The Dark Room @ The Grandel

Anita Jackson was amazing!! The ambiance is always great at this venue. I was a little disappointed at how long it took to receive our food as well as I had to send the coffee back due to it not being hot. Otherwise our server was warm & welcoming and our experience was great..

We had a good time. I am a big Anita Jackson fan. The frittata we had was the best I've ever had. Our waitress and the server were both very attentive. I want to try it in the evening, now.

Awesome experience! Music was great! Customer service was magnificent! Servers went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. Food was good...Definitely, will visit again!

Good food, good service.
Just turn the volume down a notch or two.
Would dine there again.

We continue to go back to The Dark room for several reasons. It's close proximity to Powell is so nice, with parking convenient and a close walk to Powell and reasonably price food you just can't beat it. The food is good, I had the vegetarian dish which was very flavorless, other guests in our party had sandwiches which they commented were flavorful and nice portions. I think our waitress was new as she seemed a little flustered, but very nice and tried to be accommodating. The music, sorry but it is just too loud. If Dark Room wants to be a showcase for music/artists you should wait and have performers go on after 8pm. Dinner music is fine, but two of our three visits the music has been deafening.

This place was great! Food was spectacular, service was impeccable and the artist was quite talented. We were seated close to the stage so it was a bit hard to talk here and there due to the sound level, but it was great music :).

I highly recommend the leek dip and shrimp and grits

Odd. The man on the piano was talented and full of energy but it did not provide for a good atmosphere for a drink and conversation. There was no way we could have stayed for food. It was early so I guess that’s why the crowd was older and sparse but not what we hoped for. The staff seemed friendly and fun but I don’t know how they could keep it together. Nothing caught our eye on the menu anyway. We decided to get the check and head back across the street.

We had dinner before a show at the Fox. The atmosphere was nice, no one was performing so noise was not a problem. The service was good, the food was good but not special. It was a nice place to go before Fox or Powell Hall but I would not come back just for the food alone.

Attend Fox

We arrived 20 minutes for our reservation. This was not a problem. We were seated at the bar and proceeded to receive excellent service, seated next to my date (my husband) and enjoyed the ambiance, the music and the evening! It was a win-win evening!

We had a reservation for 4 and were seated immediately.
The service was great.
Two of us are Vegans and there was only one Vegan item on the menu.
No draft beers. Prices are a bit high.
Our table was right on the side of the stage and it was very loud when the band played (especially the trumpets).
Not a lot of tables in that place but a lot of available seats around the bar.
Food was okay, small portions and a bit pricy.
Nice place to listen to live music!

The Mother’s Day brunch included only savories. Mostly eggs, meat, and bread. There were at least 10 things on the menu so it was surprising that no waffles or pancakes were included. We came for the music but the music stopped shortly after we arrived at 1. It was generally disappointing.

Excellent food, service, value and decor. I really like this restaurant except for one thing. The music is too loud. I know its mission is to present live music and we really appreciated the talent of the piano player during dinner. However, I find it almost impossible to eat and impossible to converse with my companions while the music is so incredibly loud. Even when we walked to the far end of the restaurant after we excited the theatre I could hardly stand the level of the music.

When the meal was complete, we were all miserable. The music was to loud, the food mediocre and the service slow.

Great spot for dinner and drinks. Especially if you are going to a show at any of the nearby venues.

I ordered shrimp & grits which has excessive oil on it. The trumpet player was nodding during the set while the other musicians sat there and watched him out of pure concern. It was very awkward to see someone going in and out of consciousness while playing a set. The server was great and very attentive but I would probably never eat there again.

Music, food, service were great!

A real gemstone. Good food (shrimp & grits, fillet, & flat bread) & good service (Amanda). Definitely makes the short list for us. We're already making plans to go back & see a show/catch a band as we were there early & missed out on the whole experience.

Excellent venue for a true adult experience. The staff was outstanding and the musicians were very talented and tuned into the audience. Will b a regular stopping spot for me.

We left without ordering. They were out of four of the entrees on the menu

The hostess greeted us happily and made us feel more than welcome. Our server was an absolute sweetheart! We started off with the hummus plate. We both ordered the soup of the day which was chicken, veggies, and rice. I ordered the brisket sandwich and my aunt ordered the artisan grilled cheese. We finished by sharing the chocolate torte. Our favorite was the soup, I could have ordered a bowl and nothing else. The hummus and brisket sandwich didn’t set well with my pregnant tastebuds but my aunt seemed to love everything. I will definitely return to this lovely place if I’m ever back in the area.

A wonderful experience. The band was comprised of middle/high school who were talented and professional. The food was seasoned well and reminded me of home.

The recommendation would depend on the person. Very noisy , canned and live music both too loud for the small space.

I made the mistake of making a reservation at 7:30 on a night when there was no early set. So there were no people And no music. The staff & drinks were great, next I need to check who is playing & when

The only way for a person in a wheelchair to get in is a side door off the parking lot and it was locked. So, couldn't get in. Had to pound on the door to get someone's attention; humiliating. I recently complained to the Kranzberg Foundation about the access difficulties getting into the Grandel, and they sent me a gift certificate to the Dark Room as an apology, so it was pretty exasperating and ironic that I couldn't get in the door to use the gift certificate sent as an apology for the difficulties getting in.

It was a great meal. My only complaint was that the piano player, who was awesome, was so loud I couldn't have a conversation with my friend across the table.

What a find this place is. We were going to the symphony and this was a perfect dining option. We parked the car and headed in and left after dining and walked across to Powell. The food and service were fantastic. We made reservations and the table was waiting as we entered. Only thing, it was quite loud as it is a piano/music dining venue. The piano player was superb, but our proximity was much too close and his playing was much too loud.

Food and service were good as always, but Ptah blew us away!

Was a great experience as always
Great service and food. Ptah Williams was excellent. A wonderful evening.

We went to the Dark Room on a Saturday evening before a show at the Fox. If you want to do this, I recommend you make a reservation, as the place fills up quickly, and it's rather small. We found that the service was prompt, as there were many people there for the show, and the staff knows to ensure patrons are out in time for the show. The food was excellent and not just the ordinary pub food. Quirky ambiance and a decent value.

The Dark Room is always a great experience. The food is delicious, the service is lovely and there’s always good music playing. Also they have local artists featured with the art available for purchase. Always fun to see the art of the month.

Food was mediocre... we went there because it was conveniently located next to the Fox Theatre. The ambiance was nice with live jazz, but between the food and service, I don't think I'll ever go back.

Even a Monday night Birthday gathering can be special at the Dark Room. The Young Cats of Jazz Keith Bowman Quartet played “Happy Birthday” for my best friend. The food and drinks were good, but they have changed the menu. So, some of my favorite plates are no longer and my favorite dessert was unavailable. We still had a great time until they closed the doors.

Salad bland, overdressed. Menu limited to start and at 5 pm they literally had no bread for sandwiches

We went here during the week before a show at The Sheldon. This has to be one of the worst dining experiences we have had in awhile. The wine was not very good, we ordered a cheese board as a starter, but the server brought out my salad first, saying our starter would be out shortly. It arrived with no explanation and was mediocre at best. I ordered the Quinoa Veggie Bowl which was to have sautéed seasonal vegetables- they threw some green beans in, that weren’t sautéed, and called it good. It was laughable. No salt & pepper on the tables. The water served had a bad taste and no bottled water was offered. I could go on, but I will spare you the rest. Maybe this place is good for late night jazz, but I wouldn’t suggest it for dinner.

We went for brunch and it was not good. Worst shrimp & grits I have ever had. My dining partners meal looked like everything (eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes ) were fried in the same pan and over fried to boot. $16 way too much for 6 shrimp and basically tasteless polenta. $12 too much for a simple meat, eggs, potatoes, biscuit that I could have fixed at home with more appeal. Entertainers were way too loud for the setting.

This was one of the best restaurants we've eaten at in a long time. It's not big so it wasn't overwhelming and it was quiet. Service from Amanda was excellent, what a sweetie! The food was outstanding. My husband had the brisket sandwich and I had the grilled shrimp. Both were flavorful and tasty. We both had a house salad first and it was nice also, not over dressed and with different lettuces which made it interesting. My husband had the lemon pound cake for dessert and thought it was one of the best desserts he's ever eaten. He wished we could buy the cake in a store, but obviously you can't, which is what makes the dessert so special. It was just a nice meal, with nice food in a pleasant atmosphere. We will definitely go back and are talking about going for their brunch also.

Such a great find. So close to Powell Hall and The Fox that we will return in the future. Great menu and service was wonderful. Loved our night out!

Food was ok. My salmon was overcooked. They were already out of a dessert and it was only 6pm. The wine menu prices are confusing and they use it to their benefit. I had to have my bill adjusted twice.

Table near the piano was a little too loud for conversation. Otherwise, a great place. We will be back. Loved the tomato flatbread.