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 (31)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Southern

242 11th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC 28601

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 5, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem
Good for business meals

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
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 31 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

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Rule Italian Prime and Pasta offers a delightful dining experience with a "wonderful new Italian menu" and "great service." Guests praise the "phenomenal cocktails and atmosphere," and the "tiramisu, one of the best I've had." The menu features "excellent pasta dishes" and "amazing wood-fired pizza," making it a top choice in Hickory, NC.

31 Reviews

t
tom
Tampa / Central Florida West8 reviews
2.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Disappointed in the new Rule. I would bring back the old one. Hickory is in dire need of a better Italian establishment but not sure this remake is it. We love Italian food but found the new menu lacking. We ordered the piccata and it wasnt piccata. Piccata should be a lemon white wine sauce with capers and I could not describe the sauce used on the non-breaded tenderloins. (Ps use cutlets)More tomato like but certainly not piccata. It would have been served better with angel hair pasta too. Also, no veal or branzino to be found on the menu. Italian wines were lightly represented on the wine list. Not sure what the remake was all about. Interior seemed much nicer and waitstaff was visible and attentive but not sure what the smocks were about. If you’re going to go Italian…..go Italian!
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N
Nancy
San Francisco Bay Area7 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our server Alejandro was excellent ! A top notch professional and asset to Rule Italian. So helpful in explaining the menu and expertly assisted us to fine tune our choices . We throughly enjoyed the evening and look forward to dining at Rule Italian again.
Is this helpful?
P
Peter
Orlando / Central Florida East3 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful service from Paige and Kiana. I must say, from Check in to dessert, specifically the tiramisu, one of the best I’ve had, and I’ve traveled the world. The Rule, it’s a wonderful restaurant probably one of the very best in Hickory, North Carolina…
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E
Erica
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on June 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We absolutely loved our dining experience here! The new Italian menu and specials were great. We were celebrating my husband's birthday and ordered a bottle of wine. Great wine selection! The server, Alyssa, was very friendly and attentive. She was awesome! We are looking forward to returning soon. Thank you for a great birthday dinner!
Is this helpful?
c
charles VIP
Chicago / Illinois154 reviews
4.0
Dined on June 9, 2025
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 on June 9, 2025
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 East3 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 7, 2025
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.
1 person found this helpful
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
Is this helpful?
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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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 31 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 5, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 5 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
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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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 31 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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