Don't make reservations! We made reservations for a birthday celebration for a party of 7 and had to pay a deposit. We got there prior to our reservation, and ended up being sat 45 mins late because they were "overbooked." Despite this, nothing was done to make up for this, and I'm sure if it were the other way around we would have lost our deposit. They really need to take a look at how they make reservations. This is one of our favorite restaurants, but I don't think we'll be back anytime soon. read more

Though recommended, we six friends experienced a bad night: Very slow to arrive ( almost 2 hours despite frequent notices it was coming soon), overcooked seafood, dry meat and sloppy presentation. One happy eater of good pizza; others were angry. Outdoor ambiance was pleasant so evening only saved by good friends sharing. read more

Waited inside the entrance for 5-10 minutes in clear view of all on a busy night and not a single employee greeted us or acknowledged our presence, despite looking straight at us. A customer who entered after us told us there's a wait list we have to sign up for but couldnt help us find it. Eventually we gave up and left. We just wanted to enjoy some desserts, but we won't bother trying again after that. read more

The food smelled good and I've been here before. Don't count on your reservation though. We made a reservation for 2 at 630, had every person that showed up AFTER us and cried about waiting, even walk ups, get seated ahead of us. Waited patiently and politely and that was not rewarded. After 45 minutes waiting and watching 6 tables seated ahead of us, we left. Terrible service. Seattle should be able to do better! We were not the only ones to walk away disappointed. read more

Great food (really, very), but bad grace. I have loved the atmosphere of this Ma/Pa Italian place tucked on the coastline of W Seattle. My partner of 25 years and I enjoyed it, especially off-weekend! And perhaps I should have remembered that timing. He died last year; so tonight, Friday, the day before my birthday, I took myself. I went solo after 4 friends declined re timing (one of them) and price (the other 3, who also needed to accommodate their child). When it was a party of 4-5, window seating inside was 'no problem.' It was also no issue for a party of one, over the phone. However when I arrived, they wanted me outside. When I let them know of my prior request and their prior response, the owner was summoned. It was she who explained that 'often singles will expect to stay 3 hours,' to which I responded I wanted to eat dinner. They sat me. But I couldn't shake the 'welcome': bad grace. The worst, as I recall, in my almost 5 decades of dining out. Wow. So if you want great Italian food in a lovely atmosphere, and you are NOT a party of one, I say go and enjoy La Rustics! If you care about vibes and warmth/attitude of the owner, try Picolino's (Sunset Hill) just above Golden Gardens in N Seattle or off-beach Nolita (the former 'Pasta Bella') in Ballard. Amazing food & amazing people. read more

New owners are awful!!!! We used to go here all the time, it was our favorite. We enjoyed nice chats and always kindness with the lovely Italian gentleman. Now that "Cat" owns it, food quality and customer service have gone way downhill. Such a shame to see a great place go to the dogs. I would definitely not recommend! read more

La Rustica - Door to what used to be a good restaurant - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We ordered the Scampi Allo Speedo and Linguine Alla Gino and a tiramisu for pick up. All entrees came with a house salad. When we got home (which was less than 5 minutes away), the salad was wilted and my tiramisu melted. They bagged all the food together (hot with the cold). The Alla Gino lacked flavor the Scampi was ok.....now eating or slurping my sorry looking dessert. read more

La Rustica - Melted tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Food here is above any Italian restaurant in Washington as far as I'm concerned!!!! If you want great service and authentic Italian food than this is your new spot!!!!! read more

Speaking as an industry veteran (18 years) I will not go back to this restaurant. ‍ -Wasn't told we had a time cap on our table (the person who took my reservation did not state this. - the server did not reiterate this to us prior to starting our orders.) To note: this was an anniversary dinner for us. We had no need to rush. We wanted to sip, savor and enjoy. We were not given that option. Was not warned that it wasn't an option. -Cold foods (like: salad, charcuterie) came to our table on hot plates. *big "no no" in the restaurant industry. -We ordered our entree (after the server asked twice and THEN told us the time limit) and I asked for my drink to pair with my entree to come WITH my entree. Like, literally, with my entree (I hadn't even finished my Lambrusco for the appetizer.) The server dropped my "old fashioned" cocktail well before the dinner plate arrived - so now I'm like double fisting my drinks. To note: basic servers know not to bring the second round of drinks until the first is finished... FINE DINNING!? You bring drinks with meals when instructed too do so. and sometimes that is just standard for fine dining. -The food is bland. Like, seriously not even a decent amount of salt on the tomatoes for the Burrata appetizer. -The server assistant, spilled water all over our table. I watched her spill water on the bread for another table, AND SAW THE GUYS REACTION TO IT. They never ate their bread. For the price and the hype? Next time we will go to Mbar or Canlis... TAYLOR SHELLFISH IS MORE FINE DINING. We wanted to try something new. ‍ Never this place again. read more

Lovely place, nice staff, good food. Overall a pretty GM good experience. Just not such a great value.

Definitely check this place out. I've been to this place a few times now, the food is fantastic and the staff are great. It's a tiny place and they only take reservations for 5pm & 5.15pm and the rest is first come first serve but definitely worth the wait or call ahead and check the waitlist. The owner is really lovely and makes all the desserts herself. I've had the ossa bucco and today the lasagna. The desserts are to die for too. read more

What's better than a local, cozy, family run Italian joint? Not many things. La Rustica hits that sweet spot of offering a homey yet elevated dinner out. This is classic bread on the table, side salad and red sauce pasta hits a very specific spot in all of our hearts and stomachs. Our bread was quite raw, which helped keep my intake down. But my pasta, the baked penne was so deeply flavorful. The sausage felt kind of like a throw away or forgotten about, even if not intentional. It was whole, not sliced, and not warm. But the pasta and sauce were piping hot and delicious. I tasted my friends dishes and they, too, were yummy. The steak pasta with its winey sauce and the manicotti, like a cheesier take on lasagna. Past the kitschy decor and "the hits" menu, the staff here are the true stars! The amazing service and great personalities made us feel welcomed and wanted. Plus, who doesn't love a giant wooden pepper grinder shaped like the space needle? read more

Delightful. Cozy and intimate, with excellent service. The location is quite special - right across from tiny Weather Watch Park in West Seattle, with its breathtaking, glorious views. The lamb shank special was "to die for" according to my friend who ordered it (I don't eat meat). My penne puttanesca was spicy and bracing and packed with flavor. We shared bruschetta and a caprese salad that featured superbly fresh, amazing mozzarella (although the tomatoes were a bit pallid... I blame the time of year). A couple of our party ordered pizzas. One pronounced his "just fine" and the other (my husband) thought his was flavorful, but "too bready." He's from NYC, so he likes a verrrry thin crust. Dessert was amazing: the four of us shared a regular and a limoncello tiramisu. Both were HUGE. Both were tender and fluffy and delightful, and neither were cloyingly sweet. The flavor of the liqueur and cream shone through. WARNING: do not trust the prices posted online! Most items on the menu were between one dollar and four dollars MORE than the online price. We still got out of there for $250 bucks for 4 of us - including 1 1/2 carafes of their decent house Montepulciano and tip - but we were expecting it to be a tad less. That said, I would return. read more

1.5 - 2 Stars I paid for the cozy yet scenic, and yes, RUSTIC, atmosphere. Their food is nothing remarkable which was disappointing to be honest as I typically find hidden restaurants like this to leave a culinary impression. I ordered their beloved clam linguine with white wine, the lamb tagliatelle, and this fancy seafood dish; all of them individually and altogether underwhelming. The bread and salad appetizer were the most outstanding of the food, yikes? I recommend this place if you're looking for a very average Italian cuisine with a boutique-y atmosphere overlooking the beautiful beach but not if you're concerned with food too much. read more

Best pasta spot in West Seattle, hands down! This spot is a tiny little spot on the west/south part of Alki, and definitely worth making the trip. We have come here several times now, and most recently for my birthday. We had a group of 12 and they were very accommodating to have such a large group in such a small space. This time I got the rigatoni con ricotta, and that is probably one of my favorite dishes here. It's a rigatoni noodle with white sauce, cheese, onions, and pancetta. They also brought me a birthday tiramisu! Overall love this place and will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

It is a small hole in the wall restaurant that is easy to miss, but is sooo worth it. The food is among the best Italian food in the city. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something new or off the radar. I had the chicken parmigiana and a caesar salad. Both were delicious. The chicken parm was perfectly cooked and moist. The sauce was amazing and tasty. The serving sizes were ample and more than enough for a single person. I highly recommend this restaurant. Accessibility: This is a very small restaurant and it is not too accessible. The washrooms are up a step or two and squeezed in a corner. The tables are all squeezed together. There is no room to sit and wait for a table. The good news is it is all tables and chairs. If you are able to work with a tight squeeze and a place that can get noisy because of the smallness of the space, then you're good to go. read more

La Rustica - Caesar salad - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

The garlic bread is delicious, the owner is a local and the restaurant is family owned and operated. Very kind people, and the same can be said of the rest of their staff. I live near the restaurant, and they have always been respectful of the neighborhood. The food never disappoints. The desserts are always delightful, the pastas and the specials are phenomenal. I can't say enough good things about La Rustica. A must if you're in West Seattle! Be warned: it's all neighborhood street parking. read more

I got food poisoning from the mussels, which were an appetizer. The other food was good, a bit expensive for what it was but it was good. It took about an hour after we finished our appetizers for the entrees to come out. I started to feel badly about half an hour before, I couldn't even look at the entrees when they came out. I told the waitress that I was experiencing food poisoning, but she ignored me and informed me all four times that I told her, that she was sorry that it was so cold on the patio. Do not trust them with seafood! It was very odd that staff completely doesn't care about getting customers sick. It put a damper on the rest of my weekend but sometimes people die from bad shellfish. I was too sick to stick around but I feel badly for spending $200 for three people to eat and then they don't even care about poisoning me. read more

Would give 0 stars if possible. We enjoy coming here and both the food and service has been great in the past. Attempted to come in tonight and was given a 30 minute wait time. After 1 hour we were told it would be another 45 minutes+ and despite our table being available for "awhile", they weren't in a position to seat us due to the kitchen being behind on orders. Our names were crossed off the guest list entirely and they had no plans to realistically seat us. Keep in mind we were waiting in our car the entire time. No apology was offered. It was just a way less than ideal experience, especially for a restaurant in your own neighborhood. Have never left a negative review on Yelp before but I can't see a scenario where we come back. read more

West Seattle institution with family-owned environment and hearty Italian classics. The restaurant is located in a neighborhood with plenty of street parking right in Alki. La Rustica is quaint with some old-world Italian decor and white tablecloths - really what you envision when you think "family-owned Italian restaurant" so I was into it. We arrived with a large party for a birthday (reservations made). For a Wednesday evening, it was very busy so I would recommend making reservations. The space is not big (inside or out on the patio), so I don't think they host large parties often. They sat us quickly, and started taking drink orders. They almost immediately brought us water and bread. After taking our food order, service seemed to slow a bit. We had a late attendee, and they were not acknowledged until we finally caught our server's attention after 15 minutes. It was difficult as the service was great up until this point, and we seemed to have lost our server between ordering food and receiving food. When the food arrived (which did take a while, but it was a big party and I won't dock points for that), I had to leave for an appointment so I got my pasta to go. I had ordered their squid ink pasta special. It was alright, but I'll likely get something else next time (everything else looked amazing). It was described to have a marinara/alfredo creamy sauce and the sauce didn't seem creamy to me, so I think I may have had different expectations - it was a very large portion, the pasta itself was good, and it had lots of seafood in it. The pastas are also served with a dinner salad - the homemade dressing on those were AWESOME - very garlicky and generously topped. They serve wine by the carafe for a good price, and the food menu is large enough to give plenty of variety. I will definitely be coming back, this time with a much smaller party, to try out some of the other pastas that looked decadent and have a more intimate experience. I imagine that my star rating will go up after going with a smaller group. Note: they can't split the check but can take up to 3 payments on a check, so keep it in mind if you're with a big group. read more

See all

Not sure about how is food here. We did not have a chance to try it. Came to this restaurant in 15 minutes after opening but owner told us that no free tables for us and we need to wait 20-30 minutes for it. We've waited about 1 hour but couldn't wait more and came out hungry. So book table before you going to come here. read more

See all

I unfortunately took my boyfriend here for his birthday and still feel sad about the experience. We work in two of the most well known restaurants in Seattle, have worked in the industry collectively over 30 years and both agreed this was the most ridiculous dining experience we've encountered. Food was decent sans the baked oysters not being baked? But for a 400 dollar meal for two people, I'd expect to at least be able to eat and enjoy it. Being asked every five minutes to order, asking if we wanted our food boxed (twice) while still eating and bringing out the birthday desert while my man still was eating was just embarrassing. Running to the door to make sure we weren't skipping out when I went outside to smoke so I could calm down was a nice touch. (I left my bag cause I knew you'd assume something) Presenting a 140 dollar bottle of wine with the cork half out was bizzare to say the least. Look, I get wanting to go home but don't operate or work in the industry if you aren't willing to let people enjoy their dinner. Very disappointed. read more

Was excited to try La Rustica after seeing all the reviews. Ambience was great, service was fast, food was...alright. We sat in the covered patio and it felt like we were Italy. Loved the flowers and decor and open windows looking out to the water and brick buildings. The cozy lighting, Italian music in the background, and decent carafe of wine all elicited daydreams of traveling to Italy again some day. Onto the food. I did appreciate receiving the soft and complementary garlic bread so quickly, and, portions are huge and I wish we'd been asked if we wanted a second plate before it was plopped down (yes we could have sent it back but it happened so fast). Service was friendly and very fast. The house salads were kinda lackluster. I got the tagliatelle with lamb. The lamb was super tender and tasty, though I found the pasta overcooked and the sauce a bit bland. Husband got the rigatoni with filet - he enjoyed the meat and sauce but wasn't particularly wowed with the pasta. I think we probably should have tried the gnocchi which is house-made. The limoncello tiramisu was decent, huge portion. Overall, a pleasant and pretty average meal in a very charming and warm atmosphere. Love supporting family owned businesses, and also have been spoiled by fresh pasta dishes at other places so was underwhelmed. Perhaps their meat dishes are where they shine most. read more

Great food. Great service. Everything was really good with the Bucatini and Tiramisu be the most noteworthy. Prosciutto Pizza was great as well. Prices were reasonable. read more

La Rustica is the cutest place with a beautiful view! We had just came back from an Alaskan Cruise and we were flying out that night. We were so happy we chose LA Rustica for our farewell dinner in Seattle. The food is delicious! I am nit usually a pizza fan, but I couldn't resist trying the Artichoke pizza! It was the best pizza I have ever had! They have many other choices. All cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is old world Italian. Or at least what I imagine it to be. Our server Rose was kind, friendly and professional. When we make it back to Seattle, we will definitely eat there again. read more

La Rustica - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I come to this hideaway for a taste of the past. Our family joined us from All over the country to enjoy some of the finest food in Seattle We were not disappointed. Thanks to our son who expertly navigated the wine list. The 8 of us plus one sat for wonderful get together. All dishes were expertly prepared. The variety was astonishing. One point to make on the negative side The staff with the big city rules of proper reservation etiquette were unable to bend for us. This made it uncomfortable at the start. The staff could not quite recover for the entire meal. Starting with the head waiter she made it clear we annoyed her by our presence. But we did not let that deter us from enjoying the dining experience. I just wished that the staff could of enjoyed it as well. Still give it a 5 star. Did I mention the Manicotti Smile! Andy read more

I wanted to love this place, and I did, until later that night when I got sick from the food! The restaurant is so beautiful if you sit on the patio. The food is really good. But I wouldn't eat there after what I experienced after, they definitely served me some bad food. Plenty of people have been there without getting sick, but plenty of people have gotten sick too. Go at your own risk! read more

See all

The food and drinks here are always amazing. During my last visit we had a loud crowd and the service was great. I even left my debit card behind and our server chased us down the street to return it. Thanks for a fabulous night with great service! read more

This place is on the other side of the main alki strip and has equally amazing views. My favorite dish was the rigatoni filetto but all the pastas were delicious! Service was great and restroom was clean. I just booked my birthday here and I can't wait for the rest of my family to try this food. A+, can't wait to turn this into a regular spot. read more

See all

Cute little restaurant, nice atmosphere except for feels rushed, the food is extremely over priced and underwhelming. We ordered Calamari appetizer - it was good but we were extremely hungry. The food is Americanized Italian, pasta over cooked, when whomever came around to ask about our meals - we shared that and we got a very callus acknowledgement "I'll let them know". We all ordered salads and mains, the waitress didn't bother to tell us that one of the salads was a meal size. Upon receiving it we canceled one of the mains (fortunately able to) and specifically told the waitress that the pasta dishes we would share but do not split. When we received the pasta dish is was split. I told the person who delivered the food we specifically said DO not split the pasta. Another callus reply "we just do it". There were 4/5 different people coming to our table for various services therefore the waitress attending the table isn't the same. The sales are very hard. When the person sat us mentioned "save room for deserts" they are fantastic, to charging for an unrequested split dishes. Normally we always order a desert when dinning out but the whole experience gave us a used car sales experience we decided to pass on desert. Positive - Wine glass and pours are very generous - my husband had his normal Manhattan - well made. Overall I would not return for a meal here. read more

Great restaurant, wonderful people (the owner is awesome and super funny) food a deserts were Amazeballs. Thank you for making my mother in laws first real outing since getting her vaccinations, we'll be back. read more

See all

I would give this place 4 for food and atmosphere and a 2.5 for service. ATMOSPHERE: Intimate neighborhood Italian restaurant in West Seattle with an outdoor patio. Had a party of 11 (2 young kids and a baby) so it was great they were able to accommodate us since it is a smaller restaurant. Also would be a nice spot for a date night. FOOD: Garlic breadsticks are free and delicious. All entrees come with a tasty side salad. Pasta portions are a good size and range from $18-26. I got the pasta carbonara. It had ample bacon bits, a bit of kick to it with lots of pepper, and was perfectly creamy- definitely recommend. SERVICE: This was the only downside of the entire experience. First, an extra side salad was brought out (we assumed it was for the pizza the kids had ordered)- one of the staff put the salad in front of my brother in law (he was splitting an entree with someone else) and put fresh ground pepper on it. The waitress came out of the kitchen commented on an extra salad and immediately grabbed it from him and took it away. Seemed a bit tactless. We were also there celebrating a birthday and after dinner we asked if we could bring out a small cake we had made. The waitress promptly told us there would be a cake cutting fee PER person. After spending a few hundred dollars on dinner and with a half empty restaurant, this seemed a bit rude. We ended up not eating the cake there. Overall, we felt rushed and our service was curt and not very welcoming. read more

La Rustica - Gnocchi with sausage - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

I write this as a customer of La Rustica's for 20 some years, and I always looked forward to the feeling of being transported to a little bit of Italy on Beach Drive during those years. Tonight, it was more like a disaster zone. The food was way off, there was tension and chaos in the kitchen, even the house "Cabernet" tasted more like Welch's grape juice. Our server did his best to cover for the disorganization in the kitchen, and the 75 minutes it took for our entrees to arrive. The Cesar salad was about the quality you'd expect from airplane food, no flavor, and the Parmesan was, no joke, powdered out of a can. The fettuccine was not in fact fettuccine, but cheap dried egg noodles, and the carbonara was as bland as what you find in a nursing home. My friend ordered ribs, but was served puttanesca. When we pointed out the error, we were told they were out of ribs, even though a couple who came in a good half hour after we did were served them. Not wanting to wait another hour, we tried the puttanesca, but it was inedible from the salt overload. After taking about three bites and putting the plate aside, another server asked if we wanted a box. Really? I said it was inedible, so they took it away, but then brought me another one 15 minutes later, that I didn't ask for. There were more staff than diners in the room, but everyone seemed flustered with each other because of the snail's pace of the kitchen. There is no bartender, so the poor waitstaff has to make cocktails themselves. And perhaps the saddest, and most unacceptable change from the relatively new ownership is that powdered parmesan from the can is what is offered to top off your $30 entree. Sadly, another Seattle institution that we and other reviewers have crossed off our lists. Maybe that's why we were able to just walk in on a warm Saturday night, without (the $50) reservation. read more

This was our first time visiting and we loved every part about our experience. Nadia was our waitress, and wes friendly as well helpful. The Italian cuisine reminded me of my dining experiences in Italy: authentic, fresh, and flavorful. We had to take our Limoncello Tiramisu to go because we were so full (not pictured because my bf started eating it when we got home). It was great to try a different version of this dessert. Glad we discovered this gem and will be coming back! We both enjoyed the view and had prime outdoor seating. Thank you for staying open and the nice service. Mi piace! read more

See all

Loved this place! Charming intimate atmosphere, excellent playlist of 20th ct standards, but not loud, thank god; you can actually have a conversation. Great menu. Food very good. Some dishes a bit oversalted (e.g. caesar salad), but excellent flavors & textures. Chef/owner Vita is charming and sociable. She came out to our table at the end of our meal just to say hi and chatted with us for a pleasant little while. Nice surprise because we were not VIPs. I would gladly go back. Small place so you may have to wait. read more

Wow stumbled upon this while staying I. West Seattle on Alki, best meal I have had in a long time. Food was so good I forgot about the wait and even though they were experiencing a staff shortage the food made up for it. Will be back for sure read more

See all

This place! It gave me all the feels. Small, intimate, authentic Italian restaurant, YES PLEASE! The focaccia as the starter is absolutely delicious! Incredibly light and fluffy with the perfect amount of garlic. I could have had that as my meal I got the gnocchi with cream sauce. 10/10. I'm still raging about it. Enough for 2 meals. It's so fresh and creamy I was so happy with my meal My partner got the seafood linguini and raves about it We finished with the lemoncello tiramisu which was fantastic! Our service was attentive and relatively fast. If you want an unforgettable Italian experience La Rustica is the place for you. I'll be spending all my special occasion dinners here. I can't even explain how much I enjoyed my whole experience read more

La Rustica - Lemoncello tiramisu. Delicious! - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Amazing atmosphere, amazing food. The starter garlic bread is wonderfully fragrant with that stone oven style flavor, and the salad is fresh with a clean edge. I ordered the cannelloni and was not at all disappointed with my meal. Certainly a comfort food but doesn't taste cheap or fattening. My friend ordered the fettuccine with lamb meatballs and while they tasted perfectly gamey, the pasta to sauce ratio was a little dry for our taste. Have some wine and finish with their limoncello tiramisu, and you have a beautifully quaint date night. Will be coming again soon. read more

Went here for dine in service yesterday evening to celebrate my 3 year wedding anniversary. I've been wanting to go here for months now but the wait and no reservation policy turned me off. Alas, covid made the impossible possible... Food: hubby and I opted for a four course meal and liked almostttt everything. We got the arugula salad to start which was divine. Bursting summer flavor in a bowl. Our second course was the rigatoni with beef in a creamy tomato sauce. Sooooooo good. The pasta was cooked al dente and while the dish was simple... everything went together so well. The portion was generous for two people, even three people, to split. Next up were our entrees. Hubby got the lamb special and I got the short ribs. Now... here's where things went wrong. My ribs were okay but not as tasty as any of my previous courses. I ate a third of it and asked for a box. Hubby's lamb was... well.. very underwhelming. Didn't quite fall of the bone like the server described and it was completely bland. Hubby barely touched it. It was such a let down especially given our other food was great. For our final course, we got tiramisu which was huge and amazing. So fresh and delicious. Oh and I can't not mention the garlic bread which served as a complementary app. They are generous with the portion and it is literally the best bread I've had at a restaurant... ever. Ambiance: we sat outside on the patio overlooking Alki. Totally romantic. Server: our server was very attentive, no problems there. Maybe they should stay at 50% capacity... Overall: loved literally everything but our entrees which is kind of a big deal... I would go back but only for salad, bread, pasta and dessert ... aka my cheat day lol read more

The location of this establishment is a bit off the beaten path. But, it's definitely worth the trip. The restaurant itself is very unassuming, with some kind of creative ways to break up the tables to provide for some privacy. But, in the end, you're basically sharing tables with people, which provides a unique experience. The waitstaff is always very eager to help you out from the moment you step foot in the door, looking for a table. I don't believe they take reservations for small parties, but don't let that discourage you, because they always seem to find a place for you quickly. In the summer, the patio out front is a nice option, but make sure to bring a sweater for your date, in case they get cold. There's also a small waiting area in the back with some bench seating, if you're waiting for a table. It works and they serve wine while you wait. The food is really great. There are all sorts of dishes to choose from, and I've never had anything that wasn't great. read more