La Rustica — Restaurant in Oak Point

We live in Oak Point. Dining choices are very limited (except fast food). So we were super excited to see this little Italian Bistro go in just down the street from us in a little strip of shops - made sure we were there for opening day. Our observations/first impression:

Super attentive and friendly staff. There were a lot of staff, still getting a feel for the place themselves it seemed, attentive and just the right amount of visits, just when we needed them. Wish I remembered my waitress’ name, a 19 yo seasonal college student, she really made the dining experience pleasant by being genuinely helpful, kind, efficient but not hurried.

The atmosphere is what I might call casual fancy. It’s a nice place. You can dress up if you want to take your special someone out on a date (like us); you can come in casual if it fits your mood and you’ll be just fine. Not a huge place, but somehow it seemed privacy for personal conversation was part of the vibe - much appreciated. Comfortable hangout spot.

The food was very good, but a few things could be better. Salmon for her was cooked just right - but could have been seasoned and presented better with a side … somewhat plain for the almost $30 price. My chicken Marsala was also good - but a little short on the mushrooms and Marsala sauce. I especially liked the salad appetizer with house made maple walnuts, plenty of cranberries and just the right amount of dressing. The Tiramisu desert at the end came out cold and still mostly frozen … not the way it is meant to be.

Full bar, generous wine menu - tasty Manhattans for us both and a smooth Cab for her with dinner.

I wish this place all the best. I sincerely hope it becomes a “thing” here in Oak Point - a simple, fun gathering place for the community. I give extra latitude for some slips in the food execution because they’re still new and getting their feet on the ground. Looking forward to making this a habit. Overall, well done, especially the service, on our first day visit! Buon Appetito!

Update 1: I noticed someone else posted a picture of their salmon in which my concerns about uninspiring presentation were addressed. I posted a picture of our salmon as context for the other's photo which notes the improvement. Also, I mentioned the same presentation issue with the Chicken Marsala, which you can see in the background of the photo below. Another diner's photo shows their Chicken Marsala and that La Rustica has adjusted and made this dish as I'd expect as well - it looks delicious. Which just confirms - they are listening, adjusting and getting better as they move along ... (!!) I know this is going to...

La Rustica Italiano is cozy with an upscale atmosphere and even better..is it close! It's clear they're still ironing out some kinks, that is to be expected as their concept is novel to our area as well as being brand new but I have no doubt this place will thrive.

The food is good—each dish we tried had authentic flavors and made with fresh ingredients. From classic pasta dishes to the kids menu; everything was beautifully presented, fresh and served well. The space is small but, nice! Did not feel small, at all. The bar space was welcoming and full of laughter. They had TVs going, as well. Nice wine menu!

The service was friendly and attentive, it was evident they were still finding their rhythm (again, expected). It was a smart move to have reservations, solely for the first couple of weeks to be able to iron out their flow and ensure future success. Kudos!

A couple of things to note for families, kids' meals don't include drinks or sides—they're sold separately. It will end up being $20/kid if you add a side and drink. Also, ordering butter noodles with meatballs incurs an upcharge for meatballs, unlike spaghetti and meatballs which you can request without sauce and save $4. Lastly, it was a bit surprising that bread isn't served with your order or any dish. They do have bruschetta you can order, though. Salt and pepper is not on the table, either and no kids menus printed.

In case it is helpful; we had the calamari, chicken parmesan, lobster del mar, kids butter noodles with meat balls, kids spaghetti and meat balls and 2 sodas. The total was $100.

We dined in for a birthday and they comped a desert which was very sweet of them and appreciated.

With the above noted, in all honesty; it won't be a family spot for us with younger kids (they need bread with their Italian meals and a menu/coloring to distract them) but, I do for-see La Rustica Italiano becoming a go-to spot for romantic evenings close to home or, a girls/men's night out for a drink. The atmosphere, seating and menu is perfect for a cozy date night.

We look forward to returning and watching this restaurant flourish. Excited to have you all here and I hope this review helps inform others/ gets more people in the door with clear expectations...

Dinner for 3 at 4:30 pm. Saturday May 3, 2025. What an amazing discovery right in my own back yard (so to speak). La Rustica is a hidden gem of an Italian restaurant. Once we entered we were back in San Francisco on the water where all the 5 star restaurants can be found. I celebrated my 75th birthday there with my family. Did not know what to expect, to our delight everything was prepared with care and love. Plates were dressed and presented like they were serving royalty. Let's start with the Lobster Ravioli in Vodka sauce. I am not a fan of Vodka sauce. I asked for a sample and to my delight it was just the right blend of spices and a creamy light textured concoction that melts in your mouth. My description is WOW! what a sauce. So I ordered the Lobster Ravioli. Hubby has the Shrimp Scampi, it had just the right mixture of tang and butter with garlic. Another winner, our daughter ate the last of his left overs that evening and raced about it. Our Daughter ordered the Chicken Picatta, she chose a bed of wilted Spanish instead of pasta. Again the dish was cooked to protection. We ordered the Calamari and Bruschetta for the table and they were both amazing as well. The Calamari was lightly coated and fried served with two sauces. The Bruschetta was a surprise served on light as air toasted bread. Our desert was a HAPPY BIRTHDAY card signed by the staff and a Cannoli yet another delight. We enjoyed everything, had such a great time we booked reservations for Sunday Brunch on Mother's Day. Give them a try you won't be sorry or just drop by for a drink they have loads of speciality drinks. FIVE STAR all the way. Thanks...