Rustica Bistro — Restaurant in Davao City

Rustica Bistro in Davao City is often praised for its cozy ambiance and friendly service. However, my recent experience left much to be desired, particularly regarding the authenticity and freshness of the dishes served.

Bagnet Misrepresentation

I ordered the bagnet, anticipating the traditional Ilocano delicacy known for its crispy, airy skin and tender meat achieved through meticulous preparation. Unfortunately, what was served resembled ordinary fried pork, lacking the signature crunch and flavor profile of authentic bagnet. This deviation from the traditional preparation was disappointing and misleading.

Questionable Freshness of Tuna Belly

The fresh tuna belly, a dish I was eager to try, failed to meet expectations. The texture and taste suggested it was not freshly sourced, which is particularly disheartening in a city renowned for its access to quality seafood. In contrast, establishments like Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant have set a high standard for fresh and flavorful tuna dishes in Davao City. Tripadvisor

Overall Impression

While Rustica Bistro boasts a pleasant atmosphere and attentive staff, the culinary experience, especially concerning the bagnet and tuna belly, was underwhelming. For diners seeking authentic Filipino flavors and fresh seafood, there are other venues in Davao City that consistently deliver on these fronts.

I hope Rustica Bistro takes this feedback constructively to enhance the authenticity and quality of...

Food are expensive but it is worth the money! You can really sense that the one who's cooking the food is a chef! Love the design of their resto/café.

The only drawback is that since we were seated upstairs outdoor, the cars outside are very loud since their place is located in the highway and sometimes it is in-sync with their loud music. Not only loud, but sometimes it can be dusty too from the cars outside, though I can't see any dust, but feels like there are really dust coming from the outside cars.

I also notice that they only have few staff. Getting your bill or wrapping your bring home food takes time because when you're looking for a waiter, no one is there around you because maybe the waiter is getting the food down stairs (we're seated upstairs outdoor).

It might be better to add more staff/waiter since your food are expensive and I'm sure can cover the payroll overhead.

But overall, we will definitely go back here and refer their café to my...

Criminally delicious, this restaurant along Diversion Road near Robinsons Highlands in Buhangin is a respite from long drives and traffic jams. They serve the most basic of Filipino dishes but creates them in the best possible way that the outcome is a sumptous meal good for family and friends. The serving is always for sharing and is very generous.

Our order included the following: Shrimp Aglio Olio priced at P430, Salmon Parmesan Pasta priced at P525, Chicken Condon Bleu priced at P450, Short Ribs Beef Stew priced at P560, and Sticky Pork Steak priced at P599.

The ambiance of the place is garden-inspired with lots of floral and fern wallpapers and murals. The place has several long and small tables and can easily seat between 40 to 50 heads all at once. Though there were only three (3) crew visible from the counter, there were efficient in taking orders, cleaning after each customer and...