Rustico Ristorante — Restaurant in Telluride

We held our son and daughter-in-law’s rehearsal dinner at Rustico. It was a large event with 65 guests, so we had an entire room reserved for the night. It was perfectly appointed, had an ideal atmosphere, and was complete with its own bar. The location of the room made the party feel very private and as if we “owned” the whole restaurant. From start (all collaborations prior to the dinner with amazing Carmela) to finish (continued communication and thoughtful follow-ups after the celebration), and everything in between (fine Italian food, well-paired wines, excellent service, perfect room arrangement, accommodation of all needs including decoration assistance and creative menu graphics), it was an excellent and very pleasant experience. The staff was warm, enthusiastic and hard-working. The meal - small pizza slices for passed appetizers, simple salad, fresh focaccia, three entree choices, and tiramisu - was delicious. Many of our guests said the food was the best they’ve had at such an event. The salmon, especially, got rave reviews. It’s difficult to assess the value of everything related to the event because just being in Telluride assumes a premium. But we felt Rustico could not have been a better choice for our very important celebration. We highly recommend this fun, friendly, family-owned-and-run restaurant to anyone looking for the perfect place to hold a large event that is made to feel intimate. Mille...

The atmosphere and decor were very nice. It is very much an Italian mountain restaurant. With most high end Italian restaurants, your going to be paying upwards of $25 for a bowl of spaghetti. I did like that they threw in some grilled veggies but the noodles were a little too al dente for my taste. They accommodated my friend who asked for a traditional Italian dish which was very nice of them. On their menu it states that food can take up to an hour so be prepared to wait. The bread was AMAZING! I ordered a dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives. The olives did not seem fresh, most likely jarred bought. The martini also had a good amount of vermouth which I didn’t like. I actually didn’t even finish the drink. My husband ended up getting an old fashion which was also terrible. We should’ve stuck to the wine list. I do not recommend the Caesar salad at all. It was extremely plain and definitely not worth the $14. Also, be careful of the up sell of arugula on a pizza. My husband got the roasted chicken pizza and the waiter asked if he wanted arugula on top. It ended up being an additional $5! On top of that, the roasted chicken pizza had almost zero flavor according to my husband and another person in our party.

In conclusion, I think that if you choose to go here for dinner. I would stick to the pasta dishes, only have wine, and don’t fall for any up selling...

Don't waste your $$. We went here for my birthday and were very disappointed. For $120 for two before tip (two glasses of wine, salad, two entrees, shared dessert) I expect a lot more. Our server talked me into a $16 glass of wine that paired terribly with my meal. The tiramisu was super creamy (it should be airy). The salad was nothing but greens with bitter dressing and a dollop of cheese - I ate only a few bites and our server didnt bother to ask if I liked it. Even worse, she had asked if we wanted salad or soup as if it was included with our meal (it's not - $10/pp) and then when we questioned this at the end she removed only one of the salads. The pasta was indeed fresh and very good, but nothing unique. It's the only reason they get 2 stars, as it was about the only thing we enjoyed. The ambience, which was described as "romantic", felt more like an old restaurant that didn't care to update their tables or dinnerware. All of this could have been excused if they charged 1/2 the price, which would have felt reasonable. I've had much more enjoyable meals at Olive Garden for far less money. We will definitely...