The Place
This week I am transitioning to my Walnut Wonders category. I will be reviewing great places that are located in Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills. The first restaurant up for review is Rusk Kitchen & Bar in East Walnut Hills.
Location & Parking
Rusk is located on Woodburn Ave close to the historic St. Frances De Sales. Meter parking is available up and down Woodburn, free on Sunday until 2:00PM. Additional parking is also available on local side streets. I made a reservation on Open Table a few days before.
Atmosphere
Rusk has a classy urban vibe that aligns with the surroundings of the neighborhood. The outside of the building has a slate blue brick exterior. The finishes on the inside are gorgeous and sleek. The walls are covered in beautiful exposed brick and the bar, which is covered in vertical blue subway-style tile, is the centerpiece of the restaurant. My stepmother and I arrived around 10:00AM the host was very professional and we were given the option to select our own table. We chose a seat right by the window. The waitstaff were very outgoing and upbeat and it's time for AM cocktails! The drink menu had a lot of great summer options. I had the Queen of Sundance which consisted of jalapeno-pineapple infused tequila, triple sec, pineapple juice lime, and even more jalapeno. This drink was very smooth, refreshing, and aesthetically pleasing. My stepmom had the Passionfruit Martini which consisted of citrus vodka, passionfruit syrup, triple sec, and lime juice. The flavors of the drink blended well together. The drink itself was sweet but not too sugary or overpowering.
Order-Up
Vanilla Bean Pancakes
First up for mains is the Vanilla Bean Pancakes. This dish consisted of two pancakes with whipped cream and I opted for bacon. The food was cooked perfectly, especially the bacon. The pancakes were good however I was disappointed in the lack of vanilla bean flavor and whipped cream. Also the menu described the pancakes being topped with mixed berries and instead what came out was a side of fruit with a few berries and mostly melon, which I wasn't in the mood for.
Woodburn Bowl
My stepmom ordered the Woodburn Bowl which was comprised of home fries, eggs, cheese, and sausage gravy. All of the elements of this bowl were prepared wonderfully. It had great texture, flavor, and contained all the classic breakfast favs.
Overall Experience
The overall experience at Rusk was lovely, this is a great spot to visit on the weekend. The atmosphere is relaxing and classy in a casual way. The staff was professional, service was efficient, and the drinks were top notch.
Rating 3.5 ⭐
Rusk Kitchen & Bar gets one star for Atmosphere, Service, and Cocktail. They get half a star for Plate due to the blandness of the Vanilla Bean Pancakes. I would love to come back to Rusk for brunch again to sample a different dish or to have an evening cocktail out on their rooftop deck.
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