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Name: Rustico
Address: 827 Slaters Ln, Alexandria, VA, 22314
Telephone: (703) 224-5051
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.50

Rustico

827 Slaters Ln, Alexandria, VA, 22314

(703) 224-5051
Store is closed

Rustico Menu

Starters

3 Rustico Meatballs

Pretzel Crusted Mac & Cheese

Carrot Hummus

Rustico Half-smoke

Bacon & Blue Mussels
Soup / Salads

Squash Soup

Grilled Or Classic Caesar

Boston Bibb Lettuce

Baby Wedge Salad
Big Plates

Grilled Salmon B.l.t.

Grilled Dry Aged Cheddar Burger

Ricotta Gnudi

Hickory Grilled Pork Chop

Rigatoni Bolognese

Nc Mountain Trout

Rotisserie Chicken

Smoked Beef Shortrib
Rustico Pizza

White

Naked

Italian Sausage Or Pepperoni

Basil & Fresh Mozzarella

Tyrolean

Spinach

Greek

Grilled

Roasted Mushroom
Snacks

Thick Cut Fries

Steak Tartare Slider

Deep Fried Deviled Eggs

Fried Green Tomatoes

Sweet Potato Tots
Sweets

Warm Apple Sundae

Nutella Cheesecake

Crème Brulee

Rustico Donuts

Housemade Ice Creams & Sorbets

Old Style Fountain Soda

Healthy Meal suggestions for Rustico

Starters

3 Rustico Meatballs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pretzel Crusted Mac & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carrot Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rustico Half-smoke [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon & Blue Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup / Salads

Squash Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Or Classic Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boston Bibb Lettuce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baby Wedge Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Big Plates

Grilled Salmon B.l.t. [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Dry Aged Cheddar Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ricotta Gnudi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hickory Grilled Pork Chop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rigatoni Bolognese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nc Mountain Trout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rotisserie Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Beef Shortrib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Rustico Pizza

White [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Naked [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Sausage Or Pepperoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil & Fresh Mozzarella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tyrolean [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Mushroom [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Snacks

Thick Cut Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Tartare Slider [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deep Fried Deviled Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Green Tomatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Tots [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sweets

Warm Apple Sundae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nutella Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crème Brulee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rustico Donuts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Housemade Ice Creams & Sorbets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Old Style Fountain Soda [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Alexandria for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 6230 N Kings Hwy )

Chili’s ( 6601 Richmond Hwy )

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 6250 Inter Parcel Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Alexandria for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 6230 N Kings Hwy )

Chili’s ( 6601 Richmond Hwy )

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 6250 Inter Parcel Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Reuben S.

Let me get this caveat out of the way first: This review is based on my most recent carry-out lunch. I used to like this place a lot (four stars when I went there a year+ ago), but I have not been in a while. So either they have become terrible over the past year, or you should just never get carry-out lunch here. I ordered the Reuben sandwich. The woman who took my order was very nice. I decided to get the "house salad" in lieu of the fries in a stupid attempt to be healthier. What I wound up receiving was pretty unappetizing. The "salad" was a sopping-wet pile of lettuce leaves. You'd think with all the water on them, it would at least be clean, but most of the leaves were covered in dirt and there were a couple little dead bugs stuck to them. So after scavenging a few clean pieces and tossing the rest, I moved on to my sandwich, which I hoped would make up for it. The sandwich looked like the most depressing, squashed, dilapidated brown thing you've ever seen. I guess it is made panini-style, so flatness should be okay, but this thing was absolutely squashed to crap and disheveled as hell. It's like someone took a normal sandwich and beat it to death with a stick. The "pastrami" was gray and flavorless, and so was the slaw. Easily the worst Reuben I've ever had. Being that it is my name, I like to try Reuben's wherever I go. Pretty depressed after forcing myself to eat this. The worst part is it was $13 which is already bogus enough for a sandwich, but for a sandwich like that, it's adding insult to injury. Any of the sandwich shops along King st will make you a better one. Rustico is only a couple blocks from my new office so I had been hoping to go there every now and then when I didn't feel like making my own lunch. That idea has effectively been destroyed now. Maybe I'll give them another chance down the road, but it wont be any time soon.
(1)
Lynn N.

After three visits, I want to offer prospective Rustico diners some advice. GET THE ROASTED MUSHROOM PIZZA!! I think it's simply superb. Creamy goat cheese, roasted mushrooms, and a thin and chewy crust.... Is your mouth watering yet? I love Rustico's interior too. It's open, colorful, and fresh without feeling "done" like so many other places in the area. I like to order a light salad or fruit cup to balance out my meal and to give me the willpower to doggie bag half of my pizza for later. Sure, I could split the pizza instead, but no one wants to split a pizza as delicious as this one.
(4)
Chris M.

I love and hate this place! great pizzas and great burgers they only pale in comparison to the service of the staff! What I hate is the ever changing menu! No more pretzel roll apps. no more butterscotch pudding, changed the rolls the burgers go on.....Arrrgh! I will say this I read an earlier review about the woman and the family that got there at 3:30 and was not seated...to that I say suck it up toots....If you've never been to a restaurant, check out their website to learn the hours or better yet check Yelp (shout out to yelp! Hey-O) just my 2 cents
(4)
Danielle P.

I actually didn't even eat here, but only bc they couldn't give us the chance. We went today with a party of 8, 2 kids that needed high chairs. Apparently between 3 - 5:30, only their bar area is open. So bc we were there at 3:30, they couldn't give us a table. We asked a manager if they could sit us in the dining area anyway bc we needed high chairs and she said that there were no servers for that section. PS - that's about 10 extra steps from the bar area. They let us walk us walk out the door and they wouldn't budge on their stupid closing to get ready for dinner time. SO lame. I've eaten at thousands of restaurants all over the flippin' world and I've never seen a restaurant close 1/2 of its place to prepare for the next rush. LAME
(1)
Sean W.

We continued our DC craft beer and food journey with a stop at Rustico for a private Cask Beer event with Terrapin Brewery out of Athens, Georgia (also in town for the beer event). An overall good experience at Rustico. I love that most DC places with extensive beer menus offer 4oz glasses at a very reasonable price. It helps you try lots of great beers and still drive home under the legal limit ;) The restaurant looks like a modern American restaurant. Big open floor plan, high ceilings, a bar, varied seating, stand alone tables, high tops, a long bench with several small tables ponied up to it. The place looked busy but its so huge in there, we were seated immediately. We only ordered an appetizer as we were eager to head into DC and get to Churchkey (same owners) and check into the hotel. The server recommended the calamari wrapped seared ahi tuna. This was an extremely good choice, and paired nicely with our dry hopped IPA brews from Terrapin's cask. Beer selection is good. There are about 20 beers on draft and lots of interesting and changing options. There are some interesting obscure beers available. For bottles, great selection, nicely done. Probably several hundred bottles. Organized by style / flavors. An interesting way to organize the menu. Very enjoyable experience and I hope to return soon - maybe on our next drive up north.
(4)
Chris J.

If you are a beer lover living in or visiting DC, this place is terrific. Have eaten at Evening Star multiple times, but this was my second visit to Rustico. I had a hectic week, so the Flying Bitch beer was the perfect choice to start the evening. A Grimbergen Dubbel qualified as dessert. Emphasis is on burgers and pizzas, but one in the party enjoyed the lobster dish. Rustico is a great place for a group, Friday evening happy hours and celebrations. If you want quiet and intimate, go to Evening Star. Not sure why people mention parking. You can find a place within a couple blocks. So, if someone is elderly or can't walk, drop them off at the entrance, then find a place and walk a couple blocks.
(4)
Meghan S.

My one big turn off: if you're out of a beer, either tell the table or mark it off your menu. This happened three times. When you're supposed to be known for your remarkable beer selection and service, this is unacceptable. Big turn on: the blue crab pasta + fried deviled eggs. Two of us got it and where in heaven for the rest of the dinner. It was only 4 of us, and granted a Friday evening, but for the life of us we couldn't hear each other speak. We were seated near the front entrance, not tucked away in a corner, which could have been the problem; still, a little disappointing.
(2)
Evan H.

Having been to ChurchKey, the beer mecca of dc (sorry brickskeller), I really wanted to check out some of the other places the Neighborhood Restaurant Group had to offer. Rustico had two things that I knew I wanted: Pizza and Beer. I mean, they have other things, but they have a few hundred bottles and lots of yummy pizza. So, on Saturday, Valentine's Day Eve, the lady and I embarked upon an early dinner at 5:30 (only one available). The only "troubling" part of the evening was that we were about 5 minutes or so early and were told to wait in the bar area. Soon after, several people were seated and so we moved to be seated as well. Our server was delightful and very helpful in answering questions. Especially the all important "what should I get." I hate it when you ask what is good and they say everything. That is a lie, I know it and they know it. Upon the servers recommendation I had the oyster special appetizer and the lady had the deep fried dates stuffed with blue cheese. My oysters were awesome, and not like the standard blue points. According to Anna, the dates were "the best fried food in the world." I tried them and can agree, they were bombtastic. For the main course, we opted for pizza, though she ordered the chick pea crust which is gluten free. I got the mushroom and spinach pizza which was excellent and offered more than your garden variety mushrooms, at least 4 varieties in there, including shiitake. We of course ordered some beers, though I wont get into those. We saved room for dessert (after bringing home a whole pizza combined) at Buzz Bakery across the street. I will definitely come back and try more beers and maybe the Duck Pizza.
(4)
Danielle S.

I've been here quite a few times, for lunch, dinner, and happy hour, and it's an enjoyable place to come to. It's right around the corner from our office, so it's also easy. I can't say I'd go out of my way to come here, but it's definitely worthwhile. The servers are fine, nothing out of the ordinary. We did have a great guy the last time we came in, but he's the only one I actually remember. The food is decent (though I can only remember having pizza and a flatbread, and perhaps a sandwich?), the drink list seems to be decent, and my husband and coworkers enjoy coming here. To be honest, the only thing that really stands out to me about this place is the unique mosaic wall by the bar and inside the bathroom. I seem to enjoy that more than the seating, noise level, food, or drinks. So... take it for what you will. I still come here, so that says something.
(3)
Maggie W.

De. licious. They have the wackiest and most awesome dishes, like bowtie pasta chips(!) and orzo mac and cheese with pretzel bread crumbs. Crazy good. The "tastes" of beer we had were enormous. And delicious. No complaints, great atmosphere. I've been craving the mac and cheese for days.
(5)
Chris D.

I have to take this place in doses because if I don't, I'm liable to hurt myself packing away so much great food and beer! Rustico features quite possibly the most innovative and varied beer selection I've ever seen. Many are craft brewed and tapped, so you can enjoy them in a tall, cold glass. Even more hide behind the bar area in lockers of refrigerated beer awesomeness. Every time you come back, they have new additions to the beer list, so you'll never get bored. Rustico's pizzas, for which they're known, are simply OUTSTANDING. Do not pass up the roasted mushroom pizza, and be sure to try the gluten-free chickpea crust. If you're in the mood for something smaller, try the insanely wonderful pretzel-crusted mac n' cheese: NOMNOMNOMNOM!!!
(5)
Spencer H.

A friend suggested we meet here, thinking they would have at least a few options for me (vegan). I don't expect much when I dine out and am usually content with a cheese-less pizza and a garden salad. Even that was difficult for this place to do. We had a reservation, so we were seated immediately and greeted by a friendly waiter with a huge beer list in hand. Good start. I quickly realized there was very little on the menu that could even be modified for me to eat. Nearly all the salads had meat and cheese. Even the hummus appetizer comes with feta and lamb (??) - fail. I ended up with a veggie pizza (no cheese). Pretty tasty, reasonably priced. I noticed on the dessert menu that they serve their pumpkin pie with a pear sorbet. It is NOT listed on the menu separately, so you have to ask for it. It was just OK. However, the place was swarming with small children, several of whom were walking to the restrooms or wandering around unattended. I love kids, but that's unacceptable - not only because they can be a nuisance to other diners, but for safety reasons! The seating arrangement was also unfortunate. Our table for two was situated between THREE large groups (8+), all of which were incredibly loud and disruptive. I'd like to give this place a higher rating because our server was great. He made excellent beer recommendations and did his best to accomodate my dietary restrictions. The bar area looked pretty cool and with such a great drink selection, I'm sure it's a great spot for happy hour. However, I will not be heading back there for dinner any time soon.
(2)
Chuck W.

I wanted to revisit a review from several years ago because I think Rustico has gotten better. They stopped with the overly-oily pizzas with bizarre combinations and have gone to more classic (and delicious) pizzas. I still wish their entree selections were more substantial, but what's available is always consistent and tasty. Rustico is a fun place to go anytime of the day.
(4)
William D.

This is my annual birthday dinner spot. Can't beat the fun atmosphere (bar and restaurant sides are completely different feels). The bar side has large TVs, high table tops, and a great view of their beer selection. Same great food available with wait service available most times. When it's packed, the bar service may be slow, but what else is new in the DMV area? The restaurant side is a bit more formal feeling, no tv views, great view of the cooking area, great decor, and of course a fantastic seasonal menu. I've taken just about every out of town guest here for a either a quick-bite / drink in between events or a great place to start an evening out on the town. Also great for all ranges of tastes, from the picky teens (pizza) to the more adventurous folks. I've had just about everything at least once and will continue to keep returning.
(5)
Pete W.

We go the bar side, not the restaurant side, and have been doing so since they opened. I miss Greg and Nahem, who have moved on to ChurchKey, but still love the beer selection, the cask conditioned ales, the pizzas, the burgers, the patio. The kitchen also does consistently wonderful things with seafood. But really, this place is more about drinking several different delicious beers with old friends.
(4)
Magic Mark L.

This place is fun. I've been three times and haven't been disappointed. That says something 'cause I'm not that easy to please. I agree with those who've said the place is a bit pricey for what it is - it is. But having said that, I think the pizzas, salads and apps are above average for one of these Bistro-ish places . The beer selection is phenomenal, they have sports on tv, the atmosphere is fun, and the staff is friendly... I like the bar area better than the dining area. You can eat there too and there's a section towards the front where they have a few couches with little tables and such that are cool... I organized a happy hour there for a friend who was leaving my office and it went off without a hitch. You can also do a "call ahead" and put your name on the seating list. Overall, a fun place.
(4)
Joe T.

I came in with no expectations. Upon walking in, I immediately wanted to love the place. It had such a cool and surprising vibe inside and the menu was promising. We were met with prompt and friendly service. 5 stars for ambiance/hospitality. The food? Ehhh. Didn't work as well for me. My girlfriend and I shared the mac and cheese which just left me scratching my head. They use orzo instead of traditional macaroni and that just didn't work. Think floating rice in a sea of cheese. And the crumbled Rold Gold pretzels on top just screamed to me that they were trying too hard. My grilled pizza was loaded with garlic cloves everywhere. I use garlic is almost everything I make, but this was overwhelming. I love love love tons of meat on my pizza and salt all over my food, but the entire surface of the pie was covered by meat that was so salty I was chugging down insane amounts of coke and water. I would give this place another try because it's a really cool spot in an area otherwise devoid of places like this, but the food I had was just not very good.
(3)
Jenn H.

Great place, good pizza, great atmosphere, great beers, and decent wine selection. I've been here three times and thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere. That is my favorite aspect of the place. The tiled walls, the warm colors, and decor make this place incredibly cozy and homey. I have had better pizza, but the pizza IS good. Most recently I had the wild mushroom pizza which is delcious.
(4)
Shannon C.

I went here for the second time last night. The experiences were both comparable- yay for consistency. The Basics This place has an amazing bar set-up with a variety of beers in bottles as well as on tap. (with exception of my favorite abita strawberry- tear) Some might find the menu a little limited but I actually have always ordered specials and have yet to be let down. The pistachio cheese torte I had for dinner last night was amazing, and I had to stop myself from consuming the entire thing and suffering a bellyache. I've always let my waiter guide me through the beer selection- but I think next time I'll be less co-dependent and try a "flight" to experiment. Why Rustico doesn't get 5 stars... 1. parking always seems limited which can be rather annoying 2. why are the hostesses so snotty? they just don't seem to be very interested acknowledging you and are usually not that knowledgeable about wait times. even if you have a reservation. it is kind of like, go find yourself your own table and don't bother me about it. This kind of surprises me because the wait staff has always been stellar if you can get over the initial challenges, then Rustico is a great place to hang out, grab a beer and chow down on a burger or pizza.
(4)
Victoria H.

Rustico has great food, but terrible, terrible service. If you're heading over for a meal, don't go when you're starving because it will take forever for you to get your food...it's the type of place where you go, have a drink and chat for 20-30 minutes, and then your food arrives. Just go with that in mind and you'll be less perturbed by the experience. I waited until I'd been twice before I reviewed Rustico in case the first time was an anomaly. Sorry to say that it was not. On both occasions, we went for dinner on a Sunday evening at around 6pm. Seating was readily available both times and we opted to sit outside each time. Last night, a server who was not assigned to our table came over a few minutes after we were seated to take our drink orders and assure us that our server was aware we'd been seated and that we hadn't been forgotten about. Considering that is what happened on our prior visit, we were glad for this candor. We placed our order, which included an appetizer and entrees for the four of us (2 of us ordered a white pizza to share, one ordered a fried green tomato pizza, and I ordered the panzanella as an entree). Our appetizer came out in a timely fashion (the caesar fries, which were limp and greasy). At least 20 minutes after our appetizer had been served, our actual server came to the table and set down two plates and a pizza stand. I commented to my table-mates that something seemed odd since we ordered 2 pizzas and we only were set for one pizza, and that the server only set plates for 2 people. Another 10 minutes went by and the white pizza was brought out, but there was no sign of either of the other entrees. At this point, a table that was seated well after we were had actually finished eating their entrees and another table that was sat minutes ago received their panzanella - the same salad I'd been waiting for. At this point, we asked to speak with a manager who said he'd investigate. As it turned out, the server punched in our order incorrectly and I guess it did not occur to her that something was amiss. Oddly enough, neither the server nor the manager seemed very apologetic for the error, although they did make us a new white pizza (the other had gotten cold as we waited for the other food to be served) and comped us the pizza and appetizer. Here's the bummer -- the food is really, really good. The panzanella was the best salad I'd ever had. EVER! But I don't really think we'll be going back any time soon.
(2)
Carolyn S.

Disappointing. With so many reviews, I was excited about trying this place. It was super busy, but the food wasn't great. I love the pizza at 2 Amy's (Georgetown, Washington DC) and Red Rocks Pizza (Old Town Alexandria, VA), and this pizza just didn't even slightly compare. Thin crust (which I normally love), but the flavor and texture wasn't good. Didn't particularly care for the tomato sauce on the pizza. I ordered the Margherita pizza - they didn't use discs of fresh mozzarella, but rather shredded mozzarella that tasted cheap and greasy. Pleasant servers, but all in all, won't bother coming here again.
(2)
John P.

I enjoyed the salmon sandwich and the Russian imperial Stout beer, I haven't been here on a weekend, but I am sure they have a great crowd on Friday and Saturday! Its hard to find locations that serve quality beer, which is one of the reasons I liked this place and will definitely return again and again!
(4)
Brianne C.

3.65 stars. Something strange is happening at Rustico. As the quality of the food mobilizes upward, the service is becoming increasingly mercurial. To wit: our server curtly asked one of our friends why she wasn't ordering more than an entree (pan-roasted chicken breast with a frenched leg, greens, and sweet potato puree), then seemed overly interested in meticulously pouring our water, continued to be unfamiliar with the beer selections, and did not know basic information about the evening's menu. Then, when the red velvet cheesecake ran out, we received a gratis rustic pear tart. To describe his energy as strange would be an understatement. Despite our waiter, we enjoyed our meals. The pork chop with mustard sauce and root vegetables was beautifully seared and flavorful, while the spinach pizza heralded surprisingly green, flavorful leaves. The grilled Caesar salad, a simple chopped preparation of romaine, dressing, and croutons, was perfectly kissed with fire and smoke, and continued to warrant our attention. I have always wished that the burger came dressed with a more generous slice of cheese, but the aioli with shallots and red wine elevated this sandwich above many of its competitors (though Ray's has nothing to fear). The caramel apple sundae was indulgent, even hedonistic, with its generous swirl of salted caramel, bright apples, and crumbly streusel, and easily became the outstanding item of the night. I keep going back to Rustico because I enjoy taking a short stroll to a nice, interesting meal. Unfortunately, servers who are by turns ornery, polite, and confused detract from the experience. Please make a couple of changes, Rustico, and I will love you again.
(4)
Gwendolyn D.

I'm really sad I just discovered this place, but it does seem really brand new. Our experience at Rustico was great. The server was awesome and very personable. She notified us that the executive chef was in the house tonight and told us how the chef likes to switch up the menu sometimes. We had the huge binder of beers in front of us, which was impressive (300!). What we liked was that we were there during Happy Hour, and it was not only limited to the bar, like other restaurants. The beers on tap were good and our server was very knowledgeable with the different kinds of beer. We started off with the Crustini & Salsa of the moment, which was sun dried tomato. That was great. My BF had the Rockfish, which our server informed us that they get the rockfish fresh everyday and that his was caught that morning. I had the slow roasted duck breast with dirty rice. The flavors for both dishes were amazing! Good contrast of extremes on one plate. We ended the night with Red Velvet Cheesecake, which was extremely rich! We ordered a Spinach Pizza to go for movie night and lunch tomorrow and it was great, even the next day! Everything there was served in good sized portions. Restaurants nowadays have oversized portions and make you feel overly stuffed. I'd definitely come back here again! Maybe one day we'll tackle the extensive beer list!
(5)
Josh S.

Rustico gets a rare 5 star rating from me. I have to admit in the dozen or more times I have been here, I have only sat outside the bar one time. That time I had the grilled caesar salad - awesome! In the bar area there are several seats at the bar, tables for eight, and then a handful of large booths. The tables are big enough that it is common for strangers to sit down at the table - very European. (the last time one guy sat in the middle by himself and spread out so no one else could sit there. Really, dude?) You can order off the full menu at the bar but there is also a bar menu. The pretzel is my favorite - three pretzel logs that come with both sweet and spicy mustards. I think I have this every time I go. Also the tuna tartare is pretty darn good - almost as the seared ahi at Ruth's Chris or Flemming's. Rustico is known for their wood fired pizzas - large enough for two and very tasty. BUT the main draw to the bar is the beer. They have a ton of beers - at least 25 on tap. Don't be afraid to ask for something like X if you aren't familiar. The staff is well versed. Or you could be adventurous and order a flight (small glasses of whatever you want or predefined flights). You really can't go wrong with anything here. Great food,great atmosphere, and a ton of beer. What can possibly go wrong?
(5)
Kim N.

Aside from the long waits and sometimes oft humor of the wait staff (nothing offensive, we just didn't get the jokes), this place has great food and an AWESOME beer selection (as opposed to other places with AMAZING beer selection and awful food. Brickskellar, I'm talking about you.) Our party of 9 managed to snag half a table in the bar (and later got the whole table). We ordered 3 pizzas (fig & prosciutto, confit duck & cracklins, and spinach). Some of us also split an order of the truffled cous cous carbonara. it was FANTASTIC, so creamy and tasty, plus bacon, how could you go wrong?! The pizzas were delicious, the fig & prosciutto was my fave; bf liked spinach the best (it was perfectly cheesy). I can't remember the beers we had, but it was all good. Bf had this raspberry flambois that was delicious and tasted like juice!
(5)
Zachary B.

Meh... Honestly. So overpriced and mediocre. Shame on me for going as many times as I have. My wife and I agree though, that if this wasn't the only show in town, we wouldn't even bother. Service is ok, but when I asked my server what the "confit calamari" was, he told me the squid was poached in it's own fat. Really??!?! Oh yeah, I forgot that squid are known for their rich fat stores. Idiot... Great beer list as usual. I bet they sell a lot of pizza and burgers because everything else is so overpriced.
(2)
Diana F.

OK, a rare five for tonight! As my prior reviews suggest, I like Rustico, but for me some nights have been better than others. Tonight was spectacular! My guest and I ordered pizzas fo the first time at this establishment. We agreed that we could not remember having pizza this good. Mine was a "roasted mushroom," which also had mushroom cream, goat cheese, and spinach. My guest had the Pumpkin Pizza, which had pumpkin seeds, wild boar bolognese, goat cheese, prosciutto, and sage. We traded a couple of pieces. Both were superb! Rustico favors the thin, crispy crusts. They prepare them perfectly. They may have just ruined pizza for me anywhere but at Rustico!
(5)
Isabel B.

If I had to pick one word to summarize my meal at Rustico it would have to be "over-seasoned". Um, OK, two-ish words I guess. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Dimly lit and about twice as big inside as it looks from the outside. My friend and I were sat in a cozy and private corner of the restaurant, right next to a window. Although Rustico's claim to fame is having a selection of over 300 beers, we decided to go for a bottle of white wine. Neither of us like beer, don't judge. As an appetizer, we ordered the Crostini and Salsina, which is little slices of baguette with the "dip of the moment", which at that moment happened to be a sweet potato/roasted tomato concoction. And so began the theme of the night... The garlic, sadly, completely overpowered any other flavor that might have been present in the dip, which is too bad since the little sweet potato chunks would've been delightful had they only been given a chance to shine. A little disappointing for 5$ per person. As my entree I got the Maple-Balsamic Roasted Acorn Squash, which is found under the "Salads" section of the menu. At a price of $10 I assumed it would be at least close to entree size (a little on the smaller side, but it was fine). My friend opted for the simply named Spinach salad, which came with maple-glazed ham, blue cheese, rye croutons, fried onion rings, and mustard vinaigrette and cost $11. When my "acorn" arrived, it came in a bed of arugula (my favorite!) and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds, cashews, some kind of cheese (Stilton?), and vanilla vinaigrette. It smelled delightful and as soon as I caught a whiff of the vanilla aroma I couldn't wait to try it. Yet as soon as I took the first bite the saltiness of the cheese hijacked all other flavors, effectively ruining the dish. Now, I hardly ever send anything back, mostly because I'm way too impatient to wait for the dish to be made again, but this time I couldn't help myself. It was simply inedible. So I called over the waiter, who was clearly still in training-mode (I'm sure we were one of his first tables ever) and told him that the salad was just too salty to eat. "Um, I haven't tried it. I'll make a note of it!" he stated and started to walk away. "Wait! I mean, I can't really eat it. It's... not really edible", I attempted to explain. "Oh, OK... Um... OK, let me see what the chef says", he stammered as he took the plate back. After exchanging a few glances with my friend, we waited for him to return with the chef's verdict. He brought out a fresh salad which tasted much, much better. My friend said her salad was great, so no complaints there. For dessert we ordered the Apple Pie Sundae ($11) which was so, so good, but so, so clearly bad for you. It came in a giant goblet and topped with a generous amount of whipped cream. Delicious. Good thing we had the dessert to end things on a sweet note. The next morning, however, I could still taste that damn garlic in my mouth. *sigh* I don't know about a second visit. For the prices Rustico charges I would expect nothing less than for my meal to come out perfect the first time around.
(2)
John R.

Below average, which I suppose is really below average... Food: mehh. Lukewarm mussels, Applebee's caesar. Overly reliant on butter and salt, and I haven't had a meal considered too salty since sitting in a Wichita Macaroni Grill in September 1997. So disappointed! Waiter was a dick, too. Good beer selection, though. Won't go back.
(2)
Emily M.

I'm willing to give Rustico another shot, but my first experience of left me a little wary of returning. Went for brunch today with some friends, and had a very underwhelming experience. I was excited when I looked at the menu, because everything looked right up my alley -- mussels! unique pizzas! polenta! oh my! -- however my meal left much to be desired. First of all, I think our waitress was high. She was just a crappy, flighty waitress, who ignored us for about 3/4 of the meal and was a complete space cadet when she actually worked with us. Next, my food was middling, at best. I got the chicken and waffles (which I generally love), and it was just weird. The chicken was dark meat, which I really don't like (but that's a personal preference), and it reminded me of what I would guess that turkey from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation might have tasted like -- the poor bird was so overdone that the bones were disintegrating with the meat, and I was having to pick out bone shards with each nibble of meat. The braised greens were sweet, which I guess was to complement the sweetness of the waffles, but it was an odd choice, and they didn't taste good on their own. The waffles, however, were perfect. My tablemates enjoyed their meals, however, and I saw some delicious looking meals on some of the surrounding tables -- mostly involving burgers, fries and pizza. Might be back to try those, but I don't think I'll try another actual entree.
(3)
Dave H.

My favorite dish here is the burger. Their pizza is pretty good, but the burger is one of my favorite burgers I've had in a restaurant. The flatbread as a bun is fantastic. The beer is of course a great selection, though it would be nice if they had some more reasonably priced options. I've seen locals show up since there's not any other nearby options (definitely some opportunity around here for any entrepreneurs) and resort to cans of miller light (surely there should be some options inbetween!) What dropped this review from 4 to 3 stars was the patheticness in offering vegetarian options. The only option one night was a tart that was an entree yet about the width of a cupcake. The salads are just ridiculously priced given the ingredients. All this would be okay if they could have been slightly flexible. Mac & Cheese? Sorry can't do it without the bacon. Grilled Ham & Cheese, hold the ham? Sorry. Could I pay for a piece of the flatbread or other type of bread to go alongside my soup? No, only saltine crackers. I don't know whether this speaks more poorly of their adaptability or of going overboard in pre-preparing food to a greater extent than a McDonald's -- and that is no exaggeration when you think about ordering a simple sandwich!
(3)
Mike T.

Rustico is a very fun place and I highly recommend it. I had a flight of 5 beers an order of wings and orzo mac 'n cheese topped with crisp and buttery crushed pretzels. Wings were extremely tasty and large, orzo mac 'n cheese was to die for! Beers were equally great. My favorite was the Jefferson Reserve Stout. Delicious and creamy. A framboise Belgian beer finished it off. Definitely go here for a good time. Decor was modern but fun!
(5)
Mike A.

Although I haven't been in a while, Rustico is one of my favorite restaurants in Alexandria. Most restaurant/bar combos that I've been to tend to focus more on either the restaurant side or the bar side, with the other being somewhat neglected. Rustico, on the other hand, puts a lot of work into both the food and the beer selection, and does very well with both. There is an absolutely amazing selection of beers, with plenty for everyone. The better beers (or maybe just the ones I like) tend to be on the expensive side, so I wouldn't come here just to drink, but if you want great beer with a great beer I don't think there's anyplace better nearby. The food here is what I would call "gourmet but not pretentious". The pizza's are not traditional by any means, but have always been excellent. And the rest of the meals that I've tried have always been very satisfying. The service, even when the place is packed (which is quite often), is always excellent. The bartenders are surprisingly knowledgeable about the beer, and can always recommend something if you have trouble deciding. The servers aren't as knowledgeable, but are still better than I'd expect. Overall, good service, great food, and amazing beer. I'd suggest going during off-hours if you mind crowds, but otherwise I can't think of a single thing I don't like about Rustico.
(5)
Diane S.

yum!! I had the squash pizza. nothing but delicious! lots of seating and a very classy environment! metered parking. Great menu, service and ambiance, after eating her go to buzz for coffee and desert. Also love the decorations and the mosaic bathroom. Prices are moderate.
(4)
Jeremy R.

Let me start by saying this place is near and dear to my heart. Everytime I have a buddy pop into town this is the place I take them to their first night in town. The beer list is absolutely amazing. Thirty drafts and over three hundred bottles and one cask ale. Simply stellar. I always stick to the drafts and I have never gotten bored. The food for me has been hit or miss. As a cook I totally dig the menu. The chef has the cojones to put some really unique things on the menu (i.e. the "butchers block" section). There have been times when I have eaten there that the food has been excellent. The entrees have always been truly spot on during the slower times. However, when I have dined there during the obvious "dinner rush" timeframe the kitchen has seemed to struggle with consistency. The pizzas have either been really excellent or lacing color and doneness on the bottom. Another time, my grilled cheese was burnt on one side and missing half of the bread on the other. And just be warned, the mac and cheese, while excellent, was definetly a small serving. The duck pizza is truly not one to miss as well as the braised pork with rigatoni. The dessert menu, the one time I tried it, was lacking in the most horrible way. Bold flavors are needed to end a meal full of beer and good food on a high note. There were no such flavors to be found here. The Apple Pandowdy that I shared was lacking in flavor and texture. All that being said, I still love this place because of the beer. That alone would be enough to bring me back again and again, and it has.
(3)
E S.

They don't take reservations after 6pm, so we did a call ahead at 6:30pm, and for a party of 4 the wait at the time was about 20 mins. We circled around for a parking spot and I think we got to the restaurant at 7. We still had to wait in the bar area with a beeper, but although the wait time was quoted for an additional 15 minutes, we only had enough time to order our drinks and the table was ready. We ended up by the bathrooms, so every couple of minutes the doors would swing open with a full view of the mens and womens bathrooms for the both sides of the table, that was a bit annoying. There are curtains in place, but they did not seem to stay in place long enough to block the view. So note, if you get a table directly in front of the charcuterie board--ask to be reseated! This place has a "grilled" Caesar and I highly recommend it. It's a very nice variation on the traditional Caesar if you are in the mood. Two people in our party had the short rib entree with pumpkin gnoicchi and brussel sprouts ragu--both raved about it. I had the Italian sausage/roasted red pepper pizza and I thought it was very nice with a crispy crust, although the sausage meat is very delicately spiced, I was expecting a little more fennel-pepper traditional flavor so I did doctor it up with a little crushed red pepper in the end. The charcuterie board is very nice, but in my mind was not worth it. I am used to pate/cold cut/cheese combos with good gherkins, this was a selection of 4 meat products (2 pork salamis, 1 beef and one spicy pork salami--that was just the selection that day) and the pickles were just sad-sad-sad. We did enjoy an order of the gorgonzola stuffed dates though, I would highly recommend that appetizer. It comes with a delicious celery slaw and it's such the right amount of sourness to compliment the melt-y cheese. I would definitely come back and get the burger, somebody told me it's delicious, but it is on the large side judging by some that were delivered to other tables, for me a burger that size has to be a stand-alone order without starters!
(4)
Christopher A.

Food: A-, Beer: A+, Service: B- Tonight was my first time at Rustico, and like others have said here, the beer selection is terrific (like their other locations), and the food is well above average. The thick-cut fries were delicious, and tossed with ranch dressing they were gut-busting in the best possible way. I also tried the spicy tuna tartare, and the tuna was top quality, but the bulgar overwhelmed it. The result was more like an order of bulgar topped with a little bit of tuna tartare. Still, it was good. I ordered the dry-aged cheddar burger, rare, and it was perfectly cooked and terrificly over-proportioned. I had a bite of the tomato and fresh mozzarella pizza, which was also terrific. My service experience wasn't as bad as others here have said. We sat in the bar area, and while the service was competent it was also a little disinterested. Everything came out in timely fashion, but there was absolutely no personality or interaction beyond the bare necessity. It's as if someone decided to build a good restaurant in a terrific bar, but instilled in the staff the mentality of a turn-and-burn sports bar. Still, they were getting busy, and there was nothing wrong with what came out, so this isn't damning. In my book, Rustico is worth a visit. If they solved their service issues (and judging from other reviews, there are definitely issues), Rustico could go from good to great.
(3)
Lysandra V.

Not the best pizza I have had but good for what's around here. Great beer selection, and great service. Get the beer-a-misu for dessert, it's delicious.
(3)
Eboni P.

I had been eyeballing this place from afar while at the tropical smoothie across the street but was to shy to go on! Rustico kept giving me that come hither look(saucy wench) ;) that I just can't resist when it comes to restaurants. Little did I know my man had already been before! WAAH and you never thought to bring me. Ok we went on a Thursday evening and we hawked out two seats that were just being made available as we stepped in! Yes score guess we got lucky that night. The place was packed. The atmosphere is quite charming without being overly protentinous or uppity! The tender of the bar greeted us straight away! Beer selection is awesome kowabunga dudes! There is also a plethora of wines! We had just missed hh(damn by 5 minutes) my lemon drop martini was meh! I've given up hope of having a good one in this town! The burgers we orderded were off the chart flipping good! The fries golden hot crisp! Food didnt take long! Service was on point! the long and short go in before 7 order the burger and drink!
(4)
Ryan W.

3.5 stars - but I rounded up since my wife was objecting to an actual 3 star rating. Rustico is one of those places that attracts an inordinate amount of attention/reviews on Yelp, so how could I not eventually go check it out? A friend is a regular (and when I say regular, he should have a cot set up for him there) and raves about the beer selection and the food. Rustico is a casual place and part of the Evening Star / Talulla / EatBar group of restaurants. A wide range of beer selections is what Rustico is really centered on. The bar takes up at least half the total space. The beer selections were interesting, but seemed to be weighted toward heavier selections. The tasting flights are a good idea, although the "workingman's" flight - Coors Light, PBR, etc. - is a ridiculous concept. They might as well have a water tasting flight. The food was good, with several interesting menu items on both the bar and regular menus. We actually tended to favor several of the apps to share among out group. The sesame crusted fried pickles were excellent - easily the best friend pickles I've had, mostly because they weren't super salty like at other places. The curried deviled eggs with crab were a unique twist on an American classic. The hummus and pita was fine, but nothing special. My spicy tuna tartare was good, with a nice amount of kick, but not enough salt. Everyone else was really please with their entree and app choices. My friend's pork tenderloin I tried was just ok. But the "summer pie" pizza was very good - the crust, a more doughy style, is some of the best I've had. Service was very friendly and prompt. The atmosphere is fun and you can tell attracts people looking for a fun night out - a number of quasi-fashionistas showed up as we were finishing. I'd go back to Rustico, especially if in a mood for interesting beer selections and solid cuisine.
(4)
Katey G.

Satisfying food in a cute atmosphere. Came here with a crowd of friends and we all ordered across the spectrum, from fish to pizza. The pizza was delicious, as was the other comfort-leaning meals. The fish et al was on the bland side and lacked a certain joie de vivre. They have a nice beer selection (HUGE, actually) and my raspberry lambic + pizza rocked my stomach in a good way. The pizza had the perfect crispy pepperoni and there was enough for me to take home and eat again later.
(3)
Mindy D.

Like a friend and resident of the neighborhood where Rustico resides said, "The beer selection is good but the food is kind of 'frou-frou.'" My husband and I went there for our second time last night. We sat in a very romantic two seater couch in the bar/lounge area. The restaurant had an energetic buzz about it, and there were people waiting for tables as the hour got later. The server was very knowledgeable about the beer list and he gave excellent recommendations. The restaurant has an enormous selection on draft (but not enough Dogfish Head for my husband). The food is definitely good for foodies. We had the polenta appetizer that was wonderful; we split the mushroom, goat cheese and spinach pizza - which was more than enough for the both of us. Overall, I would recommend it for a new place to try. The decor is awesome and it's a good place to go as a date, with the parents, or with a group of friends. It'd be good for happy hour for sure. Note - parking can be somewhat of a pain.
(4)
Katie F.

I used to come here often, but haven't been back in about a year until last night. I just went in for a beer, but the vibe was the same--and I still love it. Great beer selection and good recommendations by the bartender. My friend and I closed the place down, but the guy behind the bar didn't force us out--rather let us realize on our own they were done for the night and said goodbye.
(4)
Mark M.

I returned here the other night for the Terrapin brewery tasting event. I was a bit anxious because this would be my first time returning since they got a new chef. I must say that the beer list is still awesome. No complaints there. I still recommend Rustico for beer even though it's pricey. However, the food was not as good as last time. The menu seems more creative but the food isn't executed as well. It was by no means bad food but just not as good. I'm anxious to see what others think about it.
(4)
Nate R.

Didn't have high expectations, but was very impressed. Huge beer list and fun use of gourmet ingredients. Great place to try something new. The duck confit and cracklin pizza is to die for!
(5)
Doug W.

4.5 stars I haven't been to Rustico in a good 3 years. When it first opened I rarely saw a lot of people in there. It was quite different tonight - the restaurant was full by 7:00 pm and the bar area also had a good size crowd. We had the beef carpacio to start and WOW it was great. It was topped with arugula and a cracker like pita. For dinner we had the Greek pie pizza and Summer pie pizza. The flavors of both were amazing and we ate all we could until we are stuff (but we still had leftovers). Each pizza was $13 and were well worth it. The beer menu is extensive. I didn't look at the wine menu but my wife enjoyed the Pinot Grigio she ordered. I went with a hefeweizen out of the Charlottesville area. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable. He sold us on the beef carpacio for a starter. Again, I'm glad to see that business seemed to be doing well. With all the construction at Slaters Lane and Rt. 1, which included access to Slaters Lane closed for awhile, I was worried that it would really hurt the business near and including Rustico. We will be back for pizza.
(4)
Erica O.

My opinion is that, if you go, get the pizza. The first time I went to Rustico, I went as part of a group of four and I got the macaroni and cheese. It was fancier than that and had other stuff in it, but it was still WAY over-priced for the serving that they gave me. I'm not one to pack away a massive meal, but I left hungry with a lighter wallet. They do have a full bar, which is nice, and a massive selection of both domestic and imported beers. The selection is fabulous, but as it is one of the best in the area, the bar draws a huge crowd on the weekends and can get noisy. This isn't necessarily a down-side of Rustico, just be prepared that you will not be in for a quiet, romantic dinner with your honey-bear on a Friday night. As I love a good import, I found the bar to be a major point in their favor. The second time I went, as a group of three I believe, I was told to order the pizza. Dinner was a MILLION times better that way. Their pizza is great, super fresh and very filling. Highly recommend it. Bottom line: I'd go back with no complaints, it just isn't at the top of my list. ETA on 6/7/10: Get their fries on the appetizer menu with either ranch or ceasar drizzled over them. Best. Fries. Ever.
(4)
Miss. Foodgurl S.

So I came here today for lunch and had the Aged Cheddar Burger with brioche and a red merlot aioli. The fries were delicious, and the portions were out of this world. The kids pizza fed an adult and the kids cheeseburger was huge. The only complaint that I had was that the tea was not at all sweet. My cousin had the pineapple juice and said it was delicious. The egg salad sandwich with asparagus was claimed to be good by my aunt. Overall the atmosphere is very elegant. It is like a place where you would see several business men for an afternoon lunch. The lights in the dining area are very cool too! You should hive this place a try.
(3)
Joshua S.

The Rustico is a very nice restaurant with over 300 bottles and a large tap selection plus one cask conditioned tap (on my visit is was Troegs Dead Reckoning which was extremely good) that they say is rotated out every 4 days. I had the mac & cheese which tasted excellent but took forever to eat as it came straight out of the oven and was boiling when it arrived at the table. The price was a little steep. Lots of people seemed to be enjoying pizzas which seemed more reasonably priced and of excellent quality as well. The service was pretty good but a tad slow with the place being mostly full but not totally packed and our waitress admitting to being kind of new. Any bottle they have you can pick up to take home which worked out very well when I there and grabbed 2 bottles of 2007 Weyerbacher Insanity. Overall I would definitely go back to Rustico next time I am in DC. They have an excellent beer selection and good food.
(4)
Jeremy F.

I live around the corner, and have been waiting for a special occasion to go to Rustico. As a patron of nearby Buzz, and a fan of NRG as a local company, I expected excellence. I went for pizza, expecting it to be the best in town. Not even close. The restaurant atmosphere is WONDERFUL, the beer selection is AMAZING, but the pizza is LOUSY, especially at $15/person. Go to Rustico for the atmosphere, the service, the daily specials, the beers...just not the pizza. There are better options a block away in both directions.
(2)
Tolga E.

The restaurant only deserves 3-4 stars. But Rustico gets 5 from me for the beer list alone. The beer list here is one of the deepest in quality and diversity I've encountered in America. There are many, many belgian gastro-pubs with 100's of belgians. There are german places, and there are mega-american-beer joints like flying saucer with a 100 on tap. But none of them show the signs of intelligence that was put into the beer list at Rustico. They've gone out of their way to find the best of all kinds of beers, and to have at least one representative of every conceivable style of beer. For the common types (belgian tripels or american IPAs or pale ales, let's say) the beer list delivers the best-of-class choices and doesn't bore you with the mundane or insanely common. Needless to say, color me impressed. That said, I will also talk to the place and the food. The place is in a random part of Alexandria that many people probably don't know exists...this is because it looks like it didn't exist 6 months ago. Odd location aside, it's a nice place, exposed brick, warm, noisy atmosphere. The pizza was solid. Not amazing, but solid, NY-style (kinda) pizza. The rest of the food was "ok" but nothing special. Again, they've gone with the gastro-American comfort food theme, but a little more refined. The service the time we went was bad, the waitress had a 'tude and didn't care. But I'll chalk it up to her and not the place for now. Lastly, what I liked is that these really are beer people. There were signs in the window for beer-themed charity events, meeting local brewers, raising money for this cause and that a pint at a time. This is always a welcome sign and it lets you know exactly the type of people that set this place up. Good times.
(5)
Team F.

Fantastic beer selection, waiters/waitresses who actually seem to know something about the beer selection, and a wall mosaic that draws my daughter in for a closer look every time we visit. Oh, and the food's not too shabby either. I had the swordfish club during my last visit but have a longstanding relationship with their pizzas as well.
(4)
Rachid C.

2.5 is more like it. Funny that someone else said Rustico looks like a Chipotle inside, because I've had better service at the latter. The beer selection was large, but not as expansive as I had been led to believe. I don't know if our server only gave us the draft beer list, or if the bottled beers are only available at the bar, but either way we did not see the hundreds of beers advertised. And speaking of our server, he was unimpressive. He wasn't very friendly and was only helpful condescendingly. I think he made an attempt at humor also, but spoke too softly to pull it off. On to the food: I had the BBQ pork pizza and my girlfriend had the cheddar burger. Both were very flavorful, though the burger was overcooked (is it just me, or does that seem to happen everywhere these days?). The handcut malted fries were great. In case you were wondering, "malted" does not mean the fries are doused in vinegar after cooking. Probably wouldn't go back, unless it's to hit up the bar. I'm only a foodie in the strict, Mitch Hedberg sense of the word, but some of the offerings on the menu are just way out of my realm palate-wise.
(2)
Courtney R.

I took my cariad here for lunch yesterday (that's love in Welsh). I had the watermelon soup!!! I know!!! Sounds exciting!!! But it wasn't. The first few slurps were heavenly, then suddenly I felt like I'd submerged my head in a bubble bath. D had a pizza (I'm smart enough to know NOT to order one of those unless I'm three sheets), which he liked, but he's from the U.K.--of course he's gonna like it. Executive chef Frank Morales prepared our food so I was extra psyched, but left let-down anyway. He was 100 percent attentive about the nut allergy--in fact he even came out to say that the salami on the pizza D had ordered wasn't made in-house and that he should replace it with a house-made topping to ensure it was totally nut-free. He was really cool and kind. The thing about Rustico, and I hate to say it, is that they never quite get the food right. They try--I've never had, let alone heard of, watermelon soup before--but something is always off. I also ordered the burger. Screwing up a burger is nearly as hard as screwing up pizza, but Rustico manages to pull off both, and charge over $14 for the pleasure. My burger was charred and bitter on the outside, and the bun/bread it arrived on resembled a beach towel in both texture and taste. Rustico will remain in my rotation because it's great for groups, drinking and nibbling. Their beer selection is awesome and the food could be worse. I have to give them props for their creativity and inventiveness, but I have to keep it real with my palette, too. Thankfully for my palette (and my Serotonin factory) I had the good sense to stop by Buzz on the way out for a chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting.
(2)
Brian W.

This is by far and away one of my favorite restaurants in the area. I have been here 5 times, always with a group of friends. If you are coming with a large group (over 4) I'd highly recommend calling ahead. Even with 4 people it can be a long wait on any night. Long waits not withstanding, this is one of the best places to eat, period. The menu is diverse, the beer & wine list is top notch, and the staff is tremendous. I have gone out to eat here with someone who can't eat dairy, and they have asked to go back. I have gone here with someone who can't stand spicy food, and they asked to go back. My wife loves spicy food, and she always loves to eat here. I think it's safe to say that no matter what your food preference, you'll find something great to eat here. My favorites are the dry-aged beef burger, the wild boar & pumpkin pizza (yes, it's amazing), and the pretzel crusted risotto Mac and cheese. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone. Bonus? They serve a good selection of ciders. Great for someone like me who can't drink beer.
(5)
Kevin H.

Went to this place on Thursday night and it had a good crowd. Cool architecture in this restaurant...definitely makes for a good atmosphere. First and foremost, the highlight of this place is the beer selection. They literally have hundreds of beers to chose from. Similar to places like Brickskellar and Lost Dog, the beer selection is almost intimidating. However, if you are a beer lover, you will enjoy the wide variety of choices from all over the world. The food was decent. I was fortunate enough to have the pizza which was quite good. However, my wife's dish (rockfish) didn't have much flavor. For the amt you pay for the entrees, not sure it is worth the quality of the food. Stick with the pizza. Just due to the beer selection, I would probably head back However, I would probably just sit in the bar area to drink beer and eat the pizza.
(3)
Elena P.

I ate here with my fiance and his parents just once. If you don't live close, I wouldn't waste the time driving here. The pizza was okay, but you could do much better with Paradiso, zPizza or Listrani's. We waited forever for a table. Fortunately some seats at the bar opened up after about 10 minutes of standing. After that, we only had to wait another 25 while we sampled some of the MANY beers. The place would fare much better if it actually marketed itself as a beer location with pizza instead of vice versa. But then again, the pizza is so 'okay' that if you really want beer, I'd just so go to Brickskeller in DC. As mentioned above, the pizza was okay. It took forever to make it to the table. My soon-to-be Father in Law ordered something that I didn't think was too unique but they messed up his order (they forgot to put on cheese!) and it took them about 20 minutes to correct. Once they 'corrected' the situation and brought out a new pizza, we realized they had messed something else up with the pizza again (I think the second time around they forgot a certain topping). Anyway, it had already taken about 40 minutes so he just decided to eat it as rec'd. The manager took the pizza off the bill but that even that didn't really make up for the overall crappy service. Even just ordering drinks took way too long. This was all on a Saturday night. Perhaps if you went during the week you'd have a better experience worthy of 3 stars.
(2)
Rory F.

One restroom for each gender? Seriously? There was a 10 minute wait for the men's room at dinnertime. Very loud and crowded, even on a Tuesday night. Service was attentive but also somewhat rude and eye-roll heavy. The one page menu leaves a lot to be desired, as the food is okay but not worth the prices. For a place so far off the beaten bath, I'd expect a lot more for my money. This restaurant is basically a yuppie Arlingtonian version of a cool pizzeria/microbrew place.
(2)
Karol U.

Big fan of Rustico here! I am a low carb/low glycemic index food gal that loves beer and pizza and my hubby is a picky stone cooked crust and dark brewed beer fan. At Rustico we have everything we need. I can have a gluten free pizza that is quite delicious and a gluten free beer that doesn't disappoint and my hubby has a thick crusty bubbly wheat crust with his choice or cheese and rustic cut toppings. hmmmmm......Rustico! It's the only place where I will still eat pizza and beer! And they serve Buzz cupcakes!!! ( Only the most amazing cupcakes ever....)
(4)
Christina B.

Went here on a recommendation and am absolutely in love. I will definitely be going back to this restaurant. First off, the beer list is amazing. I studied abroad in Germany and have missed a lot of the diverse German beers, but this place had some of those which I have not been able to locate in the US. Secondly, where else can you get tuna tar tar and pizza? And not just any pizza, but duck confit pizza? Both were very well prepared and thoroughly enjoyed. Lastly, the atmosphere and decor were modern and unique. However, I sat outside, which was pleasant for a summer evening, but still nice as it is a great place to people watch.
(5)
Matthew H.

An overall good experience at Rustico. Last night my wife and I ventured into NOVA for dinner and a beer. We both ordered a pizza and had a couple of beers. The restaurant looks like a modern American restaurant. Big open floor plan, high ceilings, a bar, varied seating, stand alone tables, high tops, a long bench with several small tables ponied up to it. The place looked busy but its so huge in there, we were seated immediately. The waiter brought us chilled water with no ice. This is a pet peeve of mine, ice water. Ice is a huge waste of energy. I usually ask for two glasses of water when I'm at a restaurant, one without any ice, then I mix the two. No need here. Chilled water, no ice. The waiter was reasonably attentive. My first beer took forever to come out but I guess he was busy. Our food came out quick, the appetizer was brought by someone else. Our bill came quickly and he was friendly. Beer selection is good. There are about 20 beers on draft and nothing terrible. There are some interesting obscure beers available. I didn't even look at the bottle menu (which if its not on their website it should be) until it was time to go. This is the point I got pretty impressed. Great selection, nicely done. Probably several hundred bottles. Organized by style / flavors. An interesting way to organize the menu. Our food was decent, we both ordered pizzas. I would recommend the italian sausage on anything. It was really good. Our beers were in 5$ range and our food was in the 15 - 20$ range. Food was a bit pricey but the beer was reasonable. I would go back.
(4)
Jason L.

I'm giving Rustico a 5-star rating, because the only negative issues I had with the experience were my own shortcomings and no reflection on them. Y'see, I went for the beer & food 6-course chef's table experience. But I'm not the biggest fan of beer. Don't get me wrong! I love a good hefeweizen, but some of the 'heavier' beers I just can't dig. That said, it was an AMAZING experience. Greg Engert, the beer director spent just an amazing amount of time explaining to us the history of the beers he'd selected and his thoughts behind the pairing. And Frank Morales, the executive chef also came out before each dish to share with us his inspiration for the dish and his love of beer with food. You might worry that you'll spend more time listening and talking to them then actually eating, but trust me, that's a GOOD thing. Frank is not shy with his portions. You'll want the time to digest the food before the next course rolls in. I had beers that I had no idea existed and certainly no idea WHY they existed in the form that they did. Greg was awesome at taking care of that little dilemma. One of our party was a vegetarian, so to ensure we all had the same experience we all had vegetarian course. This is the 'classic' vegetarian which means seafood is okay! Which is wonderful because one of the highlights was the Maine Lobster Beignet. The lobster was succulent, over herbed beignets was just so good. Oh and I can't forget the brew pops! You have to try these. They take lambic beer and put it through a specialized freezing process that preserves all the alcohol and then give it to you on a popsicle. AWESOME. Thoroughly enchanted by the experience. Definitely want to go again. Soon!
(5)
Chris L.

Best beer selection in town. Nice outdoor seating area, great bar and happy hour specials.
(4)
Carly S.

I gave this place a bad review a year ago and now things have changed. Sounds like they took my comments to heart :-) Much nicer staff and bartenders now. Order the White Pizza & a Long Trail Pale Ale.
(4)
Cat W.

Rustico manages to be a first class restaurant without being too expensive or too posh. The interior of the restaurant itself holds a great deal of appeal. The acoustics, seat spacing and lighting are all conducive to comfort. The staff is courteous and energetic. They have a dedicated carry-out system so that you can call ahead or order and wait at the bar without trouble. It's never taken me more than 15 minutes. Furthermore they have a gluten free menu, including a gluten free pizza crust! The food has always been fantastic, and includes a changing menu of seasonal items as well as a large beer selection and beer mixers with recommended foods. I'm always surprised at the quality of the food, though some of the combinations can be a bit adventurous. The owners also own the Buzz Cafe across the street, from what I understand. Rustico can be a tad pricey for the bar enthusiast but I recommend at least checking it out.
(4)
amy h.

After driving 8 hours or so to get to DC for a short weekend, my boyfriend and I got in later than expected, which usually ends up with a frustrating drive around town and settling on whatever is open at that hour. Not this time. This was exactly what we were looking for that night. A casual place to get some beers and good food. The beer selection is awesome so it was great to try a few different ones. We ordered two salads, one had warm acorn squash wedges, pomegranate seeds and blue cheese, the other had granola, apples and smoked cheddar. Both were amazingly good. Then we had a spicy shrimp pizza. When we first looked at it, I thought for sure it was going to be way too spicy since it had big green globs of jalapeÃ±o pesto, but it was actually the right amount of spice. Whatever the cheese was on it was the perfect compliment, really flavorful. The decor was really great too, we both loved the big mosaic wall with the broken dishes. The service was awesome, I always hate how when you go to some places near closing they try to rush you, but our waitress did nothing of the sort. Usually, you end up with something wrong with a place, you know the foods great, but the service sucks or something of the sort, but everything was great. I wish I lived closer, and if I'm ever back in the area I will definitely be back.
(5)
Sebastianna S.

I have food allergies and so sometimes eating out can be a chore. At Rustico, not only were they accommodating, they by far went above and beyond any other place I've visited when it came to making sure I would have a delicious meal and amazing experience without fear of a hospital visit. Without even asking, I was even given the business card of the Chef, so I could let them know in advance if I was stopping by, so he could make sure there were multiple items for me to enjoy when I arrived. The beer selection is genius and my food was spectacular. Sometimes, you find yourself staring at a friend's plate lamenting the limitations your allergies impose on you, but not at Rustico. Not only that, but it was prompt and delightful service. I actually can't wait to return to Alexandria, just so I can pop in and dine again.
(5)
Megan K.

Delicious pizza and a great staff to recommend the perfect wine/beer with each pie. Highly recommend for a quick business lunch during the week or a leisurely dinner over the weekend.
(5)
Chris F.

A very cool place to hang out and grab a bite to eat. I was surprised by the name (not Italian and DEFINITELY not rustic) and the incredible beer selection. They have some beers here that will make you change your religion. Like, I've been an "everything in moderation" Methodist for most of my life. After this beer flight, I may become an Irish Catholic. My meal was simple and good. I had the lamb shank, and it melted off the bone. It was served with a risotto that mixed well but was just a little undercooked. I sat in the bar area and the service was impressively fast. My waiter was regular-dude-kind-of-cool, but knew his beers like a man whose profession is also his hobby. He nailed the recommendations on the beer, despite the intimidating beer list. The place does lose points for the atmosphere. Who was their interior decorator? Starbucks? Because it sure looks that way. Also, I can't speak about the pizza (didn't try it), but it's not a very creative menu if you're looking for something "different." Ah well, screw it. The beer is tasty and cold and the food is decent with American-sized portions. This chump gives it four stars.
(4)
K S.

Came here on a Sunday for an early dinner before a movie; sat in the bar, split a pizza and the addictive grilled ceaser salad; no complaints. A few weeks later, buoyed by this previously enjoyable outing, we tried again around 9 PM on a Friday. The place was slammed despite the crappy weather, so we rather than wait awkwardly by the police door guards for a table, we decided to just grab a beer at the bar and worry about food later. After standing at the bar, beer menu and credit card in hand & ready to order, for no less than six minutes without a single acknowledgement (not even a nod, a smile, or a 'be with you in a minute') from any of the THREE bartenders, we walked out, without so much as a "have a nice night" from the hosts. Rustico is an interesting place to explore when not crowded, but is absolutely unprepared to deal with crowds. I've encountered nothing but horrendous customer service, from the hosts to the bartenders to the managers (!), when the place is busy. Cannot recommend for any time other than early evening.
(2)
Eva G.

3.5 stars. A friend of mine said "Let's meet in Old Town". While in reality it may actually be there it really is just outside in this weird no mans land between GW Parkway and Route 1. They do have a good beer selection and a happy hour on Sunday! So no complaints there. I really in general have no complains about Rustico. They do have great pizza and unusual ones. We share a pizza with duck and brie. So very tasty. Apparently the roasted mushroom and the gorgonzola, prosciutto (sp?), fig jam ones have a cult following. The food was great. The waitress was great, very attentive and knowledgeable. But the ambience of the place is just OK. Thus the 3.5 stars. There is some exposed brick and this "interesting" shards of porcellain installation.. it must be the size of the place or all the TVs... or that it is in VA! (-: No, just kidding. The ambience is lacking but the pizza is definitely worth the trip!
(3)
M R.

So upset -- that I have to write this review -- The last review I wrote was just as bad. I thought I would try a DIFFERENT location for Rustico (this one being Alexandria) instead of the Arlington spot. I wanted to love it. I wanted to give it a second chance. I really, really did. But the people at Rustico just don't give a hoot, they'll make their money no matter what, and people will keep going here even if the service is bad... that is because they have a nice selection of beers... and the clientele that wants good beer doesn't care about the rest.... but anyways... Summary of our day: 1. Walked in at 5 pm on a Saturday... 2. No one helped us for at least 20 minutes. We got our own menu's eventually. 3. There was ONE WAITER for 20 tables. That makes no sense. Poor dude, no wonder our service was bad... maybe it was because it was the St. Patty's day parade? If they knew that though, I'm surprised they didn't staff it better? 4. When we finally did order - it was after 45 minutes of being there - it took that long to get an order in! I went to the bar to ask if we could order through him, but he said no because a server would help us. That didn't really happen for a while, so... 5. When we finally could/did order, the appetizers were never delivered and our entrees just randomly appeared. We never got our appetizers - I would have told our waiter if he had checked on us... but he was slammed. We were hungry and just ate the entrees immediately. 6. My husband ordered a coke, but it never came after 2 attempts of asking. 7. The bill was wrong. 8. The waiter lost our credit card! He finally did find it.... but it took a few minutes and we were worried. 9. What should have been an hour long meal took 2 hours and 45 minutes! eek. All in all, I really don't think it was our waiter's fault. He was nice - but he was overwhelmed. How come he had no support out there? He was expected to be the server outside, inside, at the bar -- for EVERYONE! There were like 50 people there! So, who knows. The whole experience was just bad. Not sure what else to say except that I also had horrible stomach pains and was really nauseated after eating there... I think the fish sandwich was off.
(1)
first l.

Fun place but pizza is a little pricey. Good is fun too.
(3)
Lisa K.

I have two words for you: Brisket Pizza. Let me repeat that: Brisket Pizza. Yep. My pizza was covered in brisket, BBQ sauce, and cole slaw. And it was mighty tasty. The pizza was hot and it was good. It was also slightly over-priced. I would go back again for the pizza, but that's it. The vibe of the restaurant is that of one that's attempting to be uber hip. And that's not my thing. Also, our waiter kept trying to rush us through the meal. He kept coming by to further the meal along. As soon as we sat down we got an "are you ready to order." "Nope, we need a minute." He literally gave us one minute. And this is how the entire meal played out. While I did love my brisket pizza, next time I'm getting the goat cheese dumplings. I'm still kicking myself for passing that up!
(3)
Olive O.

On my second visit here, I've decided I like it after all. Service was pretty good. Very good (but not great) food. Good craft beer selection. Prices reasonable. Nice laidback neighborhood place to grab a pizza, beer, or burger on the patio :)
(4)
Divya K.

Great bear! Great ambience! Not so good food.
(3)
Caitlin H.

Sigh. I really want this place to be great. I do. I mean, I love their beer selection, love their pepperoni pizza, and the atmosphere is fun. They've pretty much got all the ingredients for a great place, but somewhere along the line the whole thing goes off the rails (where is this metaphor going? I have no idea.) Here's the deal: I never walk out of there feeling good about what I've gotten for the amount of money I've spent. It's not cheap, and I expect much more for what I'm paying. Case in point: One time I had the burger, and it was so overcooked that it was black outside. Really? You're going to send that out of the kitchen? The next time, three people at my table ordered the burger and all of them were so undercooked that they bled all over and fell apart when handled. They got sent back, replaced, AND taken off the bill (the only time I've had stellar service there). But people! IT'S A BURGER! (A fancy expensive burger!) It's not that hard! It's certainly not something that should be consistently messed up. If you take away the beer list, nicely appointed atmosphere, and the location, then the lackluster food & service you're left with just isn't enough. I think they stay in business (and I've given them so many chances) because they're really the only show in town. While I'd love to go there for a drink and a pizza now and then, I have a hard time voting for this place with my dollar.
(2)
Jill H.

I've always loved my experiences at Rustico! Top 7 reasons to try it: 1. Crispy Soft Shell Crab Sliders 2. Beer list (It's a book!) 3. The ambiance; there are great tile & glass mosaics all over. 4. The bar menu; they offer mac & cheese & fried pickles! 5. Crispy Oysters wrapped in Tuna with Asparagus slaw...(no explanation required!) 6. Create waiter service. 7. Outdoor Seating. Go get your Rustico on!
(5)
Kimberly H.

Not a bad place. Doesn't get four stars because each time we went, my husband had an entree that wasn't so great. GREAT! Beer list, pizza, short rib sandwich (lunch), chicken parm (special for dinner), DESSERT! Especially the sweet potato pie - AWESOME! Not so great - pricing. Pretty expensive for what you get (ie $9 for dessert), the truffle cous cous is WAY too salty and so is the Duck/rabbit cassoulet. Like salt lick salty. For the two of us - $79 not including tip. We did not have an appetizer but both had a dessert. For the price, all entrees should be a hit. We will go back however but we will steer clear of the items mentioned above.
(3)
james b.

Went here with high expectations; mostly disappointed. To be fair, I was told that their pizza excels, and I ordered something else. But still... the grilled portabella sandwich was mediocre and very overpriced: too bready, a tad on the greasy side. It seemed to be the healthiest choice on the menu, so why do they pair it with onion rings? (but the rings were good). Very good beer selection, but the menu seemed pretty limited to me. And it is very noisy; very difficult to hold a conversation.
(2)
Matt R.

Good food? Yes! Good beer? Yes! Good time? Yes! I have been to Rustico several times over the past year for dinner and happy hour. Every time the service was good. The waiters are versed on the beers they offer. I also found the food to be delicious. I really enjoy going there to try new beers and enjoy a few laughs with friends.
(4)
Celia W.

Mac and cheese is just one of those dishes that I need sometimes. Bubbling, cheesy, toasted with bread crumbs to a nice crust on top...pardon me I'm drooling. Anywho yesterday was one of those days. Boyfriend was kind enough to offer to make or buy me mac and cheese if I found him a recipe or a restaurant that serves it. After an exhaustive search, I found that two places in the Old Town Alexandria area serve baked mac and cheese. The first was Stardust. I love this place but I was willing to go out on a limb and try something new. So I went with the other option: Rustico. Upon walking in I admired the modern/art deco interior with its exposed brick walls, exposed vaulted ceiling, partly open kitchen with a wood fire reflected by mirrors and glass. I was struck with how well it was put together. I was also struck by a wall of noise from the dining patrons. Those lovely exposed brick walls and ceiling do nothing to dampen sounds. Infact they seem to amplify them a bit. Seeing as we were dining on a Wednesday night and it was so loud I am never inclined to return on a weekend. Shaking off the noise, we were seated with our menus and our extensive beer list. The beer list is something of wonder. They seem to have twenty some odd beers on draft and lord knows how many others in the bottle. Furthermore, they offer some of the draft beers in multiple pours ranging from 3 ounces up to 16 with prices that reflect the size. I opted for 8 ounces of a creme brulee milk stout (which had a distinct odor and aftertaste of creme brulee) and Boyfriend opted for his most recent fascination, a Russian imperial stout. We both knew what we wanted so we were able to order almost right away. The server was apparently new as we were told by his trainer later in the meal, but it seems that they train their employees very well as he did an excellent job. The service was relatively quick and our food came shortly after we ordered. Here's where things went wrong. The mac and cheese at Rustico is somehow...lacking. It came baked in a ramekin with bread crumbs over top. The sauce was made from an asiago that somehow was just too smooth and the pancetta needed a good crisping before it was put in the cheese. I asserted that it needed a hint of cheddar or garlic or something to give it a more complex flavor. Boyfriend asserted that it needed longer under the fire to crisp up and set up more. Either way it just didn't satisfy. Full but not quite sated, we paid our $50 bill. Oh did I forget to mention that the mac n cheese is $16 each?
(3)
Becca S.

I'm close to giving this place only 1 star, but I'm hoping the experience I had the other night was just a fluke incidence. Plus, the bar is well worth the visit. I went with a large party (10), so the 2+ hour wait on a Saturday night was, although annoying, understandable. And it's not so bad to have a bar with a great variety of beers to explore before being seated. To make up for it, they kindly gave us complimentary appetizers for being seated so late. You would think that a group of drunk, starving people would feast on anything put in front of them...think again. The starters were enjoyable (salads were fresh, soup was tasty, mussels were steaming, etc.) but come main dishes, we had a lot to complain about. My friend and I couldn't even eat the pizza we shared because it was way too salty (they kindly took it off the bill). Others who ordered burgers complained of the same problem. Also, the one pasta dish that was ordered was under-done. We were all very disappointed. The waiter we had was attentive and friendly, especially given the hectic atmosphere. But how you mess up pizza and pasta, I do not know. The bar is great and I'm hoping our experience with the food was a rare occasion, but I don't foresee myself returning anytime soon.
(2)
Lindsey T.

Food: Two of us split a grilled Caesar salad and a fig/gorgonzola pizza. Both were absolutely excellent. The salad is expensive, but you get a huge bowl and it's plenty for 2 people. Obviously homemade dressing, and the grilled lettuce is just wonderful. The fig pizza is not only the most interesting pizza I've ever had, but also one of the most tasty. I love pizza without tomato on it, and this was perfect--sweet and salty, not too cheesy, a little bit of buttery prosciutto on top. Yum. Beer: Excellent list that is organized really nicely for a beer lover. Great draft list and huge selection of bottles. Multiple sizes available at quite appropriate prices. The fancy stuff is expensive, the more basic (yet still delicious) stuff is really moderate. Win! Service: Fine server. Friendly, not pushy. We never wanted for anything during the meal. Atmosphere: Really beautiful. Lots of mosaics. Nice light. A little loud, but not deafeningly so. Prices: On the high end of reasonable. I see that you get good quality food in a nice place, so I'm willing to pay a few dollars more than elsewhere. It's not outlandish or a rip-off, given the food quality. Why 4 stars? When we came in, they said we'd have an hour wait. Ok, thinking that was probably an over-estimation, we wandered awkwardly to the bar, wondering where to stand since no chairs were available. Roughly 5 bartenders either walked passed us to the "floating bars" or looked at us from behind the main bar and not one offered to get us anything. There really wasn't any where not awkward to stand, so we ended up waiting in the entryway. Idk, it just seemed a little bit "you're on your own" not "please let us make you comfortable while you wait for a table." Not a big deal, just a hospitality issue I guess. We'll be back the next time we want pizza.
(4)
Allen H.

I tried this place after telling myself for months that I was going to give it a shot. I finally decided it was time and made it out to find that it could have easily been much better. I was excited about the possibility of a beer outside on a lazy Sunday afternoon and the beer selection was very open to this but it soon went downhill afterwards. After perusing the menu for about 15 seconds I found that their bread and butter was nothing more than a few routine pizzas. Nothing exciting or unique whatsoever? Come on, you should have given me something more! The food was decent pizza and the hearth fired pizza does the trick but, again, it wasn't anything that made me sing. The real problem was that when I got my bill they had charged me $2 for sausage. You may say 'that's not a lot', and you're right. But, when I said I wanted a pepperoni pizza, because the menu says pepperoni or sausage, and the waitress asked if I wanted sausage as well I asked if I could have both, 'you can for sure' was her response. That would have been perfect timing for her to say that the sausage was $2 extra rather than have me assume it was free. Rustico would have gotten 3 stars had I not felt like I was taken advantage of and I will probably return for happy hour with the beer selection but this past Sunday was not all Rustico had been cracked up to be.
(2)
Vivian R.

This is one of my favorite places to enjoy a pint. Or, a quarter pint. They have a wonderful (and extensive) beer menu that has options for you to enjoy either 4 oz or larger glass. The beauty of this double sizing: you get to try out a whole assortment of different beers without (a) the guilt of leaving your full beer more than half undrunk because you didn't like it; (b) stumbling your way smack dab into the front door because you drank a whole assortment of full-sized beers and became more than half drunk; or (c) not getting a chance to discover the nuances of beer tasting when several are paired with the same dish. Such was our Thursday night dinner tonight. The beautiful day that it was here, the rare spring day in DC, I suggested to Hubby that we go out to eat instead of cooking in the kitchen. So off we went, schlepping Baby1, her tiger, her backpack, her suitcase - oh, and Baby2 as well for our little trip over the bridge. Hubby took the truffle couscous risotto with bacon (the bacon flavor overwhelmed the delicate truffle flavor), Baby1 and Baby2 shared a mac and cheese (a little bland, but great texture), and I had the grilled camembert with honey and walnuts (2nd time I'm having it, and I love it). Somehow, we all leaned to the cheese items, and we enjoyed them immensely. To pair, I had 4-ouncers of the Stone Smoked Porter, the Baladin Noir, and the Hitachino Espresso Stout. To my surprise, the Baladin Noir actually went wonderfully with the camembert and honey, considering that both were relatively sweet. Hence - the beauty of the mini servings of beer! We've always enjoyed eating here - for lunch or dinner. They change the beer menu on a (I believe) weekly basis - unfortunately for me, this frequency resulted in my not being able to go back and find out which dark beer it was that I enjoyed so much with a garlic shrimp pizza at the end of last summer. Service has always been top-notch, and we, as a family, have always had wonderful experiences here. The food doesn't really have a distinctive identifying "flavor", nor is it inventive to the extreme, or terribly ethnic, but it is quite good. And I have to admit, as kitschy as their broken plates/bottles/mugs wall may be, it's a wonderful distraction for the little ones when they get antsy at the table. When we finish our meal - then we march ourselves to Buzz across the street, with their wonderful cupcakes and coffees. All in all - a great place to eat, whether you have pipsqueaks or not. And while Hubby and I have gone there time and again to enjoy just about every dish but their pizzas - the one pizza I had there last summer, I enjoyed very much.
(3)
Amelia H.

As I'm sitting here, waiting for my check (still), I'll tell you a little something, something about Rustico. Beer, awesome. Pizza, amazing. Tuna app, delicious. Service, terrible. We actually stood at the host stand long enough (alone) to wait for the host to turn around and speak to us that my fellow diner had time to say, after an extended pause, "I wonder if she's ever gonna turn around an say hi...?" at which point she stopped reading a book and turned around to great us. Finally. Sadly, the service wasn't any better once we got to our (comfy) seats just off the bar. Our waitress was rude, rushed and acted like she was doing us a favor. Basically, the horrible service detracts from the really good food. If you willing to put up with it....I really do recommend the pizza.
(3)
Jamie M.

I had been meaning to come here for quite some time since their duck pizza intrigued me. Sadly I had already been eating pizza for a week (courtesy of Original Pie and Juliano's) and I just couldn't fathom eating it again, even if it was duck pizza. So I decided to get their burger, which was actually really good. I had never seen such a large pile of fries. It actually lasted me three good sized meals! Our waitress was very nice, but no one brought us any additional water after we polished off our pitcher. If you're coming here during the busy dinner hours you may want to ask to be seated way back in the corner. We were seated closer to the bar section of the restaurant and it was much too loud to have a normal conversation.
(4)
Clarence P.

Went for the first time. This is just an upscale pizza bar. Nice decor, but loud. Problem even hearing your tablemates. Pizza was like you get in Italy....but not as flaky. Expensive for the size, but good flavor. Servers were quick, but not too informed for such a place. We had to ask for extras such as pepper and cheese. Very limited menu...unless you want pizza...I suggest someplace else. Large bar and very crowded......young drinking crowd. Parking limited.
(3)
Dave S.

Great variety of beers that taste awesome! Had a bar snack of carrot hummus. Definitely different, and it tasted great, but more like chili than hummus. It's a great place to hang with friends at the beginning of the night if you're going to do a pub crawl. It is a bit removed from the rest of the Old Town Alexandria scene (north Old Town), but that's not a show-stopper if you've got some transportation close by obviously. Be advised, there are some neighborhoods nearby that would probably not be on a lot of folks "dream" lists of places to live, lock your car, take the wallet, just in case. Finally, can't really relay a review of the dinner, but what I saw brought out to other customers looked delicious and they seemed pretty pleased.
(4)
IH K.

BEER. BEER. MUSSELS. PIZZA. BEER. I want to pick this place up and set it in the middle of the city - It's a really cute little bar/restaurant, but not so great that it's worth taking a trip for. They do have a very comprehensive beer selection and an extremely knowledgeable staff. Overall, it's a good time waiting to be had. The best part is that you can skip over to buzz bakery (across the street) for a dessert of bumble bee cupcakes.
(3)
Sam J.

Polenta appetizer was good. Rockfish entree was the highlight! Good beer too. Nice outdoor seating, the inside looked nice and quirky.
(4)
Q W.

Oh, Rustico. How I will miss you when I leave VA to move into DC! The beer selection will blow your mind, but that's just to get started. I've had nearly everything on the menu and nearly every item was totally amazing (only exception: scallops). It's rare to find a restaurant so consistently good. But the best part is the service. I have NEVER been disappointed -- and I'm a tough cookie to satisfy in that regard! Attentive, knowledgeable, and fun. The best! My only suggestion for improvement... take reservations!!
(5)
Dan F.

When reviewing this place, its important to note that there are two distinct areas, the dining room and the bar area. I have never really used the bar area other than while waiting for a table, so this review is specifically about the main dining room area. The interior is beautiful, its very warm with wood and oranges and reds. The tables and chairs are very cool. They have one of the greatest beer lists I have ever seen. Victorias Gastro Pub in columbia MD has been the only place I have been to that rivals it. They do beer flights, but the presentation is pretty ugly. In their defense I think the beer flights were designed for the bar and not the dining room. And wow..the beer selection is simply fantastic. Also when reviewing this place it is important to note they changed their executive chefs around September of 2009. The new chef is Steve Mannino, who replaced Frank Morales. I have eaten at Rustico before and after the chef change, and (no offense Frank) the new Chef has definitely improved the food quality. The hamburger tastes better, the menu is more interesting and diverse, and changes more often for the seasons. What previous reviewers have said about parking is true, this mini shopping center area needs a much larger lot. However if you visit here on off-peak hours you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a spot. Overall this is an a wonderful place for those of us who enjoy excellent beer paired with excellent food in a beautiful setting.
(5)
Rachel P.

We made a reservation for 10 people (friend's birthday) for 6pm on a Saturday, and the table was ready and waiting when we arrived. Service was very good the whole evening - not too obtrusive but kept our beers and waters full, and we didn't wait long for the check at the end. Everything I ordered was delicious and everything everyone else ordered looked amazing as well. It is a bit pricey but you really do get a ton of food so it's worth it - I would not recommend getting an appetizer unless you're going to share it because the pizzas are gigantic. For an appetizer I got the acorn polenta - sooo goood! Never had orange braised pork so I wasn't sure what to expect but it was excellent. I shared a few bites around the table and it was well liked. Then I got the mushroom/spinach pizza and it was fantastic as well - way bigger than I expected, I packed half of it to go. Ate the leftovers last night - it's good cold too! I think I would prefer to go there and just sit at the bar, have a couple beers and split a pizza with someone. Still it was a great spot for a group birthday outing!
(4)
Beth K.

The beer list is big enough that it comes in a binder. And almost the entire first page is beer on tap. That's pretty much an automatic 4 star rating right there. I like the fact that they serve a seasonal menu but the roasted chicken I had was definitely not the quality you would expect with the prices on the menu. Service was very good. We got there pretty late for dinner on a Friday and the waiter didn't rush us at all.
(4)
Elaine K.

I visited Rustico for the first time last night. There was a Dogfish Head event! We had a reservation and were 20 minutes late... their slightly off-the-beaten-path location seemed to be a challenge to my friend that drove us there. After a somewhat sarcastic "Good to see you" from the hostess, we were seated. We went right for the Dogfish Head specials, 120 minute, Palo Santo, Immort Ale... and then were very surprised by the huge beer menu! Our server was training to be a server. She had an older waiter following her around and checking on us to make sure she was doing ok. She did great. We never had empty glasses :) The menu was limited, but it was still hard to make a decision. The salmon was tasty, and my friend's burger was pretty darn good, too. The price was reasonable. The $5 side of fries is tasty and HUGE. I'm really excited to go back again, sit on the patio and enjoy a large selection of good beer! The one-holer bathrooms are kind of crappy (haha! bad pun!). My two male friend ended up using the female bathroom before we left because someone had apparently taken over the mens room for quite some time.
(4)
Katie N.

The food has always been good. I'm commenting on the service, specifically their rules about reservations and call-ahead. 3rd time here. First time with friends - we waited in the bar with friends and eventually got a seat outside. Came with my fiance for a date night and got a table pretty easily on a Sunday. Then we tried with out of town friends on a Saturday night in April and were told it was an hour or longer wait since we didn't have reservations or call ahead. We left for elsewhere. So when fiance's folks were in town last night (Sunday) , I made sure we got reservations or called. We called at 5:00 for a 6:30ish dinner and were told they were not take our names for a reservation since there were tables available right then. She said we could call before heading out. At 6:10 we called right before leaving to put our name in. She took it, saying there were tables at that moment but she had not idea what it'd be like when we got there. We live 7 minutes away, if that. Since the hostess made us so paranoid, we even got dropped off at the front while my fiance parked. We walk in, say our name, and are told it could be 30 minutes or more since "minutes ago a big group came in". You could see them setting up the tables. Really? So I don't know what their policy is. It seems that until you are physically in their space they don't care. Fine, do whatever with rules, just make it clear and don't give folks the runaround. We did all we could, at their suggestion, and it didn't do any good.
(3)
Tim C.

Only had pizza for take out so far, but very good greek pizza, and gluten free crusts are a huge plus.
(4)
Jessica R.

4.5 stars! We tried Rustico for the first time tonight and it was great! The roasted caesar salad is delicious - it has this unique smoky taste that we both loved. I got the pizza, which was very flavorful, and my husband got the burger. The burger was very tender and perfectly cooked - I would definitely order it the next time we go. And I read a few reviews that were critical of the service, but I thought the service was fantastic. For a Sunday night, the restaurant was pretty full, but there were plenty of waiters. And our waitress was very sweet and attentive.
(4)
Gwen B.

Jamie M. and I decided to give this place a try after frequenting Buzz's across the street. As with Buzz's, you have to be pretty lucky with parking or else you will end up a mile down the street! Needless to say, we both entered the parking lot as someone was leaving, so luck was on our side. I decided to be a good Catholic for at least one Friday of Lent, so I ordered the macaroni and cheese. Not your typical mac n cheese though. This was flavored with fontina, asiago, and parmesan cheese, and sprinkled with mushrooms! Although it certainly delighted my palate, I wish that it wasn't quite as pricey ($16) for about a cup. A decent place otherwise...and if I weren't driving, I would have definitely sampled their full beer menu!
(3)
Lauren P.

Oh, Rustico. I like you, I really like you. Something about you keeps me coming back for more. Maybe it is the layout and warm ambiance of the bar? Maybe it is the extensive, amazing, delicious beer list that manages to provide me time and time again with some offering I have never tried before? Maybe it is the yummy pizzas you offer? It certainly isn't the rest of your menu (just as an FYI apparently they make a lot of their food beforehand and they can't alter some selections, like the grilled cheese, to be meat-free). It could be some unspeakable magic that occurs when you combine all of these elements.. but let's be honest- it's probably the beer. :)
(5)
Erica S.

I've been wanting to try this restaurant as I see it reviewed all the time. We arrived at peak dining time on a Saturday night but were willing to sit at the bar. We got two seats in the dining room bar with a view of the kitchen and dessert prep area. Although we like our beer we do not do the beer list justice. It was somewhat overwhelming so we ordered some basic brews. We had the charcuterie plate to start which must have had 6 or 7 varieties of salami all with differing flavors and very good. The fresh bread served with it was nice. I had the mac and cheese. I understand it used to be served with lobster but this was ham, peas and mushrooms. It was just what I needed on a cold rainy evening. My husband's burger was cooked perfectly and was huge! The fries were really delicious, we suspected they were cooked in either truffle oil or duck fat but were told they are malted which gives them the extra crispiness/flavor. It was fun watching the kitchen since we are big Top Chef/Hell's Kitchen fans. The chef delivered our meals personally. Since we were sitting right in front of the dessert prep area I had to go for something. I went for the apple pie sundae. It was delicious but huge, probably should be marked for 2. I would have preferred something a bit smaller for a more reasonable price as I probably left 75% of it and couldn't take it with me. One of the chefs suggested trying the short-ribs next time and said the menu changes often. We would love to come back and try the pizzas which looked yummy.
(4)
Tatyana F.

One of my and my husband's favorites. Easy to get in but if you want to seat in the bar area plan on standing while you scout for a group of seats. Food and drink selection is great. Try to pizzas they are really good!
(5)
Eric B.

I wouldn't say this place is as good as it gets, but I am a fan and will be back. Their menu is definitely eccentric and a bit on the odd/exotic side. Before yelping Rustico, I expected them to be no lower than four stars, which they weren't at the time. This stirred my curiosity, so I went through the reviews and I realize how goddamn subjective the overall review ratings can be due to individual experiences, tastes, and personalities. I mean, some girl asked for some fucking salt to put on her pizza, while another trashed the pizza after ordering one with chickpea crust (at least they cater to those who are allergic to gluten)... I'm just sayin, some folks have fucked up taste buds and a lack of common sense. My experience was really closer to the five star side, although their prices are a bit high, and I was disappointed to find that they don't accommodate multiple bladders and poopers that might need to go simultaneously. Was I missing a hidden bathroom? Was there a book to pull out of the bookcase that I didn't see? Seriously, one fucking personal bathroom per guy and gal... All the money dumped into this place, and that's what they provide?!! Retahdids. Alright, the food... (Dinner menu) I'll keep it nice and simple. Rabbit Terrine - Like rabbit meets spam, spabbit I s'pose! I'm no fan of spam, but this shit was pretty good. Pizza - Duck confit and cracklins with brea and grilled onions. Pretty damn good. Summer pie, also pretty good. Look folks, they ain't pizza slut, and they ain't New York, so don't expect that shit. They do have a flavorful sauce, and use good, quality ingredients. The crust is crispy and doughey and delicious in my opinion. Dessert - I tried what they call creme brulee, which was actually a micro-brew with strong caramelized sugar and toasted chocolaty hopps kind of flavor, very rich, but not bad, they oughta spell it creme brew'lay. These guys even serve beer popsicles for cristsakes. Bottom line, these guys are a total novelty. After going through the bad reviews, it's clear to me that they can be hit or miss. I'm an old punk rocker, and I didn't get the yuppy feel about this place, yeah there were some, but the crowd was pretty eclectic. Their service wasn't snooty at all, and our table's server was on the ball. For those who bitch about service, fucking say something to the manager! It's a tough job, but if you can't do it with a fake-ass smile and thick skin, it ain't for you. That's why I ain't a server. I hate working the food service industry, it's just another reminder of how shitty people can be. I'm eager to update this review per subsequent visits, and although it's a bit long, I really wanted to clear the air on some shit because I think these guys are deserving of four stars. But then again, opinions truly are like assholes. Thanks for reading, cheers.
(4)
A S.

Why is it either a hit or miss whenever i eat at rustico? I ordered a burger tonight and the first burger bun was burnt and the second one tasted like everything else from the grill. I used to love the burgers at rustico. Is it the chef on duty? What is it? Also a few weeks ago I got a pizza to go and it was horrible. Again I love their margarita pizza but this was not up to par. I even paid for extra mushrooms and I counted probably five on the pizza. The problem is I can walk to rustico it is so close but I don t want to eat there anymore. At this moment there are other restaurants that deliver superior quality why should anyone settle for sub-par?
(2)
durwood x.

Finally got back to re(re-re-re-re-re-re-re)try Rustico in its latest iteration and the results are very, very good. Started with the Asparagus Bruschetta, which was the highlight of the meal. Perfectly charred Italian bread slathered with ricotta (and what seemed to be better than your run-of-the-mill stuff to boot) was topped with grilled asparagus and a healthy slab of burrata then drizzled with olive oil. As Leelebo mentioned - the char against the creaminess of the cheese worked very, very well. The second best burrata I have ever had (next to the inestimable offering at Dino.) For an entree I tried the wood-fired ribeye. It was 1/2" thick - good quality meat with little to no gristle and a nice layer of fat (but not too much) around the edges. Very well cooked to my order of rare, but I found myself wishing for perhaps a slightly thicker cut to allow for a bit more char on a steak cooked this rare. It was served with a very modest pour if gorgonzola cream sauce (which was perfectly fine given the potency of the flavor it imparted) and two skewers of grilled red potatoes and onions. The potatoes in particular were very well done, with a nice sweetness to them than balanced the tart gorganzola. The one big fault in the dish was the "root beer steak sauce," which at first taste was very interesting but asserted itself as overly sweet and cloying as the meal continued. For dessert, a lemon tart topped with a blueberry compote (perhaps a bit overly sweet for the dish, or perhaps just a bit too much of it) and white chocolate shavings. The lemon custard itself was nice enough, but the crust could have used a bit more (as in any) flakiness - it came off as a bit soggy. All in all, though, easily the strongest meal I have ever had here by a very long shot. Very much want to go back and try the "Crispy Tuna Loin" - flash fried yet still rare. I am intrigued. As usual, the beer list is very solid - the best offering in NOVA.
(4)
Mike W.

Had the chicken ceasar salad. Boring, flavorless, and expensive. Had the pizza....no need to go back.
(2)
Matt R.

Love Love Love this place. I'm a beer/wine/liquor man, especially craft brew. They always have GREAT selections of beer on tap....and if they don't have it on draft they have a great bottle selection. They have especially good BIG beer=high alcohol % beer. Food is great, pizza is wonderful Even the simple Grilled cheese and tomato soup is good. The Soup is more of a marinara sauce consistency but very rich. I heard they stopped making the Butterscotch pudding for Desert? That was a mistake. That Desert was simply amazing. Bring it back!!! I wish I could go here monthly.
(5)
Sharie B.

Good food and great beer list. I had the butternut soup, chicken liver pate and a side of the sweet potato grits. The only disappointment, which could have been my own fault was the chicken liver pate. It actually wasn't called pate it was some other French word but I really had nice fried chicken livers in my head and when they brought the slab of heavy pate I knew I should have asked. The sweet potato grits were rich, cheesy in a funny way, but sweet. Wanted more for breakfast the next day. Everyone at our table was satisfied with their choices.
(4)
Allison G.

Being gluten-free is really annoying, especially when said gluten allergy kicks in after 20-something years of indulging in every possible wheat-based food imaginable. And pizza, with its garlic-y sauce and gooey melted cheese and crunchy crust, is especially worthy of being missed, longed for, and day dreamed about. Thank goodness for Rustico and their gluten-free chick pea crust. It is seriously yummy, and you can have any of their pizzas made with it. It is very much a real pizza crust and not some crumbly, grainy, flavorless substitute (which is often a good way to describe your average gluten-free anything). I hit Rustico whenever I have a pizza craving... especially since they're so reasonably priced that it's cheaper than buying the equivalent amount of g-free grocery store freezer section pizza! Highly recommended for folks with wheat and/or gluten allergies! They have gluten-free beers, too. Oh, and they are dog friendly; you can sit outside on their patio with your pooch.
(4)
Cheryl B.

Frank Morales knows what he's doing folks!! Rustico is a great place to meet and greet and for sure to enjoy a well thought out menu. At first I really thought it was going to be about the burger and pizza till I found the cured foie salad...OMG, what a treat! The combination of the spicy arugula, the crunch of the cranberries and hazlenuts combined with the rich velvety texture of the foie draped in a red wine and cinnamon vinaigrette made my taste buds think they had died and gone to heaven. After having that salad I thought for sure nothing could top that dish. Ok, I was wrong...can you say Prince Edward Mussles, sesame crusted pickles, veal (YES I said veal) meatloaf.... Rustico offers something for everyone, not that the menu is overwhelming, it is the ability for a chef to offer selections that appeal to so many palates. Once you make it past the culinary delights your attention is certainly focused on what to drink along with such a great menu. In my book you can't help but call on Greg "the beer guy" for help in pairing with any food choice you make. At last count I believe there were over 330 varieties from ale to stout, you name it. One of our favorite combinations is the burger (med RARE) of course with the German smoked beer...amazing! The one point at Rustico that sets them apart is that their food, and beer, are available to go....I just wish I could take advantage of that offering but with our long drive home from Alexandria we'd be having a picnic on the way!
(5)
Stephen S.

This is my favorite restaurant in the DC area. I once had their special: Bourbon-braised short rub with duck fat mashed potatoes. It was SO AMAZING. It was such a memorable experience, and I can easily say it was the best thing I had ordered at a restaurant in years. Their seasonal beer selection and every day food fare is also fantastic. The draft selection is nicely organized on their menu, and it is possible to select a beer based on brand, type, etc. It's also nice that that you can order a smaller-sized, lower-priced sampler of any of these beers, and you can quickly get to know what floats your fancy. I highly recommend the roasted butternut squash salad. If you eat meat, I also highly recommend adding the slices of marinated flank steak to it. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Michelle B.

Rustico is a severe disappointment. A large group of us would gather every Sunday to watch the Skins games there because 1. It's local and 2. It's non-smoking. The bar has so much potential.. great lengthwise tables, roomy booths, plentiful TV's, and great deals on beer buckets. The food is average and overly ambitious. They should really consider offering some sort of bar menu (wings, etc), at least on game days. About 6-7 of us were going there every Sunday at the beginning of football season and dropping a few hundred everytime. Here's why we stopped: Picture this: it's football Sunday; crowd full of people in various jerseys (mostly red and gold) belly up and into the Skins and Giants game. The bartenders are very cool and also donning the jerseys of their favorite teams. The bar is full and the dining room is empty. We've got buckets of beer spread out amongst us and we're nibbling on the bland food. All is right with the world. Then, out of nowhere, the smarmy floor manager goes behind the bar, mutes the sound of the game and turns on muzak. WTF?!?! So, the bartender promptly turns the volume back on. Whew. Floor manager comes back, turns it off. ???? Then, patrons ask the bartender to turn the sound back on. The floor manager comes back behind the bar to stop him. The bartender says, "They want to hear the game." The floor manager says, "I don't care." Can you believe that? We got our check right then and split. If he doesn't care about taking care of the customers, we don't care about contributing to his paycheck. The bartender apologized and asked us to come back the next week because he said it was the floor manager's last day. We haven't returned.
(2)
John H.

I was really excited about this place before it opened given all the pre-opening hype. It's a block from my place and there's really nothing else in this end of Alexandria. What's good about Rustico's; it's totally non-smoking, one of the few bar/restaurants in the Northern Virginia area that is voluntarily non-smoking! Super beer selection, there has to be a selection of over 100 beers with about 35 or so on tap. A real treat and the bar tenders are extremely helpful in selecting something to try, just tell them what you have in mind and they make a suggestion. What could be easier! There are also four big plasma TV screens above the bar for games in progress. What's not so good; the menu is only so-so; too trendy for me; spinach pizza, etc. The two best things I've had are the cheeseburger and a sausage pizza (it's a gourment pizza, not very thick on cheese, etc.). The bar food menu is bleak! Only thing that really goes with beer is the burger and that's not a finger food. I like this place for it's non-smoking atmosphere (no going home smelling like an ashtray!), definitely for it's beer selection (lots of exotics and imports) and the sports on big screens. If they would improve the bar menu this place would be super! Given it's location on Slaters in North Old Town and all the new townhomes right behind it, it will be a big success. But it could be better.
(3)
Ryan C.

Like the same feeling of New Year's Eve, I felt pressure to enjoy this place. It just left me feeling eh. Have been several times, long waits, pizza is so-so, its hard to get excited about rosemary fries...I don't know. I do like the bar and the sangria. Considering most people would have to drive here, I'd keep driving.
(2)
AB S.

6.5 stars for craft beer selection. 3.5 stars for food. Averages out to 5 stars. I wish there was one in the Reston area, since I've been spending a lot of time out there.
(5)
Katie M.

When I visited Rustico I really had high expectations. Not only was it receiving high praise from the local media but it is also very close to where I live so I was jazzed about the location. Unfortunately I wasn't wowed. The food was ok, I had the grilled scallops. Nothing special and certainly nothing to write home about. My date had the cheeseburger. He said the food was ok, but really, who could mess up a cheeseburger? I guess the coolest thing about the restaurant was the decor. It had a very urban, chic look complete with lounge chairs outside for people waiting to get a table. The centerpiece of the restaurant was the huge floor to ceiling mosaic which made cool colorful designs of plates and cups. For the most part I agree with the first reviewer. I'm in the middle of the road for this one. Its just ok.
(3)
Frank C.

A change of chef and menu gave me hope for this local favorite that attracts the younger crowd. Right in the neighborhood bar with pizza and other gormand offerings. However, two visits resulted in bland amazement. Bland, this is the food, amazement, because of the amount of crowd. It was slammed both times, with waiting times up to a half hour, pretty early in the evening. But, they got a lot of beers, and an outside which is nice, but by a busy street. You're looking at a modest price, but no real thrills here. The food sounds awesome when read from the menu, but it's strictly pedestrian. If you're looking for drinks with the younger set, go to it. If you're looking for an a dining statement, look elsewhere.
(2)
Tom N.

Excellent meal. Made reservations via Open Table. Went early, 6:00 dinner. We were 10 mins late, called ahead and we had a table on arrival. My wife and I shared a butter corn squash salad. Just right for us as starter. I had the Murray's Chicken Breast and my wife had the Gnocchi. Both nice portion and excellent taste. Service was friendly and attentive. I also had the Jefferson Stout, nice compliment to the meal. Parked in adjacent parking lot (free) and we went across the street to Buzz for a latte and cupcake. Nice date night meal.
(5)
Rick G.

Hot & tasty but too salty frittata for lunch at the bar. 4 oz serving Victory Donnybrook Stout was pristine. Bar was slow as was the service; more focused on restocking and food porn photography shoot. Would have been a **** with less salt and a hello. Back to work.
(3)
Salty S.

This one was tough for me... I originally gave it five just because everytime I leave, I realize how satisfied I am with the experience. Then, I cranked it down to a four - because I realized I probably have a pretty decent buzz everytime I leave... thus the nice feeling :) -- plus, while the food is excellent, it doesn't blow me away - and I've tried quite a bit of the menu. However, I finally realized that the beer selection alone should pop them back up.... and to be honest - I'd rather have a fantastic beer than critique the crust on their pizza. So five it is! (Note: this is coming from someone who brews his own beer... take it for what its worth). Oh - also - HUGE bonus points for Rustico on this fact alone: the servers are WELL equipped to recommend a beer based on your tastes and that is impressive indeed... they must have beer tastings for the servers?
(5)
Kirkles A.

Ok, I've been back a few times and I'm officially a fan. The rotating menu of beer is always a treat and I seriously enjoy getting a nice plate of cheese with my brew. I'm still not sold on the decor, though...
(4)
Joseph M.

Go for the beer, not the food. Not saying the food is bad but it's somewhat pricey for my taste. Beer selection is great and they have a ton of differents brews on tap! The crowd is so so in this place. Little uptight, but a welcomed relief from a sports bar. I'm a fan!
(3)
Frank W.

Great beer selection and I really liked the food. Service and ambiance are good.
(5)
Lou S.

I've eaten here 6-7 times over the last two years. Each time, the food goes a little futher downhill. Tonight, it was downright nasty. My guest ordered the hangar steak. The steak wasn't bad, but the mushrooms had been sauteed in wine, but the wine hadn't reduced enough and it was sour tasting. Four large onion rings and $25. I had bean soup and the romaine salad. Bean soup was okay (not more than 10 beans in the bowl), and no more than a few bits of romaine. The menu's changed with not as many choices, and the whole feel of the place is different from the first few months they were open. I won't be back.
(1)
Roxy B.

Went for happy hour so it may get more crowded later at night, but while I was there it a very nice atmosphere. Good beer selection and the menu looked like it was full of yummy stuff but I wasn't eating. Definitely would return for a meal!
(4)
Courtenay W.

Again, this is a spot I live right around the corner from , so I frequent the place... The decor is fairly simple. yet nice. I dig on mosaic and the bathrooms are neat. I normally try to grab a seat in the bar area...it just feels more "cozy" and action packed! I am not a beer drinker, but the boyfriend is, and their beer list is VERY extensive. Greg, their beer director, is smart and helpful. he changes the draught beers up a lot and can recommend something to try. French fries are off the hook as well as their pizza. It's thin crusted (which I prefer) and they have some really unique pairings. Burgers are good and some of their "small plates." My soup experience has been sub par, but you can't win 'em all! It's part of the Evening Star, Vermilion, Tallula, Buzz group so if you like those, you'll like this:-)
(4)
j g.

Over rated. Beet salad was over dressed and scallop special entree was salty and messy. Mussels, too, were salty. Best thing were the fries!
(2)
Lauren C.

Great beer selection, but go for something new, as if you find something you like it may not be there if you go back. The soups are fabulous, and I love the pizza. Its busy on weekends, but during the week I walk in with no problem. if you call ahead on busy nights you can put your name on the waitlist (as they dont accept reservations past 6) and wait a fraction of the time.
(4)
Adam E.

I met a few friends from college here the other day for drinks before we headed out to another bar. So this review will be slightly incomplete. First off when walking in, I loved the atmosphere, it seemed like a very chill place and the interior designer did a great job with tiles and pieces of broken plates. We hung out in section of couches that was right by a fireplace, so we were not complaining. As all my favorite places seem to have, the beer menu was excellent and overwhelming. I love having choices and never really knowing what beer I'm getting and Rustico has that in spades. Just like at Brickskellar, I like to open the beer menu, close my eyes and pick at random. While not always the best choices, I like the surprises. Watch out for the Val De Brune. First taste was a bit like medicine then the alcohol hit me and I think I liked it. Also our waitress was super cool. Just the right amount of attentiveness and personability when needed. As I look eternally young (Asian face), when she carded me, my friends had fun poking at my youthful features. The waitresses chimed right in and we were friends for the evening.
(4)
Jon W.

First the beer selection should receive a five star rating by itself and the service was good also. But our pizza was warm and not worth the price. A pizza and 3 beers was $43.09, way too much.
(3)
Rocky A.

Middling. If it weren't for the mac and cheese, I wouldn't consider going back. The pizzas are OK, about what you would get at Romano's Macaroni Grill, but there is a lot better in the area. The dessert, a blackberry crisp was mediocre.
(3)
Mark W.

A restaurant with so much potential... but their prices hold them back. As said to someone else recently, "Can you really put a price on the opportunity to hang out with yuppies?" For the money and the opportunity to drink a great selection of taps, I would MUCH rather go to Pizzeria/Birreria Paradiso in Georgetown. Keep in mind that Rustico is about two miles from my house, as opposed to the 8-mile bike ride to Georgetown. Neither is particularly Metro-accessible. I'm sure there are treasures to be had on their menu, but I'm not about to drop $16 for mac'n'cheese to find out. Wish I could cite some compelling reason to go to Rustico, but really, can't think of one... perhaps their biggest weakness is the ambiance - they have absolutely none. The waitstaff is neither particularly charismatic nor helpful.
(2)
Eden S.

I have been frequenting The Brickskellers for more years that I care to admit, but got tired of not being able to have a beer that I ordered because they were out. Rustico doesn't have that problem and they have good food and pizza. Saturday was the first time that they were out of a beer that we ordered, but considering our tab before tip was $230, I think that is pretty good!
(4)
nate s.

Talk about a great place, it's within walking distance to where I live (goodbye cab fare), they've got extremely tasty beers on their somewhat overly exhaustive beer menu, and they've got food that seems to pair well with the beer they have. Parking is a bit of a hassle if you can't walk like me, as is finding a place to sit on some nights as it gets rather full. Regardless, this place gets my vote solely for the beer which taken in great enough quantity can make the worst dump the best of places.
(4)
Jennifer Y.

The food at Rustico is solid, but its the beer list that really shines. The restaurant boasts almost 300 beers, 30 on draft, all of which are vast and exciting selections from national microbrews to international faves. The menu is short, but interesting ranging from roasted chicken and sea scallops to a bouquet of pizzas with everything from margherita to duck confit and cracklins with brie & grilled onions. I had the burger because I'd read it was good. It was just that, good, cooked nicely, but I could have done with our the doughy pan bread. The baked dragon creek oysters with apple, bernaise, house smoked bacon and celery root remoulade were excellent. For a sleepy Sunday night, the place had quite a few patrons, but it was by no means busy. The atmosphere is in no way rustic - although it was warm and inviting. Service is nice and friendly, but at times unknowledgeable. Best tip I could give: since its the drink selection that really stands out, be sure to ask the waiter is you can taste something if you're not sure what to pick.
(3)
Ashley G.

The one downside is that on any given evening, you're going to have to wait at least 20 minutes for a table, or scout a free one near the bar. The good side is everything else. Their beer selection is ace and what's on tap changes pretty frequently so you know it's fresh. I generally always go for one of the seasonal pizza's (large and delicious) or the Burger with Vermont Cheddar and fries (the smoked tomato ketchup is amazing). If I'm not really hungry I'll order a salad and a side or two. I've never been dissapointed with anything here, neither have my friends. I'm surprised to see not so many great reviews here honestly.
(4)
Marc S.

Go to Rustico ! Go now ! Back away from the computer, get in the car, and just go.... You will be amazed, I promise. Every time I go, I am absolutely blown away by the quality of food that is served there. You simply can't beat the ambiance or the beer & wine selection. Everything from the mac & cheese to the white pizza to the short ribs has been wonderful. I you will find me there again very, very soon !
(5)
James C.

I've only had the pizza there. It is very good, some of the best locally I think. The prices, however, are not that great. There's no bread. Gimme some bread for C's sake! Otherwise, I'll go back for the pizza.
(3)
Lindsay S.

the beer menu comes in a three ring binder. so obv huge selection. although i always go for the same allagash white. for food, the burger is my fave. they also have good pizza. the salad with the champagne vinaigrette dressing is also good. the atmosphere is relaxed and they always have a good crowd. def one of my favorite places in alexandria
(4)
Lynda D.

We were there over the weekend. The place has so much potential, but, it is a let down when we go. We live nearby and wish it were better. There is always something wrong. Bad service, not enough beer food, too crowded, sour beer from them not keeping the beer lines clean... This time it was an observation of bad service. We were sitting at the bar. The bartender made a mistake and half poured a beer. Instead of pouring it out or offering it as a freeby to the customers at the bar, He left it sit under the tap. Then, about 20 minutes later someone at a table ordered that type of beer. He filled it up and served it to them (yuk)!
(2)
Jenn M.

It's been about 3 years since I've been back to Rustico. I met up with a group of friends this past Saturday for a surprise birthday dinner. I arrived earlier than most so I found a spot in the bar area and ordered a flight of beers to sample. The bar waiter was great, very attentive and had great input about beer selections. A few more people showed up for the dinner reservations and the woman who was running the front of the house immediately told us she was going to have to give our reservation away due to our entire party not being there. It was odd as there were about 12 of us already there with only 5-6 people still on the way. She was very rude and almost threatening when she told us our table would be given away since the entire party was not there. We tried to explain to her that we had a good portion of the party there but she seemed to not want to hear anything from us. Within the 5 minutes of her threat, the rest of the party showed up and we were all seated. The area of the restaurant we sat in was extremely hot, it seemed there was absolutely no A/C towards the back. We had a different waiter for dinner and he seemed very nervous and not really sure of what to do. He greeted us and then proceeded to read off the ONE special on the menu for the night. It was rather strange that he was not able to remember one simple special for the night. The menu was nothing to get excited about. They've really changed their entire menu approach and it was really disappointing. There was alot of miscommunication on the waiter and bus boys part when the dishes started to come out. One of the bus boys had a dish in his hand and he just tried to force it over to me even though I told him repeatedly that was not my dish. He just smiled and said "yes". I told him no multiiple times and tried to help direct him to the actual person that the dish was for. He seemed to not care and just gave up as he pushed the plate in front of someone else. Overall the food was nothing to remember nor recommend to future guests. If anything I'd tell people to go and have a beer and then move along, even the beer selection wasn't all that great. It's a disappointment that they've changed so much and not in a good way at all.
(2)
Bobby A.

Great BEER, odd pizza's not a Burger & Fries type of place... Did I say Great BEER!
(3)
Beth B.

Although I really like this restaurant group, Rustico was a bit of a letdown. The food was pretty good and they had a large beer selection, but the service was pretty sketchy. Maybe it was a bad night. They had a beer tasting which limited our seating to the bar along with everyone else who wasn't part of the tasting. I totally understand special events, but if you are unable to service the rest of your patrons, maybe you should just close the restaurant to the public for the special event. At any rate, I don't think that we will be going back soon.
(3)
Duane H.

We live a few blocks from Rustico and had high hopes that it would be a great restaurant, or at least one that we would enjoy visiting once a week. After eating there about 6 times in the past year, we're still hoping... Food is creative, yet doesn't really impress. Pizza is good if you like the gourmet thing. Burger and fries are consistently good. On our first visit we found a piece of brass wire from a wire brush in the mac & cheese (management didn't seem too concerned when we pointed out the problem...). Service is really inconsistent. Bar seems to do well if beer is your thing. Old Town continues to be a bit of a black hole when it comes to exceptional, mid-priced restaurants.
(3)
Seamus O.

Only reason for the 3 stars is the amazing beer selection, other than that I would give a lesser rating. If you are yuppie this could be your joint to go pay for overpriced beer and happy hour food but if this is not your cohort I would suggest anywhere but the establishment in question. The staff aren't the most welcoming (well it didn't say shirt required on the door and mine was soaked after just kickin a** at a regatta at washington sailing marina so it wasn't in play).. Could have been nicer. But anyways after finagling myself a spot outside I payed far too much for some "microbrews" (Bell's ain't that hot although I do enjoy it) and undercooked pizza. After being treated with less than friendly banter at my expense by the manager I paid my tab and left. Have tried again on several shirted occasions and have had a better bit similar vibes on these visits. Want some interesting beer at a better price, experience, and overall enjoyment try a place in Old Town with a hobbit theme (Don't wanna name names, ha).
(3)
Jina K.

I was very disappointed. The 2 stars is for the service and the beer selection. My friend recommended this place, so i thought i would give it a try. The hanger steak was so tough, i had the hardest time cutting the beef. The mussel dish was OK, the scallop with grits was actually good, but not worth the money. Desserts were VERY nasty...and WHAT???? No espresso?!?!??
(2)
Robert K.

When I went to Rustico, it was primarily to put back a couple of English, Russian, and Belgian brews as opposed to eating. I did try the mushroom pizza, because if you read some of my other reviews you'll probably discover I do have a thing for pizza. I sampled the mussels, and while I'm not a regular mussel consumer, I think I know decent mussels. These were pretty good. I'm not going to put myself up as a great judge of mussels, but while nothing was outstanding, I thought there was a good amount of some decent sauce to use with the mussels, and at least on our order the mussels provided what I'd call a typical amount of meat. The pizza was fine - this is not a "typical" pizza place, but the mushroom pizza I had was pretty good. I'm not going to bother comparing it to other pizza places, because you probably know what I mean by atypical. It was basically fufu style; not the kind I'd care to judge with "real" pizza, but it was good food. Certainly nutritious and tasty, with a good crisp relatively thin crust, lightly sauced, and with a couple of different cheeses plus generous mushrooms. The clientele seems pretty happy, but I can't be sure of how friendly. I was there in a group so I wasn't really trying to engage anyone. I've had good experiences with the bartenders; they seem pretty cool. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Jason S.

Any time I have visitors in town this is one of the places I take them. The beer alone is a reason to go but the rotating menu never disappoints. For the most part the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. One word of warning: this place can be crowded any night of the week so be sure to call ahead to reserve a table.
(5)
Melanie W.

Great atmosphere, great beer selection, nice outdoor space during the summer, fun cozy bar with great service, more intimate dining area....it's all great. Well the food can sometimes be hit or miss because they seem to be trying a little too hard at times. Even though the results aren't always successful, the menu is creative and crafted with attention towards pairing with the beer. In fact you can get trios of appetizers and paired beer samples if you aren't up for committing to a whole meal. The only downside is that it's so popular it's not easy to grab a seat at the bar, even though they have laid it out so there is tons of open seating. But it's popular for a reason, so if you love beer and you haven't been then you should definitely stop in.
(4)
Jeremy L.

I have to say that I don't have any complaints about Rustico. It was great, I went with a few friends and while we had to wait for a table( I suggest reservations), the amazing selection of beers helped to tide us over and the pizza we had at the bar was great too, the best pepperoni pizza I've ever had. Not your standard delivery pepperoni... had some nice heat to it, like pepperoni should be! As for dinner, we went with a bunch of different "Trios." Three kinds of mac n' cheese, tuna prepared three ways, and three different croquettes. This is only a little sampling of the variety to choose from, half the menu is filled with these choices. You can't go wrong here, great for a casual night out or dinner on the town
(5)
chancy l.

Food is fine. The place tries to be pretentious with it's cuisine but misses. I like the fact that it has a tapas section but it's really more of an amuse bouche portion. The mussels are very good and great beer selection. Out door seating is great but you can hear the chirping of the street walk sign which about drives me crazy every time I go.
(3)
PierAngeli M.

I visited Rustico restaurant on a Sunday at noon. I found the staff to be extremely friendly. Our waitress was very accomodating and gave excellent recommendations on the food. My friend and I ate the fries tossed in caesar salad drerssing and the crispy salmon sandwich. The food was outstanding and very tasty. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)
SAN N.

I'd give it 3.5 stars. This place has a fun atmosphere and a very interesting menu. I was in the bar area on a busy Saturday night in early December, and my friend and I ordered a gluten-free spinach pizza, easy on the cheese. The pizza was absolutely incredible! Rather than being pre-cooked, the spinach seemed to have been put on the pizza raw, so it was roasted and crispy, and it was on top of a very thin layer of cheese. The crust was better than any gluten free crust I had every had, and in fact, it was so good, that I asked the server if he was sure they had given us the gluten free one. He said that yes, that was what he had entered into the computer . . . So I couldn't wait to go back there and have the delicious gf pizza again, and I returned on a Tuesday. I ordered the exact same thing - gluten free spinach pizza, easy on the cheese. I barely recognized the pizza they served as the same one I had ordered less than two weeks earlier! The spinach--while still good--was served the usual way (pre-sauteed and buried under a mound of cheese). And this time I was sure they had given me gluten free pizza, because it tasted like other gf pizza crusts I'd had. I'll have to respectfuly disagree with the other Yelpers who think the chick pea crust was delicious. It was okay, and if you can't eat gluten, it does the job, but there was no mistaking it for regular pizza crust. So once I had the second pizza, I knew the first one had not been gluten free. I'm not sure what the explanation is for the difference in preparation of the toppings--maybe it was a different cook. I guess there's three main points here: - Rustico's regular pizza is incredible. - If you are celiac or have a severe allergy to wheat (luckily I don't), you better be sure they bring you the right pizza. - The gluten free pizza is decent but not fabulous.
(3)
Jude B.

After reading many of the reviews and looking at the restaurant's website, I was expecting tiny portions that weren't worth the money... well, thank God I didn't listen to some of these Yelpers who said that the food was not worth the price... This place is fantastic! One of my favorites in the NOVA area. For starters, the atmosphere and space is super cool... very spacious and airy with a rustic, yet modern flare. Next comes the drink selection... lots of great beers on draught and even more in the bottle (just watch closely because some beers are a bit pricey, even for DC standards). Although it may feel overwhelming with such a large beer menu, the wait staff is extremely knowledgeable and will point you in the right direction as far as your tastes are concerned. Finally, the food. My God the food! My wife and I started with one of their wood-oven pizzas which was amazing... not really classic Italian, however... it is more modern American style pizza with a wide variety of toppings and flavor combinations... they are large enough for two people to share easily. For my entree, I had the dry-aged burger... seriously one of the best burgers I've ever eaten (and I'm a sucker for a good burger). My wife had the eggplant parm and it was really delicious as well. I don't give many 5 stars (rarely ever) but Rustico is definitely on my short list of restaurants that come pretty darn close. So, enough reading... go eat!
(4)
J B.

Overall, I like this place, and they have a fabulous beer selection, and most of their menu items are good. However, my feelings about this place are somewhat schizophrenic. The food has recently been inconsistent, and my friends and I theorize it's based on time (the busy times have better chefs on staff)? This place is near my house, and I find myself coming quite often at various times -- sometimes a busy Saturday night, sometimes early dead weekday afternoon. The burger they have is often so juicy and well-flavored, i find it most of the time better than five guys -- other times they can't seem to cook it at the right temperature (waaay overdone), so at off-hours I order it rare in hopes that it will come out edible. Another time a friend ordered a salmon pasta dish that was literally so inedible (completely fishy -- salmon's not supposed to be fishy!) he had to send it back. He's NEVER sent anything back before. What's up with that, Rustico. That said, they did take it off the bill, which was nice. Hopefully things will smooth out soon?
(3)
Colleen M.

We made our first trip to Rustico's after reading about their gluten free pizza and beer on a Washington Post discussion board. I checked out their web site but saw nothing about the pizza, so I called to confirm. Yes they have gluten free pizza and beer, and it's available every day. They have several different kinds of wood fired pizzas, and all are available on their gluten free crust. It's a chickpea crust, tastes like whole wheat (from what I remember 15+ years ago). Even my non-celiac husband was impressed. I tried the fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella version. I generally stick with the classics on a first try, but will definitely be back to try a few others. There's an Italian sausage, a pepperoni, a roasted mushroom with spinach and goat cheese, a duck bacon with grilled onions and brie, a summer pie with green and yellow squash, a shrimp and fontina, and a salami with anchovies. All are available in gluten free versions. The crust was thin but not brittle, and had a nice chewiness to it. The gluten free beer I tried was the new Anheiser Bush RedBridge. The beer was little on the mild side, but a decent beer. My favorite gluten free beer is Bard's Tale Ale, which isn't widely available. But with 3 gluten free beer options at Rustico's and a decent wine list you can't complain. (Recently revisited Rustico's and now they have at least a half dozen gluten free beer options. The Green's Discovery was amazing. Could be a new favorite.) Rustico's menu seemed to capitalize on what was fresh in the area, and there's a nice variety to the menu. The atmosphere is warm and the service was excellent. The restaurant is lovely, casual with some very interesting art. The central column mosaic of wine bottles, plates and cups is amazing. We went for a Sunday lunch, and I can see that Rustico's would get busy but we didn't have reservations and were seated right away. For a family with a celiac diner it doesn't get any better than this. I highly recommend it. Note: The coffee shop, Buzz, across the street has gluten free brownies, too.
(4)
TheTruthTeller CheeseEater D.

The EXTRA star is for the beer selection. Great location near home. Prices on website do not match price on menu. Price on menu does not match the check. The difference is de minmis but a difference. My food was hot. My husbands was not. We had a view of the kitchen and saw the chef (the one with the name on his vest and clogs) picking his ear and then cutting, what I presume was food) Lotsa a beer.
(2)
jenilee p.

located just on the outskirts of alexandria's old town, rustico should advertise itself as every food and unique beer lover's personal sanctuary. the fairly large restaurant is split into three areas: a bar area with tall comfortable booths and tables, a more formal dining area with a young, well dressed crowd, and finally a four person chef's table overlooking the kitchen. i've only eaten at rustico's twice, but i must admit that it was twice within a period of three days... that's right, good enough for a double dose of delicious within a short visit to the dc area. the first time we walked into a busy friday night restaurant, and had the opportunity to sit at the chef's table , which was very interesting to see the kitchen at work, and the second visit was spent at a tall window booth in the bar menu. i would suggest to anyone that they opt for the bar area as there are more appetizer type dishes available that are not offered in the dining room. an extensive beer menu on draft can be ordered as samples or full size pints. there is also a great list of bottled beers, and unlike other dc institutions (RFD/Brickskeller) we only had maybe one or two bottles which were unavailable at the time of order. If I were to recommend beers, I suggest perusing their selection of belgian style beers, and don't miss out on the duchess de bourgogne or the hitatchino for something interesting and well matched to the food. also, don't be afraid to ask your server for his/her opinion. the servers are attentive, knowledgeable, and downright excited about the menu's offerings. as far as food offerings: shiitaki straws - not too bad... not too great. but if you're a huge bacon spring roll person, go for it though. sesame crusted fried pickle spears with a honey mustard dipping sauce - the ultimate bar food to go with any esb, methinks. honestly, pregnant women might go into labor out of sheer joy after snacking on these. rabbit terrine with a wine jelly, stone ground mustard, a nice buttered biscuit/bun and cornichons - while this was one of the more conservative rabbit terrines i've had (i.e. staying away from some of the slimier consistencies of fat and offal), it was very tasty, and something that i was excited to let my fellow diners try, without scaring them off. layering all the elements made for a great appetizer. duck confit and cracklin pizza with grilled onions and brie - an interesting pizza with a pretty good crust. i'm a sucker for duck and cracklins on anything... i'd eat them on an old shoe. the burger - two of my party both ordered a very substantial burger. and the taste was that of a perfectly cooked, good cheddar burger. excellent fries as well. ask for a little sample of the smoked tomato ketchup as well, which is worth trying. 21 day dry aged ribeye - i love seeing dry aged steak on any menu, as it takes a lot of equipment and time to properly age a steak. while the accompanying sauce seemed like it would have been better on a lesser piece of meat, (i would have preferred a solid knob of butter), it was also very tasty. homemade bratwurst - a long tube of sausage cures any ailment, and this was a nice special i ordered off the menu on my second night at the restaurant. served on a bed of polenta, and with a side of grilled pizza bread, it was absolutely delicious. overall, i would be incredibly psyched any day of the week to visit this restaurant, and wish there were an equivalent within walking distance of my current place of residence... but i suppose there is only one rustico's.
(4)
Tim M.

I have to say I used to love this place and since its opened, its gone down hill. Now don't get me wrong, it does have the best beer list this side of the river, however, the food is not what it used to be. Now I don't know if it is because they have opened Birch and Barley or Columbia Firehouse and they have taken their eyes off of this place, but its not the same. I had the mussels as an appetizer and they where just ok, the juice that it was in was bland at best. They are way better at Columbia Firehouse. Then we also had the hummus, which was turned into a fancy mess of beef on top with some kind of other spice on it. Leave hummus alone, its good alone. Also had the Tuna Tartar, and that was good, however the chips they served with it were stale. I think its just a lack of detail on their part. After having the apps, I really didn't want to push it on the food, so had the burger, and that was good, no question about it. No dessert this time. I have had some great experiences here in the past, but if you come here, stick the beer list and eat somewhere else, preferably one of their other restaurants.
(2)
Roger X.

My family's first time visiting Rustico, and we had a very positive experience. After reading some of the negative reviews on service, I was worried, but we did not encounter any bad attitudes. Our waitress was from Ukraine, very sweet, great accent, and top class service. Much better than Americans can provide. My suggestion is to go as early as possible to avoid major crowds. Dining doesn't open until 5:30pm, but the bar is open earlier. Our appetizer was a custom grilled salad and french fries with truffle parmesan. Our dinner was pizza margherita, mushroom white pizza, and regular cheese pizza. All very good. Do not compare this restaurant to Chicago or NY. This pizza is brick oven, and can be compared more to Emilios, Z-Pizza, and Two Amys. The pizza is good, and the atmosphere was awesome. Our service was above average. The only downside is the place is more expensive than normal, so if you are used to spending a lot on dinners, this is the place for you. I rated a five because in VA, there is limited choices with a combination of everything nice.
(5)
Heather R.

Just Delicious! One of the better "bang for your buck" restaurants in the greater DC area. Their menu constantly updates to reflect the freshest ingredients for the season. The white pizza is delectable and every soup I have ever tried has been amazing!
(4)
Rob B.

The best part is the frat-boy beer bucket for $8, customer choice of nat lite, bush, pbr and I think miller high life. This is the place in NE Alexandria to get a beer from around the World. If I can recall the beer menu is eight to nine pages long. The food is just ok, not very hot when it arrived. This is a neighborhood bar in the making, it's one of the only restaurants in this part of Alexandria so I'm sure they are not short on a customer base, seeing that a hundred or more town homes are just be hide it.
(3)
Jill Z.

First time going here on a recommendation from several friends. We arrived around 5:15pm, so the dining room was not yet opened. We decided we would wait the 15 minutes in the bar area next to the gas fireplace. First impressions: the couches were covered in dust and the server was not very knowledgable on their extensive beer list. My mother ordered a vodka on the rocks and after the server rang it in, she returned to say that they were out of vodka....really? They only had Stoli Vanilla in-house. At around 5:40 the hostess came and got us to be seated. The server was excellent and made several suggestions, which we took. However, when my husband and mother attempted to order two different glasses of red wine, the server rang them in and then returned to say that they only had two red wines from their extensive list in-house, Merlot and Cab. Needless to say, neither was one of the ones they selected. Most of the meal was good, though the Osso Buco Rissoto was bland at best. The dessert was delicious, but had way, way to much cocoa powder on top. I think I will try it again, but If the next experience is anything like the first, it will be the last! I was sad, as I had heard so many great things and was really looking forward to it!
(2)
Kate H.

Trendy pizza place + out of this world beer menu = great place for dinner! Terrible service + only 4 appetizer choices = you get 4 stars, not 5. The pizzas at Rustico are amazing - duck, brie, goat cheese, shrimp - just to name a few of the toppings. The beer selection is equally amazing. Not being a beer drinker AT ALL, I was told to try the Belgian "Lambic Framboise" - which, to my suprise, was on TAP. Pretty crazy for a chick beer that I didn't think anyone actually ordered. Well, now I know why it's on tap - it was delicious! If only our server had been swift enough to bring me a new one when I finished it and not waited 45 minutes, after I had eaten the pizza someone else brought out to us.... He also took 20 minutes to just take our order. So, my suggestion is to get take out from Rustico and make a pit stop at an upscale liquor store and get some of your favorite microbrews (or the Raspberry Lambic!!) and enjoy these treats at home, where if you need a napkin, you won't wait 35 minutes.
(4)
Kristin P.

I've been here a couple of times and enjoyed the food. It wasn't spectacular, but good.
(3)
Elizabeth R.

Wish I could give the beer a slightly higher rating than the food...went here to have a fun, laid-back weeknight dinner and Rustico delivered on that wish. I was immediately impressed by the hefty binder they hand you listing their beer selection (1 pg of draft beer alone), and unlike other places (*ahem Brickskeller ahem*) they seemed to have most things in stock. I ordered the summer pie (pizza w/ mozzarella, Virginia ham & squash) and it was a great complement to my India Pale Ale. They even have several flights of beer grouped according to type or flavor, but I thought the "workingman" group was dumb- $12 for a selection of Coors Light, PBR, and Miller? That's ok, I could've stayed at home for that. Instead, try one of their microbrews from VA, MI or another atypical beer producing state. They could work on their food menu to include more complements to the beer selection- food selection seemed to be thrown together haphazardly- but I have no complaints as to the quality, just a better selection of pizzas & cheaper options would make sense in a "beer" place. I'd say to try a framboise in lieu of ordering dessert, but if you must, just head over to Buzz bakery across the street for your sugar fix.
(4)
Ann-Marie N.

I have been there twice (both times in July 2009), ordered a number of appetizers (curry deviled eggs with a teeny bit of crab and the BBQ croquettes - terrible), the pizzas are sadly sadly DISAPPOINTING. (I absolutely hate sub-par pizza... I don't know how anyone can say this pizza is good.) I went again to show the place to my sister (and to give the restaurant a second chance) as we were going to movies nearby, and I stupidly ordered the chick pea crust with sausage... ugh. I had one slice and had to give up. The pizza crust, which is the almost only test of a good pizza, it's heavy, and not at all crispy - the normal masa is barely better. (My husband ordered the basil-mozzarella and it was okay; my sister's friend ordered the chicken pizza and she had to ask for more salt and the crushed pepper flakes.) I had such high hopes as the atmosphere is so cool, open, airy, with reasonably cool decorations - though in an unusual block (near the Russian Gourmet). And there is just that "something" missing (lack of salt? lack of flavor? both?) that makes it all a step around frozen - just served on nicer plates. Even digiorno's is much better, I honestly have to say, and that's only $5. (All the waiters seem to have some serious attitude (a comment repeated in yelp) - this is unfortunate for a semi-neighborhood joint). I hate to be a killjoy on this place that everyone seems to love about their beer selection, but c'mon...! It's a true crime to serve bad pizza! I unfortunately cannot give Rustico a third chance... better to drive all the way to Pete's Apizza or Two Amy's in DC.
(1)
Candace B.

Wonderful artisian menu. Great craft pizzas. Impressive beer list. Great spot for casual dinners/date nights.
(4)
Gwen H.

I live right down the street and love coming to Rustico for a glass of wine or a beer 2-3 times a month. Not the biggest fan of the food menu, but the bar is awesome and I love the mosaic wall.
(4)
Kelly B.

I want to start by saying Rustico's pizza is one of my favorite pies in the area if not the best. I usually get the white pizza, or sometimes the pepperoni and/or sausage, and they never disappoint: chewy crust that has that kind of floury dustiness on the bottom ... so good. and it reheats great too! so that's why I give it two stars. I've been going to Rustico since it opened and hate to say that aside from the pizza, the fried deviled eggs and the handful of cold fresh beers they offer on tap, this place does now indeed suck. my last visit could be summed up in three observations: 1) consistently warm flat beer - Rustico introduced me to craft beer, specifically Jeffersons Reserve bourbon barrel stout. they haven't carried that sweet nectar in some time and the last few occasions I've gone, the beer I selected has arrived warm and flat. not just pub-style room temp, flat like last night's beer. flat like I could use it for baking. clearly the end of the keg, I would imagine, and I understand that someone has to get that last serving but every time? were I to go back I would order not from the menu but rather I would ask, which kegs were just tapped today?; b) mussels dry as a BONE. quite literally no moisture to the mussels themselves and barely any broth at all, which is maddeningly comical considering they give you bread to sop it up with. again, I had some of my first mussels ever at Rustico, they used to be so tasty with lots of flavorful broth; c) roach on the bathroom wall. my parents had a restaurant, I watch "restaurant: impossible," I understand that on a dewy summer night, roaches can happen. but I felt like this guy was a manifestation of this establishment's decline. we like to ride our bikes around town and Rustico is convenient for that; I could see us maybe stopping in to catch a few minutes of a game, ordering a pie at the bar and enacting the keg inquiry I mentioned above. but we used to go there rather frequently for family dinners, happy hours, etc., and those activities have been suspended until this place returns to its former neighborhood glory.
(2)
Clarence J.

This is a wonderful place and is probably 4.5 stars to me. Dark wood, leather, and dim lighting is predominant on the bar side; white tablecloths and brighter lights mark the general dining area side. The tables are relatively close together (cozily close), but Rustico's still managed to leave plenty of space to move through. The bar is lined with large, comfortable leather chairs, and the bar TVs are tuned to multiple things. (At least multiple sports -- while I was here, it was college football, Central American soccer, the US Open, and a Nationals game.) The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Service is somewhat slow, but only because with limited servers it seemed a bit difficult to catch their attention, particularly at a time when they weren't already working with someone else. The food is excellent -- there're a decent variety of basics, covering beef and seafood, and plenty of different sizes of options with "snacks" added to the appetizers, salads, entrees, and pizza. Everything I tried had great flavor and was cooked exactly how I liked it. (And next time I'm definitely trying the deep fried deviled eggs!) The beer selection is outstanding! There are numerous beers on tap, plus a wealth of them in bottles and cans. You'll pay for the variety and the quality, but you can choose "taste" sizes (think sampler sizes at many microbreweries, although larger than some and smaller than others) or full-size glasses, giving you the opportunity to try more. I'll most definitely be back many times.
(4)
Dan S.

Great Beer and pizza, what else?
(4)
Kamni G.

Mr.Key, K-Man and I all needed a place to dine. K-man who has worked in the area three years ago suggested Rustico. Right off the bat I knew that the food must be stupidly good if it is remembered three years out. So after picking up Mr. Key, we went to Rustico. Promptly greeted and seated we feasted our eyes on the menu. Where to start and what to experience. The ambiance called for a cold beer, the outside wind howling called for a hot beverage. Once we warmed up, we went for the beer. Mr. Key is Brandon C. Our waiter was also a Brandon so naturally he was an awesome dude. Kman was hunting for a german beer that tasted much like a divine sandwich but Branch the waiter did not have it so he suggested something like it. Kman and I both enjoyed the beer very much. Brandon C. aka Mr.Key wanted something local and that is exactly what he got. I tried the beer he got and frankly it was pretty darn good. Order;s Up: Kman: GRILLED DRY-AGED CHEDDAR BURGER* toasted brioche, red-wine shallot aioli, malted fries Kman was floored by the ketchup! Thats right Rustico, my husband thinks your kethup is the business! Whatever spices you put in it, dont get rid of it. And those fries are a class of their own, totally awesome. Brandon C aka Mr.Key- PEPPERONI PIZZA roasted peppers, mozzarella & smoked tomato sauce He found it delicious and big enough for two. When it gets a bit cold it is rather chewy but he said in a good way...hmmm. And lastly my order: SMOKED TURKEY MONTE CRISTO fried egg, bechamel, mixed green salad The salad was neatly tucked onto the plate, the dressing was sweet and savory. The egg was perfectly cooked and this is the BEST monte cristo I have EVER had. I love you Rustico. I'll be seeing you soon
(5)
John V.

Great repeat experience at Rustico earlier this week. You gotta love a place where most of the 30 beers on tap are unfamiliar ... Will at the bar made some great suggestions based on my preference for hoppy ales. Wife and I had lunch at the bar, I did the white pizza and she opted for a burger. Both were excellent, the burger was cooked to perfection, and the pizza really hit the spot. Service was excellent from start to finish, and prices were quite reasonable. I'll be back, lots of other beers for me to sample.
(4)
Jared B.

I hate Rustico but my fiancÃ© loves it. So, if i write anything too bad, she will be mad at me, so I averaged it. What I hate: The snobby bartenders, the price, the wait. What she loves: The food, the beer choices, and the atmosphere. I find myself here way more than I want spending way too much money on stuff that I feel is about the same throughout all of their restaurant chains. I don't think they do anything special except charge more than some of the other DC chains. However, my fiancÃ© swears the food here is better and loves the beer selection.
(3)
Michael M.

Ok if you are looking for sub par food in an upscale atmosphere near Potomac Yards and Alexandria THEN STEP RIGHT UP!!!!!!!! Its been awhile since i've been here and I thought I had posted my review, but alas I didn't. This is how memorable of a meal it was for me I stopped and got something to eat at Wendy's on my way home. The service is good but the food bleh... its worth the trip to drive into Old Town if you want a decent meal at the prices they charge. I will say the Beer selection is great and served well... that is all!
(2)
Arjun V.

As someone who used to go to the Ballston Rustico for many work lunches and drinks, I was really excited to bring my girlfriend to the Alexandria location. We live just up the road and wanted to spend a quiet Friday night at "somewhere good and laid-back." I had built up the fries specifically with the GF, as she's a huge fan. Unfortunately, the fries actually came out cold and without much truffle oil. Big bummer. The food itself wasn't terrible - just mediocre, especially in comparison with what I expected coming from the Ballston Rustico. On top of that, the service was really, really bad. We were seated outside and felt like at times, our waiter forgot about us. All around, it was a disappointing experience and don't think I could go back (maybe I'll just stick with Ballston whenever I'm there for work...).
(3)
Andrew I.

Great food! Portions were just big enough for me but everything I had was delish. Service was friendly and accommodating, even to a large group. Beer list was impressive and servers knew about it and could make recommendations. Only con was the parking - good luck finding a spot.
(4)
Betsy S.

I'm bummed to give a three star review, but my last trip here left me a little cold. Service was slow to begin with, but once it got going was relatively consistent. I was pleased to see the happy hour, which took $2 off draft beers - whoohoo! Anyways, I seem to remember the pizza being absolutely amazing, but my pizza with carmelized onions and mushrooms was good, but nothing to write home about it. I don't know Rustico, is it me? The fries tossed in truffle oil were a nice appetizer, and my friend demolished her cheeseburger, but I don't know! Maybe since my pizza ended up being $16 (darn those add ons!) I left with an indifferent taste in my mouth. That said, if you live in the area and haven't been, check it out! Maybe you'll have more luck than me. The decor is awesome and the beer list kickin' - if they have enough copies to bring to you.
(3)
Ashley S.

This place is more unpredictable than the gender of a Thai hooker. I've had exceptional food here, and I've had meals that left me staring apologetically at my husband's wallet for pillaging it for such meek rewards. The mussels, carpaccio and orzo mac and cheese are all consistently delish. Everything else, it's like spinning the needle on a Twister board. Service is just as inconsistent. One visit we'll have the waiter of the decade, dishing out wonderful suggestions and fantastic service. The next visit, we're clearly interrupting their busy schedule of playing Angry Birds and should not dare to ask for a second round. It's a good enough place that as long as it's close, we'll show up, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
(3)
Katie K.

Love Rustico. I am not a beer fan, but I am well aware of their stellar beer offerings. But they do have options for non-beer drinkers. I can only comment on the bar service, as I have never sat at a table. The bar tenders are EXCELLENT. Warm, friendly, and defiantly try to do whatever they can to make your experience awesome. The truffle fries are AMAZING. One of the best things on the menu. Even recommended them to a couple next to me one night and they graciously thanked me for the recommendation as they scarfed down the fries. It's not a very extensive menu, but this place is more about having a good time while having a few drinks and eating a little something then an all out foodie paradise. I'm here probably once a week and will continue to go all the time.
(5)
Stephanie P.

I was visiting friends in Alexandria, and they recommended Rustico for a quiet, low-key dinner. It's a place they go to pretty frequently - him for the beer and her for the pizza - and I have a "no chain restaurants" rule for vacations (which, as far as I know, this is not). We sat in the bar rather than wait for a table - it seemed oddly crowded for 7:00 on a Sunday night, but maybe those Virginians like to party. I was impressed by the three-ring metal beer binder they slapped down on the table - about sixteen pages of cream this, stout that, and lambic the other. Beers range from $3-12, but there are four-glass samplers available, including one grab bag where you might get anything. All of their beers are also available to go, though I can't see paying $30 for a six-pack. Since the pizzas came so highly recommended, I tried the duck confit and cracklin' pizza ($14), which also had onion, brie, and some leafy green. The cracklin's were surprisingly delicious, and I ended up picking those off first. The rest of the pizza was SUPER salty, even sans cracklin's, and pretty large for one person - I only managed to finish half. With a salad, one pizza could easily serve two, or you can take half home. My friend had the fried chicken, which came drenched in thistle honey butter and a side of green beans, and she said it was the best fried chicken she'd ever had. We also tried the mac 'n' cheese "poppers," which sounds like it would be deep-fried, but I don't think it was - they were basically Ding-Dong-sized pucks of twice-baked mac 'n' cheese in a white cheese sauce. They were OK, but not something I'd get again. I do like their decor, which classes it up a bit with the dark wood floors and furniture and the nifty tile mosaic on the front wall that includes whole teacups protruding from the surface. If you're hankering for a particular obscure beer and you really love sodium, then Rustico is the place for you, but I wouldn't make a special effort to go back (and not just because I live 3,000 miles away).
(2)
Gina W.

Great Pizza! Stopped into this fine establishment as a coworker has raved about it's amazing pizza. My friend was right, the pizza was good. Had the spinach pie and added olives to it. The crust was amazing. The service was ok there. Folks didn't have much of a friendly personality...then again...I didn't visit the joint to be buddies with the wait staff. I will go back and try their dinner menu.
(4)
Jonathan S.

They have a great happy hour (with $2 off all standard-sized beers)! The selection of stouts is great and a $3 brooklyn lager really can't be beat for happy hour enjoyment. I also got a chance to try their grilled-cheese w/ ham and onions. Delicious but heavy, with LOTS of cheese. The fries come with two kinds of ketchup (one that is unmistakably Heinz, and one that is smokey and spicey like BBQ sauce). The pizzas ordered by two members of our group did come out a bit burnt (and one was sent back and replaced with a more satisfactorily cooked pie). I personally prefer my pizza to be a little blackened (and these tasted great to me), but since "cajun" was not among the specifications provided by the customers, I have to dock them a star.
(4)
Ethan E.

Bottom line up front: The fact that this place has only 3.5 stars is a travesty--it's definitely a four: food is delicious, atmosphere is cool, service is top notch--Go here. (Like my reviews? Add me as a friend: bit.ly/19TU1Tn ) My Experience(s): The first time I came here was for brunch. We strolled in a little late, so it was not packed and we were seated right away. The service was friendly and fast. I know this sounds a little silly, but they give you a whole bottle of water on the table, and serve the water without ice which for some reason I really like. The ambiance is nice--easy lighting, good for conversation, and a window into the kitchen so you can see the pizzas as they're prepared. My second crack at Rustico was for dinner--I would rate it essentially the same level of great as brunch but honestly the entrees weren't quite as amazing as brunch. Dish by Dish: Buttermilk Biscuit Slider: First, I'd like to point out that this is a snack, we did not eat four main courses. Second, how cool is it that they serve snacks? They're perfect when you want a little something--not a whole app--and they cost two bucks. The biscuit was crunchy on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside exactly as your imaginary Southern grandmother would've made them. Holding within a scrambled egg, smokey italian sausage and light slice of white cheddar this is a must. Oh, and did I say it was two bucks? You know what you can get for two bucks at most DC area restaurants? Free advice. Deep Fried Devil Egg: Again, a snack. Again, two bucks. I really like deviled eggs to begin with--Rustico's are perfection: Savory, rich with a hint of smoke and spice, Now, take that same deviled egg and deep fry it, and I am forced to seriously consider adopting it, mentoring it as it gets good grades through high school, sending it to an ivy league college so it can settle down with a nice pre-law deviled egg and raise a delicious deviled egg family of 5. Brisket Hash and Sunny Side Up Eggs: If there was an animated series about hash this dish would play some type of super hero. Picture diced chunks of tender, perfectly seasoned brisket mixed with soft, delicious potatoes and onions seasoned in a savory tornado of fantastic. Drooling? Me too. Topped with a sunny side egg and paired with a pepper biscuit and you get a breakfast fit for a king. Baguette French Toast: I was a little skeptical when my wife ordered this one. Then, I saw one swoop past us to a nearby table and was immediately a believer. Hearty chunks of fresh french bread made soft and moist by whisked egg and then doused in a sweet syrup with caramelized apples and whipped cream--as my wife put it, "It tastes like a perfect fall sunset." In my opinion, a must. I won't do full write ups on our dinner entrÃ©es because the real take away from this review is go here for brunch, but we had the glazed pork chop and the cheddar burger. Pretty good, but just not on par with their breakfast offerings. They did have a great beer selection and the parmesan risotto tater tots and steak tar tar snack were awesome. If we head back for dinner I might just get those. This help? Let me know by marking it useful!
(4)
Jasen F.

I love this joint. solid 4.5 in my humble foodie book. The pizzas are good, the salads and beer/wine selection is great, and I have nothing but goodness for Rustico. I'm thinking another visit will move this 4.5 into 5 territory, but I've been impressed by everything but the service which can be a little uneven over the course of my two visits. I don't need to be wowed by the service but acknowledged and appreciated. The last time felt a bit hurried even with a reservation. Great part of living in the northern Old Town / Del Ray area is getting to eat at Rustico.
(4)
Nelson H.

I was referred here by old co-workers mentioning that the pizza is good. My girlfriend ordered the pepperoni and it was average to me. Not much flavor in the sauce and the pepperoni made it really greasy. The bottom crust was soggy and very thin. I prefer a light crisp bottom like the Italian Pizza Kitchen (on Connecticut ave, DC). However, my dish came out pretty good. I ordered the Salmon BLT with Spinach and Ham Salad. It was pretty tasty. One of the best salads I've had when going out to a restaurant. My favorite being Chop't. Anyways, the croutons were fresh and the vinaigrette was good. The sandwich had a generous amount of fish but the ciabetta would've been better if it was toasted, so the fish made it soggy. However, the tomato jam was different and was slightly sweet. Not much bacon on it as it came in bits. Service was excellent and I enjoyed the ambiance.
(4)
Tyler R.

I really need to go back to this place. My first and, as of yet , only experience was fantastic. The place has a great atmosphere and the food was great. I had their slow cooked duck (which sadly I haven't seen on the menu since then) and several excellent beers from their gigantic selection. I'm definitely looking forward to a chance to bring my girlfriend here.
(4)
Donna D.

Pretty decent food. Nice beer selection. Need to train their waitstaff. Desperately!
(3)
Jeff P.

Excellent food. Great cocktails. Great service. Nicer atmosphere, but still casual. Great beer selection.
(4)
Dave S.

This place is definitely a one-trick show. The pizza may be fine but do not stray from that portion of the menu. The hash was quite dry with a poor texture. The tomato porzarella was most unpleasant. The burgers barely attained the height of mediocrity. We might return for a pizza, but nothing else.
(2)
Alan G.

If 3 stars is "A OK" as in I would go back. The I have to give Rustico a 2 star rating. The service was fine. The bar was fine. I just don't see myself ever craving food from there again. We had a large party of 13. Everyone ordered something different, mostly pizzas. Everything tasted ok but I simply wasn't impressed enough to make plans to go back. Especially for pizza. BUT if you do find yourself here, get the roasted mushroom pizza and definitely do NOT get the chick pea crust. I know eating gluten free has it's trade offs but the chick pea crust is straight cardboard. The Rustico donuts would have been a nice dessert if they weren't literally buried in powdered sugar and chocolate sauce. C'mon kitchen, get it together. Anyway, this place isn't terrible. This rating is purely on the execution of the food.
(2)
Sharmili E.

A friend wanted to take me out for my birthday, and we headed to Rustico two days ago. We didn't have a reservation, and I had never been to the Slater's Lane location. I'd been to the Ballston one a few years back, and the only thing that I remembered was that I was eh about my meal, my husband greatly enjoyed his, and we agreed the dessert was excellent. I have friends who love the Slater's Lane location and go at least once a month, so I was eager to try it out. I am so glad I went. We walked in (hadn't made a reservation), and were immediately seated at a table for two near the kitchen. As we were seated, a gentleman came over who recognized my friend, and introduced himself as Stu - who turned out to be a manager. Stu engaged us and encouraged us to look over the beer menu. He provided very helpful suggestions based on our beer preferences. I was skeptical as I'm not a big beer drinker. My husband is, and I've never been able to get into it. Based on our discussions, Stu sent over 2 flights of beer. While we didn't love every single beer in the flights, I really enjoyed most of them and was introduced to beers I had never tried and never would have tried on my own. For that alone, my husband definitely wants to go to Rustico - any place that can get me to enjoy beer is a winner in his book. We ended up being indecisive and ordered a whole slew of appetizers and a salad to share. While not every dish blew me away, I really enjoyed everything, got to try a bunch of things. We ordered the pork belly sliders, a couple of the deep fried deviled eggs, rotisserie chicken dip, beer pretzels, risotto tots, crispy brussel sprouts, and a grilled caesar salad. My favorites were the crispy brussel sprouts, the pork belly slider, risotto tots, and the grilled caesar salad. I must add, after we had ordered, after the beer flights came, and before the food arrived, our waitress and Stu came over to ask if we would want more room for all the plates, and offered to move us to a booth. It was an excellent suggestion as there were plates everywhere, and it took us a while to slowly work our way through the food. In addition to everything we ordered, Stu walked over a plate of turnip carpaccio - which was a special dish by the chef. I was skeptical as it was turnips sliced thinly over a bed of arugula, tomatoes, blue cheese, asparagus, and cashew butter. There was a lemony vinaigrette drizzled over (at least, I think so - but it was deliciously acidic without being overpowering), and it helped cut the heaviness of some of the other dishes. If Stu hadn't brought it over for us to try, I don't know that I would have ordered it myself - but I'm glad he did as it was amazing! The one thing I was bummed about was that they didn't have the chocolate smore cheescecake, but we got a nutella pie instead, which was very rich and delicious. Between the very good food, the excellent drinks and the awesome service, it really made for an amazing birthday celebration, and I look forward to my next visit!
(5)
Barry L.

Had some friends in town to run the MCM, and wanted to take them someplace near their hotel. Very happy to have chosen Rustico Our server was fantastic - very knowledgeable Ukranian woman, knew her beers inside and out. Just an outstanding experience - pizzas were good, beers were great, entrees were really nice.
(5)
Carol W.

Food wise and beer selection wise - this place is a solid 4.5, maybe even a 5. It is a favorite in Old Town. The good: Let me talk a little about the great stuff: Their pizza's - wow! The Italian sausage and roasted mushroom were mighty tasty. I've also tried the basil and fresh mozzarella in a previous visit. Also very solid. One of these days I do want to go there for dinner. Also - kudos to the wait staff waiting the tables. They were as quick as they could be considering all of the people, polite and willing to split a bill at the end of the night. Always a plus in my book. The bad, but not too ugly: Last Friday I have to give the service at the bar a solid 3 stars. This is the second time that we have hosted a happy hour at this location. The first time during the summer, the second one on Friday. Once again - the food was great, the service at the table was great, but service at the bar needed some work. I totally understand that when you take 49 people to a place to drink - getting a drink can be challenging. However, having done this several times in the last few months, I can say without a doubt that the bar staff should never ignore customers. Just a couple of weeks ago we had 50 plus people at a bar (a small one at that) and though service took time, at least the staff told us they would be with us as soon as possible. At Rustico, it felt like the bartenders made a point of not acknowledging when someone was standing at the bar (and there were 4-5 staff behind the bar at any given time). To me that's just bad customer service and borders on the rude side. So - though this is a really solid food place with a fantastic selection of beers - I'm not sure if we can bring a big group here again if the service is going to be bad. For us - that's a shame since we really like the variety of this place.
(3)
sarah s.

Duck confit pizza was good- it was nice to have something different. Beer selection is insane and our server was helpful with his recommendations. Staff was very accommodating to our large party with 4 kids and was quick to help when needed. We had a good experience and i would recommend to my beer loving friends.
(4)
Marivic L.

Just came back from lunch here. Decent comfortable decor, friendly greeter and attentive waitress. The drinks were filled ASAP - always a plus. I got the mac & cheese people rave about. The cheese flavor was perfect and somewhat sharp, the shrooms were good, the pancetta wasn't too salty, and the peas were a nice touch without giving the dish too much sweetness. I normally bypass peas because they're normally too sweet. . I'd definitely get it again. The lunch buddy got the burger and fries. He told me that the fries were really good, so I took some. Very nice and it said they were malted. The burger looked good and, considering this was the second time he had the bruger in about 5 days, I'd say it's not a bad bet. I'm gonna try it next time. I'll definitely be back. I also went to buzz bakery (their sister store, I guess) and have 4 kinds of cupcakes waiting for me to eat them :)
(3)
Lea C.

So...I have lived in Alexandria almost a yr...how is it I've never been in here before? Been meaning to, but...story of my life. Anyway, we went. For lunch. It was basically 3:00 PM on the dot, and when we got to the door we started to turn back when we read that they closed at 3:00 to get ready for dinner--good thing the BF peered through the window and proclaimed that there were people inside, so went in to do recon. Eating at the spacious bar area worked for us (but only at the booth, since I am so short that those kitschy vintage-looking bar chairs were impossible for me to sit in without sliding off). I like the look of the place. The wood-fire smell. The cool mosaic wall that incorporates dishes. Like the whole vibe. I'm not a beer drinker, but appreciate the seemingly well-curated craft menu with lots and lots of Great Lakes-area selections (gotta rep my home). The waitress recommended a blackberry pear cider (Fox Barrel) which was the slam. We kept it simple: split a grilled Caesar salad, the BF got a burger, I ordered a pepperoni pizza. We were not disappointed. Have you ever had a grilled Caesar salad? It sounds crazy, I know. My fav resto in Philly, Valanni, introduced me to the concept yrs ago, and it has been my fav Caesar twist since then. Rustico doesn't prepare theirs the same way, so the salad looks like any old Caesar when they bring it out. But it's soooo much better! The warm, smoky grilled romaine gets me every time. The BF, who is basically a Caesar connoisseur, was super impressed. Just try it, seriously. The BF scarfed down his burger like it was a fight to the death, so I didn't get a bite. But he loved it. He likes his cow bleeding, and that thing was definitely juicy enough to drip, so I know it was perfectly cooked for him (which doesn't happen often). I can't even pretend like I didn't commandeer his fries. OMG those fries! Dark, perfectly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and sprinkle with kosher salt, which I like. Sooooo good. Apparently, fries are the one thing Alexandria has perfected. Rustico has somehow managed to be the only place I have ever found in the "South" to successfully approximate NYC-style pizza, and I don't think they were even trying. That pizza was some of the greasiest pizza I have ever seen. But it was damned good. I would ask for paper napkins next time, but when I want straight pepperoni pizza, I will be back. It was perfect: thin, foldable, not too big, salty, cheesy, not too much pepperoni, good sauce. Totally hit the spot. Big enough for 2 people, too big for 1. We took half of it home. BF ate it promptly, so apparently it held up. Service was a tad slow, and there weren't many people, which was admittedly a bit annoying. The parking look limited, so I'm not sure what kind of a nightmare we'll encounter trying to come here during a dinner rush. The menu is very creative, which I'm excited about since we can keep coming back. I foresee many happy hours here in my future. With more blackberry pear cider.
(5)
Lindsay H.

Really good carrot hummus, pizza is tasty and beer menu is extensive.
(4)
Hannah B.

My husband and I went here for the first time for my birthday dinner and were disappointed. Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE pizza, particularly artisan pizzas that are a little out of the ordinary, which is why we decided to give this place a try. We sat outside and it was a pretty night - the restaurant is on a quiet street so the dining experience itself was really pleasant. They have a huge beer menu, which I guess is a big draw for this place. We didn't try the beer, but the wine was good (although I thought the wine prices were pretty steep at $9-11 a glass for a limited selection). The pizza was a huge disappointment. The flavors were just ....off. Really strange. We got the Butchers Block and the Carolina pizza. The butchers block pizza was almost all meat - very little cheese. I get the concept, since they are targeting meat lovers, but I think good pizza needs a balance of flavors. One of the meats on the pizza had a really strange, off putting taste to it. They also put sliced, uncooked garlic on the top. I love garlic, but sautÃ©ing it first helps to mellow out the flavor and this was not cooked at all. I ended up pulling off all but the pepperoni and eating that. The Carolina pizza sounded like it would be really savory, which is why we ordered it. It just didn't work. The pork and the cheese were really good - in fact, that alone with maybe a tomato based BBQ sauce would have been really tasty! Unfortunately the vinegar based NC BBQ sauce gave the whole pizza a weird bitter taste that really clashed with the rest of the flavors. The pizza also had swiss chard, which I love, but it has to be cooked properly! If chard is undercooked it has a sour taste - it needs to be cooked down or roasted to bring out the flavors and reduce the acidic/sour flavor. Unfortunately the swiss chard on our pizza was very sour, so ultimately we had the acidic vinegar, sour swiss chard, and savory pork/cheese. It was just very strange and not enjoyable to eat. On the plus side, I liked the crust of the pizza. Though we won't be returning based on our first experience, I would recommend that anyone who comes here should stay away from the more "ambitious" pizzas, since they really don't come together well, and stick to the safer and simpler flavor options.
(2)
Kyle G.

I love this place, here's why: 1) Well-made, creative pizzas that rotate often enough to keep the menu exciting. 2) Tasty appetizers while that pizza cooks - typically we opt for the thick cut fries or the grilled salad, but the crispy Brussel sprouts they have right now are awesome. 3) Expansive offering of beers on tap to go with that pizza - organized nicely and with descriptions to enhance your selection process. We do tend to save it for semi-special occasions though, as it's relatively expensive.
(5)
Mike D.

One of the only places that makes me miss DC. Best pizza and beer I had in the metro area. Good vibe, great food, greatest beer.
(5)
Mo A.

Nice environment, comparable to cheesecake factory with the dim, warm, intimate type of decor. The service was attentive and fairly prompt, especially for a friday night. The food was ok, nothing special. The speciality pizza combinations are interesting but the taste doesn't necessarily transfer that into deliciousness. I tried the fried green tomato pizza......it was edible but the flavors were muted, the pizza was kinda messy, the crust was way too thin and a little overdone.
(2)
T L.

Rustico's interior decor was well-suited for a small birthday brunch. From where we were seated, to the left of the entrance and past a huge, mosaic-designed column, we were able to see into the kitchen area. We started off with the Rustico doughnuts which reminded me of beignets because these light and fluffy, irregularly-shaped drops of dough were dusted with a tremendous amount of confectioner's sugar. Maybe a little bit too much sugar but I can't even complain because my fatty-mcfat fat group, including myself, wiped down that plate of sugar with our doughnuts. When the grilled pizza and Italian sausage pizza came to our table, they both looked and smelled heavenly. Got the red pepper flakes and some fresh, shredded cheese on the side too. While I was disappointed at how flavorless the crust was, the rest of the pizza itself was delicious. Although I will say that I liked the grilled pizza better with the various slices of Italian cold-cuts and gouda cheese. Yum.
(4)
Michelle L.

This place consistently has great service and the food is always fantastic! It's a great brunch place too! I think they have the best and most creative salads- this time I got the kale with lemon ricotta cheese-so flavorful! Their pizzas are always fresh and delicious. For brunch you have to get the sausage biscuit-it's worth the trip just for these! Also try the donuts if you are feeling indulgent...I could go on and on and as I have never had anything bad!
(4)
Nick A.

Seemingly endless drink choices, friendly and knowledgable staff, great food, and rustic, nice atmosphere! On paper, they're closed at midnight on Saturdays, but they will stay open for a little longer if the bar is poppin. Order the Carrot Hummus. You're welcome.
(5)
Just M.

Love this place. Great woodfired pizzas, eccentric appetizers like risotto 'tater' tots or pretzel-crusted mac & cheese, and more craft beers on tap than you can shake a stick at. Service is hit or miss, but the food makes up for it. Avoid the doughnut dessert, though. They came out undercooked, so we sent them back. They theoretically threw them back in the fryer. When they came back out, they were *still* undercooked. Nothing like liquid dough!! Mmmm-mm! ;)
(4)
Valarie G.

Great food, great beer, and fun atmosphere. Can't ask for much more here (other than possibly more taps). They have some great events throughout the year and I have always had good service. The only real downside is that they are becoming too popular so there can be a wait for tables on popular nights. Outdoor dining available when it is nice out. Just don't come to a place w/such an incredible beer menu and order Bud Light please!
(5)
Ryan K.

Went here for a work luncheon - the pizza was good but not outstanding. Great crust but sauce just wasn't what I had hoped for. I will go back one more time to make sure I didn't miss something (or just go on a bad day).
(3)
Chad O.

Eclectic American pub food and wood-fired pizzas with an impressive beer list. Living nearby and often working across the street at Buzz coffee shop, I'm at Rustico once month on average. The food is good to great, and the beer list has something for everyone. Often busy enough to have a wait on weeknights, it can be loud and is not cheap; facts that are not unrelated. Deep fried deviled eggs or mac-n-cheese with truffle and pretzel topping, both are great options. Honestly, the appetizers are often better than the entrees, such that my wife and I often order a bunch of small plates and salads. Wood-fired pizzas are tasty with gourmet topping options, but nothing stunning. As a restaurant with a great beer list, it's 3 stars. As a bar with great food, it might be 4 stars. Since I'm not within walking distance, it's the former to me. Nothing special enough to make one go out of their way, but if you're in the 'hood a good option.
(3)
Meg H.

Oh Rustico, how I miss you. I have been coming to Rustico since it first opened a few years ago...5 years ago? Not sure. It was my neighborhood bar and many a time I did the walk of shame back to get my car in the morning. It could have had something to do with the ridiculously high alcohol content in the beers my friend Mike made me drink, or it could just be that it's such a great place to hang around for hours and hours, that I lost track of the time and the numbers of drinks. I do love the atmosphere here. The interior is trendy and interesting, and they say the employees tiled the walls, which are funky with bits of little objects like dollhouse sized toilets stuck in between mosaic tiles. The bar has high tables and high booths, with a long bar. It's almost impossible to get a seat on a Friday night. The dining room is bigger, with booths and tables and a bar where you can watch what goes on in the kitchen. I have moved from Alexandria but come back to DC for work frequently. Last week the evil Mike and I hung out at Rustico again. The service, as always, was great. We had a few beers which I don't feel qualified to review because I'm a wine drinker. And here is the downside to Rustico: they store their wine right behind the pizza oven and it's disgustingly warm. I have mentioned this to anyone I can get to listen to me, and they claim they can't do anything about it! Why not? You have beer fridges out the wazoo, just change the temp on one and put your red wine in it! So annoying. The food, though, is usually great! I love love love their pizzas. Thin crust, fresh ingredients, and mildly interesting seasonal selections. My favorite is an Autumn pizza with figs, arugula, and gorgonzola. YUM. Last week I tried their carrot hummus with pita points, which was fine...nothing special except that it had chopped up lamb in it, which I happened to like. I have tried many salads here, the burger is REALLY good (or it used to be when I last tried it 2 years ago), and when they offer charcuterie it's usually good, too. Although this place has a full bar, beer is the star and they don't have a lot of the liquor you might expect in a bar. On separate occassions we have tried to get Absolut or an aperitif with no luck. I suggest you plan on a cocktail here, try an appie, and then decide if you want to stay for dinner. And if you do stay, appoint a DD.
(3)
Jesse P.

I've been to this place about a dozen times since it opened. The beer is always fantastic and is what usually brings me in. Great selection, glassware, serving temperature, etc. The decor is really cool, with chandeliers looking straight from a Restoration Hardware catalog, bottle mosaics, etc. On some early trips I found the food a bit lacking but my most recent 3 or so trips, it has been awesome. The menu usually has a selection of appetizers, salads, entrees, and pizzas. I've had a couple pizzas on some my earlier visits and while good, I would not consider them as good as Fireworks or Pizzeria Paradiso. Appetizers have been somewhat disappointing as well... I recall fried deviled eggs and pretzel crusted mac n cheese that were both disappointing, personally. The salads and entrees tend to be great. Rustico changes their menu greatly to feature seasonal food. I remember having an incredible salad in the summer with a pine nut vinaigrette. Tonight I had a half roast chicken, which came with an amazing wine sauce, which was more like a deeply flavored jus; not gummy like gravy. The chicken was served with garlicy and creamy mashed potatoes mixed in with broccoli. They worked together so well, especially with the wine sauce from the chicken. The chicken itself was nicely cooked, with the breast meat still moist, though the dark meat was not as tender as I would have wished. It's apparent that Rustico uses great ingredients to create seasonal menu options that often aspire to be pretty sophisticated and very tasty, and is getting better and better every time I visit.
(4)
Roger M.

Well, like everyone else has said, Rustico has a great beer menu ... and that's more important to me than a wine list, partly 'cause I know my beer and can see through hyperbole more clearly than I can through the propa-wine-ganda that many joints put out about their mediocre wine lists. Greg is and always has been a great brewer and we should give him a national medal to thank him for what he's done here. I give Rustico only two stars for two reasons. First of all, the food items are uninspired, poorly conceived, jarringly mismatched, and over-priced. Over the years, I've tried just about everything they've offered, and the food is one of those "sounds great until you taste it" phenomena. Things are underflavored, unimaginatively cooked, and sparsely spiced. Moreover, the menu offers fancy-schmancy dishes that the kitchen can't live up to. I'm okay, in a beer bar, with an ordinary-but-solid menu, but pretentious and pompous just pisses me off. Service is the other downer. The last time we went to Rustico, I ordered a tap beer and a meal. The beer took twenty minutes to arrive -- and the server never said a word to apologize or acknowledge the slowdown. Others at my table had the same experience. When our drinks did show up, we were told that the bar was slammed -- but looked over at the bar and saw almost nobody there. Food was served similarly -- our first couple of dishes were served, and we were told that the other three were coming right up. Fifteen minutes and two cold dishes later that promise came true. That, unfortunately, was the last we saw of our server, who never stopped by to ask how things were or whether we needed anything else. I like the Neighborhood Restaurant Group and wish them all the best of luck -- but Rustico seems some serious attention if it's going to continue to succeed as a restaurant.
(2)
Jack F.

Between Pizza Paradiso and Rustico, Pizza Paradiso wins hands down. The big attraction about Rustico would be its emphasis on beer (similar to Churchkey) and gourmet pizza. But if I wanted beer, then I'd rather go to Churchkey. With regards to pizza, they even have a chickpea crust for those who need a gluten-free option. While novel and interesting, the chickpea option ended up tasting like a dense biscuit. At the end of the meal, I couldn't help but wonder why everything ended up being so expensive. The pizza's okay but I still felt that a $15 price tag was unnecessary. Even Papa John's might be a better option at that price. The $13 crabcake was tiny and medicore. The $8 potato fries were tasty but lacked crunch (a little soggy). When everything left you wishing that you had eaten somewhere else ... Rustico ends up being a place that you ought to try at least once for the ambiance but you might not be clamoring to return. [Original Visit: August 20, 2011]
(2)
Lia M.

I've been to Rustico a few times now, and I like the atmosphere and dÃ©cor. What I do not particulary like is the service. The service has been mediocre at best - typically unfriendly and unattentive. During my most recent visit, we were seated promptly, the server came right over with water, then never came back. Finally, ten minutes later, I had to flag down a manager, who served us the whole night, and kept apologizing for "the snafu". What snafu, buddy? The one where your employee can't figure out how to serve a table? The thing about Rustico is that they carry my most favorite beer ever - Aecht Schlenkerla Oak Smoke. I am in love with this beer. Granted, they charge me $15 for it, which is completely ridiculous, but still...they carry this beer and many other places do not. I've enjoyed some of their other beer offerings as well. I've had various dishes here as well - 3 different pizzas: white, basil & mozzarella, and spicy shrimp. I did not care for the white - thought it was very salty. Basil & mozzarella is OK, but the spicy shrimp pizza is amazing. I love shrimp on pizza - it is different, but good. And the crust is fantastic - crispy outside, soft inside. The orzo mac and cheese is delicious and the pretzel topping adds a nice crunch. During my last visit, we asked for bread because we were really hungry, which they do not have, but the manager did give us sourdough crostini that typically goes with the mussels. While the crostini was fine, it is definitely more suited for dipping in broth than olive oil. Fabulous beer, decent-to-good food, and spotty service make Rustico an interesting mix and closer to 2.5 stars, but the beer pushes them up to three. While I would not rush here, I would not veto, either.
(3)
Watrbb W.

Sorry but I do not understand the draw of this restaurant unless it's a nightly bar scene. It's dark and drab - perhaps where the name Rustico comes from because it is rustic. I kept going over the menu hoping something would intrigue me but alas.....I "settled" for the spinach salad and added grilled shrimp. My friend and I did order the carrot hummus with spiced lamb & feta - it was the best part of our meals. My spinach salad was less than inspired and the grilled shrimp; no flavor/bland. My friend had the veggie sandwich which she said was "OK", but could have had a larger variety on it. This was my friends second visit and she said after the first time she was not enthused but wanted to see if it had improved - not. It was my first visit. Neither of us will be back.
(2)
Tony M.

Is Rustico really a 1 star restaurant? No, not really. But I'm mad enough after my last visit to give it 1 star. Rustico was always a favorite work lunch spot or a great spot for dinner. I always got a pizza and an appetizer and always left happy. My only complaint was things I loved disappearing off the menu only to be replaced by something different. I could deal with that, as I know they do a lot of seasonal things. I always loved the pizza. Rustico wasn't one of those yuppy joints that churned out the disgusting dry wood fired pizzas with 3 inches of bloated, dry, sandpaper crust full of burnt bubbles that explode into ash when touched. I don't know who decided that was the way pizza should be made, but it's one of the worst trends going. Notice I said, WASN'T. The pizza was always the perfect thickness, decent crust, and flavorful. Fast forward to last night. I order my usual pizza and the steak tartare sliders. Sliders were fine. But as I'm eating them I start to notice pizzas coming out of the kitchen. I see burnt and bloated crusts everywhere. WTF??? What's going on? Then my pizza is placed in front of me and it's a complete disaster. The crust was completely 100% inedible. Every single piece had completely burned bubbles all over it. I left hungry. A discussion with the server confirmed it. They changed the dough. I partially blame that Yahoo article from a few months back. travel.yahoo.com/ideas/bâ€¦ I'd like to punch the chef in the face who started this pizza fad. Who decided that a crust should take up 2/3 of the pizza and be burnt and 3 inches thick and flavorless with the texture of cardboard? Really? That's the best pizza? If that's what you're into, consider this a 5 star review because that's what Rustico serves now. Or, if you're one of those people who thinks pizza should have flavor with edible crust, stay away. Rustico, I don't know why you have to fall all over yourselves to screw up a good thing you had going. You're your own worst enemy. Here's a 1 star review to let you know how I feel about changing your dough.
(1)
Nichole C.

Niku, bar tender, KNOWS every beer on the list. Not only does he know what every beer tastes like and can describe it to you, he can also tell you the history of the beer, how it was brewed and where it came from. He also has exquisite customer service. We walked in one minute before the kitchen closed and he practically ran the menues over to help us get our order in before. The food is amazing, the pizzas are gourmet and very unique. The pork sliders are great for just a couple appetizers to go along with your beer. The tato tots are also fun and come with a great sauce. Rustico is your classic neighborhood bar. I will continue to come here for many months to come!
(5)
R M.

We like Rustico now and then -- great carrot hummus! -- so went with friends for dinner. Two of us ordered burgers, deciding on med rare after discussing with waitress. We expected a hot red center, but both burgers were crisp on the outside and pretty much raw throughout. We sent them back, waited quite a while and received new burgers delivered by the manager. Before he left, we both cut into them to find them exactly like the first. By now, our wives had finished their meals, so we asked him just to heat our burgers a bit more, not bring new ones. He took them away, and after quite a while again, he brought new burgers, which were now cooked medium well, not a sign of color inside. We ate them, but they were dry and really not worth the effort. To their credit, the staff were apologetic, comped us the burgers and free dessert (that we didn't order), but what should have been a pleasant time with friends turned into a very long evening of frustration and bad food. Just buy the cook a damn thermometer! We'll be back for the pizza and the hummus, but never for anything that actually requires cooking skills.
(2)
S C.

First review ever. I'm going to review this placed based on the bar and beer selection (although the food did look and smell good). I'm new in town and was looking for a place that sold special release beers. Found it! This place carries a top notch selection of craft beers AND the bartenders are extremely helpful. Beer snob? Maybe. ;)
(4)
Debra M.

My favorite spot for great beer and the most comfortable bar seats ever! You can't go wrong with any pizza selection. They also have really good burgers. Chris and I normally split a burger or sandwich and it's plenty for two. If you are extra hungry, order an app. We love the grilled Cesar salad. Beer selection is awesome. Today enjoying a New Belgium Shift. They also offer tastes so if you can't decide, order a few tastes!
(4)
Jason G.

Stopped in for dinner with the family. The restaurant felt comfortable, and the service was friendly and prompt. Though, I get the feeling families aren't the real target audience. We ordered kids pasta, pizza, the market salad, and a couple drinks. The salad and pizza were a bit small, but very tasty. The kids enjoyed the pasta. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
R. E.

We chose to eat a Rustico for a team lunch. There were 7 of us in the group. We were not given the option to split checks and were charged 25% gratuity for our 'large' party. We arrived just after 11:30 and there was hardly anyone in the restaurant. Our server was slow to arrive and we mostly just ordered waters to drink...which meant they had to get it from the stream out back and purify it for us because it took quite awhile for the waters to come out. We each ordered our lunch and while the menu is eclectic, it is also somewhat limited. Our food came out and while we all enjoyed it, the service as just so damn slow. After clearing our plates, it was at least anther 20 minutes for us to get our check and which time, we were all getting a little antsy. I suppose it's a good place to go if you're wanting something different and craving an IPA but it's just not my cup-of-tea, especially when the service is lacking.
(2)
Pete A.

Mehhhhhh, :-( We have two friends that come here all the time and rave about it, so we had been dying to try it. We had some family in town and decided to come here. We showed up about 5:30 and were happy to find out that from 4-7 is happy hour. $2 off drafts $5 Chardonnay. About 4 people working there when we walked in just looked at us. Nobody offered to help. Apparently we showed up just before the dinner crowd, so they didn't really know what to do. Someone finally came over and said we could sit in the bar area but the dining room was closed. We didn't care where we sat, just sit us somewhere. Why have a happy hour that starts at 4 if you are going to treat customers like cr@p when they show up more than halfway through happy hour. We each ordered some beers from their extensive beer selection.....and then the waiting began. About 5 minutes after we ordered the waitress came back to say they were changing out a keg (we ordered 3 different types of beers, so not sure why we couldn't get 2 of the 3 beers). Then about 5 minutes later we noticed the waitress just standing behind the bar talking with her coworkers. When she finally noticed our thirsty gaze on her, she realized she forgot to order our beers. She said something nonchalantly to the bartender and he looked over at us. With the same amount of urgency as she had, he found some glasses and at a snails pace poured our beers. All told we got our beers about 15 minutes after ordering and they were each slightly warm :-( We started with some of the scotch eggs, not good. The were cold and had no flavor. I got the margherita pizza and the cheese was thick and not completely melted and had a thick layer of oil over it. We had such high hopes for this place and were let down so completely.
(1)
OJ K.

I used to really like Rustico, but a friend and I stopped there for lunch after a conference in Crystal City. It was not as good as I remembered, and next time I go (because I do like the beer selection particularly at Ballston), I would stick to the pizza. My friend described her salad as something you'd put together with what's left in your fridge. We also got the pork buns, which were okay and definitely different-- it's like a sticky bun but with pulled pork but really really pulled pork, almost mashed. I had a grilled cheese but it was mostly kale, not much gruyere!
(2)
Meredith C.

I think I take back what I said about prices in my earlier review. They're nothing outrageous. It's a good place to split dishes. A friend and I went for lunch today, and they were super accommodating of her 14 month old daughter (filled her sippy cup, etc). Our waitress was very friendly and made excellent recommendations (the bibb salad sounded a little odd, but we got it at her suggestion, and it was fantastic--very refreshing). We also shared the mushroom pizza (it's particularly great), as well as an order of the truffled parmesan fries with lemon aioli. Splitting the check down the middle, it was only $14 apiece. It's a great restaurant to have in the neighborhood.
(4)
Karrina T.

Noisy. Dark. Hard seats. Slow service Small portions - nothing is included with the "Main" . The food was tasty. They did give us extra food.
(3)
David W.

Beer selection: great Food: good Service: lacking Been here twice now and feel I can give a proper opinion. We arrived between meal times and the hostesses quickly told us it's not dinner yet. I told them the bar menu is fine and I had to ask if I could sit somewhere. It took 15 minutes before someone arrived and that person was not too kind either. The food was good. Parmesan tots and pizza were our most recent purchases and they were good. just good, not great. I'd be interested in trying the other menu items, but there are other places with better service.
(3)
Dave A.

This is my go to bar. It's laid back, comfortable and they have one of the best craft beer selections in the area. If you don't want to deal with the traffic and parking at Churchkey, then this is the place for you.
(5)
Maria V.

I specifically told the waiter to have bacon in the side because I don't eat it (my bf will) but when the orders came in, the bacon was on the burger... And that's like after 30 minutes of waiting for out food to arrive. The couple who got seated before us got their food in 15 minutes! I love the donuts though. Sucky service!
(2)
Some M.

The food gets 4 stars, with a kicker for being consistently good. I've never had anything that I didn't find totally delicious and creative. The carrot hummus (which I never would think to order) was topped with a lamb ragu that was wonderfully spiced. Their salads are phenomenal and special (I've never heard of herb granola, or fried kale combined with farro, which all treat you to flavors you've never seen). They also had lamb meatballs that were delicate and satisfying (so much so we got another order). I'm always drawn to the pizza, which goes deliciously with the HUGE beer selection that--again--treats you to flavors you've never seen. A beer that tastes like red wine? Like bourbon? Like (legit) pumpkin? They have em all. I've tried the mains and pastas before, all of which had been hearty, flavorful and satisfying (and I'm a big eater). Order the desserts if you have room (or even if you don't). A simple scoop of ice cream (in unusual flavors) or fresh doughnuts (with chocolate dipping sauce) are elevated and worthy to try. They had a bread pudding in the past that my friend raved about and ordered repeatedly.
(5)
Katie H.

I went to Rustico for my birthday in October and was very impressed with the food and the prices! My fiancÃ© and I shared the pretzel and risotto bites- both of which were delicious. I had the eggplant Parmesan which was hands down the best I have had. I love how it comes in a skillet- cheesy and delicious! My fiancÃ© had the sausage pizza which was good but not great. We split the chocolate s'mores cupcake from Buzz bakery which was amazing! I would definitely recommend rustico and we will be headed back soon! The only negative was slightly slow service.
(4)
Vicky T.

I came here for lunch because it was the first thing i saw on the way to the airport. The inside aesthetic was nice and rustic, true to its name. However, this place is so overpriced. I had the cheesesteak and a salad and it was simply underwhelming. I was also charged automatic gratuity which baffled me because he only provided mediocre service at best. I have had better service at chinese takeout restaurants. Definitely not coming back.
(2)
Megan A.

Great beer selection and HH. The food is delicious , but a little pricey. We live a couple blocks away and eat here at least once a month. Normally we get pizza but have always been impressed with the entrees. Brunch is tasty too
(4)
Philip A.

A go to spot for me in Alexandria. Great beer selection, always changing fresh tap list. Friendly staff.. Good burgers and pizza. I would recommend this place to anyone.. Casual and friendly.. Beer centric .
(4)
Amy A.

Service and food was terrific! Try the brussel sprouts, they'll knock you over. The scallops were prefect.
(5)
Brandon G.

Great place for lunch! The service is always nice, and the pizza is great! My boss took me here for a "welcome to the company" lunch. Pretty much my first lunch out in Alexandria since I moved here, and it DID NOT disappoint. Only thing I will say thats a con is the cell phone reception in the place is TERRIBLE. I mean and I have Verizon..... lol So its not a matter of service. But hey...i'm there to eat so doesn't matter to me much. You can always sit outside! It's nice to do that when its not raining. The decor is pretty cool. There is like wine bottles and coffee cups in one of the walls. All and all good place for group lunches. Get a bite, and a beer!
(4)
Bryan S.

Came here for brunch on a Saturday. Seated immediately. Casual attire. Draught beer selection is small, but quality. Quite a large bottle list. I enjoyed the smoked salmon egg Benedict with a fresh spinach side salad. My wife liked her pork cubano sandwich with her side salad. Everything was fresh. Our waiter was awesome. Very friendly, attentive and had a great knowledge of the menu. I believe the prices were fair. No complaints here folks!
(4)
Jennifer R.

I recently moved to the area, and this place is a bit of a drive from the office, but I don't mind. I come in about 3 times a week. I usually always get the same thing, a burger with mushrooms. The staff is super friendly and great, I always sit at the bar. Today, no different, however, my well done burger came out medium, at best. This has been happening for a while but normally I just deal with it, today I couldn't. The bartender said they will take care of it and bring me out another one in 10 minutes, I told him ok but I have to go in 15 minutes. 15 minutes later, I told him I really have to go, he said he would go check on it. After he took someone's order of course and got someone a refill on their drink. He comes back out 3 minutes later and says it will only be another 2-3 minutes. I had to go so I told him I had to leave. Now, it is 4 pm, and without eating today, I am starving. If you are on a time crunch and they get your order wrong or do not cook it to your liking, do yourself a favor and just deal with it, you will not be eating in time for you to leave. I was there for 35 minutes, and never ate.
(3)
Greg J.

This is one of those places I have been meaning to eat at for a while. I had been here before for drinks and was happy with the extensive beer selection. Understandably crowded on a nice Friday night but we were seated rather quickly at an outdoor table. Out server was pretty disinterested and aloof but did get our order placed and food came pretty quickly. I was pretty excited about the deep fried deviled eggs appetizer which ended up in the meh category for all four of us. I had the corned beef spare ribs for an entrÃ©e and again my high expectations were dashed. Overall not bad but not good either. Plenty of other establishments to give my money to in Alex that have friendlier staff and better food.
(2)
Chanel D.

Came here for brunch with my family for Mother's Day. All the mother's received carnations, which was a nice touch. To start, I had the Salt Roasted Beets, when what I really wanted was the donuts...... Maybe, next time. The salad was pretty decent, considering that I'm not the biggest fan of beets. If you're wondering what the goat cheese fondue is all about, it's more like a goat cheese dressing, that the hid at the bottom of the salad. I don't know what I thought it was going to be like, but I definitely wasn't expecting what I got! For my main dish, I ordered the French toast with meyer lemon curd, macerated strawberries, pecans and whipped cream. The macerated strawberries looked like defrosted frozen ones. The French toast was deep fried, or something similar. It was crunch and very oily. Definitely not something that I'd recommend or order again. I will say that what brought the overall rating up from a 2 was the service.
(3)
Julie R.

This place just confused our entire party of 5 (ha ha). There's a line out the door but we get to the hostess stand and the place is empty. This is about 1:30 pm on a Sunday- a beautiful Sunday where you'd think everyone would be out sipping lemonade outdoors people watch at a place such as this.... Back to my critique. The artistic details to the interior are very clever. The menu options all sound amazing- my spinach, ricotta tart had entirely too much salt (picture uploaded). Our friend said her gluten-free pizza was as good as a gluten-free pizza can be. Service was terrible. Maybe Rustico is better for dinner?
(2)
Emily L.

Reasons to go: Awesome beer selection and knowledgable bartenders and wait staff Grilled pizza Carrot and hummus with spiced lamb appetizer Fried deviled eggs Nice atmosphere We can usually find seats/a table at the bar even when the restaurant side is full. Atmosphere is nice - fireplaces and tvs w sports on. Easy parking on street nearby or in the lot in the back.
(4)
Geoffrey H.

Special thanks to Joy, the hostess on duty, who was very accommodating, and to Steve, my server. I had the "Cubano" sandwich for lunch. It was far from an authentic Cuban sandwich, but it was a good panini.
(4)
Lucas T.

Came here for the bar and was not disappointed. An amazing selection of beers and an incredibly knowledgeable staff.
(4)
Karen C.

Always wanted to try Rustico. The ambience and staff is great...the food and price, not so much. Dined here for lunch. For 3 of us, it cost us $62 (not including tip). Soda: $2.75/Each Thick Cut Fries: $5.00 (thick cut meant Boardwalk, not steak cut) Beef Stew (appetizer): $8.00!! Note to self....should have asked for the price before ordering Pork Panino: $11.00 - Portion size of this was equivalent to a Panini you order from Panera) Chicken Panino: $12.00 - Came in a toasty/crispy naan/flat-bread like sandwich...overpriced in my opinion Basil Pizza with Pepponi: $15.00 (the pizza itself was $13.00, pepperoni topping is $2.00) They have a huge selection of beer; however, I don't drink so most likely, I won't return as I believe the food was overpriced and was just mediocre
(2)
C S.

I just don't know how to do this. Seriously. I'm torn. Part of it is that I've been entirely spoiled by higher end places that do an amazeballs job of sucking up. So, here's it in a nutshell. If ya gotta go hang out in a perfectly adequate place that doesn't suck and really and truly doesn't have anything wrong with it come here. Truth in advertising. I hate Virginia. It's all because of their state cops and radar and inbreeding and a hiring practice that seems to be oriented on finding douche canoes to serve in state government positions. So, it's entirely possible Rustico is awesomeness and I just had a, "F-yew Virginia and your corrupt douche canoe governor," moment. Do you like excellent beer? Come here. I love beer. I don't drink it these days because it makes me feel bloated. Anyway. Want a pretty serious American Homebrewer Association approved beer drinking experience? Come here. Want a craft cocktail? Noooooooooooooo. Go to PX over on King Street. Want a tour of great craft beer, excellent perfect crust pizza served by really decent nice guys? Come here. Want crazy hot female severs who are well versed in pairing food with a prohibition cocktail? Not here. Anyway. I liked it. I'm just a spoiled bitch is all. Cool beer. Good pizza. Really decent nice bar tenders. It could be worse.
(4)
Flo S.

I'm giving this place 0.0 stars as they have erroneously charged 2 of my friends credit cards 5x+ the amount. I'm sure they will resolve this issue soon! I just want to warn people to check their statements after they leave this restaurant!!!!
(1)
Sean L.

If you know your beers (and I don't), you will LOVE this place. So many to choose from with happy hour prices. Wonderful place to order food....risotto squares deep fried....really cool!
(4)
Adam G.

I've been frequenting Rustico now for over 3 years. It's a solid restaurant with great beer selections, outstanding wood-fired oven pizza, great burgers, and a good atmosphere. The service is typically good and the staff have always been friendly/ professional. The only negative is that the waiters routinely seem to be overloaded with tables. This leads to occasional delays for the next drink.
(4)
G W.

Food: 4 Beer: 5 Service: 3 at a table, 5 at the bar Ambiance: 3 in the restaurant, 4 in the bar Price: 3 Rustico has great pizzas, with just the right amount of char, and a wonderful selection of beer. That's all you really need to be happy. The italian sausage with fennel that they use on their pizzas is fantastic. Service sitting at the bar is great; service at the tables is lacking and can be borderline rude, so we only go in if there is room in the bar. We return fairly frequently.
(4)
Dee B.

On my most recent Rustico visit, I ordered a gluten-free pizza with caramelized onions and bacon, and the arugula & beet salad. I liked the salad a lot, but one of my major restaurant pet peeves is lack of salt and pepper on the table - the salad would have been even better with a dash of salt. I was somewhat disappointed by the pizza, though - the toppings just didn't compare to the bacon & onion I'd had on a pie at Dogfish Head Alehouse a few weeks prior. The bacon could have been crispier and more plentiful. I do really like their chickpea crust though.
(4)
James F.

Update: Talked to everyone that was at dinner the last time I visited. We all discussed how sick we had been the next day after sharing a number of dishes at Rustico. Either one of us had the flu and told nobody about it...or we ate some improperly handled and/or prepared food from Rustico and enjoyed a good bout of food poisoning the next day. Thanks, but no thanks. Not returning.
(1)
Alan K.

Food and drink here is a bundle of contradictions. The home runs seem to slightly outpace with the disappointments, averaging out to a solid "meh-plus." Having visited a few times now I feel like I know what to avoid and can order the stuff that causes--justifiably--the rave reviews. The buffalo pork slider and pickled vegetable pot are unique and delicious, and are two of the main reasons I'll be coming back. I've never been able to eat steamed mussels anywhere else and actually enjoy them, so they must be doing the equivalent of culinary magic to them at Rustico. The Catalonian pizza was very tasty--I really enjoyed the smoked mozzarella flavor--but the spicy chicken pizza failed to deliver in the heat department and was overall just so-so. The aged burger was so flavorless I left nearly the entire thing uneaten. I can also never fully enjoy Rustico's massive beer selection since for some reason, most of the drafts are served just a few degrees too warm. I don't know if I just always get the warm, recently washed glasses or if their coolers are just set too high, but the temperature is always off just a bit. I tend to mix it up with cans or bottles for this reason, which is really too bad for such a great draft selection.
(3)
Marcia B.

One of our favorites for beer and pizza. They have lots of other entrees and an excellent beer selection. Loads of taps! They had a fantastic beer festival last Fall. Hoping they do the fest again this year!
(5)
Meaghan D.

Delicious! We had brunch here last weekend and thought the poutine, salmon BLT, French toast, blistered peppers and pork belly Reuben were delicious! As a note you must be comfortable with a fatty texture to like the reuben. My daughter thought the Nutella and blueberry French toast was so good that she couldn't share it. We will come back here!
(4)
Thomas L.

"Sorry, we don't take reservations for after 6:00." Um, okay. So they're going after the senior set? Whatever. I'll stick with Overwood.
(2)
Ken C.

A small place that easily pack with people during brunch. I love their beers sampler and great luncheon pizza. I also like their sausage egg biscuit. Our waitress was awesome and very friendly. However, the hostess need have more smile and more friendly to the customer. Try to be there before 1100 on weekend, otherwise it will be a long wait before you can taste the food. Now, I need to try their HH.
(3)
Amirah L.

I went to dinner here tonight and had the Three Little Piggy burger with truffle fries and this little piggy is full!
(5)
Melanie K.

I came to Rustico with my hubby and a group of his work buddies on Saturday for a semi-late dinner. The wait was somewhat long, but nothing unexpected for a Saturday night, especially considering we were a party of 8. The restaurant has a really lovely ambiance. It 's very industrial: it boasts high ceilings, exposed ducts and walls adorned with fun and funky decor. The beer menu is extensive and impressive, for sure, but the food menu is pretty limited. Once we were seated the evening went downhill for me. To start off, our waiter was absolutely horrible; not unfriendly, but not really present. He'd drift by the table and take drink orders for a couple of people and then disappear. 15 or 20 minutes later he'd be back with the drink orders he took and take a few more orders. It felt like ordering took forever. Although our waiter seemed competent and knowledgeable about the menu, he was just inexcusably bad. I only got one drink all night because he never came by and asked if I wanted another. Although he floated by the table a couple more times, it was difficult to get his attention. I ordered the grilled Salmon BLT. Although they had a satisfying crunch, the smoked pepper chips that came as a side were not peppery...they were extremely salty. Think of a salt-lick and then add a dash of salt and you'll have the taste about right. The salmon was cooked well. It was pretty charred--which I am fine with, but probably something to note since it didn't explicitly say "charred" on the menu. It came with what was described as a bacon vinaigrette, which I asked them to hold, along with the bacon. Overall, the sandwich did have a vinegary taste, which I attributed to the "tomato jam" which I'm pretty sure was just canned tomatoes, but the sandwich did NOT have a bad flavor. The bread was gross though. It was soggy to the point of disintegrating and like I mentioned above, the waiter didn't interact with the table enough for me to voice my displeasure. My first experience was very anticlimactic. My husband is a huge fan of this place, though, so I would go back. Maybe next time I'll try the pizza...
(2)
Lora S.

Disappointing over priced food, with attitude. Went there for brunch with my family - both my $13 breakfast sandwich and my husband's eggs benedict with salmon were lackluster (not much flavor, old bread). The best dish was my daughter's macaroni and cheese. When the manager (?) came around and asked about our meal, I said that her mac and cheese was fantastic and my favorite dish. His response: "Well, I'm glad we have something that you like." Ummm, ok???? The location is convenient so I'd love to make this a regular spot, but won't. There are plenty of other restaurants around with better food and friendlier service.
(2)
Sam B.

I got a table with my girlfriend and told the waiter that we don't drink, so he stopped listing all the beer choices for us. He brought us bottled water and we told him that it was our first time there. We ordered and he came back immediately with a free carrot hummus plate and bread (it was very tasty). He said that since it's our first time, he wanted us to try some of their new creations. My g/f got the beet salad and the fried green tomatoes. I got the basil and mozzarella pizza. The beet salad was great, although a little sweet. The fried tomatoes were awesome. My pizza was tasty, but the crust was thin and hard. Not sure what kind of oven they use, but it was toastier than what I'm used to. The different foods they have are fun and it's a nice place, so we'll definitely be back. The waiter was friendly and helpful. The desserts looked interesting, but we didn't try any.
(4)
MoonYoung W.

I had a burger here during dinner time. The burger patty seemed like it was reheated and it was dry. I should have taken the cue from that and not try to consume the whole thing...too late. The next day, I got symptoms of food poisoning. This place is more of a bar and not much of a restaurant because what is offered on the menu was small compared to the drink selection, which was displayed in two different menus. Also, they were ridiculously expensive! For $13 burger and its aftermath, I don't think it was worth it. Perhaps they need to pay attention to the food offerings more and food safety practices. Server however was very nice and attentive, so he earned 1 more star. Other than that, I do not want to and will not come back.
(2)
Pam S.

What? I've never reviewed Rustico? When I lived in Alexandria, Rustico was often an afternoon favorite to sit back, have some pizza, drink beer, and work using their free wifi. During the summer, this also included sitting outside and getting some Vitamin C. Nights get crammed with folks, although Sundays are usually okay. I've never had bad food here and although I usually stuck with my usual salami margherita pizza, the burgers, salads and desserts are all stellar. And like most NRG establishments, the beer menu is stellar...although don't get too attached to anything because it may be gone.
(4)
Joann B.

Love this place. Service has always been good and their servers are really knowledgeable about the food and beer. They can help you make up your mind about something if you're torn and if you don't like it, I'm pretty sure they'll find something else that you'll enjoy. We had the deep fried deviled eggs and the Italian sausage pizza. All of it was made close to perfection and was a great pairing with the different brown ales we tried. The eggs weren't dried out to the point where all you could taste was the egg white, it was still soft and delicious with a good crunch. The pizza's crust was not too crispy with some wonderfully melted cheese complimented by Italian sausage. This is a good, solid place.
(4)
Kevin H.

At table at least 10 minutes if not more with no service. THIS PLACE SUCKS!!! Go to Arlington location instead.
(1)
Mary B.

Husband and I live - literally - a stone's throw from Rustico, and have been habituÃ©s since their soft opening. I am a non-beer-drinking vegetarian who is too old to drink bad wine, and husband is a beer-drinking carnivore. Rustico is a beer joint with bad wine that serves meat (and manages to add meat, usually pork, to most of their dishes). So the stage is set: he loves it, and because I'm also too old to cook our separate meals every night, I love it! I really like the grilled caesar salad (note: get a half if it's just you), and when topped with a piece of salmon, I'm a happy girl. If we are eating in, rather than take-out, I'll get a martini instead of the afore-mentioned bad wine. The scallops are really -- and I mean really -- good. (Albeit a little pricey._ ) Husband likes everything on the menu, and the burger looks good even to me! The fries with parmesan and truffle sauce are a special treat: they are deee-licious! And here's why I really love these guys: the staff. Last winter was really really really bad, as husband was trying to beat cancer, dealing with the diagnosis and the chemo. I couldn't get him to eat, and he wasn't going over to have a beer (or two, wink wink) while waiting for our take-out. I convinced him to let me order a pizza, one night, and when I went over to pick it up, the manager asked why he hadn't seen husband? He was devastated when I told him, comped the pizza, and from that moment we had the whole staff pulling for us! When husband was recovering from surgery and we went to the restaurant for dinner, Stu (the manager) and Stephanie (favorite server) welcomed us like family! It IS a family restaurant that has a huge beer menu, so if you come early, enjoy the toddlers/babies and their beer-drinking parents. It's comfy, warm (there's a fireplace in the bar area) and just plain "nice." Bar stools are like swiveling lazyboys, requisite TVs blasting sports, lots of beer on tap and even more in bottles. Enjoy!
(4)
Eric S.

A great meal. I wasn't expecting much, and everything exceeded my expectations. The space is open and warm. We ordered a couple pizzas, which were both very good. But the best part of the meal was getting eight taster size beers and after a couple loose guidelines of our likes, leaving the selections for each up to our server Jay. He made very interesting choices and it was exactly the mix we were looking for. Well done.
(5)
Nadine F.

Rustico gets an upgrade from me for one reason: happy hour. They have a DAILY happy hour 4-7 pm, which I believe are the most generous happy hours around town. I think the happy hour only includes drinks, not food, and it includes beer and wine. Service is generally good, but the food is still a little hit or miss. The best thing I've tried so far are the meatballs with polenta. Everything else has been rather unmemorable, but I don't think I've tried anything that was outright bad. I'll be back for happy hour and snacks...a lot!
(4)
Colin C.

3.5 stars. I am a big fan of this chain which includes columbia firehouse and the Arlington rustico. Tallula is good also. Vermillion is a bit overrated but not bad as well. Anyways, this location is a little less busy in a good way (although this could change with the Potomac Yard construction and new housing). They have a great HH that includes their amazing beer selection. As far as food selection goes lots of good options that are all pretty good. I liked tbe carrot hummus and most of thwir sandwiches. Their pizza is all very tasty. Just be aware they are not huge and I wouldn't recommend takeout as it could get pricey. The Italian mean one is excellent.
(4)
J L.

I have been a patron of this restaurant for 5 years. Really good food and normally the staff is very pleasant and nice. I cannot say that for the hostess tonight. I came in at 5:40 (ten minutes after they opened for dinner) and asked for a table for 3. The hostess rudely asked if I had a reservation. I said no (only 4 tables were occupied). She said "Sorry, you will have to sit at the bar". I went with my two kids and we ate at the bar. I will say that our server at the bar was beyond sweet. When we went to leave 40 minutes later I counted 6 tables that were still unoccupied that could have seated 3 people.
(3)
Pete S.

Had really high hopes for this place but sadly was very disappointed. My wife and I had been wanting to try this restaurant because of the large beer selection that I'm a big fan of, but the list could be a mile long it really doesn't matter if you can't get a server to bring you one. Our server was just not good. We waited to order our first drinks for quite a while, ordered appetizers and main dishes when the drinks finally came, and had no problem sitting empty glassed before seeing our server again. When our aps came we were able to get a refill, only to find that it would be our last. After finishing our aps and drinks we attempted to get another drink while we waited for pizzas only to find that this round would not show up! Our pizzas arrived and were actually really good! Soon after a different server came to the table to say that the bar was "backed up"and our drinks would be out in a minute. I was drinking a draft porter and my wife was having wine. We were not asking for some special cocktail that a mixologist needed extra time to make! We canceled our last drink order, enjoyed the pizza and left amazed that the experience was so disappointing. My advice- fix your service and it'll be a nice place, but for the price I won't try it again.
(2)
Alicia W.

I made a reservation through yelp and noted that we were celebrating a birthday. When I checked in with the hostess she was a bit cold about my mention again that we were celebrating a birthday. I was never told that a) they don't do anything special, small piece of desert and b) our server never said anything at the table-maybe no one told her. Bit disappointing. Pizza was just okay, nothing you can't get elsewhere.
(3)
Leslie B.

It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I don't think I would go back. The interior was relaxing and cute. Our waitress was nice. The food was just okay.
(3)
Warren J.

Went to Rustico yesterday during brunch. We got the sausage egg and cheese biscuit sandwich which was fantastic. Next was the spicy rotisserie chicken dip with toasted bread for dipping. If you like buffalo wings you will love this dip. We debated and asked our great server about the Carolina bbq pork pizza. It sounded good but as a pizza we weren't sure if we should get it. We decided to go for it and what a great pizza it was. Bbq pork with smoked gouda cheese and caramelized onions on the best crust I've ever had. We finished our meal with the small powdered donuts with caramel and chocolate dipping sauces. Rustico was a very pleasant surprise. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Kerrin G.

Poor and sloppy service. Food was just ok. Too expensive for what it is. Manager Gina could not have cared less. When we reported how bad our service and food was, her comment was something like "well when you come back it will be better. " We WON'T be going back because of her give a crap attitude. She should not be managing a restaurant.
(1)
Colleen B.

Yum. Great pizza and beer selection, very social and comfortable atmosphere (inside and outside seating). Flies can sometimes be a problem outside. Manager is always very attentive and friendly and wants to make sure every customer is fully satisfied. Great business, we come here frequently because it is consistently good. I had their eggplant Parmesan couple times and it's pretty salty but deeeelicous. Donuts for dessert are always a treat, but sometimes with the beer, pizza, donut carb trifecta, we don't feel so great afterwards. Would love to see more vegetarian dishes!
(4)
Sarah G.

I had heard great things about this place, but personally I thought it was awful and completely overpriced. My sauvignon blanc was warm and my salad which was a tomato mozzarella bread salad was small and had one tiny piece of mozzarella for $18.00. Maybe it was just an off night but I would of rather had anything else for the $30.00
(1)
David R.

I had to write a separate email to the manager that's listed on their website, but she responded quickly and invited us back to try them again with her compliments. The service was deffinitely extra special. We were obviously getting special treatment.....extra apps being sent out to us...extra beers to try....desserts that we didn't order. All were very welcome and tasty. Overall, the place certainly was nice and the food was good. We didn't order the brussel sprouts, but they sent a plate over and they were really good! The think that will keep us from going back there a lot though is the very limited menu. There just really isn't a lot of selection. But it's a very cool place and I was happy with the response when I brought up an issue with the higher level manager. Plus they have lots of good looking beers to try....so I'm sure I'll go back.
(3)
Elizabeth H.

I had been wanting to try Rustico for awhile. I suggested it on 11/3/12 as a place to meet for dinner with a friend. I liked the atmosphere of this restaurant. It felt elegant and relaxed at the same time. The menu had some ingredients on it that I had to ask the waiter to explain. I greatly appreciated the waiter did not act pretentious when I asked. The hard to pronounce menu is not reflected in their price(s). I felt considering the type of ingredients being offered the prices were reasonable to what you'd expect for the area. I LOVED their beer menu. The beer the waiter suggested hit the spot. Okay... now for the not so good stuff (or I like to say the ways a business can improve). The parking for this location is not great. Although, there is a back lot; it has a limited amount of spots considering the size of the restaurant. Although, I am personally not a fan of valet parking; Rustico (and the surrounding businesses) might benefit from double parking cars (to make more room). The location of this restaurant makes it near impossible to take public transit. If you arrive at Rustico and don't want to wait for 30 minutes to 1 hr for a table you're going to be stuck. The surrounding businesses are Buzz Bakery, ice cream and retail shops. In other words to kill time waiting for a table you might have to do reverse meal (don't worry I won't judge). In conclusion, if you're in the Alexandria/Del Ray area it is great option for dinner (but plan to make a night of it between finding parking and waiting for a table).
(3)
David Wesley H.

2 guest, 9:30pm, Wednesday, not crowded: Service was good. Food portions were sparse. No bread served with meal. Ravioli with shrimp / wine sauce - Good. 2 glasses of wine. Total bill with tip...over $67.00 ??? What?!! OK...not THAT good. Will probably look for a 'better value' restaurant in the future.
(3)
Jessica K.

Do NOT ever pass up any of the following at Rustico: garlic confit (as a pizza topping) ricotta donuts Note that it can get loud in the dining room and the bar area and outside seating can get competitive in the summer time. However if you go after the big dinner rush or right after work, you can get great service in a relaxed atmosphere.
(4)
Monica W.

The food was ok but the service was dreadful!!!! I had two of the snacks, the sweet potato wedges with goat cheese and the sausage egg and cheese slider. Super cheap and both good. The donuts were good also.... So now for the bad part... We arrived at 11, no one was sitting in the bar area so we picked a table. Our orders were taken fast, but it took over an hour for our food to come. People around us were getting served but we couldn't get our food to save our lives! We also didn't get refills on our coffee that was FOUR DOLLARS! We didn't end up leaving until 2. Will not be coming here again.
(1)
Arl G.

The food is great, and it's a beer lover's favorite, but please, please improve your wine list and quality! It's always the same few wines, and quite often they taste like the bottle has been open for days. For a place that cares so much about beer, please have your bartenders take a moment to check wines and improve your selection.
(2)
Morgan G.

I was less than impressed with this place. It looked fun and new but also a little confused. The waiter pushed beer without even checking my id(I'm only 20). They want to be a bar but they serve upscale Italian food that is way overpriced. $15 pepperoni pizza?! I'd rather get dominos.
(2)
Naz B.

I've been for brunch, dinner and just to the bar. My fiance is a big craft beer nerd, and he loves the beer selection and availability of special, hard-to-get beers. I am not a beer person, and am more than happy w/ the cocktails. The food is great - especially the carrot hummus and appetizers/snacks. I thought the pizza was only okay, but I am kind of picky about pizza. The brunch is awesome. Rustico has become one of my go-to brunch places whether we have guests in town or had a long night of drinking the night before. It's both comforting and special. I love the poutine and was extremely jealous of my friend's brunch burger the last time I went. Doughnuts w/ caramel sauce are awesome, and the bloody marys are excellent. This restaurant group has quickly become one my and my fiance's favorites.
(4)
Dawn B.

I absolutely love rustico for it's unique take on pizza. If you're going here for a NYC, Chicago or CT style pizza it's probably not going to be what you're looking for. However, if you want to try a delicious chickpea crust or thin crust pizza with lots of vegetables or tasty meats on a pie then this is the place for you. They also have an amazing beer selection with plenty of beers on tap and reasonable happy hour prices.
(4)
Roberta G.

Great beers that change all the time. Bicycle friendly love the fried deviled eggs. The wait staff is knowledgable about the food and beers with recommendations. We always stop here when pass through on a ride.
(4)
Mattie C.

Even better than the Rustico in Arlington. Boyfriend and I dropped by here on one slow night to watch some football news and sample some more of their fantastic beer menu. First favorable comparison to Arlington Rustico: the layout. The bar area was set up perfectly to make behind-the-bar TV watching so easily for basically everyone in the vicinity. The other Rustico you basically have to sit at the bar to get a good view of the TV. Perfect for a lazy night. And the space of the whole place was generally very open and ambient - just a really nice place. A+ for that. Its also not as crowded as Rustico Arlington and the crowd slightly less douchey. The beer menu, as always, is excellent and picking a fun/different beer or a hard-to-find classic is always a good time. The pizza is also consistently delicious. On lazy football watching night I decided to have a salad with my beer and got this amazing dish consisting of pears soaked in something amazing, gorgonzola cheese, spiced pecans and shrimp. It was pretty incredible. Both Rusticos also have great service. I am usually impressed at the Arlington Rustico at how friendly and knowledgeable the waiters are, and this place is no exception. Our waiter was very chill and friendly and also had great beer recommendations! I am definitely a big fan of Rustico and glad that there is another one near our new place! We will definitely be back here.
(5)
Brian R.

This too-trendy-for-its-own-good bistro came up well short on the customer service front. My wife and 83-year-old mother were literally the first people in the door for Sunday brunch and requested a booth. The hostess said we didn't specify a booth on our reservation and started seating us at table. We looked at the row of empty booths and my mother again asked if we could please have a booth, only to be denied a second time (c'mon, the woman is 83!). Of course, there was at least one empty booth the entire time we were there. The food fared little better. Both my wife and I ordered Rustico Rancheros which consisted of mostly black beans, 3 poached eggs and a pancake-size tortilla. Still hungry, I thought about going across the street to the Buzz coffee shop and having a muffin, then the waiter told me they also owned that, so I figured I'd given them enough of my money. In fact, the waiter mentioned Buzz because when my wife ordered milk with coffee, he said they didn't have any milk and had to run across the street to get some. How do you open for Sunday brunch with no milk?? The last time we were there we were told we couldn't have our small dog on patio because of city ordinance. Somehow that ordinance doesn't apply to the patio at Chadwicks in Old Town which welcomes dogs of all sizes. Booth + milk + dog = strike 3.
(2)
Kay G.

Stars at all only for 1. the mac and cheese and 2. the beer list. We've tried to like their pizza several times. It's just...bland at best, gross at worst. Crust texture and taste is blah, we've tried a few pizzas and had overcooked dry chicken, or over-slatherings of commercial condiments.
(2)
Mel C.

I've been here several times and each time the food was good. The service was good too. But this time around our server was terrible... Wait times for drinks was blamed on a backup at the bar but everyone around us got their drinks timely. Took our drink order but waited forever for him to take our food order... Never checked on us and didn't seem to be interested either... Oh well. I'll most likely come back but will be sure to avoid that server... Pizzas and apps never disappoint!
(3)
Jeffrey S.

Fantastic beer selection, fantastic pizzas and entrees! I'm a big fan. The staff was very helpful and knowledgable about the brews. A little gem tucked away on Slaters Ln!
(4)
Chris S.

I've been here a few times for drinks ( and been unimpressed) but resale was satisfied and impressed with dinner service. Party of 7, 6 pm on a Friday. Dinner arrived quickly after ordering. Half of the party git the dry aged Cheddar Burger. Reasonable pricing for the area and delicious ! Meat was cooked to specifications ( I ordered medium and it was actually medium). It comes on a delicious artisan bun with yummy fries. My only warning is the shallot spread. I'm not an onion guy so I asked for it on the side. One person who did not get it on the side said it was strong. The pizza looked good but I didn't get a chance to try it because the Burger was so filling !
(4)
Matt L.

I was much more of a steady patron when the restaurant was under Chef Steve Mannino's leadership, but his impact has stayed alive in the two years he has been gone to helm ATR. There are differences though, that make Rustico not the attraction that it once was. Their fall/winter menu is pretty palate tempting however, so Christmas Eve lunch at the office seemed like a better time than ever to investigate. The hostess wasn't all too enthused to be working on Christmas Eve, but her lack of enthusiasm was made up for by our excellent server, who not only had the Christmas spirit, but really understood the meaning and his place in the food & hospitality industry. Their leather (faux?) binded beer menu could take a good hour to properly read and study, but we managed to get our selections out quickly. Some barley and hops in the middle of the work day is good for the brain A few seasonal menus ago, the malted fries were on the appetizer/starter menu, and had a few dipping sauces, which were quite tasty. They will still serve the fries as a starter, but only with Heinz ketchup which leaves a bit to be desired. Also salt & pepper shakers/grinders are not on any of the tables, which comes off like 'our food is already properly seasoned coming out of the kitchen'. Unfortunately, that is a very subjective perspective to have. Our server was happy to oblige our request for salt due to the dullness of the fries though. The two pizzas that reeled us in were the Pumpkin and the North Carolina BBQ. Both did not disappoint. Each pizza is around 8 generous slices, so between two people, to-go boxes were needed. The Pumpkin pizza visually comes out looking like a Baby Spinach pizza, as it is covered in our favorite green veggie. Underneath however is beautiful roasted pumpkin, and goat cheese. The goat cheese is spread pretty thin, but is understandable, as too much would overpower the pumpkin. There are roasted hazelnuts on the pizza, which I understand are there to serve the crunch texture, but really have little value added. The pumpkin with notes of sweet maple really make this pizza memorable. Their crust is thin with chewy ends, which is perfect IMO and even sustains the next day, while some pizza crusts just turn to rocks. The NC BBQ pizza is highlighted by the great minced vinegary pork that NC BBQ fans salivate for. Swiss chard, and caramelized onions serve as a good compliment, with smoked gouda providing the creamy textural element. The pork was placed more in shredded chunks than spread throughout the pie, but each big bite for the most part caught some of the pork. A great pizza, which really spotlighted the culinary creativity in the back of the house. In discussing pizza creativity, our server gave us some insight into the Spring menu, and even brought out a small sampling of the Cuban pizza (In the spirit of the popular Panini of the same namesake). It was tasty, and he was interested in our feedback. This was really the icing on the cake of a great experience all thanks to his wonderful service. We tacked on a to-go order for a colleague, and it was perfectly timed and packaged. Something you don't always see executed so well. Rustico is the type of establishment that will usually pleasantly surprise you if you take some palate risks in ordering. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.
(4)
Ashley G.

Oh Rustico... I lived near the restaurant for about 3 years and I have fallen completely in love with this place. It's my go-to when I want a great meal with fast and friendly service. It's a great place to entertain friends and out of town guests. It does get a little loud in the bar area but that's to be expected. All the staff is extremely friendly and knowledgable. I dream of their cheeseburger and fries. The food is always superb. The pizzas are delicious, especially their white pizza. My friends rave about their beer menu, I can't say much since I'm not a huge beer drinker. Their brunch menu is also amazing! I could go on and on about how much I love this place but I encourage anyone who is in the area to try it out!
(5)
Kristin M.

As I said in my tip, absolutely everything was less than decent EXCEPT for the craft beer selection and pizza. The shrimp ravioli was too al Dente, without taste, and the appetizer came out cold. The pizza was really good, but not above average. I hear brunch is amazing though...
(2)
Ruth C.

Managed to snipe parking near the dumpster. That carrot hummus was ridiculously good, with a sweetness you don't find in chickpea hummus and a creaminess that echoes the style of a baba ghanoush. They composed the well-seased ground lamb and crumbled feta together in the dish as though it were a Middle Eastern platter of super nachos. Not nearly enough pita bread for how much hummus there was, but I had no qualms about picking up a spoon and chowing away. I'm glad WD picked it, since when I saw it on the menu I thought "baby food" but once we started eating it I was thinking "awesome!" I'm sure our waitress hated us for not ordering more food for a counter of five people, but she pasted on an almost believable smile whenever she stopped by. She successfully avoided laughing at Kevin's emergence into drunkery via shots of just Baileys, and we were rarely left neglected in times of need for more than 5 minutes at a time. I enjoyed my tasting rounds of Harpoon and Belgian whites, and I found my overall experience to be tantalizing enough to want to come back for more menu sampling.
(4)
Shauna N.

Went for brunch and we were all very happy. Prices are ok and food was all served in very large portions. The donuts are delicious and you should have them no matter what meal you're there for! The pulled pork hash was exactly as described and just as tasty. Make sure to make reservations!
(4)
Justin M.

Very tasty food! The pizza is delicious and their entrees are also very tasty as well. The braised brisket comes to mind, as well as the gnocchi mac and cheese. Their beer selection is legit. Many, many brews on tap. There is a good mix of VA/DC brews and also rare global offerings. The only negative is the price. This place is *really* expensive and the portions can be small depending on what you order. I still come back though, just not all the time...haha :)
(4)
Jeff C.

The pizza and beer are always fantastic here and they have great selection of beers so you're guaranteed something new with each visit . However, as good as it is, Rustico can get a bit pricey. If you're having a pizza and several beers you could soon find your check approaching the $40 mark
(4)
Lauren S.

Overall: AMAZING beer list -- they even have a few sours! Comfortable atmosphere & a menu to fit a variety of palates. Food: If you're feeling indulgent, order the risotto "tater" tots and the truffled french fries. (i know, i know, i'm the self-proclaimed french fry hater) Both are crispy and very flavorful! As far as entrees go, pizza was the dish of choice tonight. We got a few for the table and shared. If you aren't starving and get an appetizer, the pizzas are a fine size to share. The crust was a little bland to me, but others liked it. I'm more of a fan of the Neapolitan style with pockets of chewy/charred goodness. The table next to us ordered the scallops and it looked amazing so i'll be back to try that next! Drinks: There's something like 400+ kinds of beer so chances are you'll find something you like. There's a small wine list as well. I'm not sure about liquor? Service: Great! The servers are very knowledgeable about a borderline excessive beer list! There's no way I could keep everything straight so, I'm impressed. Atmosphere/Parking: Homey/comfortable place to eat dinner. Bonus points for a parking lot in the back! Tip: Get there before 7 PM for happy hour!
(4)
John C.

ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY Thank you GREG As the beginning of this post reads, this review is for the beer selection ONLY! Rustico (and the NRG) has become one of the staples in the DC region for beer selection. The food is pretty good too but there are only a few places in the the DC region (outside of Total Wine) that has such a large selection of beer (Fireworks, RFDs, Meridian Pint, Pizzeria Paradiso are a few others...) BUT Rustico is the Main restaurant for NRG (Churchkey, Eat Bar, Columbia Firehouse, Evening Star Cafe)... ALL OF THESE HAVE GREAT ALCOHOL ~NONE ARE AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL Rustico though... Six Main Coolers of Beers (bottles) (3 more for reserve plus a back up for special bottles) 20+ Taps Every Wednesday night @ 5pm a few new distinct kegs are tapped What more could you ask for? Oh, special Beer Academies? Or Beer Events.. got those too.. ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY ATTENTION: FOR BEER SELECTION ONLY
(5)
M. C.

Rustico has grown on me during the 2+ years that I have been living in Alexandria. The food is reliably good (nice salads, good pizza, and love the truffle fries) and the service generally quite attentive, though it is occasionally slow. There are not many dining options in this part of town so it is nice that they are open fairly late. The bar area is large and is a good place to watch games. We love that they have happy hour specials on the weekends as well.
(4)
Kadian F.

After living nearby for years and never eating here I finally made it to Rustico for dinner with friends. We got there early enough to enjoy the happy hour specials ($5 glasses of wine) and that's always a good way to start a meal. We ordered the risotto tots which were pretty good, lightly fried with a hint of spice. I ordered the basil and fresh mozzarella pizza for my meal and it was pretty good as well. I'm disappointed in myself that it took me so long to dine here but this will be one of my go to places for pizza, when I'll willing to not do delivery. Parking can be a bit difficult during peak hours so if the parking lot is full you will have to seek street parking.
(3)
Nicole F.

Rustico is a neighborhood joint that keeps the people coming back with their excellent beer selection. The food is pretty good, although all around I'd say it's a little bit overpriced (including beer). They do have a nice happy hour and the outside seating is lovely during the warmer months. I recommend the pizzas or the burger. The beer on cask is usually pretty good too, although it is not included in happy hour.
(3)
Jason M.

Great brunch, definitely get a loaded sweet potato. Brunch Burger and Breakfast Pizza are incredible. Really good bloody marys. Nice atmosphere. Good service. Nothing to complain about.
(5)
R H.

Beer and wine were on happy hour when we went which was lovely. I had the roast chicken entree which left a lot to be desired. I was looking forward to the creamed spinach and it wasn't good at all (how do you screw up creamed spinach!?). The chicken itself was fine, but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately, the waited misheard our order (an honest mistake on his part) but apart from apologizing did nothing to reduce our bill. The member of the party who got the wrong dish did not want to hold up the whole table. The underlying tone of the evening was that we should have ordered the pasta. Everyone at the restaurant was pleasant, and the atmosphere is nice.... but the food left a bit to be desired.
(2)
Brian W.

Overall, I really like this restaurant. The food is always spot on! I particularly like the cheeseburger, ribs, salads, and pizzas. The atmosphere is very relaxing too. However, I am giving them 3 stars because the service is not very good. It is really hard to find places that are very customer friendly and this place falls short in my opinion. The last time I went there the server messed up my bill after we waited over 35 minutes for the check. Then the manager didn't even apologize for the inconvenience after correcting the bill. If they improve there customer service I would give them a 5 though.
(3)
Rissa V.

Didn't hate one bit of my meal. it was all really great. It would have been 5 stars, but for a reservation at 6pm for 3 people. We didn't finish eating until 9pm. There was a realllllllly long lag time between the 2 appetizers, and onto the 3 pizzas. Not sure why it took this long, because while we were still sharing the appetizers, they asked if it was ok, if they put the pizza stands on our table... and then we didn't get our pizzas for over an hour. The staff was super apologetic every time they passed our table. The highlights were the grilled pizza, and the mushroom pizza. Decent sized too! I also liked the squash pizza, but it wasn't something i'd drool over again. I would go for the grilled and mushroom again for sure. The carrot hummus with lamb was great, I really loved the cumin seeds. Also the brussels sprouts with pomegranate molasses glaze and hazelnut puree.....Yumm! Finallllly brussels without bacon!
(4)
Amy F.

One of our favorite Happy Hour locations. Great beers and yummy appetizers. The blistered peppers are great as are the fries (I like mine with Parmesan!). If you like italian meats, the grilled pizza is not to be missed. The service on the patio was great and I loved that my puppy was welcome (on the outside of the fence). The staff is so sweet that someone went and got her treats from Buzz Cafe across the street!
(4)
Sarah F.

Alright. I'm going to give it to you straight. This is the kind of place my Midwesterner/City Girl hybrid self can only dream of. For the following reasons: 1. Atmosphere. Equal parts cool and comfortable. We've got a nice, large space that doesn't feel cramped, but still has loads of character. The bar seating is seriously the most comfortable of any bar. Ever. I mean come on! what more can you ask for than comfortable bar seating?! its like the holy grail. It's got exposed brick. Need I say more? 2. Food. The gnocchi mac and cheese is super decadent. I don't know why we as a collective people haven't thought of this before, but it was a revelation. You HAVE to do the doughnuts. They're soooo light and not super fried, but oh so good right out if the frier. Available at brunch and for dessert. The pizza is also amazeballs. The crust is perfectly thin. I've had the baked potato, which is basically the best brunch invention ever. I mean it's potatoes. On pizza. Stop it. 4. Beer. Rustico has a seriously epic beer list. I mean seriously. Probably the most comprehensive of one I've ever seen at a restaurant. The thing is 12 pages of bottles and 2 pages of drafts. 3. Service. The waitstaff and bar staff are the kind you can tell are into the fact that they work there, and into the food and drink they serve. They're happy to be there, and made me feel at home. I live less than a mile from the Alexandria location. I'm officially calling it. This place is my new regular spot.
(5)
Dat N.

What is a guy to do when he's committed to a man-dinner-date? Well, let's see... no man date would be complete without ample beer and unpretentious eats. Though one could opt to enjoy traditional dude fare at institutions like Hooters or revel in melted cheese on sirloin at Applebee's -- a classier choice would be a quality gastropub - which means a trip to Clarendon for Liberty Tavern or EatBar or into the city for Birch and Barley. So how surprised I was to be introduced to Rustico. I had heard some buzz about this place from a colleague who was raving about a version of a carbonara with a runny egg atop some orzo. The space near Del Ray was divided into two different restaurant experiences -- a bistro and a very casual bar area. Regardless of where you are seated, the menu offers up some amazing dishes that one does not normally expect of such a place. Yes, you expect the pizzas, but some of the appetizers are really smart reinventions of pub grub. Carrot hummus with lamb is inspired. I was also happy that they allowed me to add morel mushroom sauce onto their already divine mushroom pizza -- earthy, satisfying. To round everything out, they got a knock-out beer menu. Arlington and Ballston are lucky to have these eats in their neighborhoods. Serious eats + not-taken-so-seriously atmosphere = mulitiple visits per week.
(4)
Ken E.

Great beer list (emphasis) + average food + chain/strip mall locale = 2 stars. 2.49 rounded down.
(2)
Jenna V.

Huh, I'm surprised at the poor reviews of Rustico on here. My husband and I come here pretty often (just today for brunch) and have always had a great experience. Extensive beer and wine list. They don't have cocktails but if you're there for brunch the full-service bar will make fantastic mimosas or bellinis if you ask your server. If you like pizza, they have really delicious options in a brick-oven fired, thin-crust Neopolitan style. The fried green tomatoes, mussels, fries and deviled eggs are great starters. The biscuits on their brunch menu are truly the best I've had at a restaurant - moist, buttery and slightly salty. The service has always been polite and attentive. Definitely recommend.
(4)
Jennifer D.

Interesting, tasty food and good respectable beer list. You'll always find something new to try. It's a comfortable spot good for regulars and out-of-towners looking for a casual place outside DC. Their bottle club just kicked off this year; the first batch didn't have anything world-shattering but over half the bottles were ones I hadn't had before.
(4)
Meg H.

Beers and Burgers look no further!!! Great and I mean amazing beer selection, servers are very very knowledgable and helpful about offering advice when picking beers. Burgers are insanely delicious! Yum! The bar is long and very open, the atmosphere is friendly. Classy, quick, fun atmosphere and sensational burgers and beer. YUM
(5)
Shelley K.

Good food Great beer Fabulous service I walked out without taking my visa and they went beyond all expectations in helping me retrieve it Will definitely go back Salad needed more greens and then they will be 5 stars
(4)
N M.

This is our go to spot. We've been going since we moved to the area a couple years ago. Great beer selection and great pizza's and burgers. Occasional issues in service but the food and beer will have us coming back.
(4)
Beth H.

Nice decor, good service. As far as gluten free pizzas go, best one I have tried.
(4)
Calder G.

Rustico has been over taken . What I thought was the best pizza in old town is no longer a true . If you think rustico pizza is good which it is, you must go to red rocks on king street ... Much better
(1)
Vanessa L.

I think we may have ordered wrong as I've heard great things about this place. The chicken pizza was a bit odd, although the beet salad was great. We sat outside on a breezy afternoon, which created for an enjoyable ambiance. The one complaint is that the service was slow...almost painfully so.
(3)
Clara L.

I have gone to Rustico quite a number of times since I've moved to the DC area. The draft beer selection is pretty great, since they usually have a few beers I'm in love with at the moment. I also think it's neat they have themed buckets of beers (i.e. workman's lunchbox has 5 cans of cheapy gross beer ranging from PBR to schlick's). Not saying I'm a patron of the workman's lunchbox, but the fact that they have creatively put these together is kinda cool. The environment is really great too. We usually have a group of at least 10 plus a kid (2 yr old). We are generally able to get a table on their patio on nicer days, or the couch area when the weather isn't so nice. It has a nice chill vibe whenever we hang out there. And it doesn't get too loud or smokey or anything, so the kid can actually fall asleep in his stroller when we are all there! However I have not been impressed with the food. I think everything always smells good, so it entices me to get some grub while sipping on my beer. But for the price they charge, I really expect food of higher quality AND quantity. $16 for mac and cheese? Yes, it had pancetta in it... and it wasn't just kraft-out-of-the-box. but $16? I expected a casserole dish of mac and cheese. Not just a serving.
(3)
Bro H.

Rustico gets five stars for their own execution of an excellent beer list (including the relatively cheap workman's bucket, which includes extremely unpretentious beers such as Stroh's and Miller High Life) and pretty good (albeit generally far too rich) food. I've had very good servers here generally, although the last time I went our server was either extremely sleep deprived or rather stoned. The problem with Rustico, in my mind, is how much of a douche I feel like when I'm there. You end up surrounded by cheerful, extremely preppy 30-somethings that clearly came straight out of an upbeat beer commercial. They come in huge groups and are unbelievably loud and annoying. Then, after the dinner hour is over, it's past their bedtime and the bar ends up completely empty. It would be an amazing place if it had a bit more of a hole-in-the-wall vibe, which I imagine would scare off the $200-dollar jeans crowd to a significant degree. This is a nice place to have dinner and some tasty beers with friends, but as a bar, it's pretty damn lame.
(4)
Shawn P.

Went Rustico for lunch today and the food and service were good. I had the spicy schrimp pizza which was really good. The jalepeno pesto made such a difference on the pizza! My friend had the brisket sandwich. All in all the lunch was good and the service was fine. Honestly, there was not much to write home about regarding the meal. I would definately go back, just lower my expecations.
(3)
Kate D.

Love the beer selection! Great selection of beer on tap. The pizza was decent. I tried the duck pizza and the pepperoni pizza. Both a little too crispy for me. A pizza is plenty for one person. I'll probably come here again for a light dinner (share a pizza) and have a few beers. The wait staff was great and I liked the decor and general layout of the restaurant. It's not a place I would hang late in the evening, but it's nice for dinner or early drinks. Also would like to note that they have a full menu of other items besides pizza. Be prepared to search for parking. The parking lot is tiny! We found street parking a few blocks away.
(3)
N L.

The Beer = This is the kind of place that the Brickskeller and others always wished they could be. An eye-popping number of selections that are all in stock. I took advantage of a Rogue Amber and a Kentucky Bourbon Beer, fabulous. The Food = My duck pizza was a little chewy, though serviceable. The fried shitake sticks were good enough for fried sticks of hammy and cheesy goodness, but quite the ripoff given the $11 price. The Service = In a word, "shaky". We were quoted a 25 minute wait which gradually became closer to an hour (though my beer-ified self wasn't complaining to much). Once we got to the table, we were accidentally treated to another table's appetizers not once, but twice. To top it off, our very friendly server got one of our orders wrong so two of us had to play the "we're not really eating yet, since we're waiting...but we really want to eat anyways" game. To their credit, a manager came by to profusely apologize...but they really need to get their s**t together!
(3)
Lisa P.

Last night was my second visit to Rustico's. It can be very loud when full, but was a little slower which was pleasant. I had a good memory of their orzo mac-n-cheese from the first visit, but it seems the portion (starter) shrunk and the delicious pretzel topping was swapped out for candied nuts. I can live with a smaller portion, but ditch the candied nut topping. The meatball wraps were a tasty treat. My palette is accustomed to Swedish meatballs and these were seasoned completely different, served with sauce and some pickled vegetables. Yum. Both entrees ordered were delicious and there was no fuss over my request to swap a roasted vegetable offered with another entree for the risotto normally served with the chicken breast.a
(4)
Sherry C.

Nice atmosphere, good service. And they have a pretty good gluten free pizza and beers which are hard to find! I will be returning!
(4)
Roberta C.

Rustico is a wonderful, comfortable neighborhood pub - boasting lots of beer varieties and fabulous pizzas. But you'd be wise to stick to that basic formula. I remember when Rustico had good food besides the pizza. I might have just picked the wrong thing on the menu - the $27 ribeye -- but I couldn't have been more disappointed. It was so thin that the grill cook even after 3 tries could not achieve a medium rare steak. Twice it was well done, once it was very rare. Gone are the interesting experimental dishes Rustico used to feature. C'est dommage.
(1)
Niki S.

Great food and great service. Natalie, our waitress, did everything right and at the right time. It was a busy Saturday night but the food was perfect and we didn't feel rushed. Kicking myself for not going here sooner!
(5)
Brandy C.

I like the beer selection and enjoyed my meal. They lost a star for not having a full enough bar to carry a port. My husband thinks this is a ridiculous expectation on my part, being that they are a beer joint. I stand my ground. I love port for dessert. For the record, the waiter was determined to please and offered me a Creme Brulee Stout by Rogue, at least I think it was Rogue. It was pretty darn good and a nice choice if you wish to drink your dessert.
(3)
Minjae O.

I have been to Rustico 4-5 times now, with various family and friends, and we really like this place and how reliable their food can be. First of all service is efficient but without overservicing (I don't like people lingering over me when I'm eating but also like them to check in once in a while for water refill, etc.). There's a tall guy with shaved head and glasses - don't let his stern manners fool you - he may seem cold but he really knows his beer selection at Rustico. I get the feeling he's not there to make friends but just to make sure you have a decent dining experience, which is really all I want. Our server today was Kimberly, who was really friendly, but again, no overservicing. Now to food. I've had the burger, mac n' cheese (this is becoming my go to) with mushroom and pancetta, gulf shrimp pizza, and my companions have had the yellow fin gyro (be adventurous - try it - it's very good), grilled cheese, chicken salad, chicken pot pie, pork shoulder pasta (told you we've been there a few times). I haven't yet had a bad dish here and was particularly impressed by the pizza, which was flavorful with just the right combination of doughiness and crunchiness. The mac n' cheese, as I said, is quickly becoming my favorite - we've also had the tasting menu of three different kinds of mac n' cheese, which are equally as yummy. It's just good, hearty food fresh from the kitchen. Their beer menu is pretty impressive as well, with many tasting suggestions and events. I usually get something from the draft menu but the wait staff is very helpful with their suggestions if you need some guidance. If you have room - and make sure you do make some room at least during one of your visits - try the dessert too. We've had the flourless chocolate cake, which is divinely rich chunks of chocolate with ice cream, and some type of a sponge cake with orange marmalade sauce, which was equally as good. I had to roll myself out of that place that day. There's a free parking lot behind the restaurant but it fills up pretty quickly on weekends. There's also street parking available. One word of caution - they do tend to keep the temperature on the cooler side and the high ceiling probably contribute to it too, so take an extra sweater or something to cover up just in case you are like me and get cold easily.
(4)
Christy C.

Good food and decent service, both have been consistent over the 5-6 times I've dined for dinner. The restaurant is a little loud, but the food is good. I don't drink beer, but they have a huge list and Hubs has tasted his way through it all. The menu changes seasonally and last month I had a delicious pizza with fried green tomatoes on top!
(4)
David R.

I take this place for granted because it's a block away from my office. I usually need to get far far away from my office when I want to drink. But I shouldn't hold that against it----they have an outrageously good beer selection, but no Labatts. Where oh where in DC can one find Labatts???? Most microbrew and international beers (regular size bottles) are $5 to $7. I've seen dudes order Miller Lite here. I'd love to see Rustico take Miller Lite off their menu, and watch the cookie cutter alpha males freak out. The food is great, albeit pricey. Order the pizza. You can't miss.
(4)
J M.

Good pizzas, good beer selection. Typically pretty loud. Outdoor seating is great in nice weather.
(4)
PC W.

I had a terribly stressful day at so what better then to vent to Karman L. at a restaurant we've been wanting to try. While the conversation lifted up my spirits, the food did not. The Prince Edward Island Mussels were not all that meaty. The spicy tomato caper broth was okay. The dish was very blah. They also have these $6 small plates they call bites. The portions are teeny-tiny. The Seared Rare North Atlantic Tuna was good, thinly seared on the perimeter and the rest was rare. I recommend skipping the Organic Air-Dried Beef Carpaccio with butter greens, it sounds a lot better than it tastes (like super-salty, low-quality ham). There is a $3 surcharge for the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Mac & Cheese. The crab and fontina cheese was quite good but ruined by the presence of peas and tomatoes. It has so much potential to be excellent. The waitress was dull and didn't have helpful answers to our questions. Service was spotty. I like the ambiance of the restaurant, it was surprisingly busy considering the neighborhood. I guess I really wanted to like it since I'm across the street at Buzz Bakery pretty often these days.
(2)
Gabriel K.

Overall Rustico can be consistently good. They have a great beer selection and really good gluten free pizza. But, there is a problem of consistency. I went in tonight and ordered the panzanella salad. This is usually a great salad with toasted bread, and fresh & flavorful local tomatoes. But tonight the salad was made with shreds of fresh bread and what appeared to be big chunks of barely ripe beef steak tomatoes. Now, it is important to note that the salad tasted good. But, considering the people behind Rustico also sponsor Arcadia (a center for local and sustainable agriculture located about 10 miles from the restaurant), it seems reasonable to expect the tomatoes to be local and something other than semi-ripe beef stake. After all, isn't important to practice what one preaches?
(3)
John R.

Good beer list, good Pizzas. The atmosphere feels a little bit like a business trip, and I wish there were a few more choices on the menu.
(3)
Gayle G.

There is one reason I go to Rustico. Beer. The selection here is amazing- and unlike the Brick, they usually have the beer you see/want on the menu. Sit at the bar (padded bar stools are a plus here) and order from a selection of 250 bottled beers or one of the thirty draft beers. Try the Rogue Skull Splitter or Trois Pistoles -- both are really good. Not surprisingly, the same company owns this place and Tallula which has a wine selection to rival Rustico's beer. As far as food, the menu is pretty heavy on the cheese side of things. The wood fired pizza is pretty good, but the cheese fries (made with Parmesan) have too much cheese in my opinion.
(3)
S B.

Can't rate the food because we were so turned off by the guy at front desk we left. Could not or would not answer simple question about whether brunch or other menu was being served today. Had a very unwelcoming attitude -- you know what they say about first impressions.
(1)
Yaima R.

Great decor, nice and cozy, good for beer and pizza!!!
(4)
C H.

The chicken was greasy. The risotto sucked. The pizza was absolutely piled with greasy, yucky meat. No bread before dinner. No vegetables offered with an entree. Indifferent server. Disorganized hosts. A single toilet for women & one for men (and this is a big place). Really?
(1)
Faisal I.

eh..the pizza is ok, the gnocchi is less than ok. There really wasn't any flavor in anything that we ordered. The place was quite a bit overpriced as well. This place feels like a wannabe Matchbox but with a smaller menu and nothing really that sticks out. If you're into beer they have do have quite a selection, other than that I would stay away.
(2)
Jay R.

Rustico has a fantastic selection of beer. In fact the only drawback of Rustico is the way the beer is organized on the menu, which is a bit goofy. You'll get over it though because the beer list is huge. The monte cristo with bÃ©chamel and the shrimp pizza looked great but i didn't taste. The eggplant parmesan sandwich was yummy. Having a Racer 5 and Lagunitas back to back with a Victory and a Troegs was wonderful!
(4)
Josh To The S.

Looking for beer? Look no further! I have family that lives within throwing distance of this place and whenever I visit, I spend as much time here as I do with the family. Why you ask? Well to start, they have over 300 different bottled beers! That's right boys and girls, a beer drinkers dream. Not too sure what to order, ask the wait staff. I was thoroughly impressed with the knowledge of the wait staff here. With 300 beers, I would think the recommendations would be hit or miss but no matter what type of beer I asked for a recommendation on (Porters, Ale's, Wheat's, Red's etc) every beer I drank was delicious! As for the Food, I have had 3 different items: White Pizza- Fantastic Burger- Fantastic Blue Crab Mac & Cheese- Not so fantastic Not to worry though, the scene here is great; the crowed that hangs at the bars seems to be in very late 20's - early 40's. Everyone is there to have a good time. With 4 great T.V.'s over the bar, you can catch any great game while drinking beer from around the world. How could you go wrong?
(4)
Janet M.

We had a party of 8 for 6pm, since we didn't want to wait in line and they take reservations until 6. Our waitress was a gem; when she handled the request for 4 separate checks with charm and accuracy, that sealed the deal. Don't know her name, but she works weekends. About the food: watermelon and pancetta salad w/ balsamic vinaigrette, to die for. Mussels, excellent. Steak tartare sliders: amazing. Didn't order their roasted carrot dip, but I still have dreams about it. Mushroom pizza, delicious. The grilled pizza, great. Their chef really tries to keep their food seasonal and inventive. Bravo.
(4)
Pheniece J.

Every visit to Rustico has been good and I love that they change the menu up. I really like their pizza, the mussels and fries. The fig and prosciutto pizza is the perfect blend of sweet and salty. They have a large selection of beer, but don't sleep on their wine list.
(4)
C R.

Loooove the huge selection of beer. What fun! Walk there, so you can walk home. The pizza's okay, but for me the real find was the cheeseburger. Mmmmmm...loaded up with everything under the sun, aaaaahhhhh...that's my definition of happy. Oh, and did I mention the beer??? It's loud, so don't take someone with whom you want to have an intimate evening. Horrid parking problems, but we're walking over, right, so who cares. :-)
(4)
Joel S.

Saturday night and this place is hoping, the bar, the restaurant. Must be good, eh? And any place that has a "Mitch-a-Palooza" has gotta be wicked cool. The flat bread was ok, but that was just the canvas, served with olive oil and a mini brush to apply. Nice Touch. Was told the Stuffed Porcini Caps were very good, I think 6-ish in the plate. And heard the CHESAPEAKE BAY BLUE CRAB MAC & CHEESE(with brandy cream) was excellent as well. Pizza looked good and received excellent reviews, I had a bite of the chick pea crust(Celiac Disease/Gluten Free, you are welcome here). and it actually tasted pretty darn good. Being from NY I will tell you this is more "designer" pizza(ala Faccia Luna), but we knew that anyway, this ain't NY. I was torn between the Pineland Farms NY Striploin and the "Red Brick" Amish Chicken as both came highly recommended, Opted for the Steak and though the sauce(forest mushroom) was AWESOME! steak was overcooked to medium well or almost well and was not easy to taste the flavor, next time chicken. Service was excellent, friendly, knowledgeable and personable.
(3)
Liz R.

Food is excellent, beer selection is huge, but the service is lacking. I had a friend wait 40 minutes for her beer to arrive at table, after asking three different passing servers if they could help and bring it from the bar.
(3)
Scott M.

great beer selection & delicious gourmet pizzas with large portions of both! Also, they have pretty much the same beer selection as Church Key/Birch & Barley(since they're owned by the same people), but parking is easier to find and it is less crowded. They could use more bathrooms; there's always a wait when I has to pee-pee. Their gluten-free crust is granular and not as good as the normal crust, but it's passable. There's better pizzas than their duck one. The place is classy yet cozy. Also, it's near BUZZ Bakery if you're wanting a cupcake for dessert, you fatty.
(4)
Carolyn S.

First off, the beer: I nearly swooned at the possibility of creating my own beer flight from their extensive draft menu. In October, the theme of my flight was "Beers that taste like Fall", and I went with Stone Smoked Porter, BFM BATS (Lapsang souchong), Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale, and one that has hints of sweet potato and pepper. On a more recent trip, I had the bartender create a beer flight to pare with the flavors of my meal- the pepperoni pizza. I'm not a beer expert, but I think he did an excellent job with a variety of beers- strong and hoppy, dark and malty, fruity and wheaty. Secondly, the pizza: Get the pepperoni. Don't be distracted by the fancy white-collar pizzas. They don't compare. Rustico packs more meaty flavor into their pepperoni than any other pepperoni I've ever had. The smoked tomato sauce also helps. Also, DON'T SHARE THE PIZZA. Get your own, and then have it for breakfast and lunch the next day. It'll be amongst the best three meals of your life. Slightly exorbitant prices, but the rich and flavorful pizza is worth it. A good place to go for a special occasion with friends.
(4)
Jackie T.

Great place to come for your pizza and beer fix. I went with the pepper and pepperoni pizza and found it to be spicy and delicious. Piping hot and cheesy - what more could you ask for. Service was fairly quick and attentive. I really recommend making a reservation so you don't have to wait. The bar was full, so I was forced to wait for seating. Slightly overpriced, but definitely something to check out!
(4)
Hyunoo P.

I believe I will surmise my excellent lunch experience here with a quote from Laura L., "I don't like pizza. Unless it has duck confit on it"
(5)
Foggies S.

I find the food here delicious. I am picky about pizza but it was pretty mouth-watering here. I have also tried a lot of their other dishes...I think I like the junky stuff better than the veggies here from what I recall. Lots of beers to choose from as well and there is a nice area to watch sports at the bar if that's your preference.
(4)
Wells W.

One of my favorite spots for good food and craft beer in Alexandria. There are many places where you can find a large beer selection but what makes Rustico unique is that their staff has a very extensive knowledge of the beers available. They can help steer you towards the right pairing with your meal or pinpoint the brew you've been craving. The menu is excellent and the pizza is a must.
(5)
Amanda G.

Great beer selection and bar atmosphere, even on a weeknight. My husband and shared a pizza and it was perfect for two people and really delicious!
(5)
Bryan P.

A foodie paradise. They have a great menu with outstanding cholesterol dishes. If you're like me you like cheese and all things pork. Then this is the place for you. They have a nice wine selection and the beer list is more like a telephone book. All kinds of good stuff to quench ones thirst. The service is occasionally spotty, but with no major offenses. The main problem is that they stopped serving brunch! That's unfortunate as it was excellent (they did great stiff with eggs as well). Sigh...
(4)
Andrew K.

I liked the plentiful open seating at the bar. I liked the chickpea crust pizza with shrimp. The raddichio salad was good too. The service was terrible. Because we ordered tap water, we were essentially ignored. Also, people were hording over us to take our table, which sucked.
(3)
Andrew F.

Rustico was an entertaining place with a pretty hip atmosphere. I thought that the food was pretty good, but I'd say my high review is almost as much for the atmosphere as it is for the food. I had a pretty good eggplant parmesan. Good beer selection and knowledgeable service.
(4)
Stephanie M.

What I like about Rustico is the dÃ©cor; it has a laid back atmosphere. It's kind of dim, setting the mood. What I don't like is the location or the price. The food was good, we shared the fig pizza $15 and the eggplant parm (though the parm needed more sauce) $16, but in my opinion they were a bit pricey for the location. I'm putting this as "off route 1" not "in old town". The parking is horrible; we parked down the street and walked up. The server/waiter was young and a bit spacey for a lack of a better term. Would I recommend it, yes, would I personally go out of my way to go back, no. They did appear to have a great beer and wine selection, though I didn't like the one I got. The place was crowded, we called ahead as someone on here noted, and got in right away, if we hadn't we would have had about an hour's wait.
(2)
v c.

Came here for lunch during the weekend with the wife and kid. The decor was cool, from bottle cap lined hostess podium to inverted bottle vases. There was a nice variety of beer on tap and the small tasters are good for trying new offerings, but beware some tasters will cost more than a whole beer. The salads were nice, but we weren't too crazy about our prosciutto pizza. The concept of it was nice, except there was way too much fig preserve compared to the meat, so it ended up like eating a dessert pizza. Will come back to try their sandwiches or other pizzas.
(4)
Liz K.

Ate here last night. Loud restaurant but in a vibrant with activity sort of way. We both enjoyed our pizza and beer/wine selections. Service was so-so. Convenient location for us and really great food - i bet we become regulars
(4)
Keri M.

This is a high-end bar with much better food than your average bar and a classy interior. It has outdoor seating and is a great place to go with a group of friends. The beers never disappoint. Contrary to the reviewers preceding me, I happen to think the food here is good - and consistently so. The pizza is comparable to Faccia Luna (gourmet-style, thin-crust with garden variety as well as eclectic toppings), the burgers are cooked the way I ask them to be cooked and are always juicy, and the mussels are fresh. They have a good selection of wines in addition to the extensive beer selection. And the prices are comparable to Old Town prices. MY issue with this place is that it isn't open late. Thus, it doesn't really function as a bar, but more like a restaurant. I also once had a problem when I took a group of friends here and about 1 out of every 3 things we had ordered they were out of. Other than that, I think it's a good option in NE Old Town.
(4)
Karen P.

I thought that this restaurant looked cool with their mosaic wall and huge beer selection and was excited to get in and check it out. After waiting forever and getting buzzed and our table still not being ready that should have been my clue to leave. Finally got seated at a table where I could barely get in without the other tables beside us having to move their drinks aside because they were so close together then we got to wait 30 minutes for the waiter to retrieve a bottle of wine which she could not open... Appetizer was "fishy" tasting and menu lacked anything unusual. Entrees were good but nothing special, wouldn't waste my time here again.
(2)
Mac O.

I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars...this place is fine, but my personal opinion is it's a bit overrated. I've been to Rustico many times, and it's inconsistent. The food is fairly good. I like their pizzas and salads. Their beer menu is enough to keep me coming back, it allllmost rivals the Brickskellar's in D.C. for selection...*if* they'd keep themselves stocked like they should. Which they don't. The ambiance is fun and pleasant, although it gets really loud when crowded. But the service...oh, the service. It makes me want to give them two stars, because I have definitely, most certainly had much better. It's never quite up-to-par. The last time we went to Rustico, husband and I were meeting 4 other people relatively early on a quiet Sunday evening. Four of us arrived at 6:00. The restaurant was less than half full, but we were told we needed to wait until our entire party was present before we would be seated. I've encountered this policy before, so I understood, but we had really wanted to get some drinks and appetizers while waiting and figured since they weren't all that crowded they might oblige. When we asked the hostess if it would be possible to be seated so that we could order some food and drinks while we waited for our friends -- whom we were expecting any minute anyway -- we were told, "I mean, I guess if you're REALLY anxious," accompanied by a labored sigh and eye roll. Gosh, I'm sorry we're trying to drop some money in your establishment. We were then escorted to a booth that could easily have sat either four or six, so we wondered why we had been so stonewalled in the first place. Our two remaining friends showed up before the hostess had a chance to walk away. Our waitress was harried and spacey -- it seemed every time we asked a question about the menu or drink list, she looked into the ether and then said, "Be right back..." and wandered off. She kept asking to remove things from the table, like silverware and glasses, pepper grinders, etc. while we were still eating, leaving the impression that Rustico was running low on every basic supply...despite the restaurant being less than half full. There were looooooong stretches of time when we never saw her, even though our glasses were empty and we were really wanting to order more beverages! Many of the beers we wanted to order, including those that come with their beer flights and beer buckets, were out of supply. I'm thinking at a place known for its vast array of beers, you'd want to keep yourself well-stocked. It was a bizarre experience all around. That being said, I have had slightly better service at Rustico before, and the food is decent. But to me, service is such a huge and important part of any dining experience that, no matter how good your food is, poor service is what I'll remember. There's definitely much better food (pizza included) in Alexandria, bars that keep themselves stocked properly, and restaurants that don't serve a side of attitude with your entrÃ©e.
(2)
Samantha L.

If it wasn't a block away from my house with a decent pizza that I can get to-go on the nights I don't feel like cooking, I'd never eat here. Service is inconsistent.
(2)
Amanda L.

Nice place. Kind of an older 30+ place to meet people though. Not for the 20 somethings.
(3)
Stephanie L.

The gluten-free pizza was delicious! The chickpea crust was much thicker (and tastier) than most other gluten-free pizzas I've had. (Because of its thickness, though, be forewarned: it's VERY heavy). Mine had mushrooms and spinach on it, which were good, but not as great as the waiter had raved. The service was decent. Prices were a little high for the quality of food (despite the gluten-free awesomeness), but I shouldn't complain - the gf pizza was that good.
(4)
Jason W.

So I found out about this place through a friend who is always trying new places. He said they had a huge beer selection and good food so I quickly agreed to go with him, and so glad I did. The Beer: I love beer but in no way would consider myself an enthusiast. They have hundreds of beers available which frankly overwhelmed me at first glance. However the bartenders/servers know their beer. They made recommendations based on my preferences and on the food we ordered. My two favorites are Hang Ten Heavy Seas and Victory's Golden Monkey. I have gone back here for the sole reason to buy these beers to go (which I think is awesome that you can do that). I am very glad my friend drove because after enjoying these beers for a couple hours I was way tipsier than I had planned (they are 10% and 8.5% alcohol respectively). Would come here for the beer alone. The Food: For a place to have great beer and food is simply amazing. My first trip here I tried their cheeseburger. It was delicious! They actually served it rare (few places seem to these days) and it melted in my mouth. Its an aged beef seasoned perfectly with fresh lettuce and tomato and a high quality cheese. The seasoned fries by themselves are nothing to write home about, but when you dip them in their home-made ketchup are quite a treat. I have eaten this cheeseburger about ten times now. I went one day during the week for dinner with a large group and we all had different things. I got the bone in short rib which literally was so tender it fell off the bone. I am not really a big fan of ribs (crazy I know) but the server recommended it and I was very pleased. It also came with a unique side that I don't remember what it was called but I loved it. I also tried the mushroom risotto which was equally good. We had numerous appetizers all of which were great, but my personal favorite was orange braised pork shoulder. Great food. Service: Always greeted with a smile when walking in. Seems all the staff knows their food and beer making it amazing for indecisive people like myself. Very timely, well mannered, awesome people. They do such a great job that regardless of what I am there for I feel like leaving less than 25% gratuity would be blasphemous. I have been multiple times and am sure I will be back. Am very excited that one just opened up in Arlington (closer to me) and have to check it out but if its just as good I will probably end up eating there too often. So if you have made it through my rambling I apologize for the length but I love this place. So you're probably thinking why did I not give it 5 stars? Well I'm not going to give any place 5 stars unless being there is orgasmic, which has yet to happen.
(4)
d c.

This neighborhood was bred in the neighborhood clone factory and installed in one night with all the right shops and coffee places and yuppie pizza joints. Everything is in clean brick with slightly different shades to suggest a differentness that doesn't exist. beer list was just ok which was too bad cuz i think they have a "beer director." Dang - I want that job. Beers seemed to favor hi alcohol content over diversity. Pizza was not notable. Salad was wicked salty. We sat next to a couple clones and that made the food taste funny.
(2)
David W.

the food was interesting and very good tasting. The beer list is huge and the staff quite knowledgeable. The pork shoulder pasta was tender, rich and filling. The gluten-free pizza crust was moist and tasty, and the pizza was enough to share. Both were quite good for lunch as leftovers too (although the GF pizza crust was not as moist after reheating). Dessert, a flourless chocolate cake and an almond cake we all shared, were decadent and light (respectively).
(3)
A I.

First things first: food was delicious. I had the oxtail risotto, boyfriend had the grilled pizza. He said it was salty, but I tasted it and had no complaints. Server was friendly, despite a few setbacks (see below). Beer, as others have pointed out, was awesome. Highlight of evening though: the carrot hummus. I don't even like hummus. Or carrots. But this was ridiculous. Down side-- first, the wait was out of control. Calling ahead is apparently pointless. Second, I got beer spilled on me (blame the boyfriend). While the food runner was super helpful, my server was a little clueless. Never got enough napkins to dry myself or the table, never got a replacement napkin, silverware, etc-- which is kinda crucial when eating risotto (I borrowed someone else's spoon). Third, and MUCH worse than either of the aforementioned things IMHO-- I feel like I got straight-up scammed on my beer purchase. My friend and I ordered the wheat beer flight. We had already tried a wheat beer or two each, but the flight featured two or three we hadn't tried. As luck would have it, they were out of the beers we hadn't tried-- but rather than tell us, they substituted those beers with the beers we had already had! Thing is, we woulda just ordered a full-size wheat beer (one we hadn't tried) for $5 rather than pay for an $11 flight that was supposed to include, among other things, a lambic (hence the high price). But we were never given the choice-- the flight was delivered to our table and that was that. We were NOT pleased. Very poor service in that regard-- I mean when it comes to beer, DO NOT presume to choose for me. Also, when it comes to anything, don't rip me off. All in all, it's a nice place, with delicious and creative food. A little noisy, perhaps, and it could use a little tweaking on the service side of things. Make sure you're clear with your server about beer options, and it's bound to be a pretty decent night out!
(3)
Henry G.

The restaurant atmosphere is awesome. The staffs are fun and joking around to make customers feel comfortable. The bartenders care about serving customers. The prices are not cheap, but not expensive neither. Highly recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Louise S.

The best place to get craft brews and mussels! The bartenders are the best..especially Andy.
(5)
Laura V.

I stick to going to this place for what they do well - beer. They have quite a selection of it, which I love. I enjoy sitting in the bar area where the bartenders and the servers all know what they're doing and seem to enjoy their job. The food is just so-so. I did enjoy the pizza but it seems a tad overpriced for cheese and sauce and basil. I balked completely at paying $18 for shrimp pizza (go ahead, call me cheap if you must). From the little plates, the tuna tartar was good and paired very well with the Hefe that my server offered as an option. The beer cheese soup was not good and the asparagus soup was too watery. Again, these seemed over priced as well ($8 for soup?) I definitely see this as a place to come for happy hour. A couple of pints, maybe some fries, move on from there. As long as they keep the good beers flowing, I'll keep going.
(3)
Caroline U.

I really want to like Rustico. For some reason though, it wasn't what I expected. The decor inside is great and the service was fantastic. It just wasn't *me*. Their beer menu is extensive, overwhelming almost. I like beer but usually drink wine. After poring over the beer menu for five minutes I just settled on a Newcastle because I didn't recognize half of the categories. The only real downside of Rustico is that their food menu is actually pretty limited. I had the bacon and bleu cheese mussles appetizer and it was pretty good. If they had more food options (I'm not a pizza fan), I'd probably come back.
(3)
andrew h.

One of the best beer lists in the DC metro area. As an added bonus they actually have most all of them in stock, compared to other famous beer joints that will remain nameless in this review. Hearty, new American style food is rib-sticking and if you're getting old enough like me gut-busting. You can literally feel the pounds going on as you sit in the slightly less than comfortable wooden booths and feast on the trio of Mac and Cheese (one with a marvelously streaked strip of bacon on top). The wood grilled entrees are actually cooked to order, god bless a rare hamburger. WARNING! Food coma is a possible side effect...come prepared to drink coffee afterward or you'll need a good nap. One small gripe is that the Belgian beers should be poured with gusto and proper head so you can smell them, not down the side of the glass like an American beer.
(4)
Steve B.

Rumors of a good beer list was what attracted me to Rustico and I wasn't disappointed. They have about 30 beers on tap, and tons more in bottles. They usually have one cask beer, and the two I've had have been great. I've been there twice, and both times I've ordered off their mosaic menu. The chef comes up with three variations on a theme, then pairs them with a beer sampler. Its a great way to try something different and sample different beers. The food has always been tasty, but the portions seem pretty small for the price.
(4)
Lori H.

I like this place. I've been here a handful of times and have had good service most of the time. A couple of times service was slow which was surprising considering the place was not packed at the time. The menu is small which can be a good thing or a bad thing. For me, it's a bad thing. I like variety and since Rustico's is fairly close to my place I come here a lot. The food is good. The burger was good, pizza was good (not enough basil on my mozzarella and basil pizza), the cheesesteak was awesome. I like the beer selection and they have happy hour every day. This is a nice place, packed a lot of times, with one of those menus that my steak and potatoes friends found a little too "fancied up" for their tastes. I like it but I am starting to get bored.
(4)
Roth C.

The seasonal beer that was suggested by the nice waiter was terrible; nothing like the pale ale I requested. Food not good, I should have tried the pizza like all the other reviews have said! I give this place two stars in hopes that the pizza will save ratings as well as the Great cozy environment.
(2)
Judy C.

You might think to yourself "gee, I'm going to be part of this whole DC Foodie experience and go to Rustico." The food is fine, and the beer selection great, but none of these is worth either (a) the price or (b) the inconvenience of waiting forever for a table, for your server, or for a chance to hear normally. The restaurant has benefited clearly from the lack of other options in this price range and it shows.
(2)
Alexis S.

I detracted one star because "griiled pizza" is just a ton of deli meat burnt to the top of the pizza. why is this?
(4)
Taylor G.

I came through town for a job interview and met up with a local friend here. This place was alot of fun. Great beer list, I tried a few that I'd never heard of. There was a raspberry beer that was terrific and a coffee stout that was amazing. It tasted like a cup of coffee with cream. Fantastic. I ordered the Spinach salad and it was so tasty. If I go back to the Alexandria/DC area again, I will definitely be returning.
(4)
D J.

I used to love this place. It had a relaxed, neighborhood-y atmosphere with delicious, simple meals, and a great beer selection. And then, they changed chefs. The menu completely changed, for the worse. The wood fired pizzas are still on there, but now they have the mosaic menu, where you can order a trio of similar foods (such as three varieties of meatloaf, soup, or calzones), or order piece by piece. My mom and I decided to split one of the trios as well as a pizza. First of all, they used to serve bread and oil for a starter. Not anymore, and when we asked for some, they gave us a few crackers with no topping or dip for them. The pizza was cold, the crust was so thin and soggy that I couldn't lift it off the plate without it falling apart, and I swear it was about half the size of the pizzas they used to serve. And as for the trio, if that had been my whole meal, which they advertise it as, I would have been very disappointed, and very hungry at the end of it. Three tiny plates of "air dried beef" which were alright, but they all tasted the same, and came with nothing else. I'm really disappointed. I'm sure the bar is still a fun place for a chill evening, but I won't return to the restaurant unless they decide to drop their new chef.
(2)
Kara B.

This is a solid dinner spot with a fun, fresh beer selection. Meals don't disappoint, and choices range from pizza to fancier fare. Though it's tasteful and refined in decor and ambience, I appreciate Rustico's laid-back vibe... which is a virtue of it being located in a residential neighborhood. Of course, the location means everyone in the neighborhood heads here for dinner, and the wait for a table is longer than you'd think.
(3)
Howard F.

The pizza combinations are interesting, but the pizza itself wasn't anything special. We sat at the communal hightop in the bar, and had probably the worst service, well, ever, at least in terms of attentiveness. It was like pulling teeth to get waited on, as if we were interrupting some far more important task. This is probably because our section had, for whatever reason, a bartender assigned to wait on us. Go figure. The beer selection is wonderful, and the location is fabulous if you're dropping or fetching at the airport.
(2)
Philip B.

Average pizza and a great beer selection. Fine for one or two people, however this place is not set up well for groups. Seven of our party of nine were on time for our reservation (including two pregnant woman) and they refused to seat us for appetizers and drinks. When the two stragglers arrived 20 minutes late, they had given away our table. Well over an hour after that, they sat our party at two separate tables. No apologies, nothing gratis. Rustica feels like a chain and has staff poorly trained like a chain. My recommendation? Order takeout, grab a beer while you wait, and avoid the helpless hostess and wait staff.
(2)
Dman P.

Not sure why folks gave this place bad reviews. I had the carrot hummus (wow, great stuff) and the shrimp pesto pizza. And yes, great beer selection listed by your preferred tastes.
(5)
Mark M.

The food is good but i prefer the old menu (at least the old appetizers). Great beer selection and a good atmosphere.
(4)
shawn g.

Beer beer beer beer and pizza. Take the time to talk to the staff and they'll help you pick out a beer from their dizzying menu. Gluten free beer and gluten free pizza! I don't have an issue, but it must be great for those that do! If you're tall, watch out for the booths across from the bar, they can get a little cramped. If only this place was easier to get to, I'd have a much bigger drinking problem.
(5)
Jim A.

Wow! Went back again today for lunch. Melon salad with Virginia ham over arugula w/ a nice vinagraite FANTASTIC braised pork shoulder pasta sauce married with papparadelle (sp?) pasta. The food here is inventive, tasty and way beyond most pub fair. Try it out! ___________________________________ Great selection of beer on tap and by the bottle. I've read through the reviews regarding the food. The kitchen changed course in April 2007 or so (I think they got a new chef?). Anyway, the menu is very ambitious for a pub. Interesting salads and unusual combinations. How many local pubs are offering Summer Melon & Country Ham with rocket & pickled melon dressing? The pizzas are also inventive and tasty. Very comfortable bar area with friendly bartenders (sister restaurant Vermilion in Old Town could learn something in this regard!). I appreciate a place that is willing to take risks and can pull it off! _____
(4)
T D.

Probably 2.5. I had much higher hopes and expectations for this place, than what the reality was. The beer selection is above average, but its still off pace of the best place in town (Paradiso). The wait to get a table was FOREVER. The place was crowded, but it seemed like we were waiting longer than it should have been. The menu here is a little odd, in my opinion. There's like $26 entrees such as Rockfish, then also much cheaper entrees. Idk. Anyhow, don't waste your money on the crab ball appetizer. You get 3 of them for $12. Its mostly just breading with very little crab meat. The entrees we ordered were average. Also, the food all came out lukewarm. It's funny, the Dominos pizza I ordered last night (which was delivered from about 15 minutes away) arrived hotter than my appetizer and dinner at Rustico. Doubt I'll go back here.
(2)
Natasha M.

Love, Love, Love Rustico!! The beer selection is unbeatable! Constantly updating their draft list on their website - so I know exactly what I'm getting even before I get there. Try to get there from 5-7pm Mon-Wed so you get $2 off their pints (prices are a little spendy, but because the beer is top quality you have to expect that). The bartenders are super friendly and treat the locals well. Lots of comfy bar chairs, couches and even a fireplace so it has that cozy feel in the winter time. This is my favorite bar in Alexandria to go to hands down.
(5)
Jon D.

I want to love Rustico, but each time it seems so-so at best. Almost seems like they have a chip on their shoulder. (How can a beer-focused place have a chip on its shoulder?!) The pizza we had recently was ok. The smoked mozzarella was nice, but over browned. The crust was dry and hard at the edge -- it needed olive oil which was rationed out in a tiny serving bow. It is nothing close to Pizza Paradiso or 2 Amys. Service was so-so. And worst of all, what is with those new 12 oz fake-pint glasses? Hello! You're a beer restaurant! Rustico, I hope you do better in upcoming DC location.
(2)
Hannah H.

I take it back Rustico. You are delicious. Your pizza crust is consistently chewy on the inside, yet crispy on the outside. Your beer selection still has me mind boggled. You really are perfect for a lazy, week night dinner.
(5)
Jalexa J.

My husband, my son and I went out because we were in the area at lunchtime and I had been there a couple days ago and it was great. I ordered a burger, the husband ordered a sandwich, and the son ordered a pizza. It was great food and I would recommend it to any hungry person.
(3)
Drew S.

If you like hamburgers you gotta order this one. Smokey flavored and delicious.
(5)
Ryan K.

It's difficult for me to rate Rustico because there are things I love about this restaurant yet other aspects which are less than endearing. The positives: obviously the beer selection is fantastic and the main draw here. The wait staff is consistently friendly and helpful when it comes to beer recommendations and pairings. My wife and I have also had some truly delicious meals including a rigatoni with braised pork shoulder, another pasta dish with veal meatballs, the duck confit pizza, and their burger. I've also had a couple of mediocre dishes, including a chicken breast with cous cous that was rather bland, and have felt that their dinner menu has been less than inspired. I will say that their most recent menu as of February 2010 has a more appealing selection to my tastes than past iterations. But the thing that really keeps us from going here more often is the pricing. It feels like each course is 10-15% more expensive than it should be - especially appetizers and desserts that average around $9-$10 for very small portions. If it weren't so crowded so often, I think that we'd visit Rustico on a fairly regular basis to share a pizza and some beers for a reliably delicious and reasonably priced meal. As it stands, it's someplace we go to maybe three or four times a year, despite living a short walk away.
(3)
Phil J.

I enjoy eating here, but i feel like as semi-vegetarian (I eat fish sometimes), i have to knock it a star down. There's really only 1 app and 1 meal that is suitable for vegetarians, I'd be mostly at a loss if I didn't have my fish caveat. That said, i really enjoy the food. They have a polenta app that is really tasty. They used to have a catfish aioli sandwich that i loved, and have since replaced it with a swordfish sandwich that i haven't tried yet. I was disappointed with the clam chowder that promised Tabasco biscuits, which might have been a cute way to reference the croutons in the soup (the biscuits were the main reason why i ordered it). But over all, i enjoy the food, and it's hard to go too wrong here.
(3)
Faith F.

This place is good. Our table ordered a few app's and a few pizzas- so I can not speak for the entrees, but the things we did get were delicious. It also is pretty reasonably priced for the size of the pies and it being a sit-down place with nicer decor. The only complaints I have are: - No place to sit and wait for a table, unless you go to the somewhat awkward placed bar -Service was a bit under-confidant
(4)
Elizabeth E.

HOW have I not reviewed Rustico? How have I not written many a love song to the duck confit pizza? The fries with crazy ketchup? The excellent, excellent beer selection? We're here far too often, especially now that we live right around the corner. We've tried about 3/4 of the menu, and the only disappointing dish (as far as I'm concerned) was the macaroni, though my partner loved it. You can't go wrong with the pizzas. Seriously. Just get a pizza. Don't overthink it.
(5)
Christine P.

I met a friend here for drinks after work on a Wednesday and I was surprised by the happy hour specials. It was pretty dead when we first arrived, but by the time we left it was packed! The pizza we ordered was pretty good. I love thin crust pizza, though. We ordered something simple, but there are some pretty wacky selections to choose from. It's not perfect, but you really can't beat the beer selection. The staff is great, our server even gave us some small samples of beer to try before ordering pints.
(4)
Rob B.

Beer selection here is outstanding. I've gone to this location a handful of times and have lucked out and not needed to wait for seating. However, if you're going after business hours, especially on a Friday or Saturday, better call ahead. I haven't eaten anything but the pizza, but it's been very good. Generally, the fancier the place, the worse the pizza in my opinion, but Rustico bucks this trend. Other people I have gone with have enjoyed the food that isn't pizza, so I wouldn't feel nervous going outside my 'pizza comfort zone.' Servers are nice and attentive; never had a bad server. Don't hesitate in deciding on going here.
(4)
Michael T.

Loves the hummus app. Eggplant Parma and pork shank were both up to par and better than expected. I really love their tasting concept for beer. Just about every beer can come as a taster and you can order any amount from 1 to ... This would be a great place in the spring and summer to relax outside at a table. I can imagine they get really busy and especially in the cooler months when the patio is closed. MAKE A RESERVATION so you won't be disappointed or frustrated. I'd recommend a 5:30 reservation instead of 7:00 pm (or order an app if your food order is larger or specialty item) If someone in your party is a beer lover they will love you for bringing them here. Service was fine, but I can bet that the kitchen gets backed up with orders because there are a lot of complex dishes on their menu that requires focus from multiple people on the line in the kitchen.
(5)
Demetrios G.

After not having been to Rustico for a few months we gave it another try since we were in the area. The food has definitely improved since our last visit. The beets tasted fresh and the gnocchi was quite good. Beer selection as always was good although I would really like it if they had a cider option or two (Fox Barrel would be my recommendation).
(4)
Martin B.

Well, Rustico was alright. Walking in it almost feels like a sit-down version of Chipotle in terms of the industrial architecture. Exposed heating ducts and what not. The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice; I could see it being a great place for a nice date or a joint to just relax with your buddies. The food was delicious! My biscuits with sausage & beef gravy were absolutely divine... and heart-stopping. For ten bucks you get five dense biscuits covered in this rich, white creamy gravy that's full of sausage and beef. It's an excellent combination and you will leave feeling very full. My sis got a grilled cheese sandwich of some sort, which was very good. My mother got a short rib sandwich, we she raved about. The dings come from the slowness of service. Our waitress was pretty attentive but she did like taking her time, and the food took a long time to come out. Some other party sat down next to us a few minutes after we ordered, and they got their food before us. So I wouldn't recommend coming here if you're in a rush.
(3)
E C.

I loved this restaurant! Their appetizers were out of this world - we tried the deep fried deviled eggs, the sweet potato tots, and the pretzel-crusted mac and cheese. My favorite was the deviled egg - crispy on the outside, but the yolk was so creamy and delicious. I probably could have eaten a dozen of them. The only thing "misleading" about the mac & cheese is that they didn't use macaroni but orzo. It was so tasty, we didn't mind. I had the salmon BLT sans B which was great, but the chips were a bit too salty. My fellow diners had the burger, the roasted mushroom pizza, and the short ribs. The servings were large. They had a large beer selection, but I didn't have any alcohol so I can't really speak to that, although my fellow diners were pleased with their selections as advised by our server. Oh, and our server, Olga, was fantastic! She answered a ton of questions and was really patient and attentive. We ended the dinner with the Rustico donuts, powdered donuts with a wonderful chocolate dipping sauce. OMG. Heaven-sent. It was a busy night, a full restaurant, but the ambiance was great and I loved the decor. Next time I'm in the area, I will have to return. That was one awesome dinner!
(4)
Samantha E.

Get the pretzel mac and cheese!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
McKay S.

This is one of our favorites. You can't go here without ordering the fried deviled eggs. Also a wonderful beer selection and great burgers. I'd give it a 4.5 and almost a 5 if they would deliver the fried deviled eggs to my house right now.
(4)
Tu-van L.

You cannot go wrong with the beer recommendations from the wait staff - they know their stuff. I asked what beer they had that's similar to a Magic Hat and they delivered me this light ale that was true to the mark. Food options were solid too. -1 star for not offering the rustic pizza I find dear to my heart. FYI - eat at the bar and you can order off of both the bar and dining room menus (neither the grilled cheese nor the mac n' cheese bites were offered in the dining room menu).
(4)
John F.

Well, another great evening at Rustico. Once again we sat on the bar side of the restaurant. As we've learned over many visits to Rustico, the place has a split personality. The dining room can be somewhat cold and impersonal with very unpredictable service while the bar area is always inviting and has consistently good service. You might have to fight for a table (since they're all self-service), but it'll be worth the wait. Plus it's great people-watching and there's a couple of televisions over the bar if you want to keep tabs on the sports scores. Fortunately, Rustico's food does not exhibit the same split personality. It's good no matter where you sit! I've become a huge fan of the grilled caesar salad, so that's what I started with. It's got a great flavor from the grill. The dressing is flavorful without being too heavy. And it has lots of croutons (my favorite part!). Being summertime, I decided to try the BBQ Pork pizza. Wow, what flavor! They succeeded in putting a great pulled pork sandwich on a pizza. Lots of barbecued pork with just the right amount of sauce and cheese. And there's no disputing Rustico's beer selection. It's got something for everyone who likes a malty beverage. My biggest dilemma is deciding on a theme for the evening. I typically start with one of the cask beers which makes it easy (there's only two to pick from). But last night I was in the mood for something a bit colder, so I worked my way through a couple of American pale ales (Dale's and Bell's Two Hearted). So, to those who have experiences flat service in the dining room (like Jon M.), stick to the bar area. They may not know everyone's name, but they'll treat you to good food and drink.
(4)
Nina B.

The first time I attempted to check out Rustico was soon after the first Snowpocalypse of 2010. Of course people were suffering from cabin fever, and there was nearly a 2 hour wait for a table. Screw that. I ended up going there many weeks later, when the place was half empty, and the service was incredibly fast. The beer selection is really impressive, with a nice selection of draft beers and pages of beers in bottles. I was a bit underwhelmed by the food though. I went for the fig and prosciutto pizza with gorgonzola cheese. It sounded so interesting, like an amazing combination of palate pleasers. But, it was not meant to be. The combination of flavors was not the experience I had hoped for, and the way they served it made it a little difficult to eat. The chunks of figs were huge, and the prosciutto slices were too large to just take a bite without taking an entire mouthful of prosciutto. It might be an aesthetic thing, but it didn't jive with me. I would definitely go back to the place for its bar on another occasion, but I think i'll skip the pizza next time.
(3)
Marissa V.

We love this Rustico location. Its close to our house and makes for a perfect (relatively) inexpensive date night. The pizza is awesome, and the appetizers rotate, which makes it fun every time we go in. They obviously have an amazing beer list, but their wine selection is great too. Plus, their sister restaurant buzz has amazing desserts and coffees . Be sure to get there early or make reservations, as the place tends to be packed on friday and saturdays
(4)
Andrew H.

Let me start off by saying: The beer selection here is of higher quality than anywhere in DC (YES, including "The Brick") There were about 20-30 taps and almost all of them were rare, unique, strong microbrews and imports. Allow me to geek out to some of the beer on tap: Creme Brule: an Imperial Milk stout from Southern Tier brewing in NY. Creamy, caramelly, malty goodness. A sweet, rich, dessert beer packing a 10% abv punch. A German "Gose" beer: I have sampled over 1,100 beers and I have never in my life seen this style of beer available on tap or bottle. Not in the US, not even in Germany. It's very unique, quenching, and rare. A German wheat ale brewed with salt and coriander (sounds gross, but it's good...trust me). A German "Sticke" altbier: usually available only at the breweries in Dusseldorf. This beer is odd in that it's a highly hopped ale, something German breweries rarely do. I could go on and on about the beer here, but I'll stop. I'm getting way to excited. Wait...I should also add that my bartender REALLY knew his shit when it came to beer, I was very impressed. He was also incredibly nice. He asked my name when I sat down, shook my hand, and remembered it the entire night! What about the food? Most of it looked pretty good/interesting...if a bit pricey. I ordered the sea scallops which made my belly feel good and my wallet feel bad. Why no 5 stars? The atmosphere here was just a little bit too trendy/yuppie/prentious for my tastes. This is a bar I'd visit for the amazing beer, but not to attempt to chat with/meet people.
(4)
HanaDC T.

I came here at first time last Friday evening for happy hour time with friends. I loved the vibe and atmosphere in this place. There were so many young professionals, families, and older people to come here to have a good time. This place has a huge selection of beer. I am not a big beer drinker to begin with. So I can't comment on this but my friends tried so many different beer and they enjoyed it. I loved the food here. We ordered three different kinds of pizza (White Pizza, Tomato with Basil, duck) . All of them were very tasty. I loved that bread portion of the pizza. It was typical brick oven pizza. I liked the crunch, dry, kinda salty taste. The price is around $13 to $16 range which is pretty reasonable. This is a place to come with a group of people and have a good time. I will definitely come back.
(4)
Chris B.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Great pizza, great beer selection, and great non-pizza entrees. I haven't had a meal here that they've failed to knock out of the park. It can be tough to get a table, but you can phone ahead to be put on the waiting list, so it's usually not too bad. My favorite items so far are the fries and the "risotto tots."
(5)
Megan C.

Frank Morales III did a great job with this spot! Love the decor, great menu, fresh ingredients with something for everyone. Everything that we had was perfect. I loved the Mac-n-cheese, brussel sprouts, pate. The chicken under a brick looked pretty tasty too. I could see how a spot like this will do well in other parts of DC. Definitely going back here again it's one of those places where you could easily have dinner once or twice a week. Date Rating: 6 Pick up Scale: TBD (It was quiet when we were here) Strong Suggestion: Make a reservation if you're bringing a group. This would be a great place to have a get together or late afternoon party.
(4)
R J A.

I don't get all the great reviews on Yelp... The only good thing about this place is their beer selection, after that its a massive disappointment. Even the water was bad (it seriously smelled like a wet dog). Anyway, let me give you a run down of our evening at Rustico... Ordered 2 flights of beer (the "Wheaties" and whatever they called their flight of pale ales), the homemade Thick-Cut Fries tossed in Ranch and the Salt Cod Fitters. The fries weren't anything special, and were made instantly soggy and tasteless by the watery sauce that resembled ranch dressing in name only. The Salt Cod Fritters were bland and nothing to write home about. Regardless, we ate both and ordered our meals. Here's where it all goes down hill. The wife and I ordered a Sausage Pizza and the Rosemary Braised Chicken Ragu with Walnut Gnocchi with the intention of sharing... We were excited about trying Rustico and really wanted to sample a few different things, so hey, why not? Anyway, the meals come out and the pizza seriously tasted like a bad DiGiorno. The sauce tasted canned and the sausage tasted like it came off of a Celeste frozen pizza. However, the worst was my wife's meal... The "gnocchi" was undercooked, poorly formed, and looked like globs of white mush that you couldn't get to stay on a fork if your life depended on it. Also, the ragu tasted like someone cracked open a can of Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup and dumped it on top of the gnocchi after a quick bubble on the stove. Now, let me say that I'm not one to send things back just because I don't like them, but these two dinners were atrocious (especially my wife's). I asked the waiter if he could just remove the two entrees from our check so that we could pay for our other items and leave. I didn't want to try anything else because frankly, based on the entire experience, I didn't think their food was good. However, the manager walks over with two menus, puts them in front of us and says "I'm sorry about the problems, what else can I get for your tonight?" I just asked for the check. No less than 5 minutes later, the waiter comes back and says that the manager comped the meal and walks away. For the next 5 minutes (we still had beer to finish) the wait staff, busboys, and hostesses kept swinging by our table to eye it (and us) up... I know when I'm being kicked out, I don't need the parade of staff. Anyway, I called the waiter over, asked him what our bill would have been so I could leave him a tip (it wasn't his fault after all), finished my beer, and left. Because of the beer and Yelp's lack of a "zero star" rating, this place gets one star. I was really excited to try this place out, but I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in a restaurant in my entire life.
(1)
Nadia E.

Love it! Love the atmosphere! Love the food, the draft beers, the service, everything. They take risks with their menu selections and are always changing it up so it can be hit or miss sometimes but in my opinion that's a good thing. When they get it right, they REALLY get it right. Definitely have to try the mushroom pizza and the carrot hummus. YUM!
(4)
Meredith R.

I've been here a few times, mostly for dinner, this last time for lunch on a Saturday. This place is always enjoyable to visit. Prepare for a wait on Friday and Saturday nights though, as it gets packed. The service is great and the beer and wine selection is extensive. I have visited both locations and definitely prefer the original Alexandria one. My favorite item on the entire menu is the carrot hummus. It is seriously amaizing. It's pureed carrots with a ground lamb mixture and feta, served with warm, soft pita bread. I could probably eat 3 plates of it! However, my husband and I settled on ordering just 1 plate... For my "main", I followed it up with the mussels (actually on the starters list). They were bacon and blue cheese mussels...a HUGE portion, served with crusty, hot grilled bread sticks. I practically drank the liquid when I was done. My husband ordered the pepperoni pizza, which is always good. Thin, crispy and perfect sauce, cheese, topping ratios. Per our server's encouragement, I tried some of the pizza crust with my mussel broth. Divine! If I could improve the mussels further, I would say that they should serve it with breadsticks made of the pizza dough. No room for dessert! So happy and full! I have been here other times and loved the following: scallops (when on special), pizza with the chickpea crust (really unique and yummy, even if you don't suffer from a gluten allergy - it's a great choice), red velvet sundae - so good if you somehow have room left, definitely a sundae for sharing...I remember practically licking the bowl! Great date spot, great double date spot and seemed to be pretty kid friendly/kid approved during lunch...most children around us seemed to be engrossed in their yummy pizzas. I also love the bar area here- very open with a good vibe!
(4)
Sheri G.

I'm going to give them one more star for their *phenomenal* beer list. My advice is to stick with the beer and pizza. It's a great spot to grab a brew after work.
(3)
Chris P.

Delish! I feared the worst. Usually when places advertise "Italian cooking" and "wood-fired grill", it is warning to prepare for Chef Boyardee. Here they have interesting, creative plates well prepared and presented. I was particularly impressed with our waiter, who was not shy about recommending a libation based on what we were ordering. His confidence was refreshing - we asked for a recommendation, and he came through in fine style. Also very tolerant of the little ones...my friend's two year old was running laps in the dining area and the staff smiled and shared in his fun.
(4)
Rebecca S.

So, I got rear ended on my way to Rustico the other night. Which sucked. But let me tell you what, I am so glad that if that had to happen to me while I was alone, and admittedly freaking out afterwards, I'm glad it happened where it did. Big thank yous to Daniel, Jonathan, and Thomas for making sure I was OK, offering to help me out, and taking care of me once it was all over. Obviously we know I love the food and beer. But its the people that make any place a regular spot, and Rustico has some of the best. And that's why today, they get a 5 star update.
(5)
Elaine M.

Once upon a time, I dined out at trendy / gourmet / upscale-ish restaurants on a fairly frequent basis... but that all changed when my daughter was born. Going to one of those shi shi places with a screaming baby in tow probably wouldn't fly. I felt as if I was now relegated to (*gulp*) "family friendly restaurants"--a.k.a. boring suburban chain restaurants. Enter Rustico to the rescue. This local gem serves gourmet-quality food, minus the pretentiousness or frou-frou-ness. It's also loud enough in there with a casual enough ambience that makes it baby-friendly. In addition, the host and servers were very helpful, accomodating, and friendly. And most importantly, the food was seriously fabulous. Seriously. Fabulous.
(5)
Lauren C.

Ugh, YET ANOTHER restaurant I wanted to love that disappointed me. At 8pm on a Monday, it was packed. Good sign, right? Wrong. I was seduced by nearly everything on the menu prior to ordering, and that almost never happens to me. Our waitress was pleasant enough, but after we sent her away once to give us time to decide, the manager came over to take our order, which I found kind of weird. After expressing I was having trouble, he recommended the fried salmon sandwich, which I had my eye on, specifically saying it was very popular and that people loved the roll it came on. OK, sold. I had my eye on it anyway. Food came out very quickly - almost too quickly. I was immediately turned off by the disgusting, yellowish, mushy, looks-like-someone-bit-it Vlasic-style pickle on my plate. What restaurant serving $14 fish sandwiches with chips (NOT FRIES) doesn't think to serve it with an actual deli pickle? My sandwich was terribly disappointing. People who love bread will, indeed, love this sandwich, because it was pretty much all bread. The slaw wasn't good, and the fish was greasy yet over fried. Fail all around. The homemade chips, though I would have preferred fries, were good. I guess they just couldn't possibly give away fries with their sandwiches because they have the cajones to charge $8 for an appetizer serving of them. My boyfriend tried a mushroom and fontina pizza with a cream sauce since he's not huge on marinara. It was absolutely, positively, nothing to write home about. In fact, it was nothing I would order if I was forced to go there again. I make better pizza crust than this, and my crust is admittedly sub par. My boyfriend was really turned off by the takeout box we got to take the pizza home - it was the thin cardboard kind that oil soaks through immediately. We mentioned it to the manager and he said they were "looking into" changing that. And the prices??? $40 for a small pizza and a fried salmon sandwich is INSANE. We both had WATER, mind you. I'm sure I should have gotten a beer or something, but I'm glad I didn't because this place doesn't deserve any more than two stars and the influence of good alcohol may have tempted me to give it one more.
(2)
Donacha H.

We went in for a beer and a sandwich, we ordered two beers and it took awhile because the lines were foamy. The bartender poured one beer to the next until they were full. We tasted the beers and they were both hot. We asked her why they were so warm and she said that the coolers were down. That information would have been helpful before we ordered them. I ordered the brisket steak sandwich and other than the bread being hard as a rock the meat was tough and flavorless. The bartender said as we were leaving "Come back next time when the coolers are fixed"
(1)
Dan K.

Simply great food, and interesting takes on the old classics. The mussels app is FANTASTIC. Certainly not for those watching calories, but the white wine with gooey blue cheese crumbles and thick cut real bacon bits and onions make this a meal in and of itself. Seriously, some of the best mussels I've ever had. I couldn't stop sopping up the broth, so thank goodness they give you 2 slices of thick, perfectly grilled ciabatta bread to help you do so. I HIGHLY recommend the "pumpkin pizza." I don't know if this is just a seasonal dish, but if you see it on the menu, grab it for something a little different yet strikingly familiar. A pumpkin base, with boar bolognese, goat cheese crumbles, light strips of thin prociutto and toasted pumpkin seeds top it. The subtle sweetness of the pumpkin meshes perfectly with the earthy boar and toasted pumpkin seeds. A real treat that literally makes you feel like you are eating Fall (that's a good thing). Interesting food, executed well, in a funky place with great decor, this is easily a go-to place for a nice casual night out.
(5)
Michael I.

We are major fans of Rustico, and have been to the Alexandria one many times. I'll write this review based on our two most recent visits, end of November for brunch, and a week ago for dinner. In November, we went with our two young kids and were seated quickly. We started with the breakfast sliders and doughnuts. The sliders were exceptional, the biscuit buttery and flaky, and the sausage complimenting the eggs and cheese. I could have made a meal of those. The doughnuts came laden with powder sugar, but light and airy. We will order these regularly. The entrees we got were the pale ale corned beef hash and bananas foster french toast. The beef hash was amazing, the flavor profile perfectly paired with crispy potatoes, beef with layer upon layer of flavor, and perfectly cooked over easy eggs, the yolks mixing with each element in perfect bite after bite. My wife and I could have both gorged ourselves on that dish. The french toast had good flavor combinations, and the accompanying whipped cream helped the dish, but it was still a bit small and dry for my expectations. We can't wait to return for brunch. For dinner my wife and I arrived at Rustico after failed attempts to find crab legs for her, at chains throughout the area with hour-long waits. I'm still speechless that we were able to walk right into Rustico. We asked, and were seated at the 3-4 bar looking in to the kitchen. This is a great spot for folks that enjoy food and the prep process, is fairly private, and directly overlooks the dessert prep station. We started with the beef tartare sliders. The meat, onions, and roll were amazing. Much like the breakfast sliders, we could have made an entire meal just out of those elements. We also had the deep fried deviled eggs. As an ordering note, each egg ordered includes both halves. I find there is an inconsistency from restaurant to restaurant in what you get when you order a deviled egg appetizer. We ordered the grilled chicken Caesar salad with chicken, and pizza with mozzarella, tomato and herbs (I can't remember the name). The salad was good, but the grilled taste was a bit strong and overwhelming. I don't think we'd order it grilled again. The pizza was solid. The crust crisp and chewy, but not overwhelmingly so. I think there could have been a few more toppings. I stuck with the beer tasters which is a great, and cheap way to try a number of the amazing drafts available.
(4)
David K.

I was taken here for my birthday. It had everything I'd want: beer, pizza, cheese platter. I'd always wondered what was in this little enclave of shopping back behind Potomac Yard. Rustico has a nice looking patio, along with a modern but comfy design inside. The bar looked especially inviting. I had one of my new favorite beers, the creme brulee beer, checking it at around 11% alcohol but having a nice malty, lactose sweet flavor. I ordered the duck pizza, my fiance ordered the burger. Both were good, although I now regret not getting the burger. The duck pizza was good, and the shreds of duck were tasty and well cooked. It just was... weird. I guess it's a matter of taste. The balsamic drizzle was not really to my taste. The waiter recommended a nice cheese platter that fulfilled my request for pungent, stinky cheese. The staff really knows their stuff when it comes to the beer and when it comes to the cheese. I'm looking forward to returning on a slow afternoon to enjoy more of their unique beers off their very extensive beer list. I've also read they have many beer events there as well. All in all, a great neighborhood dining option.
(4)
Michael F.

Rustics has a great selection of beers! I recommend going for happy hour. I haven't eaten there yet but will. It's in a great area too. You don't have to worry about park four blocks away.
(4)
Henry C.

Rustico is a love/hate type of place. I know friends who love this place and others who don't care for it at all. This place is a local neighborhood restaurant and bar. I lived two blocks from Rustico for over five years, it had great food and an excellent bar atmosphere. The food isn't the norm, it's more upscale as is most of the clientele. The place is split into two spaces, on the left is the formal restaurant and the right the bar and lounge. Both sides serve the same type of food but the bar area has more open seating, television, etc. The menu constantly changes but there's always the staple dishes. Many come here for the pizza, which is somewhat overpriced for their size, but it's fresh made and very good. The burger is probably the best value on the menu and it's huge. At around $13 the hefty burger will not leave your stomach empty. Lets not forget the drinks. There's over 500 beers available, most of which are very unique but very expensive. You can easily drop $30+ dollars on just a few drinks. Add on food and you're already around $50 for one visit. Even when I lived two blocks away I didn't visit Rustico every week, it's too expensive but the place is very clean and the food/beer is always fresh.
(4)
Gio D.

Overall one of my favorite places to eat. The food is good, but what makes this place is the cool trendy atmosphere. Pizza and chicken are probably the two best dishes. They also have a really large beer selection which goes nicely with your pizza. If you're looking for a cool casual place to have a decent meal with some friends, Rustico should be on your list.
(4)
Mike R.

I'm new to writing Yelp reviews, but not new to Rustico. Since I live in the area I go here often and these stars are for the current version of Rustico. I have a love hate relationship with Rustico. I love the beer (yes I'm a beer snob) and they definitely get a 5 for that although I do think the prices are a little high and sometimes the hlf-assed pours with lots of room at the top piss me off. As for food, in the years I've been coming here they've been all over the place. I started out thinking it was blah, then they started doing trios of tapas like dishes which were really cool, but that only lasted about 6 months to a year. While I missed them, the menu was still solid especially the bar food. Then last summer the chef left...not sure why, but things went down hill fast. The removed the best dishes (pork shoulder pasta, duck wontons, the chicken dish turned south). We gave it a couple of chance before giving up on them. I have no idea when he started but there is a new chef in town and the food is now back up to par and may even be better than ever. I think he has more of an Italian background and the menu is much more interesting. I've been twice since the change and I've had the veal pasta dish (reminicent of my favorite pork shoulder pasta on the old menu) and a bone in short rib which was huge and excellent. In short, I'm excited that I can make Rustico a regular on my old town rotation again...I just wish I could walk it. Especially for those glassware giveaway nights.
(4)
Doc Z.

Bar area-- happy hour was Meh..bartender on shift was not really friendly... He seemed uninterested in answering our questions.....nonetheless, beer choices were impressive. Best light beer = starts with an N ..forgot the name (sorry about that) but it was really good. Looong wait(more than 30 min) on a Friday night ! Not cool but mussels made it all worth it! It's a must have ! shared with 3 people..good enough portion . Pizza started to get saltier by the minute ..2 bucks for additional topping ( I added jalapeÃ±os) was a rip off. But that's just my opinion.. Will go back for the drinks (happy hour only) and lip smacking mussels !! Oh the waitress was the sweetest one ever. She was wearing dark thick glasses..forgot her name too! It's all that beer ;) Good luck all ;)
(4)
Tony A.

Hmmm... Not my thing. They put dark chicken meat in the pizza. Not saying it is bad but it felt like I was eating Thanksgiving left overs. Lunch menu is poor. No parmesan cheese on the tables. When you ask for some they give you a teaspoon of cheese. Pricey too. The staff was very nice.
(2)
Charles M.

The novelty might have worn off, but the pizza is still terrific. However, the Alexandria location can, at times, be a hot wet mess. The good news is that they have opened an Arlington location that has proven on several occasions to be far better. It has a bigger and better bar and seems a bit cleaner. However, one can do a ton worse than either establishment. Read Matchbox...
(4)
Michael G.

I came here on a Thursday night with friends from DC during a visit to Alexandria for a week-long workshop. The service was good despite the restaurant being quite busy. Their beer selection is pretty choice...I enjoyed debating between a few Belgians. For dinner I got a grilled Caesar salad and the mushroom, spinach, and goat cheese pizza. Both were very good. If I lived in the area, I'm sure I would come here on a regular basis.
(4)
Erin J.

We biked from Cameron Station through Old Town to Rustico. It was a smooth ride that took about 45 minutes. It was Saturday, and we arrived at 11:50 a.m. There were a few other patrons in the restaurant, but it was very quiet and uncrowded. We sat at the bar and started with the beer list. BEER SELECTION: 5 stars out of 5. This place has as many beers as Pizzeria Paradiso, our former go-to establishment in Old Town, but the beer menu was more highly organized into flavor profiles. My husband made his own 4-beer sampler, choosing off the draft list, which had more than 20 beers on it. I chose a pint draft beer. Our bartender, Gregory, helped us choose. Every beer we had (and there were many) was interesting and/or excellent. Manager Jonathan came by to check on us. We ordered lunch. FOOD (TWO SANDWICHES): 4 stars out of 5. The cheeseburger and pretzel steak sandwich were very, very good. The fries were excellent. The portions were perfect: not at all skimpy but not overwhelming. We heard that most of the ingredients were locally sourced, which is something that the menu doesn't mention but that comes across in the food. Absolutely no complaints about the food, but I can't give 5 stars without experiencing a few more options. SERVICE: 5 stars out of 5. Gregory and the trainee, Allie, were knowledgeable, helpful, and very friendly, sensing exactly when to converse and when to let us savor our meal. The service was so good that I actually asked to speak to the manager (Jonathan) so that I could tell him how well we were treated. OVERALL: 5 stars out of 5. Great beer, great food, great service (and great atmosphere--I like low-key spots and appreciated the lack of a noisy crowd; I know the place can get really crowded). We will absolutely be going back.
(5)
S Z.

I've been to Rustico several times - and this was my worst experience. It's near my work and we typically have our luncheons here and I've had a fine experience w/ great food. Today was different. We sat in the bar area w/ a booth and our server was Austin C. I knew when my dad asked him if he saw the movie "Chef" and he didn't crack a smile when my dad said he wanted to try the Cuban sandwich, just as they made in the movie - that he had no sense of humor. Then the server practically threw the ice tea down I ordered without a lemon and no sign of sweetner. Isn't that normal procedure? Good thing I pack my own (sweetner). When my salad came, with everything on the side as I requested, there was no dressing on the side. So the gentleman who brought us the food brought me the dressing. So 20 mins went by w/ us eating our food and the server tending to other tables without him checking in. I was in need of salt and pepper desperately and had to ask someone else for lemon. Then he finally came by to see how things were - once we were done. I said I had already asked someone else for things I needed. Then my dad mentioned how the fries tasted old - like day old fries. And the waiter just simply said they are cooked fresh daily (in the most stale voice). Wow - he sure wasn't winning us over on his personality!! So then, once we were eating crumbs and basically done, then the waiter was very attentive - annoyingly so. Guess he noticed my lack of interest when it was too late. So - I was unimpressed with the wait staff today and our food was so-so. It would have been better if the staff was more attentive and gotten us fresh fries or s&p/lemon/sweetner when we were actually eating - not afterwards. Disappointed. I'm sure I'll be back though since it is convenient and I"ve had better experiences on other occassions...just not sitting at Austin C's tables.
(3)
David T.

The bottom line: Solid food, sleek atmosphere and great beer! I moved to Alexandria about 6 months ago and am happy to have found Rustico not long after. I suppose my wife and I have been 4-5 times already. Each time the servers have been friendly and helpful, once or twice a little slow (in a spacey sort of way). The food has always been solid. I love the Spicy Shrimp pizza with jalapeno pesto and all versions of the fries have been great! My wife loved the fried green tomato pizza (before the season ended). I do, however, think the caesar salad lacks zip and once I ordered the Pastrami Pork Reuben and the bread was more like charcoal than toast; the waiter recognized this, smiled and replaced the sandwich within 2 minutes, literally. The beer selection is tremendous and all the servers I've had can deftly suggest a draft or bottle. Prices are a bit high, but I do recommend Rustico readily.
(4)
Jeanette W.

Beer selection is amazing!!!! Pizza was tasty too. menu is limited. It has intriguing items with unique ingredients. unfortunately I'm more of a bar menu and more interested in a large variety of items to chose from. Again beer is awesome... I would recommend strictly for the beer selection.
(3)
Gerald H.

It's okay. Service needs work
(3)
Ani P.

Rustico reminds me of a restaurant that I've been to before; it's trendy in that way. The seating is in an open/spacious environment with high ceilings including a sweet bar. There's a pretty artistic column with bits of stained glass, bottles of wine and such. Ambiance is suitable for a sexy dinner date for 2, party with friends or a work lunch! I made a reservation for a party of 12 for lunch. At 11:30 am, the restaurant was hardly busy. My party was seated at a long table. Our server was attentive, however she seemed to be a cranky-pants. She barked at us. She was not remotely friendly and didn't seem to enjoy her job or Rustico very much. She's lucky that I always tip well - she actually ended up making out like a bandit as we over-tipped when calculating how much each of us owed. The menu is contemporary American - pizza, sandwiches, burgers, interesting salads, meats with fresh produce, etc. I ordered 2 items: French fries tossed with ranch (starter)- The fries were perfect - crispy outside, soft inside and just the ride amount of creamy ranch and salty-saltness! Gluten free spinach pizza- The pizza itself was very fresh. My pizza was loaded with just-wilted-enough spinach and the right amount of cheese. The crust was chewy (a nice consistency for GF pizza crust) and very heavy since it's make out of chickpea flour (i.e. besan). I'm not sure how I feel about the pizza -- I could distinctly taste the besan (the taste was raw chickpea flour). I'm very much doubled minded about my gf pizza - chewy crust, perfect ratio of spinach, but I'm just not sure if I want my pizza tasting so much like besan!! I would definitely go to Rustico if friends wanted to meet up for eats. Perhaps if Rustico was located in DC or Bethesda, I would check it out again on my own. Like I said, I feel very double-minded about this place. I really want to love the gf pizza. p.s. The menu is not conducive to a vegan diet.
(3)
CB R.

The hubbie has already written a review of the place which sufficiently describes our love-hate relationship with Rustico, so I'll try not to be repetitive. But I feel optimistic about the changes the new chef is doing with the menu, despite the fact that he appears to love pork less than the prior chef. Yes, love the beer selection, although can't help feeling abandoned by beer director Greg who we used to see often at Rustico, but is now probably more often seen at his new baby Churckey in DC. But, still, great variety of beers, and always a fun place for beer nerds like me and the hubbie. The food is getting better. Last nye, we went to have dinner there, and I had a ravioli with a tomato sauce that we were told has been roasting/cooking for hours. It was delicious, and what we were not told was that it also had a white-bechamel kind of sauce on top, and garlicky bread crumbs in the sauce for texture. Loved it, and I felt satiated afterwards. I hope they keep this on the menu. Hubbie got the Country Rigatoni with pulled veal (?) and veal meatballs (they used to have braised pulled pork shoulder). We've had this twice, and the meat to pasta ratio was not consistent, this most recent with less meat. But, it was still tasty and filling. Like the pasta-meat ratio, I found service to be inconsistent as well. We've had really bad ones in the past -- basically absentee servers, and we have had very good ones that are attentive and knowledgeable. This particular night, we had a good one (young lady with dreads). The hubbie got a little antsy with the beers at one point, but it was a busy night (nye, and free glassware event), and she eventually came around. She also offered to wash our glasswares, and give us a little tote to carry them home. Very nice.
(4)
Elina T.

My husband and I love this place. We stumbled upon it a long time ago before we knew it was part of the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. The pizza is really excellent. We've had the basil & fresh mozzarella and the roasted mushroom. Both are really excellent. You can also create your own pizza and they have a good variety of toppings. This place has one of the best pizzas in the area. I've also had the beet salad, which was quite good. The beer selection is amazing. I'm not a beer drinker, but I can even find a few beers I like here. They also have 4 oz glasses, which is great for someone like me.They usually have ~15 beers on tap + a 30-page book of bottled beers. A beer drinkers heaven. The place is dimly lit and cozy, but a little on the upscale side without feeling snooty. The wait staff is always very friendly and they know their stuff. My husband has gotten very good beer recommendations every time we've been. The also have outdoor seating and heating lamps, which is really great for slightly chilly evenings.
(5)
Alexa C.

This place has delicious gluten free, chick pea pizza, and their carrot hummus is the stuff dreams are made of. I was a bit put off when I went there recently, and asked to get pieces of the chickpea crust with my hummus and got a flat out "no," and was told it was "nonnegotiable." Funny, because they had done this at the other location. So, i pursued it and spoke to the manager and the chef, turns out, they just wanted me to pay for the crust itself, because it's so expensive, and that was fine by me. Why did it take me getting up and having to do the leg work myself to get this?
(4)
Les D.

Surprised to see that a lot of my sentiments are reflected in a lot of other reviews. So, let's be brief. Burger is nice, but I'm not convinced it's $12 nice. Gluten free pizza is quite good, but does have some added sugar, for those keeping track. Nice looking place in a terrific location. Much larger inside than what it appears from outside. Happy to return, but not a minion.
(3)
Telisha T.

Great staff and good ambiance but the pizza really sucks! Descriptions: I had the basil and mozarella pizza with chicken. The chicken was really bland and dry and the pizza equally bland and dry. I also didn't care for the paper thin crust.
(2)
Mark A.

Great selection of beer and the food is good. A hidden gen on the edge of Alexandria and pleasantly surprised. The space is open and the wait staff is very friendly, another plus. The food was good and will need to visit another time to get a better take on other menu items. But certainly worth the money and time to visit.
(3)
Ben S.

I just don't get it. This one clearly fell into the "I'd rather be at Red Rocks" category. Maybe we shouldn't have ordered pizza, but that was the bulk of the menu and it was really kind of blah. They had a nice beer selection, but... so does Red Rocks. I can see this as a neighborhood place... but as a destination... well, not for me.
(3)
Rachel B.

This is as good as it gets folks if you're looking for a great, reasonably priced, local restaurant with wonderful food, great ambience and a fantastic staff. Ate here tonight with my husband and son. The service and food were simply excellent. The waitress had some great and spot on recomendations for good beer. She was very friendly and helpful. The special looked delicious. I think it was gnocchi with muchrooms and a leeks and the last dish I had with leeks at Rustico I still think fondly upon to this day. ADVICE: If Rustico has a special, ORDER THE SPECIAL. I took my own advice but ten minutes later the hostess came over and informed me they she is so sorry but they've run out the Gnocci already. Mind you its 6:30ish -- pretty early to run out of your special. But then she let's me know she'll comp my meal. So I order the Bib salad with shrimp instead (which was also wonderful.) It had a delightful fall-like flavor with apples, cheese, and toasted pecans. Our waitress then offers us free dessert. How could we say no? The dessert (ice cream with apple crisp--another fantastic dish) took a good while to come out --but not an unreasonable amount of time, by any stretch. Because it took "so long" they also brought an order of their ricotta donuts on the house. Our waitress then came to the table and informed us that the entire bill was on them since we had "so much trouble and they felt terrible." We were shocked! NEVER has a restaurant gone so out of the way to make sure that we left happy. Seriously, I've had much worse service at much more expensive restaurants and they never even apologized. I am so impressed that I am at a loss for words, Rustico, with their excellent food, beer and service has earned devoted patrons for life.
(5)
Kathryn W.

My husband and I went to Rustico for the first time last night, and we will not be going back, unless it is for beer only. Here's why: -I ordered the salmon "BLT" and it was basically a little salmon fillet with lettuce on a super-doughy bun. No tomato or bacon flavors, and I wound up taking the top part of the bun off and just eating it like that. Turns out it was the first day this sandwich was on the menu... had I known that I would not have ordered it. -The salmon BLT was supposed to come with some sort of roasted peppers, but instead they served it with french fries. We'd already ordered the truffle french fries as an app (not very truffley..) and the waitress didn't tell me my sandwich would be coming with fries as well, which brings me to my next point... -The waitress offered to bring me a salad as a substitute for the fries. It was the most salty salad I have ever eaten. Even my husband, who puts salt on everything, could only eat a couple bites. -We finally got the bill and they'd added on a pork chop that we didn't order. We had to request a new bill, at which point they were kind enough to take our 2 beers off the bill, but good grief. -Service was really slow and by the time we finally left we were both still hungry. Overall, not a good experience. But the beer list was amazing and well-priced, so in the future if I go back I will stay at the bar and skip the food entirely.
(2)
Reed B.

Great food and great beer. I had a pizza with an egg and goat cheese. They also don't get too crowded on weekends if your looking for a place to go on a date or meet a few friends.
(4)
Emily C.

This is a reliable place to go with a small group to celebrate any occasion. BBQ pizza is my favorite. Blue cheese and bacon mussels are fantastic and get a beer sampler so you can figure out what you really like. Friday and Saturday nights you gotta get there a little bit early to get the comfy booths.
(4)
Mike S.

Read about their impressive beer menu from Imbibe Magazine - decided to swing by the next time I was in the area and was not disappointed. The draft menu was fairly extensive with a good variety of beer types, from crisp lagers to robust roasted malts and stouts. The bottle menu was more of a binder with lots of prions as well. Pizza was good - thin crust style very similar to Matchbox and others. Also really enjoyed the spring vegetable salad... Easy parking and a great beer menu with comfortable bar seats makes this a place I will be back to.
(4)
Sarah J.

Picturesque neighborhood setting and outdoor patio - check. Spacious bar with high tops - check. Pizza - check. AMAZING beer selection - check. Across the street from Buzz Bakery - check and awesome location plus. Creamy, yummy mac and cheese - UNchecked since apparently the new chef is above making such things! How dare he! Lack of mac and cheese isn't a deal breaker, however. Come for the beer alone and you'll leave a happy camper (same beer director as ChurchKey). They do have a full bar for those of you who might love pizza but aren't too keen on beer. Make sure to call ahead on busy nights. They don't take reservations and you will be looking at a wait of an hour or more. I don't mind waiting, however. That's why God created bars and beer, right? Makes the time fly by.
(4)
Sameer S.

I really liked the beer but the wait, on what appeared to be a very slow afternoon, was annoying. I got to the bar well before my friend and took a seat in the middle of the bar area. A lot of service people and managers walked around me, but no one stopped. I think that a good rule of thumb in a bar is that if there's not a glass in front of a customer for about 5-10 minutes, someone should ask if they would like to order something. I'm not in the restaurant business but I'm just saying... The beer and the pretzel crusted mac and cheese brought this rating up from 2 stars. I hope that they get their service issues fixed because I'd love to come back again, it's a great space.
(3)
Sheena F.

I've been to this place with my fiance twice now and had stuff off their "Autumn nights" menu. All I have to say is that it's tasty! Braised short rib and pork shank were both fall-off-the-bone tasty and their beer list is just overwhelming. I intentionally get flights because I don't know which one to get. So far my fave beer is the St. Louis Framboise - nice wheat beer with a kiss of a berry bite (though it's much lighter than a lambic). Tonight we had the chicken porchini special and duck on duck confit rice. Mine was flavorful! My fiance said that the rice was a bit salty, though I wasn't in complete agreement. Overall, this place is a flavor party in your mouth with every bite. For price, it depends on what you get. You wanna have a good pizza sandwich and beer ... moderate. If you wanna get the nice entrees and beer... then it's spendy. Though if you're willing to spend some cash to get some good food, I say why not? Overall, I love this place. Great atmosphere, great food and great drinks. And there's so many different types of beer that a self-proclaimed wine lover can enjoy.
(5)
Jessica H.

3.5 stars. Good pizza with appealing yuppie topping list (smoked gouda, garlic confit, spinach mix, gluten-free chickpea-flour crust available, etc). Each pizza will serve one person with some leftovers. Maybe two pizzas for three people would work. A little pricy, but you're paying for the extensive beer selection and, like I said, yuppie topping availability. Not a destination restaurant for me, but looking forward to hitting the newly-opened one in Ballston.
(3)
David B.

Visit #3 this past weekend and tried really hard to like this place since the beer menu is extensive, but the 3rd time wasn't a charm... 1) The pizza was mediocre at best. Sauce was dried out, cheese was scarce, and the sauce was definitely made from spaghetti sauce! haha Nice try, but at $13, it was definitely a major disappointment. My theory is they assume you'll have a couple of beers first and everything following will taste good. 2) The salad was a mound of iceberg lettuce with some small slices of tomato. Bummer! 3) Customer service: I usually don't care or even comment about service. I eat by the motto: If the food is great, I will wait. However, our waitress couldn't have cared any less about us. It's like we were enemies forced to speak with each other. Now I know how the French felt in 1940 when the Blitzkrieg came through. If I'm ever here again, call the cops because someone has kidnapped me!
(2)
Kayla B.

Pretty decent bar. It is in a good location and has a good beer selection. Other than that, there's nothing too spectacular about Rustico. Good place to grab drinks after work or late at night.
(4)
Clint B.

When I found out that Steve Mannino was the chef at Rustico I added it to my list of places to visit while in the DC area. I liked his food when he worked at Olives in DC and Olives in Las Vegas. When we dined at Olives in Las Vegas he hooked us up after finding out we used to live in the DC area. So, Rustico was a "must-visit" on our trip back home. Despite it's 3.5 star average rating on Yelp on I thought the place was great, out of the way, locals spot. The food, while not the best I've ever had, was very good. The sweet and spicy pork ribs came four to an order and were stacked on a cucumber salad. The ribs could have used a little more kick, but there was plenty of tender meat on them. The order of mussels came in a large bowl filled with about a pound of them, along with some caramelized onions, blue cheese and bacon -- delicious and large enough for our party of four. My wife and I split an order of their goat cheese dumplings, which came with a tomato sauce. The other two people we were dining with had a pizza and the "Half Chicken 2 Ways." I didn't try any of their food but they said they loved both dishes. For dessert we got the red velvet cheesecake (rich, smooth and creamy, although I could have done without the chocolate covered pretzel rods) and the dark chocolate cream tart (good but a little too sweet). There is also a kids menu at Rustico. My little guy went with his go-to meal -- chicken fingers (served with mashed potatoes) -- and as usual he finished every last piece of chicken. The best thing about the restaurant is the extensive beer list. They also offer beer flights! How sweet is that? The flight I tried with a couple stouts and porters was outstanding. The service was pretty good. Our waitress took our order quickly and checked back in with us a few times throughout our meal without being too intrusive. The food came out fairly quickly despite the restaurant being busy and there were no mistakes with anything that we ordered. That seems simple, but too many places screw up the most basic orders. Another good dining experience thanks to Chef Mannino's food. We'll definitely visit Rustico again the next time we're in town.
(4)
Brandon C.

Aside from Panera, this is the only place I've been to multiple times since moving to Alexandria two months ago. I love it! The beer selection is fantastic and the servers are very knowledgable. Tell them the type of beers you like and they'll pick you out a winner. The food was also very good. Very, very good. They have some excellent pizza selections and the burger was fantastic, cooked exactly as ordered. I'll definitely make this a fairly regular stop.
(5)
Jake B.

The beer selection is extraordinary, and I've never ordered a dish I didn't like from the ever-changing menu. The biggest downside is that the bill always "feels" too high at the end of the meal for the experience. I would eat here once or twice a week if it were just a little less expensive.
(4)
Scott S.

I've been here twice, and both times were goof experiences. Their pizza menu is solid and filling. But more to my liking was the beer menu. They have some great options on tap and in the bottle. The themed samplers (I had a dark option) were well balanced and the bartender knew his stuff. I've eaten dinner (weekday) and lunch (Friday) and seating wasn't a problem. Rustico is reasonably priced (for Alexandria) and offered good service.
(4)
Christopher P.

I can't believe this is the first time I've been here. It's tucked away in a beautifully area by the river, but not in site of the water. Anyway great pizza and beer. Comfortable environment, friendly staff but service was a little slow. Definitely would go back.
(4)
Jackie M.

Tucked away in what I can only describe as a Pleasantville-esque enclave of Alexandria, off Rte 1, between the Potomac Yards No-Mans-Land and Old Town, is a community of bougie stores and chi-chi townhomes, all perfectly laid out in a development that must look as good in real life as it did on the blueprints. Being there makes me feel like I've discovered suburban Shangri-la. Rustico is a restaurant on the corner of "Good Food" and "Something for Everyone." It has beer (lots of beer), it has wine, it has pizza, it has burgers, it has chicken, it has fish, it has steak, it has salad, it has pasta, it has pork, it has fries, it has chips ... fa-la-la-la-laaaaaa-la-la-la-la. Caroling in fall is perfectly acceptable by the way. To be blunt, I really don't care what your feelings are about lamb, pureed carrots, feta cheese, or warm pita bread. No really, I don't. Why? Because it doesn't matter how you feel about those things as individual and separate entities of food. The next time you find yourself at Rustico, order the carrot hummus off the {smalls} menu. Don't even bother glancing over the rest of the offerings on that portion of the menu. ORDER IT. EAT IT. LOVE IT. I like that you can avoid serious commitment and get 4oz 'tasters' of beer before deciding on the one you really want (if any). No one's pressuring you to take the "Raging Bitch (Belgian style IPA)" all the way to a standard glass, especially if you're on a first date with her. You're not that kind of beer drinker, and don't let anyone say otherwise! Slander. After my unsubtle molestation of the carrot hummus, I composed myself and dove in to the swordfish club I had ordered. It came with bacon and chili mayo. I enjoyed it greatly. The chips and fries are all made in house and for that, I commend you, Rustico. However, my chips were REALLY salty, unnecessarily so, and it made them inedible. Maybe I just had an overly salted batch. The "oops" batch. Because I'm vying for Hungriest Hippo Award 2010, I made my boyfriend split the blueberry pie with me at the end of the meal. It came with milk sorbet. The pie was warm, the sorbet was cold, it was sweet, and I ate most of it. So really, the moral of my story is: this little piggy had carrot hummus, this little piggy had swordfish club, this little piggy had wine, this little piggy had warm blueberry pie, and this little piggy went oink! oink! oink! all the way home, but she did it with a smile on her face and a strengthened love and respect for Rustico ... and carrot hummus.
(4)
Keny Ã‘.

This place is ALWAYS busy! Which is good for them, and not too bad for people traveling from MOCO to eat. Seated quickly, server even though they were short staffed was on top of her game, and you CANT go wrong with ANY appetizers! They are all AWESOME! Been here and the one in Arlington both great! There's just something about this one though... Maybe cus it's not I down town but in a great location, the drive by the water can't be beat! All around another great time and experience here!!
(5)
dani k.

every time we come to rustico it's a wonderful experience. the seasonal farm to table menu is always inventive and delicious without being overly pretentious. my favorite is the brunch brisket & potato pancakes (latke's) the atmosphere is casual and the staff is great
(5)
WL R.

I (HEART) Rustico. Putting aside, the massive beer selection that others have waxed poetic about, putting aside the amazing selection of other incredibly mouth watering tasty treats.. putting all of that aside, they have gluten free pizza!!! And here is the kick in the shorts. It tastes amazing, even for those glutenized folks who can't appreciate the chick pea crust for the delicacy that it is for those of us who can't enjoy just any ol' pizza. Rustico is our go to spot for out of town guests, and it's not only an excuse for me to get my gluten free goodness in the form of pizza. The most telling moment for me is a toss up between when my father-in-law decided to share a gluten free pizza and when my 11 year old step daughter claimed that it was the best restaurant in the whole world and that she wanted to go there for her birthday dinner. Yeah! Their beer menu is amazing, they actually need a three ring binder to hold all of it. They have a couple of pretty decent gluten free beers as well as a long list of others; the best part is that it is arranged by taste so that you can try new beers that appeal to your taste in beer. Like those brews smoky? Check. Fruity? Check. Ales? IPAs? Oh yeah. Service has always been friendly and helpful, recommending new dishes that I probably wouldn't have otherwise tried. Carrot hummus? Oh yeah, despite how it sounds, it's incredibly tasty. Is it reason enough to invite folks in from out of town? Oh yeah. When are you guys coming?
(4)
Nicole R.

Only a 4 because I want to go back and try more (read: beer). Went here this past week for lunch... and loved it. The ambiance is great, really open, lots of dark wood, open kitchen. The service was great, our waitress was attentive and really nice. I ordered the BBQ Pizza... which was a really refreshing alternative to the typical BBQ Pizza. Typically, BBQ pizzas end up being BBQ chicken with a dark, somewhat icky sticky bottled sauce. This was great - it was topped with peppers and onions and real pulled pork. The pork was tender and delicious, and the BBQ sauce they used was awesome. It was tangy and lighter in color and consistency than the sauce you usually find on BBQ pizzas. The crust was crispy but not thin and crackly, foldable - just the way I like it. They have hundreds of beers, and I can't wait to go back and try a bunch of them! I'll update as soon as I do!
(4)
Kimberly S.

Service and food is great. I loved the grilled Caesar salad, grilling the lettuce really gives the salad a nice smoky flavor. Other stand out dishes included the carrot hummus and the roasted chicken with vegetable risotto. I went for an engagement party so the servers pre-selected a bunch of beers for the table to try. They were very knowledgeable and was able to recommend some new brews that I had never heard of before. I would definitely come back!
(4)
Brandt L.

Took 5 minutes to get greeted once sitting down. We were one of 4 seats at the hi top bar area. The couple next to us was talked to 2x before we were greeted. Rule in the restaurant biz: acknowledge the customer with in 30 seconds of arriving.
(1)
Anthony I.

I want to start by saying that I love, love, love Rustico, the food and beverage options are fantastic. The service is attentive and friendly and the decor is charming and hip. What I can do without is the seating/reservation policy. With the "no reservations between 6 and 9:30" policy, I will admit, I don't really know who this benefits. I am no restaurateur, but if I was, I'd use a reservation system to gauge how busy I'd be, adjust staffing, etc. Anyway, I can easily get past this policy, accept it and move on. Which is what I did recently, I called to see if I could get a reservation for 6 people, just in case the policy had magically vanished. I was told that they don't take reservations...but I can do call ahead. So they time is now 7Pm and I ask for a table for 6 people at 8:30PM, I don't quite get the call ahead but I am told that if table isn't ready for me at 8:00 it will be shortly after I arrive. Sounds great. So, I arrive, at around 7:40PM, nice and early to show my enthusiasm. 3 of my 6 check and I say the other 3 should arrive shortly, and they do. By 8 our entire party has arrived, checked in and enjoying one of the many beers at the bar. 8:30, I check at the hostess stand an dam told just a few minutes, your table is getting up, 9:00, I check in at the hostess stand, again, and am told just a few minutes. 9:30 another check in, and I am trying not to be annoying, I know we are a party of 6 and the place is busy, but I called ahead and was told it'd be a few minutes, and that was at 8PM. Finally at 9:40 we are seated with no explanation. As I said, I love this place, food's great, great beverage selection, always packed...but the seating policy may keep me away from this place between 6PM and closing.
(3)
Matt D.

My girlfriend and I hit Rustico for lunch a few weeks back. This was our second time visiting Rustico. The first time was about 2 years ago before we moved to Alexandria and it was just for drinks. I am sorry we don't get here often enough. Few "beer" places execute the food/beer combination properly. Either they have great food and a ho-hum beer list or really great beer but you end up eating somewhere else. Rustico seems to have perfected the concept. For our lunch, we split a pizza and a couple of beers. The pizza was fantastic, excellent flavor and perfectly cooked. Their beer selection is extensive but easy to navigate, with rotating seasonal choices at a variety of price points. They offer traditional sized pours as well as 4 oz 'tastes' if you're into variety. The space is beautiful as well. We love sitting in the bar area. Our bartender was helpful in navigating the food menu and selecting a beer that complimented our meal. Overall the experience at Rustico is excellent. I highly recommend it for food and drink!
(5)
KC C.

Grabbed dinner here as part of a group. The place has a nice rustic feel to it and pleasant even when it was crowded, which is expected for a Sat. night. It also meant service was going to be a little slow. Tried their cheese & herb risotto tots, which I really liked, and the bratwurst. which I thought was ok. I liked both better than the pretzels. I also ordered the pizza, which was a little too salty for me. Couldn't figure out if it was because of the cheese. I still enjoyed the meal.
(3)
Chay T.

The best pizza I have had in a long, long time. Highly recommend the chickpea crust. De-licious.
(5)
Jess S.

Sunday night dinner review Wonderful experience. We recently moved to Potomac Yards neighborhood and on a Saturday walk the manager greeted us and we checked out the menu. He was so informative that I couldn't wait to come back. At 8 PM on a Sunday night we had no wait for a table. This restaurant is amazing. Exposed duct work, dimmed lighting, a full wall mural made of painted glass art. There are booths, tables, high tables with cushioned chairs, sofa seating, and bar seating. Our waiter Gloria greeted us with a big smile but (possibly) more importantly she had extensive knowledge over all 50+ beers on tap and the food menu. Tip- ask questions and take note of the tasting size. As appetizers we had the BBQ & slaw Amazing, 3 pieces, flavorful and filling And the corn bread with sweet jam spread. Both of those appetizers were great. The dinner entrees We had the highly recommended pork chop. We were hesitant because of the quote of 7 ounces of meat. But my 6'4 250 lb boyfriend really enjoyed it. However I think my salmon over flavorful chickpeas by far won out. The medium salmon was stellar. As dessert we had the banana bread topped with ice cream, not quite my homemade banana nut bread, but good none the less. They used very different barley grain and pecans, which was detailed on the menu. Worth trying a different taste if you're a fan of banana bread. However, I would recommend trying something else. My boyfriend had about 7 beers, he enjoyed them all. I wish I could remember the names they ranged from coconut flavor, to still fermenting complete with live whatever lives in beer! He did feel they were a little warm so eventually we were supplied with chilled glass. Rustico has a full bar, but no cocktail menu so come with ideas ready or drink beer. Our waitress made the experience so fun. She was informative, polite (excused herself from the table, said excuse me when entering the conversation), held one arm behind her back when reaching across the table, had our water always full. In fact, besides for one expletive that slipped out while we were all in a moment of banter she displayed the utmost of professionalism. We'll come back to our new neighborhood favorite to try all the different seats, more beer, and we'll ask for Gloria!
(5)
Niamh B.

Friday night dinner; we were a party of 7. We all shared two starters; risotto balls and pretzel bites. The risotto balls were lovely, and easily enough for the table. However, the pretzel bites were very salty, all you could taste were salt, and the sauce was also salty. All in all, salt! I had the burger. Again...salty. I feel like I'm hating on salt right now -- but it really was a lot! My beer was also very warm - I sent it back to be put in a chilled glass. Rest of the table got 2 pizzas. They were okay but not great. Good sized though, the table brought home doggy bags. Service was good - our waiter was attentive and parking was easy. Unfortunately though I wouldn't go back in a hurry.
(3)
Hoodie F.

The service is horrible. The food isn't bad. I'd gladly get take out, but to stay and eat is like Picard being tortured by the Cardassian. "There are four servers!" and NONE of them are helpful or timely. Sadly you get better and faster service at a table than the bar which is opposite of a normal restaurant and terrifying because the service sucks. Today marks my 6th and final visit.
(1)
Tiffy D.

Came here for the first time for happy hour with a co-worker. It's a popular spot in my office, and I'm not really sure why. Yes, it has a nice assortment of beers. I'm a Stout lover myself, and I think that day there was one on the menu. I tried it - it was just ok. But I prefer a very particular type of Stout - one that is chocolately or even somewhat sweet like the Southern Tier Creme Brulee. It changed my life! There was a large area Near the bar which was nice. We didn't have trouble finding somewhere to sit, but it definitely got very crowded later on. Food menu specials during happy hour were non-existent. I had trouble reading the menu that listed HH specials for drinks where I was sitting, but I'm pretty confident our server didn't share any with us. My coworker ordered the pretzel bites with cheese. Although I was surprised at how quickly they came out, I don't give a "you know what" about speed if the food is cold or not good. And those bites came out in under 5 minutes, and were barely lukewarm. So, yeah. You can keep that. I'm sure I'll be back here, but only to grab a beer after work with coworkers. Otherwise, I've found better places to unwind after work.
(3)
Kit O.

Took for ever to get waited on and the pizza I ordered Basil and mozzarella only had mozzarella on only half the slices what's up with that? The place is empty and I feel awkward because the waitstaff just stands around looking as if they have better things to do than wait on you. I've come here so many time and I'm just tired of trying to make excuses in my mind for management staff and now food. No need to come back..... I will miss you three little pigs, but not the rest.
(2)
GT W.

Same owners as ChurchKey, Neighborhood Restaurant Group, and comes across at Churchkey Lite with a big focus on beer but smaller tap list and smaller bottle list, but still huge compared to most beer bars. Interior is spacious, more like a corporate design inside rather than custom like CK. Tap list had much less bizarre stuff, only perhaps 1 or 2 beers I had never had before. Offers small pours of tap beers, which is nice. Pizzas were very nice. Loved the Greek pizza. Took my grandfather here actually and he enjoyed his pizza as well. Quick service. I liked it. Excellent place to stop by especially if picking up or dropping off someone at Reagan National that is only about a mile away. Not that the full menu is not available until 5pm or something, so you are having the 'bar menu' before then which is mostly sandwiches and pizzas. Thankfully the food was all very good.
(4)
Albert R.

So many memories here. Always have enjoyed the drinks and food. There's only one person I can enjoy a good time here with...
(4)
Clifford D.

I wrote a same review for Rustico in Ballston. I love them both: I absolutely love Rustico. Churchkey has been one of my favorite bars in DC for a long time and I've always enjoyed Birch and Barley (same owners as Rustico). I feel like Rustico combines the best of both. Churchkey is a great bar, but not a great restaurant. Birch and Barley is a great restaurant, but it's higher end. Rustico is the perfect balance. They have a fantastic beer selection and great food. The chickpea crust pizza is fantastic. I try and get to Rustico as often as I can.
(5)
Scott M.

Came here after a recommendation and I would say I was very disappointed, not in the atmosphere but in the service provided the moment we stepped in the front door. The hostess was crying and looked very discombobulated, I told her party of two for outside and she ran off, acquired 4 plates and napkins/utensils, then we proceeded to the beautiful outdoor patio. Once seated she told us the waiter would be right over with menus. I overheard the table next to us complaining about how long the check took to the manager on duty (I knew this was a bad sign). After a 20 min wait, even after waiving down the staff nobody came to help, we decided to blow that popsicle stand....business lost Worst service evUR!
(1)
Sara E.

This place NEVER fails! Great food and service! Every time we go we have a great experience. Good ambiance, never too loud, great bar with amazing beer selections. My absolute favorites here are the Beet Salad (I don't even like Beets and this salad is so tasty... not a beet overload), the Bistro Filet is done so perfectly and so tender also the pork chop is very delicious and lastly ANY pizza you get there you will not be disappointed. We love this place so much it's a once a week stop for us.
(5)
Sara W.

I have been to Rustico about 10 times in the five years I have lived here. All but 2 of those were in the first 3 years. I keep going back hoping that it is better and I just leave wanting more. The menu doesn't really change though I wish it would. The service is always super questionable. I don't know if they tell the servers to be crappy or what, but I have always have borderline service. I have sat outside about half the visits. I think the best things I have had have been the bibb salad and the pizza. The mussels are good, but the waiters like to argue with me about it coming with bread or not. Half the time it comes with bread and the other it doesn't. Even the manger came out once and told me I was wrong about the piece of bread. They have a very extensive beer list and a pretty sizable bar area. There are 2 restroom locations. That is nice. I hate that I don't have a better time when I go because it is so close to my house and I would love to frequent it more often.
(3)
Bill B.

In short-went with a group. Towards the end I ordered a to go meal for my wife which was brought out promptly..then I waited..and waited..and asked..and waited..almost 20 minutes for the check! I asked a few people to get the server (smoke break?) When they finally brought it I noticed gratuity was already added. It didn't dawn on me until I was driving home that they had added an automatic gratuity to my to go order (which by the time I drive the 1-mile to my home was already cold). Very poor form
(2)
Ricardo V.

What an absolute mess of a place. The service was horrible, the waitress recommended the worst appetizers in the menu. The pizza had cheese in half the slice and the cheese was easily separated from the bread. It was a disaster. And finally we weren't even offered dessert, again, what a disaster. The actual taste of the pizza was not bad, but cheese in half of the slice?? The cheese separating fully from the bread, bad! BAD!
(1)
David H.

This location seems a bit less crowded than the Ballston one, but then again it was a Sunday evening so it's all relative. There is parking behind this location in a fairly large lot if you want to drive here. As for the food, the risotto tots are as a good as advertised. Think really tasty tater tots that aren't greasy and have more flavor than usual, with a Parmesan taste. The basil and cheese pizza is solid too but nothing amazing in my opinion. The Bibb salad was excellent and better than you'd think. I was skeptical of a salad that included granola and strawberries but it was enjoyable and I'd try it again. They also have a decent beer selection. This place may not be amazing, but they have solid offerings and okay service so I'll be back here.
(3)
Meredith V.

For some reason I thought this place was in Old Town proper, but its kind of on the other side of the highway so there will be no walking to Old Town after. It has a large patio that was sufficiently packed when we arrived so we chose an indoor booth. They have many different beers on tap and after informing our server that we liked "chic beers" he said he would customize a flight for us. The beer he chose was terrible but he was cute so we suffered in silence. Actually, we did tell him we werent fans (probably stick to Allagash White for your chic beer needs) and ultimately switched to wine. Oh and happy hour went on until 7pm on a Saturday! That's pretty unusual and a good reason to come here anytime to take advantage of HH prices. We ordered a couple starters: the risotto tots and blue cheese mussels. The tots were meh but the mussels (and broth) was the best part. The mussels only came with 2 small slivers of crusty bread, which is the BEST PART of the mussels when dipping into the broth afterwards! So that was a bit annoying. We started dipping our tots into the broth for lack of bread. I decided on the top sirloin over the scallops (at the advisement of the server) and it was very pot-roasty. When will I learn to trust my own judgement instead of listening to wait staff? It came with a side of fried green tomatoes but still that was somehow lacking. Overall, there was nothing ostensibly wrong with our food but it didn't wow. I would, however, return for the happy hour specials.
(4)
Krystle B.

Great brick oven pizza, even their gluten free option is pretty tastey! Their butcher's block pizza is fabulous!
(4)
YarnFunYoga E.

So my foodie cousins were in town last week (from L.A.) and the pressure to deliver solid restaurants was supreme. After touring the Pope-Leighey House they were starving and I took a chance that Rustico would be just as good as my last visit over two years ago.... Oh yeah! We all totally dug: * the beer list * the happy hour deals * the neighborhood vibe * exceptionally tasty dishes (we each ordered salad and tried the burgers) * and the accessible parking. Dinner with the girls next month? I am heading back to Rustico!
(5)
Medina K.

Came with co workers some time ago and forgot to write a review. I remember it was about eight of us and we all got something different. I remember the ambiance of the place being humble and welcoming, reminds you of a cozy hookah spot on U Street (sort of). I got a side salad and a pepperoni pizza, it was decent. Not something to brag too much about.... I actually wanted to bring my husband back for a fun quick date night eat! Yea, I would recommend to other folks;)
(3)
Amber G.

Rustico is one of the more well-decorated, inviting non-chain sit-down restaurants around Ballston. However, because of this, I think it is often over-hyped and extremely over-crowded considering the quality of service and food. It's a solid three-star restaurant. Ballston is lacking in sit-down restaurants that are not well-known chains or fast food. For that reason, Rustico is often packed and there have rarely been times where I did not have to wait upwards of 30 minutes for a table. In the 5-6 times I've eaten there, the service has been noticeably slow about 4-5 of the times. Perhaps they need to hire more servers, but it often takes quite a while to get even drinks to your table. The food has always been pretty decent, but the portions are fairly small and a couple times my food has been over-salted. The steak for instance - WAY too salty! The scallops are always a good tasty option and most of the pizzas are good. Another problem however is that the menu is quite small and so there are only ever about 5 entree options on it at a time. It'd be nice to have a little more variety to choose from. Many great beer selections at Rustico though! The catalyst to me writing a review now was a visit to Rustico last night with 6 friends. Knowing we were a larger party, we broke into two tables to make things easier. We sat for quite a while without service. Finally we moved over to the bar where we noticed 6 open chairs (a rare thing there!). One of us was being a little loud (NFL games were on all day and we'd all had a few drinks but were not being obnoxious in the slightest).The bartender immediately said she would not serve any of us... unbelievable.... The whole bar area was being fairly loud and Rustico has never been a quiet, uptight place - in fact it's always bustling and loud! It was just really offensive, considering most of us live nearby and frequent that restaurant and bar. Just the icing on the cake of the numerous bad service experiences I've had at Rustico. What a shame.
(3)
Kat A.

Been meaning to review this place for a while as it's the closest restaurant by a long shot for those of us who live nearby. It's not exactly amazing food but good enough solely because there aren't any other options in close walking distance (Alexandria location at least). Happy hour includes a nice selection of beers and the bartenders are friendly. Most recently, our pizza took over 30 minutes during happy hour when my boyfriend and I were 2 out of 5 people there at 5pm. We were told the chef was "busy preparing for beer night" by numerous employees which wasn't exactly the best thing to hear as it makes some customers feel less of a priority than others. In my book all customers are equal if they're putting money in your pocket. Being from Chicago our group is used to waiting for pizza. This isn't Chicago nor is it Chicago style pizza so a long wait for very cold pizza when they weren't busy whatsoever simply isn't acceptable. Probably won't return for a while unless we absolutely have to walk somewhere for food.
(3)
Nicole M.

We really want to love this place cuz it's so close to our house, but I wish they would put something good on the menu. Why do we go to a pizza place that only has reasonably good burgers? Their salads are salty and paltry. The kids menu pepperoni pizza is the only thing that is any good. If you go, go for the beer selection. The food has never been good and we have gone their at least 10 times. Each time I come out disappointed. The place is clean, but staff is hit or miss.
(1)
Karisa D.

I will admit, I was a bit skeptical coming to this Rustico location. I had been to the one in Ballston, and I just had an ok experience. Last time I went for happy hour, this time I went for brunch for a friend's birthday. From the start, our service was awesome. We made reservations and they were able to seat us all in the same section. We basically had the back to ourselves. We were a party of 20 and 1 waitress took care of our entire party. She was fantastic! She got everyone's order correct and checked on us as often as she could. I was impressed considering our group ordered multiple things plus drinks. My partner in sharing was my boyfriend. This is what we ordered: Brunch burger, breakfast pizza, and thick cut fries with truffle oil and parmasan (I don't mind truffle oil but I know there are some people who are not fans- Anthony Bourdain being one of them). The brunch burger was delicious-bacon, cheese, a potato pancake, and a fried egg on top. The breakfast pizza was good too- they also had an egg on their pizza, sounds odd but it worked. The fries were hot and crispy fried goodness. Our friends also shared an order of doughnuts- half covered in cinnamon and half covered in powdered sugar with caramel and chocolate dipping sauces. The doughnuts were good; it was like eating a sweet pillow. Very soft for a doughnut. I preferred the powdered sugar and caramel dipping sauce over the chocolate dipping sauce. Rustico has an extensive beer and wine list which is what their are known for. Since it was brunch, we decided on mimosas. The mimosas were my only complaint. They were 10 bucks for not a big glass. I've been to places that cost less and give you more for the money- and taste better to in my opinion. Overall, a good experience. I would consider coming back for brunch, but I'll probably hold off on mimosas and just stick to beer.
(4)
Mary Kate M.

Rustico was terrible! You can't really fix bad/dismissive service and bad food. You won't see me go back. I sent back my shrimp and grits for the Croque Mademe. Quality wasn't any different despite this was a completely different dish. The donuts were ranted and raved about... Once again. I wasn't impressed. Please just close down and quit now. This place sucks!
(1)
M N.

Had 4 Pizza's for 4 people here! Daughter requires gluten free and Rustico takes that seriously.. Her gluten free pizza (ChickPea crust) was very good-sorry don't remember topping because I did not eat any of her pizza. The White pizza is fabulous-highly recommend! The Italian sausage and Pepperoni are also very very good. Just that the White pizza was king for us. We could not stop eating although we managed leftovers from all but the White pizza. We sent those home with daughters friend as they were not GF. Great beer selection too and outdoor dining. Service was attentive and pleasant.
(5)
Belal E.

Came by for lunch. Love the atmosphere and service. The food was pretty good. Wasn't blown away by the sandwich I had but loved the pizza and the Cuban sandwich my friend had. I would definitely come back again.
(4)
Morgan J.

I have no complaints! I've been to Rustico twice and my second visit was far better than my first. On my first visit, I ordered the Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork pizza and didn't like it because of the bitter swiss chard. Without that, I think it would have been good but it doesn't hold a candle to the Butcher's Block! My husband and I split the Butcher's Block pizza on the Chickpea Crust. The Chickpea Crust is delicious and one of the best gluten free pizza crusts I've had. Even my 3 friends who are not gluten free loved it and said it was tastier than the regular pizza crust. The Butcher's Block pizza is definitely meat heavy but it was so flavorful and the mix of cheeses on top was delicious. I have a feeling that I'll be craving this pizza again very soon!
(5)
Katie S.

Back in February I tried to book a table for 10 for my husband's birthday. Like many restaurants in the area, Open Table will only let you book tables before 6pm and after 9pm on a weekend. So I decided to call the restaurant and see if they could accommodate us. The first manager I spoke to said they usually block out that chunk of time since they are so busy but he would love my business. He said he would call me back after speaking with his supervisor. I waited a couple of days and didn't hear back, so called again and spoke to another manager. She told me the best they could do is book a reservation for me at an earlier time and we could keep calling to push back our reservation to get to the 7:30 time slot I was requesting. Being that I found that incredibly rude to the wait staff and a good way to have terrible service, we booked elsewhere. The Friday before his birthday (which was on a Saturday) the restaurant called and told me the first manager had instructed the hostess to call and tell us to show up around 7 if we still wanted a table and put our names on the list. Um. No. No thanks. Fast forward 5 months later and my husband wants beer with a side of dinner to celebrate a promotion. I immediately thought of Rustico booked us a reservation. That's actually why I wanted to take him there in the first place. Beer centered dinners are his faves. We show up a little early and are immediately whisked to our seats. The restaurant is beautiful. It's an open floor plan but has a nice cozy feel to it. The ambiance is exactly what I was hoping for and the beer list is HUGE. I was feeling pretty proud of myself right when we first sat down. About ten minutes after staring at the beer list our server shows up and pours our water and then disappears. When she comes back she asks if we have questions, which of course we do, and she asks if we have ever been there before. We tell her we haven't and she takes the beer list out of my husband's hand and replaces it with the smaller draft list. Tells him those are the drafts and specials. Um. OK. So we order drinks, aps and dinner all at once. Our drinks came out first and were gone by the time our aps came out. But even then we had to flag down our server and get a second round. Then the table next to us (that was seated about twenty minutes after us) got their dinner before we did. By the time our dinner came out we had been looking for our server for a refill for a while. But alas, the refills never came. Another server came over to our table to tell us there was a backup at the bar and our drinks would be right out. However, having already finished our pizzas we decided to cancel our drink order. Our server finally comes back and asks if we want our meal boxed up. Then we are brought the check. The food was good, but definitely not worth the $100 bill.
(2)
Ashley P.

We came here for my birthday dinner. I was excited to try this neighborhood spot, but alas it was nothing spectacular. For a Tuesday night, it was surprisingly bumping. Luckily, we made reservations, so had minimal wait. That minimal wait included watching the host and hostess frantically try to figure out what to do with the massive wait. No worries, I was a hostess for many years, and know the feeling. We're seated, and admire the decor while we wait for our server. And wait. Rustico is beautifully decorated, and I loved admiring the large mosaic, and how open and exposed everything is. Unfortunately, my husband pointed out all the openness and exposed pipes and what not were what was making it so damn hard to hear each other. If the walls had extended all the way up to the ceiling, it would drown out some of that noise that was carrying all throughout the restaurant. Also, the tables are extremely long, so we felt like we were sitting far apart from one another. I didn't mind having to wait for our server, because the place was pretty damn busy. She explained their drink specials, wished me a happy birthday, and we ordered pretzel bites as an appetizer. It took about 20 minutes to get those drinks, another 5 minutes to place our order, and another 10 minutes to get those pretzel bites. At least everything was tasty. Pretzel bites are kind of becoming my thing these days. Lord knows I need to put some extra work in at the gym! I liked that I could see into the kitchen, and see our pizzas going into the wood fire oven. More waiting. More lack of conversation due to difficulty in hearing. Pizzas come. They can best be described as mediocre. Which is such a shame. Thin, wet, flavorless pizza. I really wanted some Parmesan and extra napkins. Except, our server did not check on us whatsoever. She didn't even come by and check that we got the correct pizzas, since someone else from the kitchen dropped them off. What was upsetting is that she checked on the two tables behind us, and quickly walked off before I could get her attention. I shouldn't have to fight to get your attention. You should check on us a time or two during the course of our meal. Likewise, we didn't have the opportunity to order a second drink, or get those water glasses refilled. When she finally showed up asking if we needed anything, I said a box at this point. We saw her bring out a single cupcake for another table (June 10 b-days what's up!), and then just dropped off our check and said goodnight. I asked her for a dessert menu, and her reaction was bizarre. She goes, "oh you ruined the surprise. Happy Birthday I was going to give you a dessert." The way she said it, really made me think "yeah, right!" You could tell she was just trying to get us out of there, but trying to backtrack quickly. If you were really "surprising" me, you should've brought out the cupcake, and then the check. Like you did the other table. The experience was best summed up as a whole lot of worthless waiting for a whole lot of mediocrity. We will NOT be back for another birthday or otherwise.
(2)
Shannon M.

I really enjoy their pizzas because of the fresh ingredients. My husband and I order a pizza and have leftovers for the next day. The beer menu is fantastic and never boring. -there is something for everyone! The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable, I usually ask for a recommendation. I also watch sporting events on their televisions.
(5)
Randi F.

I could eat here daily. I love a menu that has high and low, expensive and cheap, and everything is good. They make it very easy to have a quick bit or a 5 course meal. The staff is knowledgeable and accommodating. we asked for a lot of waiters choice. Who knows their food better than them, right? If you get nothing else on the menu, make sure to order the grilled Cesar salad. it will change the way you see salad forever. I also recommend getting a couple of beer tastings and letting the bar tender fill in the rest of the flight with interesting options that go with what you have ordered. The neighborhood is a weird pocket of commerce, but i think it will grow with time.
(5)
William K.

Risotto Tater Tots. Sorry, I'll get back to my review. The staff at Rustico is always incredibly helpful and I am constantly impressed by their beer knowledge. The bar manager Stu makes sure everyone behind the bar has the know-how to help me pick exactly what I am looking for. Since the menu revamp, the consistency and quality of the food has increased exponentially. Definitely fast-becoming one of my "spots" when I want to unwind with some good food and great beer.
(5)
George N.

They have a great beer selection (over 300) and the food lineup is great. They have a daily happy hour from 5-7. During this time you get $2 off full pours. Definitely a way to try all of your favorites.
(4)
Arin S.

I came with some family from out of town who specifically insisted on this place-- they had done some extensive research on where they could get some fancy beer. My mind was blown-- I honestly didn't realize you could even get a $40+ beer. But they were really impressed with the selection and got into a long discussion with the (VERY knowledgable) server about the beer, discussing their "vertical" collections or something. I have no idea. Not my world. I'm mostly voting for them by proxy, but if you're a huge beer fan, this is your place! I was pleased enough with my normal-people beer. Also, we were there late on a Saturday night and there was hardly anyone there. Easy to get a table, quick service, but a little dead.
(4)
Jen P.

3.5 stars - 3 stars for food 4 stars for great service The service was good here. I rejected the bottle of red wine after tasting, but the server was so nice about it and brought out two more glasses for testing. What a great service! I picked the one of them and drank it all with my friend :) Here are my recommendations: - Risotto Tarter Tots : MUST TRY!!! It was soooooo good! - Lamb meatball : Good - Sea Scallops : not bad FYI - I didn't like their doughnuts. That's because I like more deep fried ones. The inside of doughnuts were not fully cooked (?). I know this is their style, but it wasn't my kind of doughnut. Bon Appetite!
(3)
Doug S.

Great beer selection, and service was good, but the food is overrated and ridiculously expensive. My dining companion had a burger - it looked good, and he enjoyed it, but it hemorrhaged grease when he picked it up. I had the half chicken - more like half a Cornish hen. Four hors d'oeuvre-sized chicken bites on top of a few vegetables swimming in oil and grease. It was tasty but very greasy (chicken?) and tiny. Looking around the restaurant, the pizza looked good, and the bar area is nice.
(2)

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Address : 827 Slaters Ln
Alexandria, VA, 22314
Phone (703) 224-5051
Website https://www.rusticorestaurant.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:00 pm - 12:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

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.

Pizza

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 20^th 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.

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Rustico

827 Slaters Ln, Alexandria, VA, 22314

Rustico Menu

Starters

Soup / Salads

Big Plates

Rustico Pizza

Snacks

Sweets

Healthy Meal suggestions for Rustico

Starters

Soup / Salads

Big Plates

Rustico Pizza

Snacks

Sweets

Reuben S.

Lynn N.

Chris M.

Danielle P.

Sean W.

Chris J.

Meghan S.

Evan H.

Danielle S.

Maggie W.

Chris D.

Spencer H.

Chuck W.

William D.

Pete W.

Magic Mark L.

Joe T.

Jenn H.

Shannon C.

Victoria H.

Carolyn S.

John P.

Brianne C.

Gwendolyn D.

Josh S.

Kim N.

Zachary B.

Diana F.

Isabel B.

John R.

Emily M.

Dave H.

Mike T.

Mike A.

Diane S.

Jeremy R.

E S.

Christopher A.

Lysandra V.

Eboni P.

Ryan W.

Katey G.

Mindy D.

Katie F.

Mark M.

Nate R.

Doug W.

Erica O.

Miss. Foodgurl S.

Joshua S.

Jeremy F.

Tolga E.

Team F.

Rachid C.

Courtney R.

Brian W.

Kevin H.

Elena P.

Rory F.

Karol U.

Christina B.

Matthew H.

Jason L.