Rusty Barrell Supper Club
Buzzworthy steaks & spirits
When thinking of a rural community in Oklahoma, a renowned and celebrated steakhouse is not typically the first thing to come to mind. A hidden, local space that has been open for 58 years and continues to grow is neither commonplace nor expected in a small town. In fact, the Rusty Barrell Supper Club is neither typical nor common. It is rare and original. With a strong community presence and groupies all over the world, the Rusty Barrell is the definition of top-notch.
At the Barrell, steak is king, and its taste is unlike that at any other place. The house-made marinade is an umami bomb, pleasant and savory. Every delicious drop soaks itself into the meat so it can be savored with each bite. Rib eyes, KC Strips, Filets – all cuts are juicy, tender and loaded with flavor. As fantastic as the beef is, do not overlook the pork chop. This double-bone, French-cut chop is meaty and impressive. The bone adds extra moisture and richness and, on top of being super tasty, it looks pretty dang cool! Entrees are plated with the most perfectly baked, fluffy potato that is served drowning in butter.
Another superstar is the salad bar. It can be challenging for a salad bar to be an invaluable piece of a restaurant. I mean, it’s a salad bar. Salad bars are all over this part of the country. It would be difficult to find a salad bar as outstanding and consistent as the one at the Rusty Barrell. There are no exotic or mysterious items waiting to be discovered on this salad bar, so why is it so memorable? It is fresh – the lettuce is crisp, the croutons are homemade, the garbanzo beans add a touch of nuttiness, the ham is salty and smoky. It is cold – this may not sound like a big deal but the metal containers sitting in a bed of ice, holding colorful ingredients, keep everything at the optimal temperature. Eating something lukewarm that is meant to be served cold is not good eats. This salad bar is ice cold and delightfully fresh, every single time.
Owners Rick and Kim Hancock recently expanded this beloved gem by opening a stunning lounge and adding more seating. The comfortable, new lounge has Oklahoma beer on tap, including favorites from Vortex Alley Brewing and Skydance Brewing. It has an expansive bourbon/whiskey selection that rivals those in metropolitan areas. It has, what feels like, endless amounts of wine, both on tap and available by the bottle. Specialty appetizers, top-shelf Long Island Iced Teas (proceed with caution here … ) and the legendary Tumbleweed after dinner drinks are all here, tempting the taste buds of each customer.
Innovation mixed with history, a space that is both shiny new and kissed with age, there isn’t much that can be written about the Rusty Barrell that hasn’t already been written. Shining a new and unfamiliar spotlight on a popular restaurant that is a staple in both our community and our state is not easy. The simplest way to describe the fabulous food and the one-of-a-kind ambiance is to recognize that Ponca City, Kay County and Oklahoma as a whole, hit it big to have such easy access to such a quality restaurant. Use any reason as the reason to reward yourself by making a reservation. Delicious food and strong drinks are waiting to buzz you in.