HANDS DOWN THE BEST PIZZA. And the fresh menu was so inviting. Burrata. Calzones. So many amazing options. You can tell they literally care about the food, your experience & your opinion. Service was top notch & will absolutely be here again!!!
We happened upon Rusciano’s on a windy, cold, and rainy night on a trip with our grandson. The restaurant is in a strip mall, and the interior is a bit bare and not cozy like many smaller Italian restaurants. The restaurant was perhaps 1/3 full,...but the man who met us at the door offered a seat right next to the door, where it was windy and even a bit wet. Who knows why? We were all wearing masks when we entered the entirely maskless restaurant... He almost seemed reluctant to seat us elsewhere, but we got a table near the back. The menu is interesting and has many dishes that look authentic. Two of us had the basil pesto pasta and grandson had pasta with olive oil and parmigiano (his favorite). My wife and I, who routinely make our own pesto and who have tried it around the world, agreed that Rusciano's pesto with pasta was some of the best we have tried, and their bread was excellent! Grandson's pasta also got his nod of approval. My $9 glass of aglianico tasted as if it had been open for a few days; our cold fish waiter asked how everything was, and we complimented them on their pasta but I mentioned the poor-quality wine. He said nothing and walked away. Rusciano's advertises true Neapolitan pizza, and I had the chance to chat with the pizzaiolo, working by the wood-fired oven. He was born in Napoli, so he definitely knows pizza from Napoli. If the service had not been so mediocre, verging on poor, I would have given Rusciano's 5 stars. With pleasant, efficient, and caring table service, this would be a true gem. As it is, it offers perhaps the best Italian food in the region. We did not have the chance to try the pizza, to compare it with what we've had many times in Napoli, but we plan to do that on a return trip.More
Salciccia pizza, burnt around the outer crust. Tasted burnt. The sausage had no flavor. The pizza was soggy I could not pick it up. It was not crispy.
We found Rusciano’s by accident while driving to a different restaurant, but it looked interesting so we figured we’d give it a try. It quickly became our go-to place for a great meal! The emphasis here is on quality in everything they do. The service...is always friendly and attentive (ask for Kendall - she’s awesome!), and the food? Out of this world! Everything is made with love. If you’re expecting something along the lines of the Olive Garden, this isn’t it - and that’s what’s so great about this place. The menu is full of unique dishes you won’t find at your “typical” Italian restaurant. Don’t skip the appetizers. My favorites are the Frittatine and the Arancini, but they’re all worth trying. The pastas and sauces are fresh, flavorful, and homemade. I’m from Long Island originally, and I had yet to be impressed with a single pizza I had tried in the Midwest. Rusciano’s is the exception. The crust is indescribably delicious, and the ingredients are so fresh! They truly have the most delicious pizzas you’ll ever taste. Rusciano’s isn’t the place to go for a cheap night out, but it’s definitely where you need to go if you’re looking for fresh, delicious, authentic Italian food that’s worth every penny.More
My boyfriend and I really enjoyed our dinner. Having been to Italy, and being European, this is great! The only downside is that I ordered a calzone and I’m allergic to tomatoes. I substituted marinara for pesto and was charged $1.50. This seems underhand to...me as it wasn’t communicated and it wasn’t a preference, I’m allergic! For the sake of $1.50 we didn’t contest it but the underhanded-ness left a bad taste. Aside from that, we enjoyed our meal very much.More
It doesn’t get any better than this outside of Italy! The flavor of the various dishes we had reminded of us of our Italian visit. The margherita pizza was just as we experienced at a street side cafe. Service was very good. We highly recommend...trying this especially if you can’t get to Italy!More
I’m Italian born and raised. I lived in the US for 2 years, I travelled a lot and I tried a lot of “authentic” Italian pizza places around here. With absolutely no doubt this is the one and only pizzeria that has been really able...to bring me back home. The real secret for Italian pizza is “less is more”, to bring up the quality of every single ingredient instead of losing its taste in a ton of different flavors. To obtain this you need to use really great ingredients, and Rusciano definitely knows where to find them. In addition, the dough is to die for. One visit and it’s already become my favorite restaurant around.More
Since COVID-19 restrictions, we've been phoning in our orders, and continue to be thrilled with the service and the quality of food. In fact, going to pick up our food has become an adventure we look forward to. We phone in our order and let...them know what time we'd like to pick up. We go inside to pick up. The food is always ready and hot, and as delicious as ever.More
Great pizza! This location is in a strip mall with various other options around but this was a stand out find. Pizza and calzone were excellent. Service was great and friendly. It was very quiet in the restaurant so atmosphere was cold and the decor...could be improved but more than made up for by the food.More
This restaurant has delicious authentic Italian food. We’ve tried both pizza and pasta and it’s wonderful. A great place for Italian food lovers as they feature different Italian dishes.
This place continues to be our top choice in North Liberty and keeps getting better. The owner is from Naples and brings years of experience creating real Italian street food and pizza. The wood-fired pizza oven was imported from Italy and does double duty baking...fresh bread As time goes on, he is expanding and offering a number of specials that are outstanding, from risottos with locally grown mushrooms to crispy cannolis with house-made shells piped full of goodness. Our usual habit is to order the special pizza and the special pasta, which might be a risotto or lasagna, or even squid ink pasta! About my only complaint is that the specials are only on the menu for a week or two, but some of the most memorable were made with fresh seasonal ingredients that can't be made to order any time of the year. This place is worth visiting again and again, and we do.More
What an awesome review, thank you so so much!
Many a foodie movie has sung praises to the authentic Neapolitan pizza, usually with the some version of the obligatory "food porn" shots. For us, it was a documentary, Arrangiarsi: Pizza...and the Art of Living that put the quest for the taste of Napoli on...our itinerary. To discover Rusciano's Authentic Napoli Pizza in our back yard made us a bit suspicious. The word "authentic" has become another marketing gimmick in the restaurant world. Rusciano's however, has certainly earned that label. This pizza joint occupies a humble spot among other strip mall businesses, but it welcomes with the warm Italian charm of the owner, Genaro Rusciano. Tidbits of his story as a native of Napoli are offered as he glides from being a host to serving and educating diners about the art of Neapolitan pizza in this hipster setting Of course, the secret is in the ingredients. We only tried the pizza, Margherita and Marinara to start, and Cinque Formaggi on a second visit. Fresh mozzarella cheese, San Marzano tomatoes, and a bit of basil. Even though I don't usually have tomato based pizza's, this is the pizza I've craved without knowing it. Cinque Formaggi is just that, pizza topped with five types of cheese and a few roasted pecans. I would have preferred the cheese to be better blended for a consistent flavor over the whole pizza, but one gets a bit of a gustatory adventure in tasting different undertones in different bites. I rarely order dessert unless it bears the promise of being spectacular. Genaro told us that he'd made the canoli from scratch, including the crust, so I couldn't resist. Extraordinary absence of the heavy sugar punch so typical of American desserts made me so glad I succumbed to this temptation. The crust was perfectly browned and flaky and the filling and dollops of garnish demanded a sensuous savoring. I'm done searching for a perfect pizza, and I look forward to tasting other things on Rusciano's menu.More
Thank you for the incredible feedback!
Wonderfully authentic and fresh. The flavors of the food linger long after the meal is finished. I very much appreciate the care and perfection of the preparation of the food. I look forward to many more visits.
Thank you so much!
We tried the Street Food Sampler, but the arancini was the best. Next time, we'll just order the arancini. Pizza was good, especially the crust. However, the calzone crust was disappointing. We'll stick with the pizzas in the future.
Thank you!
Very good food and friendly service. It’s a pretty small place and seating is limited. I would definitely come back.
Thank you