Pizzeria Rustico

Solid local pizzeria that gets thin crusts right. Walked by this spot countless times but finally gave it a try after being waitlisted at every North End restaurant nearby. With the North End just across the street, I never felt an urgency to stop in, but glad I finally did. Most reviews recommended their whole pies, but we weren’t super hungry, so we went with three slices and a Caprese salad. The slices looked like they’d been sitting out for a bit, but there was clearly skill behind the dough. Unfortunately, the toppings were weak (at least for the ones sold as slices). Despite my usual preference for something more loaded, cheese slice ended up being my favorite. The salad, on the other hand, was a great deal. No protein options by default, and everything was under $10. We added an optional scoop of tonno (slow-roasted pork), and it came in generous portions. Would probably come back for this if I’m in the area.

Really enjoyed the quattro formaggi. It was thin and crispy, with a perfect amount of cheese and fresh tomatoes, drizzled with olive oil, and crunchy crust. A small size pizza is good for 1, or 2 people if you arent too hungry. Its a small restaurant with limited seating but we got a spot. Highly recommend for takeout if you are in the area

This place is a tiny hole in the wall with 4 tables. I searched gluten free pizza and found this place. Wouldn't recommend for Celiacs due to cross contamination, but fine for those who are gluten sensitive! Probably the best gluten free I've ever had. We got the abruzzo and it was amazing. Service was fast and prices reasonable.

Family of three driving from Montreal to Cape Cod for a three night four day mini vacation. On the way we punched in pizza in Boston on Google reviews. Rustico came up with a great rating so we stopped by. We were happily greeted by Evan and we asked what he would recommend for three hungry people. He said he knew exactly what we'd enjoy. We sat down and experienced superb tasty pizza 🍕 with the perfect crisp, flavour, and size. The reviews we had read were spot on and we recommend this small pizza store wholeheartedly. Evan's colleague Elaine was making the dough behind the scene with amore. The food is delicious. The place is small with only a couple of tables so it's not a place that sits comfortably but it's more for stopping in, ordering a slice or two, and enjoying the company of two smiling, happy, and friendly people. Loved the whole experience. Thank you Evan and Elaine....Bravo. P.S. there was a Boston Red Sox baseball cap on top of a wall unit and I asked if it was for sale and Evan told me to just take it but I left an amount on the cash register. What a charitable soul he is. Way to go guys! Awesome pizza.

A must place to visit when in Boston. We stopped after a long day of walking in the city and had some of the best pizza and calzone we've ever had. We will definitely be back

No exaggerating this was the best pizza sauce I've ever had in my life. It's made in house and it's so bright and flavourful it makes me mad I don't live near here. This is a small shop where they clearly take a lot of pride in their food and it shows. Much better than a lot of other more famous places like Regina's. Very impressive and I would definitely recommend.

The service was amazing! The pizza was the best i’ve ever had. The crust was the right degree of crispyness, it is also chewy and melts in your mouth!

This pizzeria is really good. It may not look like a great restaurant and it is tiny inside, but the pizza we had was delicious and felt light, and incredibly tasty. Menu is not conventional and looks legitimately Italian! Staff is really chill and friendly :) We will definitely be back! Also, music was really nice, great music from the 80s.

Really delicious pizza. Sauce is sweeter rather than spicy. Their chic parm sub is also a perfect portion and perfectly done. House salad is a generous size. Staff is really friendly and helpful, too. It's a hidden gem in the TD Garden area.

Good pizza. Better owner. Super cool owner spent time telling us about all the great places Boston has for good Italian food when we said were from out of town. The pizza was delicious and they have a good variety of things to eat on the menu. Centrally located down the block from the TD Center. Must stop if you're in the area

Great value for your money, friendly staff, and a genuine establishment. If you're looking for a tasty and very affordable meal, stop by here. It's close to Boston's north Amtrak station so you can get a taste of an authentic meal rather than going to a chain. Enjoyed stopping here for a bit before resuming my travels!

First off, let's get the most important thing stated up front... the pizza is delicious. Toppings include fresh veggies and quality meats, plus delicious mozzarella that's cooked perfectly. The order was ready in minutes. It's my second time there and it's a nice bonus that the owner is a kind man who pays attention to his customers.

One of my go to places for takeout. Their salads are great. Not a big place and only has 2 small tables for dine in. Staff is nice and do a great job taking care of customers.

Stopped in for a slice of thin crust. Consistently delicious food here, and superior service. This place is inviting to look at, and a friendly stop for a bite to eat. Had a lovely chat with the owner, Evan. He puts care into every aspect of this restaurant, and it shows.

Food and service was good. It's a nice family own pizza place. The father and son were working together when we picked this randomly. They do single slices. The thin crust was crispy. We also picked the Sicilian slice with veggies, was tasty.

I've walked past this place a hundred times and today i said pizza time. was in and out in less than 5 minutes for a slice of cheese pizza. The bottom crust is great and overall i was surprised. Will go back again!

Regina was packed. Was craving a slice. Walked a few blocks and found this gem. As good a Regina. Friendly staff. Small little place so you might have to get takeout but they make special slices every day. The "Slow Cooked Italian roast beer with spicy GIARDINIERA Sicilian slice was so good. Had a pepperoni slice and son had regular slice. Incredible. Right down the street from the Garden. Definitely go here!!!

The pizza was great, workers were very nice and kind, and definitely will come back for their gelato! Thank you!

Just a corner location in Boston near our hotel... but this place was so great! It's a small little pizza place, but it's clean and inviting. The service was quick, efficient, and VERY friendly. We liked him as soon as we walked in! My husband loved the thin crust, and I loved the flavor. We just ordered a basic cheese, which is our go-to.. but it was soooo good! This is a definite thumbs up!

Tiny hole in the was pizza place next to City Winery and a block from TD Garden. 8 seats and 3 tables, so good luck getting a seat (o did luckily). Friendly as hell and one of the best chicken Parmesan subs I've ever had.

The pizza here is amazing!! Great spot to grab a slice or have some pizza before a game. The pizza chef in the back was hustling and making some fantastic food very quickly. What else is there to say? Go get some!

2 slices of heaven before finals game 1 nba final boston banner 18 thin slices. east coast perfe t

Excellent north end style pizza but close to Boston Garden north station. MGH. I had a very good Sicilian slice. I recommend it !

Surprisingly delicious! It looks good to begin with, but was really great! I got the pear parm with pepperoni added and my boyfriend got the white pizza, both really happy! And the staff was very friendly!

Got the chicken caesar wrap and chicken parm. Both superb. Very friendly staff as well.

My favorite lunch spot around. I walk a long time in the rain sometimes to get these sandwiches. The chicken parm, meat ball, and bidabeep sandwiches are insane! One of the best chicken Parms in Boston hands down. My favorite meatball sub around, and the bidabeep with the fresh mooz and procuitto is light but great. They guy who works here is always super friendly too. People seem to like the pizza a lot the Sicilian looks so good, but it's like 5$ a slice... I was born in the 90s so I can't bring myself to try it yet. I want to try their calzones sometime but I think they don't do individuals anymore.

Great food, friendly service. Small shop with a couple of tables, mostly take away. Don't let size discourage you great pizza and delicious, fresh cannolis

The pizza was good. The meatballs were super tender, but the freaking cannolis was out of this world. Owner Evan and chef Elaine were super nice, too. Who says Yankees aren't good hosts? Love Boston so far.

We wanted a casual dinner in the neighborhood and ended up at Pizzeria Rústico for slices of pizza. Amongst us, we had a few slices of regular pepperoni pizza and Sicilian-style margherita pizza. The pepperoni slice was okay but the margherita was pretty mediocre - the slices were on the hard/tough side which might have been related to how long our slices were heated. We took our slices to go but when I felt the box, it wasn't warm and after a five minute walk back, the slices were lukewarm at best. Slices were each about $5.

I can't believe more people don't know about this place! As a native New Yorker and picky eater, I know a thing or two about pizza. I have been coming here for about a year and a half now, typically taking a meatball ricotta pizza to go. The crust is baked to your liking, the tomato sauce is balanced, and the toppings are not overly salty or flavorless. As Goldilocks would say, this place is just right! The pizza is light and won't leave you feeling ill. I recently started getting slices to go and what a game changer. I can get four different types of pizza in one visit. All fabulous by the way. However I can't speak for the other food as I've only had their pizza. Above all, the owner is a good guy who is passionate about his small business. I would encourage anyone and everyone to stop by for a slice or 10!

Amazing, definitely recommend the pizza! It is a small store front so if you have a big group you probs want to order to-go; definitely ask for recommendations the staff are very friendly and recommend the best pizza!

Second time there this week! I think they changed owners during COVID. Menu is different. You have a good amount of options in the menu (salads, sandwiches, pizza, calzone, and breakfast options). Tried the Sicilian pizza (thick dough), was really good! I'm not a fan of thick pizza but as I never tried Sicilian I thought "why not?" and was definitely a win. Today I had the meatball sub.... Amazing, like homemade by your Nonna (grandma in Italian), perfect temperature, meatballs and Mariana sauce were super tasty and abundant. You have to try it! And the staff always SUPER nice!

Picture online looked good, I ordered a slice of cheese at noon & they only had 2 slices of pepperoni & one square slice that looked like it was there from day before. I paid $5 for a slice of pepperoni & the guy grabbed it with his bare hand and put it in the oven. After Covid I don't want to see that, he had it in the oven 30 seconds. I took 2 bites & threw away, greasy mess.

So for some reason Yelp has them down as closed. I just had their meatball sandwich. I enjoyed it. I almost missed out on a good lunch due to mis-information.

Oh my gosh. This place was so good. I went in to Pizzeria Rustico today after strolling around the area and found myself craving a Caesar salad. I decided to order myself a slice of the pepperoni pizza and one of their aforementioned Caesar salads. Little did I know I was about to dig into the best salad of my life. Before I even received the salad I noted the amazing service. The lady taking my order was kind, patient, and ready to bust out the most amazing salad in the tristate area. Together my total was $13.56, and I took my food to go. It was ready in less than 3 minutes. I carried it 15 minutes on the T and immediately the amazing smell filled the car. When I returned home, I ate the entire slice of pizza, which was amazing, before dolling out a heaping portion of the salad sent from heaven. I immediately took note of the perfect portion of dressing, the most spectacular ratio of cheese to lettuce, and I took my first bite. Oh. My. God. The salad completely smashed my expectations for what a Caesar salad could even be. My favorite part, by FAR was the croutons. They were soft, but yet still held up a beautiful crunchy crust. The crouton to salad ratio was on point and I got a crouton in every. Single. Bite. The best part, I had NO trouble piercing it with my fork, which can arguably be the most frustrating part of a salad eating experience. I gobbled up my portion and stowed the rest away in my fridge, which kept perfectly for dinner, which only consisted of the rest of the salad. That's right, an $8 salad was enough to sustain me for almost two full meals. Safe to say, I WILL be returning to this establishment, and I cannot wait to try everything on the menu. Thank you Pizzeria Rustico, for raising my standards on salad and the meal experience as a whole. You have earned a LIFE long customer.

this is a great place to grab a bite (any time of day..they are open pretty late!) for a slice. their dough is ultra thin and firm. it is not soggy at all despite despite the sauce and other toppings. you don't have to fear all your toppings sliding off a limp slice. everything we tried here was excellent. our favorite slices are the buffalo chicken and the veggie.

I felt like I was in the an original 1970s cafe in the heart of Boston. It was very exciting. Literally, construction workers would put their helmets down to scarf a breakfast before going out to work. If I worked in the area, I'd probably come here every day. Super traditional food but tons of variety. I got the breakfast sandwich with everything on it, with the potatoes thrown right on the sandwich. Perfect size (a little bit more than I was comfortable eating) and I finished every bite. Good coffee as well. Too bad I live thousands of miles away. I'll definitely come back when I'm in town though!

Absolutely amazing!! Honestly the best I've had in Boston so far. Super great texture and quality. The sauce was fantastic. It even tastes great reheated!!!

Just okay. The service was fast and friendly. The food wasn't anything impressive though. I even willingly waited 10 minutes for fresh pizza so I could taste it at its best. It was just plain cheese pizza (which I love), but honestly I think Domino's is better. I also got a chocolate chip corn muffin. It was just okay. I don't really have anything bad to say about Rustico, but nothing really good either.

Great pizza with very fresh ingredients ready within 15 minutes. Just be aware a whole pizza is huge, so if you're not sharing with at least 3 other people, you'll have lots left over. We're from California where a large feeds 2

Food is great. I'd say the prices are fair. I paid close to $10 (including tax) for a caprese salad with 5 slices of tomatoes, 4 slices of mozzarella, balsamic glaze, and arugula. Cashier is not friendly. Kitchen staff is more friendly. I called to ask how long it would take for a salad to be prepared and she said no longer than 5 minutes, so I ordered it. After waiting 5 minutes I asked how much longer it would be. She looked at me as if she was annoyed (she was chatting with her coworker) and said "I don't know". I said OK; you said it'd be no longer than 5 min. I have a meeting to get to. Can you check? She checked and the chef actually made sure I got my salad quickly, so kudos to the kitchen staff and chef!

The food is great. Classic small Italian take out, but it's very tasty. This would be a 5 star rating if it weren't for the poor service. I pre-ordered at Rustico twice and both times I might as well have waited in line with everyone else. The family owned restaurant is seemingly run by family members who can be a little gruff. I find that I avoid Rustico's more than I seek it out because the slow turn, chip on the shoulder and it ain't cheap take out.

Overnight in Boston! At my hotel I took one look at the microwaved breakfast, and I said, "I need real food!" The attendant recommended Rustico! The beautiful! owner Kiki took my order. I ordered an egg white omelette with vegetables that came out very quick was cooked to perfection! I'll be back for Lunch before heading to the airport!! Came back for lunch and 2 for 2!!! It great to know that you won't have to think about not haveing a good meal when near the Boston Garden! Buon appetite!

One of the only places open on NYE. Some of the best pizza i've ever had. Super friendly staff, they chatted with us while we waited for our impressively fast pizza order. Looking forward to trying some of their sandwiches.

Rustico didn't even meet my very low expectations. The place was filthy. I waited forever to place my order and even longer for my sandwich to come out - on a dirty plate! While I waited in line to order, I watched the cashier periodically dash back into the kitchen to help wrap up the sandwiches, without gloves. This has got to be a sanitary code violation. My eggplant parm sandwich came out in a puddle of oil. Oh, and they have a sign up offering free cookies in exchange for good Yelp reviews, which might help explain some of the good reviews you'll read here. I am pretty sure that's against Yelp's terms of service. Either way, not a good look. I'm still giving it 2 stars because...I did finish the sandwich, and I didn't get sick.

Big fan - Good food, good price, friendly staff. I came here to grab some take out for lunch. I've passed by here a few times, but never tried it till now. Sometimes was busy and now I know why. I ordered the Pick 2 (Half Soup, Salad, or Sandiwch) deal. I got the Salad Special and Chicken Alla Pesto, both dish with items Ilike, such as Pesto, mushroom, mozzerella, etc. The salad was fresh, but next time maybe I order my dressing on the side. The Chicken sub was still good after a 15min walk back to office. The roll was toasted, so it was still warm and cheese still gooey. Chicken, pesto, mushroom is my kinda mix. Will definitely be back for lunch. They are breakfast (at good price) and pasta as well.

The most unbelievable fried raviolis I've ever had. If you want quality food at a great price, look no further!

Lucky and grateful I stumbled upon this place minutes before they closed and the C's tip-off. The clerk working the counter was an absolute gent even though I could tell he had had a long day of serving customers. Helpful, attentive and made one of the best sandwhiches I've had in some time. It's a small informal place - but the food and service were outstanding.

Wow, I cannot figure out all the stars for this place. It was a big greasy mess and when I fired up the iPhone for a little wifi, this is what I got: "Oh, I don't have the password." This after the Yelp app says it's free. If you don't have the password that means you don't have it for anyone who asks. My visit was fairly early in the morning and the place was already dirty. I was the only one there so it wasn't like they had trouble getting to it. I'm not not sure how lunch is but if breakfast is any indication, I'm assuming not very good. Everything is super cheap though but I don't really need that much of a tradeoff. My omelet wasn't really an omelet but more like a scramble. Everything was in there that was supposed to be but other than that it's nothing to write home about. They were very friendly when I told them I was lost though and gave me directions on where to find the subway and how to get to my destination. Service was ok and she managed to smile and brighten up my morning. It's scary being new to the area and lost. I may in the future decide to give them another try if I'm in the area. Breakfast spots are few and far between if you're looking for table service. If not I'm sure there are plenty of options in the area.

Like Adrienne below, my 60 Canal St. cohorts and I (now around the corner above the Harp on Portland St.) loved to run across the street to this seemingly 12' x 12' Italian storefront at lunchtime. Now, we just have to run a little further, trying not to be tempted by the Banknorth Garden bars on the way there. My staple sandwich is the "Larry," the Larifortre (sp?), which has grilled chicken and supple prosciutto on a unique bread with a light honey mustard-like dressing. Good stuff -- they also have sandwiches with balsamic and arugula with proscuitto and mozz. Amazing sandwiches...but... My favorite reason to go, whenever I'm working out of the Boston office, is to get a steaming plateful of Carmine's gnocchi. It is like a gnocchi alla sorrentina -- rich tomatoes, fresh basil, tender potato dumplings, and healthy chunks of fluffy white mozzarella melted within. Total comfort food, esp. on a rainy Boston afternoon. Very fair prices, very quick and friendly service, this is still my standby for a quick grab and go lunch in Boston.

Rustico has delicious food and great staff. I can only comment on the breakfast because that's all that I order. Between the 3 restaurants on the block that sell breakfast Rustico is the best. They serve fresh coffee. There are sandwiches made for customers in advance. You are also able to call for orders to be picked up.

Great Subs and Pizza. I had the Sausage Sub with Mozzarella and sauce. Perfect amounts of everything and served with a great staff. The only problem I had was the really cute girl there kissed and hugged this other guy in front of me (one of their dad's or something) but she didn't kiss or hug me! Damn. I can't wait to return for some pizza and some subs even though I didn't get the hug and kiss from the pretty staff.

We ordered the cheese pizza, aunties fav salad, and a side of meatballs. I would say their pizza is just as good as Regina's in the north end. Also, I didn't know you could order meatballs on the side. I'm so glad I asked bc those meatballs were amazing! Someone walking by the window stopped in to ask me what I ordered. Highly recommend this place.

Had lunch here with friends that were visiting from the West Coast. I don't know Boston well at all so I turned to Yelp for help (hey - that rhymes!). This place was highly rated so we headed over. This place is very small - only a handful of tables. I think they are only open for lunch. The menu is not extensive, but features a variety of sandwiches and pastas. There were 7 of us at lunch and 4 order the gnocchi, which was just OK. Hubby ordered a side of meatballs (good!) and a non-memorable pasta dish. The youngster in our group ordered cheese ravioli, but they shorted her on the order so she ended up ordering a second plate. The most amazing looking selection was the sausage sandwich. That sucker had to have been a foot long. If I head back here again that's what I'm ordering. Service was excellent. Prices were reasonable. I'd say this is a good place to go for lunch if you work in the area, but it will not WOW you if you are a tourist.

A no-frills, cash-only Italian-inspired restaurant that's part take-out, part sit-down (if you can find a seat at one of the few tables). I am so happy I work near here so I can get to eat the most delicious, rich, creamy gnocchi ever whenever I want. Seriously, the gnocchi is incredible! The other pasta dishes are also very good, but the gnocchi is the stand-out by far. The sauce is absolutely perfect, the cheese is always fresh (you can tell by the stringiness) and the little dried herb seasoning on top is the perfect touch). I sampled the arugula salad once with some co-workers and boy was it good. Amazing dressing, very fresh vegetables, just superb for being, well, a salad. Between that and the gnocchi, I had such an amazing meal. And even though it's cash only, the prices are so much more affordable than over-priced North End eateries a few blocks down. So glad I'm a hop and skip from this place.

Absolutely agree with all those other lower reviewers, the service here is subpar. Don't go here if you are hungry because a luke warm sandwich will take 15-20 to make!!!The most offensive was that several people got their food before me when they had places their order after me! I don't know their workflow but it's seriously inefficient and the kitchen seemed really confused most of the time. This is the third time this has happened and I shall not even attempt to go here anymore, not worth the poor service and hangry-ness!

Really really really good everything. I come here every lunch break even though I try to tell myself to try new things. My 2019 goal is to try everything on the menu