Rustic Root

I love the venue and the vibe of this place. The people who work there are super friendly and accommodating, and the crowd is nice too. The drinks are kinda expensive, but that’s the case almost everywhere. The rooftop bar with fire pits and heat lamps is awesome!

Dropped into Rustic Root with my sister for a drink on Saturday night and I’m glad we did! We sat right at the bar and got served right away even though it was pretty busy. The bartenders were very friendly and took time to offer suggestions off the cocktail menu as my sister was unsure of what she wanted to order. I got wine followed by champagne and my sister had the 1980 cocktail (called «Sex and the City is back») which she really enjoyed. The ambiance of this place was really fun and whimsical and I hope to come back to try the food next time!

I love the vibe of this place. Great outdoor seating, seriously there’s freaking booths outside with heaters. We reserved one for outside but nfortunately once we sat down it started raining. They had no problem moving us inside and seating us immediately though. And the people watching inside was just as interesting as outside.
Food, oh the food. We went for restaurant week so my parents got the $ 40 3 course meal with wine pairings. They loved every bite. My dad is a big shrimp and grits guy so that was perfect. For me, the pork chop was amazing but was a ton of food. It’s life like 16 oz I believe. Couldn’t even finish it for leftovers the next day.
Really great menu and wine list and I’ll be back to try other things!

Came here for dinner on a Sunday night. Our waitress was really nice and friendly. Service was very fast. We had cocktails and they were all good. Not great. The food was really really good. I had the diver scallops and my dish was very flavorful and the scallops were cooked to perfection. The décor is super cool and very uplifting. Perfect for a date or a group dinner.

I’m teetering on 3.5 but will land the review at a 4 giving Rustic Root the benefit of the doubt. Here is why:
— Décor. Rad. The upstairs patio and the journey up to it is very magical. The colors, artistic details, artwork, furniture and attention to detail are easily noticed.
— Food. Eh, how do I put this? The fried chicken would be awesome for $ 10.00 — $ 11.00 but is only decent when it carries an $ 18.00 price tag. Also, the purée (a decorative side) stole the show from the deep fried headliner.
— Service. I hate to bag on service, especially downtown when I know I’ll end up running into these guys over shots at Tivoli later in the day, but damn it was weak. I won’t mention names but while sitting at the bar it shouldn’t take more than 10 – 15 minutes to place a food after menus have been dropped and especially since we are sitting RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
— Drinks. The mimosa tray is gorgeous but when they forget to add the small spoons to the condiment dishes it makes for a delicious little mess. Ask for the spoons, right? Well, we did but, uhhhh… let’s not mention the service again.
— Prices. Honestly, not as bad as I thought. Even though I know a bottle of the Wycleff is under $ 3.00 at the store (they charge $ 35.00 for a single bottle on the tray), the ambiance made it palatable. $ 78.00 after tip for two entrees and a bottle of bubbly in the Gaslamp… not something I want to do every weekend but not a bad little Saturday either.

I had some friends in town from Chicago and felt some pressure to impress when it comes to food. One of them found Rustic Root and made reservations during restaurant week.
The decour is quirky and fun.
It was a lovely restaurant week meal. Three of us got the restaurant week meal and the fourth ordered off the menu. We also got the wine pairings, which was a great deal. We also ordered the broccoli and cauliflower. I couldn’t tell you how that was because our server forgot it, and when we pointed it out, he just said it was probably his fault, didn’t bring it, and didn’t ask us if we still wanted it.
For my meal, I started with the mushroom soup, which was great. Lovely texture and fantastic, earthy taste. For my entrée I had the lamb shank. It was tender and tasty. I wasn’t a huge fan of the white beans it came with. The lamb was so tender that it fell into them and lost some of its flavor within the beans. The beans were good on their own, but a little al dente and not my favorite with the lamb. For dessert I had the cake with strawberries. I was hoping for a little more flavor but the serving size and presentation was nice.
All in all, I’d love to go back. The meal itself was good, and I’m being extra picky because I expect restaurants who participate in restaurant week to really put in a lot of effort to shine. It could be that we went on Monday night, Martin Luther King evening, and I’m sure all of the Gaslamp institutions were tired after a long three-​day weekend, but I still paid for the same SDRW meal they had planned, so I was slightly disappointed. I will definitely give it another shot.

Best happy hour! Half off all of their apps Monday through Friday 4−6pm (minus the surf and turf) with the regular serving portions– can you say winning?! They also have two glasses of wine that are on happy hour for $ 6 each, $ 2 off beers and listed cocktails.
Beer list: They have a great beer selection– I love local IPA’s and they had two of my favorites right now on draft; the Alpine Duet and the Port Brewing Wipeout.
Cocktails:They name their cocktails by the year they were invented which is super cute– my boyfriend got the 1941 (A Moscow mule in the classic copper mug!) which was on point.
Service was punctual and very well timed, our waitress was super sweet.
The décor is so cute! Who ever designed this venue didn’t skip a beat! I went upstairs to have a drink then downstairs for dinner. The upstairs roof retracts, there are fire bits and heaters for if it is cold out, and the furniture is super cute. For people who love sports they have 3 TVs upstairs :)
Food highlights:
Appetizers:
Meat balls– pork & bison with a super yummy whiskey sauce underneath
Deviled eggs– you don’t find these done right let alone at a restauraunt any where and these are spot on and super cute with their pink exterior. Note: if you don’t like spicy then just take the thai chill on top off :)
Entrees:
I ordered the Pork chop which was the best chop I have ever had hands down! The rubarb chutney pairs well, and I loved the brussels. Bone in and delicious.
My boyfriend ordered the RFC Fried Chicken which was also great– boneless and a pinch of spice, he didn’t want to share ;).
All and all I would definitely recommend Rustic to anyone and will be bringing my friends in again soon, next time maybe Ill get brunch! I’ve heard its super yummy!

Prime location in downtown SD. As usual, to find available parking during peak hours 5pm-​8pm weekdays and anytime during Saturday’s and Sunday’s is a hassle. I believe the rooftop is the most enthralling aspect of this restaurant. I really did like the openness and the contemporary vibe this place gave off with the furniture and décor. Be forewarned, as it gets late, the place gets packed with people on the rooftop and the comfy chairs and sofas they have up top become very valuable real estate.
Service was great. We came during the afternoon and though the rooftop was full, our server was very attentive and made sure we were taken care of.
Cons: I found the menu to be very limiting. I think there were more alcoholic options versus actual food options. Usually that’s great, but being the foodie that I am, I like an equal balance of variety. We ended up ordering a few appetizers (deviled eggs, meatballs, Mac n’ cheese, roasted cauliflower and broccoli) and picking at each order just to get a taste of everything. My personal favorite was the deviled eggs.
My drink was excellent btw! I ordered the 1915 aka: «It will hit you like a 75 mm field gun» because unlike a lot of people, I do enjoy gin from time to time. I had three during our time here and each and every one was strong and not diluted at all.
Three stars and kudos to the bartenders and the great location.

Love this place! Especially for brunch. Great food, ambiance, and if you go upstairs, the view is awesome. (Great lighting for pictures)
Their staff is very warm and welcoming as well. For me, that’s a deal breaker for me to come back. And with that said, I’ll be back!

Oh man do I love this place
Me and a group of my girlfriends stumbled upon this place after walking around to look for a place to brunch. I’m not sure about their dinner or night scene but we sure had a hell of a time on their rooftop for brunch. We came in around noon and ended up staying until almost 6pm. Their rooftop brunch is from 11am-​3pm. The food here is whatevers. The ambiance and drinks are amazing. For something in our bellies, I went with their Eggs Benedict. It is normally served with potatoes but I substituted veggies instead. I was sad everything, including the eggs and English muffin was SOAKED in butter. Seemed like literally a stick of butter, no joke.
Then, the drinks. They had their popular bubbles and berries tray. We spent quite a bit of time trying different bottles. It was beautifully presented with fresh blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, purees (white peach, passion fruit, raspberry), juices (OJ, white cranberry, blood orange) on the side. You put what you like in your champs and make it your own. It had us leaving happy.
The bottles here are reasonably priced. Their brunch entrees run from $ 8-​$ 18. The service was more than excellent. We got the sweetest, friendliest, most helpful waitress. She was super cute and even gave us great recommendations on where to go out after. We were particular about our orders and she got them all perfectly. The vibe during the day is chill and fun. There were plenty of other groups hanging out eating and drinking but it wasn’t overly pack. They have tables and lounge chairs. We sat in the lounge chairs that overlooked 5^th street. Since we stayed for so long it was starting to get dark. One of the guys who worked there offered to turn on the heater lamps for us. This place is appropriate to take a date or go hang out with friends.

The Rustic Root is a neat little restaurant and pseudo rooftop lounge located right in the heart of the Gaslamp District. This place actually draws a fairly large crowd especially on Friday and Saturday nights… The location is prime and the ambiance is pretty chill, kind of a mixture of hipster, young professional and the average Joe. The bartenders upstairs are fairly attentive assuming you can make yourself to the bar and the drinks are rather stiff which is a-​ok in my book. Being an upstairs outdoor bar/​restaurant is cool but it’s a bit unfortunate that you can’t stand near the edge and overlook the 5^th ave festivities, there seems to be tables in your way. Overall, awesome little lounge and a great spot to start your night.
Pros–
Location
Ambiance
Crowd
Stiff drinks
Friendly service
Upstairs open bar
Slight views
Cons–
Space could be utilized better
A bit loud
Crowded, makes bar difficult to reach
Pricey

12.13.15
Cute place for brunch with football in the background. Love that you can make your own mimosas with a tray of juices and fruits (with a variety of bubbly to choose from as well).
I had the scrambled skillets #2: market veggies, caramelized onions, tomato, cheese, over a bed of potatoes. If it’s possible to feel healthy and carb up at the same time, I’ve achieved it.
Total damage for three: $ 95.50

Celebrated my friends bday here on a Wednesday night. Loving the décor and ambiance of this place.
Nice open air bar and patio with a nice view of 5^th avenue from the 2^nd level lol.
Cute and friendly waitresses. Definitely coming back for happy hour or S&G.

I really wanted to like this place! I’ve been intrigued since they opened, but only recently had a chance to go.
We showed up for an early dinner on a Monday night, my brother in tow. They were super empty, but we figured it was because it was still early. And Monday. =)
We somehow ended up with two different waitresses; if the first one left or went on break, we weren’t told about it. No matter, the second waitress was friendly and helpful.
So why didn’t I love it? Because of the prices. My Jidori chicken plate, which was admittedly tasty, was tiny and overpriced. $ 21 for a small piece of chicken and some veggies?
My husband ordered the Lobster Parpadelle ($ 24), and my brother got the Rustic Fried Chicken ($ 18).
At least they both got decent-​sized portions, but my brother was the only one at the table making yummy noises while he ate. He really enjoyed that chicken!
And at least they were both full when the meal was over. It’s cool, I don’t need to eat till I’m stuffed, anyway.
Don’t think we’ll be going back. There are too many other downtown joints that I’d rather spend my time and money at.

Came here for my girlfriend’s bday during happy hour. We hung out upstairs and the setting was nice. There was music but it wasn’t too loud where you can’t hear anyone. The lights and open rooftop gave it a nice feel as well!
Food was good. I think every person ordered the dynamite shrimp… My fb and I devoured the first order… We mistakingly thought we could share… The pic is of the second order… Drinks are on the lighter side but tasty. If you are looking for more of a buzz, get beer or wine!

Painfully slow food service.
We stopped here for dinner and drinks and sat upstairs on the rooftop.
I loved the décor! Super funky design and art everywhere you look.
A server came over after about 5 minutes after we had been looking around confused and asked for our drink order. We ordered the 1915 gin cocktail and the 1927 burbon cocktail and waters.
The drinks came out fairly quickly but we had to ask for waters three times, and on the third time we were able to put in a food order for the bison meatballs, Brie and honey toast and New England Cobb.
The Cobb came out first with no dressing and no lobster… Uh what? At $ 18 for a salad the lobster is why the price is high and should be on the plate. We couldn’t find our server to let her know right away and when we did finally flag her down she said she would just bring us a side of lobster and dressing to put on top of the salad already on the table. I found it odd she apologize and take it back to have it remade as we ended up remaking our own salad with the items she brought us.
Next up, was the brie and honey toast. Definitely my favorite dish. It was crunchy, sweet, tart, cheesey goodness. Even the frisee salad was delicious with the tart cranberries.
The bison meatballs showed up last after another 10 minute wait. Also good but the gravy they are served with tasted a little like packet brown gravy to me. The charred bread slices were a nice compliment.
We decided even after all this we would attempt to order cobbler and an espresso. We waited 15 minutes for these items to come out! We even had the server acknowledge that it was taking entirely too long but that the espresso was downstairs and ready she just had not gone to get it and would see if another server could go. Wait, come again? The cobbler lacked texture and flavor and tasted like mushed up over sugared frozen berries. We weren’t too impressed.
Needless to say, she still charged us for the salad that came out completely wrong and didn’t apologize once the espresso was finally served cold. This poor service would have been bad enough on a regular day, but we were here on our first night of our honeymoon.

Mom and I had dinner here on our last night in San Diego. Its definitely a hipster kind of place with the rustic décor and wait staff. Food was good though and so was the service. The place is open to the street so you can watch the tourists walk by. I guess they also have a rooftop terrace which is supposed the only one in the Gaslamp.
My mom had the romesco grilled shrimp. She got about 6 or 7 big shrimp in a chunky tomato sauce. The sauce had a good flavor, not too spicy. I had the elk chops with mole sauce and root veggies. The chops were medium rare, a little tough to cut, but flavorful. Good veggies and almond purée on the side.
We also had the bbq seasoned fries. These tasted exactly like bbq potato chips. Yummy! Nice skinny, crispy fries with bbq seasoning and ranch dipping sauce. I would go back just for the fries.
Definitely a hip, cool place in the Gaslamp. Check it out.

Stopped here for brunch after a work out down town, very beautiful restaurant with awesome service.
I think our favorite part of the experience was our handsome bartender Cecil.
Food was good, excellent mimosa options (check out my photos) with a tray and purée or juice.
Definitely want to come back for dinner and check out the area upstairs.

I came here for a Bachelorette party this past weekend and it was absolutely incredible! They made it such a special experience for our bride. The ambiance can’t be beat and it is right in the heart of Gaslamp, a perfect location to walk somewhere fun afterwards! There were 15 of us so we had a pre-​set menu that was kicked off with a champagne toast!
We started with delicious apps served family style which included their Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Meatballs and Firecracker Shrimp {…still dreaming of the shrimp}! For entrees, everyone chose their own from our pre-​set menu that was personalized for the bride. I chose the Herb Roasted Jidori Chicken that came with roasted fingerling potatoes, mushrooms, asparagus and Pan Jus. It was healthy and the perfect thing to have before a night on the town.
If you are looking for a fun spot for a group, this is it! I can’t wait to come back and have a cocktail on their rooftop bar!

Nous n’avons pas testé le restaurant mais le rooftop en fin d’après-midi. Quel bonheur ! En plein coeur de l’animation de Gaslamp se trouve Rustic Root. Vous serez de suite attiré par la devanture du restaurant mais filez donc à l’étage car la terrasse vaut qu’on s’y arrête pour un verre. Nous sommes en plus tombés sur une serveuse adorable. La carte des cocktails est assez complète, il y en a même une classée par date de création de certains cocktails vintage (les timeless cocktails). Ce sera un 1902 pour l’Homme (rhum, jus et zeste de citron, sirop secret) et ma boisson fétiche de cet été en Californie: un sweet vermouth (prononcez vermoussssfff) on the rocks. Les cocktails sont préparés sous nos yeux mais manqué de chance, c’est un 1927 qui est arrivé, à base de whisky, rien à voir avec la commande initiale. Heureusement, notre super serveuse s’est empressée de corriger son erreur en nous offrant le bon cocktail en un rien de temps. Sunset, cocktail et jolie terrasse avec vue: le combo gagnant !
Bön à savoir: N’oubliez pas de rajouter 15% de tips minimum à l’addition. N’y étant pas habitué en France, l’info est importante.

This was a difficult experience and write up, given I thought the place was very cool, but one has tell it like it is. I came in to try their newly designed brunch. I ordered the Chef’s Sandwich which came with a side of breakfast potatoes for $ 11. I also ordered a cup of house drip coffee.
You need to understand, when I order a breakfast sandwich for $ 11 dollars, I expect a large ample size sandwich, but can you imagine my surprise when this one arrived looking like something similar to a McMuffin Egg Sandwich. Yes, it came with Duroc ham, but it’s still just ham. Put some soppressata or something and then maybe I will bend, but a simple English Muffin, with some ham, one egg, and some house made pimento cheese at $ 11 dollars, and not being at all filled afterwards, is just not going to cut it.
I say, if you are going to charge $ 11 for a breakfast sandwich, use some Artisan Bread, serve it with two eggs to order, some Manchego Cheese or something with a nutty and salty quality, and then with either that Duroc ham, but a little crispier or with another quality meat like the for mentioned, and then provide a unique spread on the bread. Oh yes, a nice toast on that bread for added texture.
In the end, the Duroc ham tasted good, the single egg was just not enough, and the pimento house made cheese just reminded me of American cheese with a little added flavor, but most important of all, it was way to small for $ 11; so either reduce the price or make a better and larger breakfast sandwich please.
The breakfast red potatoes were okay. The were properly cooked, but they were screaming for some seasoning and flavor. The coffee was good, and they very nice female bar keep refilled for me. On the up side, they are serving brunch Saturdays and Sundays starting at 8 am!