Rustica Earth Sea and Fire — Restaurant in Florida

I believe when most people hear Rustica, they might think of homestyle Italian or Rustic Hearty American style cuisine. However, instead this restaurant does a fantastic job of fusing Indian, Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese and other far east flavors together for a delightful experience. Many of the flavors were innovative, balanced, and effectively showcased the foods of the regions that inspired them.

We started with the pork dumplings. These are served on a Tonkatsu sauce which is a fantastic flavor if you enjoy tonkatsu Ramen. However the decision to serve them directly on so much sauce does leave part of the dumplings a tad soggy and we had 1 or 2 already falling apart. But the pan fried crust that was left out of the sauce was crunchy adding an excellent texture to the dish.

We also tried the ox tail spring rolls. These were large and I would almost describe them as egg rolls vice spring rolls. They were served on Romaine with a side of sweet and sour sauce. The flavor was outstanding! My only complaint was in two of the rolls, we found pieces of bone unexpectedly which was not as enjoyable of an experience.

For the entrees, I had the hangar steak and my wife had the seared scallop risotto.

The hangar steak was delicious with the outside wonderfully seared and crunchy and the inside flavorful. My only complaint with this dish is the consistency of the cook on the steak. My friend also ordered this dish at our table. She and I ordered medium rare. When the dish arrived, the majority of my steak was medium well while my friends was rare to black and blue in some places. Despite that, the teriyaki glaze, the duck fat potato, and vegetables that accompanied the dish were all fantastic!

My wife's Scallop Risotto was also very flavorful with the lobster definitely coming through. The risotto was seasoned well and had great taste with the scallops cooked perfectly. No complaints with this dish.

The drinks were also very tasty and the service was excellent.

Overall, Rustica is a delightful edition to the Silverleaf area. A few minor complaints on some of the dishes but I want to make it clear that it did not take away from the outstanding meal that we had or the wonderful service received. We will be coming back and look forward to trying many more innovative...

Rustica offers an enticing fusion of Hawaiian and Asian-inspired cuisine that promises an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment we walked in, the co-owner K greeted us with warmth and hospitality, setting the tone for exceptional service throughout the evening. K's attentive nature extended beyond mere courtesy; their genuine interest ensured we felt truly welcomed.

Our waitress, Megan, exuded friendliness and confidence despite being new, impressively knowledgeable about the menu and eager to ensure our satisfaction. Ethan and Jada, respectively handling food service and hosting duties, contributed to the seamless flow of our meal with their warmth and attentiveness. Ethan's menu suggestions were spot-on, enhancing our culinary adventure.

As a Baltimore native, I hold crab dishes to high standards, and Rustica's crab beignets exceeded expectations. Bursting with lump crab meat, they were a savory delight. The Japanese fried chicken appetizer was equally impressive, boasting tenderness and rich flavors that left us craving more.

The octopus taco, a creative blend of flavors with ceviche, avocado, and cucumber crunch, was a standout dish, perfectly executed. And the seared picanha elevated our dining experience with its succulence and depth of flavor.

Desserts at Rustica are not to be missed. The yuzu cheesecake was a revelation, while the panna cotta struck a perfect balance between sweet and tangy, leaving a lasting impression.

Beyond the culinary delights, what truly distinguishes Rustica is its unparalleled customer service. Every staff member, from co-owner to hostess, made us feel like honored guests, ensuring our comfort and satisfaction at every turn. Their genuine care and attention made us feel as if we were the only diners in the restaurant.

In sum, Rustica offers more than just a meal; it offers an exceptional dining experience where impeccable service and delectable cuisine converge to create lasting memories. I eagerly anticipate my next visit to savor their culinary delights and bask in their...

Not sure what’s worse: bland food or too many flavors forced on each other?! Well kudos to Chef Jean Marie Josselin, y’all won’t need to worry about that in his Rustica restaurant!!! We went to Rustica for the first time last night, and the food did not disappoint! It’s very hard to find a restaurant that actually delivers good food from start to finish but this place does. Dishes consist of Asian fusion with French influence. The chef was able to hone in familiar flavors but added his creative twist. Before even coming in, I was already salivating just from looking at the menu. So when we finally got to the restaurant boy did I order a lot! Everything was really good but our favs were the poached scallops ravioli and yellow beet salad with goat cheese fritters for appetizer… and for entrees: the tom yum broth in that roasted lobster tail ramen, sesame crusted mahi with gnocchi in truffle butter sauce, and the seared scallops risotto. We ordered all their desserts and again, all were delish. And I love that they make their own yummy ice cream. Y’all I’m not into cheesecake at all, but they have this yuzu cheesecake with berries sauce in a cup with no crust and I devoured the heck out of that! So I guess I’ve been converted lol. My husband never cared for peach cobbler, yet he couldn’t stop eating theirs. And my dad savored every bit of that chocolate Nutella creme brûlée with coffee ice cream. Out of curiosity, I googled Chef Josselin and he has done pretty impressive things in the culinary world so his restaurant is definitely a great addition to our local scene. Their location is more proximal to St. Johns area not too far from 9B/CR 210. Our server was Derrick and he did a great job. Kay was the chef’s wife and part owner, and she was very nice also. Yay to supporting local businesses so check them out and your taste buds...