I love music. So naturally I can’t stand going to rock concerts.

I don’t enjoy mosh-pitting, or being smothered in a throng of people, or having damage done to my eardrums, or being tested for epilepsy by a strobe light.

Furthermore, I fail to see what any of that has to do with appreciating music.

There seem to be precious few places that come to mind where one can enjoy music in a calm and casual atmosphere, but Yoshi’s San Francisco is one of them

Originally a sushi restaurant, Yoshi’s was opened in 1973 by Japanese immigrant Yoshie Akiba. The original Yoshi’s was located in Berkeley before moving to Oakland and being converted into a jazz club with live music.

In 2007 Yoshi’s opened up a second location in San Francisco for people who want to see live jazz without making the trek to the East Bay.

I love jazz, so Yoshi’s SF is like a dream come true for me, but Yoshi’s is much more than just a jazz club.

Remaining true to its heritage Yoshi’s SF is also a rather large restaurant and full bar with many excellent Japanese-inspired dishes. Like most good food, it isn’t cheap so be prepared to pay good money if you eat at the restaurant.

As good as the food is, Yoshi’s biggest draw is its jazz hall and all the top talent that they attract.

Yoshi’s jazz hall is simply a fun experience for people of all ages who just want to enjoy small jazz ensembles or the occasional pop artist.

Yoshi’s acquires only the best contemporary talent in jazz music and they do it at a price that is beyond reasonable. For an average price of around $20 you can gain admission to hear the best live jazz that the Bay Area has to offer.

I really like the size and layout of the jazz hall. I am convinced that they made it the exact right size to accommodate a large enough audience to turn a profit while still keeping the setting intimate.

Furthermore, Yoshi’s keeps things civilized by providing seating and tables for their audience, a far cry from the rock concert atmosphere that encourages disruption and misbehavior.

And because the jazz hall has seats and tables, patrons have the option of ordering food and drink while they enjoy the music.

Waiters periodically stop by to see if you would like something from the cocktail menu or perhaps a sushi sampler. The combination of food, drink, and music results in an experience that is much more than the sum of its parts.

If I have a couple criticisms about Yoshi’s, it would be concerning décor and maintenance.

Although I like the intimate size of the jazz hall, the walls seem almost unnaturally bare in a place that otherwise has all the class in the world.

Also, I think Yoshi’s could benefit from using chairs with leather upholstery. The fabric ones they use seem rather cheap and show a multitude of food and drink stains.

Minor issues aside, I would recommend Yoshi’s to anybody who is in the mood for a night full of great music, delicious food and drink, and a little bit of class.