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Pizza Rustica
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
270 Wellington St WToronto, ON M5V 3P5
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Downtown Core
(416) 260-0200
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Pizza Rustica
Review Highlights
"A great place to enjoy an Italian style thin crust pizza."
(in 3 reviews)
"Their BBQ chicken pizza is the best in the city."
(in 3 reviews)
"Great spaghetti and meatballs (made with fresh basil & veal..."
(in 3 reviews)
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Grace C.
9/3/2011
Conveniently located near to the Second City theatre performance. For a group of three, we split the Bruschetta Rustica, Cajun Calamari, and the Pollo Pesto Pizza, which were more than enough. We thought the cajun calamari would be unique given the seasoning and it was great paired with the two types of sauces provided. The pollo pesto pizza was a good call! It came on a thin crust and had the right allocation of mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and chicken. So delicious! The restaurant was able to accommodate us in a timely manner and had us full and ready to leave right on time for our show.
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Review from Jason K.
12/23/2011
- not bad pizza in a sea of towering concrete and glass
- their rustica (prociutto, goat cheese, mushrooms, sundried tomatoes) pizza and rosemary potato bianco pizza are my two favs. esp the rosemary one... hmmmm...
- bonus is that they deliver... downside is that their delivery time takes forever ("at least an hour"... is what i was quoted ones) -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
9/2/2011
Sidebar: I wish yelp had half marks - but then again, that's like a can of worms...if I could give a half, then I'd want to give a quarter...lol.
Whoever wrote the copy for Pizza Rustica's website is really, really cheesy and has a poor command of the English language. I mean seriously...here's a quote:
"Smart service with infectious ambiance and a fresh vibe, we create an environment where you and your friends can feel at home, relax and be free. With the right mix of homestyle cooking, great wine, company, and atmosphere create great moments!"
Seriously? Ewwww.
I'm just going to pretend the website doesn't exist. Because frankly, I believe you can choose what exits in your world. I've done that...with people too. It's amazing how I can wipe out an entire population.
I enjoy Pizza Rustica for many reasons. It's an easy place to grab a bite to eat. They have a ton of choices. It's reasonably priced. It's family owned. It's also "Toronto's hippest pizza joint". Says who? They do. I don't agree, nor do I disagree. I plead the fifth.
Their main location is across from SoHo and it's quaint, dark and burgandy. Everything is a really terrible shade of this colour. I frankly think they need a decor overhaul. Their other location is not as bad. It's around the corner on Wellington, near John, but is better for take-out.
Last night I met up with Nettypants. Nettypants is like a fiery ball of sunshine - equal parts giggle and panache. We shared the Fragola Salad because it's Nettypants' "favourite" salad. It has strawberries (which she loves), candied pecans (which I love), goat cheese (who doesn't love cheese), cherry tomatoes (negligible), and creamy poppy seed dressing (which is her favourite).
I like their pizza but if pasta is on a menu...I'll (almost) always get pasta. No shock then that I got the Seafood Linguine.
My only complaint is the sauce to pasta ratio. Way too much sauce. There's a pool under there. Too too much is never good, but extra extra is awesome. For example, more shrimp and scallops in my dish would have been extra extra, but pasta drowning in sauce? That's too too much. (Still doesn't make sense? I'll put it to you like this: you know how some guys have shirtless photos...yet they really should NOTand then they post that sh*t on Facebook...that's too too much. But say you're invited to a pink-themed party, and while you detest the colour, everything is really pink. Like this girl is not messing around - even the bathroom towels are pink, as is the hand soap...well now, that's extra extra. And extra extra is awesome...it's like attention to detail to the 10th power.) Sorry, back to Pizza Rustica...
Nettypants got the Pollo Pesto without mushrooms.
All in all, it was a nice dinner out. I will point out that I did not like our waitress. She was pleasant...on the surface...but deep down something was irking her.
I'm off pasta for a while because I love it too much. As for my pizza craving? For now, I'll shove my face full of Pizza Nova because at baseline I'm more cheap and cheerful than rustic and romantic. I'm also extra extra. -
Review from Lilliane G.
Toronto, ON
7/10/2011
Had dinner here last week with a friend. I had purchased a teamBuy certificat ($19 for $45 worth of food).
It was a Wed night and we arrived at about 6pm. We were seated quickly and our drinks were brought to us almost immediately after we ordered. We shared the mussels appetizer and it was delicious. The portion size was really good for an appetizer.
For our mains I ordered chicken penne and my friend had the seafood linguine. The portion sizes, again, were good.
Service was fast throughout the meal. The decor here is a little dated, but that didn't take away from the meal at all.
Good value for the money, even if we hadn't used the teamBuy certificate. Dinner for 2 people with drinks was around $60, which is quite reasonable for this touristy neighbourhood. -
Review from Karen G.
Toronto, ON
3/23/2011
Desperately craving pizza, but not of the Pizza Pizza variety, I headed to Pizza Rustica for the first time on the recommendation of a friend who had walked by it many times, never been, but ensured me it always smelt "very, very good".
We arrived at about 7:30 on a Friday night, and I was surprised at how very small this place is. There are about 10 - 15 tables and a bar area, and unfortunately we got there just as the last table was snapped up. Luckily there were 2 spots left at the bar, and we were able to get a drink while we waited. A nice surprise occured when our would-be waitress approached us and asked if we'd like to order before we got our table, as the food would arrive as soon as we were seated. Nice one. My stomach at this point was practically jumping out of my throat, so speed was key.
Once seated (about a 20 minute wait at the bar), our food arrived approximately 5 minutes later. I ordered the Tre Carne pizza, with a ton o' meat and banana peppers, onions and tomatoes. The ground beef was fantastic, really flavourful. The pizza itself had a nice thin crust and a thin but balanced layer of sauce and cheese. I personally am not a fan of thick crust or too much sauce - less is more, so this suit me perfectly.
All in all my pizza craving was asauged, and the leftovers (and unless you are ready to eat a small horse, there will be leftovers) tasted even better warmed and with a little hot sauce the next day. The place itself is a little small, so if there are no bar seats I'd move along, as the wait isn't worth it if you're standing around for 20 minutes. -
Review from Lauren M.
Decent pizza in Condo-land.
I'm surprised to hear people comparing it to places like Terroni. It's good - but it's no Terroni!
Pizza Rustica serves thin crust pizzas (your choice of whole wheat or normal white pizza crust) but I feel like they are missing a little TLC. They are good but just good, I would never compare them to anything I ate in Italy! Ingredients just do not seem really fresh. Pizza is tasty but nothing to fantasize about.
That being said, the price is right ($12-$14 for most pizzas). Cheap for this neighbourhood.
I also tried the Italian Wedding soup which was pretty meh...it could have been Campbells, for all I know.
The decor tries but kind of fails, reminds me of something from the 1990s despite being a newer restaurant.
The service was very, very good. Friendly, attentive and quick.
Decent choice if you are in the area but don't travel here for the pizza. Go to Terroni or Libretto for that. -
Review from Jannies L.
Brampton, ON
4/9/2011 6 photos
We came here with two teambuy coupons so it was definitely worth it! We ordered:
Cajun calamari $11
Caesar Salad $7
Bbq chicken pizza $14
Rustica pizza $14
Seafood Linguine $17
The appetizers were both really good, the salad was shared among 4 of us and definitely sauced well, no runny water on the bottom of the plate! Cajun calamari was crispy and offered a different take on the norm,
The bbq chicken had too much sauce but was still good, the rustica tasted better but the toppings were falling off, not enough cheese on neither! The pasta was really good, seafood was fresh and pesto added a lot of taste, and was not salty like other cream pastas!
Decor is nice and could be good for groups and dates, both types was there, casual and nicely dressed!
Wine list isn't anything to write home about, washroom was single stall and the boys didn't flush :s
The waitress was really nice and not fake which is always a plus! But she did put oinions on my pizza after I asked for none but then they did replace it right away while some places will try to make it look like your fault! Some poor guy got a parking ticket across the street while we were dining! Over all its nice if I'm in the area but I'll stick to Hot House Cafe for my pizza/Italian :) -
Review from Jeremy P.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2011
Tonight I went to Pizza Rustica for dinner with my cousin as I had purchased a deal via Teamsave (spend $19 get $40).
We arrived at about 815pm on a Saturday night, with no reservation. The restaurant was half full and we were seated promptly.
I went with the caesar salad ($7) to start, and ordered the Americano (green peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, spicy salami) pizza ($14) for my main. My cousin ordered the BBQ Chicken pizza ($14) and had a beer on tap to drink (specific brand name is escaping me at the moment).
The caesar salad was excellent. It was served in a large bowl, with crisp romaine lettuce, creamy garlic dressing and herbed croutons (a slice of garlic toast was served on the side). It was a fair sized portion, definitely large enough to share.
The pizza is served on a thin crust and comes in one size (must have been approx 10 inches (the equivalent to a small domino's pizza). It's definitely large enough for the average person (I could have shared mine and still had enough). Both myself and my cousin did not finish ours and took a portion of our pizza's home in a doggy bag.
I asked for my pizza to be made without the spicy salami and the waitress obliged my request. I was hoping that she might have made a suggestion like adding another topping, but no suggestion was made. My personal preference when it comes to pizza is for there to be a lot of toppings. I'd rather have more than less. This is not the style of pizza that one will find at Pizza Rustica. That being said, I am not going to penalize the restaurant because my tastes differ from how it is made.
This was not my first visit to Pizza Rustica, but was the first visit in quite a long time. I had a sample of my cousin's choice, the BBQ Chicken, and it was exactly as I remember. The sauce that is used is quite tangy and works quite well with the chicken and asiago cheese.
Our total bill came to $47 (excl. tip). We were in and out in a little more than an hour.
A few minor criticisms:
- while the service was prompt and friendly, it was noted that they delivered our pizzas before I was finished eating my salad. This didn't faze me, however it is something that should be mentioned as some people are very picky about something like that.
- when the bill arrived, both myself and my cousin presented $20 bills and asked the waitress if she could provide change for both of us. The waitress responded that they did not have enough change in the restaurant and that we would have to go to the corner store next door to get change. What restaurant can't change two $20s?!?
I know that some prior reviews have commented on it not being quite as good as Pizza Libretto or Terroni. I don't think it's appropriate to compare Pizza Rustica with the other two. The only time I've dined at Pizza Libretto, I had to wait over an hour for a table, and the pizza was marginally better. Terroni in my opinion is more of a higher end Italian restaurant that serves items like Osso Bucco or Veal Parmigana.
Conclusion: I would probably give a rating of 3.5 out of 5, but since Yelp doesn't allow for half stars, I'll be generous and give it a 4 out of 5.
That being said, I'm not sure how quickly I'll return. That's more a result of there being so many other choices in the city and the fact that it's not the cheapest of places (the main reason that I went was because of the Teamsave coupon) to dine. -
Review from Ada T.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2011
Needed a place for a large group in the area and Pizza Rustica fit the bill. They allowed us to do separate bills which was a huge plus. Also one of the few restaurants in the area that is open on Sunday afternoons. The food was delicious. I particularly liked the salmone pizza, the spaghetti and meatballs, and the Cajun chicken. I wasn't that fond of the philly steak pizza but others seemed to like it. Will definitely come back, especially if I have a large group.
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Review from Haley K.
8/13/2011
Good service, god food. Greatest pizza ever? No, but a good, tasty thin crust. We got the pizza rustica without the pancetta and it was unique and flavorful. There was something sweet about it, which was the only taste that did not appeal to me. Caesar tasty, but a little more dressing than I'm used to. Our kids liked their respective pizza (Marguerita) and spaghetti and meatballs.
Only 'con' of the experience was the iced tea was pre-sweetened. Is that a Canadian thing?? Why not bring it unsweetened and let us add sugar or splenda ourselves --- or not add it at all, which is the way my family and I prefer it.
Enjoyed the patio dining on this delightful summer evening. -
Review from Robin L.
Toronto, ON
10/20/2009
This is not a joke review - this place had the best value breakfast I have found in the city - a pizza place. I prefer spending a little more eating at Senses or Le Select Bistro - $20 each, but at Rustico you get a better value fill for $10. And I dont want to speak of the low quality of Cora's again. Cora's is passable but I cannot cook that average a quality meal in my own home.
So, Rustico, I got their special - it had bacon, eggs, home fries and toast; pancakes and fruit. Coffee as well. And I was pleased with the service and the food, mostly. The food was all great quality and big portions, except for the fruit - too much of it, given that it was half spoiled.
Anyway, I just had to write this one because I was stunned to find a great place for breakfast right outside my place - and that it was in a pizza place. It's great. Try it out and let me know if it is consistently good. Thanks.
Addendum: This venue no longer serves breakfast during the week. -
Review from Christine T.
9/26/2009
Yes... Unclear on the concept of thin crust pizza comes to mind when reading the few of the other reviewers.
Perhaps the other reviewers have never had an opportunity to enjoy a New York style thin crust za.
Beautifully executed in a 12 inch size, the signature style of the pizza will impress you. Great spaghetti and meatballs (made with fresh basil & veal) is a steal.
Authentic Italian Wedding soup is classically prepared and deee-licious.
The patio is still open and available as the last hoorah of summer slips
by. Oh,Illly Coffee served. Nuf'said.. -
Review from Alex P.
Toronto, ON
10/16/2011
Joined some friends for a bday dinner before going out. I liked the pizza. Not the greatest I've had, but it was good. I had the sausage (Salsiccia) pizza and they used real chopped up sausage. I would repeat. Cheers...
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Review from Kat F.
2/9/2009 1 photo
Along with Terroni and Pizza Libretto, Pizza Rustico completes my triad of "favourite pizza places" in Toronto. I have always had great service and an enjoyable time there. They have a decent selection of pizza topping combinations as well as many pastas. Service is decent and friendly but the food wait can be long and daunting.
Good place to go on the way to a Jays/Raptors/Leafs game as it's close to the Air Canada Centre and Skydome! -
Review from Jay G.
Toronto, ON
6/1/2009
This place just doesn't do it for me. I've been a few times and it just doesn't do it. Although the decor is nice and service is decent the pizzas are just sad. They aren't anything special, sure they are better than Pizza Pizza but that's not a hard task. I've been here a few times and just was disappointed every time.
I find the pizza crust to be more of a pita consistency than a pizza crust, the sauce was lifeless and skimpy, and the cheese tastes like it's from a package. I'm not saying the pizza is bad but when you name yourself Pizza Rustica, you should make rustic pizzas. I want fresh mozzarella chesse, a dough that's thin and cripsy but light and fluffy in the middle, and a sauce that blends everything together well. Maybe they were better back in 2004 when they were voted Toronto's best pizza but recently it just has missed the mark.
The decor is nice with lots of red, funky angled chairs, and light fixtures shaped like peppers. The service was friendly but nothing really stands out as outstanding.
Maybe I'm setting my bar too high but this pizza and I are done. Still a good place for a meal but I don't think it deserves all the pizza hype its getting but that's just me.
Overall, the decor and service was good. The prices are reasonable for what you are getting... just avoid the pizza. Kinda defeats the purpose of a pizza place doesn't it? Here's hoping that enough beer will fix it!Listed in: My Pizza List
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Review from Rebecca W.
3/28/2010
YUM! My favorite meal that we had in Toronto.
Things are definitely cozy in here during the peak dinner hour--lots of people at lots of tiny tables--but the lively, warm atmosphere was just right on a chilly, dark night.
The pizza was fantastic--I went with the house special, the Pizza Rustica. The crispy thin crust, fresh ingredients, and general non-greasiness reminded me of pizzas I ate in Rome. Since we had a huge calamari appetizer (it was pretty good; not the best I've ever had) and each ordered our own pizza, SK and I thought we'd be carrying out some leftovers. ....oops. Didn't happen.
This place hits a nice balance of being both trendyish--crowded, lively, lots of young, sophisticated urbanites out mingling--and warm, comfortable, and pretty reasonably priced. Would definitely go back, but....to have the same thing, or try something new?
Hm--guess I'll have to come back at least twice. -
Review from Mike B.
St Catharines, ON
11/3/2010
Went for breakfast. Waited 15 mins for a server, ordered right away and the food was still slow. Food was cold and so was the server. Hostess was very nice. Should have gone to Cora's.
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Review from Hailie W.
7/31/2011
My husband and I had walked past this place a few times during our stay in Toronto. The smell had us salivating every time! We had lunch here on a Saturday. We were seated immediately (since we were the only people there) by a very friendly waitress. The place had just opened so it was nice and quiet and service was super quick. We skipped appetizers and went straight for the pizza. I had the Tre Carne which was great! The meats were very flavorful and banana peppers were nice and spicy. Very delicious! My husband asked if he could have a pizza that wasn't on the menu, it wasn't a problem at all. They obliged his request. Price was VERY reasonable for the area. The pizzas were about 12 inches each, more than enough to satisfy. My husband and I had a pretty big appetite and I polished off about half and my husband about 3 quarters. We had enough to take back to our hotel and have a whole other meal. I definitely suggest this place for a quick cheap lunch.
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Review from Andrea B.
Montréal, QC
6/13/2009
What a crap shoot....Thin, tiny pieces with hardly any flavour to them (I think there was one piece of pepperoni per slice with tomato sauce on the "Mediterranean", boring salads with unoriginal dressing and a total rip-off. The diet coke was good.
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Review from John B.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2009
I didn't have high hopes for this place, but was pleasantly surprised. It may be yet another restaurant buried in a condo high-rise, and the name of the place may be uninspired, but it's cute inside and the sausage calabrese pizza is some of the best I've had in a long time.
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Review from Magdalena R.
Toronto, ON
8/19/2009
I love their pizzas. They have good quality toppings and their crusts are thin. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very chill and the staff is very friendly.
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Review from Lindsey S.
Toronto, ON
5/6/2010
Their BBQ chicken pizza is the best in the city.
Deeelish!! -
Review from Greg F.
Toronto, ON
2/9/2009
In the heart of Downtown Toronto, on Blue Jays Way, this modern sit down Pizza joint is sure to make you feel like your at authentic Italian Eatery!
Pizza Rustica is a modern flair to your typical local pizza shop. Modern deco design shapes the kidney shaped room, and an open aired pizza oven sits in the centre of the room where the chefs show of their inspiring Pizza creations.
There are many different types of Pizza to choose from - Goat Cheese with Spinach and Hungarian Salami, traditional Margaritra, and the to die for Portobello mushroom, sausage and parma.
Try one of the inspiring, yet light hearted salads to start, or perhaps a tasty pasta dish as an entree.
Pizza Rustica provides guests with traditional food, at a reasonable price. The location allows you to eat quickly, and catch the Leafs or Jays within a short walking distance.
Pizza Rustica is also open late, which means after a night out dancing, there is a great place to get your late night fix of the munchies!
They also deliver across the street to the SoHo Metropolitan Hotel. If your staying as a guest, be sure to call for a great alternative meal in your room! -
Review from maria m.
Brampton, ON
Updated - 11/3/2010
ok guys, its wed's night, and I still cant believe how bad my food was on sunday evening at this "restaurant"...arghhhhhhhhhhh WTF.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/31/2010
Gross gross Gross. Horrible pizza. I've had better frozen pizza ....seriously. Dont bother with… Read more »
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Review from Michael S.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2009
some of the other reviewers are obviously unfamiliar with with the concept of THIN CRUST pizza .... If you want deep pan creasy north American style pizza don't go to Rustica ... If you appreciate Italian style thin crust pizza and you happen to be in the area give Rustica a try
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Review from Tricia J.
10/11/2009
This pizza is incredible. I love popping in there for some unique flavours and elegant tastes. If you are looking for some great apps this is the place as well. Yummy Bruscheta!
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Review from Daniel J.
4/14/2010
pizza is ok, not brick oven though but still pretty good.
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Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
11/1/2009
A great place to enjoy an Italian style thin crust pizza! My experience here was great and better than Terroni's. The servers here were friendly, attentive and quick! After 5 minutes from ordering, we immediately received our appetizers! The Bruschetta Rustica was very good as they used fresh tomatoes which were very juicy and felt very quenching in my mouth. The Ceasar Salad was not bad but a little on the cheesy side but I think that's an Italian signature! My main dish was the Tre Came and I found it very tasty! The crust was thin but it was still able to maintain it's crunchiness! The pizzas here are about 12 inches which is good to share between 2 people but as the pigs we were, my sisters and I ordered our own dishes and ended up bringing home leftovers but in the end I was able to try two more different pizzas! The Americano was good but a little less on the crunchy side while the Primavera tasted okay but had a very sour topping on it that we ended up removing (still can't figure out what that was) All and all, it was good and I enjoyed it very much!
