Rusty Mackerel

This brief post-​mortem undobutedly runs contrary to most of the raves here. I’ve lived in the Heights for 12 years, and welcome any expansion of its small but appealing restaurant lineup.
The problem with this place is that its premise was too precious for our neighborhood. During my first and only visit, my friend and I were told that they didn’t offer coffee or desserts (nor, if I recall, drinks) because «you’re not supposed to stay here, it’s all about trying the great food, and leaving.»
Sorry, that’s not Washington Heights. It may be Williamsburg, where you can do that, then walk down a few doors to your favorite café or watering hole to continue the night. But this is a neighborhood of restaurants that are either total immersions, or practically take out. It was very ambitious, and I enjoyed the meal. But if I want that kind of experience I’ll just go downtown, thanks.
I wish the former owner all the best in his next endeavor. He’s obviously very talented.

Boo hiss, Rusty Mackerel closed!
Hoping someone will open a new spot there soon…

Gone. So disappointed this great restaurant has closed. Having been featured on CBS News recently, I would imagine NYC rents are to blame as it was busy any evening that I passed. Tiramisu that I will never taste again… Sadness! Good luck to the Chefs and staff.

no words for how sad we are that the rusty mac closed! this is a huge loss to the neighborhood…
i hope someone picks up the torch!

Yesterday the owners of the small neighborhood restaurant that I have worked at for the last year decided to shut the place down. New to the restaurant business they were shocked that they were not turning the profit they thought they would be within the first year or so. If you have worked in the restaurant industry, especially in a fiercely competitive city like NYC, you may laugh at their naivety, but the assumption that owning a restaurant is a glamorous instantly profitable endeavor is a fairly common one.
Opening and owning a restaurant is a love project. It is one that you undertake knowing that it will probably be a couple of years until you see any profit. You open a restaurant with a clear business plan, capable people around you, and with deep pockets. You work, you push, you improvise, you sacrifice family time, holidays, your health. You do all of these things and maybe, just maybe you become a success, but who knows, there’s no guarantees. For a businessman who wants to make his buck with the minimum interruption to his life it’s frankly not a great idea. I don’t blame the owners for realizing it was more than they bargained for and pulling out.
I blame them for giving myself, my husband, my coworkers, my friends, their chef, less than twenty four hours notice that we were out of our livelihoods. We are all financially dependent on this place, we support our families and our lives with this job, two of my co-​workers are expecting new babies within the next few months. We have all given so much time and love to this restaurant and to have our lives thrown upside down without so much as an apology or the ability to say goodbye to our beloved regulars has been incredibly upsetting and traumatic.
However, this is completely within their rights as business owners. They don’t owe us anything by the letter of the law except our final paychecks. They owe us nothing, not even the common courtesy of a heads up. That is the reality of the world that we live in, but damn, whatever happened to a basic level of respect for people who have worked hard for you. Less than twenty-​four hours notice is not an appropriate window for people to figure out how to pay their rent, how to clothe their children and how to live in this expensive city, but I guess loss of income is only important when it happens to the big cats.
I will miss all of our lovely neighborhood guests but I hope I’ll still see them around (they probably won’t run into me at the grocery store though). Our regulars were some of the nicest diners, imbibers, and friends the staff of a small restaurant could ask for, and for that I am very grateful.

Really not much more to say on top of the other positive reviews — the beer selection is pretty good, and the cocktails were excellent. The presentation of everything was great and both of the servers working seemed to really love doing what they do, which made the entire experience very enjoyable.
The food is clearly well thought-​out with some simple and some complex elements, all coming together nicely. Black garlic Ice cream on heirloom tomato salad? Yup and it’s perfect. The staples here — cod croquettes, cauliflower chop, were very nice and I loved the steak frites. The menu is very deliberate, all the way down to desert (Malted milk cake with chili chocolate ice creammmmmmmmm).
Side note: i was blown away by the music selection and how no one in the restaurant knew they were listening to Wu Tang and other various iconic hip-​hop/​reggae/​house hits. Great touch and mixed perfectly to keep it upbeat, modern, but very tasteful. So glad to have a place like this in the neighborhood.

The new Happy hour from 2 to 5 pm lifts this restaurant to 5 stars!
Can’t beat the quality food at this price. Worth every penny!

Rusty Mackerel is a small culinary treasure found in an unlikely part of town.
Having lived in the Washington Heights/​Fort Washington area for a little over a year, I was delighted and surprised to discover this tiny eatery where it seemed anything I could order was exquisitely prepared.
My boyfriend and I had an appetizer made with cauliflower (the name escapes me) but what I do remember is how voraciously we scooped up the morsels. The croquettes were equally yummy with a slightly crisp shell and the creamy inside.
The other patrons added to the unassuming neighborhood-​y feel, in spite of the fact it was evident some had come from elsewhere.
I have already been there twice. The menu changed because of the season, which was a bit disappointing because some of the plates I had fallen in love with we’re not available the second time. Still, the bar for delicately prepared yet unpretentious savory food remained just as high.

Its the best spot in washington heights or should i say the nice part of washington height cause we like avoid anything east of Broadway. Menu always changes. Every time i come the food is good. Except the music. They are kind stuck in the past.

Three words: Sea salt potatoes.
If that’s not enough, go for their sangria (which I was sad to see disappear over the winter months). The employees are very friendly and engaging. A great place to give business to.

I had dinner there last night!
We were told at first that a table would be available in 35 min ! We waited more then an hour !
We had some appetizers, and drinks while waiting !
When we set down our table had this crazy breeze! We were all freezing ! They said that if they stop the «flow» of air the place will get smelly, but I am sorry, there must be something they can do so people can eat comfortably their very small plates that cost so much!
Out waitress was very nice, she was really trying to make us comfortable!
I think the cook does interesting plates, he is creative, however the plates are kid portions and the prices are very high ! It’s crazy to charge so much for a small plate and in this neighborhood!
I will never make the trip again! It was unpleasant to wait such a long time, eat a very very small plate and pay a huge price ! Overall this was an unpleasant experience !

these people do NOT f*ck around.
stop reading this and get your arse over there.
order the cod balls, asparagus salad, softshell crab, burger… jeezus just order everything.
then go home and have some writhing sexy time with someone (s) or yourself. this food is luxurious and sexay.
unbelievable.
i want to be a miniature person just so i can live in a cod ball.
also, the service is impeccable and they were playing classic 80s tunes all night which meshed perfectly with our revival weekend. how did they know we watched Top Gun and Point Break!!!

Walked in and when I sat down I noticed they were playing Creed. I hesitated… asked my friend if she was sure she wanted to stay and she scoffed. Thank god the song was already half way through.
I was glad to see they had pear cider, I prefer this over apple. I only had blood orange cake for myself and it was dry. Sampled my friends food and found the sea salt potatoes too salty and her burger was too rare. Not the worst dining experience but we are both not really tempted to come back either.

I’ve lived in Washington Heights for a few years and really love my neighborhood. I’m happy to see that others love it too and keep moving uptown and opening up new bars, cafes and restaurants. Rusty Mackerel is one of the newest and most welcome additions to the top of the island.
I had a chance to try out the place for brunch last weekend and had a fantastic experience. At 11:00am, the place was near-​empty and my dining companion and I got the choice table by the window. Great for watching the neighborhood get moving on a Saturday.
The menu is limited, but a lot of care is put into the selection offered. The menu was filled with brunch standards, but with a Mediterranean/​Spanish twist. A Scotch egg surrounded by a harrissa sauce, for example, and polenta pancakes. Everything was delicious and perfectly proportioned. The brunch cocktails were just as good. I had a version of a mimosa with lemon and cherry juice, garnished with a few brandy-​soaked cherries.
Service is also great. Fun and friendly, without seeming the least bit forced or over-​the-​top.
The Rusty Mackerel offers a late-​night deal, with cheap bites and drinks, so I hope to be back to partake very soon.

Veggies are obligatory side dishes to absolve myself from eating generous portions of red meat. –Until I dined at this place.
Pre-​Rusty Mackerel:
Brussels sprouts?! Peeyuck!
Cauliflower?! Landscape art for my plate!
Asparagus?! Assault weapon!
The chef at The Mackerel does such an amazing job on vegetables that I will unquestionably and without hesitation eat whatever veggie is placed in front of me. No more hiding my veggies in mashed potatoes. No more spitting into my napkin. No more stuffing my face with veggies and sneaking off to the bathroom. My mother would weep for joy at the site of me. Sometimes I don’t even order a meat dish. The veggies are that good!
And the best thing on the menu? –Potatoes that capture the essence of an Andean farmer’s market smoked out by a nearby forest fire. Five bucks will get you the best darn tatters you’ll every eat.

I was looking forward to visiting this new spot for some time and finally got a chance.
Food: The dinner entrée was great, I had the pumpernickel spaghettini (lamb noodles) it was very yummy! The starter was disappointing, it was charred brussels sprouts — not much brussels sprouts, lots of lettuce.
Ambiance: It’s a small place, which can get quite busy during dinner time, but was able to get a table in 2 – 3 minutes. The one big issue I had was the ventilation. The open kitchen concept is great, but there just isn’t enough ventilation in there… your clothes will come out heavily smelling like food/​grease. Maybe in the summer when doors are open it’s a lot better, but in the winter it is definitely a problem.
Good addition to the neighborhood, hopefully they rotate the menu a little more often as it is quite small.

I finally made the trek to Washington Heights to visit the lovely Allison C. in her ‘hood, a first for me. She had endlessly espoused about Rusty Mackerel, a new restaurant that had opened up a stone’s throw from where she lived, so we finally managed to set a day and time that worked for everyone. A slightly delayed trek on the A train (which should have taken 30 minutes, but would up being an hour) finally dropped us off at the 181^st Street Station, and we made a leisurely stroll over to Pinehurst Avenue.
Perhaps given the lack of other options in the area, our group of five was given a 20 minute estimated wait. After a few too many photos on the bench outside, we were led back inside and promptly seated towards the back of the restaurant. After a quick skim of the menu, we each decided on our own mains, as well as a few plates («tapas») to share between our group. While I wouldn’t entirely categorize the restaurant as a tapas restaurant, it’s fairly easy to divide a plate between any number of people or order in the traditional appetizer and entrée style.
To start off with, we got an order of the Sea Salt Potatoes. These are some of the most deceiving potatoes that you’ll encounter; they look exactly like a pile of pebbles, not even close to being edible. Take one bite, though, and you’ll taste an expertly roasted potato, complete with a sprinkling of sea salt and a dab of the smoked paprika aioli. We also split the Cod Croquettes, which were served piping hot and had just the right amount of crispy breading over the cod. It wasn’t overly fishy and was smartly paired with a saffron aioli.
It was the entrée where things started going downhill, however. I had decided on the Pan-​Roasted Chicken, which seemed like a fairly safe choice at the time. The chicken was served with a green harissa sauce, slices of roasted sweet potato, and… something that bore a striking resemblance to marshmallow fluff. I took a forkful of the white substance and my fears were confirmed; it was sweet on sweet on savory. I appreciate contrast and different dimensions of taste in my food, but it was not a combination that worked for me. The plate seemed confused, straddling the border between a dessert and a savory entrée with little success. While the chicken was well-​roasted (although bordering on the dry side), any flavor from its seasonings or the harissa sauce was lost in the bizarre concoction of sweet potato and marshmallow.
I suppose it’s important to put things in context. Several years ago, places like Rusty Mackerel couldn’t be found anywhere near the Washington Heights area, so the emergence of places like it is very much a good thing. While there are some hits and misses across the menu, I’m sure they’ll continue to improve and modify their menu as they see fit; regardless, they’re a welcome addition to the ‘hood.

I had dinner here with my parents not long ago. It looked promising but I have to say they need a bit of work. Some dishes were fantastic and others completely mediocre. Their kitchen is tiny and they don’t even have proper desserts and neither do they have coffee. The service is friendly but they completely messed up my order such that they only started preparing it after my parents entrees were already served.
Their menu is a combination of small plates for sharing and larger entrees. We started with the grilled octopus to share. That was fantastic! The octopus was cooked right and paired with the potatoes it was delightful. My dad ordered the steak which was alright. My mom ordered the flatiron pork which was essentially ham. It was way too salty and the dish needed more for it to be balanced. Meanwhile I had to wait for my scallops because they messed up my order. Fortunately it doesn’t take long to cook scallops. Unfortunately for them I can make a seared scallop dish that’s much better than theirs. And then to not have dessert or coffee on top of that.
I see some good reviews so I’m inclined to think that this is just rookie mistakes on their part. But until I hear great reviews from trusted sources I don’t think I’ll be back nor will I recommend it.

Allison C. insisted that I needed to try this place, so we headed up this past Sunday, one of the most oppressively blistering days of this New York summer. The ride up to WaHeights is really quick from the Village, and 30 minutes later we were enjoying some nice tap wine from our $ 20 carafe. It was a pleasant dry Riesling from Red Tail Ridge (Seneca Lake), though I thought it was on the off-​dry side.
The food comes out as it’s prepared, so you might get your entrée before your appetizer (as I did). No problem – my spring cavatelli was al dente (all I ever ask from a pasta), tossed with wild mushrooms, lardo, and veggies. The portion was not Patsy’s-sized, but I’m learning to appreciate that this is a good thing. Next came my octopus bravas. The cephalopod was nice and chewy and unadorned, allowing it to showcase its succulence on my chompers. And the sea salt potatoes (a must, as others aver) reminded me of Russian home-​style «young potatoes.»
This is a foodie-​destination with an ambitious kitchen and an approachable dining room. Even in a quiet neighborhood, I’m sure it will make a splash before long.

I’d go back alone for the white sangria and the sea salt potatoes. No. Seriously. I’d put aside $ 14 every day for that alone.
Oh, and, eh, I suppose the rest was okay.
On my walks up Pinehurst to the local grocery store over the past few months, I’ve been slowly watching the transformation of Rusty Mackerel from the old Vines on Pine location. I was a bit bummed at first, presuming it’d be a seafood place based on the title. As I started to follow their Twitter updates, I became a bit more excited with their menu offerings. Upon finding out the opening date, I offered to take the beau for a meal out on opening week. I was literally giddy at work the day of our dinner plans.
My giddiness was not in vain.
They worked the small space well; tables were a bit tight, but nothing that pulling them out a bit can’t fix. A brightly drawn funky mackerel mural shone brightly over an open kitchen area in the rear. There’s exposed brick, so, being a sucker for that, I immediately fell in love with the atomosphere.
First, I needed sangria. NEEDED IT. A white version mixed with a rhubarb-​strawberry reduction was velvety smooth and, legit, one of the best sangrias I’ve ever had.
Second, we ordered the sea salted potatoes with smoked paprika aioli, brought to our table with much aplomb. Oh. My. GOD. I’ve had salted potatoes like this before, but this wins. Hands down. no contest. The aioli certainly makes these whole-​boiled small potatoes not unlike Patatas Bravas. This dish is an absolute winner and a perfect plate to whet your hunger without overfilling you pre-​entrees.
I ordered the pan-​roasted chicken with heirloom tomatoes and pecorino. The chicken was perfect, inside and out. Moist inside, and the chicken skin was perfectly crispy, oozing with oils and juices with each crunch.
The beau got the steak frites with yucca fries and a béarnaise sauce. It came out a bit late as a new batch of yucca fries had to be made, but no matter. It was absolutely worth the wait! Medium-​rare is the kitchen’s perfered way of cooking it, and it was… wow…just wow. I’m also a big fan of yucca, so the fries were inhaled by me… more than him. (Sorry, Adam. Ha!)
Last, the service was great. Everyone we talked to was friendly and asked for feedback on our meals. Thumbs up to our sever Jessica. Marcella, the general manager, both greeted us and sent us off, asking our names and shaking our hands. So kind!
The food scene up in Washington Heights /​Hudson Heights continues to burgeon, and Rusty Mackerel is definitely in the mix now. So glad y’all are here! Please stay. I insist!