Keystone Korner Baltimore — Restaurant in Baltimore

Great Show, Terrible Service. 5 of us purchased tickets for a NYE show. Tickets were $160 pp and included the performance, a 3 course pre-fixe meal, and a champagne toast. Alcohol was available for additional cost. Despite the fact that we arrived 30 minutes before showtime, our server did not take our order for 30 minutes, after the performance began. Everyone else already had their first course. When I tried to call him over to help us and pointed out that we had been waiting 30 minutes, he responded that we "should have been there 30 minutes sooner". My impression was that he was rude and possibly high, considering he kept dropping his hat, bumping my chair, and knocked my friend's coat off her chair, all without any apologies. If he were the only problem, I might not have been so disappointed by the place, but the blunders continued. The manager was made aware of the problem but did little other than apologize. Despite the fact that Surf & Turf was offered on the pre-fixe menu, we were told they ran out. My friends had their hearts set on crab cakes, and instead of offering the crab cakes free of charge for the multiple errors of the evening, the restaurant charged them $26 for each. Later, the new server we requested only brought out 2 desserts, despite the fact there were 5 of us. 2 more eventually arrived. When we asked about the final dessert, the waitress claimed that someone at the table said they did not want dessert. Blatant untruth. At no point did management offer to make up for the terrible service by offering drinks on the house or reimbursing us for even a fraction of the cost of the tickets. To add insult to injury, our bills all had gratuity included, since we were a party of 5. I have worked in a country club, high end restaurants, and chain restaurants and never have I seen such obvious disregard for customer experience and lack of appreciation for patronage. It was obvious Keystone Korner just wanted our money and cared little about the quality of our experience there. Very unprofessional. The performers were great, but I will never return to this...

Pros:

1. Lovely venue - cozy and intimate, especially nice setting for a first date or any date night

2. Great jazz - performances by up-and-coming local talent as well as nationally renown jazz musicians

3. Very reasonable ticket prices - At the Lonnie Liston Smith show (EXCELLENT SHOW), premium seats were only $35. Cheap seats were $25.

4. Friendly environment - easy to meet and chat with others attending the show

Cons:

1. Wait time to get into the venue is a real issue - I went to the 7 pm show on a Sunday night and the line of people waiting to go in extended outside the building. Despite having pre-purchased tickets online, there was only one ticket taker and the movement of the line was way too slow. Luckily, the weather was good on the night I went. Inclement weather would have been disastrous.

2. The club offers a limited menu but the food is not always up to par. My corn and crab bisque was terrible, but the caesar salad was good. Others at my table complained about the short ribs but said the deviled eggs appetizer and the scallops with potatoes were good.

3. Parking can be challenging - Meters around the facility have a 2 hour time limit and are active 24x7. Valet parking appeared to be available, but on Sunday night I couldn't find/identify a person manning valet parking. Free parking on the street is limited, but might be found. Always research nearby parking lots before you leave home.

Overall, the things I like about Keystone Korner outweigh the things I dislike. Keystone may be unable to help the parking issues, but I hope they do address the wait-time standing in line. I especially hope that Keystone brings their food up to par with the higher standards set by the other, more favorable aspects...

I would like to start my review by saying I have always enjoyed Keystone Korner until my last visit which was 03/19/2025. I’m very disappointed because I bought my tickets early when I found out this show was coming to see Mia Samone. Me and my mother came in a few minutes after 7 pm that show had not started yet. I was told by the hostess that my two seats were split between two tables which was untrue and it was a couple who bought split tickets too, but since they came earlier they gave them my two seats, and made me and my mother sit further back. The seats where we had to sit were further in the back but were just okay seats. I told the hostess I was not pleased, she tells me to go talk to the couple, I told her no this was her job not mine. I told the other host and he says the same information, they’re split tickets I purchased very untrue nothing on your website says nothing about split tickets. I asked well since you guys messed up can we get a free drink, he says yes so we asked for a Long Island ice tea he says no I can’t give you that too much liquor only wine! What a huge disappointment we were that last to be waited to get drinks and food no discounts, nothing to say we apologize!! Very disappointing to pay for tickets and not get the seats you paid for and nobody gives two cents on how you feel. Not only that you pay for parking so this two hour show cost over $200 bucks for service that sucks. Keystone you can do better! To top it all the host look on his computer and there he found that I had purchased my tickets way earlier than the other...