Rusty Bucket has been around a long time, so when our friends invited to lunch we immediately said yes and realized we haven't been here in years. Let me just say there's a reason they've been here so long. They keep their restaurant clean, the staff is so pleasant, immediate service and the food is even better than I remember. Our server was Elly-so sorry if I misspelled your name sweetie! Lol Elly was adorable, funny, kind, very caring-all the good adjectives-and a UC student to boot! We thoroughly enjoyed her personality and service! She told us she was new there and let me say she might have been new but seemed like a seasoned pro! I ordered the Cobb salad and asked for light blue cheese and ranch instead of vinaigrette and Elly was so thoughtful and brought the cheese on the side so I could add what I want. It did not disappoint! Everything was fresh! The eggs were boiled perfectly! The chicken was flavorful and tender! Hubby got the Sunday special which was Chicken Pesto Pasta with the most delicious garlic bread! (I tasted it ) He normally never eats the bread that comes with meals but after tasting it he gobbled it down. Bummer-I would have gladly eaten it for him He loved the dish too and said it was delicious and tasted very flavorful, not salty at all. The couple we went with ordered Fish and Chips (substituted regular fries for sweet potato fries) and he loved every bite. He said the Cod was perfectly cooked, moist and flaky on the inside and had a crispy crunch on the outside. He loved whatever seasoning was on his fries. It looked like it might have been fresh finely chopped parsley with something else but he said it was very flavorful and added a nice touch. His wife got the Sunday special as well with a gluten bun instead of the garlic bread. She loved her meal. We couldn't go without getting some cheesecake to go for later! Sometimes the old restaurants that have been a favorite and a neighborhood staple need a shout out and recognized for their food, service and dedication to their customers. I will be adding them into my routine stops going forward! read more

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Been wanting to try this place for a while. Finally made it happen tonight. Definitely a pub food kind of place. Plenty of TVs and comfortable relaxing ambience. Our waitress was very friendly and was very attentive. The biggest downside just came from the food. My chicken pesto pasta was pretty bland and flavorless. All that pesto you see in the picture didn't taste like much and there was hardly any other sauce on top of the pasta. It was like water with pasta and mushrooms and tomatoes. Just not flavorful at all. Everyone else's was just okay as well. So for two of us with one having a Pepsi and a small dessert to share between the two of us, it was $50 before tip. Yeah it didn't really feel like a $60 meal to me. Probably would just rather go to Ford's garage next time. Big bummer as I really wanted this to work out! read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Sundays item chicken pesto pasta - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Our waitress was wonderful and I had the best beef stroganoff I've ever had. It's been a week and i'm still thinking about it. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Beef Stroganoff - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I don't know the last time I had been to Rusty Bucket. I don't honestly know if it's like, a national chain, a local chain, maybe there are two, I have no idea. But I found myself there last week and was actually pretty surprised at how good it was. Service was excellent - he was training a new server and he was definitely the one who should be training new servers. He was attentive without being pushy. I'm a nut for French Onion soup and this one is legit (see picture). This was the pick three deal with soup/salad/sandwich. I like a meal that ends up with leftovers so this was a solid deal. It's not the most charming of ambiance because we sat outside, so basically had a view of the parking lot. Inside might have been better but there's only like three days in Cincinnati where you can sit outside comfortably so we ended up on the sidewalk. I don't know if I'd necessarily make it part of my rotation, but I was impressed with the service, the food, and the pricing, so I'd definitely throw it out there as an option if I'm in the area. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - French onion soup, side salad, club sandwich ($16.99) - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We had a yummy lunch here on a weekday. Grabbed their trio and blackened salmon salad with some sweet potato fries on the side. We sat at the bar. The bartender was very nice and attentive! Food came out fresh and yummy! It's honestly been so long since I've eaten here that I forgot how yummy their salads are! read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Trio- Caesar salad, Buffalo chicken soup, half Turkey Club - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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First of all Brian our server had us at hello He was friendly funny and knew how to make 4 women smile Now the food yummy blackened salmon salad for me Meatloaf and beef stroganoff for my friends Everyone was happy I can see why this restaurant has been in business for a long time read more

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The fish and chips were ok. It seems the haddock was fried in an oil that had been used with another food, but I couldn't make it out. I don't think the oil was fresh, or maybe the haddock had an odd taste to it. I ate it anyway and I didn't get sick, so there's that. Not my favorite fish and chips in the city, or any other city. Not sure I'd order it again, though it's supposed to be a favorite to patrons. The server was efficient. The place has a "Cheers" feel to it. The chain was bought out by one of our favorite restaurateur companies, but it needs work to be on their level, to me. read more

We had a LARGE walk in party for my father 's birthday on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Everyone else turned us away because of our party size. The Manager, Staff and Servers were PHENOMENAL!!! This location will ALWAYS get our business! The food was hot and fresh, the staff was very accommodating, friendly, professional and very welcoming! This place will always be my go to for the food, service, ambiance and atmosphere!!! WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!!! read more

Brian was a good server. Great personality. They're with a group of friends. Didn't eat but our friends were happy with their burgers. Nice HH specials. read more

Restaurant is in need of updating. Food was OK. Service was OK. Nothing exceptional but the inside is definitely worn out, booths chairs etc. read more

This is beginning to be one of my favorite go to restaurants for salad. Each time we have been here they haven't been very busy not sure if that's because there are lots of restaurants in the area. Easy to make reservations, parking can sometimes be a pain. Staff is usually friendly. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I was in Cincinnati for work and we decided to stop for lunch. We were seated promptly. They had a number of TVs and games going, which was great because the Xavier game was on! The menu had a decent amount of options, and honestly I had a hard time deciding since everything sounded tasty! I decided on the fish and chips, they were delicious! I enjoyed the breading and you can tell they keep the fryer clean. To drink I had one of the fruity lemonades, I decided on the strawberry. All around great experience, and If I'm in the area again I would visit again. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We came in for a lateish dinner on a Sunday evening, looking for a tasty familiar dish. Rusty Bucket was perfect for what we were looking for. The hostess was friendly and seated us right away, restaurant wasn't too busy, so it was quiet. I imagine this location would be busy in peak time with a happy vibe. Our server was also very friendly and helpful with questions about a couple of items on the menu. Service was quick and food was served hot and well prepared and presented. We really enjoyed our meal. The beer menu is good, but not overwhelming. read more

We came after work and it wasn't busy at all. The waitress was super nice and gave great suggestions. Loved the chicken parm and the fried pickles. Decorations and vibes were nice, too. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Chicken Parmesan - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Sat on the patio with wonderful draft margaritas and food! John was such a great server and kept our drinks full and was so nice!

Google will not allow more than one review per business, I was hoping to leave this review for Bell (I hope I spelled that correctly) along side the review I left for Beth a month ago on Google. We stopped back into the Rookwood location and as usual I was not disappointed. The buffalo chicken sandwich is the best anywhere! Bell was our server and she was just as sweet and attentive as Beth before her. We had our little dog with us again out on the patio as we were eating and Bell and I even wound up showing each other photos of our pets. Its not often you can bond a little with somone serving you at lunch but I appreciate the friendliness and the food very much! Highly recommend and I will be back every chance I get. read more

I haven't been to this particular Rusty Bucket in a couple of years although I have visited another Rusty Bucket numerous times in the past six months. I was here with a large group (36) with advance reservations. The restaurant was very accommodating and had us seated in their enclosed (for the winter) outdoor patio area. Despite being an enclosed patio, the room was nice and warm - very comfortable. Service - especially considering the size of our group - was very good despite the fact that my wife's meal was late coming out and she was the last one served by at least 5 minutes. The food was very good - especially the fries. My wife and I both ordered the Hossier Daddy Pork Tenderloin. Unlike a traditional pork tenderloin, as served at most restaurants, this one was a thick tenderloin as opposed to a large, thin tenderloin. Still very tasty - but not traditional and not what I expected. Overall - the food and service were both good. read more

We came to Rusty Bucket during Sweet Sixteen - we were a little worried that the service might be a little down due to the games, but service was great. Food was good too. Got the fish tacos - good seasoning. The fried pickle appetizers is t typical - they are long - not slices. But our sons seemed to enjoyed them. It took a while to get dessert, but I don't blame the server. My husband enjoyed the soup since it was cold outside! read more

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Great service and awesome food. Fish tacos I had were delicious. I got a side of sweet potato fries and they were great. Buddy of mine ordered a bacon burger and could not stop talking about how delicious it was. Our server was great and took great care of us read more

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Totally amazing!!!! The burgers are fantastic and the bucket is super rusty! I go here every time I am in Cincinnati and it never fails, great for group gatherings( I don't have any friends to test it out with) overall the atmosphere is really amazing, theTVs are not too loud and the onion rings... dude the onion rings are ridiculously great read more

The food was good and fresh the service was stellar and we were there at lunch time and we had a good time

Went to dinner with my brother before the craziness of the holidays and had a great time! The atmosphere had some fun Christmas elements to it which made it feel festive. The food was delicious per usual! We started out with the shrimp appetizer and is a 10/10 must try. I got the fish and chips which was light, airy, crispy, and flavorful. My brother had the shrimp Mac and cheese which he said was good! We both also got the French onion soup which wasn't the best I've ever had, but still enjoyable. The best part about fords garage isn't the food or the atmosphere though, it's the service! Jen is by far the most spectacular server I've ever had (I used to work in the service industry)! She is always so kind, attentive, and personable. Always going above and beyond to make sure your experience is top notch. You will never have an empty glass or dirty dish crowding the table. If you go to fords make sure you request Jen! read more

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Located in Rookwood next to Rally House. This is a repackaged Applebees or TGIFridays. If you are ok with this type of food and experience you will find this place acceptable. read more

Came here recently. I had low expectations because the place was not busy, but it was the middle of the day during the week. My waitress was Ukrainian and super nice, but couldn't really understand me. I believe there was a small language barrier but she was great anyways. The food was actually very solid and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I got a burger. Would come back. read more

Came here for a weeknight dinner after running some errands. It wasn't crowded, so we were seated quickly and the service was good. Surprisingly, my favorite item on the menu was the potstickers!! So much so a friend and I ordered a second round for the table! They were so good!! My meal was a salad, so nothing impressive... but my friend said the wings are really good! Rustys is a solid choice for a casual group dinner and a good place to watch sports games! The parking lot is tight, but at least there's options not far to walk if the parking out front is full! Another person said it's a good alternative to an Applebee's style restaurant. I fully agree! read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We come here about once every couple months, during the weekdays. We don't live in the area but it's our go-to when in the area. Great happy hour (half price apps). The best is the double stack quesadilla. Always tasty. Bar service always great. read more

The worst dining experience I've had in a while. First, our server took so long to come, we were on the verge of getting up and leaving. She was absent for the majority of the time we were there. Even when she was close by she would disappear or I would have to go up to her to get service. Second issue. They gave me a bucket full of shrimp that had not been deveined. I didn't even eat a single one because as soon as I opened the first one I saw the sh*t oozing out of it and sent it back. The Mac and cheese could've easily been Krafts Mac and cheese out of a box. Nail in the coffin. Our bill came up to $23 and despite the poor service, we left a $5 tip, so that the total was $28. Not even three days later, and my bf has a charge for $51 on his card. So, in summary, they have bad service, bad food, and they are thieves. read more

I have only tried the french onion soup from here but it is some of the BEST soup EVER! So good if you want a super tasty french onion soup! It honestly was a surprise gem to find here. read more

Awful! Our server was super sweet but the host was extremely rude to our whole party. I used to love the Rusty Bucket but I will never return. Do better! read more

The service and the atmosphere was good. Server was friendly and helpful. The ambiance was warm and inviting. The food was fair to bad. Portions were okay but the fried fish I had was too greasy. The thick batter used really held onto the oil and as it cooled left a puddle in the bottom of the basket. My wife had fried pickles. The weird thing about them is that they don't fry pickle chips or slices but a whole huge pickle. We couldn't eat them at all. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Fried Pickle - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Unfortunately this place's takeout service is not strong, and definitely not strong enough for covid. They have a great Buffalo chicken sandwich, but I've ordered it as takeout 3 times and it's been bad every time because it sat for so long before I could eat it. The first 2 I chalked up to doordash being slow, so I went and picked it up myself today. I called the order in at 5:30, arrived 15 minutes later when they said it'd be ready, and didn't get back in the car to drive home until 6:20. The place was about half full with covid restrictions, so I don't think I can chalk it up to covid anymore. It's just badly managed. Pic attached. When fresh, it's delicious. The past 3 times I've had it the sauce soaked into the bread, the chicken lost all its crunch, and everything was lukewarm because there seems to be some sort of vital disconnect between the kitchen and the hosts. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Buffalo chicken sandwich - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Love Liberty Town center ! Very nice shopping center. We had lunch here. It was okay. Sliders & fries & salad were okay, I don't recommend the chili. Service was slow . read more

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Went here for take out during covid times, as they were participating in an awesome initiative where $1 from every pepperoni pizza ordered was being donated to the Ohio restaurant relief fund. So, first of all, props! I just ordered online, went and parked in a designated pickup spot right out front (which was nice - parking spots in rookwood on a Friday are rare), texted the number on the sign and the food was out in a couple minutes. I, of course, had the pepperoni pizza. It was thin crust, solid flavor, and artisan looking. Nothing out of this world, but a solid pizza for sure! Also had some edamame , which was great. Looked like a great atmosphere inside, and will definitely be back at some point to check it out. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Pepperoni pizza - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Tethers between 3.5-4 stars. Rounding up because the service was excellent! Our glasses were never anything but full. Order was taken promptly and served promptly. Our server was even goofy with my toddler when she excitingly asked for chocolate milk. He was enthusiastic, attentive and most of all, just plain nice. The portions are large. I had the double bacon burger with garlic aioli and grilled onions on a sesame bun. I absolutely loved it and the seasoned fries were really good! Hubs got the fish and chips and also loved his as well. He said the fish was super flaky and not too hard, like he's seen at other area restaurants. He said it was some of the best. I tried a bite and it was awesome. The seasoned tartar sauce hit the spot. It's served with lemon and vinegar on the table. The kids meal came with 4 nice size chicken tenders, a decent amount of fries and chocolate milk for 5.50. Portion is nothing to complain about but the grease and the price are negatives. Considering it's a chain, I guess the prices are normal/on the higher end of normal but I still don't like paying $13.99 for fish and $5.50 for a kids meal. We did have plenty to bring home but I think the ratio is off. The grease is a huge negative. The food was absolutely delicious, I seriously LOVED the taste of my burger but I was covered in grease. My kiddo's chicken fingers were so greasy, too. Even after taking home a few chicken fingers and letting them sit in a to-go box, they were still super greasy hours later. I feel my veins full of grease, that's how bad and gross it is. I wish I could take the taste and the service somewhere that is slightly less greasy and cheaper. I'm willing to give it another shot as a date night because the beer menu looked great and there is a few other things I'd like to try! read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Fish and chips $13.99 - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This afternoon a group of my associates and I had lunch at Rusty Bucket. I will admit the name does not make this place sound very appetizing. I mean who wants to eat in a Rusty Bucket? Well, now I do. We arrived around 12:30. The restaurant was nice and clean and quite busy which is always a good sign. Our server who is new to the Cincinnati area was amazing and was eager to offer up some choices which I always appreciate. We ordered a variety of menu items and started passing the plates around. I ordered a pizza which was delicious and big end for 2 people, so I had leftovers (FYI pizzas are half price 3:00-5:00 during the week), I tried the Cuban sandwich, beef stroganoff and the Philly steak sandwich. All were delicious. Another great thing is they have BIG booths. There were 6 of us and we all had plenty of room. 8 people would fit easily. I wish I would have taken photos. I rarely do and I'm sorry. I just prefer to leave my phone in my car so I have no interruptions. I get calls constantly. If it's not work or friends it's someone wanting to sell me life insurance or save me money on my electric bill. LOL. YOU ALL KNOW THESE CALLERS! So, if you're looking for a nice restaurant to visit. I would certainly recommend Rusty Bucket even though I still hate that name. read more

Really disappointing. The menu selection was decent but all of the food was very lackluster. Our server was very friendly but incredibly slow and easily distracted. The cost was much higher than what it was worthy of. Overall, would not come back. read more

Coming from out of town, on a Tuesday night around 830pm. Group of 7, with no reservations. Plenty of parking out front. They were short staffed that night. But they told us in the beginning and we made sure not to work them to hard lol. They did a great job with our food and drinks. I got a bacon infused burger on a gluten-free bun, which was delicious. Everyone enjoyed their food. I wish this was back home. I would be a regular. Thank you read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - Bacon burger on gluten free bun - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The service was great.Tried the Cheesesteak tonight. It was very good. This a place you can meet your friends for a drink and just kick back read more

Such great food! Buffalo cauliflower is delicious! Service excellent and polite, Salads are fresh!!

A good alternative to the "Applebees" style chain restaurants. This was our first time at The Rusty Bucket. It's a clean restaurant/tavern with a nice vibe and good music on the sound system. It was a bit chilly in there, but I personally don't mind the high beams being on. We started with an order of the bbq chicken wings. They came out piping hot with a flavorful sauce. My wife had the fish and chips. Not the best she's ever had (tough to compare after living across from the beach in BC), but she enjoyed it. The fries were better than most. My daughter had the turkey club. It was standard fare and she ate it all. I had the citrus roasted salmon which comes with broccoli and quinoa salad. The salmon was good, cooked to medium. Part of it was closer to medium rare but was not cold or chewy. The broccoli was excellent, seasoned wonderfully and still warm. I was a bit disappointed that the quinoa was served cold. I am not a fan of serving a warm protein on a bed of something cold. At least room temperature would have improved it drastically. It did however have a good flavor. All in all in was a good meal. Would be a fine choice to watch a game whilst having a few drinks and sharing some appetizers. I am sure we will be back. read more

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern - American Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio