The Rusty Dog Irish Pub

When going to the Rusty Dog I was not sure what to think. I loved the way the place looked. However, I had a man waiting on me, and to put it nicely, I thought by his attitude that I was not good enough for him to be helping me. When I received my Hamburger it was so greasy. I had to ask for extra napkins twice because it was that bad.

I absolutely love the Old English Gentlemen’s Club atmosphere at The Rusty Dog. The green walls, the pictures of hunting dogs, and fun memorabilia all create a cozy and special atmosphere. Throw in whiskey, craft beer, and delicious food and it’s a gem in Huntington. I live out of state, but always stop when I’m in town. Make sure to get the pimento cheese fries!

I was visiting my son and daughterinlaw for the holidays. Her son suggested a little pub for dinner. Seems Huntingon is in the process of renovating its downtown area and shows. We entered from the rear parking area and the smells and familiar furnishings of an Irish pub were immediately recognizable. A fair crowd for a Wed. night but we were seated in short order. The beer menu was small but eclectic and after downing a few stouts earlier I opted for a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA on tap. Everyone ordered something different and all seemed very pleased with the quality of their choices. I ordered fish and chips (when in Rome) and the service was cheerful and fast. The fish was plump and tasty and the chips were seasoned nicely. I would have liked a mayo side of the chips ala English style but made do. And I note that Scotch eggs were not on the menu (a favorite appetizer). But a side of bacon infused Cole slaw stole the show. It was incredible. 5 stars for the Cole slaw. I was completely sated at dinner’s end and after a second IPA, a little sloshed. My hat’s off to what Huntington is doing and this place is certain to become a must when dining there.

This place is my regular hangout and my favorite place to eat drink in the world. I’m not particularly well traveled, but I love this place. Sandwiches and burgers are very reasonably priced and there are a ton of topping to put on them. Entrees are a bit pricier, but they have lots fun, inventive and classic dishes. I love the service (if Lee Ann is your server/​bartender she will probably give you hell, but she likes when you return the favor). Beer selection is solid, they have approximately 6 rotations taps that feature a good mix of trending craft beers and local stuff. Awesome, cozy atmosphere and very homey.

As is often the case, the key to a great restaurant meal is knowing the chef’s best dishes. We’re coming closer with every meal we have here. Tonight was smoked pork chop with apple confit (absolutely delicious), french fries (still wonderful) and grilled zucchini. My husband enjoyed the grilled rainbow trout, baked potato and broccoli.
Lots of great beers on tap, full bar. Only one brand of wine by the glass, Wicked, pretty good but stick with the beers.
We’ll keep updating as we have opportunities to eat here.

Been looking for a great place in Huntington, after being disappointed by the other 2 places downtown. THIS IS IT! I can’t say anything bad about my first visit here. We were greeted with a warm greeting, seated right away, had a server come up soon and told us the dinner specials, and showed us the drink menu. I was torn between 2 entrees and asked the server for assistance. She immediately answered with «Pigs in Clover», which I’m glad I followed the advice, as it was very good! Prices were on par with what you got to eat. Good draft beer selection. We sat on the bar side, but there is a family-​dining area. We will be back, so keep up the good work Rusty Dog.

The Rusty Dog is a charming Irish themed pub inside a local historical landmark. By far my favorite place in town! «The ‘Dog» (as affectionately called by locals) is a warm, inviting pub fashioned in tribute to the owner’s travels across Ireland, and the slew of antiques and old framed photography (or paintings) of dogs fill up the walls, creating a delightfully engaging atmosphere. If you eat here, you –have– to get up and check out the treasures on the walls. (there are intriguing stories behind some of them!)
There is consistently an EXCELLENT array of beers on tap (15) and some in bottles (Gumballhead and Brother Thelonius, among others), including many that cannot be found elsewhere in town, plus a half dozen rotating micro-​brews, which often boast hard to locate high gravities, good local ales and seasonal favorites. The bartenders have a great deal of experience and enjoy what they do– and the dessert drinks are to die for. (try the Rusty Dog cocktail!)
The food is out of this world. The sandwich baskets feature an array of dog themed toppings that be applied to the juiciest half pound chuck you’ll have anywhere, grilled chicken, turkey, portobella cap, black bean or grilled/​breaded pork. The joy of coming in to eat here means that I can have a black bean burger loaded with sauteed veggies one day, and the next buy my favorite burger– the Bluetick (melted bleu crumbles with crispy bacon.) The entrees are also great– the fish basket (with handmade beer batter) is to die for, and the shepherds pie, «pigs and clover» feature and sesame encrusted tuna (seared to medium-​rare) are other gems worth trying out. Other perks? — house made red wine vinaigrette dressing, carefully created soups and the best coleslaw I have EVER had (it has bacon!)
The list could go on, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide to visit based on what I’ve said. Carve out an evening and try out this place! Huntington is lucky to have it, and it certainly draws the community together in excellent ways. :)

I want to start off by explaining that my wife and I have been doing a search for the best burger that we can find in the norther part of Indiana. This was week 13 of our «BURGER QUEST».
Upon entering, we were welcomed by the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the décor of warm dark wood, antique furniture and the quaint sitting area complete with fireplace. The burgundy and forest green wall accent colors along with the dog pictures and other memorabilia gives the impression of an Irish hunting/​fishing lodge. We were greeted immediately by a most friendly and professional gentleman whom we later found out to be the proprietor. It was in this warm and charming pub where we found Burger Nirvana. This establishment offers 8 sandwich basket styles at lunch. Prices range from $ 8.95 to $ 10.95. The sandwich styles are named for breeds of dogs and the customer has his/​her choice of ½ lb. ground chuck, 6 oz. turkey burger, 6 oz. chicken breast, 6 oz. pork tenderloin, grilled Portobello cap or chipotle black bean burger to couple with one of the 8 styles. Each sandwich basket includes choice of pub fries or bacon coleslaw. Of course, this being a Burger Quest, We went for the ½ lb. chuck. My basket choice was the Blackmouth Cur which was topped with Swiss cheese, bacon, and fire roasted red peppers. To that he added lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion with a side of pub fries. My wife was in the mood for a little spice, so she ordered the Chihuahua which was dressed with pepper jack cheese, guacamole, jalapenos and pico de gallo and a side of the bacon coleslaw. Before chomping into the assembled burgers we took our customary «bare burger bites.» We knew at once that this beef was the freshest we’ve tasted during our quest to find the best burger. But the pathway to perfection didn’t stop there. These burgers had just the right amount of fat to make them juicy (but not drippingly so) and flavorful. The Rusty Dog charbroils the patties to a beautiful pink-​in-​the center doneness and serves them up on a grilled sourdough bun. Both of us failed our first attempt to pick up our sandwiches. They were extremely heavy! My wife had to cut her’s in half to manage it. The first bite was heavenly. Every bite after that was just as wonderful. And even with all the toppings, the flavor of the beef shone through. The pub fries are cut in house and have a marvelous golden color and crisp/​chewy texture. The bacon coleslaw is quite unique and delicious, not at all sweet. We are pleased to give The Rusty Dog Irish Pub 2 thumbs up. It has surpassed all its competitors in our Quest to this point and is well worth the drive to Huntington. There are so many other yummy dishes on the menu that we’d like to try so we know we’ll go back soon. If you go, the pub is on Jefferson St. (St. Rd. 5) in downtown Huntington. When you cross the railroad tracks, turn right immediately and park in the rear. FYI: Full bar service is available. Smoking is prohibited. For more info and full menu please visit
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One star for the intense interest in the place. However, the «Banty Rooster» who met my wife, my 22 yr old daughter and my 20.5 yo son ruined the opportunity. He immediately asked for our id’s and crowed about state law not allowing my son in. Our impression was not good… but, I will come back some day. I hope he relaxes a bit!
Amazingly, we went to the brick house 6 blocks away (still under Indiana law I think), and sat at the bar and ate!!! Hmmmmm…

This place is awesome! Nice cozy pub atmosphere and very friendly service.
No tv’s to spoil it all.
Soup and the bangers and mash were very good.
Bar is well stocked and the Guinness is the way it should be.
A couple of Kilkenny’s Irish cream as desert and my evening was complete.
Recommended place for every one that loves good British/​Irish pub food that is close to the original.

The Rusty Dog is a special place in NE Indiana. It’s located in an 1880s building across the tracks from the court house in downtown Huntington. From the ivy covered brick exterior, you enter the bar and dining area. The bar is the large, polished wood centerpiece you’d expect from an Irish pub. The décor is warm and welcoming, with dog paintings, prints, and collectibles on the walls. The cocktails look good, although we haven’t tried them. My wife has chosen wine from a pretty limited list. The beer and ale are where i stop on the list. They have at least 16 on tap with more in bottles. One of my favorites is Smithwick’s, which you’ll learn is «Smitick’s». They were out on my last visit, so I tried Kilkenny Cream Ale, which swirls in the glass like a lava lamp and tastes like a whipped cream version of Porter. Many more to try.
While it’s a cloth napkin place, as others have mentioned, the service is attentive but direct and pub-​appropriate – no high brow pretensions. The bartenders pitch in with waiting and are a great source of what to try this time around.
The food ranges from really good to slightly missing the mark. I’ve tried one of two veal dishes, the Marsala. It’s a bargain at under $ 18 and comes with mashed potatoes, green beans or other vegetable, and a salad or soup. The salad was similar (as they said) to what Casa serves, a little bigger than a mini, and possibly a bit better. I liked the veal sauce, though I can’t verify that it was wholly made on site, but it was put together with some skill and intent.
My daughter had Shepherd’s Pie, which should be a pub slam-​dunk but wasn’t. There was a lot of melted cheese on top and the potatoes were runny. I’d give it a C. On the other had, the fries, both potato and sweet potato are good. The bacon coleslaw is a treat.
My wife had salmon, which she said was good. She had fish and chips on another visit. This was made with ale battered cod and much better than average. They have weekly dinner features, and there are many other items on the menu I’m waiting to try.
We’ll keep The Rusty Dog on our Friday night list. It’s a nice alternative to Fort Wayne. Definitely an enjoyable place for drinks and dinner.

One of my favorite places in Huntington! I ate a few times in the family room before I turned twenty-​one and had my twenty-​first birthday outing there. The food is fantastic. I love love love the eggplant burger. They also have a mushroom cap burger and I believe a black bean burger that are also vegetarian. The décor is fun and interesting and the staff are very kind and helpful. I tried the beer soup once and was not a big fan (I’m not a big fan of beer as it is) and they took it off my bill. Drinks are great and well made, and I’ve never had a complaint for loudness, uncleanliness, or bad attitudes. If you live in or near Huntington, its worth it!

Good food. If you have kids under age you will have to sit on small restaurant side. Very quaint, love the décor! Food is really good and so are the drinks! Staff is very friendly and helpful. Clean fun atmosphere. Would definitely come back.

Hands down the best restaurant in town. Probably a little too nice for many, though it has a nice casual feel. You can dress up or down and neither would be inappropriate. Food is wonderful. Creative and very well done. I’ve tried several items and have yet to be disappointed. Also a good beer selection. Wish they had outdoor seating! Service is hit or miss depending on how busy it is.

Great food and a full bar. One of the most upscale restaurants in Huntington. I recommend. The only thing I’d upgrade is the outdoor seating arrangement.

Went with a group of friends and the atmosphere and food was great. We have a party of 8, so we made reservations. I would suggest that since it is a cozy pub. Our server was very friendly and everyone enjoyed their food. I would most definitely recommend the Real Bacon Coleslaw… DELISH! We will definitely be returning.

The Rusty Dog, to me, represents something that this city was absolutely yearning for: culture
With this review, I wanted to comment more on the Rusty Dog in its entirety, as opposed to its «great beer!» or «excellent reuben!». Although, both of these things are very much true.
I had the opportunity to attend college in this quaint little city in Northeast Indiana. I met loads of lovely people, grew, matured, and became a member of the community. It will always have a very special place in my heart.
Most HU students will note that there is often a disparity between the residents and students of Huntington. It’s also very apparent that Huntingtonians typically place precedence on quantity of food over quality when choosing a place for dinner. The success of Rusty Dog indicates the potential for a shift in that school of thought.
If you ever find yourself in Huntington, please be sure to enjoy all The Rusty Dog has to offer. I assure you that you won’t be disappointed.

Don’t be intimidated by the cloth napkins. This is a casual good food restaurant. The prime rib manhattan was very good. The shepherds pie was huge. The bacon coleslaw was making me beg for more… T-​shirt and shorts are just fine.

First class joint. The food is great and the service second to none. Their Prime Rib is the most tender I have ever had!

My kind of place! Good beers on tap, great food, exceptional service, authentic atmosphere. This place is a hidden gem. The Guinness potato and cheddar soup was outstanding! I will be back.