House of Blues Foundation Room - Review

This is a somewhat difficult review to write, because what the Foundation Room does right, it does very right. What it does wrong, it does very wrong.

The Foundation Room is the members only, exclusive area above the House of Blues. Although I don't have a membership, I'm occasionally invited up with friends. I was recently extended an invitation while attending an Irvin Mayfield jazz show (which was fantastic).

Prior to going up to the Foundation Room, we ordered a couple of drinks at the bar downstairs. While $20 for a house cabernet and a tall beer seemed pretty high, it's to be expected at a concert venue.

Once upstairs in the Foundation Room, I again ordered house cab. I could see that the house cab was BV. Since I was familiar with the wine, and the price point, I didn't ask a cost on it. I've worked in the service industry, and I also know that typical mark up of wine in a restaurant is about 300%. During the course of the show, I had 3 glasses of HOUSE WINE. I was floored when I received my bill to find that the wine was $18 a glass! This is wine that retails in the local grocery store for $8.50 a bottle! I could even deal with a 400% mark up considering the venue, but an almost 900% mark up on a $9 a bottle wine, is just beyond ridiculous.

So the price point of beverages is where the Foundation Room fails miserably.

What the Foundation Room does get right is it's service and décor. Service was fast and very friendly. The décor is really pretty with deep, warm reds and golds.

I would go to the Foundation Room again because I love the décor and comfort of it, and being able to walk straight to the balcony in the show room, and have a special viewing area. But with those prices, I'd likely walk down to the regular bar downstairs to order drinks.