La Rustica in The Vale of Glamorgan

Firstly, we’ve been to the little olive multiple times and had fantastic food but this weekend was a real let down. We arrived at 6.30 for our booking and waiting a few minutes before waiting service attended to us - they were definitely short staffed. We were then shown to our tables and a few minutes later our menus were brought to us. Despite it being early in the evening the restaurant was already fully booked. We made our first drinks order (Prosecco - because it was my birthday), on receiving our drinks we ordered our food (main course only). Our food arrived over an hour later - not so much of an issue for the adults at the table but my seven year old was getting pretty grisly about 40 minutes in. There were other tables that had been seated around similar times that had been attended to a bit more than we were but as said, it was apparent they were short staffed. Our food started to come over before quickly being taken back - not sure why…. But my steak, sirloin (medium rare) with peppercorn sauce arrived, my mum had also asked for sirloin steak (medium) at first I thought our plates had been mixed up because my steak was not medium but more of well done but I asked how her steak was and hers was the same… both were well done, no seasoning. We’d attended a few months back and I’d ordered the same and the steak was just perfection - medium rare, juicy, seasoned. This steak was well done, no seasoning and just some green bits on top, My son ordered his favourite, spaghetti with tomato and garlic bread. Unlike previous visits no one came to us with Parmesan. They did to to other tables but not us. As said previously it was a busy night and they had two birthday tables - cake/singing etc which is cool but we too were there for a birthday (just I don’t like the attention) so the other tables seemed to be taken priority, for example they got Parmesan on their pasta, drinks were replenished etc but we seemed to be ignored. Anyway, we ran out of water mid way through the meal, when our plates were cleared we were asked if everything was OK, I politely said yes, my steak wasn’t OK but after waiting over an hour for our first course I really didn’t want to say no because we were all really hungry! We asked for a dessert menu. 20 minutes later we didn’t have the dessert menu so I went to the bar to get another… and I all fairness it was brought to us in minutes. Our server was busy chatting to two ‘gentlemen’ by the door who had no food but plenty of alcohol.., our desserts arrived but we also wanted two more drinks, unfortunately there was no table staff about so again I went to the bar to order. Little olive was always our go to restaurant and I will give them another go but this visit was really disappointing, it was a special treat for my 40th and it was a massive let down.

What a fab meal. Pizza was great. Olives yum!! Nothing to say but thank you for a lovely meal :-)) Will be back to enjoy more of the menu !

Amazing. The food is always so great and tasty for all ages. The music is perfect volume and choices. The staff are so kind, funny and nice.

Great atmosphere, consistently burnt pastries for a few months now (black on the top of half the pastry), biggest issue is paying for extra coffee I don’t order. I notice sometimes it is more expensive that I imagined and when I ask they’ve accidentally charged me for extra drinks. Few times now.