by mnypny b. on Wow. Apparently, this is what happens when a whole lot of money and planning go into creating a great venue, only to end up opening during a downturn. Pity. First, the disorganized mess of picking up tickets at the will call counter when the earlier performance is ending. People are trying to leave while others are trying to maintain some sort of line and it's just people bumping into one another. Constantly. No thank you. Then there's the wait to get into the jazz club area, which in our experience turned out to be AT the scheduled performance time, 10pm, not 9:45 as advertised. That might seem like a minor inconvenience, but people kept walking past the lines and up to the doors, only to be turned away. Again and again and again. Just added to the whole 'this evening is off to a really bad start' vibe. The performance didn't begin until nearly 10:30. Not a kind thing to do to your patrons on a Sunday night. Then there's the ridiculous situation with the tables--who thought it was a good idea to put four chairs around tables for two? Only small children and representatives of the Lollipop Guild could manage to make that work. What's more, what's with general admission seating being mixed in with the reserved seating, with a requirement that even if we DID pay extra for a reserved table for two, we have to keep the other two unused chairs at our table so everyone can look at our chairs and interrupt us to ask about them and just kill the whole point of getting a table for two in the first place? Oh, and while we're at it, insist we mash that table nearly up against the stairwell, so everyone, including the waitress, can bang into us repeatedly? And how ABOUT that waitress? Service was pleasant, but inadequate, despite the fact there were so many wait staff AND the tables were easy to spot. I'd like to see any one of these people survive a night of serving the crowd out on the floor at the Fillmore--now THAT is service you would expect to find somewhat lacking, but it rarely is. And why are the walls so banged up and chair upholstery stained? The place was built in 2007, but appears as though it's been around a decade or more. Given all this overpriced joy, I'm glad we skipped getting dinner here, and will not consider it in the future. I will credit the place two stars for the following: brings in some great entertainment and has taken great care on the acoustics. Au revoir, Yoshi's. I was so thoroughly prepared to fall head over heels for you. But your current priorities seriously diminish your overall appeal. Next time, I think I'll check out your older, more experienced sister over at Jack London Square. I've heard she really knows how to work it.
by Carri Stogner on Ok, i really like this place been going quite often. Music is good, drinks are good and bartenders are pretty friendly. get a bit packed but i think they are starting to monitor the lines a little better. Only downfall is the line is insane, i would suggest to go early. Luckly our friend gets us in right away otherwise there is no way i would stand in that line in the freezing cold. The crowd is a bit older which is fine for me i would say 27-37, you have your occasionaly cheesy people but they dont seem to monoplize the place like denim...
