Rustic Root - Solana Beach, California

Abigail R.

Rustic Root is a stylish spot with a great atmosphere and excellent service. We stopped by for brunch and had a fantastic experience. I ordered the smash burger, my husband had the biscuits and gravy, and my friend got the chicken and waffles—everything was delicious. Our cocktails were also top-notch.

Despite not having a reservation, the wait was only about 20 minutes, and there was plenty of parking, which was a big plus. The manager even stopped by to check in and see if we needed anything, which was a nice touch.

Overall, we had a great time and will definitely return next time we're in town!

Eleana M.

I had a great brunch at Rustic Root in Solana Beach with the gals! The restaurant is spacious, from the indoor dining area to the outdoor space, and we were lucky to have a table at the back, perfect for our big group of 20!

The food and beverages were appetizing, beautifully presented, and offered a lot of variety. I only got to try the burger with yummy fries, but there’s so much more on the menu that I’d love to try next time!

The service was fantastic, the staff was super attentive, always checking in to see if we needed anything. The only funny part was that the bathroom is outside, but overall, the place was worth it for us! Definitely a nice spot to check out for brunch.

Joe P.

Great new Hotspot. The locals are here. Get here before it's discovered by the masses. We had the entire happy hour menu, so you don't have to. Great food and atmosphere.

Amy

Excellent and friendly service from the manager, our server Hannah, and all of the additional servers. Great happy hour specials on drinks. Draft beers were half off and $8 wine. We tried the cornbread , meatballs, and pork belly starters, all were tasty and the cornbread was the favorite . The smash burger and chicken sandwich were very good as well. It was a friendly and lively atmosphere. We are looking forward to going again, when the weather is nice and we can sit on their patio.

Eric S.

Menu has something for everyone - and every dish was spectacular. Particularly loved appetizer biscuits (our guest from Texas couldn’t get enough of them)… and my steak tips. Energy of the restaurant was lively but not loud - and service was present without pressing…. This place gets the balance right. Also do the table side sundae bar - worth the laugh at meals end. Oh - and banana pudding definitely fits in.

Overall. A new favorite place. We will be back.

Jason C.

If was amazing. Went on the 4th day of opening. The chicken pot was some of the best I have ever had in my life.

Amanda C.

I've been watching them build this place for awhile and I am so excited it is finally here - it will quickly become a Solana Beach staple! Everything was memorable -- from the customer service, to the drinks, to the incredible food, I can't wait to come back. A couple must haves - cornbread, crab cakes & Lobster Pappardelle. Rumor has it they have a great happy hour - I need to look into this more, but regardless I will be back soon!

Enrique J.

Rustic Root is a new casual dining restaurant that, while showing promise in some areas, needs to address some significant issues with menu accuracy and customer service. The atmosphere was lively, bordering on loud, but overall a pleasant enough environment.
I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie, which the menu stated came with a salad. The pot pie itself was decent. The crust was hot and flaky, and the filling was creamy and comforting. However, when I asked our server about the included salad, she informed me that it had been substituted for the mashed potatoes, which I had ordered and paid an extra $4 for. This was not stated anywhere on the menu.
When I pointed out the menu discrepancy, the server checked with Chef, who refused to provide the salad as advertised. This was incredibly disappointing. It felt disrespectful and as though Chef was trying to get away with not honoring their menu. It's especially frustrating since I had already paid extra for the mashed potatoes. It's understandable that new restaurants experience growing pains, but refusing to provide what's advertised on the menu is unacceptable.
The chicken pot pie cost $22, and with the additional $4 for the mashed potatoes, the total price felt a bit steep considering the missing salad and the chef's dismissive attitude. This is clearly not about price, but chef's inability to take care of a friendly, supportive neighbor.
While the food itself was generally good, the way Chef handled a simple issue significantly impacted my dining experience. I would be hesitant to recommend Rustic Root until they address the menu inaccuracies and improve their customer service. It's a shame, because the potential is there, but Chef needs to prioritize honesty and customer satisfaction. I would consider returning in the future to see if they've improved, but for now, I can only give them a generous 3 out of 5 stars, mostly because wait staff was friendly and well trained.