Food was seasoned and prepared in excellent taste. The restaurant is located in a shopping center outside the main village, so ambiance a bit less than some others.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Samantha Kelly
We visit Lake Placid every year. For some reason, we had never realized that Caffe Rustica is tucked away in the Price Chopper's shopping center. Immediately when we walked into the restaurant, I was charmed by the front dining area, beautifully decorated with a spacious bar. Everything felt luxe while maintaining a cozy, old-school Italian ambience. We started with a Caesar salad to share, our usual go-to appetizer at other Italian restaurants. It was absolutely delicious with flavorful dressing and crisp, green lettuce - we were off to a good start! The stars of the show were our entrees. My husband ordered the chicken alla vodka special...he licked the plate clean! I tried some of the vodka sauce and can confirm it was perfectly balanced and scrumptious. I ordered the shrimp risotto dish (I believe it was called Tuscan Risotto). OMG IT WAS SOOO GOOD. I mean, insanely good. The risotto and sauce were perfection. I already am looking forward to returning to Lake Placid on our next vacation so that I can order that dish again. We ended the meal with one of the tastiest servings of tiramusu I've ever had. Also, the espresso martini was super yummy and I believe was topped with pumpkin pie spice which I adore. Service was 10/10, atmosphere 10/10, and food was unbelievable. If you're staying in LP, Caffe Rustica is a MUST! A new favorite for us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Curt Alpeter
My wife and I have been coming to CR for years but have never written a review. After yet again another fabulous experience it is time to share. Easily the best restaurant in Lake Placid. Without fail the food is terrific, the ambiance cozy and friendly and the service top notch. This is a small family run business that cares deeply about the food and experience of its guests. From the friendly greeting you get the minute you walk in the door you know why it is easily the most popular place in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lawrence Haines
Very good food. Good service. Very reasonable prices.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Danielle Bali
Amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere! We didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar. The food was some of the best we've ever had! Kristina was behind the bar and we got to chat with her. Not only can she make a fantastic drink, but she was awesome to chat with! HIGHLY recommend if you're in the area and looking for a nice, cozy spot to eat some incredible food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joanne Williams
What an absolute delight! We got a last minute reservation at the bar and it was NOT a disappointment. From the food to the service, 10/10. Coming from Jersey, we felt right at home here. The veal dish was incredible and the chicken was also amazing. Portion sizes are great & food is so fresh. We would come back tomorrow but they have no reservations. Definitely make the stop here if you want amazing food & incredible service. If you don’t save room for the tiramisu it will be a full regret.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ken Cousineau
We returned to Cafe Rustica after an absence of several years and were pleasantly surprised with both the food and the service. Our server was attentive without being over the top and the food was well prepared and simply but nicely presented. The carbonara was creamy and served very hot, the salmon was cooked perfectly and the risotto was delicious. Price with wine and dessert was about $120 CDN per person.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laurie Crawford
This was a great spot for dinner...good wine choices, food was delicious from the apps to dinner to dessert. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amit J
Best high-end meal in town with a fantastic menu and friendly staff. The orecchiette and insalata are my faves. Hard to get a table so boom we'll ahead of time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monica Mello
We had a confirmed reservation at 8:30 PM on 12/29 at Cafe Rustica for a party of four. From the moment we arrived, the lack of professionalism was obvious. No hostess acknowledged us and the staff appeared overwhelmed and disorganized. After approaching a waiter, he confused us with a 14 person group. After waiting about 15 minutes, he called us over, only to realize we were not that group and inform us that our reserved table had already been given away. We never sat down. There was no apology, no explanation, and no attempt to resolve the mistake. We were left standing in the middle of the restaurant with no direction. A bartender or server then approached us. We never knew if she was a manager or simply taking that role, but either way, she clearly lacked the skills and training required to handle the situation. Instead of de escalating or offering solutions, she told us that at some point we would be seated, but if we were not happy, we could come back another time. This was said smiling, with irony and disregard, as if the situation was not serious. She then returned to the bar, smiling, ignoring us while repeatedly glancing at us. There was no visible manager, no leadership, and no accountability. No one explained what would happen next or took ownership of the mistake. We left and went to Peak 47 instead, where we experienced the same prices, far better food, and truly professional service. The contrast was striking. This was not a simple mistake. It was a complete failure of professionalism and guest handling. Reservations mean nothing here. Avoid this restaurant
We went here for Christmas dinner! And boy! It was the best Christmas dinner we’ve ever had! The ambience was cozy and rustic and the food arrived quickly. The sauce of the Thai Chilli Shrimp was delicious and the prawns were fresh. They were kind enough to accommodate my customisations into the Salmon dish. I replaced the salmon with sea bass and it was absolutely amazing! To end it, we had Tiramisu and it was maybe one of the best Tiramisu’s we’ve ever had! We left extremely happy from here. Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Raph H
CAFE RUUUUUUSTICCCAAA. oh cafe rustica, my favourite pizza in all of lake placid. I love the pizza, and its right next to my favourite supermarket price chopper. So it is perfect location, where all the lake placidinians rendezvouz in the nice plaza. I LOVE RUSTICA PIZZA
Doug Whiteman
Love this place, it’s our LP go to!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shane K
If you’re up here and from Saratoga then this is the spot to check out for great food as it’s the same owner as Solevo. Highly recommended when you’re in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tye Trifilo
Made a reservation a few weeks in advance, asked to sit in dining room and they said absolutely. Got to the restaurant and they gave us the worst table in bar/kitchen room right next to all the plate clanging that was so loud the entire time. Also was FREEZING since front door kept opening. Said the ‘dining room was already full with other reservations’.
Waiter took forever just to come get our drink order, didn’t go over specials, felt very rushed and unconcerned.
Finally got our food and it was mediocre at best: - Veal scallopini was beyond bland, no seasonings no flavor just nothing. - Chicken Boursin tasted like nothing but onion, sauce was water thin and the ‘homemade pappardelle’ was so undercooked I could barely chew it.
Been going here for years and it was always the highlight of LP, not sure if they changed owners or changed chefs but would not return after this.
Food was seasoned and prepared in excellent taste. The restaurant is located in a shopping center outside the main village, so ambiance a bit less than some others.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We visit Lake Placid every year. For some reason, we had never realized that Caffe Rustica is tucked away in the Price Chopper's shopping center. Immediately when we walked into the restaurant, I was charmed by the front dining area, beautifully decorated with a spacious bar. Everything felt luxe while maintaining a cozy, old-school Italian ambience. We started with a Caesar salad to share, our usual go-to appetizer at other Italian restaurants. It was absolutely delicious with flavorful dressing and crisp, green lettuce - we were off to a good start! The stars of the show were our entrees. My husband ordered the chicken alla vodka special...he licked the plate clean! I tried some of the vodka sauce and can confirm it was perfectly balanced and scrumptious. I ordered the shrimp risotto dish (I believe it was called Tuscan Risotto). OMG IT WAS SOOO GOOD. I mean, insanely good. The risotto and sauce were perfection. I already am looking forward to returning to Lake Placid on our next vacation so that I can order that dish again. We ended the meal with one of the tastiest servings of tiramusu I've ever had. Also, the espresso martini was super yummy and I believe was topped with pumpkin pie spice which I adore. Service was 10/10, atmosphere 10/10, and food was unbelievable. If you're staying in LP, Caffe Rustica is a MUST! A new favorite for us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I have been coming to CR for years but have never written a review. After yet again another fabulous experience it is time to share. Easily the best restaurant in Lake Placid. Without fail the food is terrific, the ambiance cozy and friendly and the service top notch. This is a small family run business that cares deeply about the food and experience of its guests. From the friendly greeting you get the minute you walk in the door you know why it is easily the most popular place in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very good food. Good service. Very reasonable prices.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere! We didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar. The food was some of the best we've ever had! Kristina was behind the bar and we got to chat with her. Not only can she make a fantastic drink, but she was awesome to chat with! HIGHLY recommend if you're in the area and looking for a nice, cozy spot to eat some incredible food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What an absolute delight! We got a last minute reservation at the bar and it was NOT a disappointment. From the food to the service, 10/10. Coming from Jersey, we felt right at home here. The veal dish was incredible and the chicken was also amazing. Portion sizes are great & food is so fresh. We would come back tomorrow but they have no reservations. Definitely make the stop here if you want amazing food & incredible service. If you don’t save room for the tiramisu it will be a full regret.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We returned to Cafe Rustica after an absence of several years and were pleasantly surprised with both the food and the service. Our server was attentive without being over the top and the food was well prepared and simply but nicely presented. The carbonara was creamy and served very hot, the salmon was cooked perfectly and the risotto was delicious. Price with wine and dessert was about $120 CDN per person.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was a great spot for dinner...good wine choices, food was delicious from the apps to dinner to dessert. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best high-end meal in town with a fantastic menu and friendly staff. The orecchiette and insalata are my faves. Hard to get a table so boom we'll ahead of time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a confirmed reservation at 8:30 PM on 12/29 at Cafe Rustica for a party of four. From the moment we arrived, the lack of professionalism was obvious. No hostess acknowledged us and the staff appeared overwhelmed and disorganized.
After approaching a waiter, he confused us with a 14 person group. After waiting about 15 minutes, he called us over, only to realize we were not that group and inform us that our reserved table had already been given away. We never sat down. There was no apology, no explanation, and no attempt to resolve the mistake. We were left standing in the middle of the restaurant with no direction.
A bartender or server then approached us. We never knew if she was a manager or simply taking that role, but either way, she clearly lacked the skills and training required to handle the situation. Instead of de escalating or offering solutions, she told us that at some point we would be seated, but if we were not happy, we could come back another time. This was said smiling, with irony and disregard, as if the situation was not serious. She then returned to the bar, smiling, ignoring us while repeatedly glancing at us.
There was no visible manager, no leadership, and no accountability. No one explained what would happen next or took ownership of the mistake.
We left and went to Peak 47 instead, where we experienced the same prices, far better food, and truly professional service. The contrast was striking.
This was not a simple mistake. It was a complete failure of professionalism and guest handling. Reservations mean nothing here. Avoid this restaurant
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
We went here for Christmas dinner! And boy! It was the best Christmas dinner we’ve ever had! The ambience was cozy and rustic and the food arrived quickly. The sauce of the Thai Chilli Shrimp was delicious and the prawns were fresh. They were kind enough to accommodate my customisations into the Salmon dish. I replaced the salmon with sea bass and it was absolutely amazing! To end it, we had Tiramisu and it was maybe one of the best Tiramisu’s we’ve ever had! We left extremely happy from here. Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
CAFE RUUUUUUSTICCCAAA. oh cafe rustica, my favourite pizza in all of lake placid. I love the pizza, and its right next to my favourite supermarket price chopper. So it is perfect location, where all the lake placidinians rendezvouz in the nice plaza. I LOVE RUSTICA PIZZA
Love this place, it’s our LP go to!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you’re up here and from Saratoga then this is the spot to check out for great food as it’s the same owner as Solevo. Highly recommended when you’re in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Made a reservation a few weeks in advance, asked to sit in dining room and they said absolutely. Got to the restaurant and they gave us the worst table in bar/kitchen room right next to all the plate clanging that was so loud the entire time. Also was FREEZING since front door kept opening. Said the ‘dining room was already full with other reservations’.
Waiter took forever just to come get our drink order, didn’t go over specials, felt very rushed and unconcerned.
Finally got our food and it was mediocre at best:
- Veal scallopini was beyond bland, no seasonings no flavor just nothing.
- Chicken Boursin tasted like nothing but onion, sauce was water thin and the ‘homemade pappardelle’ was so undercooked I could barely chew it.
Been going here for years and it was always the highlight of LP, not sure if they changed owners or changed chefs but would not return after this.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Loading...