This is my favorite Italian restaurant in West Seattle. The food is always amazing, I love it's quaint atmosphere and the servers are always helpful and friendly. I can't recommend it enough for anyone living in West Seattle. Everyone's left such detailed reviews that I'll just say "Go, you won't regret it." However I do have to comment on the girl that complained and gave it a 1-star just because her banal, unoriginal wedding proposal didn't go as planned. Rate it on the food and not your boring husbands proposal gone wrong. read more

ZOMG good food. AND it's in West Seattle. AND the teeny little bar has a fireplace. Seriously though, the staff is friendly and the special i ordered was cooked perfectly. I'm thinking smaller is better. read more

I believe the reviews here are overrated. Decent place, indoor and outdoor seating with a good selection of wines and plates. The prices are way too high for the ambience and everything is ala cart. If you sit outside during sunset one person will have the water view with the sun in their face. Our waitress was particularly pushy and we felt very rushed. She was trying to turn our table way too fast. Therefore we ended up leaving after four glasses of wine and appetizers. read more

Sometimes I can be too picky to give a 5 star rating, but I have always had a good time and good food here. Last night was exceptional. We walked in right before closing, but Kristen (our amazing server) pulled some strings and got us a table!!! I'm going to say she's one of the best servers I've ever had (and I was in the business for 10 years). She got us the last two lamb shanks (and the bones for the dogs) and made us feel comfortable even though we were late! We topped it off with a Limoncello. Thank you Kristen and I highly recommend La Rustica for a quaint date night or a family get together. read more

oops, 7 year lapse. eep! i didn't realize that for rw, it would stick to that menu. my friend who is gluten intolerant was still able to hang, but she said when she had called before, nobody ever answer the phone. i remembered it being homey before, but this time i got a cramped vibe. maybe it was where we were sitting? we both went with the osso bucco, which was a massive plate of food. okay, but not outstanding. the accompanying risotto wasn't quite was i expected. it was more along the lines of a paella style. once again, okay, but not outstanding. with so many great places to eat now, la rustica will have fallen down the list. read more

I love La Rustica. Great food, great wine, great service. Everyone, from the waiters to the chefs, really knows what they're doing here. If you can't get a table right away, there is an adjacent hole in the wall (literally) where you can sip on wine and look at art books. The dining room is intimate and dark, except for the incoming light from the sunset off the water across the street. Not only is the food yelp-worthy, it has one of the most beautiful views in the area. This place is totally worth the drive and wait. read more

Love the food but service has been inconsistent. The wait staff seems very knowledgeable and almost passionate about what they are serving but the rest of the service staff (ie bus/hostess) seem to not give a hoot whether you stay, go or come back. Many options for veg-heads but what Italian place doesn't. Would still recommend and will return. Quaint, warm atmosphere indoors for the winter and nice, quiet outdoor seating in the summer. read more

I enjoy my food selections at La Rustica (I think portions are a little on the frugal side) and my service has been attentive. I usually pass on La Rustica because of the seating. Tables are positioned too close for my liking. For this price, I choose more intimate atmospheres for my dining experiences. The location, being across the street from the Sound, is primo for nice walks before or after. read more

After some serious searching on Yelp, my husband and I decided on La Rustica as our last dinner-date locale before we become parents (I'm due in 10 days). We couldn't have been happier with this decision. The service was excellent: our water was refilled no less than 6 times. The food was absolutely delicious: (I had the gnocchi con zazzicchia, my husband had the Involtini). And can we get an amen for the unlimited garlic breadsticks? Between the two of us, we had 3 baskets (hey! I'm pregnant, get over it!), and when the waitress boxed up the couple of extra sticks, she gave us another basket's worth to go! We didn't find that out until we got home, but we were sure glad that we'd left them a very healthy tip. Everyone deserved it, as we were taken well care of. We can't wait to go back. I'm sure by the time our baby allows us another date-night, it'll be Summer; then, we'll be able to enjoy the lovely view when the sun is still out. read more

We were able to get a seat pretty readily but ten minutes in either direction we probably would have had to wait. If you're unsure, make a reservation. The staff seemed spread pretty thin, as our server was bouncing around trying to get everyone accommodated. She seemed in the weeds, though she was very attentive when we had her. Strong command of the menu and the wine pairings. She did her best in a situation where she could have used more staff on the floor. The food took awhile to come out but when it did! Delicious! Flavorful and robust - my dinner companion's dish was very different than mine and I was quite impressed at the variety. The ambiance is great and the close intimate quarters made for a warm, slightly romantic environment. I'll come back. Just to see if speed of service was an issue that night (We were pressed to get back to the Game of Thrones episode airing that evening) - I'll probably change the review once I get a better vibe for the pace of the environment. Might not be for those looking to Dine and Go. read more

Great food, great location, nice ambience, good service. The prices are good for the good sized portions you receive. It's fun to try the different Italian wines they have. The breadsticks and house salad are delicious. The Tiramisu is truly the BEST in Seattle. I highly recommend this place for an intimate dinner. The only negative is the one tiny small bathroom...it gets a bit gross as the evening progresses. read more

5:30pm we Stopped in on short notice last eve to have a wonderful dining experience. We were seated quickly. Hubby had a glass of red wine. We each had Caesar salads - Oh So Good! Followed by our main dishes of: goochi and pasta puttanesca. Dessert was a delicious Tiramisu, which we shared. Service was spot-on. Owner takes the time to Greet All and help out where needed. We will be back soon for sure! read more

Amazing Italian, an amazing view, and a great outdoor seating area on nice summer days. Come down to west Seattle, get off alki and enjoy a great evening! So I live very close to La Rustica...and it would break my bank to go all out once a week at this place (though I often want to)! A few of my favorite things to do @ La Rustica from someone who has been more times than I can count: -Get marinara sauce or ask for something else to dip the bread sticks in. -Everyone order a pizza and water, and get out the door for less than 12 bucks per person. -SAVE ROOM FOR DESERT! Sharing charge well worth it to eat the Chocolate Creme Brule. -GO ONLY FOR DESSERT! Split a few items on the desert menu. -There's a full bar in back...get a drink at the table. Get some coffee after dinner with a shot of baileys. Wine is a little expensive, but it's all really great stuff. I think their corkage fee is 20 bucks, so not worth it to bring your own. read more

Exceptional experience at this restaurant. If I lived closer, I would eat here regularly. Great ambiance for a romantic dinner, relaxing night out, etc. Also would work for small groups BUT I don't think they take reservations? It's an intimate setting. We came for a weeknight dinner and it was still pretty crowded. The plates are on the pricier end of things (as they often are at small, "authentic" restaurants) but it is well worth the price. Literally the only complaint I could offer this place is that the salad had a little too much dressing (but the dressing itself was exceptional). Also, I suppose the bathrooms were quite small. The boar with risotto was finger-lickin'-good. The sauce was extremely flavorful, the risotto was creamy but not too creamy, and the overall portion was fair. Even the side vegetables were above average and perfectly cooked. Zero critiques on this dish. We also had a great pasta dish and white fish (it was a little while ago so forgive me for not being more specific). The rack of lamb I did not eat but saw... and based on the reactions of those individuals who were smart enough to order it, I can guarantee you it is equally as scrumptious as everything else on the menu. Literally watching people close their eyes slowly while eating? Don't see that too often. Long-story-short, everything was delicious and I would reorder any of the dishes we ordered that night. The real finisher to the evening was their home made tiramisu, I don't even really love tiramisu (but the rest of my family does, so I've eaten it more times than I can count) but I can tell you for certain it was one of the best I've had. 5 stars, without a doubt. read more

I asked three different West Seattleites about La Rustica, and each gave me the initial smile, wide eyes and raised eyebrows before extolling the restaurant's virtues. Good sign. About the only thing that wasn't impressive about the place was the exterior. But as we approached, the owner greeted us outside, offered to take our picture and then led us inside. We had heard the wait would be long, and the seating was indeed limited, but we were there early enough to walk right in. Seating wise, even when the restaurant was full, it wasn't uncomfortable to be in. Yeah it got a bit loud, but not to the point where it was uncomfortable or a hinderance. Pau Gasol might be uncomfortable in the chairs, but not your averagely sized human being. I've heard complaints that the service is a bit standoffish or maybe not as warm and friendly as some are accustomed to. I don't see the merits to those complaints. The bussers are seamless and efficient; your water never empties, the bread basket stays full, and your plates are cleared quietly and in a timely fashion. I would rather not notice when those types of services are taken place, and at La Rustica, it happens almost in the background for you. The owner roams the floor ready to engage parties, and the servers are there when needed. Overall, I couldn't have asked for an easier experience service-wise. The quality of the food starts with the bread. It's warm and soft, and if you're not careful, you will end up eating four baskets and skipping dinner entirely. The menu itself features starters, bruschetta, pasta and entrees; a more or less typical Italian spread. The gluten free option on the pasta is unique, and there are some distinct dishes in the meats section (boar's cheek if memory serves correctly). Most of the dishes themselves come with sides to make it a more complete meal. For example, myself and my date each ordered entrees, and included were two starter salads served in advance (decent salads, vinegar based dressing). We each ordered from the specials list. I grabbed the lamb shank (a very generous portion) which came with some decent marinara and noodles as well as some veggies. The lamb fell off the bone, and I hardly needed the large knife they provided. Our other entree was the shrimp pasta with a gorgonzola based sauce. I had less of my date's dish, but the sauce was cheesy and the serving was definitely large enough. We finished off with a rich double chocolate cake, which, combined with the bottle of wine, would've set me into a deep sleep had it not had so much sugar This place is close to 5 stars, but I don't know that it had the wow factor that would put it over the edge for me. I give it 5 stars for the service and 4.5 stars for the atmosphere, but the food was simply great and not mind blowing in the end. Definitely a solid bet and a great destination in West Seattle (right on the water in a beautiful neighborhood). If you love Italian food go ahead and add a half star and this could end up being one of your favorites read more

La Rustica - The signature lamb special - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

You know one way you can tell the authenticity of a place? The language and cuisine match. Sure, you can get good Korean Teriyaki served by Mexican brothers, but when you eat tacos from a Mexican chef, things are different. Right? Comprende? So yeah, this place. It's pretty amazing. If you don't feel like you're eating in a small Italian village, you're not savoring it enough. From the owner's greeting, to the decor and ambiance, to even the chatty patrons, this place screams authentic (but screams it gently on your tongue, through the flavorful food). The service was impeccable, the food was fantastic and the creativity was just a wow factor. Who'd have thought of combining lemon and pizza? Ugh, right? Nooooo - don't judge until you've had theirs. You know how you used to smile when you were little and knew and awesome secret others didn't? Yeah (Grin)! read more

This is my favorite West Sesttle restaurant. The walnut pasta is so good! I love how all the entries come with bread and salad.

This is our favorite Italian restaurant. They don't take reservations unless you have 6 or more but they have a cozy little waiting area that you can sit in, and if you ask, they will serve you wine while you wait for your table. The restaurant is a family affair with several family members cooking, hostessing, waiting, etc. The food is amazing, the bread is to die for. ...And it's just up from Alki!!! I had to laugh about the poor review given because while sitting outside, the sun was in their eyes at sunset (SMH). read more

Do not go here for takeout unless you want to be exposed to too many people and screamed at by a stressed employee. They are begging the neighborhood to help support them during the virus. I can't believe how unsafe, unsanitary, and unprofessional this experience was tonight. As a long time West Seattle resident, I was appalled by this experience. After being crowded into this tiny place, watching an obviously disturbed staff member run around and check out on credit cards, this person started screaming at me "I'm stressed, back off" at the top of his lungs at me after telling me they didn't have my order. La Rustica should not ethically be operating in such a manner. This poor employee lost it. I will never return. read more

I very cozy little restaurant in West Seattle. There are a lot of good things about this place. The service is excellent and the breadsticks may be my favorite out of the many Italian restaurants I've been to. I ordered the Lamb Gnocchi. The flavors were pretty good however my lamb was pretty fatty. Also the Gnocchi in this dish was really large, not like any Gnocchi that I've ever had before. The Gnocchi's looked like Scallops. The next day I had a pretty upset stomach and all I could taste was the lamb. It may have been an off night in the kitchen, but I'm will to try this place again because everything else was done well. read more

This place is so lovely and romantic and that was why me and my bf decided to have our 3-year anniversary dinner here. I wish we could get the table with ocean view, but it didn't work out the way we wanted. Bread served soft and warm, and we had two basket before our main dishes came. La Rustica's bread is one of the best breads I've ever had. We could taste the garlic, but not too strong, it was just perfect. My risotto was okay, it didn't win my heart. I guess I was looking for more flavorful pesto sauce. However, lamb shank stood out pretty well with a glass of red wine. We didn't try the dessert, maybe next time. I don't give 5 stars too often, but La Rustica is really a whole package. I'm looking forward to my next visit. read more

It's been years since we went to La Rustica but decided to give it a try on a warm & sunny Saturday in Seattle. Get there early to snag a table if you like to sit outside. The food was fantastic & the service was excellent. We've eaten there 2 Saturdays in a row & probably would go back tomorrow if I left it up to the hubby. This is a great place to dine especially during the summer. The inside of the restaurant is small and a little warm during the summer months. The first Saturday I had the special, Veal Osso Bucco which was prepared to perfection. The hubby had the cioppino which was delicious especially when you dip their wonderful bread into the broth. We also tried their risotto balls for an appetizer & as others have mentioned it is out of this world! First tried it in Boston's Little Italy & this compares favorably to theirs. The following Saturday we tried the gnocchi with roasted lamb & the linguine di mare which were excellent. There was nothing that we didn't like there. We definitely will return & probably with guest in tow. It's one of the best Italian restaurants we've found in Seattle! read more

This is a lovely restaurant, where the customer's comfort is a prime concern (they have a heavy curtain inside the front door to keep the patrons from having cold air blown on them every time the door is open), and the owner greets you as you enter. I just don't recommend ordering seafood wrapped in meat there, as the meat and the seafood were overcooked, and the layers of leathery, pungent meat totally overwhelmed the shrimp, rendering it moot. read more

Full disclosure: I am a little biased on this place, because my wife and I had our first date here. This is a great neighborhood spot worth traveling to. The food is consistently good. I am always lured by the special, and come away happy. Yes, the tables are close, and the wait and parking can be a disaster. To me that is part of the whole experience. If you are a Seattle person who thinks they should have the restaurant all to themselves, then don't go. Or at least don't go on a Saturday at 7 and expect to immediately be accommodated. Go early and you can sneak in before the rush. Despite being packed the service is very attentive and they don't drag with the food. read more

Finally some Excellent Italian food in Seattle, Finally! I have been really sadly disappointed in the Italian food in Seattle for years but finally found the Mecca of Pasta at La Rustica. I arrived on Thursday night around 7PM and had to wait only 20 minutes for a 2 top table, no big deal as they have a really cute country style back bar for waiting. I stood by the little electric fire place with a mock flame, enjoyed a glass of wine, and chatted with my BF until we were ushered to our quite little table in the corner. The restaurant is dimly lit and has a comfortable atmosphere even with the cramped space and the tightly placed tables. I did not feel claustrophobic. We received tasty garlic bread on the table right away. The server indicated the specials of the night and after only a couple minutes we had ordered. I ordered the Carbonara and my BF ordered the spaghetti with tomato, basil, and shrimp, we also each received a small dinner salad prior to the main course. My Carbonara was to die for, the absolute best Italian food I have ever had in Washington by far. It was excellent and I will recommend it to everyone I know. I'm definitely going back for sure. They will only take reservations for parties of 6 or more - fyi read more

Charming ambiance. Good food (only a handful of spots w/better Italian in Seattle). Perfect for a romantic date night. This place is small, authentic & a gem that people outside West Seattle don't talk enough about. Tip: Go on a sunny evening. Don't be in a rush. Put your name on the list (since they don't take reservations) & enjoy a sunset walk along the waterfront while waiting for your table. Dishes - Al Salmonaccio = Excellent starter. Delicious. - Ostriche Al Forno = 80% cheese, 15% spinach, 5% oyster. No good kumamoto should suffer this fate. - Penne Puttanesca = Added shrimp. Best pasta dish we had. - Pappardelle w/Lamb = Perfectly edible, but lacks flavor. read more

So yummy so great! Love this family-owned spot on the shoreline. Sitting outside during sunset is a great way to end the day. Their bread is A-MAZING and I love the polenta and other vegetarian options. read more

Yum! The food is so good here. I love the selection and quality. That alone would qualify for a 5 star rating, but I can't get past how cramped it feels. If I'm going to pay for a nice dinner I don't want to feel like I'm sitting at the same table as the people next to us. I tend to prefer booth sitting so maybe I'm biased, but I just felt like it's packed a little too much like sardines inside. Definitely not an every weekend patron with my income, but a special place off the beaten path on Alki. read more

Pricy and good but there's plenty of room for improvement for a high priced cramped Italian restaurant. Good for a first date as long as you're not vegan. read more

My husband and I went to La Rustica last weekend and the experience was kind of a mixed bag. The service started out somewhat awkward. It wasn't super busy inside (most people were sitting outside) but the server who was serving us and two other parties inside seemed incredibly flustered. My husband and I decided to order drinks to start, when I was informed they were out of onions for the gimlet. Now I've had a lot of gimlets and I've never heard of putting onions in them so I thought the server misheard me so I repeated, no a gimlet, the gin and lime drink. And she repeated they were out of onions and I said OK, a gimlet with no onions. Very weird! When I got the gimlet, it was the worst tasting one I have ever had. Typically, with a $12 cocktail you aren't getting top-shelf but you are at least getting Tanqueray or Aviation or something similar. This tasted like the $5/bottle gin I drank in the 90s. So if you do come here, definitely stay away from the cocktails! We ordered appetizers and decided we wanted a bottle of wine with dinner. I was contemplating a $90 bottle of wine (I'm not rich so this is celebration $$$ for me) but the wine list doesn't list the vintage so I asked the server what year the wine was. She responded that the wine was from Italy, but it would take "a lot of research" to find out what year it was. SO weird! I know that all servers aren't expected to know about wine, but it's not hard to say, "I'm not sure, but I can find out." When we got our pasta, the squid ink pasta special my husband ordered was just regular spaghetti, but it didn't seem worth complaining about. The portions were large and they tasted good but not mind-blowingly so. Also, the setting is cute inside and out and of course the views are lovely. The owner was an older man and he was inviting and warm. I don't think the server meant to be rude but her service was very awkward and it probably speaks to the staff needing more training. There are lots of other Italian restaurants so I may or may not return. read more

One of the top Italian restaurants in Seattle. The owner is a fat chubby Italian dude who greets you at the door. That alone is worth 5 stars! The food is really good. The table bread with sauce is worth the trip. I really like the cannelloni. It's pretty awesome. Service is always friendly and on point. It's a busy and tiny place so arrive early and expect a wait. You won't be disappointed with La Rustica...trust me on this one. read more

I was visiting a friend in West Seattle and her son had recommended La Rustica as one of their favorite places. It is in West Seattle, right on the water, so the location and view were wonderful for us. I had Pike (delicious) and my friend had a seafood pasta (which she loved). The bread was wonderful, as was the service. The place is small and intimate. A lovely interior, too. Highly recommended. read more

This little gem Italian restaurant is by far the best Italian food I've had in Washington. Got an outside patio which is nice for the summertime. It's small inside so you got to get there early to wait to be seated because it is very good and popular. It's along the water which you can see while eating outside a little bit. You'll be mad if you didn't go or wait to be seated because the food is bomb.com!!!!! read more

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Five stars all the way for their food, service, timing, quality... I had a special that had squid ink spaghetti, seafood and creamy sauce. (Forgot the name of it) bread, calamari appetizer in tomato sauce was amazing, and dessert! Tiramisu... it stole my heart. So delicious. I can't wait to go back! read more

This is the type of place that adds character and uniqueness to its surrounding neighborhood. It benefits from the beauty of Beach Drive, on the less busy side of West Seattle, with views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. You wouldn't necessarily think to put a tiny Italian restaurant right there, surrounded by houses, but it works, and you can tell why it's so popular even on a Wednesday evening. The food was perfect rustic Italian, the wine list was comprehensive (though they were out of the bottle we ordered), and the dessert was delicious. read more

Dinner last night. Short wait in the tiny bar which is sort of a nice and different experience. There are only six chairs in the bar. The martini was not made as a well-trained bartender would make it (the stem of the glass was warm, for example). Then moved to our table for dinner, which was excellent. I had a margarita pizza and cannelloni. The pizza was not that great - it was a bit thick crusted like more traditional American pizza. The cannelloni was spectacular. Definitely a great dining experience in Seattle. If you can get in (they don't take reservations for groups smaller than 6) its quite a treat! read more

One of my favorite italian places, if not my favorite. Atmosphere is amazing and is a great date place. Very romantic. It is located in West Seattle right by a beach so some of the tables will have great views of the sunset. Good outdoor summer seating. Food is fabulous with a large variety of pasta dishes to select from. read more

This is our "go to" date night restaurant. They have a very good wine selection, and I have never had a bad meal here. My favorites are anything with the lamb involved - amazing! We always have very good service - attentive but not domineering and hovering. Agreed that the maitre'd is less than attentive - don't let it mar your experience - everything else will be amazing! I cannot disagree more with previous reviews when it comes to the over use of garlic. This place does not smell of garlic any more than any restaurant that uses garlic in any meal. read more

Nice little place in west Seattle. Daily specials are delicious. My favorite salad is the spinach salad served with a warm balsamic reduction and panceta along with some prawns. I don't really like the standard salad that is included with each entry. Small place so likely going to have to wait in a little room that is cozy with a bar. Overall nice little local place with excellent Italian pasta choices and daily specials read more

Favorite restaurant in West Seattle, 'bar-none'...It flat-out 'nails' all the checkmarks! While another neighborhood restaurant has to use the 'name rights' of an out of state 'franchise chef', this one is local through and through...just saying read more