Rustico - Ballston

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1. S

   Scott

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall1food3service1ambience1

   This experience at Rustico was so bad it pains me to write this review. The first time I went here I had such a great experience but yesterday was the complete opposite so I will not be going back again. We arrived for our reservation and were seated at a table where we did not have a waiter. We had to scan QR codes and order our food for the entire table. We then proceed to have food runners bring out drinks and food in randomized order despite ordering everything at the same time. We received main dishes, and apps first and had to wait 45 minutes for our bottle of wine to finally arrive by the time we had pretty much finished eating. It was a terrible experience would not recommend, and they absolutely need to change that model.

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2. j

   jace

   Portland

   12 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Not the normal neighborhood pub. Great beer selection and EXCELLENT food. We didn't try the pizza, but we will for sure on our next visit.

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Washington DC

   30 reviews

   vip
   1.0

   30 reviews

   Dined on May 13, 2022

   overall1food1service4ambience1

   We were seated at a booth inside that was so darkly lit we couldn't read the menus. The light fixture over our table was broken and hanging down. The staff was definitely trying hard to get to all the tables and they were short staffed. It took 20 minutes to get water served and the food was overly salted, especially the spaghetti and meatballs. Nothing special here, Will not be going back. Better service if you sit at the bar.

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4. MS

   MicheleS

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on May 11, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Delicious food and great service Would recommend

   Report
5. R

   Richard

   Washington DC

   23 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   23 reviews

   Dined on May 8, 2022

   overall3food3service2ambience2

   Overall it was fine. There weren't any outstanding negatives or positive. One drink was made incorrectly, but the manager jumped right on it and remade the drink and brought to the table; a demonstration of a great manager. The food was fine; nothing bad, nothing that stood out.

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6. S

   Sari

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on May 8, 2022

   overall3food4service2ambience3

   Service was slow but it was Mother’s Day brunch and it was very busy so that is somewhat understandable. Food was quite good.

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7. MM

   MaryM

   Washington DC

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on May 8, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Mother’s Day

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8. M

   Ming

   Washington DC

   193 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   193 reviews

   Dined on May 5, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   We had a surprisingly good lunch here. I'd been here 10 years ago and my meal was not good so I hadn't been back until yesterday. Pleasantly surprised. Good lunch deal. My sandwiches was good. My soda was good and fizzy. We were seated in their pleasant outdoor patio. Waiter Charley was attentive, informative, and welcoming. All in all, life was good.

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9. F

   countryFrenchhopeful

   Washington DC

   6 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on May 4, 2022

   overall3food3service2ambience2

   Ever since the start of the pandemic Rustico Ballston has really struggled. I used to love the place but now we go mostly out of convenience. I hope they can begin to improve.

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10. P

    Peter

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 21, 2022

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    This was a business lunch. Service was incredibly slow. I think they lost our order. It took 90 minutes to get a salad. My guest ordered a chicken sandwich and received a chicken salad. The waiter never refilled my iced tea once in 90 minutes. I was disappointed. Will try the oyster place nearby next time.

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11. JM

    JMSDMVT2

    Washington DC

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 17, 2022

    overall2food4service1ambience4

    It was Easter Brunch the service was lacking but the food was good. Don't think I'll return.

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12. BS

    BrionnaS

    Charlotte

    14 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on April 17, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience5

    It was ok! No one was at the hostess station to seat us until after a 10 minute wait. Only 2 servers on our side which made it hard to even place a drink order. Food came out fairly quick, so that was pleasant. Only thing is they charged my card twice putting me in the negative saying it will be refunded within 3-5 days such an inconvenience.

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13. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New England

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 9, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    Very loud, people kicking the back of my seat. Too dark to read the mienu. Pizza was cold. Salad never came. Drinks took forever. Out of lots of drafts.

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14. j

    jmfitzz

    Charlotte

    17 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on April 3, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience5

    We had a delicious meal and thought the atmosphere was great. The service was friendly and fast. Nice variety on menu. But the wine pour was weak.

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on April 12, 2022

    Thank you so much for your kind words, Jm. We really appreciate you taking the time out to share your experience with us! Sorry about the wine pour, if you have the time I would love to hear how we can improve. I can be reach here via email - esosa@rusticorestaurant.co Estefanie Sosa General Manager

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15. C

    Cherrios

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on March 26, 2022

    overall3food4service2ambience3

    Gosh. Sat down and waited for a server to show up. 20 minutes went by and still waiting. If the server has yet arrive to work, don’t let the diners sit in their spot, instead of asking us to find our own seating. What a waste of our time. The time to get our bill was atrocious. Why is it that I have to flag someone down, to give us our bill!! Ridiculous. It does not have to be that way.

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16. AA

    AARON

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    In a neighborhood restaurant/bar scene that's frequently changing, Rustico is a steadfast refuge that consistently offers first-rate food and drinks in an adult atmosphere. The carrot hummus or risotto tots with a cold draft beer are hard to beat.

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on April 12, 2022

    Hi Aaron, Wow, we were blown away by your positive words, we really appreciate the time you took to write such a detailed review! We’re very grateful for customers like you and hope you stick with us for years to come! Thanks again! Estefanie Sosa General Manager

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17. HT

    HilaryT

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 23, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Amazing beer selection, great seasonal food options, excellent service - Rustico is always a great choice!

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18. MR

    MoRs

    Washington DC

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 19, 2022

    overall2food3service1ambience4

    Our waiter was more concerned with tables outside than any of the indoor tables. He was slow and the experience was tedious. Refills for kid sodas was 3.00 and am adult portion serving of spaghetti was two bites while the adult penne was massive. The Salmon was bland and unimpressive.

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19. AB

    AnthonyB

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 18, 2022

    overall2food2service1ambience3

    The food can be fantastic when the place is less busy. The selection of drinks is quite good, and I appreciate the clearly labeled menu. We had an issue with food and some of the waitstaff on our last visit -- this was taken up immediately by management via OpenTable and was handled with care and attention. We will try this location and update scores as it is nearby. But in the meantime, the Alexandria location appeared to be more professional and consistent.

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20. E

    Emily

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great happy hour prices and diverse selection to choose from!

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21. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 12, 2022

    overall3food5service3ambience3

    Food is always good. Was super dirty though.

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22. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    They were so sweet and helpful . Very attentive

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23. P

    Peggy

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 12, 2022

    overall3food4service4ambience3

    The table we got was probably the worst table in the restaurant. We were too close to the kitchen and heard pounding of ice the majority of the time we were there it was very annoying.

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on February 20, 2022

    Hi Peggy, Thank you for your feedback. We are very sorry to hear of your experience! We will share your feedback with our chef and back of the house team to ensure this does not happens again. We’d greatly appreciate the opportunity to make things right and work toward earning back your business. Estefanie Sosa General Manager

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24. DB

    DruB

    Washington DC

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience3

    We wanted to love being outdoors in the tent, but it had absolutely No ambience and the bier garden tables were rickety and uncomfortable. That being said, the food was pretty good and the serving sizes were substantial . We are willing to try again at the regular outdoor tables when the weather is amenable.

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on February 20, 2022

    Thank you, DruB, for providing us with your feedback about our Beer garden. We’re delighted to hear that you received friendly, attentive service from our staff! Customer satisfaction is our top priority and we encourage you to let us know if there’s anything we can do to deliver an even better experience the next time you visit us. Estefanie Sosa General Manager

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25. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    32 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Absolutely love the food and atmosphere! The small plates were my favorite, especially the risotto tater tots and pizza rolls.

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on February 5, 2022

    Hello, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5 star rating - it's much appreciated Estefanie Sosa, GM

    Report
26. TP

    ThaliaP

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The pear salad was delicious, nice ambiance, staff members were very attentive and welcoming.

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on February 5, 2022

    Hi Thalia, We really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Estefanie Sosa, GM

    Report
27. CS

    ClareS

    Richmond

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The menu is very varied, with seasonal produce. Delicious choices of food and drinks! The service was very quick and friendly. The food came out very quickly. There were plenty of tables so we didn’t feel forced out when we were finished. Fabulous place

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on January 31, 2022

    Hi Clare, Thank you so much for taking the time to write us such a wonderful review! We hope to see you soon! Estefanie Sosa - General Manager

    Report
28. G

    Ginger

    Charlotte

    54 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    54 reviews

    Dined on January 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Service was outstanding as was the food and drinks

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on January 26, 2022

    Hi Ginger, We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to leave us a 5-Star review! We hope to see you soon. Estefanie Sosa - GM

    Report
29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 23, 2021

    overall5food4service4ambience4

    Good place to eat

    Report
30. D

    Danielle

    Washington DC

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 22, 2021

    overall2food4service1ambience1

    Food was good but what made the experience terrible was the service. I read reviews about this before coming in so I’m not too surprised. When we got to the host stand, we didn’t even receive an acknowledgment or a “we will be with you shortly”. Multiple servers stared at us & didn’t take action. When we finally were greeted, we sat ourselves (would have been nice to know this before waiting). Once we sat down we realized multiple lights were out in the establishment. Makes me think the owners just don’t care about keeping up with the place. We waited for a few minutes and were unaware that a server was going to wait on us until he stopped us in the middle of the QR code order….another thing that would have been nice to know!! The food was good-but not sure if it’s worth the money to return. Sad because all of these issues are an easy fix by the owner/management!

    Rustico - BallstonResponded on December 29, 2021

    Danielle, I'm sorry that this was your experience with us; it's true that we've had similar issues in the past that have come up in reviews, and we have been working with our team to grow out of the experiences specifically like what was detailed in your review, as well as working on our space to make it look it's best. Given more time and practice, we look forward to being much better than what we were that day. Enjoy the holidays, and we hope to see you in the New Year!

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31. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2021

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    Used to go to Rustico a decent amount - the service was never amazing but the food was solid and they often had availability. Now the service is horrible - we were served by someone who clearly had not been trained at all and he was massively short staffed (not his fault). Our drinks took about 25 minutes to come out and they forgot a few in our group we eventually had to start going to the bar to get drinks after that because our waiter wouldn’t come around. It took forever for them to take our order and finally when the food came out they completely forgot one of our entrees. The burger, which was always a go-to has a stale bun. This was my first time coming back post-pandemic so I hope this is not the new norm.

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32. C

    Ctriesfood

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 14, 2021

    overall3food3service3ambience2

    This place felt like a Noodle & Company trying to disguise itself as a high-end restaurant. Food was decent but kind of overpriced. You don't get a dedicated waiter, you order your food on your phone and whichever table runners are available will bring the food to your table. Most of them were friendly, but some of them were rude. The décor is nice but the small table tops, uncomfortable chairs, and tile flooring seem cheap and out of place. I wouldn't go to this place for a special occasion.

    Report
33. F

    countryFrenchhopeful

    Washington DC

    6 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2021

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    Always a good "go to". I love the idea of ordering online but the login in process is pretty onerous.

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34. s

    snausage

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2021

    overall4food5service2ambience2

    Not a fan of ordering on a phone but the food was so good. Music in the dining room was much too loud.

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35. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 15, 2021

    overall4food3service5ambience3

    I can’t really judge too fairly because we were outside under the tent. It was loud but the dogs barking constantly next to me didn’t help . The inside seems nice with low lighting which I like. I would think they would have a pavilion outside instead of a tent, but if it works lol.

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36. SR

    SR9876

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2021

    overall3food5service3ambience3

    Food is delicious, but the new ordering from the QR code isn’t great. There is absolutely no other service (no one checking on you, filling water, etc.), which really impacts the experience.

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37. NZ

    NathanZ

    Washington DC

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on October 14, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We started off a very special evening (returning to the Kennedy Center after 20 months) with a dinner for four at Rustico. You exceeded expectations! The server was friendly, funny, and efficient. The food came quickly and was delicious. The atmosphere was perfect. We can't wait to go back to Rustico again!

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38. S

    Sallie

    Washington DC

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on October 7, 2021

    overall4food5service2ambience5

    The food (burger and fries) were delicious. BUT at noon on a weekday with the place empty, service was soooo slow. In addition, there was no mustard or tabasco in the whole restaurant! Seems odd. Otherwise, was great.

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39. M

    Michele923

    New England

    21 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on October 3, 2021

    overall4food4service3ambience3

    Good food and outdoor eating option. The picnic style tables are very narrow so for 5 of us it was kind of tight with apps etc on the table but it works out fine.

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40. L

    Leslieava

    Washington DC

    133 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    133 reviews

    Dined on October 2, 2021

    overall2food2service4ambience3

    This was our first meal at Rustico. Nice seating on a balmy Saturday in October. Service very good but restaurant wasn't busy. Food was eh! We won't be back.

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