Out of all the Italian restaurants that my husband and I have ever tried in the San Diego area, Rusticucina exceeded our expectations and more. The food and the service was spectacular and Vincent recommended us the speciality of the night and it was beyond great. The service was fast and efficient and the food was to die for. Thank you for making our date night amazing. We will definitely come back again.

Had a great date night at the RustiCucina. The bar menu is delightful! We had the apperol soul, copper fig, honey Marg and lemontini. For appetizer I the beef carpachio and my husband had the arancini. I had the build your own pasta, boar sausage and we had the linguini. I will for sure be back. Our waiter I think sensed there was quite a loud group next to us and brought us an on the house tiramisu. It was delightful. Will for sure be back.

+6

Thank you for an outstanding Happy Hour! And fantastic customer service by Ashley R and Yuri. You guys really made our evening. The food was absolutely incredible. Run don't walk to get here! GREAT HAPPY HOUR and GREAT PRiCES

+6

This was our first time visiting this restaurant. What a great dining experience. It was way beyond our expectations and we loved the food and the service. The restaurant is nicely decorated and we can't wait to go back again. Excellent choice for Italian food.

Welcome RustiCucina! They just recently opened literally 1 month ago. How cozy, romantic and truly special is to have an authentic Sicilian team of chefs that brought to San Diego all their expertise with all the best from Italy. The ambience is super inviting and charming. I’m suspect because I love all that contemporary mix of elements. flowers hanging and lovely atmosphere. Ok enough about the decor, let’s take a second to simply take in all the flavor their have to offer. Having Italian grandparents and growing up with all that majestic all galore flavors set my standards up. Well RustiCucina is totally Crissy’s approved and beyond. We wanted to try more so we shared. The portions are great but you can easily share. We order the lobster mount water lasanha. Divine! Ops Sorry, for appetizer we had the fried burrata that was amazing. And the pistachio tiramisu. Yummy. Will absolutely be back soon. Grazie mille

+6

What an amazing restaurant, with great ambiance, friendly staff and most importantly the most delicious and freshly prepared food you can ask for. Do your self a favor and try the lobster lasagna If you like Italian food, add this place to your must visit list

+1

Had dinner with friends, staff was very courteous, patient and friendly. We were able to enjoy the company with good food. i had the salmon al fresco and it was delicious.

Authentic Italian food. Love the pastas and gnocchi. Great selection of cocktails and great price during Happy hour.

Wow, what a find in San Diego! A real Italian restaurant with a cool vibe and a farm-to-table approach to their menu serving authentic, delicious apps, entrees and desserts. I was impressed with everything that we ordered and our server, Nicholas, was amazing. It's obvious that the employees take pride in where they work and know the menu so well. Started with an espresso Martini and garlic bread... whoa! We had the lobster ravioli and eggplant parm, both exceeded our expectations. To top it off, the limoncello cake was soooo good, so leave room for dessert. Note: we ate a lot, but didn't feel full after, the portion sizes are perfect for the quality, but watch out for the param cheese wheel, that is a massive portion, easily split. Thanks, RustiCucina & Nicholas!!! We'll be back!

Delicious food and drinks. Nathan was our waiter, and he was absolutely SPECTACULAR all night, making sure we were taken care of and enjoying our evening.

Best Italian food I’ve ever had. Great service. Authentic vibes

Fantastic food and service. Nick and Alex were our waiters and were both super attentive. We got drinks, grandma’s Ragu, lobster lasagna, linguini al granchio, and Mediterranean branzino. Everything was tasty and good portions. We will be back

Best Italian food I’ve ever had. The half rigatoni is insanely good, and every single sauce tastes authentic and amazing.

This place was amazing, their decor is cool, their servers are friendly and attentive and the food was great! We are San Diego visitors and returned two days in a row to try different dishes 😀

+1

Came for lunch/brunch during opening week. The Italian panini was spectacular! Perfectly dressed side salad, delicious fresh ingredients, and amazing taste. Stuffed mushrooms were also good. Good prices at lunch, too. Good house wine for the price. Dinner looks a bit pricey, but maybe will come back for a special occasion.

Delicious and authentic Italian food! Came here for a date night and had a perfect evening. Is there anything better than a hearty Italian meal? We had a fig, goat cheese ravioli and a classic chicken parmesana accompanied with a wonderful house wine ($10 and a generous pour!). Everything was delicious and the service was excellent. Don't think twice!

I’ve dined here multiple times and every visit has been a fantastic experience. During my most recent visit, I had an early dinner reservation since my parents were flying out that evening. We were seated immediately, and our server, Ashley, went above and beyond to accommodate the date night menu for our group. The food was made to order, tasted delicious, and the portion sizes were just right. To top it off, Ashley surprised us with an extra dessert on the house for everyone to share. It was a wonderful touch that made the night even more special. A huge thank you to Ashley and the entire team for an outstanding dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant for great food, excellent service, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere!

Still has a nice outdoor atmosphere despite the pandemic. Great selection but my go to is the chicken parmigiana. I'd like to support local businesses during these times and this one i recommend.

+3

Food is delicious! We sat outside, weather was perfect for it. We went on a Thursday at 5pm so we didnt need to make a reservation. Im sure on weekends theyre packed! We brought our own wine. There's a $15 inital corking fee (then I think $5 each extra bottle) Service was great. Our server was so lovely, gave us great suggestions. Told us we can call ahead at 4pm to see what speciatly pasta theyre making that night in the cheese wheel. Only like $36 I think she said (which is def cheaper than some places!) We'll be forsure coming back:)

Awesome restaurant with great service. Authentic Italian food was delicious. Love the "wheel" pasta special where they toss the homemade pasta of the day in a large Parmesano Reggiano hollowed-out cheese wheel. Cheesy delicious-ness!

+6

The stuffed gnocchi here are a religious experience. Little pillows of nirvana. Highly recommend making a reservation some time in advance, as the amount of people waiting outside could have filled up the entire restaurant a second time.

Amazing staff and manager. We’ve been here at least 7+ times the past year living in San Diego. The cheese wheel is so unique and flavor is great every time. Pasta is so fresh! Really enjoyed our visit tonight, we just eat fast lol

Such a fun night out! Our server Nathan was fantastic! He was so attentive and always made sure we had everything we needed for a wonderful dinner experience. He knew the food and wine so well and steered us in the right direction for our orders. The restaurant was beautiful. You definitely have to do the cheese wheel!

Dining at this Italian gem was a delight, highlighted by Frederico's impeccable service. The cheese wheel experience, where rigatoni met creamy perfection, was unforgettable. Each recommendation from Frederico enhanced our meal, making our date night not just about the food but the memory created. It's a place where culinary art and warmth meet.

Rusti is a solid italian spot that is never too crowded to take you, which is so important when you are itching for some good pasta. I LOVE their cheese wheel option. Don’t skip out on their cocktails! Service is always so great. Manager Vincent is so attentive to tables making sure everyone is having a great night.

Fantastic Italian food and wonderful service. Meals were well timed and wait staff were informed about their menu when we asked questions. It's on the pricier side about $30-40 a person if you get apps and an entree but it is well worth it for high quality food.

I've stopped in here a couple of times now specifically for their specialty cheese-wheel pasta. This most recent experience was a handmade tortellini pasta with the cheese wheel. It was one of the best things I've ever eaten, period. The pasta is glorious. The added bonus is that the staff is also amazing. Extremely welcoming and friendly, they care about the food, the facility, and your experience. I would rate 6 stars if I could. To those that see this review, I strongly urge you to make a stop here. You won't regret the bang for your buck.

I came here for dinner on a Friday night. I made reservations as it typically gets pretty packed here. Everyone who works here is so kind and welcomes you with a huge smile. They were very attentive. The restaurant itself is very intimate and small. There is also some outdoor patio seating available. I would definitely recommend giving this place a try if you’re in the area. Food review: Calamari: (4/5) Super flavorful. The texture and crispiness were perfect. Good portion to share. Garlic bread: (5/5) YUMM. This is sooooo good. The texture and flavor are on point. The best part is… if you check in on yelp you get it for free! Yep. Free! Thank me later. Fettuccine with meatballs: (5/5)This was delicious, the meatballs were huge and super flavorful. Lasagna: (5/5) OMG. Who doesn’t love lasagna? This was the bomb. I ate it so quickly. The crispy cheese on the hot plate …so good. Cheese wheel pasta: (5/5) First off, it’s so much fun to watch. Secondly, the pasta was delicious. It was white sauce pasta with broccoli and sun dried tomatoes.

+2

Absolutely fantastic food, atmosphere and service. We loved the osso buco and truffle short rib pasta. The ONLY downside is parking. I circled the area on a Saturday night for 20 minutes trying to find street parking. Worth it.

Celebrated my mom's birthday here and wanted to experience the cheese wheel pasta! They literally bring in an authentic parmesan cheese wheel, blow torch the jnsides to get it melt before pouring the cooked pasta to be coated with the cheese. Very delicious would highly recconend it! When you order it, though, you will get two servings of the pasta from the wheel, not a singular serving; so, keep that in mind! Everything here is delicious, though the only complaint I have is the lava cake wasn't melty chocolate like your average lava cake when you open it up. The server was nice. He checked up on us from time to time. The atmosphere was lovely. Nice booth seats, lovely decor, and wooden seats. Though, be careful if you have a toddler. The edges of the top of the chair have indents on them, so it may hurt a lot if they hit their head against it. It's like a sharpish corner.

+6

I made a reservation here on a whim. I wanted to go on a dinner date on Sat, but my husband hates waiting. I looked up contemporary Italian, and this place came up. The pictures of the food looked good, so I said, "Why not?" We got the artichoke appetizer, which was delicious. Very light and fresh. My husband ordered the ossobucco. He said the meat just fell off the bone and was very favorable. I ordered the wild boar sausage vodka sauce with the paparadelle noodles. OMG!! They were so good. I can't stop thinking about that sauce, yummy 😋 I try to get vodka sauce wherever I go, and this by far exceeded my expectations. I went to work telling everyone about this place. We will be back for sure.

+1

Giacamo was a wonderful server. He was attentive, friendly, and got me seated minutes before happy hour ended to take advantage of the awesome deals. Give the zucchini flower blossoms a try as well as the burrata, so tasty! Oh and the watermelon cocktail- perfect amount of spice and flavor.

Absolutely LOVED dining here! We had the most excellent service and the food was amazing! I highly suggest the cheese wheel pasta and the creme brûlée (probably the best I’ve ever tasted!). Dining room was a little loud-not a complaint, just noting if anyone is sensitive to this or hard or hearing.

Just plain awesome. Fantastic waiter and food.

Where to begin with this amazing place... for starters I made a reservation online for 10 people for a Saturday evening the week of and was able to make a reservation. A few days before additional people added and I was able to call and add four more people to our group and they were still able to accommodate. The day of was just fantastic. As mentioned, we were a group of 14 so we were loud, a lot, and maybe a little complicated. But Carlo was so patient and attentive with us. They were able to serve us both the appetizers and the desserts family style on this beautiful wooden display that was just fantastic. The food was delicious. We all shared a bit off of each other's plates and every single item I tried was exquisite. The salmon and the grandma ragu is sensational. The dessert was superb as well. I would have to say, probably the best cannoli I've ever had. We had a few of their cocktails which did not disappoint either. This was for my mom's birthday and they made it a truly memorable one. The ambiance in the restaurant is amazing and all of the staff was so kind and attentive to our huge group. Overall five star experience and will definitely be coming back for more and more. I found out they opened a sister brunch place next door and I'm looking forward to trying that as well because this restaurant was just fantastic. Thanks so much RustiCucina!!!

+4

A taste of Italy! The food here is absolutely delicious. The ingredients here are very authentic and Italian based. The cheese wheel is always the best in your pasta. I highly recommend this quaint and cute restaurant nestled in Park Blvd. The staff is so friendly, which makes you feel like you're in Italy*

+3

Ashley the bartender was amazing and made a great drink. Enrico was our server and was very patient with our large group. Jessica is An amazing hostess and deserves a raise . The truffle fries were amazing

I have had dinner at RustiCucina several times, and it still stands high on my list of top Italian restaurants in San Diego. The food is consistently good - it reminds me of dining in Florence (although this is a rustic Sicilian restaurant), based on the focus of quality ingredients, being a casual neighborhood eatery, and the attentive service. I’ve never ordered the same things twice here, yet everything I’ve had, I would gladly order again. As I make my way through the menu, I do have some absolute favorites: - bruschetta - calamari - all their pasta dishes - cioppino There are two outdoor patio options which are both very different - one gives you sidewalk views as people walk by, the either has a large fire pit area and cozy seating. Inside, cozy and trendy and warm and inviting would be the best way to describe it. Be sure to order some cocktails with your dinner - or something off their extensive wine menu. Finally I must mention that Chef Marco also own two other restaurants in SD and all are equally as impressive.

+6

My favorite Italian spot in San Diego. The food is fantastic, the win is delicious, and the service is excellent. I love creating my own pasta combo every time I eat here!

Beautifully decorated restaurant with a farm to table menu. It is what I consider a bit modernizeditalian food, traditional dishes are on the menu but what we had was served in a more modern and appetizing way. Service was good, friendly staff. The stuffed mushrooms are a great appetuzer with fresh ingredients, and even the bread and butter seem freshly made and almost creamy. The Pollo Siciliano I ordered was delicious. The Brussels Sprouts were roasted and glazed and so delicious as well! The spaghetti and meatball was good, a bit lacking in flavor (personally a few more spices would be nice) but overall very good as well. Definitely will try again!

+6

Great spot for Italian food. Ordered the market price cheese wheel option. This came with with the rotating option of Caccio E Pepe with sausage. The best part aside from the taste was the fire show where they melt and mix the cheese with flames. Also got the garlic bread so that was nice. Service was wonderful and is a nice atmosphere inside. Just remember the still water isn’t free as it is bottled.

What an excellent meal! The fried burratta was fantastic, the pasta was fresh, the service was VERY on top of things, and the deserts were all amazing. The wine list focuses on Italian varietals with 1 Pinot option from the US and a cab or two on the list, and the cocktails feature a couple of nice options that may not be on other menus. For 3 people, appetizers, dinner, desert plus one bottle of wine was under $300 with tip included. All 3 of us said we wanted to come back. :)

+5

This place was super cute! Making reservations online was very easy but parking was difficult. There was very minimal street parking but there is small parking lot down the street you can pay for. I came on an wednesday evening and the only parking was in the lot, but the place itself wasnt busy. The inside was exactly like the pictures along with italian music playing. They also had indoor and outdoor seating available. I got the Garlic bread, Romaine (Caesar) salad, and a build your own pasta with Fettuccine, Cacio e pepe sauce (cream pepper sauce) with chicken. The highlight was definitely the pasta, the noodles were fresh and overall really good quality. Personally feel it does have alot of pepper but still very good. The salad was also very good and fresh with parm & good croutons. The garlic bread was okay, the bread did not seem as fresh as the pasta but still good. I would return and recomend to others for the pasta!

Not much a salad girl, but the Caesar salad was so good! The veal was so delicious and tender. Lemon cake and tiramisu is a must to finish your dinner.

+3

The cheese wheel was LIFE. CHANGING. The pasta was rich, the atmosphere mellow-Italian, the service on point. The entire place captured the feeling of a slice of Italy in California perfectly. 11/10, buy the cheese wheel, would come again.

Recently I visited Rusti Cucina. The place is well lit, beautiful interiors with spacious seating arrangements. Attentive staff and quick service. Their is menu is very elaborate with a wide variety to choose from. Their fig ravioli was my personal favourite of all and definitely a must try here. We also tried garlic knots, fries, pasta and pizza which were super delicious. Overall experience was amazing. It’s a must visit place.

+6

Oh my wow!!! First time here, and I will definitely be back! The atmosphere is busy and fun. The restaurant is busy and vibrant. The 2 patios are inviting, and the bar is fun, and the staff is wonderful. The cocktails and wine list to die for. The food is wonderful. Must see when in Hillcrest. Nino and Ashley are amazing!! Tiramisu is outstanding!!

+4

We loved it here! The service was great despite there being not too many people working. We brought our baby and they were super accommodating. Food was delicious, they made us great mocktails!

The absolute best! I don’t think there’s anything I’ve had here that I didn’t absolutely love. My favorites have to be the garlic knots, calamari, truffle cheese wheel pasta and any of the pizza! I’ve been here many times but took all my family last night for my birthday dinner and we all loved it.

+1

We had a wonderful experience. Our wait staff was very knowledgeable about the disses and meal preparations. They checked in with us throughout the meal. Our food was delicious and well presented. The brussel sprouts side was surprising with its addition of sweet figs to balance the savory and salty pancetta.

I had the best birthday. Fried Burrata was the best fried cheese I've evert tried in my life. The food and desert was so delicious. I would visit again.

The garlic knots are the best I’ve ever had in my life. Everything we ordered was amazing. My super picky 4 year old loves everything. The waitress was incredibly nice! We will be back!!

Great service, and fantastic outdoor seating. I love that they have bucatini on offer regularly. It’s such a rare find as a pasta shape as it’s hard to make. Theirs is perfect. Grandma’s ragu lives up to the name, it tastes like an Italian grandma cooked it just for you. The ossobuco was fall off the bone and super flavorful.

Great variety of food, good service, little to no wait for a table. Good ambiance and decor. Good filling portions. Ok wine list. The service has much improved since my last visit. Kudos!

It's one of my favorite Italian restaurants in San Diego. 🥰I like that their food and wine were truly special. The cheese wheel pasta is a Must-try!!! 😋Super yummy and creamy! Also, the atmosphere and decor were really nice too.👍

+6

Will Carlyon

RustiCucina is amazing! Every item on the menu is delicious, highly recommend the salmon, calamari, and garlic bread, and the cocktails are superb (if you like a spicy tequila drink, get the Spice Up Your Life). And the staff is absolutely wonderful, started treating me like family after going just a few times. Also a perfect location for after a day in Balboa Park or visiting the Zoo. Go visit them!

Anna Porter

Rusticucina was an absolute delight from start to finish. The calamari appetizer was perfectly fresh and crispy. For mains, the paccheri pasta and the pappardelle with truffle sauce and short rib were pure perfection: rich, comforting. The service truly elevated the experience. Everyone was warm and attentive, and the manager went above and beyond—comping our wine and surprising us with limoncello cake to thank us for the short wait to be seated. Wonderful food, wonderful hospitality, and thoughtful touches throughout.

Nathalie Zepeda

The chef’s wheel pasta was outstanding—rich, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Our waiter was extremely friendly and made us feel so welcome. Dessert was just as impressive and the perfect way to end the meal. Highly recommend!

Blair

Fantastic meal with my wife and I. Delicious dinner, good wine, amazing Limoncello cake, you need to order some! Ocean was our server, and she made our dinning experience very special!

A B

Rusticucina is hands down one of the best Italian restaurants in San Diego. The food tastes like it came straight from a kitchen in Italy—simple, fresh, and full of flavor. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the sauces were rich without being heavy. The cozy, rustic atmosphere made it the perfect spot for a relaxed evening. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making sure everything was just right from start to finish. You can tell they truly care about the experience they’re giving guests. Whether you’re out for a date night or just craving authentic Italian comfort food, Rusticucina is a must-visit. Five stars all the way!

Travis McKinney

The food here is amazing— everything tasted fresh, good temperatures, and authentically served! Definitely try the cheese wheel if you can — I’m not a big cheese person, but this isn’t Kraft cheese 😅. Definitely glad I ordered this. Portions are huge, so come hungry or plan to take some home. The capsule fits the atmosphere and ties it all together. Service was top notch — everyone was super friendly from when we first opened the door. Absolutely would come back!

Xristian Gonzalez

Such a cute atmosphere with a perfect picture aesthetic. The staff were extremely attentive and nice. The food is nothing short of amazing. Didn’t do the cheese wheel but that whole experience looked amazing.Try this place out is you’re craving pasta you won’t be disappointed.

Claudia Katsale

Celebrated my 24th birthday here. Everything was perfect from service to food. Vodka pasta was delicious, as well as the filet mignon. Only complaint was the Cacio e Pepe had wayyy too much pepper.

Dave R

Came in for dinner and was not disappointed. We enjoyed our caprese and the fired zucchini blossom appetizers. Pasta dishes were excellent and the lamb shank was nice and tender. Wine selection was good, with prices so suit different budgets. Saw another table order the cheese wheel pasta and had it prepared by their table which is very interesting and entertaining to watch. Will definitely be back when in the area.

+3

LULU LIVE Art

We came here for Mother’s Day late brunch. Because I worked until 1pm, so we booked the reservation at 3pm. I glad we didn’t come here at rush hour, it was very quiet, wide space and comfortable, especially we had baby in stroller. They had a Mother’s Day’s menu, it was pretty nice, we ordered the cheese wheel pasta, fried burrata, calamari and Caesar salad, plus lemon cello cake for dessert. Everything is pretty delicious, especially the Burrata, calamari and Caesar salad. The cheese wheel pasta is nice but I hope the truffle flavor can be stronger, and the pasta they used is fettuccine, I think I prefer angel hair or spaghetti better. The dessert is so so, it’s too sweet for me and the taste is kinda too normal. Comparing to the price. They can do a little better. The service is pretty good at the beginning but a little slow at the end because not a lot of customers so there’s only one waitress. She checked on us regularly but we still need to wait a while for water, check and other services.

+9

Lea C

Celebrated my Dad's birthday here. All the food was yummy and authentic. We had Salmon Pistacchio, Carbonara, and Ossobuco. Even the daily soup, carrot soup was great. Only downside for me is difficulty to find street parking, as they do not have their own parking lot.

+1

Marlen Rodulfo

Went to Rusticucina tonight and had the best experience. Not only was the place beautiful but the experience overall was gratifying. We were greeted as soon as I came in with a friendly face and was kindly told how much my wait time would be as it was a extremely busy. I was seated before my actual wait time which was a pleasant surprise and our waitress quickly came for our drink order and brought us water as well. The staff is very efficient and friendly and kindly explained different options on food and was patient enough with us to explain the specials and their favorite dishes considering how busy it was. Alvin and Ashley were extremely helpful in overall with recommendations in drinks and food as well as very friendly, their service was greatly appreciated and I’m sure the rest of the customers appreciated them too as I observed that everyone was receiving the same excellent service. The staff made us feel as part of the family and we appreciate every single one of them.

Gerald Yuen

Not a huge restaurant but it's nicely decorated. The vibe is very pleasant and staff are friendly but our server is a bit off though. Food are delicious and presentation is good. I saw they have a cheese roll and it looks fun. Maybe next time I'll try that.

+3

Najma

This is the BEST EVER SAN DIEGO RESTAURANT I don’t know why it’s not popular but let me tell you, it’s beautiful vintage place the food was the top notch any place I’ve been in San Diego this is it. It should be #1. The service were the best people they’re so nice and cute. We went there for my best friend birthday we were doing a day trip to San Diego and let me tell you to be my last place was worth the time and everything they even added * on house Bday cake slice just for her??*** in this economy since when do they do free? See they’re sweet please make sure you’re nice to them. The food and drinks were top notch we came from inside out as the food and drinks were lacking so we found this place by chance man the food was so good, and big portions we had to do a to go box and take to airport 😂🤎but it was worth it❤️also the money?? Was worth it. We paid 180$including the tip. And we had 3 different of pasta, appetizing, dessert tiramisu 3 of em. It was cheap compare to the other restaurants we had been on. Please give this place a chance as you will not regret it. Also ITS MUSLIMS FRIENDLY. There was a lot options with no alcohol or pork. ❤️

Babette Baltazar

We celebrated my niece's birthday. We had a great time. The place is nice and clean. Service is great. All the servers are friendly and attentive. All the dishes that we ordered are flavorful and delicious. We were very satisfied and we highly recommend this restaurant.

+5

Breana McGowan

Delicious with amazing service. Fantastic place with great ambiance. There were so many things on the menu that I wanted to try. Luckily, it was so delicious that we will be back to try to the others. Wanted to try the cheese wheel special that everyone raves about. However, we got grandma’s ragu and wild boar sausage pastas which were fantastic. The squash blossoms were delightful with their cheese blend which I could actually eat because it wasn’t heavy with gorgonzola in the mix and they add a sweet glaze and spicy marinara that hit all the taste buds. And their garlic toast is like none other… so garlicky and so crispy that maybe not all will like but it’s worth getting since it’s not like most Italian places.

+1

I gave it four stars overall because there were a few small issues. With Italian food, it is common to get bread AND butter at the beginning of the meal. We were told bread is only served on request. The butter had a refrigerator taste to it. We did order dessert, Cannolis, mine was great. However my friends looked like they took a spoon and scooped some filling into each end. Which means it was empty in the middle. I have made connolis and know you use a pastry bag to fill them so that doesn't happen. The rest of the food was great!! Service was friendly and great! I would recommend and will return. At least it wasn't like my Old Spaghetti Factory experience. My plate is pictured here, I had Salmon.

Drinks are okay, but the food is pretty good. The portion sizes are huge here. They have a patio and indoor seating. Parking isn't hard to find nearby.

A quaint little spot for a romantic dinner. We went for the restaurant week and really enjoyed the food and the vibes.

+3

It was my first time. The staff were pleasant and accommodating. Food was good, but not the best. You can sit inside or alfresco. Street parking.

My boyfriend and I had dinner here recently and overall, it was a great experience. The cocktails were adorable and tasty. They were definitely a highlight even though pricey. We started with fig and spinach flatbread and calamari which were both super flavorful! For the main course, my boyfriend ordered the special: a cheese wheel cacio e pepe served with steak. the pasta and the steak were a bit underseasoned but still decent. We went on a Wednesday around 6 p.m. and had no trouble finding parking right across the street and no wait for a table. The atmosphere was relaxed and the service was attentive. We took dessert to go, lemoncello cake and crème brûlée and they ended up being some of the best parts of the meal. Would definitely come back, especially for drinks and dessert!

Unique and exciting cocktails! Food dishes look delicious and for the majority are! Most dishes deliver, while some are overwhelming in flavor profiles. Looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu. Highly recommend checking out this great addition to the neighborhood!

+2

Tabitha Carey

We had a pretty big group, but we had a reservation. The table was ready very quickly, but they seated us outside at first. We had a few older people in the group, so we asked to move inside since it was a pretty chilly night. Since we were there before the dinner rush, this was no problem, but I definitely check ahead when bringing a large group. The place is super cute and cozy. The drinks and food were all ready tasty, but imo the food was pretty overpriced for what it was. I recommend the lavender mojito.

Luna Salaver

Stopped in after visiting the San Diego Zoo because I was craving pasta. RustiCucina did not disappoint. We had two types of pasta the garlic bread and the Brussels sprouts. All were delicious and the portions were perfect!

Kara Cronin

Very kind, welcoming and attentive service and a cozy no-frills atmosphere. My food was tasty; by no means the best Italian I’ve had, but got the job done. However the pasta and sauce came out cold :(. It was not busy in the restaurant when that happened, which makes me a bit hesitant to return (purely from an opportunity cost standpoint), but overall the experience was still good.

Came here for a birthday celebration but we were disappointed with the food and the wait. The server was really kind and helpful when we asked questions about the food or what he recommended when ordering. Although the wait for the entrees vs the appetizers took about an hour long. Everyone around us got their food fast and they were seated after us so we were very surprised and felt uncomfortable about that. Not only that but our pastas came out cold so we had to send that back to get reheated. Overall service was good but the long wait and cold food made the experience not so great.

I was not impressed with the vegetarian / vegan options at all. However, the staff and buzzing atmosphere definitely carried the entire experience. If you’re going to go, be sure to get the Sicilian artichokes!

+1

RustiCucina was…. ok. The food was average and I’m glad we paid happy hour prices. The sangria was watered down, the garlic bread was meh, the zucchini blossoms definitely had potential (but the fig jam made them soggy), and the fried burrata was good (during happy hour it’s half off). We did build your own pasta with the pacheri dressed in Salsa Alla Vodka. The al dente was spot on. This may seem weird, but it tasted better the next day when I heated it up for my lunch. I doubt I’ll return but it was worth the try! Service was great.

My girlfriends brought me here for my birthday dinner. I am glad they enjoyed it. My personal experience, I was not impressed. I only had 3 bites of my wrong order and sent it back, as it was too salty and not what I ordered.

+6

kristine aaron

Went on a Thursday night. I was disappointed in Rusticucina as it is highly rated. We did not find our experience matched the rating. On the positive side: The decor is beautiful and very welcoming. So the atmosphere gets high ratings. I really liked the roasted artichoke appetizer - very delicious. The limoncello cake was also pretty good. The portions are good sized. The Data Night menu is a seemingly good deal (1 app and 1 dessert to share and 2 entrees) plus only $10 for a house red or white bottle - though it would have been nice not to have a California Cab as the house and instead some sort of Italian wine. On the not so positive side: the main course pastas were underwhelming. Very bland. The pasta was cooked fine, but the sauces were just not very good. We barely touched ours. I had the salsa all vodka with the bucatini as recommended by our server. Husband had the ragu della nonna with spaghetti. We both had to ask for parmesan cheese (which oddly is not offered - though it was sitting on a side board) and chili flakes to try to make it more palatable. Did not really work. Just feel that we can get better pasta dishes at other places in the area (thinking of a place we like in South Park and we were both wondering why we just hadn't gone there for dinner instead). The couple dining next to us also appeared not to like their pasta either. One of them had the cheese wheel pasta special and she also asked about parm cheese, chili flakes, salt and pepper and then still could not eat it. She was in a deep conversation with the server when we left so not sure what happened. Her companion also did not touch his pasta. House red wine was just so-so (but for the price I put it on both good/bad). Other mentions: Besides not bringing or asking if you wanted parm cheese on the pasta, we were also never told or offered the "Date Night" menu. We saw it on their website - so knew to ask about it - but just it would have been nice to been told about it as an option. If you did not know about it - well tough I guess. Staff was OK. Though when we did not eat much of our pasta - would have thought they might have asked if we liked it? I guess just overall not overwhelmed and probably not on our rotation to return. Too bad.

I hope anyone who reads this learns from my lesson! I had been wanting to try this place for a while and decided my birthday would be a great time to finally give it a try. Overall, the service was good and the food was pretty tasty. We ordered a bottle of wine and a salad to share and we each ordered the Chef’s Cheese Wheel Pasta. There were a few things that really brought down the experience. The biggest being the Chef’s Cheese Wheel Pasta. It was pasta with a little bit of chicken, spinach and cherry tomatoes in a vodka sauce. The presentation was great and the flavors were good, but it was mostly noodles with a few slices of chicken and tomatoes. I know this was my mistake for not asking so everyone learn a lesson from my mistake, ALWAYS ask what the market price is. We got the bill and the pasta cost $47 dollars each!!!!!!! The next most expensive thing on the menu was the filet which was around $40. This pasta didn’t even have seafood or steak in it. This price for pasta is absolutely ridiculous!! There is nothing that justifies this extreme of a price for pasta! I’ve had cheese wheel pasta at other restaurants for much less and was equally as tasty. I’d recommend getting any of the other pastas on the menu based solely on the pricing! The other 2 things that deterred from the overall experience were that we had put in the reservation that we were there to celebrate a birthday. I am not one to get vocal or boasty about my birthday so we didn’t say anything to our server directly. I had ordered the crème brûlée for dessert, which the consistency was a bit too runny. A couple minutes after I got my dessert the table next to us got a dessert brought to them with a candle and everything. I wasn’t hoping for a complimentary dessert or people to sing but a little candle to make a birthday wish on would have been nice, especially since they did something like that for another table. If in reservations people put in special occasions it would be nice if it wasn’t ignored. Overall the ambiance was nice, the servers were friendly and the food was good, but whole experience was disappointing and I probably won’t return there to celebrate any special occasions. Who knows, I might give it another try sometime but I’d definitely be sure to stick to the typical pasta menu.

My husband and I were seated promptly. Our waiter came and asked if we knew what we wanted. We asked if we could order drinks first and he took our orders. When he returned, my husband ordered lasagna & I ordered the gnocchi. The both of us ordered Caesar salads. My husband asked if he could have some bread and the waiter said sure. Our waiter returned with our salads and informed us he was going on break and another server would cover. Our salads contained a lot of limp lettuce rather than crisp lettuce heart. The dressing was good. The lasagna portion size was small. The gnocchi was good. I added sausage. We asked for the bread & was told it was being prepared in the kitchen. Halfway through our meal a plate of sliced bread was brought to the table. The waiter put down a cup of oil & vinegar for the bread. The vinegar was really non-existent. The bottom of the bowl was discolored black. I tried to mix the liquid but the vinegar would not scrape off the bottom of the bowl. My husband asked for butter and the waiter said the restaurant had no butter 😳. Will we return to RustiCucina? Nope...we have another favorite Italian restaurant in the area on University.

Was in recently visiting from the East Coast. Family here recommended this place..Not impressed. The Carbonara had no taste at all.. like eating pasta with water. Living in New York we know out Italian food and this was a disappointment. The other dishes we had were good... Service was so so.

I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant, but unfortunately our experience was disappointing. My pasta was served undercooked. To their credit, they did replace the dish when we brought it to their attention, and the second one was much better. However, having to send a dish back right away definitely disrupted the experience. The carbonara we ordered was also extremely salty — to the point where it was almost inedible. It was disappointing because the flavor profile could have been great if it had been properly balanced. On top of that, when we received the check, we noticed we had been overcharged, which required another correction before we could leave. By that point, the overall experience just felt frustrating. I understand that mistakes can happen, but multiple issues in one meal made it hard to fully enjoy the evening. I hope the restaurant can improve consistency in both food quality and billing accuracy.

My fiancé and I went last Friday for dinner. We both got food poisoning. While the food was good, I would never return. I called the restaurant twice and they refunded me $30. That didn’t even cover the cost of my plate. I didn’t eat for two days and my bachelorette weekend was ruined. They kept saying it wasn’t their food. They were the only meal that we shared together since Thursday night. I was not happy with how the manager resolved the issue at all.