Caffé Rustico

Love this place brought the whole family in for lunch. We had the mushroom soup, lasagne, 2 sandwiches (forgot the names). The front of house girls were amazing and the food was great.
Haven’t had customer service like this in a long time. These days restaurants seem to push you through like cattle.
The mushroom soup will change your life.

New owners good service from staff, pizza, mushroom soup, pasta, panini sandwiches. Nice place for a meal and coffee.

Love this place! Though the owners have changed, the new ones are just as awesome. Same yummy pizza and tasty beverages. Still need to explore the biscotti selections a bit more but overall, I love the atmosphere.

I popped into Caffe Rustico yesterday for a spot of lunch with a colleague and although pleased with the service and coffee, I was sadly disappointed by the food.
On entry we were greeted with a friendly smile and talked through the menu, promising. I ordered a pizza and so did my friend. The staff seemed to be very accommodating for our various pizza desires so things were looking good! We then sat down and waited, and waited. This was where things got a bit worse.
First I saw them pull a pizza dough out from the chest freezer, when I am paying nearly $ 20 for 12inches of pizza I would at least expect fresh dough. we ended up waiting 25 minutes for two pizzas, probably because it took so long to defrost the bases.
Problem is the pizza dough was like bread, soggy and flavourless. The toppings were not much better, and the man making my pizza decided to sprinkle salt all over it before serving it to me, so literally all I tasted was oily cheese and salt. Not the best. If you’re going to claim that you are an italian café then at least make pizza how the italians would like to eat it! I gave 2 stars because they do however have brilliant coffee, my machiatto was made perfectly, I just wouldn’t recommend anyone who has ever been to Italy, or Europe for that matter to eat here.

One of the friendliest cafés I’ve been to. Authentic Italian coffee made by Italians. You often get free espresso ‘anti-​freeze’ shots while you’re waiting. Often walked past along Main st but definitely worth a try.

I almost passed this gem. Food is great, staff are friendly, prices are reasonable. I had Pizza this time, but I’ll have to try their sandwiches next time. I can’t believe I almost missed this place.

Owner Mario makes the place so warm and welcoming. True flavor of typical Italian café with interesting art, lots of love in the food and home-​cooked flavors. Reasonable prices and selection. Extra special touches. A real gem.

Gluten-​free me decides to go into this café. It’s Italian, I know it’s a risk. First off I see risotto, hey that’s a good sign. The server was not happy when I said pesto please. She really wanted it to taste good for me, so she suggested also adding tomatoes and some cream. It was totally mind– blowing-​amazing and made me realize that what I think is risotto that I make at home, is completely not risotto. So, I would say I love this place. Because of the risotto and the angel behind the counter, but also the fact that it was super fast and the owner gives delicious secret special coffee drinks if you’re lucky enough to be there when he is around.

By far the friendliest café I have ever been to. If you have never been, you owe it to yourself to stop in for an espresso and some authentic italian pizza.
I love having this business in my neighbourhood. I’m proud to take friends and family for a quick coffee, or a relaxed sit down meal.

Great coffee and pizza! Awesome atmosphere.

I’m new to Vancouver. I happened to walk in on a hot day to grab a smoothie and found myself chatting with Mario for a good 30 – 45 minutes about everything from travelling to exercise to food to life in Vancouver. I definitely got my smoothie but along with that I got a nice chat with a lovely person, a free espresso shot with a drizzle of coffee and cinnamon, a slice of their paysana pizza, and half a chocolate hazelnut biscotti for free!
I loved the friendliness and hospitality of Mario and I’ll def go back for a snack and a chat!

I have been coming here for 8 years now on and off. I have eaten a variety of dishes, pastries and beverages. I would rate the food 7 out of 10, the pastries 8 out of 10 and the beverages 9 out of 10. If Mario had a full size kitchen, as he had many times in his past reincarnations the food score would be higher.
Each time, I walk by the place, I look to see if Mario is in. If he is there; I go in. Why? He treats me, like most customers, that I am his ‘número uno’ pal. It is his zest for life, warm hospitality and his ability to take the time to share his unique perspective on any topic under the sun is the essence of Caffe Rustico.
Or it’s like taking a happy pill with your coffee.
Hence the five stars.

I’ve been to Vancouver several times recently on business and stayed in the down town area. I’ve noticed the food has been good, but I’ve come to the realization that most of the places, while nice, don’t have any character.
Mario at Caffe Rustico fixed that. It’s worth it to come here just to experience him and his larger than life character. He runs a small little shop with espresso and other assorted coffees along with breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
His espresso is as real as it gets, and he makes it with his own roasted beans.
I had the manicotti special for lunch and enjoyed it. It hit the spot for some warm food on a cold drizzly day.
I’ll be back for sure the next time around.

Had lasagna and «garlic bread». It tasted alright. Nothing special though. It wasn’t like it was inedible. It tasted fine, satisfied my tummy and all. I just didn’t noticed any stringy mozzerella or provolone in it. Seemed to be all ricotta. Mine’s better and I’m not an Italian guy who makes pasta for a living, sooo…
THAT SAID, not a criticism. Buuuut, gonna have to say the «garlic bread» was weird. Round «bun» structure (think Hamburger bun flattened with hand), cut in half with some butter on it. I couldn’t taste garlic or a saltiness. Again, I’m no Italian man, but I can toss together some majorly edible garlic bread… then again, who couldn’t?
Okay, the desserts. He gets them from elsewhere, and… ew. I am not one to turn down a sweet dainty, but these creatures were inedible. Not at all natural tasting, weird fakey textures, and void of sweetness. I should have tried the biscotti, because you generally know what to expect with that. Dry, hard and nutty. BUT, these other things, whatever they were called, reminded me of doggie biscuits. They were so beautiful, too! I don’t get it. Oblong shortbready looking thing, swirled pattern, half dipped in chocolate. And the other had pretty sliced almonds atop it, golden colored with a «filling» that was darker. Whoa. Both so gross. They sit here now, a day later, with two bites taken out of them, and about to go in the compost bin.
OKAY, so back to the proprieter… very friendly, good sense of humor, and pulls a MEAN shot of numminess of which he offered us a sample ((and does so to all who enter)) …He said he was experimenting with flavors and gave us a little sample in a cute ceramic one shot espresso cup. Part chai, part coffee, part white chocolate, part dark chocolate and some nutella. I should have got one for the road, and would have if the dessert didn’t make me just want to leave right then.

This was another «hiding in plain sight» Main St. find for me. I’ve passed by it countless times but never had the excuse to pop my head in the door. Though, I can’t say this place was really hiding — on any given day there are a few chatty gents plunked down on the little patio, ready to spin you a yarn. It’s always been entertaining, but until this week, has never enticed me inside.
Enter a craving for pizza and a requirement of wifi. As Don’t Argue up (?) the street is a wifi free zone, this place became our go to. First and foremost — the atmosphere is very welcoming. There’s people with laptops open, chatting with neighbours over an espresso; the furniture is charmingly haphazard and the prices are fair. I can definitely see this becoming an out of office office down the road and understand why the same gents frequent this spot time and time again — it’s the kind of place that lends itself to creating «regulars.» It’s a shop where you don’t feel rushed to finish and get out the door.
The staff are friendly and the italian baked goods in the front display look tasty — though I haven’t had the chance to investigate that further. I did opt for two pieces of pizza here and it’s decent pie. Both of mine were a tad bit old — as if they had been sitting for just a half hour too long. Because of that, i’d pass on a similar looking vegetarian next time around but it oddly made the pesto taste better. It was loaded with olive oil and it was like sitting for a spell let all that pesto/​oil goodness soak in. All in all, this place is cusping on a 4 star and only misses it because there’s some steep culinary competition in the area. But for a safe and satisfying lunch choice — definitely a good contender.
Im excited to explore further, set up camp and spin a few of my own yarns soon.

Due to a high Unilocal rating I stopped in this quite tucked away coffee shop. I frequent others places on the same block but just having never been drawn inside Caffe Rustico.
Grabbed a couple slices and a coffee to go. The slices were pretty good and the coffee was decent.
Will have to give this place another try or two and see if it can hold into 4 stars and fall down to three.

This place is authentically ITALIAN. My friends and I stepped in for a quick dinner one night and were warmly greeted by this super kind man who looked like he was the owner of the place. He offered us free italian espresso while we looked at the menu (with lots of choices), and when we had ordered, he offered us free, homemade italian cookies while we waited for our food.
I ordered the Napoletana pasta and it seemed like the portion was a tad smaller than I had expected (for $ 11), but it was the perfect amount for me that night as I didn’t want anything heavy that would lead me into a food coma. I was also grateful that the owner adjusted the flavors a little bit because I mentioned I didn’t want a spicy sauce.
Not bad for a little joint on Main St. It’s definitely got its charms. Great Italian vibe going on as the other customers at the café seemed to be regulars or even relatives of the owner, and were conversing pretty passionately in Italian. I felt like I stepped into someone’s home kitchen!

I have been here a few times with friends on main who just wanted some good coffee. They’re more into coffee than I am and they seem pleased enough that this is their go to choice when with me on Main. Personally I am all about the Italian Sodas. Prices are fair, however, customer service has always been hit and miss. Obviously it is still good enough that I keep coming back.

Just stopped in for a late lunch today. Laid back, friendly vibe. Hand written menu boards, book exchange corner, kids toys area, this place is mellow and friendly. I got a single slice of hawaiian pizza, it was pretty good. Focaccia bread style dough. It was counter service but the girl brought my slice out out with a glass of water, a nice touch! Always fun to have a brouse at Urban Source next door too, I’ll be back.

A quaint little place. I ordered their pasta carbonara and while it wasn’t the most amazing pasta dish, it sure hit the spot and satisfied my pasta craving. There was such much bacon in the sauce — yum! I only wished the sauce was thicker. It was really runny.
I didn’t the the chance to meet Mario, but I definitely will be back. There were quite a number of people inside enjoying a late lunch. The desserts looked amazing too. Can’t wait to try more of their offerings.