Blue LLama Jazz Club and Restaurant
Jazz club · Main Street
314 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
![Blue LLama Jazz Club and Restaurant by The Blue Llama [Courtesy photo]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68042270/Blue_Llama_benedict.0.jpeg "Blue LLama Jazz Club and Restaurant by The Blue Llama [Courtesy photo]")
Highlights
Afro Caribbean dishes, live jazz, and creative American plates
Afro Caribbean dishes, live jazz, and creative American plates
"Blue Llama is a stunning experience, with crushed suede seating, midnight blue lighting, and a ceiling studded with tiny lights that a meal here feels like eating under the stars. Chef JJ Johnson, winner of the James Beard Foundation 2019 Book Award for American cuisine, brought his national shine and knowledge of Afro-Caribbean cuisine to the menu in 2024. Small plates include Harlem-style cornbread with sweet potato and peppa butter and Creole stewed tomatoes and green beans, and from the large plates you might choose the jerk pork chop with pear relish or the grilled branzino with collard greens salsa verde. Best of all, while you’re digging into all this great food, you get to enjoy entertainment from some of the best jazz musicians and vocalists in the U.S. The restaurant does accept walk-ins, but it’s wise to reserve a ticket online." - Mary Hayes Weier
"Blue LLama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor has hired chef JJ Johnson as its creative culinary director to infuse its menu with Caribbean and West African flavors. The new menu includes dishes like jerk shrimp, plant-based yassa, and boneless rib eye, reflecting African American foodways in recognition of jazz’s roots. The venue aims to connect world-class music with world-class food." - John Reyes
"Live music and elegant food is a perfect date night combination and both shine at Blue Llama. Diners can listen to internationally-known artists while partaking in their sophisticated menu." - John Reyes
"The jazz club has become known for both its live music and jazz-themed menu. The menu features inventive takes on traditional dishes like filet mignon served with bleu cheese fondue." - Monica Williams
"Blue Llama is relative newcomer to the Main Street area, but has quickly proven itself a destination for its live jazz and inventive menu. Although the pandemic has limited the venue’s live music offerings, diners can choose from a variety of distinctive carryout and delivery pop-ups options including Blue Llama Bistro (French), Jibarito (Latin-influenced), and sister restaurant Of Rice & Men (modern Asian). Order online for carryout or delivery." - John Reyes
