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On the Rocks
Categories: Nightlife Dance Clubs Nightlife Bars Pubs Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Dance Clubs, Pubs, Music Venues [Edit]
11730 Jasper Ave NWEdmonton, AB T5K 0N3
(780) 482-4767
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ages Allowed:
- 18+
- Has TV:
- Yes
20 reviews for On the Rocks
20 reviews in English
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Review from Violet P.
3/5/2012
I came for lunch and was left pleasantly surprised. I heard the food was good and from my experience, I would agree. It was pretty quiet when I arrived at 12:30 and we had our choice of seats. Most people that arrived after us, also sat in the booths.
The menu is pub food; hamburgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs. I decided on the bbq pulled chicken wrap and sweet potato fries for $12. The wrap was huge with lots of chicken, and veggies. The fries were delicious and they were not the usual thin cut kind but thick cut and served with aioli.
Not sure I would enjoy the weekend crowds but I would like to come back for lunch and try something else from the menu. -
Review from Brittany K.
Edmonton, AB
Updated - 12/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
So I still hold high opinion of OTR as a place for watching the game or enjoying a pint with a friend or several. Spending some time with some of my favourite yelpers tonight, that pint of Grasshopper went down smooth - even better, it was on special!
But the sliders platter? Oooh, not good. My chicken slider was like a mini-KFC sandwich, and I don't mean that in a good way. The burger was alright, but that's not saying much, either.
Will I come back? Sure. For food? Definitely not.
Props for a friendly waitress - it was actually pretty busy tonight because of the World Juniors game.Listed in: Four-Stars, Good For Groups, Downtown Dining, Along the LRT line, Student Eats
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2011
On the Rocks is a pretty cool downtown joint for those looking for an unpretentious place to grab a… Read more »
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Review from Bridget C.
Edmonton, AB
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm at Hudson's! No, it's the Pint, I'm at the Pint! Wait a minute, no, it's On The Rocks -- but you really can't tell you're at anything but a franchised Canadian bar. The decor, music, and menu is identical to that found at every cookie cutter pub in Edmonton, so why must we experience it at On The Rocks too? Food was ok, wings were cheap, beer was average, and our waitress was inattentive when she bothered to show up. Oh well. It wasn't terrible but I feel no motivation to go back, because there wasn't anything unique here. Skip it!
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Review from Claudio C.
Edmonton, AB
4/8/2012
I have been going to OTR since it opened. The staff is always super friendly and the food never disappoints. I go for lunch at least once per week, always great lunch specials, it's definitely not your typical bar fare, it's like a good restaurant that turns into a live music venue on the weekends.
Weekends at OTR are always a blast, great bands hit the stage and a DJ to entertain you between sets. The crowd is a bit older than your average nightclub which is nice, keeps things a little friendlier -
Review from Adam D.
3/5/2012
So I ve never been here during the day or eaten any food but on the weekend evenings this place is fun. The crowd is older, they do not allow ed hardy, affliction wear in....decent. Calling all cougars, this is their place. Love it, crowd is always fun and never really expereined a problem. Theres live music on weekends sometimes, so if you like that its ok, but its tougher to dance too. Cant stress the cougars enough
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Review from Janine E.
Edmonton, AB
2/19/2012
Bought a groupon for here and was pretty impressed with the food. I really enjoyed that the bar tender made a martini especially for me and named it after me! Definitely a great place if you just want a burger and a drink after work. Very casual and servers are friendly.
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Review from Joanna F.
5/9/2011
Been for Tuesday Tacos ($1 but you also have to buy a drink) which are great for the cost and also for Salsa Thursdays.
Had fun both times - the place is quiet and good for conversations on Tuedays, and absolutely packed for salsa on Thursday - exactly what I wanted in each occasion!
The service is good, the place is clean and accessible. It's a unpretentious bar with booths & high stools around wood tables - a sports bar without a need to blare its music or its passion for sports (although the TVs are usually playing some game or another).
Some nights there is a cover charge; Salsa on Thursday will set you back a $5 cover charge, which I'm guessing is to help pay for the instructors they bring in each week to teach the beginner lesson. -
Review from Aditya R.
5/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
On the Rocks is the perfect place to come for a drink on a weeknight! A completely unpretentious atmosphere with the bare (or bear's?) necessities of beer, wings and other fried pub fare. I had the $1 tacos (that was the special) and found them to be A-OK. However, I will comment that they didn't have like a spicy sauce (Tobasco etc.) which would have been good to have with tacos. I ended up getting buffalo sauce for the tacos!
The room is very spacious and I hear that they have salsa nights on Thursdays. Generally, I can imagine this being a casual dancing place with a decent floor and top 20s dance music playing. They have quite a few television sets for those interested in following the hockey playoffs! They've got two sets of washrooms which seems odd but is such an awesome idea! I need my washrooms!!!
On the tap, they have the routine list of beers (Kokanee to Stella) and the price is reasonable. Although I did say that I found this place to be quite basic and in that sense ideal, I was a little disappointed that they had martinis on their drinks menu. One of the yelpers we met with had a Cosmopolitan and it certainly didn't look like a good drink. Somehow, I feel like there's been a surge of martini availability in all sorts of bars which certainly cheapens the experience of that fine concoction but also questions the direction a routine pub is heading towards. -
Review from Jessica L.
Edmonton, AB
10/24/2011
I always leave On the Rocks conflicted: I have probably had a rowdy, amazingly fun night with good friends, but I probably also dont want to go back for a while due to the crowded, rowdy room. Its a great place to just hang out, have a few drinks, see a band or dance till your feet bleed (this happened to me on Saturday). However, on the weekends, it is usually ridiculously packed to the point of breaking fire code and you will probably have at least 2 drinks spilled on you due to the crowdedness. I do enjoy the crowd here though as they tend to be 20-30 somethings and very laid back. I have gone dressed up before and dressed down and usually find myself surrounded by guys in sports jerseys and jeans. The bartenders will also make sure you stay hydrated and happy!
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Review from Carina Z.
5/9/2011
Whomp whomp. So I was not-so-happy when I had to pay a $5 cover at a location that typically doesn't draw huge crowds and caters to an older group of people (note that I was at this place on a Friday night - arrived at 10pm). But then I got inside and was very disappointed. I know it is a bar/club but they really could do better.
It was not too full inside and it still took forever to be served (and just as long if you went up to the bar). The night I was there, they had a live band performing which was okay but I think that prevented people from actually going on the dance floor.
The actual floor itself was sticky everywhere (even early on in the night) and it felt like general cleanliness was not even on the radar for the operators. As mentioned earlier, the clientele is more "mature" in age but they sure didn't act it. In fact lots of times it was worse than being with the 18-year-olds.
This not-so-classy joint attracts not-so-classy people and I can say for sure that I will not be back anytime in the future (if I can help it). -
Review from Cory P.
5/15/2011
I've been to On The Rock numerous times for their Wing Wednesday (Delicious) However last night was the first time I experienced their weekend night crowd.
I Had a great time. The crowd was very laid back and for the most part relaxed.
The live band was great and played a wide range of music and in between sets the DJ played a variety of music aimed towards crowds of 30 something. (DRE/Journey/J-LO)
It looks like if you book ahead you can reserve tables for larger groups all in sight of the stage.Listed in: Places to watch the game.
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Review from Brittney L.
Edmonton, AB
11/21/2010
After sitting at a table for five minutes on the right hand side, we gave in and moved to the left hand side. We sat at a sticky table, the scent of spilled swillish beer filling our noses. My friend had a gift certificate, so we stayed, instead of heading next door to the always delicious Famoso. I ordered the Rocks Burger without onions and with pickles on the side, as did my friend. I added mushrooms as a bonus for it. (His was $11, mine $12) Both of us got sweet potato fries at no extra cost, which I was impressed with.
Our waitress, the only one working on a Sunday night (with the hockey game) was friendly, and answered our questions about the hot burger challenge. My friend did feel that she was trying to talk us out of taking the challenge. To be fair, we didn't need to be swayed.
The veggies were fresh, the burgers thick, juicy, and tasty. The sweet potato fries left something to be desired, being a bit undercooked and quick to cool.
Overall, not my first pick, but if you are looking to watch a game or get your drink on... It is an option. Just be warned, there is a cover on popular drink nights - which for a place you probably won't spend long, is maybe not entirely worth it. -
Review from Francesca K.
Edmonton, AB
4/22/2010 1 photo
This is a great downtown pub that offers good food and good service.
My boyfriend and I have gone time and time again for wings here and they serve up some of the best, but their wing specials are not the greatest. You can find a better deal elsewhere if you're looking to save money.
The coolest thing about this place is that they have salsa lessons. I was eating here once when a lesson broke out and I am a little disappointed in myself for not joining in.
The location is prime - right downtown. I know they serve lunch here as well, but I have only gone in the evening.
I will definitely go back! Maybe for salsa lessons this time!! -
Review from Sean W.
Edmonton, AB
8/26/2011
Ok so this is not a "night Club" first off. It does however have live bands on the weekends. The bands generally play stuff for the 30-40 year old crowd and are usually pretty good. In between sets the DJ hits the dance numbers to fill the dance floor up more.
Easy place to make reservations ahead of time for parties and that gets you no line no cover until 10pm. This is when it starts to line up usually.
Food is above average pub food with a new menu out now.
I have always had a good time here and I think it says a lot. yes the service on the weekend nights is slowish but that's because it is usually packed on a Friday or Saturday night. I just like the fact that we can go and not have to think about fights etc and people there tend to be there to have a good time!
I will also say this is a wheelchair accessible bar as well which is nice. Lots of daily specials and we all like that.
In conclusion one of my favourite weekend drama free hangouts! -
Review from Jessica D.
Edmonton, AB
5/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy tacos ! Cheap mexican beers! How can you turn both of those away? I'm excited to try the other nights like $1 hot dogs! Wowza ! I'm gonna have to join jazzercise ! The tacos were pretty good for what you can expect for $1, you only have 2 meat flavors, chicken and beef, in a hard or soft shell. The first 2 tacos I had were great, huge for $1, pretty satisfying.. But as I ordered 2 more over a 3 hour period I noticed that the tacos were wearing pretty thin. I don't blame them, people are getting drunk.. they won't notice.The service though was amazing for how busy it was getting. I don't think I ever had a period where I was waiting to get another beer!
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Review from Jack G.
Edmonton, AB
11/24/2009
Surprisingly not many people have heard of On the Rocks, it's downtown on Jasper Ave and it's hard to describe the kind of club this is. Actually, it's probably better off being called a pub.
It gets pretty packed on the weekends and I have noticed that people really let loose here. I guess the name says it perfectly, people come here to DRINK. The bar is always slammed but it isn't too difficult to get a drink. The bartenders all know what they are doing and try and keep everything in order the best they can.
I personally like how they have some booth's at the opposite end of the dance floor for people who just want to hang out. The music doesn't seem overly loud on that side either so it makes it easier to talk.
I would say it is a good place to stop in for a little bit on the weekend and then moving on to somewhere else. -
Review from Jacqueline S.
Edmonton, AB
12/10/2009 3 Check-ins Here
My favourite night of the week at On the Rocks is Tuesday. They've got $1 tacos and $3 Mexican beers, and the tacos are actually pretty good. The other weeknight specials are pretty good too. They have salsa lessons on Thursdays and often live music on the weekends (with associated cover charges).
I've never been on one of the busier nights, but it seems to be a pretty popular place, particularly with the sorts of people who need to yell at each other until after 4 in the parking lot while I'm trying to sleep upstairs.Listed in: Beer!
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Review from Paula K.
10/21/2008
I really enjoy coming to On the Rocks occasionally for lunch. The menu doesn't have any real surprises on it, but the food is prepared well and reasonably priced. I often order the steak sandwich or the veggie burger (I am a vegetarian when I am not eating meat!). There is a huge dance floor and bands often play here on the weekends, from rock to World Beat. I have never come here on and evening or weekend, but I understand the place is pretty popular and people have a good time. The atmosphere is very bright and positive - I can understand why.
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Review from Maria F.
11/6/2009 1 photo
I have been to On the Rocks only twice, and both times the purpose of my visits was to dance salsa. Every so often this club becomes a place where everybody can learn to dance salsa for a nominal fee. During salsa dancing nights, On The Rocks becomes a very loud and happy place. The instructors are fantastic, the crowd is made up of young people who know the true meaning of the word "fun".
I only ordered drinks while at On The Rocks, never food, so I cannot comment on its quality. The drinks specials are consistently great though! What could be better than to dance some salsa and to drink some margarita? This club looks like the perfect place to have a stagette. For some reason, it feels very "girly" to me.
There's lots of space on the dance floor and lots of seating area.The club is clean. Every weekend, there is a long lineup outside. I know for sure that On The Rocks hosts live music concerts.What a multitasking club! -
Review from Jennifer P.
Edmonton, AB
10/9/2008 1 photo
I've had lots of fun at On the Rocks. In my experience, it's a spill-over place from Kelly's and other bars in the area. When people get restless and want to switch venues, they head on over to On the Rocks to blow off some steam on the dance floor. It can get quite packed on the weekends. I think the cover charge in this place is kind of stupid, considering there are lots of other free options around. At any rate, it still packs up, and it's a great place to run into other friends you know who've been out somewhere else that evening; then you can turn your two separate parties into one big one. A lot of shots seem to be done in this place. They're always lined up on the bar. The bartenders are spirited and like to see everyone having a good time. There's also a karaoke guy who comes a couple of times during the week. I haven't been, but I've heard it is quite a popular place for the city's karaoke gurus.
