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

Late afternoon cocktails and a snack. The schnitzel sliders were very tasty but I think they would have been better with more of the apple bacon slaw. The whipped ricotta was very generous and tasty. Adding the cherry compote and hot honey made the dish the highlight. We love the huge windows the restaurant has; it's like sitting outdoors. A perfect stop on a busy shopping day. We will surely be back soon. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - The appetizers were on point the whipped ricotta and schnitzel sliders were both good - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Keep in mind they JUST opened. The food was meh at best. Our waitress was kind enough to take back to items that weren't great (brussel sprouts - should be crispier, were very wet & calamari - pretty charred). I ordered the chicken app which stated on the menu to be tossed in a choice of sauce. When it was brought out it was plain. I asked the staff about it being tossed and was told no it's a side. I then pressed again about the menu saying tossed at which point they brought it back to the kitchen to be corrected. other members of my party had the chicken sandwich & salmon - both which were underwhelming. The espresso martini was fabulous tho!! They definitely have a lot of work to do to fine tune things like service time. I look forward to coming back soon tho & trying out the rooftop for drinks. read more

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

Great service. Super friendly. They go out of their way for you. I had the salmon and it was so good! read more

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

Getting better with each visit! My recent visits were for brunch and I do recommend Rusk for a nice brunch spot. The bananas foster French toast is a nice sweet dish that the table can share. I recently enjoyed the Cincy Croissant and Western Croissant, and portions are a good size for two servings. Service and the staff are pleasant, and can still work out a few things with payments taking awhile and managing when the place gets busy. read more

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This was tough but I'm giving them a 4. We stopped in around midnight on a Friday night. People!!!!!! They are open until 2:30a.m. Fri/Sat with drinks AND a late night bites menu, that alone deserves 5 stars. To not have to swing by Waffle House or White Castle but instead be able to swing into this swanky place for a drink and heavy snacks/bites. I'm all in, can never beat a higher end late night spot. The cocktails & wine were on point. The tots didn't seem house-made but they hit that late night stomach just right. My husband is not a fan of their dinner. I will definitely return, late night was steady but not too many people. Spread the word!!!!!!!! So they keep these hours, Cincinnati needs this. I don't need another broken heart (Symposium & Branch). read more

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Loved it. Just loved it and so glad we chose to go here for dinner with friends. We had a delightful dinner with a group of 10 friends and LOVED the privacy and ambience of the community high top table upstairs. We pretty much had the bar and area to ourselves. It was perfect for us for New Years Eve. The restaurant has a great selection of craft cocktails. I loved the Pretty in Pink that I started off with. My friend ordered the Gansta's Paradise and said it was excellent (she loves her Campari). Others ordered bourbon, beer, and wine - everyone enjoyed their drinks and the beverage selection. For dinner, half the table ordered the French Connection (Rusk kitchen's take on the French dip). Every single person that ordered it said it was one of the best sandwiches they have ever ordered and all plan to go back just to get that sandwich again. That speaks volumes. I shared Creole Campanelle with my husband (it is a HUGE portion - all the food is in large portions) and it was excellent with a solid kick. A couple people opted for the fried grouper sandwiches - again - no food left behind. Every single one of us enjoyed our drinks and meals and with 10 people who are varied food interests, that speaks volumes if you ask me. Service was friendly, efficient, and not intrusive. The upstairs bartender was also our server and she did a terrific job. The atmosphere in the restaurant is upscale bar and grill. They have plenty of TV's at the bar upstairs as well as downstairs so if you're trying to enjoy a game as well with high quality food, this place is perfect. I can't wait for warmer weather so we can enjoy the rooftop patio - generously sized too. Rooftop Igloos: These are not the giant kind, so I would not recommend more than 8 people in there (6 would be best). We were originally planning to enjoy igloo dining, but opted to do the large community table on the second floor instead since we had 10 people. They looked cozy. I'd dress in layers just in case if it's cold outside. They also had a fire going which added to the ambiance in general. One review I read suggested bringing a speaker for music if you do the igloos because unless you're all loud and super chatty, it would be kind of quiet. Can't wait to get back! read more

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

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This was a suggestion from my best friend during a visit to Cincinnati. It was a sunny day and we opted for the upper deck for an afternoon of great service, excellent food, and friendly staff. I'd highly recommend this place. read more

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

The food was good and the customer service was exceptional too. Our waitress was very friendly and checked on us often. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Buffalo chicken sliders, Caesar salad, Philly cheesesteak rolls. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a great pick. It is never too busy so you can always get a table. They switch out their menu often so you can try new things. They have good cocktails too read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Cajun pasta and brisket and mashed potatoes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Excellent service, food was amazing, and dessert!!!! Wow. The restaurant is beautiful. read more

Amazing selection of both food and bourbon. Waiting staff and bartending staff for both excellent and overly hospitable. The food was extremely artisan along with being very tasty. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you haven't already. read more

Popped in early on a Saturday afternoon before the rush and got the true treat of being served by the owner! He told us all about his labor of love, that was Rusk and we appreciated the experience that much more. I got a salad with salmon, which was reasonably priced and the perfect size! Drinks were well made and service awesome. Patio views were awesome and the vibe upstairs I'd say is much more chill than the bustling downstairs dining room. Nevertheless, I loved it and I can't wait to go back! read more

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Came in for a few round of drinks and apps. Absolutely amazing appetizers, we got the Nashville hot chicken sliders they were phenomenal! Our waitress was very friendly and service was great. Prices are up there for cocktails but everything is these days and you really get what you pay for which I felt more than pleased with. Thank you for staying creative with the food and cocktail menu. This was a wonderful first impression and I will definitely be back! read more

Rusk has finally worked out many of the kinks from their opening. I came here for brunch this weekend and had timely service and everyone at the table also enjoyed their meal. The bananas fosters French toast has come a long way and could be described as amazing. I'm coming back just to get an entire plate of that for myself because we shared this one. The breakfast burrito was good but could use some more heat. Ask for hot sauce if you get this. read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Bananas, fosters French toast - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Our waitress was lovely, however the restaurant was completely understaffed! It was just her working the entire floor on Sunday. (And there were two people working behind the bar) We came for Sunday Brunch / lunch - no just one new menu. And they just introduced this new menu - no Eggs Benedict- no Shakshuka. If your a person like me who doesn't eat meat or shell fish - your choice is one salad and you can have a poached egg on it. (The egg is a small egg and I should have asked for the dressing on the side. The guys got a burger and the chicken with syrup on a cinnamon bun and an open faced steak sandwich. The burger with fries got high marks. The syrup on top of the chicken was a great touch and helped with the dryness of the chicken. The steak sandwich was just okay, but when you wait an hour plus to order and get food - you just eat it. The server was wonderful. We could not blame her for anything and she was very sweet every time she came over to our table. (The three stars are for her) Lots of locals love the place ~ they came in and sat at the bar. Yes, they were taken care of much faster than we were. read more

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To see the neighborhood growing is a beautiful thing. I went to elementary and high school within walking distance of Rusk. The restaurant itself is a nice space, and the bar and rooftop are very nice. We stopped in for small bites. I had French onion soup and the brussel sprouts. My friend ordered the pretzel, ceasar salad, and french onion soup as well. I was excited about my selection, 2 of my favorites. The Brussels were delicious but swimming in oil, I poured a ton of it onto the plate under the dish that they were in. Prepared with balsamic, blueberries, and crispy onion. The sweet salty was great, but the oil was too much. The french onion soup was cool but lacked depth and seasoning in the broth. My friend said the ceasar dressing was good. Everyone was very nice and polite. read more

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

With so many new places coming to the Walnut Hills area, it's getting to be tough to keep up, but since my lady had a hair appointment at Parlour, I thought I'd find us a spot nearby for lunch. That's when I found this place, and just walking by, it looked really cool. It looked very open and inviting. My lady thought it looked good too, so we decided to give it a shot, and that was a great decision. We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and were seated right away by a very friendly hostess. The place has lots of great seating as well as a rooftop bar area. The menu changes throughout the day, and durinf our visit, it was definitely brunch time. We were down for that! My lady started with a glass of Wycliff brüt sparkling wine but I just had water (just wanted to hydrate). There were so many interesting options on the menu, but after some searching, my lady opted for the salmon Benedict w/ scrambled eggs and I had the rise + shine breakfast casserole. We hardly waited long at all before our food was ready. It was all definitely good too. My lady raved about the salmon and hollandaise sauce and even I enjoyed the bite I stole from her. It filled us up but we didn't feel overstuffed. And our server was very attentive, checking up on us all the time. You can tell a place is good when you're already contemplating your next visit and you haven't left yet. Yes, we did just that, and we're thinking about a dinner visit next time. Maybe we'll be able to check out the rooftop bar then too. Either way, we're coming back. read more

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Great food fun and comfortable place. Hang out after school n the roof top for a drink . Street parkin read more

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Unless you already live in the neighborhood and can walk there/have nowhere else to go, it's not worth the drive. Went on a Saturday for lunch and was greeted by a sourpuss hostess. The server was friendly, thé food mediocre. The manager and bartender looked unhappy. One couple came in with a baby, were seated, never received service and walked out (telling the hostess why) and she couldn't have cared less. You need to fix staff attitude sulkiness and get to tables a bit quicker. read more

Amazing!! The atmosphere and music was so cozy and inviting, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. The food was delicious and the seasonal menu was a fun addition to keep the menu new and exciting! read more

Patio was great. Hostess told us where to go vs showed us to our table. Service was beyond slow. Food was bland for all 4 of us.

This place is for sure budget friendly, we always talk about the food but not how much it cost. I had $7 dollar mimosas , (I will not disclose how many). They have pineapple and grapefruit. I had to try both flavors for research purposes: the ambiance and Decor is pretty simple, some sconces and subway tiles go a long way. Service started slow , food was slow , waitress didn't know the menu for sure. But all in all I will be back . They are newly open and can imagine working out the kinks. If you don't like crepe style pankcakes don't get them. With the Shakshouka I would also request more pita bread. Otherwise I enjoyed my food. Something's aren't nasty they just aren't your cup of tea . How else will you know if you don't try.Eat on the first floor or on the roof top. You won't break the bank and the staff including the manger were friendly. read more

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I tried Rusk for dinner during their soft open and loved it... 5 stars. I had chicken Alfredo pasta and the Rusk mule. Also, the rooftop will be a hit in the warmer months. The service was great, very personable and accommodating. Unfortunately, when I went back a week or 2 after the official opening, it felt like the quality declined, like they were cutting corners to try to keep up with demand, or something. The service and the atmosphere were still fantastic but the food... The second time I went, was for brunch. I had the Rise + Shine Casserole. It was just ok. I hate going to restaurants and having food that I could easily make at home but that's what this was. I'm gave 4 stars because my 1st experience was 5 stars and my 2nd was 3 stars. I'm optimistic that they can turn around some of the less desirable issues with menu and such. Either way, next time I go, I'll update this review. Happy Eating!!! read more

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I was so intrigued by the interior design when I walked past a few weeks ago that I had to come back and try it! I also saw some posts on social media about this being a hot new place, and I definitely see why. While it wasn't anything overly fancy - it's incredibly fashionable and reasonable to visit on a whim. We walked in and were immediately seated -- it looked packed for a Wednesday night and I think we might've gotten the last table in the house! Lucky us. We were waited on attentively and the overall experience was enjoyable -- we didn't get drinks, but started with the Brussels sprouts to share. They came out quick and were pretty good! You can go very wrong with Brussels sprouts sometimes, and though these aren't the best I had ever had, they were well done. I was shocked at the prices, in a good way -- they've got specials every day for amazing prices. I got the Pesto special and only paid $12... it seemed too good to be true. The meal was enjoyable -- not the best I've ever had but I finished my plate. I admired that it wasn't an overly heavy pasta dish... AKA, I'm full but not currently in a food coma. This is a new restaurant, so there were a few bumps (ex: server came for our order immediately after we sat down without an overview of the menu, there was a spec on my appetizer plate, etc.), but I think those are just growing pains... overall, this place has a ton of potential and I'll be back! My favorite thing is the interior design. I'm a sucker for thoughtfulness behind the visual appearance in a restaurant, and really admired the work done there. Even the TVs were the new Frame TVs so they looked like art on the wall instead of looking disruptive to the design. The men's and women's bathrooms were adorned with pink and blue tile respectively, and the walls were a cool rustic exposed brick. Really well done and unique -- it makes me want to come back even more just to be around it!! And for all the ladies (or lads) looking for Instagram worthy destinations.... This place is for you! Well done, Rusk! read more

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Overall, we had a good experience. They are still working out the kinks, but we enjoyed our food and the service was friendly and pleasant. We were there for dinner on a Sunday evening. We were seated promptly upon arrival. Weather was pretty mild so the front windows were open, which gave it an urban feel. There is plenty of seating inside, but mostly high tops for 4 and bar seats. Our party of 5 was seated at a booth. There is a good variety of menu choices at reasonable prices. There were vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options as well. We had the hanky-panky dip which was pretty much what you would expect. Good app for sharing. Another person at our table ordered the porkopolis nachos. These were a Cincinnati version, served with Saratoga chips. I liked that it wasn't drowning in sauce so the chips did not get soggy. We tried to order the charcuterie plate but our server told us they were out. An hour later we saw someone ordering the charcuterie plate and got it. When we asked the server about that, he said it was not letting him ordered it at the time. That was disappointing. Guessing the server is still learning, and hopefully he'll know the next time when items are truly out. I appreciated that you can order a half or full portion of any of the salads. I had a half salad with the crispy chicken. And the crispy chicken was very good. The service was a bit spotty. But it is brand new, and nothing was unreasonable. The maître d' who checked us in was friendly and quite attentive. He made sure we had placed our order in a timely manner and checked on us periodically. The atmosphere has a trendy and urban vibe to it that I liked. I'm looking forward to returning to Rusk to try some other menu items. I think it's a great addition to the neighborhood and has a lot of potential. It's also locally owned which is a plus! read more

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Such a fun dinner, eating on the rooftop of Rusk. We sat outside at the warm fire for a while before going into our igloo to enjoy our dinner. It was a really nice evening, and all of our food was delicious. read more

I was so excited to finally check out this new brunch spot and oh my gosh it just might be my new favorite! The ambiance is so clean, crisp, and welcoming while the staff was all very kind and knowledgable! I was greeted instantly both when I walked into the door and when I was seated. There was no wait on a Sunday afternoon at 12:45 pm and was able to sit up on the rooftop patio! I ordered a Bloody Mary and was hesitant because I am VERY PICKY with how I like mine. Personally, I don't like them super spicy with horseradish and the one at Rusk is by far the best one I've tried to date that I ordered a second! For food I got the Brie sandwich which came with potatoes and it was yummy, I just wish there was some type of fruit spread because I feel like it compliments Brie cheese so well, but nonetheless delicious! 10/10 will absolutely be back on lots of sunny days for patio brunch dates read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - That's what Brie said - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Met a group for a birthday brunch a few weeks back. The atmosphere was minimalist, bright and relaxing. The menu offered all the delish brunch things you could ask for - everything tasted fresh and had a nice flavor. Everyone at our table really liked their potatoes - I think they were twice fried as they had a nice crisp crunch to them. I had the Eggs Benedict, always a favorite for me and they did the hollandaise justice. read more

Best caesar salad I have had in Cincy (add grilled chicken!!) The pretzel sticks are also incredible with the beer cheese dip. Will go back time and time again for those! read more

Rusk Kitchen & Bar - Caesar Salad add Grilled Chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My sister recommened and I had a great meal . It was their chicken dish, red sauce, beautiful asparagus with sliced mushroom, and fresh fruit. Great service. They had mediocre live music which was distracting to speak over. Parking hit miss, all in all I would recommend. The fruit was fresh and tasty read more

Loved the decor, ambiance and most importantly the food. We went for lunch on a Sunday and were pleasently surprised to find a brunch offering on Sundays. Great variety overall and lots of space for groups and families. Would definitely visit again, especially for their 2nd floor terrace with igloos. read more

We ordered the Bavarian pretzel, the Woodburn Basic burger, the Reaper, and the Animal Farm. The meat was incredibly overcooked for all of them -- everything was so dry. The burgers lacked flavor, even the reaper which is supposed to be on the spicy side. The chicken was rubbery and dry. We couldn't finish any of our food. The only thing I would eat again would be the pretzel. The Ginger Gin cocktail was overly sweet. Wouldn't recommend. The service was fine, but nothing to brag about. Our server took 10 minutes to come and take our order, but she was really nice. We did speak with the manager and they fixed the problem by removing our food charges, which was very kind. The spot has great ambiance and I think could be really fantastic if they make sure to up their game when it comes to the food read more

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

We went to Rusk on a Friday night around 7:30. The restaurant was busy, but we were able to put her name on the wait and take a seat at the bar. Rusk does not take reservations and you are not able to order entrees at the bar - only cocktails and appetizers. My husband got a martini and the bartender (Hunter?) made a nice mock tail. The ambiance was great - clean, fun, stylish. We ordered the Hanky Panky appetizer to start. It took awhile to come out, it was decent, but not great. It has a similar spice profile to skyline and is less creamy than most recipes I've tried. Overall, the experience at the bar was positive and Hunter was a big part of that. We were seated at a table after about an hour and quickly placed our order with Chaz. We decided to split the patty melt burger and the farm animal chicken sandwich with chips and fries. The burger was okay - the patty only took up about half the space on the toast - so lots of bread to burger ratio. It was nice and cheesy with a good amount of pickles and onions- but the patty was fairly dry. The chicken sandwich was awful, probably the worst I've had. In theory , it has all the right items - pimento cheese, croissant, etc. but it was not good. The chicken was not seasoned at all and so rubbery. There was no crunch on the chicken although we expected it to, based on the color. It was so dark that my husband thought it was a burger patty. I took one bite and wasn't able to finish. For me, the chips and fries were the highlight of the food experience. The house chips were salty, thin, crispy and salted. The crinkle fries were well salted and seasoned and were super crispy. I wish more came with the entrees, but enjoyed both! We would return to Rusk to sit at the bar or check out the rooftop, but we will not be eating there again. read more

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We were seated by the open window and it was a lovely warm day to enjoy excellent food and service.

food was yummy, place was really cute. I didn't love that a table was sat right next to us when the rest of the restaurant was empty but i think they just requested the table which also didn't make sense I got wings that were good, the bbq and sweet chili sauce were great! Mt sister got a burger and fries, both good. I loved that the windows were open so it felt like outside seating downstairs while still inside. read more

Went during the busy Christmas season with a group of 8. We had made a reservation but upon arrival they seemed to not be able to find it. We were eventually seated and all went well afterwards. The food and service were very good and we all had a great time. read more

We came here for an evening out with our family of eight. We rented a rooftop igloo. The food and drinks were fantastic ! Our server did a great job and the igloo was so much fun. read more

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Cute spot, nice vibe and decent food! I came here for a double date night and we were all wowed when we walked in. This place is so cute and cozy, with plenty of space to spread out! Love that they have outdoor space, and we said we'll have to come back when it's warm. Making a reservation was easy and we were seated right away. Let me say, the cocktail menu is awesome!! Plenty of options to choose from and all were delicious. The food was also really good, with a couple things needing a little more seasoning. We got the whipped ricotta and it was tasty, just could've used some salt or other herbs in the ricotta to give it some added flavor. It was kind of bland, but the berry compote and hot honey helped. I got the gnocchi and everyone else got the Cajun pasta. All were delicious meals!! It seemed like the pasta was seasoned well. I think the gnocchi could've used a little bit of sauce or something so it wasn't just the gnocchi and veggies, but it was still good. I'd recommend coming again and am excited to try more of the menu! read more

Visited for burger-week after seeing Rusk featured on local news. Nice, new place. Great atmosphere, friendly and accommodating service, and fantastic burgers. Highly recommend. read more