Went there for the first time today at about 2:30pm. We were seated quickly which wasn't surprising since there was only one other family there. I looked at the somewhat meager offerings on the buffet, but everything looked wilted or dried out. (I heard the other family complaining about this amongst themselves later.) I ordered ravioli and my boyfriend ordered spaghetti. The orders came quickly, but my ravioli was disgusting. It was under so much sauce that it seemed like I was brought soup, not an entree. No matter, I thought. I can dig out the raviolis. However, they were so rubbery that they were inedible. Never have I been unable to eat anything Italian, but there's a first time for everything. Apparently there's no lunch menu as we paid $12 for rubbery ravioli soup. It wasn't even worth a dollar. The waitress certainly noticed that I didn't eat most of it as she took my plate away, but no "was there a problem" or even "was everything okay?" Only it's excellent location and suckers like us who want to support local businesses keep this place open.
(1)
Ken B.
First I checked out the dinner buffet and was impressed by the salad bar but the entrees and pizza selections were really lacking. I opted for the veal Parmesan with something they call Aurora sauce which I was told was a combination of marinara and Alfredo sauces. The side salad was fresh and had a lot of different veggies including olives and a pepperocini. The veal was thin and lightly coated and cooked until nicely crisp. Thankfully they did not bury it under a load of cheese. The noodles were ok but the Aurora sauce lacked much flavor. I would definitely go back. Service was adequate.
(3)
Christy F.
It is ultimately up to you to decide whether to give Rulli's a try or not; it also depends on your level of travel, your preferences in Italian food, and your past experiences at other Italian dining establishments. That being said, in my opinion it is not worth your valuable time to visit Rulli's in Middlebury. Listen to Doug M, Robin M, Andrea T, and Brian H. I had an experience that encompasses elements from all of their experiences, where my family and I were initially excited to order a Greek salad only to be disappointed with iceberg lettuce and a few pieces of vegetables. We sent it back and told our server we were disappointed. We ordered lasagna and it was missing the ricotta. The lasagna noodles were mushy, and overall the filling resembled dog food. We sent it back. Our pizza was missing two toppings. Despite this, we decided to keep the pizza because it genuinely was the best and we felt safe eating it. I remember our server mentioning we would be "discounted" for the other two dishes we sent back. In all of my experiences and travels this has never been a normal response to uneaten food. I would understand if it is a case of those uncouth customers (servers know who I'm talking about) who eat an entire dish and decide at the very last minute to place a complaint in order to get free food, but this was not our case. We were very honest up front. Poor salad, poor lasagna, good pizza. Cut and dry. In no way was the server at fault. She was very sweet, and was probably instructed by management to discount food not up to par. I had to speak up though and just ask if the server could remove the bad dishes completely from the bill, since they were not eaten, and she was able to make it happen, thankfully. Never did any management come out to our table to apologize or try to salvage what we felt was an extremely awkward and sad encounter with this family-owned restaurant. This tells me that management does not really care to interact with customers, and they are forcing servers to handle all the dirty work. This is not fair to the servers either, because their tips are at stake. I feel like Gordon Ramsay should pay a visit here. There is obviously a loss of passion at this establishment, and I wish Rulli's all the best with getting back the spark it probably once had. My advice to the Rulli's family: get rid of dead weight and TAKE BACK YOUR RESTAURANT!
(1)
Mackenzie M.
I haven't eaten at Rulli's since I was a child, so I decided to take a trip there tonight. The atmosphere is so friendly including our waitress Michelle. She was great and answered all my questions about the menu to a T! She recommended the ravioli with the white sauce. Usually I'm a very picky eater and stick to what I know but I decided to take a chance and I loved it. I will definitely be going back for more!!
(5)
Steve C.
I used to live near here, back On business. Not a lot of choices in town. I had a nice glass of wine and a small pizza. All was very nice. The decor was remodeled from what I remember. I would definitely come back and recommend for a nice pizza.
(4)
Cameron H.
I like this place! But they convince you to vote them for best pizza of Indiana, but they will give you a -$2 off the bill. Pizza,pasta, and other stuff! You got to get the buffet! So I got the buffet. If your going for the buffet when it's lunch. The buffets going to be ready and fresh (it should be!). And it was tasty! If your finding a Pizzeria dine-in or take out place. It's here you got to look for!" A buffet? Filled with pizza? And other stuff? That's my buffet!"
(4)
Fred W.
I really want to like this place! Good atmosphere and location but the food is bland and uninspired. They need fewer items on the menu and better quality. Simple, fresh and authentic revamp is what they need.
(2)
Julie R.
Stopped here on our way home from cross country trip. Found it by accident but was pleasantly surprised. The kids meal choices were excellent. Two of our kids had the lasagna and the other broasted chicken, everyone was happy. The senior portions were perfect. The house dressing is fabulous. The bread was fresh and the dipping oil very good. The service was good. Our waitress was attentive and knowledgable.
(4)
Andrea T.
Prices are going up, but quality going down. We have few choices to dine in Middlebury, so that's why we go to Rulli's occasionally. Last week we had dinner there and my husband and I ordered the special - salmon with some sort of onion glaze. After ordering, the waitress came back to tell us there was only one fillet left. Fine. My husband switched to the whitefish. We both agreed - both fish dishes were nearly inedible - not fresh, overcooked and very fishy-tasting. He asked for a veggie side and got a warmed up version of Bird's Eye vegetable medley. Pitiful. I opted for no side and then switched to a sweet potato. Thank goodness I did that - that sad little fillet alone on the plate wasn't going to do it for me. I also have to mention that a trip to the salad bar was included with our meals. That was actually more disappointing than our entrees, believe it or not. There was a pan of plain lettuce (used to have mushrooms, peppers, olives, onions, pepperocini, etc. in it), a container that contained 3 grape tomatoes, some pickled beets, some sunflower seeds and some croutons - that's it for salad toppings. Of course there were the usual pasta salads, pudding, etc., but those are not healthy options, so we skip over those. This dinner was just BAD. We don't eat fast food, but McDonald's would have been better. Sorry to be harsh, but it's true. The only reason that we ate our food at all was because we were absolutely famished. On a brighter note, the pizza at Rulli's is good. If you're going to eat at Rulli's, that's a safe choice. The kids ordered a pepperoni pizza and they were happy with it. We also ordered it for takeout yesterday for lunch and it was tasty. Is it worth $35+ for 2 large pizzas, though? That's pretty pricey for no-frills cheese pizza and a one-topping pizza, don't you think? There's a new pizza place opening soon and we're looking forward to trying that out next time. Because it was one of our go-to restaurants, I'm sorry to say that it will be a while before we return to eat at Rulli's. There needs to be a BIG improvement in the flavor, freshness and overall quality of their food. For now we'll drive a few extra miles to Goshen or Elkhart. There are better options there if you have the time to drive a little.
(2)
Brian C.
Warning: Uncharacteristically harsh review (albeit,deserved). I am in town for an extended stay business trip. I love Italian food and have eaten it all over the world. What I was served here would embarrass Chef Boyrardee. My employee ordered Pasta Primavera. While listed correctly in the menu as a cream sauce, we were served a tomato sauce with the rest of the dish correct. I ordered the Chicken Picante. What was supposed to be a spicy vodka sauce was a bland gelatinous mess that was not the color of any traditional sauce, with re-heated chicken added to it. The bread had obviously been sitting out all night as a stale crust had formed over the top. Lastly, by the look on her face, the waitress noticed that I did not eat my meal and did not ask if there was something wrong. She either a) knew better or b) just didn't care. Either way, it was unacceptable. I make Italian at home that would undoubtedly destroy this place, and cooking is just a hobby, not a profession. Sorry, but it really was inconceivably bad.
(1)
Drew G.
Love coming for the lunch buffet! Great food and a huge buffet for under 9 bucks, INCLUDING YOUR DRINK! That's just awesome. Always eat lunch here when I'm in town! Best place to go.
(4)
Peggy A.
Good cheesy garlic bread, but the rest was merely mediocre or worse. Pricey pasta was so-so and Sunday salad bar was meager with no lettuce, picked over items, hours old pizza, and buzzing flies. Not recommended.
(1)
Samantha G.
Crappy pizza, decent garlic bread. Only major positive: open on Sunday night and will deliver to local hotel, essenhaus.
(2)
Lauren H.
Food was amazing. Pizza and bruschetta were super fresh dough. Kinda expensive though. 1 12 inch, app, pasta and 2 pitchers of beer was over $60!
(4)
Rafael D.
Ordered some lasagna, and the food portions were meh. The pizza, however, was very good. It was extremely greasy, but nothing you don't see from Pizza Hut ha. I would go again.
(4)
David S.
First time here ! Won't be the last. The wife and I were visiting the world famous Shipshewana Flea Market on a rainy Tuesday and decided to eat lunch here. We both had the house salad with the house dressing. Sweet. Then we tackled the margherita pizza, so fresh and tasty. We will be back for a full blown Italian meal with some wine. The wife said this place was cute with it's Italian deco. The menu had a complete lineup of Pasta dishes. Which we are anxious to try. Our waitress was quick and attentive. The place was not that hard to locate. It is situated at the West end of the Northridge Centre. Just West of Das Essen Haus. on U.S. 20. Our GPS was unable to find it.
(4)
Doug M.
I took my fiance out for her 50th Birthday Tuesday, Sept. 23. I've had better experiences there for sure. I ordered the buffet, and although I know it's not very big, I still expect more. The salad bar consisted of a bowl of lettuce with carrots and tomatoes as the only things to add for a tossed salad. They did however have some tasty other type salads, including a creamy broccoli and Cauliflower which I found to be very tasty. However, there were only 3 types of pizzas offered on the buffet and all were single item -Pepperoni, sausage or Mushroom. Bleh. My girlfriend ordered fried shrimp and we had to send it back because it was overdone, the second portion came out nicely done, but she didn't care much for the breading. I too tried it and found it to be pretty bland. I then excused myself from the table and went to use the bathroom. While it wasn't dirty per se, it is well past worn and desperate for renovation. On a good note, the bread and oil dip make the trip worthwhile all by itself. We had double helpings of the dip and my fiance who is doing her best to limit calories couldn't resist the bread and SHE was the one who asked for more dip. Also, I must add the service was outstanding and the waitress more than willing to do what she could to make our meal pleasant. I am loathe to write poor reviews on restaurants, but Rulli's can and has done better.
(2)
Robin M.
VEGETABLE Lasanga was not worth the price even though it came with the salad bar. No garlic toast or bread to accompany Lasanga meal. Portion was very small. Salad bar lacked on items. Had three dressings, lettuce, fake bacon bits, whole mini carrots, old wrinkly grape tomatoes, and not much else to add. No cottage cheese, no spinach leafs, no sunflower seeds, no croutons, no shredded cheese, nothing a salad bar should offer. Rullis is lacking in food choices that matter to customers. Chicken wings were good. Iced tea tasted odd, sort of like well water. Waitress service was not friendly or bubbly.
(2)
Ben A.
Great place for a quick lunch. They have a nice buffet with pasta, chicken, pizza, etc.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Connie E.
Went there for the first time today at about 2:30pm. We were seated quickly which wasn't surprising since there was only one other family there. I looked at the somewhat meager offerings on the buffet, but everything looked wilted or dried out. (I heard the other family complaining about this amongst themselves later.) I ordered ravioli and my boyfriend ordered spaghetti. The orders came quickly, but my ravioli was disgusting. It was under so much sauce that it seemed like I was brought soup, not an entree. No matter, I thought. I can dig out the raviolis. However, they were so rubbery that they were inedible. Never have I been unable to eat anything Italian, but there's a first time for everything. Apparently there's no lunch menu as we paid $12 for rubbery ravioli soup. It wasn't even worth a dollar. The waitress certainly noticed that I didn't eat most of it as she took my plate away, but no "was there a problem" or even "was everything okay?" Only it's excellent location and suckers like us who want to support local businesses keep this place open.
(1)Ken B.
First I checked out the dinner buffet and was impressed by the salad bar but the entrees and pizza selections were really lacking. I opted for the veal Parmesan with something they call Aurora sauce which I was told was a combination of marinara and Alfredo sauces. The side salad was fresh and had a lot of different veggies including olives and a pepperocini. The veal was thin and lightly coated and cooked until nicely crisp. Thankfully they did not bury it under a load of cheese. The noodles were ok but the Aurora sauce lacked much flavor. I would definitely go back. Service was adequate.
(3)Christy F.
It is ultimately up to you to decide whether to give Rulli's a try or not; it also depends on your level of travel, your preferences in Italian food, and your past experiences at other Italian dining establishments. That being said, in my opinion it is not worth your valuable time to visit Rulli's in Middlebury. Listen to Doug M, Robin M, Andrea T, and Brian H. I had an experience that encompasses elements from all of their experiences, where my family and I were initially excited to order a Greek salad only to be disappointed with iceberg lettuce and a few pieces of vegetables. We sent it back and told our server we were disappointed. We ordered lasagna and it was missing the ricotta. The lasagna noodles were mushy, and overall the filling resembled dog food. We sent it back. Our pizza was missing two toppings. Despite this, we decided to keep the pizza because it genuinely was the best and we felt safe eating it. I remember our server mentioning we would be "discounted" for the other two dishes we sent back. In all of my experiences and travels this has never been a normal response to uneaten food. I would understand if it is a case of those uncouth customers (servers know who I'm talking about) who eat an entire dish and decide at the very last minute to place a complaint in order to get free food, but this was not our case. We were very honest up front. Poor salad, poor lasagna, good pizza. Cut and dry. In no way was the server at fault. She was very sweet, and was probably instructed by management to discount food not up to par. I had to speak up though and just ask if the server could remove the bad dishes completely from the bill, since they were not eaten, and she was able to make it happen, thankfully. Never did any management come out to our table to apologize or try to salvage what we felt was an extremely awkward and sad encounter with this family-owned restaurant. This tells me that management does not really care to interact with customers, and they are forcing servers to handle all the dirty work. This is not fair to the servers either, because their tips are at stake. I feel like Gordon Ramsay should pay a visit here. There is obviously a loss of passion at this establishment, and I wish Rulli's all the best with getting back the spark it probably once had. My advice to the Rulli's family: get rid of dead weight and TAKE BACK YOUR RESTAURANT!
(1)Mackenzie M.
I haven't eaten at Rulli's since I was a child, so I decided to take a trip there tonight. The atmosphere is so friendly including our waitress Michelle. She was great and answered all my questions about the menu to a T! She recommended the ravioli with the white sauce. Usually I'm a very picky eater and stick to what I know but I decided to take a chance and I loved it. I will definitely be going back for more!!
(5)Steve C.
I used to live near here, back On business. Not a lot of choices in town. I had a nice glass of wine and a small pizza. All was very nice. The decor was remodeled from what I remember. I would definitely come back and recommend for a nice pizza.
(4)Cameron H.
I like this place! But they convince you to vote them for best pizza of Indiana, but they will give you a -$2 off the bill. Pizza,pasta, and other stuff! You got to get the buffet! So I got the buffet. If your going for the buffet when it's lunch. The buffets going to be ready and fresh (it should be!). And it was tasty! If your finding a Pizzeria dine-in or take out place. It's here you got to look for!" A buffet? Filled with pizza? And other stuff? That's my buffet!"
(4)Fred W.
I really want to like this place! Good atmosphere and location but the food is bland and uninspired. They need fewer items on the menu and better quality. Simple, fresh and authentic revamp is what they need.
(2)Julie R.
Stopped here on our way home from cross country trip. Found it by accident but was pleasantly surprised. The kids meal choices were excellent. Two of our kids had the lasagna and the other broasted chicken, everyone was happy. The senior portions were perfect. The house dressing is fabulous. The bread was fresh and the dipping oil very good. The service was good. Our waitress was attentive and knowledgable.
(4)Andrea T.
Prices are going up, but quality going down. We have few choices to dine in Middlebury, so that's why we go to Rulli's occasionally. Last week we had dinner there and my husband and I ordered the special - salmon with some sort of onion glaze. After ordering, the waitress came back to tell us there was only one fillet left. Fine. My husband switched to the whitefish. We both agreed - both fish dishes were nearly inedible - not fresh, overcooked and very fishy-tasting. He asked for a veggie side and got a warmed up version of Bird's Eye vegetable medley. Pitiful. I opted for no side and then switched to a sweet potato. Thank goodness I did that - that sad little fillet alone on the plate wasn't going to do it for me. I also have to mention that a trip to the salad bar was included with our meals. That was actually more disappointing than our entrees, believe it or not. There was a pan of plain lettuce (used to have mushrooms, peppers, olives, onions, pepperocini, etc. in it), a container that contained 3 grape tomatoes, some pickled beets, some sunflower seeds and some croutons - that's it for salad toppings. Of course there were the usual pasta salads, pudding, etc., but those are not healthy options, so we skip over those. This dinner was just BAD. We don't eat fast food, but McDonald's would have been better. Sorry to be harsh, but it's true. The only reason that we ate our food at all was because we were absolutely famished. On a brighter note, the pizza at Rulli's is good. If you're going to eat at Rulli's, that's a safe choice. The kids ordered a pepperoni pizza and they were happy with it. We also ordered it for takeout yesterday for lunch and it was tasty. Is it worth $35+ for 2 large pizzas, though? That's pretty pricey for no-frills cheese pizza and a one-topping pizza, don't you think? There's a new pizza place opening soon and we're looking forward to trying that out next time. Because it was one of our go-to restaurants, I'm sorry to say that it will be a while before we return to eat at Rulli's. There needs to be a BIG improvement in the flavor, freshness and overall quality of their food. For now we'll drive a few extra miles to Goshen or Elkhart. There are better options there if you have the time to drive a little.
(2)Brian C.
Warning: Uncharacteristically harsh review (albeit,deserved). I am in town for an extended stay business trip. I love Italian food and have eaten it all over the world. What I was served here would embarrass Chef Boyrardee. My employee ordered Pasta Primavera. While listed correctly in the menu as a cream sauce, we were served a tomato sauce with the rest of the dish correct. I ordered the Chicken Picante. What was supposed to be a spicy vodka sauce was a bland gelatinous mess that was not the color of any traditional sauce, with re-heated chicken added to it. The bread had obviously been sitting out all night as a stale crust had formed over the top. Lastly, by the look on her face, the waitress noticed that I did not eat my meal and did not ask if there was something wrong. She either a) knew better or b) just didn't care. Either way, it was unacceptable. I make Italian at home that would undoubtedly destroy this place, and cooking is just a hobby, not a profession. Sorry, but it really was inconceivably bad.
(1)Drew G.
Love coming for the lunch buffet! Great food and a huge buffet for under 9 bucks, INCLUDING YOUR DRINK! That's just awesome. Always eat lunch here when I'm in town! Best place to go.
(4)Peggy A.
Good cheesy garlic bread, but the rest was merely mediocre or worse. Pricey pasta was so-so and Sunday salad bar was meager with no lettuce, picked over items, hours old pizza, and buzzing flies. Not recommended.
(1)Samantha G.
Crappy pizza, decent garlic bread. Only major positive: open on Sunday night and will deliver to local hotel, essenhaus.
(2)Lauren H.
Food was amazing. Pizza and bruschetta were super fresh dough. Kinda expensive though. 1 12 inch, app, pasta and 2 pitchers of beer was over $60!
(4)Rafael D.
Ordered some lasagna, and the food portions were meh. The pizza, however, was very good. It was extremely greasy, but nothing you don't see from Pizza Hut ha. I would go again.
(4)David S.
First time here ! Won't be the last. The wife and I were visiting the world famous Shipshewana Flea Market on a rainy Tuesday and decided to eat lunch here. We both had the house salad with the house dressing. Sweet. Then we tackled the margherita pizza, so fresh and tasty. We will be back for a full blown Italian meal with some wine. The wife said this place was cute with it's Italian deco. The menu had a complete lineup of Pasta dishes. Which we are anxious to try. Our waitress was quick and attentive. The place was not that hard to locate. It is situated at the West end of the Northridge Centre. Just West of Das Essen Haus. on U.S. 20. Our GPS was unable to find it.
(4)Doug M.
I took my fiance out for her 50th Birthday Tuesday, Sept. 23. I've had better experiences there for sure. I ordered the buffet, and although I know it's not very big, I still expect more. The salad bar consisted of a bowl of lettuce with carrots and tomatoes as the only things to add for a tossed salad. They did however have some tasty other type salads, including a creamy broccoli and Cauliflower which I found to be very tasty. However, there were only 3 types of pizzas offered on the buffet and all were single item -Pepperoni, sausage or Mushroom. Bleh. My girlfriend ordered fried shrimp and we had to send it back because it was overdone, the second portion came out nicely done, but she didn't care much for the breading. I too tried it and found it to be pretty bland. I then excused myself from the table and went to use the bathroom. While it wasn't dirty per se, it is well past worn and desperate for renovation. On a good note, the bread and oil dip make the trip worthwhile all by itself. We had double helpings of the dip and my fiance who is doing her best to limit calories couldn't resist the bread and SHE was the one who asked for more dip. Also, I must add the service was outstanding and the waitress more than willing to do what she could to make our meal pleasant. I am loathe to write poor reviews on restaurants, but Rulli's can and has done better.
(2)Robin M.
VEGETABLE Lasanga was not worth the price even though it came with the salad bar. No garlic toast or bread to accompany Lasanga meal. Portion was very small. Salad bar lacked on items. Had three dressings, lettuce, fake bacon bits, whole mini carrots, old wrinkly grape tomatoes, and not much else to add. No cottage cheese, no spinach leafs, no sunflower seeds, no croutons, no shredded cheese, nothing a salad bar should offer. Rullis is lacking in food choices that matter to customers. Chicken wings were good. Iced tea tasted odd, sort of like well water. Waitress service was not friendly or bubbly.
(2)Ben A.
Great place for a quick lunch. They have a nice buffet with pasta, chicken, pizza, etc.
(4)