Rustic Canyon
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 393-7050
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- 11th Street
- Specialties:
- Wine List
- Hours:
- Mon 11:30am-2:30pm, Tue-Thu 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm, Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-1am, Sat 5:30pm-1am, Sun 5:30pm-10:30pm
Editorial Review for Rustic Canyon – by Martha Burr
The Scene
Heavy dark woods, organic materials and high white ceilings create a romantic atmosphere. Votive candles flicker and a jazzy global beat plays low while the young Santa Monica crowd chills at the wine bar, in the small crowded lounge, or at tables and booths. Owner Josh Loeb spring-boarded off hosting wine dinners in his home, and he personally rotates boutique selections gleaned from small-production vineyards around the world.
The Food
A seasonally driven Cal-Med menu features ingredients from local farmers and fishermen. Sharing is encouraged and the enthusiastic waitstaff is savvy about pairing wine to each dish (or person). Appetizers include a subtle pizzetta of salami and wild greens, or bolder flavors like sliced filet mignon with silky horseradish cream. Mains are light and pleasing, especially the crispy wild snapper prettily nestled in a bed of shaved fennel, or a meadow-y spring risotto with English peas, asparagus and fresh morels.
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Insider Tips
Where to SitThree booths against the far wall offer the most privacy and sound cushioning (unless one of them is hosting a particularly loud group), while the airy window tables take in the night view of Wilshire outside.
What to DrinkBesides an ever-increasing list of small-production wines offered by bottle and glass, there's also a list of specialty sparkling cocktails made with artisan ingredients like lemongrass and ginger, organic cucumber juice, and muddled mint.
ParkingStreet parking is highly competitive--save time and use the affordable valet.
User Reviews for Rustic Canyon
09/05/2008 Posted by baochi
I am probably the biggest homebody I know. I don't go to my friends - they come to me. So it's significant when something actually lures me out of my shoe box apartment. One of my biggest temptations is Rustic Canyon, where everybody knows my name and can predict my favorite drinks and dishes. Half the time, I dine at RC alone, at the bar where my favorite bartender, Donan, serves me up his latest drink concoction and is polite enough to laugh at my anecdotes. The other half the time, I dine with friends or business companions in the main dining room, which is somehow oddly appropriate for either fun or professional conversation. While I am no wine connoisseur, it's pleasing to hear my wine maven friends exclaim over the impressive wine selection. I have a hard time straying from certain mainstays on the menu such as the cheese plate with warm raisin bread, the mussels in a sauce so good that I often ask for a second helping of dipping bread, and the burger with wild arugula. Then again, Rustic's seasonal dishes often sound too enticing to resist. Right now, I'm lovin' chef Evan's hand made butternut squash mezzaluna (half moon shaped pasta), wild chanterelle mushroom and leek root risotto, and pan roasted black cod. But enough about dinner. Let's talk about my favorite meal: brunch. First, I'll start out with a complaint: Rustic ONLY serves brunch on Saturdays! The rest of the time (mainly on Sundays), I have no idea where to get a good brunch. Pastry chef Zoe has gotta be the most ballyhooed gal in town right now with her heavenly brunch creations. Like sweet? Try a hearty slice of her blueberry cornmeal coffee cake (my fave) or indulge (and then starve yourself the rest of the day) in the chocolate banana bread pudding. Prefer savory? The warm prosciutto and gruyere croissant is a must, as is the fried egg sandwich with bacon, gruyere, and arugula. What a treat that Rustic Canyon is in walking distance from my house!
Pros: Farmers market fresh food, the friendly staff, solid dishes
Cons: Brunch only on Saturdays!
09/05/2008 Posted by bryce12
Went to Rustic Canyon with a group of six last night. Food was AMAZING! I'm a Farmer's Market junkie, and I love that this really is a place that cooks from the market. The best dishes were a Butternut Squash pasta that I'm still craving today, Burrata bread salad, these delcious little mozzarella risotto things, and a grilled pork chop with roasted pears. I love the quality of the ingredients they use and our whole table was in love with the homemade doughnuts that came with a rich hot chocolate. We ordered two more of them, but they do take about 10 minutes an order so next time I'll just be smart and order them all at once. I don't know much about wine, but the staff seemed to, and we were very happy with everything we drank.
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