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    Rustico

    3.5 (891 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Rustico Takeout or Delivery

    Rustico Photos

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    RUSTICO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Rustico

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    Reviews With Photos

    Korean bbq wings
    Erika S.

    Brought bae here last night after shopping at Potomac Yards. I have been with my boss but he had never been. We started with the korean bbq wings and brussels. I modified the sprouts for no bacon or crema sauce. I have had them before but they are flavorful every-time and the portion is large. Then i got the grilled salmon with kidney beans and vegetables for the first time and was surprised by the lemon flavor. It is good but definitely strong lemon flavor in each bite. Bae got the fried chicken sandwich which he finished all of along with spinach. I am not drinking so i got a mocktail which comes with fresh sweet ginger slices that you can eat. Our waiter was Carlos! He was knowledgeable and helpful with suggestions. Will definitely go back and ask for him.

    Chopped Salad
    Kristyn F.

    Went on a Monday evening, it was busy! I think we ordered wrong. The beer list is extensive, I am not certain but pretty sure the draft beer was a little warmer than most restaurants. The beer was cool but not cold. Minor ding for that. I ordered a salad with the dressing on the side, did not come out that way. Service was decent but not great. The air conditioning was wonderful but they sat us under the vent which was really breezy and unpleasant. Will come again to see if they were just off yesterday.

    Fidens Overshadow, Cheese & Herb Risotto Tots

    Disappointed with the updated happy hour beer "deals". It used to be $2 off any full pour draft, but now it's $5 for a few select beers. Rustico has been a go-to place to find a wide variety of different beers, and happy hour was a good opportunity to have them, but at $12 for a 13oz pour, I'm better off going to a bottle shop and drinking at home or heading to Dominion Wine and Beer for their happy hour. Used to pick Rustico for its location, but with this new pricing the drive to Dominion is worth it. $10 for a 13oz pour isn't cheap, but it felt like enough of a good deal to keep me coming in regularly. Probably will still keep an eye on Rustico's tap list and come back on special occasions when something catches my eye, but will definitely be coming in much less. Good news for the local breweries which I'll be heading to more!

    Leroy R.

    Came with a friend for a birthday lunch and it was a good time. The fries and brussels were so good! Very flavorful and tasty. service was lovely, very quick and the server was friendly and attentive. The space is large with ample seating. My friend got the gluten free, GF, crust, made with chickpeas and she loved it! She said it was the best GF pizza crust she's had. I got the pepperoni pizza with hot honey and it was nice. The pepperoni were crispy, which I enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this spot! There is a decent size parking lot in the rear which is always nice.

    Hoda A.

    Another restaurant to add to the fav's list. Santa Claus greeted and seated us. It was a busy time of the day. Their food is delicious since it's wood fire grilled. The roasted beet salad with chicken and grilled chicken salad were both great options. Although the salads were cold, the chicken arrived hot. Many times when the salad arrives, the meat has cooled a bit. But not here! The server was very attentive. I do not recall previously enjoying a beet salad anywhere. In fact I do not even think I have ever seen a beet salad this portion. Usually, I find small and simple beet salads. The best roasted beet salad with chicken ever!

    Margarita Pizza
    Jessica U.

    Apple mint mojito - 7.7/10 Strawberry on the mountain - 7/10 Spinach and artichoke dip - 8.5 Margarita pizza - 9/10

    Talika B.

    Saw this restaurant sitting on the corner when I was driving by on my way home from work. I said to myself that I wanted to visit as it looked like it would be good. Fast forward to about 2 weeks later I booked a reservation for a surprise celebration lunch. The menu is what intrigued me. I saw the whisky flight tasting and knew that my friend would love it. We arrived. It was quiet. I told my friend that we had the whole restaurant to ourselves. lol. But then we didn't as people started falling in. We sat down and looked at the menu. Everything looked good. Our waiter Anderson was amazing. He was patient pleasant and professional with us. I had the strawberry sparkler with a shot of Tito's. My fiend has the whiskey classic flight. We started with the wings. Soooo good. Nice portion for 2 to equally share. Then we ordered food food. I had the roasted turkey sandwich with a mixed green salad and to top it off the sandwiches come with a drink. I have never seen that before at a restaurant. So many options. They even have a lunch special with pasta and salad. My friend had the grilled chicken sandwich with fries. Nothing was short of delicious and perfection. We ate good. The restaurant is sooo cute. The decor with the rustic glass on the wall makes it different. Outdoor seating is set up cute with a fire pit. The manager even came over to chat with us. She was amazing as well. I told her we are returning very soon with friends. And would like to request Anderson. If and when you are in the Alexandria neighborhood and looking for a great bite to eat and good ambiance and great service this is the place for sure. And if you don't try everything the first time come back again and again and again and again.

    Ice cream dessert
    Pegah Y.

    I love this place! I don't live too far away, so Rustico is a fun place to visit with friends visiting from out of town or just for a quick meal (whether dining in or getting takeout). The food is delicious and reasonably priced, and they have a good menu selection. My go-to's are usually their salads and pasta dishes. I visited most recently in early November 2024 and got their fried chicken salad (sweet corn, avocado, bacon, pickled onions, crispy tortillas, jalapenos, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, honey-chipotle aioli). The salad was a generous portion and definitely entree-sized! Service is always fast and friendly. I've never had to wait too long for a table or for my food to arrive. I've also had drinks there - they have a good selection of wines and beers. The ambiance is also great - they have a more casual bar / lounge area, as well as another side of the restaurant for dining. Rustico used to have an excellent second location in Ballston (Arlington, VA), but they've sadly closed. I'm glad the Alexandria location is still around and thriving!

    Ricotta gnocchi
    Brittanie M.

    This was my first time here. About 20 of us came for a post valentines work dinner. I ordered the everything pretzel and the baked feta dip as my starters. For my meal I ordered the ricotta gnocchi, and the jalapeño margarita. The everything pretzel was nothing special. It came with two pretzels and a mustard beer cheese. I have had better at other places and wouldn't order it again. However, The baked feta dip was outstanding! I could've licked the bowl. I 10/10 recommend this starter. It's the best I've had. I would come back just for that. The ricotta gnocchi was also just okay. It was a little too sweet for my liking. I tried my friend's salmon and risotto. I liked her dish better than mine. The jalapeño margarita was spicy... but I didn't mind that. I expect nothing less from a margarita made with jalapeño. I ordered 5 lol Overall... the experience was good. We had some things we didn't like but also experienced some things that we did like. We had a very large party... so they did struggle quite a bit to split the checks correctly but the server did his best.

    Smoked Paprika Risotto Tots
    Donna-Marie T.

    For my first visit I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Went on a quiet Sunday night and the service was amazing. We were given options of seating as it was kind of empty. Our server checked in many times after taking out our original order. I loved the decor and the feel of the space. The food We ordered the risotto tots as an appetizer. It was a solid 3/5 on flavor. The tots were cooked okay but the crunch was a little overwhelming on some pieces. The sauce was a tad too acidic to compliment the cheesiness of the tots. The pizza was definitely the star of the show. The crust was cooked well and the toppings were great. My only issue was the raw huge chunks of garlic. The flavor was good over all but I wish the garlic was incorporated in a different way. I would absolutely try here again.

    Chicken Salad Sandwich and Fries
    Nita W.

    A coworker chose this place because it was near the job and the menu looked good. We arrived and it was nice and clean and had a nice smoky smell from cooked foods. Our waiter was slow, and somehow got our special requests wrong two different times (no ice, no onions). After he brought the appetizer out, we never saw him again. We had to ask a waitress for to-go food containers and the check. That took a while because she had her own tables to wait. When she came back with the containers, she accidentally filled my sprite glass with water, but replaced it with a kids size sprite. When I asked for a small to-go container of the smoked mayo, I was told they don't use that, they only have regular mayo. I told her it was on the menu and that was why I ordered the sandwich which was suppose to have it on there. So she went to the back to ask management and she came back to confirm that they don't use it. I believe it because the sandwich had no special flavors to make me want to go back and order it again. Service horrible, fool ok, ambiance great. Our next luncheon will be somewhere that respects customers more, and the menu is a true depiction of what they serve.

    Beet Salad
    Elizabeth M.

    Had a quick lunch in Alexandria at Rusticos! We got seated quickly and the food was good portions. We had 7 people and their policy was we could not split checks (it was inconvenient but doable).

    Fish n chips

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    Usually love this place. Came tonight. Sat at high top. No service. Appetizer cold. Left because had no faith to get entree correct.

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    Page 2 of 23

    Ask the Community - Rustico

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    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    1.1 miOld Town Alexandria
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    Saturday was my first time back at Majestic since the new management took over, and I have to…read moresay--it was a great experience. Even though it was quite crowded, everything felt very well organized. The wait time to be seated was reasonable, and the staff were warm and welcoming from the start. Our waiter, Lorena, truly stood out. She was incredibly patient and accommodating while we took our time deciding what to order, and she was very helpful in guiding us through the menu. On top of that, she had such a pleasant and positive attitude that made the whole experience even better. As for the food--it did not disappoint. I had the salmon, which I would absolutely recommend. My daughter ordered the steak frites with French fries, which was excellent, and my other daughter had the same dish with mashed potatoes. Everything was so good that we left our plates embarrassingly clean. We'll definitely be coming back. And if you happen to get Lorena as your server, you're in for a genuinely great dining experience.

    Lorena was an amazing waitress! Very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The majestic is…read morehands-down, one of my favorite restaurants in Alexandria.

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    Jula’s on the Potomac

    Jula’s on the Potomac

    4.1(243 reviews)
    0.7 miOld Town Alexandria
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    Bottom line front - you won't find a more beautiful view with exquisite menu options in the area…read more Service is sunburn and they know how to present! The food, flavor, and service are what you'd expect from a 5*. The food are cooked to order. The Drink menu is superb. With refreshing options and great flavors. And yes for your simpler folk the have bud light in frosty glasses. So for a bit of the elephant the prices, they are not cheep but the perception of value is there. I'm not a fan that if you decide you don't like vodka in a bloody marry they up charge you for whiskey. In this posters option whiskey is much better option for Bloody Mary. Recommend you allowing an option for vodka, tequila, and whiskey. The bloody marry is also not house made. I passed but your server and I had a good laugh about it. Drinks are very expensive!!! When we sat down before we opened the menus he offered to bring us hot biscuits...no they were not complimentary 6 biscuits at $5 a biscuit was a nice treat on the bill. Our server Quintin was awesome! Recommend him for sure. Polite professional and factual but more than willing to upsell so make sure you ASK What charges will be made for offers.

    Food/price:…read more Charcuterie Service $35.00 rosemary focaccia, prosciutto, genoa salami, manchego, greek olives, artisan olive oil & balsamic vinegar, grated parmesan (presented tableside)

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    4.0(986 reviews)
    1.2 miOld Town Alexandria
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    We've been coming to Vermilion for almost 13 years now and it STILL doesn't disappoint!! It's one…read moreof the most beautiful restaurants in Old Town with its exposed brick and dim lighting. Especially in the winter time with the white lights lining King St outside. Tonight, we had an amazing meal prepared by Chef Tony. We started with their fried oysters on top of apple slaw and their potato and leek soup. The soup was piping hot with small hush puppy style croutons inside served in a beautiful bowl. It was delicious too! I don't even like oysters, but I liked these. Next came the Betty's buns and beet salad. The beet salad is such an interesting preparation with ricotta, raw and cooked beets, some herbs, orange segments and pistachios. I really enjoyed the brightness of the dish. And who doesn't love a good warm bun with butter? The entrees were really beautifully plated and delicious too. The catfish was our favorite with a delicious broth, poured table-side. I've never had a bison steak before - but this one was perfectly cooked with cippolini onions, chimichurri and sweet potatoes. The plating on everything was absolutely gorgeous. And for dessert - a spongy apple cider cake and creamy chocolate cremeux. I don't even like apples, but this cake was amazing. It had beautiful accompaniments as well. And the chocolate cremeux was served with beautifully poached pears and cranberries. We loved both. Our waiter kept our water glasses full, knew all the details about the menu and was so pleasant and prompt. Absolutely love it here!!!

    I was unhappily surprised at the experience at Vermillion during restaurant week. I brought my…read morehusband here on his birthday because we had an amazing experience two years ago with a thoughtful menu, delicious bites and cocktails that were well explained. It seemed like the server was very busy tonight (which I understand because it's restaurant week) but we got no explanation of anything on the menu, getting a drink order took about 15 minutes for my husband, and worst of all when I ordered the wine pairing none of the wines came out before or with the courses and nothing was explained at all about what I was drinking. Not even a quick, this is a Cabernet Sauvignon. I was shocked! How do you have a wine pairing where you just fling down a glass of wine and run away? So I had a little blind taste testing with no answers. The food didn't even compare to the last time we came. Everything was fine, but nothing I would return for. We had the beet salad, the acorn squash salad, the short ribs, the bison steak, and some sort of chocolate dessert with pears in it. I had explained some food allergies and although the final receipt had those allergies marked, the dessert came out covered with one of my allergens and I had to notice, chase them down to tell them then wait and get it replaced, which they were very nice about but made me concerned that everything else I've been eating might've not have been safe. Again, last time I was here I felt completely fine afterwards and they were very on top of avoiding cross contamination for my celiac disease. Ultimately, I wouldn't come back here -- I was so disappointed at the experience when I really wanted a special night for my husband's birthday. I was shocked that this was recently named one of the top 50 restaurants in NOVA and had so many positive recent reviews. What am I missing? Majestic café, Josephine, Thompson's Italian are all tastier options a short walk away.

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    Union Street Public House - Braised Short Rib

    Union Street Public House

    3.5(684 reviews)
    1.3 miOld Town Alexandria
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    Was in town for a work conference, and headed to USPH for dinner with a few vendors one night!…read more Parking is a bit tough in the area, but we were able to find garage parking with not too far of a walk! The space itself is historic and fun, which matches the overall vibes of the neighborhood. Our server was on top of things throughout the meal, even with a large group and many special requests! The menu is a mix of fun takes on classics, with everything that we had tasting great! I had the Shrimp Po Boy, which was a sizeable serving and tasted great! I loved the thick, crispy fries on the side! Finished the meal with the lemon cake, which was a refreshingly sweet finisher! Overall, a really solid spot for casual, comfortable food in the area!

    Union Street Public House has quickly become one of our go to spots in Old Town. The place has this…read moregreat mix of historic charm and relaxed comfort, and the overall vibe just feels right for a night out. It's lively, warm, and easy to settle into. Both times we've gone, we've ended up in the whiskey bar section. It's cozy, a little tucked away, and honestly the perfect setting for good drinks and good conversation. We also got lucky on both visits because Jessica took care of us each time. She's fantastic. She's witty, sharp, and knows the menu and the whiskey list inside and out. She makes choosing drinks or food feel effortless and fun, and she brings a ton of personality without ever overdoing it... she reads the group pretty well. The cocktails are excellent, but the whiskey selection is where they really stand out. You can tell the bartenders know what they're doing. The pours, the recommendations, the way they talk about the bottles on the shelf, it all shows real skill and pride. The food has been consistently great. We've tried the burgers, the chicken sandwich, the braised short rib, and the crab dip, and every single one has been a hit. Flavorful, well made, and worth coming back for. The only thing I probably wouldn't order again is the pulled pork. It wasn't bad, just not the style or flavor profile I look for in a place like this. Do it.

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    Oak Steakhouse

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    4.1(360 reviews)
    0.6 miOld Town Alexandria
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    Visiting Oaks Steakhiuse from out of state, we had such a wonderful experience from start to…read morefinish. I called ahead and spoke with Todd, who was incredibly kind and accommodating for our party of five. When we arrived, Todd greeted us and seated us right away. He truly radiates light and joy, setting the tone for the entire evening. Our server, Alison, was an absolute gem--attentive, personable, and on top of everything. The food was outstanding. We ordered the ribeye, New York steak, and filet mignon, all cooked to perfection. The Oysters Rockefeller were superb! I had asked for my daughter's meal to come out as soon as possible, and they made it happen without hesitation, which we really appreciated. For sides, we had the Brussels sprouts--perfectly balanced, sweet but not overly so--and the creamed corn, which was absolutely on point. We didn't end up ordering dessert, but the options looked amazing and tempting! Todd came by our table to check in, which added such a personal touch. The ambiance was lovely, and as we were leaving, Todd walked us outside and spent a few moments chatting with us--it truly meant a lot. Todd and Alison made our experience at The Oaks unforgettable, along with the incredible food. Thank you both--we hope to see you again soon! --SoCal Visitors

    Located in North Old Town. They offer free parking nearby. We had no problem finding street…read moreparking across the street. Fun, quiet atmosphere that definitely said "steakhouse!" Lots of wood and dark colors. Great service from Shawn. We tried the Ribeye and NY Strip. Both were ok. Not much seasoning. Lots of marbling. Both had significant sections of fat. For me, wasn't the best cut for either. Both were ok steaks. We had the fries and cream corn. The fries are made with a beef fat. Tasty. The cream corn has a lot of cheese on top and throughout (see pic). That wasn't a favorite for me. Was more like a mac and cheese. Pricing was for a Ruth Chris experience but fell flat on delivery. As an example, went to The Wharf a few days later and had their NY strip, with crab cake, and sides all for the same price. It was a much superior cut of steak and the flavors were fantastic.

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    Hummingbird Bar & Kitchen - Grille Cheese and Fries

    Hummingbird Bar & Kitchen

    3.4(380 reviews)
    1.4 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    I enjoyed the food, the service from my waitress, and the atmosphere. However, I noticed that the…read moreprinted receipt reflected the mathematically correct total, while the bill presented for signature increased the amount by two cents. When I asked about the discrepancy, I was told the systems sometimes differ by a few cents. The adjustment was made when I requested to pay the correct total, but the response suggested that questioning "only two cents" was unreasonable. My concern was never the amount; it was the principle. When a customer is shown one accurate total and then asked to authorize a higher one without explanation, it creates the appearance of taking money that was not part of the stated charge. If I may add my two cents as a former patron and frequent restaurant guest: trust matters in a dining experience. Even a few unexplained pennies raise a reasonable question--if this occurs repeatedly throughout the day, where do those extra cents go? A couple of cents from one guest, a few more from another, eventually add up. Transparency in billing prevents that concern. When a discrepancy is presented without a clear explanation and a patron is made to feel foolish for asking about it, it leaves a bad taste, regardless of how enjoyable the meal may have been.

    False advertising?! Dining out is never by chance for me. I…read morehave studied the menu, read the reviews, and planned out my health conscious meal during the day to be ready to indulge at the restaurant. Sadly, all my research fell short for Hummingbird. Apparently there is a Monday "special menu" that is limited and also has features not available other days. I went tonight with my heart set on the whole grilled fish and hush puppies that I reviewed on the website multiple times. Not available. I still wanted fish, and there was a salmon linguine option. This dish is only offered on Mondays. It was flavorful but heavier than I wanted for the evening. I was clearly upset, however the food was still good, giving the 4 star review. Salmon linguine: 5/5 crispy skin. Lemon cream sauce that was the perfect tang. Spring salad: 5/5 fresh light salad. The spiced pecans were a great bonus. Hummingbird Cake: got this to go! Great and moist. If you do not like banana this is not the dessert for you. The Monday night menu is a great option as there is a 3 course meal for $40! But again, many of the standouts that I heard and wanted to try were not available. I would go back on another night to try those. Apparently there is a happy hour as well. The menu is not posted online, but there is mention of it in the timing, unlike the Monday menu. update online menus! #moralofthestory Nice patio view looking at the water. As the sun went down, there were a few mice as noted in other reviews. I feel like this could be mitigated but also you are sitting outside. Idk! Great service.

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    Inside the restaurant at closing hours

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    Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Table setting

    Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant

    3.6(473 reviews)
    1.1 miOld Town Alexandria
    $$

    Great service, fantastic food. Lovely ambiance. Priced accordingly to fine dining in a period…read morerestaurant that George Washington dined in. Recommend to all.

    Bottom Line: Not worth it…read more Came in with pre-reservation for a group, we were self seated, and the staff then became too busy taking care of other tables. We waited over an hour just to get drinks. And the staff were too stupid to pitch in and help each other. The entire staff including the managers should be replaced. Our food only arrived after being seated for 90 min. Atmosphere was decent, old 18th century decor with cheaply framed reproductions tacked in the wall that are crooked, but the food was uninspired and unappetizing. The strip steak I had was thinner than the sole of most shoes and 30% gristle. The fries had wilted by being steamed under the warming tray. The "melody veg" was mostly undercooked cauliflower. Wait staff were entirely too busy taking care of other tables, and we saw lots of other food orders going out before ours showed up. People who came in after us - had food before we did. I got no water. No bread. No glass for my bottled beer/drink which was $12.00. We had to as for a glass three times for my beer before one was given. At that point, I was hotter under the collar than my plate of food. Only redeeming part of the meal was a bowl of peanut soup. I grade this experience a solid "F." Don't even accept an invitation here, make excuses to go elsewhere or get away even. It's not cheap, it's not a fair value, the service is abysmal, and you don't get a decent feeling of atmosphere from that period of history. Seats were uncomfortable, and not sturdy. No one with impairments nor the disabled should attempt the main entrance door. In fact, they will likely find the restaurant to can't be navigated. Bottom Line: Ugh. Not worth it.

    Photos
    Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Traditional breakfast with poached eggs instead of scramble (comes with fruit cup)

    Traditional breakfast with poached eggs instead of scramble (comes with fruit cup)

    Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant - Table setting

    See all

    Table setting

    Rustico - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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