It had been way too long since my last visit to Jazz (years) so when I got the chance for a recent visit, I was pumped. I’ve never been a big fan of Cajun or Creole cuisine but have already enjoyed eating at the Jazz.
Two of my favorite dishes were Chicken A La Mer and Coonass Chicken which is now under a more politically correct mask of Bayou Chicken, told you it had been a while since I’d been to Jazz. One thing I’d always loved about Jazz was the little baguette bread slices and butter they served as a free warm up to the meal. There’s not a lot I like more than bread and butter. I’m not sure there is a carb or fat that I don’t like. Put the two together and give them to me for free as a warm up to my meal and you’ll make my day.
Now Jazz, and the rest of KC, lets talk drink options. Lets stop with the Pepsi can we? I know you have lots of people come in and say “Do you serve Coke”? And your unfortunate replay is “No, we have Pepsi products” and then you hear, “I’ll have water please”. I can guarantee there is no place that service Coke that hears that conversation. I don’t care if Pepsi is less, your customers want Coke, can we please have this small request granted? Now onto the meal.
Since they changed the name of the Coonass Chicken I went with the Chicken A La Mer. I order the lunch portion but in the end I wish I had gone with the full option. It was as good as I had remember it, which isn’t always the case when you haven’t been to place in years, but the Jazz delivered.
The Jazz certainly gives you that New Orleans feel. The wood floors provide you with an authentic beer soaked sense that reminds you of your glory days. There’s no mistaking that many a good time has been had here. The walls look like a New Orleans bathroom complete with #s to call for a good time, be sure to add your after your 5th beer. If you want to be entertained while you wait for your food take a gander at the walls and your tabletop, you won’t be disappointed.
While the Jazz Louisiana Kitchen certainly has some more miles on its odometer it still delivers a nice lunch in an entertain venue. I look forward to my return visit where I’ll get to make the server squirm when I tell them “I’d like to have a Coke and the coonass chicken please”.
Steve is a Co-Founder of KCFoodGuys.com and is transplant to KC from Nebraska. His favorite places to eat in KC include Garozzo’s, Q39, Kansas City Joe’s, Runza, and J. Alexanders. He love’s ice cold bottled Bud Light or a nice bottle of red wine and will not pass up dark chocolate of any kind.
Steve, I caught your article (re: coonass chicken) while discussing with an old friend. I go back to JAZZ for ?? decades on 39th and love the place. Once I found Chicken a la mer, I was hooked but varied to Cajun Two Step (some of the long timers will remember – great stuff). For a time, there was a JAZZ up North off I-29 and close to me. I hate that they closed, but it’s probably a blessing. If it was that close, I may be dead (though well fed) by now.
Anyway,. . . . now I’m seeing the 2017 dates. Who knows if you food guys are still posting? Whatever, I did enjoy the similarity of our JAZZ experience.