If schnitzel and German food are your jam, look no further. We've eaten here several times, and have never been disappointed. First, a few caveats. This is a small, owner-run establishment. They don't take reservations, and they fill up quickly. Go early, preferably on a weekday. If you go on a weekend, be prepared to wait an hour or more. There is very little room to stand while waiting, but they take your phone #, and there are several fun places very nearby to go have a drink while you wait. Also, the menu is small. No fancy appetizers, no substitutions, and vegans might want to steer clear. That said, OH, the food! Veal, pork, or chicken schnitzel cooked perfectly with a variety of sauces from which to choose. Sauerbraten so tender you could eat it with a spoon. Traditional old-school sides. The spaetzle makes me cry with happiness, and the red cabbage, potato salad, and sauerkraut are also quite good. We've never tried dessert, but based on the moans from the guy next to me at the bar this week, the Black Forest cake is yummy. I may have to get a slice to go next time we visit. We are thrilled to find such an authentic German restaurant in RVA. read more

My husband and I recently visited Cafe Rustika for a quick trip to Richmond. We were very impressed with the food and the service. Within five minutes on what looked like a busy night, we were seated and served delicious bread. My husband ordered the Sauerbraten with potato salad and cabbage. The beef and Gingersnap gravy was sublime. I ordered the Pork Schnitzel with a delicious salad and Spätzle which was equally delicious. If you enjoy authentic German cuisine with friendly service, stop by the Cafe Rustika. I guarantee you will enjoy the experience immensely. read more

After many years of driving up Main St, I've missed the chance to eat at one of RVA's best hole in the wall restaurants - that is, until yesterday. I went there with my daughter to try something different, and, unsurprisingly, we were both impressed. A tiny place, there are four booths, two two tops by the window, and room for ~10ish people at the bar. Even when we left and the restaurant was 3/4 full, there was still, however, plenty of move-around room. We took a window seat and had great service throughout our meal. My daughter ordered the German Mac and cheese (spätzle with Gruyère cheese and onions) and a giant brat to go with it. Her meal was also served with a small bowl of the carrot dill soup. I had the veal schnitzel with the special topping of the night, a double cream, Gorgonzola sauce mixed with small bits of bacon. I also had the sauerkraut and fried potatoes. To say the meal was just good would be an injustice to the kitchen staff that prepared it. Prior to dinner arriving, we were both served a piece of focaccia bread that was too easily eaten. For dinner, the Gruyère on the spätzle was as gooey and creamy as anybody's homemade mac & cheese and the bratwurst was very flavorful, easily besting the taste of any store bought brat. My veal was cooked to perfection, with the cream sauce and bacon elevating the dish to above hole in the wall restaurant status. The sauerkraut tasted exactly as it should have, salty and sour with the right amount of crispness. The potatoes? Well, just do yourself a favor and get them with your meal. There is no disappointment in those. Finally, for me, the Hacker Pschoor Oktoberfest was the perfect accompaniment to the schnitzel, though probably any of the ~8 German beers on tap would have been great! The portions are large and you will not leave Cafe Rustika feeling hungry, but do yourself a favor... order a piece or two of the black forest cake to go. At home, on the couch rethinking the great meal I just had, I couldn't help but wonder how I'd never had a piece of this great cake before. Get there early. We left around 6:30 and there were just a few seats at the bar available - on a Wednesday! I honestly cannot wait to get back. Perhaps they'll open early on Oct 14 to show the Germany/USA friendly on their lone TV! read more

Cafe Rustika - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Cafe Rustika is my favorite German restaurant. I feel like I've stepped back in time when I enter the gasthaus. It's cozy and has a wonderful aroma. The schnitzel reminds me of dining in Wiesbaden. I love their schnitzel and red Cabbage too. Can't wait to go back to try their other german specialties. read more

Always the best German food I have ever had every time I go ! Authentic German cuisine and the service is always great. read more

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Back for takeout. Oh so good. The schnitzel is delicious. Does need the lemon juice squeezed on. And the capers just wonderful on top. The bratwurst needs the mustard. But it was well made on the sweet, mild side. My favorite is the red cabbage. And the sent bread with it two rolls very good. The takeout is well packed and stayed warm. We have over all very good. read more

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Very good German restaurant! Very friendly service! The Jagersnizzel is great. Options of pork, veal and chicken. Price is good. I'd definitely return. read more

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Closest you could get to Germany in Richmond! Great food at reasonable prices, and cozy location. read more

Cafe Rustika - Schnitzel with a Paulaner Hefeweizen - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The food here is in the conversation for best German food in Virginia. That said, I think the management is letting this restaurant down. I recently made a special day trip with my family to Richmond (~1.5 hr each way) to dine here because I remember the food so fondly from a previous visit. We arrived a few minutes before 6 and were told it would be 25 minutes until we could be seated; they said they would call. No problem. We went for a walk. We came back about 35 minutes later to check up, having not heard from them. In total we had to wait an hour to be seated. Annoying, but the staff can't know how patrons will behave. At this point I was giving them the benefit of the doubt for turning tables effectively. We placed our order only minutes later, as we all knew what we wanted, but were told they were out of bratwurst, which is what both of my kids wanted. Out of a menu staple at 7:00 pm? Very frustrating. Obviously I don't know their delivery schedule, maybe it is Thursday morning, but this seems problematic. We adjusted our order... then waited. Our food didn't arrive until 8:10 (70 minute wait after ordering). At this point, we are all tired and hungry. Shortly after we start eating, I flag down the server to ask for dessert and our bill to be brought out, so the cakes don't get sold out and so we can make a quick exit to start driving home after we finish eating. The server gave me some guff about how things are always busy and slow Thursday through the weekend (so they know the issues). I pointed out that it was Wednesday but then simply asked my request to be met. We left, full but frustrated at 8:35. 25 minutes of eating took more than 2.5 hours to accomplish. This is where I get to my frustration with the management. The restaurant does many things well but is clearly understaffed, and as indicated above, ordering is suspect. They are terrible at turning tables. The 70 minutes we were sitting at the table not eating is lost revenue for them, and lost good will from all customers, those at the table, those wanting to be seated, and those thinking about going there but knowing how busy it can be. A second server and another set of hands in the kitchen, even if tight, could allow for significantly faster turnover. If you read the reviews here, the biggest complaint is the wait times. There will always be a wait for fresh made food, but beyond ~40 minutes dinners start to notice and hold it against the restaurant. Management should do better. read more

Cafe Rustika is one of my favorite restaurants in RVA. Top five for sure. We had about a 45 minute wait for a table when we arrived, and because they were busy, service took a while. The food is absolutely worth it, though. If you like schnitzel, it's a must try kind of restaurant. If you haven't been, it's a small bar/restaurant with two tables with room for two each by the window, maybe 5 booths, and bar seating. There is often a wait for a table, and it is always worth waiting. Street parking is available, but there's no private lot. read more

Food amazing. Service terriffic. Ambiance meh. We ordered schnitzel. Best I've ever had including numerous restaurants in Germany. Sides of red cabbage and German potato salad, both outstanding. Unfortunately just one night in Richmond, otherwise I'd be a regular. read more

If you're in the Richmond area and craving German cuisine! Do check this place out! It's a small local business. You are greeted at the door as soon as you walked in! Not a big place so have the patience or come in early! The staff is very nice and friendly!! We had their dinner special "schnitzels" with different sauces! - Authentic! Also, zwiebelfleisch (beef tenderloin) with RADLER beir! And my husband ordered some type of salad. You can't go wrong with any of their side dishes! They are all phenomenally good! Just like the ones we had in Germany! Save appetite forget desserts :) read more

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Top notch. Has that old-world feel that transports you to a land of simple but incredibly delicious eats. The chef does things right. Schnitzel is tender with a nice thin breading, well seasoned. Spatzel is made fresh, al-dente. Great vibe. Atmosphere is very cozy like you're at a friends place for dinner. Staff very warm and friendly. Can tell the team prides themselves in hosting guests and serving great food and drinks. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

***My Favorites*** I have never been disappointed with a trip to Cafe Rustika. It is one of the best meals in the city but also flies a little under the radar. Atmosphere is a cozy understated pub with German decorations, tall pours of beer, and cute gnomes. The food quality is outstanding. Of course you must order some schnitzel, with your choice of pork, chicken, or veal. The schnitzel is very flavorful and so crisply fried you'll have a satisfying crunch with every bite. You can go traditional with a simple lemon and caper topping, which is all well and good, but the toppings they offer are amazing such as a mushroom red wine sauce, or lemon cream sauce. But even better is they do rotating specials on the schnitzel, with my favorite so far being a dijon dill cream sauce. So you've picked your schnitzel but you really need to order the platter because now we get into the sides. Spatzle, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and skillet potatoes would be my favorites, but they all sound great. And finally lots of choices for German beer with big beautiful glassware. I had a euphoric time with friends here, who in turn have brought there families here. A true crowd pleaser. Really feels special and authentic. What to order: schnitzel ( I favor pork), red cabbage, spatzle read more

Cafe Rustika - Special schnitzel with dill dijon sauce - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I lived in Germany for a short period back and at times I really miss authentic Schnitzel, wursts, and kartoffelpuffers but Cafe Rustika satisfied my cravings with their delicious food. We stopped in on a whim and were greeted with a warm atmosphere that reminded me of my favorite German restaurant in Frankfurt. I ordered a Radler and was so happy when the waitress didn't need me to explain it. Our table loved the pumpernickel bread that was brought out before the meal and asked for another basket because it was so fresh, warm, and flavorful. After my first bite of food, I mentally made a note to stop at this restaurant as often as I am in Richmond because the schnitzel was perfect. I was in a group of four and everyone got a different schnitzel so we could try a variety of flavors. I wish I had the stomach capacity to eat them all because each one was savory and perfectly fried. We left happy and full. Highly recommend this place for some real German culture in the city of Richmond. read more

Best, most authentic German food I've found in Virginia. Limited seating but they don't take reservations. Worth the wait.

Another visit to Cafe Rustika, another extremely happy customer in me. This place never fails. The beer, schnitzel, spatzle, potato salad, friendly service and cozy window seat...all great! Authentic German cuisine you can't beat in Richmond. read more

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Food was phenomenal! Every dish had depth of flavor that made you finish the massive portions. Attentive waitstaff that made it welcoming to an out of towner like me. Next business trip to Richmond will include a stop here to sample more off their authentic menu! read more

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Good schnitzel, try to arrive a little late so you beat the rush hour. Is a small space so it can get crowded

If you like schnitzel, make a stop at this hole in the wall in downtown Richmond. You can get schnitzel many ways and choose chicken, veal, or pork. I had the lemon cream suave while my partner chose the mushroom gravy. The portions are huge! Also the side of fried potatoes were delightful. Thur had just the right amount of seasoning and perfect texture. My only complaint is I'm not a big fan of German beer! read more

Cafe Rustika - Schnitzel with lemon cream - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Hands down this is the best German food that I have had "back in the world" (Bratz will get this ). I lived in Germany for six years and not many German restaurants in the U.S. are as authentic as Cafe Rustika. Schnitzel and sides are easy to pull off but not other dishes. I had the Sauerbraten, potato salad and cucumber salad. The meat was tender and flavorful, the gravy was the best I have had in years. We also had Zwiebelfleisch, the meat and onions were perfect. There is a good beer and wine selection as well. There is not a lot of seating so I recommend going on a weekday, I can't imagine how hard it is to get a weekend table. The staff is great too, they were short staffed, but we were updated and checked on. I rarely give 5 stars on one visit but this is a gem. Many of my co-workers lived and are married to Europeans and everyone co-signed as Rustika as the best in RVA! read more

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Food is amazing and service was really good. Atmosphere is cozy and lively. Prepare yourself for long wait times both to be seated and to receive food (about 2 hrs in total) esp on weekend nights- with that in mind the wait is definitely worth it! (PS get the Black Forest cake) read more

Cafe Rustika - Schnitzel, potatoes, sauerkraut - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love Cafe Rustika. They have great food and excellent service but they don't take reservations so get there before 7 or after 8:30 because they are always busy. We started off with some German beer and wine, they don't serve liquor and all the wines are dry. I've been to cafe Rustika several times and never had a bad meal so I recommend the sauerbraten as my first choice, it is the tenderest beef I've ever eaten and perfectly seasoned. I also recommend Zwiebelfleisch if you like onions Nordsee Frikadellen if you prefer seafood, both are really good and you HAVE to get the Spätzle as a side, who doesn't like a good homemade buttered noodle, so good. I usually get the Karottensuppe mit Dill also, it's good but always needs salt. I've had the sauerkraut and blaukraut and Gurkensalat, all good but the Spätzle is my favorite. My boyfriend had the Black Forest cake for dessert, it's not my favorite but I was spoiled by my step grandmother who made it from scratch with all the bells and whistles, one layer cherries, one layer chocolate and kirsch in the icing and sorry to say cafe rustika's version isn't quite as good. read more

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I didn't think I'd be eating German food on my trip to Richmond, but I'm so glad I did! Everything from the wine to the entrees to the dessert was just delicious. I got the "German Mac 'n cheese" (note: it's very rich and I couldn't eat it all) with a side of cucumber salad, and the Black Forest cake for dessert. The slice was HUGE! My friend had chicken schnitzel which they specially prepared for her with a gluten-free coating. Hers was so good I wish I'd ordered it myself. Next time I'll get the schnitzel! Everyone working at the restaurant was really nice and helpful. The bartender gave me some wine samples so I could pick which I wanted to order. It's a very small restaurant but we timed it right and got the last two-top table in the window. We talked about this restaurant the rest of our trip, it made such a good impression. :) read more

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Not much to say other than it is a MUST try if you love authentic German food. Everything we ordered was great, and beware of the large portions so come hungry! read more

Cafe Rustika - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Good comfort food, nice ambience. I will return here. The place has a real cozy feel during these long winter nights.

I will start off by saying the food and the bar area are pretty nice. But the negatives outweighed the positives. This place is super small - you won't be able to fit a wheelchair and this place is not handicap accessible because the bathroom is up stairs and in a small little area. This place is not good for kids - no kid menu, no changing table, no high chair, no booster seat. The food is delicious but it was not a good experience holding my toddler and my 5 year old starving - none of the food options are good for kids either. Very small menu. If you don't like German food, don't go here because there's very limited options other than schnitzel. The schnitzel was good though! Servers were fine - no issues with staff. read more

Hole in the wall bar with booth and high tables for dining. Food was served fast and hot. Beer was cold. Service was attentive. German themed with a real cuckoo clock Limited selections for dinner, simple and yet yummy. read more

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My boyfriend and I were contemplating what to eat one rainy night, and we both decided that we had a hankering for some German comfort food. We both had heard about Café Rustika, but had never been before. We placed our order online, they called to confirm it with us, and it was ready within 30 minutes. Super simple! We ordered the traditional pork Schnitzel with lemon and capers and their veal Jägerschnitzel (Schnitzel topped with mushrooms and red wine sauce). We also couldn't resist ordering some Käsespätzle. Our meals also came with a side salad and bread. The food was simply delicious. Both types of Schnitzel were great, though I ultimately preferred the simplicity of their classic Schnitzel. The Käsespätzle was perfect for such a rainy night and left us thinking back to the food we had on our trips throughout Austria and Germany. The portions were massive and I thought the prices were extremely reasonable. I was overall very pleased with my experience with Café Rustika. I will definitely be ordering from them again when I am in the mood for comfort food! read more

Cafe Rustika - Schnitzel - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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We arrived ~10 of 4 just before opening. There was already a line outside. We got seated right away. Come early as they fill up quick. There was the hostess and gentleman behind the bar. Both of them were running around serving everyone with drink orders and taking orders. Despite it being chaotic they were very efficient and it was a welcoming atmosphere. Another waitress showed up around 4:30 and we got our orders in. Then the food came quick and it was well worth the wait. Delicious food, especially the dessert. Couldn't recommend this place more! Will definitely be back. read more

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The food here was amazing. Robust flavors and good quality ingredients. The wait was very long but the waitress was so kind and helpful. read more

Cafe Rustika - Schnitzel special with Gorgonzola - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I enjoyed this place and would go back. Both my entree and the Black Forest cake was amazing. read more

Cafe Rustika - Amazing food. Cool ambiance. I really enjoyed the spaetzel. - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

What a great find! The food and wine were delicious, and the the wait staff friendly. I'm gluten free and the chef was able to accommodate since they make all their schnitzel from scratch one order at a time. The red cabbage salad and potato salad were both really good. And the flourless choc cake- YUM! A home run. read more

Cafe Rustika - Brat and spaetzel across the table; red cabbage, potato salad, and chicken schnitzel in the foreground. - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This place is insanely good, I don't know how to they don't have a perfect 5 stars. Cafe Rustika lived up to its expectations and then some. Got the Pork Schnitzel with the mustardy sauce, wow!! Absolutely no complaints, I'm already looking forward to eating there again. read more

Cafe Rustika - Pork Schnitzel - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This is an amazing place I'd come back to every day if I could. Got the spaetzel w egg, with sauerkraut and potato salad. Was absolutely incredible! Staff was incredibly nice. I want to try everything on the menu and will be back. read more

Cafe Rustika - Weizenboch - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Cafe rustika may not look like anything special from the outside but it truly is a gem. The restaurant is small so make sure you come early or else you'll be waiting but even the wait is worth it! We were greeted by the owner I assume and he sat us on the bar trying to reserve the bigger tables for bigger parties, the restaurant is small which was totally fine. My husband of course ordered a German beer which he loved and we got two pieces of homemade bread which was delicious while we waited for our food. We ordered the veal schnitzel with lemon cream sauce and pork schnitzel Holstein (with fried egg capers and lemon) with skillet potato and cucumber salad with dill for both.Correct me if I'm wrong but I swear when you place your order it sounded like they freshly pounded the meat then breaded and cooked everything from fresh. Once our food arrived, wow was all I could say. The schnitzels were cooked to golden perfection, the potatoes were soft yet golden crispy at the same time, and the cucumber salad was very refreshing. My husband and I split the schnitzel so we could taste each other's and wow wow wow we were mmmmmming haha the whole time we ate. The food was made with love and you could taste it. Bravo chef thank you for a wonderful meal that reminds us of home. Highly highly recommend if your in Richmond VA read more

Cafe Rustika - Pork Schnitzel Holstein w/potato and cucumber dill salad - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Love this place it is cozy, warm, delicious, and the service is great. Highly recommend!

Decided to try something different in Richmond and Cafe Rustika did not disappoint! Small inside, but the food and beer are worth it! Schnitzel reminded me of times I've been in Germany and Austria! Don't skip dessert, the Black Forest cake is a perfect ending. read more

Wow! Rarely does a restaurant blow me away but this one did. I'm SO glad we chose this place for date night it was such an amazing treat we both ate well beyond the point of being super full lol. Try the carrot soup and the potatoes you will not regret it - this will be a monthly experience for us yay cafe rustica read more

Cafe Rustika - Noodles - German Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Trying new places is something that I've set out to do in 2018. While the same sandwiches, cafes, and pizza places are good fall backs, they're not necessarily exciting and definitely not new. Enter Cafe Rustika. I was walking down Main one day at lunch and determined that German food is very far from the items located on my normal lunch menu. I recall having some veal schnitzel as a kid, but beyond that, knew nothing of the cuisine. --Food: The first time I went, I wanted something a bit lighter. I ended up ordering the Nordsee Frikadellen which is described as "shrimp, scallop and crab cakes lightly bound, pan fried, topped with a lemon dill sauce and served with greens". This was incredibly tasty! One of the best seafood cakes I've ever had. The accompanying greens were good too. The dill sauce that covers it is the stuff of legends. (Perhaps it's just my fondness of dill.) The second time I went I wanted to get some items I more associate with German food, like Schnitzel. I ordered the Pork Schnitzel with lemon and capers, and two sides. The first was Spätzle - housemade egg noodles sautéed in butter. I wasn't sure what to expect going into it, but they turned out to be good. The texture was unlike any noodle I've ever had and honestly is a bit hard to explain. (So I won't, hah.) The other was Warmer Kartoffelsalat mit Speck - warm potato salad with bacon. At first I was hesitant as it looked like the fillings of a hollowed out baked potato, but upon further investigation it was much softer and very seasoned. I think the Potato Salad might have been my favorite of the whole plate. That said, the platter as a whole was a new experience for me, and exactly what I was after. --Cost: Not super cheap, but not bad for the amount and quality of food you get. The Nordsee Frikadellen was $12 and the Schnitzel Platter was $15. With tax and tip, closer to $20. A bit more than I try to spend for lunch, but worth it for the new experience. --Atmosphere: The inside of Cafe Rustika is nice. Some of my Yelp friends mention it feels like a European cafe, but never having been to Europe myself, I can't verify. My Food Network / Travel Channel sense wants to agree though. I can say it has a nice comfortable vibe and has a cozy feel. It is a bit small, so watch out for that. --Service. Okay, so here's the thing. The first day I came here I was waited on pretty quickly, but after 40 minutes I had to ask where my food was. (I had ordered seafood crabcakes and salad, not exactly long prep items.) The server and cook I believe misplaced the order as there was a bit of talk in the back, then my meal came out in a couple minutes. Both the server and chef came out and personally apologized, gave me a $10 gift certificate, and gave me my lunch for free. I would have paid for it, it was a delicious lunch, and I appreciate the honesty of them apologizing for an experience that shouldn't have happened. I came back the next day for lunch in hopes of this not happening again, and the second day was much better. There were significantly more people dining in the second day and I had my food within 20 minutes. --Overall: I like Cafe Rustika. If the second day experience I had is more representative of the service as a whole, I feel comfortable giving them at least a 4. Even on the second day, I had a bit of a hard time fitting the visit in a 1 hour lunch slot, but I think the size of their staff vs. customers more justifies this. I do want to come back as the food is quite good, and there are other menu items I want to try. Do come for the food, just be careful if you're in a hurry. read more

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