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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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

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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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

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 to Rustic root downtown and that spot is okay but this spot is WAY better! The steak and eggs was amazing. Usually breakfast steak and eggs is okay but I was pleasantly surprised with the steak. Our server was amazing as well as the hostess and I would 100% recommend this place! read more

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

I hosted brunch with my MeetUp Fun Diego Ladies. I ordered the garden egg white frittata and really enjoyed my dish. I liked how it came with a side salad. My meal was tasty and healthy. I also had a small piece of biscuit, which was amazing! The restaurant was beautifully decorated. One thing I didn't like was the draft. The front and side entrances were open, so there were strong drafts and cross winds. I wouldn't recommend coming here on a cold and windy day. It's perfect for a warmer day though. The service was good. Our server made sure our water glasses were adequately filled. They have a great happy hour menu that I want to check out one of these days! 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

I went to this location during a weekday very busy and completely booked It is new, modern, nicely decorated I have been in the one down town and was looking to this one The service was not bad Food was ok and not as impressive as I had in the downtown location Restroom is located outside the restaurant with a code which I was not a big fan of the concept Overall was ok Will I come back ? probably not Parking was street parking was not bad during weeekday not sure about the weekend read more

Rustic Root - 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

This location is sooo cute! In the heart of solana beach, I love that they have free parking in the parking garage below the restaurant. I came here for a bridal shower brunch, and the staff made it a really good experience. We got little yogurt parfaits and delicious biscuits to start, a champagne board with different juices and droppers with raspberry, peach and blueberry juices to drop in - such a good idea & adds a fun element to making your own drink. I had the smashburger and it was great! No add-ons were included - just onions and cheese. It felt like a classic & slightly elevated McDonald's burger with more meat & I was very satisfied with it!! Next time, I'll ask for some aioli on the side :) Great experience, would definitely come back here! read more

Rustic Root - Double patty smash burger! - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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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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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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This review only covers Happy Hour. Great outdoor space on the corner of 101 and Dahlia with lots of stools along the bar as well as facing out, and no shortage of overhead heat for cool evenings. Lots of drink specials as well as apps available. We have been twice for HH. We tried to go for dinner this past Friday, but they were closed for a private event - should have checked that before walking over. We expect to be back for dinner with another couple later this week. read more

I've been to Rustic Root's downtown location a handful of times and always had a solid experience, so I was excited to check out their Solana Beach location for the first time. Unfortunately, the service here really missed the mark. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. We sat at the outside bar with our dog and used the QR code to order--standard setup these days. It wasn't busy at all, but the lack of attentiveness from staff gave me the ick. We ended up eating quickly and heading out. Happy Hour Highlights: Mini Maryland Style Crab Cakes ($12): Meh. Not bad, but I wouldn't order them again. Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich ($12): This was great, definitely a must try. Rustic Smashburger ($12): Solid choice. I'd re-order. Idaho Parmesan Fries ($6): Crispy and flavorful. A re-order for sure. The space is nice, they offer a dog food menu (which is a great touch), happy hour deals, and there's a free parking garage next door--big plus. Overall, I wasn't impressed with the SB location, but because I've had better experiences downtown, I'm willing to give it another shot. Hopefully the service improves next time. read more

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Our group reserved a table on a hoppin' Wednesday night. The place looked great and the service was excellent. The description of the "special" sea bass sounded good, and I ordered it, even though they were out of bass and subbed in trout. The sauce and olive/cherry tomato mixture was really good. The sea bass would have been better for my taste buds, but the trout was enjoyable. I think sea bass costs more than trout, but the cost of the dish somehow stayed the same. I tasted the wild boar bolognese and it was very good. The smashburger looked excellent as well. read more

Rustic Root - Fresh fish special; originally sea bass, but trout was subbed in - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

What a gem in Solana Beach! We had the BEST brunch at Rustic Root. We went on a Sunday and all the tables were booked, but we were able to get a seat at the bar. We ordered through the QR code. The the vibe was absolutely on point and the food was so good! We ordered the pot roast, French toast sticks, bloody Marys, strawberry matcha, and the biscuits -- and let me tell you, not a single bite disappointed. The pot roast was rich and tender, the biscuits were perfection and the jam was so yum! The French toast sticks were dangerously good (crispy on the outside, soft and custard inside). The strawberry matcha was unique, and the bloody Marys had just the right kick. The atmosphere is relaxed but elevated -- perfect for a weekend brunch with friends or family. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. Thanks again, Matt, for making our experience even better. His positive energy and great smile made us feel right at home! You're a true highlight of Rustic Root! read more

Rustic Root - Pot roast hash - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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

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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Everything was spectacular. I loved my mango beer, Brussel sprouts and burger. In addition Hannah was a great server and Vincent was a great manager. I even loved the vibe. read more

Rustic Root - My left over burger!! - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Now this place has a cool and fun vibe, and is ALWAYS jumping! Lotsa people, flowing cocktails, and amazing dishes. We walk there but there's plenty of parking in the nearby garage. Our absolute favorite dishes are the Wild Boar bolognese (I know it sounds scary, but believe me you'll be thanking me later!), the Lobster Tagliatelle (big chunks of tender lobster), and the Chicken Pot Pie (one of there best we've had in a long time). Always looking forward to going there. See you soon!! read more

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Went during restaurant week so we got to taste some of the specials . The crab cakes was delicious. Everything tasted great and we had leftovers to go. The only issue is the porkchop I wish was cooked more. The banana pudding was my favorite . Service was great and ambiance was cool . Parking was easy . read more

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Rustic Root has a catchy name. Table for two and was told by the host there was seating. She came back to the podium and requested we give our phone number. We questioned her and she mentioned the restaurant wanted the phone number so they can text diners of specials and other offers. Didn't especially like to get pressured on the spot to give your phone when we actually did not. Ambiance was nice but music level was a bit loud. Food was mediocre. Smash burger was well seasoned, came with pickles but bun was soggy. Salad was over dressed and highly recommend dressing on the side. Parmesan fries were crispy and good. Ketchup was provided when requested from the server. Strawberry Matcha Latte was good. Ice tea came with free refills. Our servers attention was not focused when requested tea refill and ketchup that took longer to receive. When we got our drinks, the server slammed it on the table. Maybe the server had a bad day? 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

Sat at the bar on a Saturday at 1:30. Bartender was attentive and knowledgeable. She made a tasty espresso tequila martini for me. We were in there at brunch time, so got the egg white green omelet. Tasty. My husband got the Pork Belly Fried rice. Vibe was hip and cool. Everything was a solid 4 stars. read more

Rustic Root - Espresso martini with tequila - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Ate at the bar and the bartender took awhile to serve us. Food was nothing special. Definitely not returning to this place.

This review is for the Solana Beach location. The happy hour scene here is fantastic. It doesn't hurt that, on Wednesdays through Fridays, happy is between 5 and 7 p.m. I mean, those are great hours. Good luck finding a spot at the bar (and the bar is huge and wraps from the inside to the outside). But it is very much worth trying to snag a spot. The happy hour food portions are, like most places, on the smallish side, but they are ample and not tiny. Everything we had was excellent. The Idaho Parmesan Fries are superb. Get those, for sure. I could have eaten 50 of these fries. The Mini Maryland Style Crab Cakes are very nice. The Wagyu Meatballs (you get three good-sized meatballs, served over garlic mashed potatoes) are also a winner. I wanted to lick the plate to get all of the mashed potatoes I could. The drinks are also very good. For those interested in mocktails, the Side Porch Shrub, made with blackberries, is excellent. It is very fruity and delicious. I am not normally a mocktail guy but I would absolutely order this drink. I almost never order a bar's own cocktail creations but I tried two of their "Signature" cocktails here: the Dirty Cola (Gentleman Jack, Coke, vanilla, and oat milk--yes, oat milk) and a spicy margarita (I can't recall the exact drink name). The Dirty Cola was fine but, honestly, a little strange with the oat milk. The margarita was very spicy and delicious, if you like spicy margaritas. The bar and restaurant itself are very attractive. The design is super cool and there is lot of wood and great lighting. It's a gorgeous, lively place and based on what I tried so far, I would gladly return for happy hour or dinner. read more

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This place has been on my list for a while and I was able to check it out this passed week for a networking dinner. I was no disappointed. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious! I tried the Brussels sprouts and they were cooked to perfection and so flavorful! I also had another appetizer that seemed like a yogurt based appetizer with vegetables and it was VERY good and refreshing. Wednesday night is half off wine night so we enjoyed a red wine for the evening that was great(sorry not sure of the name) and for my entree I had the salmon (I'm a well done salmon type of girl) and this may have been the best salmon dish I have enjoyed to date! The ambiance was nice the music is loud but enjoyable and the service was great from the hostess to the table. I will definitely be back soon! read more

I am a big fan of Rustic Root, it's one of my favorite restaurants (more so the downtown location). I came here last night with my family to celebrate my birthday. I'm not sure whether their A/C was down or they just didn't have it on but the whole restaurant was stuffy & hot! We were all sweating a lot, people around us were fanning themselves, & our drinks were warming up SO fast! The food was good as usual, my favorite cocktail (A Lover's Flannel) was disappointing, more sweet than normal didn't taste worth the price tag. Our waiter seemed to be way more attentive to other tables & kept ignoring us especially when we were desperate for some refills. Even though it was mentioned it was my birthday, our waiter didn't do anything until we asked about it at the very end, got a cup of vanilla ice cream & a candle. After this visit, it's definitely more worth the hassle to go to the downtown location instead. read more

Came here with friends for dinner. The food was delicious and the wait staff were attentive. We hit the end of happy hour. The acoustics are great for conversation and the atmosphere was friendly. We were celebrating a friends birthday and the personalized card was a lovely touch. read more

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We had the best experience with Hannah! Such a fun evening and the food was fantastic! We ended our dinner with a sweet treat! read more

Rustic Root - Ice cream treat! - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Came here for a girls night and Hannah took the best care of us! Excellent service and menu recommendations. I had the cornbread (amazing!) and the mini pot de crème (delicious!). The restaurant is super chic with a great menu. A delight! read more

Robert, one of the bar tenders, has always treated us with the utmost respect, helping guide the stellar experience of stopping by by enhancing drink recommendations and truly taking care of us every time we're there. It's one of the most beautiful places in Solana Beach, already a neighborhood cornerstone and for good reason given the quality of the product they are putting forward. I've never had a bad bite or sip here. Happy put eats are great, but so is the regular fair. read more

Probably the best brunch I've ever had. Everything was so delicious and the service was great. The aesthetic was nice too.

Just left here from Happy Hour. What can I say but what an overpriced disappointment. Ordered food came out cold and steak was way overcooked. Basically just ignored by the bartender as we sat on the patio. Wasn't social, didn't care to help customers unless you are a single lady sitting there. You figure with prices like you have you would employee people that can cook a steak. Or bring out warm fries. Or maybe bring out a not gross aoli that was obviously days old judging by the crap I had to scrape off the top. So in short eat here if you want to be overcharged to get sick. read more

Rustic Root is such a solid choice. The service has always been great with super friendly staff. The chicken pot pie is my go-to every time. Perfect comfort food. Any chance we get we try to snag bar seats, shoutout to our favorite bartender, Erich, who always brings great energy and makes killer margs. We'll definitely keep coming back. read more

Valentines dinner at Rustic Root was delicious! They had a special Valentines Day menu including well curated dishes and specialty cocktails. My boyfriend ordered the beef tartare for the table and it was so good it was gone in seconds. The restaurant itself is beautiful and inviting. Hannah was our server and topped off the night with her great service. She had a great attitude and took such great care of us. Will definitely be back. read more

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

Friendly staff. Great food. Amazing drinks and awesome ambiance. I recommend going on Sunday for their brunch. It doesn't disappoint. read more

Rustic Root - Mimosa Platter for the win - New American Near Me - Solana Beach, California

We busted Rustic root a couple weeks ago for my friend's birthday brunch. When we arrived we were greeted by the GM who was so friendly we told her it was our friend birthday and she asked if we had a picture of her because she wanted to do a little something special. I text her a picture and to our surprise she printed edible pictures and put them on top of our espresso martini's! We were so surprised that she went out of her way to make our friend's birthday so special. We loved all the choices we had to choose from for brunch from crab cake Benedict to chocolate pancakes! Everything we ordered was delicious. Our food came out quickly and our server was amazing. The cocktails were also good and everything was reasonably priced. Look forward to coming back for happy hour! read more

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