A real hidden gem that I wish I had discovered much sooner, Tavola Rustica is a family friendly place with great food and a very convenient location. It's a pretty small spot, but if you make a reservation, you should not have a problem being seated. We were there during a regular weekend time for lunch, and there were two servers covering the entire restaurant. They appeared to share duties and both were equally attentive and helpful to us as we enjoyed our meal. They quickly brought kids, menus and coloring supplies as well as let us place in order for the kids first. We were very surprised that the Shirley Temple came in a very large glass. The bread was nice and warm and very fresh and the butter was room temperature, which is always the best. We loved the covered outdoor seating, which is a great way to get fresh air and still be protected from the elements. There were so many things on the menu that we wanted to try that we will definitely be back. Parking can be a challenge in downtown Larkspur, but we had arrived early and were able to secure parking, reasonably within walking distance. Overall, the experience was really great and definitely worth the value. We all enjoyed our food, though we did have to send back one of the pizzas because the sausage was raw in the middle. They were very professional about it and remade the pizza very quickly. We enjoyed the food, the service, and the ambience. Highly recommend for anyone in the area. read more

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Such a cute little spot tucked away in the redwoods of Larkspur. I am in love with this area, it feels like I'm back in summer camp with the towering trees and the ease of stargazing in the night sky, there's little light pollution in the. My husband and I decided to give this spot a try after getting many rave reviews not only on yelp but on Eater SF (or maybe it was SFGate?). Anyway, we arrived around an hour before close, most places in this area close at 9pm btw. We were greeted by the host who walked in from near the kitchen area. We decided to sit outdoors since the weather was pleasant. We found a table for two near the projector showing a muted black and white film on the brick wall. The chairs had blankets over them just in case it gets chilly at night. It was very thoughtful. I decided to order their special 3 course meal including a white wine ($45!). It was like they had their own restaurant week specials like SF but I don't believe that exists in Marin. The 3 course meal included a beet salad, pasta (it was the screw shaped kind) with Bolognese and a tiramisu which was my fav of all 3. The white wine was a bit on the sweet side. My husband had the pappardelle pasta with oxtail. That was a treat! I liked his dish more than mine but all of it was so much we had to take half home! The complimentary focaccia really pushed us over the edge. I would definitely come back to try their pizzas! read more

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While I have been to Tavola Rustica's sister restaurant in SF, this was my first time and it did not disappoint!! The owner Zoti helped me organize a bachelor party dinner for six friends and we had a wonderful time! We ordered a variety of pizzas, salads and pastas as well as the braised lamb shank (my favorite). Everything was excellent! I also had the Veso Strawberry Solstice Spritz, which was the perfect sweetness for me. We were seated out on the front covered patio, which was really nice and warm from overhead heaters even though we were partially outside. I am going to try and go back for brunch ASAP! read more

I didn't realize that we had eaten here before. Wasn't very hungry so I shared the meatballs and mussels. It was more than enough. The salad was very good. The service was good and the restaurant was cute. We like this area. read more

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First time at Tavola Rustica and it couldn't have been better ~ even on a rainy day. It was cozy in the best way, and I loved that they had blankets offered on all the chairs. Such a thoughtful touch! The service was impeccable from the moment we walked in. Attentive, warm, and genuinely welcoming. The food was perfection. We did a make-your-own pizza and the speck pizza ~ both were incredible. Fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Next time I definitely want to sit out on the deck (hopefully with sunshine). Such a great place. We'll absolutely be back. read more

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We were delighted to experience this new restaurant in Marin, which is Tavola Rustica's second location. We ordered the meatballs, soup of the day (lentil soup), pappardelle oxtail ragu. And for dessert, we ordered the affogato. All were fantastic! The pappardelle oxtail ragu was especially our favorite. You can definitely tell that the pasta is homemade. The oxtail ragu is braised and simmered for 6 hours. It made for a hearty, savory, and rich beef sauce. Concluding our meal with the affogato was the perfect sweet treat. Thank you for a delicious meal to celebrate Valentine's Day! We will definitely be back soon! read more

Tavola Rustica - Pappardelle Oxtail - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

The food! Fried olives and focaccia to start. Several folks ordered the bolognese and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. I got the breakfast pizza. I wish there were at least two eggs...I guess eggs are pricey! lol! But the crust was very good and a good size for sharing. The ice cream is apparently very interesting with a chewy texture. I didn't have any as I'm lactose intolerant but again, the group ate all of it up. I enjoyed the limoncello cake. Definitely order that! Tiramisu was ok. In a cup vs cake. Good for groups! We had a large group celebrating a birthday. We sat at a long table in the front porch/area. They have heaters in case you get cold. Service was great. Very prompt and never had to ask for water refill or anything. read more

Tavola Rustica - Campanelle Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

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TL:DR - neighborhood gem Service - prompt, friendly and efficient Parking - popular area. Get here late and you will be hunting for a spot. Likely walking when you do find a spot Ambiance - laid back vide. Front area has great space heaters Food - awesome! Food is on point and so satisfying. Carpaccio - delicious. Great starter Orchiette with sausage - wow. Delicious dish Pappardelle with oxtail ragu - so rich and savory. Loved every bite. Limoncello cake - great way to finish. Yum read more

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Saturday is happening at Tavola Rustica and I'm so glad I made reservations. Our party of 5 enjoyed a variety of dishes from pizza to pasta to meat and fish. All were delicious. Also, upon request complimentary bread is served. We had one snafu with the delay of serving the branzino but they have comped it for the trouble. That was a nice gesture. I will be back to try other dishes. Parking can be tricky especially when there's mass at the nearby Church. read more

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I need to spend more time in Downtown Larkspur. Unlike Sausalito and now Tiburon that is often overrun with tourists during the summer, Larkspur is still quiet enough with a nice blend of locals and non-locals. Returned for brunch down the street and stayed for dinner. Octopus carpaccio was a light refreshing starter while their mortadella artisanal pizza topped with the combination of burrata, pistachio, and arugula reminded me of something I would find in Puglia and enough for sharing. Who can resist a whole branzino for the main, just don't forget to request their complimentary focaccia that is as good as the rest of the meal. Their covered outdoor patio is perfect for people watching and a nice breeze. read more

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This cute little space has a wonderful outside portion that is covered and heated, if necessary, and indoor seating. The parking was fairly easy in the lot adjacent to the restaurant. It wasn't crowded when we were there, and the service was super friendly and attentive. As for the food, the burrata appetizer was delicious, as was the butternut squash risotto. Portion sizes were generous as well, feeding me for multiple meals. I'd go back! read more

Very good food, great pizza with reasonable prices (marguerita $20) $25 at Picco just up the street. Professional service and happy ambience. Outstanding Swordfish carpaccio w frisée and fennel. Definitely one of the best Italian houses in Marin with real Italian wine list not Pinot Grigio from Lodi etc. read more

Nice restaurant. Parking can be difficult but the food is pretty good. Pasta was tasty I loved the seafood in it. Complimentary bread was mid but branzino was nice and fresh. read more

Tavola Rustica - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

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We had lunch today with 4 adults, 2 kids ages 3 and 5. Sat outside on a lovely, warm day. Kids shared the chicken nuggets and fries, which came quickly! We all shared some Moules Frites and Frito Misto. The mussels were delish - nicely seasoned. Everyone seemed to enjoy the Frito Misto, too. Certainly the aioli dip was perfect. Spouse says his French Toast was amazing! Fried Chicken sandwich great, and Italian Sando was huge (a bit too salty for my taste but the burrata tames it). We all agreed it was a perfect lunch spot. Service was friendly and efficient. read more

Very bland food... we were hoping for authentic Italian food since this Italian restaurant is #1 in Marin County on Yelp, but our experience with the food was the complete opposite. The servers were great, but food was lacking in flavor. Lamb was hard and tasteless and bolognese was very plain tasting- nothing special. Amici's the chain restaurant could've done better. My advice is to save your money and find another restaurant worth the hype. We ended up walking down the street for better food. read more

Tavola Rustica - Lamb shank and Campanelle Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

Zoti and his team hosted a group of 22-23 of us for our company holiday party on a Wednesday evening in December, organized in advance over email across a number of weeks. The food was delectable, with repeatedly highly praised dishes being the fritto misto, wild mushroom pizza, and campanelle pasta bolognese amongst others. And of course, certainly can't forget the traditional marash ice cream; that delicious texture! Service was just outstanding; one would be hard pressed to find a more professional, attentive team. Our wine glasses stayed happily full the entire evening, with dishes whisked away and replaced almost immediately between courses. Finally, the vibes and ambiance were perfect, with tasteful lighting and decor complementing an already perfect evening. I would most definitely recommend having your next company/group party hosted by Zoti and his team at Tavola Rustica. :) read more

Thank you, Tavola Rustica for a great dinner last night! And thank you to Nina and Pedro for such welcoming and thoughtful service, with your spirit of fun. I had the delicious porcini ravioli and was warmed to my toes, it was the perfect plate for a cold, rainy night. The persimmon toast was gorgeous as well. Can't wait to come back here for some more comfort food, and in the warmer months when the lovely patio will be open. read more

Another amazing night here at Tavola Rustica, and i must say the service is always spot on! We had a plate of pasta - Orecchiette and my husband ordered the Butternut Squash risotto, along with a nice bottle of wine from St. Helena. Always a good time! read more

Tavola Rustica - Orecchiette , Butternut Squash Risotto - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

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I had Locanda on my list of places to try and unfortunately never got the chance before The Rustic took over. The space is very cute and the tables near the window have lots of natural light and are very pleasant. Like dining in a cottage. The menu has lots of yummy sounding items and we chose the mussels and the pizza. Both were absolutely delicious and portion of mussels was very generous despite being an appetizer. I loved dipping in the complimentary bread into the broth. The shoestring fries that come with it are perfectly salty and crispy! The pizza was thin crust - not quite Neapolitan but I preferred this version more anyways. Can't wait to come back to try their homemade pastas. Service was very attentive and nice. Overall a great place to get lunch in the area read more

Overall A: consistently delivers truly exceptional Italian food, service, atmosphere. Supper of delicious handmade petso pasta ravioli, bolognese, pistachio ice cream. Highly recommend. read more

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Service was great but the food for the price was just mediocre. Beet spinach salad had a few large leaves and relatively few ingredients, just a couple of nuts, the equivalent of one beet and a couple of squares of strong flavored blue cheese. Have had much better elsewhere. The butternut squash ravioli got a just OK from my two guests who both had it read more

Night and day! That's the difference between Tavola Rustica and any other nearby (and, thus, lesser) Italian and pizza restaurant in Larkspur. First of all, let's admit that some things are easy to serve in a restaurant and some things are not. I lived in Italy for many years so I'm naturally picky about Italian food to which I will give a rave review, e.g. A16 and SPQR. Tavola Rustica is simply outstanding and they produced simply the best calamari I've ever had in the United States. My oldest kid had the steak which was cooked to near perfection. She thought it was so good she even ate the broccoli that came with it. My youngest kid had the pasta Bolognese and she was very happy! But back to me: I ordered the sausage pizza and except for not being cooked in a wood-fired oven, it was fantastic! I mean amazingly good! The crust was doughy but light and the toppings perfectly balanced to create an unforgettable pizza which I hope to enjoy many times in the future. The wines by the glass run a cut above most Italian restaurants. I had a Nebbiolo which was good but for a couple of dollars more, a higher grade of Nebbiolo would be welcome. I also had the Nero d'Avolo which was good and a better representation of the grape than the Nebbiolo. We intentionally boxed some of our dinner to be able to have dessert and it was a wise choice! Both the tiramisu and the chocolate budino were delicious. Of particular note was our server, Nina. I've waited tables for years when I was younger and been served by many, many servers over the years and Nina just topped them all. All of them. Ever. Her timing was perfect: always there when we needed something and never too solicitous as to be in any way obtrusive. Her sense of humor was very welcome when my two middle school girls would get contentious. I've never had the pleasure of a more gracious, friendly, informative, and professional server. Service staff at The French Laundry and any other restaurant wanting to deliver top-notch service should learn what she demonstrates. There are lots of other restaurants on that stretch of Magnolia in Larkspur but I don't need to know the names of them and neither do you. Tavola Rustica. That's the only name you need to know when dining out in Larkspur. read more

This is my second time visiting this location, but it was known as Locanda Marin last time. I enjoy rustic experiences haha. Hence, here I am. I had their soup of the day (seems to be a rustic tomato soup that is made denser), spanish octopus, and vegetable tagine. The sharp lemon taste of the salad balances well with the umami taste of the octopus. I get the vibe of the homemade goodness, although I would prefer the tagine to not have so much oil leftover since it is nearly sitting on a mini-lake of it. Nevertheless, the taste is on target and renders the restaurant promising. Additionally, their hawk-eyed staff is there to see to it you will get whatever else you may need. Joy! That's great! read more

Tavola Rustica - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

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Always a solid meal, reminiscent of Italy. Very attentive and careful service. Friendly neighborhood ambiance. So happy to have it in larkspur. read more

If you haven't been here check it out. If you haven't been to downtown Larkspur definitely check it out! Open floor plan, cozy yet spacious. Modern but has the Rustic feel, just as you would image from the name. My wife and I were seated next to big window looking out into the beautiful forest of Mt Tam. We had the Spanish Octopus, delicious! Chicories Salad, nicely done. The Oxtail Pasta/Ragu, out of this world! We had great service. Even though it is a long drive for us, we are Coming back! read more

Tavola Rustica - Our wonderful waiter and the Biggest pepper mill I've ever seen! - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

We went on an evening that had been hot by day. The only downfall of our experience was how incredibly warm it was in the restaurant. No air or fans so it was a bit uncomfortable. Service was excellent and food was great. We really enjoyed the meatballs, the gem salad, the pizza and the pastas. The steak was well prepared and yummy. We will definitely return! read more

We met friends for dinner on Thursday night. Wonderful patio. Had the pasta/broccoli/sausage pasta it was absolutely delicious. It's nice to go to a restaurant when you don't have to shout thru your meal to hear each other! This is another reasonable, delicious, anyday dining restaurant for Larkspur. read more

Ali is a truly kind person, the food is amazing, especially the pizzas. I thank everyone. It's definitely a place I'd like to come back to. read more

Tavola Rustica - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

I've eaten at many 5-star and Michelin Star restaurants in the Bay Area but the best meal I ever had was at Tavola Rustica last night. The food was just incredible.... The blend of flavors and textures was inspired and outstanding. I have a gluten allergy and the accommodations were top notch - they have tons of GF options and are willing to modify dishes as needed. The wine list was phenomenal and they even had a non alcoholic wine as well. The aroma from the food at every table was so delicious. The service was also first rate. And the value for the money was exceptional. Amazing place. read more

So very glad they replaced Locanda which, IMHO, was a letdown from the Roma Antica days. Zoti is a great guy - he knows his wines. I was over the moon delighted and surprised to find Bresaola on the menu. (Carnivore here, sorry). Bresaola is a dry aged beef (not raw) that is sliced thinly like carpaccio and served atop arugula with capers, shaved parmeggiano, olive oil drizzle, and a wedge of lemon. One of my all time faves. I also have had their braised lamb shank which was fall off the bone tender and delicious... though my taste tends toward more salt, which one can always add at table. The dessert, dondurma -- a stretchy, dense, and chewy mastic ice cream that originated in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire was like nothing I've ever had. Angel pillows... read more

Had a reasonably good meal on a busy Saturday night. Seemed a bit rushed to get orders in move is along. There is a heavy door between the front dining/ patio and the main indoor dining room that repeatedly slammed throughout our dinner. Not just notable but made us jump the first time. It slammed about every 90 seconds or so. Cannot believe they didn't notice this and fix it!! Nice waitress and group but that door! read more

We had our holiday dinner here and could not have been happier. The team at Tavola Rustica, led by Zoti (Owner), were friendly, attentive and made our experience stellar! The ambiance was perfect, festive and warm. The food was delicious! I would recommend this for any large party or a cozy dinner for two! The restaurant is so accommodating of varied dietary needs: Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free! read more

The newly opened Rustic Restaurant is a gem! Their Burrata Caprese with Pesto and their fresh focaccia bread is fresh and flavorful, and the service with David is warm and attentive.Highly recommend for a great dining experience! Congratulations Coti and welcome to Marin we needed you! read more

As soon as I walked into Tavola, it felt very inviting. Amazing staff. I've had good pizza but Tavola's pizza was fantastic. Can't wait to try the rest of their dishes. And check out their other location in San Francisco on Church and Market. You won't regret it! read more

The Rustic is a new addition to our neighborhood so I decided to give it a try with my friends who were visiting from LA. All I can say I was pretty amazed with the quality of the food and the service, certainly exceeding my expectations. We ordered octopus, oxtail pasta, clam linguine, and braised lamb. Everything tasted fresh and the staff was attentive throughout the night. Overall, I am highly pleased with our neighborhood's new gem. read more

Tavola Rustica - Octopus - Italian Near Me - Larkspur, California

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Both the food and the service were stupendous. Even in the midst of a rain storm, the space felt warm and inviting. I highly recommend the salmon. read more

Take out from our favorite place for the first time tonight, we usually enjoy dining in but got a bit lazy tonight and decided to order in. Everything was delicious, packed well and stayed warm, you can tell there is love in the cooking! read more

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Amazing service, authentic Italian food and wine selections and hands down the best homemade soups ever!!!! Very Relaxing, yet a fun place to dine alone or with friends!! read more

The Rustic - Magnolia St. Larkspur Great food, great people. You may recognize The Rustic from its SF location, but there is now a location in charming downtown Larkspur. The Rustic (not to be confused with Rustic Bakery) serves fresh Italian/Californian fare. We've eaten there several times and have been delighted with the seasonal fresh food. They have wonderful pastas and pizzas and great veggie sides and starters. I'm particularly fond of the lemon ricotta ravioli, the wild mushroom pizza and the tagine veggies. My partner's favorite is the fried chicken with delicata squash and grape. Start with the fried olives and peach and burrata toast and you won't be sorry. Another lovely thing to note is that when Zoti (the owner) took over the Larkspur space after the restaurant there closed, he offered jobs to everyone who had worked at the previous restaurant. He cares very much about the community and his new team. Please give them a try! They are a great addition to our community. read more

We're from Hawaii and on vacation. We do like to support small businesses and especially ones that are just opening up. I gotta say this place, the food is fantastic, service was wonderful. Jose was our server and he was so nice. We will definitely be back when we come back to San Francisco read more

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