Rustico is the quintessential neighborhood pub in the heart of Ballston in Arlington, Virginia. The menu features seasonal, hearty American fare from a wood-fired oven and grill, including pizzas and rotisserie meats, along with other rustic cuisine using the freshest local ingredients available. There"s also no mistaking Rustico's love for barley & hops! The bar's focal point is a custom galvanized bar with 40 brilliant taps book-ended by two massive coolers holding more than 400 different types of ales, lagers, ciders and stouts.
"I have patronised Rustico a number of times over the years, mostly at their Alexandria location but at this Arlington outpost as well. Dining at 6:30 PM on a Tuesday evening with my two children. The dining room was busy, as was the outdoor seating section. My server was quite nice but not overly attentive. I had to wait on a few menu items-not enough to anger me but just enough to wonder why I didn't just eat at home to avoid such aggravation. I love the place-great beers and a great vibe, but I will not go back there with my kids."
Dined on 5/21/2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, neighborhood gem
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"Love this place. Sat outdoors. Everything amazing. Food. Good happy hour prices. I love that you don't get penalized for eating dinner (in other words happy hour pricing for all patrons)"
Dined on 5/17/2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, vibrant bar scene, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, hot spot, great for lunch
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"For a moderately priced restaurant, Rustico was a delightful surprise. Excellent food cooked with imagination, very friendly and efficient service, and quiet enough to hear one's tablemates converse. A find! Eat there before they raise their prices."
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
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"The menu seems to be less "rustic" that is was years ago at the original location. I remember dished baked in clay bowls and other hearty/hearth type of times (mac and cheese, etc.). Now, it seems like it's somehow gone fancy . Too many items are the menu are fried... potatoes, some appetizers. To me, frying food and using (too much) bacon are cop-outs for what it really lousy food. I think we were able to navigate around the menu and make choices. The grilled octopus, pizza are incredible. The risotto bites good; red pepper aioli sauce was way too spicy for this. When I made the reservation, only 6pm and 10pm were available. By the time we left (~715p), 75% of tables in back area were open. And, ~25% of tables elsewhere were empty?"
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, neighborhood gem
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"Best Pizza in Arlington! Outstanding salads. amazing selection of beers. friendly attentive front desk and servers. Hands on management. a real gem of a restaurant!"
Dined on 5/01/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, vibrant bar scene, neighborhood gem
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"Our group of 6 enjoyed a nice meal at Rustico-Ballston. We shared the carrott hummus and 3 different pizzas, as well as sampled beer from their extensive list. No disappointments."
Dined on 4/29/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, vibrant bar scene, notable wine list
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"A group of 5 from our office went here for lunch after years of eating at all the familiar places in Ballston and we were totally blown away. The hostess greeted us warmly and made us feel right at home; the waiter was extremely knowledgable and attentive but patient and non-intrusive when we asked a lot of questions and took forever to decide what to order then lingered over our meal; and the decor is modern yet warm and fresh. The best part was the food, which was fresh and new and absolutely delectable! 4 of us ordered the lunch box, a great combo deal of soup/salad/half sandwich for $15, and every item was savory and innovative, with twists on some old favorites. We will definitely return, perhaps even for dinner, too!"
Dined on 04/23/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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"This restaurant is probably good only for the fact that it has outdoor seating and you can people watch. Other than that, I wouldn't spend money on the food alone. The interior is rustic (as the name says) but I have to agree with other reviewers. The food is extremely salty and greasy. We dined on a Sunday for brunch, it was too breezy outside, so we opted to sit inside. After eating the "breakfast pannino" egg sandwich, I was parched. My husband's huevos rancheros were not bad though. if you go, stick with salad or the french toast. I saw alot of people ordering it. Parking is very difficult around that area."
Dined on 04/28/2013
2006
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining
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"A great restaurant with an ambiance that surpasses its surrounding neighborhood rather easily. It has an impressively large selection of beers (get a flight of beers to taste), and I found the food delightful, as well as vegetarian-friendly. Place seemed to work for families, groups, and couples, though kids seemed a little out of place. Overall it's worth the trip, even if that part of Arlington doesn't impress."
Dined on 04/27/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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"Delicious brunch food! I loved the brunch burger and the huevos rancheros Were yummy too. Service was only fair. The waiter was rushed and seemed overwhelmed by the brunch crowd. The outdoor seating was great for people watching!"
Dined on 04/14/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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"Salads were large and great to share... Pizza and fries were yummy too!!!"
Dined on 04/13/2013
2010
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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"Rustico was very good. They accommodated are large group even after more people showed up (which can be a pain). The food was very good. Great service,"
Dined on 04/13/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot
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"Had a large group go for dinner and the staff handled it very well. Food was pretty fast and good (had pizza and salads) and everything went well. My only two issues were that they couldn't do separate checks so paying with 14 guests was a difficult. The server also suggested we try a certain type of beer but neglected to tell us it was a $45 beer until we got the bill. Oh well, won't hinder us from returning."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2012
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic
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"The food was fair but flavors were off. I ordered a salmon salad which unexpectedly had a large amount of mustard in the dressing. Dessert was excellent as was service."
Dined on 04/07/2013
2009
Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly
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"Normally very good. This trip was a real disappointment. New waiter. Poorly prepared food. I had the pork chop that tasted burnt and well over done. Questioning whether I'll take people back or not."
Dined on 04/03/2013
2010
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Review 20 for Rustico - Ballston
Overall rating
(Very Good)4/5
OpenTable Diner
Food
(Good)3/5
Service
(Very Good)4/5
Ambiance
(Very Good)4/5
Noise Level
Energetic
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, vibrant bar scene
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"Great place! We were there early on a Saturday morning for brunch, so I am sure my experience might be different from, say, a Saturday night, but Rustico was pretty awesome. The food was outstanding and our waitress was very attentive. I would love to come back for drinks one night, as the beer menu was pretty impressive."
Dined on 03/30/2013
2011
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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"A great spot for lunch particularly if you like an extensive selection of beer and great pizza or salad. it is becoming one of my favorites in the Balston area."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, great for lunch
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"As always, a fantastic beer selection. Tonight they had a Bourbon County Bourbon Barrel Stout and a Bourbon County Bourbon Barrel Coffee Stout on tap, both were fabulous. Also, the salmon sandwich was wonderful."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2010
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, special occasion, hot spot
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"Went for Brunch on a Sunday. Hard to park nearby but eventually found a public parking garage for $2.
Food was good and interesting. Service was reasonably efficient though there was something messed up with most of the orders. These were promptly fixed.
Worth a try at least once."
Dined on 03/17/2013
2004
Special Features: great for brunch
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"The skinny little hostess was pure evil. She needs to learn to smile and take a customer service approach rather than trying to act like shes so cool by being discontent and staring at everyone up and down because she makes $10-12/hr at an Arlington restaurant.
Noel the server is excellent and made great recommendations on food and has extensive knowledge on their drink menu. Tell him what you like- he'll find you something better. The chickpea pizza itself was meh, but having a gluten intolerance and being able to go out and eat anything resembling pizza will make me a happy girl. I can't speak for their regular pizzas, but they looked delicious."
Dined on 03/13/2013
2009
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, good for groups, hot spot
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"The hostess staff was rude and inconsiderate. I wouldn't go back there if everything else closed. The food is ok, the beer list is long but they didn't have 3 of my first choices and the one that was recommended was awful. This isn't my choice of a good place AT ALL."
Dined on 03/12/2013
2010
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"Went there for brunch and there were several families there, but not very loud. The food was delicious and I would go back for brunch and at other times to try their other menus."
Dined on 03/10/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem
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"Nothing was stellar, or even mediocre, about my dinner at Rustico. The service was spotty, with our waiter knowingly messing up my order, but saying "you can pick around it, right?" To say the food was horrific would be an understatement. The meatball were doused in so much cheese and thought that you couldn't even taste the meat. The Boston Bibb salad was about two leaves of lettuce sprinkled with granola. My boyfriend ordered a burger cooked medium. The burger was so well done it was black. When he asked for a new burger our waiter said okay, but that it would be half an hour before he got his new burger, so he kept it. After that, we didn't see our waiter for the rest of the night. Don't waste your time or money."
Dined on 02/24/2013
2008
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"The four of us found our salads to be acceptable but not really crisp and colorful. The entres good to very good, pizza, scallops, and burgers. Very pleasant surroundings and friendly service."
Dined on 02/24/2013
2013
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"This was absolutely the best experience I've had when it comes to making a reservation a week in advance for a party of 9. The staff called me early that day to confirm the reservation and they were extremely friendly. I called to say I was running late and they were still very friendly. When I arrived I was kindly greeted by the hosts and someone who i think was the manager. They were all so nice, they truly made me feel welcomed. The waiter was very patient and kind with my crazy party of 9. Beer list is awesome! they have lots of beers on tap. Great place to go if you enjoy GOOD beer, not budlight and stuff. The pizzas are great too, the Grilled Pizza was everyone's favorite. And our wonderful waiter kindly split the check to each guest"
Dined on 02/23/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Great beer list and excellent food. No specials on Sundays, but when they have 'em, try 'em! And don't pass up the meatball app, it comes over a decadent creamy polenta. Heavenly."
Dined on 02/17/2013
2009
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Rustico, thanks for turning down the music and the noise. My first experience there a year ago was awful because even shouting 2 ft across the table to my dining partner, we couldn't hear each other. At least for this brunch service, I was able to have a normal conversation."
Dined on 02/10/2013
2008
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"The food was average at best and the service was atrocious. Our server tried to overcharge us for a plain pizza. I have had 2 good experiences here but this third time was awful."
Dined on 02/10/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups
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"My wife and I always enjoy Rustico. This year, my wife chose Rustico as her birthday dinner. Our friends were running late. The host wouldn't seat us until our entire party has arrived. So what's the point in making a reservation? It was a big let-down at a place my wife chose as her birthday dinner. Good was great. Table service was stellar. It just started off really wrong."
Dined on 02/09/2013
2006
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"Rustico is a place to go if you want to try a new beer. Their list is quite extensive and our waiter was knowledgable and happy to make recommendations. I appreciate the opportunity to buy a tasting size of some of the beers so you aren't taking a chance on an unknown beverage (or you just prefer smaller portions). The food is relatively small to chose from but quite tasty. Will definitely be back."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, kid-friendly
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"Had a business lunch at Rustico Ballston yesterday. Great service! Ordered the duck confit pizza which was outstanding. Rich duck confit with a fig jam and blue cheese crumbles topped with arugula. Crust was thin and crispy. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It was a bit loud at peak lunchtime, but quieted down after 1PM. Great list of beers and wines although we didn't partake. Gives me a reason to return!"
Dined on 02/05/2013
2008
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, great for lunch, hot spot
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"We had a wonderful time at Rustico. Everything we ordered was delicious with a special emphasis on the pizza. We enjoyed the beer selection and look forward to sampling more sometime soon. Our server wasn't the most attentive, but it was a busy Saturday night, so the restaurant was busy. Overall great experience!"
Dined on 02/02/2013
2005
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, hot spot
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