The food is good and inexpensive. I would have given 5 stars but customers need to be aware that this is a very small establishment and a positive dining experience can be quickly undone by one loud, boisterous patron. The Rustic Cafe has 5-6 tables and a bar. Both times that we have eaten here (one was a Friday night and another a Thursday night) a very loud customer has made us regret our decision. We will come back, but for lunch or at another time when one might expect the other customers to be quieter. read more

I have been here several times before,,I recall the food as being pretty decent.Tonight I had take out,,the steak was like shoe leather ,I had asked for it to be pink ,,the waitress said 'maybe it got heated more on the ride home?" I must say I have yet to hear that one, lol. The sweet potato mash was inedible,,they said it was a brown sugar maple seasoning,,however, it was very weird tasting .The waitress was delightful, she brought my food out to my car for me which was very nice.I think that given my order ,other than the broccoli was not good at all, good service would have been to say something like" please come in and have another steak on us sometime".I had heard from people that the restaurant had gone down hill, however this was the first time I had ever had really bad food there. read more

We love this place! Cold beer, tasty food, Cinco de Mayo four times a year (really)! Undoubtedly the friendliest place around. I'm a pretty quiet guy and I've never been to the Rustic Cafe without ending up in great conversation with the bartender and the other customers. As soon as you walk in, you're family. Most customers seem to know each other here, but first timers are warmly welcomed into the fold. Stop by this homey roadhouse, you won't regret it! read more

Stopped in for lunch last Saturday...their clam chowder had tons of clam meat and potatoes, just the way I like it. The fish & chips tasted fresh as well, the lobster roll was warm, but it had too much claw meat, which has a different texture than other parts of lobster. The place reminded me of a cabin; it only had about 6-7 tables and the bar, good thing we went during lunch so it wasn't super crowded. read more

Rustic cafe never ceases to surprise with the quality and variety of dishes they offer. The atmosphere is cheerful and rustic, the staff are friendly and efficient and the draught beer selection is solid. Start with the steamers, grab some burgers (gorgonzola chocolate!!) Or one of the daily specials. Finish with a homemade desert and you have a great overall experience. read more

The past several times we have come here the quality of the food has diminished and the prices increased. The seating arrangement inside has become unbearable. We ate outside and we're asked to sit at the beat up picnic table but refused and wanted the patio table. Not one other customer cane outside the entire time we ate our on average burgers. The place used to be great until everyone and their brother started going there and no longer an enjoyable place to eat with friends and family. read more

Busy little place, but so worth stopping in for! Lobster rolls were awesome and coleslaw may have been the best we've ever had.

Loved this hole in the wall place! The atmosphere is cozy and the music was great. Food was great and beer was cold. Our waitress was the best! So glad I stumbled into this hidden gem read more

Loved this spot we stopped for lunch and a beer on the way back from NYC. Delicious crab cakes and steak. We sat out on the patio with our dog and enjoyed some fresh air. The waitress/ bartender had a pretty packed little place all to herself and she did a good job of taking care of everyone. Would stop here again while on a road trip for sure! read more

Consistently solid and a menu that's while not adventurous, always satisfies. Staff is friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. Worth a stop for a bite to eat or drinks. read more

We were visiting family in Niantic but not until Saturday so Friday we dropped our bags at the hotel & had the GPS route us around traffic on I-95 to visit other family in Norwalk... Passed this little "hole in the wall" place & looked it up on Yelp & knew we needed to try it. We went back on Saturday night. We were not disappointed! Our family who has lived in Niantic since the mid 90's had never been here, not once! I think this is our go-to place now when we're visiting. ;) They've got wings for the husband, seafood for me, fries & calamari for our youngest, & calamari & a number of other things on the menu that intrigued our oldest (who isn't as picky as the youngest haha). We were a group of 3 adults, 2 kids, we were seated right away. For a calamari appetizer, 8 adult beverages, 1 kids beverage, entrees for everyone, & 1 kids ice cream just over $100 was a great deal. The restaurant area/pub is on the small side & everyone seemed to know each other but even though we weren't regulars, we felt right at home because our server was such a sweetheart. We got extra oyster crackers from another server with a knowing smile because our youngest saw our oldest had some & that wasn't "fair" - lol. It wasn't a fast meal because they were jam packed but we weren't in a rush & we didn't mind at all. And even though the servers were running around like they had jet packs strapped to their backs, they still took the time to make sure we had everything we needed, had refills when we needed them, etc. They were great! We'd been walking around town all day in the heat & humidity so our server was having to refill our water glasses every few minutes. Eventually she just brought over a pitcher of iced water for the table which was wonderful! I got fish & chips which were great. The husband got two different kinds of wings which he said were alright but he likes East Coast Tacos wings more. The calamari was fantastic & we loved the sauce - it was a sweet & hot sauce, I THINK it was duck sauce mixed with chili but I'm not sure, in any case, it was tasty! Great local beer on tap & they made a great margarita. When our youngest's ice cream came out, she brought out a cup of vanilla ice cream with all the fixings on the side & put it together in front of him just the way he liked it. She had him put his hand out & put the whipped cream right in his hand & he licked it off, then she handed us a few wet-naps. ;) It was hilarious & our youngest got a huge kick out of it as well. Highly recommend, we'll be back, thanks Yelp! :) read more

A little far off the beaten path, but we stopped there after a trip to the Florence Griswold Museum. Rustic in a new sort of way. All redone inside, with faux logs and faux tables carved from logs. A few tables, busy bar at 2pm. We got the lobster rolls straight up, cheap enough and tasty. Wait staff fast and friendly. read more

Went there today for the first time, the food was great and Jen was awesome. We had chicken wings to start and they were delious, especially the sauce on them, so good I asked Jen if I can have some to go. Then my friend had the tenderloin wrapped in bacon, galic mashed and kale, was fabulous. I had a bowl of Rhode Island Clam chowder and a stuffed mushroom, was delious. The atmosphere was friendly and I am definitely going back again. read more

Loved the hot lobster roll with coleslaw and the 1 1/4 lobster with 2 sides!!!! Little spot with great food and awesome prices. Highly recommend!!! Full bar too!! read more

Rustic Cafe - Hot Lobster roll. Yummm - Music Venues Near Me - East Lyme, Connecticut

This is one of my favorite places in the area. Great staff, great food! I came in randomly expecting to have an ok dinner and ended up having a fantastic meal and becoming a regular customer. read more

A hidden gem. Daily specials and the famous "pickle" back. Friendly atmosphere. You will leave with a full belly and probably some new friends! read more

another great night with Steph, crew excellent food and drinks. Steamers scallops oh yea cornbread. your loss if you don't try this place out great atmosphere and people come in alone leave with new friends. read more

Perhaps the best burgers in the area and great lobster rolls in a casual, rustic setting. Friends say their calamari and other dishes are delicious, too. Not much space and they're busy at times, so you may have to squish in and wait. read more

Always a great experience when we go here. Great food, great drinks, and great service! Zero complaints.

Great fried scallop roll and Cole slaw but THE WORST lobster bisque....THE WORST. They serve microwaved lobster bisque...to LOCALS what the hell?! Get your crap together. read more

Bad experience with takeout order. Item was missing from order and the rest of the food was really bad. Wings were not eatable -sandwich and fries poor. Maybe cook was on vacation but best to drive on by folks. read more

Rustic it is! Very good food made to order. Friendly wait staff and bartenders. Nice place for a bite to eat or to enjoy a pint or cocktail. Try their specials! Nice selection of local & seasonal beers on tap. Also, they've a firepit set in their outdoor patio, enjoy the outdoors and relax in it's warmth. read more

My boyfriend and I just moved to the area and locals said we had to try The Rustic Cafe. I am so glad we did!! The place is super tiny, (but they do have outdoor seating in the summer and early fall!) but the size gives it all its character! Friendly staff and fantastic food, we will definitely be back! read more

We pulled up and the place looked cute and we were excited to try their food. The ambiance was sparse but quaint. However right off the bat, the waitress had an attitude. She acted like we were putting her out of her way when we asked questions, and responded like we were children who had never eaten seafood before. For example when asked if the New England chowder was thick, she said it's the Rhode Island that's thin. We know the difference but just wanted to know the consistency. Regardless we went with the Rhode Island, which cane with canned clams and uncooked celery and tasted like a bowl of tin. The corn bread was mealy and the honey butter was frozen. Then we got the meal. I ordered the braised short rib special that was described as being balsamic glazed. What I received was pot roast with a thick gravy. It was decent pot roast but that's not what I ordered, and also it's July I don't want winter stew. When she asked how the meal was and I said this isn't what was described she said oh okay and walked away. My daughter got the lobster bisque, worst I've ever had. It tasted like flour, there were no lobster pieces, and grease floating at the top. We asked to take the soup off because it was inedible and she refused, stated there's nothing wrong with it. As I went to sit back down she said ok I'll take it off but when the bill came it was still on there. I am a very generous tipper, but she did not earn one in this case. Everyone else in there appeared to know each other and were drinking. I get the feeling this is a local watering hole, and for bar food when drunk I'm sure it tastes just fine. If you want a delicious meal this is not the place to go, and you definitely get the vibe that non locals are not wanted. There's too many delicious restaurants in the area, don't waste your time here. read more

I was refered to this cafe by a friend, who told me the food was great and the price is right! I now go there at least every two weeks! It is a small little cafe with about 10 chairs around the bar and 10 tables. The food is always fantasic and they have themes every week. The do special drinks and all kinds of local beer on tap. The prices are very reasonable. The staff is always friendly and has a very hometown feeling. There are regulars there for sure and they always are up to meeting new people. They have a cute outside patio when it is warm outside and a firepit outside when it is cold. It is a hidden treasure for sure. I recommend going. Very casual and fun! read more

Third, as a vegan and a chef, I'm pretty picky about where I eat, and it's always nice to see a veggie option on the menu~ I picked up a bowl of red lentil soup the other day, which totally exceeded my expectations- it was thick and chock full of tasty goodness. One can tell when things are made with love! This clearly was~ read more

I have been here many times before and loved it, last night I went in with my boyfriend to have a quick drink and thought the bar tender was rude. My boyfriend and I were discussing our job plans and looked like we were having a serious conversation and she said "I want you to stay but he looks bored and you're not drinking a second drink you should leave and go to Smokey's." Safe to say we didn't stay much longer after that. read more

Stopped here after a nearby baseball tournament game. So glad we did. The two girls working the front were the most friendly inviting people I have ever come across at a dining establishment. Makes you feel so welcome even though it is clearly a "local" place. So warm and homey and clean. Steamers special was terrific. Lobster roll priced right. Delish Cole slaw. My husband loved the wings--tried honey BBQ but I think the Thai were his favorite. Said they were crispy and not overly sauced. read more

This is quite the little back woods gem. Good food, very friendly staff, good drinks! Will defintely return!!

Not my "go to" place in the area. The food is mediocre and the atmosphere is local dive bar. I had a meal there about a year ago and cannot recall what it ordered exactly, I was hoping to stay away from fried, or overly sauced or cheesy foods and I guess this was the wrong place. I think I had a large salad with some kind of tex-mex or latin chicken on top. I do remember it being very plain and the chicken being dry and chewy with no flavor. The salad just a bed of the pre mixed greens from a bag. My friends dishes were cheesy, fried, greasy. Sorry I am not a fan. read more

Great little place a mile north of I-95.. a very small free-standing building in the middle of nowhere. Highly local clientele. Very friendly bartender who was also our server. Made us feel very welcome. Stopped for a mid-week lunch while driving through Connecticut and we were very pleased. Tap beer was cold and fresh, and the food was enjoyed by all. My burger was thick, fresh, and juicy, and very tasty. Service was excellent and attentive. Would definitely return. Rustic Cafe is highly recommended. read more

Cozy place visited mainly by locals. I enjoyed the lobster roll but they are not cheap. Need to go back again for something else. For now, I like the place. read more

Stumbled upon this place with fishing buddies after a morning on Rogers Lake. We all ordered our meals and moments later changed our minds as the bartender gave an explanation of the Fish Reuben to another customer...and politely peer pressured us into trying it. Wow! All 4 of us were glad she clued us in to this sandwich. Super low key atmosphere, great food, solid beer list and an upbeat, very on point bartender. Can't get back here soon enough! So good!! read more

Restaurant has new owners who have taken great care in providing quality food at reasonable prices. If you're driving on 95 it is very close to the highway. We had the lobster bisque and crab cake appetizer which were both fresh and tasty and I had their special spinach salad which was delicious. My husband had the roast beef club which was large and fresh. Service was friendly and personal. Highly recommended. read more

Stopped here for lunch and knowing from my last 2 visits that the seafood was real good. Theresa the bartender who acknowledged us as soon as we walked in the door was very polite and there made us feel at home. She took our drink order and gave us a menu to look over. I ordered whole belly clam dinner. My friend Michelle ordered the pastrami plate.Our order came out in a short time and smelled just great.. You know the clams were fresh because of their taste. Michelle said the pastrami was really good. The French fries were cooked just right,crispy and tender. I recommend The Rustic Cafe to anyone that is in the area. It's such a nice place to enjoy a meal with it's pinewood interior,good food,cold beers and good people. Keep up the good work and Thanks again Theresa for the good service and a pleasant smile. read more

Love this place, Great food, great drinks, great price, great people, great friends and great new friends. If you have never been, you are missing adding something great , fun and delicious to your life!,eat, drink and laugh on my friends! Owners and staff are the best! read more

I absolutely agree with the "hidden gem" comment. Terrific place for drinks and dinner - great prices, good food, very friendly service.

Somewhere between Boston and NYC is a place called East Lyme that left me pondering whether this was the birthplace of Lyme Disease as I drove through? No sooner than I came up with this half-baked thought I noticed an out of the way bar called Rustic Cafe (RC) along Boston Post Rd. Feeling hungry and in dire need of a bathroom I stopped to take a look and maybe score some grub. My trusty Yelping companion quickly learned from weary ghosts of Christmases past that RC was known for their lobster rolls. We each ordered a roll along with French fried sweet potatoes, New England Clam Chowder, potato and bacon soup and a side salad to delude ourselves into thinking that by having a lettuce leaf would somehow turn our artery clogging meal into something healthy. We washed the whole lot down with surprisingly good Cabernet and a mug of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer poured from a tap, respectively. Everything was very good. The lobster roll was primarily made from joint and claw meat. Nevertheless the roll tasted fresh and succulent and served by very friendly waitresses. The bartender invited me to play the guitar I was admiring but I instead decided to finish eating my soup. I very much recommend this joint and not because it seems there is nowhere else to go to for miles. read more

Our business just moved to the area, about two miles away; so, we figured we would give the local establishment our business. UGH!!! Two burgers were ordered: one medium and one medium-well--both were rare. The bartender/waitress was equally disappointing--refusing to refund both orders. Asking for a cup of ice to go was a major imposition. Won't mind driving farther away for much better food and service. read more

I've lived not far from this place for almost 10 years have driven past it regularly. I was 'afraid' to stop in for fear that a biker might ride off with my wife. (From the outside, that's the kind of place it looked like.) Then a friend (who lives 30 miles away) mentioned that he heard about it, at which point we gave it a try. I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised! The place is not much bigger than a shoe box, so the atmosphere is intimate. We were waited on by one of the new co-owners, Stephanie, who for being an east coaster was actually quite friendly. We chose to eat outside on the small patio to enjoy the summer breeze. It's clear that the time Stephanie spent on the west coast has influenced her cuisine style. The menu includes all of the classics that you'd expect from a small bar/restaurant, but also adds it's own flair (Gorgonzola Burger for example).. Everything we had was cooked to perfection, including the deep fried twinkie for dessert. With reasonable prices, great food, craft beers on tap, and an unpretentious rustic atmosphere we'll definitely be back. (In fact we've already been back!) read more