The Rusty Onion Menu (2025 Update)
Welcome to The Rusty Onion, a hidden gem located at 6654 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC. Here, the menu is a delightful fusion of comfort food and Italian influences, perfect for families and friends alike. Dive into the kids' menu with classics like Rusty’s Ravioli and Grilled Cheese, or savor the hearty flavors of our Calzones & Strombolis, including the delectable Meat Lovers Stromboli.
Don't overlook our tantalizing sides—housemade Onion Rings and fresh HandCut Fries are must-tries. The lively atmosphere combined with top-notch service makes every visit memorable. Our patrons rave about the friendly staff, excellent recommendations, and quick service, making it a beloved spot for lunch or a casual dinner. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or settling in for a meal with live music, The Rusty Onion truly has something for everyone.
Daily Specials
Monday
Funky Chicken Salad
Tuesday
Chicken Caesar Wrap with Sweet Potato or Regular Fries
Wednesday
1 Wings (Dine In Only)
Thursday
BLT - Served with Fries or Sweet Potato Fries
Friday
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Saturday
5 off any 18" Speciality Pizza
Sunday
2 Topping 14" pizza w/ 6 Wings
The Rusty Onion
Sauteed caramelized onions served with our zesty Italian cream dip and flatbread chips
Boneless Tenders
5 Hand-breaded tenders, tossed in your choice of sauce. Served with celery and carrots. Choice of ranch or blue cheese. Sauces: Mild, Buffalo, BBQ, Bee Sting, Italian, 911, Barbalo, Honey Hot, Honey BBQ, Lemon Pepper, Jamaican Jerk
Tuscany Bread
Sliced ciabatta loaf, basil pesto, fresh spinach, & mozzarella cheese topped with our homemade bruschetta mix and balsamic glaze
Fried Pickle Sticks
Served with ranch or blue cheese and aioli
Knotted Up
Light, fluffy garlic knots with fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, & marinara 6pc • 4.99 / 12pc • 7.99
Knotted up Sliders
4 delicious garlic knots with seasoned meatball, mozzarella cheese & marinara stuffing
Squeaky Cheese
Delicious fried cheese curds served with a side of marinara
Mozz Logs
4 Large Mozzarella Logs served with a side of marinara
Cheese & Bacon Fries
Hand-cut fries smothered with melted cheddar cheese sauce & bacon crumbles. Served with ranch or blue cheese
Garlic Cheesy Bread
Our classic handmade dough topped with mozzarella, fresh garlic & herb parmesan
Queen City Wings
Jumbo-sized wings fried & tossed in your choice of sauce. Served with celery & carrots. Choice of ranch or blue cheese. Sauces: Mild, Buffalo, BBQ, Bee Sting, Italian, 911, Barbalo, Honey Hot, Honey BBQ, Lemon Pepper, Jamaican Jerk 6pc • 11.99 / 12pc • 18.99 / 24pc • 32.99
Appetizers
Salads
House Salad
Romaine, red onions, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers & croutons Small: 5.99 / Entree: 10.99
Popeye
Fresh baby spinach, blue cheese crumbles, mushrooms, candied walnuts, red onions, bacon Small: 9.99 / Entree: 14.99
Greek Salad
Romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, pepperoncini, sun-dried cranberries & crumbled feta cheese. Served with our Yia Yia Margaret's Famous Greek Vinaigrette Small: 9.99 / Entree: 14.99
Dear Brutus
Romaine topped with croutons, shaved parmesan, and served with Caesar dressing Small: 6.99 / Entree: 11.49
Funky Chicken
Your choice of grilled, blackened, or fried chicken breast served over romaine lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumber, and pepperoncini, with cheddar jack cheese
Buffalo Chicken Salad
(Fried or Grilled) Buffalo chicken breast on top of romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, bacon, & blue cheese crumbles. Served with blue cheese dressing
Caprese Salad
Fresh creamy mozzarella and juicy tomatoes over a generous bed of arugula and basil leaves, drizzled with a homemade balsamic glaze.
Sandwich of Brotherly Love
Hand-shaved Philly beef or chicken topped with sauteed mushrooms, onions, green peppers, provolone cheese, and roasted red pepper mayonnaise on a hoagie. - Or try the "Philly Philly" way with cheese sauce
One Clucking Good Sandwich
Grilled marinated chicken breast, with roasted red peppers, red onions, smoked provolone, lettuce, and basil pesto sauce. Served on a toasted bun
BBQ Bacon Chicken Sandwich
(Fried or Grilled) Chicken breast drizzled in BBQ sauce & served with cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce & tomato on a bun
Meatball Classic
Traditional style meatball sandwich served with melted mozzarella cheese, and covered in our marinara sauce
Gyro Pita Sandwich
Sliced Gyro meat with lettuce, tomato, & onion. Topped with Yia Yia's famous tzatziki sauce
Chicken Pita Sandwich
Sliced Chicken Breast with lettuce, tomato, & onion. Topped with Yia Yia's famous tzatziki sauce
BLT Sandwich
Traditional BLT on sourdough bread with mayo, Applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato
Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
(Fried or Grilled) Chicken breast dipped in our mild or buffalo sauce and topped with blue cheese crumbles, lettuce, and tomato on a bun
Eye - Talian
Fresh Italian cold cuts, cappicola, prosciutto, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, and balsamic vinaigrette served hot on a hoagie
Hippie Burger
A black bean patty topped with spicy aioli, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion
California Chicken Sandwich
Marinated chicken breast, with bacon, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, & onion. Served on a bun with an avocado spread
The Rusty Onion Burger*
1/2 lb Angus beef grilled & topped with grilled onions, mushrooms, bacon, swiss cheese, & red pepper mayonnaise. Served on a bun
The Opa Burger*
1/2 lb Angus beef grilled & topped with Feta cheese, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, & tzatziki sauce. Served on a bun
Build Your Own Burger
Toppings are .50 each. Served on a bun
Build Your Own Chicken
Toppings are .50 each. Served on a bun
Sandwiches / Spinach Wraps
Entrees
Meatball Ravioli
Meatballs served with our traditional marinara sauce over cheese ravioli & topped with parmesan cheese
Chicken Parmesan
Breaded & Fried chicken breast on top of angel hair pasta, topped with marinara sauce & melted mozzarella cheese
Eggplant Parmesan
Lightly fried fresh eggplant served with spaghetti, sauteed mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & marinara sauce
Chicken Penne
Blackened chicken breast, sauteed green peppers & onions, tossed in a gorgonzola cream sauce
Cheese Manicotti
Three hand-rolled manicotti tubes filled with creamy ricotta cheese, topped with marinara sauce & melted mozzarella cheese
Smothered Chicken
Marinated chicken breast with bacon, sauteed mushrooms, onions & melted provolone cheese on top of angel hair pasta
Homemade Lasagna
Delicious meat lasagna with layers of pasta, Angus ground beef, ricotta and romano cheeses, marinara, and topped with melted mozzarella
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Traditional home style spaghetti sauce with 4 large handmade meatballs
Chicken a la Vodka
Grilled seasoned chicken and penne pasta with our a la vodka sauce
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Grilled seasoned chicken, fresh broccoli, and penne pasta in our homemade alfredo sauce.
Hot Carnivore
Red sauce base with meatballs, Italian sausage & pepperoni under a juicy layer of melted mozzarella, and crispy, crunchy bacon bits 10" • 18.99 / 14" • 22.99 / 18" • 28.99
Supreme Pizza
Red sauce base with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, white onions, & mozzarella 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Bianca
Classic white pie with our garlic/EVOO sauce, ricotta, tomato slices, fresh spinach, & mozzarella cheese 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Mac N Cheese Pizza
Noodles tossed in a Bechamel creme cheese sauce, topped with cheddar & mozzarella cheese 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
BBQ Chicken
BBQ sauce base with chicken, cheddar cheese, red onions, cilantro, and mozzarella 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Buffalo Chicken
Mild buffalo sauce base with goat cheese spread, grilled chicken, blue cheese crumbles, red onions, cheddar cheese, & mozzarella 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Shroomin' Fun Guy
Our garlic/EVOO sauce with mushrooms, onions, goat cheese, & roasted garlic spread, topped with mozzarella, arugula, & white truffle oil 10" • 17.99/ 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Eye-Talian Stallion
White sauce base with prosciutto, salami, bacon, black olives, artichokes, minced garlic, and mozzarella cheese 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Greek Pizza
Our garlic/EVOO sauce with sliced tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives, banana peppers, mozzarella, & crumbled feta cheese 10" • 17.99/ 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Cheese Steak D-Light
Roasted red pepper base with hand-ground in-house Philly beef, caramelized onions, & mushrooms, topped with cheddar & mozzarella cheese 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Great Balls of Fire
Red sauce base with our delicious meatballs, red onions, tomato slices, roasted red peppers, & mozzarella cheese 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Presto Pesto
Pesto base with fresh spinach, tomato slices, mushrooms, & mozzarella cheese 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Ooh Yeah
Red sauce base with fresh spinach, artichokes, pineapple, and jalapenos 10" • 17.99 / 14" • 21.99 / 18" • 25.99
Specialty Pizzas
Build Your Own Pizzas
Sauces
Red/Tomato, Green/Pesto, BBQ Sauce, White/Garlic & EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Cheeses
Cheddar, Feta, Mozzarella, Ricotta, Shaved Parmesan
Meats
Bacon, Cappicola, Ground Beef, Sausage, Pepperoni, Prosciutto, Salami, Chicken, Meatballs, Ham
Veggies
Artichoke, Banana Peppers, Black Olives, Broccoli, Roasted Red Peppers, Green Olives, Green Peppers, Jalapenos, Red/White Onions, Pepperoncini, Spinach, Fresh Basil, Caramelized Onions, Kalamata Olives, Pineapple, Sliced Tomatoes, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Minced Garlic
Four Cheese Calzone
Romano, Mozzarella, Parmesan, and Ricotta Cheeses
Meat Lovers Stromboli
No Substitutions Pepperoni, Sausage, Meatballs, Bacon, and Mozzarella Cheese
Sausage Calzone
No Substitutions Our four cheese calzone with Sausage, green pepper, and caramelized onions
Build Your Own Calzone -Or- Stromboli
Choose any of the toppings above at 1.00 per topping
Calzones & Strombolis
Little Sprouts (Kids Menu)
Rusty's Ravioli
Cheese Ravioli with tomato sauce & 2 meatballs
Kids Pasta
Served with Marinara or Butter
Flatbread Pizza
Choice of Cheese or Pepperoni
Grilled Cheese
Served with hand-cut regular or sweet potato fries
Chicken Tenders
3 hand-breaded chicken tenders, served with hand-cut or sweet potato fries
Rusty Onion Rings
Homemade onion rings served with our house-made chipotle aioli
Hand-Cut Fries Or Sweet Potato Fries
Classic crispy greatness you'd expect with a great meal
Mac N' Cheese
Bechamel creme cheese sauce & noodles topped with cheddar
Steamed Broccoli
Tasty little trees
Meatballs
The best part of any pasta
Extra Side of Dressing Or sauce
Add a little extra housemade flavor
Sides
Desserts
Cannoli
Hand-rolled shell, piped with chocolate chip pastry cream
Cheesecake
The famous "Mother's Cheesecake" from New Jersey
Chocolate Spoon Cake
A perfect amount of chocolate pudding layered in-between a tasty chocolate cake (with our without a scoop of vanilla ice cream)
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie
2 warm homemade chocolate chip cookies topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Fried Oreos
6 perfect little chocolate sandwich cookies fried to golden perfection