Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Rusticucina

    4.6 (1.7k reviews)
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Rusticucina Photos

    Business Info

    RUSTICUCINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Rusticucina

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pan de casa
    Jeanene E.

    Beautiful ambiance Wonderful service by R. And excellent food!! One thing my Sicilian husband, raised by a Sicilian mom, always said about a good Italian restaurant and a great Italian restaurant is the bread! Is it freshly baked and warm served to you? Honey, here you get an entire half loaf with three spread choices- each amazing and combined, Great! The drinks were delicious and again, the fresh pasta was beyond! Best I've had in a long time-Hands down!

    Marissa C.

    Amazing service, but unfortunately the food didn't live up to the hype. Ossobuco: 5.5/10 I've had a lot of ossobuco over the years, and this was honestly my least favorite. The meat was fairly tender, but it lacked flavor almost entirely. The sauce didn't add much either, and the risotto underneath was just okay. Nothing was necessarily bad. it was just surprisingly bland. For a dish that's usually rich and comforting, this one felt forgettable. Pesto Pasta: 7/10 This was decent and definitely better than the ossobuco, but it wasn't anything I'd go out of my way to order again. The pesto was enjoyable, and I appreciated that it wasn't overly acidic. Beyond that, it didn't really stand out. The cocktails were good, the service was fantastic, and the complimentary limoncello cake was delicious. That said, when there are so many great Italian restaurants in the area, I don't see myself returning. I left feeling like the food was more hype than substance. Food: 5/10 Service: 10/10

    Carbonara and tartufuno
    Eleanor C.

    We came in at 4:45PM on a Sunday with a reservation, though it wasn't needed because the place was pretty empty. Came for the happy hour and the great prices for small dishes and pasta entrees. I ordered the carbonara and my boyfriend got the sausage truffle fettucine, alongside zucchini flowers and truffle fries. The pasta was good, just a bit oily and they did bring out the wrong app and try to charge us for it, but I understand that one of the servers was confused. Overall, a pretty good time and date night in hillcrest and I would come again for the happy hour. I would recommend the zucchini flowers (so soft).

    Short rib pappardelle I think?
    Lyn V.

    This food here was ok. The selection was limited ( I know we love a small menu because the food is more fresh) and the short rib pappardelle really was just a meat sauce. They only had branzino as part of the restaurant week and not a normal menu. The service was great but the food is lacking for me.

    Arancini
    Dawn B.

    Made a reservation and was promptly seated. The servers mostly all speak Italian which is a lovely touch you know you are going to get quality. Ordered the sourdough bread and arancini. Then we ordered the Parmesan special which was anulotte I think with a cream sauce, cherry tomatoes and sausage. It was phenomal. Also ordered the lasagna which was seriously some of the best in have ever had. We were to filled to order dessert on this trip around but in recall last time I got it that they directly import it from Italia and it's honestly the best I've ever had.

    Osobuco
    Luis R P.

    Great ambiance and great dishes. The place is nice and cozy. Nice friendly servers. Indoor room and outdoor patio on the side. There is also bar seating. Good variety of dishes and drinks. Parking can be a challenge in the area.

    Menu
    Katherine P.

    We had a reservation for a large party of 15 and we were seated right away. They have a cute covered patio area on the side of the restaurant. They had so many good pastas to choose from on their menu but I had to go with the cheese wheel. Served table side which is always a great demonstration. Pastas were delicious, service was good. I was able to try several since we had a big party and we like to share. Dessert was great. Table side tiramisu was amazing. Great way to end our meal. Downside is parking. Only street parking which is often hard to find in this area.

    Fried Crispy Burrata
    Henry T.

    They know what they're doing and their client service was perfection. My older friend had a significant birthday this year with the passing of her husband nearly a year ago exactly, It was a special birthday considering her failing health and I gave the restaurant a heads up we would be celebrating. Nathan, Sabrina and Johan were a primo team and outstanding on all counts. They made extra sure my guest was comfortable and most importantly, appreciated. The fried burrata was a star as was their caprese salad. Their spinach ravioli was delicious and despite how full we were, it was gobbled up. Their pizza was great as well as their arancini. The New Zealand Sauvignon blanc was delicious with a spicy finish. We ordered two bottles. The vibe is very communal and it got lively around 7pm on a Saturday. It was quiet and intimate when we arrived around 4:45pm so come a little earlier if you typically would like a quieter meal with fabulous food. Again, can't thank Nathan. Sabrina and Johan enough. The entire team was fabulous and humored us with our questions in regard to Sicily. I will be back and will bring others: thanks again!

    Juliana G.

    Alvin, the CEO of Vibes is the best. Had a great time. They made us really good cocktails.

    Calamari
    Curt T.

    The gnocchi was ok. I prefer it other places. It was more dense than others I've had and I prefer them more billowey. The flavor was good though. Service was great. The tiramisu was good and had a lot of coffee flavor. They build it in front of you. Calamari was good and crunchy. Was here for a friend's birthday. It was nice. The cake was delicious and not overly sweet.

    Pappardelle al brasto
    Edwin A.

    I been here a couple of times here now and each time is heaven. parking is not the best but the food is worth it. I usually get the Pappardelle Al Brasato.The portion is huge compared to other places which is great and doesn't lack any flavor. Service was great and attentive. the vibes were chill and enjoyed my dinner here. The calamari is incredilbe light and not coated in breading.

    Nani N.

    We had a reservation at 7:15pm and we were seated immediately. It wasn't too crowded when we went on a Friday night. The food was great! There were so many options to choose from. Our server was amazing and was consistently checking in on us.

    Carbonara
    Crystal B.

    First time visiting. We started with the Burrata Caprese. It was light and refreshing, although I would have preferred more pesto and balsamic glaze. For the mains, we had the Pappardelle Al Brasato and Carbonara. Both dishes were good but not "wow." The pappardelle al brasato had a light beef flavor with a touch of some type of truffle seasoning (no mushrooms in the dish). The sauce had a description of "truffle cream sauce." The sauce wasn't creamy at all. I thought the sauce could have been a bit richer. Again, both dishes were still enjoyable. The cannoli was your average cannoli. Service was amazing! Very attentive and friendly. I loved the atmosphere - it had an elevated rustic farmhouse aesthetic. Overall, I still had a great time! I would def try a pizza if I ever return. I saw a table with what looked like a pepperoni pizza, and it looked really good!

    Garlic Bread

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Enrico was the best! The vodka pasta and pizza was amazing! Will definitely be coming back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nory A.
    0
    13
    62

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeanene E.
    244
    124
    235

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marissa C.
    41
    485
    226

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lyn V.
    129
    249
    1234

    11 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dawn B.
    774
    385
    3782

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 4
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Curt T.
    132
    1048
    3827

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Patt S.
    60
    112
    133

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Emma A.
    5
    44
    80

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Raul M.
    3
    23
    61

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Harry P.
    34
    253
    168

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 43

    Rusticucina Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Rusticucina

    How is parking for normal size trucks and SUV's? Is there valet?

    Street parking

    Hi, how can we make a reservation for a party of 8-10, the website says the reservation page doesn't exist?

    I don't know:(! Sorry Maybe you can call and ask them!

    Is this restaurant kid friendly?

    Yes it is.

    What's the price range for the cheese wheel pasta?

    I think it depends on how many people. The menu has market price. We were 6 people and just wanted to try it as an appetizer. I believe it was $40.

    Do the restaurant have air conditioning?

    Yes

    Is there a corkage fee if we bring our own wine?

    Hi Stephanie, Yes there is $10 corkage fee per bottle

    When is happy hour?

    Yes we do. Monday to Thursday 4-6 pm

    Are they serving the cheese wheel plate again?

    Yes we are

    Is the cheese wheel pasta only select pastas or how does it work?

    Hi, Yes we sell the cheese will pasta, only for dining in. Thank you

    View All 11 Questions

    You might also consider

    The Hangout - Short rib crepe cake

    The Hangout

    4.4(63 reviews)
    1.3 mi•University Heights, North Park

    What a neat little place. Interior is gorgeously decorated ; there's plenty of patio seating and…read morethere are also TVs outside so a good space for game days. We came on a day that was quite sweltering hot and they do have large fans that kind of helped. The food that you order comes out and quite generous portion sizes! And several of the hot plates are definitely piping hot when they arrive! My friend got the Spicy Rita drink which was refreshing like Agua Fresca. Its base is Watermelon juice. She also ordered the Dutch pancake was delicious like custard and flan. It appears like a Thin layer crepe but fluffy filling on a hot skillet. Crumpets are kinda like an English muffin sliced with side of butter and two berry jams. Fresh hot tasty and crunchy. Not crumbly or dry. Short rib crumpet was like this delicious breakfast sandwich with thin sliced short rib well marinated! Service was awesome. Dog friendly patio and they offered our sweet Rosie some water, and scrambled eggs if desired. Awww My favorite was The Galaxy lavender lemonade. It was not too citrus heavy and you actually get a delicate infusion of lavender. It comes in a kettle shaped pitcher you can share among friend in cute little shot-sized glass cups. I tried the strawberry salad since I wanted something light and cold on a faltering hot day. Again portions were very generous. Staff was very friendly and checked on us frequently. I'm curious to try the happy hour wings at a different time. We came here for brunch and it was great despite the hot weather. Would love to try their food at different meal times.

    I made a reservation for my parents who came down from OC!…read more Pros: - Easy reservation through Yelp! It looks like they have more seating outside than inside. - There's a variety of brunch items that are not your typical brunch items! We ordered shrimp corncake and short rib omelet. The omelet came in a little personal skillet. Very cute food presentation! - Service was nothing to write about, but not in a bad way! We didn't really interact with our server much. Cons: - The ceiling fan was crazy intense. Pretty fair considering it was hot, but I kind of wished that we were seated inside instead with AC. - Shrimp corncake needed some crunch IMO. I'm curious to try to try the other food items and it seems that people like this place for HH.

    Photos
    The Hangout - Ambience

    Ambience

    The Hangout - Trained Dragon latte

    Trained Dragon latte

    The Hangout - Celery drink

    See all

    Celery drink

    Common Stock - Charred Brussels -- love!

    Common Stock

    4.7(1.2k reviews)
    0.8 mi•Hillcrest
    •$$

    We were in the area looking for a brunch spot and striking out, and everyone was getting to the "we…read moreneed food NOW" stage, so we ended up at Common Stock. When we sat down, we were a little surprised that the brunch menu was pretty limited compared to the photos that originally caught our attention. I'm guessing those were from the dinner menu. Our server was actually so great about it--he told us to take our time looking it over and that if we weren't excited about anything, we were welcome to leave and he wouldn't take it personally. That honestly won us over. Even our kids were impressed by how straightforward and nice he was and decided we should stay. And I'm glad we did. The Crispy Brussels were delicious--seriously, one of the highlights. My daughter loved the Strawberry Shortcake French Toast. My son liked the Japanese Potato Hash, although he wished there was another way to add more protein besides bacon. I had the Hot Chicken + Waffle and really enjoyed it, and my husband had the Nashville Crispy Chicken Sandwich. The food took a little longer than expected, but the service more than made up for it. Our server was genuinely kind, honest, and attentive, which can make such a difference. We came in mostly because we were hungry and running out of options, but left really happy we gave Common Stock a chance. Great food and, more importantly, really great service.

    the best steak and frites!! the ambience was nice, nothing too fancy but their service was great…read more I got the steak medium rare and it was perfectly made. The fries you can never go wrong with-- and their truffle dip was superb The location is great too, good amount of street parking definitely one of my favorites in SD!

    Photos
    Common Stock - Espresso martinis!

    Espresso martinis!

    Common Stock - Roasted Carrot & Parsnips

    Roasted Carrot & Parsnips

    Common Stock - Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!

    See all

    Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!

    Good News Bar

    Good News Bar

    4.7(70 reviews)
    0.0 mi•North Park
    •$$

    I personally drink alcohol but ever since the amazing Drag Queen Whorchata mentioned it I have been…read morea big fan of this non-alcoholic bar! The service is friendly, the manager Troy and the Owners are absolutely amazing for allowing the beautiful and talented Diva Whorchata do what she does, and that is creating shows that are entertaining, safe, sober, and already community spaces. I will be returning due to the drag shows that go on here as well as going to support safe spaces in the community! For everyone I don't have any photos because I am consistently entertained the entire time being there, you'll just have to experience it yourself! ‍

    Good News Bar is such a gem -- especially if you love mocktails, kava, adaptogen elixirs, and…read morenon‑alcoholic beverages. They do not serve booze or cocktails, but they absolutely give you that cocktail‑bar vibe we all love: moody lighting, great music, intentional flavors, and a social, elevated atmosphere without the alcohol. Located in Hillcrest, parking can be a little tough, but once you're inside, the space is calm, cool, and super comfortable (AC blasting, cozy seating throughout). They're open in the morning for coffee, tea, and AM mocktails, and stay open into the evening with their full NA drink menu. One of my favorite things: they do a seasonal rotating menu. I just went in for summer and some of the drinks were fresh‑fruit‑forward and tropical. If you want the full bar experience minus the hangover, this is it. The concept is meaningful, giving ode to rapper Mac Miller and inspired by his song "Good News" to honor him and spread awareness around addiction. It adds heart and intention to the space. They also offer pastries, popcorn, and even function as a great NA bottle shop if you want to take something home. A beautiful, welcoming, sober‑friendly bar that nails the cocktail‑bar vibe -- without the alcohol.

    Photos
    Good News Bar - Cool main bar with the best BARTENDERS!

    Cool main bar with the best BARTENDERS!

    Good News Bar - They have merch here. My friend loved it so much she bought a sweater.

    They have merch here. My friend loved it so much she bought a sweater.

    Good News Bar - Bar area

    See all

    Bar area

    Key & Cleaver - Tvs!

    Key & Cleaver

    4.8(280 reviews)
    3.1 mi•City Heights
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    Best burger I've had in a looong time, maybe ever?! I got…read morethe mushroom Swiss burger because I really couldn't decide, so I asked the nice server over the phone what his favorite was. Great recommendation! Absolutely delicious!!! I felt reallly good after eating it, and I am sensitive to certain breads and cheese. Knowing me I'll probably make the 35 min drive sometime again this week. And I got a Shirley temple to go from the bar and they don't use regular grenadine, but some other delicious syrup that is so much more flavorful and not full of red dye 40. Only thing I would suggest for anyone coming is to know the sign on the building is hard to see, so you will see the Chinese restaurant sign, that is basically where you are looking to go. The sign is flat against the building and I didn't see it while driving.

    We recently tried Key & Cleaver and had a pretty good experience overall. We ordered the Greek…read moreburger, BBQ bacon burger, and two kids' basic cheeseburgers. The BBQ bacon burger was good, but the bacon wasn't crispy--it was very thick and more like a slice of ham. It was okay, but I would have preferred traditional crispy bacon. The Greek burger was also good, but not quite great. However, the boys' basic cheeseburgers were amazing! We would definitely come back just for a basic burger. The fries were also amazing--definitely a highlight of the meal. They have a great selection of beer and alcohol, and I tried the watermelon drink, which had a spicy kick and was absolutely delicious. Overall, a solid spot with great fries, drinks, and burgers. We'll definitely be back for those basic cheeseburgers!

    Photos
    Key & Cleaver - Best burger in San Diego

    Best burger in San Diego

    Key & Cleaver
    Key & Cleaver - Inside view of tables & bar

    See all

    Inside view of tables & bar

    Rusticucina - italian - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...