Rustico Taverna exceeded every expectation. Following a family funeral service, we needed a restaurant near the cemetery that could graciously accommodate a group of 20 guests, and they did so with warmth, compassion, and impeccable hospitality. The food was truly outstanding--authentic Italian cuisine prepared with care and served in abundant portions. The meal began with a fresh, delicious salad and a wonderful hot antipasto, followed by a generous main course featuring excellent meats and perfectly prepared pasta. The grand finale was an absolutely fantastic tiramisu that everyone raved about. What impressed us most was the way the entire staff handled our gathering with such professionalism, grace, and attentiveness. They made a difficult day much easier by bringing family and friends together to share memories and enjoy a beautiful meal in a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. Rustico Taverna is exactly what a great neighborhood Italian restaurant should be: exceptional food, plentiful portions, warm hospitality, and attentive service. We give them our highest recommendation and look forward to returning under happier circumstances. read more

Rustico Taverna has a nice team of people that always make you feel welcome. The interior is pretty (maybe a little warm, but it was unseasonably balmy this evening). I'm leaving a review because they had a menu revamp, and the salmon special that I ordered tonight was outstanding. Juicy, a nice grill char, so flavorful. Great job! read more

Rustico Taverna - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Queens, New York

Neighborhood gem. I was craving brick over thin pizza and I found this little gem. It was EXACTLY what I dreamed of. Got the rustico salad, rigatoni, and the margherita pizza. Star of the meal was the margherita. Simple and tasty. This proves that a place doesn't need to be super complicated to be good. I will be back to try their home made raviolis too. looks like they have like 3-4 fillings. read more

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very authentic italian food . be octopus appetizer is a must try ! so fresh and delicious and the pizza is fresh from a brick oven . anything you try here is delicious. customer service is amazing and inside is pretty as well read more

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Food and service were incredible. Beautiful ambiance. I came with a group of friends. I had the cavatelli di ricotta alla coda di bue, and it was so delicious. The wine was flowing. The server was so friendly. We all loved the entire experience. Amazing local gem - highly recommend! read more

Good food, side of pasta is $10 though. There are many less expensive options on the same street.

Man where do I start with this place. I'm not Italian but to me this place oozes passion from Italy. The owner is a stand up guy and believes in his product. He's manned the counter every time I've been and always been helpful. I've had some of their pasta and steak with some wine. It was decadent. When I get paid I try to set aside a little to go treat myself here. The steak is soo good. I've heard the branzino is really good too. I'll have to try that next. Love the open air front and cozy inside. read more

Just absolutely delicious, everything. From apps to the bread to the main course. We could not stop eating. Service was great and staff was just so welcoming, 10 stars. read more

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AMAZING SERVICE I definitely recommend even via delivery service The hospitality is amazing.

So this afternoon I had lunch with a couple of friends in my old stomping grounds. Fresh Pond Road, Ridgewood, Queens. I had the chicken cutlet topped with prosciutto on a bed of arugula and potatoes (like home fries), smothered in a creamy Gorgonzola sauce. Plate didn't look pretty but hey, that's rustic for ya! Oh and the bread pudding was legit! Staff were amazing. Highly recommend if you're in the neighborhood for sure. read more

We love this restaurant but tonight has changed everything. There was an appetizer that we wanted with prosciutto and cheese and the manager pushed something on us that was not what we wanted and he said the app was for one person. We ordered 2. That went from $25 to $50 for a small charcuterie board. Then we asked for 2 espressos and one sambucca. They brought 2 sambuccas and a birthday desert which we did not ask for and that changed everything. Then he added 2 manhattans to our check We brought that to his attention and he took One Off!! He must have thought we were drunk or stupid . I don't think I will be back which is a shame, because I really like it there. read more

Great find! The food was awesome! Real Italian fare. The service was attentive and on point. The decor was little plain, so the ambiance is not there. But after all, highly recommended read more

Always welcoming, always great service, and the food is excellent!!! The gluten free options are good too!

Amazing food start to finish. We were greeted by the manager who was so friendly and knowledgeable about the food. My family and i had a great time. Each dish that came out seemed to get better and better. Coal oven pizza melted in your mouth. the Osso Bucco fell of the bone. My kids loved the lasagna. You can tell they use fresh ingredients the quality and flavors of the food are amazing. Can not wait to come back. read more

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Everything we ordered was terrible (we didn't order the pizza though). I've never seen such a small portion of calamari for such a high price and half of the calamari was just the breading with nothing inside. We also felt rushed out even though we weren't there for long. read more

Absolutely the best Italian restaurant! The food was amazing, especially the pizza with high-quality ingredients. The shrimp bisque soup was very flavorful, and the homemade tiramisu was the best I've ever had. Highly recommend this place! read more

Rustico Taverna - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Queens, New York

Ordered their Gnocchi alla Sorrentina and Mozz stick through seamless and their food was great. Definitely recommend if you're having carb craving! read more

For my first review of 2023 (uhm it's what year now!?), I'm excited to write about Rustico Taverna, located in Ridgewood Queens. I just went there with a friend on Tuesday and really have a great time. The service was outstanding, as was the pasta and wine. I also love that they provided some complimentary bread and olive oil for dipping (with actual olives too). It is such a warm, friendly, family-owned business and is a nice refreshing change of pace from all the hustle and bustle restaurants that have taken the city and many parts of Brooklyn, by storm. For a casual, relaxing and tasty experience, where you don't feel rushed even in the slightest, Rustico Taverna is definitely a spot to check out! read more

I've been following this resturant since they opened and it has always been on my list, with all the reviews of best Italian food in queens I figured me and the wife would check it out for our 10th wedding anniversary ...and I dont get it, im not even sure its the best Italian food on fresh pond road . The place does have a certain randomness though lol. When we arrived we were greeted by whom ill assume is the owner .. I believe he may have been drunk , I mean he could have had an inner ear disturbance, but something was definitely up. The interior was like a nice pizza place less then a restaurant, we grabbed our seats in a corner booth while listening to the random sound track playing in the background..a mix that had 80s metal and for some reason Supertramp every 3rd song ( not that I'm against any of that) .. the waitress that took our order seemed confused and would just say " ok" and walk away when she didn't understand something, we were having appetizers which we ordered, then I told her we were going to have a pasta course and then entrées which she replied "ok" walked awayand never took our order for the rest of the food After getting that all sorted out the apps and the wine came .. first we tried the sangria, it was some over sweet pre-made stuff out of a bottle, awful, so I ordered a pinior noir, for some reason they serve wine by the glass in a little carafe, they pour a quarter of a glass then you pour the rest..random again, and unnecessary. The apps were hit or miss , the fried seafood in a cone ..which doesn't come is a concern had no seasoning and just tasted like flour ..the dipping sauce might have been ranch dressing? The mussels and grilled octopus were very good ..next was the gnocchi in gorgozola sauce Packaged pasta the sauce was meh..had some random pieces of eggplant as a garnish. The entries were ok , I had salmon that was over cooked...it said it came with peppercorn sauce, which I'm pretty sure was just Ala vodka sauce with green peppercorn..weird..and my sides were ice cold My wife said she enjoyed her porkchop. The panacotta, like most of the meal was ok. The place is not great , not bad just incredibly average, I doubt I'll be returning , might be a fun neighborhood place though read more

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The seafood risotto was pretty good but the on of the mussels shells broke and it was annoying to spit it out/ could be a physical hazard. The pizza though was delicious but smaller than your average pizza. The servers were very attentive and checked up on us. I like how the lighting looks at night. Cheesecake was good but it's hard to go wrong with that. Wish there was more whipped cream though! read more

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I love Italian food and happy that nearby my doctor office has one. It was nice breezy day in the evening of Friday. I got a table outside with amount of food I ordered, it took 2 table together. I started with.............. - Arugula salad - nice and fresh, good mix with delicious dressings, cherry tomato, cheese and nuts. - Grilled Octopus - cooked perfectly! Soft and chewy but not unpleasant texture. - Mussels in white wine sauce - a little bit salty but teste, so I dunk some bread in the sauce and it was very good. - Linguine Clam sauce - actually, the menu was seafood but since I already had mussels and octopus so I asked the restaurant if they can made only clam sauce for me. Then for dessert, I had Cannoli and Cappuccino. I was so surprised, they had Cannoli because many Italians mostly have Tiramisu and something else. Service was some good some a bit not quite smooth; Chef was so friendly. He came out to my table and asked about how the food was. Waitress made some misunderstood and lack of communication. I talked to the owner and cleared everything up, so I understand that everyone is not perfect. Hopefully, If I have a chance to go to this place again, it should be improved. read more

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I don't know how this place gets good reviews. My first mistake was listening to them. If you have any experience with going out and trying new places, you will understand this is a place you can save your money with. The food was not quality Italian food at all, and the staff was very dry with poor service. The drinks are also terrible. read more

Amazing pizza, calamari, fried shrimp and drinks. I've been to Difara, Robertas, Upside, Suprema, Joes, Lucias, Palace Pizza, Franke Pepes, etc The pizza holds it's own. I had the Margherita pie and will be coming back to try the rest. Everyone here is friendly and warm. Top notch experience! read more

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I leave across street to this Italian gem everything is a must try from pizza to desserts you won't be disappointed and tell Mario from Rome send you! read more

Rustico Taverna is a tiny eatery on Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood. If I didn't hear about them on yelp* I would have never gone in. I had a time constraint so I went with the special pasta of the day. It was squid ink spaghetti with Shrimp, Scallops, and Clams. The dish was tasty but the pasta a bit overcooked. The complimentary bread, and the complimentary olives were very good. I will try them again and sample some more dishes. read more

Absolutely Amazing food n great service! Will recommend to come here for an excellent Authentic Italian food read more

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Rustico is always on point! Is definitely an amazing option if you are in Ridgewood, Sandro is an amazing host and one of the most happy and kind persons I have met. He always welcomes you with a smile or a good joke, that tells you a lot of how the food is gonna come. I like the scaloppina marsala, the simple but good Cesar salad, or if you are more in to the lunch, get his rustico burger. He has more options to ask at home and a wider menu but I always prefer to come meet him for a good energy meal, His menu goes the same from lunch to dinner, so anytime you won't miss your favorite! Loved by the community is definitely not a place to miss. Much love. read more

Had a great time with the wife. Came on a Monday around 11:30, pretty quiet delightful staff and enthusiastic manager. 10/10 Grandmas meatballs. Wonderful, flavorful, soft... if I had a spoon I would have finished the sauce 10/10 Apple salad with salmon. Delightful, light, fresh and flavorful. Found one little bone in fish. 9/10. Mushroom and sausage risotto. Very filling, will warm you up on any cold day. 9/10. I think we've found our new neighbor gem. read more

Rustico Taverna is a gift to the Fresh Pond Road neighborhood. I have ordered takeaway meals here lots of times and the customer service and food is always great- fresh, tasty and very affordable. 5/5 stars read more

This place is your local, authentic Italian restaurant. They make amazing thin crust pizzas, pasta's, and meat and fish dishes at a super reasonable price. The service is great and it's really warm in the winter which is also very nice. They also have outdoor seating but I was sitting inside for dinner on a weekend in prime time and there were no issues to get a table. I really love this place. read more

I celebrated my birthday yesterday @ Rustico. I decided to go family style for the 10 of us. Wow, the food & service was amazing, from the appetizers, salads, pizzas, pasta & the amazing steak, breaded chicken breast & orata fish to the coffee & many desserts. The food was made w care & skill. I want to give a special shout out to Sandro for his great personality & hard work. I frequent Rustico's regularly w my husband but this was my first large group event. I can't wait to plan my next occasion there. Barbara Kizner read more

I went to Rustico last week with friends. I'll start with what I loved: THE FOOD WAS EXCELLENT! The bread that they brought out was delicious and fresh. We ordered pizza and salads and all were perfect! We really enjoyed our meal. The manager was lovely. I felt like I was visiting a friend at home. He welcomed all of the other patrons with the same enthusiasm. He checked on us multiple times and made excellent cappuccinos to end our meal. Yum! I'd definitely visit again. However, I must mention the one thing that took away from the experience. Service was not great. The waitress seemed a little annoyed taking care of us. But, the worst part was what happened when paying the bill. Two of us paid cash and one of us used a card. She returned the card receipt with no change. She never asked. She made the decision of what we were tipping and took $10 more than we planned. We didn't say anything, but would hesitate eating her again because of this. Overall, we'd definitely return, but would think twice if we saw this waitress. read more

Newish place on Fresh Pond Rd. I've been meaning to try it for some time but never did till recently. I was home on a weekend afternoon and decided to take the 5 minute walk for some take-out. I'm so glad I did. The service is quite good. I was greeted with smiles and attentiveness. I ordered the lasagna bolognaise. It didn't take very long to cook and I received a very large bowl with a VERY generous sized lasagna. It came with fresh, hot and soft bread. I somehow was able to finish the whole thing. All for a terrific price. They also have a dining shed on the street for outside dining. Ordinarily I would say I have to go back and eat inside. But, the interior is way too warm for me. I don't like heat, even a little bit, and their dining room had me sweating just standing there waiting for my food. However, I'll be happy to do more take-out, and/or delivery. read more

The complimentary olives are amazing. So is the bread. And everything that followed. Next time I'll try the pasta. read more

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Nice little Italian spot in Ridgewood. Affordable and the flavors don't disappoint. Will def come back. read more

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My first time ordering fettuccine alfredo ever and I guess I ordered from the wrong place, the noodles were too thick and it was dry with no cheesy creamy taste, got the added shrimp and they were charred which is weird because I have always seen it in the pasta sauce, I did eat them and did not eat the pasta. The other two dishes penne with vodka and chicken francesa were also dry and bland. read more

Rustico Taverna - Supposed to be fettuccine alfredo - Italian Near Me - Queens, New York

The food was amazing! We ate all of it. The calamari mixed with zucchini was delicious fun and the portions were ideal. I am so happy.

The location is very small but the staff is attentive. The food was very good. The have indoor and outdoor seating.

I Never knew this restaurant existed, and I went here for a Wednesday dinner. What great food from start to finish . Food was quick and delicious. Also, Great service and ambiance . If you have great company, good food , and great service the experience is so much better. read more

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My family loves this restaurant! The food is amazing, the owner makes us feel like family, a great experience.