Rustico — Restaurant in Wakefield

Find it hard to write a bad review, and rarely do, but to be honest it truly was needed. Perhaps by reading it, it can be considered to make future diners experiences better than ours. It is not the first time we have been there, but it sadly will be the last. We reserved a table for 8pm. We had taken our friends there for the first time. I like to give places a couple of go's just to make sure we review it fairly. The first time we went here we took my parents. I found it strange that I was not immediately offered, as many italians do, ciabatta bread together with an olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip, We were just given a small portion of bread and hard butter. The olive oil is a big thing in Italy and part of the 'Italian' experience, especially as a complimentary appetiser. The rest of the meal was okay and the waitor appeasing, although did stick around too long telling jokes whilst trying to eat meal. This time though it truly was awful. We visited this weekend, we waited a short time and said that our table had been booked. The owner greeted us and we saw that there was a table free in the corner with a reserved ticket. Thinking that could be for us, and would be a lovely place to sit, we were then, when we asked, abruptly told we couldn't sit there as it was reserved for 'friends'. The owner then left and another table was quickly tidied up for us right by the draft of the door. A present of a disinfectant bottle was left too!? We were not happy with the way the owner had handled it, even if we weren't able to sit at the nice table at the back. Upon being seated, no jacket was taken to place on my chair, and considered pricing for this restaurant, it was the least and most polite thing to offer women, and is also a big thing in Italy. it was rude and bordering on lazy. We didn't have any condiments and had to ask. During this second visit we had to again ask for balsamic vinegar and olive oil to accompany the bread. We weren't aware this was not a one off faux pas. It was clearly omitted from the training - 'How to run an Italian restaurant!' manual. It's a centuries old traditional custom when you have dinner. I asked the waitor and was brought out the vinegar and oil in their actual bottles. I then explained I would like them together in a pot, I then got brought two separate dishes with them in. I ended up making it myself. The olive oils that are also given were in the tinest pot and certainly not enough for four people. We felt let down. We were looking forward to showing our friends an italian restaurant but felt cheated. We didn't have a designated waitor. We felt we were on a conveyor belt with the waiting staff, who all of them, including the owner were very vague, disinterested and on the whole, rude. The worst part was seeing the nice table away from the draft, conveniently placed by the bar had been left unoccupied for a whole hour. When they're 'friends' arrived there were two! There were plenty of two person tables. I am sorry I won't be returning. In the hope you retain and attract clientele in future and for repeat bookings, then please take these comments on board. A course in hospitality would be on the cards, and this is specifically aimed at the more senior staff. The juniors tried there bests, but with the 'experienced' giving a poor example how an earth can they learn to be good italian waitors! Shocking. This is a fair and balanced review of the restaurant. I've dined in other Italians and experienced top class service without a single michelin star, they just took pride and loved their business and their customers, just as it should be. It's not about the price, although I wouldn't of paid above £5.00 for a meal here! It's the principle. I expected more and was left disappointed. We were not asked if we had a good meal. We were asked, upon leaving, were we okay with the table!? It had the tone of dismissive sarcasm in it. Not...

Me and my partner where sat promptly at a table by the window, this was great however there was old bench style seating as well which limited space around your seat forcing you into the tables edge, it just seems odd to sit on a seat when a bench is literally behind you. The food was good but old fashioned, looking at the clientele this makes sense. Starters where the breaded mozzerlla and the ribs, both tasted great and portions where huge. Both me and my partner had pizzas both tasted great but the bases was really soggy. I would of given this place 5 stars however the service was the strangest at any restaurant I have ever been to. As soon as we sat down our waiter literally said drinks not in a tone that made it sound like a question staring intimdatingly at us. When ordering our food a man came with an order pad and didn't ask if we would like to order but just stood their with the order pad staring at us, it genuinely reminded be of a creepy part in a horror film. The upside was the young waiting staff where really friendly but shouldn't follow the lead of the older chaps. Also if you're young get ready to feel judged! The people opposite us whom where clearly regulars where treated completely differently to us and seemed to have a friendly chat with the older staff. They revived celebration chocolates with their receipt etc etc but bloodie loved staring at me and my partner and talking behind their hand. I mean we both are gorgeous but guys just ask for a picture. I wouldn't of mentioned this usually but these where the people whom where getting better treatment from staff if this is the atmosphere they want to create then the young people won't be returning quickly. I will say it was cheap

1x breaded mozzerlla 1x ribs 2x pizzas 1x glass of merlot 2x cokes All...

Feb 2025 update. Still excellent value for money and great tasting.

First time dining here today. We didn't book a table and came here around 2.30pm on a Sunday. Menu is very value for money and I got a little confused with the bill if i'm honest. We got seated straight away, and from here to getting served the service was slow. We could see they were busy and waited patiently. When we caught the attention of the staff twice... They said they'll get someone to take our order. We ordered one set lunch... I did ask for it with the pizza and prawn cocktail combo, a carbonara from the lunch menu, mussels and the over from the specials... The reason being this combo worked out the cheapest... Never the less the end bill was very cheap! Carbonara... Very good! Salami pizza very good, they use a high quality salami which you can definitely taste the difference. Prawn cocktail, again very good. Mussels, cooked nicely. Liver, I'm not sure what I expected... I expected pan fried liver served with veg...I got exactly that... But I had a sauce that came on top which I didnt expect... My fault for not asking in detail... But this is why it's a 4* and not a 5* review. Whilst we had our meal we were checked on a few times. Overall a excellent value for money restaurant. I would come back and I...