Family Friendly Cincinnati

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The Rusty Bucket

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The Rusty Bucket

Friday night is Family Date Night in our house.  Sometimes it’s pizza and a movie at home, sometimes it’s kid’s choice (you can imagine where we end up on those nights), and sometimes we go on a search for someplace new to try out.   Trying to find something new can sometimes get a little frustrating because we have a super picky eater in our house.  That’s not a problem at  The Rusty Bucket in Rookwood!

I’ll be honest, I had never heard of The Rusty Bucket before our visit and I didn’t know what to expect.  I went straight to the website and looked over the menu and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered there was something for every member of our family on their menu.   We headed up to Rookwood on a stormy Friday to celebrate…our boys just made their stage debut in Camp Carnegie’s production of Super Bummer Summer.  All acting debuts require a fabulous dinner out!

Since it was our first time we definitely wanted to try a little of everything.  My hubby tried out their Rogue draft rootbeer and pronounced it delicious.  We ordered the Double Stacked Quesadilla as our appetizer-blackened chicken with pepper jack and cheddar cheese, black bean and corn salsa and lots of fixings on the side.  Fantastic!

The boys stuck true to form and ordered grilled cheese and chicken fingers, my hubby ordered the Patty Melt and I ordered what turned out to be the most delicious salad I’ve ever eaten-The Blackened Salmon Salad.  A bed of greens tossed with sliced strawberries, candied pecans, red onion, bleu cheese crumbles, topped with perfectly cooked blackened salmon and served with their house made honey vinaigrette.  I simply cannot tell you how fantastic this salad was…you need to try it for yourself!  I have been trying to replicate the dressing ever since, it was that good.  Everyone really enjoyed their chosen entree, as evidenced by the completely clean plates at the end of the meal.

We had planned on heading out for frozen yogurt afterward for dessert but once the boys saw the Triple Chocolate Cake on the menu that plan got tossed out the window.  We ordered the chocolate cake along with the Sticky Bun Bread Pudding and Oh My was it delicious!  My oldest son basically devoured the Triple Chocolate Cake on his own while my husband and I battled our youngest for a bite or two of the bread pudding.  It was the perfect end to our meal!

All in all it was a wonderful meal…delicious food, great atmosphere, and a superb staff.  Our server gave us what was easily the best service I have had in a restaurant in at least 10 years.  She was knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging…especially with our kids.  She made them each feel like she was there just to take care of them even though she clearly had a really busy station…definitely something I appreciate!

We were really impressed and left happy and already looking forward to going back.  You need to try this place for yourself!  The fine folks at The Rusty Bucket want to help you do that…they’ve given us FIVE $25 gift cards to share with our readers so that you can taste the goodness for yourself!  (psst…get the Blackened Salmon Salad…I promise you won’t regret it!)

The Rusty Bucket is located at 2692 Madison Road in Cincinnati at Rookwood Commons.  More information and menus can be found on their website. 

Hours of Operation:
M – TH: 11 AM – 10 PM
F – S: 11 AM – 11 PM
SUN: 11:30 AM – 9 PM
* Call ahead and outdoor seating available

disclosure: We received gift cards and an invitation to try out The Rusty Bucket for ourselves, as well as gift cards to share with our readers, in return for sharing our experience while dining in the restaurant.  The review you see above is, however, 100% our unbiased opinion…as always.

When not blogging at Family Friendly Cincinnati you can find Amy writing at her own blog In A Galaxy.

Comments

  16. Laura says

    I’d love to try their potstickers…and I’ve never been there, so this would be great…I already get your newsletter too.

  22. Theresa Moeggenberg says

    I would get the Hummus and potstickers to start with and share! For my entree I would definitely have to try the Double Double nickel chicken salad! And for dessert, the Cookies and Cream!

  27. Clay says

    Hmmm…. it’s a toss up. I may get some Rusty Bucket sweet chili wings or I may get the Rusty Bucket Chili Dogs. I can’t decide. Probably’ll start out with some Spinach Con Queso Dip too.

    • Kim says

      Sorry I didn’t think the first one posted as I didn’t see it out here so I posted again.

  40. Nancy says

    On a Friday night, I’d definitely order the Tequila Lime Tilapia. Any other night I’d get the Parmesan Crusted Tilapia.

  43. Stephanie H says

    The menu sounds wonderful and it’s hard to choose just one.I think I’d like to try:Gary’s Belly Buster!

  44. Tammy says

    Love the Chili Dogs,the Reuben and the Sliders and I can’t forget the Fried Pickles.

  50. Beth bachmann says

    I would definitely start with fried pickles. A hot brown sounds good as a meal.

  55. Lauren A says

    We would order a few things for the fam: deep fried pickles (yum!!), bucket bites, rusty bucket burger, fish n chips and a couple of root beer floats!! Already a FB fan and subscribed to enewsletter 🙂

  64. Rohan K says

    I would love to start out with the pork potstickers and then get the rosted chicken

  65. Holly M. says

    I already liked FCC on facebook. I would get the Macaroni ’n Cheese it is so delicious!

  73. KimS says

    Mmmmm, the salmon salad looks awesome. I wish they had been there when I lived 2 blocks away, years ago. Yum!
    .

  84. Becky M. says

    I “liked” the fb page just before I commented about the menu item I’d choose.

  85. Becky M. says

    The Buffalo Chicken sandwich looks good, but I’ll say my first choice would be fish ‘n chips, so of course I’d have to return to try the buffalo chicken too. 😉

  92. Mary Geretz says

    Good God, I can’t wait to try the Blackened Salmon Salad! Sounds positively scrumptious!

  106. Amy says

    I have been to the Rusty Bucket and loved it. I would order their fish and chips. It is delicious!

  111. Billie Fetz says

    The Rusty Bucket Burger sounds AWESOME!!!! With a side of fries – I’m THERE!

  117. Linda says

    I already like you on FB and subscribe to your newsletter. Would love a night out.

  121. Diane L says

    I think I’d try the Backyard BBQ Ribs and Spinach Con Queso. Weird combination, I know, but both sound good!!

  122. Jennifer A says

    I Love their Rusty Bucket Bites(Mini cheeseburgers) and I also like their deep fried pickles!

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