I give rustic root five stars because tonight is probably not indicative of what this restaurant truly is. Samantha and Cat at the front desk are truly accommodating and wonderful. We started at the bar and then wanted to table inside and they did their best on the incredible soccer night to accommodate us which they did and we thank them for that. The happy hour menu is truly fabulous and a whole bunch of ways. Sandy was our server and I just have to say she was as overwhelmed as the rest of the restaurant. She had 11 tables to look over and we were just happy that she took our order and it came out and it was great. I really can't comment on the food because we only had our table for a half an hour. But what we had was delicious and we will certainly come back on a non-soccer night to get the best of the rustic.. read more

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My review is only based on drinks as no food was being served at the time we went. Overall fine visit. Staff was friendly. Bar is beautiful. My sister has beers and I got wine and then one Hugo spritz. For beers, it's pretty pricey imo at $10 a glass. Wine was average priced. The Hugo spritz was an interesting take on with some sort of orange flavor in it. Not my favorite one I've had but did the job. The aesthetics are lovely here and the huge outdoor, open seating is what drew my sister and I here and we did enjoy a lot. Maybe would come back to have food if in the area for a show. read more

Rustic Root - Menu - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I made a reservation on OpenTable for 3 people at 6pm, requesting an outdoor table. My group arrived early and we hung out at the outdoor bar till our table was available prior to 6pm. We got a beautiful outdoor seat along the walkway. My friends took advantage of the happy hour bites still offered but I was committed to the chicken pot pie which came with a side salad. It took awhile for the food to arrive but that was ok because I was catching up with old friends. Everyone thought their food was pretty good. My chicken pot pie was on the salty side but the chunks of chicken were nice and the flaky crust was delicious. The vibe was upscale yet approachable. Even better was a free underground parking garage under the restaurant! Bathrooms were outside, shared with other businesses. They were keypad locked and a bit messy, but sufficient. I look forward to visiting again! read more

Rustic Root - Chicken pot pie with side salad - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

The cocktails here are amazing! The French fries were also very good. The place has cool vibes and the bartender's service was quick and friendly. She had multiple regulars come in to see her specifically, so you know she does a good job. The only negatives about Rustic Root is there is no bathroom located inside the building, you have to use a shared one outside. Also, it's a bit pricey. The cocktails were honestly worth every penny but I don't know that I would spend that much on a meal in the future. read more

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We enjoy coming here a lot. I got my usual baby g Caesar salad with the dressing on the side. Next time I'll have them cut up the lettuce. I also got the wild boar bolognese. Excellent! I get it every time. Hubby got the chicken pot pie. Comes with a salad and a side of mash potatoes. He loves it! My daughter got the penne vodka with chicken. Next time I'll get the lobster pasta dish. For drinks the best one was Tradewinds. I'll get that next time. Husband got the rizz fizz. Was good but kinda small Next time I'll try the basic switch non alcoholic drink Love the decor! read more

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Still my favorite local place to go !! We stop by for 4th of July weekend. Food was phenomenon ! read more

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- Really nice spacious interior with massive bar - Staff is friendly and attentive - Tons of underground parking if street parking is unavailable - Food is great! My potatoes were super crispy and tender inside. Crab cake Benedict wasn't the best I've had, but it was good. It was a little thin for the price. Wife's chilaquiles were really solid and pretty spicy (not an insane heat but it sits with you) read more

Rustic Root - Maryland crab cakes Benedict - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Very disappointed today after going to Rustic Root to watch the US-Belgium game. My friend had recommended me this place as she was coming down from Carslbad and me from Escondido and they were showing the WorldCup. Looks and ambiance...perfect. terrible food. I am sad to say this is the ugliest and worst burger I have ever had. Looks like a bad built burger at a students party or something. The presentation was too basic too. The salads of my friends didn't look too appetizing either. I will stick to drinks next time. Disappointed. read more

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We stopped in on a Saturday for lunch. The wait for a table was about an hour, so we opted to sit at the bar instead. Unfortunately, the bartenders came across as aloof and not particularly welcoming. It took quite a while for them to take our order, and even longer for our drinks to arrive. The kitchen was also slow, despite the restaurant being busy but not completely full. The food was just okay--nothing really stood out. The space itself is nice, though. The bar divides the indoor and outdoor areas in a way that makes it feel almost like you're sitting outside, even when you're inside. read more

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This was my first visit here to Rustic Route. Many times, I do not submit a Yelp review until I've been to the establishment a second time. That is not necessary here this brunch blew me away, it was top-tier. To start, the restaurant is beautiful. There are so many design qualities that provide such a pleasant atmosphere. It's an open air dining experience or you could eat inside the seating is very comfortable. The service was impeccable. Let's get to the food. The buttermilk biscuits had such a profoundly wonderful flavor. It came with warm syrup and lots of butter. The pancake itself was so delicious that you could just eat it without syrup and it would still be good. I ordered the crabcakes Benedict I would like to say, WOW! This came with roasted baby potatoes, and the potatoes were so crunchy, velvety on the inside and they had a combination of Golden and purple potatoes, just loved them. The crabcake Benedict had the most delicious hollandaise and it had a touch of pleasant pepper spice. The eggs were cooked just right. I also ordered the açai bowl and it was brimming with fresh fruit and it had such a good flavor and very very refreshing. We also ordered the rustic breakfast and it was very pleasant. Based on this ultra successful brunch experience. I am so looking forward to coming back to eat brunch and also to try the dinner menu. I believe they truly care about what they're serving. These are chef curated meals that have creativity, nuanced bold and gentle flavors, combined with freshness, ingenuity, and fantastic execution. New favorite for sure! read more

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The vibes were great for brunch. I enjoyed the meals we ordered. I went light and ordered a salad which was delicious!. The Chilaquiles was this showstopper. I also got a bite of the soufflé pancake which was heavier than expected. All in all a great experience. Parking was easy since they offer underground parking for free. read more

Rustic Root - Chicken Cesar - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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My first time to dine in this establishment and being a long-time local, I was excited that another "trendy" restaurant had opened in our charming, laid-back coastal town, and was rooting ( no pun intended) to give a 5 star review. I wanted to love this place, unfortunately, the food and especially, the service were disappointing. My friend and I had reservations for this past Tuesday evening. We ordered Bacon Mac N Cheese; Wagyu Meatballs and Baby Gem Caesar Salad minus add ons, and Prairie Breeze, a drink under their mocktail & non-alcoholic section. The mac n cheese- Disappointingly bland and lacked a creamy texture. The four-cheese blend was indistinguishable. Furthermore, the applewood smoked bacon failed to provide the intended pop of flavor or saltiness. The Wagyu meatballs-At $16.50 for three meatballs, I expected a more elevated, complex flavor profile. Unfortunately, underwhelming for a Wagyu profile. They lacked that velvety, melt-in-your-mouth texture I was hoping for and lacked the complex, savory notes needed to justify the cost. Baby Gem Salad-I love a good Ceasar Salad. But so bummed because this salad was disappointing. Lots of romaine lettuce thrown on a large oval platter with almost no dressing, and the croutons and cheese were sparse, making it feel like they were running low on ingredients. Customer Service- Service started with a server who was energetic but not very attentive. Midway through the evening, our table was handed off to another server without any introduction or communication. The new server briefly checked on us once, then did not return until we flagged her down for the check. When she brought the payment terminal, she placed it on the table and walked away before confirming whether we needed anything else, including splitting the bill. For the reasons listed above, we will not return to this restaurant. There are many other dining establishments in the community that offer better food, service, and ambiance for the price. read more

Had driven past so many times & finally got to try it for a girls night out! Incredible atmosphere with a heated patio. Each cocktail & dish was fantastic, especially the lobster parpadalle. What made our night was our server Rob who consistently checked in on us, making sure we were having a great night even when it was busy & overall made our experience! Can't wait to be back again hopefully soon! read more

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We did a moms night out at Rustic Root and it did not disappoint! Our server was fantastic- super knowledgeable and helpful when it came to menu recommendations. The standout was definitely the kiwi sangria- I would come back for this- no doubt. We started off with the chili crunch cauliflower - which was good. I would probably try something different the next time but the flavor was good and the mushrooms were a great touch. My friend and I split the iceberg wedge salad and the filet frites. The salad was really good- very light and well balanced. The filet was cooked to perfection and the fries were great. Next time I would upgrade to truffle fries. My friend ordered the roasted salmon and she loved it. She said she would order it again. I am interested in going back and trying their brunch or lunch menu- the happy hour menu also looks promising. They have some items offered on those menus that aren't offering for dinner. Overall I recommend Rustic Root- can't wait to go back for the sangria!! read more

Rustic Root - Margarita and kiwi sangrias - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Ashley is the best!!!! Great location and the vide was on point. She made my experience so much fun!

They have a great happy hour. The staff is friendly and the outside bar seating area has a nice atmosphere.

I was really happy to hear Rustic Root (RR) was coming to North County. Ever since I went to their Gaslamp location, I've been a HUGE FAN. I made it a point to attend their grand opening back in January. Despite the large crowd there, I still had a fun time celebrating this NEW location. I did notice however the bathrooms are outside which is uniquely different. Since they opened, it's been the hottt spot in Solana Beach. RR was definitely a perrrfect addition to the Coastal scene. It's my go-to for Happy Hour. When I'm in the house, the staff are always super friendly and drinks/food consistently greaaat - a TRUE neighborhood vibe for sure. read more

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Ambiance was great, we enjoyed the drinks and appetizers. My actual entree was ok (sadly). I ordered the pork chop, not a dish I would typically get, it was already cut for me which seems strange and overcooked/ chewy. I didn't want to complain or send it back. The other thing that interested me about the dish was the creamed spinach. It was fine but not as good as what you'd typically get at steakhouses. My boyfriend ordered the pot pie. I had a bite and it was good. The appetizers were better. We shared Brussels sprouts, the wagu meatball, and buttermilk biscuits. We also shared dessert, the chocolate pot which was great and bread pudding. Our server was attentive. I don't went to provide names but didn't feel like they understood the wine list or drank wine. Was recommending wine and said all the red wine was "heavy" when we asked what the lightest red was. Between us we all had drinks, cocktails, red wine, white wine and bubbles. I'd consider going back but wouldn't be my first choice. Prices were decent at least take would try ordering something else. read more

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Atmosphere is great but the food, at meat the Bolognese was over spiced. The meatloaf is good, not great but hey meatloaf is a comfort food first and foremost and it is comforting. There are likely better choices and for the price I'd say this is a skip. read more

Rustic Root - Meatloaf is a great comfort food but it's not gourmet. - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Bummed about our time here. The vibes were very off. Our drinks took forever and all the servers seemed upset. There was an issue with our bill and we got charged for something we didn't have. They didn't apologize and it was just really weird. Seems like an issue with management, servers seemed nice but overworked and stressed out. I liked the corn dogs at least! read more

Great spot by Del Mar dog beach with good brunch option. The fluffy pancake was on of the best. read more

Rustic Root - Gorgeous drink - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Came for happy hour & the food was great! We tried the smash burger and the mini pot de creme & mini Banana pudding all were really delicious! The mini desserts were on the Wednesday HH menu and inside the bar/restraint was so cute! Can't wait to come back & try other items on the menu read more

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Visited on a weeknight around 6pr 7pm. Kind of an older crowd vibe to me. Nice seating inside and patio appeared dog friendly. Bartender was nice and the place was crowded. Had a tasty beer and ordered the crab cakes. They were described as a good snack size.... Yup. Quite small and snacky. They had a spicy Kick to them. Probably wouldn't visit again though. Overall 4 stars for the upscale vibe and ambiance. But a little too foofy for me. read more

Rustic Root - HH menu - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Smallest serving sizes, food not memorable at all. They serve it in a small Skillet pan. The hostess recommended the butter and cornbread, waited over an hour for it hardly worth it. Fried Chicken special was ok, four pieces of chicken. Nice drink selection and we caught it on half price wine night and enjoyed the bottle. Service was lacking. I'm sorry but they seem so inexperienced. No iced tea available because no hot water....??? I can't even understand that? But the sweet waitress did offer us tea bags and ice water, she never had iced tea so she doesn't know how it works. The atmosphere was beautiful, and appreciated the music in the background. I think a manager came around but we were eating at the time and he didn't introduce himself. The bar was busy so it looks like people are enjoying it. read more

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Nice, open atmosphere, but kind of loud. The owner (I believe) came by a couple times to check on us. I had the crab cake, which was listed under shareables. I'm not sure how people would share it, as there was only one. It was a tad spicy for me, but it was good. My sister had the chicken pot pie, which was a generous size and it was served with a lovely little salad with a wonderful vinaigrette dressing. Our father had the smash burger. It came with a ton of Parmesan cheese fries. He didn't love it because it was well-done (he prefers medium rare), but I thought it was good. Prices seemed a little high to me, but then again, I'm from Michigan. read more

Rustic Root - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

I really love this Rustic Root location. I never have any trouble finding parking and best of all very dog friendly. Came here for their restaurant week - where it's 3 courses for $39 (excluding tax + tips of course). For 1st Course - I picked their mini maryland style crab cakes and there was nothing mini about them! It was a decent size and there were 2 pieces. Had a good amount of crab and the tartar sauce with the small herb salad really paired well together. 4/5 For 2nd Course - I got the Chicken Pot Pie. Presentation was beautiful it came in a small mini cast iron pot with a biscuit on top. The side salad was in its own mini cast iron pot. Chicken Pot Pie can be heavy so the side salad was much needed. Chicken Pot Pie was good, but nothing that wow'ed me. 3.5/5 For 3rd Course - Unlike their downtown location, the Solana Beach location had a choice of Banana pudding or Gelato from Bobbi's. It was a tough choice, but had to pick the banana pudding. Absolutely delicious and great wait to end the meal. 5/5 Whoever did the portion for these deserve an award. I was 'perfectly' full and really think it was worth the price. There was also live music that night and just made it even more special for our date night. read more

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Found this restaurant on yelp and I'm so glad we came here for dinner. The restaurant is beautiful and ambiance is warm and inviting. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful. When we ordered our food I couldn't figure out what I wanted and she suggested "girl dinner" pasta, French fries and a small Ceasar salad- YES PLEASE! My partner had the fried chicken which was crispy and delicious and my meal came out on a silver platter, literally. It was the perfect amount of food and hit the spot. The food did take a little long to come out so I'd suggest ordering an appetizer if you show up really hungry. Also, the restrooms are located outside in the outdoor hallway. read more

Rustic Root - Girl dinner- pasta, Cesar salad, French fries - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Very disappointing experience at Rustic Root Solana Beach. We arrived to find plenty of empty tables throughout the restaurant, yet the hostess refused to seat us and directed us to the standing area in the front instead. What made the experience even worse was that she appeared to be on her phone nearly the entire time. Rather than helping guests, she seemed far more interested in her phone while maintaining a rude and dismissive attitude. When I walked to the bar to get water, she followed me and asked what I wanted. After I explained that I was simply getting water because we hadn't been helped, she gave me a dirty look and walked away. The most frustrating part was watching the same tables remain empty for the entire duration of our visit while we stood and ate. Being denied a seat is one thing; being denied a seat by a hostess who is sitting on her phone while empty tables go unused is another. Poor hospitality from the moment we arrived. By the way.. the waitress had really long curly brown hair. read more

Been here several times at this point and the visits are somewhat inconsistent and average. The food portions are a bit on the small side and expensive.... The cocktails are pretty good and worth repeat visits. Love the location overall but the food yields a bit more to be expected... read more

Rustic Root - Double cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Super cute place with a great vibe. Staff was attentive and helpful. Took a star off bc one meal wasn't good and I had a bug in my cocktail that when I pulled it out was FILLED WITH BLOOD. Then my replacement drink wasn't full which was annoying. The bad meal was the steak tips. I asked how they were cooked and they said medium. They came out WELL DONE. like past the point of edible. I sent them back and the next set came out a little less cooked, but still very very well done. Also the taste was not great. And when you're paying that much money, I think that it should be tasty. Onto the Goode. My youngest child got the kids chicken tenders. They were more than adequate and served on top of a frisbee, which was very exciting for him. The server even offered to clean off the frisbee and let him take it home afterwards, which led to him eating his whole meal. The fried chicken dinner I didn't get to taste because it was someone else's but she said it was amazing. It did look very succulent after she had taken a few bites. I loved the cream corn. It tasted just like when I could make it home except better. Yummy yummy yummy . I got the pot pie and it was delicious. It came with a side of dressed salad, but the salad chunks were way too big and there wasn't enough dressing on it so I didn't need that. But the texture of the pot pie with the biscuit and the seasoning was delicious. I wish it was bigger because I could've eaten two of them . This is not the place that you would think to go for a chicken pot pie, but I'm coming back again 100%. Other meal we got was the wild boar Bolognese. It was a large plate with very chunky sauce and thick penne type noodles. Actually, they were probably like a rigatoni noodle. Either way it was phenomenal. Not even the least bit gamey with amazing seasoning. I see when this is a very popular dish because it was hot and flavorful and different . I wish they gave you a piece of bread or something because at the end there was a lot of the chunky meaty sauce left over and no way to scoop it up. We were too full, so we did not get any dessert, but the menu did have some really good looking options on it. Overall, there are certainly some things I would go back and try again. Would be a super cute place for a date night as well. read more

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I wasn't planning on writing a review but after 15 minutes it was apparent that this staff deserved recognition for their fast and friendly service ! The mixologist (Grayson) was so casually welcoming ( def a vibe ) .He gave me his favorite two dishes and I chose the boar bolognese .. the taste and perfect al dente pasta with a kick of light spice paired with the red blend from Portugal was a perfect match that fed my soul. The bar wraps around and has plenty of seating however there is outdoor seating at tables for a more intimate experience. Dont be surprised when Justin welcomes you the minute you step off the sidewalk into the restaurant.. All around a great dinner and wine with great service after 8:30 pm when other restaurant servers just want to go home . A+ and 4.8stars Thank you to Rustic Root !! Did I mention they are dog friendly and have bowls for their furry patrons too read more

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Rustic Root is such a gem! The cozy vibe makes it the perfect spot to settle in for dinner or happy hour, and the fact that it's dog friendly makes it even better. The food is consistently excellent--some of the standouts for us have been the wild boar bolognese, chicken pot pie, burger, penne a la vodka, cornbread, and fries. Each dish feels comforting yet elevated, with flavors that really shine. Their skinny margarita is one of the best around, and they also have an incredible wine list with options to pair beautifully with any meal. Service is always friendly and attentive, which keeps us coming back. Rustic Root really delivers on both food and atmosphere--it's a place you can count on for a great experience every time. read more

Rustic Root - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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There's some intelligent life here in the kitchen and the bar! I thought this might be a boring elevated comfort food menu that was all about people watching in a buzzy atmosphere. But some of the food and drinks were very unique! Indecent Exposure cocktail: not for the faint hearted! I'd like to meet the bartender who came up with this lol. Mezcal + yellow chartreuse + aperol + lime + orgeat. Very unusual combination of flavors. I actually loved the challenge (!) of the flavor combo - each sip was a little overwhelming to have smoky mezcal + sweet/bitter aperol + sweet/nutty orgeat + tart lime (I don't know what the chartreuse tastes like to pick it out). The drink was small and not as strong as I expected - I had barely a buzz after. BUT it was a flavor adventure for a cocktail lover, so I approve! (maybe just make it a bit bigger?) Cornbread: a little dry on its own, but it's covered in butter and blueberries. When you let the butter sink in it gets moister and tasiter. They did not have a lot of vegetarian options - only in the apps category and then just one in the mains (penne vodka). I wanted something lighter than pasta after the cornbread so I got the tomato burrata "salad." I think shareable app would be a better description - it's huge and extremely flavorful - but it's a lot of tomato acid (tomatoes lots of different ways) and oil, a little rich to eat all by yourself. The grilled bread it came with was super delicious. Dessert was reasonable - only $9 for a pot de crème when some buzzy restaurants might charge $15. The texture was great and it wasn't bad - it just was a little muted as far as chocolate goes. For something that rich, I wanted to be saying "mmmm!" after each bite. But the pot de crème didn't have that much flavor. Maybe a better chocolate or some vanilla extract or something would punch it up. Will was our server and extremely nice. The heaters work really well on this patio (too well, in the summer - don't dress like you're going to a rooftop in La Jolla!). We enjoyed our visit a lot, but I'd like to see some more vegetarian entree choices before I rush back. The cocktail was a lot of fun, can't remember the last time I had something so quirky and interesting! read more

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A lovely brunch spot in a great location in Solana Beach! My friends and I came for a brunch on a Saturday, we were sat outside to enjoy the beautiful sun. Unfortunately, they were out of the steak and eggs but I ended up getting the traditional breakfast and blueberry pancakes and they were perfect!! Our servers were friendly and quick with any request we had. The potatoes and chicken sausage were probably my favorite!! They also have unlimited buttermilk pancakes before 11 am on weekends which is such a great deal. Coffee was also yummy and unique. Will be back soon! read more

Rustic Root - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Rustic Root in Solana Beach We started with an Imperial Sculpin ' 10/10 choice. Then the Idaho Parmesan fries... and I'm still not over that garlic aioli Ihad the wild boar bolognese and WOW perfectly cooked pasta, the sauce ratio was everything, and so flavorful. We also got the chicken pot pie (ultimate comfort meal) + a fresh salad with the best citrus vinaigrette to balance it all out. They surprised us with birthday ice cream which made it even better. Vibes = 10/10, service was amazing, and I'd100% come back. read more

Rustic Root - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Came here for a friends birthday and the atmosphere is very San Diego. Super chill, not too loud, close to the water. Perfect. Our waitress was amazing and very helpful. Got some great recommendations. The breakfast was pretty decent, fun little spin on chilaquiles, my only complaint would be when adding chicken for $8, I'd like more than a nugget of it. read more

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Before choosing to dine here, I would carefully look at the recent 1* - 3* reviews that consistently mention staff attitudes, level of service, and cold/undercooked food. Then look at the template response from mgmt that this is not what we envisioned, YOU should reach out to US to resolve, blah blah blah. Ummmmm - no. At this point, mgmt should be fully aware of the issues this location has been facing (I have not looked at the SD reviews) and note that the same issues keep being identified (and not adequately addressed). Looks like a mgmt issue since diners really have to be aggravated to post a poor review. Why on earth would I reach out when you have repeatedly been told what the issues are and they still keep happening?!?! I do have to say, my bad for not looking at reviews before dining there again after the first visit was just okay. My second visit to the Solana Beach location. I have not been to their San Diego location. Appetizer Shrimp - spicy but uninspiring. Kinda dry. Fried Chicken - good. Butter biscuits were outstanding - creamed corn barely warm. Brined pork chops - dry and tough (how is that possible? Brining adds moisture and tenderizing). Carrots - barely warm. Side note - several salads were on the menu and none of them were worth considering - bland and nondescript. An adjacent table did order one and it was ENORMOUS! And so were the leaves of lettuce - ENORMOUS! Awkward for the young lady to eat! Dessert Chocolate gelato very crystallized (old and/or frozen and thawed). Locally sourced. Only took a few bites. Banana pudding - okay. No dessert wines (I'm not a coffee drinker), which was surprising. Service - needs work and more training Drinks took a long time. No water refills. Silverware from appetizers removed from plate and placed in table rather than bringing new silverware. Ugh. Some used appetizer plates of others in the party were removed promptly while others lingered on the table. Very tacky - staff stacked plates on the table and moved silverware to top plate. Remove each plate with the silverware as is. Do not place the plate on the table, move the silverware and stack another plate - while resting on the table!! That is diner level service - not the image Rustic Root wants to project - I would hope! Manager stopped by, but he needs to be more aware of service and what staff is doing - only saw him the one time. Server not prepared with awareness of whether sundae was available - it had been down the evening before. He had to go back and ask. This is something staff should know before evening service begins. Server placed a disposable glove on hand with knife while "preparing" (I.e., cutting) strawberries and blueberries for serving. Glove should have been on the hand handling the fruit. The sundae "bar" seemed a little worn out with cracked surface and the presentation and selection was uninspiring. A humorous observation - the sundae says unlimited toppings and the server carefully cut ONE strawberry and placed a couple blueberries in the dish and then asked what other toppings I wanted (gummy bears, sprinkles and the like). I asked for another strawberry which he added. Interestingly, whip cream and cherry were not offered. I did ask for whip cream and the server took the entire dish back to kitchen to add it. It returned looking very unappetizing - the gelato was half melted and so was the whip cream. Overall, the experience was very uneven and for the price (more than $100/person plus tip) was disappointing. Bummer that a local restaurant hasn't risen to higher level of food/service/experience - especially for the price. The decor and vibe are cool and the menu offers a lot of intriguing dishes. However, as a local, I doubt I will go back for a third visit. BTW - an app discount is only good for their San Diego location which is stated in very small print. Not discovered until bill presented and tried to pay thru app. Not cool, RR, not cool. read more

Returned for dinner and our experience was very different from our first visit for brunch. Server was very pleasant, but was easily confused and got many things mixed up including who was allergic to what and forgetting to put in our order for appetizers. She kept saying it was on its way, and after the entrees were served, realized her mistake. Delivering the food was another mixup, with several getting the wrong sides. Asked for balsamic salad dressing and got a dish of vinegar. Food quality was mixed. Fried chicken was very good, but steak tips were chewy and overdone, even though we requested medium. Almost unedible. Salmon was good and a generous portion. Salads were mediocre. This was half price night for their reserve list of wines, but the list was shockingly poor, especially from a reputable restaurant group. The three reserve whites were all chardonnays and the red reserves were mediocre super market wines. Few, if any, of these wines would be considered reserve in most restaurants. It really is not that hard to create a good wine list. There is no contact for the restaurant on their website, but I found a company email in a reply to one of reviews below. I sent a detailed note explaining our experience, but never received a response. Lastly, in their description on Open Table, they say they are a 1-minute walk from the Solana Beach Amtrak station. It's 0.4 miles and about a 10 minute walk. As a local, I hope they get their act together, but the wide range of ratings seem to indicate it's a hit or miss depending on your server and what you order. And the lack of any response from them says they don't value our opinions. 3-1/2 stars read more

I've been here 2 times for brunch in 2 weeks and it has been great. The cloud pancake is something else. The staff were friendly and attentive, music was good and decor is awesome. Really makes the difference that there's a parking lot underneath it. Definitely would recommend. read more

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Service was great! We made dinner reservations knowing this place gets busy. Parking is available in SandBox Garage located behind the restaurant on Dahlia Street. The architectural design and decor of the restaurant is something to be admired. Bathroom facility are located outside of the building and a passcode for entry can be acquired from staff. I had a glass of Moet Chandon. My husband had a Coors Light. My friends and partner enjoyed their food. I found my husband's Mac and Cheese delicious! For dessert we ordered a cookie skillet that comes with ice cream. We requested the ice cream on the side. Unfortunately the cookie was soft and underbaked in the middle. The staff quickly made up for it by removing it from the bill. We also ordered a sundae cart. The strawberries and banana topping on the sundae were delicious and it paired really well with cookies and cream! Overall the staff were super accommodating and we all had a great dinner. read more

Rustic Root - Dog Friendly & They Have a Dog Menu! - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California