The service and environment were great. The food it self was definitely above average but not really authentic. The pasta was a small portion and the chicken was good but not great in my opinion. It just lacked seasoning and presentation. read more

Rustica Ristorante - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nice place! Laid back vibe, open floor high and low table seating, full bar and side room with a comfortable private setting. The staff here are attentive and courteous. Located inside the Caribe Hilton, the restaurant is low key due to the dark wood atmosphere. Not an extensive menu but some tasty items to choose from. The shrimp pasta dish, I added mushrooms, was amazing. Not too heavy with a light wine based sauce. Very good. read more

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Pleasantly surprised and happy that we gave it a chance. No complaints. Not crazy prices. Would return. read more

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The Aperol Spritz, margarita pizza and salmon with risotto are all great! We had good service and the atmosphere is very comfortable.

It gets the job done at a fair price - better than what you would expect for an in-house restaurant at the Caribe Hilton. Needed something to get me through the afternoon before a late dinner, everyone was napping, and I didn't feeling like leaving the hotel so I decided to sit at the bar and grab a bite here. Besides myself there were only a few other patrons in the restaurant so service was very fast. The bar tender was nice and did her job well. I had a glass of white wine and a salad with grilled chicken. The chicken was seasoned well. The salad was dressed perfectly and I love how they used tostones as the croutons!! Nice little touch. The food was nice and light so I still had room to satisfy my sweet tooth. I got the cheesecake which she said is brought in locally. All in all a very nice relaxing experience with good food at a fair price. If you're looking for a quick bite I'd say it's worth stopping in! read more

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The three starts are because my server was exceptional. Attentive, funny and prompt. Other than that, the entire meal was a big letdown. Got the margherita pizza as a starter. It was ok. Then I got the risotto di manzo which was a risotto with filet mignon and barolo wine. This was truly a disappointment. It should have been rich and melt in your mouth. It was not. Tastes very plain and the meat was gray. Would definitely not go back. read more

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Especially for being attached to a hotel you would think sub par but quite the contrary. The vibe was very chill and the food was amazing. The staff were super, I had the lasagna and was cleaning the dish with the bread. Highly recommend. A little pricy if you are just looking to fill your belly but if you want a quality meal it's well worth it. read more

First day in the beautiful land of PUERTO RICO. I'm sure there are better places for mofongo but I would recommend the mofongo with pork at the Rustica! I sat at the bar and the service was A+ and ask for Kelly! The best bartender on the island. read more

Oh, the day before we happened to walk down the street and saw a line to this place. Then a friend mentioned she went on a precious visit so we went for lunch, no line yet! The waitress was kind. Our favorite empanada was the spinach, but I'll be honest they aren't my favorite in general. The drinks were tasty but the pizza....so good. The waitress allowed us to split the flavors in one pie, I think that was the personal size. WORTH IT! You will not regret a visit. read more

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Everything about this place was Near satisfactory, the food, service, ambiance, all were ok. So for the price point, it's maybe not the best. But in a formerly upscale, formerly fancy hotel, high prices are to be expected. I will say, our server was very nice and the pasta was cooked well, the flavors just weren't there. Their Italian food was better than the Puerto Rican food. (FYI, I'd recommend the places right across from the hotel) read more

Lola's made for a solid meal for tired travelers who just arrived and are staying at the hotel. My mom's mashed potatoes were room temperature and the garlic bread was just okay. I ordered the salad and it was yummy but they forgot the mofongo croutons which I had to ask for. I did however like our server who was helpful and witty. I would eat here again but it certainly didn't wow me. read more

Rustica Ristorante - Lola's Salad - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

RIP OFF! $29 for chicken parm. 1 decent size piece of chicken and a small handful of spaghetti. At home it costs between $19-25 for chicken parm and you get 2 big pieces of chicken and 3 times the amount of pasta. I was sharing a late night dinner after an excursion with my 11 year old. Thanks for being open late. The waitress was nice. I would avoid Rustica unless your hands are tied elsewhere within the resort. read more

Rustica Ristorante - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

It was ok. Nothing amazing. Service ended up being good but initially they wouldn't even sit us down even though their posted hours were not for another half hour. We had been traveling all day and were originally happy to see this restaurant was open but then they said we can order and take it with us! They wouldn't budge and we asked for the manager and his name and were about to leave when they told us we could sit, but only if we ordered right away (literally). read more

Solid 4.5 star Piña Colada!! I came yo taste the original at the Caribe Hilton bar... which is closed until 5 pm so this restaurant is inside the Hilton and I opted to go for Give it a go! Their piba colada is good!! I come from the Barrachina (celebrating 65 years of the original piba colada) and the line was terrible but the piña colada there was sweet and delicious. To my personal taste, this one was less sweet and more flavorful: but they were both delicious. Here is $15 for one drink versus $7.50 at Barrachina, FYI. Anyway: I really liked this one more. Enjoy! read more

Stopped by for a late-night dinner, and everything was fantastic! The burrata was incredibly fresh, the calamari perfectly crispy, and both the pappardelle alla paesana and ribeye were cooked to perfection. The staff were welcoming and knowledgeable, and the ambiance was both cozy and relaxing. read more

Rustica Ristorante - Papardelle alla paesana and ribeye with mashed potatoes - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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This restaurant is inside the Hilton Caribe resort. It is half Italian and half Puerto Rican, with the other half called Lola's. I am only writing one review as it is only one restaurant with one menu and two types of food on the menu. Our first experience was on a Tuesday night. We had dinner early in order to be ready for an adventure that we had planned for the night. We were in a group of 10 people and had made a reservation. They were ready for us and had our table all set when we arrived in the main dining room. I have to say that the service was excellent. Our table was very catered to. We had regular water refills, and they came around frequently to see if we needed more wine or cocktails. I ordered the rustic pizza, which was thin with a nice crispiness and great flavor. I also shared my husband's mamposteaou (Puerto Rican rice and beans). That was so delicious! Our experience was made even better by the new wave music from some of my very favorite bands that played throughout our dining experience. That experience was really a 5-star experience. On Friday night, my husband and I stopped in the bar area for wine and appetizers. We were seated at a small table in a corner, which was fine, as it was crowded and we did not have reservations. We ordered a couple of our favorite glasses of wine, and shared the mamposteaou and a chorizo and cheese dish. Again, the food was delicious. They did charge for extra bread, which was a bit of a bummer because we were not given nearly enough bread to eat the cheese and chorizo. The major issue that night was the service. Our server took forever to come to our table, and there was a period when I wanted to eat my food, but I had no wine or water. Finally, when someone came to refill our water, I had to ask for our server for more bread and more wine. It was a bit of a frustrating experience. Putting both experiences together, I give Rustica a solid 3-stars. read more

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Excellent fresh food - nice space inside the Caribe Hilton. I didn't know what to expect from an Italian restaurant in SJ and inside a nice hotel no less. I was surprised to find an unpretentious staff and menu with many great options for even the pickiest of eaters. I started with the homemade burrata salad and then had the mahi mahi for dinner. Both exceeded my expectations - they were fresh and delicious! My coworker and his wife had the seafood paella and they enjoyed every bite. Service was good and I liked that they followed all safety recommendations with tables spaced out. Even our table was fairly wide so we were spaced about 3 feet away from the unvaccinated persons at the table. There are tvs in here for anyone trying to catch a game and high ceilings give the space a very open and comfortable feel. read more

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Temperature checks at the door along with the hand sanitizer machine. Simple meal tonight; rustica pizza with chicken and a mule. I loved this pizza over the regular marinara sauce pizza. Chicken was a nice addition. read more

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This is the restaurant in the Caribe Hilton. And it essentially is two totally different menus in the same place, one Italian and the other Puerto Rican. Was in the hotel for a conference so tried it for lunch one day. Terrible service, very slow, asked for things and they never arrived, you make eye contact with a waiter and wave a hand so they know you need something, and they walk away. Food was really mediocre and overpriced. Got mofongo with pork. Mofongo pretty tasteless and pork dry and overcooked. Croquettas were okay. My dining companion got a salad and it came with no dressing. Can't speak to the Italian menu - maybe it is better. read more

I was not impressed with the food. I ordered a shrimp mofongo and didn't like it. My bf ordered a filet and felt the same way. It was overly expensive and not worth it. read more

So came here after leaving mojito bar because I waited there for an hour and it was quite empty and still took me almost 40 mins just to get my drink. So I took my starving self here and it did not disappoint! I got water right away (which didn't get any over the other place) The menu is split into two parts based on cuisine but you can order from either or both simultaneously. The food was delicious. I would have taken pics but I was too hungry and forgot lol. I absolutely recommend eating here! read more

The food was 3 starts, the service was 5 stars The food is okay, Italian in Puerto Rico isn't exactly expected to be outstanding. The service was amazing! The food was edible but it is expensive. We had salmon, steak, and lasagna. read more

Rustica Ristorante - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

There was no wait when my family came, which was a win in itself because EVERYWHERE requires reservations at least 24-48hrs in advance. I don't know if this was just the case because we were visiting the week of Memorial Day, but what a pain. Regardless, the food here is also really good! We tried several dishes and all were a hit with my family. Margarita Pizza Lasagna Chicken Parmigiana Lemon chicken Service was also 5-star. Enjoy! read more

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The food was great and our waiter was very friendly. The mofongo was recommended by our waiter and it was definitely worth it. read more

Rustica Ristorante - The vegetable mofongo with creole sauce. - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

We just went here because Morton's didn't have space. I won't be going back. The lamb chops were the only thing I actually wanted to eat after tasting, even they were overcooked (we asked for rare) and the advertised rosemary was nowhere to be seen. The other entree we ordered was the Gamberoni All'Aglio e Olio and I asked that the shrimp be minimally cooked and for the pasta to be al dente. No luck on either count and the accompanying sautéed veggies were so tasteless that I couldn't even finish them. I asked for the plates to be staged and no luck. I had to get up and fill my own water glass at the bar. We didn't try anything from the Lola's menu. I imagine that would have been better, but we weren't there for comida criolla. We were there for Italian food. To add insult to injury, the valet parking was $28 after spending far too much for the food You've been warned. read more

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Only and best thing about Hilton caribe has to offer. Same goes for the staff. Great at restaurant. Hotel is absolutely horrible. People and property. Would've given 5 stars for dinner for our server and the bottle of wine she found us alone, but the afternoon staff (since there's really no place else to eat during day, was a bit lacking. Smile a little! read more

Update: I went again last night and the waiter was so sweet and helpful. Really a pleasant experience! ---- Great food, OK service! The dish they thrive in are the rice based menu-- their risotto and the seafood rice (in their sister restaurant Lola's) are phenomenal! The rice is cooked just right and has great flavor coming from the ingredients. Ate here twice and was great both times. The staff is sweet but the waitresses were both slightly awkward (they were nice but was not very professional... forgets the soup of the day, can't recommend popular dishes, etc) But overall, a good experience! read more

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Dining at Rustica Ristorante was magnificent. I was greeted with a smile by Louis. This young man obviously knew who I was lol. He sat us in the restaurants mini wine cellar room. Our server Senor Juan Carlos was spectacular. He was attentive, very suggestive and just a all around fun guy. I asked for a good brown spirit. He suggested a bottle that has never been opened ( Napoleon Cognac Dragon ). What a phenomenal suggestion and drink. I thank you Rustica for an awesome experience. read more

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Found at the historic Caribe Hilton, our cravings were satisfied by Rustica! Located on the right side of the chic lobby is the stylish Italian eatery. The elevated decor is inviting, just as the staff who greeted us. Rustica was one of the main restaurant that were open on the premises, however, there was an option to order from Lola's menu, a fresh Puerto Rican eatery next door. We had the Arañitas from Lola's for appetizers and they were spectacular. The sweet, crispness of the fried plantain chips perfectly accompanied the tender, smoky ropa vieja. Our drinks were splendid, and since Caribe Hilton is the originator of the piña colada, it was the favorite drink of the trip. For lunch we shared the Margherita pizzas with some parmesan truffle fries (we were too excited to get a picture). Also delicious and satisfying featuring fresh basil and mozzarella. A fantastic start to our vacation which we returned to before leaving! read more

Rustica Ristorante - Arañitas - Italian Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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We dined here twice out of convenience while staying at the Caribe. The first time we visited you could tell they were understaffed. Almost every uninhabited table was covered in dirty dishes, which made it difficult to get a table. Both times, the server was really nice and did their best to take care of us. They give you both menus from here and the place next door. Therefore, there's several options. I get that it's in a hotel but I do find the prices a bit much. The food wasn't bad and came out in a timely manner. I do enjoy the fact that they had a kids meal. One huge drawback is how loud it gets in there. Not bad if you're looking for something decent and quick to remain onsite. read more

I have nothing but WONDERFUL things to say about Rustica and its staff. Every single dish, drink, dessert was absolutely amazing. Every waitstaff we met was nothing but kind and courteous (Jeff and Josue particularly). We even had the chance to met the owner Jean Carlo Hernandez. He was extremely friendly, showed us his "catch of the day" that was being served at the restaurant (absolutely beautiful fish and lobster caught off the Puerto Rican shores). As majority of the island was shut down due to COVID and believe it or not was still recovering from the 2017 hurricane this place was a savior for tourists. No exaggeration, every drink and dish we had was so well prepared and delicious. The portions were HUGE and the catch of the day the TWO times I had it was perfect. In the end, I would come back to Rustica over and over, not just for the food but the such gracious staff. Even if I didn't stay in the hotel I would stop by just to say hi. THANK YOU Jean Carlo and crew for making our week vacation one to remember. From the "Two Chicago guys". read more

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Solid Mahi Mahi dish. Service was on point and restaurant had a nice ambiance for a hotel restaurant.

We were staying at the Caribe Hilton & wanted a close restaurant for dinner. We're directed into a back area w/ a bar. The salads & food were very good & they had a decent wine selection. Nice ambiance with excellent Service & we enjoyed the meal. read more

Wow, just delicious! The Mofongo was excellent and the Parpadadelle sauce was smoky bacon goodness plus the Arañitas appetizer, yum! Ivan was spot on with his suggestions & service! Highly recommend! read more

Tonight I was having Tapas and cocktails and was waited on by the most amazing server, I believe her name is Jay. The food is great the service is unbelievable. read more

I just want to take this opportunity to express to the staff of rustic restaurant in Caribe Hilton how great a services that was provided for my wife and I on 12/2/2022. Christian the manager and bartender was so accommodating educating me on grandaddy rum of the island. I was truly educated. I've been on this earth for 53 years and I have seen fair to good service from a restaurant, but tonight was the best service I have ever had. True customer service is hard to find but tonight Christian the manager/bartender was on point. This was the Best part of my trip. #mmmakingmoves. read more

This place looks great and the servers are very nice, however, we both ordered 2 different seafood platters (1 from each side of the restaurant) and they both were awful. No flavor AT ALL. Tasted like all they did was boil the food and put it on our plates nicely (my husband describes it as tasting like a sweat rag). I'm not kidding it was AWFUL! We even asked for lemon slices, salt, and pepper but nothing helped make the dishes better. I'd never eat this even if I was going to be on my death bed the next day. Don't waste your hard earned money. You'll regret it as we did! The hotel itself is beautiful and we loved our experience otherwise. Highly recommended the Caribe Hilton for all your future Puerto Rico adventures!! read more

The food was ok. Reminds me of something you might get from a Chili's. Typical hotel food. It was very overpriced. For two adults and a kid we spent over $200. The service staff was nice. I just wasn't really impressed for the food at that price point. read more

Delicious pasta gnocchi, penne vodka, primavera all good. Service was also good as well as ambiance

Delicious so very delicious!! Amazingly refreshing and delicious. We stayed at the Caribe Hilton and made reservations for a large group for family. It surpassed all of our expectations ! Even family who resides in PR thought it was delicious ! Totally worth it , totally worth the wait. The sangria as delicious too. I had the halibut and it was totally worth it, still thinking about it 3 days later. My husband said the same for his plate , he had the dorado. read more