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Rustler's Rooste

About.com Rating threehalf out of Five

By Judy Hedding, About.com

Rustler's Rooste

Mixed Grill Platter at Rustler's Rooste

©2006 Judy Hedding

The Bottom Line

My friend and I went to Rustler's Rooste (sometimes misspelled as Rustlers Roost or Rustler Roost) at South Mountain in Phoenix. Excluding beverages, tax and tip, the bill came to about $30 per person. We shared an appetizer (rattlesnake) each had an entree, and each had a dessert.
Pros
  • Casual environment, nice views
  • Entertainment
  • Good, basic food
Cons
  • Food not spectacular
  • Spotty service
  • Disappointed in rattlesnake

Description

  • Rustler's Rooste offers live country music every night.
  • Rustler's Rooste opens at 5 p.m. and by 6 p.m. it was pretty crowded.
  • All ages, families, and business people can be found at Rustler's Rooste.
  • Come dressed as you are, as long as you have some clothes on.
  • Appetizers at Rustler's Rooste are somewhat expensive and fairly dull.
  • Only order the rattlesnake if you have to say you've tried it. It's tasteless, dry, and expensive.
  • Salad comes with the meals, but it's not great enough to fill up on. Wait for the main course.
  • Beef and side dishes are the main attraction, and Rustler's Rooste does those well.
  • Rustler's Rooste is popular for group cookouts. Take the slide down to the main dining room!
  • Happy hour food and drink specials are available only in the bar.

Guide Review - Rustler's Rooste

Rustler's Rooste has been around forever. Well, at least for more than 30 years, which seems like forever in the Phoenix area. The concept is a good one--hunks of meat with potatoes and salad, corn, beans, bread and butter and apple pie. Throw in country music (it isn't too loud during the week, but if noise bothers you consider that when being seated), happy hours, holiday buffets and western eatin' and dancin' for large groups and you've got a place that's always busy.

Rustler's Rooste was OK, but it was one of those things where there was 'always sumpthin', as Roseanne Roseannadana used to say.

The meal started off in disappointing fashion with rattlesnake, which was dry and had no flavor--not even like chicken! We asked the server about it and she confirmed that it was, indeed, typically dry and lacking in flavor. It certainly wasn't worth $14 and I'd never buy a tee shirt letting people know that I got suckered into ordering it!

We arrived when the place was still empty, and we were seated at the farthest table in the corner, across from the open kitchen door. We moved.

The extra two services at the table were never removed the entire evening. Clearing of the table was not their forte, as an empty bean pot, and dirty plates and utensils were still around at dessert time.

There were other small annoyances that just kept piling up for us. Concentrate on what they do best--beef and ribs and country music--and you should be fine.

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