Rustico - Ballston

Rustico - Ballston reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

1. OT

   OpenTable Diner VIP

   Los Angeles7 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on February 21, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   The same table for the second time, very friendly people.
   

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2. MH

   MeganH VIP

   Washington DC9 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on February 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great service, great food, wonderful staff! We love it each time!
   

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3. K

   Kate VIP

   Washington DC24 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on February 10, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   Our server had too many tables and had no sense of urgency. 2 out of 3 drinks arrived just before the food and the third came 1/2 through the meal almost as an afterthought. No apologies or recognition of timing. 2 entrees arrived in good speed the third came 10 min later and was lukewarm. Where had it been sitting?! No apology or recognition of the wait or fact that eventually the others started their meals because food was getting cold. When we left the dishes from the entire meal remained from the appetizer plates to the entrees. We left to find dessert somewhere else. Rustico - you are our regular go-to for good food and value but service tonight was bad, bad, bad. You can do much better.
   

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4. c

   coolerking75 VIP

   Washington DC16 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on February 5, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 1

   The sole star belongs to our server who may have not even been our server but stepped in all the same. This place wreaked of understaffed and poorly experienced atmosphere. We’d been to other Rustico’s that were great but not Ballston on a Monday, I guess. 1) We were seated at the far end of the mostly empty bar area that had literally no lighting. It looked like there was wall lighting that was in the middle of replacement . We couldn’t figure out why we didn’t just get seated in a booth that had a working overhead. 2) When I went to ask the matre de if we could be moved he left his post while noticing I was on my way to him to move a table together elsewhere. When I finally got his attention he interrupted me before I could even complete my request and told me to “just move anywhere”. Didn’t seem bothered about the dark section at all. 3) My wife had to flag down the young lady who would become our server. No one approached us. She was just fine but we never got her name and she appeared to be the only waitress serving that half of the restaurant. 4) The food was abysmal. We both ordered pizzas and cheap grocery store pizzas would be better. I ordered the Vodka pizza and my wife ordered the Sgt. Pepperoni. Both pizzas were incredibly greasy with thin, wimpy, crusts. I couldn’t wait to brush my teeth to get the taste out of my mouth. 5) The drinks were OK.
   

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5. MI

   MarvinI

   Washington DC2 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on January 28, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   The food at Rustico is good - not great, not outstanding, but good, homey food. The service was a bit of a problem the other night. Our appetizers and drinks came out quickly - followed in about three minutes by our entrees. We had barely picked up our forks to start on our appetizers when the entrees hit the table. Whatever happened to the concept of a leisurely dinner? My wife and I both had pasta dishes which, as I said, were good. We had last eaten at Rustico about 4 years ago and both remembered it as being much better than it was the other night. Maybe it is just that we have eaten at lots of really good restaurants in the last few years that are trying to up their quality and Rustico is standing pat.
   

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6. SP

   SamanthaP

   Washington DC1 review

   3.0

   Dined on January 20, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 5

   We had our first date at Rustico years ago and I wanted to go back for restaurant week this year. Overall the experience was one of the worst we've ever had. - Took >10 minutes for anyone to come to our table - Staff kept leaving through a side door creating an arctic vortex for any tables close to that door...why not just leave out the front door? - The food was good but our server and bussers did nothing to clear any plates off the table between courses (we had 8 plates on the table by the end of the meal). Every time they brought more food they made no effort to take away any used plates - My husband's water was never refilled the entire time we were there - Our server came over 2x to ask how things were but walked away before we could even say anything - The dessert donuts came with an empty container which should have had a caramel sauce, at that point I was just dumbfounded at the total lack of attention to detail - Staff suddenly appeared to take away plates when the meal was over and it was clear they needed them for other tables - Tip automatically goes to 20%...this was not a 20% experience at all We've been going to Rustico for years and this was just disappointing, especially seeing how many staff were there walking around. Would not go back unless someone specifically told me that they went and the service was good, not worth the risk.
   

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7. GP

   GregP

   Washington DC2 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on January 15, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Restaurant week. Fast service, food and drinks came quick, friendly server. Hefty portions. Online menu didn't quite match in house menu though.
   

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8. JT

   JasonTD

   Washington DC1 review

   2.0

   Dined on January 13, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   Not as good as it used to be. Beer menu is uninspiring.
   

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9. DM

   DianeM

   Washington DC6 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on January 13, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   Rustico is one of our go-to restaurants for a casual, yummy meal. Food is consistently good and the atmosphere is warm and cozy. On our most recent visit we were disappointed that the staff were more interested in watching football playoffs than waiting on their tables. Service was fine, but impersonal. The food was on point - pizza, pasta, salad, calamari. The Sgt. Pepperoni pizza was amazing, as was the rigatoni bolognese. The chicken Caesar salad was fresh with delicious chicken but a “just fine” dressing. The calamari were plentiful, crispy and fresh. Thanks Rustico for another great meal.
   

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10. SB

    ShaniB VIP

    Washington DC11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on January 13, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4

    Upon arrival, we were allowed to select our own table, which was nice. I ordered an April spritz, which was tasty and well-presented. The spicy wings were made fresh and were delicious. Both my friend and I ordered the steak and eggs. On a positive note, the eggs were prepared perfectly, and I thought the mixed green salad was delicious! However, the main event—the flank steak—left much to be desired. It was cooked to the correct temperature, but it was tough and flavorless. What’s more, the restaurant had no steak sauce to fix up the dish. I barely ate the steak, as salt and pepper could not save it.
    

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