Service is very poor. Waiting staff can be very insulting. If you want to take a risk try this place. Sometimes music is well worth the effort, but if you are with friends and want to have a good time avoid this place.
(1)
Angel L.
My wife and I drove from Auburn to see a Jazz show last night. The music was phenomenal but the food and service were deplorable! We waited for over one hour for our main course to come. The waiter kept saying it would be right up but we just sat there looking at all other customers getting served before we did. When the food finally arrived it was absolutely terrible. The lamb chops tasted awful and they were slathered in regular turkey gravy. I could not finish it. I think the gravy was from a can or powder. My wife ordered the snapper which tasted extremely fishy and old. They tried to cover the taste with spices but it still was not palatable. I cannot believe they charge $25.00 and up for main course of such poor quality. We left at intermission because of the bad experience.
(1)
Marta M.
My husband and I searched for a quaint Jazz club, less expensive then Jazz Alley, but with good music. We found Tula's on google search, and it looked like the group playing had some good reviews. Upon entering Tula's the appearance had a good vibe, nice Christmas decorations, quaint atmosphere, looked inviting. However, there were only about 10 people, all we found out later were friends of the singer. It was very cold, and even though we were sitting by the heater, we kept our coats on, as did everyone else. The music was not good. The instrumentalist were alright, but the singer was terrible. Her stage presence left much to be desired as she had to have the pianist help her find her note before the start of each song, she was reading the music the whole time, and her banter with her friends excluded us and made us uncomfortable. The singer didnt even closely resemble the one on the web page...shouldnt they have updated the site so we didnt go expecting good music but being disappointed instead? It left much to be desired to say the least. The highlight of the visit was the delicious garlic bread and taking pictures out in front with the Christmas lights. Not sure that we'll visit again, but if we do, we'll have more than one drink to help us through our stay.
(2)
Lori B.
Picture this: An early-30's lady decked out all fancy for a night of jazz walks in to take a seat while her fiancee was parking the car. A Help Wanted sign in the window- tacky right away. As the lady walks in, she notices a jazz act finishing up, the smell of dingy carried-over smoke well after the ban along with booze and mediocre food, seeing faces that were no doubt all 50+ sitting at buffet-like tables and crowding at the bar. Not appealing. We were anticipating a romantic night with dinner and enjoying the talent of Greta Matassa for our anniversary. In looking online, it seemed classy, but in seeing the place first-hand was deceiving, like walking into a bingo hall on accident. So we didn't bother staying and cancelled our reservations. When I informed the host upon leaving, he gave me the look as if he wasn't surprised. It was very disappointing, but now we know. The end.
(1)
Wil H.
Came here for a buddies jazz band show and had pretty good time. Sat in the bar area where I had a fairly good view of the stage. Tried the humus, which was awesome!! Go I tell you, goooooo....
(5)
K F.
A nice surprise in Belltown! Our meals were tasty with good service. The live music was great - you're really up close and in it!
(3)
Mary L.
Come for the music, not the food! When the Bill Anschell Trio plays, it's magic. Food is decent, but unremarkable. Pork scallopini comes with good pasta, but ordinary sauce. Chicken & lamb souvlaki little dry, but well seasoned. Don't waste your time on the bread. Appetizer of dolmathes and pita were better than entrees. But the music! Best piano is town, we're told by musicians! Reasonably priced wine list. Decent cocktails. Good, professional wait staff. But hey! It's not the Ritz!
(4)
Melody A.
I thoroughly enjoyed this place last Saturday night! I went here with my friend, both of us from out of town and we had a blast! The music was great, I think it was just the right size with a nice patio upstairs for fresh air. I would definitely return, hopefully to see some live Jazz!
(5)
David N.
Great music, cool ambience.
(3)
Daney K.
We came to Tula's to watch local jazz students perform, for the first time for some, jazz standards. Needless to say this was a special event and magic was in the air. However, the staff at this establishment did everything to suppress the magic and make one feel unwelcome. First of all, the bartender, who I think is also the owner, took our orders with a pained expression and asked us what exactly New York Sour is in a tone that expressed annoyance and exasperation. At the time, we didn't pay much attention to his demeanor, it was early in the night. But later on, a friend of mine wanted some water, and seeing that the wait staff wasn't around to give it to her, she reached for a bottle filled with what seemed to be water standing right next to her on the bar, and poured some into her glass. It happened to be simple syrup, as the yelling waiter informed her. "Who keeps water in such a bottle?", he exclaimed. The waitress standing by rolled her eyes at the scene and chuckled. Are you serious? A little bit afterwords, another waiter made a rude condescending comment about one of the performing students. Although this was a very special night for many people present, I think the service we got put a big dent in our enjoyment. When we got our bill, we had one extra cover charged to it and we had to go and convince the waiter that we didn't have 5 people. However, there was one woman (I think she was a hostess) who was extremely nice and sweet and she tried her best to make our experience enjoyable. They should definitely hire more people like her. Also, having a good demeanor is important when working in such a place. Nobody is demanding you to do extraordinary things, but yelling at a customer and making back-handed compliments is really uncalled for. Also, smiling is encouraged - either the wait staff was having a really bad day that day or it's the attitude the place is trying to cultivate. Needless to say, one star is for really terrible service. And food wasn't good either. The performance was amazing and I know lots of really good artists find this venue for their shows. I would go here again just to see someone I admire as an artist. Next time I'll bring my own water and New York Sour, however.
(1)
Alan N.
Me and some buddies were just walking around Belltown looking for somewhere a little more chill and some good food. We were pleasantly surprised when we stumbled upon this place. They had a full jazz band going and plus they had Mediterranean which was most welcome. Jazz is definitely one of those forms of music that is best live. Great atmosphere and I love live music. The food though was above average for Mediterranean and they gave pretty healthy servings for the appetizer (I ordered the hummus with lamb, yum!) I ordered I just felt like the atmosphere was just ok as well. It didn't seem to have as much of the jazz feel or the Greek feel as you would hope for. It was a pleasurable place overall.
(4)
Lily S.
I'd never been to Tula's til last night. I'm not gonna lie to you. I wasn't exactly sober either. After our fabulous meal and bottle of wine plus cocktails at Zoe, I was rather...jolly. And tired. But wanting to hear some music, we went to Tula's. I ordered a coffee drink b/c everyone knows that when you're fighting a food coma and you've already somewhat tied one on, what's another cocktail, especially when it has coffee in it? And it was strong. I had to nurse my way to finishing it. But back to the place itself - this is a jazz mainstay and I rather liked it. Everyone was nice to us, coming in kind of late, we had good seats, and we knew a guy in the band. YAY! Life is good.
(4)
C. Y.
I'm not exactly a fountain of knowledge when it comes to jazz but one thing I will say is that I shouldn't want to fight someone after attending a live show. That should be reserved for the times when I'm forced to listen to something like ... well, just about anything they play on MTV these days (in the rare cases that they're actually playing music that is). Of course the music was very good, and contributed nothing to my hostile feelings. Yes, everything negative was due to the staff. The poor waitress was overburdened with too many tables and forgot my drink for over 15 minutes, then came back to ask what it was that I had ordered. When it came time to leave, we had to wait 15 minutes for our check. No, she didn't suddenly remember, we had to go ask at the bar at which point we were treated with the distaste used when prying something revolting from the bottom of a shoe by a bartender who looked like a moonlighting English butler. Oh and did I mention the chairs are so uncomfortable they were rejected by Uncle Fester in favor of his bed of nails? I've lived in this neighborhood for 7 years and it was my first trip to Tula's. It was also my last. Tula's, I must say ... you suck hard.
(1)
Katsura K.
I'd been to Tula's before but it's been years, overall, it's a chill place to hang out, listen to some good music, and eat some tasty food. I was pleasantly surprised to find that food was quite tasty as my previous experience I don't remember it being as good. We ordered the baked feta which comes with yummy pita bread and kalamata olives, tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. The service was quick and friendly. Definite mixed crowd, I'd say ranging from teen-age thru the more experienced listener. Definitely enjoyed my evening with Greta Matassa and band and the Robert Vaughn experience was a definite plus! The people who greet the door could be a bit friendlier though and not be so dismissive of folks who decide not to stay because of cover. just sayin
(3)
Vanessa G.
Great night out! Awesome upstairs, rooftop patio. :)
(4)
Derek C.
If you want to go to a jazz show, that happens to serve dinner, and don't mind paying cover, it's fine. If you want to talk, it isn't. We went here twice. The first time as a double date, we made a reservation, and went on a Friday. it was a bit loud for conversation, but whatever. We ate, it was decent, and we had wine. The music was good. Bill comes - 20 dollars a person music charge. Now, I don't mind paying cover - to a club or a show. This was supposed to be dinner with jazz music, and they didn't mention cover at the door. Hidden cover charge on the bill pissed me off a bit. I left a nasty note. The manager calls, apologizes and insists he tells everyone about the charge, and offers us free cover and a bottle of wine as an apology. Nice offer - we accept. So we go back, determined to enjoy it. Again, loud but making the best of it. Everything going fine until a b1tch from the adjacent table comes over. Now, if she said "do you mind keeping it down, you're talking is distracting" that'd be fine. Instead, she says "you know, some people are here to listen to the music. Your talking is loud and distracting". Wow. Really? So we look around, and realize that we're the only people in the whole place under 45 (maybe 50). So if you're old, or just want to sit at a jazz show in a restaurant and eat food almost as good as Costco microwavable (not exaggeration, one of the deserts I'm 90% sure was from Costco), go here. If you want jazz and dinner conversation, do NOT.
(2)
Jason P.
Nice casual place to listen to Jazz. Cheaper than most other venues, it nice and laid back on the week days. Their variety platter of Mediterranean food was delicious. Although it was a bit on the $$ side, I'd go back for it.
(4)
Alice C.
Nice, low-key place.
(3)
Damien H.
Came here for a show, and I think the booking manager needs some help, the band was a washed up mishmash of has been performers. The rest of the 50 something crowd in the place seemed okay with them, but not with my table of late 20 somethings that were trying to make the most of the sub-par music and rude staff. We weren't loud, but God forbid we lean to whisper to each other while the singer with bronchitis cackles. All this AFTER the guy at the door, dressed in his best farming attire had the nerve to take 15 of my dollars just to get in.
(2)
Gian B.
I have had nothing but bad experiences here. First, I have played here in a jazz orchestra twice. Each time, I was treated rudely as entering with my instrument. Also, I was never offered a beverage of any sort (I wasn't paid for this performance, so figured I would get at least a coke). I was actually glared at when I asked for a water! Additionally, I had family and friends tag along (and pay the ridiculously high cover) to watch me perform. They were treated rudely by the older, grey haired man at the front. He is just ridiculous. What really confirmed how bad this establishment is that at the end of our set (we had one song left) a group of four people came in. They asked how much longer the music was playing. When they realized that there was such little time left, they asked if they could skip the cover and buy drinks to enjoy the last song. They were turned away. It was pretty empty that night. Horrible customer service!
(1)
Charlotte K.
I was pleasantly surprised with the adventure of going to this place last Saturday. Highly recommend this venue for a quiet dinner or an evening of listening to various Jazz bands curl up in your ears! The music was fantastic, service superb, and my food was great! It's a small place but most of the seats will have a great view of the stage. I would recommend reservations since it fills up fast and a few of the tables aren't as good as others.
(4)
F J.
A nice secondary jazz spot in Seattle - went to a session here and it was one of those "open" sessions where they try to accommodate everyone. I think overall that's a good thing, although be prepared to jam with the local 16 year old just learning the ropes. Good age range overall here - some young folks, some older guys, singers, horn players, etc. Friendly folks tho, even to a tourist! Service was a bit slow. Didn't eat here but enjoyed some drinks. Definitely worth checking out if you're done with the Jazz Alley but in the mood for something more local.
(4)
Matthew M.
Briefly looking in Tulas it seems like a cool, jazzy place to go grab a cocktail and drink or eat in style. Not so much. Music was perfect, unfortunately I am going to review the venue and not the band that played. The band did no wrong, they could make a Burger King seem amazing. First I had to pay 15 bucks to get into a place that was half full and this was an hour after the performance had started. I ordered a bottle of Riesling for 30 bucks and when it arrived 20 minutes later. It was a crappy 5 dollar bottle you can get at any stop and go gas station. That is quite an impressive mark up. So impressive that my date decided to actually complain about the price, that I was paying. Thinking about it retrospectively, maybe the 20 minute wait was because they ran across the street to pick up the swill at a 5 and dime. The service was OK, the air was cold, the food was your basic greasy deep fried pub fair. The atmosphere was very dank and basement like. Update your interior guys. I really don't know if I will be back, they do book good music but it comes at a price, twice. Once at the door and again on the menu. If I do return, it will be just for the music, I will probably pre-funk somewhere else. No more 5 dollar bottles of wine for 30 bucks for me thanks. Plus, I may enjoy the place more if I am already lit.
(2)
Karol C.
The band would be given a 5 star but the seating area is very poor. People came in with reservations and were given a table where there was no view of the entertainers at all. I felt sorry for them since they were there to watch a friend perform. My husband and I shared a dinner and it was okay but not great. I felt like our server may have been new as he seemed uncomforable serving us. We also ordered a bottle of wine that was on their menu but they no longer served it in their restaurant. They replaced it with another that was adequate. This place could be fantastic if the tables could be placed where everyone gets at least some view of the band. When being served a good bottle of wine they also need large wine glases. The glasses they provided would be okay for white wine but not too good for a nice red. I liked it well enough to try and go back sometime but it will be awhile before I go back.
(3)
Amy B.
Food: Shared a couple appetizers of hummus and pita bread with my date. It wasn't great, especially for the price, but it was fun to have the finger food. Wine: Decent--or atleast put me in the jazz-y mood--but the menu is not extensive. Show: The pianist was amazing! I was awed beyond words and would rate his performance alone at 4.5 stars. I even closed my eyes a few times to soak in the beauty of the music. Audience: As I've noticed at Jazz Alley also, the jazz scene seems to be something of a secret, enjoyed largely by our parents--lovey dovey couples in their fifties, sixties, seventies, maybe even eighties--or older men that you might find wearing a trench coat and bowler hat walking out to take a smoke during intermission. Cover charge: $15/person, no matter your arrival time (during a show). So come when the show starts!
(3)
Sarah M.
I had one Sunday night to kill by myself in Seattle, was a little hungover from the night before, wanted some good food and some good music. So, I yelped jazz clubs that were nearby where I was staying (Hampton Inn Seattle Center) and called a cab. I got there around 9:30pm, ordered a glass of wine and the wild mushroom gnocchi (the BEST ever and it came with garlic bread) and enjoyed the Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra. The atmosphere was super relaxed, people kind of came and went as they pleased. The band would play for about 15 minutes then would take a break. There was no cover charge but they asked for a $5 donation if you enjoyed the music. Overall, it served my purpose well: great food, good music and nice people.
(5)
Jason C.
Went to see the jazz -- not eat the food, so I can't comment on the food. It did look like people were enjoying the Mediterranean tapas style fare. Drinks were straight forward and priced appropriately. Service was attentive, especially at the bar. Now, the jazz was really good. Sets were long and talent was strong. Cover seemed a little steep at $15, but I'm probably being cheap. It seems to be the going rate for covers around here. Downside (which made the cover less bearable) was that the place was a little too warm. Annoyingly, the ceiling fans weren't even running. This is definitely an older crowd, many of whom seemed to know each other. As others have said, go for the music and the booze.
(3)
Kunney T.
I love amateurs because you never know what to expect from them, so you'll never be disappointed. Monday nights are amateur nights and I gotta say this is a nice cheap date place. Have a couple cocktails, try some of their decent but nothing to phone home about food, and enjoy amateurs try to belt it like Nina Simone. Well, they're not Nina but they're not too bad either and if you go in with that mentality, you will be pleasantly surprised.
(4)
Bill S.
Ah Tula's how you've failed me, I have always been a huge fan. You're classic Seattle. I'm giving 3 stars because its Tula's but the service SUCKS I paid $15 dollar cover and the trio was well worth it but in the 2 hours we were there we saw the server twice. She was busy drinking coffee and chatting at the end of the bar. The host kept telling us "your server will be with you shortly...." Also what happened to the prices? $73.00 (30 was cover) for 2 glasses of wine, 2 beers, and a shot of makers? I'm not cheap by any means you pay to go out but seriously? Of course I'll be back I always do I'm actually planning to take my kids for the Sunday matinee in a couple weeks. It was curious that I didn't see the owner he used to be around working the room and making you feel like family maybe that was the problem.
(3)
Celeste A.
First visit was to support my husband in the opening act of Sunday's set. I was blown away by what a gem it turned out to be. Definitely get a Bloody Mary! Best I have had in a while. I decided on the appetizer of hummus and lamb for dinner and hubby had the chicken Parm....both were TASTY! Staff was super nice, music was great (of course!)...it was easy to find and lots of parking options on a Sunday. We will be back!
(4)
Megan B.
I really wanted to like this place more, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I am a HUGE jazz fan. Seriously. I have the cd/ record collection of 73-year old man. And I've been to my share of funky jazz clubs and great jazz clubs all across the country. Some good ones of note: Chicago's Green Mill, NY's Village Vanguard, Yoshi's in Oakland and Catalina Bar and Grill in LA. Tula's is NOT one of these clubs, though they really want to be. Props to Tula's for booking good music and for even being a Jazz club at all, God knows it's not a hugely popular form of music, especially for the neighborhood. But when I'm paying $15 a head to go see an act, I expect a few things. One of them being an acceptable womens restroom. One of the toilets was clogged and in a gross and scary way. Like nauseatingly bad. Even remembering it makes me throw up a little bit. How about updating that dated decor? When was it even in style? It looks like the 80's, but cheesy 80's. The mildew smell that hits you when you walk in the door is a bit disconcerting. And how about dusting every once and a while? I'd hate to see this place in the daylight. We should nominate this place for one of those restaurant makeover shows. Forest green ceiling and gray walls? Come on! And I would never eat here after seeing the sad bathroom and dusty stuff. And riddle me this: what is it about Jazz music that pairs so perfectly with hummus? I think every jazz place I've been to that serves food has it on the menu. I guess it's a very be-bop friendly food. I actually feel guilty for being so hard on this place, so I'll list the plusses: +Good acts, good acoustics, good layout, intimate setting. +Manny's on draft Even with those 2 stars up there, I'd probably still come back if they had a great band there- but I won't like it.
(2)
J K.
I was going to give it 3 stars, but I'll bump it up to 4 because it's one of the only jazz bars in Seattle. And everyone knows that jazz is just cool to listen to at night with a drink.
(4)
Chrissy L.
Love this place! The food is great, the music greater and the regular wait staff (Michael you rock!) are worth tipping well!
(4)
chris c.
This is one of my favorite jazz club's in the area and is an inexpensive alternative to Jazz Alley and the Triple Door. The food has a Greek/Italian (funny, I know) flavoring and comes in large proportions. My family tries to make it at least once a month and as a teenager, my parents trust me enough and are comfortable with me going here on my own. They get some awesome players (often people who are in town for Jazz Alley and play here as well) and it's a very intimate setting. From the outside, Tula's looks like a hole in the wall, but upon entry you are greeted by Julius, the age-old doorman who seats you where you'd like. There is not a bad seat in the house, unless you are like myself and come to see the drummer primarily (in which case, call ahead and get a seat on the right side of the stage). The performance is very personal and the musicians usually take requests by their 2nd or 3rd set. Definitely check this place out.
(4)
Ryan R.
I have never been disappointed with my outings to Tula's. Drinks and food are more than reasonably priced, and the staff is super-friendly and efficient. I'm a huge jazz fan, but admit to not knowing a lot of the many artists out there (both local and non local), and am definitely not an expert on the genre. That being said, I'm impressed with what I hear every time. With music seven nights a week, I think it's safe to say that regardless of which particular style of jazz you're into, you'll undoubtedly be able to hear it at Tula's at some point during the week. I tend to like big band quite a bit, so Tuesday nights are my favorite. I find the whole place charming, relaxing, and just plain cool. I'm happy with being able to hear the music while sitting in a comfortable seat. However if you feel you need a seat right up front where you can view the whole band, it's true that you may need to show up early.
(5)
Lauren U.
3.5 stars I came here for the first time last night not knowing what to expect. I thought the space was charming but the layout of stage and tables made it hard for most of the audience to see the stage. It seemed that unless you ate dinner there beforehand or reserved a table you were going to have an obscured view. The music was good but not extremely impressive - it seemed that the night I went there were a lot of ameteurs. I would go back, I had a nice time, good conversation, and the staff was extremely friendly and inviting. Maybe I'd romanticized the idea of a dark, smoky, swanky jazz club, so I was a bit disappointed, but overall it was a great night.
(3)
Sutee D.
Tula's is a lot of different things that do not necessarily fit together. The main draw is probably their extremely impressive jazz lineup. That in itself is enough to give Tula's a try. The service was prickly and it took a long time for the food to come out. I didn't mind the wait, but the garlic bread should've come out more than ten minutes before the main courses, especially since we had been waiting for more than forty minutes at that point. The food was very tasty and worth the wait. I wouldn't have guessed from the decor that Tula's greek food would be solid. The breads were soft and welcoming and the veggies were surprisingly fresh. The tomatoes and cucumbers were presented as more or less garnish, but I was amazed at how delicious they were. One more thing-because the venue is longer than it is wide, there are more not-so-great seats than good ones. We made reservations and arrived early but still were seated in the back corner. It was a good side view of the piano, but we couldn't see anything else.
(4)
Ryan G.
Tula's is a really mixed bag. Some helpful staff and great music, but ho-hum as a restaurant and some really rude staff (especially the bartender). Frankly, I don't plan on returning even though the other staff try to make up for the rudeness of the few.
(2)
Ninja S.
The music was pretty good, but the drinks were delivered in the way that I remember drinking at a VFW. If you haven't every drank at a VFW, please allow me to describe further. The appeal of heading over to one of these places (and it helps to have at least one vet with you when you do) is that you get to hang out with a bunch of old men who "shoot the shit" with you (I love that expression) and they serve you cheap strong drinks that have been poorly mixed. No one really cares about the drinks because you're busy taking in some old man experience by osmosis, and the drinks just help lubricate the process. This place is more like "hey we've got some decent jazz and if you must drink, we have something adequate to serve those drinking purposes at downtown prices." Anyway, the music was highly decent at a relatively moderate cover. My company that evening was fairly striking, so perhaps that added a star to my experience.
(4)
Erica J.
Oh God, where do I even start. When a friend first suggested we go to Tula's to see a friend's jazz sextet play I was excited because I had heard good things. Boy was I mistaken! The decor is atrocious and management is horrible. I say this in lieu of saying the service was bad as there was only one girl serving that night (and the place was pretty full) and although she was completely competent she had way too many tables to be attentive. My friend and I ordered falafel and asked for no onions, and when tthe waitress brought it out she said that the cook was 'cranky' and had forgotten to make it without onions. I seriously felt bad for the girl so I said it was ok and my friend and I just picked them out, but for any restaurant to think that that kind of behavior is acceptable is wrong; what if my friend and I were severely allergic to onions? The falafel itself tasted ok and it came with a lot of french fries, but the experience as a whole was not at all what I bargained for and I won't go back any time soon.
(2)
Jessica S.
What a lovely place for an intimate jazz experience! I ventured here not so long ago for the first time and was blown away by everything. I love the small setting and lighting this place creates - it really adds to the music experience. Plus, seeing live jazz is always a real treat. After some dinner and wine we had dessert. Order the New York cheesecake with a cup of their house coffee - so good! Back to the music....the sound was great. I had no problem enjoying the music while eating and drinking. Everyone is very courteous and considerate while the musicians are performing, which is very nice. Good work Tulas!
(4)
Bryan C.
Performance: Susan Pascal Quartet ft. Marc Seales, Chuck Deardorf, Mark Ivester Just got back from Tula's and it's still as enjoyable as the last time I came. This time I brought my family who were visiting Seattle from Taiwan. I did kind of laugh how the reservation was made under BRYANT instead of BRYAN, but it's all good! First of all, the food was delicious, no complaints. Secondly, the service was also fantastic. We had a lovely young waitress who was very attentive, polite, and courteous. Having worked as a busser and server myself for several years, she definitely deserves recognition! Last but not least, I loved the music. Tula's books some pretty good acts Thursdays-Saturdays and tonight was no exception. The Susan Pascal Quartet was fantastic! I also had the opportunity to briefly talk music and performing with her and Marc Seales, very cool people! If you like Jazz and need a place to just relax, I recommend Tula's. If you want to bring some friends who are interested in this kind of joint, I'd also recommend Tula's!
(5)
Helen T.
I was looking for a jazz cafe in Seattle I found this place through Yelp! Compared to the jazz clubs I've been to before, I thought this place was okay. Even though their website says that you can email them about reservations and get $5 off, that didn't happen even though I emailed them a day before. When I arrived, I mentioned that I emailed them and they knew nothing about it. My friend and I decided to just go for it even though they didn't see the reservation. We sat down and ordered drinks, since the food was pretty overpriced. And after reading the reviews, it seems like it wasn't worth it either. The mixed drinks we got were okay - they were strong, but I've had a better French 75. We came during the "student hour" and there were a few good singers, but overall the acts were okay. I wish we came before to see some of the acts though. Wouldn't really recommend coming for the student hour. Also, although the website said that there music until 11:30PM, the music ended at around 11PM, which sucked because we got in at 10PM and expected it to be longer. Overall, I thought this place was okay. I love jazz, so I'd probably come back here to check out a few acts, since I can't afford to go to Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. I thought the venue could have had better acoustics, and they could definitely improve on the drinks and the price of the food.
(3)
Anna M.
Meh. We walked in on Saturday night, and were promptly greeted and sat. Our server was *awesome*. However, we had to pay full price ($20 a person) to see half of a set of some "jazz group." Perhaps it's my Kansas City roots, but I was pretty disappointed by the show. The atmosphere was pretty nice for a jazz place, but I would probably try a few other places before coming back here again.
(3)
C. H.
I can't say enough good things about our night out at Tula's. The food was great. I started with a classic Caesar and it tasted great. No store bought dressing here! Dinner was salmon fettuccine in a cream sauce. It was very tasty. Fettuccine was cooked perfectly al dente. For dessert we shared a lemoncello ladyfingers in a raspberry sauce that was perfectly sweet yet tart. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. Last but not least, the music. We watched the Smith Staelens Big Band. I love jazz and their fast pace music was on point. I could have done without their slower tunes. They reminded me too much of Lawrence Welk, but that is just my preference. Bethany walked around during break to talk to everyone. She was very sweet and down to earth. Overall, a great evening. I would definitely would return if visiting Seattle again.
(5)
Zach A.
I did not have the food The drink wasn't good but that's not the reason I can through Seattle and this is supposed to be one of he best jazz bars in the area, Wynton and Jazz Times citing it. And they get a one star because the entire right hand side of the stage is shouting louder than the music. No attempts made to say that this is a jazz show with dynamics. And the bass had a ton of feedback on his most susceptible part of the solo. Hopefully the one star will stand out enough to make some minute change like having the stage say please talk quietly if at all. Just saying.
(1)
Hemesh P.
My first time at a jazz club. Was interesting. Not sure if I'd go again Got the baked brie. Was more like melted Brie in a casserole dish topped with jam. Was ok
(3)
Blonde B.
I'll give it two stars. Three for the jazz quartet. One or zero for the service... I had to wait forty five minutes after I was done with my dessert for the waiter to revisit me and ask if I wanted anything else. I wanted another pint of beer a half hour before that, but at this point, I just wanted to leave. So, I asked him for a check. He came out of the back three times over the next fifteen minutes. Once was to serve food - okay, fine. The second time he came out and cleaned off the table next to me - without giving me my check? The THIRD time, he came out and re-set up the table next to me - AGAIN, without giving me my check! Disgusted, I put $15 on the table for my pint and dessert, and walked out. First time I've EVER done anything like that...
(2)
Terri H.
This place is amazing! Great atmosphere, great jazz, and wonderful service! I'm here for my birthday and just got free desert because they are so nice! The food will blow your mind...this desert just changed me as a person...I am a better woman for having eaten it...just saying..GO HERE!!
(5)
Ilaria L.
Great environment with great music and people coming together. It's perfect for a romantic date. And servers were very attentive. Never really listened to jazz until that night.
(4)
Heidi W.
SETUP & SEATING This place has a cozy feel that makes me want to come back frequently. And with performances 7 nights a week @ $5-15 covers, I can start doing that. All their performances start at 7:30pm, which is perfect for those who work typical 9-5 jobs. I love the fact that there are places out there that offer entertainment options on a Sunday evening! The setup is smaller than Jazz Alley, I'm guessing ~50 people, which makes it very cozy. If you want to sit at the bar, get there early since they only had 10-15 seats. Otherwise there are plenty of 2 person tables close to the stage. FOOD I would give the food a B -- it's good, but priced a little high. The appetizer I had, olive and hummus plate, was great however, and I would order again (note: the olives are NOT pitted). Looking at some of the other yelp reviews, I feel like I should order the brie plate next time :-) DRINKS For scotch people -- they have a decent scotch list starting at $10 and up. Since performances last several hours, if you come with someone it's probably cheapest to split a bottle of wine. They have several selections around $40. MUSIC Good sound & not too loud. We saw the Josephine Howell Quartet and she and her musicians get a definite A+. Plenty of solos by the musicians, and she was a fantastic performer with an amazing soulful voice.
(5)
Vivek S.
Came here on Sunday evening for Jim Cutler Jazz and Orchestra night. Had Malbec wine and pita humus and had a good time.
(4)
Charles H.
Dan and Tatum Greenblatt (and their quintet) put on an amazing show - a truly wonderful evening of Jazz (old and new -- the compositions by both father and son were true highlights of both sets). The food? We had a party of four. And, while I know experiences vary from person to person and night to night, the Mushroom Risotto, Hummus and Baked Brie were divine. The risotto had just the perfect note of wine - the Brie, honey and almonds were a flavor explosion - and the hummus tasted like it was made-to-order. The service was top-notch. (I can't expound much on this - it was spot-on). Plenty of on-street parking nearby (and this was a Friday night, mind you). (At first glance, admittedly, the food prices seem steep - but everything we ordered was WELL worth the price). Great job guys. Keep it up!
(5)
Doug H.
My wife and I dined here Saturday night. We loved the music of the Thomas Marriott Quartet (although there were actually five of them!). Reviews for the restaurant & jazz club are all over the board, so it was with some trepidation that I made reservations. I guess my five star rating shows that I'm pleased with the choice. We split a caesar salad to begin- but after two bites I ordered by own! For the entree, I had the Northwest Seafood Stew (5 star). It was just as advertised on the menu- a rich, spicy saffron tomato sauce and plenty of fresh seafood. My wife had the Chicken Piccata- perfectly cooked with a beautiful, crispy skin (however, she was not fond of her seasonal vegetables). We split the Chocolate Ganache for dessert- excellent. Service was not perfect, but all the employees were extremely nice and caring. Total cost without tip was a little over $150 (including one cocktail, three glasses of wine and the $16 per person cover charge). We will be going back!
(5)
Christine S.
The service was actually good and music wasn't half bad but the male manager/bartender had no customer service skills & no respect. We were extremely well paying customers that weren't belligerent, disrespectful, or causing any sort off scene but we may of well have been the way we were treated.
(1)
Chi P.
-The music was perfect. The band was very entertaining. Very nice drinks. -Service wasn't that nice at all. -Food was ok, nothing very special
(1)
Heather B.
The food is amazing and the staff is very attentive. The liquor and wine selection would please anyone. My favorite it the shrimp and cheddar polenta. Although not a place to bring friends for conversation, it's a dinner club, the music is great.
Okay, first off I want to say--we'd been looking forward to making it out here for a show for quite awhile. Before we were about to head out, I thought about just checking out the reviews. It seems that there are quite a lot of negative or so-so reviews--not the raving reviews I'd expected. So, I was skeptical going in--but now that we've been, I have to say I'm confident that every single one of those bad reviews is unfounded. Seriously great place, and we are itching to go again! And again, and again. We called ahead to make a reservation for two, just for drinks, on a Monday night--but when we showed up it was clear we didn't need a reservation. There were plenty of seats. It was a very, very small crowd--under 10 people. Upon entering the establishment, there were framed jazz posters of various greats: Miles Davis, Theolonious Monk, Charles Mingus--to name a few. The atmosphere was great--definitely old-style, authentic, small time jazz club. We loved it! We especially loved that it was a more intimate atmosphere compared to Jazz Alley. Not to mention Jazz Alley was slated for Rueben Studdard all week--we wanted more traditional jazz. There was only one server working, and with the small crowd, you definitely didn't need more than that. She was very, very personable, and made us laugh more than a few times. She was friendly, attentive, and when my husband and I were overwhelmed by the amazing (SERIOUSLY amazing) drinks list, she recommended a few based on our particular tastes. I was not disappointed in the least by the drink she recommended. My husband had the "Grandfather of Jazz", first drink on the cocktail list, served clean. Holy smokes that was an amazing drink. He and I were just blown away by this one. I ordered the Rosemary Clooney, a gin and champagne cocktail, and he and I were both equally impressed with this one as well. These were some of the smoothest drinks we've ever had. They were an average of $10-12 each across the menu, but for a date night and for how good they were, this was more than acceptable. We didn't end up ordering anything off the menu, but a few other patrons near us had ordered food, and we vowed to get a few items next time. It smelled amazing. Someone next to us had ordered what we think were the crab cakes, and even though we'd dined before hand, we definitely wanted to try them! They have a few really delicious dishes listed, and the desert menu is pretty average but we're sure it's great! Everything is priced pretty high, but again, for a date night where you want to grab something a little more upscale, this is acceptable. No Olive Garden here! We thought that maybe some of the negative reviews were because people thought the food/drinks would be cheap since the cover is reasonable nightly. So, that being said, expect something a little more upscale in terms of offerings. :) It's perfectly acceptable to hang out for drinks, so for two incredibly excellent drinks and a FANTASTIC show, $40 was absolutely more than worth it. We also speculated that some of the negative reviews about the service had to do with the fact that during the show, patrons are to keep chit chat to a minimum and not move around or get up until the break in the set (every 4-5 songs or so). So, likewise, the server only comes around a few times during the set, if that, and I'm sure less when it's a full house. To us, this was definitely fine--more than fine! To be honest, you don't go to Tula's to chat with the server every ten minutes, you go to dine and hear great music. We were glad that we weren't interrupted while listening. Also, we asked for the check early so we could leave when we were ready--and that was no problem as well. If you're looking to go somewhere with background music and enjoy the traditional restaurant experience, go somewhere else. This is actually more like going to a club/show than a restaurant! Okay, so now: the highlight--the music! We heard the David Marriott band play that night. Wowza. I have never heard anything so incredible live. Love, love, love! They played a mix of classics and original compositions, and all were just incredible. I could not believe the mix of talent, the personality, and just the overall FUN of this band. If you're into John Coltrane, Miles Davis, etc. this one's for you. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this show. It was fantastic. I was seriously bummed that we didn't have cash on hand to leave a hefty tip for the band--next time we will be sure to! It is so worth supporting this kind of raw, incredible talent. We were just smiling HUGE the whole time because it was so amazing... my face hurt by the time we left. So, the verdict is: this is a club, definitely not just a restaurant with some bloke playing in the background. Go here to hear the incredible line up of talent, enjoy some beautiful, beautiful traditional jazz while sipping and tasting great drinks and food. You will love it!!
(5)
Ms G.
Do not go until they repair the loud repetitive squeak-whistle sound coming from the corner where the gas meter runs through the room. Street-side, south corner. The hostess vaguely blamed it on a "city requirement". Umm... Yeah, right. This totally impaired my enjoyment of a great jazz group last night, and it was clearly annoying the twenty-or so people near me.
(1)
pat s.
If only I could give MINUS stars... . I posted this on Tula's wall on fb today and it disappeared promptly. Here's my experience yesterday afternoon. Had a half hour before my volunteer stint last night and thought I'd get a warm drink and relax for a few minutes. I decided to try Tula's as it was very near my destination. Asked for brandy and coffee w/ scant 1/2 shot of coffee liqueur. Bartender began pouring cognac (Hennessy) into coffee cup. Knowing this bottle did not look like a brandy bottle I asked what kind of brandy he had. He identified the Hennessy. When I commented that that was cognac, he snottily told me it was brandy (true) and both were made of grapes (also true). I asked why no bars around there seemed to have brandy and he said "No one drinks it any more." I ask for the "brandy" separate from the coffee considering that I wouldn't like to ruin a decent cognac by mixing it with coffee and cream, at least not before it's inside me. Bill: $16.43! $10 for the cognac, $5 for the coffee, + $1.43 tax! I asked about the $5 coffee and he, again snottily, told me "Well, that's what coffee costs; I don't make the prices." Yes, I am old (65), but I used to be a bartender in fine dining places whose names you would recognize, as well as in every other kind of place over 30+ years. This model would be like asking for a shot of Jack with a coke back and charging $5 for the coke. Quite a great revenue model if you rely on guests only visiting once and having an unending supply of new guests to fleece. I asked whether the whole drink would have been $15+ tax if the cognac had been in the coffee. Bartender said "No, it would be $11, but you'd get a lesser amount of liquor." WOW! I'd be paying more for the liquor but get less. But no $5 coffee would make it up, I guess. What a business model! Ordinarily, I am a generous tipper and a friendly customer. I volunteer in this area regularly and might have become a regular customer for that 1/2 hour I want to relax. It won't be at Tula's. This fellow was curt, appeared to think my great old age (despite little grey hair and not a lot of fat on my body) meant he didn't need to cultivate me as a return guest, and did identify me as someone he could rip off for a $5 cup of coffee. I signed the cc slip after blacking out the $2 tip (smaller than it would have been due to lack of friendliness) and totaling at $16.43. Bartender gave me $4 in cash and said "Here, I'll only charge you the $11." I thanked him. I felt intensely uncomfortable so I finished my drink and left. In addition to my regular presence in the area, I am also a jazz fan. Tula's had the chance to create a great return guest relationship with me. This bartender, and, apparently, Tula's own policies, mean I will never return. Hope that was worth it for you, Tula's.
If you like jazz music! Please come and visit here they have really good show jazz music.....! You can go on their Web site and check calender. ...
(5)
Charity S.
As a big fan of jazz music who also frequents other established jazz venues in both Seattle and NYC, I can't even begin to describe how disappointing Tula's is. Unfortunately, this opinion has nothing to do with the food or the location. It is entirely based on how incredibly rude their staff is. I've been coming here for about 2 years now, so I feel confident in saying that the staff members at Tula's are consistently rude, patronizing, and take away from being able to enjoy the experience with their negative attitude. Staff members have been argumentative and rude to not only myself but my friends and family members who have dined here as well, so I don't feel that this is an isolated experience. I have never been to an establishment that has consistently made mefeel like riff raff that walked in off the street despite being a frequent well-paying customer. My brother plays shows at this venue occasionally, and the only reason I've kept returning is to support him. The bartender was so rude to my friend on one occasion, that she actually left the show. I would only come here if you want to pay a lot of money to feel very uncomfortable for a few hours of your life.
(1)
W B.
I love Tula's! Such a great place to listen to jazz and an integral part of the Seattle jazz community. There's live music every day! The recently revamped menu is pretty tasty, the service is excellent and as a recent participant in a Vocal Showcase I have nothing but great things to say about this venue. Our server was very busy yet still attentive, regularly checking on my party of four while also managing a party of 10+ and two other tables. Prices are comparable to other Seattle venues and you can't beat the live music!
(4)
Eric B.
drinks are named after jazz musicans- and the scotch selection is amazing. The venue is very intimate-its coool.
(4)
David O.
Best old fashion I've ever had, ever. Awesome music, great service. The cover charge was lame and I wish there wasn't one but it was worth it. I wish they marketed the place better because a venue that cool with such classic music deserves to be packed, and it was pretty empty. Overall, good vibe...I had fun.
(4)
Cathy N.
I went there for a showcase of singers had a lovely time. While I really, really, really wanted to quietly sway in the corner to the romantic music with my date, we respected the rules and stayed seated. That is probably my major "aw, come on!" complaint. (just a little dancing corner? Pretty please? The place is large enough... We didn't eat dinner there because their menu didn't have enough variance to suit both our dietary/allergy issues, but we had cocktails and my date had the flourless chocolate cake, which I think he liked since he ate it all. (We are kind of chocoholics.) The service was really perfect. I had the Billie Holiday, which was two of favorite boozes mixed together and I think it will become a personal staple now! Date had the Laphroaig 10 yr Islay and it was.... heaven. I can still catch hints of it on my scarf and it's a dream. I would implore them to include more GF and Vegan menu items so I can eat there and not just drink... tho' drinkin' ain't bad...
(4)
Jennifer O.
The service is very bad. It's truly unfortunate that one of the only purely jazz houses has inflated prices and truly terrible service. I was singing in a workshop performance on Oct. 27th, 2014. I was the last of eight singers to perform. I had over 20 friends and family there to see me, and here are some the complaints collected: 1. Two my guest were sat and then forgotten. 2. There was apparently a $5 per person per set minimum on top of the $10 cover. (To see students? That's pretty steep). 3. One of my tables was a group of four who met the minimum because two of the four were drinking. However, the waiter would not allow the extra money above the minimum to cover the other two guests and forced them each to order a $10 minimum off the menu, despite the table bill being over the minimum. (So, cheap and classless). 4. My father ordered a diet coke, a drink he consumes every day at least twice. He sent the coke back because it was flat. The waiter then returned to tell him that in fact he tested it, and it was fine. WTF? 5. The food is overpriced. Yes, you should come support the music, but be aware of the hidden costs and very very bad classless service.
(1)
Babak K.
You are greeted and seated quickly and water is poured for you immediately, while you look at the menu. 35 minutes pass, and no one comes to take even your drink order, however, you have been served more water at least three more times, even though you have only had a few sips out of boredom. Eventually, a completely disinterested waiter will come to your table, with no recommendations on the food or drinks, and you will wait another 20 minutes for your drinks to arrive, during which time you will be more served more water. The food is nothing to rave about, and it is ridiculously overpriced. The sound system seems to be non-existent, and the tables are so close to each other it is hard to not be distracted by other people. However, there is plenty of water to be served. The old sign from Bud's Jazz Records in Pioneer Square was the only comforting item in the venue, and a reminder of days gone by. So, here is my suggestion, eat and drink somewhere else, ANYWHERE else in Seattle actually, and come to Tula's to support and enjoy the music. If you can, sit at the bar in front of the stage, since that is the only decent spot where you can hear a good sound mix. I have no problem paying $20 cover charge to support talented and hard working local musicians, but everything else in the establishment, is pretty much insulting to customers. Oh, and come thirsty, since they do have plenty of water to serve.
(1)
Rob W.
Music is the featured item on the menu... jazz music in particular. The best and brightest musicians play here regularly, on a rotating calendar which makes it easy to find something that suits your taste. Big band jazz with a burger on Sunday. Hot Latin jazz with Diablo prawns on Wednesday. The menu does a great job with beer and wine; sit at the bar if you want to order a cocktail. And by all means, tip the musicians even though there's a cover charge.
(4)
Chester M.
Pick anything it's gonna be good!!!
(5)
Adam W.
Tula's serves up Mediterranean/American food. I came for the jazz, and decided to eat after I saw some of the dishes around me. I got the Pacific Northwest Seafood Stew: Tiger Prawns, Scallops, and Fin Fish in a Saffron-Garlic cream sauce. The Saffron shone through, and the garlic didn't overpower. The stew was topped with micro greens that gave it an earthy balance. I wish the portion was larger for $26, but can't complain about the quality of the seafood. Or that is was sourced locally. I am curious, however, what sorts of finned fish comprised that portion of the dish. The chunks were flavorful, but a bit overcooked. The service could have been better. It took a while to get some attention and order a second drink. It seemed like they were understaffed during the first set, but managed to catch up by the third. I paired my fishy feast with a Basil Hayden bourbon. First on the rocks, then up in a snifter. I will definitely be returning.
(4)
M F.
Good atmosphere and great jazz. The food was good as well (scallops were great), but overall, a bit overpriced - they charged for bread, which was definitely surprising based on the price of the entrees.
(3)
Elyse S.
This is a touch one. I say 2.5.. or better yet.. 2 on food, 4 on live music.. so I guess 3 stars might be alright. Unfortunately, the staff knew virtually nothing about Gluten Free. I know that going places that serve non-american food is dicey for my allergy. I ended up eating a lamb burger patty. Nothing special. My friend's food looked much better than mine.. that gluten eating biotch.. ::sigh:: Our server wasn't very attentive so I felt like we had to jump up and down and wave him down for a drink refill or the check. Maybe he was just enjoying the good music. anyways. The music was great. We had a good seats and I really enjoyed the show.
(3)
Katharine J.
Amazing Jazz shows, attentive servers, great food. What's not to love?
(5)
Susan C.
When going to see live music, it helps to know who's playing and whether that person/band will be any good. Otherwise, the experience may be a let down, especially when the food is subpar, the drinks are meh and the service can be a bit tedious. I've been several times to see various great acts, with and without dinner. The food is very basic - don't go expecting to have a culinary experience - this is a basic jazz club. We usually eat first then go for the music. Tula's is also a rather small space, so you get to see the band up close and personal. But because it's a small space, expect the table next to you to be talking loudly throughout the performance. I have no issue with paying $10 cover at the door for a good act - I mean, the place has to make money somehow, if you're only ordering a glass of wine and staying for a three-hour show. While other places, like Triple Door or Jazz Alley may be larger and more swank, I enjoy the intimacy and down-to-earthedness of Tula's, and if there's a good act will go back again.
(3)
Bill S.
5 stars - it's all about the music. For live jazz, I go to Jazz Alley or the Triple Door once or twice a year. I go to Tula's once or twice a WEEK whenever I can. I only discovered Tula's a couple of months ago and I've only ever been on weeknights (Sunday through Wednesday) as I am primarily interested in the big bands that regularly play those nights. Sundays (the Jim Cutler Orchestra) are my favorite. Cover charges range from $5 to $10 for big bands - best deal in town. Without the music, there's not much to get too excited about but - for me - it's all about the music. Not that every performance is always stellar. There's a wide variety of big bands performing - at different levels. Bands range from relatively polished to less polished "rehearsal bands" and the occasional earnest high school or college band. Some of the bands have much stronger / more capable soloists than others. The big band performances at Tula's are very informal in general - some of the big bands appear to have up to 33% "subs" filling in on any given night. But for a big band fan like me, this place is heaven. Full Disclosure - maybe I'm not a typical visitor. I almost always visit Tula's alone as my wife/family/friends do not share my passion for big band jazz. I am not particularly concerned with the atmosphere. Tula's furnishings are perfectly OK with me - but I'm not trying to impress anyone - and it feels "authentic," like a jazz club should feel. I am not particularly concerned with the service (I have never had any complaints, but I'm never in a hurry and am not particularly "fussy" about service anyway). I have eaten there a few times but typically go to Tula's after eating elsewhere as the prices are high and the food is nothing special (not terrible but not great - especially for the prices - although I think the chicken dish is pretty good). I can't comment on drinks as I've never ordered anything more than coffee or (bottled) beer. But again - it's all about the music. 5 stars.
(5)
Mo G.
Date night, Friday: band, Bill Anschell Trio. We initially planned to eat elsewhere, and are so glad we didn't! Got there early...they discount the cover charge, and snagged the best seat in the place. The evening started off with a very lovely Manhattan, and some delicious crab cakes. We then split a nice smoked salmon fettucine and, for dessert, a lemoncello/mascarpone delight. And a glass of port! The dim lighting, glowing candles, great piano jazz at the perfect volume (not amped too loudly), cozy drinks, good food and attentive but quiet, respectful server all combined to make this the perfect evening. I hear the place has had a bit of a facelift, both the venue and the menu... so if you haven't been here in a while, do give it another try! We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Josh B.
I really like Tula's. It's by no means the best jazz you'll ever hear. But it has a really casual, intimate atmosphere. There's not a touch of snobbery about this place. The food here is actually quite good; they have a lot of good appetizers that you can ejoy while listening to the music, and also have nice entrees so you can go for dinner and a show. Though the music isn't as good (or at least not as well known), Tula's can feel more authentic than some of the swankier jazz spots in Seattle (like The Jazz Alley). I'd recommend avoiding the amateur nights (I think that's Monday) unless you know what you're signing up for.
(3)
Tim O.
Not a huge jazz aficionado (but I do sure like 'jazz hands'), this place is pretty cool. Saw the BCC Jazz Band play there and the place was packed. Good solid drinks and good acoustics.
(4)
Robby L.
Tula's is great fun for late night drinks and enjoying the music. Let you guests know its time to loosen up and relax, feel the flow.
(3)
Anthony P.
I've been twice and both times had a really negative experience. I will say that they book phenomenal jazz performances. The music I've heard has been great. My complaint is with the staff, particularly one older guy who works there (is he the manager or owner?). I've seen him yell at staff AND customers both times I was there. Not a good sign. I was also frustrated with my small and cold order of expensive fries and the overpriced drinks. It's too bad that the great music can't be matched with a great staff and dining experience. I won't be going back.
(2)
Becky S.
I was visiting from out of town and after a blah experience in Capitol Hill, my friend and I went to Tula's. As an avid jazz fan, I was stoked to go. Tula's combines my two favorite things, greek food & jazz. The venue was a little smaller compared to Dazzle (in Denver), but it had its own unique flair. The waiters were great and the door guy was a hoot.
(4)
RowerRob C.
Cozy place. It's always a pleasure to watch the house band perform... though it's a tad loud for a place that small. =) Always a pleasure to listen to whatever they bring in... this is my hideout from the regular clubbing & salsa dancing.
(4)
Danielle A.
We were tricked! Door man said we didn't have to pay a cover as long as sat at the bar. This must have been code for the bartender to charge us an arm and a leg for a drink. $9 for a Crown Royal w/ soda? Not only was it outrageously expensive but it was weak. A measured poor!!! Are you kidding me?
(1)
eddie v.
Needed a place to have a nice date with my wife, so I found Tula's in Belltown. Figured if it wasn't something that we liked we can go to the other places in the area. Well let's start with the food, it was good. I didnt try the lamb since im not a big fan. The scalloped pasta was "delicious" as my wife stated. I had the gnocchi and wild mushrooms and that good. The menu was good and relatively in expensive, most dishes were under $20. The atmosphere was good, very relaxed as others have stated. We didn't know what to ware and found out that we weren't under dress(jean/sweater). The waitress we had was good, made sure that the drinks kept coming. Its a place you can definitely drink too much as we did. Great place and I'll definitely go there again.
(4)
Kathleen D.
First, a caveat: I'm not exactly impartial here. I'm at Tula's all the time because my hubby is a jazz musician. I've spent way too many nights sitting here drinking. But here's what's true - Tula's is the only venue I know of where you can see local jazz acts 7 nights a week with a small cover, AND get great drinks AND good food. The staff at Tula's is like my family, and what I would recommend to you, if you're a jazz fan, is to go to Tula's often. Get to know them, and have them get to know you, and they will look out for you like an old friend. You'll be glad to see them, and you'll enjoy some great local jazz. Warning to those looking for a romantic evening. This is a small venue with big music and it's not meant for chatting. If you're content to hold your date's hand and drink while listening, you'll be fine. The food is good and solid greek (mainly). If you're not partial to greek food, order a hamburger; they're quite good.
If you're a regular jazz club goer, this place is definitely strange. The stage directly faces the bar, so few tables actually face the stage--and the people who seat you do not seem to have any concept of seating you in the 'best seat in the house'--they seem to randomly assign people to bad tables when there are way better seats in the house. Plus, they charge you $10 for an open mic night--ridiculous. This place always makes me scratch my head as it has the reputation of being the oldest and best jazz club in Seattle, but the only part of that statement that is true is the "old" part--it needs a serious update. The bathrooms are scary. I seriously want to buy this place someday and overhaul it--the bar needs to be in a different place and all the tables need to face the center of the stage--the feng shui is so messed up here. Plus, the service is terrible. I'll pass on this place.
(2)
Ass Man Z.
I like this place more than Jazz Alley and it has Tom, a long time Belltown fixture serving you drinks.
(5)
Annalisa S.
For a $5 cover charge this is the best jazz you can get in Seattle. Yeah, it's a bit cramped, but it only makes it all the more real, and the sound that much better and intimate. Don't plan on talking much except in between sets, since it's pretty darn loud in there, but just sit back and let the cool (or hot) wash over you.
(4)
Rick L.
Located on 2nd is this interesting little bar that heralds good jazz and mixes it in with good drinks and food. An excellent place for a date, not just because of the atmosphere, but the music as well.
(5)
Cory C.
The service was poor, at best. The forgot one of our meals and it was always an effort to get your drink refilled. They also charge for refills of soda, even if you're a designated driver.
(2)
S S.
Tula's is a live jazz music venue in Belltown. They serve food and drinks (separate from cover). The good thing about this place is that the cover is cheap, compared to like Jazz Alley. Nevertheless, their music is almost always good. It's a pretty small place so it's cozy and you get to sit very close to the stage. They have a calendar on their website that indicates who's playing when, so I would check it out.
(4)
Dan P.
I wanted to like it.. I tried so hard, really! Between the cranky patrons and aloof waitstaff I was definitely left wanting. The high prices and forgettable music was just too much to handle. Beltown is great; this place isn't.
(2)
Robyn H.
Nice and casual, Tula's lets you relax and listen to some good jazz without feeling like you should be dressed in a tux or evening gown. Its a great place to have a birthday party, just call in advance and let them know.
(5)
megan d.
actautly not a bad stop to check out some jazz and appts and cocktails. really quite enjoyable little place. i probly swing by here a couple times a month justto check out what's happin'
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun Coat Check : Yes Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Yogesh K.
Service is very poor. Waiting staff can be very insulting. If you want to take a risk try this place. Sometimes music is well worth the effort, but if you are with friends and want to have a good time avoid this place.
(1)Angel L.
My wife and I drove from Auburn to see a Jazz show last night. The music was phenomenal but the food and service were deplorable! We waited for over one hour for our main course to come. The waiter kept saying it would be right up but we just sat there looking at all other customers getting served before we did. When the food finally arrived it was absolutely terrible. The lamb chops tasted awful and they were slathered in regular turkey gravy. I could not finish it. I think the gravy was from a can or powder. My wife ordered the snapper which tasted extremely fishy and old. They tried to cover the taste with spices but it still was not palatable. I cannot believe they charge $25.00 and up for main course of such poor quality. We left at intermission because of the bad experience.
(1)Marta M.
My husband and I searched for a quaint Jazz club, less expensive then Jazz Alley, but with good music. We found Tula's on google search, and it looked like the group playing had some good reviews. Upon entering Tula's the appearance had a good vibe, nice Christmas decorations, quaint atmosphere, looked inviting. However, there were only about 10 people, all we found out later were friends of the singer. It was very cold, and even though we were sitting by the heater, we kept our coats on, as did everyone else. The music was not good. The instrumentalist were alright, but the singer was terrible. Her stage presence left much to be desired as she had to have the pianist help her find her note before the start of each song, she was reading the music the whole time, and her banter with her friends excluded us and made us uncomfortable. The singer didnt even closely resemble the one on the web page...shouldnt they have updated the site so we didnt go expecting good music but being disappointed instead? It left much to be desired to say the least. The highlight of the visit was the delicious garlic bread and taking pictures out in front with the Christmas lights. Not sure that we'll visit again, but if we do, we'll have more than one drink to help us through our stay.
(2)Lori B.
Picture this: An early-30's lady decked out all fancy for a night of jazz walks in to take a seat while her fiancee was parking the car. A Help Wanted sign in the window- tacky right away. As the lady walks in, she notices a jazz act finishing up, the smell of dingy carried-over smoke well after the ban along with booze and mediocre food, seeing faces that were no doubt all 50+ sitting at buffet-like tables and crowding at the bar. Not appealing. We were anticipating a romantic night with dinner and enjoying the talent of Greta Matassa for our anniversary. In looking online, it seemed classy, but in seeing the place first-hand was deceiving, like walking into a bingo hall on accident. So we didn't bother staying and cancelled our reservations. When I informed the host upon leaving, he gave me the look as if he wasn't surprised. It was very disappointing, but now we know. The end.
(1)Wil H.
Came here for a buddies jazz band show and had pretty good time. Sat in the bar area where I had a fairly good view of the stage. Tried the humus, which was awesome!! Go I tell you, goooooo....
(5)K F.
A nice surprise in Belltown! Our meals were tasty with good service. The live music was great - you're really up close and in it!
(3)Mary L.
Come for the music, not the food! When the Bill Anschell Trio plays, it's magic. Food is decent, but unremarkable. Pork scallopini comes with good pasta, but ordinary sauce. Chicken & lamb souvlaki little dry, but well seasoned. Don't waste your time on the bread. Appetizer of dolmathes and pita were better than entrees. But the music! Best piano is town, we're told by musicians! Reasonably priced wine list. Decent cocktails. Good, professional wait staff. But hey! It's not the Ritz!
(4)Melody A.
I thoroughly enjoyed this place last Saturday night! I went here with my friend, both of us from out of town and we had a blast! The music was great, I think it was just the right size with a nice patio upstairs for fresh air. I would definitely return, hopefully to see some live Jazz!
(5)David N.
Great music, cool ambience.
(3)Daney K.
We came to Tula's to watch local jazz students perform, for the first time for some, jazz standards. Needless to say this was a special event and magic was in the air. However, the staff at this establishment did everything to suppress the magic and make one feel unwelcome. First of all, the bartender, who I think is also the owner, took our orders with a pained expression and asked us what exactly New York Sour is in a tone that expressed annoyance and exasperation. At the time, we didn't pay much attention to his demeanor, it was early in the night. But later on, a friend of mine wanted some water, and seeing that the wait staff wasn't around to give it to her, she reached for a bottle filled with what seemed to be water standing right next to her on the bar, and poured some into her glass. It happened to be simple syrup, as the yelling waiter informed her. "Who keeps water in such a bottle?", he exclaimed. The waitress standing by rolled her eyes at the scene and chuckled. Are you serious? A little bit afterwords, another waiter made a rude condescending comment about one of the performing students. Although this was a very special night for many people present, I think the service we got put a big dent in our enjoyment. When we got our bill, we had one extra cover charged to it and we had to go and convince the waiter that we didn't have 5 people. However, there was one woman (I think she was a hostess) who was extremely nice and sweet and she tried her best to make our experience enjoyable. They should definitely hire more people like her. Also, having a good demeanor is important when working in such a place. Nobody is demanding you to do extraordinary things, but yelling at a customer and making back-handed compliments is really uncalled for. Also, smiling is encouraged - either the wait staff was having a really bad day that day or it's the attitude the place is trying to cultivate. Needless to say, one star is for really terrible service. And food wasn't good either. The performance was amazing and I know lots of really good artists find this venue for their shows. I would go here again just to see someone I admire as an artist. Next time I'll bring my own water and New York Sour, however.
(1)Alan N.
Me and some buddies were just walking around Belltown looking for somewhere a little more chill and some good food. We were pleasantly surprised when we stumbled upon this place. They had a full jazz band going and plus they had Mediterranean which was most welcome. Jazz is definitely one of those forms of music that is best live. Great atmosphere and I love live music. The food though was above average for Mediterranean and they gave pretty healthy servings for the appetizer (I ordered the hummus with lamb, yum!) I ordered I just felt like the atmosphere was just ok as well. It didn't seem to have as much of the jazz feel or the Greek feel as you would hope for. It was a pleasurable place overall.
(4)Lily S.
I'd never been to Tula's til last night. I'm not gonna lie to you. I wasn't exactly sober either. After our fabulous meal and bottle of wine plus cocktails at Zoe, I was rather...jolly. And tired. But wanting to hear some music, we went to Tula's. I ordered a coffee drink b/c everyone knows that when you're fighting a food coma and you've already somewhat tied one on, what's another cocktail, especially when it has coffee in it? And it was strong. I had to nurse my way to finishing it. But back to the place itself - this is a jazz mainstay and I rather liked it. Everyone was nice to us, coming in kind of late, we had good seats, and we knew a guy in the band. YAY! Life is good.
(4)C. Y.
I'm not exactly a fountain of knowledge when it comes to jazz but one thing I will say is that I shouldn't want to fight someone after attending a live show. That should be reserved for the times when I'm forced to listen to something like ... well, just about anything they play on MTV these days (in the rare cases that they're actually playing music that is). Of course the music was very good, and contributed nothing to my hostile feelings. Yes, everything negative was due to the staff. The poor waitress was overburdened with too many tables and forgot my drink for over 15 minutes, then came back to ask what it was that I had ordered. When it came time to leave, we had to wait 15 minutes for our check. No, she didn't suddenly remember, we had to go ask at the bar at which point we were treated with the distaste used when prying something revolting from the bottom of a shoe by a bartender who looked like a moonlighting English butler. Oh and did I mention the chairs are so uncomfortable they were rejected by Uncle Fester in favor of his bed of nails? I've lived in this neighborhood for 7 years and it was my first trip to Tula's. It was also my last. Tula's, I must say ... you suck hard.
(1)Katsura K.
I'd been to Tula's before but it's been years, overall, it's a chill place to hang out, listen to some good music, and eat some tasty food. I was pleasantly surprised to find that food was quite tasty as my previous experience I don't remember it being as good. We ordered the baked feta which comes with yummy pita bread and kalamata olives, tomatoes and cucumbers on the side. The service was quick and friendly. Definite mixed crowd, I'd say ranging from teen-age thru the more experienced listener. Definitely enjoyed my evening with Greta Matassa and band and the Robert Vaughn experience was a definite plus! The people who greet the door could be a bit friendlier though and not be so dismissive of folks who decide not to stay because of cover. just sayin
(3)Vanessa G.
Great night out! Awesome upstairs, rooftop patio. :)
(4)Derek C.
If you want to go to a jazz show, that happens to serve dinner, and don't mind paying cover, it's fine. If you want to talk, it isn't. We went here twice. The first time as a double date, we made a reservation, and went on a Friday. it was a bit loud for conversation, but whatever. We ate, it was decent, and we had wine. The music was good. Bill comes - 20 dollars a person music charge. Now, I don't mind paying cover - to a club or a show. This was supposed to be dinner with jazz music, and they didn't mention cover at the door. Hidden cover charge on the bill pissed me off a bit. I left a nasty note. The manager calls, apologizes and insists he tells everyone about the charge, and offers us free cover and a bottle of wine as an apology. Nice offer - we accept. So we go back, determined to enjoy it. Again, loud but making the best of it. Everything going fine until a b1tch from the adjacent table comes over. Now, if she said "do you mind keeping it down, you're talking is distracting" that'd be fine. Instead, she says "you know, some people are here to listen to the music. Your talking is loud and distracting". Wow. Really? So we look around, and realize that we're the only people in the whole place under 45 (maybe 50). So if you're old, or just want to sit at a jazz show in a restaurant and eat food almost as good as Costco microwavable (not exaggeration, one of the deserts I'm 90% sure was from Costco), go here. If you want jazz and dinner conversation, do NOT.
(2)Jason P.
Nice casual place to listen to Jazz. Cheaper than most other venues, it nice and laid back on the week days. Their variety platter of Mediterranean food was delicious. Although it was a bit on the $$ side, I'd go back for it.
(4)Alice C.
Nice, low-key place.
(3)Damien H.
Came here for a show, and I think the booking manager needs some help, the band was a washed up mishmash of has been performers. The rest of the 50 something crowd in the place seemed okay with them, but not with my table of late 20 somethings that were trying to make the most of the sub-par music and rude staff. We weren't loud, but God forbid we lean to whisper to each other while the singer with bronchitis cackles. All this AFTER the guy at the door, dressed in his best farming attire had the nerve to take 15 of my dollars just to get in.
(2)Gian B.
I have had nothing but bad experiences here. First, I have played here in a jazz orchestra twice. Each time, I was treated rudely as entering with my instrument. Also, I was never offered a beverage of any sort (I wasn't paid for this performance, so figured I would get at least a coke). I was actually glared at when I asked for a water! Additionally, I had family and friends tag along (and pay the ridiculously high cover) to watch me perform. They were treated rudely by the older, grey haired man at the front. He is just ridiculous. What really confirmed how bad this establishment is that at the end of our set (we had one song left) a group of four people came in. They asked how much longer the music was playing. When they realized that there was such little time left, they asked if they could skip the cover and buy drinks to enjoy the last song. They were turned away. It was pretty empty that night. Horrible customer service!
(1)Charlotte K.
I was pleasantly surprised with the adventure of going to this place last Saturday. Highly recommend this venue for a quiet dinner or an evening of listening to various Jazz bands curl up in your ears! The music was fantastic, service superb, and my food was great! It's a small place but most of the seats will have a great view of the stage. I would recommend reservations since it fills up fast and a few of the tables aren't as good as others.
(4)F J.
A nice secondary jazz spot in Seattle - went to a session here and it was one of those "open" sessions where they try to accommodate everyone. I think overall that's a good thing, although be prepared to jam with the local 16 year old just learning the ropes. Good age range overall here - some young folks, some older guys, singers, horn players, etc. Friendly folks tho, even to a tourist! Service was a bit slow. Didn't eat here but enjoyed some drinks. Definitely worth checking out if you're done with the Jazz Alley but in the mood for something more local.
(4)Matthew M.
Briefly looking in Tulas it seems like a cool, jazzy place to go grab a cocktail and drink or eat in style. Not so much. Music was perfect, unfortunately I am going to review the venue and not the band that played. The band did no wrong, they could make a Burger King seem amazing. First I had to pay 15 bucks to get into a place that was half full and this was an hour after the performance had started. I ordered a bottle of Riesling for 30 bucks and when it arrived 20 minutes later. It was a crappy 5 dollar bottle you can get at any stop and go gas station. That is quite an impressive mark up. So impressive that my date decided to actually complain about the price, that I was paying. Thinking about it retrospectively, maybe the 20 minute wait was because they ran across the street to pick up the swill at a 5 and dime. The service was OK, the air was cold, the food was your basic greasy deep fried pub fair. The atmosphere was very dank and basement like. Update your interior guys. I really don't know if I will be back, they do book good music but it comes at a price, twice. Once at the door and again on the menu. If I do return, it will be just for the music, I will probably pre-funk somewhere else. No more 5 dollar bottles of wine for 30 bucks for me thanks. Plus, I may enjoy the place more if I am already lit.
(2)Karol C.
The band would be given a 5 star but the seating area is very poor. People came in with reservations and were given a table where there was no view of the entertainers at all. I felt sorry for them since they were there to watch a friend perform. My husband and I shared a dinner and it was okay but not great. I felt like our server may have been new as he seemed uncomforable serving us. We also ordered a bottle of wine that was on their menu but they no longer served it in their restaurant. They replaced it with another that was adequate. This place could be fantastic if the tables could be placed where everyone gets at least some view of the band. When being served a good bottle of wine they also need large wine glases. The glasses they provided would be okay for white wine but not too good for a nice red. I liked it well enough to try and go back sometime but it will be awhile before I go back.
(3)Amy B.
Food: Shared a couple appetizers of hummus and pita bread with my date. It wasn't great, especially for the price, but it was fun to have the finger food. Wine: Decent--or atleast put me in the jazz-y mood--but the menu is not extensive. Show: The pianist was amazing! I was awed beyond words and would rate his performance alone at 4.5 stars. I even closed my eyes a few times to soak in the beauty of the music. Audience: As I've noticed at Jazz Alley also, the jazz scene seems to be something of a secret, enjoyed largely by our parents--lovey dovey couples in their fifties, sixties, seventies, maybe even eighties--or older men that you might find wearing a trench coat and bowler hat walking out to take a smoke during intermission. Cover charge: $15/person, no matter your arrival time (during a show). So come when the show starts!
(3)Sarah M.
I had one Sunday night to kill by myself in Seattle, was a little hungover from the night before, wanted some good food and some good music. So, I yelped jazz clubs that were nearby where I was staying (Hampton Inn Seattle Center) and called a cab. I got there around 9:30pm, ordered a glass of wine and the wild mushroom gnocchi (the BEST ever and it came with garlic bread) and enjoyed the Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra. The atmosphere was super relaxed, people kind of came and went as they pleased. The band would play for about 15 minutes then would take a break. There was no cover charge but they asked for a $5 donation if you enjoyed the music. Overall, it served my purpose well: great food, good music and nice people.
(5)Jason C.
Went to see the jazz -- not eat the food, so I can't comment on the food. It did look like people were enjoying the Mediterranean tapas style fare. Drinks were straight forward and priced appropriately. Service was attentive, especially at the bar. Now, the jazz was really good. Sets were long and talent was strong. Cover seemed a little steep at $15, but I'm probably being cheap. It seems to be the going rate for covers around here. Downside (which made the cover less bearable) was that the place was a little too warm. Annoyingly, the ceiling fans weren't even running. This is definitely an older crowd, many of whom seemed to know each other. As others have said, go for the music and the booze.
(3)Kunney T.
I love amateurs because you never know what to expect from them, so you'll never be disappointed. Monday nights are amateur nights and I gotta say this is a nice cheap date place. Have a couple cocktails, try some of their decent but nothing to phone home about food, and enjoy amateurs try to belt it like Nina Simone. Well, they're not Nina but they're not too bad either and if you go in with that mentality, you will be pleasantly surprised.
(4)Bill S.
Ah Tula's how you've failed me, I have always been a huge fan. You're classic Seattle. I'm giving 3 stars because its Tula's but the service SUCKS I paid $15 dollar cover and the trio was well worth it but in the 2 hours we were there we saw the server twice. She was busy drinking coffee and chatting at the end of the bar. The host kept telling us "your server will be with you shortly...." Also what happened to the prices? $73.00 (30 was cover) for 2 glasses of wine, 2 beers, and a shot of makers? I'm not cheap by any means you pay to go out but seriously? Of course I'll be back I always do I'm actually planning to take my kids for the Sunday matinee in a couple weeks. It was curious that I didn't see the owner he used to be around working the room and making you feel like family maybe that was the problem.
(3)Celeste A.
First visit was to support my husband in the opening act of Sunday's set. I was blown away by what a gem it turned out to be. Definitely get a Bloody Mary! Best I have had in a while. I decided on the appetizer of hummus and lamb for dinner and hubby had the chicken Parm....both were TASTY! Staff was super nice, music was great (of course!)...it was easy to find and lots of parking options on a Sunday. We will be back!
(4)Megan B.
I really wanted to like this place more, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I am a HUGE jazz fan. Seriously. I have the cd/ record collection of 73-year old man. And I've been to my share of funky jazz clubs and great jazz clubs all across the country. Some good ones of note: Chicago's Green Mill, NY's Village Vanguard, Yoshi's in Oakland and Catalina Bar and Grill in LA. Tula's is NOT one of these clubs, though they really want to be. Props to Tula's for booking good music and for even being a Jazz club at all, God knows it's not a hugely popular form of music, especially for the neighborhood. But when I'm paying $15 a head to go see an act, I expect a few things. One of them being an acceptable womens restroom. One of the toilets was clogged and in a gross and scary way. Like nauseatingly bad. Even remembering it makes me throw up a little bit. How about updating that dated decor? When was it even in style? It looks like the 80's, but cheesy 80's. The mildew smell that hits you when you walk in the door is a bit disconcerting. And how about dusting every once and a while? I'd hate to see this place in the daylight. We should nominate this place for one of those restaurant makeover shows. Forest green ceiling and gray walls? Come on! And I would never eat here after seeing the sad bathroom and dusty stuff. And riddle me this: what is it about Jazz music that pairs so perfectly with hummus? I think every jazz place I've been to that serves food has it on the menu. I guess it's a very be-bop friendly food. I actually feel guilty for being so hard on this place, so I'll list the plusses: +Good acts, good acoustics, good layout, intimate setting. +Manny's on draft Even with those 2 stars up there, I'd probably still come back if they had a great band there- but I won't like it.
(2)J K.
I was going to give it 3 stars, but I'll bump it up to 4 because it's one of the only jazz bars in Seattle. And everyone knows that jazz is just cool to listen to at night with a drink.
(4)Chrissy L.
Love this place! The food is great, the music greater and the regular wait staff (Michael you rock!) are worth tipping well!
(4)chris c.
This is one of my favorite jazz club's in the area and is an inexpensive alternative to Jazz Alley and the Triple Door. The food has a Greek/Italian (funny, I know) flavoring and comes in large proportions. My family tries to make it at least once a month and as a teenager, my parents trust me enough and are comfortable with me going here on my own. They get some awesome players (often people who are in town for Jazz Alley and play here as well) and it's a very intimate setting. From the outside, Tula's looks like a hole in the wall, but upon entry you are greeted by Julius, the age-old doorman who seats you where you'd like. There is not a bad seat in the house, unless you are like myself and come to see the drummer primarily (in which case, call ahead and get a seat on the right side of the stage). The performance is very personal and the musicians usually take requests by their 2nd or 3rd set. Definitely check this place out.
(4)Ryan R.
I have never been disappointed with my outings to Tula's. Drinks and food are more than reasonably priced, and the staff is super-friendly and efficient. I'm a huge jazz fan, but admit to not knowing a lot of the many artists out there (both local and non local), and am definitely not an expert on the genre. That being said, I'm impressed with what I hear every time. With music seven nights a week, I think it's safe to say that regardless of which particular style of jazz you're into, you'll undoubtedly be able to hear it at Tula's at some point during the week. I tend to like big band quite a bit, so Tuesday nights are my favorite. I find the whole place charming, relaxing, and just plain cool. I'm happy with being able to hear the music while sitting in a comfortable seat. However if you feel you need a seat right up front where you can view the whole band, it's true that you may need to show up early.
(5)Lauren U.
3.5 stars I came here for the first time last night not knowing what to expect. I thought the space was charming but the layout of stage and tables made it hard for most of the audience to see the stage. It seemed that unless you ate dinner there beforehand or reserved a table you were going to have an obscured view. The music was good but not extremely impressive - it seemed that the night I went there were a lot of ameteurs. I would go back, I had a nice time, good conversation, and the staff was extremely friendly and inviting. Maybe I'd romanticized the idea of a dark, smoky, swanky jazz club, so I was a bit disappointed, but overall it was a great night.
(3)Sutee D.
Tula's is a lot of different things that do not necessarily fit together. The main draw is probably their extremely impressive jazz lineup. That in itself is enough to give Tula's a try. The service was prickly and it took a long time for the food to come out. I didn't mind the wait, but the garlic bread should've come out more than ten minutes before the main courses, especially since we had been waiting for more than forty minutes at that point. The food was very tasty and worth the wait. I wouldn't have guessed from the decor that Tula's greek food would be solid. The breads were soft and welcoming and the veggies were surprisingly fresh. The tomatoes and cucumbers were presented as more or less garnish, but I was amazed at how delicious they were. One more thing-because the venue is longer than it is wide, there are more not-so-great seats than good ones. We made reservations and arrived early but still were seated in the back corner. It was a good side view of the piano, but we couldn't see anything else.
(4)Ryan G.
Tula's is a really mixed bag. Some helpful staff and great music, but ho-hum as a restaurant and some really rude staff (especially the bartender). Frankly, I don't plan on returning even though the other staff try to make up for the rudeness of the few.
(2)Ninja S.
The music was pretty good, but the drinks were delivered in the way that I remember drinking at a VFW. If you haven't every drank at a VFW, please allow me to describe further. The appeal of heading over to one of these places (and it helps to have at least one vet with you when you do) is that you get to hang out with a bunch of old men who "shoot the shit" with you (I love that expression) and they serve you cheap strong drinks that have been poorly mixed. No one really cares about the drinks because you're busy taking in some old man experience by osmosis, and the drinks just help lubricate the process. This place is more like "hey we've got some decent jazz and if you must drink, we have something adequate to serve those drinking purposes at downtown prices." Anyway, the music was highly decent at a relatively moderate cover. My company that evening was fairly striking, so perhaps that added a star to my experience.
(4)Erica J.
Oh God, where do I even start. When a friend first suggested we go to Tula's to see a friend's jazz sextet play I was excited because I had heard good things. Boy was I mistaken! The decor is atrocious and management is horrible. I say this in lieu of saying the service was bad as there was only one girl serving that night (and the place was pretty full) and although she was completely competent she had way too many tables to be attentive. My friend and I ordered falafel and asked for no onions, and when tthe waitress brought it out she said that the cook was 'cranky' and had forgotten to make it without onions. I seriously felt bad for the girl so I said it was ok and my friend and I just picked them out, but for any restaurant to think that that kind of behavior is acceptable is wrong; what if my friend and I were severely allergic to onions? The falafel itself tasted ok and it came with a lot of french fries, but the experience as a whole was not at all what I bargained for and I won't go back any time soon.
(2)Jessica S.
What a lovely place for an intimate jazz experience! I ventured here not so long ago for the first time and was blown away by everything. I love the small setting and lighting this place creates - it really adds to the music experience. Plus, seeing live jazz is always a real treat. After some dinner and wine we had dessert. Order the New York cheesecake with a cup of their house coffee - so good! Back to the music....the sound was great. I had no problem enjoying the music while eating and drinking. Everyone is very courteous and considerate while the musicians are performing, which is very nice. Good work Tulas!
(4)Bryan C.
Performance: Susan Pascal Quartet ft. Marc Seales, Chuck Deardorf, Mark Ivester Just got back from Tula's and it's still as enjoyable as the last time I came. This time I brought my family who were visiting Seattle from Taiwan. I did kind of laugh how the reservation was made under BRYANT instead of BRYAN, but it's all good! First of all, the food was delicious, no complaints. Secondly, the service was also fantastic. We had a lovely young waitress who was very attentive, polite, and courteous. Having worked as a busser and server myself for several years, she definitely deserves recognition! Last but not least, I loved the music. Tula's books some pretty good acts Thursdays-Saturdays and tonight was no exception. The Susan Pascal Quartet was fantastic! I also had the opportunity to briefly talk music and performing with her and Marc Seales, very cool people! If you like Jazz and need a place to just relax, I recommend Tula's. If you want to bring some friends who are interested in this kind of joint, I'd also recommend Tula's!
(5)Helen T.
I was looking for a jazz cafe in Seattle I found this place through Yelp! Compared to the jazz clubs I've been to before, I thought this place was okay. Even though their website says that you can email them about reservations and get $5 off, that didn't happen even though I emailed them a day before. When I arrived, I mentioned that I emailed them and they knew nothing about it. My friend and I decided to just go for it even though they didn't see the reservation. We sat down and ordered drinks, since the food was pretty overpriced. And after reading the reviews, it seems like it wasn't worth it either. The mixed drinks we got were okay - they were strong, but I've had a better French 75. We came during the "student hour" and there were a few good singers, but overall the acts were okay. I wish we came before to see some of the acts though. Wouldn't really recommend coming for the student hour. Also, although the website said that there music until 11:30PM, the music ended at around 11PM, which sucked because we got in at 10PM and expected it to be longer. Overall, I thought this place was okay. I love jazz, so I'd probably come back here to check out a few acts, since I can't afford to go to Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. I thought the venue could have had better acoustics, and they could definitely improve on the drinks and the price of the food.
(3)Anna M.
Meh. We walked in on Saturday night, and were promptly greeted and sat. Our server was *awesome*. However, we had to pay full price ($20 a person) to see half of a set of some "jazz group." Perhaps it's my Kansas City roots, but I was pretty disappointed by the show. The atmosphere was pretty nice for a jazz place, but I would probably try a few other places before coming back here again.
(3)C. H.
I can't say enough good things about our night out at Tula's. The food was great. I started with a classic Caesar and it tasted great. No store bought dressing here! Dinner was salmon fettuccine in a cream sauce. It was very tasty. Fettuccine was cooked perfectly al dente. For dessert we shared a lemoncello ladyfingers in a raspberry sauce that was perfectly sweet yet tart. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. Last but not least, the music. We watched the Smith Staelens Big Band. I love jazz and their fast pace music was on point. I could have done without their slower tunes. They reminded me too much of Lawrence Welk, but that is just my preference. Bethany walked around during break to talk to everyone. She was very sweet and down to earth. Overall, a great evening. I would definitely would return if visiting Seattle again.
(5)Zach A.
I did not have the food The drink wasn't good but that's not the reason I can through Seattle and this is supposed to be one of he best jazz bars in the area, Wynton and Jazz Times citing it. And they get a one star because the entire right hand side of the stage is shouting louder than the music. No attempts made to say that this is a jazz show with dynamics. And the bass had a ton of feedback on his most susceptible part of the solo. Hopefully the one star will stand out enough to make some minute change like having the stage say please talk quietly if at all. Just saying.
(1)Hemesh P.
My first time at a jazz club. Was interesting. Not sure if I'd go again Got the baked brie. Was more like melted Brie in a casserole dish topped with jam. Was ok
(3)Blonde B.
I'll give it two stars. Three for the jazz quartet. One or zero for the service... I had to wait forty five minutes after I was done with my dessert for the waiter to revisit me and ask if I wanted anything else. I wanted another pint of beer a half hour before that, but at this point, I just wanted to leave. So, I asked him for a check. He came out of the back three times over the next fifteen minutes. Once was to serve food - okay, fine. The second time he came out and cleaned off the table next to me - without giving me my check? The THIRD time, he came out and re-set up the table next to me - AGAIN, without giving me my check! Disgusted, I put $15 on the table for my pint and dessert, and walked out. First time I've EVER done anything like that...
(2)Terri H.
This place is amazing! Great atmosphere, great jazz, and wonderful service! I'm here for my birthday and just got free desert because they are so nice! The food will blow your mind...this desert just changed me as a person...I am a better woman for having eaten it...just saying..GO HERE!!
(5)Ilaria L.
Great environment with great music and people coming together. It's perfect for a romantic date. And servers were very attentive. Never really listened to jazz until that night.
(4)Heidi W.
SETUP & SEATING This place has a cozy feel that makes me want to come back frequently. And with performances 7 nights a week @ $5-15 covers, I can start doing that. All their performances start at 7:30pm, which is perfect for those who work typical 9-5 jobs. I love the fact that there are places out there that offer entertainment options on a Sunday evening! The setup is smaller than Jazz Alley, I'm guessing ~50 people, which makes it very cozy. If you want to sit at the bar, get there early since they only had 10-15 seats. Otherwise there are plenty of 2 person tables close to the stage. FOOD I would give the food a B -- it's good, but priced a little high. The appetizer I had, olive and hummus plate, was great however, and I would order again (note: the olives are NOT pitted). Looking at some of the other yelp reviews, I feel like I should order the brie plate next time :-) DRINKS For scotch people -- they have a decent scotch list starting at $10 and up. Since performances last several hours, if you come with someone it's probably cheapest to split a bottle of wine. They have several selections around $40. MUSIC Good sound & not too loud. We saw the Josephine Howell Quartet and she and her musicians get a definite A+. Plenty of solos by the musicians, and she was a fantastic performer with an amazing soulful voice.
(5)Vivek S.
Came here on Sunday evening for Jim Cutler Jazz and Orchestra night. Had Malbec wine and pita humus and had a good time.
(4)Charles H.
Dan and Tatum Greenblatt (and their quintet) put on an amazing show - a truly wonderful evening of Jazz (old and new -- the compositions by both father and son were true highlights of both sets). The food? We had a party of four. And, while I know experiences vary from person to person and night to night, the Mushroom Risotto, Hummus and Baked Brie were divine. The risotto had just the perfect note of wine - the Brie, honey and almonds were a flavor explosion - and the hummus tasted like it was made-to-order. The service was top-notch. (I can't expound much on this - it was spot-on). Plenty of on-street parking nearby (and this was a Friday night, mind you). (At first glance, admittedly, the food prices seem steep - but everything we ordered was WELL worth the price). Great job guys. Keep it up!
(5)Doug H.
My wife and I dined here Saturday night. We loved the music of the Thomas Marriott Quartet (although there were actually five of them!). Reviews for the restaurant & jazz club are all over the board, so it was with some trepidation that I made reservations. I guess my five star rating shows that I'm pleased with the choice. We split a caesar salad to begin- but after two bites I ordered by own! For the entree, I had the Northwest Seafood Stew (5 star). It was just as advertised on the menu- a rich, spicy saffron tomato sauce and plenty of fresh seafood. My wife had the Chicken Piccata- perfectly cooked with a beautiful, crispy skin (however, she was not fond of her seasonal vegetables). We split the Chocolate Ganache for dessert- excellent. Service was not perfect, but all the employees were extremely nice and caring. Total cost without tip was a little over $150 (including one cocktail, three glasses of wine and the $16 per person cover charge). We will be going back!
(5)Christine S.
The service was actually good and music wasn't half bad but the male manager/bartender had no customer service skills & no respect. We were extremely well paying customers that weren't belligerent, disrespectful, or causing any sort off scene but we may of well have been the way we were treated.
(1)Chi P.
-The music was perfect. The band was very entertaining. Very nice drinks. -Service wasn't that nice at all. -Food was ok, nothing very special
(1)Heather B.
The food is amazing and the staff is very attentive. The liquor and wine selection would please anyone. My favorite it the shrimp and cheddar polenta. Although not a place to bring friends for conversation, it's a dinner club, the music is great.
(5)TasteBud J.
DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU CARE ABOUT MUSIC. It's obvious that management doesn't. Let me explain.... So I don't usually write these, but my experience here was such that I feel morally inclined to my fellow jazz lovers to report. First off, the ambiance is fine, and our server was great. We only had a few apps, so I can't attest to the entrées, but the food that we did have was delicious and thoughtfully prepared. And the cocktail menu is creative with surprisingly successful combinations. We were actually having an enjoyable evening for the first half. Not too far into the second set, when my good friend, who was on the trumpet, was mastering a soulful piece that was the most mellow part of the show, a harsh electronic beeping sound pierced through the music making it completely impossible to be fully engaged in the performance. And. It wasn't just a faint, someone's cell phone is ring-toning in their purse kind of sound. It was an obnoxiously shrill penetration of noise that was needling it's abusive drum beat into your ear. It was ear rape. The first thing one does in such a case is to fend off one's attacker. A quick glance established that it was the bartender who chose the one quiet moment of the evening to enter tickets into the credit card machine. Now, being a bartender myself, at a jazz venue, I thought "OMG! He must not know how intensely the sound travels from that machine because only a psychopath would knowingly ear rape a room full of people who were in his establishment solely for the purpose of experiencing amazing music and had paid a pretty hefty door price for that pleasure." So I thought it my duty not only to my fellow patrons and jazz fans, but also to my fellow man-in-apron to get up and give him the low down. I will admit that my delivery wasn't as smoothly gregarious as my skill level generally produces, but I was trying to be as quick and quiet as possible so as to not create an even bigger ruckus (not that that was possible). However, his response to me was so unwarrantedly rude that I felt the need to repeat what I had just said because it must be that he wasn't hearing me right. But yeah, you guessed it. He DID hear me. He responded with "I can't help when people need to check out." And "I'm sorry that this machine isn't up to 'your' standards." Wow. Ok. Because I thought that your standards might be caring about your customers, or at the very least, the music. I certainly keep my ear up and eyes open when I'm working to be a proper host and make sure the system is well oiled so that everyone is enjoying themselves. But let me break this down for those of you who aren't "industry." There was 45 min left of the show. Which. Means. No body there was going to be leaving for another 45 min. So there wasn't really any rush to close any of those tickets. Really what was going on was that he was making the classic bar tending mistake of working with blinders on. You get dialed into your job, you made it through the rush, the faster you get through the paperwork, the earlier you can leave. I actually totally get that. But. If you work at / manage a JAZZ CLUB, then there has to be some concern for, oh I don't know, the MUSIC. What was the kicker, was that after that number (during which he had continued his assault) the rest of the show was vibrant and fast paced enough to probably cover the electronic din (mostly). Not to overstate it, but this machine is ridiculously loud. I have worked with many credit card machines and none have sounded like this. And. It's fairly easy to acquire a new one. But during the rest of the show he just stood behind the bar with his arms crossed DOING NOTHING! Yeah. I can see it was a real emergency to get those receipts entered before you had to do nothing but stand there for 40 min. Being that I know some of the more awesome players in Seattle's jazz community, I started asking around, wondering if my experience was a fluke. Turns out it's not. They all agreed that the management at Tula's doesn't really care about the music or the musicians. Some said they refuse to play there, and others said they won't even go there to catch a show, even if it promises to be amazing. Some friends of mine were at the show the night before, and they had their own story about watching the band try to get drinks after the show. Apparently the bartender had more important things to do for a HALF AN HOUR, than show appreciation for the brilliance of these artists, two of whom had flown in from Europe just go play this gig. Seriously Tula's? Your whole schtick is music. That's the whole reason you exist. And you can't figure that it might be important to honor both the experience that your customers have with it, but also respect the artists that are giving your business a reason to be? How are you still a thing? I will happily join the ranks of my many jazz musician friends and steer clear of the negative vibes that this place prefers to offer.
(1)Sarah P.
Okay, first off I want to say--we'd been looking forward to making it out here for a show for quite awhile. Before we were about to head out, I thought about just checking out the reviews. It seems that there are quite a lot of negative or so-so reviews--not the raving reviews I'd expected. So, I was skeptical going in--but now that we've been, I have to say I'm confident that every single one of those bad reviews is unfounded. Seriously great place, and we are itching to go again! And again, and again. We called ahead to make a reservation for two, just for drinks, on a Monday night--but when we showed up it was clear we didn't need a reservation. There were plenty of seats. It was a very, very small crowd--under 10 people. Upon entering the establishment, there were framed jazz posters of various greats: Miles Davis, Theolonious Monk, Charles Mingus--to name a few. The atmosphere was great--definitely old-style, authentic, small time jazz club. We loved it! We especially loved that it was a more intimate atmosphere compared to Jazz Alley. Not to mention Jazz Alley was slated for Rueben Studdard all week--we wanted more traditional jazz. There was only one server working, and with the small crowd, you definitely didn't need more than that. She was very, very personable, and made us laugh more than a few times. She was friendly, attentive, and when my husband and I were overwhelmed by the amazing (SERIOUSLY amazing) drinks list, she recommended a few based on our particular tastes. I was not disappointed in the least by the drink she recommended. My husband had the "Grandfather of Jazz", first drink on the cocktail list, served clean. Holy smokes that was an amazing drink. He and I were just blown away by this one. I ordered the Rosemary Clooney, a gin and champagne cocktail, and he and I were both equally impressed with this one as well. These were some of the smoothest drinks we've ever had. They were an average of $10-12 each across the menu, but for a date night and for how good they were, this was more than acceptable. We didn't end up ordering anything off the menu, but a few other patrons near us had ordered food, and we vowed to get a few items next time. It smelled amazing. Someone next to us had ordered what we think were the crab cakes, and even though we'd dined before hand, we definitely wanted to try them! They have a few really delicious dishes listed, and the desert menu is pretty average but we're sure it's great! Everything is priced pretty high, but again, for a date night where you want to grab something a little more upscale, this is acceptable. No Olive Garden here! We thought that maybe some of the negative reviews were because people thought the food/drinks would be cheap since the cover is reasonable nightly. So, that being said, expect something a little more upscale in terms of offerings. :) It's perfectly acceptable to hang out for drinks, so for two incredibly excellent drinks and a FANTASTIC show, $40 was absolutely more than worth it. We also speculated that some of the negative reviews about the service had to do with the fact that during the show, patrons are to keep chit chat to a minimum and not move around or get up until the break in the set (every 4-5 songs or so). So, likewise, the server only comes around a few times during the set, if that, and I'm sure less when it's a full house. To us, this was definitely fine--more than fine! To be honest, you don't go to Tula's to chat with the server every ten minutes, you go to dine and hear great music. We were glad that we weren't interrupted while listening. Also, we asked for the check early so we could leave when we were ready--and that was no problem as well. If you're looking to go somewhere with background music and enjoy the traditional restaurant experience, go somewhere else. This is actually more like going to a club/show than a restaurant! Okay, so now: the highlight--the music! We heard the David Marriott band play that night. Wowza. I have never heard anything so incredible live. Love, love, love! They played a mix of classics and original compositions, and all were just incredible. I could not believe the mix of talent, the personality, and just the overall FUN of this band. If you're into John Coltrane, Miles Davis, etc. this one's for you. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this show. It was fantastic. I was seriously bummed that we didn't have cash on hand to leave a hefty tip for the band--next time we will be sure to! It is so worth supporting this kind of raw, incredible talent. We were just smiling HUGE the whole time because it was so amazing... my face hurt by the time we left. So, the verdict is: this is a club, definitely not just a restaurant with some bloke playing in the background. Go here to hear the incredible line up of talent, enjoy some beautiful, beautiful traditional jazz while sipping and tasting great drinks and food. You will love it!!
(5)Ms G.
Do not go until they repair the loud repetitive squeak-whistle sound coming from the corner where the gas meter runs through the room. Street-side, south corner. The hostess vaguely blamed it on a "city requirement". Umm... Yeah, right. This totally impaired my enjoyment of a great jazz group last night, and it was clearly annoying the twenty-or so people near me.
(1)pat s.
If only I could give MINUS stars... . I posted this on Tula's wall on fb today and it disappeared promptly. Here's my experience yesterday afternoon. Had a half hour before my volunteer stint last night and thought I'd get a warm drink and relax for a few minutes. I decided to try Tula's as it was very near my destination. Asked for brandy and coffee w/ scant 1/2 shot of coffee liqueur. Bartender began pouring cognac (Hennessy) into coffee cup. Knowing this bottle did not look like a brandy bottle I asked what kind of brandy he had. He identified the Hennessy. When I commented that that was cognac, he snottily told me it was brandy (true) and both were made of grapes (also true). I asked why no bars around there seemed to have brandy and he said "No one drinks it any more." I ask for the "brandy" separate from the coffee considering that I wouldn't like to ruin a decent cognac by mixing it with coffee and cream, at least not before it's inside me. Bill: $16.43! $10 for the cognac, $5 for the coffee, + $1.43 tax! I asked about the $5 coffee and he, again snottily, told me "Well, that's what coffee costs; I don't make the prices." Yes, I am old (65), but I used to be a bartender in fine dining places whose names you would recognize, as well as in every other kind of place over 30+ years. This model would be like asking for a shot of Jack with a coke back and charging $5 for the coke. Quite a great revenue model if you rely on guests only visiting once and having an unending supply of new guests to fleece. I asked whether the whole drink would have been $15+ tax if the cognac had been in the coffee. Bartender said "No, it would be $11, but you'd get a lesser amount of liquor." WOW! I'd be paying more for the liquor but get less. But no $5 coffee would make it up, I guess. What a business model! Ordinarily, I am a generous tipper and a friendly customer. I volunteer in this area regularly and might have become a regular customer for that 1/2 hour I want to relax. It won't be at Tula's. This fellow was curt, appeared to think my great old age (despite little grey hair and not a lot of fat on my body) meant he didn't need to cultivate me as a return guest, and did identify me as someone he could rip off for a $5 cup of coffee. I signed the cc slip after blacking out the $2 tip (smaller than it would have been due to lack of friendliness) and totaling at $16.43. Bartender gave me $4 in cash and said "Here, I'll only charge you the $11." I thanked him. I felt intensely uncomfortable so I finished my drink and left. In addition to my regular presence in the area, I am also a jazz fan. Tula's had the chance to create a great return guest relationship with me. This bartender, and, apparently, Tula's own policies, mean I will never return. Hope that was worth it for you, Tula's.
(1)Gma G.
The food was good for a jazz restaurant and bar but my wife and I were flabbergasted by two items on the bill: 1. A $30 corkage fee that wasn't on the menu. I anticipated a corkage fee but this is higher than just about anywhere else in the city except Canlis and a few other restaurants. They don't even have mediocre glassware for the wine; you would get better glasses at Applebee's. My wife and I have a large wine cellar, share wine with the server and buy cocktails before dinner. A lot of restaurants will comp the corkage fee. But at the very least I would expect to be told the amount of the corkage when it is way above the prevailing rates. The wines on the wine list, which were modest and widely available, so I know many of the prices, were price about $20 or so above retail, which is reasonable. So why the big gouge? 2. The real outrage was being charged an extra $1 over the listed price for ordered a cocktail "up," even though the description was listed as "served up or on the rocks." You charged me a different price than the listed price not to give me ice? That is really low rent and tacky. When we asked the server, he didn't blink. We ordered the cocktails, salad, crab cakes, an entrée, and a dessert. I knew we were spending some money. But don't gouge us over the little stuff. We won't be back. Was it because you knew we were visiting from out of town and weren't regulars?
(1)Cassidy L.
Terrible service. Music is fine but don't order anything. A group of friends and I went there earlier tonight to have a few drinks and some food. The entire time the waiter seemed half interested in doing his job; ie would ignore being flagged by a person, hastily stealing glassware from an adjacent table to accommodate a new friend--all behavior that might be acceptable if the restaurant were busy but we were one of only 4 tables being served there. Place was nearly empty. I ordered a Penne and Sausage with my fiancée. There was nothing wrong with it technically, but it was not worth 18 dollars. Drinks were overpriced, too. Just between myself and my fiancée alone we spent 70 dollars... For a plate and three drinks. But the worst part? The waiter comes back with a handwritten check. We produce our credit/debit cards (there are 7 of us) and eventually the cards get taken for processing... but then the waiter returns with the cards and the checks, no payment processed explaining that they don't do split checks. Further, we have only the handwritten check with no pricing written down and have to MANUALLY WRITE DOWN THE PROPER AMOUNTS OURSELVES. So my friend is writing down stuff, getting the calculator out, figuring out taxes, the whole nine yards. It's taking so long that I leave to go find an ATM, and come back with forty dollars, mentally thinking that our share would be around 36. So when I came back, I was shocked to learn that after figuring it out we owed another thirty! So I left AGAIN to get more cash but by the time I came back the amounts had been processed on the debit cards. I asked the manager why we had to go through with this inconvenience and she was extremely defensive and combative about the whole thing. She explained that the policy was in place all because she didn't have a fancy POS system and only a landline to process payment. Guess what? Not my problem! This was easily the worst restaurant I've been to in Seattle.
(1)Sarah L.
If you like jazz music! Please come and visit here they have really good show jazz music.....! You can go on their Web site and check calender. ...
(5)Charity S.
As a big fan of jazz music who also frequents other established jazz venues in both Seattle and NYC, I can't even begin to describe how disappointing Tula's is. Unfortunately, this opinion has nothing to do with the food or the location. It is entirely based on how incredibly rude their staff is. I've been coming here for about 2 years now, so I feel confident in saying that the staff members at Tula's are consistently rude, patronizing, and take away from being able to enjoy the experience with their negative attitude. Staff members have been argumentative and rude to not only myself but my friends and family members who have dined here as well, so I don't feel that this is an isolated experience. I have never been to an establishment that has consistently made mefeel like riff raff that walked in off the street despite being a frequent well-paying customer. My brother plays shows at this venue occasionally, and the only reason I've kept returning is to support him. The bartender was so rude to my friend on one occasion, that she actually left the show. I would only come here if you want to pay a lot of money to feel very uncomfortable for a few hours of your life.
(1)W B.
I love Tula's! Such a great place to listen to jazz and an integral part of the Seattle jazz community. There's live music every day! The recently revamped menu is pretty tasty, the service is excellent and as a recent participant in a Vocal Showcase I have nothing but great things to say about this venue. Our server was very busy yet still attentive, regularly checking on my party of four while also managing a party of 10+ and two other tables. Prices are comparable to other Seattle venues and you can't beat the live music!
(4)Eric B.
drinks are named after jazz musicans- and the scotch selection is amazing. The venue is very intimate-its coool.
(4)David O.
Best old fashion I've ever had, ever. Awesome music, great service. The cover charge was lame and I wish there wasn't one but it was worth it. I wish they marketed the place better because a venue that cool with such classic music deserves to be packed, and it was pretty empty. Overall, good vibe...I had fun.
(4)Cathy N.
I went there for a showcase of singers had a lovely time. While I really, really, really wanted to quietly sway in the corner to the romantic music with my date, we respected the rules and stayed seated. That is probably my major "aw, come on!" complaint. (just a little dancing corner? Pretty please? The place is large enough... We didn't eat dinner there because their menu didn't have enough variance to suit both our dietary/allergy issues, but we had cocktails and my date had the flourless chocolate cake, which I think he liked since he ate it all. (We are kind of chocoholics.) The service was really perfect. I had the Billie Holiday, which was two of favorite boozes mixed together and I think it will become a personal staple now! Date had the Laphroaig 10 yr Islay and it was.... heaven. I can still catch hints of it on my scarf and it's a dream. I would implore them to include more GF and Vegan menu items so I can eat there and not just drink... tho' drinkin' ain't bad...
(4)Jennifer O.
The service is very bad. It's truly unfortunate that one of the only purely jazz houses has inflated prices and truly terrible service. I was singing in a workshop performance on Oct. 27th, 2014. I was the last of eight singers to perform. I had over 20 friends and family there to see me, and here are some the complaints collected: 1. Two my guest were sat and then forgotten. 2. There was apparently a $5 per person per set minimum on top of the $10 cover. (To see students? That's pretty steep). 3. One of my tables was a group of four who met the minimum because two of the four were drinking. However, the waiter would not allow the extra money above the minimum to cover the other two guests and forced them each to order a $10 minimum off the menu, despite the table bill being over the minimum. (So, cheap and classless). 4. My father ordered a diet coke, a drink he consumes every day at least twice. He sent the coke back because it was flat. The waiter then returned to tell him that in fact he tested it, and it was fine. WTF? 5. The food is overpriced. Yes, you should come support the music, but be aware of the hidden costs and very very bad classless service.
(1)Babak K.
You are greeted and seated quickly and water is poured for you immediately, while you look at the menu. 35 minutes pass, and no one comes to take even your drink order, however, you have been served more water at least three more times, even though you have only had a few sips out of boredom. Eventually, a completely disinterested waiter will come to your table, with no recommendations on the food or drinks, and you will wait another 20 minutes for your drinks to arrive, during which time you will be more served more water. The food is nothing to rave about, and it is ridiculously overpriced. The sound system seems to be non-existent, and the tables are so close to each other it is hard to not be distracted by other people. However, there is plenty of water to be served. The old sign from Bud's Jazz Records in Pioneer Square was the only comforting item in the venue, and a reminder of days gone by. So, here is my suggestion, eat and drink somewhere else, ANYWHERE else in Seattle actually, and come to Tula's to support and enjoy the music. If you can, sit at the bar in front of the stage, since that is the only decent spot where you can hear a good sound mix. I have no problem paying $20 cover charge to support talented and hard working local musicians, but everything else in the establishment, is pretty much insulting to customers. Oh, and come thirsty, since they do have plenty of water to serve.
(1)Rob W.
Music is the featured item on the menu... jazz music in particular. The best and brightest musicians play here regularly, on a rotating calendar which makes it easy to find something that suits your taste. Big band jazz with a burger on Sunday. Hot Latin jazz with Diablo prawns on Wednesday. The menu does a great job with beer and wine; sit at the bar if you want to order a cocktail. And by all means, tip the musicians even though there's a cover charge.
(4)Chester M.
Pick anything it's gonna be good!!!
(5)Adam W.
Tula's serves up Mediterranean/American food. I came for the jazz, and decided to eat after I saw some of the dishes around me. I got the Pacific Northwest Seafood Stew: Tiger Prawns, Scallops, and Fin Fish in a Saffron-Garlic cream sauce. The Saffron shone through, and the garlic didn't overpower. The stew was topped with micro greens that gave it an earthy balance. I wish the portion was larger for $26, but can't complain about the quality of the seafood. Or that is was sourced locally. I am curious, however, what sorts of finned fish comprised that portion of the dish. The chunks were flavorful, but a bit overcooked. The service could have been better. It took a while to get some attention and order a second drink. It seemed like they were understaffed during the first set, but managed to catch up by the third. I paired my fishy feast with a Basil Hayden bourbon. First on the rocks, then up in a snifter. I will definitely be returning.
(4)M F.
Good atmosphere and great jazz. The food was good as well (scallops were great), but overall, a bit overpriced - they charged for bread, which was definitely surprising based on the price of the entrees.
(3)Elyse S.
This is a touch one. I say 2.5.. or better yet.. 2 on food, 4 on live music.. so I guess 3 stars might be alright. Unfortunately, the staff knew virtually nothing about Gluten Free. I know that going places that serve non-american food is dicey for my allergy. I ended up eating a lamb burger patty. Nothing special. My friend's food looked much better than mine.. that gluten eating biotch.. ::sigh:: Our server wasn't very attentive so I felt like we had to jump up and down and wave him down for a drink refill or the check. Maybe he was just enjoying the good music. anyways. The music was great. We had a good seats and I really enjoyed the show.
(3)Katharine J.
Amazing Jazz shows, attentive servers, great food. What's not to love?
(5)Susan C.
When going to see live music, it helps to know who's playing and whether that person/band will be any good. Otherwise, the experience may be a let down, especially when the food is subpar, the drinks are meh and the service can be a bit tedious. I've been several times to see various great acts, with and without dinner. The food is very basic - don't go expecting to have a culinary experience - this is a basic jazz club. We usually eat first then go for the music. Tula's is also a rather small space, so you get to see the band up close and personal. But because it's a small space, expect the table next to you to be talking loudly throughout the performance. I have no issue with paying $10 cover at the door for a good act - I mean, the place has to make money somehow, if you're only ordering a glass of wine and staying for a three-hour show. While other places, like Triple Door or Jazz Alley may be larger and more swank, I enjoy the intimacy and down-to-earthedness of Tula's, and if there's a good act will go back again.
(3)Bill S.
5 stars - it's all about the music. For live jazz, I go to Jazz Alley or the Triple Door once or twice a year. I go to Tula's once or twice a WEEK whenever I can. I only discovered Tula's a couple of months ago and I've only ever been on weeknights (Sunday through Wednesday) as I am primarily interested in the big bands that regularly play those nights. Sundays (the Jim Cutler Orchestra) are my favorite. Cover charges range from $5 to $10 for big bands - best deal in town. Without the music, there's not much to get too excited about but - for me - it's all about the music. Not that every performance is always stellar. There's a wide variety of big bands performing - at different levels. Bands range from relatively polished to less polished "rehearsal bands" and the occasional earnest high school or college band. Some of the bands have much stronger / more capable soloists than others. The big band performances at Tula's are very informal in general - some of the big bands appear to have up to 33% "subs" filling in on any given night. But for a big band fan like me, this place is heaven. Full Disclosure - maybe I'm not a typical visitor. I almost always visit Tula's alone as my wife/family/friends do not share my passion for big band jazz. I am not particularly concerned with the atmosphere. Tula's furnishings are perfectly OK with me - but I'm not trying to impress anyone - and it feels "authentic," like a jazz club should feel. I am not particularly concerned with the service (I have never had any complaints, but I'm never in a hurry and am not particularly "fussy" about service anyway). I have eaten there a few times but typically go to Tula's after eating elsewhere as the prices are high and the food is nothing special (not terrible but not great - especially for the prices - although I think the chicken dish is pretty good). I can't comment on drinks as I've never ordered anything more than coffee or (bottled) beer. But again - it's all about the music. 5 stars.
(5)Mo G.
Date night, Friday: band, Bill Anschell Trio. We initially planned to eat elsewhere, and are so glad we didn't! Got there early...they discount the cover charge, and snagged the best seat in the place. The evening started off with a very lovely Manhattan, and some delicious crab cakes. We then split a nice smoked salmon fettucine and, for dessert, a lemoncello/mascarpone delight. And a glass of port! The dim lighting, glowing candles, great piano jazz at the perfect volume (not amped too loudly), cozy drinks, good food and attentive but quiet, respectful server all combined to make this the perfect evening. I hear the place has had a bit of a facelift, both the venue and the menu... so if you haven't been here in a while, do give it another try! We'll definitely be back.
(5)Josh B.
I really like Tula's. It's by no means the best jazz you'll ever hear. But it has a really casual, intimate atmosphere. There's not a touch of snobbery about this place. The food here is actually quite good; they have a lot of good appetizers that you can ejoy while listening to the music, and also have nice entrees so you can go for dinner and a show. Though the music isn't as good (or at least not as well known), Tula's can feel more authentic than some of the swankier jazz spots in Seattle (like The Jazz Alley). I'd recommend avoiding the amateur nights (I think that's Monday) unless you know what you're signing up for.
(3)Tim O.
Not a huge jazz aficionado (but I do sure like 'jazz hands'), this place is pretty cool. Saw the BCC Jazz Band play there and the place was packed. Good solid drinks and good acoustics.
(4)Robby L.
Tula's is great fun for late night drinks and enjoying the music. Let you guests know its time to loosen up and relax, feel the flow.
(3)Anthony P.
I've been twice and both times had a really negative experience. I will say that they book phenomenal jazz performances. The music I've heard has been great. My complaint is with the staff, particularly one older guy who works there (is he the manager or owner?). I've seen him yell at staff AND customers both times I was there. Not a good sign. I was also frustrated with my small and cold order of expensive fries and the overpriced drinks. It's too bad that the great music can't be matched with a great staff and dining experience. I won't be going back.
(2)Becky S.
I was visiting from out of town and after a blah experience in Capitol Hill, my friend and I went to Tula's. As an avid jazz fan, I was stoked to go. Tula's combines my two favorite things, greek food & jazz. The venue was a little smaller compared to Dazzle (in Denver), but it had its own unique flair. The waiters were great and the door guy was a hoot.
(4)RowerRob C.
Cozy place. It's always a pleasure to watch the house band perform... though it's a tad loud for a place that small. =) Always a pleasure to listen to whatever they bring in... this is my hideout from the regular clubbing & salsa dancing.
(4)Danielle A.
We were tricked! Door man said we didn't have to pay a cover as long as sat at the bar. This must have been code for the bartender to charge us an arm and a leg for a drink. $9 for a Crown Royal w/ soda? Not only was it outrageously expensive but it was weak. A measured poor!!! Are you kidding me?
(1)eddie v.
Needed a place to have a nice date with my wife, so I found Tula's in Belltown. Figured if it wasn't something that we liked we can go to the other places in the area. Well let's start with the food, it was good. I didnt try the lamb since im not a big fan. The scalloped pasta was "delicious" as my wife stated. I had the gnocchi and wild mushrooms and that good. The menu was good and relatively in expensive, most dishes were under $20. The atmosphere was good, very relaxed as others have stated. We didn't know what to ware and found out that we weren't under dress(jean/sweater). The waitress we had was good, made sure that the drinks kept coming. Its a place you can definitely drink too much as we did. Great place and I'll definitely go there again.
(4)Kathleen D.
First, a caveat: I'm not exactly impartial here. I'm at Tula's all the time because my hubby is a jazz musician. I've spent way too many nights sitting here drinking. But here's what's true - Tula's is the only venue I know of where you can see local jazz acts 7 nights a week with a small cover, AND get great drinks AND good food. The staff at Tula's is like my family, and what I would recommend to you, if you're a jazz fan, is to go to Tula's often. Get to know them, and have them get to know you, and they will look out for you like an old friend. You'll be glad to see them, and you'll enjoy some great local jazz. Warning to those looking for a romantic evening. This is a small venue with big music and it's not meant for chatting. If you're content to hold your date's hand and drink while listening, you'll be fine. The food is good and solid greek (mainly). If you're not partial to greek food, order a hamburger; they're quite good.
(5)Jennifer K.
I went to Tula's to see my friend play in his new group on Saturday night at midnight. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed. I wouldn't describe the décor as "classy"...more like "college pub-y". The music sounded great and we had fun, as did the multi-age crowd, from the 22-year-olds dirty dancing by the bar to the 50-somethings sitting at the tables near the window. I would definitely go back if my friend plays there again.
(3)Nicole F.
If you're a regular jazz club goer, this place is definitely strange. The stage directly faces the bar, so few tables actually face the stage--and the people who seat you do not seem to have any concept of seating you in the 'best seat in the house'--they seem to randomly assign people to bad tables when there are way better seats in the house. Plus, they charge you $10 for an open mic night--ridiculous. This place always makes me scratch my head as it has the reputation of being the oldest and best jazz club in Seattle, but the only part of that statement that is true is the "old" part--it needs a serious update. The bathrooms are scary. I seriously want to buy this place someday and overhaul it--the bar needs to be in a different place and all the tables need to face the center of the stage--the feng shui is so messed up here. Plus, the service is terrible. I'll pass on this place.
(2)Ass Man Z.
I like this place more than Jazz Alley and it has Tom, a long time Belltown fixture serving you drinks.
(5)Annalisa S.
For a $5 cover charge this is the best jazz you can get in Seattle. Yeah, it's a bit cramped, but it only makes it all the more real, and the sound that much better and intimate. Don't plan on talking much except in between sets, since it's pretty darn loud in there, but just sit back and let the cool (or hot) wash over you.
(4)Rick L.
Located on 2nd is this interesting little bar that heralds good jazz and mixes it in with good drinks and food. An excellent place for a date, not just because of the atmosphere, but the music as well.
(5)Cory C.
The service was poor, at best. The forgot one of our meals and it was always an effort to get your drink refilled. They also charge for refills of soda, even if you're a designated driver.
(2)S S.
Tula's is a live jazz music venue in Belltown. They serve food and drinks (separate from cover). The good thing about this place is that the cover is cheap, compared to like Jazz Alley. Nevertheless, their music is almost always good. It's a pretty small place so it's cozy and you get to sit very close to the stage. They have a calendar on their website that indicates who's playing when, so I would check it out.
(4)Dan P.
I wanted to like it.. I tried so hard, really! Between the cranky patrons and aloof waitstaff I was definitely left wanting. The high prices and forgettable music was just too much to handle. Beltown is great; this place isn't.
(2)Robyn H.
Nice and casual, Tula's lets you relax and listen to some good jazz without feeling like you should be dressed in a tux or evening gown. Its a great place to have a birthday party, just call in advance and let them know.
(5)megan d.
actautly not a bad stop to check out some jazz and appts and cocktails. really quite enjoyable little place. i probly swing by here a couple times a month justto check out what's happin'
(4)