Rustico

I’ve been here twice, and both times it was packed. Call ahead for a table, for sure!
In those two times, here’s what I got:
Rustico burger. Both times. It’s a really flavorful party and dressed simply. It’s a basic, awesome burger unlike so many places that try to make a burger something special and end up making something that’s a mess to eat.
I want to try the pizzas… Next time!
Some appetizers I’ve tried :
1. Steamed mussels– good, basic.
2. Cheese risotto tots– GET THESE. Fantastic. We placed a second order.
3. Pretzel bites– skip these. I was disappointed and won’t get them again.

Always delicious! Each menu item has a welcoming depth of flavor and the atmosphere caters to a nice dining experience.

Nice spot. Food can be a little fancy at times, so I just stick with the pizzas and beer. They do that real nice.

LOVE THIS PLACE. Never disappointing — the food is great; and the staff is super friendly! The atmosphere is warm, fun, and relaxed.

Over-​priced, over-​rated, and under-​performing is my best description for this restaurant.
Came here for the first time early on a Saturday night– it wasn’t busy so we hoped there wouldn’t be any issues with waiting, stressed servers, or «sorry, we’re out of the (insert favorite dish special here)» syndrome.
Our server came fairly promptly, but looking at the menu I was overwhelmed at the description and prices of the drinks, especially the beers. In several cases, they wanted to charge up to $ 5.00 to SAMPLE a beer– really? I stuck with water and perused the scanty food menu– other than specialty pizzas, and a very modest dish selection, there didn’t seem to be much that interested me. I decided on the pricy-but-thought-I’d-get-a-good Bistro Steak plate.
My wife asked about the specials– the waitress, who admitted she was new, needed to «check» on those– the one dish she wanted was already «out», and the server couldn’t remember the other dishes. Several minutes later, after having to tease the specials descriptions out of our server, my wife just went with the safe order– pizza. Meanwhile, I was walking my daughter around and getting stoic looks from staff (and some patrons) — this appears not to be a kid-​friendly place– maybe it was that everyone was watching the play-​offs and their team was losing, but still not a good excuse to «dis» children.
Meals arrive– my nearly $ 30 steak is a child’s portion, full of gristle, and the potatoes and creamed spinach are barely warm. I ask for a re-​warm, which took over 8 minutes (did they put my plate in a cold oven and wait to turn the heat on?). Meanwhile, wife and daughter are enjoying their pizza, which admittedly was good, but that didn’t really help me. I get my plate back, the sides still weren’t as hot as they should be, but my steak went from medium-​rare to medium (so now it’s even tougher) — thanks guys.
Manager comes over, asks if everything’s alright– I tell him about the poor quality steak, and he looks at me puzzled like he’s never heard of gristle in steak (where do they get these managers from?). To his credit, he finally, after being silent for some time, apologizes, and offers a dessert «on the house». My wife takes the bait, but, sorry Rustico, that doesn’t make up for it– you can’t sell an almost $ 30 steak, have it be of poor quality (with cold sides), and then smooth things over with a few donut balls and sweet sauces.
Two stars– they have decent pizza and an attractive mosaic ambiance, but if you’re looking for a quality steak, excellent service, and reasonable drink prices, stay away (which I will be doing from now on).

Look. I don’t really like Italian places. Pasta, pizza, not really my bailiwick. Plus, the preponderance of «fancy American food places» really gets old after a while. You know the type: they’ve got your standard salmon or steak salads. The word gorgonzola is used liberally. Then there’s the fish dish, the steak dish, the super fancy burger, and don’t forget the meatloaf. Generally good stuff, for $ 16 a plate.
It’s hard to describe how Rustico is just like this BUT TOTALLY NOT LIKE THIS.
It may very well start and end with the grilled caesar salad. GRILLED. Romaine with burnt edges and garlic infused dressing of deliciousness. I tend to like it topped with some Salmon, medium-​rare. I’ve never had anything like it anywhere else. On our last visit the waiter made sure to point out that it wasn’t your grandma’s caesar – and that some people didn’t like it. Who are these people? It’s just not right, yo.
Let’s move from that to the brussels sprouts. Let’s just say that they taste VERY UNHEALTHY. So basically I want to keep eating them and never stop. Crunchy roasted served with some manner of mapley somethingorather on the plate with it.
And yes, there are any number of sandwiches, burgers, and pizza offerings to choose from as well. BUT. I tell you. They’re different. They’re not just good, they’re uniquely good. The flavors are really well put together in combinations you just don’t find everywhere.
Now, specific to this location, the service has been consistently excellent for both lunch and dinner. The servers are knowledgable, have opinions, and will helpfully guide you through the choices. Plus they’re diligent on making sure everything has come out okay and checking up on you in a timely manner. Ready for the check? Heck, they probably already have it on them making for an easy quick getaway. I mean, after you settle the tab, of course.

Rustico has a great environment and an even better beer menu. Always a chance to try something new. I have had both the pizza as well as the Three Little Pigs burger. Both are great options. I loved the pig burger having pulled pork and bacon on it amongst other things. Gave it a very interested flavor.
One time when we sat at the bar we had a poor server but every other time they have been awesome. I would definitely return and tell friends about Rustico and bring them with me to grab a beer and dinner, or to watch a game.

The Butcher’s Block pizza was fantastic but the French Toast that our server, Sergio, had the chef prepare for us stole the show. It was 3 towers of cinnamon and sugar with raspberries and blueberries on top. This item should definitely be on the menu. Ask to be seated in Sergio’s area if he’s available because his service is outstanding and will make your experience even better.

Pretty good food, service is hit or miss, and price average for Old-​Town. Despite arriving to weekend brunch at 11 AM when they opened, we were told they couldn’t accommodate a party of 8 since we didn’t have a reservation. Yes 8 is a lot, but when we left 2 hours later there was still plenty of space available, not sure how that makes sense. Brunch means donuts, and I split the ½ & ½ Donuts, which were powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar served with dark chocolate sauce and caramel sauce. Absolutely delicious and I completely recommend. The dough was still a hint of moist, so fresh and served warm, just yum. The Spicy Chicken Meatball pizza was ordinary. The chicken meatballs were very reminiscent of spicy sausage, and the added green peppers brought sweetness rather than spiciness (could have done without these, or gone with some spicier varieties). They are able to split checks easily, so that’s a nice plus, although they will add a 20% gratuity to the bill (which I don’t think they earned).

Love love loved the food here! I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to try this place out!
We came because my boyfriend had a $ 25 giftcard we wanted to use. I’m so glad he did!
I had the baked potato pizza with no bacon (to make it vegetarian) and it was definitely ⁴⁄₅ delicious. The real star of the night was the cheesy risotto bites with a tangy aioli AND THE FRENCH FRIES. French fries are probably my favorite food and these ones put so many others to shame. The waiter told us that they double try them – that’s the «secret»! Definitely a must-​try.
They have a great beer selection as well with plenty of local brews.
We will be back for sure!

Dear Rustico,
When are you bringing back the Baked Potato Pizza!!! Seriously, I’ve been coming back every season and it STILL has not made an appearance back on the menu. You can reach out to me directly to let me know when it’s back on the menu because it is SO FREAKING GOOD!!! Thank you! :)
Here is my REAL review: I love this place. I love the ambiance, food, beer/​wine selection and TVs.
Things to order: Brussel sprouts, Cheese & Herb Risotto «tots»
Pizzas you will LOVE: Baked Potato Pizza, Roasted Mushroom, Spicy Chicken Meatball, Pulled Pork

I discovered Rustico soon after arriving in the DC metro area and have been coming here on a regular basis for the past several years – usually with a buddy who lives just down the street on Slaters Lane. While there are two locations, I’ve only ever been to this one, as it is more convenient to my apartment. The food is fantastic on its own merits (particularly the oven-​fired pizzas, each of which can easily feed two or three people), but the craft/​foreign beer offerings are the real reason I keep coming back. Over 300 beers are available (331 at last count), both from a beer menu-​of-​the-​day that is available at the bar, or a longer, leather-​bound binder containing the restaurant’s entire holdings that is available on request. Even in nearly five years of coming to this place, I haven’t even tried a tenth of the beers that they have on offer.
Rustico has an evening happy hour that is much more laid back than most of the Alexandria restaurants I’ve visited in the past. Yes, it does get crowded, but I can’t remember the last time that it was standing-​room only. That being said, if you want to get a seat at the bar, getting there at 4 or 4:30 – right after the bar portion of the restaurant starts coming to life – is ideal. Yes, it isn’t open as late as most other bars (I believe the bar closes at midnight, seven days a week), but that adds to its character; you won’t find drunken shenanigans going down here in the wee hours of the morning, which is a plus in my book.
Highly recommended. I plan to continue being a Rustico regular for the duration of my time here in the DMV!

5 stars is for the grilled caesar salad alone. Literally grilled pieces of lettuce with a great garlicky caesar dressing. I had never had a salad like this before, and I know some people who don’t care for it, but I think it’s really good. Makes me want one just writing about it…
The rest of the food and experience is fine, but grilled caesar is all I remember.

This review is 3.5 stars.
Imagine, you walk into a restaurant right after they open asking for a table for your party of 3 just to be greeted by rude hostess who asks in that high pitched tone «…I’m sorry do you have a reservation???» while being looked up and down. If my husband had not picked this and we were not with my FIL I would have turned around and been out the door before she could have finished her sentence. Fortunately after she was done making us feel unworthy she offered up the bar or outdoor dining. It was nice enough so we decided to dine outside.
I was much more at ease when we were greeted by our server. He was nice and offered some good beer recommendations in addition to favorite menu items.
We were all so starving we jumped right in with ordering dinner and skipped any appetizers. I got the three little pigs burger and my husband got the butchers block pizza. Both looked amazing when they came out.
My burger had a really nice smoky flavor that really came through and was not too over powering. Since I was starving I loved all the fixings that came with it, on a normal day I would not have been able to finish this burger. My only critique is that it could use some more bbq sauce, when I think of a burger like that I think of the bbq sauce dripping off it. A little more sauce would have been the perfect bump in flavor that the burger needed. Also, these fries were my absolute favorite, I could make a meal of these fries. They were perfectly crispy and full of flavor! I totally ate all the fries before they could get cold. The pizza was really good too, the sauce had some good flavor and I loved the garlic on it.
After chowing down on such big portions we were in no state for dessert but their options sounded tasty.
Our server was great and the food was great, I’m sure that we will be back again (despite the hostess).

I’ve been to this location several times, and I always leave feeling just fine. The menu, atmosphere, and service are pretty middle of the road. I find that the menu has stayed the same over the years, and to me, it’s getting a bit stale. It’s now getting harder to want to come here because I’ve tried so many things, and I can’t see myself becoming a regular for the food. I will say that the mushroom pizza is my favorite — the preparation is consistent time to time, and the flavors are on point. I’ve had other items — carrot hummus with lamb, monk fish, tots — and they are okay. I think the tots appetizer isn’t worth it because of its small portion. The fish is light and there is a TON of black pepper on it (in a good way), but to me, that’s not an interesting or innovative flavor. I also think the brunch menu is super blah — many of the items are repeated from the dinner menu, and I don’t think I’d ever crave pizza at 11am.
The atmosphere is chill and draws from all of the 25 – 30 year olds in the area. It can be quite loud and crowded; a reservation is definitely recommended. However, once I came here with a friend and we got to sit at the chef’s counter immediately! We got a free appetizer and saw the cooks in the kitchen. It was interesting. Our waiter was prompt and helpful.
So I haven’t even talked about the beer yet. Originally in my mind, this place was known for its very extensive beer book. Yes, a book, not just a one-​page menu. Every time I’ve come here, I’ve always been confused at what to get. Recently though, I think the beer options have decreased.
Bottom line: Rustico needs to take another look at the menu and change it up a bit. With so many other mid-​level fancy American restaurants nearby, the competition is certainly present.

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!

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 Crème 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.

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.

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.

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!