This is probably unfair but what the hell....if you don't get there early and grab a good vantage point you're screwed. I went last year to see Shelby Lynne and when we couldn't find a place to sit or stand to see we were shushed by a fat guy with long blonde hair and a beard who was taking up what should have been about three possible spaces.
I'm sure he thought it was great. Me, not so much.
The Old Rock House was a pretty good, yet slightly disappointing experience for me. Â I've been wanting to go for awhile, but it seems like they rarely have bands that I want to see, so I was excited to see that Carbon Leaf was going to be there.
The bar is big, and the service fast & friendly. Â The venue was packed for the show, and being vertically challenged, seeing the band was somewhat of an issue for me.
The architecture of the building was cool (I love the concept of old restored buildings for music venues), though it would probably be improved if it weren't so narrow.  The acoustics were pretty good though, and I can see where it would be a nice, intimate setting for a less popular show.  They do have Listening Room experiences where they set tables up on the main floor & have table service, and though I've not been to one of those shows, I hear they're great.  They have other tables further back  as well, though it seems like viewing would be somewhat hindered from those (again, due to the narrow layout).
The bathroom annoyed me. Â There's really little worse than stalls that are too short, so you basically have to press up against the nasty toilet to get out. Â And extra 3 inches would have been terrif.
I'll be back, but won't make a special trip unless they book some more interesting bands.
Another one of my favorite venues in StL.
This is a small place, and depending on if you have VIP seating or not, you may or may not get a table. I've been there three times now and always have opted for a table. Service can be a bit slow at times, but the concerts are great and the setting is rather intimate.
Nothing like being only a few feet from the band members/singer and seated at a table with service coming to you.
Really great!
The Old Rock House is a great music venue. Â It's a beautifully rehabbed historic building with a plenty of room and a great layout for music and drinking. Â The acoustics are good, the space is clean and well decorated, and they have some stellar national acts coming through. Â In my mind, it's similar to what Mississippi Nights used to bring in as far as talent, which is a great niche as most other venues in the area are much too big or much too small. Â ORH is juuuust right. Â
The music is definitely the focal point and reason to come. Â The menu is limited and so-so- lots of bar food and BBQ. Â It doesn't stand out, especially among the many nearby amazing BBQ options in town. Â Additionally, I have been on very busy nights when they are out of several menu options, not a good experience with a small menu. Â There are bathrooms on each level, but somehow they always seem crowded and far away. Â I think this is because most of the action is on the main floor and there is just one unisex stall there. Â You really have to go up or down if you want a quicker and cleaner experience. Â
There can be a wait at the bar, expected during crowded shows. Â The bar staff is very friendly and patient with the sometimes over-served, loud patrons trying to place their orders over the level of the music. Â I try to time my bathroom beaks with drink breaks and head up or down to use the ladies room then hit the bar. Â Both levels are very cool and not to be missed as a part of the experience, with the upstairs being an open, comfortable balcony and the lower level being a hip lounge-type space.
Over the years I've been to Old Rock House quite a few times and just again this weekend for a show so I figured it was a good time to write a review.
This is a nice & clean concert venue, in other words if you're a STL native I'd say it's more like a Pageant experience than a Firebird or Pops experience. Â ORH is a little more bar n' grill than most concert venues and you can eat here without worrying about cleanliness ......or catching Hep A. Â
The layout for ORH is a little odd because most concert venues are laid out in a landscape fashion, i.e. stage in front and a very wide & shallow room. Â ORH is the opposite where it's a narrow width and goes really deep, the downside is that if you're really far back in the venue you can't see the stage. Â This could have been by design though because doubling as a bar n' grill some people might not care to see the stage & like to go to a quieter area of the venue. Â
The venue has 3 floors (a) basement with a bar, restrooms, and seating... however this area frequently is reserved. (b) 1st level with a bar and the open standing room section & this is where you'd typically be if you cared to watch the band. Â (c) the upper level which has a balcony which you can view the band as well as separate bar and restroom. Â If you really care about the band you probably need to go to the stage level since the sound quality is better, but if you're just meh' about the band the balcony is fine....... although there is limited seating that you can actually see the stage from. Â
Over the years ORH has evolved .....they've improved the sound quality and they've gone from a cover band venue to a venue primarily for original bands. Â IMO this is the place that could fill the void that Mississippi Nights left years ago for bands not big enough for the Pageant yet good enough to pull something better than the Firebird.... the edge over Pops is the fact this is in the city & not the sketchy East Side. Â If ORH could improve their national act booking I could easily see my rating going from 3 stars to 4 or maybe 5. Â The venue is here it's just a matter of getting better acts which is easier said than done.
Why haven't I been here before? Â I've walked by the building dozens of times before and after Cardinal games but never had an opportunity to attend a concert there until this weekend. Â What a great venue! Â There is a very cozy feel with a bar and standing room only on the lower level. Â The balcony was also fantastic. Â You can only see the stage from the seats in the front of the balcony but there are flat screen TVs and a large projector screen that provides a live feed as well. Â Towards the back of the upper level there are a number of cozy leather sofas and another bar that is just right for conversation. Â
I didn't have the opportunity to dine there but they do have a menu with pizzas and sandwiches. Â They also have a lower level that can be reserved for private parties. Â
Overall I really enjoyed the atmosphere and it allowed you to be as up close to the artist as you would like.
Among the many premeire rock venues in St. Louis, Old Rock House is pretty average.
It's great to have somewhere close to see quality shows. Â Most of the best acts end up playing in Midtown or the Loop, but occasionally something cool comes downtown to the Old Rock House.
I love the room. Â The setup is one of my favorites in town. Â I prefer the narrow, long design over the wide, on top of everyone look of the Pageant. Â It brings to mind the glory days of Mississippi Nights. Â Also, the balcony is a nice touch, too. Â For me, it's the best part of ORH.
Everything else can be hit or miss. Â The sound is nothing special. Â The house only has four fifteens up front, adequate but not great. Â The staff is pretty average for a music venue. Â The door guy was fairly nice, but the bartender was impatient and unpleasant. Â The beer prices are inflated. Â We had four beers for nineteen before tip, which doesn't seem bad at first glance. Â However, I was drinking Stag, a beer that should never be more than two dollars. Â Two Stags and two premium drafts make nineteen. Â I thought that I was drinking at the Pageant!
I love the convenience and the room but not much else. Â Also, I'm not sure how much more money that I will spend at the bar.
Saw Mike Zito perform here a few months ago (don't judge me...I like to let my reviews marinate on the brain for a little while...no really, I'm just a procrastinator..SHAME on ME!)
Excellent venue to watch live performances solo, on a date or with a group!!! Â
The service and drinks were totally on point! Â I had ordered a drink, but stepped outside on the AWESOMELY Spacious patio to get some air before the waitress got back...in a crowd of people, she hunted me down and got my drink to me, no attitude, no questions asked, just "here you go" with a beautiful smile! Absolutely...Huge tip given!!!!
Really cool vibe this place has! Â Love it!!
Old Rock House is one of my favorite places to see a concert in the Lou. The layout is great! There are plenty of tables and plenty of room to stand. I've been here several times and have yet to be disappointed. This venue features national touring acts as well as local acts. They have a pretty good selection of beers on tap which is a plus in my book. The food is bad either. They offer a lot of BBQ items on their menu.
My only complaint is the bar staff is a little slow. It seems they are in no hurry to fill your drink order. Other than that, ORH is great!
I'm not big into the St. Louis rock scene, and still, I've been to ORH for special events (Halloween, private parties) and regular weekend concerts. Â It's a popular place, and it never disappoints. Â Despite the crowds, service is good and prices are average. Â Where they getcha is the cover charge, so if you aren't too particular on which band is playing that night, just make sure you check the prices that night before heading out.
Review Source:We performed here last week and TOTALLY loved it...great venue for people who like to be right up front and part of the show, or for people who wanna hang back and listen while holding a conversation from time to time. Â (There's several screens broadcasting the show around the room) Â The staff was super pleasant and the food was great...If yer in St. Louis, go catch a show here!
~Dave "Herremannen" Heilman
I love this venue! It reminds me of Mississippi Nights. Inside and out. I recently came here to see Reverend Peyton and his big Damn Band. I had a blast. The things i love about this venue is they have a patio ( fresh air), the selection of bands they book ( always good bands. bands you can dance too), friendly staff and great drink prices, awesome food as well as service. They have limited space for parking on the lot so get their early. Other than that, great venue filled with very wonderful employees.
Review Source:I've been to the ORH a bunch of times for live music, and it's a great spot! Most recently I went for the Red Bull Thre3Style DJ event... that one was a doozy. I'm pretty sure I can still hear the bass in my ears a few days later. I've seen some really great acts here and absolutely love the layout! Plenty of room to stand around and see the stage, and also plenty of places to walk & check out if you sometimes have live music ADD like your Yelp CM.
I have a few different places to hang out at Old Rock House! Let's start with the most important:
1) The bar. Unfortunately I spend so much time here because it sometimes takes forever to get a drink! They have bars upstairs and downstairs so see which one is less busy, but getting a drink at ORH can sometimes resemble an olympic sport.
2) The patio. What do you need while seeing a live, sold out show? FRESH AIR.
3) Right in front of the stage on the main floor. You're literally RIGHT THERE in front of the performers, and you can take it all in!
4) The balcony. A really great view, and I feel like I have more room to breathe up there.
My only cons would really be the parking situation (mud all over my new black patent leather pumps = no bueno) and the bathrooms downstairs because they're kind of a hike and are always really hot. I like this place a lot, though, and can't wait to see another show soon!
OK so playing here tonight the band was treated toba nice spread.
Firstly the ribs: I'm not sure what cut they are... Kind of like those Korean rib cutlets. A little weird to eat (lots o little bones), meat was not cooked evenly (Pappy's was PERFECT), however their rub is absolutely fantastic. Â I couldn't stop eating it.
Chicken cordon bleu was tasty if a bit on the dry side.
Mixed veggies were tossed w/ parm and delish, salad was topped with artichoke hearts which I love.
I'll keep this short but sweet. Old Rock House is one of the BEST places to see live music in an intimate, i.e. small, setting. Acoustics are fairly good or at least don't bother me, good drink specials and plenty of standing room or tables upstairs if you don't splurge on reserved seating.
Caution, go to hear the music, not see the crowd. It's sort of a contrived hipster hang out. The parking totally sucks there too.
We saw David Bromberg last night and loved his performance. HOWEVER, there was no seating available for probably 80-90 percent of the crowd, despite many of us arriving an hour early and paying the same price as everyone else. We were forced to stand up for three hours, and on top of that, they allowed a wedding party upstairs to drown out the music with their noise through about half of the show.
They have great performers there, but due to poor management and deplorable lack of seating, we won't be back, and I suspect David Bromberg won't be either.
After visiting Old Rock House a handful of times over the past few years, my feelings about this venue are mixed. Here's a lowdown of the good and the bad:
The good:
- Smoke free as of September 1! So happy that you can enjoy a show here without risking your life!
- Spacious. There's plenty of room to stand near the stage. Or if you'd prefer to hang back and sit down, there's booths and tables near the bar.
- They've been booking some kick ass acts lately, I rocked out to Jamie Lidell here last night. So much fun!
The not-so-good:
- The second parking lot (aka the mud pit). Parking here is awful and kind of a hazard.
- The staff is "meh". Some of the bartenders are great/friendly while others are less-than-stellar.
- The cheesy factor is relatively high in terms of promotion - and I wish they'd stop spamming me on Facebook.
- This is a Chad hangout for sure.
If there's a really great show, I'll go back, but Old Rock House isn't my #1 hangout spot. But that's not to say that I can't have a good time here... It's a solid three-star spot for sure.
This review is for the music venue portion only. Â I don't have much experience w/ food here.
This is an AWESOME live music venue. Â I've lost count of the incredible shows that I have witnessed here. Â The space is just perfect enough to provide intimacy, but never too packed. Â Sound has always been top-notch. Â It's great that they open up the side doors so you can actually step outside on the patio and still enjoy the music. Â Fresh air + live music = GOOD.
And then there's the balcony/top floor area. Â It is just beautiful. Â Lots of plush couches and stuff to sit on, and you can also catch an amazing view of the live music below. Â There's even another bar nestled way in the back, and they have flatscreen TVs broadcasting the action from the stage. Â What a great idea! Â However, the balcony is usually only open for the bigger shows.
I saw some amazing acts here last year, mainly in the electronic music category, such as Eliot Lipp, Pnuma Trio, EOTO, Lotus, and Bassnectar. Â All were superb.
Drinks seem to be a tad pricey. Â There are two parking lots, the main asphalt one right in front of the place (fills up quickly when there's a show) and a dirt lot behind the place (usually open). Â If you park on the street, make sure you don't leave any stuff lying around in your car, as the area is a bit sketchy and break-ins have occurred.
Oh, another weird thing. Â If you open a tab they initially charge $50 on your card. Â The $50 is then refunded within the next couple days. I'm not sure why they do this, but just a heads up so you don't freak out when you look at your card statement. Â
If a band you even remotely like is playing here, definitely go see them. You will not regret it.
The Old Rock House probably should have been the first place I reviewed on here. Â After all, I have been here more times than any other place I've reviewed combined. Â That's because I have been coming here since the day they opened and I don't think I have ever once had a bad experience here...well a bad experience as a result of the place I mean.
This place is a bit hard to pin down. Â It seems now they are gearing towards being a live music venue, which is fine since they have uhh...always been a live music venue. Â Their happy hour is incredible with dollar drafts (!) and free food (!!). Â I once had 4 beers, an order of chicken wings, a cold cut, and chips with an 11 dollar tab....on a Friday night (!!!!).
The live bands used to consist of the STL's finest cover bands, but it seems now they are going for local indie acts, which is a MUCH welcome change in my opinion. Â I enjoy the decor and styling of the place which is best described as casual chic. Â There are three levels, each with its own bar. Â And there is a cartoon drawing of U2 in the basement. Â Awesome.
So yes I will give out yet another 5 star review. Â I seriously wrote all of this with only 4 filled in but I can't think of anything I don't like about this place. Â As far as a smallish concert venue with cheap food and drinks, yet among a non-trashy atmosphere, this IS as good as it gets.
A Grrrreat music venue!
I hear they have all ages shows which reminds me of back in the day when I used to have to go to Mississippi Nights to see music. Â (remember that? Â they used to crowd you into a roped off pen on the backside of the venue and then yell at you super loud if even your hair swung over the line of the rope-- whew)
But the Old Rock House is great.
I saw the Fiery Furnaces here the other night (which by the way is my new favorite band) and from the looks of their future line-ups, they have really good taste.
Looking forward to going back.
Good place to go for a weekday lunch. Service was a little slow due to a large party also dining. Our group had the rueben kincaid and the prime rib sandwich    Eveuone enjoyed their meal. From the looks of the layout, this would be a great place to come for live music. Prices were in line with similar establishments in the area.  Service was pleasant but not overbearing.
Review Source:Great venue no doubt. Â Waiting for the "full kitchen" that was promised once they ran crazy-ass Opal out of her junkyard with eminent domain petitions. Â Surprised it's still open though, given the economy and the usually hefty cover charge. Â I think this place is somebody's tax write-off.
Review Source:I came here for a bachelorette party not too long ago and had a fabulous time! Â The band was awesome and the dance floor wasn't crowded at all, even on a Saturday night. Â I love the area upstairs, with the extra bar. Â You can also watch the happenings on the dance floor from the balcony. Â Plenty of seating upstairs and down.
It's nice that the live band is up on an elevated stage; that way, the music's not so loud and it gives the band a holier-than-thou feel. Â The projection screen also does the trick. Â I haven't tried the food but would probably only come here to dance anyway, since it's a pretty far drive for me.
I went to see some local bands (King Thief and Gravity Kills) at this venue, and I was really impressed with the space. Somewhat new, it's in a beautifully renovated building. I really like the way that they fixed up the inside--nice without being too fancy.
It was also a welcome venue after spending time in smaller clubs. It's spacious with good acoustics for listening to live music. The large space was also nice because I didn't feel claustrophobic, or like I was getting stepped on, which I might at other concert venues. They also had projection screens set up so you could see the bands from a closer angle, which I thought was awesome and professional-looking.
Another nice touch was the basement area. It was a good place to get away to get away from the concert noise and chat with friends. There was an additional bar--but what was really special was the private areas sunk into the walls holding posh couches. It was unique, and was an ideal spot to get away from the crowd, congregate with your group, or share a private moment (wink wink). I liked the decor as well; portraits of legendary artists adorned the walls.
Although I haven't experienced their food, I have to say this is a fabulous place to take in a concert or go out for drinks.
The food is par for a bar and grill type place. Â The BBQ burger was good, but could have used a bit more sauce.
I went directly to the outdoor seating area (I was meeting people there), so I didn't get a look at the inside. Â The outside was clean and pleasant. Â And the waitresses were very courteous and attentive.
I would probably come to this place again if I was in the area.
The Old Rock House is a fun place to go for dinner and drinks. The Old Rock House combines the essence of a nice traditional restaurant with that of a nightclub, creating a nice atmosphere that is fun and trendy but relaxing at the same time.
Besides having a great atmosphere, the Old Rock House also has some good food as well. For diner I had their Rueben Kincaid. It was like a normal Rueben sandwich, but instead of corned beef, it had pastrami. The difference in the flavor of meat makes a great difference in the taste of my most favorite sandwich. The change in taste was not a bad thing as it was a nice change to an old favorite of mine.
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