The Rustic Restaurant - Larkspur, California

Jamie G.

Great new restaurant in Larkspur, I love the Vegetable Tangine, they removed the dill yogurt for me to make it vegan. It is served physically hot, between the Fregola and the Vegetables, the sauce felt light and full. I want to try a pizza, and ai am already wanting this dish again! Amy enjoyed the risotto and we split the Little Gem salad, which is why it looks small. The salad looked basic, and delivered like you can and should when you are here in the Bay Area. The lettuce was delicious, lightly coated with a vegan Green Goddess dressing which accented the crisp leaves, perfectly ripe avocado added to the rich contrast and crunch of the thin slices of radish and croutons. I’d eat this salad any day!
We weren’t in for dessert, next time I’ll indulge with some sorbet!

Dean M.

Nice new option in Larkspur. Food is good but can use some fine tuning. Frito Misto was almost all lemon slices and small bits of veggies, with one shrimp. Not the mix I expected for an expensive appetizer. Lots of pesto dishes, which I love, but their version is unusually mild; seems like it needed more garlic and/or nuts. The steak was well cooked and very flavorful - as long as you like pepper. The broccoli that came with it was well flavored but undercooked; stems almost raw.

Jenny R.

I decided to try the Rustic the day I returned from a weeklong trip to Italy. I was not disappointed. My group shared their little gems salad which was so fresh and delicious and two pastas and a pizza. We also topped off the meal with their tiramisu. The food was plentiful and truly rivaled some of what we ate in Italy in terms of quality. Service was also top notch. I love Picco just as much as everyone else, but this place is just as good and way less crowded. Definitely going back soon to try out their weekend brunch!

Viktoriya W.

We decided to try this place for date night. I would say the service was OK and the food pretty average.
Specifically, the host was friendly, but also a little condescending. The waiter was OK but when he first approached us, he did not offer to take her drink order or tell us what the special soup was. He did come and check on us during the meal and he paced the courses.
The food was pretty darn average. We had the Barada salad and it was pretty thin on tomatoes, which certainly did not appear to be heirloom. There were maybe three or four wedges of tomatoes. The shoe string fries were good but the sauce that they came with pretty much tasted like thousand island dressing. The branzino was good but very small and did not melt in our mouth.
We had a side dish too but it was pretty darn average.
Overall, nothing to write home about and on a street that is home to Picco, left bank, Perry’s and Keiko, I would go to those places first.

Laura L. A.

The Rustic is the real deal. As someone with high standards for Italian cuisine, I can confidently say this place is exceptional. Every dish is crafted with top-tier ingredients, thoughtfully sourced from small farmers and producers both locally and in Italy. Having been a fan of this spot since its Roma Antica days, I can honestly say the menu and quality have only improved.

Beyond the incredible food, the hospitality is just as outstanding. The team here makes you feel like family, adding to the warm and authentic dining experience. If you’re looking for true Italian excellence, The Rustic is a must-visit!

Holly S.

We were walking by on a Saturday afternoon and decided to stop in. The food and service here was amazing. We ordered the fried chicken and pesto lemon ravioli, also some bread and drinks. I can't emphasize how good it was! It was a cold winter day, but felt cozy and was comfortable. I bet on a hot summer day this place is great, too. It totally reminds us of some of the other local bay area Michelin restaurants and we recommended them to the Michelin guide! Can't wait to go back, I would eat their fried chicken every day!

Julie W.

We went here for the first time tonight and the whole experience had such a warm personal touch— from the service, to the decor, to the food. We got pizza (the kids was shaped like Mickey Mouse:-)), moules frites, chicory salad and a side of broccolini — it was all delicious. Miles better than the restaurants previously in this location. We’ll definitely be back and excited to try more.

Sarah D.

Very nice staff and great wine, which is their own and grown in Mendocino. The grilled peach appetizer and sausage pizza were lovely. It’s a lot less congested than Picco, too, which was nice. Welcome to Larkspur!