“Kick up your spurs. This place is straight-up Boot Scuffed Western! The Rusty Spur Saloon, in Old Town Scottsdale, is celebrating over 60 years of bringing out that inner Cowboy and Cowgirl” (rustyspursaloon.com).
“When visiting Arizona be sure to leave time to kick up your heels at Scottsdale’s Oldest Saloon, The Rusty Spur. Pass through the swinging doors and you’re assured a step back in time to what it was to be an Arizona Cowboy looking for some great comfort food, a favorite beer or drink, and some fantastic time with friends” (arizonakey.com).
“If you’re looking for friendly Scottsdale country bars, the Rusty Spur Saloon is the place for you. Sure you can get a drink anywhere, but at The Rusty Spur, it’s all about the experience. This Old West gem of a saloon features live country music seven days AND seven nights a week, great food, and a wide selection of drinks, all located right in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale.
“What sets the Rusty Spur apart from other Phoenix cowboy bars? It’s the authentic feeling of traveling back in time to the days of the Wild West. As soon as you walk through the swinging doors, you’re 150 years back in time. You feel like an old Arizona cowboy looking for a cold beer and a hot meal. It’s just like the Old West except without the bullets whizzing by your ears” (rustyspursaloon.com).
The Rusty Spur reminded us of other Wild West themed bars and restaurants. The walls were covered with an eclectic mix of license plates,
t-shirts, animal skulls, and, of course, signed dollar bills tacked to the walls.
So what is “The Most Interesting Man in the World” doing in a place like this? Or, better yet, what are four senior citizens (OK, Raina is technically not a senior citizen.) doing mid-afternoon in a place like this? And no, Evie, Raina, and I are not planning to fill the dancing girls’ void!
“If you’re looking for what makes the Rusty Spur absolutely famous here in Scottsdale, it’s the
Live Entertainment 7 Days AND 7 Nights per Week...and there’s NEVER a cover charge. Featuring the great sounds of Psychobilly Rodeo Band, and…with a full compliment of Entertainers. Whether you’re here to enjoy lunch and some great country-western music or an evening with your lady looking to cowboy-up and get your special someone out on the dance floor for an all-around great time, the Rusty Spur is sure to help you make some wonderful memories” (arizonakey.com).
We arrived too early in the day to hear the house band, but did enjoy the singing of Steve Shockley who is the Monday and Tuesday afternoon performer. While we were there, Steve entertained us with music by Frankie Laine (Rawhide), Johnny Cash (Ring of Fire), Charlie Pride (Kiss an Angel Good Morning). I got so into Ring of Fire that Chuck had to remind me that this was not a sing-a-long.
So what had us hanging out in a cowboy saloon? Lunch. The Spur’s menu is very short and consists mainly of bar snacks, burgers, sandwiches, and “South of the Border” entrees. Evie is a big fan of quesadillas so selected the taco seasoned ground beef quesadilla which came with guacamole and sour cream.
Raina’s choice was the Pepper Steak Sandwich with thin sliced rib eye, cheese, tomato, green pepper strips, and onion. From the choice of fries, salad, and onion rings, she ordered the rings—another of Evie’s favorites.
Chuck went with the South of the Border Burger with green chiles, cheese, and bacon and—of course—a side of French fries.
When in polite company, I am reluctant to sample from his plate, but the burger was faintly pink in the center and he told me that it had the exterior char that comes from being grilled on a hot and well seasoned flattop.
Having developed a sudden interest in tamales, I chose the tamale platter with one pork green chile and one chicken green chile tamale.
And, big spender that I am, I added the side of pork green chile gravy for an additional $1.00.
The chile gravy was a little oilier than I like but was certainly tasty and had a good deal of heat. The masa in which the meat was enveloped had only a mild corn taste, but the fillings of both were delicious.
I was actually rather amazed that the food was as good as it was. Too often places like this rely on bar sales for their income and let food quality take a back seat. So, based on my meal alone, the Rusty Spur earns a 4.0 Addie rating.
This was a fun afternoon. The experience is “Probably summed up best by one of our Local Regulars, …’(I)t’s said the Rusty Spur, with its assortment of cowboys, bikers, yuppies, Generation X’ers, retirees, and out-of-towners, I have never witnessed any discord, disruption or disillusionment. In short, everyone has a great time, in spite of their diverse backgrounds’” (arizonakey.com).
To review the role of Adler, Kitty Humbug, and the Addie rating system, read the November 14, 2011 blog.
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