We could not get on an earlier flight after getting dropped at midway earlier. We took an uber and spent the Sunday afternoon here The food was great and the service and atmosphere was even better. Wish I lived in the neighborhood!! read more

Very good meal ; good pasta and steak, with good service; I was happily surprised by this place.

Staff is rude and inattentive. With so many wonderful options in Oak Park, skip this one.

Very attentive and friendly service. I liked the atmosphere- high ceilings and exposed brick. Some items were great- others not much. The brussel sprouts, for one, were painfully oversalted- we could only eat a few bites and it hurt! The steak with truffle sauce was tasty, tender, and well cooked. The short rib crostini was yum, but the cilantro aioli didn't add any flavor and got totally lost. The pistachio cheesecake had a weird artificial, chemical taste. Nice wine selection. Really hit or miss! read more

I've been here several times now, I usually order something different each time and have yet to encounter an entree whose flavor was anything less than outstanding. Gabriel and his staff really do a superior job with their offerings. The restaurant is usually pretty busy, which is a testimony to just how good their food is. I usually sit at the bar and enjoy the camaraderie as well as the food. This is currently my favorite spot to eat, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. read more

What a fabulous gem of a restaurant in Oak Park. I can't wait to go back. The service was stellar, the food exceptional. I love the setting right near the downtown area that you can walk to afterwards. My friends all felt the same way! 10/10! read more

I've heard great reviews from this place... so I had to check it out for myself, although it would probably take a few times back to really get the full effect of that place because their menu is extraordinarily huge, which is good because if you like a variety of different ethnicities of food, you've come to the right place... We started off with the calamari. I was grateful that she asked me if I had any allergies because the calamari was fried in with shrimp, which I am allergic to. But my guest was enjoying this appetizer.... I then ordered the chicken piccata and chicken marsala. The chicken marsala had a twist. It was it in a darker sauce which I am usually accustomed to the lighter sauce with a lot of mushrooms. It was good... Sometimes it's good to be different. The chicken piccata was also delicious topped with capers accompanied by potatoes and I'm not really sure. I think It was mixed with Japanese broccoli. I could be wrong but it was a wonderful combo plated beautifully. I really am interested in going back to try other items and I appreciate the server was very patient with us. I did a lot of talking. It took us a long time to order and they were great. Thank you! read more

Rustico - Chicken marsala - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Had quite a bad experience here this evening. We live in the neighborhood and have intended for two years to give this place a try. Walked in on a whim tonight- it was a Monday and not busy. Perfect night to try it out. And to be clear, the food was good. Not sure it was worth the price, although I'm sure my opinion is influenced by just how awful the service was. We had a younger male waiter, and he couldn't have been less interested in providing good service. Barely received a greeting, barely checked in, barely saw him in the dining area. And frankly, I wouldn't be leaving the review if it was just cold service. But at the end of the meal we waited 10 minutes with plates pushed aside before we were offered boxes. After we declined dessert, we waited another 15 minutes while he sat and chatted with the host before I had to physically go up to him and ask for the check. (Card had been on the table for 10 minutes.) And when he finally ran and dropped the check, not a "thank you" or a "have a good evening" just a "here you go." The server's name wasn't on the receipt or it would've been an email to the management team instead of a public review. I work as a waiter, and I've never had such poor service at a place that markets itself as a higher quality restaurant. Not worth the $80 I paid and certainly will not be back. If you're looking for an Italian place in Oak Park, save yourself some time and go to Citrine or Cucina Paradiso where you'll get decent service. read more

Enjoyed a wonderful dinner outside on our first night in Oak Park. Excellent food! My husband had Chicken Marsala and I had the Rustico Salad with chicken. Both were excellent! Then we topped it off with gelato! Amazing!!!! Tasted like the gelato I had in Italy! Service was also excellent! Would definitely return! read more

Came back with a couple for a fun night out. I like this place a lot based on the room and food. A couple of minor issues occurred. Once seated for our 7:00 pm reservation, no one came to our table for over 10-15 minutes to greet us or gather a drink order. I had to get up and ask to be served. I also ordered an expensive bottle of wine and when the manager (I'm assuming) presented the bottle he tried to push off a different bottle without clarification. I pointed out that wasn't what was ordered and he left to go find it. Came back and said they only had the house wine in that style. It was strange. Otherwise, the food and service was good. Oak park needs a place like Rustico. read more

Came for a second time and again, Rustico did not disappoint. My favorite part about this place is the service and the quality in waiting staff that are well versed in the menu and able to provide great recommendations and substitutions. Still very much recommend Rustico if you're in Oak Park/River Forest area! read more

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I love this restaurant for a very elegant dinner. Service is always very attentive. Our favorite meals include the bistec Rustico (the rosemary mashed potatoes that come with them are wonderful) & the seafood paella. I recommend that you make a reservation online as it is usually a busy restaurant. read more

Excellent tapas and sharing plates, fun for large groups. Puppy friendly sidewalk tables too.

Rustico is a charming restaurant in the suburb Oak Park. We ordered the crab cakes, Rustico paella and a pasta dish and split everything. The food was flavorful; the standout was the paella. read more

Met up with a few friends and we loved our experience at Rustico. Right off the bat our server was welcoming and hilarious! He gave us a history of the restaurant and gave tips on dishes to try. We tried the por tenderloin, steak, chicken Alfredo and they made a special risotto as well. The desserts were amazing and the cappuccino just right. The decor was modern but rustic. They had a few tvs showing sports. Amazing place with even more amazing staff! read more

Rustico - Capuchino - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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First time, sat at the bar with a buddy. Wasn't super hungry so no apps, but they brought some focaccia bread and we each had a good cocktail. Ordered the linguini and clams, which had an awesome flavor and I really enjoyed it. Inside had a nice ambience and overall vibe. Place is big, and it was a Wednesday night, so half of the restaurant (separated by a wall) was empty, rest was about 60% full. Looking forward to going again. read more

Fast order. We did pick up. The steak filet mignon fish was great. Asparagus was juicy. The octopus dish was also a good portion and refreshing. Sorry I had last minute to cover. The marinara and bread also was delicious. read more

The food was very good and the service too. Nice atmosphere although it is a big space so it might feel a little empty if there were not a lot of people there. read more

This is probably my first review on Yelp, EVER. This is how good the experience was! I ended up at the old location for a reservation at the new one. The owner happened to be there and drove me to where I needed to be. Where I was served an amazing glass of wine to start the evening. The focaccia on the table was soft (but not greasy) with great flavor. I had the risotto special, the portion was more than I could eat, but I wanted to eat it all. Perfectly cooked, seasoned, chicken was tender. Patio was great! Can't wait to try the other locations. read more

We called a zillion places on Saturday night for a place to dine in @ Oakbrook ... everything was booked due to limited seating during the pandemic. We made reservations for 7:30pm @ Rustico and arrived famished . I had the most delicious sangria which knocked me out rest of the evening in a good way, hubby got a beer. We ordered the seafood pasta, gnocchi with ribs and ragu , chicken Marsala which were all good. The deserts were cannoli, tiramisu and creme brûlée. tiramisu was ok, I would skip that next time. Now the seating ... outdoor seating turned out to be in 2 tents with heaters in the parking lot behind the restaurant... I don't believe the spacing of seats was 6 feet apart but that's judging by the eye. Our server Salvatore was very patient and polite. read more

Delicious tapas spot. Good mix of hot/cold, veg/meat options. Lots of seating inside. My favorite was the crab cake which was really lovely and had some arugula and sauce for garnish which was delicious. read more

It's been over six years since I last dined at Rustico - it was OK then, but I never returned. Recently, we drove by their newer location, then read the Yelp ratings and decided to go back. Things seem to have gotten better, so an uipdate is in order... VIBE: The newer space seems larger. It's bright and lively, with a warm feel. A little noisy, but we managed. SERVICE: Everyone was cordial and attentive. Our server checked in periodically to see if we needed anything. Plates came out in a timely manner, and our server delayed the tapas until we'd finished our salads, as requested. FOOD: Caesar salad was very good - fresh, tasty, and well-balanced. Gambas al ajillo was our favorite - the shrimp were fresh and cooked just right, the sauce was delicious. Rustico abondigas was also a hit: tender tasty meatballs in a robust tomato sauce. Scallops with mushrooms was good: scallops were not gritty and the sauce was hearty, though not as vivid as thay on the other dishes. All dishes had good flavor balance and nothing was overly salty. Excellent selection of wines well-suited to the menu. I'm glad we came back to check things out. Rustico will be on my short list of decent Oak Park restaurants, and I'll look forward to returning. read more

Great service by the whole Rustico team. We celebrated a graduation with a party of 30, and the food and service were top quality.

Just moved to Oak Park and finding my way around. Was happy to stumble upon this place on a walk. Fantastic short ribs and love the brussel sprouts. Nice spot in the neighborhood with good service! Will be back. read more

I have to say, as a guy who just moved from Wicker Park to Oak Park, that I was initially worried about leaving the friendly confines of great Chicago cuisine for "the suburbs." But Oak Park has been solid so far, and if Rustico is any indication, I'm going to be just fine here. My wife and I came in for dinner and tried the chicken paella, meatballs, and the mussels. I can't speak for the mussels but I thought the meatballs were excellent, and the paella was solid, if unspectacular. (It WAS a chicken paella, after all.) Friendly service, not too crowded, and a bill that made a former city guy happy to give the business. The food plus three cocktails, tax and tip came out to $98. For $50 a person, I thought this was a solid outing. Looking forward to future visits! read more

Came here a second time and it was great! Just split tapas with a few people and it was great. Sat outside socially distanced. I Hope they get patio heaters since it is starting to get chilly. Staff was friendly. Favorite dishes were scallops with mushrooms, patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, octopus read more

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Back in town to visit family and looking for a new place to try for dinner. Rustico looked good and was close so we decided to give them a try. We ordered online which was really easy. We were impressed with how quick our food was ready. We ordered the calamari and buffalo shrimp for appetizers. The calamari was fried well and we really liked the sauce that accompanied the calamari for dipping. There was enough calamari for all 5 of us to try a few. The buffalo shrimp, while tasty and a bit spicy, had a bit too much breading for our taste. Otherwise the shrimp was tasty and as I previously stated, had a nice bite to it. For entrees we ordered the Rustico paella, Costillas De Cordero (lamb chops), salmon, and Affumicata pizza. The lamb chops were grilled perfectly. There were 4 lamb chops which was more than enough. The lamb chops came with fingerling potatoes, spinach, oregano and garlic in a white wine sauce. This was excellent. The Rustico paella was filled with cod, shrimp, mussels, clams, chicken and pork. It was a bit spicy and felt like we were eating in Spain. The salmon was cooked perfectly and also had a very flavorful sauce. The pizza was also a hit. More than enough food and we all enjoyed our entrees. They have several other items on their menu that look great. Would love to get food from Rustico again. read more

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Very cute little spot. The outside patio was nice.. my husband and I had a nice little date here. The crab cake was AMAZING. our main dish was a little overcooked but we still enjoyed it. read more

Best tapas restaurant in Oak Park. Great food, great service and friendly atmosphere. Alan is usually our server, he's amazing!! read more

Rustico - Crab Cake - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

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Wish I could have given a better rating however our experience at Rústico was humiliating and frustrating. We go for a drink and give this new spot a try. Little did we know we had walked into chaos and a disorganized bar staff. As fate would have it, I'm fluent in Spanish. The staff, unaware of this fact, started a dialogue of their own. Their conversation resembled more of a radio drama about two baffled bartenders who had lost the secret recipe of our drinks. After about 10 minutes of watching this drama unfold We get our drinks - with the rude staff talking amongst each other how we wouldn't know the difference and to just serve the drinks to get us out. As a Latina and hearing such rude comments from other Latinos was very disheartening. But even then their behavior/comments/ professionalism wast definitely lacking. This review is mostly to highlight the terrible service. We can't review the food - the hostess was very polite- and we won't be going back. read more

Have to say we chose that place for last notice and wow we totally enjoyed the food so much before we left we talked about coming back there again.....their paella was very good and the salad too..... highly recommend them!!!! read more

We came here for a graduation dinner. Great food and mix of flavors. They were very busy, lots of graduation parties. Perhaps this was why one of the dishes was forgotten in the order. However, once recognized, they immediately prepared the order and removed it from the bill. Mistakes happen, especially on such a busy night. My qualification of a 5 star review includes how a mistake is addressed, and it was addressed well here. We will be back. read more

My wife and I went there recently for our wedding anniversary. It fell on a Monday and our options were limited. It was highly rated by Yelp so I figured I'd give it a try. Our reservations were for 7:30pm on a Monday and we arrived to a jam packed restaurant, which really surprised me. The focaccia bread to start was excellent. The apple salad had a nice flavor, but IMO it needed more dressing. I ordered the seafood Paella. I've only had this a few times before, but to me this was excellent. My only gripe was it was spicier than the other paellas I've had, and I have sensitivities to hot spices. Next time I would probably order the short rib gnocchis. Overall, its definitely a place we would go back to, but mostly for special occasions. With the Oak Park liquor tax, it gets very pricey if you want dinner and a couple of drinks. read more

Love this place. Found it thru yelp and everything that we ordered was delish. We were there on a Friday night and we were lucky to have found parking on the street. I did see a garage parking bit it's quite a walk. Ambiance has a cool , rustic vibe. Very laid back and romantic at the same time. We were given bread that tasted like pizza, yum yum. We ordered caprese as an appetizer, my colleague had the fish, i tried the meatball risotto, had the tiramisu and washed it all down with chardonnay. Portions were plenty. I couldn't finish my risotto. As mentioned, everything that we ordered was delicious; i wouldn't mind trying their other dishes next time. read more

Great food. Lunch was caprese salad and shard a pizza. Thin crust, arugula Parmesan and Italian thin sliced meat. Absolutely delicious and not over filling. Atmosphere was warm and cozy. Loved it read more

We went for a late lunch but ordered off the dinner menu. They offer warm breads and olive oil. We had crab cake with the accompanying salad, and spaghetti & meatballs. We thought spaghetti sauce was a little spicy. Meatballs were nice & moist. Overall a good restaurant and pricing. Given a complimentary birthday desert. They have a nice atmosphere. Excellent service. On street parking. read more

Rustico - Bread Pudding & gelato - Italian Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

We've placed carry out orders at Rustico twice. The first order we got the fettuccine Di Mare and the second order we purchased the Pollo Panini which was excellent. If you're looking for a great dinning experience in Oak Park definitely stop by this Mediterranean fusion restaurant on Lake Street it is a wonderful. read more

Service was phenomenal Oscar and Pedro made my sister's birthday dinner so special. The food was delicious, we didn't feel rushed out or anything. We will definitely be back soon! Thank you read more

Best service! Delicious food! Cozy atmosphere! Always coming back to this restaurant excited and never left disappointed One of my favorite places read more

Went there Sunday Eve for dinner on Easter. Food and service was good. Big restaurant and no music. I asked the server about it and he said he would ask the manager. he came back to the table several times after i asked him and never mentioned it. Makes no sense. read more