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Hours
Sun
12:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Mon
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wed
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thu
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sat
12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.0
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Location and contact
Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Details
CUISINES
Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner
FEATURES
Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.0
871 reviews
Excellent
415
Very good
194
Average
108
Poor
79
Terrible
75
JonnyIrish2014
Leeds40 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
Called in for lunch and entered a busy room with great atmosphere.
Served an excellent house red and ordered from specials menu, so far so good. Service then disintegrated, waited too long for everything, food was OK when it eventually came. After that no one came near, we had to ask for empty plates to be removed, we would have ordered coffee and desserts but no staff were interested, we had to approach the bar to get the bill, and then again to pay. Never experienced such uninterested staff, such a shame for the owner.
Written January 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith H
33 contributions
Dec 2023 • family
First let me clarify that Rustico’s food remains delicious and good value for money. I have been here many times over the years but I have never experienced service as poor as today. The manager looked extremely stressed as he attempted to compensate for the frankly disinterested waiting staff who seemed to be proactively avoiding tasks in the hope that someone else would pick up the slack. No one seemed to have responsibility for particular tables and two staff in particular wandered round eyes averted tidying menus and deliberately not noticing what needed to be done. Whether the staff require training or replacement is not for me to decide but something needs to change or this previously favoured lunch spot will quickly lose its reputation.
Written December 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick E
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
We've been here maybe a half dozen times in the past year, it's quickly become our go-to in Wakefield. The staff have always been friendly and attentive, the decoration & atmosphere are lovely if unspectacular.
The food itself is great. I've definitely had better at really top tier Italians but that normally comes with a premium in price. I've also paid almost double for the same dishes elsewhere that has been bland and tasteless by comparison - on this occasion my Carbonara and my girlfriends Risotto were <ÂŁ7 each with our drinks including a mid-level glass of Red wine adding another ÂŁ10. All of that for less than ÂŁ25 is a rare bargain you'd do well to take advantage of!!
Written March 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa W
3 contributions
Dec 2023 • family
Christmas Dinner 2023.
7 of us booked for Christmas lunch and arrived at 15:50 for 4:00pm booking, after calling me the other day to ask if we would mind sitting upstairs and me explaining this wasn’t possible as 4 of our party were elderly and couldn’t manage stairs, we got there to be told, oh, you’re upstairs. I said, I hope not as we specifically said we couldn’t do that, to be told, well you’re upstairs. I asked if our table could be swapped to be told, wait here and we’ll see. A young waitress then came over and said again, you’re upstairs. I replied, no we’re not, they’re trying to sort it for us, she said, alright love, keep yer hair on. Rude. Got to our table a few minutes later and it was only half set with 4 places without napkins or butter. It then took 20 minutes for them to take a drinks order, another 25 minutes to place our food order and another 20 minutes for it to arrive. There were people who sat down after us who had finished their meal before we got our starters! The food was ok but the service ruined it. When we got the bill, they had charged us for doubles when we had singles and then took cash for some of the bill and told me they only had £140 and needed more money? I asked for it back and when I counted it, they had £165? It was busy and it was Xmas day, however, we booked this in October so they knew we were coming but the service was poor and it seemed none of the staff wanted to be there. We won’t be coming back in a hurry. Disappointing.
Written December 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paganman84
Wakefield376 contributions
Feb 2023 • none
We have not been for some time the old manager who has retired would never have spoken to my wife in such a manner nor would he have tolerated any staff member speaking to her like that. The waited said as he was putting parmesan on her meal, Have you enough as I will be all day here', or very similar, it is a good job I did not hear him.
However she loved her meal.
I ordered her a medium glass of red wine they brought a large one and charged us for it.
My burger was less than average with frozen chips, seed mustard a small blob in the middle.
Our grandsons Pizza was amazing the base was to die for not a soggy base like some places make.
The bread arrived late and the tomato dip was weak in flavour and watery .
The lunch menu is not very imaginative the one prior to lockdown was amazing.
Written February 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michelle g
Wakefield30 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
We went for lunch on Sunday afternoon. We were seated quickly but waited 30 minutes for our starter Then waited another 35 minutes for main course ! My husbands pork belly was Luke warm but my lasagne was not edible dry and over cooked The waiter took the lasagne off our bill apologised and asked if we would like something else .We had waited so long so didn’t want to wait no longer . Sorry we will not be returning .
Written November 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aqua17
Ferrybridge10 contributions
May 2024 • family
WOW. The BEST lunch you can have. I had mussels for the first time in 5 years and I was shocked at how good of a return to my stomach it made. A 2-7 minute walk from Trinity walk, this place is keeping Wakefield as a competitor for my top 3 favourite city centres. My mum had lobster salad, and, although it was a bit of fusion food, it came with pineapple. You are greeted by someone showing you to any unreserved seat and ciabatta bread(I think) , butter and a tomato salsa. Truly a wonderful place in Wakefield. 9999999/5 if I could put that
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freddy
Wakefield450 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
Our second visit in a couple of weeks, very good service, very good food and good value especially between 1200 and 1400 for lunch service where the menu is cheaper but still good food and portion size. Nicely furnished premises, clean and comfortable and I like the complimentary bread and dip when you arrive.
Will definitely visit again, don’t normally go into Wakefield town centre for restaurant food but this is the third excellent meal I’ve had now in the last month at two different establishments so will continue to try different places in the future months.
Written March 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
john g
Wakefield2 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
I used this Italian restaurant many times before covid and the service and food were always very good – oh how times have changed! I visited this so-called Italian restaurant on the 5th of November and ordered spaghetti bolognaise and pollo crema (chicken in sauce). The older waiter who served us was at best disinterested and totally ignored us for periods of time. The food was absolutely dreadful, the bolognaise had the consistency of soup making it very difficult to eat without it going everywhere. Usually while eating spaghetti bolognaise, you are given a spoon to wrap the spaghetti on your fork – not here! The chicken was very tough and clearly had not been cooked correctly. This food was not a patch on the food they served before covid, the place is very noisy and to add insult to injury I had to ask six times to pay the bill – I just wanted to get out of there. An experience I will not be repeating!
Written November 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderlust
Leeds38 contributions
Dec 2021 • family
Before you enter you can see through the big clear windows that it is a very warm and positive atmosphere. When you enter it is even more so. I think they were short staffed as there weren’t that many waiters/ waitresses to find to ask for any service etc. one particular waiter called Ali was very nice and helpful. But the females seemed too busy or not attentive enough. I asked for my bill twice and it took almost 15 minutes but when another family asked it took a minute and she went straight to them even though I was asking and waiting for ages! This really upset me and frustrated me as my son wanted to leave so I had to be really patient and wait till she came to me where I did bring up this issue. I feel their customer service wasn’t on point this time. The Florentine Pizza was amazing and the bread and tomato paste and olives they give as soon as you are sat down was sooo tasty! It was homemade too so I was told. This was my first time in Wakefield and probably my last time too.
Written December 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ALISON H
Harrogate690 contributions
Feb 2024 • couples
Had an excellent lunch here the other day . Prices for lunch are very reasonable and this was probably one of the reasons the place was full . The food was good , my fish cooked to perfection . This a place with no pretensions , just good food , well-cooked . The dishes are mostly Italian with a wide range of pasta , pizzas and meat and fish mains . Wine by the glass costs quite a bit less here as do the various kinds of coffee on offer . Service is friendly and efficient .
Written February 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShellyM
Wakefield31 contributions
Jun 2022 • family
Used to frequent Rusticos a lot but stopped going due to the face that you could get through a 3 course meal in half an hour due to how quick they served you. However, started going back a few months ago and pleasantly surprised. Food is much better and the service has really improved too. Would have been 5 stars but I'm wondering what you have to do to get chocolate mints/chocolates when you get your bill rather than the biscuits. Last 5 times, we've seen others getting chocolates but we've got biscuits. What's that all about 🙂
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Denise W
2 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
Restaurant is well located to visit for lunch, has a cosy, rustic atmosphere. The lunch menu is very reasonably priced and the food is very good. I have visited several times but have to say the service is letting them down recently. Both times I booked on-line and in answer to the Any special requests? - I asked for a table by a window. The last occasion I advised it would be my birthday in answer to their question about Any special occasion? They seemed oblivious both times about the request for a window table so didn't get one, and I don't know why they ask about a special occasion because there was no mention of a birthday. We were asked to stand by the bar to wait for a table even though there were vacant tables. There is not much room so we felt in the way, standing there for about 15 minutes. After waiting some time for our order to be taken, we had to call for a waiter although the restaurant was far from full. One of our party was served the main course, but minus the accompanying vegetables which, after waiting some time, they had to ask for. On two occasions I have been given sour milk with my tea. To be fair it was replaced and I was not charged for the drink - but attention to detail? The current waiting staff appear disinterested and not particularly welcoming, which is a shame as the venue and food is good.
Written March 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Myles D
Wakefield22 contributions
Oct 2021 • family
Not what it used to be. An over priced cafe with kids as staff. Shame that a once good quality, reasonably priced local restaurant has gone . They are charging top prices for mediocre food (at best) served by undertrained, uninterested
staff. If they can’t cook a steak well done… is there really any hope..
When the waiter comes to clears the table to find two nearly untouched Plates, surely you would ask if there was anything wrong. But, no. Not a thing!
Thanks for spoiling what should have been a lovely evening for my daughters 10th birthday.
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lazeedaydream99
Leeds263 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
We visit this restaurant every year before the annual panto at the theatre. It's always lovely food, good selection of food at reasonable prices. The staff are always friendly. This is the first year we have been asked for deposits for our booking, and asked to place orders in advance, but we were a large group (14 people). Will definately be back again next year.
Written January 5, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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