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Barfly Jason Genegabus |
‘On the Rocks’
grows on youIt's pretty amazing how fast the atmosphere at a bar can change, depending on the people who walk through its front door. Not all establishments are destinations in themselves -- more than a few rely on the customers who patronize them to provide character for the place.
After getting a few e-mails over the past few months about On the Rocks Cafe, I finally decided to stop by for a couple of drinks and see why it was a favorite of some readers.
On the Rocks Cafe
Hours: 444 Niu Street (Hawaiian Monarch Hotel)
Location: 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily
Phone: 949-3911
THERE'S NOT a lot that sets the bar apart from others on Oahu -- about a dozen tables provide ample room, with five televisions strategically positioned to provide a view no matter where you're sitting.
Dartboards? Check. Foosball? Check. Pool tables? Yes, but only one of the two actually works. And there are only two cue sticks, one of which is so messed up that you'll end up sharing the one good one with whomever you're playing against. Want to know who the regulars are here? Watch for the people who bring their own cues!
All the normal bar signage hangs throughout the room, with a few neon signs in the windows to identify On the Rocks as a bar to cars that might be passing outside on Niu Street. Again, more of the same stuff that you might see at any other bar on the island.
One nice touch, however, is the "wall of fame," a series of pictures featuring friends and customers of the bar. All the photos are enlarged reprints and line about three quarters of the room in space just below the ceiling. I didn't recognize anyone up there, but it was nice to see something that set this place apart from its competitors.
WAS I TRYING to enjoy myself at On the Rocks? You bet. I managed to beat a friend at pool who normally takes me to school when we face each other, but I proceeded to get spanked by a girl the very next game.
I had a cold beer in hand, a 22-ounce Bud Light that a bartender said was on special, but I didn't find out until clearing my tab that the special price was actually the happy hour price, and happy hour ended shortly after I first walked into the joint!
And while I'm as much of a reggae fan as the next guy, for some reason the employees just couldn't figure out that the same song was playing over and over again. For more than thirty minutes the CD would skip and repeat a single track, while the bartender and server on duty went about their business like nothing was wrong.
JUST BEFORE the reggae started to drive me crazy, business started to pick up. Like I said, it's the people who show up that can turn a bar into someplace you end up closing down at 2 a.m., instead of leaving after a beer or two like you'd originally planned.
First, a couple of friends showed up unexpectedly, a nice surprise that led to a few more games of pool. Then someone decided it was time to plug in a pair of turntables and some CD players, and instead of the never-ending reggae song, On the Rocks suddenly seemed more like a nightclub than a lounge.
By the time I left, a nice little crowd had built, giving the bar a much more active vibe than it had a few hours before when I first walked in. Even though it's located in Waikiki, On the Rocks definitely has a local feel to it. I can see why some readers list it as one of their favorites.
How much for a Bud Light?
The Barfly paid $4.75 for a 22-ounce bottle of Bud Light after being told the draft beer was "too warm" by a bartender. What the bartender didn't tell me was that the price of those bottles would go up to $5.25 after 10 p.m. To make things worse, I saw other customers being served pitchers of beer just a few minutes later!Get things to do?
Take your pick between pool, foosball, darts, a video game or three Megatouch games at On the Rocks. Karaoke is also available on select nights. Five televisions also provide a distraction for customers.What about the grinds?
If On the Rocks has a pupu menu, I didn't see it. Other customers were allowed to bring outside food into the bar, so that might be an option if you're planning ahead.And the help?
Be very careful if you're not a regular here -- my experience showed that some employees would rather get the extra money out of you rather than let you in on what the different drink specials are. Ask lots of questions! It was also disappointing that I had to get up and approach my server whenever I needed something, instead of being checked on every once in a while.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Barfly appears every Friday in Star-Bulletin Weekend.
E-mail Jason Genegabus at jason@starbulletin.com with suggestions of neighborhood bars to visit.