Gail A.
Yelp
We recently had the pleasure of attending a live music event at this venue on March 8th, featuring renowned jazz artist Brian Simpson, whom I will discuss later in this review. The venue is situated in a pleasant strip mall with ample parking, and while its exterior may suggest a modest space, it is, in fact, a spacious and beautifully decorated venue. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a sitting area and bar.
The live music area features a stage, and guests are seated at tables containing the food and drink menus. We did not experience a lengthy wait to be served. Our waiter promptly took our order, which consisted of Salmon Bites, a mixed bourbon drink with a shot on the side, and two beers, totaling a surprisingly $79 and some change, inclusive of a 12% gratuity. The merchant receipt offered the option to give an additional tip. Notably, the waiters started coming for payment midway during the concert when the lights were dim. Many patrons unknowingly paid an additional tip, as was almost the case with a guest sitting adjacent to us after we informed them a 12% gratuity was included in final bill. They read their receipt and was grateful for the heads up. Furthermore, the MC's reminder to tip the waiters at the end of the show seemed unnecessary. Moving on...
The Salmon Bites were beautifully presented but overcooked, although the coating was delicious. Another guest inquired about trying the bites and offered to share their egg rolls in return. We declined the egg rolls but gladly shared the bites, and they concurred that the bites were overcooked without our prior expression of sentiment.
Is the Perfect Note perfect? Close, but not quite. Although the ambience and service was good they have areas for improvement, particularly in food preparation, transparency regarding the included gratuity, and pricing of food and drinks. The total cost of three drinks and a $24 appetizer, inclusive of gratuity, seemed excessive at $79 and some change. The waiter gave us a customer and merchant receipt. My husband and I caught up in the concert failed to get receipt showing charges, and personally seemed intentional using concert distraction.
Reading other reviews there are quite a few complaints about food prep and over priced food and based on my personal experience I agree .
Would I visit again yes for events but next time I'm ditching the grub sticking to drinks and keeping a hawk eye on those sneaky charges.
Now, let's review the entertainment.
Brian Simpson is absolutely incredible! He delivered a breathtaking two-hour performance and the young local musicians who accompanied him played with a passion and energy as if they had been by his side since day one. That saxophonist soared through every note like a refreshing summer breeze, hitting flawless high notes that left the audience in awe. Brian's mastery of the keyboard was truly inspiring, his fingers dancing across the keys with a fierce passion, building a crescendo of emotion that swept the crowd up in its intensity. It was exhilarating to see him perform in his own space, unencumbered by time constraints, allowing his music to flow freely and giving us a truly unforgettable experience. The only thing that would have made it perfect was if he had played his exquisite love song, 'Never without you,' but even without it, the performance was a testament to his genius. I felt grateful for the incredible music he shared with us, including a sneak peek at some of the tracks from his upcoming CD, and I left feeling uplifted and blessed to have seen him performed. A God answered prayer.