Keep on truckin’
Rusty Truck Brewing unveils new menu alongside slate of fresh spring microbrews
By Linda Turner Griepentrog
For The TODAY
Some people say things never change, but at the Rusty Truck Brewing Company, things are constantly changing. Outside, there’s a bit more rust on the namesake truck in the parking lot, while inside, there’s a new menu. Some old favorites are “on vacation” and will be brought back seasonally, but the new offerings are becoming a big hit with diners.
Operations Manager Alex Trevino listened to customers who felt “there was a void in the Lincoln City area for a good, casual roadhouse-style steak and seafood house.” So, he and the kitchen staff stepped up to fill that vacant spot.
The restaurant’s new menu sports five different steak offerings: filet, New York, porterhouse, tri-tip and ribeye — all cooked to order. Each comes with a choice of two sides from the offerings of BBQ baked beans, pesto penne pasta, garlic crispy fries, loaded baked potato or sauteed vegetables. For an additional charge, you can add a small salad or shrimp to the meaty entrée.
Not a carnivore? There’s a bounty of seafood available as well, from parmesan salmon to citrus herb halibut, also available with two sides, and two fish and chips offerings — salmon or halibut.
And, if your preference is pasta, consider the seafood pasta with scallops, shrimp and salmon; a penne jambalaya or a smoked chicken fettuccine.
Trevino said one of the restaurant’s most popular choices at the moment is the Smash Burger, reminiscent of diner food, where the meat patty is cooked on a flat-top grill in its own juices. Two patties are topped with American cheese, lettuce, mayo, tomatoes and onions, and it’s served with special fry sauce. Messy as can be, but oh so good!
For more casual fare, the Malibu chicken sandwich is also a popular choice. A grilled chicken breast is topped with a ham slice, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and a special Malibu sauce.
Entrées will vary seasonally, and the beloved wood-fired pizzas will be back for football games and other special occasions, as will the quirky (but yummy) peanut butter burger.
As if all those delicious changes weren’t enough, the Rusty Truck is now open for brunch, serving a special menu from 9 am to noon on both Saturday and Sunday. (Shhh…there’s a rumor that brunch could expand to five days a week, so stay tuned.)
The all-time favorite feature of the popular brunch is the Bloody Mary bar. With purchase, you can belly up to a special buffet of accoutrements like pickled asparagus, pickled green beans, olives, lemon slices, ham, prawns, celery, olives and other topping faves to make your drink as you like it.
But, for those who prefer not to drink their breakfast, there’s an eight-ounce ribeye steak and egg offering, or a new-found favorite, Hawaiian French toast. This tasty treat sports a thick slab of brioche, crunchy cornflake coating, Macadamia nuts, bananas and pineapple syrup, all topped with whipped cream.
Why develop a brunch offering? Again, Trevino cites customer feedback of “the need for a good brunch place on the south side of Lincoln City.”
Always trying to change things up for diners, the Rusty Truck menu features some daily specials too. Wednesday it’s a steak and shrimp combo, and Friday and Saturday has the ever-popular prime rib offering. Other days change constantly, with some specialty combos for holidays, like a prime rib/crab offering from the Valentine’s Day menu, or the traditional corned beef dinner for St. Patrick’s Day, offered this year on Saturday, March 16.
The restaurant’s live music scene is gearing up again for the spring season and in June outdoor parking lot music shows will return.
Food menu changes are joined by some new beers as well. The latest from the brewers include a Nelscott Pale, a lighter, lower-alcohol IPA option, and the Coastal Rye IPA made with Sorachi Ace hops that until recently were only available in Japan. More seasonal offerings will be available this spring and summer, and don’t forget the favorite blackberry and strawberry brews are now available year-round.
Rusty Truck Brewing Company is located at 4649 SW Hwy. 101 in Lincoln City and is open on Wednesdays from 3 to 9 pm, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 9 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 9 pm, with the brunch menu served until noon. For more information, go to rustytruckbrewing.com or call 541-994-7729.