinks but that solidified her spot as one of the best servers I've had in all of downtown KC. My friend and I, at the suggestion of a table full of charming and delightful older women out on a ladies night, took advantage of the happy hour special-All appetizers half off excluding sampler platter and I think one other item-and we left happily full. It took us about 20 minutes to decide what to get because the entrees looked so delicious but we couldn't pass up the great deal. The Fried Crab Cakes stole the show but our Quesadilla was also good-basic and a little messy to eat but the taste was good and it was perfect for sharing. I can't wait to go back for those Crab Cakes though. The music was spectacular. It truly set the stage for a peaceful and therapeutic break from a very long work day. The Jazz went on until around 10pm and then a singer, songwriter went on and admitted this was new to her. She was a tad rough around the edges but I love that the Phoenix will see talent and let them get up there and play. You never shake the nervousness without practice and it makes me happy when venues take chances. I'll definitely be back to the Phoenix.

    (4)

  • Jeramy P.

    I was visiting KC and dropped into The Phoenix to catch some live music. The place was pretty busy, but we managed to find a table in the back. Our waitress was very nice, and my drink (a sidecar) was expertly made. They had a blues band in that I wasn't familiar with, but they turned out to be fantastic, if a bit late getting the show going. It's a bit pricey, and the flatbread pizza was nothing to write home about (not bad, though), but I'll definitely come back by next time I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Bill B.

    It is very hard for me to know what to say about this jazz club. Having lived in many of this country's best music cities, such as Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Boston, St. Louis, and Austin, I usually do not expect to find really outstanding jazz groups in KC. In fact, I usually find better jazz in Paris, Prague, and London than in KC. But I was really impressed by the jazz group I heard at the Phoenix. We were there during happy hour, and the drinks and food were very reasonably priced and good. But something went seriously wrong, and there is no way that we'll return --- ever. Perhaps I should have taken more seriously the negative reviews on Yelp. For bar food, what we ordered was fine. But I really resent it, when I am lied to, and all that is done to compensate me is with money. I ordered the stuffed salmon. It was very good, but not "stuffed." According to the menu, lobster, crab, and shrimp were supposed to be stuffed in the salmon. No such stuffing was inside the salmon, on top of the salmon, or below the salmon. There was no lobster, crab, or shrimp anywhere on the plate. Not even a tiny speck. Nothing. I complained to the server, who returned saying that the kitchen said it was there, but they would give me a free glass of wine anyway. I do not need handouts to buy a glass of wine. But I do not like being lied to, and no glass of wine is compensation for that. I complained again, and said I wanted the missing seafood ingredients brought out to me. The server returned saying that the manager was going to discount my bill by $10 in addition to providing the free glass of wine. I never asked for a free glass of wine or a discounted bill. I only asked repeatedly for the missing seafood from what I ordered, which I never received. If I had simply been told the truth, which I assume was perhaps that they did not have the missing ingredients from the stuffed salmon or did not want me to taste them, I would have understood. I had no interest in being "bought off" with a free glass of wine or a discount. I just wanted what I ordered or the truth. I have rarely felt so insulted by a club, restaurant, of bar. Yes, I received a free glass of wine and a $10 discount, neither of which was appreciated. What I wanted is what I ordered, and I never received it. This is particularly sad, since we were greatly enthused, before I was so blatantly insulted about what I never received. Something is very wrong here.

    (3)

  • Lorena M.

    I have been here twice. Lunch and late night drinks. Both times have been great experiences. The food is DELICIOUS. No joke. Really good. Drinks were alright. Service is good, the waitstaff has always been friendly and helpful. When they have live music its really cool and they have really talented people perform. My only complaint is that it is a small place so it can get cramped and the music can be really loud. But I work downtown and I love going for lunch. Reasonable prices and good quality food.

    (4)

  • Yolanda K.

    Went last night for the first time after seeing the positive reviews. We ended up not eating because we were not that hungry but we did have a few drinks that were perfectly made. I'm not sure if we went on the wrong night but we were expecting jazz music but instead the music was a mix between soft rock with a little hip hop. I'll return again on a Friday night in hopes that there is actually jazz music and to also try the food on the menu.

    (4)

  • Polly P.

    Live music is apart of the Phoenix like marshmallows to Rice Krispy treats. There is always some type of musical ensemble. You can walk in and one of the McFadden Brothers tap dancing on the top of the grand piano. The next day, you might catch the Everette DeVan band with lots of KC great voices adding into a artists jam session. The half price apps during happy hour are pretty good. It normally is pretty packed around that time. Sometimes, good things come to those that wait. They do have daily specials besides what is on the menu. I always have them create me something. The drinks are good. They have a good selection. It is the wait staff that does it for me. They are nice and friendly All in all, a nice place to go..

    (4)

  • Cathy C.

    An accidental night out started at a horse show and ended at the Phoenix. When we arrived, the place was humming, in between Lonnie McFadden (damn, we just missed him) and the JLove Band. We found a table and within a few minutes had drinks and a free Yelp-app order of sweet potato fries on the way. JLove took the stage and the fun was under way. The first time I was here, I thought the food was average, but they've upped their game since then. I had scallops over Parmesan risotto with carrots and brussel sprouts; the sprouts were a little under done, but the scallops were perfect, and the risotto was delicious, creamy and cheesy with a zing of lemon juice. My friend ordered a meatball sandwich with bleu cheese-sounds strange, but it was excellent. The meatballs have some heat that sneaks up on you. The bread pudding and chocolate raspberry torte sounded really tempting, but this amounted to my second dinner of the evening, so I left that for my next visit. This is a great place to hang out and hear music. First, it's an oasis of bright lights and color in an otherwise drab and deserted nighttime landscape, and the happy vibe spills outside even on cold nights like tonight. Inside, the dark interior is punctuated by candlelight and neon; stained glass windows and brick was add to the warmth. Our waitress was gracious and efficient, checked on us frequently without being overbearing. JLove's singer greeted us as she walked by after their first set and asked if we were having a good time, to which we responded with a rousing "YES!" If the quality of the music every night is like this, I need to be here more often!

    (4)

  • Ben R.

    Best Saturday brunch in KC! The music is fantastic and the brunch menu is affordable and delicious! Wait time for food prep was a little long, but it was easy to wait with an environment like this!

    (5)

  • Kai G.

    Cool jazz bar a couple of blocks west of Main on 8th. Live music in the evening. Food is ok, drinks are reasonable.

    (4)

  • Darren D.

    We decided to visit KC on a whim and found high recommendations on Yelp regarding this restaurant and decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, it went down hill quickly when we found out it was open mic night and the talent was sub par. The bartender was friendly enough, but was slow to offer refills and return with water. The menu had traditional pub fare that we decided to try. After flagging down the bartender we ordered dinner. Fifteen minutes passed before the bartender informed me they were unable to prepare my ordered meal due to not having all the ingredients. The bartender did take 15 percent off the bill due to the inconvenience. However, the food was sub par at best.

    (3)

  • Heather P.

    Typically this is not a place that I think to go because I'm not willing to invest the time to get there early enough to get a table on a Friday or Saturday night. But on a particularly stressful Monday, a friend and I decided we needed a break and Jazz sounded perfect. Our server was spectacular. She was the only server in a packed house read: every single seat full with standing room and while we did have to wait for a very long time for a few things, we never once minded. This review would have been just as positive had she not bought our first round of drinks but that solidified her spot as one of the best servers I've had in all of downtown KC. My friend and I, at the suggestion of a table full of charming and delightful older women out on a ladies night, took advantage of the happy hour special-All appetizers half off excluding sampler platter and I think one other item-and we left happily full. It took us about 20 minutes to decide what to get because the entrees looked so delicious but we couldn't pass up the great deal. The Fried Crab Cakes stole the show but our Quesadilla was also good-basic and a little messy to eat but the taste was good and it was perfect for sharing. I can't wait to go back for those Crab Cakes though. The music was spectacular. It truly set the stage for a peaceful and therapeutic break from a very long work day. The Jazz went on until around 10pm and then a singer, songwriter went on and admitted this was new to her. She was a tad rough around the edges but I love that the Phoenix will see talent and let them get up there and play. You never shake the nervousness without practice and it makes me happy when venues take chances. I'll definitely be back to the Phoenix.

    (4)

  • Jeramy P.

    I was visiting KC and dropped into The Phoenix to catch some live music. The place was pretty busy, but we managed to find a table in the back. Our waitress was very nice, and my drink (a sidecar) was expertly made. They had a blues band in that I wasn't familiar with, but they turned out to be fantastic, if a bit late getting the show going. It's a bit pricey, and the flatbread pizza was nothing to write home about (not bad, though), but I'll definitely come back by next time I'm in town.

    (4)

  • Clayton R.

    Ok, so I've had a love hate relationship with the Phoenix in the years I've lived in KC. First of all, the bouncers can be pretty douchey. The first time I went there, this was the case. They tried to charge a ridiculous cover when we were only going to be there for about an hour, and no live music was playing. Also, when I asked about it, the response I got was NOT professional or polite. We paid, went in, and were unimpressed. So, at that point, "Phuck the Phoenix" was my mindset. Since then, I've been back several times. I've moved into the Garment district, and decided to wipe the slate clean and give this place a totally new shot. The cover is about half what it used to be, which is more appropriate, IMO. I'm going to spend more money inside if I don't have to pay a high price for entry. The drinks are cheap and well made. This is the ONLY place in KC that I know of that knows how to pour a Guiness, and there are plenty of places that should (Flying Saucer, I'm looking at you). The food is really excellent for the price; their burger is eight bucks and comes with fries, plus your choice of four toppings. These aren't your typical toppings either - I get bacon, avocado, pepperjack cheese and an onion ring. FOR EIGHT BUCKS. That is insane. You can get free sweet potato fries every time you come here if you check in with Yelp! That's a crazy deal, as they are home made and easily my favorite sweet potato fries in Kansas City. The music is still very good, and it can get super loud and PACKED on nights like Friday. However, it is a blast to sit at the bar, order some four buck beers, get an underpriced burger and let the week's stress wash away to the groovy riffs of Lonnie McFadden or some of their other guests. Overall, one of my favorite local joints. The bouncers can still be douchey, but the waitresses and bartenders are VERY friendly. Also, the bouncers have to deal with some a-holes at this place from time to time, so I understand their attitude. Check the place out! If you haven't been in awhile, I'd vote that you give it another shot.

    (5)

  • Margarito G.

    First time here in KC and was craving a burger. Good food and music. Will come back again.

    (4)

  • Jeff K.

    Great service, food, and most of all music. If you haven't been here of its just been a while you owe it to yourself to get there.

    (4)

  • Tim L.

    It's one of the last of its kind and a place I recommend to anyone who hasn't visited. A great place to bring an out-of towner for a taste of old school Kansas City. It can't be repeated enough- come early! It's the only way to insure a good spot once the crowd rolls in. That also gives you a chance to get to know the friendly staff and the sample the food which is good to very good.

    (4)

  • Tuesday S.

    This place is a hidden gem in KC. Great (local) live music nightly, attentive staff, and awesome food/drinks. A must see if you are visiting from out of town, also a great inexpensive watering hole for locals. There is only a cover on the weekends and at $5 per person it is super cheap for the always fantastic bands!

    (5)

  • Clayton R.

    Ok, so I've had a love hate relationship with the Phoenix in the years I've lived in KC. First of all, the bouncers can be pretty douchey. The first time I went there, this was the case. They tried to charge a ridiculous cover when we were only going to be there for about an hour, and no live music was playing. Also, when I asked about it, the response I got was NOT professional or polite. We paid, went in, and were unimpressed. So, at that point, "Phuck the Phoenix" was my mindset. Since then, I've been back several times. I've moved into the Garment district, and decided to wipe the slate clean and give this place a totally new shot. The cover is about half what it used to be, which is more appropriate, IMO. I'm going to spend more money inside if I don't have to pay a high price for entry. The drinks are cheap and well made. This is the ONLY place in KC that I know of that knows how to pour a Guiness, and there are plenty of places that should (Flying Saucer, I'm looking at you). The food is really excellent for the price; their burger is eight bucks and comes with fries, plus your choice of four toppings. These aren't your typical toppings either - I get bacon, avocado, pepperjack cheese and an onion ring. FOR EIGHT BUCKS. That is insane. You can get free sweet potato fries every time you come here if you check in with Yelp! That's a crazy deal, as they are home made and easily my favorite sweet potato fries in Kansas City. The music is still very good, and it can get super loud and PACKED on nights like Friday. However, it is a blast to sit at the bar, order some four buck beers, get an underpriced burger and let the week's stress wash away to the groovy riffs of Lonnie McFadden or some of their other guests. Overall, one of my favorite local joints. The bouncers can still be douchey, but the waitresses and bartenders are VERY friendly. Also, the bouncers have to deal with some a-holes at this place from time to time, so I understand their attitude. Check the place out! If you haven't been in awhile, I'd vote that you give it another shot.

    (5)

  • Margarito G.

    First time here in KC and was craving a burger. Good food and music. Will come back again.

    (4)

  • Jeff K.

    Great service, food, and most of all music. If you haven't been here of its just been a while you owe it to yourself to get there.

    (4)

  • Tim L.

    It's one of the last of its kind and a place I recommend to anyone who hasn't visited. A great place to bring an out-of towner for a taste of old school Kansas City. It can't be repeated enough- come early! It's the only way to insure a good spot once the crowd rolls in. That also gives you a chance to get to know the friendly staff and the sample the food which is good to very good.

    (4)

  • Shaylee Y.

    I had the firehouse chicken!! It was delicious to say the least. The staff is friendly and I will definitely be coming back!! Thanks for a great experience!!

    (4)

  • Rose L.

    The Phoenix is one of our regular Saturday evening starting points. They are always rockin' with a great jazz or blues group, so I never have to wonder if the music will be good or not. While I prefer sitting at the bar for the view and the better service, we do not usually get there till after 11:30, so we get a leftover table to the side of the band. The band usually shuts down at 1am. Sometimes the waitresses here are slow and inattentive. They are always super nice, though. I love the atmosphere: dark, dark, dark, and small. I feel close to the band wherever I sit. Always a great crowd, containing all types of grown-ups. Always great beer, too. If you are a smoker, you will find a covered, heated patio. If you're not, then I would suggest sitting at the front of the bar area to avoid the constant cold drafts and parade of smelly smokers that will surely hit you in the back bar area. My goal is to make it down to see the McFaddens, as they are some of my favorite KC performers. Regardless, we will continue coming on Saturdays for as long as we are in KC and The Phoenix is open!!

    (4)

  • Jon C.

    Hearing live jazz was a MUST for me since I was going to Kansas City. Went here on a Friday night a little after 10pm. I am from Los Angeles, so I was very happy to be charged a $5 cover to come into a bar and listen to live music. Came in to hear the Dan Doran Band- a great trio of drums, piano and bass. Really great! Maybe it was late, but when you are listening to live music, please cheer at the end of solos. Service was good at the table. Had some difficulty getting a drink at the bar. Drinks were strong. Free fries with a Yelp Check In - got the sweet potato fries which were okay. Probably would have tasted better if I wasn't stuffed full of BBQ from dinner.

    (4)

  • Daniela G.

    I love me some live music! With that being said, I'm left voiceless from last night's Phoenix experience. We had my boyfriends work going away party and while it was our fault for sitting right in front of the band set up, I personally found it just a wee bit too loud (yes I understand that that statement means I'm officially old). We had appetizers, which were okay, I'd stay away from the spinach & artichoke dip, it was more like mayonnaise/sour cream with a few cooked spinach leaves. The mozzarella sticks were awesome and the avocado fries were just too off for, I'm just not a fan of hot avocado. From what I could tell everyone enjoyed their drinks and the server did a great job of taking care of our loud large party. All in all, we'll be back - but maybe we'll sit a bit further from the stage.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth P.

    We went for restaurant club, and had an OK time. The atmosphere was excellent -- great music, cozy seating. But the service was not good. We arrived for dinner at 630 and didn't leave until 9, though not by choice. It took forever to order. They had half-price apps, so a few of us got some of those. It took about 30 minutes for the appetizers to come out. For dinner, I ordered a chicken sandwich, and it was average. It just took about 45 minutes for it to be delivered. One of the orders at our table was wrong, and it took another 45 minutes for the right food (chicken strips and french fries) to come out. I probably won't be back for dinner, but they have great happy hour deals, and the atmosphere is fun enough to get me back.

    (3)

  • Jimmi H.

    I have only bellied up to this bar for happy hour, but every time I do i enjoy it a bit more than the last. The staff is friendly, attentive, and quick to learn a name; always a huge plus in drinking establishments. The real point of difference here is the live jazz! Kansas City is historically one of the great jazz cities in the world, so gems like this should not be as few and far between in KC as they are. Their calendar is slammed with performers ensuring that every night is a lively one. The atmosphere is quite lively yet somehow also intimate. Lights are kept low and the music sets a mood ripe for dates, after work drinks, or small events. My last visit was a bit of a meet and greet via my boyfriends, shall we say, work. We were not a huge crowd but sizable. The bar tender never missed a step and we were well taken care of. Conversation flowed smoothly over the music, but I was still able to find myself listening to a favorite piece more than once. The drinks are good and beer crisp. I have only had a few options to eat here, but I have enjoyed everything. Every time I go here I leaving wondering why I don't come more often. It is certainly close to work and home, and I really quite enjoy the music. I guess I'll just have to rectify that! Smooth music, sexy atmosphere, excellent staff.

    (4)

  • Howard H.

    Kerri, the manager, makes sure her yelpers are well taken care of! The musicians from the neighborhood are phenomally talented when they sit in!

    (5)

  • Dennis G.

    Always a great vibe at the Phoenix. Some of the best local Jazz and Blues talent frequent this bar. Great new menu as well. The service keeps me coming back.

    (5)

  • Lauren Y.

    The food was great and the jazz even better. Order the avocado fries or chorizo chicken!

    (5)

  • Brenda D.

    I used to go to the place all of the time when I worked downtown. Then it closed..then it re-opened. I bought a Groupon and thought i would give it a try again. The Groupon had no exclusions. Let me repeat this - the Groupon had NO EXCLUSIONS. However, the Manager decided that they were not going to honor the Groupon for happy hour.... Our waitress was great but I won't go back because of Management.

    (1)

  • Jennifer K.

    I LOVE this place. This is the ONLY place I have found in KC that knows how to pour a proper Guinness (YES, there is an art to it...one of which sadly evades all other bars in the metro area..shame shame). They have live music every night of the week (except Sundays, when they are closed), and I have yet to hear someone I don't like (and I hear a lot, as I live right above this bar). The servers and bartenders are crazy friendly. The one time we had to wait like five minutes for someone to greet our table, we got a free beer as an apology, even though we didn't even complain. THAT, ladies and gents, is good customer service. The only reason I'm not giving them five stars is because I'm not crazy about their food menu. I feel like it's overpriced for what it is. Don't get me wrong...it's good food. But I don't think they need to be charging 18 dollars for salmon. That being said, they have an awesome happy hour, which has come to be one of my faves in KC. I'd say def give this place a chance. And be sure to check in on Yelp so you can get a free order of sweet potato fries (nom nom).

    (4)

  • David A.

    Went here last night (the first time we'd gone at night). I had been there at least twice for lunch. We got there at Happy Hour and stayed later. $4 wells with LOTS of liquor and great service. The bartender came over quite often to check on us and was very friendly. We liked the entire staff. We ordered 1/2 price apps. One was hummous, pita and sricha sauce. LOTS of hummous and a decent amount of pita. The sauce gave it a good kick, however the hummous itself was eh. I ordered a burger with fries. They put a ginormous amount of fries on your plate, but I got the burger well done when ordered medium. The fries had way too much salt on them and the burger was just eh. They had live entertainment from when we walked in till we left. NO COVER! Piano player playing Billy Joel hits among others. At 7, they changed up to a 2 piece band playing jazz music without the vocals. I thought the live entertainment was average. So, my suggestion is don't come here for the food as it's just eh, though if you're into eh food, it's a good bang for the buck. It's a good bang for the buck for entertainment, service, and drinks.

    (3)

  • Faith B.

    I came here on a Friday night after escaping the rising noise levels at the Quaff. There was a $5 cover, but that was no big deal. It was already fairly late in the evening. The atmosphere is dark and mellow. the crowd leans more adult. the music was excellent, old school blues and jazz. The drinks were good. My only complaint would be the service. Several waitresses passed my table without asking if I wanted to order a drink and in the end, I had to go up to the bar to order. Maybe it was an off night and I enjoyed the rest so much I'll keep trying. They do have a nice deck, but it's small and fills up quickly on a summer night. Also, you can;t hear the band out there.

    (4)

  • Anna B.

    The Phoenix is a charming little bar - small, dim, cozy. They have great happy hour deals. I tried the food once, thanks to a Groupon. It was pretty good bar food. It's not a destination for me for a meal, but great for a martini and live music. The jazz is always great. And the musicians are always fun and enthusiastic. I've only been once on a weekend night. The place was packed and with a cover charge of $10! I choose to go elsewhere. But great for after work happy hour!

    (3)

  • Molly M.

    This was a nice little find on a recent trip to Kansas City. The atmosphere is fantastic and the food is delicious! The fried risotto balls were interesting and I probably wouldn't order them again, but the quesadillas and mozarella sticks were fabulous! It's a great place to meet friends for drinks and conversation. Even better--happy hour from 4-7 for drink specials and 1/2 price apps! Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Britaney W.

    My boyfriend and I went to The Phoenix for drinks and the jazz festival. Great bands playing on two stages, indoors and out, with a packed house. A good time, but show up early if you want a seat.

    (4)

  • Arlinda K.

    Fantastic Long Islands!!! Always have a good time here.

    (5)

  • Jessica E.

    Reunited with some old high school buddies here for a bday gathering a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. If the live music was as hoppin' regularly like it was that night, then I surely will be back. It's a tight squeeze on a Friday night, but that's to be expected. We caught the tail end of happy hour and enjoyed the tunes and company for a few hours. Pricing is reasonable, service was bar-typical, ambiance very chill. Heads up, there's a $5 cover on the weekends. Good luck finding a table, but if you do...you'll def stick around, down a few and treat your ears to some great, authentic KC jazz. The music alone bumps this to a 4-star rating.

    (4)

  • Matt E.

    This review is strictly for happy hour, as i am ashamed to admit i have yet to go here during a weekend night. That must be corrected soon... A few weeks back i purchased a couple of groupons for Phoenix, and last night the boyfriend and i went in for happy hour. We actually had our first date here a year ago (tomorrow!) and for some reason hadn't came back. Last night we both resolved to come back VERY soon. The staff was VERY friendly, with the perfect amount of sass. I forget her name, but she's excellent. There were probably 6 or so groups either at the bar or at a table and she had everybody well taken care of. Our beers were never empty and empty plates were gone promptly. She left us alone for the most part, but you could tell that she had an excellent relationship with her regulars. The food was DAMN good. Excellent crabcakes and onion rings. The hummus was just regular hummus, but hey i like it! Nice happy hour specials. We had boulevard pints for $3, but they also had (i believe) $4 wine by the glass, and $5 martinis. All small plates were1/2 off, which is good. It lasts until 7 BTW. I think everybody needs to go here soon, as this place deserves to be more popular. I'll be doing my part to bring along my friends and show them how great it can be.

    (4)

  • Dani G.

    I took my Hubby here for his birthday and we had a wonderful evening! We ate fantastic food while listening to great music. The service is friendly and very fast and the drinks are phenomenal. Try the salmon - it's stuffed with lobster and crab and finished with a caper cream sauce that is absolutely unbelievable. LOVE this place. We will make this a regular hang out!

    (5)

  • Rosalyn M.

    The $5 cover charge was great. I thought it was a cheap price to pay for the live music, and the entertainers that were there. The bad thing was is the waitress took forever to wait on us, and when we ordered drinks that took about 15 min. or more. When the waitress took our order, she only brought one plate back when we had ordered two, so it was about time for us to leave when she finally brought our food. The service was bad, but the people were friendly, and the atmosphere was great. I would go back again, but if I get the same service, It won't be at the top of my places to visit.

    (4)

  • Levi L.

    Really liked this place. The music and Food were good as well as the service. Its a small place so I can see how it would be packed early. We went on a Wednesday night and it was already very busy.

    (4)

  • Dawn R.

    Most fun I've had in weeks. I have always loved the Phoenix and the band is bringing down the house tonight. Food is better than I cook n I can cook.

    (4)

  • Bob K.

    My wife and I had a WONDERFUL time there on Valentine's Day! We hit the early show as it's been some time since we've had the pleasure of enjoying Lonnie McFadden. Wow! What an entertainer! Great food...thank you Noah! Great service...thank you Tuesday! Great company at the front door, which is right where we sat...thank you Michael! All in all, a great, fantastic, and wonderful evening in one of the best, if not THE best venues in Kansas City for music!! Thank you!

    (5)

  • Jennifer A.

    This is what Kansas City is about; sitting in an unassuming bar that you might not even notice just driving by, but open those doors and you are greeted with boisterous laughter and clapping and of course, live music. I don't recall every having eaten here, so I can't review the food, but hey...the music is loud enough and the drinks are strong enough to give it 5 stars. From a Kansas City native, this is the place to go if you are looking for a great, easy going time. None of the snobby pretentiousness you might find on the plaza, none of the frat boys you might find at westport or power and light. Just good people drinkin and listening to good music.

    (5)

  • Beau S.

    Great music on a Tuesday night which can be difficult to find with my funky days off. I love the building and history of an old bordello and speak easy from the 1880's, can't get more authentic than that. The staff is great, I also met the guy who lives on the 3rd floor that turned it into his own luxury loft with a roof top bar (I tried to make friends with him aggressively and desperately in order to have a friend with a setup like that). I will come to this place more regularly... and hopefully have a new friend.

    (5)

  • Kevin O.

    Dim lights, smooth jazz (a mix of standard jazz and Christmas songs) and bourbon, what more could a person need. The Phoenix has a very cool corner spot that has a brick exterior and interior. The band is just to the left of the entrance and there are a bunch of tables scattered on the lower level. Up the steps is the bar with friendly bartenders who are welcoming of someone new and take care of their regulars. There is a pretty good selection of bourbons to choose from which goes perfect with the Phoenix. Take a trip down to the restrooms on the lower level and you will be transported through the history of the bar by pictures and albums on the wall. Overall a great experience and will be returning!

    (4)

  • Nancy S.

    Hangover Buffet takes place on Saturday mornings from 10 to 2. Great Bloody Mary Bar. When we were there Alex Abramovitz and his Swing'n Kansas City Five were playing. Good food - Great music. Best way to start the weekend in KC.

    (4)

  • Cristina W.

    This is an excellent venue for a relaxed night out in River Market. Fabulous live music, easy going dim lit atmosphere, friendly servers, and delicious beverages - you feel pretty classy cool sitting in this place. The food is pretty average in my opinion, but the atmosph and talent really make it a special must-see of KC. Total bonus: The bar serves Moscow Mules in copper mugs. Check it out, future cool cats!

    (4)

  • Jessica H.

    I went to The Phoenix for the first time Thursday night with my boyfriend. We had both heard GREAT things about The Phoenix and were excited to try it out. We knew things would be a little crazy with it being the last night to use the Groupon, but we were ok with that. We arrived around 7:15 and saw the restaurant was full. We asked (who we thought was) the hostess if she knew of any tables opening up soon and she said that there was a large group who had paid their tab and were just finishing their drinks, but when they finished she would separate the tables and let us know and then invited us to have a drink in the bar. We said sure, we sat on the end where she could easily see us, and ordered a couple of beers. We waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, and then noticed that two couples who had come in AFTER us had been seated by different staff. At this point we were a little annoyed, and notified the OTHER server that we had been waiting, so she seated as at the first available table. Once we got our menus, it took at least 20 minutes for our waitress to come back and take our orders. Again, it was crazy busy so I think this was an exception and not typical. Additionally she was the only server in our section. I ordered the burger with avocado, bacon, provolone, and a fried egg, my boyfriend ordered the stuff shrimp, and we ordered the hummus as an appetizer. The hummus was great so no complaints there. My burger was closer to well done as opposed to the medium I had ordered, but it was still really good, especially for the price. As for my boyfriends stuffed salmon...well, it left a bit to be desired. He said the salmon itself was ok but all that was in there was one shrimp and a piece of bacon. Now, there's a chance that the bacon fell off of my burger when he had a bite, but we were a little confused as to where the shrimp and lobster and crab were that were supposed to be in the salmon. Was it still good? Yeah. Was it exceptional? Not really. Overall we though The Phoenix was pretty good and plan on going back. We LOVED the music and the atmosphere. We were disappointed by the confusion regarding getting a table and lack of a seating hostess when we came in and the salmon, but the rest of our experience was great. Although the service was a little slow, we could tell our server was working really hard and the crowd was probably due to it being the last night to use the Groupon. We noticed that the Phoenix Fest is coming up in September and we definitively plan on coming back for that. Overall, i highly suggest going to The Phoenix for a drink and listening to some great music, but not necessarily the food.

    (4)

  • Ray L.

    This place was more fun than I was expecting! I don't know why, but I was somewhat expecting and old crowd listening to sleepy jazz. That's not what I experienced at all. I dragged my mother into the place on a Friday night ($5 dollar cover on weekends), and it was hoppin' inside! The music was lively and a bit raucous (in a good way). The other patrons were fun to hang out with as well! I don't know about calling Phoenix a "jazz club." It's more like a nice local bar with great music.

    (4)

  • Farheen Q.

    One of my favorite bars! Chill/cool atmosphere, great drinks, and good music. Good as it gets. Not a place to come dancing or find a random hook-up, but a great place to relax with friends after dinner on a late night. Try the Key Lime Martini. Excellent, my favorite drink in this city. Not quite the Key Lime Pie Martini at the Old Ebbit in D.C., but a good KC alternative. You'll see me here again and again, I'm sure :)

    (5)

  • Carol G.

    We had company visiting from Florida and wanted them to experience "Kansas City Jazz". After some looking and questioning, we settled on The Phoenix. I'm glad we did - we got there really early, right when the duo was setting up and it wasn't crowded yet. The 4 of us ordered drinks (my Blvd Wheat beer was absolutely fantastic - icy cold and delicious) and we sat and listened to a set. We were right up front and it wasn't too loud and we could really see the musicians. Very enjoyable. Great music, great atmosphere and the perfect, cozy place to have taken them. We enjoyed it enough that I think my husband and I may visit again on our own.

    (4)

  • Farah A.

    I'd been dying to come to Phoenix for some time now... as I am soon departing KC, it was on my "TO DO BEFORE I LEAVE KC" list. Mission accomplished. I can't remember what night we went, perhaps it was a Tuesday. BUT the pianist/guitarist on deck was amazing. I liked how at the end he spiced it up with some folksy renditions of Outkast etc. I was very, very amused to say the least. We sat towards the back of the club, so we could audibly chat and still hear the music, and I must say that was a very good choice. What also was a good choice was the reverse happy hour that was happening. Great choices. However, what really excited me was GOOSE ISLAND! I love this Chicago-brew. As an Illinois native, I had not seen this in any place in KC until Phoenix. I asked our server about it, and she said the owner really loves it. Brownie points for Phoenix! Lastly, my love for Phoenix help me sell my friend on signing a lease to an apartment on the same block. I told her if I were her, I'd be rolling into Phoenix all the time for some jazz and Goose Island. I'd be a total "regular" and with pride!

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    I stopped in the other day. What a great happy hour deal! I highly recommend the popcorn shrimp. The service was cheerful and attentive. Music started at 7. My new favorite downtown respite.

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    My first time here...really amazing jazz band playing, with an incredible singer. Happy hour, 1/2 price apps, good house wine! Were the youngest people here by about 20 years, but on a date that doesn't matter much. Come here to experience some authentic KC music and atmosphere - one of a kind.

    (4)

  • hercules r.

    The Phoenix has risen! I haven't had the food, but this is just one of the best damn bars and music spots IN THE WORLD. Period. I live in LA and ALWAYS try to hit the Phoenix when I'm in KC, was horrified when it closed, but just recently went to the re-opened club. Can gladly say they haven't changed much except making the bathrooms better. Bartenders are friendly (it's KC, of course) and knowledgeable , the best seats are still around the piano, where you can scrawl requests on cocktail napkins and hand them over to Dan Doran on Friday nights. And for those who are afraid of jazz, the music is very, very accessible. It leans heavily on the blues and old fashioned r&b.

    (5)

  • Leonard C.

    Good drinks & food

    (4)

  • Kyle R.

    I've driven by it, heard about it and wondered what it was like for years, but never made it there until today for lunch. The building itself is very cool, both inside and out. It's old, but not worn down in the least; when you walk in, it's easy to imagine being here eighty years ago wearing a three-piece suit, fedora and trenchcoat - you know, The Untouchables/gangster era kind of thing. I love that era, so I love the look of the Phoenix. On to the food...the menu consists of appetizers, a nice "pick 2 for $6.95" list of lunch items, a variety of sandwiches, and a few "big plates." Nothing out of the ordinary on the list, and they don't seem to have a signature dish or anything. We started with the Pepper Jack bites - deep fried pepper jack cheese with ranch sauce - yes, they were as delicious as you're imagining right now. For the entree, I got their Philly Cheese Steak and fries; my colleagues each got the Buffalo Chicken Wrap. My Philly was pretty darn delicious, and the fries were awesome. They have that slightly rough taste, like the skins weren't taken off the potatoes before being cut into fries and I love fries like that. One of the guys with me got the Sweet Potato Fries and thought they were great too. Portions were big for sure - plenty of food for me. I finished off the meal with some carrot cake, one of two desserts they had today. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. The plate had raspberry sauce on it, which was an odd compliment to carrot cake that I could have lived without. Being Friday, we had beers with lunch; I was a bit disappointed that they only had Guinness, Stella, Boulevard Wheat and Boulevard Pale Ale on tap; I expect more than four on-tap beers from a good bar (EDIT: got a nice note from Matt Jones, owner of the Phoenix - they also have Blue Moon and Boulevard's delicious Tank 7 on tap). The liquor selection looked huge though. I'll definitely be back to try it again; I need to come at night now for drinks and music!

    (4)

  • Sasha B.

    We came here on a Friday night around 6:30/7 and the place was already packed! We were lucky and scored a table in the back. The crowd is definitely a little older but we didn't feel out of place and really enjoyed ourselves. Thing to note - Friday is a super long happy hour. We were pleasantly surprised when all of our appetizers were half off. And the drinks were a super great deal as well...$4 for house wine? Hell yizzy. Also, the performance was fabulous, entertaining, and fun. And all the wait staff was friendly, attentive, and on top of their game. Overall...a great experience.

    (4)

  • Eric H. D.

    My wife and I visited The Phoenix as we passed through Kansas City in September. We came in for the Monday night jam session and were not disappointed. The service was relaxed and very attentive, the drinks arrived quickly and the music was perfect. If you're a jazz fan, you should stop by for a jam session.

    (4)

  • Stephanie P.

    I came here after work for some happy hour action. We sat on the back patio which has a beautiful view of the city. The tables were well equipped with heaters over them, and they came in handy on a crisp evening. I opted for the $5 martini specials and damn can the bartender make a good cocktail. The restaurant is cozy and dark with a very relaxing vibe. We didn't stay late enough to enjoy any live music, but the jazz they were playing on the overhead was fun. It just added to the greatness of the place as a chill spot with nice people and good drinks. This is going to become the wacky wednesday, thirsty thursday, fun friday whatever day of the week I feel like drinking kind of spot.

    (5)

  • Sophie C.

    Great music. Excellent happy hour deals. Decent wine. Delicious (and lots) of wings. Chill crowd. Easy parking (at least during week).

    (4)

  • L. P.

    Might be an attractive venue, but we paid a cover charge, went in, and not only were there no tables and no seats at the bar, but also nowhere to stand. When we asked for our cover charge back, we were told we had paid not for a table, but for the entertainment -- which there was no place to listen to even standing up. Rotten and shabby. The Phoenix gets an F from all of my group. Don't ever pay their stupid cover unless they promise you there is still space inside. They should not have been letting people in when it was that packed. (Also much too loud, music overly amplified, deafening, impossible to talk to one's friends.). BTW was just told by a local who knows the bar scene here that (1) this is their normal mean practice and (2) the guy at the door is known to be a jerk. Don't go.

    (1)

  • kathy a.

    Two thumbs up for friendliness, martinis, and music, and ambience. We went on a saturday at 630 pm, and it was pleasantly crowded. GREAT singer, i wouldn't call it jazz, but she was fantastic, and she took requests. The food was ok, and satisfied our needs. We had all had a harrowing day at work, and needed to destress, and this place did the trick. I am feeling super relaxed as i write this review. Thanks for a great night , will be back if i'm ever in kc!

    (4)

  • Brian U.

    Despite the big neon sign that promoted jazz, there were so many clues that perhaps this wasn't the right club to find Kansas City Jazz on a Saturday night. It started with a $5 cover charge along with getting carded (I'm double the legal age). Once we got inside, the crowd looked like a school PTA meeting in a rich suburb. The singer was really good despite having a cold. But this was more lounge music than improvisational jazz. At times, they reminded me of the Saturday Night Live skit where Will Farrell and Ana Gasteyer played a soft spoken lounge act. Unlike the other jazz clubs, the Phoenix serves food. We didn't order anything, but could see into the kitchen where cooks were taking food out of a freezer. Frozen food? No thanks. The servers were omnipresent, but the mixed drinks were terrible.

    (2)

  • Kayt B.

    went looking for some good music, more on the blues side than not. After dissapointment at a nearby "Jazz" restaurant, we went looking and found this gem. It was a wednesday night so we weren't sure what we would find. We found a jazz quartet at the Phoenix. Was fabulous! Nice wait staff, great environment. I will return!!

    (5)

  • Amber L.

    Went here last night with a couple of friends who were passing through KC on a cross-country road trip. I figured the two things to check out in KC was BBQ and Jazz. Decided to hone in on the jazz..plus I had a Groupon to this place, so it worked out great. I live in downtown, and this was just a short walk from my apartment, not sure about the parking situation at this place because I didn't have to worry about it. The first thing that I liked about this place before even setting foot there was that it was open late. Most places around downtown are not open too late, so definitely a plus. We got there close to 9pm on a Tuesday night and it was pretty crowded. Headed to the back and luckily found a table. It's super dark in here, but it's part of the ambiance I guess. I'd give the food THREE STARS. It was okay. Nothing special, I think. BUT, the Jazz was on point. Great live music, the singers and players were all AMAZING! It was a bit loud to chat, but then again, this place isn't meant to enjoy the conversation, it's meant to enjoy the jazz, which we did!

    (4)

  • Amanda S.

    "Dark and tan, young and lovely, the girl from Iponema was walking and when she passes, each one she passes goes 'ahhhhh'" I heard that song tonight and it took me somewhere else. Of course we met friends at the piano bar, during the show's half-time. I had a happy hour cabernet, which I really warmed up to, and a few sweet potato french fries, (I've had better) but the place was happenin'! It was exciting! I caught myself gleaming/smiling REAL big and JAMMING like I haven't JAMMED in a while. Mark Lowrey is AMAZING! I would definately go back.

    (4)

  • Courtney C.

    Love this place! The vibe is among the greatest in the entire city. The music is phenomenal, drink specials are excellent, staff is great and the crowd is always willing to have a good time!! The only possible negative would be the limited space but there are always people willing to share a table or offer you a stool. Once you decide to check out the Phoenix it will be a difficult not to become a regular

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    this place rocks. never been disappointed by the live acts all age groups represented, mid 20's and up usually a cool scene, if you're looking for something different from ... pretty much anything else in town fills up fast and peaks by midnight might be loud as hell

    (5)

  • Joe W.

    Cool lil' place, nice location, nice jazz. Menu could use a makeover, the sweet potato fries are awful. Nachos are amazing and the greasiest ever. Basically they serve slightly higher quality bar food, also slightly greasier.

    (3)

  • Nitin S.

    Places like these define the character of a city.This place has a soul. I was here with some close friends last saturday and without a shred of doubt i would rate this as my most memorable night in USA. Places like power and light district can be made with loads of money and fade away with time but these little gems will somehow keep pumping the much needed breath to the otherwise dying KC Jazz scene. Hats off to Mama Ray and The Scamps.

    (5)

  • Jeremy W.

    I have only been here once and didn't know about it until a few weeks ago even though I live 2 blocks away but was pretty impressed going on a Saturday night. The prices were very good for the area and the music was good to listen to. There were also an unusual amount of good looking ladies out there. I will be coming back.

    (4)

  • James C.

    Damn good music. Good food. Would come back again (have the French dip). Good place if you want to be as far from the P&L District as possible and still be downtown.

    (4)

  • Monica B.

    I had dinner here last friday with a friend. I guess I will start with the 2 bad things: 1)they charged us to get in the door even though we were there just to eat. It was 5/person but they let the both of us in for 5. 2)Martinis were $9 and verrrrrry small. Although they were good! Now, there was some pretty kick ass music going on. His name was Lonnie something... He did a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's get it on." It was just him singing along with a piano. The food was absolutely amazing! I got a mediterranean wrap. It had spinach, peppers, onions, tomatoes and feta. LOVED it! The french fries were the best I have had in a long time though. Will definitely be back when in town...

    (5)

  • Amanda H.

    What a fantastic establishment. It's such an upscale bar w/o being pretentious. Go for the music, drinks and the fabulous appetizers (esp. the chips and salsa). Don't plan on being able to talk to your friends, but that's cool b/c you're there for the other stuff anyways.

    (4)

  • Klaus B.

    Been here now a few times on Monday night for open mic. Probably not as busy as on the weekend, but the music is really great, the band is clearly having fun improvising. Great place!

    (4)

  • leann h.

    Used to be the best place in town for jazz. It's been closed for a while but i hear there's a new owner that's to open in November of 2008. I hope they'll kee it like it used to be. The atmosphere is warm, friendly, and just wonderful not to mention the live music, good priced food and over all just a great place to stop in any time.

    (4)

  • Sean O.

    My ex literally lives next door to it. We were able to watch the transformation of it from a closed down abandoned bar to an awesome jazz club. We only went a couple times but everytime we were impressed. Great live music for sure. I think we had their food and it was good from what I remember...maybe I'm making that up, I dunno. It's an older crowd but everybody is really friendly. It's a lot smaller inside than expected but it adds to the ambience of a jazz club I think. My only complaint was the bar tender needs to work on his Manhattan...other than that, the drinks were great. Perfect place for a date or a casual hangout evening. I'll be back for sure.

    (4)

  • Jonny V.

    I'm giving it 5 for the whole package. The first time I went there was for dinner before picking someone up from the airport. I'll take this time to say, if you find yourself in this situation, and the quick jaunt up 169 to I29 is a route that makes even the slightest sense for you to take, this is a "must" stop in your loved-one-retrieval trip. Picking a friend up from out of town, The Phoenix is a great place for them to get their first taste of KC. Taking a friend TO the airport? No better way for KC to say goodbye to it's latest guest. Picking up a Cow Town native? Say "Welcome home, it's so nice to have you back again" by simply pulling up to the bar and ordering them an ice cold beer (obviously Boulevards or Buds) and pork chops (or a couple dozen shots... who am I to tell you how to welcome them). Anyway, so I got there, didn't really know what to expect, but knew I was terribly hungry. Sat at the bar, was greeted with a warm welcome, ordered a Bud-fat and took a look at the menu. "The special tonight is pork chops with something rather terrific sounding blah blah" (not really what she said) "Thanks for making it easy, I'll take one of that". Came out promptly, was promptly devoured. Everything was cooked terrifically, pork chops were perfectly seasoned and delightfully moist. I couldn't stop yapping about how pleased I was with my meal, which I'm sure Kat could have done without. I sat there for as long as I could, listening to the great live music and reflecting on the immense satisfaction I'd just incurred. The atmosphere is about everything you'd expect and desire from a place like this. A great place to raise your spirits whenever needed. The service is exemplary. I'm a stickler for this particular characteristic in places, and The Phoenix is manned by a staff of people that could make a pretty good career of consulting less fortunate establishments in how a server ought to interact with their clientele. Not overbearing, and not hard to find, always enjoyable to talk to, always respectful to let you enjoy your time there in your way. Maybe I could best describe it by saying, you always leave there wanting to come right back... always wishing there was more time to chit chat, or that you could easily see inviting your server to join your party if it weren't for the fact that you just met them and they're at work. Since then I've been back a handful of times. I've been fortunate to get there for the surf and turf special (maybe my favorite) along with the cajun talapia and pork tenderloin. All have been great. The music has always been great. The service has always been great. If you're looking for "The Mutual Musician + dinner" this probably won't get you quite there. It doesn't have that "new great musicians are cutting their teeth meet old musicians/jamming out as drunk as you from midnight to 3 am" feel to it. It's more "the established musician is playing because they love to play so come and delight yourself in their talent and please all your other senses too" feel. There may be a lot in those statements that is wrong, I'm not really a jazz buff by any means, but that's the way it feels to me. I'll always recommend it when I can, and if you're coming to KC to visit, you have to make this one of your stops. It really highlights the spirit of our town.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    This was my first experience going to a jazz club, but I really enjoyed the experience. The atmosphere is stereotypical perfection right down the the blue lighting. The piano fills the room and the singers were great. They have a full bar with great signature drinks. Food was good and on par with a club of that caliber. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Emily s.

    Great piano bar, good food, cool location. My only beef is that since everyone else likes it too, it's usually loud and crowded. The space is very small and not well laid out, although I don't know what they could do about that. Definitely worth a trip down to check it out if you've never been. One of my favorite places to go on a night out without the kids.

    (4)

  • Rose L.

    The Phoenix is one of our regular Saturday evening starting points. They are always rockin' with a great jazz or blues group, so I never have to wonder if the music will be good or not. While I prefer sitting at the bar for the view and the better service, we do not usually get there till after 11:30, so we get a leftover table to the side of the band. The band usually shuts down at 1am. Sometimes the waitresses here are slow and inattentive. They are always super nice, though. I love the atmosphere: dark, dark, dark, and small. I feel close to the band wherever I sit. Always a great crowd, containing all types of grown-ups. Always great beer, too. If you are a smoker, you will find a covered, heated patio. If you're not, then I would suggest sitting at the front of the bar area to avoid the constant cold drafts and parade of smelly smokers that will surely hit you in the back bar area. My goal is to make it down to see the McFaddens, as they are some of my favorite KC performers. Regardless, we will continue coming on Saturdays for as long as we are in KC and The Phoenix is open!!

    (4)

  • Jon C.

    Hearing live jazz was a MUST for me since I was going to Kansas City. Went here on a Friday night a little after 10pm. I am from Los Angeles, so I was very happy to be charged a $5 cover to come into a bar and listen to live music. Came in to hear the Dan Doran Band- a great trio of drums, piano and bass. Really great! Maybe it was late, but when you are listening to live music, please cheer at the end of solos. Service was good at the table. Had some difficulty getting a drink at the bar. Drinks were strong. Free fries with a Yelp Check In - got the sweet potato fries which were okay. Probably would have tasted better if I wasn't stuffed full of BBQ from dinner.

    (4)

  • Daniela G.

    I love me some live music! With that being said, I'm left voiceless from last night's Phoenix experience. We had my boyfriends work going away party and while it was our fault for sitting right in front of the band set up, I personally found it just a wee bit too loud (yes I understand that that statement means I'm officially old). We had appetizers, which were okay, I'd stay away from the spinach & artichoke dip, it was more like mayonnaise/sour cream with a few cooked spinach leaves. The mozzarella sticks were awesome and the avocado fries were just too off for, I'm just not a fan of hot avocado. From what I could tell everyone enjoyed their drinks and the server did a great job of taking care of our loud large party. All in all, we'll be back - but maybe we'll sit a bit further from the stage.

    (4)

  • Jessica E.

    Reunited with some old high school buddies here for a bday gathering a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. If the live music was as hoppin' regularly like it was that night, then I surely will be back. It's a tight squeeze on a Friday night, but that's to be expected. We caught the tail end of happy hour and enjoyed the tunes and company for a few hours. Pricing is reasonable, service was bar-typical, ambiance very chill. Heads up, there's a $5 cover on the weekends. Good luck finding a table, but if you do...you'll def stick around, down a few and treat your ears to some great, authentic KC jazz. The music alone bumps this to a 4-star rating.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth P.

    We went for restaurant club, and had an OK time. The atmosphere was excellent -- great music, cozy seating. But the service was not good. We arrived for dinner at 630 and didn't leave until 9, though not by choice. It took forever to order. They had half-price apps, so a few of us got some of those. It took about 30 minutes for the appetizers to come out. For dinner, I ordered a chicken sandwich, and it was average. It just took about 45 minutes for it to be delivered. One of the orders at our table was wrong, and it took another 45 minutes for the right food (chicken strips and french fries) to come out. I probably won't be back for dinner, but they have great happy hour deals, and the atmosphere is fun enough to get me back.

    (3)

  • Shaylee Y.

    I had the firehouse chicken!! It was delicious to say the least. The staff is friendly and I will definitely be coming back!! Thanks for a great experience!!

    (4)

  • Jimmi H.

    I have only bellied up to this bar for happy hour, but every time I do i enjoy it a bit more than the last. The staff is friendly, attentive, and quick to learn a name; always a huge plus in drinking establishments. The real point of difference here is the live jazz! Kansas City is historically one of the great jazz cities in the world, so gems like this should not be as few and far between in KC as they are. Their calendar is slammed with performers ensuring that every night is a lively one. The atmosphere is quite lively yet somehow also intimate. Lights are kept low and the music sets a mood ripe for dates, after work drinks, or small events. My last visit was a bit of a meet and greet via my boyfriends, shall we say, work. We were not a huge crowd but sizable. The bar tender never missed a step and we were well taken care of. Conversation flowed smoothly over the music, but I was still able to find myself listening to a favorite piece more than once. The drinks are good and beer crisp. I have only had a few options to eat here, but I have enjoyed everything. Every time I go here I leaving wondering why I don't come more often. It is certainly close to work and home, and I really quite enjoy the music. I guess I'll just have to rectify that! Smooth music, sexy atmosphere, excellent staff.

    (4)

  • Howard H.

    Kerri, the manager, makes sure her yelpers are well taken care of! The musicians from the neighborhood are phenomally talented when they sit in!

    (5)

  • Dennis G.

    Always a great vibe at the Phoenix. Some of the best local Jazz and Blues talent frequent this bar. Great new menu as well. The service keeps me coming back.

    (5)

  • Lauren Y.

    The food was great and the jazz even better. Order the avocado fries or chorizo chicken!

    (5)

  • Brenda D.

    I used to go to the place all of the time when I worked downtown. Then it closed..then it re-opened. I bought a Groupon and thought i would give it a try again. The Groupon had no exclusions. Let me repeat this - the Groupon had NO EXCLUSIONS. However, the Manager decided that they were not going to honor the Groupon for happy hour.... Our waitress was great but I won't go back because of Management.

    (1)

  • Jennifer K.

    I LOVE this place. This is the ONLY place I have found in KC that knows how to pour a proper Guinness (YES, there is an art to it...one of which sadly evades all other bars in the metro area..shame shame). They have live music every night of the week (except Sundays, when they are closed), and I have yet to hear someone I don't like (and I hear a lot, as I live right above this bar). The servers and bartenders are crazy friendly. The one time we had to wait like five minutes for someone to greet our table, we got a free beer as an apology, even though we didn't even complain. THAT, ladies and gents, is good customer service. The only reason I'm not giving them five stars is because I'm not crazy about their food menu. I feel like it's overpriced for what it is. Don't get me wrong...it's good food. But I don't think they need to be charging 18 dollars for salmon. That being said, they have an awesome happy hour, which has come to be one of my faves in KC. I'd say def give this place a chance. And be sure to check in on Yelp so you can get a free order of sweet potato fries (nom nom).

    (4)

  • David A.

    Went here last night (the first time we'd gone at night). I had been there at least twice for lunch. We got there at Happy Hour and stayed later. $4 wells with LOTS of liquor and great service. The bartender came over quite often to check on us and was very friendly. We liked the entire staff. We ordered 1/2 price apps. One was hummous, pita and sricha sauce. LOTS of hummous and a decent amount of pita. The sauce gave it a good kick, however the hummous itself was eh. I ordered a burger with fries. They put a ginormous amount of fries on your plate, but I got the burger well done when ordered medium. The fries had way too much salt on them and the burger was just eh. They had live entertainment from when we walked in till we left. NO COVER! Piano player playing Billy Joel hits among others. At 7, they changed up to a 2 piece band playing jazz music without the vocals. I thought the live entertainment was average. So, my suggestion is don't come here for the food as it's just eh, though if you're into eh food, it's a good bang for the buck. It's a good bang for the buck for entertainment, service, and drinks.

    (3)

  • Faith B.

    I came here on a Friday night after escaping the rising noise levels at the Quaff. There was a $5 cover, but that was no big deal. It was already fairly late in the evening. The atmosphere is dark and mellow. the crowd leans more adult. the music was excellent, old school blues and jazz. The drinks were good. My only complaint would be the service. Several waitresses passed my table without asking if I wanted to order a drink and in the end, I had to go up to the bar to order. Maybe it was an off night and I enjoyed the rest so much I'll keep trying. They do have a nice deck, but it's small and fills up quickly on a summer night. Also, you can;t hear the band out there.

    (4)

  • Tuesday S.

    This place is a hidden gem in KC. Great (local) live music nightly, attentive staff, and awesome food/drinks. A must see if you are visiting from out of town, also a great inexpensive watering hole for locals. There is only a cover on the weekends and at $5 per person it is super cheap for the always fantastic bands!

    (5)

  • Anna B.

    The Phoenix is a charming little bar - small, dim, cozy. They have great happy hour deals. I tried the food once, thanks to a Groupon. It was pretty good bar food. It's not a destination for me for a meal, but great for a martini and live music. The jazz is always great. And the musicians are always fun and enthusiastic. I've only been once on a weekend night. The place was packed and with a cover charge of $10! I choose to go elsewhere. But great for after work happy hour!

    (3)

  • Molly M.

    This was a nice little find on a recent trip to Kansas City. The atmosphere is fantastic and the food is delicious! The fried risotto balls were interesting and I probably wouldn't order them again, but the quesadillas and mozarella sticks were fabulous! It's a great place to meet friends for drinks and conversation. Even better--happy hour from 4-7 for drink specials and 1/2 price apps! Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Britaney W.

    My boyfriend and I went to The Phoenix for drinks and the jazz festival. Great bands playing on two stages, indoors and out, with a packed house. A good time, but show up early if you want a seat.

    (4)

  • Matt E.

    This review is strictly for happy hour, as i am ashamed to admit i have yet to go here during a weekend night. That must be corrected soon... A few weeks back i purchased a couple of groupons for Phoenix, and last night the boyfriend and i went in for happy hour. We actually had our first date here a year ago (tomorrow!) and for some reason hadn't came back. Last night we both resolved to come back VERY soon. The staff was VERY friendly, with the perfect amount of sass. I forget her name, but she's excellent. There were probably 6 or so groups either at the bar or at a table and she had everybody well taken care of. Our beers were never empty and empty plates were gone promptly. She left us alone for the most part, but you could tell that she had an excellent relationship with her regulars. The food was DAMN good. Excellent crabcakes and onion rings. The hummus was just regular hummus, but hey i like it! Nice happy hour specials. We had boulevard pints for $3, but they also had (i believe) $4 wine by the glass, and $5 martinis. All small plates were1/2 off, which is good. It lasts until 7 BTW. I think everybody needs to go here soon, as this place deserves to be more popular. I'll be doing my part to bring along my friends and show them how great it can be.

    (4)

  • Rosalyn M.

    The $5 cover charge was great. I thought it was a cheap price to pay for the live music, and the entertainers that were there. The bad thing was is the waitress took forever to wait on us, and when we ordered drinks that took about 15 min. or more. When the waitress took our order, she only brought one plate back when we had ordered two, so it was about time for us to leave when she finally brought our food. The service was bad, but the people were friendly, and the atmosphere was great. I would go back again, but if I get the same service, It won't be at the top of my places to visit.

    (4)

  • Dani G.

    I took my Hubby here for his birthday and we had a wonderful evening! We ate fantastic food while listening to great music. The service is friendly and very fast and the drinks are phenomenal. Try the salmon - it's stuffed with lobster and crab and finished with a caper cream sauce that is absolutely unbelievable. LOVE this place. We will make this a regular hang out!

    (5)

  • Levi L.

    Really liked this place. The music and Food were good as well as the service. Its a small place so I can see how it would be packed early. We went on a Wednesday night and it was already very busy.

    (4)

  • Dawn R.

    Most fun I've had in weeks. I have always loved the Phoenix and the band is bringing down the house tonight. Food is better than I cook n I can cook.

    (4)

  • Bob K.

    My wife and I had a WONDERFUL time there on Valentine's Day! We hit the early show as it's been some time since we've had the pleasure of enjoying Lonnie McFadden. Wow! What an entertainer! Great food...thank you Noah! Great service...thank you Tuesday! Great company at the front door, which is right where we sat...thank you Michael! All in all, a great, fantastic, and wonderful evening in one of the best, if not THE best venues in Kansas City for music!! Thank you!

    (5)

  • Jennifer A.

    This is what Kansas City is about; sitting in an unassuming bar that you might not even notice just driving by, but open those doors and you are greeted with boisterous laughter and clapping and of course, live music. I don't recall every having eaten here, so I can't review the food, but hey...the music is loud enough and the drinks are strong enough to give it 5 stars. From a Kansas City native, this is the place to go if you are looking for a great, easy going time. None of the snobby pretentiousness you might find on the plaza, none of the frat boys you might find at westport or power and light. Just good people drinkin and listening to good music.

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    I went to The Phoenix for the first time Thursday night with my boyfriend. We had both heard GREAT things about The Phoenix and were excited to try it out. We knew things would be a little crazy with it being the last night to use the Groupon, but we were ok with that. We arrived around 7:15 and saw the restaurant was full. We asked (who we thought was) the hostess if she knew of any tables opening up soon and she said that there was a large group who had paid their tab and were just finishing their drinks, but when they finished she would separate the tables and let us know and then invited us to have a drink in the bar. We said sure, we sat on the end where she could easily see us, and ordered a couple of beers. We waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, and then noticed that two couples who had come in AFTER us had been seated by different staff. At this point we were a little annoyed, and notified the OTHER server that we had been waiting, so she seated as at the first available table. Once we got our menus, it took at least 20 minutes for our waitress to come back and take our orders. Again, it was crazy busy so I think this was an exception and not typical. Additionally she was the only server in our section. I ordered the burger with avocado, bacon, provolone, and a fried egg, my boyfriend ordered the stuff shrimp, and we ordered the hummus as an appetizer. The hummus was great so no complaints there. My burger was closer to well done as opposed to the medium I had ordered, but it was still really good, especially for the price. As for my boyfriends stuffed salmon...well, it left a bit to be desired. He said the salmon itself was ok but all that was in there was one shrimp and a piece of bacon. Now, there's a chance that the bacon fell off of my burger when he had a bite, but we were a little confused as to where the shrimp and lobster and crab were that were supposed to be in the salmon. Was it still good? Yeah. Was it exceptional? Not really. Overall we though The Phoenix was pretty good and plan on going back. We LOVED the music and the atmosphere. We were disappointed by the confusion regarding getting a table and lack of a seating hostess when we came in and the salmon, but the rest of our experience was great. Although the service was a little slow, we could tell our server was working really hard and the crowd was probably due to it being the last night to use the Groupon. We noticed that the Phoenix Fest is coming up in September and we definitively plan on coming back for that. Overall, i highly suggest going to The Phoenix for a drink and listening to some great music, but not necessarily the food.

    (4)

  • Ray L.

    This place was more fun than I was expecting! I don't know why, but I was somewhat expecting and old crowd listening to sleepy jazz. That's not what I experienced at all. I dragged my mother into the place on a Friday night ($5 dollar cover on weekends), and it was hoppin' inside! The music was lively and a bit raucous (in a good way). The other patrons were fun to hang out with as well! I don't know about calling Phoenix a "jazz club." It's more like a nice local bar with great music.

    (4)

  • Farheen Q.

    One of my favorite bars! Chill/cool atmosphere, great drinks, and good music. Good as it gets. Not a place to come dancing or find a random hook-up, but a great place to relax with friends after dinner on a late night. Try the Key Lime Martini. Excellent, my favorite drink in this city. Not quite the Key Lime Pie Martini at the Old Ebbit in D.C., but a good KC alternative. You'll see me here again and again, I'm sure :)

    (5)

  • Beau S.

    Great music on a Tuesday night which can be difficult to find with my funky days off. I love the building and history of an old bordello and speak easy from the 1880's, can't get more authentic than that. The staff is great, I also met the guy who lives on the 3rd floor that turned it into his own luxury loft with a roof top bar (I tried to make friends with him aggressively and desperately in order to have a friend with a setup like that). I will come to this place more regularly... and hopefully have a new friend.

    (5)

  • Kevin O.

    Dim lights, smooth jazz (a mix of standard jazz and Christmas songs) and bourbon, what more could a person need. The Phoenix has a very cool corner spot that has a brick exterior and interior. The band is just to the left of the entrance and there are a bunch of tables scattered on the lower level. Up the steps is the bar with friendly bartenders who are welcoming of someone new and take care of their regulars. There is a pretty good selection of bourbons to choose from which goes perfect with the Phoenix. Take a trip down to the restrooms on the lower level and you will be transported through the history of the bar by pictures and albums on the wall. Overall a great experience and will be returning!

    (4)

  • Nancy S.

    Hangover Buffet takes place on Saturday mornings from 10 to 2. Great Bloody Mary Bar. When we were there Alex Abramovitz and his Swing'n Kansas City Five were playing. Good food - Great music. Best way to start the weekend in KC.

    (4)

  • Cristina W.

    This is an excellent venue for a relaxed night out in River Market. Fabulous live music, easy going dim lit atmosphere, friendly servers, and delicious beverages - you feel pretty classy cool sitting in this place. The food is pretty average in my opinion, but the atmosph and talent really make it a special must-see of KC. Total bonus: The bar serves Moscow Mules in copper mugs. Check it out, future cool cats!

    (4)

  • Carol G.

    We had company visiting from Florida and wanted them to experience "Kansas City Jazz". After some looking and questioning, we settled on The Phoenix. I'm glad we did - we got there really early, right when the duo was setting up and it wasn't crowded yet. The 4 of us ordered drinks (my Blvd Wheat beer was absolutely fantastic - icy cold and delicious) and we sat and listened to a set. We were right up front and it wasn't too loud and we could really see the musicians. Very enjoyable. Great music, great atmosphere and the perfect, cozy place to have taken them. We enjoyed it enough that I think my husband and I may visit again on our own.

    (4)

  • Farah A.

    I'd been dying to come to Phoenix for some time now... as I am soon departing KC, it was on my "TO DO BEFORE I LEAVE KC" list. Mission accomplished. I can't remember what night we went, perhaps it was a Tuesday. BUT the pianist/guitarist on deck was amazing. I liked how at the end he spiced it up with some folksy renditions of Outkast etc. I was very, very amused to say the least. We sat towards the back of the club, so we could audibly chat and still hear the music, and I must say that was a very good choice. What also was a good choice was the reverse happy hour that was happening. Great choices. However, what really excited me was GOOSE ISLAND! I love this Chicago-brew. As an Illinois native, I had not seen this in any place in KC until Phoenix. I asked our server about it, and she said the owner really loves it. Brownie points for Phoenix! Lastly, my love for Phoenix help me sell my friend on signing a lease to an apartment on the same block. I told her if I were her, I'd be rolling into Phoenix all the time for some jazz and Goose Island. I'd be a total "regular" and with pride!

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    I stopped in the other day. What a great happy hour deal! I highly recommend the popcorn shrimp. The service was cheerful and attentive. Music started at 7. My new favorite downtown respite.

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    My first time here...really amazing jazz band playing, with an incredible singer. Happy hour, 1/2 price apps, good house wine! Were the youngest people here by about 20 years, but on a date that doesn't matter much. Come here to experience some authentic KC music and atmosphere - one of a kind.

    (4)

  • hercules r.

    The Phoenix has risen! I haven't had the food, but this is just one of the best damn bars and music spots IN THE WORLD. Period. I live in LA and ALWAYS try to hit the Phoenix when I'm in KC, was horrified when it closed, but just recently went to the re-opened club. Can gladly say they haven't changed much except making the bathrooms better. Bartenders are friendly (it's KC, of course) and knowledgeable , the best seats are still around the piano, where you can scrawl requests on cocktail napkins and hand them over to Dan Doran on Friday nights. And for those who are afraid of jazz, the music is very, very accessible. It leans heavily on the blues and old fashioned r&b.

    (5)

  • Leonard C.

    Good drinks & food

    (4)

  • Kyle R.

    I've driven by it, heard about it and wondered what it was like for years, but never made it there until today for lunch. The building itself is very cool, both inside and out. It's old, but not worn down in the least; when you walk in, it's easy to imagine being here eighty years ago wearing a three-piece suit, fedora and trenchcoat - you know, The Untouchables/gangster era kind of thing. I love that era, so I love the look of the Phoenix. On to the food...the menu consists of appetizers, a nice "pick 2 for $6.95" list of lunch items, a variety of sandwiches, and a few "big plates." Nothing out of the ordinary on the list, and they don't seem to have a signature dish or anything. We started with the Pepper Jack bites - deep fried pepper jack cheese with ranch sauce - yes, they were as delicious as you're imagining right now. For the entree, I got their Philly Cheese Steak and fries; my colleagues each got the Buffalo Chicken Wrap. My Philly was pretty darn delicious, and the fries were awesome. They have that slightly rough taste, like the skins weren't taken off the potatoes before being cut into fries and I love fries like that. One of the guys with me got the Sweet Potato Fries and thought they were great too. Portions were big for sure - plenty of food for me. I finished off the meal with some carrot cake, one of two desserts they had today. It was decent, but nothing to write home about. The plate had raspberry sauce on it, which was an odd compliment to carrot cake that I could have lived without. Being Friday, we had beers with lunch; I was a bit disappointed that they only had Guinness, Stella, Boulevard Wheat and Boulevard Pale Ale on tap; I expect more than four on-tap beers from a good bar (EDIT: got a nice note from Matt Jones, owner of the Phoenix - they also have Blue Moon and Boulevard's delicious Tank 7 on tap). The liquor selection looked huge though. I'll definitely be back to try it again; I need to come at night now for drinks and music!

    (4)

  • Sasha B.

    We came here on a Friday night around 6:30/7 and the place was already packed! We were lucky and scored a table in the back. The crowd is definitely a little older but we didn't feel out of place and really enjoyed ourselves. Thing to note - Friday is a super long happy hour. We were pleasantly surprised when all of our appetizers were half off. And the drinks were a super great deal as well...$4 for house wine? Hell yizzy. Also, the performance was fabulous, entertaining, and fun. And all the wait staff was friendly, attentive, and on top of their game. Overall...a great experience.

    (4)

  • Eric H. D.

    My wife and I visited The Phoenix as we passed through Kansas City in September. We came in for the Monday night jam session and were not disappointed. The service was relaxed and very attentive, the drinks arrived quickly and the music was perfect. If you're a jazz fan, you should stop by for a jam session.

    (4)

  • Stephanie P.

    I came here after work for some happy hour action. We sat on the back patio which has a beautiful view of the city. The tables were well equipped with heaters over them, and they came in handy on a crisp evening. I opted for the $5 martini specials and damn can the bartender make a good cocktail. The restaurant is cozy and dark with a very relaxing vibe. We didn't stay late enough to enjoy any live music, but the jazz they were playing on the overhead was fun. It just added to the greatness of the place as a chill spot with nice people and good drinks. This is going to become the wacky wednesday, thirsty thursday, fun friday whatever day of the week I feel like drinking kind of spot.

    (5)

  • Sophie C.

    Great music. Excellent happy hour deals. Decent wine. Delicious (and lots) of wings. Chill crowd. Easy parking (at least during week).

    (4)

  • L. P.

    Might be an attractive venue, but we paid a cover charge, went in, and not only were there no tables and no seats at the bar, but also nowhere to stand. When we asked for our cover charge back, we were told we had paid not for a table, but for the entertainment -- which there was no place to listen to even standing up. Rotten and shabby. The Phoenix gets an F from all of my group. Don't ever pay their stupid cover unless they promise you there is still space inside. They should not have been letting people in when it was that packed. (Also much too loud, music overly amplified, deafening, impossible to talk to one's friends.). BTW was just told by a local who knows the bar scene here that (1) this is their normal mean practice and (2) the guy at the door is known to be a jerk. Don't go.

    (1)

  • kathy a.

    Two thumbs up for friendliness, martinis, and music, and ambience. We went on a saturday at 630 pm, and it was pleasantly crowded. GREAT singer, i wouldn't call it jazz, but she was fantastic, and she took requests. The food was ok, and satisfied our needs. We had all had a harrowing day at work, and needed to destress, and this place did the trick. I am feeling super relaxed as i write this review. Thanks for a great night , will be back if i'm ever in kc!

    (4)

  • Brian U.

    Despite the big neon sign that promoted jazz, there were so many clues that perhaps this wasn't the right club to find Kansas City Jazz on a Saturday night. It started with a $5 cover charge along with getting carded (I'm double the legal age). Once we got inside, the crowd looked like a school PTA meeting in a rich suburb. The singer was really good despite having a cold. But this was more lounge music than improvisational jazz. At times, they reminded me of the Saturday Night Live skit where Will Farrell and Ana Gasteyer played a soft spoken lounge act. Unlike the other jazz clubs, the Phoenix serves food. We didn't order anything, but could see into the kitchen where cooks were taking food out of a freezer. Frozen food? No thanks. The servers were omnipresent, but the mixed drinks were terrible.

    (2)

  • Kayt B.

    went looking for some good music, more on the blues side than not. After dissapointment at a nearby "Jazz" restaurant, we went looking and found this gem. It was a wednesday night so we weren't sure what we would find. We found a jazz quartet at the Phoenix. Was fabulous! Nice wait staff, great environment. I will return!!

    (5)

  • Amber L.

    Went here last night with a couple of friends who were passing through KC on a cross-country road trip. I figured the two things to check out in KC was BBQ and Jazz. Decided to hone in on the jazz..plus I had a Groupon to this place, so it worked out great. I live in downtown, and this was just a short walk from my apartment, not sure about the parking situation at this place because I didn't have to worry about it. The first thing that I liked about this place before even setting foot there was that it was open late. Most places around downtown are not open too late, so definitely a plus. We got there close to 9pm on a Tuesday night and it was pretty crowded. Headed to the back and luckily found a table. It's super dark in here, but it's part of the ambiance I guess. I'd give the food THREE STARS. It was okay. Nothing special, I think. BUT, the Jazz was on point. Great live music, the singers and players were all AMAZING! It was a bit loud to chat, but then again, this place isn't meant to enjoy the conversation, it's meant to enjoy the jazz, which we did!

    (4)

  • Amanda S.

    "Dark and tan, young and lovely, the girl from Iponema was walking and when she passes, each one she passes goes 'ahhhhh'" I heard that song tonight and it took me somewhere else. Of course we met friends at the piano bar, during the show's half-time. I had a happy hour cabernet, which I really warmed up to, and a few sweet potato french fries, (I've had better) but the place was happenin'! It was exciting! I caught myself gleaming/smiling REAL big and JAMMING like I haven't JAMMED in a while. Mark Lowrey is AMAZING! I would definately go back.

    (4)

  • Courtney C.

    Love this place! The vibe is among the greatest in the entire city. The music is phenomenal, drink specials are excellent, staff is great and the crowd is always willing to have a good time!! The only possible negative would be the limited space but there are always people willing to share a table or offer you a stool. Once you decide to check out the Phoenix it will be a difficult not to become a regular

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    this place rocks. never been disappointed by the live acts all age groups represented, mid 20's and up usually a cool scene, if you're looking for something different from ... pretty much anything else in town fills up fast and peaks by midnight might be loud as hell

    (5)

  • Joe W.

    Cool lil' place, nice location, nice jazz. Menu could use a makeover, the sweet potato fries are awful. Nachos are amazing and the greasiest ever. Basically they serve slightly higher quality bar food, also slightly greasier.

    (3)

  • Nitin S.

    Places like these define the character of a city.This place has a soul. I was here with some close friends last saturday and without a shred of doubt i would rate this as my most memorable night in USA. Places like power and light district can be made with loads of money and fade away with time but these little gems will somehow keep pumping the much needed breath to the otherwise dying KC Jazz scene. Hats off to Mama Ray and The Scamps.

    (5)

  • Jeremy W.

    I have only been here once and didn't know about it until a few weeks ago even though I live 2 blocks away but was pretty impressed going on a Saturday night. The prices were very good for the area and the music was good to listen to. There were also an unusual amount of good looking ladies out there. I will be coming back.

    (4)

  • James C.

    Damn good music. Good food. Would come back again (have the French dip). Good place if you want to be as far from the P&L District as possible and still be downtown.

    (4)

  • Monica B.

    I had dinner here last friday with a friend. I guess I will start with the 2 bad things: 1)they charged us to get in the door even though we were there just to eat. It was 5/person but they let the both of us in for 5. 2)Martinis were $9 and verrrrrry small. Although they were good! Now, there was some pretty kick ass music going on. His name was Lonnie something... He did a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's get it on." It was just him singing along with a piano. The food was absolutely amazing! I got a mediterranean wrap. It had spinach, peppers, onions, tomatoes and feta. LOVED it! The french fries were the best I have had in a long time though. Will definitely be back when in town...

    (5)

  • Amanda H.

    What a fantastic establishment. It's such an upscale bar w/o being pretentious. Go for the music, drinks and the fabulous appetizers (esp. the chips and salsa). Don't plan on being able to talk to your friends, but that's cool b/c you're there for the other stuff anyways.

    (4)

  • Klaus B.

    Been here now a few times on Monday night for open mic. Probably not as busy as on the weekend, but the music is really great, the band is clearly having fun improvising. Great place!

    (4)

  • leann h.

    Used to be the best place in town for jazz. It's been closed for a while but i hear there's a new owner that's to open in November of 2008. I hope they'll kee it like it used to be. The atmosphere is warm, friendly, and just wonderful not to mention the live music, good priced food and over all just a great place to stop in any time.

    (4)

  • Sean O.

    My ex literally lives next door to it. We were able to watch the transformation of it from a closed down abandoned bar to an awesome jazz club. We only went a couple times but everytime we were impressed. Great live music for sure. I think we had their food and it was good from what I remember...maybe I'm making that up, I dunno. It's an older crowd but everybody is really friendly. It's a lot smaller inside than expected but it adds to the ambience of a jazz club I think. My only complaint was the bar tender needs to work on his Manhattan...other than that, the drinks were great. Perfect place for a date or a casual hangout evening. I'll be back for sure.

    (4)

  • Jonny V.

    I'm giving it 5 for the whole package. The first time I went there was for dinner before picking someone up from the airport. I'll take this time to say, if you find yourself in this situation, and the quick jaunt up 169 to I29 is a route that makes even the slightest sense for you to take, this is a "must" stop in your loved-one-retrieval trip. Picking a friend up from out of town, The Phoenix is a great place for them to get their first taste of KC. Taking a friend TO the airport? No better way for KC to say goodbye to it's latest guest. Picking up a Cow Town native? Say "Welcome home, it's so nice to have you back again" by simply pulling up to the bar and ordering them an ice cold beer (obviously Boulevards or Buds) and pork chops (or a couple dozen shots... who am I to tell you how to welcome them). Anyway, so I got there, didn't really know what to expect, but knew I was terribly hungry. Sat at the bar, was greeted with a warm welcome, ordered a Bud-fat and took a look at the menu. "The special tonight is pork chops with something rather terrific sounding blah blah" (not really what she said) "Thanks for making it easy, I'll take one of that". Came out promptly, was promptly devoured. Everything was cooked terrifically, pork chops were perfectly seasoned and delightfully moist. I couldn't stop yapping about how pleased I was with my meal, which I'm sure Kat could have done without. I sat there for as long as I could, listening to the great live music and reflecting on the immense satisfaction I'd just incurred. The atmosphere is about everything you'd expect and desire from a place like this. A great place to raise your spirits whenever needed. The service is exemplary. I'm a stickler for this particular characteristic in places, and The Phoenix is manned by a staff of people that could make a pretty good career of consulting less fortunate establishments in how a server ought to interact with their clientele. Not overbearing, and not hard to find, always enjoyable to talk to, always respectful to let you enjoy your time there in your way. Maybe I could best describe it by saying, you always leave there wanting to come right back... always wishing there was more time to chit chat, or that you could easily see inviting your server to join your party if it weren't for the fact that you just met them and they're at work. Since then I've been back a handful of times. I've been fortunate to get there for the surf and turf special (maybe my favorite) along with the cajun talapia and pork tenderloin. All have been great. The music has always been great. The service has always been great. If you're looking for "The Mutual Musician + dinner" this probably won't get you quite there. It doesn't have that "new great musicians are cutting their teeth meet old musicians/jamming out as drunk as you from midnight to 3 am" feel to it. It's more "the established musician is playing because they love to play so come and delight yourself in their talent and please all your other senses too" feel. There may be a lot in those statements that is wrong, I'm not really a jazz buff by any means, but that's the way it feels to me. I'll always recommend it when I can, and if you're coming to KC to visit, you have to make this one of your stops. It really highlights the spirit of our town.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    This was my first experience going to a jazz club, but I really enjoyed the experience. The atmosphere is stereotypical perfection right down the the blue lighting. The piano fills the room and the singers were great. They have a full bar with great signature drinks. Food was good and on par with a club of that caliber. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Emily s.

    Great piano bar, good food, cool location. My only beef is that since everyone else likes it too, it's usually loud and crowded. The space is very small and not well laid out, although I don't know what they could do about that. Definitely worth a trip down to check it out if you've never been. One of my favorite places to go on a night out without the kids.

    (4)

  • Caroline B.

    One of our absolute favorites in the Kansas City music and restaurant scene. Great drinks and specials. Always friendly service. They've even got a dog-friendly patio! And when it comes to music, they keep their schedule fully booked and always entertaining. You've got to check this place out--at least once a week.

    (5)

  • Jeffery S.

    It must be the lunch service or something because I've been here many times on lunch break and service is consistently shoddy. Even if you're the only people in there- it takes forever for the servers to get to you. One time the server dropped our plates off and didn't return for another 20 minutes. Well after we were done eating and needed to pay because we were already looking at returning late. Ordering and eating a soup and a salad should never take more than an hour. This last experience takes the cake though. I ordered a bowl of soup and a side salad. Soup was brought me to cold- however that's forgiveable. I also asked for vinegar and oil and what was brought to me was...oil. It was supposed to be a vinaigrette but there was no vinegar to it. I sent the soup back and asked for vinegar and the server brought me easily 1/3rd less than the original amount of soup back and then another container of the same dressing aka oil. It looked like oil, tasted like oil, it was nothing but oil. I asked for vinegar and she said sure and instead brings me another house vinaigrette and this one tastes like lemon oil. She states that perhaps it's just too oily for my preference. I asked about vinegar again and she admitted she had no idea where it was kept. I was getting frustrated and asked for a different dressing altogether. I'm not sure if their vinaigrettes are just *really* gross or if my server didn't pay attention in science class and doesn't know that vinegar and oil separate therefore you need to shake them up before serving.....Either way, I hope their dinner service is better because lunch is always bad.

    (4)

  • Meredith R.

    Overall, I had an enjoyable time at The Phoenix and would return if I was with a group that was interested in some live jazz. Prices were not terribly high, but there is a $5/person cover to get it. The performer we saw was quite good and had the crowd very entertained. Our waitress was slower than molasses though and didn't seem too "with it". We arrived around 7:30 and stayed for about an hour (until the band was finished). It is street parking only, which means you may get lucky or you may circle the place a while before finding a spot. One thing I found very strange was that a Shirley Temple was ordered by a member of my group (due to them not being able to have alcohol). We were (luckily) informed that they make their own grenadine and that it has liquor in it and that they do not have a regular grenadine. That's a bit of a bummer for designated drivers, pregnant woman, recovering alcoholics, etc...

    (4)

  • Joe T.

    We really enjoyed the Phoenix the salmon was good and so where the crab cakes. The band was nice and the prices were very reasonable for a restaurant in this area They also have a nice patio outside behind the restaurant also...The waitress was very nice and food came to you in reasonable time.

    (4)

  • Kelly K.

    Great jazz venue downtown! The food service was a little slow, but they have the best onion rings I've ever eaten! Bartender was friendly and great to chat with.

    (4)

  • Anna K.

    Love the music! Food is okay. Great place for an evening out with friends! I won't comment on the waitresses - they are great but I can see the poor men just going crazy .... Oops!

    (3)

  • Sherry W.

    The music and the Devi d at The Phoenix is awesome. They have a great Jazz Brunch from 10am - 2pm. If you like Bloody Mary's, you'll enjoy the a you can drink bar.

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    As a music fan this is a good place. There isn't much of a stage but the sound is fantastic. It's not too loud and the acoustics make it very clear. The staff is sometimes slow on a very busy night but they make up for it in the friendliness.

    (4)

  • Barbara S.

    This place is loud, crowded and lively and I love every inch of it. The bartenders aren't always the quickest and the bar area tends to be exceptionally crowded almost every night of the week. They constantly have live music (they even have a brunch band on Saturday mornings). The music is loud, I will say that. Not much conversation is going to happen while they're playing. The band is set up by the door and one of my favorite things to do is actually sit outside on their patio when the weather's nice because you can still hear them play! Generally, there's a cover -- $5. Their food is good (I always get the sweet potato fries) and although there's not much room, sometimes people get up and dance a little. Good place to bring someone from out of town and show them a little KC jazz.

    (4)

  • Bryan S.

    Atmosphere is great and the music is the best. The service is just extremely slow and they are always understaffed. I've been there 4 times where it took 45 minutes to get a burger or an appetizer. It's too bad they can't keep up in the kitchen cause it's a great place to hear live music. If you want to just listen to music then go and sit at the bar. Hell you could probably bring in your own drinks and they wouldn't notice and you get get away with it due to the limited staff but maybe they'll staff up and improve the service. If you enjoy live music and don't care about timely service this is your place.

    (3)

  • Courtney R.

    I love the Phoenix! The atmosphere and jazz are incredible. Friday nights, Lonnie McFadden between 5 pm-8 pm, is a great night to go for jazz. $5 cover. Lonnie has so much personality and is made for singing and the stage, his pianist and drummer are great as well. It's a great place for entertainment in Kansas City. Get there early for a table and seat, it's tough to come by seats after 6:30 pm on Friday. It's loud, so don't plan on having a heart to heart with someone here over drinks. The service has always been wonderful and the staff are friendly. Drinks are AWESOME! Try the one with smoke in it! The crab cakes, sweet potato fries and firehouse chicken are our go to menu options. Great jazz, great ambiance, great drinks, decent food...only thing more I could ask for here is more space for more seating, but don't let that stop you!

    (4)

  • Clarice W.

    I don't have enough good things to say about The Phoenix. But for starters, here's a list: 1. Early HH (starts at 4:00 I believe?), for those who like to get the party started (or ended) early. 2. HH specials: $6 house martinis and 1/2 off all apps. 3. Lonnie McFadden, who is there on Friday evenings, is just phenomenal and covers a variety of jazz, blues, and motown songs as well as some of his own originals. 4. Lonnie McFadden tap dances at the end of the set!!! 5. For a $5 cover charge you get to see this great man. Some have complained about this but remember you're not just going to a bar, you're going to see a performance. You can tell that Lonnie McFadden truly loves what he does, and that feeling is contagious. And totally worth the $5. 6. I don't know how she did it in the crazy crowd, but our server checked in on us frequently and made sure we were never hungry or thirsty the whole evening! Care to add to my list? Go to the Phoenix and check it out!

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    This place is a jazz club by night, but we were there for lunch so were treated to blues music over the speakers as we settled in at our table. For all that they had ONE waitress runninng around serving everyone, service was great and the food came out fast! My friend and I split the crab cake appetizer as our entree and then each got the sweet potato fries. The crab cake was tasty, with a drizzle of aioli, though the texture was distressingly fish stick-y. The fries were great, crisp and thick, not greasy or underdone. This place doesn't appear to be terribly big (? -- we were sitting off in a side room so maybe I missed a larger space) so when the joint is jumping it may really get loud, but at lunch time it was fairly mellow. Definitely a good choice. This one rises high to the top of our restaurant picks in KC.

    (4)

  • H W.

    Great atmosphere, food and entertainment!! The waitress was handling us (a big party) and the rest of the bar wonderfully. Piano player was awesome and had go-go dancers with his act. Super fun night!

    (4)

  • Colin T.

    Been here multiple times over the last year and loved each occasion. Just did their jazz brunch from 10-2 on Saturdays and loved it. Great swing jazz band and delicious food. Highly recommended for all jazz and food lovers out there.

    (5)

  • Melaina C.

    We came for the Saturday jazz brunch. As soon as we walked in the door, the whole place smelled like rotten eggs. It was such a strong smell I could barely take it. The whole place is very dirty and dive-bar like. The band we saw didn't really seem happy to be playing there and they weren't that good. My boyfriend ordered the chicken omelet, and I ordered the crab cake florentine. They were both good.

    (3)

  • Brandon B.

    This place is great. The atmosphere was nice and laid back, and our server (Tuesday) was extremely helpful and polite. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5, is the food. Oy...painful. I didn't expect to get stellar tacos at a jazz joint, but this was a poor excuse for a taco. And the spinach & artichoke dip appeared to be a glob of béchamel with no cheese or artichokes, and minimal spinach. Our server read the situation well, and took care of everything in a prompt manner. I decided for the time being, I'll stick to coming here and enjoying the music after dinner. :) The house band was great, and I enjoyed the open performer night. I will be back soon!

    (4)

  • Patrick M.

    Great lunch spot, fun dinner and jazz place, love the chipotle wrap! Plus, they have a waitress named Tuesday, for real.

    (5)

  • Matt R.

    I came here after looking it up on a search one Saturday morning. I was staying here on business for a few months.. The Saturday brunch atmosphere is perfect.. Low key and great music.. Great morning jazz thephoenixkc.com/saturda… And they have a great small menu which means the quality is there.. I have had two brunches both have been great I have had the Crab Cake Florentine Benny Two crab cakes topped with steamed spinach, poached eggs, Canadian bacon and house made hollandaise . Side of grits. 13.5 And the Good ol' Steak n Eggs 6oz. filet, home fries and two eggs your way 13.5 I loved both of them They also offer a "Bloody Mary bar"on Saturdays they pour you the vodka and you do the rest you can make it anyway you like they have the condiments out on the bar with your choice of Bloody Mary mix a great way to get your Saturday started:).. The crab cakes with poached eggs was fresh and incredible! And the steak had tendon issues but was very tender and very well seasoned .. The bartenders are fantastic they make you feel like you are at "cheers" they make you feel apart of the "family" my interactions with Tuesday,Lou,and Adam were fantastic so inviting and for a guy from out of town made me feel right at home.. At times if they are busy at night the wait for things could take awhile as they are sometimes staffed low.. But they work their asses off even though the service may not be top notch on these nights. Everything else makes up for it I love this place and the people !! I would highly recommended the Phoenix jazz club

    (5)

  • Victoria R.

    Met friends there last nite, totally the best band ever played! Played a lot of Crosby Stills and Nash...not the usual wonderful jazz, so totally unexpected. Great atmosphere and prices, reasonable cover. Hope RockPaperScissors becomes regulars on their live music calender!

    (5)

  • Prescott B.

    We went for a late dinner and to hear the great music on a Friday evening in August. Small high table near the bar with great sightlines to the small stage, very solid food but it was overshadowed by the fantastic music and club scene. Too loud for much talking. Will certainly be back next time I go to KC

    (4)

  • Bugbunny_V K.

    The drinks are okay - like others mentioned. The food is just meh. I came with the intentions of having dinner and drinks. After eating the free sweet potato fries, I couldn't bring myself to eating anything else. The fries were meh. Very bland even with the dressing.

    (3)

  • Julie M.

    I cannot give enough love to The Phoenix! Awesome music, great atmosphere and they never disappoint with the food! Not even breakfast?! Their brunch is one of my very favorites. True KC gem :)

    (5)

  • Jamie W.

    EDIT: I dropped my 5 stars by two... Because the food has progressively gotten worse and worse. Even the wings now taste so generic, and my food is consistently either overcooked or undercooked. I still come here about twice a month, and as the service is still amazing, the food has gone from great to just sloppy and kind of gross. Hope they do something about it :( (Here's my original review) I love this place. The ambiance is perfect. The food is amazing. The service is always good. I live around the corner so I find myself here quite often... They have live music every night, (mostly jazz) and a pretty decent happy hour (half price apps and some drink specials) $15 bottles of house wine on Mondays is my favorite special. The service has always been prompt and friendly. The pace is a tad slower, (but I think that's part of the appeal of this place) so if you're expecting super fast bar food then you should probably go somewhere else. The food is very good and takes a normal amount of time to cook... My favorite thing here is the spinach and artichoke dip (OMG) and the Phoenix Cobb salad (I get mine with salmon... They are very generous with their portions, and they also have AWESOME wings!) They have a pretty decent beer selection, an interesting and eclectic cocktail menu, and they even sell cigars! This is the kind of place where you can bring a group and have a few drinks and enjoy the music, or even just come by yourself and have a relaxing evening with good food and good company (Krysta, one of the bartenders, is a complete doll. She works Mondays and is so friendly and personable... And also very easy on the eyes, you'll want to come back just to see her!) I definitely recommend this place, especially if you live in the neighborhood.

    (3)

  • Stephen H.

    This is an old reliable joint in Kansas City. The other reviewers are dead on: make sure you get there early if you want to get a table. Lonnie McFadden normally holds down the early Friday shift - which, if you live in KC and you haven't seen this man perform, you need to - and if you get there during his set (4pm to 8pm I think - check the calendar on the website, don't quote me!) you'll be resale set up for the other later music, if you want to stay, drink and listen the night away. Last time I was there there was a girl who had brought her own hula hoop as a dancing accessory. For a while I tried to discreetly look at her peripherally, but it got hilarious enough at one point to just turn my chair and watch her.

    (5)

  • Jeff D.

    Went for Saturday brunch. Bloody Mary bar is excellent, service outstanding. Had the crab cake eggs Benedict, very good. I'm not a jazz fan, but the music was nice. Great atmosphere. Glad we checked it out!

    (5)

  • Arlinda K.

    Fantastic Long Islands!!! Always have a good time here.

    (5)

  • Katelyn L.

    When I was in town for work this place was recommended to me, but the atmosphere wasn't explained very well. We got there around 5:00pm and the place charged a $5 cover (which is nothing compared to most covers, but unexpected since we were only looking for a simple dinner). The place was completely packed already, not an empty chair in the place, tons of people standing around, and there was a Jazz group playing very loudly. The music stage is right by the front door and the place is extremely small, so no matter where you sit you can hear the music loud and clear. No one is in the front door to greet you so I searched for a waitress to ask (more like yell) if it's seat yourself; she said yes and told me that the place is usually packed by 4:30pm for the live music. Luckily two nice gentlemen at the bar gave up their seats to me and my friend when they discovered that we were looking to eat dinner. Once we sat down it was much better. The food is quite good and the drinks are very reasonably priced. The music is entertaining, but a little loud for my liking because you have to yell at the person next to you to have a conversation. I would recommend this place to go out with friends, have a decent meal, decent priced drinks, and listen to some fun music. But if you're going to want to talk to anyone in your party while you're eating dinner, this place probably isn't it.

    (3)

  • Laura F.

    I have been here a few times now, and I like this place. The first time I was here was for some Jazz, and the second time was for happy hour specials. When I was here for Jazz, it was a fun experience. I came with my family the first week I moved to KC. The band was good, but I thought the acoustics could have been better. It was so loud that I could barely hear anyone else at my table. The place is not big, either, so there isn't a lot of space to sit further away from the band, if you wanted to have a conversation during the show. The second time, happy hour, was with a group of friends. We were there between the 4-5 hour, and there weren't many other people in there. The happy hour specials were pretty good. Both times I remember the service was good, not bothersome but attentive enough. I do not particularly remember the food either time -- nothing really was memorable, but not bad enough to be a strong negative. Overall, a nice place to enjoy some music and have some decent food.

    (3)

  • Juelz T.

    My husband is returning after almost 20-years... And he still loves it! Enjoy a fun date night with your honey or a new flame! :)

    (4)

  • Erik R.

    Had the happy hour burger special. Amazing deal, great burger, good home cut fries and good service. Highly recommend it

    (5)

  • Jason E.

    They need to staff up. The place was a mess - full of frustrated patrons over lunch. It took 20 minutes to get a menu and a water. We had to go find our waitress to pay. I was late getting back from lunch. Too bad because the food is pretty good and I like the outdoor seating. - I was just told that my photo of all of the uncleared tables was removed. Yeah I'd be embarrassed too.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Late Night
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Very Loud
    Music : Live
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

The Phoenix

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