Dazzle Denver — Restaurant in Denver

Update: Dazzle management explained that they no longer sell tickets for the area we were seated in and generously comped us tickets for the main seating area. We returned and the sound was fantastic. Their response was above and beyond and I’m pleased with their integrity in only selling tickets for the seating areas with good sound quality.

First, let me start by saying that I will forever support Dazzle. They bring in top jazz artists and I’m grateful we have the chance to see them in Denver.

With that said, I’m disappointed in the new venue. I had such high hopes yet the layout is strange, the acoustics are not good in some of the seating areas, and much of the seating is wildly uncomfortable. The new menu is vastly improved over the last one although still overall mid (which is fine that’s not the focus but nonetheless a missed opportunity).

A large portion of the seating area is near the bar which would be cool if there wasn’t a loud open kitchen just behind it adding clanging and talking to the jazz sets. The kitchen is so oddly placed that the waitstaff (who are great btw) have to carry tubs of dishes they’ve cleared from the other side of the audience outside in the winter time to bring them back inside a different double exterior entrance to the kitchen. If you go, do everything you can to sit in the main stage area otherwise the sound you experience will be muddy and there will be a lot of waitstaff activity.

My greatest disappointment is the seating and layout. My favorite jazz clubs in other cities include vibey, cozy booths and moody lighting. Oh and a kitchen tucked away in the back somewhere so as to have a good flow for staff and limit sound transfer. They are a respite after a long day where you nestle in for an intimate night of jazz with a date or some friends. Aside from the two long booths at the back of stage opposite, there is nothing cozy about the new Dazzle space. One person I went with said it feels a bit like cafeteria seating and she’s not wrong. If you’re unfortunate enough to sit on one of the cheap plastic disc no-back stools at the high-top tables, your body will likely ache by the end of a 90 min set and you may have been better off standing.

I’m still sad that Dazzle had a chance to hire a designer and finish a new space from scratch and we ended up with another awkward layout that’s not oriented around the best acoustics with cheap seating that is more fitting for a kids table at a large family gathering. I know it’s hard to make the numbers work on restaurants and venues these days so while holding my disappointment, I also give a lot of grace.

All disappointment aside, we saw Joel Ross for the second time at Dazzle (first time in the prior venue) and this is why we will always keep coming back. The groups that come to Dazzle are what makes you want to go to Dazzle. Just don’t expect the moody, cozy jazz club you may have tucked into in another city because that...

First of all, I should say that I have been a big fan of Dazzle for the entire 10 years I've lived in Denver. I think it is usually one of the true gems of the city and I tell everyone I know about how great it is. However, on NYE night this week my family and I had a really bad experience. I called in on 12/24/13 to see if I could reserve a table for four in the lounge area for NYE night. The lady I spoke with said "sure, no problem, but it will be a $15/person fee to reserve the table." She took my name and number down and said "I've got you down for four people for New Year's Eve at 9pm." I thought we were good but when we got there, they claimed to not have any record of my name or reservation. The hostess said "sorry, we require a prepaid reservation tonight - whoever you spoke with should have told you that. Sorry for the miscommunication but we charge $25/person for walkups tonight.I will put your name on the list and if we have a no-show, you'll get that table first." The bar was fairly empty while the tables were all full, so we decided to sit at the bar and hope for a no-show. I griped a bit, as did my wife, and the hostess finally offered to allow us to stay at the bar for the original $15/person fee. Not ideal but better than nothing. So we sat at the bar all night and had a decent time, but there was an open table all night that the hostess never offered to us. Finally, at about 1115pm she said "I could get you to one of the cocktail tables close to the stage but we'll have to charge you the $25/person fee because you guys didn't have a reservation." REALLY? After all of that, and all four of us having gotten dressed up thinking we had a reservation, making our case to her, etc. etc. etc. - she couldn't have just kept our fee at $15/person and given us the table? The table remained empty all night, by the way, even after the midnight festivities. Just a really poor way to handle a situation that was understandable miscommunication between her and someone else in her staff, but simple enough for her to make a quick decision and give us the table an hour before midnight. She easily could have given us the table and made it all better, but she didn't.

This place has great music (jazz, blues, etc.) and is typically a great place to go, but whoever this hostess was really gave us a sour impression of their customer service. I hope she is not an example of a new direction they are taking, because we won't continue to go...

Disappointing Birthday Celebration: A Review of Dazzle

Introduction: For my wife's birthday, we had planned to celebrate at Dazzle, a venue we had never been to before. Unfortunately, due to a rescheduled chemo appointment, she was unable to attend. I attempted to contact Dazzle to change our reservation, but despite sending two emails through their website and leaving a message on their phone, I never received a response. This lack of communication was extremely disappointing and reflected poorly on their professionalism.

Underwhelming Experience: Despite my wife not feeling well after her chemo treatment, we decided to proceed with our visit to Dazzle. However, the overall experience left much to be desired. The venue itself appeared shabby and neglected, failing to create a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere. Considering the cover charge of $35 per person, we had expected a higher caliber of entertainment, but instead, we were met with what can only be described as a college amateur jazz band.

Lack of Talent: The jazz band performing at Dazzle did not live up to our expectations. Their lack of skill and refinement was evident throughout their performance, leaving us unimpressed and dissatisfied. It was clear that this band had a long way to go in terms of honing their craft. The lack of professionalism and expertise further contributed to our disappointment.

Unwarranted Cover Charge: Paying a cover charge of $35 per person for such an underwhelming experience felt excessive and unjustified. We had anticipated a higher quality of jazz music and entertainment given the price, but it simply did not meet our expectations. Considering the lackluster performance and the overall condition of the venue, we felt that the cover charge was unreasonably high.

Conclusion: Our experience at Dazzle for my wife's birthday celebration was deeply disappointing. The lack of response to our attempt to change the reservation due to extenuating circumstances was unprofessional and rude. The venue itself felt neglected, and the cover charge of $35 per person did not align with the subpar performance of an amateur jazz band. Based on this experience, we will not be returning to Dazzle, nor can we recommend it to others. We hope that they take steps to improve their communication and overall quality to provide a more enjoyable experience for their patrons...