Had a group of 6 come here for a little get together on a Saturday night. The ambience of the place is relaxed and..well...rustic. our waiter was very nice and got all of our orders correct. Everyone seemed to really like their food. 2 of us had the chicken parmasan and it was a very large portion so it was very hard to finish it all. I had the Pasta Carbanara and it was delicious. The port belly was nice and crispy and I loved the angel hair pasta. Their drinks were also dangerously good. My only gripe is the prices were pretty high, but where isn't and we walked right by this place and didn't see it because their sign is very hard to read at night and is not illuminated. We were pleasantly surprised with this place. read more

We finally tried Rustica, and I can say that our entire experience there was lovely. We were seated in the corner across from the bar. It was nice, and our server was very friendly and accommodating. The place is fairly casual and a laid back....relaxed, but still has an intimate vibe to it. The food is casual, but delightful. My husband and I shared the Steak Frites and a house salad, which was more than satisfying, and filled us up. The house salad was so much better than any lazy house salad I've had in the past, and the dressing was like an Italian Ranch of some sort. I don't know what was in it, but it was perfectly put together. I could go in and just have that salad, and be totally happy. :) I will be back! read more

Great happy hour visit! The steak main was shareable as a light dinner to go with happy hour beverages which were a great deal. No happy hour foods offered and tricky to navigate GF/DF. Service was friendly but waited over 20 minutes for server to check on beverage, which didn't taste as described in menu (w/dill). Just tasted like a nice lemon martini. Summary- great deal on beverages for happy hour. Great vibe, great staff but not the most attentive, but it was getting busy. We will def give it another go! read more

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We loved the atmosphere and food. Our server was so attentive and sweet, i even got a free cocktail and dessert for my birthday! We will definitely be back read more

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We had a wonderful dinner here with my favorite part being the Caprese, it was made more uniquely than other restaurants. I couldn't wait to go back and have it again but sadly when we went back they had taken it off the menu. read more

So so good! Amazing food and prices you can't beat, everything was under $25! Steak frites and truffle fries were delicious. Drinks were yummy! And I love the option to sit indoors or outdoors on the patio. Service was friendly and fast. Great addition to 8th street! read more

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The table bread and sauces were the highlight. The chicken Parmesan and the Bolognese both tastes a bit on the bland side. The service was less than attentive. It is a nice location with ok food read more

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First week opened. Replaces the former Juniper. We counted at least 25 waitstaff on a Saturday afternoon. HH 4-6 30% off small plates and all alcohol drinks. We tried two small plates. The bread is divine. The garlic baguette was loaded with delectable garlic and the tomato based sauce really helped. The chorizo toast with stracciatella cheese was excellent. Both small plates could easily feed 2 or more people, making them a real deal during HH. Carbonara is made with guanciale and you don't see that too often. It also uses bucatini. The dish was unimpressive and lacked flavor. Perhaps a shallot, some parsley, black pepper and sharper parmesan would up the flavor. There was water below the pasta, so a longer draining time would help. As is, not recommended. Overall, the new place deserves a visit so more folks can test out the menu items. read more

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Great experience at Rustica! We sat outside and enjoyed some beautiful HH cocktails and the buratta appetizer. It was beautifully done and tasty. Did not order any main food entrees but our appetizer and drinks were amazing along with warm and friendly service. read more

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Food Ordered the table bread and Burrata as an appetizer. The apps were good, I would say above average, but I wouldn't say a home run. I ordered the Pasta Blanco with chicken. I had imagined more of a "wet" Sauce but it was like a sticky/clumpy sauce. Not what I envisioned, but still tasted good. The chicken came as an entire piece (I would have liked it sliced and it was hard to cut in a bowl). Service Was great, waitress was on point, food came (to my prescription) a little too quickly though, but that's not fault of the waitress. Ambiance I had been to this physical location before when it was Juniper (I was told there is no relation from Juniper to Rustica). When it was juniper it (the music) was loud to the point it wasn't comfortable to speak to your friends. This IS NOT the same issue here, granted we ate at 5pm. read more

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Was so excited to try this Juniper replacement but honestly, I was a little let down. Our carbonara was way over cooked and the dishes were definitely overpriced for the quality. The verde wasn't bad, lots of greenery and rich. The patio is nice on 8th street of course, and there is lots of space inside and out. If you really want great pasta, there are other spots to try in Boise. read more

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After hearing good things from friends who had visited twice, we decided to try Rustica on a Friday evening at 7 PM (reservation). We were greeted with friendly faces and had our pick of tables. We chose a spot by the window overlooking the street, which provided a nice view. We were advised that the upstairs area can get noisy, so we opted to sit downstairs. Rustica occupies the space that was once home to Juniper, a restaurant I enjoyed before it closed. The charming interior remains, and the retractable awnings out front make for a lovely outdoor dining option. We started with the "Table Bread" for the group, and it was fantastic--garlic bread toasted with Parmesan cheese, highly recommended as a way to begin your meal. The cocktails were well-crafted, and while the wine selection didn't blow me away, the Cabernet I ordered was quite good. For dinner, I had the Spanish Flank Steak with Polenta, and it was excellent. While there were some mixed reviews from others at my table about their dishes, mine was outstanding. The hostess and our waitress were both very friendly, helpful with menu suggestions, and courteous throughout the evening. If you enjoy exploring Boise's dining scene, Rustica should definitely be on your list. The menu isn't your typical fare, so I recommend reviewing it online before your visit--you won't find pedestrian dishes here. read more

I love rustica. Amazing pizza and pasta. A go to when we have guests in town. Also fairly well priced for what you get. Definitely one of our favorites! read more

if i have to leave a 20% gratuity tip i expect 20% worth of service. we sat right by the bar and my friend asked for strawberry juice to sweeten her drink. 20 min later still no juice. i look in the back to see where the server is and he's(gavin) standing there talking to a coworker. the food was terrible. i paid $10 for steak on my pasta and i got the smallest piece of steak ever and was seasoned terribly. my friend obviously didn't like her drink and he never tried helping her fix it. i literally couldn't tell you what he looked like because we barely saw him. then the check had the audacity to ask for an extra tip? absolutely tf not. i will not return. and don't go there. the salmon was dry, chicken was unseasoned and BURNT! one of the girls who brought the food out was also rude. didn't hate the fries tho. read more

So tasty! My friend and I shared the burrata as an appetizer and it was amazing. I had the giant meatball for my entree and I will be talking about it for the rest of my life. The portions were large and the price was fair. The cocktails were also creative and delicious. When I went around Valentine's Day, they had special cocktails and they included a postcard to send to someone special, so that was a nice little surprise. Our waitress was attentive but not obstructive. The envirnoment was quiet enought that we could hear each other talking, so very comfortable. I will be back to eat here again. read more

I have been sorely disappointed with the Italian restaurants in Boise and their lack of authentism. Rustica was extremely disappointing. I was there for my birthday on Thursday with my parents my sister and my wife. I ordered the shrimp scampi and the shrimp was overcooked, the pasta undercooked, no butter very little garlic and it looked and tasted like it set in the window under a hot lamp for over 30 minutes. My father ordered the braised beef but it was more like your grandma's pot roast. Overcooked and lacking in flavor. My mother ordered the barramundi and it was a disgusting display. It look like somebody vomited on the fish. The burrata appetizer was sorely lacking in presentation. The only good entree there was the porchetta and my wife ordered that. My sister ordered the mushroom ravioli and it wasn't up to par. Now to the server that served us. You should not be a server. You lack enthusiasm and professionalism in the workplace. I will definitely not be returning and I am spreading the word about this restaurant and how horrible my experience was. Also, turn down the music. Whatever happened to going to a quiet restaurant. I could barely hear anything that my family was saying that night. This is the second time in 2 months that I have been disappointed by an Italian restaurant in Boise. It truly is sad. I gave it one star on here because you can't give zero stars but I am giving it zero stars. I really hope you turn everything around. This is not a good restaurant. read more

Great new addition to Boise's 8th Street food scene!! I brought my daughters in for a celebration dinner and they loved the panzanella and the pesto pizza was perfection! We'll be back for sure read more

Overall a decent experience. Prices seemed a bit steep for food quality. They forgot the polenta with the porchetta roast while the mushroom polenta was a bit oily. Would skip the gazpacho next time but definitely recommend their Amici cocktail! read more

Fabulous meal at Rustica, tonight. We had the burrata and ravioli appetizer. Both delicious. Our group of 4 shared 2 pasta and 2 protein dishes for our main. Porchetta and carbonara were our group favorites!! Excellent service, atmosphere, cocktails and variety of culinary options. One area for improvement would be the desserts. We tried 3 and were disappointed. The rest of the meal and experience was a 10. We will be returning! read more

Rustica - Porchetta - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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The good! Tyler was great and super friendly! Rest of staff, great as well Good selection of cocktails, beer and wine Burrata appetizer: pesto excellent, cheese yum, tomato....baby cherries House Arugula Salad w Lemon vinaigrette was really tasty w a few too many onions in the bottom of the bowl. Ambiance: vibrant but we were seated upstairs and it was initially a ghost town. Main dish: we had the Pasta carbonara and the Spicy Italian, add chicken. Both dishes had undercooked pasta. Al dente is one thing, but chewy and can't unstick from our teeth is a bit much. Both dishes also had some overcooked meats. The guanciale was jerky dry, as was the chicken which we think was fried and looked like Korean fried chicken. Unfortunately the sauce on the carbonara was really salty. The spicy Italian sauce was better but also salty. Will give it another go in a few months after they work out the kinks, given they opened 6 days ago. Really want to try a pizza. read more

I met some friends at Rustica before a show downtown. I always enjoy trying new places. My friends' food looked amazing and they said it was really great. I ordered the Parma Pizza (Caramelized onion, Parma ham, ricotta, garlic, arugula, Shaved fresh parmesan) thinking it would be an individual serving. It's actually a very good size for two people to share. Maybe it was the ham or something else, but it was very salty and I could only eat a little bit. The crust was very good though. Our service was a little rough. My friend had made a reservation and when I showed up I was told to look around to see if the other people in my party were there. Our server was nice but seemed a little inexperienced. Maybe they're just working out the kinks. I like the upstairs a lot better than when it was Juniper. I'm not sure what they did, but the noise level is decent so you can carry on a conversation at your table. Of course I forgot to get pictures. read more

Honestly not much to say other than the food is trash. Went with my family of 5 and not one person even ate half of it. They could not even do pizza right and the pasta was a salt marsh. It's a good location and fine atmosphere but they need to completely rethink their menu and food prep. read more

The food was not good. Especially for the price. There are way too many good Italian restaurants in Boise. Skip this one.

We got there early to take advantage of Happy Hour and were seated right away. House cocktails were good but a little small. We had small plate appetizers of the Burrata and the Garlic Baguette, both were excellent and again small for our party of four. But that was OK because the main courses are really the star. The wife had the Beef Ragout; not what she was expecting but she was very happy with it. I had the Grande Meatball spaghetti; the meatball was as big as my fist and the sauce was wonderful, a very simple dish but one of the best I've had in a while. The other couple had the Ravioli with mushroom and it was also terrific and light. Tyler did a great job of recommending wines to accompany, and they were on-point. We will gladly make a return visit. read more

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Terrible food. Overcooked, oversalted. The chicken was so tough and dried up, I couldn't even cut it. It was like eating salty leather. The linguini was overcooked and salty as hell. read more

If I could do 10 stars, I would. Service couldn't have possibly been any better. Drinks were perfectly mixed, food was spectacular, and the service deserves substantial recognition. I would come back to Boise just for this restaurant. This is a must eat establishment read more

Absolutely the worst pasta I've ever had. Coarse paparadelle SMOTHERED in tasteless "cheese" sauce. Mushroom and leek undetectable. Box Mac n cheese far superior. An insult to pasta and server too clueless to ask if "everything was ok". Inedible. read more

Took my wife and brother in law last week and ordered the smash burger this time. This double decker burger came with a chorizo patty and fries. One of the best burgers I've had in Boise ! Must try for a gourmet burger. read more

Sophia was fabulous! We had a great meal... the Bolognese was exceptional & good wine - we chose the Cabernet!

Walking in the space, the ambience, layout, design, are all haphazard and ruin the experience. Very awkward in general, especially with designAwkward length between tables and bar, but tables much too close to each other. Initial appetizers included house bread (way too much garlic) and burrata (tasted like horrible cheap Costco mozzarella. Pizza was inedible. Charged $2 to remove ham from it. Overall, terrible. Avoid at all costs. read more

Rustica - Gargantuan pizza slice - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Got a reservation for prom and they didn't hold my table for me, for there on time and everything, but they pretend like I never called and told me to screw off pretty much. read more

Overpriced, underwhelming, and terrible service. We were excited about this place, and hoped for the best, but got the worst. My wife received shrimp that wasn't cooked in the middle, I got pasta with the spicy sauce, it was chunky dry and bland. Spicy, but with no real flavor. It wasn't even that busy, and it took forever just to get drinks. Food took even longer. Her plate came out before mine, and we watched the table next-door. Come out one plate at a time over the span of about 20 minutes. Service is horrible. Food is just as bad. Don't go. Oh, and it was over 100 bucks. That's a lot of money for terrible food and service. read more

Wow.... My new favorite restaurant !! I had the massive meatball dinner, and it was scrumptious! Everyone who walked by said "I know what I'm getting for dinner"! Our waiter was friendly and on it. I can't wait to go back. read more

Drove from Nampa because I saw an IG reel about this place and it looked yummy. Looked at the menu and decided to make the drive for date night. As we walked in at 7:15 on a Friday evening, there were a couple ladies on the patio, folding napkins, and them not greeting us or saying hello, should've been our first sign it was going to be bad. We waited at the host stand for a few minutes. Many employees walked by, but nobody greeted us. We ordered the Burrata app. We saw it on another table and it looked delicious. The cheese had zero flavor. I ordered the blanco pasta and added shrimp. The shrimp were cold and raw inside. The toasted bread crumbs were so hard I was afraid I would break a tooth. My husband had the spicy pasta and it was okay. After a few minutes of waiting for the waiter to come back to check on us, we had to flag him down to inform him of the shrimp problem. Rather than offering to remake it our our waiter said he would just take it off the bill. We had to flag him down a second time for another round of drinks. Our waiter did return once we were done and asked "is everything tasty"? We asked for boxes and the bill. Pretty disappointing. read more

We were excited to try the sister restaurant to St. Lawrence Gridiron, and what a disappointment. The restaurant itself was nice and inviting. The food was a huge disappointment. I had the mushroom ravioli and thankful I ordered a side of marinara sauce. Barely any stuffing inside the ravioli and they drenched it on top with what seemed like was kale, more of something with no flavor. I kept shaking pepper over it to get any flavor from the dish. Husband had the carbonara dish and also said it was lacking any flavor. I must say with all the restaurants in the area, it sure is difficult to find flavor in this town. With the prices these restaurants charge, a little flavor isn't a whole lot to ask. read more

The atmosphere is so cool here, we had the best service and loved all the cool craft cocktails. The pizza was so yummy, the crust was perfectly light and crispy. We had the fungo and margarita pizza, both fantastic. The pasta carbonara was next level! I can't wait to go back! read more

I was visiting some family here and decided to try this restaurant with my parents. The waitress took about 25 minutes to get our drinks and even after that we had to ask a random waiter to see if he can take our orders. He was very sweet to call our actual waitress over to us to take our orders and ensure that we didn't need anything else. Before this happened the waitress just kept passing us while she looked right at me and not offering to see if we needed anything. It was the most weirdest situation and honestly I found it disrespectful. Our food took an additional 30 minutes to be ready and after she gave us our food that's the last we saw of her. We were wishing we had gotten the guy waiter instead as he was very sweet and welcoming. The food was okay, nothing special and I think the service had already ruined the experience. We were pretty patient and not rude but we just didn't want to be there at all. We decided to leave the cash total on the table and not tip at all because it's was the worse service I have ever received in my life. The other low ratings on this restaurant completely match my experience. Not just awful service but felt like I we had the rudest waitress there. The ambiance was a negative experience overall. Waitresses do better kindness doesn't hurt. read more

Hosted business dinner recently at Rustica. Sat upstairs in the terrace and were promptly greeted and seated. Ordered several apps (you have to try the crispy chicken thighs with romesco sauce!) and all were generous in size and delicious. Several bottles of reasonably-priced wine and cocktails adorned the table. Entrees followed, I had the delicious and perfectly-cooked barramundi with roasted root vegetables and a fennel cream sauce - I would order it again! Our server was on-point - there when we needed him and unobtrusive - really good service overall. Had a couple desserts for the table to share - the olive oil cake was a favorite. The group hung out for a while in conversation for a time after the meal and enjoyed the festive holiday season ambiance. Overall, a really good experience - highly recommended! read more

Best Italian food in Boise with authentic presentation and great cocktails for a fun evening out!

First time at Rustica. Took over where Juniper used to be. Inside decor pretty much the same. First impression when seated is that the tables were very close together and didn't seem like they had any heat on. We started with the Buratta which was very good and then shared the Carbonara. Knowing that Carbonara is very hard to make, we took a chance. While it was a generous portion with lots of perfectly cooked porchetta, the pasta was ridiculously under done, and the dish didn't seem to have any egg yolks in it at all. By the end of the bowl it was a thick pile of glue. We felt sorry for the table of 4 next to us. 3 of them got their food and waited at least 15 minutes for the last meal to come. On the good side, our server was amazing. read more