Food delicious. Service horrible. Had a reserved table but server did not come by to take our drink order. It took at least 30 minutes to receive our easy order. Hire another bar tender. Especially for Sunday brunch. And teach the waitstaff about hospitality and attending to patrons. The food is pricey so at least have great service. Downtown location is better. Their Mimosa trays are much classier with actual pitchers of the purées-not tincture drops. read more

You get 2 stars and here is why: Saturday May 17th a polite and beautifully dressed young couple came to your restaurant to dine prior to going to prom and they were not serviced for a VERY LONG TIME. The young lady had to go to the host to request service at their table. The young man did not advocate because he preferred to leave as he knew they were being profiled for being young (I am going to give you all the benefit of the doubt and assume it wasn't because they were young and brown). Either way they had to ask to have their orders taken after being seated and were served a subpar meal and comped a cookie dessert for their inconvenience. To top it all off when it came time to pay the lowest option for gratuity on your tablet was 20%. Being frustrated, late for prom because of your poor service, and inexperienced they did not advocate for a lesser option. Shame on you for not providing them the service they deserved and then expecting to be given gratuity at 20% or more for that poor service. And a cookie for their troubles it is laughable. These young people are hard working students and you did not and do not deserve their patronage nor will you get mine. The two stars are a gift. read more

Reserved a Fire pit table for my girlfriend's birthday recently and it was awesome! I will always be recommending this place to visiting family & friends read more

Good spot, we sat in the rooftop main bar and got a few drinks and food. The drinks were pretty but ever so slightly underwhelming. The food was solid, we tried the Mac n cheese and the lobster pappardelle and while both were good the lobster pappardelle was next level. The waitress was nice but for it being slow we went really long stretches without seeing her so it made it difficult to order additional items read more

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We enjoyed this place so much, we visited twice in one weekend. Saturday night rooftop cocktails with a "dirty cola" and a classic lemon drop, a perfect start to our evening. Sunday morning brunch in the main dining area with mimosas and one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. Our waiter (Ben?) was very professional- friendly, efficient, knew the menu. I really enjoyed this spot and will definitely return if I visit the Gaslamp Quarter again. read more

Rustic Root - Breakfast Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Wonderful experience this place has a fantastic vibe, the staff is pleasant and hard working. We had a delicious brunch experience read more

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I came across Rustic Root walking around Gaslamp looking for somewhere to eat for dinner. I was immediately drawn to the 5th street outdoor seating rather than the rooftop to enjoy the sunshine setting and people watching... bingo that's the ambiance I was looking for. My server was very helpful when I told him I'm a newbie to Rustic Root. I appreciated his insight and his frequent checks on me...right on that's the customer service I was looking for. A major plus for me was the Comic-Con menu. I ordered the Lavender Haze, Roasted Atlantic Salmon, and Firecracker Shrimp...OMG that's the food and cocktail I was looking for. I really really enjoyed eating my Rustic Root dinner while being surrounded by the care-free Comic-Con vibe. read more

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We loved it here, especially second floor! The food was very fresh and tasty, it was pretty crowded, the ambiance was nice and chill. Our server was good as well! We will definitely eat here again when we are in the town. read more

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My wife and I had a truly amazing dinner last night, complete with professional, friendly, and incredibly polite service from Hanna. We both ordered the Smash burgers and truffle fries, which were Hanna's recommendation--and she was absolutely spot on. The burger was so good it practically melted in our mouths. Rob, who crafted our drinks, is a true professional. Hanna, thank you for making us feel like the most important people in the room. We will definitely be back soon, so please save us a table in your section! Five stars barely begin to express how wonderful our entire experience was last night. Thank you, G&A read more

Made reservations for 2 for a Tuesday night at 7pm onlyn 2 days before the reservation and it was easy to get. It wasn't busy until around 8pm Our server was fine, but she took a real long time to get our orders. We ordered drinks and were waiting to order our food for like 25 mins. I think she was tending to a lot of tables so it was hard to get her attention. The restaurant is huge! They have a lower and upper floor. The lower floor is more chill as there was a live band playing. The upper floor was more lively with louder music. I had the Lobster Pappardelle and it was creamy and filled with a lot of lobster. Super delicious! read more

Rustic Root - Lobster Pappardelle - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I had dinner with work colleagues last evening and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We took advantage of the restaurant week menu, which was delicious and great value for three courses. The ambiance was lovely and the service was fantastic across the board, from being welcomed in and seated through the excellent service during our meal from our server Hannah. I don't know why Rustic Root only has four stars, it should be ranked much higher! read more

Always a 10/10 coming here! The staff is so friendly and fun! They always play the best music and the food just gets better and better! The seating is pretty comfortable too. Definitely try grabbing a seat upstairs! You'll always be able to find a seat if you come earlier on a weeknight but the weekends are always so busy it is definitely worth the wait. I love getting the Rustic Fried Chicken and the Firecracker shrimp! Their weekend brunch is also so good and they have strong coffee! Sundays there's a farmers market across the street that's great to walk through after breakfast. There's a lot of street parking near by. It's located in the heart of Gaslamp. read more

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Rustic Root use to be one of my go to spots when I worked in downtown so it was nice to go back after not going for years. We came here for a Galentines brunch with a group of friends and we got to sit at one of the large fire pit tables upstairs. I love the upstairs roof top it's usually pretty lively and fun to look over the Gaslamp. We decided to go with the bubble trays which included a bottle of champagne with a variety of juices, purées, and fruit to customize your mimosa how you'd like! For food I ordered the breakfast sliders. The dish overall was pretty small but the sliders were fun and had good flavor I will say the burnt part on top with the RR logo added burnt flavor to this dish that I didn't love. Service was great but the drinks did take awhile to come out but the food came out quickly. Once baseball season starts again I'll be back for happy hour. read more

The moment you step into Rustic Root, it's clear this isn't just another Gaslamp restaurant. The provocative and thoughtful artwork sets the tone, but it's the creative flavor combinations and unique dishes that truly make this place stand out. In a neighborhood filled with typical bar food, Rustic Root offers a refreshing and unforgettable culinary experience. No matter what you order, you'll be pleasantly surprised--the chefs know exactly what they're doing, so don't shy away from the more unconventional ingredients. Exceptional service from Alex and Emily, combined with a lively atmosphere and great music, made the experience even more memorable. read more

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Located in Gaslamp. The decor was beautiful & very festive! Service: 10/10 Service was very good. Very attentive. Food: 8/10 I got avocado toast, added poached eggs & bacon. It was light but filling. My bf got the pork belly Benedict. The pork belly was delicious & the potatoes that came with it. Drinks: 10/10 We got the champagne which the presentation was gorgeous!! Also, the lavender coffee which was so good!! read more

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Came here for brunch, had the short rib scramble and traditional eggs benedict. Scramble was just ok, the benedict was definitely better option. The highlight here is the Bubbles and Berrys, We got the 2 bottle tray and i was entertained trying out all the different combos ... brunchers are going to brunch =) .. Love the night scene here as well and the brunch menu is a for sure add to your rotation. read more

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This place was awesome. Everything from the greeting to exit was beyond expectation. We decided to do rooftop dining and it was fun to watch Comic-Con attendees going in costume for lunch. Food and drink presentation looked like photoshop in person. The Pork Belly was dangerously good. Brussel sprouts were delicious and surprisingly good enough that I could eat them daily. I don't care what anyone else says about the Tomahawk Steak, it was still top 3 best steaks I have had. I also added a short video of the server presenting the steak. Definitely going back when I get the chance. read more

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Delicious food and great service! If you like comfort food, then go here! Many options from Kimchi Fried Rice to Avocado Toast. The bloody Mary's were good too! The interior was decorated with fall leaves which added a nice touch to the dining area. Looking forward to trying other food items when I'm in San Diego again. read more

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After missing our original reservation at prime time on a Friday night, we were pleased to wait only 30 minutes for a table here. We got a drink while waiting up on the rooftop, however, it was February and pretty chilly so if you aren't a seat by the heaters then I wouldn't recommend sitting upstairs in the winter. We finally got seated downstairs which was lovely and ordered a bunch of different plates to split. I was surprised by how good it all was! The meatballs and Mac and cheese were definitely our favorites! read more

Rustic Root - FLATBREAD, MEATBALLS, HEIRLOOM TOMATO BURRATA, FIRECRACKER SHRIMP, MAC N CHEESE - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Service: our server was great. We came with a party of 8 and he was very inviting, attentive and personable. He came to check on us enough to meet our needs but not so much that he was annoying. The food took way too long to come out considering how empty the restaurant was and what we ordered. I would have rated it 4 stars based on that, but our server made up for it! Thanks Rodrigo! Food: the food was really good. Brunch food can be pretty basic, especially if you order eggs and potatoes, however, they were really made well, so everything came out great. The pancakes were super airy and light, which made it easier to eat a lot of! The pork belly is cooked really well.. and try their pickled chilies!! So good with everything! The portion sizes are more than enough and the prices are reasonable! I would definitely come back! Ambience: the place is exactly what you would think- rustic meets trendy elevated chic. The location is also very convenient if you are already at gaslamp! You should def try this place! read more

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I came in on an early Friday evening before a show at the Balboa Theatre. I was surprised by how many employees there were. I assume everyone was preparing for the dinner rush. My waitress was Sierra. She was warm, friendly and greeted me with a smile. She was attentive throughout the evening without being overbearing. For my cocktail, I got the Cane Jane. The first taste that hit my palate was the spiced rum. I was not expecting it to taste smoky. I could taste just a hint of apricot but I really enjoyed it. Within two sips, I could feel my tummy warm. I wish it was larger and in an old fashioned glass. By the end of drinking the first one, I was tipsy. I ordered the Mary's free range half chicken as my entree. The fried brussel sprouts, roasted garlic purée and pistachios caught my attention. The chicken was cooked well. The red wine Demi glacé was a good complement. I would not have known there were pistachios in the sauce as I couldn't taste them but I did feel them in a slight crunch. That could be due to the liquor. The mashed potatoes were whipped and had a great balance of garlic and butter. The brussel sprouts were fine but could have used some crispy onions or vinaigrette on top. For dessert, I selected the chocolate mousse. It was super thick almost like a pudding. I didn't get any dark chocolate or pearls. I tasted more like milk chocolate. I love chocolate but I didn't like it. Not sure why. Maybe it didn't go well with my cocktail. I tried drinking more water but it just wasn't for me. Even though I dined alone, I appreciated the choice of sitting at the bar or in the dining room. I was seated in an intimate table in the middle of the downstairs section of the restaurant. One side of the table was very comfortable booth/bench seating: the other was a gorgeous accent chair. I sat in the bench side as it had a comfy pillow for my back. Upbeat electro pop played in the background. It was loud enough that you could hear and dance in your seat to it but soft enough that you could talk to who was seated next to you. Because the restaurant is open to the outside, I had to keep an eye on my food for fear that a fly would land on it. I enjoyed my meal, cocktail, service and ambiance. I will definitely return with friends. read more

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The ambiance was great. We sat at the rooftop. The honey fried chicken was amazing ! Everything on that plate including the biscuit to the coleslaw to the crispy sweet and savory fried chicken was delicious. This was a winner for me. We also got the scallops. That was just alright. A bit of a hit and miss. I wish there was no sauce or a lighter less complicated sauce. Great place to people watch or catch a game. Service was good. It's located in the Gaslamp district with a fun vibe. read more

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LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Came here for brunch with a couple girlfriends for brunch. We sat upstairs on the rooftop. I love the ambiance of this place! WE had the most amazing server. She was just so friendly and really attentive. For food, I had the breakfast sandwich. It was really tasty and soooo filling. My friends got the the pork belly fried rice which was sooo delicious and the garden egg white frittata. For drinks we went with the two bottle tray Campo Viejo Cava. We got two bottles of cava with two different juices and 2 different purees. I loved how you could build your own drink! Definitely will be coming back here again when I'm in San Diego. read more

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Great venue, but service was terrible! Only person who annoyed me more than staff was myself, because I left a 10% tip!

Been coming to Rustic Root for years and it is always a good time. The bubbles tray is the absolute draw. Come with a friend or two to take your time and enjoy it. I love that it is served with fresh berries and syrups so you can build your own. The rooftop restaurant and bar looks amazing, but I have not had a chance to enjoy it, preparing the intimacy of the downstairs area. The seating and the ambience overall feel relaxed to the point that you can actually enjoy conversations and not feel you need to scream above the ambient noise. And even though their are televisons often set to sports in the bar area, you can not hear them when seated at your table. The menu seems constantly on rotation. Some of my favorites are the Egg Benedict, crispy bacon, BLT and pork belly rice (though this one can be hit or miss on the serving portions). The kitchen is impressive. I have been quite surprised at how quickly you receive your orders, no matter how busy they seem. And keep an eye on their website and social accounts. They will often run holiday special and events, like Mother's Day with a-la-cart menus. They offer live music on Tuesdays with half priced bottles of wine. And you can book events on the rooftop. read more

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3.5, for the price the food and our order shouldve been better. Service was good, our server was busy and was very helpful and attentive..... sadly the kitchen failed him. Food tastes okay but our food was not all that. The toast was bacon bits not actual bacon on the side, three friends had the yankey pot roast and we had a few issues with portion distribution. The meat was nice and tender. Someone ordered biscuits and they were hard. Food was okay, not worth price in my humble opinion. Ambiance is a 4, if younlike pictures for your IG then sure, the music was too "upbeat" club like... not my taste for brunch time. I wouldnt come again on my own or recommend but their service, Taylor, was great.. poor thing was busy and trying to put out others fires lol read more

Rustic Root - Berries and more Champaign - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This place has two floors. The second floor is an outside lounge vibe with a nice view of downtown and a bar and the first is all indoor. I've been to both sections and I think the second has the best ambiance. Their drinks are pretty creative and sweet. They have a good variety for brunch items. I had the smoked pork belly Benedict and it was both crispy and savory. Our server was very attentive to our needs and helped us find a good fit for our birthday we were celebrating! The one downside was that they were out of a few things on the menu. read more

Rustic Root - Brunch Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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We absolutely loved brunch at Rustic Root on our visit to San Diego. The personal mimosa station was so cute and fun. It came with 3 different juices, 3 different droppers of fruit puree, and a few fresh fruits to mix and match. For food, we got the spicy fried chicken sandwich and the smoked brisket hash. The sandwich was flavorful and cooked perfectly, served with fresh fries. The brisket hash was ok, but the brisket was so fatty I could barely eat any of the meat. I still gave 4 stars because the service was excellent. Gabriel was our server and very attentive, even with a big table he was serving on the other side of the restaurant. I think Justin is a manager, but he also kept checking in on us and I even saw him at the bar making sure the staff had everything they needed. It was a great brunch experience! read more

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Okay WOW this breakfast was incredible!!! My sandwhich was amazing and the strawberry matchas were DELICIOUS!!! The staff was super attentive. Great service and ambiance. Next time I'm in San Diego I'd absolutely come here!!! Rod, Yvette, and Justin you were wonderful!! read more

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We had an amazing Mother's Day brunch! All the food was fabulous and our server sophia was so amazing, kind and took great care of us.

I came here for Happy Hour on a Friday at 6pm. I had the pork belly sliders and the Parmesan herb fries. Both were great, the sliders are pretty small. Beautiful rooftop bar with great ambiance and crowd. I like a fancy bar with tvs to sneak a peak at the Padres score. read more

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They have an upstairs area that has a different vibe from the downstairs area. Good lighting & some areas even had a small fire pit in the center of the tables. The manager introduced herself & got our drink order started. We had the Lavender Haze & the Rustic Old Fashion. The presentation of the Lavender Haze was pretty cool. It came in a glass cover, encasing smoke. Ordered the Filet Frites & subbed the fries for mashed potatoes. The meat was very soft & juicy. The mashed potatoes complimented the meat nicely as well. Our waitress nice, taking her time to elaborate on our meals as well; very tentative. read more

Rustic Root - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The outdoor seating was great. We really expected more out of this food, especially with some of the reviews we read. Service was a little slow, even though that weren't very many gas. The drinks are premade mixes so you can't request something not be in the drink. The crabcakes were obviously premade and reheated. They came cold and not very tasteful. The meatballs were also premade and warmed up. Again food was cold and tasteless. We won't be back. read more

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We visited Rustic Root for lunch on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed incredible beverages and brunch. I had the chilaquiles along with a few cocktails, while my partner opted for the Spicy chicken Sandwich and some drinks. Our server was fantastic, and every dish was absolutely delicious. read more

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The vibes on this rooftop at happy hour with half off drinks just can't be beat. All the drinks at this place are so unique and fun and have the coolest presentation. The food here is really good too but happy hour is where it's at! M-F 5-6:30 read more

Rustic Root - Belle of the ball and strawberry fields cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Very cool vibe to the whole place We did sit down rooftop I did make reservation for restaurant they offered us roof top in 30 min which we took service fast attentive Food was good as well for the entire expeeience I give 5 read more

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Last night was supposed to be a great evening with eight friends. We chose the Rustic Root in the Gaslamp for our quarterly dinner get-together. We thought that, since it was Sunday, availability wouldn't be a problem. The weather was iffy, and I asked the hostess if our party of nine could sit downstairs. The hostess said no, and that they closed downstairs since it was slow. She then told me there was a large private party upstairs, and once I was there, it was obvious that seating would be an issue. While waiting for others, they seated my wife and me in a space that could accommodate eight, tightly. After trying to convince me otherwise, the manager relocated our group to a larger table, which worked great. The food was great, but the service was horrible. Tom, our server, was a letdown, and we all concluded it was because he knew that, given our party size, he would get his tip no matter how poorly he served. For example, he said he would accommodate our request for separate checks. As the night went on, he was basically unavailable. When he did acknowledge our attempts for service, he was slow to come to the table, forgot additional items ordered, and appeared uninterested and unable to handle a large party. At the end, when asked whether he could provide separate checks as discussed earlier, he snapped, "I'm not doing that!" We all found that extremely unprofessional and indicative of his assurance that he would be tipped no matter what. At the end, he received a $115.20 tip labeled a "Premiere Service Charge." No, the service was not Premiere, and we felt ripped off! read more

Rustic Root was the location of my first in-person Elite event several years ago. I recall how half of the rooftop deck/patio had been set aside for a large group of Yelpers. The newbies like myself were congregated in a corner since we weren't familiar with the veterans, let alone each other. This time I asked to be seated downstairs at a high-top table. The interior decor was still beautiful as I had remembered it. The food menu was on a one-page sheet. The entrees seemed to be on the pricey end so I decided to pick two starters instead for my meal. My waitress had recommended the Glazed Pork Belly which was a chunk of pork coated with an apple-honey glaze along with a side of cornbread pudding, spinach, and chicharrones. This was a great choice as the pudding provided a pleasant smooth contrast to the fatty pork. The other item I chose was the Lamb Sausage which was a house made lamb merguez served with curried lentils, pickled red onion, cilantro, and a cucumber yogurt sauce. The lamb was a sizable link that was slightly spicy while the lentils created a nice balance without adding any more heat to the dish. I have had a good experience at Rustic Root during each of my visits. I'm sure the food selections keep evolving over the years, yet I have enjoyed what I have been able to taste. The service this time was just as pleasant and efficient. read more

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I was in town for a conference, and Rustic Root is within walking distance of the convention center. I'm definitely happy we made a reservation in advance, as it got busy quickly. We sat upstairs, which I loved. The vibe was great, and we were cold with heaters and retractable blinds. For dinner, my friend had the half chicken and really enjoyed it. I had the RFC rustic fried chicken. It was SO GOOD. It was cooked perfectly while maintaining its delicious juicy-ness. The corn bread was also bomb. My friend and I shared the truffle fries. They were served with mayo, which was surprising to me, as I thought I was weird for liking that! So yummy! read more

Rustic Root - Half chicken and Idaho Truffle Fries - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Located in the heart of the Gaslamp District. Service, food and ambience was superb! The decor is super cute and their craft cocktails were fun and delicious! The table next to us was celebrating a birthday and they came out with these fun sparklers! The restaurant definitely had a fun, upbeat vibe to it. We wanted to sit on the rooftop which, is first come first serve , but we still made a reservation for the main part of the restaurant. When we showed up, we asked if we could be seated upstairs on the rooftop and they had availability! Yay us! When we showed up, they had their sunroof closed but as the sunset, they opened the sunroof and opened up directly to the sky above! Absolutely suburbs so that you could enjoy the nice San Diego evening! read more

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