The rustic always has incredible food, and the servers are super friendly and kind. The atmosphere is super laid-back. . The food is a little overpriced, but I don’t mind spending it since it’s really delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jeffrey Beacham
Great little hide away with fabulous burgers and drinks. You have to try a pickle back while you're there. If you've never had one I can't promise you'll fall in Love a first try but they are a very fun treat for sure!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish & Chips, Kitchen Sink Burger and Fries, Fried Pickle Spears, Pickle, Rustic Spinach Salad
Jan B.
My friend and I had a blast at Rustic Cafe . I would love to come back and try some other items on their menu . We tried the stuffed clams .. Delicious!! Such a fun place !!!
Myly N.
It's more pub/bar than restaurant. The drinks are strong and the food is fried. The fried pickle spears was the starter. The batter was light but slid off the spears. The burgers are good; the fries are okay (could be crisper and hotter). You can get the burgers how you want it with the many different topping combinations. I got the fish and chips. It was hot and crispy but I felt it was missing something, though. Maybe some seasoning on the fish or having it beer battered would add flavor? Service was alright. See the other reviews. There's some truth in it. Also, the green house is unheated. Blankets are provided if you decided to sit there.
Cindy H.
We ordered 2 burgers to go and were told 20 min. One hour later we got our burgers. The buns were so toasted that the edges crumbled. The burgers were like hockey pucks, charred on the outside. Tough. Not flavorful. What happened? This has been our favorite burger place. Seriously, save yourself the $28 and go to Burger King.
Troy M
Little hole in the wall bar/restaurant. Have remodeled since I was there last, nice outside seating. Couldn't try the food cook walked on the job. Will give it another chance.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3
Joe F.
Wanted a good burger so my wife and I chose the rustic. Our server treated us like we were a bother to her even though we each just ordered a draft and a dinner choice. Took almost an hour for the meals to come out and this place has like 10 tables total. Only time she came over to us was to say they were out of one of the toppings on the burger I chose. Food came and it's still one of the best burgers around. Had to ask for the check at the end - then ask for it again 10 min later. And again, this place is tiny - she just didn't want to service us. Great food Ornery service Sloooooowwww for a pub
L D.
I'm not sure what's going on with this restaurant but the food has been going downhill. Went last week and ordered the fish and chips. Both were saturated in grease so much it was inedible. The kitchen staff was so loud it sounded like there was a party going in in there. Our only saving grace was Tie and Belinda. The servers.
Seth Wolfe
Food was not worth the price . No straws and very uncomfortable staff . Music playing was awfully awkward and
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Brenda Chopp
Stopped for lunch today. Fish and a chips were delicious as well as the Lobster Ravioli. We had the calamari appetizer which was served with a delicious sauce.Ty made a fabulous margarita as well. We will definitely return.
Love the rustic!! What a hidden gem. Great atmosphere, great staff. Food is delicious too.
Brenda C.
Stopped for lunch today. Fish and a chips were delicious as well as the Lobster Ravioli. We had the calamari appetizer which was served with a delicious sauce. Ty made a fabulous margarita as well. We will definitely return.
Caragh B.
Had lunch here after kayaking and I could not love the ambiance more. There's an attached greenhouse that is such a cozy vibe I cannot wait to go back. Cute outdoor area w fire pit as well and I hear they have great karaoke. We got malt fries and they were a perfect start! Salty and malty and still crispy! I got raspberry jalapeño burger. Came with bacon, grilled jalapeños and strawberry jam. Burger was cooked perfectly on a toasty roll. Bacon was crispy and salty and put against spicy jalapeños and sweet raspberry jam there was nowhere to go but flavor town after one bite. We tried the malt salt wings and they were crispy and full of flavor too. Bartender was on his own and took a triple seating when we arrived and he handled it perfectly! Food was quick and hot and we didn't want for anything. A great find and we will def be back to try more of their huge burger menu
John Serrano
Stopped by for a pick up order while visiting East Lyme for vacation. Had read a few reviews prior to ordering and was hopeful that the food would be as amazing as I was reading. Surprisingly I read that the service could be questionable but I had no real problems with the service being provided and I even left a tip for the waitress/bartender. We ordered the Rustic Burger well done, an order of garlic Parm wings and some tenders for my daughter. The food smelled delicous which had me excited. The burger though was rare, maybe medium rare which my girlfriend couldn't eat. The chicken wings were pounded with oil and parmesan but had no inkling of flavor to them, blue cheese helped but by wing 3 it just made my stomach upset and sad. The tenders were okay but that's all. Hopefully it was just a bad night in the kitchen and they don't always pump out the food this way. Will probably one day give them another chance to see if it was just an unfortunate circumstance, until then I wish only the best. Thank youDon't know how to add pictures through my phone. When I get the chance I will post pictures of food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Steven H.
A diamond in the rough. So glad we didn't drive away. Tiny place with a wonderful bar (and bar tender). Delicious burger (sorry forget to take a picture) and spicy fries pickles. Bartender was also server and was friendly, attentive, and proud of the establishment. What a great surprise this place was.
The rustic always has incredible food, and the servers are super friendly and kind. The atmosphere is super laid-back. . The food is a little overpriced, but I don’t mind spending it since it’s really delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great little hide away with fabulous burgers and drinks. You have to try a pickle back while you're there. If you've never had one I can't promise you'll fall in Love a first try but they are a very fun treat for sure!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fish & Chips, Kitchen Sink Burger and Fries, Fried Pickle Spears, Pickle, Rustic Spinach Salad
My friend and I had a blast at Rustic Cafe . I would love to come back and try some other items on their menu . We tried the stuffed clams .. Delicious!! Such a fun place !!!
It's more pub/bar than restaurant. The drinks are strong and the food is fried. The fried pickle spears was the starter. The batter was light but slid off the spears. The burgers are good; the fries are okay (could be crisper and hotter). You can get the burgers how you want it with the many different topping combinations. I got the fish and chips. It was hot and crispy but I felt it was missing something, though. Maybe some seasoning on the fish or having it beer battered would add flavor? Service was alright. See the other reviews. There's some truth in it. Also, the green house is unheated. Blankets are provided if you decided to sit there.
We ordered 2 burgers to go and were told 20 min. One hour later we got our burgers. The buns were so toasted that the edges crumbled. The burgers were like hockey pucks, charred on the outside. Tough. Not flavorful. What happened? This has been our favorite burger place. Seriously, save yourself the $28 and go to Burger King.
Little hole in the wall bar/restaurant. Have remodeled since I was there last, nice outside seating. Couldn't try the food cook walked on the job. Will give it another chance.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 3
Wanted a good burger so my wife and I chose the rustic. Our server treated us like we were a bother to her even though we each just ordered a draft and a dinner choice. Took almost an hour for the meals to come out and this place has like 10 tables total. Only time she came over to us was to say they were out of one of the toppings on the burger I chose. Food came and it's still one of the best burgers around. Had to ask for the check at the end - then ask for it again 10 min later. And again, this place is tiny - she just didn't want to service us. Great food Ornery service Sloooooowwww for a pub
I'm not sure what's going on with this restaurant but the food has been going downhill. Went last week and ordered the fish and chips. Both were saturated in grease so much it was inedible. The kitchen staff was so loud it sounded like there was a party going in in there. Our only saving grace was Tie and Belinda. The servers.
Food was not worth the price . No straws and very uncomfortable staff . Music playing was awfully awkward and
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Stopped for lunch today. Fish and a chips were delicious as well as the Lobster Ravioli. We had the calamari appetizer which was served with a delicious sauce.Ty made a fabulous margarita as well. We will definitely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Love the rustic!! What a hidden gem. Great atmosphere, great staff. Food is delicious too.
Stopped for lunch today. Fish and a chips were delicious as well as the Lobster Ravioli. We had the calamari appetizer which was served with a delicious sauce. Ty made a fabulous margarita as well. We will definitely return.
Had lunch here after kayaking and I could not love the ambiance more. There's an attached greenhouse that is such a cozy vibe I cannot wait to go back. Cute outdoor area w fire pit as well and I hear they have great karaoke. We got malt fries and they were a perfect start! Salty and malty and still crispy! I got raspberry jalapeño burger. Came with bacon, grilled jalapeños and strawberry jam. Burger was cooked perfectly on a toasty roll. Bacon was crispy and salty and put against spicy jalapeños and sweet raspberry jam there was nowhere to go but flavor town after one bite. We tried the malt salt wings and they were crispy and full of flavor too. Bartender was on his own and took a triple seating when we arrived and he handled it perfectly! Food was quick and hot and we didn't want for anything. A great find and we will def be back to try more of their huge burger menu
Stopped by for a pick up order while visiting East Lyme for vacation. Had read a few reviews prior to ordering and was hopeful that the food would be as amazing as I was reading. Surprisingly I read that the service could be questionable but I had no real problems with the service being provided and I even left a tip for the waitress/bartender. We ordered the Rustic Burger well done, an order of garlic Parm wings and some tenders for my daughter. The food smelled delicous which had me excited. The burger though was rare, maybe medium rare which my girlfriend couldn't eat. The chicken wings were pounded with oil and parmesan but had no inkling of flavor to them, blue cheese helped but by wing 3 it just made my stomach upset and sad. The tenders were okay but that's all. Hopefully it was just a bad night in the kitchen and they don't always pump out the food this way. Will probably one day give them another chance to see if it was just an unfortunate circumstance, until then I wish only the best. Thank youDon't know how to add pictures through my phone. When I get the chance I will post pictures of food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
A diamond in the rough. So glad we didn't drive away. Tiny place with a wonderful bar (and bar tender). Delicious burger (sorry forget to take a picture) and spicy fries pickles. Bartender was also server and was friendly, attentive, and proud of the establishment. What a great surprise this place was.