This is how this bar double charges their patrons: there are two waitresses that take care of your table. One waitress at the end of the night gives your boyfriend the bill while you are in the bathroom. The boyfriend pays cash, the other waitress comes to you with the bill and you pay credit card. They split and pocket the cash, and the business gets paid. Meanwhile, on the way home, we find out that we both paid! This has happened 3 (every) times over, and the only reason I ever went back was to give this dump another chance. I was obviously too generous, which is my typical nature, but places like this ruin my want to be kind or generous. In addition, The karaoke system is old, the feedback on the hot microphones want to break my eardrums, the music list is too old, there's NO room to sing, I've tripped over loose cords EVERY time I've been there, the karaoke host is rude to anyone singing outside her clique, and she plays favorites with the karaoke rotation, and her friends get to sing more than all the patrons who are looking to sing.
(1)
Kimberly D.
Came here for the first time on a Saturday night. The place was packed and the karaoke was loud. Sat up at the bar and watched the rest of the Wings game. The bartenders were nice and the drinks were reasonably priced. I haven't tried the food but it looked good. I'll definitely come back here again when I'm in the area.
(4)
Amber C.
"I'm writing this review as I'm waiting for my waitress to cash me out. She's too busy dancing to the Cupid Shuffle to bring me my check. Karaoke here is weird - you have to stand with your back to the crowd to read the lyrics. The $3 long islands are gross. 1 star." I found this in my drafts, written two years ago. Since then I returned to On the Rocks once more, just recently. We started with a nacho appetizer. It came pretty quickly, but I think it came a little too quickly, as the cheese was hardly melted. Normally a huge fan of bar nachos, I didn't think these were anything better than I would have made myself - and I'm not an awesome cook. My boyfriend ordered a burger medium well and I ordered a chicken caesar salad. My salad was good, but you can't usually go wrong with chicken caesar. His burger was SUPER pink in the center, which he didn't discover until he had eaten several bites in. He wasn't super hungry at this point and didn't say anything to the waitress. We aren't really complainers, more of the "remind me not to order this from here again" types. The waitress took away our plates and when she came back she asked my boyfriend if his burger was too pink and if that was why he didn't finish it. So clearly, it wasn't just him being picky, since she noticed that it was pretty raw in the center. When she asked why he didn't say anything and he said "I don't know - I felt bad and I wasn't even hungry anymore". She laughed and when she brought back our bill she had taken off the burger and told us "I'm not going to make you pay for something you didn't eat!" She was a really sweet waitress, very attentive, and is the main reason why I gave On The Rocks 3 stars after our second visit. We probably would only return for drinks in the future and hope that the dancing waitress from 2012 doesn't work there any longer. Oh - and the $3 long islands are still gross!
(3)
Matthew K.
What my girl said, truth. Never again. Shame too, cause I could walk there. Damn I'm willing to revise, buy u better acknowledge our concerns. I don't want to hurt any business.
(1)
Derek F.
Great place, fun mixed crowd. They take care of you, mixed drinks we're a bit of a let down but the choices are good and the prices are ok. AND yes there karaoke is allot of fun and they do a pretty good job with that. If you want a fun night out watching or doing karaoke give it a try.
(4)
David P.
From the cheap drink prices to the friendly staff, from the wide variety of patrons that you'll find here (young, old, married, single, looking, just hanging, hipsters, jocks) to the karaoke, this is a pretty solid place. Food's pretty solid as well, so no complaints n that front either. Definitely worth a stop if you're in this neck of the woods - you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Regina S.
This is a great local joint for food and fun. They have Keno, Trivia, and a full lunch and dinner menu, not just your standard bar food... although they have that too! We started coming here recently with friends for before bowling dinner. They always somewhere for us to sit, even when the lot looks full. I believe our server's name is Desiree?? She's really nice. I have tried numerous things to eat here and I've liked them all! Super good slim Jim! I love the crab cakes too! Good prices on the food for real! You should check it out! /Local!
(4)
Eryn H.
Karaoke night was so fun! Their blue mule is pretty good. But by far the star of the evening was their cheesy breadsticks. Everyone at our table ended up getting their own order. Service was decent, maybe because they were pretty busy.
(4)
Chris M.
I have had a great deal of cigars with David at the lounge near the bar. He wants his customers happy, the food that comes out to be solid, and for everyone regardless of what you can spend too have fun. I've now eaten here several times and the food is really good. It's not just bar good, it's a legitimate dining option. The bar staff are still fun, funny, and sarcastic and the net is cold. I recommend the chicken strip dinner (not the appetizer). Hand dipped and made to order with steak fries, soup or salad or coleslaw. This place is no longer my starting point. I'm happy to stay for the night
(5)
Nick M.
I like this place. Have been a few times for various things, from karaoke night (I sang "Soul to Squeeze" by the Chili Peppers -- and I was damn good!) to birthday parties. The place reminds me of an older bar from yesteryear, with the old-school decor and straight-shooter image. It doesn't try to wow you with aesthetics, but that's fine. It's about the experience with the different people. You have some interesting folks here, from the older gentlemen who are sitting with the young blonde bombshells to the hipster crowd to those who just like to party. Drink prices are respectable and the ambiance is calm but inviting, whispering, "Come drink me up." There are different aspects to the bar too, from watching sports on multiple TV's, dancing, singing karaoke, and they have poker too I believe. It's a cool place to just hang out and throw back drinks, without the guido's and the douche bags cramping your style. It's kind of a blue-collar bar and that's fine with me.
(4)
Sarah M.
First of all, when I walked in, I was not greeted by any of the staff. So, I found a table near the dart board to play darts with a friend. This bar was SO quiet. (any bar this busy on a Saturday night, should not be) I then put my money in the jukebox ($2), and when my first song did not play, I let the bartender know. She said she'd turn it on right away. She did not. It stayed silent. We then put money in the dart game ($2). It would not work at all, though it was on and lit up. We spent $10 for two beers already, so we finished them. We let the bartender know that we still had heard zero songs and did not get to play our game. With attitude and complete hesitation, she gave me $2 back. What??? Then a waitress asked me what the problem was and I explained that we had paid for things we did not get to enjoy and we received only half of our cash back. She looked at me like she hated me and told the table next to me, "oh god, I'm not even supposed to be here tonight!" She left, never came back, and so we left. It is not the $2, but the fact that we had such little respect and were BARELY EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED. This was our first visit to the bar and we won't be back. Just know... if they would have acknowledged us, apologized, and given us our measly $4 back, WE WOULD HAVE STAYED AND HAD ANOTHER ROUND WHILE PLAYING THAT MONEY IN THE TOUCHSCREEN GAME. Hello?!? I work in the industry and I was horrified by this bars service!
(1)
Kensey W.
i loved this place! definitely a locals bar and not the kind of place i'd usually imagine finding myself in, but kind of the exact type of place i love. everyone - both the people hanging out and the people working - was super nice and friendly! i had a few drinks here with friends and stayed for karaoke. the drinks were nothing extravagant, just had some whiskey sodas rather than any of their cocktails. also had some snacks like chicken tenders and mozz sticks, which were good, as expected since you can't really mess those up. oh also, they honored our foursquare check-in deal for a free chips and salsa! our waitress was super nice and attentive, though it was pretty busy, and our bartender, (courtney i think?) for the later portion of the evening was even better. karaoke was great. watching a big dude in a lions jersey earnestly belting out miley cyrus pretty much sums it up. one complaint is that we came here a week before thanksgiving, and i wanted to karoake johnny mathis' sleigh ride, but they wouldn't let me because they have a policy of no christmas songs before thanksgiving, which is an okay policy but that is not even a christmas song. haha anyway, a good time was had by all, and though it seems like a random place to have stopped by, i really liked it and look forward to going back when i'm in the neighborhood again!
(4)
Phyllis R.
After the initial shock of being laid off from my job in Madison Heights, one of the thoughts in my head was "boo. No more lunch at On the Rocks". I had tried a few different things there every time we went, which was about once or twice a week. The food was always great. Can't wait to get up there again one day!
(5)
Butch C.
I would like to thank the owner or GM at On The Rocks for clearing up any inaccurate communication or misconception I may have had during New Years Eve. One of our party of 12 people was thrilled to be double-charged on the bucket of beer. Once we learned what the "real" price was, everything was clear. The advertisement on the karaoke screen said one price, the waitress quoted us two different prices until it was last revealed at the end of the night that you didn't have "bucket" prices and that each beer was charged individually. THAT didn't bother me. Once I received the bill, I was pretty alarmed to find my wife and designated driver was charged 12 dollars for 4 diet soda fountain drinks. Your explanation to her was worth repeating: "We charge that much for soda pop tonight to cover the cost of the hats, noise makers and champagne" Glad you felt you needed to cover the cost of champagne for my designated driver. I could even see "maybe" charging a buck for a soda because the cost is, after all, about 10 cents. $3.00 for a fountain soda is absurd. Here's a thought... why not cater to the people that are keeping your butt out of court by driving your over-served patrons safely home. Let the drinkers drink and let your business offer something for the DD's! You may get MORE business. Kristen, honey.. you were great. I hope our gratuity reflected our appreciation for your services....and I'm sorry you have to work there.
(1)
Ken J.
All I can do is echo what many other people say about this place. It is a total townie bar, however what you get on the inside of the bar is by-far more impressive than what you think you'll get here just from the outside of the establishment. The food is damn tasty.. and their beer prices aren't too outrageous. Throw in some hilarious people who think they can Karaoke, (Wait.. who can?) and you've got built in entertainment for the whole evening. Try their turkey club, and you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Amy W.
Recently became a fan of OTR after I started working in Madison Heights this fall. I've only been on Fridays, and I'm a fan. The food and drink specials are decent, and the drink selection is great. Definitely my go-to place after a yucky week at work!
(4)
John H.
First time here gave them the big test 12 oz NY Strip done med. I'm here to tell for $14 (got the optional shrooms) you can't go wrong! It was very tasty, done right... just enough pink...very little fat or grizzle! Better than a lot of steak houses I've been to comes with fried red skins and choice of side...Well done OTR!!
(4)
Andrew S.
On the Rocks is a great local bar here in Madison Heights which is worthy of being placed up for review here on Yelp. Owner is a cool guy that makes sure everyone is having a good time, every time I've been he has always greeted me promptly and with a smile. The staff that works there are also very nice and have a lot to handle because it's always fairly busy in there; especially the weekends. Overall a great place to hang out and have a beer
(5)
Joseph N.
I like the food, cheap drinks, and friendly staff. Lot's and lot's of good food deals. The patrons seem very nice, almost a Cheers atmosphere. We had not been in for about a year and decided to stop back. We got playing the Trivia game with some regulars and had a blast. What started out as one beer on our way home turned into a 4 hour party! I can't say enough about the wait staff. The girls frequently stopped by and were very nice and accommodating. A guy, who I believe was the owner, even stopped by asked how everything was and actually took a few empty bottles and used napkins. I thought that was nice and says allot about his willingness to do whatever it takes to create an inviting experience. Some owners do nothing more than bitch at the staff and count money. I thought that was very nice. In an era where people can share their patronage experiences instantly, you can tell the staff tries extra hard to keep everyone happy. We will definitely be hanging out here more. My coworkers and I had a great time.
(5)
Shannon S.
Despite some of the shady characters slithering up at the bar, this place really does have very good food, and excellent service. I bought a groupon and was not disappointed. I had the pulled pork po' boy... Pulled BBQ pork, with cole slaw on top... LIPSMACKING good! My friend ordered the deep fried mushrooms, and I have to say, we almost ordered a second serving. The batter and oils were not overwhelming and you could acutally taste what was deep-fried! A+++ Chicken wings were great...they even split the order to our liking, one spicy and one BBQ... The owner visited us as we ate, and bought us a drink.. I can't say enough about the great experience we had here... I only hope this is the owners first stab at owning a restuarant, because, if you ask me, he should be on to bigger and better things!
(5)
Megan M.
Let me start by saying I typically avoid bar like places for fear of smelling residual smoke and dealing with rundown places. Not saying all bars are like this, just saying that's been my experience with the last few that I've tried. On The Rocks is nothing like this. What a pleasant surprise to walk into the bar and see updated seating, table, decor, and plates. The wait staff was really on top of everything too, they were polite and quick from the moment we got in. They had great drink specials and they didn't try to hid the price of their drinks like bars often do, their specials (with prices were on a couple boards throughout the place and on the menu they gave you). I was also surprised by their food, it was really good. Overall, this is a great neighborhood bar that we will be back to :)
(5)
Amy L.
I was just here yesterday, and I have to say that the food was, as usual, de-lish! I had the Club Wrap. It is quite big (I took 1/2 home with me) and meaty, and it had wonderfully fresh, crisp lettuce and tomatoes, and it comes with steak fries, for $6.50! How can you beat that? Add to it the pleasant, efficient server (Shelly, I believe), and what more could you ask for?? Highly recommend! (Still waiting for the fried calamari and deep fried cauliflower to hit the menu!)
(5)
Sarah H.
I have never been so pleased with a bar before. LOCATION - great because its near the highway and, hehe, my house. ATMOSPHERE - awesome because there is so many things going on. Its nice that they seperated the karaoke, game area and bar area. I can still watch the baseball game with out being overly annoyed by someone destroying my favorite song. The lighting is pretty cool as well. SERVICE - the girls behind the bar are very sweet and pretty looking. They a genuinely nice. It was my first time there and they were very helpful with recommending drinks and food. Service was prompt. FOOD - I had the cheese burger and onion rings and it was amazingly good. The hamburger meat actually tasted fresh and the onion rings were nice and crispy. BEVERAGES - One drink tasted watered down, but still tasty. Had a couple of beers as well. Check came out to 20.67 with two beers, lemon drop drink, cheese burger and fries. Not too bad. I will return for sure.
(4)
Michel D.
Waitress was really careful and payed attention to every detail we mentioned. Had pulled pork burger and BBQ boneless chicken wings as appetizer. Both were really good! They have an extensive list of musics available for karaoke and a pool table so you can check how good your aim is after some beers haha They don't have mints or gum for sale at the checkout, but the waitress was cool enough to get me a gum, somehow :-)
(5)
Keva Z.
This is my 2nd time being here and enjoyed it. I've only gone on a Sunday so my review is for the 2 times I went. For ME...I love going on a Sunday it seems more laid back. Folks really get up and sing! What I really love is that you don't have to know how to sing, everyone roots for you! I cant sing a lick and I feel very comfortable belting my best in the shower tone def tunes. The drinks were tasty and they do have some 3$ martini and long island specials. The food is very good and ranges from 7$ on up. I say give On The Rocks a try.
(5)
Art O.
This place is unreal great food great drink specials and always a great time.If they don't have a particular liquor you drink.They will make sure they have it on you're next visit.I used to be a regular at a local bar.And won't be going there too much.On The Rocks is the place I will be meeting up with friends .
(5)
Phillip B.
good drinks, decent food
(3)
Tina H.
I love this bar. The food is always good and we always have a great time here. Love the black card and getting my rewards. However I couldn't give them 5 stars as they advertise double points every Monday and I have never received double points on a Monday. I think that may be because everytime we go on a Monday we have a new waitress that probably doesn't know. Otherwise its a great place to hang out with great food.
(4)
Kevin M.
This is a solid 3, maybe 4 star bar. I would probably dock it one for the service and maybe one for the crowd (sometimes). The food is decent, probably won't knock your socks off, but it's primarily a bar. I can't say as though I've had anything bad there, just never that memorable. Drink specials are good and on Monday night football nights, they have free appetizers out. Pretty cool. It's definitely a blue collar, come as you are kinda bar. I respect that, but it never fails that on the slowest nights, there is always a small group of obnoxiously loud people who are really rowdy to the point of being annoying, even if it's mostly harmless (screaming, sometimes sloppy drunk people singing loudly to music on the jukebox in unison, that sorta thing- on a random Monday night). It's definitely the kind of place of bar where you can get away with it here and there, but not for 45 minutes straight. Come on, you're still in public. I've also had some crappy service here on more than one occasion, so be aware of that... worth losing at least a star, maybe even two. I once tipped a really inattentive waitress against my better judgment... you know, the whole thing where you come here a lot so it don't want it to be awkward by giving someone a bad tip (service has to be really bad before I poorly tip someone). Anyway, I left her something that was immediately recognizable as a decent tip, like a $10 and $20 bill on a something like a $23 or $24 check- WAY more than she deserved- and she asked if we needed change. When I told her "No, you're all set" she just kinda spun around and walked off- without so much as a thank you or a smile. And that wasn't the only time I've had bad service, just what came to mind when I was writing this. It's odd that it would ever be the case, because the owner is almost always there and seems like really friendly, service driven guy. So friendly, that if my review was based on his attitude and the bar itself (minus the service and some of the patrons, that is), I'd probably give it 5 stars. In an admittedly strange side note, they have some "u" shaped booths in the back that are incredibly uncomfortable, and for some reason I always end up in them-my back ends up killing me. I'm writing this so I remember next time not to sit there! At the end of the day, it's a neighborhood bar that's good for a drink and bite, with the biggest draw for people in area being that they can drive home buzzed through the subdivision with much less risk of being pulled over (present company included).
(3)
Steve S.
Awesome place, good food, great Karaoke setup (one of the best around), good prices, friendly staff. Their karaoke nights are awesome, they feature pretty much any song you can think of! The crowd is mixed and friendly. This place is always busy, but for a good reason: it rocks! And Cora is really cool!
(5)
Krupa U.
I've recently become a fan of this quaint neighborhood bar. There's something for everyone: a sports bar, dance club, karaoke, and poker! And the drinks are VERY reasonably priced - $2 23oz Bud light, $10 buckets of beer (5), and menu with so many traditional and non traditional bar foods you'll be pleasantly surprised. After the Wings won last night, I had an awesome time singing karaoke and dancing with random down to earth people. The crowd is great and the staff, although busy, still take care of you pretty well. Definitely recommend anyone to check this place out if you don't want to be at the typical spots like Joe Kool's or CJ Mahoney.
(4)
Jill T.
Worst. Waitstaff. EVER. Especially Charlene & Jill. I was with Louis when the series of unfortunate events happened the last time we visited this local establishment. And because of the events that Louis listed, it will most likely be our last for a very very long time (or until the bar has new owners). As a local business owner and customer, I did not appreciate the manner in which I was approached or spoken too. Especially when I returned to the bar to take care of the tab. I would also like to say that I was completely sober and responsible for getting anyone in are party home safely after a birthday celebration. Upon returning to pay the tab left open, I was accosted by Charlene with the tab, yelled at, told we "tip worth a shit" and "took up her table all night" she ripped the bill out of my hand and walked away (to adjust it for the food since Louis didn't get a chance to finish his sentence). Really? Since when is it okay to treat your customers with such disrespect and rudeness? When I asked to speak with the owner (whom I've spoken with before), the waitress approached him with great attitude as I could see her in the mirror and trying to make sure he thought we were terrible customers. It was all very evident in her body language as well as her demeanor. The last thing I wanted to hear was "she's a fill-in". Again, its your staff, not mine. A nice "thank you for returning" would have been more settling to me. And it would have been more appropriate, in my opinion, for the manager to be sober as well. I'm fairly certain he doesn't even remember speaking to me. Another incident Louis forgot to mention was the manner in which karaoke was handled. They called Louis up to sing and once he got up there, they called someone else for a song and skipped Louis. I didn't realize I time-traveled back to high-school upon entering the bar. And maybe its me, but since when did shots get soooo expensive? $8.50/each for car bombs? $8.50/each for incredible hulks? I would have thought with our current economy the "specials" would be in favor of the consumer?
(1)
Brad W.
It's amazing what you can find when you're just looking to have a beer with friends. On The Rocks is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The prices are fair, the beer selection is better than most local bars, and the food is unexpectedly good. Skip the standard menu and check out the specials. Where else can you find specialty burgers along side cajun chicken pasta and various Macedonian dishes that I can only assume are mom's home recipe?! The atmosphere has greatly improved with the smoking ban. With keno, billiards, and the occasional karaoke night you're sure to be entertained. My only complaint would be portion size. Some of the dished are very large, and the deliciousness prompts you to over-eat. If you know when to stop you should have plenty of left-overs for another complete meal. They'll see me around again and again and again.
(4)
Sabrina B.
Great great local bar. As mentioned in Andrew's review, the owners are super nice and always make sure to ask how you are. Great atmosphere, fun karaoke, and will have the game(s) on. As an added bonus, they serve SCHLITZ!!! Drinks are very reasonably priced and they have tons of specials...highly recommend a stop here!
(5)
Eric P.
This is a nice working class neighborhood bar. This is one of the few places I have seen that actually kind of succeeds at trying to be all things to all people. There is a DJ, a dance floor, karaoke, people playing hold em at actual poker tables, and the game playing on multiple TVs, including some really nice Vizio monitors. They have some pretty good drink specials, and the menu is all over the map - literally - everything from saganaki to cevapi to coconut shrimp to nachos, plus plenty of bar food like buffalo wings, etc. The crowd here is pretty cool, too. They're probably not the kind of people that TJ would hang out with, but they like to have a good time, and aren't afraid to curse at the TV when their team isn't playing well. I saw game 6 of the Wings-Ducks series here, will be going back for game 7, and probably other times in the future as well, whenever I need a cool place to hang.
(4)
Joe T.
Eric P.'s review hit the nail dead on. This is a classic, hometown favorite. It's got a modest working class crowd. We watched a Red Wings game here and I was impressed by the waitstaff - they were friendly and cute waitresses that checked on us without being intruding or annoying. The beer specials are all on domestics - but are cheap and good enough for the game either way. The menu has some interesting stuff on it - from more unique choices like saganaki (flaming cheese), cevapi, and clams to your typical bar favorites like loaded nachos, buffalo wings and thick burgers. This is not a pretentious or chic place at all - very modest and down to earth. It's smoky, there's plenty of screens, a DJ and dance floor for when the time/night is right - and a very quaint ambiance that a suburban middle class metro Detroiter feels very comfortable in! I would recommend this place to grab some beers and watch a game at. And wow, people actually use poker tables to play Hold Em here! Pretty cool. When some ladies were cursing the Anaheim Ducks after they beat the Wings without any reservations as to who heard them - that's when I knew I was in an authentic, hometown spot!
(4)
Charlie P.
Can't beat 23oz bud for 2 bucks. Staff is nice, and food never disappoints.
(4)
Shirley T.
on the rocks is our stand by. when we dont know where to go or what were in the mood for we go there. great food and good drink prices. the servers are great. and always a friendly hello from dave. thanks for turning this bar around for us in madison heights.
(5)
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Address :28167 John R Rd
Madison Heights, MI, 48071
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : Yes Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Yes Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes
Amanda M.
This is how this bar double charges their patrons: there are two waitresses that take care of your table. One waitress at the end of the night gives your boyfriend the bill while you are in the bathroom. The boyfriend pays cash, the other waitress comes to you with the bill and you pay credit card. They split and pocket the cash, and the business gets paid. Meanwhile, on the way home, we find out that we both paid! This has happened 3 (every) times over, and the only reason I ever went back was to give this dump another chance. I was obviously too generous, which is my typical nature, but places like this ruin my want to be kind or generous. In addition, The karaoke system is old, the feedback on the hot microphones want to break my eardrums, the music list is too old, there's NO room to sing, I've tripped over loose cords EVERY time I've been there, the karaoke host is rude to anyone singing outside her clique, and she plays favorites with the karaoke rotation, and her friends get to sing more than all the patrons who are looking to sing.
(1)Kimberly D.
Came here for the first time on a Saturday night. The place was packed and the karaoke was loud. Sat up at the bar and watched the rest of the Wings game. The bartenders were nice and the drinks were reasonably priced. I haven't tried the food but it looked good. I'll definitely come back here again when I'm in the area.
(4)Amber C.
"I'm writing this review as I'm waiting for my waitress to cash me out. She's too busy dancing to the Cupid Shuffle to bring me my check. Karaoke here is weird - you have to stand with your back to the crowd to read the lyrics. The $3 long islands are gross. 1 star." I found this in my drafts, written two years ago. Since then I returned to On the Rocks once more, just recently. We started with a nacho appetizer. It came pretty quickly, but I think it came a little too quickly, as the cheese was hardly melted. Normally a huge fan of bar nachos, I didn't think these were anything better than I would have made myself - and I'm not an awesome cook. My boyfriend ordered a burger medium well and I ordered a chicken caesar salad. My salad was good, but you can't usually go wrong with chicken caesar. His burger was SUPER pink in the center, which he didn't discover until he had eaten several bites in. He wasn't super hungry at this point and didn't say anything to the waitress. We aren't really complainers, more of the "remind me not to order this from here again" types. The waitress took away our plates and when she came back she asked my boyfriend if his burger was too pink and if that was why he didn't finish it. So clearly, it wasn't just him being picky, since she noticed that it was pretty raw in the center. When she asked why he didn't say anything and he said "I don't know - I felt bad and I wasn't even hungry anymore". She laughed and when she brought back our bill she had taken off the burger and told us "I'm not going to make you pay for something you didn't eat!" She was a really sweet waitress, very attentive, and is the main reason why I gave On The Rocks 3 stars after our second visit. We probably would only return for drinks in the future and hope that the dancing waitress from 2012 doesn't work there any longer. Oh - and the $3 long islands are still gross!
(3)Matthew K.
What my girl said, truth. Never again. Shame too, cause I could walk there. Damn I'm willing to revise, buy u better acknowledge our concerns. I don't want to hurt any business.
(1)Derek F.
Great place, fun mixed crowd. They take care of you, mixed drinks we're a bit of a let down but the choices are good and the prices are ok. AND yes there karaoke is allot of fun and they do a pretty good job with that. If you want a fun night out watching or doing karaoke give it a try.
(4)David P.
From the cheap drink prices to the friendly staff, from the wide variety of patrons that you'll find here (young, old, married, single, looking, just hanging, hipsters, jocks) to the karaoke, this is a pretty solid place. Food's pretty solid as well, so no complaints n that front either. Definitely worth a stop if you're in this neck of the woods - you won't be disappointed.
(4)Regina S.
This is a great local joint for food and fun. They have Keno, Trivia, and a full lunch and dinner menu, not just your standard bar food... although they have that too! We started coming here recently with friends for before bowling dinner. They always somewhere for us to sit, even when the lot looks full. I believe our server's name is Desiree?? She's really nice. I have tried numerous things to eat here and I've liked them all! Super good slim Jim! I love the crab cakes too! Good prices on the food for real! You should check it out! /Local!
(4)Eryn H.
Karaoke night was so fun! Their blue mule is pretty good. But by far the star of the evening was their cheesy breadsticks. Everyone at our table ended up getting their own order. Service was decent, maybe because they were pretty busy.
(4)Chris M.
I have had a great deal of cigars with David at the lounge near the bar. He wants his customers happy, the food that comes out to be solid, and for everyone regardless of what you can spend too have fun. I've now eaten here several times and the food is really good. It's not just bar good, it's a legitimate dining option. The bar staff are still fun, funny, and sarcastic and the net is cold. I recommend the chicken strip dinner (not the appetizer). Hand dipped and made to order with steak fries, soup or salad or coleslaw. This place is no longer my starting point. I'm happy to stay for the night
(5)Nick M.
I like this place. Have been a few times for various things, from karaoke night (I sang "Soul to Squeeze" by the Chili Peppers -- and I was damn good!) to birthday parties. The place reminds me of an older bar from yesteryear, with the old-school decor and straight-shooter image. It doesn't try to wow you with aesthetics, but that's fine. It's about the experience with the different people. You have some interesting folks here, from the older gentlemen who are sitting with the young blonde bombshells to the hipster crowd to those who just like to party. Drink prices are respectable and the ambiance is calm but inviting, whispering, "Come drink me up." There are different aspects to the bar too, from watching sports on multiple TV's, dancing, singing karaoke, and they have poker too I believe. It's a cool place to just hang out and throw back drinks, without the guido's and the douche bags cramping your style. It's kind of a blue-collar bar and that's fine with me.
(4)Sarah M.
First of all, when I walked in, I was not greeted by any of the staff. So, I found a table near the dart board to play darts with a friend. This bar was SO quiet. (any bar this busy on a Saturday night, should not be) I then put my money in the jukebox ($2), and when my first song did not play, I let the bartender know. She said she'd turn it on right away. She did not. It stayed silent. We then put money in the dart game ($2). It would not work at all, though it was on and lit up. We spent $10 for two beers already, so we finished them. We let the bartender know that we still had heard zero songs and did not get to play our game. With attitude and complete hesitation, she gave me $2 back. What??? Then a waitress asked me what the problem was and I explained that we had paid for things we did not get to enjoy and we received only half of our cash back. She looked at me like she hated me and told the table next to me, "oh god, I'm not even supposed to be here tonight!" She left, never came back, and so we left. It is not the $2, but the fact that we had such little respect and were BARELY EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED. This was our first visit to the bar and we won't be back. Just know... if they would have acknowledged us, apologized, and given us our measly $4 back, WE WOULD HAVE STAYED AND HAD ANOTHER ROUND WHILE PLAYING THAT MONEY IN THE TOUCHSCREEN GAME. Hello?!? I work in the industry and I was horrified by this bars service!
(1)Kensey W.
i loved this place! definitely a locals bar and not the kind of place i'd usually imagine finding myself in, but kind of the exact type of place i love. everyone - both the people hanging out and the people working - was super nice and friendly! i had a few drinks here with friends and stayed for karaoke. the drinks were nothing extravagant, just had some whiskey sodas rather than any of their cocktails. also had some snacks like chicken tenders and mozz sticks, which were good, as expected since you can't really mess those up. oh also, they honored our foursquare check-in deal for a free chips and salsa! our waitress was super nice and attentive, though it was pretty busy, and our bartender, (courtney i think?) for the later portion of the evening was even better. karaoke was great. watching a big dude in a lions jersey earnestly belting out miley cyrus pretty much sums it up. one complaint is that we came here a week before thanksgiving, and i wanted to karoake johnny mathis' sleigh ride, but they wouldn't let me because they have a policy of no christmas songs before thanksgiving, which is an okay policy but that is not even a christmas song. haha anyway, a good time was had by all, and though it seems like a random place to have stopped by, i really liked it and look forward to going back when i'm in the neighborhood again!
(4)Phyllis R.
After the initial shock of being laid off from my job in Madison Heights, one of the thoughts in my head was "boo. No more lunch at On the Rocks". I had tried a few different things there every time we went, which was about once or twice a week. The food was always great. Can't wait to get up there again one day!
(5)Butch C.
I would like to thank the owner or GM at On The Rocks for clearing up any inaccurate communication or misconception I may have had during New Years Eve. One of our party of 12 people was thrilled to be double-charged on the bucket of beer. Once we learned what the "real" price was, everything was clear. The advertisement on the karaoke screen said one price, the waitress quoted us two different prices until it was last revealed at the end of the night that you didn't have "bucket" prices and that each beer was charged individually. THAT didn't bother me. Once I received the bill, I was pretty alarmed to find my wife and designated driver was charged 12 dollars for 4 diet soda fountain drinks. Your explanation to her was worth repeating: "We charge that much for soda pop tonight to cover the cost of the hats, noise makers and champagne" Glad you felt you needed to cover the cost of champagne for my designated driver. I could even see "maybe" charging a buck for a soda because the cost is, after all, about 10 cents. $3.00 for a fountain soda is absurd. Here's a thought... why not cater to the people that are keeping your butt out of court by driving your over-served patrons safely home. Let the drinkers drink and let your business offer something for the DD's! You may get MORE business. Kristen, honey.. you were great. I hope our gratuity reflected our appreciation for your services....and I'm sorry you have to work there.
(1)Ken J.
All I can do is echo what many other people say about this place. It is a total townie bar, however what you get on the inside of the bar is by-far more impressive than what you think you'll get here just from the outside of the establishment. The food is damn tasty.. and their beer prices aren't too outrageous. Throw in some hilarious people who think they can Karaoke, (Wait.. who can?) and you've got built in entertainment for the whole evening. Try their turkey club, and you won't be disappointed!
(4)Amy W.
Recently became a fan of OTR after I started working in Madison Heights this fall. I've only been on Fridays, and I'm a fan. The food and drink specials are decent, and the drink selection is great. Definitely my go-to place after a yucky week at work!
(4)John H.
First time here gave them the big test 12 oz NY Strip done med. I'm here to tell for $14 (got the optional shrooms) you can't go wrong! It was very tasty, done right... just enough pink...very little fat or grizzle! Better than a lot of steak houses I've been to comes with fried red skins and choice of side...Well done OTR!!
(4)Andrew S.
On the Rocks is a great local bar here in Madison Heights which is worthy of being placed up for review here on Yelp. Owner is a cool guy that makes sure everyone is having a good time, every time I've been he has always greeted me promptly and with a smile. The staff that works there are also very nice and have a lot to handle because it's always fairly busy in there; especially the weekends. Overall a great place to hang out and have a beer
(5)Joseph N.
I like the food, cheap drinks, and friendly staff. Lot's and lot's of good food deals. The patrons seem very nice, almost a Cheers atmosphere. We had not been in for about a year and decided to stop back. We got playing the Trivia game with some regulars and had a blast. What started out as one beer on our way home turned into a 4 hour party! I can't say enough about the wait staff. The girls frequently stopped by and were very nice and accommodating. A guy, who I believe was the owner, even stopped by asked how everything was and actually took a few empty bottles and used napkins. I thought that was nice and says allot about his willingness to do whatever it takes to create an inviting experience. Some owners do nothing more than bitch at the staff and count money. I thought that was very nice. In an era where people can share their patronage experiences instantly, you can tell the staff tries extra hard to keep everyone happy. We will definitely be hanging out here more. My coworkers and I had a great time.
(5)Shannon S.
Despite some of the shady characters slithering up at the bar, this place really does have very good food, and excellent service. I bought a groupon and was not disappointed. I had the pulled pork po' boy... Pulled BBQ pork, with cole slaw on top... LIPSMACKING good! My friend ordered the deep fried mushrooms, and I have to say, we almost ordered a second serving. The batter and oils were not overwhelming and you could acutally taste what was deep-fried! A+++ Chicken wings were great...they even split the order to our liking, one spicy and one BBQ... The owner visited us as we ate, and bought us a drink.. I can't say enough about the great experience we had here... I only hope this is the owners first stab at owning a restuarant, because, if you ask me, he should be on to bigger and better things!
(5)Megan M.
Let me start by saying I typically avoid bar like places for fear of smelling residual smoke and dealing with rundown places. Not saying all bars are like this, just saying that's been my experience with the last few that I've tried. On The Rocks is nothing like this. What a pleasant surprise to walk into the bar and see updated seating, table, decor, and plates. The wait staff was really on top of everything too, they were polite and quick from the moment we got in. They had great drink specials and they didn't try to hid the price of their drinks like bars often do, their specials (with prices were on a couple boards throughout the place and on the menu they gave you). I was also surprised by their food, it was really good. Overall, this is a great neighborhood bar that we will be back to :)
(5)Amy L.
I was just here yesterday, and I have to say that the food was, as usual, de-lish! I had the Club Wrap. It is quite big (I took 1/2 home with me) and meaty, and it had wonderfully fresh, crisp lettuce and tomatoes, and it comes with steak fries, for $6.50! How can you beat that? Add to it the pleasant, efficient server (Shelly, I believe), and what more could you ask for?? Highly recommend! (Still waiting for the fried calamari and deep fried cauliflower to hit the menu!)
(5)Sarah H.
I have never been so pleased with a bar before. LOCATION - great because its near the highway and, hehe, my house. ATMOSPHERE - awesome because there is so many things going on. Its nice that they seperated the karaoke, game area and bar area. I can still watch the baseball game with out being overly annoyed by someone destroying my favorite song. The lighting is pretty cool as well. SERVICE - the girls behind the bar are very sweet and pretty looking. They a genuinely nice. It was my first time there and they were very helpful with recommending drinks and food. Service was prompt. FOOD - I had the cheese burger and onion rings and it was amazingly good. The hamburger meat actually tasted fresh and the onion rings were nice and crispy. BEVERAGES - One drink tasted watered down, but still tasty. Had a couple of beers as well. Check came out to 20.67 with two beers, lemon drop drink, cheese burger and fries. Not too bad. I will return for sure.
(4)Michel D.
Waitress was really careful and payed attention to every detail we mentioned. Had pulled pork burger and BBQ boneless chicken wings as appetizer. Both were really good! They have an extensive list of musics available for karaoke and a pool table so you can check how good your aim is after some beers haha They don't have mints or gum for sale at the checkout, but the waitress was cool enough to get me a gum, somehow :-)
(5)Keva Z.
This is my 2nd time being here and enjoyed it. I've only gone on a Sunday so my review is for the 2 times I went. For ME...I love going on a Sunday it seems more laid back. Folks really get up and sing! What I really love is that you don't have to know how to sing, everyone roots for you! I cant sing a lick and I feel very comfortable belting my best in the shower tone def tunes. The drinks were tasty and they do have some 3$ martini and long island specials. The food is very good and ranges from 7$ on up. I say give On The Rocks a try.
(5)Art O.
This place is unreal great food great drink specials and always a great time.If they don't have a particular liquor you drink.They will make sure they have it on you're next visit.I used to be a regular at a local bar.And won't be going there too much.On The Rocks is the place I will be meeting up with friends .
(5)Phillip B.
good drinks, decent food
(3)Tina H.
I love this bar. The food is always good and we always have a great time here. Love the black card and getting my rewards. However I couldn't give them 5 stars as they advertise double points every Monday and I have never received double points on a Monday. I think that may be because everytime we go on a Monday we have a new waitress that probably doesn't know. Otherwise its a great place to hang out with great food.
(4)Kevin M.
This is a solid 3, maybe 4 star bar. I would probably dock it one for the service and maybe one for the crowd (sometimes). The food is decent, probably won't knock your socks off, but it's primarily a bar. I can't say as though I've had anything bad there, just never that memorable. Drink specials are good and on Monday night football nights, they have free appetizers out. Pretty cool. It's definitely a blue collar, come as you are kinda bar. I respect that, but it never fails that on the slowest nights, there is always a small group of obnoxiously loud people who are really rowdy to the point of being annoying, even if it's mostly harmless (screaming, sometimes sloppy drunk people singing loudly to music on the jukebox in unison, that sorta thing- on a random Monday night). It's definitely the kind of place of bar where you can get away with it here and there, but not for 45 minutes straight. Come on, you're still in public. I've also had some crappy service here on more than one occasion, so be aware of that... worth losing at least a star, maybe even two. I once tipped a really inattentive waitress against my better judgment... you know, the whole thing where you come here a lot so it don't want it to be awkward by giving someone a bad tip (service has to be really bad before I poorly tip someone). Anyway, I left her something that was immediately recognizable as a decent tip, like a $10 and $20 bill on a something like a $23 or $24 check- WAY more than she deserved- and she asked if we needed change. When I told her "No, you're all set" she just kinda spun around and walked off- without so much as a thank you or a smile. And that wasn't the only time I've had bad service, just what came to mind when I was writing this. It's odd that it would ever be the case, because the owner is almost always there and seems like really friendly, service driven guy. So friendly, that if my review was based on his attitude and the bar itself (minus the service and some of the patrons, that is), I'd probably give it 5 stars. In an admittedly strange side note, they have some "u" shaped booths in the back that are incredibly uncomfortable, and for some reason I always end up in them-my back ends up killing me. I'm writing this so I remember next time not to sit there! At the end of the day, it's a neighborhood bar that's good for a drink and bite, with the biggest draw for people in area being that they can drive home buzzed through the subdivision with much less risk of being pulled over (present company included).
(3)Steve S.
Awesome place, good food, great Karaoke setup (one of the best around), good prices, friendly staff. Their karaoke nights are awesome, they feature pretty much any song you can think of! The crowd is mixed and friendly. This place is always busy, but for a good reason: it rocks! And Cora is really cool!
(5)Krupa U.
I've recently become a fan of this quaint neighborhood bar. There's something for everyone: a sports bar, dance club, karaoke, and poker! And the drinks are VERY reasonably priced - $2 23oz Bud light, $10 buckets of beer (5), and menu with so many traditional and non traditional bar foods you'll be pleasantly surprised. After the Wings won last night, I had an awesome time singing karaoke and dancing with random down to earth people. The crowd is great and the staff, although busy, still take care of you pretty well. Definitely recommend anyone to check this place out if you don't want to be at the typical spots like Joe Kool's or CJ Mahoney.
(4)Jill T.
Worst. Waitstaff. EVER. Especially Charlene & Jill. I was with Louis when the series of unfortunate events happened the last time we visited this local establishment. And because of the events that Louis listed, it will most likely be our last for a very very long time (or until the bar has new owners). As a local business owner and customer, I did not appreciate the manner in which I was approached or spoken too. Especially when I returned to the bar to take care of the tab. I would also like to say that I was completely sober and responsible for getting anyone in are party home safely after a birthday celebration. Upon returning to pay the tab left open, I was accosted by Charlene with the tab, yelled at, told we "tip worth a shit" and "took up her table all night" she ripped the bill out of my hand and walked away (to adjust it for the food since Louis didn't get a chance to finish his sentence). Really? Since when is it okay to treat your customers with such disrespect and rudeness? When I asked to speak with the owner (whom I've spoken with before), the waitress approached him with great attitude as I could see her in the mirror and trying to make sure he thought we were terrible customers. It was all very evident in her body language as well as her demeanor. The last thing I wanted to hear was "she's a fill-in". Again, its your staff, not mine. A nice "thank you for returning" would have been more settling to me. And it would have been more appropriate, in my opinion, for the manager to be sober as well. I'm fairly certain he doesn't even remember speaking to me. Another incident Louis forgot to mention was the manner in which karaoke was handled. They called Louis up to sing and once he got up there, they called someone else for a song and skipped Louis. I didn't realize I time-traveled back to high-school upon entering the bar. And maybe its me, but since when did shots get soooo expensive? $8.50/each for car bombs? $8.50/each for incredible hulks? I would have thought with our current economy the "specials" would be in favor of the consumer?
(1)Brad W.
It's amazing what you can find when you're just looking to have a beer with friends. On The Rocks is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The prices are fair, the beer selection is better than most local bars, and the food is unexpectedly good. Skip the standard menu and check out the specials. Where else can you find specialty burgers along side cajun chicken pasta and various Macedonian dishes that I can only assume are mom's home recipe?! The atmosphere has greatly improved with the smoking ban. With keno, billiards, and the occasional karaoke night you're sure to be entertained. My only complaint would be portion size. Some of the dished are very large, and the deliciousness prompts you to over-eat. If you know when to stop you should have plenty of left-overs for another complete meal. They'll see me around again and again and again.
(4)Sabrina B.
Great great local bar. As mentioned in Andrew's review, the owners are super nice and always make sure to ask how you are. Great atmosphere, fun karaoke, and will have the game(s) on. As an added bonus, they serve SCHLITZ!!! Drinks are very reasonably priced and they have tons of specials...highly recommend a stop here!
(5)Eric P.
This is a nice working class neighborhood bar. This is one of the few places I have seen that actually kind of succeeds at trying to be all things to all people. There is a DJ, a dance floor, karaoke, people playing hold em at actual poker tables, and the game playing on multiple TVs, including some really nice Vizio monitors. They have some pretty good drink specials, and the menu is all over the map - literally - everything from saganaki to cevapi to coconut shrimp to nachos, plus plenty of bar food like buffalo wings, etc. The crowd here is pretty cool, too. They're probably not the kind of people that TJ would hang out with, but they like to have a good time, and aren't afraid to curse at the TV when their team isn't playing well. I saw game 6 of the Wings-Ducks series here, will be going back for game 7, and probably other times in the future as well, whenever I need a cool place to hang.
(4)Joe T.
Eric P.'s review hit the nail dead on. This is a classic, hometown favorite. It's got a modest working class crowd. We watched a Red Wings game here and I was impressed by the waitstaff - they were friendly and cute waitresses that checked on us without being intruding or annoying. The beer specials are all on domestics - but are cheap and good enough for the game either way. The menu has some interesting stuff on it - from more unique choices like saganaki (flaming cheese), cevapi, and clams to your typical bar favorites like loaded nachos, buffalo wings and thick burgers. This is not a pretentious or chic place at all - very modest and down to earth. It's smoky, there's plenty of screens, a DJ and dance floor for when the time/night is right - and a very quaint ambiance that a suburban middle class metro Detroiter feels very comfortable in! I would recommend this place to grab some beers and watch a game at. And wow, people actually use poker tables to play Hold Em here! Pretty cool. When some ladies were cursing the Anaheim Ducks after they beat the Wings without any reservations as to who heard them - that's when I knew I was in an authentic, hometown spot!
(4)Charlie P.
Can't beat 23oz bud for 2 bucks. Staff is nice, and food never disappoints.
(4)Shirley T.
on the rocks is our stand by. when we dont know where to go or what were in the mood for we go there. great food and good drink prices. the servers are great. and always a friendly hello from dave. thanks for turning this bar around for us in madison heights.
(5)