Rusty Buckle Saloon — Restaurant in Apache Junction

The worst dining experience and customer service I have had and still completely shocked. My husband ordered the tacos and on the menu, it was in the section that said comes with fries but you could sub for onion rings. So he subbed for onion rings. When the food came out, we had a whole side of onion rings on a tray. He simply asked the question why we got a whole side and we were told that the tacos and quesadillas in that category were the only things that didn’t come with fries, which the menu does not state. We said we weren’t going to pay for the whole side of onion rings to our server/bartender Janessa, who btw was very attentive and the best part of the dining experience. This other bartender Ronnie was standing behind her and started to chime in, in the most disrespectful way I have ever been talked to at a restaurant. We asked simple question. Ronnie continues to argue and then says would you like to see our manager. We said yes.

The manager, Bethany, came to talk to us, and obviously before was well groomed about the situation that was happening. She walked up to us and without even hearing our side started rolling her eyes and telling us that the menu was wrong and it doesn’t come with fries. She was completely clueless and unprofessional, arguing and even threatening to kick me out when I pointed out that their menu was incorrect. Instead of apologizing or trying to resolve the issue, she kept saying the menu is wrong blaming the menu and made no effort to provide even basic customer service. Don’t you think if the menu is wrong you should make a note somewhere to not give customers false advertising? To make matters, Ronnie stood behind her and continued to only escalate the situation further. We were told that if we continued talking and asking a question to try and understand that our food would be packed up and we can leave. We ate our food. Before even asking for the bill, Ronnie went over and printed our check and threw it in front of us. They even told us that they took off the onion ring appetizer order off our check, which is hilarious because they had taken the onion rings from us when we said we didn’t want to pay for them as the side. On our bill they had also added three canned drinks that I was drinking but I only had two. When we asked them to remove it, Bethany questioned Ronnie on what I had ordered, which side note she was not our original bartender and didn’t even know what we ordered, again trying to tell me I was wrong when I had the cans sitting in front of me that they had never cleared. I cannot believe two people are allowed to work in the restaurant industry and talk to people the way they did. On the bright side, again Janessa, our server, was great, and the food was actually good. The atmosphere besides what was happening at our table, was also enjoyable at the beginning, with live music creating a pleasant vibe. It’s just a shame that the service doesn’t live up to the potential...

If you’ve never had your soul restored by a morning mimosa while being judged (lovingly, of course) by a woman who clearly runs the joint without needing to technically own it, let me introduce you to Ashleigh.

She works the morning shift Monday through Thursday at the Rusty Buckle Saloon, and trust me when I say—this ain’t just a bartender. This is a caffeine-deprived angel of the honky tonk who can sling whiskey before most folks can sling their legs outta bed.

Need a drink? Ashleigh’s got you. Need a recommendation? She’ll give you one—with a side of “bless your heart” if you even think about ordering something like an appletini before noon. This ain’t a day spa, sweetheart—it’s the Buckle. You want cucumber water, hit up a yoga studio.

She pours like a pro, remembers your name faster than your own mama, and will roast you with the kind of accuracy that suggests she’s been training for it her whole life. It’s like therapy, but with more ice and less judgment. (Well, maybe equal judgment, but she makes it feel charming.)

The vibe at Rusty Buckle is all gas, no brakes—live music, cold drinks, and enough redneck charm to make a NASCAR fan weep. And in the middle of that honky-tonk heaven is Ashleigh, managing the chaos with a smile that says “I might be nice, but don’t test me before I’ve had my coffee.”

In short: go to the Rusty Buckle. Sit at the bar. Let Ashleigh ruin all other bartenders for you. Just don’t show up late or ask if she has almond milk—unless you’re ready to be publicly shamed in the most delightful way.

Ashleigh: 10/10. Would let her sass me while...

We went on a Sunday at 4:30. Since music was noon to four, we were seated quickly as the music crowd had just left. But the dinner crowd swiftly started pouring in. The drinks were cold, my husband would’ve preferred a few more choices on draft beer. I had the prickly pear margarita, which was good. The fish and chips was delicious, as was the chicken fried steak. We were not impressed with the golden sauce on the chicken wings . Really really enjoyed the chicken fried steak, you get to pick two sides, but who wants two carbohydrates when you’re already getting a chicken fried steak, smothered and gravy? Sincerely believe that Managment needs to have a vegetable or salad as one of the choices for your side As someone who was in the restaurant business for over 20 years, as a training manager, I have to say the highlight of the night was Tatum the hostess. This young lady was doing it all, she was busing tables, seating people, and if she was taking a large crowd back, and somebody who walked in the door, she stopped look over, smiled at them and said she’d be with them in just a minute. That young lady never stopped moving, she was so efficient, never once did I see her on her phone, like I see most hostesses at most restaurants these days. Managment here would be wise to give her a promotion or lose her. Our server was just OK, we kept pushing our plates towards her once done dining, but she never once removed them from our table.

We will definitely be back to try some of the other items on the menu and listen...