Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern

4.5
1737 reviews

About

American RestaurantRestaurantBar & GrillTavernBarSports BarPub
Rusty Bucket, located in Indianapolis, IN, is a casual neighborhood tavern serving high quality food and beverage in a "come as you are" setting. Scratch kitchens, fresh cocktails, and the perfect pour are our craft. Our associates are welcoming, and our hospitality naturally makes us the local hub where friends and family frequently gather to share in a good time. Join us for lunch, grab a drink during Happy Hour, bring the kids for dinner - there's a spot for everyone at Rusty Bucket!

Details

  • Dine-inAvailable
  • DeliveryAvailable
  • TakeoutAvailable
  • Accepts reservationsAvailable

Location

Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern
1130 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN
46260, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.5
1,737 reviews
5 stars
1,133
4 stars
430
3 stars
104
2 stars
37
1 star
33

What are people saying?

AI-generated from recent customer reviews

Food Quality

Customers frequently praised the food, highlighting specific dishes like the beef stroganoff, buffalo chicken sandwich, and nachos as exceptional.

Service

Many reviews noted the attentive and friendly service provided by staff, with specific mentions of servers like Tyree and Levi.

Atmosphere

The restaurant's atmosphere was described as pleasant and homey, although some found it a bit noisy and cramped.

Value

Overall, customers felt the prices were reasonable for the quality and portion sizes of the food.

Consistency

Several customers mentioned consistent quality in food and service, making it a reliable choice for repeat visits.
  • NM
    nicole mcginley
    2 days ago
    5.0
    The food nd service is amazing. They never disappoint. I have the spinach con queso and added meat and it was amazing
  • HP
    Harry Passehl
    3 days ago
    5.0
    Let's start with the service we received on our first trip to the bucket. Tyree may actually be the best service provider of all time. His positivity and great timely service was worth well more than 5 stars. I hope someone reading this will let him know what a superstar he is. As for the food - my wife and I started out with the Cheese Blanket Nacho Chips - wow...certainly enough that if you and a friend wanted to only have that - it will fill you up - and it had lots of fun ingredients - we chose the beef version - very tasty and served warm with lots of melted cheese on top and some peppers to spice things up. As main dishes - my wife had the Fish sandwich and onion rings and I had the Pork Tenderloin. The pork tenderloin - big enough to share and so very yummy with a nice crunch. My wife's fish was great - or at least I think that is what caused the momentary silence after the food arrived. I had hoped to try the desserts - they have a bread pudding that sounded really good - but I was really stuffed. In any case - I hope to not have to wait long before we try our second round of meals there. A wonderful location at Ditch and 86th street - definitely worth a visit.
  • GD
    Guinn Doyle
    Nov 11, 2025
    4.0
    Great wait staff. Has an overall good feel. Will come back again
  • MH
    Michael H
    Nov 11, 2025
    5.0
    We started going there for the Mens Basketball games and enjoyed the food so much we went back frequently,
  • BS
    Bob Schacht
    Nov 6, 2025
    5.0
    Fantastic place to eat and drink. All the servers and bartenders are extremely friendly and welcoming. Food is top notch.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern

Does the Rusty Bucket have a Happy Hour?

Yes! Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern offers special pricing on select items Monday through Friday from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Happy Hour offerings are not limited to the bar area, so guests can enjoy these specials anywhere in the restaurant or on the patio. The Rusty Bucket’s Happy Hour menu includes 1/2 off Apps, $12 Pizzas, and $7 Juicy Lucy Burgers.

Does the Rusty Bucket offer specialty cocktails?

Yes! The Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern offers the perfect cocktail for everyone. The cocktail menu consists of the Cold Brew Martini, Rusty Bucket’s own version of an espresso martini, the Pine Fin, served on the rocks, as a martini, or as a cosmo, two cocktails on draft, the Draft Bucket Punch and the Draft Margarita, and many more delicious drinks. Features may change – to see the full, most current cocktail list.