Family Friendly Dining at The Rusty Bucket Plus GIVEAWAY 9/30

***Disclosure: I received promotional items to facilitate this post. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

In case you weren't aware, the Cleveland, Ohio area has a lot more to offer than LeBron James. We've got tons of great family-friendly attractions, including an amazing zoo, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, The Greater Cleveland Aquarium, and the Great Lakes Science Center, just to name a few. 

In addition to being a wonderful place to raise a family, the Cleveland area is also known for its food! Yep. Cleveland is definitely a foodie-town, with tons of fabulous eateries. We've got all the fancy, date-night establishments, including restaurants owned by Iron Chef Michael Symon, small, ethnic eateries that have been around for generations, and of course, there's the West Side Market. 

But what if you're looking for a cozy, casual place with a pub-type atmosphere that happily welcomes the kiddos? Now this can be a bit harder to find. I know here in my little town, none of the places with a sports bar feel allow kids. I mean, technically, I suppose you could take them, but I seriously doubt the staff and patrons would appreciate it! 

That's why we were absolutely thrilled when we discovered The Rusty Bucket! The Rusty Bucket has several locations here in Ohio, but there are also locations in Michigan, Indiana, and Florida. This laid-back, pub-style eatery offers something for the entire family, and yes, they love serving families! 

Recently, on our way out of town, we stopped by The Rusty Bucket in Solon, Ohio for a quick meal. When we arrived, the first thing we noticed, other than the smiles on the staff's faces, was the cozy, pub-like atmosphere. There were plenty of big screen TV's to catch the game, a full bar, and plenty of comfy booths and intimate tables. 

We were seated quickly in a corner booth, and the kids were thrilled to find that The Rusty Bucket had crayons and a fun kids' menu for them to color. My husband was more impressed with their extensive beer list. See, something for everyone! 

Another wonderful offering for the little ones if the Bucketeer Bookworms program. Kids can grab their bookmarks, and for every 5 books read, they will receive a complimentary Rusty Bucket Kid's Meal! How cool is that?! This is a great way to help kids form a life-long love of reading! And let's face it: Free kid's meals sound awfully nice, too! 

Our server was friendly and relaxed, despite the fact that this place was PACKED! She was very helpful, answering all of our questions about the menu and drink offerings. I even had her surprise me with a fruity cocktail. I don't drink very often, so I am not up to speed on the best drinks. I *think* I got a Martini of some sort, but don't quote me on that. It was definitely quite tasty, and had a nice, berry/citrus flavor. 

The kids each got a kids' meal. Sophie ordered a grilled cheese and fries, while Xander wanted some delicious chicken fingers and fries. We put their orders in with our appetizer orders, since when dining with little ones, it's always imperative to keep the natives happy! They loved their meals, and actually ATE their food rather than playing with it. Major brownie points for The Rusty Bucket here!

Dan and I shared 2 appetizers, since we couldn't decide on one. Everything sounded so darn good! We opted for the sinful Deep Fried Pickles and the somewhat healthier Hummus. Our appetizers were made quickly, and were nice and hot when they arrived at our table. The Hummus was nice and flavorful, and I loved the fresh pita bread and veggies that were served alongside it. The star of the show HAD to be the pickles, though. The chefs at The Rusty Bucket batter and deep-fry entire dill pickle spears, and serve them with a tangy, Ranch dip. These pickles were fantastic...They were hot and crispy, and the juices inside the pickles exploded in our mouths. Talk about a party in flavor-town!

Our entrees didn't disappoint, either. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan, and Dan simply had to try the Asian Tuna Wrap. I think he just did that to gross me out, since I don't eat any seafood at all, and always cringe when he does. 

My Chicken Parmesan was fabulous. The chicken breast was generous in size, and was perfectly cooked. The breading was nice and crispy, and the chicken was tender and quite moist. On top, there was a nice helping of marinara sauce and some melted, ooey-gooey cheese. On the side, I received spaghetti in a creamy Alfredo sauce and some garlic cheese bread. While I would have LOVED to see fettuccine noodles rather than spaghetti, my pasta was very good, and I somehow finished everything on my plate!

Dan raved about the Asian Tuna Wrap, too. This dish contains soy-marinated Yellow-Fin Tuna, a fiery Wasabi Mayo, sweet rice, and tons of marinated veggies. It's served with a nice Ponzu Sauce for dipping. On the side is a nice helping of The Rusty Bucket's own Tomato Cucumber Salad. Dan was very impressed with the overall quality of this dish. The fish was very, very fresh, and the flavors married together perfectly. He loved the savory flavor of the soy marinade, and coupled with the sweetness of the rice and the spicy Wasabi Mayo, he said it was a winning combination. 

And of course, since both Dan and the kids are chocoholics and somehow saved room for dessert, we had to try the Triple Chocolate Cake. This is a slice of super-moist chocolate cake topped with Edy's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and a rich, gooey caramel sauce. It must have been good, because they ate the whole dessert, despite having fairly full stomachs! 

Overall, we were definitely very pleased with our trip to the Solon, Ohio Rusty Bucket. The service was quick and efficient, our food was mouthwateringly delicious, and the atmosphere was fun and friendly. It was nice being able to have traditional pub-faire without getting dirty looks for having the kids in tow. We will definitely return to this location. They have so much to offer, and I can't wait to try their daily Blue Plate Specials and their Fresh Features Menu. Oh, and I should mention that they offer tons of amazing, gluten-free dishes as well! There's truly something for everyone at The Rusty Bucket! 

Connect With The Rusty Bucket :

You can check out the awesomeness that is The Rusty Bucket on their website.

You can also connect on Facebook, on Instagram, and on twitter to stay on top of their latest offerings and promotions! 

Enter to WIN :

I am thrilled to announce that one lucky  winner will receive a $25 Rusty Bucket Gift Card! 

How cool is that?! 

Simply enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below!

This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59PM EST on September 30, 2014. No PO Boxes. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest in any way.  If you have any questions, please e-mail Brandy at newlycrunchymamaof3@gmail.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway