The Rusty Face

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at *The Rusty Face* recently, and let me just say — it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment we sat down, the atmosphere was relaxed yet lively, the perfect blend for a memorable meal. We started with a refreshing cocktail, served with a bright orange garnish, setting the tone for the vibrant dishes that followed. The food presentation was beautiful, colorful, and inviting. The fried calamari was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, paired wonderfully with a zesty dipping sauce that had just the right amount of kick. The tostones (fried plantains) were golden, crunchy, and irresistible, made even better with a fresh, creamy green dip that felt homemade and full of flavor. The true star, however, was the octopus salad. Tender pieces of octopus mixed with capers, red onions, fresh herbs, and a roasted red pepper on top, all bathed in an olive oil dressing that was simply divine. Each bite was a symphony of textures and bright, fresh flavors — it tasted like the sea, in the best possible way. The service was attentive and warm without being intrusive, and you could tell the staff truly cared about creating a great experience. *The Rusty Face* isn't just a meal — it’s an experience full of heart, flavor, and a little bit of magic. I can’t wait to return and try more of their delicious menu. Highly, highly recomend it.

My beloved friend and I came to this wonderful place for the fourth time — and once again, it was delicious, welcoming, atmospheric, and absolutely beautiful. From the dishes to the service — everything was just perfect. Looks like I’ve found a new favorite spot in Downtown Brooklyn. Thank you 🫶🏼

Good Greek/Mediterranean in a great part of town. The pitas for the dip platter were delightfully charred, and octopus was tender. The moussaka was the star for us, great flavor and textures.

Excellent happy hour. Sangria. $5 beer drafts. All until 7pm. Excellent temperature and clean Large bar seating area Would come by again!

Probably our favorite place to eat!! Always a cozy vibe when we go here. Anything you order will taste incredible and fresh. We always get the spreads and eggplant chips. The lamb shank was fall off the bone good! The shrimp tacos, octopus, ricotta gnocchi all amazing. Nothing will disappoint you!

Atmosphere delightful! Had a vodka cocktail with refreshing lemon and mint undertones. Music is jazzy perfectly blends with the decoration.Seafood ceviche beautifully presented little on the salty side.Linguini with seafood very tasty. Tomato sauce a little heavy. I will come again . The atmosphere and the service were perfect!

Firstly, thank you so much for accommodating my group on such a short notice. The food was excellent! All the meat entrees were so flavorful. The sauce on the mussels was finger-licking good, and the mango salad was surprisingly delicious. We enjoyed the fries and calamari too. The calamari was top-notch: crunchy, fresh, tasty with spicy mayo on the side to add to its perfection! The servers were great too. They were very friendly and helpful with picking items on the menu and very accommodating, helping us take pictures too. The only issue was that the service was kinda slow as they were super busy and a few items on the menu were not available when we ordered them. But I’d definitely come back for the food!

Wonderful place , excellent service , food and cocktails were perfect . Definitely coming back and more than once .

Excellent happy hour. Sangria. $5 beer drafts. All until 7pm. Excellent temperature and clean Large bar seating area Would come by again!

My wife and I had dinner on Valentine's Day. The food was amazing. It presented well, with decent portions and made to perfection. We were served by Jorge which was personable and very attentive. The ambiance warm with a pianist playing soft jazz music. Overall a very good experience.

I wanted to try this place for some time and finally did tonight. First of all, they had a happy hour and when I ordered white wine they charged me full price as this one wasn't on the happy hour menu. They should've point out which "white" wine exactly is on happy hour instead of tricking you of paying full price. Secondly, we ordered couple of dishes and only spreads were good. Octopus dish was only ok, but for the $22 it was like two bites of food . Very disappointing evening. Will not be back. By the way, other drinks were watered down so much, that with margaritas you couldn't taste any alcohol at all - just ice.

Cute restaurant with pretty vibes and great dishes. Get a seat by the window it opens up so you get that outdoor breeze . We loved the zucchini tower and tacos the most but everything was delicious.

The food here is really underwhelming, especially considering the price and portions. I love getting dips with pita, and their almond and feta dips were good but the others were just ok and the hummus didn't really taste like hummus. The lamb was $34 but overcooked & under salted. The mushroom and zucchini chips were not bad, but nothing I would order again. The only 2 dishes worth getting were the octopus & the spinach pie! They were pretty good. - @nyconthetable

Excellent seafood, everything was perfectly cooked. Very friendly owners and staff, interior is clean and beautifully decorated with lots of nice cocktail choices with some showmanship. Good crowd but a place this great should be packed, if you're in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, definitely stop by!

They have a small but varied menu with daily specials. Decent vegetarian options. The cocktail offerings at happy hour are limited but tasty. I wish they'd lose the huge tv at the bar though. Total vibe killer and not what people go there for. It's a catch up with friends or chill date spot.

Had a great experience here. Staff was super friendly, helpful, and patient. Food was amazing. Drinks were good and overall vibe was great. Drinks- ordered some dirty martinis and a filthy and they were done perfectly. Had red wine for dinner which was good. Food. Ordered a few tapas. Octopus was insane and a must order. The Chilean sleeves were so tender and light. Only nit on the starters was the trip spread. I though all were a bit off. Main was the lamb and also got a side of mushrooms. Both were the stars of the meal and hands down a repeat if And when I go back.

Came here for drinks and apps with a few friends. We got the zucchini chips-very good! Also the Chilean skewers which needed more salt. It tasted good with the arugula salad it came with but it smelled a bit fishy which threw me off. The drinks are good!

Tough call here as the food was great but two issues: 1) overpriced...even for Williamsburg and 2) mediocre service. This review is a bit overdue as we were here in July 2021...things could've improved by now. The service was lacking when we visited as a result of a labor shortage in the hospitality industry. We asked the waiter about one of the dishes on the menu, and he responded, "this is only my 3rd day here, and I only know about the daily special. I will get you someone else. " The "manager" came and asked what our questions were about the dishes. Instead of showcasing how the dish is made and why he would recommend one over another, he just told us the main ingredient for this dish, which was a lamb in both cases. We ended up going with lamb giouvetsi, and it was delicious. We asked for an extra pita, and that was another $1! The drinks were great, but they were pricey too. I had the black mamba, and it was $21!! I don't think there is any specialty that would justify any repeat customers.

This is a nice hole in the wall, the food was great along with the people who work there. I loved the Mussels and Shishito Peppers the most but their Calamari is Flavoredddd! I deff recommend anyone to come here !!

Visited by myself last week Friday at about 5pm to take advantage of their every day happy hour. Got oysters and their octopus. I'm no oyster connoisseur but I eat them a lot and consider them one of my fave dishes - and they were shucked to perfection & super plump. I didn't expect anything special because they were just happy hour special Blue Points but somehow, they hit different here. Don't even get me started on the octopus - it was AMAZING! Another dish I order at a lot of spots and I have to say, this was one fo the best. The size of the pieces they serve are not too big or small (which is important with octopus) and was SO tender but not slimy at all. I approached the manager afterwards to give compliments to the chef/ staff/ etc. because the service, food quality, and drinks were all well above my expectations. I will be coming back soon!!

Overall, I enjoyed the food at the Rusty Face. The servings were generous and the service prompt. They have a nice array of dishes that were all generous portions.All of the dips are very fresh and taste homemade. I was also impressed with with calibre of the wine list which features three naturals. The restaurant is a bit loud and the atmosphere is a little chaotic but other than that it was enjoyable.

We wandered in at 4pm after walking around Williamsburg. The bar is large and offers a wide range of spirits well lit on wall shelving. The space is filled with art and the bar back splash had an unique projection that mimicked grey stone work. There were two male bartenders working steadily throughout our visit. The Happy Hour is fantastic offering 3 different cocktails for $10 drafts for $7 and $2 blue points. I am a true oyster fan and the dozen I ate were remarkable, fresh, well shucked and bright. We also ordered two orders of fries that were thin cut and lightly seasoned with parmesean and truffle. The trio of Mediterranean dips were served with a heaping basket of pita. And the winner sauteed oyster and shitake mushrooms dressed with olive oil, wow. Our group of three ate and drank very well and enjoyed our bar visit.

- great service - great drinks - great happy hours (almost half off) - weekend happy hour - great octopus - this place is much bigger on the inside than the outside makes it same - the environment is more chill, cool, and lively than the outside would make it seem - would be the perfect date - i cant wait to come back and try the entrees

Came here with a group of friends for Happy Hour. They have a great deal where all cocktails on the menu were $10. Some of the cocktails came out in cute tiki type cups. We wanted to munch a little so ordered the zucchini chips and the Chilean sea bass skewers. Zucchini chips were light and yummy and the skewers were soft, flakey, and cooked really well. We walked inside for the bathrooms and the restaurant looks really cool inside with glow in the dark paint. Overall it was a good time - the only downside was that the food was pretty expensive.

Wow! Just wandered in off the street for tapas. Food is fabulous! Don't miss the octopus. The shishito pepper were perfectly prepared. The Mediterranean spreads had some unique options, try the hollandaise spread was our favorite. The zucchini chips were thinly sliced and fried perfectly not the mushy mess you get other places. The servers were excellent! We'll be back again.

Food was poor, service was inattentive, and the restaurant setting was dusty, dirty, and generally uncared for. Would not recommend especially because of the options around the area that are so so much better.

The ambiance is A 10/10. It's so nice in here . The drinks are 7/10 . the Smokey effect deff helps. The food looks better than it taste but it hasn't bad at all. I would rate the food 5/6. i went on a Friday night and I was seated immediately so I loved that. The waitress was very attentive as well. I would go back just because I loved the ambiance and the service was good . I wouldn't say I HAVE to go back there for a specific food or drink though ‍

We were happy with the outdoor seating here and Jazz on Thursday night- the food was good quality, but overpriced and the menu is a bit odd. We sat outside in their three sided structure which we were happy with from a COVID airflow perspective and the ambiance was nice. We all ordered nice quality fish, but expensive for what you get. I ordered the tuna sashimi for about $22 and it was only 4 thin pieces. The other two people with me got the sea bass and while the filet was a good size, it was about $30 and it wasn't served with anything on the side. It was odd because other fish next to it on the menu, like salmon, did come with a vegetable. Your meal just feels incomplete without anything on the side. Zucchini fries we're very tasty and a good portion. They came with a yummy yogurt dipping sauce. Overall, I'd go back for a drink and jazz but wouldn't get dinner again unless they rationalize their menu lol

Delicious food. Unique cocktails! Great service. Nice ambience! My absolute favorite place in Williamsburg! Any complaints about this place would have to come form a truly miserable people.

This place has such an amazing, fun ambience and the interior decor is soooo fun. Great music, great service, and the food never disappoints!! It's Mediterranean tapas so it's great to share with a group of friends but also perfect for a date night. I recommend calling in advance to make a reservation because they get packed on the weekends! Drinks - The Athens Mule is delicious and has the perfect amount sweetness. The cucumber spritz drink (i forgot the real name) was super refreshing. The bartenders here are great and can make almost anything though! For appetizer (not pictured) we got the grilled calamari (you can get it fried or grilled) and I was a little apprehensive because I usually get fried. The grilled definitely blew me away!! Amazing flavor and grilled to perfection. Served with lemon. We ate it so fast i forgot to take a picture! Entrees - the lamb dish was out of this world. The lamb was literally falling off the bone and the dish itself is little cinnamony - definitely has the middle eastern flavor palette. The portion was really generous also! The Ribeye steak was amazing as well. We asked for medium and it was cooked a bit more medium rare but we didn't mind and it was still delicious! It comes with fries and they were great too. The meat here is cooked really well so for any meat lovers, this place won't disappoint! For dessert we got this sorbet and it was super yummy! Perfect palette cleanser. 10/10 experience here, always!

If you like devious bait and switch tricks, this is the place for you. Waitress comes and asks "sparkling, still or flat?" We order flat, thinking it's their word for tap water. She comes back with an open $9.70 bottle of water. Nine dollars and seventy cents. For water. In WILLIAMSBURG. We left immediately and took the water to chug on the street.

A very great place to go. The staff is wonderful and very welcoming. The food is great and the drinks are to a different level. Would really recommend anyone to give this place a try and will not regret it. Lorena is the best

This place is amazing!!! My sister and I came while on vacation. The service is exceptional. The octopus is the best I have ever had in the US. It literally melted in my mouth. The atmosphere is lively and calming (yes at the same time). It is perfect! Best review I think I've ever given anywhere!

This was a tough rating. The food was solid, but it is VERY expensive. As are the drinks. I just don't think the food merits the price, but don't get me wrong, the food is good. And most importantly it has a great vibe with VERY friendly staff. I got the wild salmon which was solid and the mushrooms which were also good. Come here for a very solid meal, just don't expect a cheap dinner.

Excellent Mediterranean place. Great seafood and all different spreads that can be ordered with pitta bread.

I been here twice, and both times A+ service and amazing food. The first time I went I ordered the salmon and asparagus, I wanted to keep it safe since it was my first time. They asked how I like my salmon and I let them to what the chef knows best. My cousin had steak omg that was good. My sister was full so she had I believe fried mushrooms that we all shared and calamari they both was amazing as well. Drinks was good I had the " Don't make me blush to drink" I came home and told my husband we gotta go together to try it out so we went. When we went we sat all the way in the back. And enjoyed this meal for two omgoodness. Ughh absolutely amazing once again. I honestly was going to had the salmon again but my husband always tries new things and I followed his lead. Thank god I did! We had calamari for appetizers he was impressed just as I was, on my first visit with my cousin and sister. We ordered the mixed grill for our entree and it was perfect for the both of us. Everything was delicious. It came with Lamb chops, Chicken breast, Chorizo and Kofta. Amazing amazing food. For drinks I had the same thing I had the last time. "Don't make me blush" my husband had the "Rusty Old Fashion" presentations was great , we will definitely be back and back and back lol. Keep up the great work team! I have videos of both visits which I couldn't upload which sucks. Seeing the videos is amazing.i will take screenshots to show a little something.

An absolute gem! Food, drinks and service are phenomenal! Everything we had was cooked to perfection, octopus, lamb chops, red snapper, brussel spouts, mixed veggies and mushrooms. The tuna tartare and oyster absolutely divine and fresh!!! Milo, our waiter was the best and very knowledgeable!! The owner understands what is important and made us feel welcomed! The only one negative thing is one of the waitresses/bartender maybe owner was dressed against code and very unappealing by wearing a green workout bra. As an owner or partner you should understand the importance of appearance!

I was very glad I found this new place in Williamsburg, I knew it was trendy and fun but I never expected it to be also cool and Gourmet. If I was a Michelin guy I would've given it a full Michelin star. I really like the vibe @ this place, super relaxed but yet it's really good food. so i had the Orzo with Lamb it was enough to feed a regiment. The Martina was awesome too, my wife had the Salmon and she says it was perfectly cooked.

Mediterranean coastal fare showcasing bright ,flavorful tapas prepared over charcoal and inventive craft cocktails A place that you must visit!!!

Waited for this place to open for almost a year and the wait was worthy.. came here for my 30th bday and can not explain you how delicious the food was .. me and my friends all agreed that we got the feeling that we were in some island in Spain since they had a live Spanish band playing some sort of flamenco! .. on top of this the cocktails .. ooh lord the cocktails!! They have an amazing seasonal menu .. highly recommend the black mamba for those whiskey sours lovers and the paradise lost for the spicy ones! The vibe of the restaurant is anything but Rusty even tho the name is the Rusty face lol, the deco and style is nothing like anything else in the neighborhood! A must try and a must comeback! 100/10 Congrats illy and Loena it was a pleasure to meet you your hospitality is from another planet! We need more ppl like you and your staff in Williamsburg! Will deff be back!

I'm conflicted on this one, but I'll give it all to you to judge. To start, if you come to a nice restaurant just for the flavors, this spot deserves 5/5 stars. My table ordered the grilled calamari and zucchini chips to share and I ordered the lamb giouvetsi for my entrée. The calamari was a STAR, seriously the the freshest I've ever had. The zucchini chip tower was crispy and piping hot. My entree's flavor was out of this world. I've eaten at plenty of Mediterranean spots and have never seen giouvetsi on the menu, so this made The Rusty Face stand out to me. Giouvetsi is a Greek dish made with meat and pasta in tomato sauce. Their version had lamb shank and orzo. The shank was meaty and well-seasoned, and the sauce felt like someone's loving grandma made it - it was so delicious. On the other hand, if the whole dining experience matters to you, it wasn't giving. Upon entry to the establishment, I was confused as there was no host insight. It took over 5 minutes of awkwardly standing in the front of a packed restaurant, trying to get someone's attention before the manager came. Although she accommodated our table a little earlier than our reservation time, the food took almost an hour to get to our table and our server was not attentive. The front of the restaurant had beautiful and bright décor but towards the back where we were seated, was dark and isolated and felt nothing like the trendy restaurant up front. I'm not sure if the amazing food made up for the lackluster experience so I'll give the restaurant a generous 3.5/5 stars.

Not the cheapest spot to eat, but it's definitely worth a try! Highly recommend the shrimp dish and the tzatziki!! Amazing pita bread comes with the table too! Instagram: @cheylovesfood

Had such a wonderful Sunday dinner here. Reservations are recommended. We elected to set by the open window which allows you be inside but gives way for the outdoor breeze. So actually we had the-best of both worlds, the indoor decor and ambiance was fabulous. For starters we had the spinach pie which I can attest was fresh out of the oven. And the Shrimp on the Pan, the sauce the shrimp was in was superb. Warm pita chips with hummus accompanied the table settings. For our Entrees we had Wild Salmon and Rack of Lamb medium well. Wr both opted for fresh grilled asparagus. The salmon seasoned well with lightly charbroiled at the end. For dessert Fresh warm Baklava with Chocolate ice cream was simply delicious. The customer service was excellent. The restrooms were clean and unique which I highly appreciate. Had a wonderful time. I can't wait to go back and try other menu items

Great find! Read the great reviews and wanted to try it for myself. They had a live jazz band playing outside. We decided to sit at the bar and got some fun drinks our favorite was the smoked old fashioned very cool with the smoky effect. The bartender was friendly and attentive . The owner was very welcoming and checked up on us throughout the experience. We had the flaming cheese, mussels, shrimp in sauce, and octopus. All great size dishes flavorful and delicious. Looking forward to returning and trying more of their drinks and dishes. It is a beautiful place with great energy im happy I gave it a try. Best of luck

This place is a Gem here in Brooklyn! The Ambiance is amazing, the food is exquisite and the drinks are quite whimsical. Our server Sergio was SUPERB! They production on the "smoked" old fashion was a memorable presentation. Can't wait to come back!

Amazing food, fantastic food and wonderful atmosphere!! We thoroughly enjoyed the live music. We ordered the mix grill for two and it was huge and more than enough. It is pricey though but the overall experience was worth it!

I'd say one of the BEST restaurants in Williamsburg. Highly underrated. The food NO MATTER what you order is insanely tasty. You can taste the quality basically. We go here quite often, especially on special occasions - the service is amazing. Servers are extremely personable and friendly. Will definitely be back for the 20th time.

Went here set at the bar, met Walter and the owner Loena. They are the reason I will come back! Drinks Were good when they came. The food was really good I will definitely come back for dinner. The art work is amazing! And the music is good! I highly recommend!

Most excellent find. We started with a bass ceviche that incorporated beans and grapes, not traditional but certainly spot on, followed by delectable seabass brochettes, Mediterranean dips with grilled pita, mussels in a tomato concoction. Every dish was creative, well plated and extremely palatable.

Service was outstanding. Food was tasty I ordered all the dips. Their pita is to die for. We got a few of our tapas kind of late but it was fine as long as it came out. Our server was very apologetic made great recommendations. Loved the decor of the place. Music was great although my 93 year old grandmother in law didn't like it haha, Maybe not the best place to bring her on a Saturday night. But she did enjoy the food. The only complain I got was from my mother in law when she got her steak which was well done, she ordered Medium. They quickly fixed this too, so we left pretty happy. Thanks !

Food, drinks, service = 5 star! We enjoyed everything. Staff was friendly. Food didn't take too long to come out. We had the Oysters, mussels, lamb chops, tuna tarte, broccolini and roasted mushrooms. Delicious! We also had dessert for the birthday girl! I don't remember the name but it was yummy! Just overall a great experience.

Stumbled in on a beautiful Friday afternoon for lunch and ended up staying for 2 hours for appetizers and cocktails. The hummus is tasty, pita bread is warm. The staff is attentive and personable, we had superb service. Cocktails are intricate and well thought out, we tried the two pictured (sangria & black mamba) and the spritzer & old fashioned as well (which were awesome). The oysters were fresh and the grilled octopus was the best we have had in a long time. We even came back the following night for a night-cap, because you do not want to miss out on these cocktails! Music is upbeat and sets the tone for this lively neighborhood. The Rusty face will be a staple for your summer 2021! Can't wait to come back :)

This is my fave Williamsburg spot! The tuna tartare is the best I've ever had! It is so fresh, I get it at least twice a week as a treat for myself and it has never been anything less than SUBLIME! The manager always greets me warmly when I pick up my food and tonight he added a slice of their new dessert for me try with compliments. It was a delicious soaked pound cake with an amazing fresh gooey raspberry preserves I NEARLY DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN! I never would have ordered it for myself but now that I've tried it, I will definitely be ordering it again! I wish I could give 10 stars on YELP because this restaurant deserves it! They go above and beyond to offer exemplary service to their guests. If you are in the area and looking for amazingly fresh innovative, authentic Mediterranean cuisine and a cool, hip atmosphere to sit outside and have a drink and listen to a live DJ on a weekend, you must COME HERE!!!

please please please support this business. we had the privilege of being serviced by the owner and he was remarkable. the food was incredible, the drinks were also amazing and the ambiance and beautiful! i am so excited to come back! thank you!

I'm glad that this Bar is able to operate during the Covid! The food is amazing! They have a great selection of Mediterranean tapas! My favorite one is the grilled octopus! Also the drinks are amazing, Great seasonal cocktails! Looking forward for my next visit!

A gem! Amazing menu with many various options excellent atmosphere. Drink menu is amazing and staff/service is attentive and very knowledgeable. U must try.

Bait and switch on prices. The eggs Benedict is listed as $16 on the menu on the web but they charge you $20 on the paper menu. No menu is posted outdoors either.