Allena C.

Thinking about where to go for a quick lunch and came across Rusty Ladle. We were in the neighborhood and found a parking spot across the street around noon on a weekday. We sat in their parklet since it was a nice, sunny day. We grabbed a few menus and when we were ready to order, we went inside to the cashier, where you order and pay. They will serve you the order when it's ready. Also inside, they have barstools all the way down a long counter for plenty of seating. ***OUR PICKS*** CUP OF BODEGA BAY STYLE CLAM CHOWDER ~ GF Dairy Not too thick, not too thin, just right. Ask for Bacon! East Coast Clam, Leek, Cream, Red Potato, Celery, Fennel & Onion. I didn't try this. Our friend had it and said it was good, but not the best. She didn't want bacon. Not sure if it would have changed the soup to amaaaazing? Decent soup, nonetheless. Perfect with a sandwich or by itself! They offer oyster crackers, too. 4/5 SCHMELTY ~ Inside out Grilled Cheese w/cheddar, mozzarella. A bit on the salty side with the crunchy cheese. Actually, I was expecting more of a crunch, but the melted cheese made it more chewy, especially when it cooled down. Only the melted cheese on the side was crunchy. Honestly, I'd rather have a regular grilled cheese sandwich with crispy bread. 3.5/5 LA MAGNIFICO ~ Schiacciata bread, mortadella, provolone, olive salad & truffle oil. This was a bit salty with the olive salad. Maybe it would go well with a lightly seasoned soup like chicken noodle soup. The bread was crispy/crunchy from toasting, which was the highlight of the sandwich. 3.5/5 I think if the menu had a pairing for a cup of soup and a 1/2 sandwich, I would have gotten something like that instead. I would have liked a sample rather than having to order both, especially when 3 of us weren't super hungry. It seems like the neighborhood kids like this spot. We saw a few families come here with toddlers. Glad they have a following!

Heather I.

Hubby has been wanting to take me to Rusty Ladle for a while since he knows that I love soups! We went Valentines morning and there was already a line forming. We ordered two grilled cheese and tomato bisque. We sat at the front as people started trickling in...soon, all the seats were taken! As we were waiting for our meal, the owner asked if we'd like to try a sample of some other soups - we tried the clam chowder. That was so kind of them! Our meals came and they were huge! The grilled cheese was on a different type of bread - the owner told me the name, but I've never heard of that type of bread before. It reminded me of a ciabatta/focaccia bread mixed together. I finished a little more than half of my sandwich. Soup was perfect for a cold winter day.

Pallavi P.

Came here after a hike along the Coastal Trail at the Sutro Baths and the sandwiches and soups hit the spot. You order at the register and sit at a table where they bring out your food. They also have indoor bar counter style seating if you prefer to be seated indoors. Service was prompt and courteous. We got the inside out cheese melt sandwiches and some clam chowder and tomato soup. The Schmelty sandwich was interesting with cheese inside and out and paired perfectly with the tomato soup. It's quite a large portion! They also have a weekly rotation of soups. Overall, they have a decent set of soups and a few sandwich options if you're looking for a quick bite.

Mike L.

Oh, how I have longed for a restaurant like Rusty Ladle! As simple of a food as it may seem to be, few things are as comforting to eat as a delicious bowl of soup. Now, I'm not talking about a can of Progresso or Campbell's nor the likes of Panera Bread or Olive Garden (though, I do like their Zuppa Toscana). I mean a spot that actually specializes in soups, sort of like the soup joint in that one episode of Seinfeld (if you've seen it, you know it). And, lo and behold, not only did one finally came along...but it's on this side of SF! I just wish it didn't take me over six months to find out about them... Despite how they're located pretty far out in the Outer Sunset, I LOVE Rusty Ladle's location. Not only is it a perfect fit for the neighborhood (their parklet is so cute), but it's also super convenient, given how easy street parking is around here. As for their menu, it changes weekly, but will typically offer four or five different soups, including their signature Tomato Soup and Clam Chowder, a couple of sandwiches, and a hot dog. Fairly simple, but it's impressive how they have yet to repeat any of their featured soups and how at least one of them will always be vegetarian or vegan! Plus, they have so many interesting hot sauces to choose from! -- BODEGA BAY STYLE CLAM CHOWDER - Clams, Leeks, Cream, Red Potato, Celery, Onions, and Bacon...$10.50 (Bowl) Not quite what I expected, but still pretty good! Maybe I'm too used to New England clam chowders, but this was a little more "watery"/thin than I would've expected. Still, it was quite flavorful and I liked how it had a generous amount of clams, veggies, and bacon in it. -- SCHMELTY - Inside Out Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Cheddar and Mozz...$9.75 Just as delicious as it looks! Every time I've had this, it's been so soft and gooey on the inside while the outside is covered with a crispy layer of cheese. I always add the Turkey Chorizo (+$3.50) for some meatiness and usually their kimchi ($1.75) to cut the richness. -- LA MAGNIFICA - Schiacciata Bread, Mortadella, Provolone, Olive Salad, and Truffle Oil Decent (it's similar to a muffaletta), but nowhere near as good as the Schmelty. While I liked how the olive salad wasn't too assertive, as well as the combination of the mortadella and cheese, I wish this had a bit of mayo and/or mustard to add some moisture. -- ASH RESTEH (PERSIAN MINESTRONE) - Reshteh Roasted Noodle, Spinach, Koshk, Garbanzo, Lompoc Pinquito Beans, Red Lentil, Onions, Parsley, Cilantro, Dill, Mint Easy to see how the similarity to minestrone, but I actually thought this was better, as it has a heartier and more savory flavor to it. What's more, the mix of vegetables were so good, it made this easy to forget there isn't any meat in this. The noodles were a little too soft, though. -- SOPA de FIDEO con BOLOGNESE - Beef, Pork, Turkey, Fideo Noodle, Tomato, Gochujang, Vegan Parm, Carrot, Onion, Celery, and Mushroom As with the chowder, the consistency of this one also felt a little on the thin side, but I thought this was still pretty solid overall. The mix of meats in this was great and I really liked how they didn't skimp on the mushrooms and noodles. -- TURKEY SAUSAGE GUMBO - Turkey, Andouille Sausage, Smoked Bratwurst, Onion, Celery, and Green Pepper Not quite as good as I had hope for, but still not too shabby. Although the turkey was shredded (hard to really taste it), I thought the chunks of andouille and bratwurst had a nice juiciness to them. I just wish the soup itself had a bit more spice/kick to it. -- PSCCCG (KINDA LIKE A CALDO VERDE) - Potato, Spanish Chorizo, Chicken, Collard Greens, and Onions Quite possibly my favorite one I've tried so far. The potatoes were so soft, which also thickened the soup, and the bit of chorizo in this were so good! Add in the collard greens and chicken and this made for such a delicious meal on a chilly night. As far as service goes, it started off pretty rough the first time we came here. After going over the menu, we asked the girl at the register what the difference in size was between a cup and a bowl. Seemingly, this must have annoyed her because she responded by rolling her eyes and gesturing towards the wall behind her without saying a word, as if it was obvious what among the shelves of dishes, containers, and boxes we were supposed to look at. Thankfully, though, the rest of the workers have all been really friendly and service has been great each time after that (not so coincidentally, I also haven't seen her since). Even if they weren't the only spot I know of that specializes in soups, it's inevitable that I'll be back to Rusty Ladle again and again. Their Schmelty alone is reason enough, but I could never say no to trying more of their unique offerings and/or to satiate my love of soup. Not to mention the fact that I need to make sure Rusty Ladle sticks around!

Lesly M.

Definitely was fun to do a soup flight! Taste of each was ok to us. Expected a lot more flavor and hotter temperature. Each soup needed a little more flavor and heat. Kind of bland and barely warm. Shmelty was tasty, had good bread choice. Place is neat, small but bar seating is cute. Had a cute bathroom decor too. Service is kind and welcoming!

Lucy L.

Deliciously made food with quality ingredients in an inviting, casual & relaxing atmosphere with an inside counter seating and a lovely outdoor covered dining patio in front. Order at the counter and the staff brings you your meal. You bus your own table. Water is self-serve. We enjoyed a couple of sandwiches and soups. The Magnifica sandwich is mortadella, provolone & olives & truffle oil on soft sciacciata bread. Very good. The Schmelty sandwich is an inside-out grilled cheese with cheddar & mozzarella. Also very good and we had a small cup of tomato soup that was perfect for dipping this cheese sandwich into. We also had a bowl of clam chowder that had a lot of clams and nice crispy bits of bacon in it. Everything was tasty and we just wished the sandwiches each had a little more filling. Prices are reasonable. This is a great neighborhood place worth coming back to again and again.

Joyce L.

A cozy little soup shop with friendly service and a choice of a takeout window or bar for dining in. I appreciate the size options (cup, bowl, quart) so there's a size for every craving. There's also vegan and gluten free options for those who need it. I was pleased there were two vegan soup options on the day I stopped in: 1) tomato; 2) mapo tofu. I was able to taste samples of both. I had thought I'd want the tomato but after sampling them, mapo tofu was the heartier option. It was topped with rice and we even got some homemade oyster crackers. If I lived nearby, I'd definitely be a regular!

Eileen G.

Food was good, got the regular schmelty and one with chorizo. I recommend the regular one. Tomato soup was solid. Vegan friendly and dog friendly with patio outside. My friend got the vegan hot dog but unfortunately they ran out of kimchi but he still said it was pretty good. I think I would come back for just the soup, the cheese became too much after a couple bites.

Nancy D.

The staff here is so friendly and our food came out so yummy and hot. We got the Bodega Bay chowder which was amazing and had fresh clams. The schmelty was also soo good and the cheese crust was melty gooey and had crisp ends. I love the outdoor seating and how close it is to the beach.

Jade C.

This place is so cute! I'm a huge soup connoisseur so this hit in all the right ways. I took a quick Lyft here after walking several miles in Golden Gate Park since I saw it on Yelp first thing in the morning. They have a variety of soups, I had the clam chowder in the restaurant and took the others to go for my husband. Their version of the grilled cheese is delicious but not too much cheese on the inside. I think mine was different than the others in the photos so we'll have to come back to try again Their bud cheladas are $3 so that's a reason in and of itself to come. Service is good. It's an order at the cash register then take a seat at the bar. I think it would function WAY better to have service at your own seat, because who only Wants one beer? You'd have to order and pay then to the cash register again for any more drinks or additional food.

Jim A.

We ended up stopping for lunch. I love the signage outside that simply says SOUP. I also love the vibe inside with no tables and only a counter to sit at which you share with people. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Now as to the food. I got a bowl of the clam chowder and shared a grilled cheese sandwich. The sandwich is large enough to split. The food was good not great. I was hoping for better. I did love the vibe of the restaurant and if you are in the area it is probably worthwhile stopping by.

Sally Y.

Took a stroll on a windy foggy day on Ocean Beach aka Sunset Dunes and needed some warmth, so we walked about 6 blocks east on Lawton Street to land at the penny-laden counter at Rusty Ladle, Their Bodega Bay clam chowder was chockful of goodness but is less heavy than the New England ones. The Schmelty is an out -of-this-world grilled double cheese sandwich - my daughter had it with 1/2 cup tomato soup, which kept her nice and toasty. Real flowers in vases line the counter, a nice touch to this friendly place w/ very reasonably priced foods. The bathroom is also very clean & more seated tables are available outside.

Ed U.

I never considered myself a "soup sycophant" until I read the SF Chronicle article about this spot last April and recognized I might be one. Whether it's menudo or pozole, ramen or pho, bisque or gazpacho, yes, I naturally gravitate toward soups. Color me a sycophant because I ventured out on the N-Judah to the way Outer Sunset to try it. It's on the same block as Andytown and next to an art gallery owned by chef John Lindsey who owns this place. I arrived around 2PM thinking I might miss their lunch rush. All the outdoor picnic tables were occupied, but they looked more like neighborhood residents than actual customers. The counter inside was empty, so I perused their brief menu - four soups and two sandwiches. Normally I'm a clam chowder guy, but it was the classic combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese that drew me in. Probably inspired by the toddlers from the school next door, I felt a need for a school lunch and ordered the $9.75 Schmelty described as an inside out grilled cheese sandwich. Indeed I saw the staffer load up my sammie onto a press with cheddar and mozzarella on both sides of the bread (Photo 8). It was a bit much for me, but it was satisfying and nostalgic. For $4, I got the half-cup of Tomato Soup drizzled with their housemade basil cream (Photo 7). That was just the chaser I needed for all that cheese because it was thick, warm, and just enough. I'd like to come back and try the other soups. They even offer sake and snickerdoodles. Wouldn't that make for a well-balanced meal? OK, maybe not. FOOD - 4 stars...the soup was aces, the grilled cheese was cheesy for sure AMBIANCE - 4 stars...old school diner vibe fits the neighborhood SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly crew TOTAL - 4 stars...yes, I am a soup sycophant...do I need help? RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places l've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2El8elJ