Cafe Rustika in Richmond

Traditional German food. Perfect amount of choices and tastes authentic. Stopped by after attending the Nutcracker, a quick walk from the Carpenter Theater. Hope to be back soon.

Great food. Small and cozy dining area. No reservations. Not recommended for fast seating, so Karens stay away, you wont be happy here. Not a place for children so keep your crumb crunchers at home, there is no childrens menu.

Always got chicken schnitzel. Its always been nice breast meat. This time, it was chicken thigh. It was so dark, we thought it was pork. 20 dollars for chicken thighs? No thanks. Service has always been terrible, but usually the food made up for it. Not anymore apparently. The waitress was especially obnoxious. Should have been told when ordering it was thigh meat.

I love everything about this place! Its small and usually very busy, but that adds to the charm. They dont take reservations, but that is a plus in my book since we never plan ahead, so we never get turned away for not having a reservation! Food is classic German. Simple and amazing. Save room for dessert!! The black forest cake and German Chocolate cake are a treat!

Love Cafe Rustika immensely.

Fun, cozy place! Good German food

Zehr güt! Do you ever machen schaumrollen oder knürdles? I had the schnitzel with the lemon cream sauce. Excellent . Im picky with my blaukraut. Excellent and the sauerkraut with bacon was wonderful.

Worth the wait. The bratwurst was delicious.

Simply outstanding

Parking: Food and atmosphere felt like I was back in Germany Food

Favorite restaurant in Richmond.

the service at the bar .

This place has quickly become my favorite gem in RVA. Originally from Germany, my mom fell in love with the authentic cuisine. The service is always fantastic, typically with one server for the whole restaurant, and the vibe remains cozy. It feels like a dinner at your home kitchen table - but with way better food. ILY Rustika <3

Excellent

Just great! Just freakin great!!

Sauerbraten was more like a ropa vieja and NOT made in the tradition of a typical pot roast theyre either using the wrong cut of beef, or slicing it the wrong direction. The blaukraut was decent. The rest of what I saw on the tables looked good as well but Ill never order the sauerbraten again.

The schnitzel was amazing. Wine and beer tasty. Great atmosphere.

Great atmosphere, good beer, and tasty food. What a great hidden gem! Well definitely be back soon.

We came here for the first time last Friday night for my mother-in-laws birthday dinner. Everything from the service, food, and dessert to even the atmosphere - was phenomenal. It is located in downtown Richmond and with that comes on street/parallel parking. There is a public parking garage a few blocks away and takes about a 4 minutes walk if you prefer that. It is a little difficult to find if you dont know what to look for, but the red awning is a stand out feature that lets you know youre in the right place. Staff are very kind and accommodating, keeping a brilliantly authentic atmosphere. The star is the food, of course. I ordered the Veal Rahmschnitzel which was melt in your mouth delicious and came with a lemon cream sauce that had me debating whether to lick the plate clean. Spätzle & Potato Salad were my two sides and they were top notch as well! My youngest ordered the German Mac n Cheese (Spätzle with Gruyere) and a brat. All of it was amazing. We finished the meal with a layered Black Forrest Cake and it was gone so fast I didnt even get to snag a picture, but the presentation was beautiful. If youre in the mood for some authentic German cuisine this place is leagues above the rest and will not disappoint!!

We love Cafe Rustika, as do A LOT of people so we often cant get in without a wait....tonight was our lucky night, no wait! This is a quaint spot featuring true German comfort food. The schnitzel is ALWAYS on point! Great friendly service and generous portions. Bar seating, 2 high tops and a row of booths. Street parking - free after 6 What we ate: *Schnitzel À La Holstein- veal Schnitzel with lemon, capers and fried *Spätzle-housemade egg noodles sautéed in butter *Blaukraut- red cabbage braised in stock, vinegar and spices *Schnitzel special - mustard dill sauce *Blackforest cake ( to go) My rating rationale +1 Service +1 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation +1 Atmosphere/vibe +1 Value

Food was amazing, beer fresh. Thank you for the taste of Germany

An awesome German experience. The service was incredible and the people are so kind. Not enough words to describe how incredible the food was. So authentic and fresh. Glad to have found this quant spot

Absolutely delicious! $20 for schnitzel and two sides- a steal! Everything was cooked to perfection and the staff were wonderful. We will be back ASAP!

Sehr lecker! The food was amazing, the beer was great, and the environment was warm and authentic. It was just a long wait for food that night (60+ min or so).

Great service , really nice guy behind the bar. The schnitzel was so good! Get the chicken with the lemon cream sauce, potato salad, and braised cabbage. You will love it! I ll be back !

The food here is always amazing. The staff is awesome. It s probably the best bang for your buck you can find. The team at Cafe Rustika is doing it right. You should eat here because you deserve to be happy.

Very good German restaurant.

Good food but dont be in a hurry. Waited an hour between ordering and food getting to us, but it was quite good and the staff are wonderful

Amazing dinner! If you havent been here, get here!

Great schnitzel! Kid-friendliness: Very small venue. Not a great place to bring kids. Recommended dishes Rahmschnitzel, Spaetzels, Side Salad

Worth the wait! Its a very small restaurant and we waited about 30 minutes to be seated, on a mid-week evening. Their German comfort food was excellent. We ordered veal Rahmschnitzel and Sauerbraten entrées with red cabbage, spatzle & cucumber salad for sides. Reminiscent of our recent trip to Munich. Loved allllll of it. A hidden gem! We will definitely be back. Parking: Plenty of free street parking after 6 pm.

Always great food and service. I am German, and it is as good or better than home!

Popular place with limited seating. The 40-minute wait was well worth it. Schnitzel, with a variety of sides, is featured. Schnitzel meat choices are veal, pork, and chicken. Brats are also on the menu along with a few other entrees. My wife and I split a pork Schnitzel with a lemon cream sauce. It came with two sides. We got red cabbage and a cucumber salad as the included sides, plus ordered an add-on side of potato salad. It was all the two of us could do to finish our meal. Albeit we did leave room for dessert and shared a slice of German chocolate cake. The food is well prepared, and the prices are reasonable given the first rate quality.

Great local place! Simple and really good German food.

The best spatzle Ive ever had. Really delish meal.

Fabulous food, great selection of German beer, friendly & attentive service.

This place is all about the food. Great schnitzel

Reminded me of alta post in Germany. Well prepared food, hot and fresh. Relaxing meal with a friend.

Nice little small quaint german restaurant. Excellent food and service.

So delicious!!! Came here on a recommendation and they did not disappoint! We knew we could have to wait outside for a table so were prepared to face the elements. Totally worth the wait. It definitely felt like we found a wonderful secret spot. The schnitzel was sooo good, we had the days special, and god bless the German chocolate cake!! Cold beer, cozy environment and friendly and attentive staff.

I travel nationally for work and eat all over the place searching high and low for quality food experiences like this. The ambiance of a sleepy dive, the staff attentiveness of a Michelin restaurant and a beautiful execution of an authentic German menu. This was easily the best meal and dining experience I have had in the past year.While it might seem hyperbolic to invoke the term spiritual experience this was definitely food which uplifted the soul. This is the type of place Bourdain would ve ranted about. Hopefully cafe rustika will be in business for many decades to come. A true unexpected gem. Cheers to the wonderful staff front and back.

Excellent schnitzel and German beer.

Can t recommend this place enough. The food is incredible but more so - the staff is fantastic. They really make you feel like family and go above and beyond to create a fantastic meal. It s the best schnitzel and beer this side of the Atlantic. Kid-friendliness: Family atmosphere

Killer schnitzel! Large portions and great sides. Quality German Beer too. The Classic German chocolate cake was delicious Food : 5/5

Best German food outside of actual Germany. Some of the best beers Ive ever tasted. Great service.

Loved everything about it. Great food friendly service and good beer!

Awesome schnitzel and good beer

Best shnitzel in the city!

Every experience I have had here has become worse and worse in terms of service. The food is wonderful, and if you can come in at off time, I would recommend it. That being said, they are unable to handle high volumes on weekends and it shows in their poor customer service. They routinely drastically underestimate the wait time and there is no where to wait around the restaurant. The last time, the waitress took my order incorrectly (I speak German fluently and am 100% sure I ordered the correct dish) and, when I alerted her to the problem, she was combative and blamed me. They were willing to remake, but told me it would be a long wait (we had been waiting for over 2 hours at this point and had an event to get to) so I left having eaten nothing. The time before this wasnt wonderful and the service was snappy and slow, but this level disrespect means I will never come back. Good food, but proceed with caution if you value comfort and hospitality.

Excellent service. Excellent food highly recommended!

This place is make-you-want-to-rub-it-on-yourself-good. Their food is absolutely delicious. Bear in mind this restaurant is tiny, so if you get there during the dinner rush, be prepared to wait, but it is worth it, I promise. They have the crispiest most tender fried pork, their sauerkraut is divine, the speatzle is worth eating there and getting a to-go order, that cucumber salad situation is perfection, and you cant go wrong with any of the things they do to potatoes. Personally, one of my marks of a solid restaurant is how good the food is the next day, and this food is even delicious a day old and cold. If you are in a wheelchair or have problems navigating a flight of stairs, unfortunately I do not think their restroom facilities are accessible. Like I said, its teeny tiny so I guess all they could do was have the bathrooms on the second floor. I appreciate that this is a huge drawback, but Id still say its worth it to go for takeout if you can. Wheelchair accessibility: This place would be difficult for a person in a wheelchair. Its very small, seating is limited, and the restrooms are on the second floor. However, the staff is fantastic, so if they can accommodate you I have no doubt they would do what they could to make it work. I might call ahead and get there right when they open if possible just to make sure there is space.

Great German food!

Spent 4 years in Germany with the Army and found the food here to be authentic. The portions were plentiful and we really appreciated the great service. Went there to pick up food for my father s 90th Birthday. We ordered various versions of the schnitzel for a party of 7. Everyone was very satisfied. Atmosphere looked great. Hoping to come back and enjoy a beer!

Great little tucked away spot with limited tables and a bar seating area. You can hear them pounding the schnitzel in the kitchen. Great selection of German beers, we went with the kolsch and the chicken schnitzel w mushroom gravy I choose German potato salad and sauerkraut as my sides and my partner got spaetzle and gravy. The food took a looong time but when you hear them physically pounding out your chicken you know it s made to order. You get a chunk of focaccia bread that was rather dry and had no dipping oils or butter to hold you over while waiting but wasn t worth bothering to waste stomach space on, the entrees came out and it was so good and worth waiting for. Comparing it to our favored German restaurant in Myrtle beach have to say is was just as good and even a notch better in sone areas, the breading on the schnitzel is so crisp and crunchy and the best potato salad I ve had. Partner agreed his spaetzle was also the best he ever had only thing I would change is the mushroom gravy is very thick there s more mushrooms then gravy and not much flavor. So would try a different sauce next time. Entrees are in the $20 s but large filling portions.

This place in the epitome of unsuspecting whole in the wall. One of the true gems of Richmond. The seating area is very small but the food is NEXT LEVEL

We got here and found out that there was a wait for two tops. They have a policy that booths are reserved for 3 or more only. After a quick 5 or 6 minute wait, we came back and a perfect little window seat had just opened. It was so worth the wait. A couple eating at the 2 top beside ours welcomed us and we quickly jumped on the chance to ask their suggestions. It was evident that they were regulars, and suggested we try the schnitzel with lemon cream sauce. Emily got that, and I went with a bratwurst. Both were amazing. Service was direct, prompt, and easy. Portion size warning ...its a good bit of food. We will be back for sure. Really nice little hole in the wall. Parking: Mostly street parking. We walked from our hotel.

I cannot say enough good things about Cafe Rustika. They open at 4:00 pm so we got there around 3:30 to make sure we got a seat. There was already a line of about 30 people and more came after us to wait. We sat at the bar and the staff immediately started getting people menus, waters, bread, and beverages. Sitting at the bar was an advantage to get our beer quick. They have about a dozen different German beers on draft. Considering they just opened up and we were behind 30 other orders, the wait for our food was not bad at all. The wait staff was incredible. We ordered the sauerbraten and jagerschintzel and they were fabulous. The meat was cooked to perfection and it basically melted in your mouth. The only bad thing I can say about Cafe Rustika is though the German potato salad was delicious, I would have loved for it to be heated as I have had at other German restaurants. I will definitely be returning and probably will try to arrive a little earlier just to make sure we get a seat when it opens. Yum, yum!

The service was incredible as was the food. Incredible spot to eat!

I dont even know where to start. The food and service is phenomenal, you can tell by the line outside before they even open. You will have to wait a while to get your food but its well worth it. Been here 4 times and will be coming back again!

Very nice restaurant. Small but full of charm. The schnitzel was excellent, along with red cabbage and salad. Next time I will get the black forest cake!

Everything we had was great. Friendly staff and cozy atmosphere.

We had a wonderful meal here on a Wednesday night--no wait. Great German and Belgian draft beer options. Yummy schnitzel, brats and sides. Very generous portions and complementary bread. Friendly, attentive staff. Glad we found this cozy, little place on our trip.

Absolutely amazing! If youve never tried Schnitzel....run to this place! If you have....run to this place!

Long wait but the food was great, best German in town!

Great schnitzel bar! Nicely decorated and food was delicious. Could get a bit busy around dinner time so would recommend making reservations.

LOVE this place! Every time I go to Richmond for classes my group comes here. Amazing spot.

German cuisine is near and dear to my heart (cue my rant about having a father who was a chef in Germany, etc, etc), so when I wholeheartedly say this is the real deal, best believe it. The spätzle was incredible, the wiener schnitzel divine, and the sauerkraut tasty. I will say I debated giving four stars because the sauerbraten with gingersnap gravy was not as ginger-forward as I would have hoped for. It didn t have that sweet/ sour gingersnap taste that you get from well a gingersnap gravy. But it was still incredibly delicious, with the meat falling apart. And with that, I urge you to dive into Deutschland and visit Cafe Rustika.

I was hungry for some bratwurst, but they did not have any when I randomly stopped into this cozy little bar. However, had bratwurst been available, I never would have tried the sauerbraten which was absolutely delicious! The German chocolate cake for dessert was also excellent!

I am normally a huge fan of Cafe Rustika. I have been multiple times, and while I have not always been greeted with any charm, I have always been respected as a patron. Until tonight. I was greeted by the waitress by way of: I will be with you in a few. After she passed by me several times, with no inclination to get my number, I was still waiting patiently. Several other patrons have come and gone due to no one speaking to them. I am still looking forward to eating their food at this point. Tables have vacated, bar stools are empty. Tables are waiting for the server to bring desserts, or boxes or the check. I am still hopeful. But alas, two groups came in and were seated. I went to the server and asked why we were not seated. She said she would clean the bar soon so we could sit. I was not pleased by this response. The restaurant has great food, but needs people that communicate better to patrons. I hope this is a fluke.

Excellent authentic German food. Very adequate portions. And the beer is exceptional. Highly recommend this place.

For our first time here, we were pleasantly surprised!!! Having experienced many German restaurants in the US, this was the most authentic to food we enjoyed while in Germany. The atmosphere was fun, service was friendly and efficient and we will be back.

Absolutely great German food. The two guys next to us were just in from Germany and thought the food was authentic. The portions are large. The place is really small (like many spots in Germany), and they dont take reservations. We loved it.

Good food, service, and big German beers.

Eat schnitzel, drink a big German pilsner, be happy

Great food!

Always delicious! Great service!

Some of the best Schnitzel and Spätzle I have had! I have also never found anyone that has made cucumber salad like we do until now.

This is the best German food I ve had in the United States! The käsespätzle was delicious and I was so excited to see it on the menu because it is more rare than bratwurst or schnitzel in restaurants here. The veal schnitzel was also great, the breading was perfectly crispy and the meat was thin like it should be. I thoroughly enjoyed all the sides as well. The staff was attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. The only thing is that parking may be difficult, we found street parking since it was late at night but I do not think that would always be an option.

I had an exceptional experience dining at Cafe Rustika while visiting Richmond VA. The German food and staff service were exceptional and made my experience special. Such a cozy neighborhood gem steps from my hotel, i highly recommend to anyone visiting Richmond VA. Call before you go given there was a line outside waiting for seating. Ir is worth the wait.

Service, Food and atmosphere Definitely well be back. Just dreading the Parking!!! Parking: Parking is a bit of an issue.

Great schnitzel and German food

Authentic German food and great selection of draft beers.

I lived in Germany for 6 months and this was, by far, the best German food I ve ever had. I ve tried two different schnitzels, five different sides, and dessert here and everything has been fantastic.

Amazing experience, the food was delicious and great service!

Loved my experience at Cafe Rustika. The wait was on the longer side because they don t take reservations and it s a small dining room. But the ambiance and food, service are completely unmatched! A schnitzel just as good as the one I had in Germany. And they have Paulaner in draft!

Delicious German fare. Great beer. Friendly staff.

Always delicious food and beer, highly recommend. Youll have enough food leftover to make a second meal and it will still be yummy.

Had an awesome German meal here. Snitzel was cooked to perfection and was so tasty. We will be going back again.

Im writing this for the bar after eating dinner for was great service was great if you like German food come here in a heartbeat

The best place in the Richmond area to get authentic, delicious German food! The food is very tasty! Thank you Café Rustika!

Cozy rustic place, perfect for a rainy Friday eve. Fabulous service & scrumptious Wienerschitzel, carrot dill soup, Spaetzle, and crisp German beers! A winner!

Amazing authentic German food.

Awesome small quaint place with absolutely authentic great tasting food and friendly service!

Sauerbraten and Spätzle were amazing. Super friendly service

My wife and I travel from N.C. to enjoy this place.

Not big on German food and they were out of the selection I wanted however the food we did get was delicious. It took a bit long to get the food but our server was sweet and attentive!

Beyond a neighborhood gem. Service is always amazing. The food is outstanding and authentic.

Great dining experience. Food and waitstaff were both awesome!! Will definitely return.

Excellent customer service to go along with the Excellent food

As always, excellent

Its a small place with amazing food and excellent beer. If there s a wait - do it - it s worth it!

Delicious food, friendly service, and great beers on tap. Definitely worth a trip if youre interested in German food!

AMAZING food, probably the best schnitzel I ve ever had. Good German beers, and fantastic desert. My favorite restaurant in RVA, no doubt.

Loved this place!! Not only is the food most delicious.... The service is enthusiastically positive!! Beef tenderloin butter noodles.... Excellence!!

Good authentic German food!

Authentic, delicious cuisine and friendly staff.

perfect dinner in richmond

Wow. Beer and really great schnitzel. There were five of us and everyone was extremely impressed and very happy.

Great experience, service was great.

Awesome little spot with a couple of German beers on tap and some amazing German food. The chicken schnitzel (fried thinly-pounded chicken) was phenomenal and the käsespätzle (cheesy egg noodles) with bratwurst was great. All the sides we had were also top notch. Theres not a ton of space inside so you may have to wait for a seat but the wait is worth it. Definitely highly recommend going, my friends and I will certainly be back.

Love this place! Great German food and beer, very authentic. Will be a regular stop whenever we visit Richmond.

Great food. The people who work there are so nice!

This was such an awesome dining experience. The food was so good!! Best Schnitzel I ve had in such a long time. Of the food I had on my trip to Richmond, this was my favorite. Also the prices were pretty reasonable. Parking: Depends on time of day whether you have to pay, but the street parking was easy. Dinner time there were plenty of spots right in front of the restaurant.

One of our favorite restaurants in Richmond. Little hole in the wall that does great schnitzel. Good beer list, friendly staff, chill. The carrot soup alone is worth the trip.

I have been absolutely loving Cafe Rustika since I discovered it late last year. Every dish weve tried here so far has been exceptional and the imported German beer is perfection! The staff is friendly and the cook always does an amazing job. For first time diners, keep in mind there will likely be a wait (they dont take reservations) but it will be worth it! While the restaurant is on the smaller side, it fits the cozy tavern atmosphere and character. And for a drink, you cant go wrong with the Paulaner Hefeweizen!

Some of the best German food I ve ever had. Absolutely phenomenal. Wish I lived in Richmond because if so, I d be hitting this place up regularly. Great prices too!

Delicious food but Saturdays are not a place to go to. Was seated at the opening of the place, but did not get waited on for an hour after. It was very busy. And it took quite some time for our food.

Hadnt been back since they went full on schnitzel bar. Decided to return because I actually had a craving. The place was packed with people on a Thursday night and they dont do reservations so get there early or be prepared to wait, was about 45 minutes for us when we got there at 6pm. After we ordered our food it took a very long time to come out, nearly 40 minutes even though we ordered our beer and food at the same time. Maybe they are understaffed in the kitchen? Like I said the place was 100% full and everyone at the bar was ordering food. In any case, once the food did arrive it was 5 stars, perfect, delicious and exactly what I wanted. A fellow diner we chatted with outside while waiting said he grew up in Germany and this place is 100% legit, authentic cuisine. You should go!

One of the best food surprises we came across just by chance! Be prepared to wait, this place is super popular. Enjoy some German & other European beers while the chef prepares your food, everything is freshly prepared, so relax & enjoy your evening.

Tiny spot, big flavor. Loved it!

Very good !

Authenticate German cuisine with unbeatable taste! Youll need an appetite straight from Germany itself to finish your plate! From the fluffy focaccia bread, to the smooth helles beer and drool inducing snitzel, you wont be able to stop eating until you enter a food comma. The staff there even add to the vibe by greating you with a Wilkommen upon arrival and various German phrases throughout your stay. Just make sure you arrive there early! Just like the custom in Germany to sit, dine and relax, once their tables fill up it may be hours until one frees up!

Were moving end of July, we have dined at Cafe Rustika for years. The quality of the food, is tops, the portion of the dishes, large. We live about and hour away from Richmond but we take the ride because we have not had better German food. The staff are great. If youve never tried it, youre missing a wonderful dining experience. We are heading to Cafe this week for the last time. And of course..we will bring home a slice of Black Forest cake

Moving to Richmond from Long Island, New York, I questioned myself whether I would ever find a replacement for the famous Zum Stamstich located in Queens. Cafe Rustika has filled that void completely. The food is amazing as well as the beer selection. Yes, it is a small place and most likely you will have to wait a while for a table, but it s well worth it. My favorite place in Richmond!

Great food, wonderful host and staff, only was slightly warm due to AC issues, would 100% go again

Small space with very good German food. I will look forward to having another opportunity to try the differing selections of their snetzl and lagers.

Refused to make seating accommodation due to physical disability. Very disappointing.

OMG. Must visit here if you love German food. Absolutely one of the best anywhere.

Yeah, this place is pretty amazing.* Food - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Atmosphere - 5/5 *Food took a bit to come out, but honestly, worth it.

Seating for six provided. We were not rushed. Food was excellent. Definitely get there early if you dont want to wait. Parking: No parking out front.

Great food limited menu

Great German food. Schnitzel is so good. It was very busy on the Thursday we went & took an hr+ to get our food. We have been patrons for several years & is getting too busy for a small restaurant.

I had been meaning to try this place for years and I wish I had done it sooner. The food was wonderful and the portions generous. I sat at the bar and the service was excellent. I dont drink anymore but the beer selection was also very good with some unique German beers. The meal was so good I bought a T-shirt. Ill definitely be back.

Unbelievably delicious!!!

Delicious Schnitzel and ALL the sides. Staff was great, we were a party of two and expected to sit at the bar (which is fine), as table seating is very limited. Did I mention how delicious the Schnitzel is!

Mike and the staff were excellent. Great beer Great food Happy times

Always amazing!

I came here on the recommendation of a family member and I really have nothing to say except the food is really delicious. The restaurant is not large so youll want to get there early to put your name in. Its well worth any wait you may face to get in as the food is exceptional.

Everything about this restaurant is amazing!! Rachael is such an amazing member of this staff and the food is to die for!!! You will not be disappointed!!!

Theyre so nice here and the food is very authentic!

Good food at a fair price. First time here, but well be back!

3-7 Day marinated beef in red wine, Vinegars, and Juniper. braised and smothered in Gingersnap gravy with choice of two sides. The most mouthwatering beef dish, fork tender, flavor profile was delish! Baked egg noodles with caramelized onions and gruyere cheese, served with grüner Salat. Salad was fresh and crisp, salad dressing simple and flavorful. The pasta was perfect! The dishes are HUGE! Dont walk out without having a piece of Black Forest! Perfect ending to an amazing meal! Cherries were marinated perfectly, the creme was light and fluffy, the cake was moist and light. Definitely a dessert you can enjoy even on a mostly full belly! Parking: We walked in and had parked in a non parking zone that wasnt clearly marked. The staff was sure to tell us where we could move to.

First time, but it wont be our last!

As close to authentic German food as you can get in RVA. Wonderful food - definitely try the chicken schnitzel! Parking: There was construction and we ended up parking near Richmond Ballet.

Im from Chesterfield and moved to Alabama in 05 but come home to visit my Fam!!! My brother recommended this restaurant and damn, shornuff, this was an outstanding meal!!! The only negative was that one of the cooks was a Ga Bulldog fan, but I hugged him anyway. ROLL TIDE!! CAFE RUSTIKA IS AN OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT, OUTSTANDING FOOD AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE!! I WILL BE BACK WITH MY FAM

Germany quality food. We will come back. Portions are large. Food

The food and beer here was amazing!! The bar tender/waitress was also super friendly. Small, but feels very homey. Highly recommend

We went here on a whim and it was simply amazing. I had jagerschnitzel, späztel and braukraut. Holy moly that was delicious. My friend had the schnitzel cordon Bleu. Its a tiny little joint but it was so good. I wish we lived closer to come back again. Loved the service, the whole vibe. The wait staff were all prompt, friendly and courteous. Cant say enough about how freaking good everything was!

Love this place. Never lets me down. Food

This place is so incredible. Some of the best schnitzel Ive ever had! All of the sides are incredible too. Highly recommend the Spätzle & cucumber salad.

Favorite restaurant in Richmond

Yes, there is a wait for a table at 4:45 PM on Saturday - but it s so worth the wait. The food is outstanding and very authentic.

The food here is divine! And the portions are beyond generous. And you have to have several mugs of beer. And then theres dessert!!! I am truly in love with this place. Delicious food, great service, and all the staff is family. Its cozy. Its one of my top food places.

The best schnitzel and spatzle, especially when paired with a German beer. Absolutely a must visit. Cannot wait to go back and try everything else they have.

Hands down the best schnitzel in town in a cozy spot and everyone that works there is wonderful! Worth the wait if there s a line!

First time there last night, really enjoyed the whole experience - great food, great beer, great staff and setting. Look forward to returning!

Family stopped in for dinner very quaint little place absolutely great service and awesome food. Im not a big beer drinker but they had quite the selection and I had two really fine beers.

Great German Food!

Around $20 gets you a large quantity of high quality food. Very friendly staff as well

Food I grew up with in East Baltimore

German restaurants are few and far between so I always seek them out when I travel. This place has the best schnitzel I ve ever tasted, and I ve been all over Germany and Austria. They also have beer on tap that s hard to find. I had the Weisenbock.

The service was incredible. The people are so nice. The restaurant is very small and expect to wait for a table. They take your number and they call you when the table is ready they had a wife variety of schnitzel prepared and you could have a Lotta different kinds of proteins, I think maybe I ordered the wrong proteins because I found it a little chewy. I have the veal the sauce wasn t really really good and the sides were incredible. I do think maybe our waitress was a little experience and wasn t very much help. I would definitely go again, and if you have a schnitzel craving, this is definitely the place to go. Incredible beers selection from Germany from dark to light I think the sides and the dessert were my highlights.

The schnitzels and all the side dishes are really delicious. I m partial to the one with lemon cream sauce. The purple cabbage dish is definitely recommended. I prefer the fried potatoes. It s crowded and busy because the food is good. The waitress is juggling a lot, but she did it well. There aren t many tables~ get there early!

Hidden Gem! Cafe Rustika is a small restaurant that would easily not be found, but so glad we found it. They have seating at the bar, 3 two tops, and maybe 6 four tops. Luckily we got the last 4 top because there was a wait the rest of the time we were there. People were constantly coming in and were happy to wait because it s worth the wait! Authentic German food, prepared and served fresh, we aren t in town often but this is definitely a favorite spot!

This is one of our favorite spots in Richmond for a date night! It has the best vibes. It transports you to Germany. It s warm and cozy. The food is fabulous! Just order the schnitzel you won t regret it! The beers are great too! Sit at the bar or in the booths. If there is a wait just put your name down and go around the corner to Penny lane for a drink and they will text you when you re table is ready! Enjoy!

Hole in the wall, and a small restaurant and bar inside, but if you like schnitzel (meat pounded flat, breaded and fried) you have to give them a try. The schnitzel is incredible, the sides are amazing and they have authentic German and Belgian beer. I got one that was one of the first beers dating back to before the 1200s, so how bad could it be?! Amazing place. Will be back again.

Amazing food! Well return every time were in RVA! Absolutely delicious.

as someone who had an austrian grandmother who was raised in germany, it was so important for me to find good spaetzle!!! was very impressed with that and everything else.

Come early, this place fills up quick for good reason. Best soul food a German can have in the 804.

Go knowing they are a little slow, due to size restrictions, but food and service is woth it!

2nd visit: I had been wanting to return here at some point but living in Omaha, Nebraska makes it a bit inconvenient. I finally got the chance to return while visiting family for Thanksgiving . I ordered way more food than I could possibly eat. Everything was outstanding though, the mains, the sides, the service. It was also notably busier than my first visit and Im glad this place is doing well. 1st visit: I have been to the top of Mt.Schnitzel and it is Cafe Rustika in RVA. You think youve had schnitzel before? Ha I laugh at you. This place will blow your puny conceptions of schnitzel out of the water. Not only the schnitzel but the sides are a perfect execution of their substance as well. And then theres the beer. They have maybe 4 beers on tap, each excellently sourced and served. The staff are passionate about what they serve here. This is one of the very few perfect restaurants Ive ever been to.

My favorite place on Earth.

Some of the best food I ve ever had in Richmond. Small place and absolutely packed, but the food was 100% worth the wait! The Rahmschnitzel, Cucumber Salad, Potato Salad, and Blaukraut were fantastic!

We love Cafe Rustika! The food is always stellar and we have come to adore the staff, they are the best!! It s our favorite comfort food in Richmond!

Amazing and delicious food. Though they get overwhelmed with customers at times, they maintain professionalism. They operate the best they can with the space they have. They re pretty consistent in with their customer service, first come first serve policy. Especially when there s an in person wait list. Be prepared to wait if they re a full house. The food is definitely worth the wait. Having lived in Germany for over 12 yrs of my life, the food and the flavors takes me back to nostalgic moments living above a schnitzel bar as a kid. I want to mark the atmosphere to 4 stars because they re always crowded. But I wouldn t change the location and the space even if I could. I believe that gives it even more German vibes with quality and serving sizes of food. Their desserts are amazingly tasteful with authentic German experience as well. Love this place. Parking: When I ve had friends visit, finding parking is extremely challenging. it s always a bit crowded and busy, but what do you expect when being in the city? So I can t complain.