Great place for special occasions... make sure you reserve before going. I had the Grilled Black Kobe Tri-Tip and it was amazing! Although a little bit pricey I will definitely be back to Rustica for my special occasions read more

The best place to eat in Kalamazoo. Service is always good, the food is consistently good- call ahead - the place is always busy.

Me and my brother in law went here after he interviewed for a job in the city. It was really delicious. We started off our meal with a smoked salmon appetizer ($10) which was on special that night. It was amazing and a good portion in comparison to appetizers that I get to other similar restaurants. For lunch I had a poached fluke that was on special and my brother in law got a "seafood gumbo" dish. We were both really happy with our dishes and cleared every bite off our plates. It's a bit pricy, but this is a great restaurant for a special occasion! My brother is from New York, and he said that this food was up to par with the big city restaurants he was used to. The kitchen is right in the main dining area which is a cool experience! Also, a big perk was that the restaurant owner stopped by our table at the end of our meal to check to see how our experience was. Our waiter was very quick and really nice. Only complaint about this restaurant was that it was REALLY warm inside. We were sitting right near the kitchen so that may have played a factor. Overall amazing experience! read more

Rustica - Poached fluke with crab - Modern European Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

You would think that in this time of the china virus and restricted seating, a restaurant would be more inclined to put their best foot forward, sadly this is not the case with Rustica. We live and work in Kzoo and frequent the local eateries as much as possible, we have our favorites but Rustica is not, the food was palatable (that's the best I can say about it), but the service was sub-par and the price out of line. My wife and I are a mixed couple, so we often get the once over when we enter, we are accustomed to this and pay it no mind, however, she became ever more uncomfortable as the evening progressed, it reached a point that she wanted to leave ASAP. I want to congratulate the owner and staff, instead of returning customers, this will be our first and last visit. read more

Rustica is delicious! I came on a Saturday night and it was packed. I recommend making reservations ahead of time or coming after 9pm. The crowd started to die down around 930pm. Our server was on top of everything. As soon as we finished an appetizer, he'd bring in our next one within seconds. It's a little pricey considering their portions, but worth it. Great quality. read more

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The best restaurant in SW Michigan! The food is consistently great & awesome service. Our favorite!

I'm torn to review this place- our meal was very good, however the table next to us was a group of young women. One was obviously pregnant. She had been saying that her stomach wasn't well- I'm not sure what happened, but the manager came out and was saying the pregnant woman was drunk and they had to leave. The pregnant girl left crying and her friends stayed behind and the manager repeatedly told them to f-off. I felt so bad for those young women who were clearly just having a girls night out. I have never in my 60+ years seen a man talk to young women in the way he spoke to them read more

Wonderful place to go on a date night. Excellent gourmet food that is comfort food with a creative spin. I love the Otto's chicken but have also had excellent steak dishes, pot pie and pasta. Fresh seasonal ingredients and wonderful presentation. The desserts with a French press coffee are always a great way to end the trip here. Service is always on point. I usually make reservations but it isn't always necessary. read more

I just left this restaurant. I have been looking to going to this restaurant for many months. But I must give this place a zero review. The manager is a jerk for no other definition. We waited for an hour for dinner to arrive. When I asked him about it he confronted of me. He said it was 53 minutes since we ordered! Really? He told me basically that I was being a jerk. That I could not understand how he was short staffed and how restaurants around this area have closed. I told him that I am from a city where we have had many restaurants that have closed. He belittled me. And when our food arrived a few minutes later he practically dropped the two plates onto the table and said something like, there I told you they would be right up!! I just spent over $100 at this restaurant. I have been to restaurants around the country and around the world and this was my worst dining experience ever. The manager needs to understand what it means to be a manager. And when a customer asks you about your meal being delivered late after you've been sitting for an hour you do not belittle the customer and you do not throw the plates onto the table. And if you are short staffed, DO NOT fill your restaurant to capacity! I will never go to this restaurant again. Go to Food Dance or Principle instead!! read more

The food was very good. I loved the Bouillabaisse. My husband said the lamb was ok but too mild. It tasted like beef. He said it was good but would have liked if it tasted more games. The service was excellent. The gluten free coconut cake was amazing. read more

Best restaurant in KZoo and it's not even close. Friendly, attentive service combined with fresh, unique food offerings and all reasonably priced. I'll just go ahead and say it; You're an idiot if you don't try it. Added bonus: easy walk from the only decent hotel in downtown (the Radisson) read more

Pros: High end food. High end service. Cons: Little space. Price is absurdly high, but it is a high end restaurant. Can't make reservations, only morning of. My go to: Bone Marrow, cheese board. read more

Always our first choice for dining when we venture to Kalamazoo. Every experience has been memorable, incredible flavors and an attentive friendly staff. Our biggest challenge is always trying to decide which item from the menu wins out, and what terrific wine from their comprehensive wine list pairs the best with our orders. A true gem! read more

Delicious food, fun atmosphere. The tables are tight, so this may be COVID uncomfortable for some. Otherwise a wonderful experience!

Absolutely our favorite dining in West Michigan--not just the Kalamazoo area. Fantastic service. The owners are always there making sure everything is perfect. Wonderful wine list. Saad (owner) does an amazing job of recommending wine to enjoy with dinner and Bill (owner) is genuinely very appreciative and an excellent host (they both are). As for the dishes...The duck is impeccable. Seafood specials are always wonderful. However, the Boullibaise is NOT to be missed--UNBELIEVABLE. For as many times as we have enjoyed this fabulous restaraunt, we always get excited for our next visit. Thank you Rustica! read more

Great food , wine selection & staff! It is in a very convenient location. Be sure to make a reservation.

Maybe we just got an off night, or maybe our expectations were too high based off all the great reviews, but we were very disappointed. My husband and I both found the food to be incredibly bland. The menu descriptions sounded amazing, but everything was seriously lacking flavor. I had the fish and it was just a piece of fish and some potatoes baked together, it wasn't even sprinkled with salt. We've had much better meals around town and won't be back. read more

Very good food, I had the duck and they did a good job preparing it to be cooked just right. Veggies and cornbread on side also very well done. The outdoor patio on the street made it a great ambiance too! read more

Just celebrated our anniversary at Rustica. Absolutely perfect evening. Host's Bill and Saad were as grascious as always, the waitstaff was perfect and the food was DELICIOUS! Topped off the meal with the best French Press coffee ever coupled with a snifter of Grand Marnier. left with smiles on our faces and very happy tummies. read more

Great meal with fantastic service. Will definitely be coming back. Price vs portion size were perfect. Appetizers, Entrees and Dessert were all prepared perfectly. read more

We had the most enjoyable evening tonight. The food was outstanding. The service was by far the best we have had in a very long time, ANYWHERE. Our server, Laura, was on point through out the dinner. She made the evening very relaxing. When I told the manager how good she did, I was amazed when she told me it was Laura's first night working alone. Well hope they keep her there. We will be back. Great job Laura!!! read more

Food isn't really up to par with the pricing. They push this rustica salad on everyone which is the laziest thing I've seen in my life. Four leafs of lettuce with a splash of dressing and a cracker on the side. The cracker is the best part of the joke of a salad. Waiter also took the last part of my beer that was in my can. Overall it's best quality is the location. read more

I was really looking forward to dinner with my friends at Rustica. What a disappointment. The food was awful. The server was an ass. The manager was aloof. My dirty martini was gross...I can't even figure out how they could mess it up like that. It came with a toothpick that had one single tiny olive on it...who does that? Not one of us enjoyed our dinner. As a group of professional women who spent a week in France this year enjoying AMAZING bistros, we can tell you that this place doesn't begin to compare. It was a waste of money and we will never go back. read more

Great service even for being short staffed. The food was delicious. And felt very welcomed. Will definitely be coming back!

Wonderful food, the BEST service! We dined on their patio on a questionable weather day, with our dogs. When it started to rain, they got creative and were still able to accommodate us. All the food was great but the gnocchi was especially outstanding! Thank you Rustica for making this a great night for us. We will be back! read more

Our favorite dinner spot in Kalamazoo. No disappointments ever at Rustica. Excellent food, staff, and owner. It is a five star restaurant. read more

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Rustica. Otto's chicken is delicious, so flavorful. The atmosphere is French bistro style, you would never know you're in downtown Kalamazoo. I had a kir royale before dinner, a favorite cocktail I like to order when in Paris. Very good. For dessert we chose the strawberries on a salted biscuit covered in chantilly. It's strawberry season in Michigan so dessert was extra delicious. Small, quaint space. Great for date night. read more

Rustic-eh! Just ok, pricey for what we had. Cheese board was good. Only one cab sauv available by the glass. Glad we tried it once. Don't need to go back. Loud in there and quite cozy. Cold air blowing on us the whole time we dined. The four of us all had the same opinion...just ok. read more

Very good. Every dish I have had here is very well made and very good. I would vote for this place to be one of the best in the city.

While the food I have had there previously was good. My most recent dinning experience was terrible. I'm fine with paying extra for good quality food, but being served a precooked lamb shank from Sysco didn't fit this requirements. The rice was still raw when it got to my table, and the meat was cold. We used to sell the same exact item at a restaurant I worked at previously for a third of the price. read more

To be fair to Rustica, I haven't eaten there or tried their wine. They specialize in fine wine and European style food, neither of which is my favorite. But, if either or both are your fav's definitely give Rustica a try. The rating is based on my visit to the bar only which is not their strength. The atmosphere is wonderful and the place is beautiful. They seem better at pouring wine from a bottle then making a basic mixed drink BUT that's fine if you know that going in. I'm sure they're awesome at recommending a great wine if wine is your thing. read more

Though I may have left Kalamazoo, Rustica will always remain with me. I don't know how to put into words the deliciousness that wrapped its arms around me and made me feel whole again. It took every bit of control within me to keep from jumping up and twirling around like I was in the Sound of Music, but this may have been frowned upon in such an intimate setting. (Although I assume this has happened on several occasions.) Let me start by saying that I'm a cocktail girl. I often find myself disappointed when a restaurant doesn't have a cocktail list. This would normally take away from my experience, but not with Rustica. Honestly, I hardly noticed. I didn't need a cocktail (okay, I partook in the wine...). Absolutely everything, from start to finish, was amazing. We started with the Bay Harbor Mussels and the Pork Belly Confit. This was the point where we should have realized that our lives were about to change forever. For our entrees we chose to split the Bouillabaisse and the Grilled Hanger Steak, served rare. To help you better understand how we felt about our experience, let me first say that we are two very talkative and often disruptive people; we ate in silence. A meal like this must be savored. A meal like this must be appreciated. For dessert we feasted on the Callebaut Chocolate Brownie and the Creme Brûlée. They were delectable, just as we expected. To say that I will absolutely be returning to try everything on the menu and that I will also be recommending Rustica to every single person I know can't even begin to shine a light on my true adoration of Rustica and the genius behind this experience. read more

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Rustica made for a really pleasant girl's night out spot after a grueling day of work. We had no reservation and were dressed pretty casually, but neither seemed to be as big of an issue as some locals made it out to be. Maybe it's because I'm not from here, but I also thought the prices were pretty normal, too. A breakdown... Drink: I had no idea what I wanted, but when I heard "full bar" I settled on one of my favorite drinks: an extra dirty vodka martini with an abundance of (blue cheese stuffed) olives and the nastiest, cheapest well vodka they had. Why, yes, I am the classiest lady around. Um, this drink - which kicked me in my pants, by the way - was only $6.50. Whhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaat!?!?!?!?!!? Keep 'em comin'. Food: We split the cheese board which was a wonderful way to start our meal. It came out quick and had bits of a soft cheese, a hard cheese, a blue, some thin crackers, a bowl of honey, spiced nuts, and some bacon jam. With the addition of the complimentary bread basket, it was really wonderful and made me regret not getting a thick red wine (which I almost did until Martini 1 demanded a friend, so Martini 2 joined the party). For my entree I got the ricotta and squash gnocchi... it was lovely. So much more filling than I was expecting - talk about serious stick your ribs kind of food-, flavorful, and wonderfully seasonal. Dessert also happened - because a) I was wearing stretchy yoga pants and b) Martini 1 and 2 told me it a was a good idea - and we were talked out of the tiramisu and into the tres leches cake... which had delightfully strong notes of coffee. So glad we ended up treating ourselves because it was the kind of dessert you wish all restaurants could produce (i.e. you could tell it wasn't an afterthought like most restaurants just have a dessert menu to have a dessert menu but it isn't really a priority to them). Service: Service was STELLAR. We had a one-handed ninja and she was engaging, hospitable, and downright fun. THAT was something I wasn't expecting - to laugh so hard and feel like I was just eating dinner a friend's house at this seemingly upscale restaurant. So kudos to them for that! Definitely great for a date night. As someone else said, it's easy to "adult" with places like this to be spoiled at. read more

Rustica describes its fare as peasant food from Italy, France, and Spain. From the wintry windy alley-like streets in downtown Kzoo, enter a warmly lit room, narrow, with an open kitchen and highly attentive servers. The place is crowded and lively. You are whisked to your table as if an old treasured friend. I went last night with five others which is a perfect set up for tasting many dishes and being able to give good review (usually I like to go somewhere three or four times before I'll write about it). Upon seating, a hand appears from nowhere and pours my wine glass with some excellent Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley. I sip and peruse the wine list, which is fantastic. I could live in the wine cellar and know that on any given day, I had at my fingertips some of the most carefully curated picks from small scale producers worldwide. Only several Michigan wines, however, from the Old Mission Peninsula (near Traverse City - you should go. Rustica supports the Bowers Harbor (www.bowersharbor.com) winery and offers Riesling "Semi-Dry" and Pinot Noir "Dijon". A group of six can safely order the entire suite of "Firsts" and I think ours came close. We had the Antipasti: a selection of house made pickles (think pickled parsnips, cauliflower, celery) with grilled veg, Nicoise olives, nuts, and some fig confit. Of all the "Firsts" if you try nothing else, please do yourself the favor and the gift of trying the Maple Leaf Farms Duck Confit. Crispy on the outside, tender inside, with the fragrance of fennel infused, it's served with some unnecessary gold potato hash and apple-celery chutney. Give me the duck and I will quake (not quack) with pleasure. Cauliflower gratin with amish cheddar is total comfort food and line-caught Yellowfin crudo with winter citrus and arugula blends umami, sweet, spicy in a balanced way. I wasn't crazy about the Prince Edward Island Mussels. But that may be a symptom of going deep into the duck and antipasti. Moving along, Rustica offers the usual roasted beet, arugula, goat cheese salad and a grilled romaine salad with anchovies and caesar dressing. I tasted both and greatly prefer the latter. The flavor profile was savory, smoky, slightly sweet, and the texture was barely charred but enough to add to the crunch and satisfy. Rustica offers house-made pasta and a selection of grains. The winter mushroom farrotto with porcini, morel, oyster, and crimini mushrooms was applauded by those who tried it. But the Bucatini pasta alla Carbonara (a dish part of my regular repertoire - some of the best comfort food) was declared the winner of the pasta/grain category. House cured pancetta, farm eggs from Otto's poultry, and a nice balance of parmesan and black pepper combined nicely and I think if possible to do it without clients present, that bowl would have been licked clean. Mains chosen by our group included market fish in parchment. I believe it was mahi mahi and was considered light and well prepared. I am on a steak kick lately and ordered the grilled hanger steak with mashed cauliflower, crispy shallots and roasted garlic jus. Delicious, perfectly prepared medium-rare and enough to share or take home to hungry homebeasts. Kenya AA Coffee from local Water St. Coffee Joint is served in press pots and clearly Rustica knows from coffee--low acid, solid body, smooth winey taste and notes of fragrant florals. They surely paid attention to the water temp and used fresh beans. Stuffed but intrigued by the dessert menu, we all sampled the Michigan Apple Crisp and the Lemon Polenta Cake. Go for the latter. It is made with almonds, vicksburg honey, and whipped cream. Can anything be wrong with fresh whipped cream? I think not. A special lagniappe was a dish of Palazzolo artisan mango sorbeto. It cleared the palate and concluded the feast. Rustica's chef, Adam Watts, comes from Boulder's The Kitchen (which explains a lot about the menu and the exquisite touches and quality). Eric, our server, was attentive and observant. He noted one of our group's nut allergies and prepared her a separate version of the antipasti that didn't have nuts. All in all, five stars for ambiance, taste, wine list, service, quality and execution. If this is peasant food, I want everyone to become a peasant. The fare here satisfies on a deep soul level. Enjoy! read more

Best restaurant in Southwest Michigan! Food is always fresh, creatively prepared, and visually appealing. They have some fantastic chefs from CIA. Some of my favorites are the grilled asparagus, grilled romaine salad, the fresh fish, and the bouillabaisse. I have never been disappointed in anything I've ordered- you cannot go wrong! Fantastic wine list (ask Saad for a suggestion). French-press after dinner with dessert is always a treat. The restaurant is small but to me that adds to its charm. Bill and Saad are always very welcoming. Very friendly, attentive staff. Most have been there for years. It can be quite busy so either call ahead (they do not take reservations) or plan on waiting at the bar. We are very fortunate to have such a place in Kalamazoo! read more

Rustica would be right at home in any big city dining scene. The food is fresh and seasonal. For dinner last week, I started with gazpacho, which had a great kick to it. I had a New York strip steak special (at least I'm 90% sure that's what cut it was). Cooked perfectly. Dinner was a corn tart. Creative but not my favorite dessert of all time. Best part was... My parents were in town and paying, so we ordered off the stash wine list. Also excellent is the lamb shank and the baked fish. Truthfully, I've never had a bad or even mediocre meal at Rustica. It is by far my favorite restaurant in Kalamazoo. read more

QUICK TIP: The name of the restaurant is pronounced "roos-TEAK-uh". Overheard one of the owners say it. Finally tried this place for dinner on a Wednesday night. Overall impressed and honestly nothing to mark it down, I just don't give out five stars for one meal. The food was very good although not mind-blowing. I had the potato gnocchi and my friend had the duck, and both were very good. The waitress was friendly and efficient, had our water out immediately, and then our beer and bread basket in short succession. Entrees came only 10-13 minutes after we ordered. Definitely has the potential to be one of the best places in town. The bill was $64 for two entrees, two salads, and two beers. Open for dinner only. read more

Our meal last night was fantastic. Argyle Pinot Reserva --- half off bottles before 6pm. Scallops in Brown Butter over Lemon Parsley Risotto Salmon and Pastrami Salad (Number one thing we tried) - we wanted more! Lamb Shank (to die for) - Taste like grandma Tuscan cooked it herself all DAY! Fresh Pressed Coffee. All these items were five stars and plus! The grilled ceazer salad was overdressed and small for ten bucks, but still delicious, and the bouillibase of seafood was not OMG, but still really delicious! You start to be really critical of the food here, because the last bite you had so was damn amazing! The chefs know how to use subtle ingredients to capture and deliver on big infusuion and flavor. We loved it! The service was great, the table and atmosphere were great! We really had one of the best times we have had in awhile thanks to the quiet and confident service and atmosphere Rustica provided Sunday evening! A perfect place for a romantic date or a nice dress up dinner with friends and family! Highly recommend this place! Thank you once again to Darren, the chefs and everyone over at Rustica! Your Crew is Great! read more

Off topic but this is the second time I could have sworn I reviewed an establishment and it ended up dissapearing. I first reviewed them several years ago when they first opened and I would give it the same rating as I did then...5/5. Anyway, this is by far, my favorite place in town! I've been here numerous times and the food is excellent. Delicious menu and ingredients are fresh. One side note, all the times I've been here, the dishes seem to be a tad over salted. read more

Excited and happy with authentic new culinary challenge in downtown Kalamazoo! Rustic is a new very beautiful restaurant. It is at the same location "Sprouts" used to be. Yes it is small and crowded, which is OK with us. Place were filled with full of delicious smell, when we were waiting our table it all looked very promising. And we did enjoyed all full course meal! All the ingredients were mostly local and excellent. We had Craft Cheese Plate. Wow! Don't miss, I do not even like cheese much.... Sautéed Bay Scallops with lemon-parsley risotto and brown butter. Was ok, I would try something else. Mushroom Farrotto: porcini, oyster and crimini mushrooms with garlic, thyme and marsala. Flavorful, but would be great to have more complexity with different kinds of mushroom, e.g. morel, truffle. Bouillabaisse: Alaskan halibut, shrimp, mussels, and scallops simmered in a tomato-fennel broth. Excellent! (if you are from the sea, remember how far we are away from....) Tiramisu .....it was not too sweet delicate, very flavorful, fluffy and had a bit hint of brandy, enjoyed it very much. They have Kenya AA French Press coffee! (One order is enough for more than 2 cups). And great beer and wine selections. I would give 5 stars as Kalamazoo, Rustic have a potentials to be the hottest best restaurant in town, and two for about $85 is not bad at all for the kind of food & the quality, yet I do not feel like 5 somehow... maybe next time. read more