Sam's Place Jazz Café — Restaurant in Milwaukee

Before arrival we checked the website for info on reservations, time breakfast was served to, etc. Upon arrival, the blonde woman owner came to us asking how many. We said 5 and then the story begins. She told us we needed to make a reservation, and we explained the web page said no reservations. She said well it's not up to date. My thought, not my problem we did our research prior knowing we have 4 or more. She told us to step to the side area and she would prepare a table for us. There was one table of 2 seated and one table of 3. No one else in the establishment. We waited and were unsure of how this was going to go by the initial interaction with woman owner. At the time we did not know she was the owner. No tables or effort to set up a table was in place so my friend approached her and asked if we could be seated. We were seated at a 4 table that was already small in size for 4 people. As we waited for the 5th person the place started to fill and musicians were entering. We asked the "host" server whatever she was what was the event and she ignored us. Things continued to spiral with her attitude as time passed. She eventually came over and put a 2 table with our 4 table. We were relieved because it was so cramped we were unsure how the meals would fit at the table. A friend joked how we would have to eat like the dinosaur with the short front legs. LOL Many more comments were made by the woman. The man server was so slow in putting in our order we thought we would never finish. We find out later, that is the owner Sam. It was Sam and his wife as the servers. By this time the place is now filling up with families as there was a recital for the Milwaukee Jazz Institute of students. Our orders were not correct and took forever. My sandwich was less than flavorful. My other dining mates said there meals were better. My hot choc barely had flavor as well. We were so shocked by how our experience was unraveling that we looked up how long the place been in business. 4 years already! They were operating like it was the first month. The cook started to bring orders to tables in shifts and was sweating and in grubby clothes. It was beyond ridiculous at this point. As I watched the woman serve the nearby table and looked at their food she told me I was nosy. Wait, what? Don't you want to display your entrees to entice customers. Who says that? No check was brought to the table. Finally, I said, I bet you go to the counter to pay. Sure enough~! As new diners we would have no clue. Others must have been wondering the same as the line to "check out" became very long and the man owner didn't seem to understand how to use his own system. Crazy!

On a positive, the establishment was very nice inside and the idea of live music was super cool. But beside that this place will not make it a go. We were wanting to patronize a black owned business in the heart of our city, but with lack of respect for patrons, unreliable web page, poor service, and overall negative vibe we will not...

I am generously giving this place 3 stars. The staff was very friendly, the atmosphere is really cool, and I love the idea of a daily live jazz café. This place has the possibility of becoming something amazing; however, I believe that the owners were a bit too anxious to open before thoroughly training their staff and setting standard procedures in place. Although, they were very friendly, I felt as if I was watching an ant hill with no queen. There were quite a few workers there, and a lot seemed to be going on, but nothing was getting done. Upon walking in, we weren't certain if we should find a table, ask for a table, or order at the counter to get our food and then sit down. We walked up to the counter, and asked if we should sit or order at the window. The clerk asked us if we were there to dine in, to which we replied, yes, and he told us to pick a table between two tables, which we did. We waited for 9 minutes before a waiter came table with menus. 6 minutes later, another server came with glasses and water and asked for our drink selections. My boyfriend ordered hot black tea. Another 10 minutes went by, and another server realized we had not ordered yet, and took our order. Another 5 minutes and the 2nd server asked what kind of tea my boyfriend wanted: green or black. The first clerk who "seated" us called me up to the counter and asked what kind of sauce I wanted with my Panini. (Sam’s Slam | $7.95 turkey and ham with provolone, tomato and basil) My options were BBQ, Teriyaki, or Honey Mustard. I was confused as none of those seemed quite right with the type of panini I ordered. I asked for Teriyaki on the side, which did NOT compliment the sandwich, as I had already expected. Our orders finally arrived after "almost" another 15 minutes, as did my boyfriends tea (with an apology that the tea was late). As a former hospital dietician that supervised a large hospital with a popular café, inpatient kitchen and catering, I am cemented that Phase Oil should NEVER replace butter. I suggest the same for this café. My boyfriend's eggs were glazed with it, his grits were swimming in it (Grits are never cooked in butter, but offered as a side to the consumer). It was rather gross. My panini was really good, except that it was missing the tomato and basil and a bit greasy on the outside. The chips were like the generic product you can purchase, 2 bags per box, but they were still okay. The prices were really great and refreshing. I would try this place again in the far future if it's still open. I believe it has amazing potential after more training, standard procedures and some recipe substitutions...

2nd time there today Sunday Dec 15. Arrived with a party of 4 and told Owner possibly/ very fare skin older woman with dreads that my parents were also joining us. She told me to "go stand over there and she'd get us set up". Some time passed and she came over and asked if i was sure they were coming? I said yes and that we could sit because id like coffee etc. Her reply was very blunt and rude and she said that they normally dont do that and sat us. When we finally sat and waited my son asked her if we could order AGAIN she was very rude.....begrudgingly took our order. She heard me chuckle and told me that i may be used to getting my way and she knew why i was laughing and they do things her way there!!!!!...because i respect my elders i didnt reply but she is extremely rude and i noticed other patrons complain about her in their reviews..... when i asked for more coffee she didnt say a word just brought it out....NO CUSTOMER SERVICE and its very sad..... my parents arrived and came and sat down her reply to them was "oh yall just sat down"? My mom asked her what were they supposed to do?? We asked about the jazz bands schedule and she was rude again. My family were all coming from sunday service, looked sharp and tried to be so friendly but that lady really killed the mood and my brother told her so. The co-owner maybe husband? Was a nice gentlemen but i won't patronize their establishment again... Food was ok but definitely not good enough to deal with her again. Very sad and i wanted to tell others to go and try...