Tomi Jazz

I came 20 minutes earlier before open on Saturday but had waited 2.5 hours to get in. There around 30-40 seats in total with 2 hours limit per table. You may be seated in the area where staff traveling across. The music and vibe are great with no doubt and I like Japanese jazz but not sure if I will come again. The omelette rice isnt as good as I heard. The rice has some harder chunk. You shouldnt deem it as a jazz club but a restaurant with jazz performance.

Was the wait long as hell? Yes. Were the drinks good? Also, yes. And did the jazz give what it needed to give? YES YES YES. Ugh I already miss this place, partially because I saw some fine papas eating there. Also because the vibes were chill and intimate. This was my first jazz club experience and now my bar is set pretty high. If you’re going, just know the place is a little cramped, but honestly worth it. Especially if you get lucky and see some hot people 😛

Wonderful jazz bar, the band is absolutely amazing. Great live music, good food and such a cozy-romantic atmosphere. We did spend almost 2 hours in line, I wouldn’t say I’d go again, but it was a good experience. Make sure you go early and make at least 1-2 hours for the line!

Amazing jazz bar and vibe. We tried the okonomiyaki and the pasta with tomato cream sauce. The past was a solid 10/10 while the okonomiyaki was an 8/10. We also tried all 6 cocktails but they were alright. HUGE alcoholic selections tho.

I am in love with this bar! If anything, it’s my favorite jazz bar in Manhattan. The music is perfect. A great selection of drinks. The food is also delicious, and the dessert is a must-have!!! The lines are awful and the times when I’ve been able to get in without waiting too long were either at 5:40 PM or 2 AM. 😞

Waited in line for 2 hours (on a Monday!), but it was absolutely worth it. The food was incredible - cod roe udon was unreal. The staff was super kind and somehow managed to seat all 8 of us together. Will definitely go again!

This place never disappoints. The atmosphere, the music, the service, the food, everything is on point and they are incredibly consistent. One of my favorite things about Tomi Jazz is the absolute maximalist decor… anywhere you look there are plenty of small details to absorb.The musicians that perform are all very talented and this is hands down one of my favorite places to listen to jazz, and overall one of my favorite spots in the city period.

It was an incredible experience and the atmosphere was on point. The only issue would be the wait time as me and my friend waited for 2+ hrs in cold weather. Aside from that, worth it! :)

What an amazing jazz club! The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, the food is so fantastic, the drinks are fun, and the music is perfect.Now, we got in line at about 4:40pm on a Wednesday and made it in around 5:20pm (they stagger entrance when they open so the kitchen isnt overwhelmed). Getting in line any later means youll definitely be waiting for over an hour, especially on a more popular night. I found it worth it, and Ill definitely be going again (still early and on a less popular night!)

Tomi jazz is my go to jazz bar in nyc. Their food is great i recommend the sea urchin coroquette and the cod roe udon! It’s uaually very loud inside because of the blender for the frozen cocktails + live music + people talking so I would sit far away from the stage and the bar.

A really nice spot for a Friday night! The line is pretty long, so it’s best to arrive 15-20 mins before open time. Albeit decent, I’d say go more for the deco and jazz than the food. Okonomiyaki can be a hit or miss as described by a friend who’s a regular, and the day we went was a slight miss.

A nice jazz bar to go to for a nice intimate evening. I had the oxtail rice and it was delicious. One of the waiters walks around filling up peoples water which is always nice. There is a $10 mandatory cover for the performances so just have to say that. The music is groovy and fits the vibes

Nothing shy of exceptional! I was floating ok the atmosphere, style, and jazz music. The Udon Curry Soup, whisky and Sake selection are outstanding, the cucumber miso is my secret winner of the evening!

I NEVER write reviews. This is my 1st one THATS how amazing this place was. This was the 1st jazz club I have ever been too and now they’ve sent the standard beyond the bounds of the sky. The atmosphere 10000/10 the DRINKS 1000000/10 and the food was to DIE for. I would not show up later than 4:30 on a Saturday because you do have to wait for a while but I’m telling yall it’s worth every second in line. It’s extremely intimate and space is very limited so I would definitely go here on a date or with a very small group of friends like no more than 3 tbh. But I will most definitely be going here again.

Unfortunately we waited 2.5 hours in line, I believe our expectations were extreme high and some plates were good like the corn croquette, mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto and the baked chikuwa with mozzarella. The chicken wings, fried chicken and octopus were not great in our opinion. however the atmosphere and the service was great!

Lovely little speakeasy! We waited quite a while to get in and it was worth every second. The atmosphere is intimate and romantic, and the music was fantastic. Drinks were also great - recommend the Singapore sling!

Amazing ambiance, service, music and food!! Highly recommend to come earlier as it’s first come first serve and no reservations.

This place is delightful!! Enjoyed every minute. Got there at 4:15pm to be first in line. So worth it!! The staff is so kind and accommodating. Food and drinks are super delicious. Volume level was perfect, a great relaxed atmosphere. Eclectic and a blast! I will definitely come here every time I visit New York.

Very nice jazz club with drinks and Asian food. I had a saketini and edamame, they were good. At 7pm they had a jazz band playing and it was great.There is a minimum charge of $15 per person when they play jazz.The service is the only thing I would give 4 points to because they were not very helpful and after an hour or so they told us to leave.

This place definitely lives up to the hype! The ambience is spectacular, it feels so cozy and a little magical. The live jazz was amazing and so was the food. The omurice was really delicious.

I’m from LA and visit NYC quite often. This place holds a special place in my heart because of how it uniquely fulfills my love of jazz and Japanese food. It is a small quaint place with intimate seating and lighting. The live jazz is easily able to fill the room. The food is also surprisingly delicious. This place is so uniquely nyc but I wished there was a place like this in LA.

The wait was long on a Sunday night, but the food & jazz of it all made the experience so worth it!Everything taste so right. Gotta shout out to the sea urchin croquette & Avocado pasta, both dishes taste so rich & uniquely amazing. The vibes feel eclectic, yet intimate. The jazz musicians are so into their music, actually preferred this over a show I bought tix to.I went alone around 5.40-ish, then got in around early 7 p.m., but hey, did ended up sharing drinks while waiting with a couple & joining meal with them. Definitely the perfect night in NYC.

Overall rating: 5Absolutely obsessed with this place. It’s walk-in only and I arrived around 6 or so with a 10-15 min wait. Def worth going around this time. When we left at 7:30/8, there was a line of 20 people waiting to be seated.I love the intimate feeling of the restaurant and the jazz in the corner is a vibe. I’m so surprised this is in midtown east. A true hidden gem! The food was so good and the drinks were delicious!Definitely recommend & will be back for sure!

Arrive early, as it gets busy and there is always a line! No cover charge Monday-Thursday. Delicious, flavorful food. I enjoyed the lemon drop cocktail. The cod roe spaghetti is amazing. Shrimp shumai, edamame, lobster scallion pancake, croquettes, all good as well. The place is filled with cool trinkets and beautiful mood lighting. Polite and attentive staff. I found it slightly warm inside, and we were seated on stools without backs (seating is very limited) and they only let a few people in at a time as it’s a small place. Those are my only minor complaints. I’m not a huge fan of jazz but this was a nice experience.

Hidden away Japanese jazz speakeasy vibe of sorts. Great Japanese food and drinks. Full whisky and sake selection. Jazz starts at 6pm. Super small and cozy spot in the basement. $10 cover Thur-Sun. Be prepared to wait online for a solid hour. No reservations. They accept cards but not Amex. Definitely try it out!

We had to wait for almost 2 hours in line to get in , but it was totally worth it. There’s a guy that works there - Rio. He’s a legend, the best waiter I’ve seen so far , he became our best friend for the night and brought us multiple free shots and is just a great person overall. Recommend this place strongly!

I knew there would be a line. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was that I didn’t know I would be treated with such disregard.We arrived at 5PM. The line was already formed and stretching past the Little Thai Kitchen. In other words, split into two sections to avoid blocking the neighbor’s door, as instructed by the signs. “The other neighbors can fend for themselves,” after all, they probably haven’t complained. No one from Tomi Jazz came out to say hello or explain how long the wait would be. They just open the door and let in the next few people, slowly, probably to allow the kitchen to keep up with the orders at a steady pace.After more than 30 minutes, the line stopped moving. In other words, all the seats were occupied. The next to enter would have to wait for someone to leave. As the signs ordered, the maximum stay at the bar is two hours. We were lucky, and the line moved a bit before that.The signs outside also instructed us to have already chosen what to eat before entering, so their work would be optimized, and the stay time would be shorter. They also said that everyone in the group had to be there to enter, that there are no reservations, and other duties that every obedient customer must follow to deserve being part of this “select group of privileged.”We entered at 7PM. Two hours in line, most of the time standing on the narrow, dark staircase that leads to the basement, with no one showing up to explain, only the orders on the signs.The place is very small, the decor is curious (not to say “neglected,” as no one dusts the objects). The music is good. All of this could have made it a rewarding experience, if it weren’t for the waiters rushing around, bumping into your back every two minutes, and always seeming to be in “fight-or-flight” mode. Definitely not the peace and tranquility I expected to find in a jazz bar.We were there because my daughter turned 15 and wanted to go to a jazz bar in NY as a gift. I felt bad for her and for all of us.The place has all the potential to be a picturesque and excellent experience (especially since the food is also good) if they didn’t treat customers in line like a herd of animals, if they handed out tickets with estimated entry times (physical or digital), and if they reduced capacity to 90% of what it is, so the staff could move around without bumping into people.That’s the problem with a hyped place that doesn’t know how to prepare. From the website, you can already sense the neglect they have towards customers and communication in general.In summary: it’s a good place, but bad.

The food and drinks were both amazing which most places only get one right if at all. Somehow Tomi jazz nailed it for both.Highly, HIGHLY recommend the pasta. Its on almost everyones pics and reviews for a reason and it tasted so good. I ate it with my friend before we took a pic. It was that good LOL. Also the mandarin cocktail drink was amazing. Tasted so refreshing. I tried the squid too which was so fresh. And also fries and something else. Tbh anything u order will be fresh and delicious.The music was amazing. Not sure on which bands play and the rotation bc I only went once, but im sure theyre all good. The night I went, the band was really good.Just a fair warning, there is a long af line to get in. I had to wait an hour. Once ur in though, its worth it. Make sure to bundle up if u want to go during the winter months bc u only get to stand under the heat lamps right by the stairs. Otherwise ur just waiting in the cold outside. A lot of ppl were there for the first time so it seems there are a lot of new faces. Plz go before it becomes even more well known/popular LOLAlso it was refreshing to hear Japanese spoken by the workers there. Made me feel like I was back in Japan.

Rarely do I wait for 2 hours to get into a restaurant. This was one of those rare occasions when it was entirely worth it. We got there at 5:50 and got in at 7:40. The food, atmosphere, music and drinks were all wonderful. Prices very fair. Highly recommend the cod roe udon and curry udon soup, salmon rice balls and green tea ice cream. I also had the road runner cocktail and it was delicious. One of those gems that is worth waiting for. I will definitely be back.

So yummy!! i was worried this was kind of just a trendy instagram kind of place that had a great atmosphere but not especially impressive food, but that wasnt the case. everything we had we LOVED, and it was all super affordable. the music was absolutely wonderful and it was a joy to watch the performers do what they love most :) we were seated in the back initially, but they moved us and another table up to the front so that we could experience the jazz up close. service is wonderful because they do try to get people in as quickly as they can! for us, it was worth the wait, but i guess good company plays into that as well. thank you for having us!

The food and atmosphere are unparalleled. The service can be slow at times, but they are always buzzing. Waited 1.5 hours in line at 8PM on Friday. Highly recommend trying all the dishes on the menu. They have an extensive collection of drinks as well.

Intimate jazz bar with live music and really good food! It’s first come first serve so prepare to wait in line if you come during peak hours. We waited about 40mins after arriving at 7:40pm on a Saturday. The space is very small and intimate, but with pretty decent air circulation. The live band is right beside some dining tables so the music can be quite loud in the entire establishment.The food proportions are BIG and the taste is wonderful. The Cod Roe Spaghetti is enough for a light dinner for two. It had a great creamy consistency and the cod flavour really came through with every bite. I’d get take out just for the food if I’m not feeling like sitting in. We got a cocktail called Clever that wasn’t to my taste, but my friend loved it.Would recommend for a 3rd date kind of scenario since it’s hard to talk but a great experience overall.

I bought the hype and it delivers, which is exceedingly rare these days. You’ll have to show up at least half an hour before the opening time (preferably 45 minutes) to ensure the least waiting time. Still, you’ll have to wait after they open since they seat one party by one party. The food is good. I had the mentaiko pasta. It’s good but nor the best ever. I tried the curry from the guy next to me (yeah, you waited so long you have to make friends) and that is the best ever. People who you meet here seemed solid.

Such a cute and intimate little place, atmosphere and live music were great. The food and drink I ordered were okay (there were probably better options on the menu but I wan’t too hungry to order the pasta or rice dishes), but still highly recommended to just come for the music.

Food was phenomenal, atmosphere was cozy! Fun friend night for great jazz music and good eats!

Absolutely incredible restaurant. Waited roughly an hour and fifteen minutes to get in, but when I tell you it was worth it, thats an understatement. The food was beyond delicious and the atmosphere was cozy and relaxing, while there was a live band playing near the entrance. Whether by yourself, with one other person, or have a few friends, I highly highly recommend checking this place out.

An amazing experience. There are Japanese notes throughout the restaurant - the musicians, the decor, the alcohol, the servers. It was beautiful experiencing an authentic night.The food was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the cod roe udon and seafood noodles. In terms of drinks, the Japanese sake was incredibly smooth. Each order comes with 2 servings of drinks. I really liked the Dassai 45 Yamaguchi. The Lychee Martini was also good but too sweet for my liking.Note: the food took a long time to arrive but the live music made up for it.Overall, I would recommend coming here for the ambience and environment.

It was a Sunday evening and we waited for almost 2 hours to get in. It was freezing cold and it really didn’t make sense to make people line up inside. I don’t understand why they cannot just take people’s name and number.When we finally got in, we were assigned to a table near the restroom (far away from the stage and couldn’t see the band at all). The servers were helpful when we requested to change table to the front, and our new spot new the entrance was better, view-wise.Since this is a famous Japanese whisky jazz bar, I went in with a high expectations on Japanese food and jazz music. But neither of them was impressive. The menu was simple and all the food we ordered were just plain. The space was rlly crowded and since the restaurant is underground it was a bit suffocating. Worst of all, the jazz music was not impressive at all and it rlly did not worth the wait.

This is the kind of experience and place you can’t believe exist in NY. I’m so happy after visiting here and I had try dishes that just blow my mind. So tasty, the place is amazing, the waiting time in the line is supremely worthy. The drinks !!!! Please try the PLUM WINE 🍷now I have a favorite drink after my visit 😊 definitely coming again to this gem from NY, NY. It’s a must to go ❤️ the live music 🎶 is just out of game, just PERFECT !

We visited Tomi Jazz randomly by searching Izakaya in the neighborhood near MoMA and didnt realize its so popular until we saw the long line when we were leaving. Its definitely a hidden gem located in the basement with a tiny sign.Their drink menu was various but the food options were limited. We had their Fried Brie Cheese, Karaage and Cod Roe Spaghetti to share with a group of two. The food was really delicious & satisfying, especially the spaghetti, which was creamy & flavorful.We are not really into alcohol but we would highly recommend people to try their drink menu. One of the best part of dining there is the live jazz music and the ambiance is lively & cozy.

This place is like a speakeasy. Great food and drinks with live jazz music; hence, the wait can get very long. My favorite is the cod roe udon. It is creamy and a little fishy - a very unique taste imo! The lychee sorbet is also a must try 🤤 The flavor is very apparent and they also have some lychee jelly cubes if you love jelly. I like fruity cocktails and the ones I had are very fruity; I didnt really taste the alcohol.

Be prepared to wait 2hrs to get in but so worth it!The food was amazing, I got the Omurice, wasabi octopus, salmon roe pasta!The live jazz band was right in front of me as I ate and it felt like I was in a movie!The staff were so amazing and accommodated for our needs.

This place has great vibes and is very tight but with good music. You’ll feel like you’re in a Studio Ghibli film. The Cod roe pasta is overrated, the flavor was very minimal. I recommend the omelette over rice with Demi glace it had a ton of flavor, way more than I was expecting. I dont recommend mainly coming for the food but rather for the ambiance.

A must go if you’re visiting NY. Food, vibes, and service are wonderful. Live Jazz (service charge applied to bill). Usually it is a long wait more than 1hr+ BUT it is worth it. My boyfriend and I always have dinner here when we visit NY. Definitely a spot to check out and try some delicious food.

Amazing. Lives up to the hype. Get there before door opens! We arrived at 4:45pm on a Monday and there was already a line. Food is great as is ambiance.

I cant speak on the food since I ate before coming here but this such a cozy spot that has live music and great sake I definitely need to go back and try more things and just vibe out to the jazz. Just be ready for a long wait this place is insanely popular

Arrived at 5:30pm on a Monday and did not get seated until 6:55pm. Should have arrived when doors open at 5, but even then you wait an hour for the music to start at 6. Once inside though, it was a great experience. Lovely ambiance, drinks were fine, and the musicians were amazing. If you have the time to spend in line definitely recommend.

Amazing experience! They combine a very calm atmosphere with live jazz, interesting decor, and good food, all with a Japanese oriental touch. Highly recommend!

This was the random bar we stopped by yet the best place in entire NYC trip. Servers are friendly, great jazz music & atmosphere. Waited about 10 minute to get in but definitely worth it!

Such a great atmosphere. Very cool jazz Japanese themed bar. Not only are the drinks are good but so is the food. The live jazz they have is awesome. It is a very small place so it is a LONG wait. Just make sure you’re prepared for that.

Was visiting town and everyone I knew was recommending me to hit this spot so I was looking forward to it. I love both jazz music and Japanese food, so in theory this place was best of both worlds.I am SO disappointed to say I have several complaints.Fyi: We went on a Sunday-in my opinion the worst day to go of the week from my experience.1. They do not have time limit for customers on Sundays and the space is really small. This led to 3 of us waiting for more than 4 hours. By the time we realized this may not be worth was when we were 2 hours in and we move about 10ft. We were determined to stay at that point because of the time we already invested.2. We got there around 6pm and were seated around 10:20pm. We got seated in the back corner where we could not see the band playing and it honestly felt like listening to jazz from a radio. They finally moved us to the front of the restaurant around 10:40pm where we could actually see the band play. I loved the 20mins I had seeing the band actually play. Then they ended their gig at 11pm which was standard for them on a Sunday. Each person was charged $10 for the music. So essentially we payed $30 total to see the band play for 20mins. Also, knowing that the band themselves don’t receive any part of this fee was another bummer.3. The food was mediocre. We got rice balls that barely had any salmon. The bottom of the okonomiyaki was burnt. The curry rice and omelette were decent. I would only really recommend the cod roe udon. Cocktails were fine.So at the end if you are willing to get in line before 5 or right at 5 on any other day other than Sunday for the music and vibe, it might be worth a visit. If you plan on visiting this spot on a Sunday after 5, don’t.

This place is Japanese jazz bar. It locates at basement, so it was hard to find. Inside is really small and I felt a bit stuffy. However, the food is amazing. I ordered Japanese curry, cream pasta with fish roe, and maybe Potato Korokke; those food were nicer than I expected!! However, the food is not enough for even one person. You should order several dish!

The food and drink was great. And the service was standard. The live jazz music was very nice but too many people and no space for relaxing in there (the table was too tight) and some people talk too loud bcoz they were not coming for the music.

The food was fine and the other services were fine too but only one employee was too unfriendly.We ordered two food and two drinks and some female employees asked us “Do you need some desserts? So we said “No thank you” And when we were listening to music we didnt ask for a check, but the same woman asked to keep going about the check. So we ordered another small dish, and we were eating it, and she took our plates without asking us. And then She asked, “Do you want to check?” again.I was so annoyed because I was listening to music while concentrating and kept asking for checks. We had only been in there for an hour.The atmosphere was nice and the other hall staff were so friendly but we just left there during the break because the female staff was offended.I wanted to enjoy it more because I met my friend after a long time, but the female employee made me feel worse.(She didnt even apologize if she bumped into her in the hallway. HAHA)

Came here on 12/18 for dinner. The place opens @ 5pm.Arrived on line around 5:05pm and there was already a long line. I waited almost 2 1/2 hours to get into the restaurant. It started raining about 1 hour into waiting on line. Walked in and sat down around 7:45pm and ate from 7:505-9:45~pm, so about 1hr30-1hr45min dining time. Max dining time is 2 hour limit.Dining experience (my own OPINION):Drinks = Mandarin Slush (yellow drink): was ehh. Was expecting a sweeter drink, but not really. Tasted a bit bland tbh. 2/5 // Green Eye (green drink): was good, on the sweeter side. 3.5/5Food:Croquettes (Crab Cream on left/Sea Urchin on right): Crab was okay, 3/5. Sea Urchin was very good, never had sea urchin before let alone a sea urchin croquette. 4/5.Fried Brie bites: decent. Thought it was be a bit more crispier, have more bite. Nice cheese pull tho. 3/5.Cod Roe Spaghetti: apparently one of the items to get. I thought it was good. Bit of a kick after tasting. Filling for sure. And good flavor. 4/5.Okonomiyaki: pancakey kinda vibe w/ veggies and some meat if i remember correctly. for my fellow filipinos out there, it sort of reminded me of Okoy, but not too similar. Came out sizzling and smelling great, but i thought it tasted good, not great or amazing. 3.5/5.Omurice: before this Ive never had omurice and always wanted to try, so this was my first experience and it was wonderful. the omelette (once sliced open) was super smooth and creamy to eat, along with ketchup rice and demi-glaze. i cannot stand ketchup, but you dont even taste the ketchup rice and it was very good. My favorite dish from here. 5/5.Honey Toast w/ Green Tea Ice Cream: a big dessert. very good. comes with red bean paste as well. i loved the matcha and toast and red bean paste together. A very good dessert. 4/5.Overall thought it was a decent experience. Would I wait almost 2 1/2 hours again for this kind of food? Never. I could tolerate an 45min-1 hour wait, but for me, waiting 2+ hours for a 2 hour max dining experience was not the best move. I think waiting that long made the food taste good, but even then I wasnt fully impressed with the food, it wasnt life-changing but still very good. I hugely recommend waiting before 5pm. Id rather wait 30mins-1hour before hand and sit on the benches they have, than wait 2+ hours on a long line. It wouldve been a 4/5 experience if I didnt have to sit 2 1/2 hours in the cold rain for this, but 3/5 for me.

This is one of those reviews that you go back and forth in your head about writing because you don’t want the world to know and you want it all to yourself. Tomi Jazz is one of those places that you go to and it reminds you of why you love NYC so much. You arrive and have to ring a doorbell and an employee will come out and get you. When we arrived there was no line but we had to wait 10 minutes. While we were waiting (on a Sunday evening in the snow!) a huge line formed behind us. The place inside is small and that’s part of what makes it special. The band was great, the food was incredible (!!!), and service was on point. I’ve eaten at a lot of Japanese places especially in this area, this place after the first visit goes to the top of my list.

Aesthetics of Waiting🤍💚🤍💚🤍💚🤍💚If you want to feel special time, it is your chance to spend precious time with loved ones. The three hours you waited to arrive at this tiny jazz bar can be your best date with friends. If you want to share stories you havent done before, I recommend Tommy jazz bar, where you can feel the beauty of waiting .Food and service is like Tommy Jazz Bar :)

Cozy speakeasy style bar with a great atmosphere, amazing food and drinks, and live jazz music! The wait does get pretty long. We arrived at 6 and waited for a little bit over 2 hours before we got seated. One of the waiters told me that the line starts at 4:30! I do think though that it’s well worth the wait.

The indoor experience was very intimate and cozy. When the pandemic still in effect we have the outdoor seating as well. Still nice with live jazz at specific times.Still love their okonomiyaki and tebasaki!

It took us 90-100 minutes to get into the place but I think it was worth it. Very nice staff and atmosphere. Drinks were also good

One of, if not the BEST place to grab casual drinks and dinner for either a date night or friends. The vibes are immaculate. The food is phenomenal. The drinks are second-to-none. PLEASE do yourself a favor and go to Tomi Jazz. Also make sure to tip the band, they’re incredible.The only thing I can knock off this place is that it’s usually a very long wait (but that’s only because of how amazing it is)

Places like Tomi is the reason to live in NYC. A small hidden gem located in the Eastern part of Midtown, Tomi is a favorite of my wife and me. If you can get to Tomi before 7P, theres a very big discount for happy hour on booze and food. The place is quite small, so making a reservation is highly recommended. Otherwise, you may be able to get in on a time-limited seat, but most likely, youll be one of the many people standing outside on the stairs waiting to get in. The ambiance is very intimate and has an elegant chic vibe given the live jazz performance every night. Unlike most jazz clubs, the food here is to die for. Tomi serves up what I would classify as Japanese comfort food, and we have not found a place as good as Tomi despite all the places listed under the Japanese category in NYC. Our favorite things to order includes: gobo chips, any croquette, spam rice balls, avocado salad, cod roe spaghetti, gratin, doria milanese, and both versions of the omelet rice (om-rice). If youve never had om-rice, this is one of the first dishes you should try when visiting Tomi.

We visited the very popular tomi jazz! recommended to me by so many ppl so i knew it had to be good :)we queued up 30 min before opening on a Sunday night and got in shortly before 6 and got to hear the live jazz band play their music! the vibes were so pleasant~ having a live jazz performance while you have a drink and eat dinner is such a relaxing experience. we actually ate most of our food away from the stage but once ppl left, the staff moved us to be closer to the live music which was so nice!!also the interior decor was so beautiful. it was full of small trinkets here and there and carefully placed. it reminded me of the inside of howl’s moving castle!as for the food, we ordered a mentai udon and okonomiyaki. we also wanted fries but they ran out :( for drinks, i got a frozen lychee, which was a frozen rum based drink, and a pina colada! you can never take me away from a frozen drink. they were both good! no complaints here. my friend got a drink called green eyes and i think it was their twist on a midori sour but i thought it tasted too strong so if u don’t like the taste of alcohol, don’t get itto conclude, i had a really good time! i loved the jazz performance as well as the food and drinks. aside from the long wait to get in, everything was perfect. id love to come back one day! 🎶10/10

Mon-thurs : no coverSat-sun: cover $10I’ve been wanted to visit here, and on my 4th trial- i finally got to get inside!Came in saturday night at 11m- waited for 20 minutes without reservation. I highly recommend to make reservation in advance, unless there’s no guarantee of getting inside.Luckily, there were two tables not show up so we got lucky to get in. The servers are kind- one server took pictures for us(i did not ask him, but he was passionately taking photos for us and that was greateful. In addition to that i saw one couple behind us being quite sensative and aggressive but the gate lady dealt with them pretty well. I tried highball(japanese cocktail mix of whiskey and soda) honestly it was first time for me to try it so no idea if the drink was fantastic or not but it was okay. My boyfriend ordered house warm sake- it was really good for no doubt. We had dinner already so just ordered fried brie cheese(recommened by server) and it was yummy. I would come back to try another cocktail.

Small hidden gem. Place is small, low lights, booths are cozy and music creates the perfect romantic atmosphere. Id say food and drinks have fairly low prices but minimum spend is 25 :)There are long lines on the weekends so be ready to wait for an hour or more . I guess best time to go is on the first days of the week or get there pretty early if you don’t want to wait long

Arrived there around 6:20 on a Monday and waited until 7:30. But it totally worth the waiting! The music is wonderful and foods are good too! A romantic place for dates and meeting up with friends 🤓

We came here on a Wednesday night. As expected, we waited a little over an hour to get in but the wait was worth it! We were seated in the back of the cafe so the music was the perfect volume. We ordered the avocado pasta, the mentaiko pasta, and the omurice.The avocado pasta was the most unique (although a bit of a hit or miss especially if people in your party do not like avocado). One of my friends commented that it was just like a BLT. The omurice was very tasty and comforting, and the mentaiko was pleasant with a little bit of a spicy kick. Overall, we came to Tomi Jazz for the music, but the food was a solid 10/10 with affordable prices and great decor!

Good happy hour spot! I had the brown sugar plum wine which I thought was decent and my friend had the Clever cocktail, which he didn’t like (“there’s too much going on”). But the ambience is spot on. There was live jazz music as the night went by and that was really nice!Also loved their curry croquettes. Would definitely come back for those! We ordered the cod roe spaghetti because we saw so many reviews, but I honestly don’t think that was worth it. It didn’t have any protein or veggies apart from some alfalfa sprouts. The omurice was decent and the yaki udon as well.

I gotta say this first, the waiting was too long, but it was worth to waiting their music and even the foods..I was here two times, and the music was perfect same as usually. You have to try demi glace omurice and okonomiyaki, they are insane..

Excellent jazz club with lots of yummy food items and a huge sake and Japanese whiskey selection. Its a tiny dark, wood, basement venue that only helps create the intimacy. Acoustics are good too!

The ambiance at Tomi Jazz is absolutely enchanting. As soon as you step in, youre transported to a bygone era of dimly lit rooms and a decor that perfectly complements the soulful vibes of jazz. The place offers delicious food and top-notch service, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy a night of jazz in New York City.

Amazing experience. Waited 45mins on a weekday, and definitely worth the wait (would wait even longer) the food was incredible, the cocktails were great and the ambience was very pleasant.

No reservations and no split checks.Tomi Jazz is just a great time. Came on a Saturday night and line wasn’t to long. The live jazz was a delight along with the drinks.

WORTH it!!!! This place is literally jaw dropping inside. The ambiance is lit. Literally. The curry rice, is incredible. Everyone around us was eating a pasta, low key wish we went that route but regardless the curry was amazing. The servers are so kind. The bartender with the cute hat is 10/10. Will be back!

What a dinner we had! One of the best experiences we had in town. The restaurant is located in a basement with great decoration, clearly worth it. Thank you!

The atmosphere is exceptionally greatYou better wait before it opened

Welp, I stood in line for exactly 2 hours and got in at 7pm. Admittedly, by the time I was at the door I regretted even getting on the line and was certain the place wouldn’t be cool enough to justify the absurd wait. I was wrong.There really are very few places in the city that accomplish what Tomi does vibe-wise. A dimly lit delight for the eyes where every nook and cranny is done up with interesting antiques and oddities. (There’s an old-timey electric train making its rounds on the ceiling) I had a seat at the corner of the bar with a clear view across the small room to the jazz band. The music was perfection. Super talented musicians and not too loud either.The food, drinks and staff are all Japanese. You may as well be sitting in some speakeasy in Tokyo. An impressive sake selection accompanies an array of Japanese beers, and the small plates I had were very decent. (Seaweed salad was huge, fried Brie, and Uni Croquettes).Would I go again? Probably not any time soon due to the awful wait, but definitely.

Intimate yet comfortable setting. Food was all delicious, and endless spirits available as well as mocktails. You share the small space with a band, but you can still easily talk with your party. Wait staff is wonderful and went above and beyond for us.

Always a line here but totally worth it. Expect to wait about 45 mins to 1 hour+ on Fridays and Saturdays (live jazz nights). Delicious Japanese food and cocktails, great service, and the perfect cozy ambience for date nights and drinks with friends. Im not a whiskey person but they have a huge selection of Japanese whiskeys to try if thats your thing.

One of my favorites spots in the city right now. You may have to wait a while to enter, but well worth it. Food, drinks, and live jazz all phenomenal. Tight quarters. Unapologetically, but sadly not ADA Accessible at all. Authentic Japanese fare. Some notes of fusion, but great true-to-style-dishes.

Excellent experience! Got there at exactly 4:23 on a (rainy) Saturday and were first in line. They had QR codes to view the menu ahead of time though, so we spent quite a while salivating over that! It seemed like it took until 6 pm for them to seat the full first round of people (they staggered the entrances a bit) so if you get here after 5 you’ll certainly wait 2 hours until the second wave starts (+more time for the line that grows fast).Once inside, the ambience is incredible and the staff are extremely kind and efficient. The food was amazing- noodle entrees were only like $16????? And we got a bunch of $6-8 small plates too because we were celebrating a birthday. Absolutely delicious and came out very fast. And the music was so good. Overall there’s nothing I’d change about the experience and we’ll definitely be back!!

What an amazing amazing place. We were a party of 6 and had to wait about 30 minutes, but totally worth it. Food is not only reasonably priced but absolutely delicious, cocktails were on par, and the vibe is immaculate. A new Manhattan favorite.

Had to wait over 90 minutes to get in but there were benches to sit on. Totally worth the wait, music was phenomenal, atmosphere incredible, and food so good! Definitely try the leechee martini if you are I not fruity beverages!

Really great food, vibes, and speakeasy-type environment. Loves the little details. Mini Oil lamps for candlelight, memoribilia on the wall, etc. Nake sure to make a reservation on their website, they run out of space fast. Even opening time on a Sunday was almost not allotted. I tried Hayashi Rice, Tanmen Ramen, sausages, and proscuito wrapped mozzarella. Nice little fused variation. The mozzarella and Hayashi Rice stood out! The ramen noodles were delicious but the broth lacked richness. Sausages were just good sausages! All in all enjoyable and not too pricey!

What a fantastic little place to go. I visited as a tourist, but it looks like a great place for locals as well.The food was very good izakaya fare, and based off of what we ordered (2 different croquettes, 2 pastas) I would feel comfortable exploring the rest of the menu. In particular, the avocado pasta was well done.The service was solid and attentive.The atmosphere was the best part by far. I had never imagined what a Japanese Jazz bar would be like, but if I stumble upon one again, it will be compared to this place. Perfect for carrying on a conversation with our group of 3, but also good for couples or dates as well. There was a jazz trio playing during dinner service ($10 cover per person which was well worth it), but it never felt intrusive and added to the atmosphere.Overall, a fantastic little spot. One last tip is to get there 30-60 minutes before opening to ensure first seating.

Not worth the 1.5 hour wait on a Monday. Tomi jazz has a nice and intimate atmosphere, but their food is not the star of the show.I was personally not a fan of the food, and we tried a decent number of dishes that are popular here.I did like the mandarin slush.There is a $10 music surcharge which is now charged on each day of the week. The band was only paying half the time, as they take breaks in between. If you’re unlucky and arrive at the wrong time, you might just be listening to jazz music on speakers the majority of the time. We were seated in the back corner, which unfortunately did not have a good view of the stage.

I heard people say this is the Jazz bar with the best food in NYC, and I agree! The materials are actually quite common and inexpensive, but they made great food out of them. Our favorite was the seasoned petit squid. My only complaint is the waiting time — we got there very early, but still waited for an hour to get in.

The design, the atmosphere, the sound quality, the service, the food, everything is cool.The jazz performers I saw were very talented too.

The entrance to Tomi Jazz is hidden and below street level, which can be easily missed. Once you enter, the ambiance is dark and intimate along with a live jazz band. Highly recommend to get there before it opens (before 5pm) since they do not take reservations. I arrived around 530pm along with three of my other friends and had to wait about an hour outside. Its first come first served! Staff were patient and attentive! When the drinks and food arrived, we devoured it all because everything was delicious. The cod roe udon and omurice is a must!

HANG IN THERE - KEEP WAITING! The long line and wait time is worth it, trust me. Amazing amazing. My girlfriend and I went in 2021 on a whim and we were very impressed by this place. We returned in late ‘23 and we were met with a long line and wait. It took about 1.5 hours before we got seated, but it was totally worth the wait. The atmosphere, live music, food and service was all superb. We were very happy to have come back and this place is absolutely solidified as a mandatory hang whenever we are in town.Kudos to the owner and staff for making this place what it is. Don’t change a thing!

Gem of a bar. Super cosy atmosphere with awesome vibes and smooth jazz. Lined up for 45 minutes after arriving at 7:30pm on a Sunday night - well worth the wait. Definitely order the road runner cocktail.

We randomly went there on the late saturday night, no line, amazing food+atmosphere+drinks+service.

Hidden Gem! Cocktails were unreal, with an extremely attentive and personable staff. Ambiance is like no other - seating is intimate, to match the environment of the space.

This place is worth it only for the ambience and music. The vibes of the restaurant with the decoration and live jazz band is an experience to live. However food is average and servers aren’t very nice.

I went there with some friends to enjoy a jazz time but the we had to stay 2 hours in a line, it was raining and cold. When we got in a sing said that there was a 10 dollar tip and then the waiter ask for it, once I had already paid he said we will be charged different from the musicians tip so I felt like he wasn’t truthful with me till I already put my money inside the tipping bucket. Food and drinks were ok, but this place is so overrated, totally not worthy experience and I’m not planning to go back. Jazz was ok but we could see musicians because we were in other room. 😒

Went on Monday night around 4:30pm and there were less people, amazing FOOD and the band was great too!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND

When they say it’s worth the wait. it’s worth the wait. got there around 10:40 and was seated at 12:15. super intimate and cozy atmosphere with great music. at first i was a little bummed to be seated in the back away from the band but shortly after we were offered a table closer. drinks and appetizers were reasonable priced. only thing i would say is that we had to wave down our waiter when we needed something but otherwise was a great experience overall.

Jazz and food were top notch! Cocktails were mid though. Worth the wait for the experience!

Atmosphere really makes it. The jazz+ the ambiance brings it to another level, plus the food was good although the portions were small. Highly recommend the bar seating as it is some of the best I’ve been to. Very cozy. House sake was great and Ryu (sorry if that’s not how you spell your name) was an awesome bar tender, so friendly and a great and entertaining guy

This place has amazing live jazz and food! Truly recommend it

The best place for live jazz music. The sake and Japanese whiskey are worth to try and the server could help you choose which kind of drink you like. Omelet rice and cad roe udon is always good. Everything was perfect except the waiting time for Monday night is 2hr. So make sure to get here earlier than 5pm.

We got here early at around 4:15pm on a Sunday to get on line early. We were probably the 5th group on line, and made it in for the first wave of folks. They seat people slowly in the beginning, with probably a few minutes wait between each group seated. When we got in, we were able to sit at the small table by the entrance, which I actually preferred as it had a great view of the jazz band.Food was fantastic, and they get food out very quickly! Even though we were seated at around 5:10 or so, the music doesnt start until exactly 6pm. By then, we were close to finishing our food and I was ready to order another round of drinks just before the music started.The staff is super friendly, and they definitely dont rush you though they do seem to pace things where they do last call for food 30 minutes before your 2 hour limit (you have a max of 2 hours from Thursdays through Sundays), and last call for drinks 15 minutes before you have to leave.They have an incredibly extensive drink menu, so will definitely want to come back to try new drinks. But this time around, I stick with Dake while my wife got a frozen lychee which she really enjoyed (it was hot out!)

Its an amazing place. The atmosphere is very cozy and food delicious. I loved my seafood spaghetti even though I generally dont like shellfish. The service was excellent. And all that topped with live jazz. The only drawback was the wait time to get in. At 3h I found it too long. But I guess the place is so good everyone wants to be there.

Come early; Line gets ridiculous after 4:30 PM. Each table gets to stay about 2hours max. Musicians do not play saxophone which was a bummer. Music is mediocre at best but the food and the vibe were amazing. Shrimp croquette and the cod roe pasta were the best in my opinion.

Tomi Jazz always has this good ambience. I have been going since 2013. Staffs are very friendly and foods are always good. Only one down side is that to get into the place lol there is always wait, now they don’t take any reservation except Saturday.

Incredible experience. Highly recommend. It feels like you’re living life cinematically. The ambiance is wonderful and every dish I’ve tried over my last three visits were perfect. Totally worth the wait in line.

Must go jazz. $10 cover and great small nibbles and sake. always a line to get in but it’s worth it. stay for 2h max on a thursday through sunday. we went on a thursday and the line wasn’t too long - it moves quick. great jazz and cheap for nyc. food is great and the vibe is eccentric and immaculate. perfect date spot or for a night out with the girlies.

Great little jazz bar tucked away on 53rd st. Cocktails and food were good and jazz was great!

Absolutely wonderful experience, we were too late to try food but the drinks and atmosphere will definitely bring us back.

Spend my birthday here. Food is okay just regular Japanese food. The most delicious one is the cheese spaghetti… others are too sweet or savory. Music is tooo loud, I can’t even hear my friends’ voices. Service are good!

The food is incredible and great value. The jazz music is fantastic as well.

Its a cute place but honestly not worth the 3 plus hour wait. After waiting in the cold for 3 plus hours you are rushed to order, The food is petty good but its an average good restaurant. Honestly I would wait 20 to 30 m max here. Cute but not worth the time. It seems like its mostly hype and tourists. The waiters werent rude but they were very efficient. There was no mistaking us for valued customers. We were there to be processed and removed out of the restaurant as quickly as possible. Having the bucket shoved in our face for band donations (like not just passing with it they put it on your table and tell you to donate) was the cherry on top. Apparently the cover charge goes to restaurant, not the band. I think all the glowing reviews are mostly just escalation of commitment. I mean you have to say its incredible rather than admitting you just wasted 3 hours of your life staying in line.

Such a cool vibe! Loved the bartender! Great music. Probably one of the coolest things I did while visiting New York.

THERE IS A HUGE LINE. Be ready to spend between 0 to 3 hours in it. Yes even on a Monday. I spent 2 hours. Bring books, games, or a good conversation for it.With that disclaimer out of the way... What is on the other side is totally worth it!! The food is great, the prices are surprisingly ok, the service is quick, and the Jazz is solid! The ambiance is very intimate, so for small groups or just 2, its a very lively and charming spot.And something I must mention - the servers are very attentive! Once they noticed me peeking over to the Jazz players, when a table became ready, they offered my party to move. This was all them, I didnt ask. I really appreciated that.

Three hour wait but it was worth it. Wonderful staff, great food and perfect jazz. Go go go!

In my opinion not worth waiting 1-2 hours in line for. The vibe inside is very cool (although cramped). Food and especially drinks are great. But there are equally good Japanese places nearby, and i would only go here for a cool vibe

Hidden gem in NYC. Awesome food. Awesome jazz. Be ready for long lines.

Came on a rainy & cold Sunday night at 10 and still waited 1.5 hr to get in. However as most of the reviewers commented, it is well worth the wait.The atmosphere is dark, intimate and whimsical. It feels like a place out of a studio Ghibli movie or Haruki Murakami’s novel. Jazz was super fun and lovely. You do need to be smart about arrival time to make the cover worth it.Tried drinks and some bites. Both are wonderful but food definitely stands out more. Croquets are flavorful and super crunchy. Cod roe spaghetti is creamy and savory, pairing nicely with pickles which cut down heaviness.Overall a very unique and memorable experience. Highly recommend!

The giant rat that guards the stairwell leading down to the club makes this a particularly thrilling Gothamesque experience.

Went on Wednesday night for dinner and a bit of music. And we were all glad we did.Excellent menu and extensive range of drinks. Staff are brilliant and so attentive. Food is to die for!The place is small and intimate meaning you may have to queue so plan ahead.