Rustico is #1 in book. The chef really knows what he's doing here. I'm going to make sure to try everything on the menu. So far the Chicken Marsala, Salmon, Lamb Chops and the Parpadelle Bolognese all delicious. If you are confused about making a choice of Italian restaurants in Oak Park don't hesitate to stop here. read more

Nice change of pace for Oak Park. I like when you can see the kitchen and chef in action! read more

Rustico - in oven... - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Not bad, not great. Roasted beet with scallops was good. However Calamari and octopus was mostly over cooked. Some pieces were tender. Most were tough. When we told the waiter he said nothing and just walked away. We had empty drinks and waiter passed our table 4 times and didn't notice. Finally offered when he dropped off our check. Staging food. Our beet dish came first and two minutes later both calamari and octopus came. Nothing like letting seafood get cold on your table while you're trying to finish the tables' first course. Then we ordered the Margarita Pizza. Basically a cheese pizza with 3 giant leaves of basil in the middle as garnish. Not your typical version at all. No fresh tomato, no chunks of mozzarella and had to divy up the basil to spread it out on each slice. Overall there is some hope here. But for the price they really need to step up their game. read more

One server/bartender, one busboy, and amazing kitchen, during busy time, were more efficient than any restaurant I have ever been in. Delicious food and drinks and great service! Bravo! read more

Hubby and I came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon. It was pretty slow so no reservations needed. Before deciding to come here, I was hesitant to come try it out but after looking the menu I agreed with my hubby to try it out. They have a separate lunch and dinner menu, and it appears the tapas menu is available all day? We started with the fried calamari and shrimp tapas and brussel sprouts tapas. Both VERY good. For entree I had the smoked salmon ravioli. It was very good. Hubby ordered their bolognese pasta - the meat sauce was so delicious. We were sad they did not have the seafood paella available in their lunch menu, otherwise we definitely would've ordered that. Definitely will come back and try out the rest of the menu. We really like the tapas and the choices! read more

10+, big portions , delicious food REALLY ! Huge menu , nice atmosphere , loved everything about my last 3 visits

So good! My partner and I are meat eaters and the lamb chops are so good! We ordered from here two nights in a row. The service is top notch as well. We will be back! read more

Great meeting place for my friend (Oak Brook) and myself (Chicago) to have a great meal. Nice to see busy on a Monday night both patio and inside. read more

Recommend Rustico paella and the cod dish. Tasty and good quality, paella serves two people.

Awesome tapas joint. Patatas bravas, pinchos (chicken, beef and shrimp) and calamari are classics you'll enjoy whether it's your first time or you're a tapas fan like me! Red sangria is a sweet but enjoyable. Be adventurous and consider one of their delicious cocktails. The friendly staff and warm ambiance are icing on the cake and make it place you'll want to go back to. read more

Let me tell y'all about some of the best Mediterranean food I had the pleasure of experiencing tuhdayy!! @Rustico in oak park... Has a bomb! Everything is made fresh to order... I'm talking about, fresh fresh... Pasta.. handmade and is rolled and cut while you wait... Now anyone who knows me .. knows I love coopers hawk red wine braised short ribs.. and after the ones I just had from here... Cooper's Hawk won't get my order again... They have them beat hands down ! Paired it with a strawberry lemon drop and I am satisfied.. Oh can't forget the bread... some type of fuffy blissfully seasoned dough pillows fresh out the oven! Let me tell yooouuuu! It's a must! The chef came to the table to see how we enjoyed and to see if we would come back and I was able to sing his praises to him and let him know I would be suggesting their establishment to everyone who enjoys great food! I also asked for a wheel barrow so I could be rolled to my car.. ( that's the only thing they didn't have ‍) Go check them out they will NOT disappoint! Ittis has kicked in... so night y'all! read more

Good food, okay establishment. We arrived and were seated immediately with our reservation. Keep in mind that if you come without a reservation there is no where to sit to wait except the bar or outside. The bar area and dinning room are the same. We were seated at a very small two person table that can only accommodate two plates. Not something for a Tappas restaurant. Food good but environment VERY LOUD. We found it very hard to hear each other and ended up shouting. I turned on my sound meter on the phone and it gave me 70 decibels. This is traffic noise in downtown Chicago with horns blarring. read more

What a great add to the downtown Oak Park culinary circuit! Went with the family on a weekday evening. Worth noting this meant eating out with two young kids, and Rustico was more than prepared to cater to their young tastebuds. Impressive wine list for its size, a diverse menu consisting predominantly of Spanish and Italian tapas, exemplary service and cozy ambiance all made for a terrific night out. For as new as it is, I was blown away by the fact that thy seem to have already worked out any "newcomer kinks"...we didn't experience a one. Recommend the beef tenderloin and grilled octopus. Both were so delicious we thought about ordering them again! Congrats Rustico and all Oak Parkers! A truly great place. read more

The food and staff were outstanding. Thank u Chef Padilla for everything and the cucumber/lemon shot.... very good....!!!!!! read more

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I am giving them 3 stars as all you could smell inside was the wood burning from an oven. I got home and had to wash my clothes as the smoke was so strong. This over shadowed the good parts of the restaurant. They need better ventilation. The food was a hit or miss. The salmon and ribs were really good. The ravioli was bland, and the pork chops lacked flavor. The side of asparagus was really good. They have a nice selection of cocktails and wines. The tables in the middle of the restaurant could be more spaced out. To leave the table the people around me had to actually get off of their seat, push in their chair so that I can pass. read more

We just had a great meal here. Not only was the service good, but the food was awesome. When I'd finished my gnocci, the chef came out and asked if I'd like some fresh pasta tossed in with the leftover sauce. He basically served me a second meal and it was just as good as the first round. My girlfriend enjoyed her chicken and polenta and the drinks were good, though a bit pricy. read more

I've been to many places that serve tapas in the city and I have to say this one tops them all. We just came from a trip to Madrid, Spain and this is definitely at the same level of quality. My daughter went for her own dish Chicken Bianco. Service is great! Warm and welcoming atmosphere. I'm not a big fan of dessert but I had to try theirs and it did not disappoint. Sangria is tasty and will sneak up on you. Thank you Rústico for the great experience we will be back. read more

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This place did not disappoint! The food was delicious and the service perfect! Very attentive, but not pushy. I had the Gnocchi with mushrooms and asparagus. The sauce was amazingly good! I'll be back to try more of the dishes on the menu for sure! read more

Nice to have a new, fresh and different kind of Italian/Mediterranean restaurant in Oak Park. The menu is varied, flavorful, and fresh. Both of our meals at Rustico have been winners. I would say more about the dishes but it has been a few weeks and the menu isn't online yet to refresh my memory! Family friendly, moderately noisy, and cheerfully staffed, Rustico is a nice addition to the local restaurant scene. read more

Randomly came across this place and I'm so grateful that I did. The service was great, the ambiance is very pleasant and the food is delicious! My friend and I ordered from the tapas menu and were very satisfied with the taste of each dish but also the portions were very generous. I went back a few weeks later and I'm planning to return soon. read more

Saturday at 730 for wifes 40th. Table of ten. Attentive service. Great food . Recommend

Popped in because it was highly rated in the Oak Park area. Tried the house Paella and it tasted like it was made with cheap ingredients. It honestly tasted like anybody in the restaurant could have made it (customers included)...but certainly NOT a chef. read more

If you visit Oak Park, this is a must. The service and the food were exceptional. Meatballs, Paella, and the chocolate creme brulee made it a wonderful eating experience. read more

Food and service is always divine! The fried calamari and beef skewers were delicious. Love the atmosphere.

I meant to write a review last time but I did not take any pictures because we dug right in and I think pictures are worth a thousand words. We came back here on Monday and we were seated right away. We ordered their almejas en salsa verde which is in the hot tapas section. It's basically manila clams with green onions, white wine, garlic and broth. These were amazing we had them last time too and liked them so much that we ordered them again. My husband got the fettuccine frutti di mare which is pasta with shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, garlic, and basil in a red sauce which he enjoyed last time too. The sauce is perfect! My daughter ordered the chicken paella which she liked a lot as she is picky. I ordered the bacalao con almejas which is seared cod with clams, potatoes, olives, capers, green onions, white wine in a tomato sauce which was delicious. It was my favorite dish besides the clams and dessert which I will get to in a second. The place is very rustic which I love as it just feels comfortable. Ok now the dessert we got the white chocolate creme brulee which I had last time and kept saying amazing over and over and over. The best I ever had. It was worth every calorie, point or who knows what anyone is watching these days! This restaurant will be in our top list. Shout out to Luis sorry if I spelled the name incorrectly, he was great! read more

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We went to the restaurant with my kids. We were quite excited about the decor and ambience The food was decent but service was extremely poor. We had to request our server for wine, cutlery, our check. And they didn't care to ask for desserts read more

I really wanted to like this place. The tapas wasn't bad. We had the grilled calamari and the brussels sprouts, both were actually quite good. We then ordered the seafood paella, that's when it went downhill. Mind you, we've been to Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia Spain and we love paella. We've also eaten several times at Café Ba-Ba-Reba, so we know good paella. It was bland and quite frankly tasteless. I was willing to suffer through it but my husband, who never complains about anything, refused to eat it after one fork full. The waiter was nice enough to take it back to the kitchen and we tried a seafood pasta dish instead, which was just OK. I actually brought it home and seasoned it a bit more. I will give the service a 3+ and giving them credit because it was Friday evening. We were sitting outside and service started out well but we ended up being next to ignored. We got the paella without plates and had to wait, asked for wine twice before we got it 10 minutes later, never got a refill on my drink until they brought the check, which at that point I was all ready to go. I did like the hot tapas so there may be a return visit here but I don't think I'll order any of their main dishes, not enough flair with seasoning for me read more

Rustico - Paella really looked good - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

The food, drinks and service are amazing! I 10 out of 10 recommend. The Brussels spouts, mussels and shrimp tapas dishes are yummy. I've visit a few times and have been very pleased with every dish. read more

Wow very very very good food. The wait staff were very nice. The food was amazing. Loved it would love to go back.

It is not our first time in the place. We went here for quite a few times and we always really like the experience. We decided to eat here for our pre-Christmas celebration the place is full and as much as we wanted to dine inside, we can't because it is full and we do not want to wait until there is a vacant table so we were seated on their outdoor seating which also has a nice ambiance. Our server is attentive and accommodating. We took a while before choosing what to eat. The menu has a lot of options from different cuisine. The Caesar salad was fresh and the dressing is perfectly seasoned. We shared with their seafood paella and it has a huge portion that is perfect for at least two to three people. It was delicious and the seafood were all fresh, squeeze it with lemon and perfect. We both got sangria it was good and the glass is huge than the other sangria I had from different restaurant. It was an amazing dinner we love the food and the service is great! read more

Our new favorite place! Great service, great tapas and the drinks are so good! Haven't had any main meals here yet but highly recommend the tapas and cocktails read more

SO great. Top-notch service (at a time when we don't feel like we can say that often) and ridiculous dishes...whether you're having entrees or tapas, the flavors do not disappoint. We are particularly thrilled with their brussel sprouts, wine list, and accommodating approach. Not our first time, but so pleased to be consistently delighted with this place. Cheers. read more

I only recently discovered Rustico and have already been here 3 times. From date night to a birthday celebration with friends, this place is perfect for all occasions. The wine selection is great, the food is delicious and the service doesn't disappoint. read more

Tried the short rib family meal tonight. First, we ordered on the phone and the server was very patient and worked with me on ordering for the first time. Food was ready at the time gave and was packaged in a tray for easy carry out. Staff even offered to help carry it out to my car. Now on to the food. Amazing with huge servings. First, a tray of Caesar salad. Real shaved Parmesan, fresh lettuce and homemade dressing. Next, a garlic shrimp appetizer which was out of this world. 17 shrimp in the serving. Next the main dish- whole tray of short rib with mashed potatoes and carrots, with a mini tray of onion straws. Melt in your mouth quality. I could eat those onion straws all night. Meal also came with focaccia bread and a pasta/meatball dish. We didn't even get to the pasta as there was so much food. Choice of two desserts- we chose tiramisu and creme brûlée. You can also add a bottle of wine for an extra $10 dollars. read more

Rustico - Short rib family meal - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

Amazing! Wonderful ambiance, food, drinks and customer service. We had an amazing time when we went a few weeks ago and we can't wait to go back. 5 stars and more! You must check it out read more

Love the tapas the home made pasta is excellent beautiful place good service i love it read more

Rustico - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

No wait-time, waiter was nice but cannot give him a shout out because he did not tell me his name. I had the Ravaoli con Salmon and it was honestly not very tasty. I eat a lot of ravaoli it's literally one of my favorite dishes to ever exist, yet this one fell short. I don't know about anyone else but I ALWAYS pay attention to the presentation of my plates and it makes me so happy when I see the effort that was made to just make it look nice. I got this dish because it's the banner on their yelp page thinking it would look just as nice but it didn't. The ravaoli looked like someone just threw it on the plate and drowned it with sauce. The salmon didn't taste fresh and was just super overpowering. I didn't feel there was a nice balance. I definitely won't be trying that again, I would give this place a second chance only because the tapas dishes looked sooo good but the person I was with did not want to share, unfortunately. read more

Rustico - Queso de Cabra - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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This is a very nice place if you're into the Mediterranean food. Papas bravas is a must have, and I will never get tired of their apple salad. read more

Went here recently and had a lovely time. Great service and the food was great. Looking forward to take out in the winter.

Now our favorite restaurant! Chef/owner Gabriel and the Sous Chef Jorge whip up tasty specials that fuse old world recipes with new world artistic flair. We have been there half a dozen times and the food is consistently fantastic and the service is impeccable. Tasty fare includes freshly-made tomato Focaccia bread, the best crab cakes(in the world!), shrimp tapas, tender short ribs (Costillas), rib-eye, Gnocci, Paella, seared salmon, oh-so-good wood-fired pizza, and homemade Gelato. Also a great wine selection and you can have it decanted at your table. Rustico has an inviting ambience that is suitable for family get-togethers, date night or corporate functions. Seasonal outdoor seating is available. Check them out - you will not be sorry! read more

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