The Rusty Knot

Avast, ye landlubbers craving seafaring festivities, look no farther than this nautical hangout across the street from the Hudson River. The Rusty Knot--which features a fish tank, scuffed wooden booths, a pool table and oodles of oceanic kitsch--comes courtesy of tastemakers from Freemans and the Spotted Pig, so expect a posh crowd, despite its shabby-chic theme. Rum-fueled tiki drinks share menu space with three-buck Busch drafts, wine poured from a box and upscale edibles devised by Momofuku vet Joaquin Baca. – – Hits: In a setting Captain Ahab would adore, The Knot offers…

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Editor's Tips

Food Served:: Nosh on elevated bar grub like pretzel-bread-wrapped hot dogs ($4), peel-and-eat shrimp ($12) and Coca-Cola ribs ($19).
Know Before You Go:: The Knot's cool-kid lineage, combined with the petite space and lack of reservations, mean weekend wait-times can sometimes stretch into the hours. Come early or don't come at all.
Save Money:: Penny-pinching drinkers should focus their miserly ways on the 99-cent "old man": A teensy glass of Busch beer.

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User Reviews (23)

ambiance	100.0% positive	“This bar was super fun the couple times I was there.” “rip-off of the anchor except minus the fun and good music” “the drinks mainly Rum based are excellent and the crowd hip, but not too hip that the atmosphere is dull.” “The Christmas decorations were cute and the fish tank was fun to look at.” “great bar food and fun drinks!”
drinks	81.25% positive	“like a bar with a pool table (it is cool to have an activity aside from just drinking,talking (better), and gazing at people)and cheap beers but it is nice to go to one that has other elements like an awesome jukebox (it is at least for my taste) and gr” “the drinks mainly Rum based are excellent and the crowd hip, but not too hip that the atmosphere is dull.” “This bar was super fun the couple times I was there.” “Combined with the rude horrible SLOW staff and bad music, i would rather drink hudson river water than go back here- go to the Anchor or Ear Inn right nearby for a better time.” “little overboard on the nauticalia for me, but they've cheap beer and good bar food.” “My interests in a bar are pool, drinks, and music so it is a good match for me.” “The vibe is great, settle in and play 50 cent pool, drink from a bowl with friends, listen to some old 70's music and just accept it, it is what it is!” “the food is way better than you'd expect - it's perfect bar food - top quality and prepared perfectly so you can eat with one hand while standing up talking to friends.” “Don't come to this bar unless you're ordering a rude bartender.” “Not only are the pretzel dogs amazing, but my buds and I got to politely remove the sissy drinks from the pool table and run it all night!” “great bar food and fun drinks!” “The Rusty Knot is a simple place with great drink specials and simple bar food that you might not find anywhere else, like pigs in a blanket.” “great food and drinks” “Personally I drink Dark and Stormies, No ginger beer here, just fresh ginger!” “Aside from having unique, festive and delicious drinks, an awesome and attractive staff, and great food, The Rusty Knot attracts every single person from the greater metropolitan area!” “noone bothers you when you nurse a drink.”
food quality	92.30999946594238% positive	“We had the fish po boy sandwich too which was awesome.” “great food and drinks” “found this place a few weeks ago and I LOVED it until a Bad Pretzel dog, Bad pickled eggs.” “The Christmas decorations were cute and the fish tank was fun to look at.” “the food is way better than you'd expect - it's perfect bar food - top quality and prepared perfectly so you can eat with one hand while standing up talking to friends.” “Personally I drink Dark and Stormies, No ginger beer here, just fresh ginger!” “like a bar with a pool table (it is cool to have an activity aside from just drinking,talking (better), and gazing at people)and cheap beers but it is nice to go to one that has other elements like an awesome jukebox (it is at least for my taste) and gr” “The juke box is great and free and the food includes gourmet versions of finger food and snacks like bagel dogs.” “little overboard on the nauticalia for me, but they've cheap beer and good bar food.” “love the turkey pilgrim, BEST post thanksgiving sandwich ever, a little cran, little gravy, white bread, yum!” “great bar food and fun drinks!” “Aside from having unique, festive and delicious drinks, an awesome and attractive staff, and great food, The Rusty Knot attracts every single person from the greater metropolitan area!” “The Rusty Knot is a simple place with great drink specials and simple bar food that you might not find anywhere else, like pigs in a blanket.”
return potential	0.0% positive	“Combined with the rude horrible SLOW staff and bad music, i would rather drink hudson river water than go back here- go to the Anchor or Ear Inn right nearby for a better time.”
service	50.0% positive	“Well his education certainly didn't tell him that rude service equates to no repeat customers for dissatisfactory service.” “Aside from having unique, festive and delicious drinks, an awesome and attractive staff, and great food, The Rusty Knot attracts every single person from the greater metropolitan area!” “The bartenders are great, but avoid the cocktail waitresses in the back by the booths, for they are the rudest I've sene in New York City.” “The bartenders are awful and rude.” “The staff is very rude, especially the bouncers (they made some girl cry outside, who wants to go into a place like this?)” “like a bar with a pool table (it is cool to have an activity aside from just drinking,talking (better), and gazing at people)and cheap beers but it is nice to go to one that has other elements like an awesome jukebox (it is at least for my taste) and gr” “Don't come to this bar unless you're ordering a rude bartender.” “Combined with the rude horrible SLOW staff and bad music, i would rather drink hudson river water than go back here- go to the Anchor or Ear Inn right nearby for a better time.”
value	100.0% positive	“like a bar with a pool table (it is cool to have an activity aside from just drinking,talking (better), and gazing at people)and cheap beers but it is nice to go to one that has other elements like an awesome jukebox (it is at least for my taste) and gr” “little overboard on the nauticalia for me, but they've cheap beer and good bar food.” “Food looked fantastic although we didnt order, and the prices were average NYC.”

03/12/09

Great Pick Up Spot!

by acemace

Yowser....

Aside from having unique, festive and delicious drinks, an awesome and attractive staff, and great food, The Rusty Knot attracts every single person from the greater metropolitan area! Every time I go there I meet someone new... and everybody that goes there is down to have a great time.

The atmosphere is relaxed, none of that NYC pretentiousness that so many bars have.

With no loud, pounding music its easy to talk to people; especially after a pickle back shot or a flaming scorpion bowl!

A great alternative to nightclubs; and much easier on the wallet!

Pros: Fun, relaxed atmosphere, attractive and friendly clientele
Cons: as far west as you can get, but worth the trek!

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02/26/09

Great drinks!

by petals23

Great place close to the water!! They have a happy hour as well. The neighborhood is building up in Chelsea. They are very relaxed atmosphere and there is a nautical feel to the decor. A lot of hipsters thought! It may put you off if your not down with the scene. noone bothers you when you nurse a drink.

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02/07/09

Second Time they Over charged my card AFTER I left!

by LocalLady13

I have been here twice now. It's an okay place but last night was the SECOND time I closed my bill, Signed my receipt, and Left, Only to discover the next day that they over-charged me over $40 DOLLARS! I'm starring at my copy of the receipt. It's right So how why is my bank account charged $64?

Sketchy Sketchy...beware!

Pros: Cheap Happy Hour
Cons: They are devious and dis honest and the food is gross

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02/05/09

great bar food and fun drinks!

by nuttyprofessor

The west village doesn't have much to offer in low key, cheap and fun bars so this is a welcome addition.

The juke box is great and free and the food includes gourmet versions of finger food and snacks like bagel dogs.

The pool table is a welcome addition but the drinks and casual atmosphere are the main attraction.

Great place for sunset since there are no buildings between this spot and the hudson.

Pros: drinks, free jukebox, pool, good food, fish in the aquarium seem happy
Cons: not very close to the subway, planes landing in nearby hudson river

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02/04/09

good times

by discerningcritictem

This bar was super fun the couple times I was there. Cheap by New York standards and actually the food is worth mentioning here though that wasn't something we went there for (we ate here late,yes I know Oprah is anti late night meals, but my stance is quite the opposite). I like a bar with a pool table (it is cool to have an activity aside from just drinking,talking (better), and gazing at people)and cheap beers but it is nice to go to one that has other elements like an awesome jukebox (it is at least for my taste) and great bar food (surprisingly so). We went there during the week not the weekend and it was not overly crowded. I am somewhat in the industry of restaurants/bars so I pay attention to the details from the seat design selection to the service (of course) and the rusty knot was pretty solid. I think the key to a bar is to make it comfortable yet with some edge and this place has both of these qualities without trying so hard like you see so much in town these days. I live in the EV and it is a hike but a lot of my friends work on the west side of town. I feel it has the potential of becoming a post work meeting spot. My interests in a bar are pool, drinks, and music so it is a good match for me.

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Joshua M Bernstein

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Editor's Tips

03/12/09

Great Pick Up Spot!

by acemace

02/26/09

Great drinks!

by petals23

02/07/09

Second Time they Over charged my card AFTER I left!

by LocalLady13

02/05/09

great bar food and fun drinks!

by nuttyprofessor

02/04/09

good times

by discerningcritictem

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