We had such a wonderful experience at Giuseppe's in San Luis Obispo. From the moment we sat at the bar, the atmosphere was fun, lively, and welcoming. It is exactly the kind of place where you can relax and enjoy a great meal. A big thank you to Jeff behind the bar, who took amazing care of us and made the whole experience even better. We also had the pleasure of meeting Giuseppe, the owner's son, who was incredibly kind, welcoming, and clearly passionate about the restaurant. The food was absolutely unbelievable. The Italian baguette sandwich is a must. It is so flavorful and perfectly done. The beet salad was fresh, delicious, and a great complement to the meal. We truly love sitting at the bar here. It has such a fun vibe, and we cannot wait to come back. Thank you again to Jeff for the outstanding service and to Giuseppe for running such a fabulous restaurant. read more

My husband and I were visiting San Luis Obispo for the first time and decided to stop by Giuseppe's for our anniversary. We had our dog with us, and when we stopped in during the afternoon while walking around downtown, the hostess was incredibly pleasant and helpful. She was tall with dark hair and gave us a great recommendation on what time to come back for dinner before things got too busy. We really appreciated how welcoming she was. We came back later that evening and checked in for a table. The hostess working then, who had short brown hair, told us the wait would be about an hour, so we decided to wait. We walked around with our dog and came back to check on our table. When I asked about the wait, she told me in what felt like a very condescending and dismissive tone that we had about 45 minutes left. I mentioned that it had already been about 30 minutes, and she then corrected herself. I completely understand that restaurants get busy and that working a busy dinner shift can be stressful, but there's still a way to communicate with customers without making them feel like an inconvenience. Our table was eventually ready, and we were taken through an alley to the back patio with our dog. Unfortunately, there wasn't much interaction or warmth during that process--no "How is your evening?" or anything that made us feel particularly welcomed. That being said, the food itself was good, and our server was fine. The service was a little slow, but the restaurant was extremely busy, so I think they may simply need additional staff to keep up with the volume. We noticed people who arrived after us were we're going to have a two hour wait. Personally, I wouldn't wait that long. Overall, the food was good and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere, but the customer service and extremely long wait took away from what was supposed to be a special anniversary evening. I think there is definitely room for improvement in how guests are treated while they're waiting. read more

Visiting the area with family and this is one of their favorite local Italian places so they were excited to take us here. We chose the Cucina for dinner...they also have the Club next door which is not as formal, has a store of products, and some tables for eating. The Cucina has a bigger menu and tables are covered with white table cloths and linen napkins so a step up ambiance. Our server, Maricella, was very pleasant and friendly and stopped by several times throughout our meal to check on us and see if we needed anything. We started with the Caesar Salad and added Spanish Anchovy. I was not a fan of the dressing unfortunately...found it to be bland and really not like other dressings I've had. The salad itself was fresh with large chunks of romaine lettuce, a sprinkle of both ground and shaved parmesan cheese and a few (just a few!) croutons. The anchovies were tasty, not fishy in the least, but it really was the dressing that turned me off. Wife said it was "ok". I decided on the Linguine Vongole and was surprised at how many whole clams were in my bowl! The pasta is housemade and not a flat linguine or more of a rugged thick spaghetti noodle. It was cooked well and the clams were good although a few were a bit tough. I also think the sauce needs a huge boost of lemon; I had also requested no chili flake be added. Wife had the Ravioli di Zucca, which was butternut squash filled pasta with a sage and parmesan cream sauce. It was good...although I felt it was sweet, she loved it. The sauce was creamy and flavorful and the pasta was soft and filled with a nice squash filling. We ended our dinner with a shared plate of Spumoni, which was like nothing we've had before. Their Spumoni is layered with a white cake-like layer and then the typical ice creams (chocolate, pistachio, and vanilla). There was a light squeeze of the cherry topping and small chocolate chips. It was good...needs much more of the cherry topping! Family had the Nonna's Meatballs and this was fabulous! Their sauce was sooo good and had a great balance of the tomato flavored marinara sauce. Really good and next time I'll stick with something with their marinara sauce. Good meal overall and I want to try Club next time. read more

Popped in here for lunch on a drive back down to LA. The staff were friendly. They helped while deciding between two items. I got a chicken panini for lunch and it was great! I enjoyed the crispy bread with the melted cheese and warm chicken. The chips were okay. I would ask to sub for a side salad if possible. The overall restaurant was pleasant to be in. It seemed family friendly as we saw a couple with a baby at a booth. They had a little area for quick sandwich orders or gelato. The cake in the dessert case looked incredible but we were too full to try any of them. read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Chicken panini - so good, great mix of textures! - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

#1 fav place in downtown slo. No where compares in a full dining experience like Giuseppe's offers. Love popping in here for lunch!! Service is always top notch! read more

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WOW! The hype is real guys. We came in on a Thursday night and it was about a 30 minute wait for a party of two. We found seats at the bar and had a great time. Bartender Tanner was super attentive and personable. Bar back Isiah was super helpful and cleaned plates out of our way very quickly. We ordered Flatliner martinis and the Flirtini. The Flirtini was just okay, I loved the Flatliner which is a great espresso martini if thats your thing. For food we ordered the Bee Sting pizza with hot honey and the Carbonara pasta and it was seriously so amazing. The pizza was cooked to perfection and the pancetta in the Carbonara was mouthwatering. Seriously- come here and order these things. Complimentary bread and garlic oil. We ordered Tiramisu which was also pretty good. We will be back! read more

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A bit of a wait, but 100% worth it. They use fresh pasta and everything on the menu is amazing. The service was incredible. Everyone there was super friendly. read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Nona's Meatballs - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

The experience the first time was great. We enjoyed the whole dining experience. The food was wonderful and staff were great. This experience was good but slightly different from the first visit. Thanksgiving weekend on a Saturday night and this place was practically full. When we walked in, there were a good amount of people already outside waiting. Checked in with the hostess and was told that it was going to be about an hour and fifteen minutes wait time for a table. Long weekend on and a Saturday, we expected it. It gave us time to walk around and check out the holiday display nearby. It actually wasn't the full amount time we were given. Got a call from the restaurant that a lot of people cancelled or just didn't want to wait so we got pushed up for a table. Checked in and was walked to our table. The same section as before which we didn't mind. Outdoor patio in the back. There were plenty of heat lamps to go around so it was pretty nice and cozy. Our waitress at the beginning was sweet. Friendly and very welcoming. Menu, same as the last visit. I'm not sure if things change seasonally or if it's a permanent staple. Water and bread with the Parmesan dipping sauce was also brought out. We wanted a bottle of wine to accompany our dinner which we did sample some before ordering. The dining experience was quite nice, lovely crowd both inside and outside. Majority inside but a good crowd outside. Then it started, the waitress was friendly which is great but let's just say she can TALK. From the time we sat down to the time we left. There was a table next to us that seemed to be the talk of the town that night. She was there pretty much constantly. When we finally ordered, which we all went with pasta. Started off with an appetizer. -The prosciutto and burrata. It was great, the saltiness of the meat and creamy texture of the cheese. It was a match made in heaven. -I had the same as last time, the pasta de mare. The seafood was excellent and plentiful as well as their pasta. Fruit of the sea in spicy tomatoes broth. -Linguine vongole. Clams garlic lemon and white wine. The linguine and clams were nice but a little salty with the sauce. -Also had the Capesante e Gamberi, prawns scallops Pancetta in a vodka cream sauce with linguine. Quite tasty. -Tortellini Giuseppe, peas onion baby spinach mushroom ricotta and pancetta. It was quite tasty and very rich and filling. The food was great as well as the bottle of wine. We Also had a slice of the carrot cake to finish off the meal. The meal was nice but throughout the whole dining experience, our waitress was literally at the table next to us yapping away. She was sweet, but. From the time we sat down to the time we got up. Well, maybe 10 minutes before we finished as the reason was they were leaving. It seemed like someone she knows or worked there as well. Even to the point of having her phone out and showing something on it to the table. I get you have friends dining here and there but yapping the whole time behind the table you're taking care of, that was a bit extreme. We literally know the whole conversation. Anyways, food was good. Service was good except for the yapping. But overall it was nice night with friends for dinner. Hopefully next visit will be a more pleasant experience. read more

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Delicious classic Italian with several rotating specials with a twist! The special I tried was a maple syrup and corn version of ravioli. It was extremely sweet and rich (as advertised) but was so so delicious and a really creative dish. Service was perfect and the outside dining area is cute and the lightening makes it feel lively! read more

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We sat at the bar and our bartender/ server Dawson was fantastic! He was so pleasant to talk to and extremely helpful! We already love this restaurant and he made our experience tonight even better! Highly recommend! read more

Solid downtown Italian food in SLO. They don't take reservations. On the upscale side. Pretty big place with indoor and outdoor seating. Wait staff was excellent. We all enjoyed our food. Soup, pastas and pizza. I think we got lost on the wait list. I started noticing other parties of 4 getting seated before we were. When I asked where we were on the wait list we were seated pretty quickly. Next time I'll hang out closer to the hostess stand when waiting for a table. read more

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My friend and I popped in for a quick dinner and we had a blast! We sat on the outdoor back patio which was inviting and so cute, lovely ambiance. We had a sparkling rose and the Riesling which was so good, our server was right on in recommending the Riesling. The bread starter was delicious & then we split the Brussels and the risotto special. The Brussels were insaneee we cleared the plate so quickly! We're glad we shared the risotto because it was a huge portion! Very yummy. We had some mishaps but our server Katya was so amazing and didn't miss a beat in helping us out! She was so funny and nice the entire night, def made our visit super enjoyable. We got to try the lemon cheesecake and that was amazzzing! Would definitely come back! read more

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Excellent food Great location Johny's service was great and he recommended some good veg options as well Nice wine options with great ambience at the entrance with half a car in front and half behind. Looked cute read more

2 scallops and 3 shrimp mixed with the smallest portion of pasta a restaurant could get away with and still charge $25... what more could you ask for...? Well food poisoning, of course! We were celebrating my daughter's 21st birthday! Her 2 friends who did not eat the pasta didn't get sick but my husband, myself, and our daughter who all ate the pasta were sick all night! What a terrible experience; we definitely will not be repeating. The service was okay but definitely could have been better with water refills and bread. read more

First time dining here. Service was amazing and so was the food. The bread and dipping sauce they bring out is to die for. Got the Flatliner espresso martini and it was perfect. Everyone working here is so friendly and helpful. I will be back again! read more

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Authentically amazing food! The owner is from the same region as my father, and I was so pleasantly surprised to walk in to see Barese focaccia. The pictures on the wall tell a great story and add to the authenticity of this place. The service was perfect. We'll be back tonight for a final dinner with our daughter before dropping her off at college. Super special place for us, now. This restaurant hits every nostalgic nerve! See you tonight! read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Just maybe the best Italian food in San Luis Obispo. My wife ordered their GF bread, first words "Amazing " and that's the pizza dough! Felt like we were in Rome. Homemade food at its best! read more

I've been here a year or two ago and loved it. Today was a little disappointing. The food was okay. We had a Caesar salad, pizza, and pasta. The Caesar was pretty good. The pizza was ok, nothing crazy. The pasta was swimming in oil and I would not recommend. The waiter was short with us the whole time. When we said we were full so no dessert, he practically rolled his eyes at us and walked away. He switched receipts and gave us the wrong card back, said nothing when he was notified of the mistake. read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Diavolo - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Greg gave great service. This time as sat in courtyard and was lovely. Definitely our go to place in SLO for nice ambiance and good food. read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Came here with a group of 9 for lunch. It was my first time trying to Giuseppe and was sad not to see a chicken Marsala on the menu (my go to meal) Place was full and my sister made reservations that morning for lunch which was nice. Overall, I feel the 4 star rating for Giuseppe is a solid grade. Since no Marsala, I was torn between Nonnas with meatball or just a boring pepperoni pizza. Opted for the pizza. My review of the pizza- 4 stars. Nothing that stood out from having pizza in Italy. But a good choice for kids. My wife had the tortellini Giuseppe and she said it was good. I tried a taste but wasn't impressed with the tomato sauce on it. My brother had the clam chowder and though I didn't try it, I thought the presentation of that in a very big bowl with clam shells in it, looked like a nice presented dish. No comment why he didn't finish it though. My brother in law ordered the Prosciutto sandwich but was disappointed with the way it looked and wasn't cooked like how he's had it before. He didn't eat much of it and shared his displeasure with the waitress who listened and in the end, didn't charge for that dish. My sister had the carbonara and said it was somewhat bland and needed more salt or something Overall, if you are craving for Italian, this is a popular place both here and at Pismo Beach. Service was 5 stars and the place was nice. Just the meals didn't quite hit the 5 star level with us and my family . read more

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The food was excellent. Our server was pleasant and knowledgeable. I hope to return next time I'm in town.

I'm married to an Italian, so while my standards aren't that high, they're calibrated. I wanted to love this place, but it felt like someone who visited Italy once and now makes "Italian night" with canned ingredients. The pizza was thin (I like thin pizza) but bland, the pasta was nowhere near al dente, and the Caesar salad came with full romaine leaves like it was trying to impress Gordon Ramsay. Cute effort, but no. For that price, fill my plate, please! Beet salad started strong but ended as a solo beet party. Not enough of a balance to call it a salad. It was a plate of beets with a little arugula and goat cheese. Bread? Solid. Atmosphere? Gorgeous...especially the courtyard. Very "I might be in Tuscany" vibes. Hostesses? Not great at all. I don't like saying that We were quoted 1hr 45min and treated like asking for an update was a personal attack. Another hostess later realized we'd been skipped and seated us right away when we returned. Intentionally? Who knows. Overall: not terrible, but not the rave-worthy experience others make it out to be. I'd rather head to a hole-in-the-wall spot with better flavor and chopped salad. I won't go back by choice. read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Beet "salad" - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Heavy cold food. Some noodles not cooked enough and others soggy. Service pushing us out although plenty of tables available. What is the problem?? Nice place ambience was good. First time at this place not going back. read more

Wow. Had to stop at Giuseppe's with the family this time. Again amazed at how bit this places is. They brought us back to a quaint room in the back lined with old school posters of famous movies. Ambiance was beautiful with wonderful brick ambiance and nice soft lighting. We had a wonderful server who tended nicely to my family. Gave us good advice on the deserts!!!! How the food. Had an insanely D'lish margarita pizza, wedge salad and side of grandmas meatballs. Even my son had them and loved them!!! This place keeps putting SLO squarely on the map of awesome eats!!! Keep it up!!! read more

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Charming Atmosphere, Outstanding Service & Unforgettable Food We had a wonderful dining experience at Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica in San Luis Obispo. Although the restaurant doesn't take reservations, seating was quick when we arrived around 5:30 PM, even with a party of seven. We were seated toward the back of the restaurant, which turned out to be a really cool and inviting area. The restaurant is full of charm and personality, with a warm, rustic atmosphere and thoughtful décor. I absolutely loved the ambiance--it felt lively, cozy, and authentically Italian. The service was excellent from start to finish, and our server made sure every detail was taken care of. We started with their bread and olive spread, which was incredible and set the tone for the entire meal. Cocktails came next, and the martinis with blue cheese-stuffed olives were a standout (a personal favorite!). We also shared a bottle of Italian wine that paired perfectly with our meal. For food, I ordered the clam chowder, and it honestly may be the best clam chowder I've ever had--an absolute must-order. I also had the Capesante e Gamberi con Spaghettini, which was rich, decadent, and very flavorful. While I expected more of a tomato vodka cream sauce, it leaned more toward an Alfredo-style sauce. It was quite rich but incredibly satisfying. My husband ordered the Caesar salad and the Eggplant Parmigiana, and both were excellent. If we lived in the area, this would absolutely be a regular spot for us. We will definitely be back the next time we're visiting Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo. Highly recommend! read more

Overall: B // 4 stars Giuseppe's is my go-to restaurant when driving through San Luis Obispo, featuring timeless classic dishes that give a taste of American-Italian cuisine. They serve home-style cooking very well, offering comforting and easy to please dishes ranging from a variety of courses and options. I believe some fine tuning can help with several of these favorite dishes, although the meal is still pleasant overall, would recommend. (Octopus: B) - Although this dish runs saline forward for me, the octopus is so tender to the point it melts in your mouth, which is a tough feature to accomplish. I do think the octopus could be better if it were not hidden by the choice plating. (Frutti De Mare: B) - Impressive command on cooking of the seafood as every single piece is just perfectly tender and not overcooked. This is a comforting bowl of pasta that works well to complement the seafood, although I wish the sauce was less liquid as it turns the entire dish into a splash zone. (Espresso Mud Pie: A) - Very decadent and heavy dessert for sure, but the flavors are not too sweet as the espresso cookie's bitterness beautifully contrasts the varied notes of sweetness coming from the gelato. Food: +1 Presentation: E Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +1 Overall: 4 stars Insta/Beli/Yelp/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

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This is probably my 10th time here, always been a fan of their dishes and wine selection. Hands down the best butternut squash ravioli I've ever had in my life (in the States). What a stroll down memory lane to my foodie adventures in Tuscany, Venice and Florence: the patio and decor reminds me so much of my time in Italy! And the service is top notch. Everyone is so so friendly and attentive. I can't wait to come back in my next visit to SLO. read more

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Such a beautiful restaurant in down town SLO. Great place to bring a date, family, or anyone new in town! Wait times can get long, even on the weekdays! Plan to wait at least 30 minutes w/o a reservation. Menu is filled with a variety of foods, all having a great range of flavor. My favorite is the bolognese pasta and chicken noodle soup! Both are large, entree sized. read more

Refused to seat me 45 minutes before closing saying they were done serving. The hosts were rude and left us standing there while they were talking about their plans for the weekend. Never be back here again absolutely ubsurd. The man hosting was so rude rushing us out the door saying they were closed. Mind you 45 minutes before closing before closing!!! Do your self a favor and walk down the street to the many many establishments that will actually welcome you. A true disappointment. read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Great experience, the food is delicious and the service is great. I would highly recommend this place.

Food and service were great. They don't take reservations for small parties but our wait on a Friday evening was around 20 minutes. Food could have used a bit more seasoning. read more

This is a must eat at if you love Italian cuisine. They start you out with homemade bread and the best olive oil dip I have ever had. We shared the roasted beet salad that was so good we wanted more. My Frutta de Mare was among the best I've eaten and my wife's ravioli duo was unmatched. WOW! We also shared a sampler of 3 homemade gelatos. The service was outstanding and the atmosphere was so welcoming even though the restaurant was full to capacity. The cocktails are well executed and the wine list is not overwhelming. Eat and drink well my friends. Cheers . read more

Happy hour @Giuseppe's is consistently scrumptious and a wonderful value. Service is prompt and top notch, with the bonus of a USA World Cup game being replayed behind the bar. Today, in addition to the bruschetta, we enjoyed the eggplant parmesan and lasagna. Thank you Guiseppes for being the restaurant we regularly return to when we're in town. read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Pomegranate martini and bruschetta - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Best Clam Chowder I'ver ever had. Best Ravioli I've ever had. WOW oh WOW!! read more

Happy Hour Dinner! I made my way into Giuseppe's to try their happy hour menu and what a joy. My favorite part of the meal has always been the vinegar/olive oil/garlic/parmesan cheese spread for the bread-absolutely delicious. I ended up ordering rigatoni and meatballs along with Kobe beef burger. Overall Grade: A+ $$ read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Jeffrey and Linkin - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Food was great, atmosphere was very energetic and the people we met were the best. Great place!! read more

We will keep coming back here. Service was fast and everyone was super thoughtful. The place was packed and we only had takeaway. WOW. Man o man was the Cacio e Pepe and pizza excellent. I wish we could have taken photos but we simply could not. This looks like a fun group hangout or date night spot. Couples looked to be seated outside as it was quieter. Lovely spot and delicious food! Tastes like authentic Italian... my husband lived in Italy for two months and took cooking classes which means his standard for Italian cuisine is rather high. He was impressed. In SLO? California? How? We. Will. Be. Back. read more

Food was great but it was nothing compared to the impeccable service we received by our server David. He was so personable and had an amazing attitude. He did a great job making recommendations for us. The ambiance was also beautiful I recommend sitting on the patio! read more

Giuseppe's Cucina Rustica - Italian Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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This was my first time here, and we came because my cousin--who lives nearby for school--has been raving about it. We decided to visit while in town, and I'm so glad we did! We were greeted right when we walked in, and even though it was busy, we were seated in less than 10 minutes. The servers were incredibly attentive and the service was top-notch throughout our visit. I really appreciated that they offer gluten-free options for both pizza and pasta, which is a huge plus for me. We started with a few appetizers. While I couldn't try the calamari since it was breaded and I can't have gluten, we also ordered the meatballs on the side--and those were absolutely delicious! For the main course, we shared a gluten-free Margherita pizza at the table, and it was fantastic. I ordered the gluten-free carbonara pasta for myself, but unfortunately, I wouldn't get it again. The sauce was way too thick, and it reminded me more of mac and cheese than a traditional carbonara. There wasn't much bacon, so it felt like an overpriced dish that didn't quite hit the mark. Aside from that, everything else was wonderful. The ambiance is perfect for a date night, birthday dinner, or any celebration. The restaurant is clean, spacious, and has a romantic, cozy vibe. Overall, a great experience--with just one dish that missed the mark. read more

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This service here was horrible. Our waiter took our order for food and then never came back to the table. We asked for ranch 3 different times out of 3 different servers and it took until we were almost done with our meal to finally get some after having to ask one final time. We were in a group and he didn't spilt the checks , just brought it all at once. Then we asked politely to split them and he came back with it all wrong even after telling him who is with who. He made a smart comment after we let him know it was wrong. Will not return because of this. read more