Inside: the Rusty Bucket in Bloomfield

(Credit: Ese Esan/Metromix)

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Rusty Bucket

Status: It’s been just over a month since the Rusty Bucket made its Bloomfield debut joining a dozen other locations around the Midwest (including one in Northville), and judging by the wait times Friday night, residents are more than happy to welcome the 6,400-square-foot neighborhood tavern.

Gear: Comfort is key if you’re planning to spend the evening at the Rusty Bucket. But if you’re looking for a more upbeat, club-like environment, the tavern will likely be a stopover before the night’s main events. Before donning your latest club gear, keep in mind that while the Rusty Bucket doesn’t have a dress code, it does have a family-friendly ambiance.

Mood: There was a wait time Friday of more than 30 minutes for a table at the 250-person Bloomfield Hills tavern, but guests crowded the square bar area which had bar seating and high-top tables.

Jared Shultz, 23, Bloomfield Hills visited the Rusty Bucket for the first time Friday with 24-year-old Lisa Smith of Fowlerville and said “It seems to be a cool place so far.”

The all-brink exterior foreshadows the all-brink interior you’ll find inside the Rusty Bucket. Sports and beer paraphernalia decorate every bit of wall space that isn’t already occupied by a flat-screen television.

“The atmosphere is fun and inviting,” says Rusty Bucket marketing spokesperson Jacqueline Karp. “From the fireplace to the dark wood throughout, the Rusty Bucket makes you feel comfortable and at home. We have a number of guests come in everyday and tell us how happy they are that the Rusty Bucket has opened and we are just as excited to be here.”

Pick me up: “We’re very Michigan forward with our beer selection,” says General Manger Brady Pankow. “We have nine Michigan beers on tap at all time. We just want to make sure everybody feels our want for Michigan product.”

26-year-old Kyle McAuliffe of Bloomfield Hills visited the Rusty Bucket for the first time Friday and said he enjoyed the extensive beer selection. He had a Huma-Lupa-Licious as he dined with 23-year old Ami Okabe.

The downside of the evening was that the venue was jam-packed, McAuliffe said. “I would come back when it’s not as busy.”

In addition to a slew of imports, crafts, drafts and wines, the Rusty Bucket serves British pub favorites like fish sandwiches ($9.95), fish ‘n chip ($12.95) and sticky bun bread pudding ($4.95) along with classic diner fare like sandwiches ($8.50-$9.95), meatloaf ($10.95), burgers ($9.50) and pizza ($9.25 and up).

Entertainment: A lack of tables during the busy weekend hours may be one concern at the Rusty Bucket, but a shortage of televisions should never be an issue. Each wall of the venue features multiple flat-screens, and a king-sized TV takes center stage behind the bar.

There are two private dining rooms – the Red Wing Room and the Tiger Den – which hold parties of 16 and eight respectively.