The Needle: Rustico

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Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Kate Nerenberg , Rina Rapuano

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Rustico

827 Slaters La.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.224.5051

Cuisines:
Pizza, Italian, American, Modern

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Braddock Road

Price Range:
Moderate

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Recommended

Special Features:
Late Night, Weekend Brunch, Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Pot-pie and pork Mosaics; chicken-liver terrine; rockfish with fennel pollen; sausage-and-pickled-pepper pizza; grilled cheese with balsamic onions and maple ham; braised pork shoulder over rigatoni; sunchoke-and-sheep’s- milk-ricotta pizza; Guinness cupcake.

Price Details:
Lunch entrees, $7 to $16. Dinner appetizers, $5 to $10; entrees, $12 to $23. Pizzas, $12 to $15.

Reader's Rating:

4 out of 5

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The menu at this beer-centric restaurant touts its devotion to fresh ingredients, but a recent visit showed that the kitchen isn’t above taking shortcuts. The steamed mussels were fishy, a cheddar-and-ale soup lacked the depth of a long-simmered stock, and a dish of baked oysters had an unpleasant aftertaste. But the zesty Buffalo-chicken croquettes were simple and satisfying, and a homey peanut-butter trifle provided a decadent finish. The 300-bottle beer list—including such unusual finds as a milk stout from North Carolina’s Duck-Rabbit brewery—is a treat.

-August 2009

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More than just a neighborhood joint...worth the drive

VTRitt — January 30, 2009 10:49 AM

Drove down from Rockville to go to the movies in Alexandria and ended up at Rustico afterwards. This visit was much more worthy of the drive than the movie--and the movie was *good*. The restaurant's menu is not lengthy, but it great. Seems like More ...

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