129-1/2: An American Jazz Grille

Good Food & Good Music in Prescott, Arizona

If you are anything like me you just feel more comfortable in some restaurants than others. I guess this is the result of a a variety of things like lighting, décor, whether the staff is stuffy or not – you know what I mean.

Well, 129-1/2: An American Jazz Grille is one of those places where I feel right at home.

Located just a block north of Gurley on the east side of Cortez, one of the main streets that border the town square, it’s a pleasant walk to dinner after partaking of the activities in downtown Prescott.

The narrow store front of 129-1/2 is tucked in among the many antique and art galleries. Its inconspicuous sign serves as both identification and location- for 129-1/2 E. Cortez is its address as well as its name. Take a peek inside and you will see the beginning of a most pleasant evening of dining and music.

The restaurant is narrow, as are most of the old store spaces in histo

ric Prescott, the lighting is subdued but not dark and the colors blend well with the Jazz themed murals on the walls.

About 2/3 of the way into the restaurant the space widens out to accommodate a small area for the Jazz combo or Torch singer, a bar/lounge area that accommodates the crowd for Happy Hour and a (more) private room that would be ideal for an intimate meal.

We choose to sit in the front of the restaurant,  far enough back so that the music didn’t interfere with our conversation but close enough to hear. 

The owner of this restaurant, Barry Barbe, understands that his clientele are not here for a concert, the music is pleasant but always at a volume that complements your dining experience.

If 129-1/2 sounds stuffy – it’s not. It is classy, cool and a great place to have a really good time. Dancing is appreciated by the band, Happy Hour is ... Happy, lots of people having a great time!

The hostess is a friendly and efficient young lady who immediately escorted us to our table. Our server greeted us and introduced himself in a timely manner and left us with the wine list and menus.

The wine list covers the bases with around 40 well chosen bottles from various producers in each major category of wine. The wines are priced reasonably from $22.00 to $60.00.

You can find a bottle of wine here to pair with any menu item you choose and, for the more adventurous, you might even find something you haven't tried before.

If you don't think you can polish off a full bottle, there are a generous selection of wines by the glass priced from $6.00 to $13.00.

The Menu at this restaurant is interesting without venturing too far afield.

There are numerous appealing appetizers, the Baked Brie, Bleu & Pear and the Fried Calamari are especially noteworthy.

Salads are pretty traditional, but Barry always manages to throw in a little twist, like the addition of Smoked Paprika Almonds or Dried Fruit, that gives that traditional salad a whole new and unexpected taste.

Entrees are varied, ranging from Balsamic Calves Liver to Trout Florentine and a variety of steaks with 3 delicious choices of sauce.

You can find something to eat here.

On this particular night we chose the Baked Brie, Bleu & Pear and the fried Calamari as appetizers. I chose the Pecan crusted Lamb Chops as my entree and my wife chose the Bad Boy - a 10oz Stuffed pork chop.

The lamb chops and the Stuffed pork chop were excellent, well seasoned, tender and moist and cooked  exactly as requested. We couldn't have asked for better.

The side dishes consisted of seasonal veggies, which were very good, and the true star of the evening, Scalloped potatoes made with Gouda cheese. Those potatoes were killer with outstanding flavor, potatoes cooked till they were tender but not mushy. They were just great!

Our server soon returned with good news and bad news. The bad news was that they were temporarily out of our selection.

• Location: 129-1/2 N.Cortez St. just a block North of the Town Square.

• Parking: Parking in front, and all along Cortez. 

• Hours: Everyday 4:00pm to close. Happy hour: Monday 4:00pm to close, Tuesday through Sunday 4:00pm to 6:00pm in the lounge.

• Decor:  Subdued lighting, jazz theme, very inviting.

• Noise Level: Moderate.

• Serving: Dinner

• Cost: Moderate. Entrees from $15.95 to around $25.00

• Service: Very good. Friendly and efficient.

• Rating: Excellent for dinner.

• Phone#: 928-443-9292

Lunch at 129-1/2: An American Jazz Grille is back

Prescott's lunch possibilities took a turn for the better this last week. 129-1/2: An American Jazz Grille, after a long hiatus, is once again serving lunch.

As readers of this site know 129-1/2 is one of my favorite restaurants for dinner (click here to see the dinner review) and, if our experience this week is any indication, it may well become one of our favorite spots for lunch in Prescott as well.

The 129 -1/2 lunch menu is aimed at people who need a break from the burgers and fries.

The menu is organized more like a dinner menu at a fine restaurant with Starters, Salads, Sandwiches, Entree's, Casseroles and assorted other dishes that are harder to categorize.

My wife went for the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich while I ordered the Prime rib Philly and a cup of soup. Both were very good.

The Buffalo Chicken was moist and tender, the bread was lightly toasted and the buffalo sauce was spicy - but it didn't burn your face off - just right in fact. As usual, the sweet potato fries that came with were outstanding (my wife Loves those things).

The Prime Rib Philly was served on a buttered and toasted roll that was tender but not mushy, crisp but not hard. The prime rib was full of big flavor and, as you would expect with prime rib, it was fork tender.

My cup of soup - Creamy Chicken and Rice - was very good. 

Done in a mushroom base with plentiful chunks of chicken and rice that was perfectly done - I really have nothing but good things to say about it.

The mushrooms, chicken and rice were all readily apparent in the soup and very good on their own, but add them togeather and they add up to more than the sum of the parts. Try it - you'll like it!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the bread that came with the meal - not a whole basket, it is lunch after all, but a couple of slices for each of us from a baggette that had been sprinkled with parmesan cheese and lightly salted. Tasty man, tasty.

If you are in the mood for something a little more interesting than your regular lunch fare - something like a Basil Pesto Portabello sandwich or Vodka Penne Pasta in White Clam Sauce or even Lobster fritters - This is the place to go.

The atmosphere is great, the backround music not too loud and the service, as always, enthusiastic, friendly and efficient.

This is the perfect place to entertain a client, take your significant other out for a nice meal, or bring your club or group members for a lunch that will stand out from the usual.