Rustico Tapas & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Rockingham

Ok team... Rustico is definetly on the right track but lets iron out some creases. Every disk is way too sweet! Honey on the goats cheese, honey and lime on the chorizo, octopus escabeche sweet and sour way overpowering! Spanish tapas needs to be moorish like I want to eat five plates of the same thing and still have room for the rest of the menu lol. Sweet corn croquets had like four pieces of sweet corn in them Seriously! Now i know this seems like a harsh review but work with me here...

Fried goats cheese - add truffle to the mix to cut the fat a little then if you have to use honey just a drizzle is more than enough infuse it with a little thyme... try incorporating smoked baby leeks into the dish trust me goats cheese and smoked leek are best mates.

Sweet corn croquets - if the base is going to be potato then lets get some sweet corn in there... make a sweet corn puree to fold through the potato best way to intensify the sweet corn flavour is when you make the puree cut the corn kernels off then use the back of the knife to scrape the cob to release the corn juice into the pan it's the most intense corn flavour especially once reduced down. Make the corn puree as usual I'm sure that's not complicated. Now dude take the dish to the next level and smoe the potatoes, add charred corn for texture and boom make the croquets! Serve with either the aioli or something with a warm spice make it interesting lol.

Octopus grabeche - Ok whatever happened to chargrilled occy with romesco sauce??? BOOM! Don't pickle octopus lol it tastes too sweet and sour especially when you add fried onions and peppers... think, charred octopus, sweet but charred smokey romesco, maybe a little fried black pudding??? savoury, smokey, sweet...

Chorizo - lets get a better quality one... the fat doesn't render properly on this one so lets upgrade... keep it simple and no sweet honey lime stuff lol just beautiful simple well cooked moorish chorizo...

Finally the prawns - guacamole should be fresh not brown, do the prawns have to be tempura in a spanish resturant? ever tried sous vide prawn??? better flavour profile...

Scallops - Please get more colour on them, lets do a cauliflower puree and shaved fennel salad... fennel never pures too well it browns too much unless you use molecular cheffing techniques too complicated to explain with everything else here lol. Also no need for scallops in their shell just do them pan seared and big! buy the big scallops! Flavours think, roasted sweet potato or butternut, fresh fennel lemon a little sugar dissolved with pernoid and dill olive oil as a dressing... green apple... think big flavour...

Now i know its a lot and may seem like a critics rant but its only because Rustico could be more... also think of a dish with smoked yoghurt and lamb ribs... trust me match made in...

This was my first tapas eating experience so I was excited to try the pre set degustation meal as part of our group deal. The establishment was well located, with ocean views, seating inside and outside and also alfresco. The layout was spacious and there was a good flow for patrons and staff. The decor was pleasant, atmosphere warm and buzzy and a good view of the kitchen operations for those who are interested. The staff was friendly and very attentative, they moved politely and swiftly and non intrusive. Customer focus was excellent here. The menu was well thought out and the wait times between dishes were timed perfectly, a nice transition from one dish to the next...a palette cleanser would've a nice addition as an after thought. Our dishes were presented at a very high level and the execution and taste of each dish was phenomenal. My intial thought of the portion size worried me as Im a traditional plate eater but as each dish passed, I was surprisingly content and satisfied by the end of the meal. The seafood dish cooked perfectly, mushrooms so velvety and rich in its wine sauce, the salad was fresh and vibrant, not too overpowering, the meat dishes were tender, mouthwatering and full of flavour. The moorish lamb being my highlight dish. The price I thought didn't justify the portion size, however, it did justify the overall experience and would definitely be a place I'd frequent every couple of months. Its not for a family on a budget but it is for young professionals, couples , groups. My next visit I would love to try the Paella for 4 at $65, thats $16.25 a head and seems like a great deal to me. Overall...Im glad I experienced my first tapas meal at Rustico, I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it and would highly recommend it to all of my family and friends. Its a little rich for my blood to visit on a weekly basis but somewhere special with that special someone, I couldn't think of better place. Well done...

Went tonight , came early asked to wait outside on footpath tables , no problem but every table sticky and dirty went to bathroom took paper towels wiped down our table . Told waitress tables outside needed wiping , wiped every table except the young couple with the dirtiest table , I asked them did someone wipe your table they said nope 👎 and left they were kind of disappointed . No toloet paper no paper towels in bathrooms no hand dryers . Food was excellent I must say although we ordered season veges to go with our pork belly and it never came after asking multiple times can we please have our veges soon .waitress then informs us she never placed our order . Service was very slow lucky waitress was really lovely made up for bad service . Also lucky food was nice . Need some music outside while you wait on footpath tables . Food excellent but the small details like dirty tables and lake of paper in bathrooms spoil it . Attention to details like these would make this place...