Rustique in Blowing Rock - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Very Loud, ambiance was lacking, food was very bland and staff wasn't very personable or helpful. Would not return for our next trip to Blowing Rock, go to Twigs instead it was fabulous.

Above average for Blowing Rock area, great menu and prompt service. Salads were phenomenal, meat dishes lacked seasoning and tasting somewhat bland. It may just be a pet peeve of mine but the server should indicate in advance when a particular bottle of wine is sold out from the nightly list before getting my hopes up and ordering. Rustique is nicely decorated but lighting very bright which takes away from some of the ambiance. Overall a solid experience though for the price.

It was very bright. No ambiance at all. If you're looking for a romantic evening you might want to look elsewhere.

I have eaten here several times and generally the food is goo, but way overpriced. The last time I spent $30 for a couple of pieces of flounder. They were very good, but the vegetables that went with it were bland and tasteless. It was not worth the money. I would still recommend as they do have some great food, if you do not mind overspending for the value.

Great bread!!! The food was very good.Would definately go there again.

I had the small plate oysters with corn and bean salad and it was very good. My husband had the Meatballs and polenta which turned out to be one meatball. It was fair.... nothing to write home about. We were given 3 small pieces of bread when we ordered and when our meal arrive asked for more bread and was told it would be $3.00! Really!! The bread pudding we got for dessert was a generous portion and very good. Would probably not choose to return to this restaurant with all of the other great choices in the Blowing Rock/Boone area.

This is a wonderful little place! Service was excellent. They have an extensive wine list! We were served delicious, warm, crusty bread with a tasty herb butter right away. We ordered the filet, which was tender, flavorful and cooked perfectly, served with the best potato cake I've ever had and grilled asparagus. We were too full for dessert! Will be back!

Overpriced. Overpromoted. I had the "you can't go wrong with that" short rib pot pie. Crust was burnt. Pie had a greasy taste. My water tasted like it had a dash of chlorine added. $7.50 to split a meal too much. Really disappointed. Wife and daughter split the "shrimp and grits". They had just come from a luncheon conference and weren't all that hungry. Decided to split a meal. Presented to us as a good choice because you get plenty. Each person got two shrimp. Meal was $26.00. Add to that $7.50 to split. That means each shrimp cost $8.36. Staff was friendly but better you just avoid this place.

This was our first time trying Rustique on an anniversary weekend in Blowing Rock. LOVED it! Had a fabulous server. As always, I ask questions on the menu and get their advice . . . hers did NOT disappoint. Will def return on our next trip to BR!

Rustique did not disappoint. I'm a salad-a-holic and I'm still dreaming about the chopped salad. My husband got the pear salad and it was terrific as well. The "Small Plates" are very generous so plan accordingly. Wine menu is impressive. Enjoy!

Prices high....not real friendly

thoughtful menu that is well crafted and beautifully presented well researched wine list with fair pricing maître d and owner chef are attentive to all of the patrons skilled bartenders who make delicious cocktails the room could use some baffling to reduce noise

My husband and I went there on a date Saturday night. Reservations highly recommended on weekends. Beautiful, clean, and cozy atmosphere, inside or outside dining. Prompt and great service. Coffee was lukewarm and tasteless. My husband ordered the steak, perfectly cooked and delicious. I ordered the overpriced breadcrumb coated chicken. No salad included, only horribly dry, tough chicken that resembled kids chicken strips or beef jerky. I think $26 for tough chicken with only pickled vegetables is too much to pay for so little and a low quality entree. Nothing to write home about here. The dessert menu looked promising but we declined. Lots of elderly couples dining there, who seemed happy! For a great dinner try The Public house on the same street. Bistro Roco and Storie street are all great choices for dining in Blowing Rock, North Carolina!

Rustique got such rave reviews, was highly rated and within easy walking distance so we wanted to try it for our anniversary. We made a reservation for 7:30, but turns out they weren't busy. Our waitress was very curt and did not smile until the after dinner when we asked her opinion about dessert. Definitely a downer and we felt like she was rushing us, though as mentioned - they weren't busy. The menu selections were nice choices with local variations. Unfortunately, husbands steak was too rare on one end and overcooked on the other. First time at a nice restaurant this has ever happened. Dessert of Banana split with sea salt bourbon chocolate housemade "magic shell" was good but could have been better - instead of thin glaze of the "shell" it was globbed in the middle so more like a chocolate rock :( Put the high prices on this and just means we won't be back. Stick with Bistro Roca and Best Cellar!

Menu could use upgrading. There has been an attitude of indifference to the customer as opposed to an eagerness to please when it first opened.

Everything was outstanding! Service was great! Food was great!

Nice wine list but server could not tell us anything about the wines and did not offer to get anyone who could...weird for a place that has Opus 1 on the list. Excellent bolognese sauce! Not too impressed with the servers in T-shirts given the price point, but it is the mountains...

We enjoy the atmosphere and the food is always delicious. I had the beef pot pie and it was great. We shared two appetizers both of which were very good.

Wonderful meal, atmosphere, and service. Highly recommend.

The last review I sent was not complete. Please disregard that evaluation and replace it with this. This is one of our favorite places to eat in Blowing Rock! Never had a bad meal. In fact went there again Saturday night. The shrimp and grits were outstanding! We were disappointed on Wednesday night --there was no Rock Shrimp on the menu! We would encourage them to put it back on the menu.

Brought my fiancée here for her birthday- her choice. Never tried polenta before this, but their dish of Homestyle Meatball served with polenta was delicious, affordable, and easily filling. I'll be flagging this place for a return visit for the next time I'm in the mountains'

Great meal in a relaxed, yet upscale establishment. Enjoyed the patio and beautiful surroundings of Blowing Rock.

We thoroughly enjoyed dining at Rustique. Our dinner choices were excellent and delicious, the wine was superb, the dessert decadent! Our server, Alyssa was great...very friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. The owner/manager was very courteous, accommodating and friendly, making us feel very welcome there. All the staff were extremely nice. A great choice for dinner. We will definitely return to Rustique!

The service and food were excellent. The menu is constantly evolving and changes with the season. The French martini was terrific as well as our meals. The wine we ordered was new to us and was a pleasant surprise and the price was a good value. We will definitely be back.

I felt like I was doing them a favor by eating in their restaurant. It was extremely overpriced and we were the only table there.

Outstanding food and service. Our favorite restaurant in the High Country.

Very special...best dining experience in very long time...creative menu but not baby this and baby that!

Always very good. We come regularly and really like it. Chef creative. Tries new things, often as specials. Current regular menu is getting a tad tiresome. They need to add some new options.

Great food. Owner very helpful with wine selection. Bartender seem young drinks were mediocre.

Rustique was recommended to us as a must dining experience while vacationing in Blowing Rock. It certainly lived up to the advanced billing. Food was very good and Brooke our server was an absolute joy. She enhanced our experience with her outgoing personality. We will definitely return.

Still one of best restaurants in the Blowing Rock/Boone area. We return often.

Perfect dining experience from the wine, appetizer and dinner! Magical evening with friends dining outside in perfect mountain weather!

The steak we had was cooked to perfection! We loved the mashed fingerling potatoes & fresh asparagus! Our white rum cocktails were great! We will be going back in October!

Food was outstanding as usual. We have never been disappointed.

First time at this restaurant. Very limited menu but good food that is prepared well. Good service. Great desserts. Wish they were open for lunch. Parking available which is great in Blowing Rock.

Rustique has become one of our favorite place in town. Great job...keep it up!

Had chosen restaurant based on menu on their website. However, when we arrived, menu was completely different. We had a 6:00 reservation and were sat promptly. By 6:30, the restaurant was packed, very loud, and service started to falter. Food was good. But probably wouldn't return based on bad first experience.

The best food I have had. We have been to a lot of places and I would put the food here up against anywhere in the country.

Our over all experience was good. The meal was real good. Wine list was excellent. We're giving the service a 1 star only because the waitress did not address a problem with the dessert we ordered after we addressed it with her twice. Other than that it was good and we would go back.

Cute from the outside but stark within. Tablecloths would help. Wait staff dressed in blue jeans and teeshirts which detracted from the atmosphere. Food was very average. Pasta was oversauced and flounder overbreaded. Blackberry cobbler was gluelike and uneatable.

Consider ourselves regulars at Rustique. Food always very good. This was a Saturday night during horse show so was noisier than usual. We knew that. But the food at this chef- owned gem is one of the better restaurants in Blowing Rock/ Boone.

Excellent food and service in a rustic, comfortable yet somehow upscale setting. Food was excellent - unique spins on some standard dishes, expertly prepared and presented. Service is attentive but not smothering. Had one entrée incorrectly prepared. Waitress, manager, and owner responded immediately to fix the situation. Ended up fabulously. Love this place and would recommend it to anyone for delicious food and great service!

Very good and interesting food. The portions are huge, even on the "small" plates. The menu was much smaller than the one posted online, but choice. The service was rough, but sweet. The prices are a bit high for the area, and some prices are not posted (dessert & specials.) The air vents dripped on our heads during the meal, and the next table was unpleasantly loud. But the overall experience was great. Food was very very good.

Great food, excellent service, lively and energetic atmosphere. This restaurant has become a favorite of many residents and visitors.

Our meal was absolutely fantastic. The chef is terrific and creative. We split a wonderful chopped salad that had a varied collection of ingredients topped by a vinaigrette dressing that was perfect. My wife had two small plates (fried green tomatoes topped with grilled shrimp and meatballs on a bed of polenta) or appetizers for her meal that she thoroughly enjoyed and I had the divers scallops on a bed of succotash. Our waitress Glory was very attentive and provided excellent service. We ill be back.

Very flavorful dishes that were enjoyed by all in our group. Fabulous and extensive wine list. The menu was a bit heavy on seafood selections which was noted by one of our group who had shellfish allergies but otherwise a treat to enjoy these well prepared & innovative dishes. It's a shame a restaurant with this caliber of food doesn't have a higher caliber of service. We had to ask our server for everything from a bread basket to water refills.While our server did comply with all requests, it would have made for a nicer experience to have more trained servers given the cost of this dining experience.

We enjoyed our dinner and the atmosphere. Our wine was unusual but good a Spanish Chardonnay . The corn chowder was creamy and delicious and our fish dishes were excellent. The halibut could have used more veggies but was cooked well. I will definitely return.

Experience at Rustique was not what we anticipated. Food was mediocre. Chicken over cooked on the fringe of being burnt. Staff did immediately take it back when I brought to their attention. I ordered pasta which was ordinary. Spouse had vegetable plate which was undercooked and vegetables were not fresh. Per previous reviews I expected a higher level dining experience. Maybe the wait staff being in jeans and t-shirts influencing my experience as soon as we walked in. Manager was in jeans also. For the price points and reviews I just expected more.

Food was not to the standard or the previous visit. Needs more consistence.

The service was relatively slow because there was a large crowd and a problem with the Kitchen staff we were told. One of our meals was very good but there was a real problem with the other. The menu listed it as a trio of chicken salad,tuna salad, and egg salad. When the dish was brought to the table, we were informed they were out of egg salad and also crossiants. The Chicken salad was only shredded chicken with a little mayonnaise. It was not a memmorable meal. The waitress very apologetic and offered to do anything she could for us to make it right. She comped our desert. No one from management ever talked to us about the situation or apologized

We had a great night and the service was fantastic. We ordered a few small plates, along with the scallops and shared everything between three of us.

We enjoyed our dinner & wine thoroughly!! We were hesitant after reading some mixed reviews but were VERY HAPPY with our delicious meal and wonderful service! We are typically very particular too. We will be back for sure!

One of our favorites. Food always creative. Chef-owner with international training and experience in the kitchen and supervises food preparation himself. Casual, friendly atmosphere. A winner!!

Was a refeshing experience to go to a place where entrées are $25+ a plate and actually feel like you got the amount of food for what you paid and not something closer to a tapas than an entrée.

The tomato watermelon salad was one of the best salad offerings I have ever tasted! Wish I knew how you make it!

I don't usually respond to these reviews, but Rustique was awesome. The watermelon/ tomato salad is one of the best things I've ever eaten. After that I had an incredible ribeye. The ambience was awesome, great staff , and very friendly clientele. The owner even strolled around and addressed every table. Definitely a gem in Blowing Rock. DM

Everything was wonderful We had a large party of 12 that was accommodated perfectly. We really appreciate Rich the manager and all the wait staff for doing such a terrific job!!! The food was outstanding and everything arrived in a timely manner so we could all eat together. We will be back!

Much better than after it opened. Oysters Rockefeller are a must. Sit in front area or bar, not in wine room if noise bothers you.

We had a group of 6 for dinner at Rustique while visiting Blowing Rock. What a great location and setting! Food was great, staff was great (offered an off the menu item for a child), and service was OK. Service could have been better with more frequent checking in as the coffee and one of the desserts was not at the temperature expected. Also, delivery of the food required passing dishes by us to others in our party across the table. Portion sizes were acceptable, food was overall great, and prices were in line with what you would expect. Will give them another shot the next time we are in town.

We had great food and wine here. They have a good wine list with much to chose from. The espresso creme brûlée was delicious. Our main courses were very fresh and nicely prepared and presented! Definitely would recommend Rustique to anyone visiting Blowing Rock.

Went on Saturday before 4th knowing it was a set menu. A little disappointed we couldn't order more from the wonderful menu but the bbq and sides were terrific. The service is always spot on. The manager and the bar tender are wonderful. I would recommend Rustique to anyone who wants a great dining experience in Blowing Rock.

Everything we have eaten at Rustique has been excellent! The staff has always been great. We always get the mussels. We've never had any better! Rustique is an awesome addition to Blowing Rock!

Nice atmosphere, can dine outside weather permitting. Fairly extensive wine list, menu and food are always very good. Can be loud if bar is busy, but we return over and over. One of the best places to go in Blowing Rock.

Rustique is a wonderful addition to the restaurants in beautiful Blowing Rock. Rich is a wonderful manager and host, greeting everyone as if they are friends! The bartender, I think her name is Jill, is terrific. Great personality, wonderful suggestions for wine, cocktails and food. The servers are young but very knowledgeable about the menu. Chef Shane makes some amazing meals. The halibut is the best I've ever had. A very generous portion seared to perfection in a light broth with shallots and other veggies. It is an exceptional dish that everyone should try if you like fresh, healthy fish! The banana pudding is served in a small mason jar and is also exceptional so save room. I am so glad they are open again after closing for awhile. If you haven't been you should definitely check it out!

We have been going to Blowing Rock for over 30 years and Rustique is one of the best restaurants that we have found. We had a fabulous Ahi tuna salad for lunch and an even better fish special for dinner. The salads and vegetables were as good as we get at our local farmer's market . Yes, Rustique is more expensive that the average local restaurant but you will not be disappointed.

Not kid friendly. Pork belly was tough and too salty. Expensive price for quality of ingredients and portion size.

Great food but very slow service

Wrong combination of small portions and sky high prices. Many better local choices.

A favorite restaurant in Blowing Rock. Casual, friendly atmosphere with excellent food. Never had a bad dish here. Don't miss the short ribs!!

Was decent but not as amazing as other restaurants in the area.

We dine out frequently in a variety destinations, and this was a pleasant surprise. Fantastic, unique entree and small plate offerings, all perfectly prepared and delivered with great service. Especially enjoyed the halibut and trout entrees and the artichoke pasta and gnocchi small plates. Even desserts were wonderful. Really not a single wrong note. Will definitely be back.

Rustique offers amazing food but the experience is lacking. We had 7:30 reservations and while the restaurant was busy it wasn't full and no one was waiting for a table. Still, we felt rushed. It's hard to enjoy the food when as soon as your amazing appetizer comes out the delicious bread arrives on its heels and before you have a chance to butter the bread your entrée is out. I'm all for efficiency, but part of dining is the experience. If I'm at a restaurant of this price point I'd like to linger a little over my cocktail and enjoy the person I came out with. Instead I felt like every moment was rushed. Kudos for the food, but please let us savor it.

Food was good. I had Scallops- to die for! Everyone in our party was complimentary of their food. Brooke was our waitress and she was great. She and staff took great care of us. Nice place.

Wife and I ate here on visit to Blowing Rock, Food was great, would eat at Rustica again if in Blowing Rock. Server was very helpful and friendly.

We had a birthday dinner with friends that was OUTSTANDING!!!!! Everything was perfect. The staff couldn't have been any more helpful to make sure the night was special. Rich was unbelievable in making sure we were being well taken care of. We will definitely be back soon. !!!!!! Thanks for a great evening.

We were undecided on our dinner choices tonight. On a whim we chose Rustique resturant. We walked in and the atmosphere was so relaxing. We were greeted by the manager and taken to our seat. Our waitress was so cute and made us feel right at home. The menu is such a wonderful array of food choices. We started with cocktails and then were given the most wonderful bread. I can say it is the best bread we have had in a long time. Crusty on the outside and moist on the inside. Hints of rosemary and garlic and salt made for a fabulous beginning. Steve had the apple and Brussels sprout salad. Not only was it beautiful but tasted even better. I chose the crab and avocado toast small plate meal. OMG it was awesome. For me it was just the right size. Steve had the vegetable plate. It was full of carrots, arugula,tomatoes,asparagus, Lima beans, on top of blue grits. It was so full of flavor. We can't say enough about the service and food. We will definatly go back. The menu has many interesting choices.

I have to say that Rustique is one of the best restaurants in Blowing Rock. My scallops were cooked to perfection and tasted divine. My husband had the short ribs which were absolutely delicious. If visiting Blowing Rock this is a place you need to dine.

I went for my graduation dinner with my family. We tried some salads, some small plates, and some large plates. The oysters made me feel like I was swimming in the ocean on a sunny day! The drinks and service were both incredible, but it's the food that definitely shines. This is the place to treat yo'self and the ones you love!

After 4 dinner experiences we are unlikely to return as we have been treated very rudely each time. On one occasion we inquired about having a fillet only to be told it was not available, but then the table next to us made the same request and their wish was granted! hostess seems to know or identify wealthy or regular patrons to whom she is very pleasant but is cold and short with most diners.

Our dining experience was tremendous. The food was very good, especially the scallops with risotto and the pasta with bolognese sauce. The wine list is small but decent.

Food was amazing. Server was lacking in many ways unfortunately and would be better suited as a hostess.

Our meal was well-prepared and timely. Service was excellent. The music was a bit loud, but not obnoxious. Everything onthemenu wastasty but not expensive. Greatspot for anyone to find something to eat without breaking the bank. We will return for sure.

Food was great, wine and drinks were super. I gave 5 stars for everything except a 3 star for ambience because the manager and wait staff's dress looked like they had just finished their previous shift at a garage. Frumpy jeans & t-shirt on the manager--jeans and "mountain man" shirts on the wait staff (except for one young gentleman dressed nicely in a black shirt and very nice jeans). Such casual dress is ok for a bar or sandwich joint, but in my opinion, not in a place named "Rustique" serving a $38 filet.

I proposed to my girlfriend earlier that day and had booked the restaurant the week before. I also left a note that it would be I special occasion. The floor manager called me before to see where I wanted to sit and I told him secluded. We had a room all to ourselves set up with decorations and the room was surrounded by wine racks. It was amazing! The food was perfect and the manager that helped me out was a wine connoisseur and matched us with some great drinks. The night could not have gone any better.

Went to dinner with my husband and my parents. Our second visit to Rustique. The staff made our evening delightful. Each of our dishes were delicious and beautiful. Dad had the daily special soup - hearty, thick mushroom (tasted and enjoyed by all), followed by a "small plate" of chicken and dumplings. He could barely finish, but liked it so much that he did. Mom thoroughly enjoyed the tender, tasty short ribs. My trout was impeccable. My husband's thick, juicy pork chop and scalloped potatoes were rich and flavorful. The vibe from the regulars greeting each other as they entered was fun. And applause for the young couple who got engaged during dinner was icing on the fabulous lemon, berry cake we shared. Will be back for sure!

Excellent food and service! And Rich is always accommodating and he has a watchful eye on his dining room.

Just delicious, consistent, food, wine, service, atmosphere, location. Nothing else needed.

This was our first visit. We went for lunch and the menu, service, and food we're all great. The burger is highly-recommended! We'll definitely be back for dinner.

great service and a great meal.

Appears to be evolving growing restaurant. Food was good but not great, short ribs were dry and taste was not anything spectacular or to write home about, Pork chop with collars and beans was excellent, cooked perfectly and very tasty. Pricing ok. Facility was not designed to dampen noise that larger exuberant groups may bring. Definitely not a family place, but good for adult dinners. Service was exceptional, they hustled and worked for us the entire visit. A repeat visit will tell... But it does rate a "do-over"

Amazing! Our meal was the best we have had anywhere. The mussels are wonderful! The trout was great. The short rib was better than what we had just had a a James Beard nominated restaurant. Rustique is easily one of the best restaurants in North Carolina! Our service was great too.

Celebrated the finest New Year's Dinner of our lives. We had a party of 8 including our two grandkids and we had the wine room all to ourselves. The service was incredible and the meal was as good as any we've had anywhere in the world. We've been to Rustique on many occasions including your Sunday brunch and have never been disappointed!

Been here several times and enjoyed it but this time they missed the mark. Very few people in the restaurant but, even so, we ended up waiting a long time for our meal. My husband ordered filet, medium well but it came rare, retuned it and it came back well done. Although good, there was grit in the collard greens which made them inedible and they compensated with roasted vegetables. "Fingerling " potatoes were actually quarter potatoes and much too greasy to eat. Wine was good and waiter was pleasant but a disappointing experience over all. Owner apologetic but we'll try someplace else next time.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered! The breakfast plate, shrimp and grits, and trout po'boy all were beautifully presented and executed! Neat atmosphere and great service! Will definitely return!

The good was good and the decor cozy. I'd go back again. The only comment would be that while the service was ok, I felt it was a bit chaotic and somewhat unorganized. It will not keep me from returning but I would have preferred the service to be a bit smoother.

The skirt steak was really good, as were the fingerling potatoes. My husband said the trout was excellent. All in all a good experience.

We were pleasantly surprised at Rustique. Blowing Rock, NC has a long history of having mediocre to bad restaurants. Rustique's wine list was impressive. My husband had the tomato soup which was very tasty. We ordered the shrimp and grits and chicken friend steak. Both were delicious. We capped our dinner off with carrot cake and profiteroles. The desserts were great. We will definitely go back and will tell our friends. We are excited to finally have a good restaurant in Blowing Rock!

The general manager, Rich, went out of his way to make sure we had a special night since two out of four of us had birthdays. It was nothing short of an incredible night! Some of the best service I've ever received at a restaurant, hands down. And the food matched the service. Thank you, Rustique!

Our anniversary dinner at Rustique was fabulous from start to finish. Menu selections, decor, service, ambiance - everything was superb. Possibly the BEST shrimp and grits I've ever eaten!

My wife and I had dinner here last week and it was a great experience. We tried each of the small plates and the asparagus was our favorite. Great choice of wines and cocktails. The kitchen knows what they're doing and our server was terrific. We will definitely return.