Rule Italian Prime and Pasta

Name: Rule Italian Prime and Pasta
Address: 242 11th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC, United States, 28601
Telephone: (828) 324-2005
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.5

4.5 (27)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Southern

242 11th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 31 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Great for creative cocktails
Neighborhood gem

Welcome to Rule Italian Prime and Pasta – Hickory’s Premier Destination for Italian Steakhouse Dining

Located in the scenic foothills of Hickory, NC, Rule Italian Prime and Pasta blends upscale Italian cuisine with modern steakhouse flair. Locally owned and passionately operated, we serve house-made pastas, USDA Prime steaks, and fresh, seasonal ingredients in every dish.

Enjoy signature entrées like classic Bolognese, expertly grilled filet mignon, and delicious seafood, all paired with wines from Italy, Napa Valley, and beyond. Whether you're planning a date night, business dinner, or celebrating a special occasion, our stylish atmosphere offers the perfect setting.

We also feature private dining options for groups of up to 35.

Reserve your table today and discover the best Italian steakhouse experience in Hickory – where prime cuts meet pasta perfection.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary Southern, Fusion / Eclectic, American
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(828) 324-2005
Website
http://www.caferule.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Catering
We offer off site catering events customized to your vision and needs! Email reservations@caferule.com for more information.
Private party facilities
We offer multiple spaces to enjoy a private dining experience - from 12 - 70 guests, we have you covered! Email reservations@caferule.com for more information.

Location
242 11th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601
Neighborhood
Hickory
Cross street
HWY 127
Parking details
Self park
Entertainment
please check www.CafeRule.com for details.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Miller Lite$5.00
Light Beer, 4.2% ABV, Milwaukee, WI
Coors Light$5.00
Light Beer, 4.2% ABV, Golden, CO
Corona Extra$5.00
Mexican Light Lager, 4.6% ABV, Mexico City, MX
Heineken 0.0$6.00
Pale Lager, 0.0% ABV, Netherlands
Guinness$6.00
Irish Stout, 4.2% ABV, Dublin, Ireland
Blue Moon$6.00
Witbier, 5.4% ABV, Denver, CO
Heineken$6.00
Pale Lager, 5% ABV, Netherlands

Draft Selections

Voodoo Ranger$8.00
Hazy IPA, 7.0% ABV, Asheville, NC
Stone Delicious$8.00
IPA , 7.7% ABV, California
Victory Prima Pilsner$8.00
German Pilsner, 5.3% ABV, Downington, PA
Festbeir$9.00
Marzan, 6.3% ABV, Munich Germany
Blake's Hard Cider$9.00
Rotating Cider Tap, Armada, MI
Boont Amber Ale$9.00
5.8% ABV, California

What 27 people are saying

Rule Italian Prime and Pasta reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Quiet

Loved For

Charlotte
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Rule Italian Prime and Pasta delights diners with its exciting new Italian menu, offering "amazing pasta dishes" and "impeccable consistency." The restaurant boasts "outstanding service" and a "great atmosphere," with "generous portions" and a "delicious" dessert selection. Ideal for date nights or special occasions, it's a "wonderful dining experience."

27 Reviews

c
charles VIP
Chicago / Illinois153 reviews
4.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I like the new change up to Italian themed. Pizza was excellent. Filet was very good asked for medium but served well. No one asked. Bone in Ribeye was excellent and served as requested. A tad heavy on the salt. Pasta with chicken was excellent according to my guest. The lasagna was very nuvo in appearance but excellent. Deserts good. The spritzers are fun addition. Based on retail pricing on some of the red wine you are too high on the glass of Italian.
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c
cynthia VIP
Cincinnati / Dayton30 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service, cocktails, and atmosphere were phenomenal !
Is this helpful?
P
Peter
Orlando / Central Florida East2 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Remarkable. One does not get a second chance to make a first impression and your greeter Onya, rises above this var, possessing impeccable interpersonal skills and one of the firms Crown Jewels. Kiana, well, she’s a wonderful professional server and attentive to our every need. She is my key server…Her appearance, communication and deportment, remain stellar. The Management, and Chef, are exceptionally talented and it shows. This is the best restaurant in their corporate portfolio for eclectic Italian and killer wood fired pizza. Here you will experience the best and most consistently excellent Tiramisu we’ve had traveling globally, period.
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F
Frank
Las Vegas4 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 5, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
The food was fairly good. The portions were a bit smaller than expected. I didn’t think the lobster was that good. The crispness of the lasagna was nice. The vodka sauce has the right amount of spice. There was some confusion on the drinks. We finally got the 8 dollar martini’s worked out versus the usual 16 dollar martinis ( price is too high for a martini in Hickory - we are not a tourist trap town) The service was timely except for the drinks taking long, the server did forget one entree but she seemed fairly new. Things happen. Will still go back.
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J
Jamie
Charlotte1 review
5.0
Dined on June 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was a great birthday. A little disappointed in the ice cream choices. I miss the popcorn and salted caramel
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J
John
Greensboro / Winston Salem / Highpoint2 reviews
1.0
Dined on June 3, 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
2 pizzas, 3 wines a salad over $100 including tip. Pizza was under cooked and cold. Won't be back.
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B
Betsy
Asheville / Western North Carolina1 review
4.0
Dined on June 2, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We sat outside in the glassed patio area. It was very nice. It was easy to carry on a conversation. There is a lot of beautiful greenery. I had the parmesan encrusted scallops. They were very good. The mashed potatoes that came with the dish were very salty though. The grilled asparagus was a little tough (I don’t think they par cooked it before grilling it). My husband had the wedge salad and the meatball appetizer. Salad was fine, but the meatballs were also very salty. We were there on a Monday, which is 1/2 price bottle of wine, so that was a pleasant surprise. We might try it again. Really enjoyed the atmosphere! Wish food wasn’t so salty.
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J
Jarm
Coastal North Carolina22 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 30, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our server, Courtney, was excellent! She took the time to suggest meals that I could order that were dairy free. There was a birthday card waiting for me on the table, and a special treat!
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A
Amy
Charlotte1 review
5.0
Dined on May 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very nice ambience; server Destiny was so friendly, efficient, and energetic! Food was very good; will definitely return.
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K
Kristen
Charlotte1 review
5.0
Dined on May 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I think the transformation to an Italian restaurant was a success! Food was great! I had the chicken parm but subbed the vodka sauce for marinara. My husband had the ribeye with the marsala sauce. We enjoyed them both! Steak cooked perfectly and while the menu said 14oz, that was certainly more than 14oz. Not complaining of course. Server was so kind and patient with us. We weren’t certain on what all we wanted to try and she was a great help. Mushroom ravioli with the pancetta was a great appetizer! It was the special but think that should make it on to the main menu. We had tiramisu for desert. It’s a large portion and easily shared by two people. It’s a bit deconstructed here so not that perfect cube shape I’m used to seeing, but didn’t mind one bit. It tasted great. The decor really didn’t feel italian. It’s not much different to when it was Cafe Rule from what I can tell. I couple italian prints on the wall and the new menu is really it. There are also a couple flags out front. Not really a harsh criticism. I don’t need to feel like eating in italy, but just don’t expect a total transformation from when it was Cafe Rule. The food is where this place shines and that is fine by me. Prices are bit high when compared to other italian restaurants in the area, but not unreasonable. This is definitely a bit on the elevated side for italian dining. Not sure that it’s really a space to bring the whole family and the little kids. More like a space for date night, business dinners, girls night out, wedding rehearsal dinners, etc. Again, not a criticism, just what we observed. We will definitely be back as we think this new direction is on the right track.
Rule Italian Prime and PastaResponded on May 30, 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us, Kristen! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food and service. Your kind words about our server are much appreciated. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable dining experience!
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FAQs

Rule Italian Prime and Pasta offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (828) 324-2005.

Rule Italian Prime and Pasta is rated 4.5 stars by 27 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jun 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 31 times today

Google Map for Rule Italian Prime and Pasta

242 11th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
HWY 127
Neighborhood
Hickory
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary Southern, Fusion / Eclectic, American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Self park
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Entertainment
please check www.CafeRule.com for details.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.caferule.com/
Phone number
(828) 324-2005
Catering
We offer off site catering events customized to your vision and needs! Email reservations@caferule.com for more information.
Private party facilities
We offer multiple spaces to enjoy a private dining experience - from 12 - 70 guests, we have you covered! Email reservations@caferule.com for more information.

Rule Italian Prime and Pasta

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

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81 Charlotte Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Menu

Bottles & Cans

Miller Lite$5.00

Coors Light$5.00

Corona Extra$5.00

Heineken 0.0$6.00

Guinness$6.00

Blue Moon$6.00

Heineken$6.00

Draft Selections

Voodoo Ranger$8.00

Stone Delicious$8.00

Victory Prima Pilsner$8.00

Festbeir$9.00

Blake's Hard Cider$9.00

Boont Amber Ale$9.00

What 27 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Rule Italian Prime and Pasta offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Rule Italian Prime and Pasta restaurant rated?

Is Rule Italian Prime and Pasta currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

47 Charlotte Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

81 Charlotte Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day