MOTR, one of my favorite bars. Â It's the perfect spot in OTR if you want to hear and see a real live band. Â There's much to be desired from the acoustics, but the sound guy (who is not a terrorist) can perform miracles. Â The staff is warm and friendly and will know your name, just like on Cheers. Â The setup: the main dining/bar area is perfectly lit, which means it's dark, and booth seating near the kitchen; there's an outdoor patio in the rear for fags and bonfires; a basement level bar, with a large screen for watching sports and a few old school video game machines; and if you're looking for the head, this is where you'll find it. Â They keep 'em nice and clean. Â Oh, yeah, they have great burgers. Â Mushroom for vegans and cow for normal people, and brunch on Sunday. Â And of course, the lovely Nonta., tending bar.
Review Source:I really liked what I saw when we walked in here, but everything other than that wasn't exactly what I expected or was looking for.
I really liked the decor, the local art, the atmosphere, even the hipsters crowding the bar didn't look too ridiculous. The way everything is set up and the design of the building seems cool, though it was dark, crowded and I'm barely over 5 feet tall, so seeing much was a challenge.
The problem was that EVERYTHING was too loud to even think. Before the band even started, the combination of music and people talking was outrageously loud. I really don't care for incredibly loud places; call me old, but I'd rather not have an earache after a night out..."mumble grumble hooligans"
But seriously. It was far too loud here. Maybe if I were alone and wanted some booze and mind numbing music and chatter, I'd come here, but since I'm simply a visitor to this area, I doubt we'll make a point of coming back here; catching up with friends and spending quality time with people isn't really what this place seems to be for.
Maybe if we were here on a different day and time (it was probably 9ish on the Sunday before Christmas), I'd have something different to say. I'd like to think so!
MOTR isn't perfect. The P.A. isn't the best, for starters, and the basement space (which has an ingenious little second bar and the potential to be an ultra cool subterranean English pub) isn't fully realized. But it's still my favorite place to watch a band in town. A great old building with quirky design touches throughout, nice beer selection with very reasonable prices, and easily the best food I've had in any music venue anywhere. No need to grab an early bite elsewhere--you can support your local guitar slingers while getting great seats as well as great food.
Not a smart choice for a late dinner if you want it to be a quiet one, and apparently people who hate loud music need to be reminded not to go to music bars when bands are playing. (Another tip for you folks: If you dislike film, you might want to stay away from movie theaters.)
I like this bar. It's dark, has a nice atmosphere, decent beer selection.
Best part: Â they don't mind if you sit there and make out with your boyfriend.
It's kinda loud so really, you can't talk unless you're whispering into each others ear. (which is kinda hot.) So yeah, go here for some PDA.
My favorite OTR location! Â The place has great space, a very diverse mix of patrons, and you can count on good music on any given night. Â I usually stop by when I've already been out and have never been disappointed by the local or regional band coming in. Â Love the outdoor patio with fireplaces, too!
Review Source:We had heard that the brunch here was good but I was skeptical of a music venue/bar having good food. That was dumb of me. We had a great brunch here. I had the BLT and my true love had the Burritio with Chorizo. OMG. They were both so amazing. I am usually a classic chick with my BLT but it was on this really really good bread with lots of grains. My BLT came with so many tots they were falling out of the basket!
Now I am sad because I loved what we ordered so much I will probably get stuck in a rut and order it every time because I crave it!!
If you haven't been to MOTR's Sunday Brunch, you are missing out. With a creative brunch menu and menu of weekly brunch specials, there are eclectic choices to please anyone.
Brunch at MOTR is very low-key. No loud bands, just your favorite tunes going on the jukebox. Coffee is self-service and quite good. You walk up to the bar and place your order with the bartender who gives you a number for your order. You also go up to the bartender with your number to pay, as well.
If you have the opportunity to go to MOTR's brunch with a group of people, make sure everyone orders a selection of entrees so you can taste a bit of them all. You don't want to miss out on any of this goodness. Â I recommend the breakfast tacos with chorizo. One of my dining companions had a huge waffle which was simply decadent. I had one of the specials, the Trucker's Breakfast Casserole. The egg/cheese mixture was thick, fluffy and pleasing to the eye. It wasn't your mother's breakfast casserole, as this had the addition of cilantro to give it a unique flavor. It was served with mixed greens with a light vinagrette dressing which not only added to the presentation but was quite tasty, as well.
When the clock struck 11, I treated myself to a post-meal bloody mary. It had pretty good flavor, but was a little heavy on the horseradish; nonetheless, a nice finish to my meal.
Whether you're meeting friends or grabbing a bite with your laptop in a corner by yourself, treat yourself to a great culinary experience at one of the more surprising venues for one.
This is a place I'd take a girl who I wasn't getting along with.
It's so loud you won't have to talk to her and the people watching will keep you entertained.
I've been a few times before and always left in a hurry. This latest time I went in just after eleven because of hunger.
The band was going and it raised a question I've had for a long time. Why do bands decide to not entertain you but assault you with their music? As noted elsewhere and everywhere, it's loud. I don't get it.
As I said, the people watching is good but I've never had the urge to talk to many of the people. It's not a friendly crowd in my experience. Plus, it's not like you'll be able to hear each other anyway.
The kitchen closes at eleven so we headed to Joe's.
Yes, this just happened. I started my last review by saying, "Just when I thought I couldn't love MOTR anymore..." And I am going to start this update with the same quote because for some reason this place keeps surprising me!!
Just then I thought I couldn't love MOTR anymore...I find out that their brunch is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL! Let me start by saying I am very critical when it comes to food. This food was not fancy by any means but it had all the right elements in what I consider a great dish.
I had the biscuits and gravy. This is not your ordinary gravy. It has chorizo added into the traditional gravy style. What's funny when you bite into it is, it has layers of flavor. This is how you know it is composed correctly, when you can taste every layer of flavor and every thing on the plate is intentional. No weird inedible garnish, and nothing slopped on at the end because you "needed something."
THE PRESENTATION- I was totally surprised by the presentation. You hear biscuits and gravy and expect a heaping portion of overflowing gravy mess with some running over the edges. Instead, it was a wonderfully balanced (not to big in proportion) colorful, clean, and creative plate. I don't know if I can do the flavors of this dish justice but I am going to try.
THE BISCUITS- light and fluffy. They were not dry or crumbly. They stood up to the thickness of the gravy and did not get soggy even up until the last bite.
THE GRAVY- it was inventive. It had the perfect balance of spice. It had the perfect amount of salt. I almost always need to up the seasoning, this needed nothing. I keep saying this but who the hell is cooking back there because I am so surprised at this dish. The gravy was not from a vat that had been sitting all morning. We ate at 2:00 and it still came out piping hot and full of freshness and flavor.
THE EGG- The poached egg on top was a huge win. If it were not on the plate, it wouldn't have been a deal breaker but since it was it just elevated it to another level. As I cut my fork through the egg, to the biscuit and swirled it in the gravy the perfectly poached egg ran through the bite like butter. It was magical.
THE GARNISH- fresh chives. Oh. Dear. Gawwwwd. The aroma of fresh chives on top of this pile of deliciousness was just adding to the perfection of the layers of flavor. Fresh garden tomatoes sprinkled on top also added a sweetness to the dish.
The TOTAL PUNCH- Sweet, savory, spicy, fragrant, comfort food. And if I didn't say before. The texture of all the elements on the plate were working together in perfect harmony. The fluffy biscuits, the crunchy chives, the chunky gravy, the smooth egg, all together just sang!!
If this doesn't say something about this place I don't know what does. A hugely underrated establishment. Do not underestimate MOTR as a brunch contender in this city. Because let me tell you, I have worked my way around the brunch scene and nothing compares to what I had in front of me this morning.
I tried the vegan BLT I was a little saddened I must admit. Â Normally when I order vegetarian bacon or vegan bacon for that matter it looks like bacon. However... this was not the case! It was tofu! They might of " claimed" it was vegan bacon but I know Tofu and clearly that was tofu not vegan bacon. Pick up any vegan bacon at the store and you will see it is red and looks like bacon this was white and looked like tofu. Yes it was good but it was clearly false advertising! It should say Tofu, Lettuce, Tomato and for the price I paid that was really sneaky........
Review Source:MOTR Pub is awesome. They have so many things going for them. The gritty, divey, innards may scare some people away but MOTR is the best place to go in Cincinnati for a drink and music.
MOTR has music EVERY night. This is outstanding. They aren't a one trick pony either, music genres aren't limited to just garage band type music which is good because you'll get a different vibe every night music-wise from them. You will get a rock band one night, an acoustic duo the next and even electronic complete with laser lights the next. You don't have to go in uninformed either, their website and handout pamphlets do a great job at letting you know who is playing in the coming month complete with biography about the band and what type of music they will be playing.
They also have nightly drink specials which is always a plus. On the topic of drinks, they are fairly priced, not as cheap as say Neons, but definitely reasonable especially for a place that attracts a lot of people regardless of the night of the week. Â The only complaint about the drinks were the morning mimosas and bloody marys were a little steep but aren't they everywhere?
Remember when I said they weren't a one trick pony? Well it seems they have more surprises up their sleeves. They offer some of the best food in the OTR area. You wouldn't expect this coming from a place named Music Over The Rhine but dang, they offer up some delicious food. Their burger is one of my favorite in town. The menu is small but they have something for everyone including a Shroom Burger, BLT, vegan options, fries basket (loaded or unloaded), spicy Mac and cheese, jumbo pretzels and cheese and even a salad option. The food service hours are short (5-9 if I remember correctly) but it's worth a try if your around at these times. They also offer up an ever changing brunch menu on weekends that is superb.
The main bar area is where the music happens but in the basement is a completely separate area which houses some old school video games including four pinball machines and even Ms. Pacman which, duh, who doesn't love? Also, in the back of the main area is a good sized patio complete with tables and chairs where you can still hear the music at a slightly lower volume.
The bartenders are always quick, attentive, and generous. On busy nights don't expect to get in without an ID (remember to bring it) which is understandable.
The only bad thing I can say about MOTR is that the music may be slightly, SLIGHTLY too loud. I'm young, I can deal with loud music and even enjoy it but sometimes it hampers with the vocals and can occasionally ruin the music. Â
MOTR Pub has turned into my favorite neighborhood bar. That is saying a lot with the plethora of bars in the area. They do it right. They have something for everyone, music wise, food wise, and ammentity wise. Check out their website, they've got a great mobile website too that lays out who's playing and when. Or, go on a whim and be surprised at what's playing because there is always going to be something playing every night!
MOTRing! What's your price for beers? Â Great times can be found here. Â If you go, you'll be alright tonight (wicked guitar solo).
If you can name the half-assed music reference above you will win, well nothing.
So the review. Â MOTR is awesome. Â Over the past year I have found myself drifting more and more to MOTR and for good cause.
1) CHEAP!!!!! Â There is no cover at the door to enjoy the awesome music that is played there nightly. Â Also they have a fine selection of draft beers that are reasonably priced, but they also have some great canned stand bys. Â They have Old Style. Â Yeah I know its a Cubs beer, but for 2.50 its danged good. Â They also have a 1.50 Burger cans, which nothing screams louder than "Hey I'm really cheap!" or "Hey I don't care because I am too drunk, too cheap, my taste buds are gone because I licked too many envelopes as a child, or all three."
2) Live Music. Â These guys know their stuff and are able to lock down national acts on a frequent basis. Â I don't know anything about music, nada, but I do know that whenever I come in I am hardly disappointed
3) Great Service. Â Anybody willing to put up with this guy asking for your cheapest beer gets a star
4) Really cool venue. Â There are several rooms to explore, both up and down, and there is even a patio. Â The only downside is that it can get rather loud, but there is a patio or a downstairs so that your ears and voice can find a reprieve. Â Also the walls are covered with a lot of cool band posters and really weird art. Â If you are from the area you will walk down memory lane and see some reminiscence of Coryville's grander days as a rock hotspot.
5) BRUNCH! Â Had a chance to experience brunch a couple of weeks ago. Â Fantastic. Â Highly recommend the Tucker's Casarole, imagine all of the great things about breakfast in a giant brick of eggs, cheese, and veggies, also enjoy an adult beverage as well. Â Coffee costs a 1.50 and is self served and bottomless after that.
With all of these things I have found myself more often at MOTR than in other bars in OTR. Â It has all of the great things listed above and you will never ever hear a Nightranger song there. Â But in honor of Nightranger, MOTR proves to us that you can still rock in America. Â So rock on MOTR, rock on.
A nice place to go see a band. I would go as far to say it might be the best live music venue in the downtown OTR area. I want to give this place a higher rating but I cna't becaus of the sheer size of the place and the fact that it gets crowded very quick. That's not nessicarily a bad thing but when you want to get a drink or move around which I like to do in a bar setting. The drinks are well priced and the selection is large. I really dig the downstairs a lot and feel that it should be used a little more than it is.
Review Source:MOTR is my second favorite spot in OTR. This is a great bar. They have amazing drink specials, awesome bartenders and the best bar kitchen in town. The cherry on this wonderful sundae is free music nearly every night. While most of it doesn't suite my taste it is awesome to have the chance to check out a band every night of the week,
The food is not just great bar food, but some of the best options in the city. The BLT, get the damn egg on it!, and fries is truly a combination for kings. With specials for everyone, including vegans, the menu menu stays small but delicious.
Compound the food with margarita specials and dollar beers and MOTR is hard to beat! I vote go early, grab a bite to eat, then keep drinking till the music stops. Oh, and did I mention that there is pinball in the basement. Yes. MOTR for the win!
MOTR is my favorite place to see a band. Â The space is big enough to hold a nice sized crowd and small enough to feel cozy and intimate. Â Of course, this means that for more popular bands, it can be tough to navigate the crowd to get to the bar or bathrooms. Â
The drinks are moderately priced. Â They have a good selection of bourbon and usually some decent beers on tap. Â I really enjoy that they keep a jug of water and cups at the back of the bar. Â Someday I'll remember to use it. Â I've never ordered food there but I have stolen fries from my friends and they were pretty good. Â Of course, I had been drinking and I didn't pay for the fries, so they were guaranteed to be good.
The only thing I dislike about MOTR is a reflection of my age rather than the bar. Â The bands start too late on weekdays (usually the headliner is playing around 10:30 or 11) forcing me to stay out past my bed time. Â But, depending on the band and because these shows are FREE, I occasionally compromise my beauty sleep.
Best bar in OTR? Â Methinks yes, yes it is.
I knew it when I heard The Who's A Quick One While He's Away being piped in long before the bands started up.
Great space. Â If you don't like loud music, just come before the bands start. Â They are typically on pretty late. Â This place always has a good crowd and is not too pretentious. Â There is some kick-ass art on the walls so make sure you check it out.
Wide assortment of drink selections and the staff isn't slow. Â Food here is also fantastic. Â Many swear by the Mac and Cheese, but I'm a big fan of the BLT with avocado (they have a vegetarian version that has avocado and tofu instead of bacon as well) ---it is simply smashing!
If you're headed to MOTR just let me know, I'm in!
If you're in to bands and loud music, this is a good place for you, and it's one of the few bars in Over the Rhine that offers food and alcohol. There's also a basement area that is less noisy and less crowded - it's like a little dungeon, so it's pretty fun.
Recommendations: The Mac & Cheese is really good! Â If memory serves me right, they used Pepper Jack Cheese so it has a little kick that makes for an exciting adventure.
Great bar that is just a few clicks above a dive bar. I love their food, particularly the Shroom "Burger" ($8.50) Description: Marinated and grilled Portobello topped with Chipotle Aioli, Roasted Red Pepper, Feta, Lettuce and Tomato on House Made Brioche Bun and Served with Fries You can also make it Vegan.  The rest of their menu can be found here: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmotrpub.com%2Ffood.html&s=64669f79bb20981e7a184adcc0ef383671a9fc8d32c899fbe46334970bb895fc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://motrpub.com/food.…</a> Recently our group invented fry Jenga with their basket of fries ($3.50). Great game! FYI the kitchen is open until 9:30 during the week and until 11 Fri and Sat.
Also, some people might not even realize that there is a "subterranean party den" beneath their feet that is available for FREE on a first come first served basis. For more info check out: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmotrpub.com%2Fparties.html&s=f1be12be02d88b34a1c0910adac0e3cd43dad496d745dda84ccd030af68eab0d" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://motrpub.com/parti…</a>
There is never a cover and there is almost always a band (ya gotta be 21+ though) or the occasional beer tasting. Like Nathan and others have mentioned, the bands can be really LOUD so if you are wanting to have conversations, try sitting in the back booths or downstairs, or just come before the band starts. Easy.
Their happy hour specials (Mon- Fri, 5-8PM Sat and Sun, 2-8PM) include some diverse food and drink offerings, with preference shown to local brews. Yeah!
Sundays include a brunch offering from 10-2 and then from 6-midnight movies about music are shown on their 4 TVs. Cool!
*(according to their site) They compost and recycles. Kudos. That's something I wish every business could pull off.
Service can be spotty and a little slow. I try to be patient but there are times when it has been a little ridiculous. Oh well, I do like the vibe and spunkiness of the place so it gets 5 stars.
I'm not really sure how I feel about MOTR yet. Â The first time I was there I had a really good time. The downstairs is very cool with a small bar a seating area and a couple of pinball machines, and I love me some pinball. This is also where the bathrooms are so if you're hanging out upstairs it's a pain to have to walk downstairs to go. Â There is plenty of seating upstairs and down and the food is wonderful and they have a few healthy options on the menu if you're not looking for greasy bar food.
I'm not a fan of when they have live bands. I feel that the space upstairs is too small and the bands are too loud, or maybe I'm getting too old. If you're not into the band that's where downstairs comes in handy. Â
The last time I was there everything was fine except for the bar service. Â We got our first round of drinks no problem. We hung out for a bit, drank our drinks, ate our food then decided "time for another drink" So we head to the bar, there's a line of about 4 people, no big deal. Finally get up to the bar and it seems as though we were being ignored. I'm not really sure what was going on but counting the line wait time it took about 20 minutes to get a drink. Â The group was not ready to leave or I would have been just as happy to hit the next bar for a drink.
I'm sure that I will be back as I like the no music atmosphere and the food is delicious. I just hope I get better service next time.
MOTR has quickly become one of my favorite Cincy hangouts. Good food (lots of veg selections!), cheap drinks, great no-cover shows, and a nice stage area as well as a downstairs room that holds the occasional UC grad student fiction/poetry reading series. It does get crowded on weekends, but, well, it's a bar. Big surprise there. It's more chill on weeknights, earlier in the evening before the band gets set up.
Props to the funny bartender/bouncer... I'm not sure how to describe him, but you'll know him when you see him. Well done, sir.
"It's going to be loud and crowded," my friend warned. And yes, it was incredibly loud with the live bands playing later on in the night. Fortunately, we had the downstairs booked for the evening and avoided being packed in like sardines in the main room.
There were ample seats and tables downstairs for our large group, plus a cash-only bar. The full bar was available upstairs as well; if we were willing to brave the masses.
The best part: MOTR has food! Good food too, not buffalo wings and peanuts. My friend and I had loaded french fries with sour cream, cheese, tomato and chives, and a Vegan BLT, which had tofu, avocado, lettuce and tomato with Aioli sauce. Both were delicious! The menu had a variety of options, both healthy and comfort food. The order came out pretty quick, within 10 minutes of being placed and was delivered to our table.
Our 30 friends had a blast and the area was easy to socialize with different clusters of people. The only downside, as I was warned, was when we left at 1:00am. The upstairs was packed for the live band, and I had to mosh my way to the door. I would definitely come back to MOTR for another private event or hang out earlier in the evening. Viewing a band however, not recommended by either my ears or my desire of personal space.
While I am not typically a fan of live music, I do appreciate MOTR's mission to support music and provide free concerts on an almost daily basis. I love that I can stop in here for half an hour and not pay a cover... That way if you like the band great, but if you don't like them you don't feel like you are throwing away money if you leave.
The cooks make some great food for you to eat while drinking their reasonably priced drinks. The vibe is mostly hipster and everyone is cool and nice. I recently had the Greek Goddess Salad (Hummus, Pita, Falafel, and a Salad) and the Shroom burger (Portabella mushroom burger with a ton of toppings and fries). Both were good and I can take comfort in that I am eating about as healthy bar food as possible. Food and drink prices are reasonable and comparable to any other bar in the area.
Atmosphere is great... Plenty of seating, including some booths in the back away from the stage. Â I don't like that bathrooms are in the basement... Its a hassle to get to them! Â There generally is plenty of street parking in the area, but I don't generally advise a long walk alone at the end of the night in that area if you are a girl. Â
I'll be back, but mostly before the band goes onstage. Ha ha.
I recently visited MOTR Pub for the first time to celebrate Guy Fawkes night with a few friends and I must say I was impressed. The crowd was very eclectic, which I personally enjoy, and the bartenders were super friendly and did a good job of getting everyones drinks to them in a timely manner.
The building itself is very cool and full of space to interact with people as well. There is the main bar room, a smaller dining area behind that, a patio outside, and a basement complete with more seating and a Terminator pinball machine! The walls throughout the pub are also decorated with cool band posters spanning years and genres of great music.
MOTR Pub is just the kind of place we need in OTR to keep the neighborhood unique, fun, and flourishing and I for one, plan to visit many, many more times.
MOTR is one of my favorite bars in the city. It's in an old building in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, but the space is modern and clean with room to move around, a downstairs area, and even a patio! Drink prices are reasonable (I paid $4.00 for a gin and tonic and $4.50 for a seven and seven) and drinks are strong. The bartenders and clientele are friendly and there is usually a great mix of people.
MOTR is known for its live acts, and I've always been impressed with the musicians I've seen there. Oh, and have I mentioned their food? Lots of vegetarian and vegan choices. Delish.
Since opening Motr Pub has quickly become one of my favorite places to hear live music in Cincinnati. Owned by one of the founders of Midpoint Music Festival you can find great bands here year round.
Motr has a large upstairs with a bar, stage and large booths and tables for sitting. Downstairs you will find even more seating, vintage pinball games and restrooms.
Besides hosting a variety of bands Motr also offers a weekly Writer's Open Mic where musicians can play their original music for you to enjoy.
Motr offers a fully stoked bar as well as several craft beers on draft. Their prices are very fair and there have been many nights I've left thinking "I can't believe I only spent $10!"
In conclusion if you are a music lover you pretty much can't go wrong with Motr Pub. There's always live music being played and drinks flowing. If you have not yet checked it out it's a must see!
This review is going to focus on the Sunday Brunch, not on the actually bar scene here
Pros:
1) Delicious food
2) Very friendly staff, very comfortable atmosphere
3) Very reasonably priced
Cons:
1) It is kinda weird to eat at noon inside a bar, but it is good food
2) We all ended up ordering drinks because the water is served from a unfiltered tap
I love the atmosphere here: the wooden floors, high ceilings, courtyard seating. I also like the staff. The menu is simple and short, but there's always something good on it. There's always something the please a vegetarian and something for a carnivore, and everyone's happy.
Great place to sit with friends and chat for hours.
After reading reviews about the BLT and seasoned fries, I twisted a friends are into going for happy hour. Upon arriving and reading the menu, I was sold on the burger because it is topped with an fried onion ring. While the flavor of the burger itself was nothing out of this world, it was a well-made burger and the onion ring and chipotle aioli were a nice touch.
I didn't leave my perch at the bar and $2.50 draft to explore the whole place, I figure I'll save that for my next visit, which I hope will be to see some live music and get that BLT!
I didn't go for the live music, and I didn't go late at night to get my drink on. Â However, these are two things that I must (and will) return for.
What I did at MOTR was have a sensible meal and one beer. Â Yes I have great self-restraint.
I went with the special that day which was pork carnitas. Â They were cooked just right and full of flavor. Â I also shared a friend's fries which were seasoned and very tasty.
The beer selection was pretty good. Â And my Hudy Amber during happy hour was $2.50/pint, not too shabby. Â The staff were friendly.
I really like how spacious the bar area is (unlike some others in OTR, looking at you Lackman). Â And they even have a basement area to hang out and play pinball.
Looking forward to returning for some live music (which I hear is always free)!
MOTR Pub is yet another staple of my frequent trips to OTR. Â The best part...no cover! Â They bring in a variety of music groups and it's all free! Â They have a great beer selection and I appreciate that they write it on the mirrors behind the bar. Â It can be very annoying for short people like me when bars do not have their beer list in an easily visible place. Â Thank you MOTR Pub for supporting the vertically challenged.
Now a warning:  It is very very very loud.  I mean, they sell earplugs at the bar.  That should be your first clue that it's uncomfortably loud.  I typically order my beer and quickly find a quieter place to escape to.  The basement is a great option and you can still hear the music.  It's that loud.  If  I was ever going to make an evil plan to take over the world, I would hold my meetings in MOTR Pub's basement.  It even has swords and daggers.  Perfect.
Came here with a few friends for "happy hour" on a Monday, which happens to be "martini Monday" where you can get these cute martinis for $3 (and yes, "cute" refers to their size as well)..but hey they're $3 and quite tasty. Â They also have great specials on beer and well drinks as well. Â
The menu is smallish but does include a burger, BLT, a veggie option-portabella mushroom "burger" and a few other appetizer items. Â They also had a special, "black bean and sweet potato burrito" which I overheard others saying was quite tasty. Â
It was a beautiful day on Monday so I very much enjoyed conversation and drinks in their outdoor courtyard! Â Huge plus in my book. Â
I will have to come back and check out their music scene (pretty much what they're known for).
I'm going to preface my review of MOTR with a very salient fact: I moved to Cincinnati from Oregon six months ago, and although I'm not what one would call a hipster myself, I find myself very much missing the PNW hipster vibe. When I walked in the doors of MOTR for the first time, it was like I'd died and gone to hipster heaven. It felt immediately like I was back in Oregon (i.e. home).
I've now been to MOTR a few times and feel I can unequivocally say that this is one of the best bars in Cincinnati, hipster aesthetic aside. The main bar is gorgeous and comfortable (as one other reviewer said, perhaps too comfortable), and the downstairs area provides an excellent refuge when you want a quieter conversation. The draft selection is impressive and rotates frequently.
If you're like me, new to Cincinnati and not really familiar with the OtR neighborhood**, you may be nervous about driving down to MOTR based on what you've heard about the neighborhood. Have no fear. There's lots of street parking on Main and the side streets and the area around MOTR is *very* well-lit. Just don't leave anything valuable sitting in your car, and you'll be fine.
**Well, that was me about a month ago. At this point I'd rather go to OtR than just about any neighborhood in Cincinnati.
Uh oh. I could sit here all day. Why does Cincinnati always do this to me? Why must you build such abodes of imbibery that are so damn cozy that I want to stuff my entire life into one suitcase, take it with me everywhere, and stay as long as possible at bars like MOTR.
A giant old wooden, bar, beset with a crazy mirror, beset with somewhat stoic bartenders (which is fitting considering it always feels like 1903 in OtR).
After a long day of work & play, I wanted to grub on down, and that I did thanks to this kitchen. A burger- mac n cheese combo sounds brutal, yet brilliant. Steadfast service with a strong tap list. On my 2nd visit, I had a Listermann's Smoked Bock. Yes, please.
And thank you. Thank you OtR folk & MOTR for doin' your thing... it just makes sense to have a high-ceiling'd, live music bar with a cellar with tables and pinball downstairs. This is exactly like when you see a well-designed bridge, or park, or skyscraper, you just know and feel perfect design when you see it.
MOTR has quickly emerged of one of the most important live music venues in Cincinnati. Launched by City Beat writer / MPMF maestro, Dan McCabe, as a location for national and regional touring bands to play to a smaller, more intimate crowd. Dan has great connections for music and it really shows.
The venue is fairly small and the stage is too. There are pub tables & bar seating, but expect to stand to see the band.
Drink selection is quite excellent with a significant contingent of local brews plus mostly regionals and specialty beers. Prices are very reasonable (as OTR tends to go).
Decor is quite excellent. Band posters framed adorn the walls and the old wooden bar features are beautiful.
A smallish front room hides booth seating in the back as well as a downstairs area that is known to have dance parties and DJs.
MOTR is an interesting place that is a good mix of locals & music fans. Fun atmosphere, great music, good drinks combines to make an excellent addition to the OTR community.
Even before I had ever been here, I knew MOTR had a rep. It had been mentioned in conversation a few times, but I had no idea where it was. In fact, I just assumed it was called "Motor Pub", and was wondering why I'd want to go to an automobile themed bar.
MOTR. Because we're in OTR. God I'm an idiot.
So, as seems typical nowadays, we're out at Neons and want to do some bar hopping. Over to MOTR we go. Stepping inside, my eardrums are overwhelmed with face meltingny goodness. And it's actually the good kind of face melting! As I said in my review of Maydays, I'm the pickiest person you will ever meet in terms of music. Amazingly, MOTR does a pretty great job appealing to my tastes.
I'll not mince words, but the music in MOTR's main room is pretty loud. Uncomfortably loud. There's a line between loud, so loud you can't even hear someone without them screaming in your face, and so loud your head starts to hurt after a moments exposure. MOTR's is the latter, but it's not all doom and gloom. There are many spots around that you can hide out in to mitigate the decibels (Consequently, Mitigate the Decibels is the name of my one-man violin show). For starters, you can hop in the booths behind the stage - the speakers are pointing away, so now it's just "screaming in someones ear" loud. Or you can dash downstairs, where its the regular kind of loud. Which actually, the downstairs is pretty cool, almost like its own hideout. If I were plotting world domination, I'd start there.
And finally, you can just go outside to the patio to escape the music altogether. It's sizable enough that there are still plenty of people to talk to, and they have fire pits when it's just a tad too cold. Right on.
I've never had MOTRs food, but their drinks are a pretty good deal. Slightly cheaper than other bars. Not to mention, they serve up some specials on a regular basis. All of this can be yours for 3 easy payments of zero dollars. That's right, no cover.
Vroom vroom, beep beep!
I've been holding back on my review of MOTR (as it has been pointed out in a review below, heh) because this is a music bar - and I had not seen music yet.
As you may or may not know, it's my semi-pet project to help OtR blossom and lose it's terrifying reputation. Adding an excellent space like this only helps, so I'm a fan from moment one.
And sure, I've been here to eat, either for more brunch or just in the middle of the day, and the food is great. The BLT is one of the best I've ever had and it comes with these delicious French fries with delicious seasonings on top. Mmm. (Although every now and again they have been known to run out of French fries! That was kind of upsetting right there. Please MOTR, stock more fries!)
Yes, the tables wobble making it hard to keep your beer steady (especially after you've had three or four) but it's a small complaint.
And the atmosphere is badass. The whole bar is wooden and it's very dark. It's dark in the main room with the giant bar and the tables scattered throughout. It's dark in the basement where there are more tables and places to stand. And it's dark in the side-private room, which looks like a Medieval sitting room (swords on the wall, tiny door in the wall, etc.) This is not your happy-go-lucky bar. This is a damn cool bar of badassary.
But again, I hadn't seen music - until the other day.
I came in here as an after-spot after a party I threw, and I saw a band start to set up. Finally! Here's the cool thing right off the bat - no cover! They have music every night of the week and it never costs anything to see it. That's a plus right there.
The band started to play and two things struck me: 1) The sound was really good. It echoed well, you could hear lyrics, everything came together nicely and 2) it was really LOUD! This isn't your band playing the back of the bar to create atmosphere, this was attention stealing, noise-making, thunder-rumbling loud! It was loud in the bar area, it was loud in the side area, it was even loud downstairs!
I liked it because I was in the mood to rock. However, if you're not prepared for it and you're just there for a drink, I can see it taking you by surprise in a bad way.
Once you know what you're in for, though, it's all music to your ears. MOTR, I will be back.
I was destined to inhabit a seat at MOTR.
After striking out earlier in the morning (they open for Saturday brunch at 11am...not 10am!) we found our way back to this charming, no-cover-live-music-every-night bar post event extravaganza. We needed seating. Beers. Rib-stickin' food. And we found it.
After slipping into a comfy booth near the back we quickly trooped up to the bar (no table service, get up! ok) for a round of beers from the carefully-culled beer list, and a menu. After perusing, "ooooohing" over a few items...we finally decided.
How to order food:
-Get menu from bar
-Order food from bartender
-Take food order ticket back to kitchen
-Wait for friendly kitchen man to deliver your food (you'll get a #)
Ok, just to clear up any confusion...now back to the MOTR food fest we got ourselves into. Who knew we were so hungry...and that we'd end up somewhere so perfectly suited for feeding us swiftly, and with good items? Huzzah!
1. BLT w/ farm fresh egg ($2 additional for egg, worth it). Comes with wonderfully toasty fries.
2. Mac 'n Cheese: I do believe no noodles were left at the end of the attack. A little pep in the step of these elbows, baked into crocked perfection.
3. Shroom Burger - kind of a downer, but a favorite among the veggies I'd assume. A little "wet" and sloppy.
4. Soft pretzel and cheese: standard and scooped up swiftly.
The downstairs room provides a nice respite as well, and the place was comfortably jivin' to the live band in the front of house. Tin ceilings are a nice touch, and this place is all class, no ass. Just cool crowds drinking good beer, downing great food, commisserating, conversating, swaying, and doing their thing.
As I am a tourist, I cannot comment on the neighborhood or any other useful items...but Alex S gives it a nod of approval (and speaking of, where is his review!?), and I'm inclined to agree. I did take my pictures with the three little piggies down the street near where I parked...parking was a little hit or miss, but the pigs were super cool.
Will need to go back for brunch! at 11. Get the BLT. With an egg.
Total for 7 or so beers, plus food...$58 + tip. BAM.
MOTR, symbolic of the revival of Main St. in OTR. Park + Vine, FHK, Atomic Number 10, MOTR; a handful of budding young businesses that have reclaimed the section of Main St. between Central Parkway and Liberty St. Many other incredibly successful businesses existed there already but I have been privileged to find myself in massive amounts of new foot traffic on the block any given night of the week. Weekends are nothing short of magical as these businesses find wonderful ways to partner and host creative events drawing even the Hyde Parkers and far Eastern Cincinnatians to the scary, mysterious, place that is Over The Rhine.
I initially did not feel strong about MOTR, it was avery "meh" type place to me. But the last handful of times I found myself there, it was quite enjoyable.
**The service is solid, never more than a 2-3 minute bar wait even when the place is packed. Food typically takes less than 10 minutes from order to my table
**The food is also a strong 7 or 8 out of 10. Being located in OTR, vegan options are obligatory, and the TLT (tofu-lettuce-tomato) is a decent little sandwich. Do yourself a favor and add avocado.
**Beer selection is strong with some heavy hitters from both the "local region" and across the country's amazing craft beer scene.
**They book local musicians every week and any place that lends a hand to burgeoning musicians gets my applause.
**Location Location Location. I live a 3 minute walk away, its just too convenient not to go sometimes.
So my advice, go to MOTR on a random week night, check out a local musician, perhaps catch a random beer tasting. Order a vegan sandwich or some veggie chili, and dispense copious smiles and hugs to all of the friends you will likely encounter there.
When I moved to Over-the-Rhine, I was longing for a casual bar with simple dining offerings. The kind of place where I could be a "regular" without breaking the bank.
The kind of place where the bartenders would know what to pour when I walked through the door.
I think MOTR can be that kind of place.
Last week I had the pleasure of dining there twice - once for a quick dinner, and the second time for a casual brunch with neighborhood friends.
Both times I was pleased with the drink in my glass and the food on my plate. Good cold drinks (a guiness for the first time, a Bloody Maria with tequila on the second visit) and tasty bites at reasonable price points make me want to go back again, again and again.
For my quick dinner, I ordered a BLT with the fries, which were lightly dusted with a zippy seasoning. The bacon was crispy and the bread was schmeared with a flavored, tangy mayo.
At brunch time, I sunk my teeth into the delicious Breakfast Tacos, complete with the chorizo. I walked out full and happy thanks to that melange of potatoes, cheese, tomatoes, mexican sausage and other tasty flavors.
I can't wait to make MOTR my regular hangout. Just don't steal my seat at the bar.
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