Rustic

Rustic is set in the beautiful wine country in Sonoma County. The views are amazing. The food is delicious. The service is friendly. The ambiance is relaxing with lots of smiles and laughter. We’re lucky to have such a wonderful place in Sonoma County.

This was our third trip and I have never been disappointed. On both previous visits we sat outside and truly felt like we were in a movie, the design is flawless and has lots of unique touches like all the silver is different but elegant. On our second trip between lunch, wine tasting, hanging out at the pool bar and playing bocce ball we stayed six hours! This trip we ate inside due to the cold blustery day and still found it charming but outside seating is better. We had a reservation for a 1pm lunch, arrived early on a Monday and were seated immediately. We started our two hour lunch with a bag of zeppole a yeasty fresh fried bread served in a white paper bag-​nice touch. Also a variety of olives in a lemoney olive oil. I had a glass of Sofia prosecco and hubby had a Moretti Italian beer. We passed on other appetizers and ordered lunch entrees. All three visits they were not serving two or three dishes on the menu so be sure to ask up front before getting yourself worked up for a dish that may not be available. Hubby had the Argentinean short ribs served with grilled veggies, I had the whole muffalate which was huge and I only ate one eighth of it. I also had a side of garlic and lemon sautéed escarole. The rib serving was huge and served medium to rare. The veggies pretty standard except this is the only restaurant I’ve ever seen serve chipollini onions! Nice touch! My muffalate was amazing but they are pre made and cold and I wish it had more of the olive tampanade. A friend advised me afterward to ask for the muffalate to be toasted. I splurged and got a glass of the archemedies Cabernet ($ 19 a glass) and I was not sorry. It was a big bold red full of a myriad of flavors to the nose and palate. It was a generous pour but the glass was small and did not allow for adequate aeration. We finished with a shared panna cota with a lovely berry sauce and expresso. My only complaints are the expresso was served lukewarm, I saw a salad being served at an adjacent table in a bowl with a large chip on the edge, I could see it clearly from my table. Last issue was the soap in the bathroom (which was spotlessly clean) had a delightful scent but it really clung to my hands making every bite of my hand held sandwich smell like aftershave lotion. I gave it five stars due to how impeccable our last two visits were how consistently excellent the service is (today we had Andres) and today’s visit was still awesome despite my observations above. Lunch for two with two drinks each, two entrees, one side, dessert expresso $ 115 before tip. I would definitely visit again!

We heard great things from our friends about Rustic so the 6 of us went on a recent Tuesday night for their «A Tavola» dinner. Rustic does this event on Tuesday evenings. It’s billed as «a casual dining experience inspired by Francis’s favorite way of enjoying a meal. Instead of ordering from menus, the chef prepares a variety of dishes and sends them to your table.» Great concept and we were looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, when we got there the waiter just kept bringing plate after plate with no break. We didn’t even have time to finish one before the next arrived. I lost count of how many items they rushed us through. The food was well prepared and tasty, but the entire experience was unpleasantly rushed. The food came so fast it was all a blur.
Our friends warned us to not eat a lot from any of the individual items as there would be too much food. Always listening to friends advice, we complied. Unfortunately there was no indication as to how many courses we’d have and while trying to pace ourselves, all of a sudden the food stopped coming and we were done! We walked away still hungry.
All the while we were being rushed through dinner some actors and singers entertained the room. We would have liked to have a break to enjoy the show.
The wine list is fairly extensive. We tried some of the Coppola wine and found that it was quite tasty.
Would we go back? Possibly, but on an evening with regular service.

I’m a member of this winery. You get discount of purchasing and dining. You get complementary tasting.
I love the braised lamb, it’s for two people but I’m sure I can kill the entire dish. I missed it every day after having dinner there.

Solid Italian food in a gorgeous wine country setting. The location and view cannot be beat. Even on a chilly afternoon in late November, sitting outside was A-​OK, thanks to the big translucent tent. Kept us warm and we could still enjoy the «outdoors».
Rustic draws a crowd, that’s for sure. Even on Thanksgiving weekend, there were massive amounts of people waiting to dine. Luckily my +1 and I arrived after the big lunch rush and it was about a 20-​min wait for a table. We wandered around the museum and grounds, so time went fast.
For a midday meal we ate fried zucchini, meatballs/​penne, and spaghetti carbonara. Decent portions and flavor. Nothing too fabulous but I was actually expecting much worse. Much better than a Planet Hollywood (did anyone else find here in the ’90’s?). Prices were pretty reasonable, considering the setting and Coppola brand.
For me, Rustic will likely be a one-​time experience. Check it off the bucket list and make it a point to return in summertime for some pool action instead.

Best part of the meal were the the bread starters. Friendly wait staff and beautiful restaurant. Food was good but pricey.

I’ve been coming to this restaurant since 2007. The service is always excellent and the food is always on point. You can come dressed up in the evenings or just come in your casual clothes – love that. Versatility! There is patio seating if you would like to view the vineyards while you eat. What I don’t like… the silver ware is placed directly on the table and the tables aren’t getting a great wipe down between guests. Of course this would be fine if they had table cloths and were changing them between guests but that’s not the case here. Maybe I’m being too picky, or maybe it’s just my pet peeve. :) Don’t order any salads in the Fall that come with a vinegar dressing unless you want to share your meal with the fruit flies that will be joining you from their vineyard home.

Rustic is the adjoining restaurant to Francis Ford Coppola’s winery in Sonoma. Definitely get patio seating for amazing views of the vineyard. Service was decent.
Favorite part of the meal was when our server dropped off an unassuming paper bag. Inside was freshly made Italian savory zeppole or fried dough. Absolutely delicious.
Entrees were okay, not mind-​blowing. We had two pasta dishes — the spagetthi pomodoro and the Bumbola Con Broccoli e Salsiccia which is a short pasta with broccoli rabe and italian sausage and cream (was a little too heavy). The pastas were served in really small bowls which took away from the presentation.

We went for a late lunch yesterday. This is one of several visits to Rustic and I feel compelled to write this review for a couple of reasons. First off the food is really terrific. Very well done and not pretentious at all. Normally the service is spot on but yesterday after being seated on the patio, it took nearly 20 minutes to get our drinks and place our orders.
Obviously they had been extremely busy but this usually isn’t a problem there since this is a tourist destination; they are normally well prepared.
Our lunch took about two hours from start to finish and while the scenery is awesome, looking at dirty tables for the entire meal was not appetizing at all. Not sure what was up with the staff yesterday but the table I was facing was dirty the entire time and so were quite a few others. They just cleaned and reset it when we paid our tab, no joke.
The reason for this review is that I hope Rustic takes note. And not to be completely discouraging as I said this is a first there. I still recommend it highly, for the views, the food and the prices are very reasonable. I’m a local and I will go back many times I’m sure.

Spent the evening for my wedding Anniversary at Rustic with my husband. The evening was rainy so there was no outside seating. I ordered the rack of lamb medium and cut to order, my dinner arrived beautiful however the lamb was way too pink in the middle of my chops, unfortunately I had to request the lamb chops be grilled some more. I have to say our waiter Rene was very attentive and very accommodating. He checked on us quite frequently which was very nice. My dinner returned & it was cooked much better to my liking. I have to say the rice was extremely bland, next visit I will ask for polenta or mashed potatoes. My husband truly enjoyed his steak & it was grilled to perfection. He said it was seasoned well and it was a large portion.
In conclusion, we had a very nice evening & my mojito was strong & delicious.

Let’s start with the good things. Our server was expectedly pleasant.
Now onto the bad things. It started off by us having to wait an hour to get seated, when a party of three white women were told a «fifteen minute wait.» Then the hostess lead us to our table, which wasn’t ready. So we had to walk back and wait while they cleaned it. I got a mojito just to change up things a bit. It had a bug it in. The server took it back and brought me a new one, halfway through our meal. We ordered a medium rare steak, and it came out raw. That’s okay, we’re reasonable let’s just send it back and get it cooked a little more. Five minutes after my boyfriend’s pizza came out, my steak arrived, only the same exact way it looked earlier. The server stopped by and asked whether my «steak came out to the temperature [I] liked it.» As if it’s my fault that they cooked their steak raw.
Not the way we expected to be treated for the amount of money we paid. Save yourselves the trip and pack a picnic.

Anniversary dinner was spent here at Rustic. Was so romantic looking over the vineyard (outside seating). The service was so attentive. The food was good. I ordered the rack of lamb. It was sweet. I personally like my lamb more on the savory side, but was nonetheless quite good. Spinach was nice and garlic flavored, with a wedge of lemon. I ordered the Sofia sparkling vino, a very refreshing choice. Over all… Fabulous!

Wow! Just wow! Beautiful restaurant and great food. I like the explanations of why certain dishes and drinks made it to the menu. I felt like I was peeking into FFC’s memories, which added to the enjoyment.
The food was delicious! We couldn’t finish the Classic Fiorentina. It was a sizable cut, but also a little chewy and slightly under seasoned. But it didn’t help that we paired it with L’ami Louis Gâteau de Pommes. It was so rich!
Since we had just indulged ourselves with a wine tasting I wanted to try a cocktail instead of wine. I think it was called a Navy Grog? It was quite potent and one drink was more than enough.
Can’t wait to come back again and try the other dishes!

Francis Ford Coppola has created another masterpiece w this winery. Every aspect of it, from the dual sweeping staircase in front, to the bocce ball courts made of crushed oyster shells, is authentically & quintessentially Italian.
The Restaurant…
If it’s sunny, please sit outside!
Sitting outside on the patio for dinner is definitely a life affirming experience.
The views of the vineyards & hills are just beautiful.
This is the life.
We started w a Caesar salad. We split it, & it was still so generous in size that I filled up on it & could only nibble on my entrée. Very well done. Even w the anchovies that we don’t eat.
I had to get the Chicken Mattone (chicken cooked under a brick). It’s a favorite dish, & it’s not on too many menus. It was massive in size. It was über juicy on the inside, & crispy on the outside. That’s how a good Mattone should be. Taste wise, it wasn’t the most delicious Mattone I’ve ever had, but it was above par; especially given its on-​point preparation. Props for that.
My man ordered another dish I was eager to try, the braciole w rigatoni. Both of our dish picks were on the «Francis’s Favorites» portion of the menu. He LOVED it. It was rich, zesty, & flavorful. A perfect dish for a familia kind of dinner, which is what this restaurant is all about. Family.
The complimentary beignet type of bread was excellent. The waiter told us that to take it from savory to sweet, they just add powdered sugar. Love.
The view, the location, & the general coolness that are all things Coppola gets 5 stars.
The food?
4 stars.

With views like those present from the outdoor, vineyard side dinning at Rustic, it is difficult to not enjoy the meal. Even with the hit and miss entrees I have had over the years of dinning at Rustic I say its worth the adventure. I’ve been to Rustic enough times to sample a variety of the popular items on the menu, the «habit forming ribs», rack of lamb which can both be spot on or a little dry and disappointing (aside from chicken, I like my meat rare).
My go to items:
One simple but tasty option to start off with is the mozzarella. The presentation leaves little to be desired but it’s cheese so of course its going to be good regardless. The fresh mozzeralla ball is served in a bowl paired with a side balsamic vinegar and the famous Pettole (savory donut like bread).
The cob salad is a hearty option to try if you are looking for a light meal or for a nice item to share.
My favorite dish is the Ms. Scorcese’s lemon chicken; but you have to like lemon. The entrée is chicken pieces served in the lemon broth that is infused with spices but heavy on the lemon flavor. It is served with white rice to soak up the brothy goodness.
I would also suggest the Pizza Funghi e salsiccia (sausage and mushroom pizza)

Been to Rustic a couple of times and it’s always a great experience. This time my buddy and I had exceptional service from our server Ben and the staff. The food and wine were great. I had the Chicken Mattone (crispy and moist cooked under a brick) and my friend had the Australian Rack of Lamb.
Aside from the great food and wine, however, is the overall winery restaurant experience. You can’t help but feel great surrounded by the rustic atmosphere and the vineyard. You won’t be disappointed here. In fact, you’ll remember what life is really about — sharing a good experience with friends or family.

Rustic was inside of the Francis Ford Coppola Winery with inside and outside seating. Nobody sat outside when we came because it was cold. It would be good to sit outside on a nice warm day to overlook the vineyard. Rustic was able to accommodate 8 of us and we sat in one corner of the restaurant where it was half booth and half chair. The lighting was fine for the evening/​night but not if you’re going to take pictures without a flash (in my opinion) which was what I was going to do. I had my white card with me so no problem.
Our waiter recommended anything in the rectangle in the center of the menu labeled «Francis’s Favorites». The item I wanted to try out was the Braciole with Rigatoni in Meat Ragu ($ 22) but that was not available the night we came. I should have picked something else but I wanted pizza for some reason. Bad move on my part or rather bad selection since their other pizzas could be good. I chose the Pizza Funghi E Salsiccia ($ 18) and I should have ordered like the New York Strip Steak ($ 25). I didn’t order anything else.
One of my coworkers ordered the Fresh Mozzarella with pettole ($ 8) and that was good. We had a free sample of something (forgot the name of it) that was delicious. It was meat on something that was probably bruschetta. Our table’s food came out slowly and somewhat pretty close to one another (little staggered). I tried some of coworker’s Rigatoni & Meatballs ($ 18) which was yummy. I was going to order that but nope. My Pizza Funghi E Salsiccia was very, very dry since there was no sauce under the toppings. I don’t know if it was supposed to be that way, but I can assume that was how it was supposed to be. It sounded like everybody else enjoyed their food, so I definitely chose the wrong thing on the menu.
Another trip to this place would definitely be on my to-​do list to update this review if I’m in the area again (probably in 4 months when I go back to the area for work). Otherwise, this will be a disappointment for now.

Arrived here about 6:40pm Sunday 01÷18÷15 and was told the wait was about 40 minutes, but was told we could sit at the bar & eat, which had no one there but the bartender. So that is where we sat (party of 2).
The service wad excellent and fast! My friend ordered Bumbola Con Broccoli E Salsiccia, I ordered Spaghetti Al Pomodora, and we split the Cho Cho Salad. I liked that they separated the salad into 2 bowls. The salad was delicious, crisp, not too much bacon or Asian salad dressing — it was just right. My spaghetti was wonderful, though I couldn’t eat it all it was delicious and I brought it home. My friend gobbled her meal all up, so I’m taking that as she enjoyed it! We had a bottle of red wine which hit the spot. And somehow my friend was able to notify or server/​bartender that it was my birthday and she brought out a lovely angel food cake with fruit & whio cream.
All-​in-​all it was a wonderful meal, the service was great, and our server/​bartender was fantastic! I would definitely come here again!

Before I start, I have to disclose something; Rustic was an accident in my life. Because I felt Coppolaland was Sonoma/​Napa Disneyland, I’ve somewhat boycotted it in person, whilst secretly enjoying their superb Claret and Blanc de Blancs at home. For my birthday, I found Rustic on Opentable, and completely jumped past the mention of Coppola and straight to their listing of Bastilla (my favorite food of all the foods) and made the reservation on the spot. I thought maybe they were on the east side of Geyserville with the other foodie locations, but after punching the address into the GPS and arriving at the looming gates of Coppola winepark, we literally sat in my car in the middle of the intersection while I bubbled incoherently to my fiancé about MY surprise to MYSELF on MY pick for my birthday dinner.
Thankfully we proceeded despite my qualms with myself, and also successfully kept to myself that I’ve never even seen a Coppola movie, although I was a huge fan of the Captain EO ride as a kid. After a quick stroll around the grounds and a Neighbor’s wine tasting in the tasting room, we headed to the dining room and were seated. The area is spacious, simple, and mostly tasteful with the exception of memorabilia plastered on any vertical surface possible. Our waitress was a delightfully acerbic blonde from Germany who we took to immediately.
We had ordered a cocktail at the bar while waiting (which was expertly crafted, by the way), but still decided to start with a glass of Director’s Cut Cinema and Chardonnay. We looked over the verbose menu, full to the brim with narrative, explanations, and stories, and the English Major in me was thrilled! Food and Stories! And wine! Life is so good!!! We were brought the adorable bag of Pettole ($ 3, first bag is complimentary), a salt-​dusted take on a savory doughnut, which was amazing. We then dove into the menu with gusto.
We selected the Spinach side ($ 7) piled high, lightly sautéed, with a generous serving of thinly sliced garlic and a wedge of fresh lemon. For our main course, darling man chose the Bumola con Broccoli E Salsiccia ($ 17), which I was jealous of because of its literally perfectly al dente pasta, and red wine cream sauce. I had no choice but to see how Coppola does on Bastilla ($ 15), which was good but had a curry or cumin base that I’m not used to and took me off guard.
The waitress alerted us that we would receive a complimentary birthday dessert, which was a delightfully light angel food cake with fresh fruit, and we also ordered the Panna Cotta ($ 7), dished with a raspberry red wine sauce, that could rival the best panna cottas I’ve had. We let our waitress know that not only were we celebrating my birthday but also celebrating two months till our wedding then facing a deployment, and she generously gave us a 50% discount! We were shocked so we tipped her that back. She then ran after us as we were leaving and brought us a bottle of Blanc de Blancs, which was super wonderful and thoughtful of her.
Definitely returning after such an unexpectedly good experience at Francis’s Wineland. Looking forward to giving other menu items such as the Mrs Scorsese’s Lemon Chicken a try, and lounging poolside in the summer in a cabana. Ah, ain’t life grand?

I have such a soft spot for Rustic. First of all, the staff is always so friendly and helpful. Always such great service. And second, how on earth can you beat the location? Francis Ford Coppola did an incredible job with this winery and so much more. Swim in the summer, enjoy the views year round, and how can you forget the awesome gift shop?
The food is amazing. It’s clear that Coppola took a lot of time to perfect this menu and it means a lot to him. The Zucchini fries are out of this world and all of the pasta dishes are incredible! My one issue is that the menu NEVER changes. Seriously, it has been the same for years. I understand that it’s supposed to be Coppola’s favorites, but sometimes a little variety is nice.
Their cocktail list is impressive and the Pimm’s cup reminds me of my mum’s.
If you’re in the area don’t miss out!