Nice bar to grab a bite to eat and a good selection on tap. It's always a plus when the menu has a variety of options for vegetarians that aren't just a salad! I highly recommend the Smoke Up' Sweetie sweet potato fries. For how popular the bar seems to be, it is on the small side so be prepared to bump butts and elbows making your way to the bar, bathroom, or anywhere inside for that matter. read more

The Ruck - Smoke Up' Sweetie - Pubs Near Me - Troy, New York

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Fun atmosphere for sure. If I came back, that's what it'd be for. (Tuesdays is Trivia Night, and it's well attended.) The host and waitresses were great. The decor is festive. Despite what Yelp says, they are kid friendly before 9 PM. (They even provided a coloring book for us!) The food, however, was just so-so. Peanut noodles had a strange sour tang... Not a flavor I'm familiar with for this dish. Made me go hmmm.... My salmon wrap was unbalanced - a good amount of salmon on the left and then almost none on the right, but all the sauce was there. Fries were okay. Plenty of them at least. The burger wrap was good. No complaints there. And then... everything took sooooo long. Burgers+fries = $17. Grab a beer and an app or dessert, and you'll be over $30. So not expensive but not cheap either. read more

Some people rave about the Ruck, but the appeal is lost on me. The food is decent but not mind blowing, service is good, but it's so loud in there that you can't have a conversation with the people you went with. As a bar I think it's probably one of the better ones around, and by far one of the most popular, but unless you're into the super loud and crowded scene, this place isn't for you. I've gone at 2am while bar hopping and I've gone at 2pm for lunch... But the atmosphere is always the same. read more

So! We so happened to come across The Ruck on Yelp on a beautiful Fall Sunday afternoon & man was it one of the very best "happen across" EVER!! This place is unassuming from the outside; almost seems "meh ok". However, from the moment we walked in & were greeted & seated by Mike, we were made to feel at home. I'm originally from downstate NY & know good food & service & miss those homey experiences all the time. Well, we found all 3 criteria's here! GOOD FRIENDLY quality service, YUM food, & the feeling of truly being WELCOMED!! We ordered beer from their extensive choice of tap beer, the drunken pretzel bites & buffalo wings. If you love good cold beer at the perfect temperature....this is the place. If you love spicy HOMEMADE mustard & a killer cheese sauce.....this is the place. If you love CHUNKY HOMEMADE blue cheese dressing & FLAVORED crispy buffalo wings that'll make your eyelids sweat! (Ordered hot!).....THIS is the place. Most importantly, if you truly appreciate genuine, happy, welcoming & warm bartenders & servers....THIS....THIS is the place!!!! Thank you Mike for being your amazing self. You have created very loyal customers & friends! Thanks Caroline for keeping our glasses full & for being so sweet. The Ruck....we will see you soon & over & over again!! In short (too late!), you need to get your butt to The Ruck for some beer, amazing finger foods, football & incomparable hospitality!!! read more

The Ruck - a close up of a sign on a building - Pubs Near Me - Troy, New York

This has to be my favorite bar in the Capital District, as it combines good drink and food with good vibes (well before 10 pm, when the kids come in and turn it into Legoland). I moved from San Francisco 2 1/2 years about to the neighborhood, so my expectations might be a little higher/different than some... The staff here are very friendly and knowledgeable, so I don't need my glasses to read the massive beer list. The patrons are ok I guess, good mix, just wish they would leave my stool at the bar free, especially during Troy Night Out, bloody amateurs! The selection of craft beers has to be one of the best around, 30 taps which nearly makes up for the lack of my beloved Guinness... I won't recommend any beers, if you don't know my favorites, then maybe the kegs will stay full longer? plus you don't deserve them... Yes, all the food here resides in the shadow of their Mighty Wings, my preference is crispy naked with either the sauce of the day or hot... other notable mentions are the KRS1 and the Disco Fries... plus being open til 1 am is pretty awesome. Thankfully now there is a great restaurant on the 1st floor, The Next Level, really great food pared with beer, oh happiness... The back patio has been a great addition, as it leaves more room at the bar for the professional drinkers... I believe it is dog friendly and open til 10pm, plus you might get the best server/ beer aficionado around, Mike Tash. This is the only venue in the capital district that shows international rugby, which only a few would care about, but what a few! read more

Great food considering it's a bar. The menu had matured along with their newly renovated kitchen, and the quality has always been great and seems consistent. At times it can get busy and service can slack a tad, but the friendliness of the staff along with the great adult beverage selection more than makes up for it. A fun spot during the day for family activity, and during the night for a "night out" experience. read more

Ruck wings. 'Nuff said right there. Great bar with an amazing ever changing tap selection. The go to bar for a night out in Troy. Drink and food specials every night not to mention a live band every Wednesday. Cant miss this bar if you're out for a night in troy. read more

The Ruck - Pubs Near Me - Troy, New York

LEGIT WORST EXPERIENCE EVERRRRRRRRRR. came in with a group of people after a free show last night, got a table. the hostess was super short with us and the waitress gave us a hard time about the QR code wouldn't work on our phone and we waited 10 minutes for menus. more friends came to the table to grab a beer and wait for food. the hostess said too many people were at our table, while the waitress took everyone's order. a couple of our friends felt so uncomfortable by the rude service that they left. the hostess again said they couldn't sit there. when the waitress brought back their drinks, we said they left because the hostess asked them to. the waitress made us pay for their drinks, wouldn't let us grab our food without paying for these 5 unclaimed drinks. i tried to talk to the waitress INDIA about the situation and said INDIA said well do you need me to pay for these since you won't? NO HONEY. I NEED YOU AND YOUR HOSTESS TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND SHOW THAT YOU ACTUALLY LIKE YOUR JOB AND TREAT CUSTOMERS WITH RESPECT. so they don't feel they have to leave because you aren't being kind to them. thank you. won't be going back to for a loooooooooooong time. makes me sad because the ruck ruled once. read more

We stopped here for dinner on Sunday night before visiting RPI. They had more than two dozen beers on draft - I chose a Belgian style and it was excellent and served in the right-shaped glass! We split mozzarella sticks as an appetizer and both had burgers and fries. The food was served hot and everything tasted great. I really liked my summer burger - the flavors in the blend of ingredients were delicious. Our server was friendly and attentive. We will definitely come back when we return to the area! read more

Great beer! Great food! Great place! There are some places make you feel like you're at home. The Ruck is one of these places. Knowledgeable staff when it comes to beer, more than knowledgeable, and willing to educate you. They are all affable and kind. Let's talk about the food! You should know about the chicken wings bite now. You should know about the blue cheese sauce. But I am asking you to try the wraps and sandwiches and the burgers and all the wonderful things that make this so much more than pub food. The chef has innovative menus that reflect the best of what's available and pair perfectly with the beers. read more

White guy wasted? Well I'm ready to get wasted on their tots again! Their white guy wasted tots are amazing! Doused with bacon, cheese, and their homemade ranch sauce, I never thought it would taste amazing! The Ruck is noted for their wings and they did not disappoint. We tried their thai peanut wings which were okay but their other flavors of wings are superior. The Ruck is a great place to spend a night kicking back some beers (they have a big selection) with some wings and tots and will definitely be back. read more

This place was pretty on point. It was busy, but the bartenders really held it down. It was disappointing that the first 2-3 beers we asked for were out, but the guys working helped us find some good alternatives that we all really enjoyed so it ended up working out. The vibe here was good, employees were friendly, and the music playing was solid which led to a pretty good time. I did order two orders of mozzarella sticks that I think were forgotten to be sent through so I ended up asking the bartender about it after waiting for a long time. Because of the delay, they gave me them both for free which I really appreciated and more than made up for the wait. All in all this place was a lot of fun and I would definitely go back but the prices were a little much and after thinking about it more for a couple days I'm pretty convinced I was overcharged for drinks. Either that, or they ended up charging me for the mozzarella sticks anyway but thats on me for not double checking the receipt. read more

Good service at bar and sitting down at the tables. Cheap prices overall for food and drinks. Will return if in Troy!

What can I saw that hasn't been said about the Ruck... ? Probably nothing, but here's my two cents anyway. 1. The Ruck probably has the best wings in the area. Crispy, saucy, large, messy, served so hot that you burn your fingers and your mouth because you need to be tasting them ASAP. Whether you're a bleu cheese or ranch person, you can't go wrong. Both dips are pretty great. I will throw in that this doesn't apply to wings you order to go. I've made this mistake a few times, and the ten minute drive home always does something disappointing to my meal. 2. AWESOME beer selection. Enough IPAs, stouts, wheat beers, etc. to satisfy most. You can ever order different oz. options in case you want to try something new. 3. Weekend nights are crazy and loud. As they should be, this place is popular. I like that even in the midst Friday night madness we still had a guy wiping our table and bringing us our wings. Sweetness. On nights like this it can be intimidating/awkward to place an order. The area where you do this is always crowded. You don't know if people are just chilling, or waiting to order, or waiting for the food. Once you make is though to the front you kind of have to wait there, staring at the guy until he finally asks you what you want. It's worth it though. And once the order is in you feel pretty damn, accomplished. Whew, now you're just minutes away from the renowned Troy wings. read more

Ask and you shall receive. Giving The Ruck back the star I took away because I couldn't eat there, because now I can. They have VEGAN options, and not only is there vegan options there are VEGAN Ruck Wings. You heard that right. Which means instead of drooling over my meat eating friends enjoying the most delicious wings and blue cheese I've ever had, I get to partake in the adventure. Yes the vegan blue cheese is delicious, no it's not as good as the original, but it's still better than most blue cheese! I'm also going to review the fact that in case you've never been they have two additional floors that would absolutely blow your mind. Walking up the stairs is like walking into another world, or another bar. You cannot even hear the crowd downstairs, and it's beautiful and more personal. I have yet to be to an event up there but I'm definitely going next chance I get. Good Job Ruck, you secured your place as #1 in my heart. read more

This is my favorite bar of all time. OF ALL TIME, PEOPLE! What makes it so good? First off, any bar that has a fry-o-lator next to the bottles of booze cooking up the worlds best chicken wings is the best bar of all time. Second of all, any bar that doesn't kick your drunk ass out until an hour after the FOUR AM last call is the best bar of all time. Third, if you get the bartenders drunk enough, the $100 bar tab all of a sudden becomes a $40 bar tab. Even if you don't have nice tits. Fourth, there are tons of lesbians from the All-Girl Nursing School, Russell Sage. Fifth, they tolerated me playing the "tequila" song 11 times in a row on their juke box. Finally, I got my first case of crabs from a chick I met at The Ruck. BEST BAR OF ALL TIME!!! read more

It doesn't look like much from the outside but when I read they were going to have a "Gluten Free" night we didn't care. We had to go...and we are SO glad we did. We arrived early as we didn't realize the gluten free festivities didn't start until 7. We went to order wings and a burger and the bartender went to check with the cook to see if they could accommodate. Anyplace else we would have been told a flat out no, you'll have to wait until 7. Not here. The cook went WAY above and beyond for me and I am INCREDIBLY grateful! He turned on the fryer and cleaned the cooktop early. Sure, it took a little longer than usual to get our food, but that was ok. I was actually drinking BEER while I waited. I enjoyed the Steadfast Pale Ale. Hubby was greatly impressed with their many taps and sampled several of the offerings. Oh, how I've missed beer. The cook came out several times to ask if I could eat this or that and also brought out a can of tomatoes to let me read the label to make sure it was ok. (WOW). Over and above I tell ya! Once the food came I was in heaven. I have not had chicken wings in almost a year. I kid you not when I say I was almost in tears.....happy tears! The wings were FANTASTIC. Nice and crispy....my mouth is watering just writing this. The burger was also very good but I just wanted more wings! I almost placed an order to go, and didn't....and I kicked myself for it later. If ANYONE had tried to touch those wings while I was eating, they seriously would have lost a finger. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK THANK YOU to The Ruck for doing a gluten free night. If you do it again, we're there. If you make gluten free wings a regular thing on your menu I may never leave. Everything was great and you have a terrific staff who obviously are educated on what gluten free means - I hate when I go somewhere and ask if they have any gluten free options and I'm met with a blank stare. I'm not doing this because it's a 'fad'....I'm doing this because I will get VIOLENTLY ill if I ingest gluten! We were so impressed with the cook and his care that I made my hubby go and tip him too!! read more

I immediately knew upon entering that I would dig this so called neighborhood dive bar. You know right where ya stand. Mixed crowd. Hard wood, tall tables, typical bar games, Irish influence. Gets crowded 11-4 w local college crowd thur-sat. 25 beers on tap. Varied international beer menu. Only 2 hard ciders was a disappointment. Great for grabbing a craft beer w friends, just chill watching the game, or to indulge in their awesome wings. This city is ubiquitous for chicken wings. The infamous Hurleys will FOREVER be my favorite. Unfortunately, they are no more. But, there are a few other spots in this city that serve a solid chicken wing- classic buffalo sauce w blue cheese & celery/carrots. But here? They nail it! The wings are hearty but not plumped salt solution-ed or steroid injected. But a decent hearty size cooked perfectly. 1/2 doz sauces offered but I had the classic hot- which weren't all that hot but the sauce to wing ratio was spot on. It was tangy but not vinegary or even buttery. However, the real clincher is the chunky rich, garlicky blue cheese. Decadent. Skully the bartender is everyone's old pal from like way, way back but only on Sundays. read more

I can't even deny that I love The Ruck. I love it's dive-ish feel, I love their wings, I love how I can come here in yoga pants and fit right in...ok I pretty much love everything about this place. As Brendan said, it is rough around the edges but that's part of it's charm! It's located right on third street and is kind of unassuming with it's dark interior and bench like seating. Like I said, it's a dive but don't let that fool you. They have a ton of different beers on tap and good bar food. They have wing specials on Monday and Wednesday--.50 wings, and even free wings on Fridays! Their beers are also pretty cheap too. Ok, so I consider myself a wing connoisseur and I have to say these are some of the best wings AND blue cheese in the area. They are just perfect. Meaty, crispy, and saucy! All you have to do is go up to the bar and put in your order and they'll run 'em right over to you in no time. It can get packed on wing special nights, but I've never waited long or haven't had somewhere to sit. They even have shuffleboard (which I suck at) which is fun, especially after a few drinks :). And darts too! The crowd is truly eclectic. You have your RPI kids, people who come here after work, prissy girls, 75 year old couples who want to get in on the wing action, kids playing song after song by the band Disturbed (awful) on the music player...basically a mix of everyone and anyone, which I love. I've seen people here in sweats, and nobody cares and that's what I love about it! Yes the bathrooms smell awful and one time when I came here the sink was ripped out of the wall, but it just adds to my love for this place. If you are in the mood for a brew and some wings, come here...just do it. read more

The Ruck, where nothing good happens after 2 am. I used to frequent here when I was in college at Russell Sage literally blocks over. Having moved back to the area for work I've been a returning customer for something to eat after Troy's Rockin on the River nights. The Perks: -yummy food which has gotten significantly better over time, including a re-vamp of the menu. -fun atmosphere, where almost all types of people are accepted -great selection of craft beers The Downsides: -beers are constantly changing, don't get too attached to a beer you like, because when you come back in literally two days chances are it's gone. -the staff is kind of a bunch of a**holes. ...No seriously, I know it's The Ruck, but hey, if I'm giving you tips you shouldn't treat your customers like dollar signs. -the bathrooms are disgusting. again, I know it's the ruck but come on, the toilets are always clogged and smell rancid. there are more thoughts and opinions I could give you but these are the things I think stand out most in my mind. I do have to add one more thing however, the last few times I have been there the bar tenders have been really incredibly rude. I've only seen one girl behind the bar with a staff of mostly all other men, and she always seems to act like the queen of the bar. In addition to that a bunch of the other guys (though i have to make sure to declare NOT all of them) are always so "ready to move on" to other customers. If you're trying to be a beer bar and I'm asking you a question about your main product you should be so dismissive of me. Maybe it's because I'm getting older but come on! Where is your customer service? read more

My RPI friends and I, and even some of my friends who have visited Troy a few times, constantly wonder how the best Chicken Wings and the best Pizza in the entire world can be found in the brokedown milltown hamlet called Troy, NY. It really is amazing. The wings. The wings . . . I mean, just get the wings. I was in Springfield, and had some time to kill before I was due in NYC, so I drove an hour and a half to Troy for some wings and a slice of Pizza. I think if I lived in Springfield, this would be a common occurence for me. The ruck has undergone some renovations in the last few months, and anyone who hasn't been in a while should check out the place, it's vastly improved and isn't the dark, dingy place we all loved so much. They have the shuffleboard table back, and the TVs are all HD and brand new. How could someone rate this place below four stars? It boggles the mind. read more

This shit is lit Jason is awesome the drinks are amazing!!!!! He's a great conversationalist

The Ruck is one if those places I have been trying to get to for years. After living in Buffalo and being so very spoiled by their perfect wings (cue Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi"), I'm on a continuous quest for true Buffalo wings in Albany. I've lost count of the number of people who have claimed that The Ruck has the best in the area. On a Saturday afternoon, after a long morning of dreadful holiday shopping, my dining partner in crime (let's go with DPIC, for short) and I took a trip across the river because I. Needed. Wings. The place is dim, yet comfortable, definitely a popular college spot. The bar was largely full when we arrived at about 12:30, and there were a few tables with RPI kids. We grabbed a high top/bench combo across from the bar and were promptly given a beer list and "beer brunch" menu. Though there were a few tempting items, I restrained. I was here for the wings! The beer selections were pretty vast, though my DPIC was a little sad to learn that the Allegash White had kicked after he ordered one. I tried an unfiltered cider, which was great. I'm not too keen on many ciders Ive tried as they're usually too sweet for me, including ones like Angry orchard, Stella's Cidre, and Nine Pin's original (though Nine Pin's Belgian is great -- try it), but this unfiltered and uncarbonated version was not too sweet for me and very thirst-quenching. Drank just like a regular fresh-pressed orchard cider. But the main event... We ordered a regular order of medium (listed on the menu as ten wings, not 12 as noted in a couple of other reviews) and a small fry ($3). I asked the waitress if their wings are typically done crispy, and she said "I can ask them to cook them crispy." I'm always a little reluctant to ask for wings crispy, because often they come to me overcooked, but I took her answer to mean that they're not usually done crispy...so I told her, "sure, ask them for crispy." The wings came out quickly. We were only given nine of our ten wings, something I'd usually have no qualms with and wouldn't normally find worth mentioning, but these wings were on the smaller side, and we were sharing one order, so I felt we would miss the missing wing. Our waitress, after a somewhat awkward stare, kindly said she could ask them to cook up an extra or take it off our bill, explaining that they charge per wing anyway ....I felt silly after that having them cook up just one wing, so she removed it from the bill (75 cents). But the wings! As I said, they were on the puny side, and of our nine wings, six were "flats" and only three were "drumettes." This was a shame as the drumettes were really good, and did have a nice crisp. The flats were kind of sad in that they lacked much meat (yes, even for a wing) and were not very crispy. They weren't dry, which was my primary concern. The flavor was right, though (tasted like Frank's red hot and butter) and they weren't overly saucy, which is how my DPIC likes them. The medium wings were borderline too spicy for his spice-sensitive palate, but worked for me! There were two pieces of carrot and two of celery (though one carrot was oddly mushy). Although I cannot proclaim that these were the best wings we have had in Albany just yet, they were tasty enough and I'll be back to give them another shot. The fries were really good, though the small was definitely small (think cereal bowl with a handful of fries tossed in). Order the large if you're hungry or intend to share at all. They're described as hand cut and seasoned. While they do appear hand cut, they were not seasoned. Fine for me, though, as I could control the salt (so many beautiful fries in my life were ruined by the kitchen's heavy-handed salting). This review is definitely a work in progress. I'll be returning for their awesome looking tots, buffalo burger, and delicious-sounding, albeit artery-clogging beer brunch options! Casual, low-key spot, nice enough service, and better than average wings, and above-average fries? I'll be back! P.S., could someone tell me what that long wooden table in the back is for? Shuffle board? Long-distance beer pong? Couldn't quite figure it out. Non-redeemable bonus points for this one :) read more

The Ruck - Beer brunch menu - Pubs Near Me - Troy, New York

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This place is very coo. Good burgers and very good staff. Great beer choices, on tap and bottles. Food was quality, hot and well prepared. Fries were especially well done. Service was attentive and informed. Cool place with good bar crowd. read more

My first reaction to this place was a chuckle because of the eerie resemblance of Paddy's Pub. In the slight moment I opened the door, I was hoping to meet Charlie or Dee, or even get karate kicked by Mac. I was disappointed. Not only did I not meet the crew, but the entire place was just alright for my taste. The wings were good, nothing special as many people have made it out to be. It was kinda like watching the first Star Wars... rave reviews but a big let down. I will give you that it's A LOT better than Mousetrap wings. I got here around 10pm and I don't know if it's different earlier, but you order your wings at the counter where they cook the wings. You can order any way you like. I got a little sarcastic reception when I asked if I can order 10 and 10. And he looked at me as if to say, "of what?" He eventually understood what I was asking, and he said you can order 13 and 13 if you wanted. That's what you get for being a newbie. Don't make my same mistake. It takes about 15 minutes and they cook it right in front of you. Again, I was expecting a huge selection of beers, but there were about 10 different beers on tap. I was expecting something like Macgreggor's where they have 30 or more beers on tap. I'm a big fan of Purple Haze, the music and the beer, but this one tasted watered down and didn't have that kick of subtle berry taste. The inside was what you'd expect in a college bar: some dart machines (looked somewhat outdated), a long board with pucks (not sure what it's called but is kinda like curling accept it's not a silly "sport"), and male attendance at their prime of belligerence (aka, college students). Don't get me wrong, I used to be one of them, but that's passed my time. I guess I prefer a laid back environment and people who drink for the sake of hanging out, and not getting wasted. Just an FYI, I think the guys who run the bar are rugby players, so if you're into that, try it out and strike up a conversation. If you're looking just to try out the wings, go earlier at 7pm. If you want a room filled with testosterone, go later, and you ladies can open with, "do you know how you can tell if someone's ticklish...? Give them a test-tickle." read more

Update to the below: Dave the owner contacted me, apologized and made everything right. That kind of care from a business is priceless. I'm a fan when someone does something like that. I was happy to return the next day when ironically my friends mentioned going to the Ruck. The service was great today and the food was good. They do have some interesting food choices that are different from other restaurants around town so I was happy that they took the time to correct this. My server told me there was a gluten free bun available. I'd expect an up charge but she didn't say anything about it. It ended up being a $3 upcharge which is pricey even for GF substitutions. It was also a crappy bun that fell apart and I didn't end up eating much of it. I told her about the quality and she was unsympathetic. She also listed off the available sides for me without letting me know that some carried an up charge. So I was surprised at the extra $5 on my bill when it came. I asked her why she didn't tell me about the extra charges when I ordered and she shrugged and gave a very disingenuous apology saying she'll inform all the tables next time. Why isn't it policy to tell the customer now? I had looked for these kinds of things on the menu when I'd ordered but didn't see anything in print. If I'd known, I would have ordered differently. My coworkers and I were checking it out to see if we wanted to add it to our list of good places for lunch but we won't be returning. It was an expensive lunch for all of us. Stick to being a bar, not a restaurant. read more

The Ruck is a fantastic bar with a very deceiving exterior. It has shades of a bikers bar but once inside you'll instead find a very spacious, rustic and dark dive bar which features a solid selection of various craft beers on bottle, can and tap. While we didn't have a chance to eat anything there, the wings coming out from the fry-o-lator looked awesome. But instead we had a liquid meal which featured various craft beers. They have stuff from Founders, from New England Brewing, Dogfish Head, Troegs, Goose Island, Sierra Nevada and various others. They come in all kinds of styles from stouts to IPAS and the selection rotates frequently. I was only there for an hour or so while in the area for a concert but I will not hesitate to return in the future. The staff was pretty friendly and the beer was ice cold. I don't really know what else I could ask for from this place. There's a decent amount of street parking as well. If I ever do return, it looks like I'll have to try the wings, but based on my beer-centric experience alone, the trip there was definitely solid. read more

Went thinking about the hot wings and walked in and they were packed with college kids. I thought it was going to be a slightly older crowd but no big deal. The hostess said the table wait was about 30-40 minutes but we could go upstairs for a quiet atmosphere with a slightly upscale menu. We figured why not. Well I couldn't find anything that appealed to me. I think mainly because I was craving the hot wings and blue cheese. We decided to order a drink share a plate then maybe get a table down stairs. He ordered a craft beer, and it was dedicated to one brewer which happened to be from Connecticut. This didn't leave him with many options. But was happy with his choice. I had a few choices of red or white, or champagne. Went with a white Pinot Gios We decided on the fried oyster (5 really small oysters) with micro greats. Did I mention really small portion. The sauce over powered the poor little oyster. And the batter lacked flavor. We also shared the Salt & Pepper soft shell crab, with the micro greens, with bone marrow butter. Small crab, no trace of S&P, and enough butter for a big lobster. After trying the small plates we opted out for ordering a entrée. Funny thing the couple Nextel to us felt the same way and opted to leave after the shareable plates. The decor and service was nice. However I don't mind paying if the flavors were present. read more

The Ruck - Fried oysters - Pubs Near Me - Troy, New York

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I'm not sure what the hype is over this place and its wings, but when I went it was the worst food I've ever eaten. Mine and my sister's wings were severely overcooked to the point where neither of us wanted to eat them. The honey mustard sauce on my wings was really good but the foamy-feeling, dry chicken under it was just terrible. She had the BBQ hot wings and they were even worse than mine. The service was also really bad except for a guy named Mike who seemed to be running around and making up for the bartender's work. (Cheers, Mike!) The only thing that made up for it was their beer selection for my friends and that they have ciders for me. read more

- the beer: better than average beer selection - about 25-30 taps, plus a hand-pump... but there hasn't been a cask available for at least the last few weeks I've been going there. mostly american micro/macro brews (e.g. troegs, mcneills, ommegang, magic hat, sierra nevada, coors), with a few solid if not commonly available overseas selections (e.g. wells bombardier, weiheinstephaner). One of the better selections for beer in Troy. Average of $4 / pint makes it a better value than Dino BBQ too. - dive / sports bar atmosphere, but it's forgivable. Reminds me of the working class sports bars in my small upstate ny hometown - knowledgable bartenders without any attitude. Unless you're being a tool, in which case, you deserve it. - really really good wings & fries, decent burgers, but that's about it... no seriously, that's the menu (though they might have A salad on there too...). Oh, and be warned, if you want lettuce / tomato / onion on your burger, you have to ask for it. - if there's music here, IT WILL BE LOUD. If it's Karaoke night (Thursday), IT WILL BE LOUD. Even the trivia guy on Monday is WAY TOO LOUD. This might be my least favorite part about the Ruck. - Daily specials are a major perk on the wallet, but the bartenders probably won't tell them to you before you order, so check them out here, and on the Ruck's facebook page: http://www.getrucked.com/ruckMenu.php#daily specials I'm rating this 4 stars mostly on it's beer selection / value and no frills style. If you're looking for a clean, modern looking club, with a long list of wine / expensive cocktails, this isn't the place for you. read more

I lived in Buffalo NY near Duff's for years and can honestly say that the wings at The Ruck are on par if not better! The beer selection is fantastic and the atmosphere casual and comfortable. I do try to go when RPI isn't in session as it gets quite packed. read more

Fantastic wings and a wide selection of constantly rotating beers to suit any thirst makes this a favorite local spot. Bonus points for having a good crowd on weekend days. read more

I have been going to The Ruck for a decade. And while that makes me feel like an octogenarian to admit, I regret nothing. I would eat all those wings, burgers, and gravy fries, and drink all that beer again. The Ruck has gotten about 5 times fancier in those 10 years, with a lot of care and thought going into their menu expansions and updates. Service is friendly without being fake or cloying, even when it's busy. If you get Mike, you are a lucky table -he's a dream and had consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty for me and my friends. The biggest issue I've ever had at The Ruck was idiot men not understanding or respecting my death glare and insisting on talking to me. But male privilege is not The Ruck's fault. read more

Am I really giving this grungy, beat up little bar 4 stars? You betcha. I came here to meet up with Seneca S. and a few other people from a Meetup group. I was put off by the exterior. In retrospect, the "shack" look must be intentional. Drink prices are okay. I must be so spoiled to think $6 for a jack & coke is expensive. But they have a great selection of beers (I think I heard someone mention 30 on draft) and a full bar. That doesn't even matter. If it's Friday and it's between 5-7, you might be here for a drink, but you're DEFINITELY here for the wings. Which are REALLY good. And FREE. Holy crap. And what is with this blue cheese? Do they sprinkle crack on it? It's so GOOD! I had a great time hanging out here, and will definitely come back again! read more

Visited from out of state and stopped by for lunch. It's a bit of a dive atmosphere. Drinks were cheap and bar food was...bar food. I like this place. read more

Went here when visiting from out of town. Menu looked good. Order our food, told 30-40 minutes. Arrive, and wait till 40 minutes mark. Walk in and get told it'll be "a little late" and that they'll call. Call after more time passes, only to be told it will be another 25 minutes. Well I had opportunity to watch 3-4 people walk in and pick up their food without issue as well as one couple walk in and then out 50 minutes after I arrived (maybe they had a similar experience). Also got to witness a drug deal across the street from the place which honestly, I'm glad that drugs seem to be only thing that's quick to get at least. 1 hour and 20 minutes after we'd arrived we get a phone call from Jake letting us know the order is ready. Wish I hadn't wasted my time. read more

I am not one to write reviews but I had such an unpleasant experience here Saturday 4/28/18 that I hope no one ever goes to this place. I attended a private party held on the second/third floor and was ID'd at the door. As soon as I order my drink the waitress tries to ask for my ID again but once I ask why she says "Actually never mind I don't care" Hmmm okay... I order the mezcal Paloma. It takes them 20 minutes to get the drink because there's only ONE bar and it's downstairs. After not only waiting 20 mins for a drink, it tastes like garbage. When I brought it up to the waitress the first thing she says is "Well do you even know what mezcal is?" At this point I was furious. Her undermining me and trying to shift the blame of this shitty drink and service is more than enough for me to never come back. After I tell her yes I know what the fuck mezcal is she proceeds to taste it and admits that the drink was not tasting right and she will get me another. Great, so I then ordered a simple double vodka and cranberry figuring that they can't fuck that up...but they do! :) After surveying 6 different people the general consensus was that this drink had no alcohol in it. What a joke this place is! If you want to go to a smelly bar full of weird 50 year old dudes and the worst service ever go here! I wish I could give this place 0 stars. read more

My Trivia team was called "The Stiffening Agency". We played three rounds and came in like 4th even though there were 7 rounds. Bitches. The team was whoever was in earshot, and we got tons of right answers. A wisdom of crowds kind of thing. And there was a pretty good crowd for a sunny Mundy. The trivia is pretty high tech. Questions on big plasma screens with audio/video questions. You would be amazed who has their cartoon trivia dialed in. The questions came fast and you had to pay attention or you''d be lost in the sauce. I think it should be broken into two parts in case you get there late and want to join in but you don't have a team to be on. I would definitely meet some Yelpers there so long as it is absolutely NOT called Team Yelp. read more

Finally made it to this Troy classic last night! We were meeting up with some young friends and knew they loved it here and came often, so we took the plunge. We arrived around 6:30 on a cold snowy Friday evening - and the place was packed, with young people and families. We checked in an Were told the wait would be around 40 minutes for a table for 4. No problem - two seats opened up at the bar and we slid right in. The Ruck has an extensive list of draft beers - many of which they brew, or brew in conjunction with other local breweries, and bottled beers. My wife likes IPA's and the bartender recommended and brought over two samples for her to try - and she loved them both. I asked for a brown ale, and got a sample of one brewed with hazelnut nut - a little different but not bad! We got our table a little after 7, a hightop. There were a number of choices on the classic pub menu, but I went for the medium chicken wings with blue cheese. They were good and hit the spot Were they the best I ever had? - can't say but they were moist, flavorful, spicy and served hot, and the blue cheese was a perfect compliment, and that was exactly what I wanted. For a change of pace, I got tater tots instead of fries or chips - and they were really good: crispy on the outside with the perfect amount of spice, and soft and hot in the center - I'd order them again for sure. My wife had a burger, which she loved, with some delicious chips. My friend Gabe had the wings, which he loved (but no bleu cheese!) and his friend Cass had the chicken wing salad, and Gabe's unused bleu cheese! This place is a great neighborhood pub, with good pub food, a terrific selection of beers, knowledgeable bartenders, friendly and efficient servers, and a table shuffleboard game! We loved it and will go back again! Here's a tip - there is a municipal building across the street with a parking lot - you can park there after 5 during the week and on weekends. read more

Super boom to the Ruck! It has all the great qualities of a dive bar without all the negatives of being a dive bar! Booze- their beer list is legit. With a craft menu on point and usually some drink specials you'd swear you were in a hipster Brooklyn joint - without the goddam hipsters. The bartender Matty was knowledgeable and friendly without being a d-bag - a rare trifecta. Super boom! Food - delicious! The burgers and wings are exactly what they're supposed to be and then some. For dessert I was expecting something frozen and gross. And we got deep fried Oreos... Deep. Fried. Oreos. Yea, that's right. The manager showed us the upstairs area closed off for special nights or events - it's beautiful! Very removed from the dive bar scene downstairs, the upstairs is a completely finished bar with a great layout and nice bathrooms. Perfect for anyone who wanted a laid back rehearsal dinner or some sort of corp dinner. Overall super boom for the Ruck, a must go to for anyone in the area. read more