Rustic Canyon Wine Bar:)The food, ambience, and service made it an incredible evening. I would recommend anyone and everyone to this restaurant. The food was outstanding.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious but slightly skimpyFood was delicious and SOOOO fresh but drinks were served in rather small glasses and the dishes, although they were small plates - were slightly skimpy. Probably okay for 2 to share but definitely not enough for 4. Need to order 2 of each dish to get a satisfying (taste-wise) portion. We would definitely go back for the food though. Regarding the service - I do not like it when the wait staff/bus staff pick up the plates without asking if you are finished. When the sauces are that good, you have to mop them dry one way or another . . .
Also LOVED the fact that we could actually hear the people we were dining with. Why is that so difficult to find these days???6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Night Out To Share Your PlateIf you're looking for a place with a very solid tasting menu then Rustic Canyon is it. Beef, pork and seafood all came to the table in tasty combinations and our waiter guided us through when each dish would be served. The only dish which did not live up to its billing was the ribeye steak. It was delicious but it definitely wasn't worth $32 (and I never comment on price).5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMRustic CanyonPros:
Very good food and service. Very good wine and beer list.
Cons: Pricey. We don't mind paying top dollar for good food and service, however the decor here leaves much to be desired. Too many tables and very spartan, resulting in an ambience that feels more like a cafeteria than a high-end restaurant. No romance here.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMJeremy Fox is amazing!We always loved Rustic Canyon but their new chef Jeremy Fox took it up a notch. Interesting textural contrasts, delicious flavor combinations, gorgeous presentation. I love the addition of local wild/native foods. The deserts are also impeccable. Yum!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, fun environmentWent for my birthday and enjoyed the service and food immensely. Creative menu selections and great flavors!5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMRustic Canyon is always great.Rustic Canyon is always great. Since the new chef took over, the hamburger we love so much is no longer on the menu; however, they were able to accommodate us and make them anyway (they said if one asks, one can still have that). Their accompanying fries are the BEST and we were worried we'd no longer be able to order those items. They always have wonderful and imaginative side vegetable dishes and have a great beer and wine list, in addition to all their other wonderful food fare. It's still a huge favoritie of ours!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a treatCreative dishes with fresh seasonal ingredients. Great wine selection. Knowledgeable staff, excellent recommendations.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Great Great.This one had been on my short list for a while and it was well worth the wait. Excellent food -- especially dug the green pozole. Delicious wines and cocktails. Attentive service. Really great experience all around.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was beyond exceptional.The food was beyond exceptional. Really high quality food, that was delicious. The service was perfect, not too much, not too little.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMVery friendly and thoughtfulVery friendly and thoughtful throughout. Greeted by manager, server asked if we were going to the theater. Martini was first rate. Food was uniformly good. Prices were reasonable.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMRustic Canyon is a good special-occRustic Canyon is a good special-occasion restaurant in Santa Monica that doesn't venture into Melisse territory. Took my CPA fiancee there to celebrate the end of tax season. It was perfect for that kind of occasion. The food is good, not excellent. The service is great. It feels warm and intimate and definitely special, but every time I leave I remember that there's something keeping this place from being top-notch amazing.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Meal in a long time! Go!New Executive Chef does not disappoint! After reading reviews & experiencing too many "vibrant" restaurants lately, I'd requested a booth although just my husband & myself-I wasn't hopeful but after a short wait at the bar (just long enough to be served our drinks, we were seated in a cozy booth (not sure how you'd squeeze 4 in however ;)
Started with the Parmesan Puff (rich, creamy & delicious), followed by the cipollini onion kohlrabi soup (unctuous!) & prime rib eye (perfectly medium rare). Hubby had crispy beggar's purse stuffed with beet greens, ricotta & pine nuts (fabulous) and perfectly seared halibut. Shared banana cream pie, tasty but the custard was an unappetizing grey color. Service was leisurely, perfect 4 us, hate 2B rushed4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMActual waitstaff was great---foodActual waitstaff was great---food service was very slow. Otherwise great.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMAs usual, reliably great food.As usual, reliably great food. The kale salad was fabulous.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat service, even better foodThe service was exemplary. Our orders were delayed due to some mix up in the kitchen. So the manager personally came to apologize and brought 2 desserts on the house. And since it was one of our birthdays, they even brought an extra ice cream serving with a candle. The food, of course, was delicious. The burseel sprouts, prawn, burger, potato croquettes, kale salad. All excellent.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMthe burger is still good,the burger is still good, but not the same as it once was. when evan funke left, the glory of the burger left with him3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time going, but lovedFirst time going, but loved the vegetarian options and I will definitely be back!3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMInventive, but very tasty/greatInventive, but very tasty/great food. Nice selection of wines by the glass. As a single diner, I appreciate a well rounded selection. The server was knowledgable, fun and very attentive, as was the rest of the waitstaff.I would not hesitate to recommend Rustic Canyon.Thanks3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMRustic Canyon Wine Bar & SeasonalRustic Canyon Wine Bar & Seasonal Kitchen exceeded my expectations. The food was amazing, and the burger met and exceeded the hype it gets from burger coinsures. The noise level was pretty high, I don’t mind it at all but if you are the type that likes a quiet meal keep this in mind. If I could only give you two suggestions they would be as follows. Order the burger, it is amazing. Tip your bus boy, they do all the work, you will see them 3-5 times during your meal whereas you will see your server 1-2. All around great dinner spot that I will suggest to anyone.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFresh FaireAll fresh vegetables from local farms...unique preparation.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is always creativeThe food is always creative and so delicious!!! Whenever there is a crostada for dessert that is what I choose!!!1/13/2013 12:00:00 AMA bustling little space withA bustling little space with terrific food!!! The menu changes with the season so there is always something new and different to try -12/9/2012 12:00:00 AM