MOTR Pub

Was in town staying in an Air b&b not far, popped in for some cheap beers n shot combos! $6 for a old style and whiskey! Hell yea! The bartender was awesome! It was karaoke night and the guy running it was nice as hell too! Had a burger and played some pinball in the basement!! Great spot!!

We were a group of 5. Atmosphere is cool. Music is good. The food is some of the worst we’ve ever had. The MOTR burger was pretty good. The chicken sandwiches were tiny with zero flavor. The chicken nuggets were undercooked and looked/tasted like McDonald’s nuggets. The fries weren’t fried long enough. Beer was cold though! Spent way too much money on very subpar food.

Went to see a band, Happy Tuesday, and it’s a great place to get food and hear some good music!

Great place for a drink and great music.

The bands are always fun! The food is good for bar food. The outdoor patio is a nice little getaway. The basement has lots of coll games.

Big thanks to the staff on 2/28 ~8pm. We got into town late and barely had time to check into a show at Woodward Theater across the street. The crew understood my urgency and made 2 of their signature burgers in 9-10 minutes. We were able to eat and make the show on time! The MOTR Burger is definitely a V8. Large but manageable components make it look and taste like a well prepared cookout type burger. The sauce had a great spice to it, and the placement on the bottom bun hits the tongue first and has a lot of presence.

Didn't try food. Went because they support live original music. This is important. And they're real ones for supporting it. It's not so much that Ai is evil. Click tracks are though. B Both are just additional tools we should use. Not let them use us. Go to motr. It might save the human race.

The bar service and food here has always been great when I've visited. The food tastes fresh, you can tell they care. I love the welcoming environment, and the free shows!

Every city needs a venue like this. On a night it slowly fills up with both people who are there for the band and the locals who go in the back, but by 9:30-10:00 people are dancing and the vibe was very accepting for my group of tourists who fit in with both the older and younger crowd. I think I would be a regular if I lived here! We ate before arriving so all I can say about the food is that a lot of people were eating and a lot of takeout was moving out the door, and even though I wasn't hungry it smelled good. All that and kick-ass pinball machines.

I have visited this place twice now on tour. Both times I have had a wonderful time! They are very hospitable to bands and the environment is lovely. The food is very reasonably priced and is good! Special shout out to the flakey crispy french fries. My friends really enjoyed the chicken sandwich and BLT. Then we met the number 3 ranked woman pinballer of Ohio in the basement where we enjoyed playing pinball! Especially the Godzilla machine.

I've done it. I've found the tastiest meal in Cincinnati. I know that is a bold statement when Skyline exists but I am not even exaggerating when I say that this is hands down the most soul fulfilling meal you can find. Idk food like this might seem very simple to some people but to me it just makes me feel cozy and comforted. It's just some reliable food. You can't go wrong. I have been twice and had the vegan TLT both times. Fries are amazing. I love the food here so much and there is even a nice patio in the back.

Not good. Whoever runs this place needs a reality check. Sound quality bad, drinks sub par, generally poor management.

Not good. There is nothing special about this place. And the cheeseburgers were not good. All 3 of us who had one ended up a little sick later that night, mind you we weren't all drinking either.

I visited to MOTR Pub with a friend for brunch. We chose to sit at the bar and received excellent service there. I ordered a bloody Mary and he ordered a mimosa. Both of our cocktails were great but the brunch was the real star! I ordered the trucker's breakfast casserole and it was tasty. However, he ordered the biscuits and gravy which were outstanding! The sausage and chorizo gravy was something unexpected and amazing! I had immediate order envy. (I know what I'm getting next time!) The loaded tater tots also look really great...I'm eyeing those for my next trip too...so I'm obviously returning.

Great brunch, good music, tasty food without the wait. Check out all the shows they bring to Otr. Get the Bloody Mary!

Great place for live music and pub food. Went on a Saturday evening for dinner, drinks and live music. The food and drinks were good and the prices very reasonable, and there was no cover charge.

This one pains me, because I like MOTR, especially as music venue and a chill spot, but the kitchen needs to get fixed. I'm normally in the business district for lunch, but was up by MOTR and thought I'd pop in for lunch on a Wednesday. I was by myself, so I walked in and took a seat at the bar. I looked around - there were 2 guys at the bar, two guys at a front table, and a couple more in a booth in the back room. Cool. Shouldn't need to worry about a long wait. Shouldn't. So I ordered the burger. I've had it before, and remembered it being good. At $7.25 it seemed like a reasonable lunch option. So I got a bacon cheddar burger with tots and a diet coke. Suddenly, my $7.25 burger was a $13.00 meal. Seemed pricy, but whatever. I paid out, and was given a number. I was told 20 minutes. I looked around again, counted the same 6 people in the whole place, and assumed they were just being conservative. There is some pinball downstairs, so I killed a few minutes down there. I came back up, and waited. And waited. And waited. I had to e-mail someone to push a meeting back. More than 35 minutes from the time I ordered, my food was brought out. No comment on the wait. Nobody asked how it was. Nobody asked if I needed anything else. The bartender did top off my diet coke. One bite in, I figured out why it took so long. They must have cooked this thing for 35 minutes. The burger patty (puck?) took up less than half of the giant bun, and it was so gray and lifeless, it's hard to truly call it a burger. As I was digging in, one of the guys at the front table got up to leave and complained to the bartender how overdone his burger was. He was being polite. I took most of the bun off, got through enough of the burger so that I wouldn't be starving the rest of the day, ate a few tots and just left. At $17.00 with tax and tip (I wish I hadn't tipped in advance now), I'm afraid this was the single worst all-around dining experience of the year. You're better than this MOTR. Either fix the kitchen or give it up.

The writer's night open mic was so much fun, with awesome musicians dropping in to showcase their new stuff, plus it was welcoming and encouraging for regular folks like me. I can see why it was voted Cinci's best open mic.

We started with Loaded Fries (fresh fried fries, bacon, cheese, chives, diced tomato, and sour cream). Definitely shareable. We also shared a pretzel with beer cheese. While it was good, the firm/solid beer cheese was a bit different than I've had in the past with liquid varieties. I had the MOTR Burger - angus beef topped with beer-battered onion rings, lettuce, ripe tomato, (extra) pickles & chipotle mayo on a toasted brioche bun. For $ .75 I added bleu cheese and blackened seasoning. Delicious! My only criticism of the burger was that it was well done, and none of us were asked for a temperature preference. I didn't realize it included fries and was fried out from the Loaded Fries, but a buddy let me try a few of his tater tots and they were crispy and delicious. They also had a big selection of local and national beers. Drafts are half price during happy hour, dirt cheap! There are four pinball machines are downstairs - Avengers (average), Star Trek (awesome), Metallica (awesome!), and KISS (way below average). There's also a combo Galaga/Ms. Pac-Man upright arcade video game. Bar and busing service was solid.

Best bartenders with best GLT in the world! Hands down.

My husband and I came on a Friday night. So far a great impression. We just came for drinks and really loved the mood of this place. It's open and has awesome décor. I got the house cabernet and my husband got an IPA-$10.00 for both drinks. Not bad. The bartender waited on us right away. She was very friendly and helpful. After our drinks, we walked around the bar and noticed a downstairs full of pin ball machines. I was in heaven!!! I am definitely coming back because this place has so much to offer. The serve food (which I heard was good). I love the fact MOTR Pub supports local bands so I will be dropping by to check that out. All around a great laid back bar to have drinks with friends. LOVE it here.

Considering my 20s are behind me, I hadn't really expected to be in a pub at 11 a.m. on a Sunday. But happily I can report that I wasn't there because I hadn't left from the night before. I was there for a happily-awake-and-ready-for-the-day brunch. And MOTR Pub definitely made that happen. Looking around this Over-the-Rhine music venue/watering hole/eatery, though, it occurred to me that the nights of parties past hung in the air. Concert and event posters look down on customers from the spot's tall walls. And if I recall, we had to go to the bar to order our food. The dim interior and high-top tables definitely make it feel more like a bar than a restaurant. And this juxtaposition made the whole experience seem just a bit more memorable. But enough about the atmosphere. Let's talk food. I ordered the biscuits and gravy, which is made with sausage and chorizo gravy and includes a fried egg. Biscuits and gravy have grown on me more over the last year, and this dish definitely didn't disappoint. The sausage and gravy had just enough punch to it, and the gravy was delightful when I sopped some of it up with a forkful of biscuit. It was also an adequate portion to fill me up but not leave me over-stuffed for the day ahead. I also tried the bloody mary after hearing that MOTR is a bit known for it. I read elsewhere that MOTR includes beer in its bloody mary. I did not watch them make this, and forgot to ask, but if that's true, that may explain why this bloody mary has a bit more complexity to it. It had a bite to it, like you'd want it to, and wasn't overloaded with watery, tomato juice (as I've noticed with others). It was good. I've had a few that were better, but this was definitely more than adequate. MOTR is the type of spot that every urban, trendy area should have, that place that you can stumble to for a bite (or a beer or music) as well as take guests to -- either way no judgment from the employees or fellow customers. I'm looking forward to returning on a return visit to OTR!

MOTR is a great place for cheaper eats and drinks OTR, at least around happy hour. I ordered the Greek salad with tofu added (veganized without feta). The salad was good, but the tofu was phenomenal. It tasted kind of like bacon, so I would imagine it is the tofu they use for the BLT. I am definitely going back soon.

Tofu TLT is AMAZING. I absolutely love it and get it any time I'm downtown! I have wished mayo to be abolished all my life (even before going vegan) lol and theirs is the only one I will eat - idk why but it doesn't gross me out and it definitely makes the sandwich! Even the tots are extra crispy & im pretty sure this is the only place in the city that doesn't serve them soggy

I wasn't sure what to expect but I really enjoyed the food here. I was hung over from my B-Day celebration and stumbled in past the cigarette smokers out front. It was dark and dank but had a really cool vibe and cool art everywhere. I ordered a BLT and a burger and smashed them both! My son loved the tater tots which was surprising seeing as how he hasn't eaten them in years. I ordered 3 beers to help sober up and an old fashioned LOL (Dad of the Year)! It was a really chilled out environment and the bartender was cool. I saw a stage so I assume they have live bands but there was no band when I was there. Didn't seem like my type of scene but I was too hung over to care. All I had was burger on the mind and MOTR exceeded all expectations! Not so humbly submitted, Michael C.

MOTR is the mostly undisputed leader in the free concert venue scene of Cincinnati. It's a music bar first and foremost. No other place has consistently excellent national shows for free. The reasonably-priced draft selection includes the best IPA in the world, Bell's Two-Hearted ($6), so that's a win. They even have solid food until 11pm! The dark wood and high ceilings make for a cozy ambience. The patio is spacious and charming. Local artists adorn the walls on a rotating basis which makes for an interesting, variable aesthetic. Other than being a little pretentious on certain excessively hipster nights and a slightly awkward stage location that creates a bar traffic jam, it's ideal. MOTR is the only place I know with five bars of cell coverage in the basement. Strange and wonderful. It's like the building is a satellite dish.

I really really love the vibe in MOTR. This is a really relaxed local dive that feels like the neighborhood hangout on Main St. I came here on a Thursday night for dinner, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they had live music that night. I took a look at their schedule and it looks like they have live music almost every night of the week, so if you're looking to grab a beer, some good bar food, and just hang out and listen to music, this is your place to go! You have to order at the bar and seat yourself. My husband got the MOTR Burger with cheese ($9.25) and I got the Portabella Sammy ($8.75). The portabella sammy was really delicious...I loved that it was topped with roasted red pepper and feta. My only complaint is that my portabella was a little small for the bun it was served on, so I was left with half of my bread when I finished it. The MOTR Burger on the other hand was HUGE. The patty was very peppery and the meat kind of overpowered the toppings because it was so big, which is a shame because I wanted to taste more of that jumbo onion ring and chipotle aioli. Both sandwiches came with fries which were delicious, and overall I felt the food was a good portion for the price. When you come here, don't forget to check out downstairs! I loved the pinball machines in the basement and the tiny bar under the stairs. I'll definitely be coming back to MOTR for beer and bar food. Next time I'll try that famed mac n cheese and/or Sunday Brunch!

When narrowing down places to go in Cincinnati, it can get difficult trying to find a spot that everyone can agree on. I have found MOTR to be a crowd-pleaser. They books extremely talented entertainment acts from across the country, and majority of the shows are free for 21+. If music isn't your thing or you want a break, there's also a downstairs bar with plenty of tables-perfect spot for catching up with friends. On top of the quality bands at MOTR, they also offer great prices on drinks, and have bartenders that actually pay attention to their patrons. It's has a relaxed, intimate vibe, but still manages to be one of the more popular bars in this neighborhood. You're not fighting to get a drink, but there are still plenty of people to socialize with! So if you're looking for a change up from sweaty bars and DJs blaring mainstream hip-hop and pop, MOTR is the spot!

I love this place and have seen some really great shows here over the last year and a half. It's worth it to check their schedule online before arriving because you never know what kind of artist will be performing here. The crowd is always eclectic, just like the music. I have literally seen all ages and varieties and this remains consistent. The stage area is almost at floor level so that out you very close to the performance and there is no cover. Sometimes the sound is off and the musicians don't have a good grasp on getting the acoustics right. My biggest complaint which for the life of me I can't figure out is why it takes so long to get a drink. YOU WILL WAIT forever for a can of beer. Literally. It's a dive bar/ no one is ordering martinis. They never have enough bartenders and even when you are sure the bartender saw you standing there - no exaggerating 15 mins .. you are fooled. The man with the facial hair is the worst at not keeping track at who is has been waiting the longest. In no uncertainty I say this bar is the worst in service. Luckily their music makes up for it.

This review is for brunch!!! Holy cow, I had no idea. We stopped by today and I ordered the vegetarian tacos. Legit, tasty, and served up quick. We were there around 11:30 and there were maybe 5 other groups sitting around. On a Saturday. In OTR. Awe.Some. The food was so good and my compatriots were equally pleased with their meals. It is a bit of a hipster vibe-seat yourself, but order at the bar, where you have to go pick up your menu. But it is well worth the unconventional table service. So many of the menu options are vegetarian friendly and I am looking forward to a visit for lunch or dinner. I had no idea that this bar was hiding some of the tastiest food in OTR. Don't tell anyone...but tell everyone!

I came here recently for brunch. I've eaten here before and enjoyed the food, their burgers and the breakfast tacos were good. I decided to try the MOTR muncher and was underwhelmed. Other than that, this is a pretty cool spot. They have live music several days a week so there's something to do here just about everyday. They also have a decent happy hour.

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.

We tried to hit up Tucker's for Sunday brunch on a limited time constraint. Bad idea, the wait was long. Enter in MOTR pub. What a cool spot. Clearly Cinci's local music haven this large dark pub was a great Sunday brunch alternative. The menu is super limited, about 6 items. I went with the egg casserole which was decent (and I could have made at home) but, the winner was the biscuits and gravy. I had to steal more than one bite from the bf of these delicious biscuits covered not in a sausage gravy but more of a sausage chili with a perfectly poached egg. Holy banana balls. Give me more of 'dat. The waffle looked like a leaning tower of deliciousness with globs of white whipped cream. The place is self serve style: you order at the bar and they deliver it to your table. Again, not my favorite method of service but if it works for 'em then who am I to judge? Four stars MOTR pub. I'd be here all the time I'm sure if I was local.

I will sound like a dork saying this, but this place feels SO cool. There's just a vibe to, even on a quiet Tuesday night. It must have been the dusty giant bottle of alcohol decorating the bar (I kid, or not) or the tall doors. I think the doors must have done it. High ceiling is one thing, but tall doors! How can that not look cool? It feels like a pub, plenty of space upstairs and downstairs. The basement has some pinball and game machines. There's a stage, which promises live music almost every night, I was told. We left too early to enjoy the show, but seems like l they're serious about their music. The food was way better than I what I expected bar food to me! My portabello mushroom burger was great, quite flavorful. I love my meat, but the entire time I was thinking, how could a whole mushroom taste this good? It was juicy, a bit messy to eat but yum! My friend enjoyed his real burger too. Service was friendly and laid back. We sat at the bar. Our server/bartender checked on us often enough without being too pushy. He didn't smirk when I asked how to say MOTR. He chimed in helpfully when my friend and I couldn't quite understand what Mindcraft was about. There was a couple happy hour options on tap that night. My total for both drink and food before tip was under $10, which satisfied a full belly (and mine isn't a small one). I came back for NYE. Crowd was good, not too crowded, no cover charge, drinks were decent-not too weak. I can see myself frequenting this if I live in OTR. And the breakfast pictures look so good!

This place is the coolest little pub in OTR. Saw a concert there and while it was a late show, there was plenty of entertainment by way of classic arcade and pinball in the basement, a nice and spacious patio, and friendly bartenders who handled the massively crowded bar really well. Decent prices on beer, with booths in the back if you would prefer to be able to have a conversation. Really great sound and the decor/vibes were all good.

Great pub spot. Reminds me of FSU college days... good music, cheap pints and good food. I ordered BLT. It was fresh and good...not fabulous but good. It's designed to line your stomach for more drinking vs an elevated dining experience but still appreciate quality, and for that, it was perfect! Great beer selection and friendly staff...go here!

I am a Clevelander that often visits Cincinnati because I used to live there. If you are a Clevelander reading this I would compare the concept to The Beachland Ballroom. My friend and I happened to come here for brunch on a Sunday because the wait at other places were incredibly long. I was surprised that this place wasn't as crowded because after scarfing down a ton of food I fell even more in love. Our bartenders were awesome. My friend and I were making tons of terrible jokes because it was freezing outside and we were slightly hungover and they pleasantly laughed with us (thank you bartenders for putting up with us). The food is pretty solid here. I ordered the chorizo breakfast tacos and my friend ordered the Waffle and the Biscuits and Gravy with an Egg on top. Of course we over ordered but that's what happens when everything on the menu sounds so good! There wasn't a band playing while we were there but it's definitely a cool place to check out.

I've been frequenting MOTR for about a year now off and on, and it is one of the coolest places. With free music most nights, it is always a go to for my friends and I. What keeps me coming back the most though is the veg food they have! So much goodness, with vegan chilli, tater tots, and veggie burgers. The service here is always prompt and friendly, giving you as much or as little conversation as needed. Plenty of local beers are offered, along with some cocktails and decent prices. I'm grateful MOTR supports our local artists and breweries; we need more of that!

I went here for brunch and it was delicious. I'm a big fan of breakfast sandwiches so I ordered the Motr Muncher. YUM! The chipotle mayo pulled it all together. Plus tots! I also ordered a Bloody Mary which was also great. Although I like mine spicy so watch out if you don't. There were only a few people in there and you order at the bar, so service was fast. The bartender was friendly too. Deco is awesome. Lots of wall art and posters to look at. They have a stage set up, so it'd be cool to come back here for live music sometime.

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!!

What a hip place! I came here yesterday evening to participate in the inaugural Cincy Stories, which was held in the basement room of the pub. Being the first time here, I was so surprised at how big the space was! The downstairs seemed like it used to be a wine cellar, with big, dwarf-height wooden doors and a very middle-ages feel with the candlelit-like lighting and the daggers for decor. The space is small, but I can totally see this as the perfect place for a small gathering that needs more of a stage presence and a cozier feel than a 200+ auditorium. While I didn't try any of the drinks or the food (it was past my dinner time), it definitely is a good hang-out spot. The room leading to the basement area had old-timey games and pinball machines, and the floor above creaks and echos so loudly that you can play "guess the patron's shoes" games, but I think it adds to the ambiance for sure. The main floor is very open and the decor is legit, and definitely not sparse. If you ever feel lonely and feel like you need a change of scenery beyond the blank, white walls of the office, this is the place to go!

Rolled in after our 11am hotel check out and had no problem getting a seat. The place was filling up steadily by the time we were finished around noon. Head up to the bar, place your order, open a tab, get your number, take a seat and at no time at all the food is at your table! I'm serious, like 5 minutes or less. Just enough time to walk up to the complimentary coffee bar and make mysefl a cup o joe. I enjoyed the vegetarian biscuits and gravy.. FINALLY a veg friendly version of biscuits & gravy! Would love to come back and enjoy the bar at night, including the basement full of pinball machines!

Food review: Pub food. Sandwiches and fried items, that's all you'll get. And yet they do it very, very well! The classic MOTR Burger? I don't really eat fried onion rings, chipotle mayo, and rarely mess with red meat. But on the rare occasion I treat myself, this place hits the spot. Thick and juicy, crispy fried, but not too greasy onion ring, well dressed with LPT, on a bun just thick enough to absorb the flavorful juices of the burger. The side salad had plenty of tomato and cucumber, and the croutons made from pieces of the bun were a welcome addition. Fries have a good seasoning on them, with plenty in the serving for your pleasure. Beer review: 9 rotating tabs and some constant Hudy, your local cheap beer option. seemed to be a good selection but I drink very rarely. One thing I will say was positive - they had a mislisting on their board for a drink price, but honored (and corrected) it when the bill came. Music: Here's where this place shines, a different live band EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. That is incredible. I've been there three times, and every time I've thought "these guys are pretty damn good to just be playing a free show in a pub" at the very least. Most often, I'm amazed by the quality. Now, here's the one problem, and this sounds stupid, but because this is a music pub it is always loud. Loud enough you can't hear people sitting two feet from you when you're talking, loud enough you have to shout for a drink. Personally, that gets old to me. The back patio provides seating options with a nice buffer space from the speakers to let you talk and enjoy the good music, drinks, and food, if you don't mind the smoke.

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: http://motrpub.com/food.html 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: http://motrpub.com/parties.html 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.

Worth a visit. Five of us had an early dinner on Wednesday and it was nearly empty. The menu was very interesting and it was clear they put a lot of effort into it. The service was fine but unusually slow considering the lack of customers. We had to ask for an update on the food and to call someone over for the bill. The MOTR Burger was pretty good. I don't recall the fries but I guess they were fine. The bartender was a little snarky to my friends (before I arrived) but that might be an exaggeration and not a big deal. Overall, my experience doesn't seem amazing but I'd return to MOTR .

Easily one of my favorite bars in town. FREE music most nights of the week, plenty of reasonably priced drink options, and surprisingly good food make this spot no-brainer/must-visit. Not only that, but their brunch is honestly amazing. The MOTR Muncher is delicious and something I recommend to anyone willing to listen.

Motr is like a bar you'd find in Northside, only it's in OTR. It's pretty divey compared to most of the newer bars in this part of town, but the prices don't seem to match that. It's pricey for anything other than say PBR. Everything is sticky and every time I've been here, the bar felt like it was one tender too short to handle the demand. However, if you like live, local music, this is your place. You may leave feeling a little deaf though. It's a small bar with pretty loud music. Despite my review, I had a pretty good time here the other night. But I had to have a couple of drinks to get there.

I've visited this spot off and on for the past year now and yet to have a positive experience. This dingy hole in the wall spot has horrible service (expect to wait 15-20 min for a drink, not to mention rude bartenders), horrible music (no wonder no good local bands play here) and just average drinks. There are no special cocktails and most everything on tap is out. Oh and may i mention, do not EVER get the food. I dont care how drunk i may be, I would rather starve than eat their dollar general food. Overall, there are 100 better bars in OTR than MOTR. 10/10 do NOT recommend.

Best bar in OTR? 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. If you don't like loud music, just come before the bands start. They are typically on pretty late. This place always has a good crowd and is not too pretentious. 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. Food here is also fantastic. 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!

Amazing burger, amazing fries, amazing interior! This burger came with all the fixings and the patty itself, oh my heavenly! This has to be the best burger seasoning I have had yet. I just wish it was a bit bigger. They have a couple of specialty burgers- some with bacon, onion rings, and portabella mushrooms. Fries are fresh and hot. Nothing like its been sitting under a heat lamp. They have so many different types of mac and cheese and a deliscious looking brunch menu. I definitely want to come back that next time! The interior is very trendy and hipstery. I love it! There are fliers for local shows and OTR events. There is space for live music and shows during the evenings and weekends. Unfortunately, no one was playing when we stopped in. Then again it was 2 in the afternoon haha.

Great music venue in OTR featuring affordable drinks and low/no cover local bands. This spot totes a long bar in the front with a stage all in the main room. While the front room becomes cramped it really opens up as you step through, with a basement level full of pinball machines and other games and seating and a back patio and fire pit. What I love most however is the local bands it features and the low cost drinks. Definitely one of the prime spots on Main Street.

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. 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. You also NEED to hit up their brunch on Sundays. One of the best in the city. Chorizo biscuits and gravy, breakfast tacos, French toast. Need I say more. 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. 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!

Any place that has free, live music seven nights a week is a winner in my book. There's also plenty of space to spread out if you aren't into the music that night. The basement has about 4 pinball games and a TV as well. The burger is pretty good too, it's huge, and comes with fries. There aren't many places with live music where you can also get food pretty late. I've been a fan of MOTR since they opened, go check it out for yourself!

"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.

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!

Stopped by here during a one night visit to Cincinnati. Found this spot and Northside Tavern on Yelp. The bartender (Nanta!) told us to try the CINCI-NANTA drink, a whiskey-based ginger drink. Yum! She was a great bartender and the whole establishment was a fun stop for some LA visitors who like music and boozin. We also ordered food, and I expected chicken wings and French fries, considering its a music venue and bar. Wrong. My salad was robust. Like a real salad. My husband got the bacon cheeseburger and Mac and cheese. REAL FOOD. Five stars. To the max!

For sure MOTR is quite an experience. Food was good (although the portions of the burger should be improved; I felt like I had a kids patty which I would've been cool with but the price for the burger wasn't a kids meal price). Definitely with the fries, whatever the special seasoning put on them have they need to ease up on the salt. I could feel the hypertension entering my body. The bartender with the Native American name which I sadly don't recall was super cool and knew her stuff. She made us the Blue Motherf***er...and made it strong too (clearly, not all heroes wear capes). Several times fellow patrons and even a few workers were asking what was it we were drinking. MOTR has a really great vibe to it. A good choice if you're looking for good food and good drinks while listening to some intriguing music.