Hey, watch out folks: Gertrude's got some sticky fingers. We were charged $12 for a soda on the menu at $10 (which was overpriced to begin with). Worst part was that they told us about the $5 per person cover charge (aka "entertainment fee") *after* we sat down and ordered! Waitress was very nice to only charge us half the fee since we left after the first drink. On the upside, the jazz was fairly good, especially the piano player who simultaneously played the trumpet.
Highs:- Live Music- Innovative Drinks- Dance Club Atmosphere- Fun LocationLows:- Could do with a spritzing up- Food is basic- Musical acts vary in qualityLocated in the heart of Kona's downtown Gertrude's is an 'establishment'. There really aren't any other places like it in Kona. It tilts towards a more 'experienced' clientele but can be fun on rock nights and salsa for the younger pups. Drinks are swanky and unique. One of the highlights. The dance floor can get cramped depending on the number of participants which helps lend it a club-like feel.Inside: The decorations and ambience are good but could do with a refurbish. The dark ceiling makes it feel quite dark. There are nice views if you reserve a table by the balcony overlook.The food is fine. The creps are serviceable and the nachos are something to fill your tummy with. If you are looking for fine cuisine check out some of the restaurants nearby for a pre-game meal. You're going to need it because once you arrive the drinks and dancing help to make the night go by quickly!
We had our wedding reception at Gertrude’s in Feb 2022. The venue is perfectly located and was a fantastic place to have a wedding reception! Gertrude’s is conveniently located and provides stunning views of the water and the incredible sunset! I have to give a special shout out to Emma who was our bartender during our event–she can mix a mean drink and was so friendly! Our wedding was on a Tuesday which made renting out the location very reasonably priced. If you do have your reception there splurge for a special cocktail menu–we chose six cocktails to serve and they were all AMAZING!
Worst dining experience ever. Ordered nachos and wouldn’t pay $1 for them, much less $18. The “Nachos” we’re basically raw veggies got cut up and slapped on a plate with some dry, semi-stale chips. Waiter said the nachos came with guacamole and sour cream but had none. Also ordered a virgin pina colada that just tasted like strong pineapple juice. The entertainment was basically karaoke. Waitress was nice though.
Occasionally they have some great music, but it's a bit of a hit or miss. The service can be good or just mediocre. Food options are dismal. It's currently the only jazz club in Kona, but I hear that they're installing big screen TVs and are going to turn it into a sports bar, which is really sad.
After sitting for 20 minutes, with not a single person stopping at the table, we left. Had other later arriving tables not been served we may have understood the lack of staff but at least serve in the order seated. Poorly managed.
Seven of us dropped in to eat crepe's and listen to Jazz. The Shenanigals were playing Celtic classics, and they were completely charming. Very much enjoyed the service, food and music, and will be back next time we're in the area.
I went for Saturday dinner hoping for Jazz and got rock and roll so loud that I still had to yell to the servers while sitting at the bar in the other room. I have no idea how anyone in the other room had a conversation. That being said, it was rock and roll and I'm guessing the crowd was there to drink and dance - not talk. Just not what I was looking for. I heard from a local they used to have awesome food pre-COVID. I found a menu 1/2 crepes and the rest starters and specials. I tried the chicken and pesto crepe, sauteed mushrooms and side salad. The crepe was more warm than hot, the mushrooms were undercooked and the salad was basic and uninteresting. Looking at their schedule, they do still have lots of jazz and I just missed it. However, the food would not be the reason to go IMO.
It’s a nice place! Tracy was our server and she was so sweet and attentive. I recommend this place for live music and to ??!!!
Oh man, I can't say enough about this bar. We stumbled upon this place after diving and were looking for a place to eat. We realized they had a band so we stopped in, paid the cover fee and were seated right away. The restaurant was outdoor and covered. It was night so we weren't able to see the view but it's right along the peer so I bet it was fantastic ?The Cuban band was amazing ??? ?People watching was great too! We had the fruit crepe, and that was fabulous. The menu was sort of odd, so we didn't really eat. But we really enjoyed our time and drinks.