This review is way overdue, because we went to Rucola back in November, but luckily I still remember how much we enjoyed brunch! The best part? The sweet potato gratin. I realize that sounds weird - and we weren't sure what to expect, but we could've just gotten 5 of these and eaten them and been happy. The sweet potatoes are cooked perfectly (with tons of butter) and spiced very well. I can't do it justice by describing it, but just know that you should try it. We also got the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, with the bacon on the side (because my boyfriend doesn't eat it). The sandwich was very good, but the bacon is definitely the best part :) For the sweet part of the meal, we got the nutella french toast. The portion wasn't as big as I would have liked, but how can you go wrong with nutella french toast? The chopped hazelnuts are a unique touch -- I recommend it! The atmosphere was perfect - and exactly what we expected in Brooklyn :) We sat at the end of a long, communal table. Everyone was friendly and laid back. The light fixtures and wood tables were great. I definitely recommend Rucola for brunch - I'd go all the time if I lived nearby! read more

Comfy, cozy, rustic feeling, and pleasant people. Rucola is a great place to stop in and just enjoy yourself. The decor is unique and the cauliflower was incredible. read more

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We went 2 weeks ago. Granted, the restaurant is new and probably has some kinks to work out. But... service was sloppy and the food was mediocre. I got the roasted chicken and while the veggies were nice, the chicken was SUPER dry. Disappointing but not horrible. The really unfortunate part of the meal was the part I was most excited for: the stuffed artichoke appetizer. It looked great when it arrived (25 minutes after we ordered it) but when we tasted it, we both made faces. It tasted... bad. Like spoiled. Not good. Gross, in fact. It didn't taste right. It was strange. My boyfriend's meal was more normal - he got fish cheeks or something like that. His cocktail was good too. We waited over 30 minutes between appetizer and main course. No wonder my chicken was dried out by the time it arrived! Rucola is 3 blocks away from our apartment so I'm sure we'll try it again. But we're certainly not rushing out to eat there. Side note- we did see both Emily Mortimer and Michelle Williams there that night. Either Rucola is a hip little spot or everyone who lives in my neighborhood is just so thrilled to have another option for dinner that isn't Building on Bond or Jolie. read more

Rucola, which mean rocket in italian and is that delicious bitter green leaf used for salads, is pretty amazing. Everything from their iron-clad entrance to all the wood-accented decor--communal tables, vintage delivery boxes, wooden ceiling. J and I decided to join them for brunch this past Sunday and we were not disappointed in any respect of the word. We we so surprised how empty and open the place was on a Saturday afternoon around 1:30ish. For a hot new spot, it is still on the DL (so don't tell anyone!). They are still ironing some kinks. Our coffees took a while to arrive and when they did, the coffees were not made with soy. The waitress apologetically brought us a new one and put it on the house (that was completely unnecessary but awesome). We ordered the brussel sprout salad with a poached egg and a mortadella/speck sandwich. The sandwich was heavenly. Sesame toasted roll with mortadella, fried egg, and speck. GD! The salad on the other hand had an overcooked poached egg and was switched off immediately. I really like this place and think it is special, but they do need to iron those first year kinks. read more

I have to admit that Rucola is hands-down one of my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn, and not just because it is a block away from my apartment, but because it is consistently delicious! The restaurant itself is very small, and you have to prepare to wait if you plan on getting dinner on a Friday or Saturday night. However, they allow you to call ahead or walk over and put your name on the list and they will call you when you're table is ready. As for appetizers, I strongly suggest the speck alto adige paired with the toma della rocca( the soft, luscious creaminess of the cheese is heavenly and they serve it with a side of cinnamon apples= unreal!) Their homemade focaccia is awesome! I appreciate how fresh all of their food is and that every meal is made to order. Every dish I've had off of their dinner menu has been delicious; however, my favorite has to be the rigatoni. It's understated, yet so fresh and the homemade pasta is to die for! As far as lunch goes, the pork sandwich is the way to go! The only negatives for Rucola are that 1. They no longer serve the sloppy joe which was unreal (I still crave it regularly) and 2. As far as brunch goes, the nutella french toast isn't anything to write home about. I was actually quite surprised that they served something that I could've easily made at home (toasted wheat bread with nutella smeared in the middle) and a few hazelnuts on top. Overall, definitely worth going to Rucola over and over again! read more

An out of the way, kind of in the middle of nowhere restaurant that wins points for their full blast air conditioning and rustic decor more than for their food or service. We had weekday breakfast here, which was filling but lackluster. The country breakfast, while a big plate, didn't astound at all: the potatoes were flavorless, the toast was almost burnt, and the smoked pancetta was kind of weak. All in all, an okay breakfast spot if you're in the neighborhood but don't go out of your way. read more

It was a Thursday night around 7pm, a post-hurricane Sandy night, but it was still busy as always, I called ahead to put my name down and it was going to be a 1.5 hour wait. I was happy I could time my arrival accordingly and not have to wait there. Once we arrived there, there was maybe 15 more minutes of a wait but someone constantly kept tabs on us as to when we could expect to be seated. A good start indeed. Immediately when I stepped inside Rucola, I felt at ease. It had a charming rustic atmosphere that I wanted for my future home! We started off with the cheese platter which was pleasant, moist bread, good cheeses. I got the gnoche for my main dish which came with squash, mushrooms and kale. I also wished I had a bit more sitting/breathing/eating room. I like the sauce, it was a white sauce but it wasn't heavy at all. I did wish there was a little bit more of the mushroom and kale however. Plus, complimentary dessert! Delicious chocolate mousse. Overall, superb service and a wonderful atmosphere. read more

Love the warm rustic vibe. Love the food even more. Started with the Chef's antipasto with cheese and veggies (no meat, no fennel, as they totally catered to our request). Roasted cauliflower was the star of the plate, with a strong supporting cast of 2 delicious cheeses (don't remember which ones), pear jam, roasted beets w/ balsamic, olives, eggplant caponata and warm crusty bread. For entree, we went with Garganelli with tomato-almond pesto, cherry heirloom tomatoes and zucchini--hearty and comforting. Perfectly al dente garganelli tubes were bathed in a slight nuttiness from the pesto, creaminess and a little tang from the tomatoes. Spectacular. Hell, I'd bathe in it too! And when it came to dessert, my friend asked me split one or get two?... Two, duh! My motto: never skip dessert! She was leaning more chocolate, I was leaning more blueberry. Went with the Chocolate pudding with olive oil sea salt & whipped cream. Rich, deep cocoa flavor with bursts of zing from the flecks of sea salt--this ain't your typical Jell-o pudding! It's amazing, as I love a good sweet & salty combo. And the blueberry almond cake with sea salt and whipped cream was tart, airy, not terribly sweet, nutty, buttery... a good balance of textures and flavors and altogether delicious. Drinks were dangerously refreshing as well and simply elevated our already amazing meal. Simply put, it's places like Rucola that are making me fall in love with Italian. read more

The food and the drinks here are always delicious. Clean, highbrow, complex cocktails, and warming, hearty food. Even the asapragus is good. The setting is great - very Brooklyn-edison-bulb-underspoken-chic. The staff may have stepped out the Portlandia Season 2 opener, The Dream of the (18)90's Is Alive In Portland. In the dozens of times I've eaten there, I've found them to be pretty cold. There are a couple of male waiters that will smile back at you or share a kind casual word, but all in all they are concerned with getting your order, capable of answering any and all questions about food and drink with expertise, and only going to have conversations with their colleagues. I once saw a waiter eating the chocolate mousse from a shot glass in the back of the bar and told him it looked pretty tasty. He blushed and joked about being ravenous, then exclaimed about all the great ingredients with true sincere joy. I felt like I'd won a big prize and/or seen a unicorn. I've learned to not take out of towners here because of the indifferent service, but NYers know the deal, and I love taking city types to the beautiful yummy spot. read more

Came here with a couple of friends who live in the area. It's a go-to favorite and I can see why! Great food! The pastas were absolutely amazing. So was the grilled whole trout they serve. Great wine options that compliment a fantastic menu. I'll definitely go back! read more

Will definitely go back for whatever is on the menu. They pay attention to all details and it's simply delicious. The staff and venue is very inviting as well. Friends just moved in around the corner and I think we'll be back. Yum! read more

Ate here a few weeks ago i gotta say it was pretty damn good. the bronzino with olives was off the meat rack they also got a great beer selection. only reason their getting a 4 is cause the service sucked that day, and my friend didn't get his bronzino he got the other fish instead cause the waiter wasnt paying attention. by the time he got his branzino he was too pissed off to eat cause i was already done with mine lol read more

Cozy, charming and good food. Was w/a group that shared a bunch o'stuff. Had the charcuterie platter, fennel salad, brussel sprouts, white beans to start. The pork dish I had with some kind of sauerkraut and horseradish cream was excellent. Everyone else enjoy their pastas (white bolognese rigatoni I tried was nice too) and other mains. Service was fine, but a bit slow. If you are with a group of friends chatting, you won't care. Order the chocolate pudding w/olive oil, sea salt and whipped cream for dessert. Sleeper hit if there ever was one. Surprised how good it was. Solid meal. read more

Food was outstanding, had the sausage rigatoni with crispy polenta. Started with the chef's selection of veggies, meats and cheeses which was also great, the pickled onion was a surprise hit. They also had a reasonably large by the glass wine list and the wait staff seemed to be very knowledgable of everything on there, asked for a couple of recommendations which didn't disappoint! Only criticism is that the service was a little slow but we also weren't ready to order at first so they may have assumed that we wanted to take our time (it was early evening on a Sunday after all). read more

We came in from out of town for NYE and were directed to Rucola by a friend. It was a great suggestion! The atmosphere was fantastic for a date, a tiny, trendy, hole in the wall in a lovely part of Brooklyn. I hope to eat here again without a pre fixe menu (I'm sure this was a NYE only occurrence). The food was prepared to perfection, but I would have liked to see the chef's creativity more clearly in a full menu. We did leave a little hungry! At the risk of sounding cheap, I think Rucola would do well to increase the portions slightly for a $95 price tag. It just isn't the type of place that can pull off a single ravioli and an ounce of short rib for "dinner". Maybe it's the neighborhood... read more

Rucola is one of my favorite brunch places in New York. The salmon dish is just perfect. The color of the salmon as it comes to your table is enough to leave you salivating. Would also recommend the Farro bowl and the egg and cheese sandwich. read more

There is nothing more exciting in my book than finding the perfect restaurant half a block from your apartment - and lucky us, Rucola is right on the corner! I have been anxiously watching as the restaurant came into being and waited for the perfect night to try it out. We went on a Friday night and it was super packed. No problem, the super nice guy who greeted us took our name and cell number and called us when our table was ready - perfect! First bit of excitement was the intriguing cocktail list - rye with sage? Yes please! We tried 4 different cocktails and all were really unique and tasty. For apps we had the stuffed artichoke and asparagus with shredded egg. Enjoyed both a lot, but not as much as our mains - soft shell crab with pancetta and peas and a delightful lamb special with fresh greens. All was very flavorful, seasonal and fresh! If it couldn't get better... Then there was dessert: some of the best tiramisu I have ever had. A very generous slice with great flavor and not overly sweet! The service was really friendly even though they were very busy. The only negative is the space is a bit small for how popular Rucola already is proving to be! read more

Pretty big fan. Can only speak to brunch though. The bacon i had the other day was quite possibly the finest I've ever had. Nearby, not terribly expensive, nice to kids. Small though, so call ahead or something, because it fills up quickly. read more

Dinner Friday evening / 7 pm / walk in Great service, cocktails were amaze balls, food was extraordinary, one of the nicest I've eaten in Carroll Gardens, cobble hill etc, My only gripe, if I'm paying 12 dollar for a glass of wine, don't short pour me. . . . . . Come on Will definitely be back, will recommend all round, excellent establishment- keep it up read more

Went to this adorable restaurant last Wednesday around 830 pm and it was packed! It's a tiny restaurant and very popular so I was expecting a short wait and had a seat at the bar until my table was ready. The tables are crammed pretty closely together so don't expect to have too much privacy for your conversations, I felt like I was basically sitting with the couple next to me but on the plus side they were friendly! We shared the crudo appetizer which I thought was really nice and fresh and also ordered the mushroom pasta. I'm usually not a fan of creamy pastas but that was the only vegetarian pasta dish so I went with that. It was really flavor full and I could tell that the noodles were homemade. The menu is seasonal so I would love to come back and see what they have for spring, I also saw they have an awesome brunch! read more

What a great restaurant!! We enjoyed the appetizers, salads, entrees and desert in that order! The room is very nice, service was great host was exceptional! Would go back in a heart beat. What a find. read more

4 friends and I had a wonderful dinner! Got there early, so there wasn't a wait. We'll definitely be back! We shared the following dishes: Fresh Focacia Bread with olive oil (delicious) Appetizers: Cured Meat & Cheese Plate - tasty! Frisse & Charred Fava Bean Salad - totally unique and fun Entrees: Pasta w/ Gorgonzola & Kale x2 (it was too delicious to eat only once!) Veal w/ Ramps (out of this world!) Cookie Plate Service: One of the owners, Julian, was working the door. He was friendly, funny and fast, as was our server Keith. Another server (though I don't remember her name) was also the baker. She was just as charming as the rest, and snuck us a few extra cookies as well! While the menu was limited, I got the clear impression that it will change with the season. Hello... ramps are only around for like two weeks! If there were any first week hick-ups, they have been resolved perfectly. My suggestion: head to Rucola for dinner tonight! It's an excellent addition to the neighborhood. read more

Service was very friendly, that's for sure. The arugula salad was great but had a bit too much salt. The artichoke was OK. I had the rigatoncini which was really delicious but the portion was way too small. My husband had the roasted chicken. It was just OK. We left paying $65 and with hungry stomachs. UGH. The inside was way too loud. Noise bouncing off the walls and ceilings. Too bad they didn't hire a good architect to take care of that when they were building the restaurant. read more

There can be a wait, and it is a small restaurant...but I gave them 5 for the following: Excellent staff and service. The wait staff is friendly, and the managers tries to accommodate you to the best of their ability. If you call ahead it will save you some of the frustration others had mentioned. The food is amazing, and the servings are well proportioned. They have an extensive Italian wine list, its pretty awesome. read more

Pasta was great as well as the fried calamari. The tri tip steak came pre sliced which is unexpected and not ideal. Chef selection board was lame as well as the $13 single piece of toast with pate on it. Ambiance and drinks were great. read more

This small Italian restaurant is located on a quiet corner in Boerum Hill by the Bergen St subway station. My friend and I visited there on a Friday night. Naturally, it was very crowded. Naturally, people there were also very loud. This was a typical Brooklyn restaurant with brick wall, mason jar light cover with rap music. Despite the busy night, the service was pretty good. I had the Lumache, a homemade pasta with roasted mushrooms, fontina Valle d'Aosta, and rosemary breadcrumbs. The quality of pasta in Brooklyn restaurants is not consistant, unfortunately. And the pasta there did not live up to 'homemade pasta", because it did not taste fresh. My friend had the Beef Short Rib with herb spaetzle, savoy cabbage, and roasted turnips. He said it was a bit dry side but taste was good. Interestingly, he said he was more impressed by the amazingly delicious freshly baked focaccia on the table. He recommended me the dish of fried cauliflower, eggplant capenade, and olive. Surprisingly, those cauliflower tasted almost like fried calamari. I really love calamari, so, it was a bit pleasantly surprising dish. They had Manhattan quality with Brooklyn price. I highly recommend this place. **** read more

Rucola is a hidden gem in the middle of residential Boerum Hill, and it just sort of emerges from among the brownstones as you walk along Dean St. You wouldn't know from its exterior, but this place is hopping for brunch, so my boyfriend and I squeezed in between two other brunching couples and quickly made the decision that, yes, we were getting cocktails. I got the Rucola Bloody Mary and was blown away by its veritable punch of flavor and spice. This is not the kind of bloody mary that you suck down because it tastes like V8 and vodka. As I kept drinking it, I was impressed that the spice only seemed to build, but never reached painful levels. My boyfriend got a cocktail that involved Scotch but I can't recall the name, and while he liked it, once he tasted my drink he immediately ordered one for himself as well. For food, I got the bacon egg and cheese sandwich, boyfriend got the broccoli rabe plate, and we shared the sweet potato gratin. My sandwich was a standout--it was served on a fluffy roll, with wonderful chewy bacon, 2 fried eggs, some type of cheddar-y cheese, and arugula. I loved all the flavors together, and just wished that the eggs had been runny. Maybe you can request that? The broccoli rabe platter was amazing. Legit, amazing. Tender broccoli rabe, tasty beans, an egg with a runny yolk, and a sausage, all mixed together. It hits all those spots--savory, salty, snappy sausage, and some veggies. Then the sweet potato gratin was just an explosion of cheesy goodness. It was a really small little square of this confection, but it was so flavorful it didn't really matter. If you're in the mood for something healthier, the yogurt and granola that many people were ordering looked delicious and seemed like a decent portion. read more

How have I not written a review of this place before? Like Peter D, my wife and I were also late finally trying this place. It's small. The seating is tight. They don't take reservations. It can get a bit loud. That said: solid food. We love the chef's board of whatever cheese and meat they are serving that night. The focaccia they serve before the meal is just... stupid good. Cocktails! Did I mention cocktails? They have a good bar staff. Pasta. Fish. Chicken. Lamb. Various salads. We've enjoyed everything that we've had there over our many visits. That said: Please don't go here. It's getting way too crowded. read more

So I wanted Italian in the area and found this quaint little place at the corner of Bond and Dean...reminded me of Seersucker on Smith when I went in. Was early so I sat at the bar...bar stool was uncomfortable but oh well. Hooks underneath the bar for bags and coats. Seems like a neighborhood bar, the guy beside me was talking to staff and diners alike who all lived around the area! Friend came, we were sat promptly...host made sure to check in with us even though we had to wait 15 mins or so. I had that ear-shaped pasta with salt cod and broccoli rabe...LOVED it. I polished it off...was about to lick my plate. The broccoli rabe was amazing...not bitter at all. The salt cod was..interesting, wasn't too salty or overwhelming. Only complaint: TOO LITTLE (well, I am greedy so...) My gf had the baked pasta with cheese...same thing, amazingness in too little a portion. Prices were decent for the quality of food I must say...I wish there was more though! I cannot wait to come back again!!!! :) Tip-bits: Cash only...for now Gets busy so come early and wait at the bar Single unisex bathroom to the R in the back, by the kitchen 3 draft beers only for now Good for couples/dates/small groups Get loud when busy Couple of outdoor tables read more

Beautiful welcoming outdoor seating setup during Covid and delicious Italian cuisine.

Cute, quaint, good food, strong hipster vibe. Not sure about adding all that spiciness in pastas, seems to take a bit away from its simplicity, but the service is great and place very adorable especially if you get a seat up front by the little window alcove. One big plus is this place opens late. read more

Came here for my birthday dinner a few years ago and me and my sister were totally impressed! Great food, great service, excellent rustic vibe. They have amazing seafood and cocktails, and it's such a treat to go to a nice restaurant and splurge a little while still enjoying a healthy, balanced meal. Service was friendly and attentive, but not overbearing, which is the sweet spot for me. Can't wait to go back. read more

Only great things to say about Rucola! Good for families around brunch time, though evening is definitely more for grownups. Romantic and intimate atmosphere, lovely for groups as well. The food is seriously delicious. It's in the little things... that unexpectedly outstanding smoked salmon... impeccable salad dressing (w/ pickled onions stealing the show on that one). Yum! Will be back very soon. read more

This is my favorite restaurants in New York City. It's the combination of good food and a beautiful location and something intangible that just makes it wonderful. read more

This is an updated review, having been back three times in the last few months, I have to say I'm (sadly) not as impressed as i was initially. The good: Both the beat and eggplant apps are still fabulous- simple yet flavorful. We also had a great waitress who was upbeat, aware, and super competent. The blah: Rice ball appetizer with saffron had little to no taste. The porchetta entree involved a small piece of fatty, seemingly low quality meat over a heap of well flavored grains. Meh. The trout was just okay- again on the very bland side. The wine pours are terribly stingy and that's probably the worst offense of all. Overall the meals and pours feel cheap under the guise of 'simplicity'. No thanks. read more

I've been familiar with this place for quite some time and decided to walk in for the first time for some lunch. I decided on the Escarole Salad and a side of the marinated olives. The Salad was AMAZING. Initially I wasn't thrilled at the price but the portion in my opinion was very fair. The salad was perfectly dressed and had just the right amounts of smoked feta accompanied by the crunch of the roasted almonds. Delicious. The olives were okay. The portion was huge for the price! Aside from food, it wasn't busy at all and the ambiance was pretty and chill. I definitely will be coming back here. Excited to try dinner next. read more

Rucola - Escarole Salad - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This small trendy neighborhood restaurant was quite crowded on the Sunday morning we visited. Fortunately the wait was short. We were seated at the big communal table in the center of the room. The décor is typical of places like this: exposed brick wall, long counter on one side. The Green Juice made up of squeezed kale, cucumber, carrot, parsley, ginger, celery and lemon might sound nutritional but was a bit hard to imbibe. What sacrifices we made for good health. The side fennel sausage was a bit on the salty side. Both the bacon, egg & and cheese sandwich and the roasted pork sandwich were tasty and satisfying, however. read more

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A solid choice, fresh and local, friendly staff, pretty quick service. I find it a bit surprising that the menu basically hasn't changed in about a year--I like a little more variety. The orange-something fancy soda tastes aspartamey, and they watered it down with a ton of ice despite my asking for none, s it didn't even taste carbonated. Still, the roast chicken is delicious, and my mom liked her fish. The pasta is a skip, in my opinion. The waitress told my dad the squash pasta was pretty light, but the sauce turned out to be just the opposite, and he wasn't thrilled. The place is wildly loud. They don't do reservations, but you can do same-day call-aheads. Overall, I like rucola, but wouldn't go back too often. read more

Hipster doofus vibe. Had a salami and hot peppers sandwhich nothing else..was good..picnic bench seating..strange.

Ate at the bar. Had the pork loin. It was tender and flavorful. The roast fennel was great.