Katie Simmons

Amazing service and even better food. I come here whenever I am in San Diego it’s my favorite restaurant and I always clear my plate (rare occurrence)!!! Drinks are lovely and the non-alcoholic options taste great. Very attentive and friendly staff even on a busy night. I was there for a special occasion and our server kindly treated the table to a free dessert. I have never had a bad dish here.

Andie B

Loved the food, service and ambiance here. We had visited for dinner over a weekend, so naturally, it was rush hour, but we opted for inside seating so didn't have to wait at all. Our server was friendly and helpful with our order. We enjoyed their Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Firecracker Shrimp alongside cokctails and ended with Lobster Pappardelle for the main course. Everything was lip-smacking good! Highly recommend trying out this place if you're around the area.

+2

ileana giles

My friend & I wanted to drive to SD after a morning function I attended as a speaker, so after doing some quick research, we called and made reservations the day of 4/12. We arrived earlier at SD, so we called if we could go earlier, and they said yes. Once we parked, we walked to the restaurant. I really liked the entrance to the rooftop and the vibe. We sat at the bar to have a drink, and the bartenders were very nice. Then we sat at our table and ordered burgers and our own individual Truffle Fries. Since the weather was pleasant, we decided to stay a little longer for the dinner menu and then ordered the Firecracker Mango Shrimp. This was my first time having this, and I did enjoy three. The Mango Sauce had the right kick to complement the shrimp wrapped in that crispyness. We shared laughs, and the server was not overbearing and checked in enough times that made our experience great. I also enjoyed a Lavender Lemonade.💜. Thank you to those who were working that shift, the service was good.🙏🏽.

+7

Rebecca Clark (Becca)

Nearly perfect! The food phenomenal! The drinks are way above average. The service is a bit slow. The rooftop is so cute and great views! Perfect 👌 highly recommend the 🦞 lobster pasta, the beet salad (best ever), the bang bang shrimp. The smoked old fashion and the vodka cocktail that has Leche bubbles in it!!! Yum! Just so perfect!

+4

Hannah was the best server. Smashburger was great and happy hour has great options and prices

Hannah was the best server. Smashburger was great and happy hour has great options and prices

Hannah was the best server. Smashburger was great and happy hour has great options and prices

Hannah was the best server. Smashburger was great and happy hour has great options and prices

My wife and I had a truly amazing dinner last night, complete with professional, friendly, and incredibly polite service from Hanna.\n\nWe both ordered the Smash burgers and truffle fries, which we…

My wife and I had a truly amazing dinner last night, complete with professional, friendly, and incredibly polite service from Hanna.\n\nWe both ordered the Smash burgers and truffle fries, which …

Easy to snag a reservation on open table. The servers were so accommodating to all of my party's requests. The rustic egg plate was delicious - recommend combining it all together into a breakfast …

We had reservations for our party and the staff greeted outside at checkin. We were seated instantly. The ambiance was very playful and fun, with eye catching decor. Our server was helpful with det…

We had reservations for our party and the staff greeted outside at checkin. We were seated instantly. The ambiance was very playful and fun, with eye catching decor. Our server was helpful with det…

We tried Rustic Root tonight for dinner and had a wonderful experience. Great ambiance... we sat outside and were very comfortable under heat lamps. Loved the decor. Very attentive service... and b…

This is a favorite of ours for Gas Lamp dining. We've taken out of town friends here, had Mother's Day brunch and often just pop in when we're in the area, as we did on this most recent visit. The …

Wanted to grab a drink after walking around Gaslamp. Happened upon this rooftop happy hour! The folks working there were very nice. The Draft Beers are priced at around $5, which is a great price t…

Stumbled upon this breakfast brunch gem! Incredible service and food. Would highly recommend and hope to return soon. The champagne/prosecco presentation and add in options was A+, never experience…

The ma’am behind the bar was so kind. We enjoyed all our drinks and the atmosphere was fun! Everyone was happy to be there with including us.

The ma’am behind the bar was so kind. We enjoyed all our drinks and the atmosphere was fun! Everyone was happy to be there with including us.

The ma’am behind the bar was so kind. We enjoyed all our drinks and the atmosphere was fun! Everyone was happy to be there with including us.

Rustic Root was recommended by a friend. We chose the rooftop dining but wish we had chose the main dining room because it became pretty chilly once the sun went down. Service was attentive but slow…

Came here for dinner for a party of two and we were able to snag a table on the terrace without a reservation (it was still early in the evening). The terrace was nice and decked out for Christmas …

Great food and even better service. Tried the shrimp on the HH menu. Excellent. steak for dinner. Very good! Sat at bar and service was impeccable. Lots of people trying to get you in to …

Great food and even better service. Tried the shrimp on the HH menu. Excellent. Steak for dinner. Very good! Sat at bar and service was impeccable. Lots of people trying to get you in to ea…

Great food great service.. has a fe beers and the Bolognese.. awesome! Price was ok and the location is easy to find in the gaslight district.

The food was great and so was the atmosphere. The server we had on this night was not very attentive and didnt engage well. Besides the service (which was hopefully a one off), everything was great. I would return again. Great for date night, client dinner, family meal or a quick bite with a drink after a long day. If you would like to see the full review please follow me :) IG: theelite_list Tiktok: theexecutivelist

Pierce Chesley

Rustic Root offers a laid-back, approachable dining experience in downtown- Gaslamp District of San Diego; with a full-service bar and a lively, welcoming atmosphere. Visited during the holiday season, the space was appropriately decorated, adding warmth without excess. Service was attentive and accommodating, particularly with dietary requests, including a successful gluten-free substitution confirmed directly with the kitchen. The cauliflower dish was underwhelming, served as florets rather than a composed preparation and lacking depth despite its richness from Greek yogurt and chili oil. The wedge salad fared better—fresh and well executed, though slightly overdressed. The macaroni and cheese stood out for its execution. Prepared with gluten-free noodles cooked precisely al dente, it was creamy, balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. Overall, Rustic Root succeeds as a comfortable, reliable option, driven by solid service and well-executed comfort dishes with a festive holiday ambiance that brightened our spirits!

+3

Shane Sowl

We reserved tables for the rooftop. We had a lot of issues with the atmosphere. The rooftop is EXTREMELY loud so don't eat up there if you want a family dinner. Additionally, the table next to us was vaping and blowing their smoke towards our table. Normally, it's not a huge bother but we had a one year old with us. We informed management and they did ask them to stop, but they continued to smoke. The restaurant the offered to move us to the fire pit for no additional fee. We were pleased with how the staff handled the issue. The food we ordered was delicious albeit a bit on pricier side. Overall, I would recommend this place as the food was great and the staff very courteous. Just be prepared to spend a little and pick the bottom if you're having a family dinner.

Tess Seda

The food and drinks were amazing and the place had a really great atmosphere. We were a party of 8, and it was a busy night, but one of us did not get dinner and had another event in the night to attend. Everyone else's plate came out, and we all ate unaware someone had only been served an appetizer that by the time the missing salmon dinner came out that member of our party opted to cancel and just had drinks and the appetizer. It may have just been an off night for service and timing. Otherwise the food was delicious and I would return just for that. We were also seated quickly when we arrived for our reservation.

Bogadi Prashanth

Great place in downtown San Diego. Visited this restaurant for a meeting. Lovely views upstairs, nice seating area and a bar over there as well. Mac and cheese, pizza, Shrimps were all tasty and cooked to perfection. Great place for a party. Will definitely visit again.

+2

karl Karl

Rustic Root is an incredible spot for anyone looking to enjoy elevated comfort food in a stylish atmosphere. A friend and I recently visited, and we were thoroughly impressed. We ordered the scallops and steaks, and both dishes were absolutely phenomenal. The scallops were perfectly seared, tender, and paired with a flavorful sauce that brought everything together. The steak was cooked to perfection—juicy, well-seasoned, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The presentation was stunning, and the service was attentive, making it a fantastic dining experience overall.

Nice happy hour dinner spot in downtown SD. The staff were friendly and got us seated effortlessly. I appreciated that. Of course I forgot our server's name but he is usually a bartender. We had a go…

Right off the popular Fifth Avenue of Gaslamp District sits Rustic Root. We went for Sunday brunch (reservations recommended) and were seated at its covered rooftop bar area. The downstairs dining ar…

Nice happy hour dinner spot in downtown SD. The staff were friendly and got us seated effortlessly. I appreciated that. Of course I forgot our server's name but he is usually a bartender. We had …

Nice happy hour dinner spot in downtown SD. The staff were friendly and got us seated effortlessly. I appreciated that. Of course I forgot our server's name but he is usually a bartender. We had a …

3.5 stars but rounded up because I enjoyed my food. I came here for dinner on a Saturday evening. It was an early dinner, and I was having a solo dinner. It wasn't too busy, so I was seated when I …

The food was mediocre to bad. Don't order pork chop... stick to appetizers. Grossly overpriced for the quality you get.

Such great food and service. I love the energy environment too! Their wine list is comprehensive and offers a great variety with some that are "hard to find" offerings. You can't go wrong with Rust…

Good place overall with good food options. Dry aged Steak was exceptionally good. Family enjoyed the street side seating which gave a glimpse of Gaslamp street. Will come back again in case visiti…

Good place overall with good food options. Dry aged steak was exceptionally good. Family enjoyed the street side seating which gave a glimpse of Gaslamp street. Will come back again in case vi…

Visited Rustic Root with a small group for dinner. The place is very nice. Great atmosphere and quite busy for dinner. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks the w…

Visited Rustic Root with a small group for dinner. The place is very nice. Great Atmosphere and quite busy for dinner. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drinks the w…

I ate here a year before and found the place really good. It still is but that first time charme had passed. The chicken was delicious though. And the staff friendly. Good choice if you want to go …

I ate here a year before and found the place really good. It still is but that first time charme had passed. The chicken was delicious though. And the staff friendly. Good choice if you want to go …

waited at our table 15-20 minutes, not even a glance from a server. it was not very crowded. there was staff. we left. disappointed.

I had fried chicken that was really very good along with some corn bread that was yummy. Our companions had ribs which were enough to share. Our server, Taylor, was very nice and overall it was…

Went to dinner with friends. We sat upstairs. The restaurant is cool and has a good vibe in the middle of Gaslamp District. We all were happy with our food and drinks. I recommend the Meat Ball and…

Alexander Woodcock

A little disappointed— style over substance? We were excited for a Saturday brunch on the rooftop here. The menu is small, but some tasty options with reasonable pricing. We had a reservation, and a table was available upon arrival. The vibe was pretty chilled, but it was getting busier as some bachelorette parties arrived. We ordered the BLT Benedict and pork belly kimchi fried rice…they came out pretty quickly, but both arrived barely warm, and our lattes showed up halfway through the meal as they had to get more espresso pods (not fresh ground, sadly). We saw lots of fun-looking cocktails and mimosas being served around us, which we would probably try if we go again. We were there at 11am and it seemed like only one waiter (Jesse) was working the whole floor like a pro and being very friendly despite being busy, while there were 2 or 3 individuals working host stations. As a result, they were slow to greet us and felt a little rushed to take drinks and food orders right away. As an observation, and consistent with other recent reviews around service, it seems management can’t/aren’t able to get staffing levels right, impacting the overall experience.

Angela D

I think we unfortunately just came on a bad day. They were very behind and food took 45 min. Then when it came my chillequilles was cold. My friends has was the right temp. The server heated mine up in the microwave but the egg was kind of blah since it wasn’t fresh. Then we sat surrounded by tables with dirty dishes all over them. Enjoyed the Prosecco special. The food would have been better if it wasn’t so delayed and also cold. it was my birthday and they don’t do anything special just a heads up.

Wilson Tsang

TLDR: food was not great but the service and atmosphere are top notch We ordered the prime rib Thursday special and I was very disappointed with it. The prime rib was not at all soft and tender, it was basically a tough and chewy New York strip steak. I wasn’t a fan of the breading on the firecracker shrimp though my gf was ok with it. Natalie was a great server and attentive throughout.

+2

We sat on the rooftop and it was a happening place with a great view and atmosphere. The music was a bit too loud for my liking making it hard to talk. The food was more disappointing - mediocre …

Chuck PVPI

We made a reservation for three people one week in advance for a business meeting. We arrived 15 minutes early, checked in with the hostess (who was pleasant), and were told our table would be ready shortly. She suggested we wait at the bar. The restaurant atmosphere was extremely loud, with music and guests talking over each other—not ideal for conversation. At the bar, we waited about 10 minutes in line before the bartender told us he was assisting a private party and asked us to move to the opposite end, where someone else would help. After moving, we waited another 5 minutes, while observing that same bartender largely standing idle. Eventually, we got drinks and waited for our table. I then received a text saying our table was ready and would be released if I didn’t check in, so I approached the hostess again and we were seated. After sitting at our table for 22 minutes (yes, I timed it) without ever being approached by a server, we decided to leave. We told the hostess on our way out that we were leaving due to poor service. Sadly, despite booking in advance and planning for a business dinner, the restaurant’s lack of care and attention cost me and my clients nearly an hour of valuable time. With so many other dining options nearby, this experience was a major disappointment.

D J

Chicken was under cooked. Mac and cheese was horrible and we had to pay $14 for it. Both of us took one bite. Martini was tiny for $18. Service was so slow. Christopher was trying his best but he was working the entire restaurant. The table of 4 beside us left before they got their drinks or food. Definitely under staffed. I think it has potential but just didn’t meet the mark tonight.

First time here was a brunch date with two friends. I booked about 3 weeks in advance on Open Table. Reservation was for 11a and I requested in the comments a rooftop table. \n\nI arrived at 10:52a…

First time here was a brunch date with two friends. I booked about 3 weeks in advance on Open Table. reservation was for 11a and I requested in the comments a rooftop table. \n\nI arrived at 10:52a…

Had a terrible experience here NYE. Someone was running some kind of shady business trying to get more money in their pockets. There was a $25 cover charge per person which was expected but when we…