07/17/08

Great music, but food and svc blues!

by Bikerblues

If you go for the music, you won't be disappointed. The layout is a bit awkward, but intimate, and the sound is excellent. Most seats have at least a partial view of the stage. The best seats are reserved for diners, the bar patrons are pushed to the back. If you want a good seat, get there early as the place fills up fast.

The food, however, is mixed at best. I had the buttermilk batter fried chicken. The coating was wonderful although the chicken itself was a bit overcooked. The collards greens were traditional and good, the mashed potatoes flavorless. My companion ordered the baby back ribs served with rice and beans. The ribs were so-so, nothing special. The rice and beans were very disappointing, overcooked and bland. "I've had better at Applebee's", he told me. Ouch.

The biggest let down was the lack of professionalism in the operation. When I called earlier in the day, the very polite girl who answered said that the band would start at 9:30, and it would be $10 cover at the door. (same as listed on their website) If we made a rezzie and had dinner, tho, she said we would not have to pay the cover. Wanting to try the food, I made a rez for 9.

On arrival, the gruff doorman told me the cover was $12. (red flag #1) When told we had a rezzie, he directed us to the hostess, who sat us quickly. The band was already well into their 1st song at 9 (red flag #2) When all was said and done and the bill arrived, we found a $24 "covercharge" added to the check. (that's 3!) When I asked my waiter about this, he immediately apologized and said the manager would take care of it. The manager explained it was their normal practice but very quickly agreed to take the entire amount off when I brought up the issue about the website listing a lower rate than the bill. While walking out, I overheard two other patrons arguing their bill with staff. Lame at best, downright shady at worst.

My advice? Skip the food, enjoy the music, and check your bill!

• Pros: great decor, attentive waiter, killer band "Janiva Magness"
• Cons: food average at best, funny business with the bill

09/03/06

THE BEST CATCHFISH AND SOUTHREN ICE TEA SWEETEN OR UNSWEETEN AND BEST JAZZ&BLUES MUSIC IN THE REGION

by mckay58

They make the best dish I know of in the the the greater Hartford area if not the east

region they are able to capture the taste of southern cooking mixed chicgo flavor of

foods live smooth jazz&blues music the music is off the scale as far as been the

best around if there where combonations of music restaurant atmosphere with a

person touch on service make a great place to being your date to impress them on

what great style you have chosen for food, music and dancing.

05/12/05

Its about the music stupid

by jsnowden324

The food, New orleans style with southern barbecue, is much improved lately. Straitforward scene with the best blues bands around, and even some that aren't around. This place is fun and enaging - not for business suits or romantic evenings (unlees you're a hippie)

01/08/05

Not what it used to be

by jbf109

Black-Eyed Sally's used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Hartford before I moved to California 6 years ago. I went back over the holidays and was disappointed by the bland food and unfriendly service. The prices have gone up by 40-50%, but maybe that's normal. As with most things in Hartford, Sally's has gone downhill. If you want a beer and a place to hear good blues music, go here, just get a bite to eat elsewhere first.

• Pros: Good Music

From po' boys to a hopping blues scene, you won't find this much soul anywhere else in Hartford.

by Contributor

The Scene
Stunning original portraits of blues legends like Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy add authentic art to the gritty, folksy decor. There's not a better setting to listen and dance to the blues.

The Food
An excellent array of Southern specialties like po' boys, etouffee and jambalaya hit the spot. Slow-smoked rib meat falls right off the bone and come with your choice of Carolina vinegar, blackjack molasses or Cajun beer sauce. For dessert, try the tasty apple bread pudding. The hurricanes (vodka, gin, rum, triple sec, sloe gin, cherry brandy, fruit juices and sour mix) are so strong, customers are cut off after two. There's plenty of beer on tap like Red Hook, Sam Adams and Guinness.

01/06/03

Blue without Beef Ribs

by Deck

After leaving the Hartford area, I returned on business a few months ago and was sadly disappointed that they no longer have BEEF ribs. The pork ones (baby back ribs) are good, but I've never had beef ribs as good as the ones they had a 2 years ago. The waitress offered up what I thought was the beef ribs, but turns out it was one rib in worcester sauce on top of mashed potatoes, which was really lame for $20. Management offered to cover my bill, which was a nice touch. Turns out the cook that has been there the last few months is not the same one that build their reputation as a great BBQ house.

• Pros: Good Service
• Cons: Dissapointed

11/25/02

Great Food Plus Jazz!

by blondemacbeth

Great Atmosphere..especially when they have a jazz artist in residence. The food is superb. Down home cooking with a twist!

• Pros: Food, Jazz
• Cons: Very Crowded

10/22/02

7 on the scale

by lawgal99

The food is awesome. My favorite is the catfish with sweet potatoes with Peach Cobbler for dessert.

• Pros: Good Food, Fair Price, Good Location
• Cons: Noisy, Service OK, Crowded

10/10/02

a place to chill

by sl0wen

Black Eyed Sally's is a great place to go if you're looking to chill with a few friends and grab some food, although the menu isn't very extensive. The drinks are reasonable and the atmosphere is great. If you like listening to or dancing to live music, this is your place. Otherwise if you're the dj type, and really in the mood to shake your booty head on over to the Brickyard.

• Pros: food, good atmosphere, inexpensive
• Cons: boring at times, not too trendy, sparse crowd at times

08/18/02

soul food

by jgabriel41

having spent 5 years as a poverty-stricken student in the south, i consider myself to be something of an authority on cheap, messy barbeque and soul food- black eyed sally's does a reasonable job recreating the atmosphere of a roadside harley BBQ joint, but as for authentic food, it does a merely okay job. if you have a craving for collards, you can get them here, but don't expect too much. (nice, easygoing service, though.)

• Pros: noisy, smoky, live music
• Cons: bland food, cold macaroni, expensive