Bucketheads Sports Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Rhinelander

During our recent visit to Rhinelander, WI for the Hodag Country music festival, my family and I decided to grab some food and drinks at Bucketheads. We were drawn in by the inviting atmosphere and the promise of a good time. However, our experience had its ups and downs, ultimately leaving us with a positive impression.

First and foremost, the atmosphere at Bucketheads was fantastic. The restaurant had a lively and energetic vibe, perfectly in line with the festival spirit. The decor was tastefully done, and the music playing in the background added to the overall ambiance. We were excited to settle in and enjoy a satisfying meal.

Unfortunately, our excitement was dampened by a significant delay in receiving our food. It became apparent that our food ticket had not been turned in, resulting in a frustrating wait. As a family of seven, the long wait started to take its toll, and we even considered leaving. It seemed like it could have been a disaster for our evening.

However, just when we were growing increasingly frustrated, the manager, Mike, stepped in to save the day. Mike not only apologized for the delay but went above and beyond to make amends. He not only did not charge us for the food, but he also surprised us by buying lunchbox shots for the entire table. Mike's swift and generous actions transformed our disappointment into appreciation, and we felt valued as customers.

In addition to the outstanding intervention by Mike, our waitress, Cindy, also played a significant role in salvaging the night. Despite the mishap with the food ticket, Cindy remained friendly and professional throughout our interaction. She took responsibility for the mistake, sincerely apologized, and made sure we were taken care of for the rest of the evening. Cindy's genuine concern and efforts to rectify the situation were highly commendable.

Although the initial delay in receiving our food was a letdown, the exceptional service we received from Mike and Cindy overshadowed the mishap. Their attentiveness and generosity helped turn what could have been a disastrous evening into a memorable one. The staff's commitment to customer satisfaction truly made a difference.

I must also mention that once our food finally arrived, it was absolutely worth the wait. The flavors and presentation of the dishes were outstanding, and we were pleasantly surprised by the culinary delights at Bucketheads. The standouts of the meal were the Cuban sandwich, Seth's burger, and the BBQ pulled pork quesadillas. The Cuban sandwich was perfectly toasted, with layers of succulent roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and tangy mustard, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. Seth's burger was juicy and cooked to perfection, topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies. The BBQ pulled pork quesadillas were a delightful twist on a classic, with tender pulled pork smothered in tangy barbecue sauce, melted cheese, and served with a zesty salsa on the side. These dishes showcased the culinary prowess of the kitchen and left us with a lasting impression of the delicious food at Bucketheads.

Considering the positive aspects of our visit to Bucketheads, including the vibrant atmosphere, the outstanding service recovery by Mike, and the graciousness of Cindy, I would still recommend this establishment. While they may have experienced a hiccup in their service on this occasion, their dedication to making things right is a testament to their commitment to customer satisfaction. If you're in the Rhinelander area and looking for a lively spot with great potential, give Bucketheads a chance, and you might just be...

Decided to eat here and have some drinks because I was visiting Rhinelander and was suggested this place. Service for me was good, bartender checked on us a lot and he was kind. Asides from other reviews I have seen, looks like a clean place to me. I just have a few notes only because I have worked at two bars in my life. Good parts for me was on my burger the onion and tomato was good, the cut on the onion I personally prefer if it's just a couple of rings not the whole slice, harder to eat. Not 100% if burger patty was fresh based on the shape and taste of it. But still really good, I did eat it all. Did forget my cheese but I also didn't mention it after I realized it, so that's on me. The tator tots were super crispy and I loved that. Fries were good, the presentation of all of the food was good. The food came out at a good time. Some of the food was a little bit lacking on flavor as well though. Also not a huge deal for me, but one of the ceiling fans looks very loose. Now my biggest thing would be the Bloody Mary I ordered. I normally do ask most bars how they make theirs and the one time I didn't today. I know it's in my personal opinion but I tend to only enjoy bloody Mary's made with Clamato and not tomato juice. Tomato juice just tastes kind of watered down to me. I know some people might be allergic to clamato though. It was only made with the tomato and vodka. Nothing else. No celery salt, no pickle juice, no worcestershire sauce, no kind of hot sauce like Tabasco. Which without that would make sense to not be offered a chaser. The pickled onion that came with it tasted kind off to me. Also the drink was not mixed at all, just the juice layered on top of the vodka, every other place I've ever been to has mixed the drink for me. Not saying it was a terrible drink, just not a very good bloody mary if that's what anyone is looking for. Only mentioning this to maybe help out in any way because I do love bars like this one and I hope to be returning to Rhinelander again in the future.

Won't let me post a reply, but I did read the response to it. On that day there was an older gentleman I saw make it and taste wise and also with seeing him make it, it definitely was only those two ingredients being the vodka and the tomato juice and they were layered onto each other and not mixed at all, no other ingredients asides from the garnish which was I believe a pickle and some...

We had heard this place was amazing so we decided to try it. Unfortunately amazing is not what we experienced. My husband ordered the bacon cheeseburger, my friend ordered their Garlic Cheddar bacon burger, her daughter ordered a crispy chicken sandwich, and my daughter and I shared a 16 inch sausage pizza. We also ordered some appetizers. The wait was kind of long, especially for the place not to be busy, I believe when we ordered our food their was only like 2 other tables that had ordered food. When we finally got our food we noticed the bacon on both burgers was barely cooked and ice cold. We spent the next 5 or so minutes trying to flag down what appeared to be the only waitress. When she finally came over we tried explaining what the issue was, she kept cutting us off and was extremely rude. She finally asked if they really wanted the bacon, which obviously when you order bacon on your burger you want the bacon. My husband just said forget about he was hungry and my friend was like well yea I ordered it, the waitress told her well I'll have them make new bacon. Took the bacon to the kitchen and after about 7 minutes a man who was behind the bar brought the bacon back and said, in the most rude and sarcastic tone, "got some sizzling hot bacon", set it on the table and walked away. By this time her burger was cold. About 25 minutes later we had to flag down our waitress, who had not come back to the table since taking the bacon, to ask her for a box for the pizza and our bill. I would understand if they were busy but again at this time there were 3 tables and maybe 2 people at the bar. We definitely will not return or...