Butternote Jazz Cafe is Dhaka’s only cafe dedicated to jazz music. Co-founders Imran Ahmed, Towfiq Arifin, and Apurbo Mustafa are musicians turned entrepreneurs who wanted to bring the joy of jazz to people.
The name of the cafe itself is inspired by a conversation between Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, when Davis advised Herbie not to play the bottom notes, and Herbie misheard that as “butternotes” and interpreted “butter” to be the more obvious notes.
“Jazz is the most diplomatic music there could be; the freedom of your own voice here is limitless,” said co-founder Towfiq Arifin.
They collaborate with both local and international jazz artists and classical musicians as well, as there are fewer jazz musicians in Dhaka.
“We have mixed jazz with other classical music as well. Through this collaboration, we are going towards a new sound,” said co-founder Imran Ahmed
The menu here started off with simple sandwiches and Deli food and evolved into fine-dining delicacies as the executive chef stepped in.
“When they approached me, they wanted to stick to serving sandwiches, but after seeing the space and some R&D, we started serving fine-dining cuisine,” said Executive Chef Tahsin Mahmood Navid.
The cafe hosts live shows every weekend, sometimes it is a collaboration and sometimes jam sessions.
Food
We began our scrumptious meal with the tuna and the prawn salsa canapes. The prawn salsa canapes were lip-smacking good. These bite-sized appetizers were thoroughly enjoyable, with the prawns bringing in a sweet taste and the salsa that had a slight tangy taste, with the veggies and the tomatoes. The tuna canapes, too, were just as good. Last but not least, the canapes themselves added a crackling crunch while holding the topping together.
The canapes thoroughly whetted our appetite for the outstanding meal that was to follow.
Then we had their grilled chicken sandwich with pesto. From the first bite to the last, the chicken was moist and well-cooked.
What stood out to us the most was how the sandwich allowed the pesto to shine. The creamy richness of the pesto truly hit the spot, and the pesto tied all the layers together, elevating even the melted cheese.
The subtle-nutty taste of the pesto lingered in every bite, complementing the grilled chicken. It’s been a while since we have had a sandwich where the flavours were so thoughtfully balanced, and where the pesto was not just an afterthought, but celebrated so well.
The sandwich was served with freshly cut fries and garlic mayo on the side. While the fries were also a well thought out addition, the satiating sandwich stole the show.
Then, we had roast chicken with mashed potatoes in velouté sauce, and it was nothing short of mind-blowing. The roast chicken was well-cooked, tender, and masterfully seasoned. The subtle yet strong hint of pepper added just the right amount of kick, while the cherry tomatoes brought out bursts of tartness to our bites.
The sauce, made with chicken stock and roux, was a highlight in itself, lusciously thick, creamy, and dominantly umami. The chicken doused in the sauce made for a whirlwind of flavours that we relished. The potatoes were well seasoned, smooth, and forever a comforting addition to the dish.
Although a classic, this version of the chicken roast was a standout through and through. The roast was delectable, and the sauce was an absolute masterstroke, to say the least, and remains deliciously memorable.
The price range for a meal at Butternote is Tk400 to Tk2,500.
Ambience
Butternote - A Jazz Cafe, located in Banani, is a minimalistic café and a hub for musicians. It features a separate space for performances and offers a calm, cozy, yet sophisticated atmosphere with dim, soft lighting.
The space particularly livens up to the music and the dark brown furniture that meshes well with the overall vibe of the cafe.
Challenges
Opened on April 18, Butternote - A Jazz Cafe was born out of love for jazz in particular, but Dhaka has few musicians who play jazz.
“I think people in Dhaka are very receptive to jazz music, I would rather say there are very few musicians, particularly for jazz,” said founder Imran Ahmed.
Ahmed explained that while most people have a specific idea about the sound of jazz, as a whole, jazz is very broad and there is a wide variety.
“While people have a particular idea about the sound of jazz, when in reality it is very broad. There is tango, the old-school swing jazz that we all know as jazz, and free jazz from Europe.”
Since there are fewer jazz musicians, the show days are restricted to just weekends instead of having musicians every day, according to Ahmed.
Every weekend, there is an entry fee that is charged to the customers to accommodate the musicians on the weekends, which goes towards the musicians.
“I wish we could do music every day, but we have fewer musicians, and we have to pay the musicians, so we charge an entry fee every weekend,” said.
They haven’t begun heavily promoting yet, and are just going by word of mouth, but the reception has been pretty good so far, according to Ahmed.
Verdict
The roast chicken, the canapes, and the grilled chicken pesto sandwich are all must-haves, and the atmosphere, coupled with the music, is a surreal experience to have. If you weren’t a fan of jazz, their food itself will make you a fan, for both jazz and the food. We promise you.
