We had a confirmed reservation at 8:30 PM on 12/29 at Cafe Rustica for a party of four. When we arrived, no hostess acknowledged us and the staff appeared completely disorganized. After approaching a waiter, he mistakenly assumed we were part of a 14 person group. After about 15 minutes, he called us to that large table. We immediately questioned it and asked where our reserved table was. Only then did he realize his mistake and told us our table had already been given to someone else. We never sat down. There was no apology, no explanation, and no attempt to fix the situation. We were left standing in the middle of the restaurant with no guidance. The worst part was the bartender or server's behavior. She said that at some point we would be seated, but if we were not happy, we could come back another time. She said this smiling, with irony and disregard, as if delivering good news. She then went back to the bar smiling, ignoring us while repeatedly glancing at us, which felt dismissive and mocking. There was no manager present and no one took responsibility. No one explained what would happen next or showed any intention of correcting the mistake. We left and went to Peak 47, where we had the same prices, much better food, and truly professional service. The contrast could not have been clearer. Reservations clearly mean nothing here. Unprofessional staff, no accountability, and a complete lack of respect for customers. Avoid this restaurant. read more

It's a solid Italian spot near lake placid. A small location so without reservations you're either going to wait or be asked to not stay longer than an hour. It wasn't an ideal situation but it was our fault for not having an advance reservation since we just got into town when we stopped by. Pricing seemed higher than what we're accustomed to coming from nyc and Long Island but the food was good and portions were large. It's a very rustic feel inside with dim lighting. read more

Caffe Rustica - Penne vodka with chicken, mushroom ravioli and Gemelli Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

This place never disappoints! The swordfish was succulent and the flourless chocolate torte decadent!

Was a gem! We asked locals for recommendation. Was excellent food and service! Will be a reason to return to Lake Placid.

Always excellent. Service amazing. Ambiance lovely. Staff 100%. Location great with plenty of parking. Easy access.

We stayed at the Whiteface lodge and couldn't wait to go back to Caffe Rustica! The food was excellent as usual and the service was excellent. A must if you're staying in Lake Placid read more

During a weekend stay in lake placid a local bartender recommended Caffe Rustica for dinner. It's tucked away in the corner of a grocery store parking lot. Very unassuming. Walking in you'll find that it's a very intimate setting with fewer than 15 tables split between the bar and the main dining area. We had reservations for 6:30 and were given a choice of dining in the bar or the main dining room. We opted for the dining which had just a few diners but quickly filled up. Our waiter was friendly and very attentive. We were served a basket of warm bread that was delicious and our drinks were delivered quickly. As we saw waiters chatting with various tables it was easy to tell that several of the diners were locals or regulars. We ordered a salmon and risotto and a shrimp and risotto entree. The portion size was perfect and both dishes were beautifully presented. The risotto was wonderful! In my experience I've found that not many restaurants do a great job with preparing and serving risotto. That was not the case here! It was perfect. The food, the service and the ambience were very enjoyable. We will definitely make a repeat visit next time we're in the area read more

Caffe Rustica - Salmon w/risotto - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

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Made a reservation a few weeks in advance, asked to sit in dining room and they said absolutely. Got to the restaurant and they gave us the worst table in bar/kitchen room right next to all the plate clanging that was so loud the entire time. Also was FREEZING since front door kept opening. Said the 'dining room was already full with other reservations'. Waiter took forever just to come get our drink order, didn't go over specials, felt very rushed and unconcerned. Finally got our food and it was mediocre at best: - Veal scallopini was beyond bland, no seasonings no flavor just nothing. - Chicken Boursin tasted like nothing but onion, sauce was water thin and the 'homemade pappardelle' was so undercooked I could barely chew it. Been going here for years and it was always the highlight of LP, not sure if they changed owners or changed chefs but would not return after this. read more

This is the best place for dinner in Lake Placid. The staff is excellent and the food is delicious. You will not be disappointed.

Not an Italian background so the menu wasn't clear to me and the waiter was limited help. No "traditional Italian options not even lasagna. Salmon was good but only 7 green beans. Could have spared 6 more. Service was mediocre and they weren't busy. I won't be back. read more

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We both had the cavatelli bolognese which was quite good and a large portion although a bit on the expensive side. Service was good and the restaurant was pleasant. Will definitely be back. read more

One of the best restaurants in LakePlacid , owned and operated by locals. Very popular, so suggestion reservations , perfect back ground music for pleasant dining, warm fresh bread, spotless place settings, on the ball and perfect wait staff, ours was Will and he was great! Prices can be a little higher than the burger joints on the strip, but this food is better prepared , except maybe The Luna which is similar but lacks the atmosphere of Rustica. There are daily specials , full bar, extensive wine menu, full size easy access parking lot in price chopper shopping center. I like the fact there was no screaming kids or loud patrons, these folks tend to stay on the main strip, also there seemed to be many repeat customers , because the hostess knew or recognized them. I will be back , thanx to Will , and the very nice hostess , who got us seated in timely manner on a busy wed night. read more

Wonderful food and experience. Joe waited on us and his cocktail and food recommendations all hit the mark. I'm a bourbon guy and Joe recommended the Chef's Kiss. It was delicious. We split a Caesar Salad - with anchovies, of course. Followed it with the Sweet Thai Chili Scrimp on Linguini. Dynamite. The shrimp were tasty and the blend of Thai and Italian was bang on. My wife had the Tuscan Risotto which was excellent with plentiful shrimp and scallops. Truly appreciate the Caffe accommodating us. Great service and ambience overall! read more

Caffe Rustica - Tuscan Risotto - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

The prices were higher for the 4th of July weekend, I believe. 33.00 for 5 mushroom raviolis. Sort of gummy with specks of pancetta. No pizza on the menu. Cocktails are 17-25 dollars. Very loud. We won't be going back. read more

Caffé Rustica is easily one of the best restaurants in Lake Placid. I have a gluten allergy and wasn't sure I'd be able to eat much, but the staff immediately let me know they have gluten-free pasta and that all their sauces are naturally gluten-free. Huge relief. I went with the salmon, and it was fantastic--the sauce was rich and full of flavor. For dessert, I tried the flourless chocolate cake and honestly, it was one of the best I've had. Total 10/10. We also ordered the Chicken Boursin with gluten-free pasta, and it was incredible. We thought it might be too heavy, but the hint of citrus kept it bright and balanced. The vibe inside is cozy with low lighting, and they also have outdoor seating if you'd rather sit outside. If you're in Lake Placid, I'd highly recommend stopping here--especially if you need gluten-free options. read more

Just OK. We are staying nearby and got takeout. They are pretty pricey for the quality. 2 pizzas at $19 each and they're about 12" and the cavatelli bolognese was $33!! No prices online which should have been a giveaway. The pizza was good, nothing special. The cavatelli was a good sized portion but the pasta didn't taste homemade to me. Definitely more money than we expected for just OK food. read more

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Just when I thought I found all the gems in Lake Placid, I am so happy to eat at this wonderful restaurant just slightly off the beaten path. I started with a special appetizer - Prosciutto and Mozerella Spiedini! I grew up with always having Spiedini at Christmas time but it was always made with veal. Turns out any kabob/cheese dish can be considered a Spiedini. I loved this appetizer for multiple reasons - creative twist on a classic, melty cheese, the arugula, and perfectly executed. Yum! I went next with the Insalata - organic greens (), almonds, pickled blueberries (holy crap!), Gorgonzola, roasted onions, and a raspberry vinaigrette. It was even better than it sounds and the pickled blueberries are the secret weapon... The finale - Chicken Parm with linguine. The linguine normally comes with a marinara but they kindly let me substitute the marinara with an olive oil/garlic thing on the linguine. So... I am always in search of a great chicken parm and this was seriously one of the best I've ever had. Chicken cooked perfect, a great marinara sauce (tasted like tomatoes and not too sweet), and a perfect (read generous but not too much) amount of mozzarella. Add the linguini and a perfect match. I'd give it a 9.5 out of 10! Note - I sat at the bar and Eden (owner/partner) was just super attentive and so friendly. This is the best restaurant in Lake Placid when you add it all up - high quality ingredients, creative homey food, a local vibe and flavor, and probably the best service you'll experience in the wonderful town! read more

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Great service and food. Best pork chop I ever had. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his Thai shrimp pasta dish. Will be back! read more

Caffe Rustica - Pork chop - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

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Be careful how long you want to spend enjoying your dinner because apparently the wait staff can ask you to finish and get ready to leave before you even sign the check. That was the most rude dinner experience I've ever had. We were still finishing desert on our plates and drink our coffees. My husband and I go on one adult only trip a year and this is how we get treated?!? read more

Outstanding as always. Whenever we are in lake placid this restaurant is a must. Food is superb, service as well. Thank you

As usual, the food was great. But after years of patronage, we were hustled through the meal, and rudely asked to leave to free up the table for the next reservation. Apparently this is a new policy. I should add that our waiter though hurried was very nice. However the woman who asked us to leave couldn't have been more brusque and sent a definite signal that we are not valued. We're locals and there are other places in town to eat. read more

What a treat. Last night in Lake Placid so dined at Caffe Rustica and a great way to end a beautiful weekend. Dishes weee all meticulously prepared and well presented. Hard to pick a winner at the table. Monkfish on a basil risotto vs a sweet Thai Shrimp, vs a red snapper on a red pepper risotto. Had to try each and is lean toward the basil risotto but in truth, you couldn't go wrong with any of the dishes. read more

Caffe Rustica - Burrata and watermelon salad...a great combination of flavors and textures. - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

The food was pretty good and the service was good as well... But the prices are not reflective of what you get. Way over priced. If you do go, ask to sit in the back, not in the front room by the bar, very noisy by the bar. read more

Service was excellent hard to say what was better the escargot or my veal. My wife had the Tuscan Risotto also fantastic. We have dined here several times and it's always warm and welcoming read more

Sat at the bar on a busy pre eclipse Saturday night and had a wonderful time. Drinks were delicious, food was amazing and plentiful and the service was outstanding. This is a little jewel box of a restaurant and well worth visiting. Make reservations and enjoy! read more

Great staff, great food and generally the best place in Lake Placid with reasonable prices. Highly recommended

We made a last minute reservation at Caffe Rustica during our stay in Lake Placid. After exploring the village it was nice to go a bit into the town away from the touristy area. The restaurant is located in the corner of a Shopping plaza and was an excellent find! We loved the intimate and cozy atmosphere with just two small dining rooms. We enjoyed a Caesar salad and a fall salad which included fresh figs, poached apples and dried cranberries. So delicious and perfectly dressed. The mushroom ravioli in a puttanesca sauce and the Pasta Bolognese were both large portions and delicious. Although our wait staff was also waiting a table of 14 we had excellent prompt service and piping hot food. All the staff we encountered were pleasant and welcoming. A gem! Definitely the best meal we had in Lake Placid. read more

Had a very nice dinner at Caffe Rustica. It was a small and cozy place, a very nice vibe on a snowy Lake Placid night. We made a reservation, definitely recommend that. The service was great. For Apps we ordered the Crab Cakes and Onion Soup. The Crab Cakes were small but delicious. The Onion Soup was amazing, we wish we had 2 bowls. For dinner we ordered the Ravioli Carbonara and the Garlic Shrimp with Risotto. The Ravioli was creamy, and filled with mushrooms and cheese. About 6 came with them, I would get it again! The Shrimp was good but the Risotto could have used a little more cheese, the texture was closer to a rice. For dessert, we ordered the Tiramisu and the Chocolate Tort. At this point we were stuffed, but we fought through. Both hit the spot, our sweet tooth was satisfied. Order what you prefer, you can't go wrong. read more

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Incredible service and delicious food. Cocktail menu is great. Our go to place for family celebrations. read more

Having such high hopes, my family and in laws with our newborn ordered take out after seeing such positive reviews. We reviewed the menu with excited and empty bellies waiting to dive into deliciousness but... Not even sure where to begin but we ordered the... 1. Maryland crab cakes: completely burnt on the bottom with the batter. It completely ruined the texture and taste from fresh crab cake meat. 2. Sweet Thai Chili Shrimp: flavor was Medicare however the pasta was not fully cooked, all the strands were stuck together with a hard clump 3. Sicilian spicy meatball: dry, undetected beef flavor, minimal taste but marinara sauce Only good thing that our family group enjoyed was the Bianca funghi misti salsicca pizza. Enjoyed the deep mushroom flavor and umani taste! Overall I highly do not recommend. Unsure what happened tonight with dinner. read more

A Hidden Gem Spectacular food! Great service. Comfortable seacting. The best restaurant my wife and I ever ate at and we have eaten at the best restaurants in the united states. ​ read more

Little charming Italian restaurant with potential. I was content with the service and was content with the mediocre food until I did make aware that my cocktail was terrible and undrinkable. Waiter didn't acknowledge, so here is the real review. Meatballs were grainy and dry...recommend a better mix of meats to bring out more flavor or maybe more breadcrumbs. The bolognese was a bit salty and the pasta was a touch undercook so a bit gummy. The maple thyme whiskey sour was not anything you would expect a sour would be. It had no creaminess or any sweet/sour flavor profile. No trace of the maple and the whiskey seemed cheap and would get a better drink at a college bar. read more

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A celebration dinner for our party of three. The cafe atmosphere was comfortable and the service was attentive. Our food was well prepared to our liking and we paired it with a wine special that was being offered. The salmon was seared perfectly to give a light crust to the moist flaky meat. The beef was ordered rare and the inner pink/red was just right. The only drawback was the vegetable accompanying was 'chintzy' in its stylings. The pasta was very good but the spicy flavor can grow throughout the meal. The pricing was a little over expectations but then again we are coming off COVID. We will be happy to return. read more

Caffe Rustica - Beef filet, rare - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

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We were in Lake Placid for a few days just before Thanksgiving during the Pandemic. Main Street wasn't entirely open for business and rather quiet. On a previous visit to Lake Placid, we tried to dine at Cafe Rustica and learned that reservations were a must and unfortunately we were unable to be seated. This time, we did make a reservation and were able to secure a seating. The restaurant followed the Covid19 rules by spacing the tables apart, making us feel safe and comfortable. The staff were pleasant and attentive. This is not a byob and if you do bring your own, we were told there would be a $25 corking fee. We had the Chicken Saltimbocca (the photo), and the Braised Short Rib over mashed potatoes. Both entrees were delicious. read more

Caffe Rustica - Chicken Saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

A true hidden gem! I can't recommend this place enough. Wife and I stopped in for dinner Wednesday night. The wait staff was amazing. Super friendly and attentive. The food did not disappoint. Flavorful, well cooked, and well presented. We had the Insalata, Melanzane Arrabiata, Cesar salad, Veal Saltimbocca, and Tiramisu for dessert. Will definitely be back next time we're in town. read more

The best place for a dinner in Lake Placid Delicious food and nice service Really enjoyed! read more

Caffe Rustica - Winter sangria - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

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This was a nice surprise. Excellent table service and the food was quiet good. Prices weren't as pricey as I would expect. read more

Caffe Rustica - Chicken Mediterranean - Italian Near Me - Lake Placid, New York

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A very warm comfortable restaurant. Obviously a local favorite. Staff seemed to know a lot of the customers by name. We all enjoyed our entrees. Definitely make a reservation to enjoy dinner when in town. read more

Service top notch, professional and even entertaining. Italian type menu goes well beyond the neighborhood Italian dinner. I had a pork chop that was superbly executed, my wife had a veal pasta dish that was simply awesome. Again extremely well executed. I would assert it's best Italian food since I was last in Milan. I would find it hard to believe there is better in these here parts. read more

Very thing was excellent! Excellent food, service, atmosphere! We've been coming to Cafe Rustic for over 20 years when vacationing in Lake Placid. It remains one of our favorite places to dine! Love that they also have gluten free options! read more