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    The Rusty Porthole

    4.1 (202 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Bars
    Closed 10:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    The Rusty Porthole Photos

    THE RUSTY PORTHOLE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - The Rusty Porthole

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    Personal combo pizza no bell peppers
    Veronica A.

    The food was pretty good. Staff was friendly. Bartenders were efficient. Karaoke was great! It looks like a great hole in the wall spot where everyone kind of knows each other!

    Outside patio
    Jonathan C.

    A very unassuming bar/restaurant. A locals only type of place where the locals are kind and inviting. Upon entry it was lowly lit but the backdrop of the delta made up for it. We took a seat at the bar and were quickly met with a smile and a greeting. We ordered the calamari and a house salad, planning to just get in and out and on our merry way. Boy were we way off, we had such a great time there we stayed into the night, enjoyed some wings, a cheeseburger and some cocktails. The burger was perfect, if you're craving a grilled, hot and charry patty, this is it. Calamari were strips, and they were delicious! All of their sauces were made in house and the includes the blue cheese that came with the salad. This place is a true hidden gem. Thanks for having us!

    Raging Cajun grilled chicken sandwich
    Brian-Matthew C.

    Welp, to be honest I hoped more from this place. To be honest it's a cool vibe, with bar music and a delta view. The food was ok in general, nothing great but nothing bad. I will say the burger came with no sauce on it and all they brought to the table was ketchup. One of my kids got the fish and chips, which she seemed to like, the other the crispy chicken sandwich, which she really didn't. It wasn't horrible just very plain. We got 2 apps, 3 burger type dinners, 1 fish and chips and 4 beers. I feel like the food didn't equate to the 150.00 price tag. Service wasn't bad, just really intermittent. 1 waitress and 1 bartender, long waits for any kind of drink and hard to get our waitresses attention for anything. I'm sure for a beer and some wings, coming off the boat or on a cruise, this place would be great, but probably not going back as a family again. I'll give credit where it's due. Food was hot when delivered, and the waitress did seem a little overwhelmed, but an honest review I must write.

    Patio Area
    Manny G.

    Jackie and Jennifer were amazing! They handled our group of 25 with ease and a fantastic attitude. It was a long trek there and well worth it due to the fantastic service and amazing food. Both the facility and staff have a ton of charm- I highly reccomend!!

    Menu as of June 2025
    Sara B.

    5 star bartender service 4 star food taste 3 star weird service layout This place is interesting for sure and one of the only places right there on the water in bethel island. There's nautical and beer and sports stuff all over the walls and ceiling. Inside is small-ish but they fit a little of seats in. Big outside area as well that's under cover. Inside bartender can only take drink orders so if you sit at the bar, you still have to place a separate order with a server, so be prepared to get 2 bills at the end of your visit. I heard they have an outdoor bartender at the outdoor bar too I'm just not sure if that's every day or just weekends when they're busy. It was very hard to place our food order as when our server first stopped by, our whole party wasn't there yet. We ended up having to find her an hour or so later as she never came by again and tell her we were ready (we were visiting but assumed she'd swing back by but never did). After ordering it took about 40 minutes for food to come out. Burgers were all really tastyand hot but sadly fries portion could be larger and they didn't come out very hot just warm. I would say the place runs on "river time" as you come here and expect it to be a long visit.

    Mac and cheese bites sorry I was hungry and didn't get a picture before!
    Christina R.

    Home of the frozen bun run lol! This is a great spot on the water to stop and warm up after a day exploring the delta with the family. There is outdoor seating for spring and summer months when everyone is here enjoying the warm weather activities. Family and pet friendly. I've seen people complain about service here but I thought our server, Jackie was great. Plus I only seen one other person running orders on the floor and I think she was helping bartend also. On a weekday, in the winter, it was pretty busy so kudos to the hard working people at the Rusty Porthole. We've eaten here before a few years ago so we knew we wanted the burgers. They didn't disappoint, large, juicy and delicious with crispy hot fries...so good. We also tried the fried Mac n cheese bites from the daily specials board. They were delicious, came out as an 8 piece, nicely plated with ranch and a nacho cheese dipping sauce. My daughter got the chicken tenders and fries from the kids menu(I tried to get her to order a burger from the adult menu). The fries were good but the chicken tenders are just plain frozen bulk chicken tenders and for most kids would have been fine but no my daughter eats real chicken tenders so she deemed them inedible. I ordered the wedge salad and it was terrific. Plenty of blue cheese and a delightful drizzle of balsamic was bright and unexpected. We didn't have any drinks from the bar, but I am sure they have some good specials. We are local so we will be back. If you're in town or out on your boat stop by and get some good food from this hidden gem.

    Bacon cheese burger
    Juan D.

    Not a bad spot to hit up while you're out here. The service is friendly, the food is really good and it is decorated exactly what you would think like, a rusty porthole. Me and my buddy both had a bloody Mary that were perfectly made and I enjoyed a hamburger. I will definitely swing by again next time I'm in the area.

    People having a good time at the bar.
    Gandalf W.

    This nautical old school dive bar located on the water in Bethel Island is a rare find. Old with colorful stories and folklore. The vibe is laid back and comfortable. A well stocked bar and good food is a sincere bonus. The locals were enjoying the view from the barstools clearly enjoying themselves. I'm sure there's lots of colorful stories to be heard about this place. No doubt ghost stories about the place, you can feel the vibe. The chicken Caesar salad I ordered was excellent. It was fresh with a tender flavorful chicken breast and excellent home made dressing. Yummy. Everything we ordered was quality ingredients and fresh. It was worth the wait. If you'd like a nautical theme, good food great bar with a beautiful view give this place a try you will be glad you did! Bon appétit

    Super moon rising at the Porthole
    Verna K.

    Oasis on the island! Cute spot to hang out, they have bands that come in during the weekends, have seen some karaoke,, which fun to see locals show off their talent and entertaining ladies behind the bar. Props to Sharrie & Red, they always make our drinks exactly the way we need them! My go to seems to be the bacon double cheeseburger, never fails! Garlic fries are YUM! The fried zucchinis are decent, not a fan of the mozzarella. I'm interested in the alligator but I never seem to catch it when they have it, nor the "loopia"..

    Bacon cheeseburger

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    4 months ago

    Love it. It's rustic & the employees are kind! The food is basic bar food but they absolutely try!!

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    3 months ago

    the outdoor deck had a great view of the river and the boats going by. i ordered a burger and a cold beer and the food came out hot.

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    4 months ago

    the bbq chicken flatbread pizza is sweet and cheesy. the coconut prawns are warm and crisp.

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    2 years ago

    When staying at Sugar Barge we always take the boat here. Great vibe, decent food, good staff. Always worth it!

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    2 years ago

    Funny spot overlooking the water on Bethel Island. Good grub. Decent service. Recommended.

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    2 years ago

    Quiet early afternoon on the Delta at Rusty Porthole. Patty melt was very good service was quick. I always stop in when on Bethel Island.

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    Sugar Barge Waterfront Bar & Grill - Eggs Benedict--yum!

    Sugar Barge Waterfront Bar & Grill

    4.0(95 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    What can I say the lobster rolls were so good, I order it twice. We order other stuff a burger that…read morewas also good but I was stuffed and not interested in taking any more food pics. The fries that came with the burger were really good :) I was digging the live band. Service was good, no complaints. After a few hours fishing on the delta this was a nice little spot to end up afterwards.

    Wow what a surprise this spot was! I came here on a whim after some new friends offered to take me…read moreon an adventure on their new boat to Bethel Island. Unfortunately we missed the live music but it gave us a chance to talk and enjoy each other's company more! We started out with the oyster shooters, clam chowder and the shrimp bucket. I didn't try the oysters as I am allergic but my friends enjoyed them. The clam chowder was delicious, a bit salty but I didn't mind. I loved that the clams were not hard or chewy and broke apart easy in my mouth. It was very flavorful too! The shrimp in the bucket was fresh too! I tend to get an allergic reaction if the shrimp isn't fresh so the fact u had no reaction says that they were fresh! I got the fish tacos was well as one of my friends and we loved them!! They were almost as good as some spots in San Diego! My other friend enjoyed his Delta Burger too. I stole a bite and it had a delicious smokey flavor to it. Service was also very prompt and courteous. Definitely a standout experience, even without the live music!

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    Sugar Barge Waterfront Bar & Grill - Fresh clams, white wine, garlic, butter & scallions

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    Delta Sports Bar and Grill - It was the best burger I've had in a long time. It's simple but perfect

    Delta Sports Bar and Grill

    4.2(75 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    I came, I saw, I conquered a plate of nachos and a beer. The bartender stood behind the counter,…read moreconfounded by my carnivorous conquest. She said she's never seen anyone finish a whole plate of nachos by themselves. Meh, I said, they weren't that big. Not that they were small... They were a good size and came with plenty of meat, cheese, chips, and toppings, but I've had bigger. They tasted good, and I had a nice cold beer to wash it all down. It was a good place to stop after a long hike, and an even longer drive on my way home. The bartender was super friendly, and we chatted for a while about life on Bethel Island, real estate, and local events. It was a good conversation, and just added to the appeal of this locals bar and grill. It has plenty of character, and plenty of elbow room inside, and out on their back patio. It turns out they need it for all the nights where they have live music, which seems to happen frequently. I hope to get back, for some of that live music, more food, another drink, and more good conversation with that amiable bartender. Thanks for making my day, during my brief stay.

    The food here has always been really good. Highly suggest the pizza and Burger as well. There is a…read morepool table on the bar side. They have seating inside and outside. The bartender is friendly and makes good drinks. It has an all round friendly atmosphere. I have suggested this place to friends!!

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    Delta Sports Bar and Grill - The bar

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    Korth's Pirates Lair Cafe - Club sandwich and potato salad

    Korth's Pirates Lair Cafe

    3.6(42 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    What a cute place tucked away in a cozy space! I was in the area on a Sunday drive with my dog and…read moresaw this spot had been praised for good fries and fish & chips according to some other Yelpers! I definitely had to check them out. I decided to sit outside (despite the super warm day) because I had my pooch in tow, but the inside felt cool when I went in to get a table. I ordered a giant glass of iced tea (which automatically came with lots of ice--thank you)! The staff were friendly, and the food came out pretty fast. I enjoyed the fish & chips I ordered -- but can't say for sure if they were hand battered because the filets were too evenly coated and "homogeneous." They were giving a little bit of that "frozen to fryer" vibe -- but they were no less tasty. Fries were nicely seasoned and the tartar sauce was light on the acidity--nothing extra lemon couldn't solve for! I look forward to stopping by again when I am in the area. It's nice to see parts of the Bay that feel worlds away!

    Being that we live close with in the area, we tend to visit here once maybe twice a month during…read moretheir open season hours. Overall, each meal that we have had from here has been very good. For the most part, the customer service is good. I can only really account for one occasion that, I could tell the staff was having a off day with how they were speaking to each other in earshot of customers. But all in all we usually enjoy our visit here. It's nice being able to have your mail and look outside and see a beautiful view of the Deltaboats on the water. A lot of people that are just for the weekend or are new to the area overall. Definitely a good spot to catch me at and at times ice cream and or nice cold beer.

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    Korth's Pirates Lair Cafe - Inside dining area with AC

    Inside dining area with AC

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    Knightsen Saloon - coors

    Knightsen Saloon

    3.9(8 reviews)
    5.1 mi

    I had to try this place after getting a few people on NextDoor to recommend it. The place looks…read moretotally brand new inside. There's a nice size patio on 2 sides of the establishment. Even the bathrooms were in good condition. I was greeted by a bartender and offered a drink after coming inside from the taco truck. They dont seem to serve food here, so it's good to have a local food truck to bridge the gap. I ordered a coors light first, then followed up with a shot of whiskey from Woodford Reserve. It was a nice sized shot, so I really appreciated this. I gave my self some time to let it wear off as I was warned that there's a big police presence around this bar. Dont risk getting a DUI. I played some of my own tunes on the digital jukebox. I took some pics (that came out terribly), but was still fun to have the option. Parking is good as there are open fields nearby, parking along the side, and street parking. Overall, this would be a good place if there were more availability of uber and taxi. Since they dont serve food, it makes this place a very risky choice to drink. time to be acknowledged 5/5 time to be served 5/5 quality 4/5 parking 5/5 customer service 4/5 return value 1/5

    Went here on a girls night out (25yr old female) and it was so off putting. It was our 1st stop ,…read moreBar tender ignored group of 5 trying to order , but her out of "friend" hopping the back fence didn't seem to have any trouble ordering. Only plus was the fellow patrons. Sonjas was better!

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    Margarita with don Julio

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    The Rusty Porthole - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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