We're from NY and came to celebrate a birthday. We came with a 6 month old and the ambiance was amazing. Low lighting-very Italian restaurant. This is coming from an Italian New Yorker). The burratta was incredible and bruschetta porchetta was a perfect choice for someone willing to try something different. Walking in we were mesmerized by the huge gorgeous welcome tree outside followed by a very delightful hostess. Definitely recommend putting your party size online on the waitlist prior to arriving. Andrew was our waiter and he was phenomenal. Very attentive and recommended plates he'd think we would like. The chicken parm was amazing and the marinara sauce was something a nonna would make. Classic, authentic, Italian. We ended the night with espresso martinis, crème brulé and the classic tiramisu. As someone who dines in NY and NJ often, this was a taste from home and we will definitely be visiting again in the future. read more

See all

The food here is always excellent. Until last Sat, I would have given La Rustica 5 stars. Our last visit changed my mind. Upon arrival, I ordered a drink at the bar. The blond bartender always seems to provide service without a smile or nicety, which after multiple visits, you realize she is an unwelcoming person. They were able to seat us right away without a reservation. We then waited over 1 hour for the food to arrive. Our server was very nice about it, but there was never an explanation or gesture for the wait. I know this is a family owned business and that not all days are perfect. read more

We have been to La Rustica at least five times and have always had a pleasant experience. I have noticed the quality of the restaurant changing lately. They 'revamped' their menu about a month ago and removed a few great dishes. The menu now is very meat-heavy and shrimp-heavy. There aren't many choices outside of that which is disappointing. I made reservations online for our party of 6. I made them for inside (and checked and confirmed this) but we were sat outside in the 'winter garden.' For this level of a restaurant I would never sit outside so when the hostess insisted our reservation was for outside it was annoying considering I had a screenshot showing the opposite. Regardless, the outdoor winter garden is as nice as it can be for being in a heated tent. The folding plastic chairs were very uncomfortable, however. Our table got a variety of dishes including, mussels, squid ink pasta, lobster lasagna, raviolis, and a shrimp pasta. The squid ink pasta was underwhelming to those that ordered it. I ordered the mussels as my meal due to the fact that everything else had meat or shrimp. The mussels were very good. The Cesar salad was so basic and way overpriced and the actual lettuce was a wilted mess that I did not finish. All of the other dishes were liked. They make no changes or exceptions even if other items are specifically mentioned on the menu so beware. For dessert the chocolate cake was ordered and I thought it was dry and tasted like flour. The waitress was very kind and attentive. We never felt rushed like I have in the past. She timed the dishes out perfectly. Overall I think we agree it's time to give La Rustica a break for now. I hate to think that this Summerville restaurant is following other restaurant's patterns of trying to cut back and save money because it now seems to reflect this. La Rustica is absolutely worth a shot if you haven't been and I hope to try again in the future and experience the quality Italian restaurant I have the first few times we've gone. read more

See all

Had the most amazing food at La Rustica in Summerville! We went on a Wednesday night around 6:30 PM. I liked that they offer an online "waitlist" option. What I didn't like was that it didn't provide an estimated seating time, nor was there a way to contact anyone directly. When we arrived, we were seated right away, but I never received confirmation that our table was actually ready. The homemade bread was delicious. I had the red sangria, and we started with the mussels -- they were perfect. I also really enjoyed their lemon vinaigrette salad. I don't usually gravitate toward vinaigrettes, but this one had the perfect balance. All of the entrées were very good and portioned nicely -- filling without being overwhelmingly large. The décor was beautiful -- it truly felt like you were in Italy, which made the whole experience even more special. For dessert, we tried the crème brûlée and tiramisu, both of which were great. I was not a fan of the lemon tiramisu, though -- it reminded me more of a pudding than a traditional tiramisu. Overall, the service and food were excellent. Just note that they are not pet-friendly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

See all

Came here for dinner with a group on a Saturday night and were seated outside. Service was quite slow and we were seated about 15/20 mins past our reservation time - our waiter was great but there were long wait times to being seen and receiving food so we were there for over 2 hours. Food was delicious- the sauce for the oysters was top tier. I ordered the cannelloni and it was delicious. Also loved the complimentary fresh bread which was scrumptious. I would skip the porchetta bruschetta, I found it to be flavorless and dry but pomodoro was great. Overall a great restaurant and would come back again. read more

See all

All the food was amazing. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous during the spring time and the service is outstanding no matter how busy they get. read more

See all

La Rustica is one of those places that works for every kind of night--whether you're going with a big group or planning something more intimate during Golden Hour. The chicken Parmesan is truly the best I've ever had and is always my go-to order. The calamari is another favorite, and their cocktails are consistently great. The restaurant is beautiful inside, and I love having the option to sit on the screened-in porch or outside in the garden. The staff is friendly and welcoming, which makes the whole experience feel easy and enjoyable every time. read more

See all

Absolutely loved my meal here. I met a dear friend and her daughter for dinner when I was in town. The restaurant was so beautiful inside and out; I felt like I was walking into my grandmas house. The staff were knowledgeable about the dishes and took our preferences into their recommendations. The service was spot on; we were never without water and our dishes were cleared quickly. My food was perfect; it melted in my mouth and had a great amount of flavor. If you are in town, you need to have a meal here! read more

See all

La rustica is an upper price restaurant in Summerville South Carolina. The restaurant liens toward Italian cuisine my wife and I visited for Mother's Day. My wife had veal scallopini and I had a rack of lamb. My wife's vehicle was excellent and my rack of the lamb was cooked exactly as requested. They seated us quickly, but only take reservations for six or more. We arrived about 5 PM and was seated immediately. The portions of lamb was excellent, but the portion of veal was a little small for the price both or between 45 and $70 the weight staff were excellent knowledgeable and helpful when ordering and being served other than the price I give this restaurant four stars. They would have received five, but the veal portion would've been a little small for a man. The pasta that came along with these entrées had a sauce that tasted a little packaged. It did not taste homemade other than that the muscles which I also ordered were a little small, even though the portion was a good size in itself. I find this restaurant slightly overpriced for the portion parking was difficult. This is a good restaurant and does have a very nice atmosphere. I would recommend going here for a special occasion, but not for a typical date night. I recommend this restaurant I give it four stars being slightly overpriced for the portions. Their dessert menu was excellent and so is their service. read more

This restaurant has been on my radar for a while and I was not disappointed. A small group of us went on a Saturday evening at 5:30pm and lucked out with getting a table inside. Walk ins only. The parking lot was full, had to park on a side street. There is indoor and enclosed outdoor patio seating as well as a tent covering for additional outdoor seating. The waitress was very knowledgeable in sharing the history of the restaurant, gave great recommendations, and was super friendly and attentive throughout the evening. The food was amazing! I ordered the chicken parm and the sauce was delicious. I definitely will plan another visit soon. read more

See all

La Rustica in Summerville, SC continues to hold a very special place in our hearts. We enjoyed the pasta, calamari, and sangrias, and as always, everything was absolutely delicious--rich, comforting, and authentically prepared. The calamari was perfectly cooked, the pasta was flavorful and satisfying, and the sangrias were refreshing and well balanced. The atmosphere is cozy and romantic, perfect for celebrating life's most meaningful moments. La Rustica isn't just a restaurant; it's part of our story. An absolute gem in Summerville that we'll continue to return to for many years to come. read more

See all

Had New Years Eve dinner tonight so they had a special menu. Decided on the Red Sangria and the Lasagna di Mare! Sangria was very good. Lasagne was very good. Plenty of shrimp, mussels, and clams. As expected it was pretty busy but we got a table next to the bar. Our server was great even though she was very busy. We also enjoy dinner here. Give it a go if you are in Summerville. read more

La Rustica - Sangria - Italian Near Me - Summerville, South Carolina

See all

First time I have not had a great experience at this place. Our waitress forgot my husband's drink and we had to ask about it. Waited on hour for our dinners to come out. I know they were extremely busy but should have brought out a few appetizer and explained the backup in the kitchen. Dinners were great! Food was hot and tasty. Had separate checks and the final bills were not correct. Still highly recommend this restaurant for great Italian food. Ambiance is really nice and feels like you're at their home. read more

Place is beautiful but I rather pay for food than ambiance. Second time here and this time I ordered the Linguine Al Nero di Mare Bread was delicious and much better than the first time, can't say anything bad about service. I indicated that was giving the place a second chance and explained that the sauce was incredible good the first time but the lack of protein kept me away all this time, she promised to let the kitchen know. The shellfish is extremely small, probably not even a quarter of an inch, mini clams and mini muscles either overcooked or the purveyor does not provide good quality shellfish, very little protein with the exception of two shrimp listed in the menu as prawns and about 4 or five tentacles listed as calamari. Some shells came empty again. Had to ask for more red chili because it just wasn't like the first time, that means no consistency with the recipes, server said that had to tone it down because people had complained. It should not be listed as spicy then Disappointed and confused because you won't see my face here again based on price and satisfaction. The food does not match the setting, place looks like a five star restaurant but the food is not. read more

La Rustica - Nero, After I removed a bunch of empty shells. Flavor was 2die4 - Italian Near Me - Summerville, South Carolina

We came here for a business dinner. Everyone loved their food and the server was very friendly. Very pretty restaurant inside and decent lighting inside. One of my dining partners felt the lasagna at Laura is better than here but I liked the Lasagna here better. The lemon vinaigrette for the house salad is delicious, I felt like the flavor of the marinara sauce is very bright, not too spicy. I really enjoyed the addition of the spinach, mushrooms, peas to the lasagna read more

See all

Great service and good food! I'm not usually a fan of Italian but this place is very good. It's absolutely gorgeous too! It's family owned and they are super friendly! It really feels like having a big dinner at a place for family. It' has all the charm of a downtown restaurant but conveniently located in Summerville! I had the seafood pasta with the black squid ink linguine! It was pretty good and the portion sizes were fair. My first drink was a spicy mango margarita but it was a bit too sweet for my tastes so I sent it back. Overall, if you're looking for a nice dinner in an older house but don't want to drive downtown, La Rustica is a great choice! read more

See all

This was the worst experience for both my husband and me! We ordered two dishes, but we barely touched them! The sauce was watery and tasteless, and the salad tasted like dirty water. We left with a terrible taste in our mouths; it was a huge mistake--our experience was abysmal. We definitely would not recommend it to anyone. read more

We were a birthday party of 12. The food is awesome, we sat out on the front porch which was really nice and quiet. Our waiter did a great job explaining all the dishes to us and got the meals out fairly quickly. read more

Five stars for the food alone! I sometimes daydream about the lemon dressing on their salad. And then there's the bread... Every dish I've ordered here has been delightful! Excellent flavors, attention to detail, absolutely scrumptious! Only drawback is, it's hard to get in. And it can be a little loud... But I don't care. I'll come back for that dressing any time. read more

I have done Golden Hour (their revision of happy hour prior to dinner) twice now and its a great venue to hang with the girls and have a glass of champagne or special cocktail. We sat outside on the veranda - I find the bar a bit claustrophobic and seats are super uncomfortable, but then again, I don't think they try to make it too much like a bar. We have tried the sausage pizza and cacio e pepe pasta, caesar salad, and a very good rigatoni (I don't recall the sauce). The dishes are good, solid. The pizza is a bit heavy and doughy. The cacio e pepe pasta lacked deep flavor but the entire experience was enjoyable. Based on the food during Golden Hour, I am not sure I would have dinner but you can't beat this place for a late afternoon snack with the girlfriends. read more

I love dining at La Rustica! It's nice that this restaurant doesn't take reservations, so you have a chance to get a table when you decide to go out to dinner for date night on a whim and don't have to stress about not making a reservation ahead of time. The waitlist always moves quickly. I love the house salads and bread basket that come with your meal here, the bread is sooo good. Usually plenty of parking spots, but not a traditional parking lot- the parking is lined up down the street- so save some extra time upon arrival in case you need to walk a good distance from your car. read more

La Rustica - Bread Basket - Italian Near Me - Summerville, South Carolina

See all

Great Italian - amazing service - beautiful venue - ok - are you convinced you need to go? Seriously - how much more can I gush about it? No reservations except for parties 6 and over - not a big deal but just so you know. Took my oldest son out for his birthday - and he wanted Italian. Our party of 7 was quickly sat (off our reservation) and treated to some amazing focaccia - OMG. So good. Had the Pulpo con Palento (Octopus) - appetizer - and it was the best I have ever had. Salads included with meal - lovely lemon vinaigrette. Everyone's meals were amazing - and our server, Sam, made sure it was exactly how we wanted it - so refreshing to have a server who really understands what it means to make a dining experience exception. It was a wonderful meal - will be back often - especially with how reasonable the price was for the quality. . read more

La Rustica - Cioppino - seafood stew - Italian Near Me - Summerville, South Carolina

I've seen some mixed reviews about LaRustica but enough people recommended it that my interest was piqued. You walk into this beautiful quaint restaurant. Great atmosphere and everyone is beyond hospitable. Sam our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and perfectly attentive. Sam made some great suggestions and after describing the specials, three out of the four of us opted for a special. The wine and sangria were nice. The fried Calamari was very good. Everyone's meal came with a citrusy house salad. I had the Cioppino. It's been a long time since I had Cioppino done this well. It had tons of seafood cooked perfectly. My husband had the Wild Boar cooked similar to an Osso Bucco. It melted off the bone. Also, cooked perfectly. One friend had the Tuna special which was delicious. Our other friend had the Tortellini and shrimp special, another dish cooked perfectly. We were all crazy full but had to get La Rustica's famous Coconut Cake (that's not what it's called on the menu but I'm still in a food coma and can't remember what it was called). It was rich beautiful and crazy good. We will definitely be back. If you haven't been, La Rustica is worth a try. read more

See all

Totally enjoyable for affordable family night out. The food has just enough seasoning to allow you to know your eating all thing Mexican cuisine. Delicious every time. The service is quick, the atmosphere is beautiful and clean. read more

Went here for a friend's birthday was super cute! We were seated immediately at a really nice table in the main dining room. Our hostess was very nice and helpful with our selections. The food was absolutely decadent. Can't wait to come back and enjoy it again!! The space is honestly one of my favorite hidden gems! read more

See all

The food was excellent and the service was good, until our waiter, Daniel, approached my husband and me after we left the table to complain about the tip we left. He insisted that all restaurants require 20-30% tips as a "standard," which is not true. Tipping is optional and based on the service received, and no one has the right to demand money from a guest. Our bill was around $164, and we tipped what we felt was appropriate. It was very unprofessional and distasteful for him to confront us, especially since multiple staff members contributed to our service; from clearing plates to boxing leftovers. I even placed an additional order to go, so it's not as though we didn't spend generously here. Unfortunately, this encounter completely ruined our experience, and we will not be returning. read more

Ate a birthday dinner this past week. The food was excellent! The pictures below are from our meal. We enjoyed the Chilean Seabass, Lobster Ravioli a salad and a slice of Carrot cake! read more

See all

Amazing! For a while I did not realize it was a restaurant...thrilled once I tried it. I love authentic Italian food. The bread will get you into to trouble. Best calamari with sauce I've ever had. Will be patronizing again. Definitely a new favorite spot! Great ambiance and service. read more

La Rustica - Stuffed ravioli with shrimp and spinach. It was one of the specials of the night. - Italian Near Me - Summerville, South Carolina

The Best Italian Restaurant in Summerville! We came in to celebrate our anniversary and couldn't have asked for a better experience. From the moment we walked in, we were treated like family. The ambiance was cozy and romantic -- perfect for a special occasion. This restaurant truly is a gem in Summerville. We left with full hearts and full stomachs. Highly recommend for any special occasion -- or just a great Italian meal. read more

We always enjoy everything when we have dinner at La Rustica! Food and service are top notch! read more

La Rustica - Marinated octopus - Italian Near Me - Summerville, South Carolina

La Rustica is my favorite Italian in the area. My husband and I love this place and it has become our spot. We have tried most of the menu and our favorite is the fettuccine bolognese. We always top off the meal with an affogato. read more

See all

We are there once with family and it was excellent Our family came from Atlanta to visit us in Summerville. They were impressed with the bread and our meals. My fussy grandchildren even liked it read more

We made a reservation and needed a high chair but came to find out they don't have high chairs... which was interesting. Not sure if that's because they don't "encourage" children coming, but at that point we had to decide if we were going to be able to stay. We were going to make it work since it had been a long day and we had 2 kids under 5 that were hungry and cranky. We asked if there was a table outside because they originally were gonna seat us right in the center of the restaurant and we did NOT want to disturb the guests around us. Thankfully they were kind enough to let us get a table outside on their beautiful patio. They even had someone come turn the heat lamps on which they totally didn't have to because it was so nice out. Once we finally got settled in, our server came to greet us and tell us about the specials. She was very nice. I ordered a bottle of wine and when she came to present it, she told me that she was not confident or comfortable with opening the wine and was struggling. I offered to open it for her. I'm only sharing this part because as a food and beverage manager it is essential that my staff knows how to properly open wine bottles for guests, especially those who are spending a money on a decent bottle of wine. But I wasn't upset, I just think that should be something that is reconsidered for servers in their training. If she didn't, then someone else should've assisted her. I think if it was someone else dining in that would've been off putting. However, she was honest and patient and I appreciated that. As for the food, we enjoyed everything. My husband has severe celiac and it was communicated to us what he could have and he thoroughly enjoyed the bolognese. We had an assortment of entrees that all had great flavor and went great with the Italian wine we had. They were not shy on portions at all and we had plenty of food to take home. The creme brûlée was delicious and our server was attentive. Overall we had a great experience and being outside was super clutch with the kiddos. read more

See all

I will always give the food and servers a 5. I have never been disappointed. However, this past week we can during happy hour before dinner started. White wine, red, and rose were $5/glass. I ordered Chardonnay and was shocked I was charged $18/glass. When I questioned it, the bartender she said happy hour price only applied to Pinot Grigio. She should have told me when I ordered it because I would have bought the Pinot Grigio. I felt like it was a bait and switch. read more

Great family Italian restaurant in Summerville! The food is excellent and the prices will make you want to come back for more. They don't take reservations for fewer than 6 people but they have a wait list on their website, which we used. It seemed to work well and we had a table quickly. The service is outstanding, but they do pack the tables in the restaurant for the most seating possible. Just keep that in mind if you need a little extra space for little ones or what have you. We started with a sangria blanco and the house old fashioned. The Sangria was super bright and fresh. The old fashioned was fine, I probably wouldn't order it again. But they do have plenty of cocktails on the list, so more to try! We usually don't like to fill up on breadsticks, but these were so, so good. We even asked for more during our meal. I ordered three cannelloni and my husband ordered the nightly special, which was a lamb shank. The cannelloni was superb and has plenty of sauce (enter breadsticks). The lamb shank literally fell off the bone and had amazing flavor. It came with a side of veggies and spaghetti, which were solid additions. We also ordered a half carafe of wine to drink with dinner. We were pleasantly surprised about the pricing of the wine- super reasonable! We also ended the night with the limoncello tiramisu, which was a great note to end on. We like limoncello- we like tiramisu- and this was no disappointment! read more

See all

My husband and I enjoy coming here for dinner and occasional Golden Hour. The atmosphere food and staff are all 5 star. Highly recommend for consistently delivering a great dining experience read more

We just didn't find the food to be very good. It was actually kind of bland. Lovely spot and the servers and staff were top notch! read more

La Rustica - a woman sitting at a table in a restaurant - Italian Near Me - Summerville, South Carolina

Wow. Seriously wow. From the moment we walked in and were quickly seated by one of the owners to the moment we left / everything was so enjoyable! The waitress was a real sweetheart. Very attentive. Gave details about the restaurant and menu. After giving specials for the evening I went with the ravioli and chicken with white sauce. Absolutely phenomenal. I could have eaten the entire plate of food. The bread was to die for. Excellent cocktails. Took two cannolis home and they were also exceptional. We have lived here for 4 years and this is the first place I would absolutely rave about. Beautiful location and space - only "complaint" was how close the tables were but the diners near us were pleasant so it wasn't a deal breaker at all. read more

Went for the first time to celebrate my birthday. You would drive right by it as it looks like a cute house with a large garden and patio. We asked to sit outside since it was beautiful out. However, if it started to get chilly they had propane heaters scattered around. Our server Danielle walked us through the menu since it was our first time in. She made all the specials sound wonderful. I started with an espresso martini which was a great pick me up! We chose calamari as an appetizer and the sauce had a nice kick to it and was delicious. They bring you a salad automatically which was with oil and vinegar, I believe but it was fresh and light. I had my mind set on getting veal and it was tender, cooked perfectly and the marsala sauce with the sage was a perfect blend. My husband got the lamb special, I had never tried lamb but he let me try a bite and it was such a great flavor. It fell right off the bone. Now would it be a birthday without dessert? I got the cannoli and they are made in house. They were light but sweet and exactly what I wanted to finish off a great meal! I look forward to returning and trying other homemade classic meals! read more

See all

Had the opportunity to be there around lunch time. They now have brunch from 2-4:30, called the Golden Hour, Fantastic. Beautiful place, old home converted. Very nice people, onion soup was very good. Fettucine Bolognese with meatballs was fantastic. Clams were excellent . All plates were very large for a brunch. Must go back and try full dinner. Frank G read more