Rustic Root — Restaurant in Town of Oyster Bay

I really wanted to love Rustic Root — but overall, it missed the mark for me.

I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law on Long Island, and we landed on Rustic Root based on his recommendation. It’s tucked into a strip mall (parking was easy, which is always a plus), and the interior is actually quite charming. I especially loved the rolling pin dividers — such a fun design touch. That said, the vibe felt a little off. The lighting was a bit too bright for a dinner setting, and since it wasn’t very busy, the space lacked energy.

Service was friendly and cordial, but definitely inconsistent. There were long stretches where we felt forgotten — not a huge issue when you're catching up with family, but still something you notice.

Now for the food, which was the biggest letdown of the evening.

We started with the Crispy Artichokes — lemon & Calabrian chili aioli — and these were easily the highlight of the meal. The breading was light and crisp, and the aioli had just the right kick. I’d absolutely order those again.

We also shared the Cornbread with maple syrup and Amagansett sea salt. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the South, so I’ve become a bit of a cornbread snob. This version leaned dry and cakey, and I didn’t get much maple flavor from the butter. Just okay.

My sister went with the Crispy Organic Chicken Milanese with burrata, cherry tomatoes, arugula, and aged balsamic. It looked good on paper but was underwhelming in execution. The chicken was a little dry, and while her expectations were shaped by another local favorite where she regularly orders this dish, she gave it a fair shot — and still wasn’t a fan.

Now, my entree — the Roasted Local Cauliflower — was a real miss. I genuinely love vegetables and am a big fan of well-executed vegetarian and vegan dishes, so I had high hopes. The dish came with mushrooms, farro, and a maple sherry reduction. The farro and mushrooms had solid flavor (though I’d have loved a better mix of mushrooms). But the cauliflower itself was a letdown. It arrived as one large chunk — maybe even a full head — and didn’t seem truly roasted. The interior was wet and soft, while the exterior had minimal browning, except for a burned patch. It honestly felt like it had been boiled and then tossed in the oven for a quick char. I would have preferred it cut into smaller florets for a proper roast — or even better, served as a cauliflower steak for more even cooking and better texture.

On the bright side, my cocktail — the Lust for Life (tequila, mezcal, passionfruit, lime, and a Tajín rim) — was another standout. Balanced, refreshing, and creative. I enjoyed it, though not quite enough to order a second round or return just for the drinks.

All in all, Rustic Root has style and potential, but the food and service didn’t quite come together. I really hoped this would be a hit — but for me,...

I visited Rustic Root with my girlfriend and her grandmother, hoping to grab a casual dinner without a reservation. We knew it might be a long shot, but decided to stop in anyway.

From the very first moment, the experience felt different—in the best way. As we approached, the staff held both doors open for us—not because they were coming or going, but simply because they were excited to welcome us. We didn’t fully realize it then, but that small gesture quietly set the tone for a night to remember.

We asked for a table for three, and the host, kindly and regretfully, let us know they were fully booked for the evening. But their disappointment didn’t feel scripted—it felt sincere. It was as if they truly wanted us to be enjoying a meal there—not for the sake of filling a table or collecting a check, but because they genuinely cared. It was honest and comforting. Somehow, we walked away feeling uplifted, even as we were being turned away.

As I went to grab the car to take us somewhere else, my girlfriend waved me down—they had found us a table. I re-parked and returned to those same doors, which were once again held open by the same wonderful staff, smiling like they were welcoming old friends. They didn’t have to go out of their way—but they wanted to.

Once seated, we were taken care of by Jessica V., who might be one of the warmest and most thoughtful servers we’ve ever encountered—if not the warmest and most thoughtful. She patiently answered every question, made thoughtful drink recommendations (even tailoring them for my girlfriend’s low-calorie diet), and handled our completely stripped-down order—just rigatoni and marinara—with total grace. She even complimented my girlfriend and made her grandmother feel incredibly special, calling her “the sweetest,” which honestly made all of us smile.

Toward the end, we needed to leave a bit quickly to make it to a work meeting, and Jessica was perfectly accommodating. Never rushed—just helpful and kind.

And as we left, the door-holding tradition continued. Every staff member treated our exit just as warmly as our entrance, like they were genuinely happy to see our hearts and stomachs full. One team member even gave me a high five. A high five—from a restaurant.

So here it is: they made us feel like they were rooting for us from the moment we walked in—even when they thought they couldn’t seat us. That kind of hospitality is rare. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that level of care from any staffed establishment—restaurant or otherwise—in my life.

If you’re looking for amazing food, wonderful people, and a place that makes you feel seen, valued, and welcomed, go to Rustic Root. They don’t just serve meals—they serve moments...

From my 12/27 visit. I normally dont travel in the 516 area code to seek out burgers, because, quite frankly, there are numerous top quality burgers in Suffolk County for me to visit.. Nothing against the 516, but there are only so many hours in a day😎 I was close by for a meeting..So, here I went..It's been recommended by so many here, It's on my " must try, if close, list", so I had to stop and try it.😎 Old Fashioned Very, very, good. One of the best I've had in a while. I ordered the Smoked, option. I thought it was a hint of cinnamon, but it was Cane sugar simple sugar, said the bartender. Old Forrester bourbon, as the house bourbon for this. Large square cube ice cube, which I enjoy.. Keeps the drink very cold. Must ask for cherries, you get 3, very good cherries, though Nice big Slice of orange You get Walnut bitters with the Smoked Old Fashioned. A unique taste, to me. The only other place I've seen a Smoked Old Fashioned was Spiros, in Rocky Point. If there are more Smoked Old Fashioneds out there, I am unaware..🤷‍♂️ If you opt for a traditional Old Fashioned, you get Annogusta bitters. Burger Whoaa. 👏👏👏👏👏👏 The meat is top quality. I asked what meat blend they used, was told- "steak, but made in-house" It was cooked to a perfect medium rare, which I enjoy. It, the meat blend, has the taste that I look for in a burger, a hint of saltiness, earthy, and unctuousness, (is that a word?lol) The bun was also top notch..I'm taking a guess that they make that "in house" as well.. Truffle fries were also very good. The right amout of saltiness, and perfect amount of truffle oil, which can be overwhelming, this certainly, was not.. Giovani, the bartender was great. Service was excellent..He's been here 8 months and enjoys it here..You can tell!! All in all, I would not hesitate to recommend the Old Fashioned, or the Burger.. Easily moved into my Top 5; which I am going to have a think about, with all the top tier burgers I've been having lately... Parking can get tight, as there are a few other popular establishments in the strip mall. The lot, and the restaurant, were busy at lunch time. Rustic...