What a great neighborhood place! You know how sometimes you're looking for a place to go to dinner that isn't a chain? Something that's nicer than a franchise restaurant, but not so fancy that you feel like you need to dress up? This place nailed it. The perfect place to go to a sit down dinner that feels really quaint and nice. The decor is very cozy and welcoming. Rustic with painted brick walls and wooden tables. Very inviting. Food was great. There was something for everyone. We had a vegetarian with us who had lots of options. I had a really great cheeseburger and tater tots. The only reason I am giving this place four stars instead of five is the service. The host (or greeter) was not welcoming at all. Seemed a little indifferent, borderline inconvenienced. The server was friendly, but certainly not five star worthy. Very informal, almost seemed tired. Didn't engage when we told her it was our first time here or when we told her we were celebrating. Way too casual and relaxed for this type of restaurant. Fix this piece of the equation and wow - we will be regulars! read more

Just came back from brunch here. Was looking for a brunch spot for our group, 8+ baby. Saw good amount of openings on their site. Called and made a res. There was a hint of confusion at first, they didn't see it, but it wasn't really an issue. We got there at 10:30am and the place was pretty empty. At first it made us a little skeptical, but we were also happy to have the space. They accommodated us with setting up tables. But by 11, the place was much more full. Hostess and wait staff were really nice and timely, no waiting issue as others had mentioned. Had the s'mores espresso martini and hubby had the specialty old fashion, both were delicious! Food was good too! The pimento+biscuits, so yum! Poutine was good, gravy was a little sweet for me, fries were awesome. Whipped ricotta was just so-so though. Egg Benedict/poached dishes were well done, the Uova dish was good and unique. chicken and waffles were really good as was the burger (got it medium, was good decision). Looking forward to coming back and trying the dinner menu plus more cocktails. read more

Another Rusk successful rusk visit for happy hour! The pretzels and whipped feta are an absolute must every time read more

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The drinks here are amazing! They are unique and delicious. I got the Love Spell. The food here was average - I got a salmon salad would have loved some more flavor. The restaurant's environment was so fun! Would have loved to see what the patio was like! If I went again, I would try a different food item! Not bad just nothing extraordinary about this place. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The open air seating is incredible. I liked my dish. I had this huge chicken sandwich at brunch. I really enjoyed it. The wine prices are a little high but it is what it is. read more

Omg the food is top notch here! Fresh and so good! Lots of healthy options! Potsticker app to die for! Ish and his staff were so attentive and friendly! We had a group of 11! read more

I really want to love this place - great ambiance (especially the rooftop) and craft cocktails! I think it's best as a fun place to grab drinks with friends as the food isn't consistent. read more

Went for lunch and was happy to see all menu items were available. The seasonal cocktail menu looks spectacular, definitely want to give the gingerbread martini a try. Salmon entree was good and my party tried 2 different burgers (black and blue and black bean) which were decent. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Enchilada egg rolls - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Fantastic brunch and atmosphere. The service was prompt and friendly. The food was absolutely delish. I can't wait to go back and try more things! read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Food was great! Got the chicken and waffles with siracha syrup - so, so good! Our server was phenomenal. She checked on us regularly and was very sweet! Beautiful space and a great location. Always clean inside and friendly staff. Lots of great seating and a really nice rooftop! Street parking is available and there's a paid lot on the side as well. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Chicken and waffles with Siracha syrup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This restaurant is in a great location with plenty to do nearby. It's also a really beautiful location when you walk inside. We didn't try upstairs but the downstairs was very spacious with plenty of booths and bar seating. Taylor was super helpful with selecting our meals and drinks. She also recommended that we stop by during happy hour for their great deals! We were even able to try a special dessert that wasn't on the menu. The food was pretty tasty and I recommend the tater tots with chili. For my main meal I had the cajun chicken alfredo which was also pretty good. My favorite food really was the cheesecake, though. Now to try breakfast! read more

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I can't speak for dinner, but I visited for happy hour and had a wonderful experience. The service at the bar was attentive, friendly, and prompt. If I remember correctly, the happy hour is only applied at the bar. It includes drink specials ($2 off spirits and beer, an $8 mule) and food specials with bites $8 and under. I thought the decor was lovely and I would love to come back for full dinner service in the future. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Tochos, whipped ricotta - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

As I entered I was greeted by 3 young very judgmental "girls". I ordered the bah bah bolo. Terrible. Noodles tasted as if too much flour was added the red sausage had no flavor and the ground lamb tasted like ground liver. Beer selection was good and the atmosphere was nice and fresh. Our server was great and attentive. Sorry can't say I'll be back. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Bah bah bolo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

In summary: very good place for happy hour "drinks and snacks" but would not recommend for full meals/nights out. We went for the New Year's price fixie menu. Food was broadly well-presented and served quickly, but often under-seasoned and not very layered/spiced. The duck confit roll was under and thus somewhat mealy. The latkes were actually really nice just under-seasoned. The Osso Bucco was served cold and we had to send it back; the risotto was simultaneously mushy and al dente (and also under-seasoned). That said, the drinks were really good, with house cocktails all with very solid liquor choices and made with care. read more

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First attempt was a restaurant across the street, which unfortunately did not have available seating. I found this lovely gem directly across the way. Nice music, great vibe, spacious. The food was pretty good and very fresh tasting... and I can't wait to go back and try other items. I would recommend this for a date, small or large gatherings. read more

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Do yourself a favor and get the pretzel sticks!! I went with friends and we all agree the pretzel sticks were a must have! We also enjoyed the tater tots and the rusk salad was great. The staff were very friendly and it was definitely a lively vibe on a Saturday night. Definitely worth checking out, especially since there is plenty of street parking and a parking lot in the back it's easy to access! read more

Definitely a cool spot to hang out or grab a drink with friends. The ambiance is modern and stylish, and it makes for a great first impression. The food however was just okay. Nothing was necessarily bad, but it didn't quite live up to the vibe of the space. Overall, a solid place if you are looking for a fun, visually appealing spot to spend time. Worth checking out for the aesthetics and drinks more than the food. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Brie, basil, bacon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We had checked online for seating. There was plenty of seating available, so we decided to try it out. Went inside and the restaurant was half empty in random seats. The hostess was very rude and did not greet us. She then went on to say that if we didn't have a reservation, she could not serve us. We left and made a reservation online. We went back and showed the hostess the reservation and she rudely said oh sorry we aren't seating anyone. Seats open everywhere. No apology. No explanation. Lost money on parking also since she had said we could eat there with a reservation which we did make. Do not recommend. Rude. Unorganized. read more

I went here for burger week and got the peanut butter bacon burger. It was good. Needed more peanut butter. It was a little dry. I also got the apple bacon coleslaw. Very nice. The restaurant is pretty. Nice and spacious and they have outside patio. The menu looked interesting so I think I need a return visit read more

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The service was amazing. Almost every server said hi. One particular server chatted with us for a while, just overall very friendly. The food was out of this world. I got the Cajun chicken Alfredo and it was the best dish I've had in a while. The place is also stunning. I had no clue about this place but will be going back. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Cajun chicken Alfredo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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My daughter and I have Saturday brunch dates and we decided to try Rusk on 3/29/25! It was a beautiful day and we were seated by the open garage windows. Maggie was our server and she was lovely! She served us delicious brunch cocktails and we ordered our food. My daughter ordered the chicken and waffles and a fresh biscuit and I ordered a few items ala carte (scrambled eggs with cheese, breakfast potatoes, and a biscuit and sausage gravy). WOW!!! Maggie brought our food and a spicy syrup was served with the chicken and waffles, but she also brought out maple syrup. The eggs were fluffy and delicious... the potatoes were hot and crisp... the biscuit and sausage gravy!! My daughter's meal was amazing and she let me try the chicken. I would give the food 12/10!! Same for the service! Everyone was amazing!! The restaurant itself was beautiful and clean and had a nice open concept with the tables spaced out well. The rest rooms were very clean also. Maggie told us that they have a brand new dinner menu and we peeked at the new menu. We cannot wait to come back and try the dinner menu! As we were leaving, the manager gave a warm greeting. Excellent food, excellent service, excellent ambiance. Thanks for a great meal!! read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Food was amazing!! Server was very friendly and pleasant. Love the atmosphere, beautiful place!!

The servers are kind and helpful. The food is mostly pre-made frozen components that are warmed up in the kitchen. This is not a restaurant. It's fast food in cute surroundings, priced like a real restaurant. Woodburn Avenue is in desperate need of something akin to the Court Street Kitchen. This is not it. PLEASE NOTE: One of the proprietors wrote a reply to my review. Sir, your server told me that your Fish & Chips entree is not made in your scratch kitchen, but brought in frozen, pre-battered, and then warmed up. Sir, your preparations are served on inappropriate plates. I ordered two crabcakes and they were served on a four inch round bread side plate. It's almost impossible to eat an entree portion on such a small plate. A small salad was served in a tall, square bowl. Your bartenders do not know how to make Martinis, as noted by another Yelper. Do yourself a favor and get a professional restaurant etiquette/experience consultant in to review what is going on in the dining room. An investment of $500 in such advice could net you a completely different financial outcome. Why do I post such information? Because I don't want our neighbors taking out of town visitors to your restaurant. I do not want out of town visitors to think we in Cincinnati see this as great cuisine. Your establishment has an appealing setting in a great neighborhood and could be very good, but the experience today is completely subpar. read more

Nice atmosphere for brunch. Server was okay nothing special-we had to ask for refills on coffee and iced tea. Upscale restaurant found it odd they brought imitation coffee creamer in the little cups vs. having cream -we had to ask for cream instead of the imitation cups-which they didn't have in a bowl-just put them on the table. Also had to ask for butter and jelly for the biscuits. Server didn't come back to check on us. However, the food was very good-came out hot and fast and perfectly cooked to order-we all ordered a la carte. Goetta and home breakfast potatoes cooked crisp like was asked for as was the bacon. All of our eggs were perfectly cooked. Weird they don't have toast-just biscuits. Affordable if you order a la carte. read more

The good part: The space is beautiful, the servers are pleasant. The bad part: I ordered biscuits and gravy which arrived quite cold - at best they were room temperature. I politely asked the server if the order could be warmed up in a microwave. My order was taken to the kitchen and not returned. After 15 minutes or 20 minutes our server apparently located my order in the kitchen and put it in a to go box. We had been told by others that 'the chef is picky' but serving up cold food and then not just reheating it is bad. Rusk is good but not good enough to treat customers as if we are an inconvenience. read more

Interesting place to visit for a meal. The area has been revitalized. When we checked in, there were many empty tables and a 35-minute wait. There were several empty tables when we came back. The waitress tried hard. She was running everywhere. Food took a long time. I ordered a medium burger and fries and my wife got the Animal house or fried chicken sandwich. You can read the menu under my pictures. The burger was good but was not a half pound and had little cheese. The fries weren't home made and probably ore ida. My wife's chicken was overcooked and a little spicy. It also wasn't white meat. We think they are using the dark meat thigh from another dish. She also ordered the street corn. It was thawed frozen corn for 7 dollars. 1 taste for each of us was enough. I appreciated that our waitress noticed my burger was well done and didn't bring it out. They have a rooftop area, but we didn't go up. The open atmosphere to the street was nice. No water refills were given. Found out from talking to the manager who is on day 4 that the restaurant has been open 3 months and recently replaced all the managers. Previously, the plan was to be a dive bar. It is now striving to be a hip hangout. Nice atmosphere, but given the food, we won't be back. read more

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Not going to lie; coming in I was exited! Beautiful ambiance. Nice decore. The bar I believe was wood on top of stone. Great bourbon and whiskey collection. And the staff(well the tender of the bar Kate) was awesome great hospitality and Midwest charm. I think there was an event going on( some kind of tasting) and I was the only customer in house. Still cool; gave me the run down and I made sure I was out in reasonable time. What hurt the most (through me off) was the hair in my food. I mean I devoured it but took a real good look at the last slider and saw hair. I was completely shocked. (Come on kitchen) Gave 4 stars because Kate rocked. Definitely a great space for happy hour, gatherings, and maybe hanging with colleagues. But again come on kitchen. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Schnitzel sliders, blood moon, and vida mescal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I must admit, I had been wanting to try Rusk but was a bit reluctant after reading earlier reviews. I took a leap of faith and am so glad I did. I love the space and the retractable windows in front that give the feel of outdoor dining. Also, the place was pretty packed during happy hour (4pm-6pm) last Friday when I visited. Playing it safe, I just ordered the wings appetizer and a manhattan. I ordered two sauces for my wings; buffalo and sweet chili and they were both delicious. Perfectly seasoned and cooked. My manhattan was perfectly balanced and one of the best I have had in the city. It's my understanding that the menu had just been updated that day. I must say, everyone got it right, from my awesome server to the bartender and cooks. My experience was a good one. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Half sweet-chili, half buffalo flavored chicken wings appetizer. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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We might not have heard of Rusk Kitchen & Bar if it weren't for Yelp's event there this past week but are so glad we did! First off, we had no idea what a cute area East Walnut Hills is! We're from Dayton but drive to Cincinnati often since it has so much to offer, but we hadn't heard about this hidden gem of a neighborhood! The restaurant is bright and cheerful and since it was a nice evening, all the front windows were completely open to the street which gave the whole place a nice vibe. We had two servers, one was apparently in training, who were professional and very helpful with any questions we had. We both ordered the whipped ricotta appetizer and decided to try one of each of the cocktails that were offered. A few minutes later, one of the servers returned and told us since the Point-cicle cocktail hadn't been ordered by anyone else earlier in the week, they discontinued it. Not a problem, we both got Rusk Mules and they were fantastic! The ricotta appetizer was delicious as well! We brought a few people with us, so we also ordered the pretzel, smoked wings, the grilled chicken bowtie pasta, and the watermelon gazpacho. Thumbs up all around! There were a few minor hiccups during the evening: someone had to ask twice for their drink, soup delivered with no spoon, etc but the staff was always apologetic and quick to fix the problem. Every staff member we interacted with was super friendly, eager to answer any questions, and hard working. We will definitely be back and hopefully check out the rooftop on our next visit. :-) read more

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Visited here for a bridal shower. We came early to help decorate and I appreciated how the staff made sure we had everything we needed to make the place nice for the bride-to-be. We had a private room and had pre-ordered our meals. I enjoyed the coconut chicken and ceasar salad appetizers. However, the entrées were just ok. I would come back if hosting a private event but I'd do all appetizers instead of entrées. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Bridal Shower - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My Mr and I were in the area on a Saturday afternoon. I had an appointment at Parlour and afterwards wanted to get lunch. My Mr found this place and thought we should check them out. The menu online looked really delish and unique. When we got there, they were only serving brunch. I was fine with it because the selection looked really good. The inside is very relaxing, inviting, spacious and lovely decor. My fave is the front is opened windows so can enjoy the nice breeze. We decided to order: Wycliff Brut (for me) Salmon eggs Benedict w/ scrambled eggs Rise + Shine casserole I food came out super quick and I enjoyed every bit of my meal. Couldn't believe the home style potatoes was huge. Had a great crunch on the outside and soft in the inside. Salmon complimented well with the hollandaise sauce. My Mr punished his meal as well. Just enough to not make you feel super stuffy. Pricing is reasonable and loved the service. Our server was super attentive. Definitely coming back because I want to enjoy our next meal at their rooftop. read more

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I wish I could give this place a better review but our first experience wasn't really the best. We show up probably around 5:00 p.m. so it's not too busy. There was only a few people seated at a tables. I think we waited almost 8 minutes for someone to seat us. There were people behind the bar who didn't really seem to care and it got a little awkward. I suppose if we had to wait a few more minutes, we probably would have walked out. That was the first thing that happened. We also missed the 6:00 p.m. mark for half price appetizers. If we had been seated just a few minutes before, we could have made that work. But unfortunately I guess it wasn't meant to be Our server was very nice and we enjoyed the food. They actually had some pretty cool stuff on their menu and it was fun to enjoy. Would definitely recommend the appetizer with the bread and the jams that go on it. I would return but not exactly a priority. Maybe again someday when I'm in the area. read more

We walked in midday for lunch and they were not too busy. We were seated and then waited a long time for our waitress. We ordered drinks when she came to the table, I ordered the Midnight Kiss and my friend ordered a Dirty Dirty Martini. I was not a big fan of the Midnight Kiss but it was ok. We ordered our lunch with neither one of us ordering an appetizer. My friend ordered the patty melt and I ordered French onion soup along with a half salad, Thai peanut crunch. I ordered the grilled cheese and chips for my grandson. It seemed a lengthy time for the food to arrive as well. My half salad was still a good portion size and my French onion soup was good. My friend said the burger was dry on her patty melt as well as the whole sandwich as there was next to no dressing on the bread if any. I have to say when she picked up the bread it did not look appetizing. My grandson liked his grilled cheese but not the chips. I love house-made chips so I ate them. I did hear the waitress say the menu was changing so maybe they took the patty melt off of it? I don't know. We both ordered a second drink, hers was a beer and mine was a margarita recommended by the waitress. The marg was too sweet for me. They did bring out three beer samples for my friend to try and she choose after she tried them. That was nice. I will not rule out trying it again and hopefully they will get the service issues hammered out. read more

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Wanted to check out this new space so we came here for drinks and apps one evening! We were hoping to sit upstairs/outside on the patio, but the patio is tables only and the bar upstairs was quite crowded. Luckily we found two seats at the bar downstairs! The bartender was very friendly and knowledgeable about questions we had regarding the drinks and certain items on the menu. I got the espresso martini made with Jameson cold brew whiskey and it was delicious! We also got the the Royal with Cheese Rangoon as an appetizer and it was very flavorful! It is served with their house made sauce, but you almost didn't need it because they were delicious on their own! I wish the upstairs patio was all bar seating/first come first serve so we could sit out there without having to put our name in with the hostess. Maybe on the weekends/after a certain time that could change? Regardless, it's a beautiful space and can't wait to come back for brunch! read more

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Words....they're tough to find when reviewing an experience like RUSK. Located near the intersection of Woodbury and Myrtle in the historic village of East Walnut in Cincinnati, RUSK is a gorgeous open air bar and restaurant. The architecture inside and out is enough to make the trip (not to mention the rooftop bar) and our wait staff ("Pat") was excellent. The menu has a great variety of hot and cold apps, soups/salads, handhelds and entrees--something for everyone. Casual but classy, I loved RUSK and believe you will too! read more

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We stopped by the Rusk rooftop bar for cocktails on a Friday evening. It was great to see how busy it was. The cocktail menu isn't anything revolutionary. However the drinks were really good. The service was fantastic. We got our drinks very quickly. Also on the rooftop, you will get a server, so no need to go to the bar every time. The design of the place is really cool, clean. Parking was a bit rough but that's just because it's a great location. Can't wait to try the food next time. read more

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Just finished a bar crawl and Rusk was the final, delectable stop. We came for booze, but stayed for the tasty treats, and I couldn't be happier. Lucked out and ended up at a communal table where our server, Sophie, greeted us with a genuine smile and a wealth of knowledge about the menu. I really appreciated not having to stand around waiting when there were empty tables, and like that this place has accounted for diners who aren't adamant about having "their" space. There were three different parties seated at our communal table, and we honestly felt like we still had all the privacy/space you'd get in booth seating. Just as an aside...my favorite thing about this place was the bathroom. I really appreciate a clean bathroom that is touchless, so the fact that I could do my business and clean up without touching a dispenser/dryer/etc. was really appreciated. I particularly liked the fact that the doors in the ladies room don't have that standard I-can-see-you-pottying-stranger! gap. I'm absolutely going back here, and I look forward to working my way through the menu trying out all the tasty treats. read more

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The space: great. The food: delish So many restaurants are closed on Mondays, so we were pleased to find this new restaurant pop up in our Yelp search. The space is bright and spacious. Our waitress always great. They have about 5 or 6 draft optics on for beer as well as cocktails and a nice offering of wine. He got the burger, so surprise there, and I got a half salad with sides of sweet onion and honey mustard dressings. Both appeared to be made in house, and I'd buy a bottle of each if they sold them that way. I landed on the pork schnitzel for my main course. It came with some delish whipped potatoes and some sweet grilled cabbage. I wish o liked cabbage, cuz I could tell it was good, but cabbage just ain't my jam. The pork itself was perfect. Nice, crisp breading and the meat was nice and tender. We will definitely be back! read more

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Went for lunch on a beautiful day and wanted to sit on the upstairs patio and feel the breeze while we dined. The atmosphere and ambiance did not disappoint. The cocktail was delicious! But then it went south from there. Food was mediocre at best. Service was fine. Not bad and not outstanding. Server was friendly. This is a spot I'd come to enjoy a cocktail on the roof patio. Maybe an appetizer. Not a place to spend a lot on a nice dinner. Atmosphere/ ambience 5/5 Rusk mule - 5/5 crisp and delicious Popcorn chicken 3/5 seemed from frozen to fryer Caesar salad 1/5. So sad about this. House made croutons - only 2 on the salad. Crispy parm wheel was chewy and inedible. Salad was soggy Fries- 1/5 bland. Not crispy House made chips 4/5- get these instead of fries! I'd go back for a cocktail on the patio. Skip the food. read more

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Everything about this spot was great! The food was amazing! Every dish my friends and I ordered was so good! Get the whipped ricotta, you won't regret it. The service was just as good as the food. Ashley was friendly and fun, making us laugh and taking great care of us. We're already planning on giving back next month for our monthly outing! read more