Rustico Italian Bistro in Central Bedfordshire

Wonderful food tonight at rustico’s. The salmon was so revolver and delicious with the olive caramel. The baba rum was one of the nicest desserts I have had. Perfect.

Awesome! What a fabulous experience, the food was exceptional, the service was great and we got to chat to the chef! Everything made to order can’t recommend it enough.

Went with my family to celebrate my wife’s birthday and while the restaurant was cosy and looked really nice I have to say that the food was WAY over priced. In ordered a stake that cost nearly £30.00 and I’m not joking that the stake was only 5 little strips no Bigger than my fingers. With chips and sauce. Our bill came to over £400 and my whole family said that they would never come back. To add insult to injury they automatically added a tip to the bill. I heard the waitress trying to explain to another customer why the bill was higher than what they ordered and it was cringe. I really don’t like to leave negative reviews but the tip should be discretionary and not added automatically. I know I could of asked to remove it but as a customer I know that can be so awkward.

Excellent experience! We'd booked as a special anniversary treat after a recommendation from a friend - after considering other local, special, places we decided that we'd give this place a try, having walked past so often before. As you walk in the welcome is warm and unforced and this feeling remains throughout. Although not cheap, the quality of all the food and wine was exceptional - you truly get what you pay for. An absolute gem that Leighton Buzzard is lucky to have!

Popped in today for a coffee after a walk along the canal. Coffee was excellent so we decided to stay for lunch. The tomato and mozzarella ravioli was absolutely delicious! Obviously made fresh beautifully presented and piping hot! The reason for only 4 stars is we did have to wait for quite a while for our meal but that was only an issue because we were parked on a time limit in Tesco’s!

Very poor - everything was plastic and not the slightest Italian at all.Menu was very limited and poor and actual food was very plain (small portions). But the decor and ambience was very poor indeed…..nothing Italian about this place.Sitting very close to other tables is ok but not when there is no music or noise across the entire restaurant.

We had a quiet family birthday celebration in Rustico. As we book it for birthday, the lovely waitress surprised us pleasantly by offering a complimentary Prosecco. :) Throughout the evening, the service was impeccable and food was bursting with flavours and textures and was beautifully presented. The Chef himself came out with dessert with a candle to congratulate the birthday man, which was a lovely touch. Also, the Chef came out to inquire about experience during the dinner and we had a lovely chat with him. The restaurant is small, so I would advise to book a table in advance, just in case. :)

A lovely restaurant! We had a delicious meal, octopus salad, ham & figs, pea and asparagus ravioli, semi Freddo and a rum baba and great wine! Staff were v friendly and helpful…can’t wait to go back!

This place was a revelation. Excellent quality ingredients expertly cooked and presented. Good service too. We shall return soon.

The food was gorgeous. Everything we had arrived quick and tasted so delicious. The service was absolutely top class.

I took my pregnant daughter there as a treat. The staff were wonderful and pandered to all her queries. The meal was excellent (not cheap) and I got a 'doggy-bag' for my lunch tomorrow. We will certainly be back en famille !

My husband and I always go to Rustico the moment we get away from the little sproglettes for lunch or dinner. We’ve taken friends there from out of town, and never (NEVER) had a bad meal. I am gluten intolerant, and the owners always remember and make me a gluten free version of the meals on the menu, and even experiment with the menu for me, for example making me gluten free carbonara risotto. Always friendly, always the best quality ingredients. We are lucky to have this treasure on our doorstep.

An absolute delight!!!! This is the authentic italian experience!!!! Hugely recommended for anyone looking for a great and unforgettable meal

Visited last night with my husband and was not disappointed ! Such a friendly place that made us so welcome. Food was amazing especially the beetroot starter which the chef described with such passion how he had developed this. Will definitely be back

We tried the shared starter and the main courses. Each was superb and gave the real flavour of Italian cuisine. They have a very short and special menu of Italian dishes, but they are all worth trying.

It's small but we love the place. The menu is very small and pasta was a bit soft but we'll back again.

Ok - if it needs a fault, it has to be the selection of chairs for this really small, intimate restaurant hidden away near the station in Leighton Buzzard. We were offered the early sitting, arriving shortly before 6 and as it was one of...

Our first visit to Rustico. It won't be the last. Fantastic food, maybe the best Italian food I have eaten outside of Italy. The service was first class. Just brilliant . Thank you

A cosy, intimate restaurant with not too many tables, meaning the owners Valentina and Giovanni, sometimes helped out by a few others can cover the floor perfectly well, and give a personal but not intrusive service to everyone. Rather than a menu of every dish...

Lovely independent family run restaurant with welcoming hostess. Very authentic Italian food with a lot of thought out into the menu. Great recommendations on wine and food! Smaller menu than other places but this is due to superior authenticity of food Would Definitely recommend knocci...

Visited a local Italian restaurant. Food was amazing and I think owned by husband (chef) wife (waitress) both really friendly. Was a great night, staters, we had the sharing platter and bruschetta. Both truly delicious. Our mains were so good, we passed them around our...

Lovely meal out. Definitely the best restaurant in LB. Fresh ingredients, good portion size and welcoming hosts. The seafood salad starter was particularly great.

Just stumbled upon this place as I was in the area and went by the reviews on here which totally did this place justice. The food is amazing. We both had the steak panini which was to die for so we shared another one. The...

Our party of 5 enjoyed a top class authentic Italian dinner at Rustico's last evening. We sampled both the Taglierre & Bruschette starters , which were tremendous. The Buratta was so fresh & the cured meats tasty. We chose 4 pasta dishes & the lamb...

Amazing food and brilliant service. Couldn’t fault any of it from being welcomed at the start all the way through. Giovanni and Valentina are a credit to the industry they are clearly so passionate about and I would highly recommend this place to everybody.

Our food last night was truly delicious. Langoustine bisque pasta & lamb rump. Genuinely one of the best pair of meals we’ve ever had. Thankyou both, you’re dedication to great food & service is really appreciated

My wife and I visited this lovely bistro restaurant two nights ago for our anniversary and we loved it. It is small, personal, and has a limited amount of tables which makes it even more special. Valentina at front of house is welcoming, lively and...

Quality little place - welcoming and friendly owners, lovely food and delicious coffee. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

I live in Linslade and when I checked TA out of curiosity for the best restaurant in town I was amazed when it recommended Rustico. I should have known better than to doubt TA. Rustico is a little gem - it is so small that...

Simply the best place to eat in Leighton Buzzard. The food is exquisite and the service pitch perfect. This is a small local business run by people who care about what they are doing and cook food with love. You can’t ask for much more....

Visited this place after reading reviews on here. And what an amazing place it is- the food was delicious. Had the seafood salad to start, the ragu for main and a bottle of red. Would highly recommend. The staff were incredibly friendly and couldn’t do enough. Already looking at my calendar of when I can go back. 10/10.

This has to be the best authentic Italian restaurant! The food was so delicious and such a lovely intimate environment so pleased we booked with friends can’t wait to go back.

I don't eat any animal products. I'm not a vegan, I'm a whole food plant eater. So I don't want things like fake vegan cheese or cream.Some friends of ours wanted to go to an Italian. We've heard great things about Rustico so my better half, who is Italian, wanted to try it. I was not so keen as most Italian restaurants deliver an anglicised version of Italian food with loads of cream and butter and cheese. This means they can cope easily with vegetarians but not so well for vegans and whole food plant eaters like me.At first glance Rustico's very short menu looked like there was very little I could eat. However, the beautiful Italian waitress re-assured me that they cook most things from scratch so they can adjust virtually anything. So, they very kindly gave me bespoke food.My better half also needs to eat gluten free and they easily managed to accommodate that. The other couple were very pleased with their food too.The only very minor thing I would say about my food was that the portions were a little small for the price we paid. My main should have come with some side vegetables or a small salad for example. However, it was very tasty and made specially for me so I'm not complaining. I'm really grateful.

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!! Thank you for a truly lovely evening, Delicious food, attentive staff , Can’t wait to return .

I wanted to treat my vegetarian wife to a special meal on her birthday, preferably away from the domestic scene. The answer was our SORNed motorhome. Candles and soft music provided the atmosphere and Rustico provided the excellent meal. Her roasted pepper filled with chickpeas, sundried tomatoes, ricotta cheese and homemade basil pesto was wonderful. I had a salmon fillet with creamy leeks and mashed potato: and of course we both had Tiramisu for puds. Accompanied by an excellent Valpolicella from my own collection it made for a memorable meal. Thank you Rustico.

Our second visit to Rustico since moving to Linslade - this time for my wife’s birthday. We had a really great meal and the evening couldn’t have been better. We had octopus and bruschetta to start and then the spaghetti vongole and pork belly for our mains. The food was exceptional and the service very friendly. The restaurant was fully booked and we are sure they will see things through the upcoming lockdown - we will be back! Thanks for also giving us a complimentary chocolate tort for dessert (on the house as a birthday present).

Evening menu; short but interesting. We both had bruschette to start, which we enjoyed, although £10.50 seemed a bit steep. For desert my wife had Tiramsiu and I had the Tortino al Cioccolat again both enjoyable. For main course my wife had Sea trout which she thought excellent and I had the belly pork which was a disappointment. It was a piece of meat about 3 inches thick and it was overcooked. The crackling was fine (if slightly charred) but the flesh was very dry and the underside very tough (I struggled to cut it). However I did clean my plate so didn't bring it to anyone's attention. I wasn't driving so I had both red and white house wines which were good and good value.

Had a wonderful lunch here with my daughter for her birthday. What a lovely relaxing time we had, fabulous food, friendly service. Would totally recommend and will be back. But...as it’s small I would recommend booking. I emailed in the morning and reply was very prompt. Thank you so much x

Glad they’re doing a takeaway service. Just had a great Father’s Day eating Rustico’s food. Gnocchi Ragu and Ravioli at lunch time and the sharing board and pastries for dinner. Negronis too. All fabulous. See you again soon.

Decided to support local businesses during this difficult time. Only a small order but really well received by the owners and staff. Food superb as always. Please support your local businesses.

Having enjoyed previous meals at this lovely little bistro we’d booked well in advance to ensure table for four.We and our friends received a warm welcome,great service and enjoyed four lovely meals together with good wines.We especially enjoyed the seafood soup/stew.We’ve tried the other Leighton Italian restaurants and truly believe Rustico is the best.

Fantastic place for a delicious brunch. Lovely coffee and a very warm and friendly welcome. Thank you

We went as a group of 8 in a family with young children and I was totally unsure of what to expect. The staff were very friendly and accommodating on arrival and catered for the 2 younger children well by splitting a panini for them. We all ordered pasta- salmon, pesto and burrata, ragu and carbonara- every dish was outstanding. This is real authentic Italian cooking. The panini we shared was one of the best I have ever eaten. Wine also delicious. Would 100% recommend and this place deserves every credit!

I love this place small restaurant and very friendly. Great food and beer. My partner had the ricotta and lemon ravioli which was amazing. I had the Bolognese which was great. I travel a lot in Italy and would recommend you try this place.

My current favourite place to eat. Small, intimate, café style. Small, but perfectly executed menu. Authentic. Fabulous service and amazing food.

These guys opened up on a Tuesday night for a booking of 12 and produced some wonderful food. Intimate, personal service and top quality home made tasty food. So nice to have freshly made authentic Italian delights, lovingly prepared and well served. Absolutely brilliant.

Small but great service and food. Had exclusive use of the restaurant for a friends birthday meal. Very good service, seafood pasta dish was delicious. Young and old were catered for and we would recommend this if you would like an intimate gathering to celebrate an event.

My partner and I eventually made the decision to visit - due to the small capacity we ordered food to take away, this wasn’t a problem. We are both vegetarians but unfortunately Rustico did not seem to have any specific options for this, just one or two dishes they could prepare without meat. We ordered one of each dish with the vegetarian option. I ordered the gnocchi and my girlfriend ordered the risotto. Unfortunately and to the dissatisfaction of my girlfriend, she tucked into her meal and soon discovered something strange, meat. By this point she had already consumed some in the confidence that we had been given a vegetarian meal. I called in to inform Rustico - they explained to me that there had been a ‘problem in the kitchen’ and to return so they could re-make us the dish. We went back and were presented with an apology, a vegetarian dish, and a small dessert as a additional thank you.Our problem is with the weight in which the mix up was treated. It was treated as if we had simply been given the wrong order. Not that it was fundamentally in opposition to our dietary choices. Had the issue involved allergens or similar, far worse consequences could have happened and have happened in recent years elsewhere. This sort of thing shouldn’t happen.It is upsetting because I want this place to succeed and I hope they do, we just left with a bad first experience and may not return because of it.

Lovely little Italian Bistro which even on a Saturday lunch time was very busy. Very small so booking is essential. The food all looked delicious and my pasta certainly tasted it.

What a tasty meal we had this evening at this buzzing little restaurant. Super energetic owners who really looked after us. Tried the Grilled Octopus which was a very pleasant surprise. Enjoyed all the dishes. No hesitation in recommending Rustico.

What a wonderful night out to celebrate special birthday. As always food and service were fantastic with super friendly welcome and wonderful food and wine. The specially made Birthday cake was sublime. All four of us will be coming back.

This is such a great little Italian Restaurant. I have eaten here for lunch twice now and the food is excellent. Had Pasta with ham in a cheese sauce and it was SO tasty. It is a small venue and it is wise to book ahead. The staff are very obliging.

Great meal here. Tiny little place. The food is delicious. Shared starter of their canapés, all fantastic and had their seafood gnocchi as my Main. Everyone loved their meals. Will definitely be back, highly recommend.

I was part of a group of ladies celebrating a 50th birthday. Lovely food, great service. Friendly staff. A very memorable evening.

Excellent food. Need to book in advance as very small and popular. Booked for November to visit again

This is small Italian bistro that is well worth the visit. The food and service are excellent.

We had read good things online so wanted to visit Rustico, and it far exceeded our expectations. The food was excellent, the Italian owners have definitely focused on quality & authenticity first and foremost. We had three courses each and it is definitely good value for the quality of food you receive.

Great food. Great people. Great wine. The gerwurztraminer from sudtirol is my favourite wine. I got quite excited when I saw it on the menu as it's difficult to find in england. Defo going back!

Came here for a 5 course taster menu,all course very delicious and filling. Well presented. Personal intimate atmosphere. Would come again.

Omg this place is out of this world. Food is stunning service is exceptional and the price is good for the quality of the meal £76 for a shared starter steak and pasta dish with a bottle of wine.

Held my Husbands Birthday meal at Rustico. 16 of us so was lovely as we had the whole venue to ourselves!

Very small restaurant with a lovely friendly informal atmosphere and fantastic food.

We went for our anniversary meal, we got married in Siena and wanted a proper traditional Italian meal (no breadsticks in sight !) the service was impeccable and familial and the food absolutely perfect. It was the most delicious flavoursome meal ..... worthy of a Bellisima!

A friendly small place in linslade. not many tables but worth waiting. Good cooked breakfast, a bit light on non-cooked items

What a hidden gem! Went on a Thursday evening. Menu is full of really different dishes - lovely to see a change from the standard Italian offerings. Everything is clearly prepared from scratch and all our dishes were beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Excellent service too. Will definitely be back.

Food was amazing. Atmosphere and hosting was perfect. Not one bad thing to say. I’ll definitely be back!

Fabulous hidden Gem, best restaurant in Leighton Buzzard. Really surprised, great service, excellent food. Great company. Really recommend this one. My starter.

I’ve purely created an account on here just so that I can leave these wonderful people a review! My partner and I had a lovely experience the moment we stepped through the door tonight. Everything we ate was delicious and it was so easy to see just how passionate the trio are about creating a taste of Italy here in England. We felt so welcome and it was a pleasure to speak to Valentina about our delightful dishes. Thank you ever so much for our little pastry gift box - it was such a gorgeous gesture. I hope nothing but great success for Rustico as Valentina and the boys truly deserve it.

Had the lovely steak baguette, always a winner! Nicely cooked, lovey mustard mayo, dressed salad and those lovely baked crisp—like slices of Italian cheese. Delicious.

The restaurant is small and cosy and has a lovely atmosphere. Four of us visited on a Saturday evening . The food was amazing and we were each convinced that we’d managed to select the best dish on the menu. A little cross-sampling revealed that, actually, every dish is outstanding. The staff are incredibly friendly and engaging, and they seem to find time to chat whilst delivering an efficient service. The service, the food and the atmosphere combine to make this an outstanding venue. We shall return.

A bright cheery welcome at this little restaurant, big on Italian flavours. Really enjoyed tasty pasta dishes and Sicilian beers this lunchtime and will without doubt be returning very soon to enjoy their dinner menu. Lots of locally sourced produce, top quality ingredients.

Had heard this restaurant was good, but that understates the quality of the food and the friendly, welcoming, staff. Even having to apologise and delay our attendance due to travel problems of one of our party was not an issue. Nor did asking to make small changes to a couple of dishes. Removing squid and offering extra prawns was treated as a matter of course. The pork medallions main course was fantastic too. It may be small but size does not affect overall ambiance. We had a wonderful visit and can't wait to go back

Nice cozy place, very well kept, clean, bright, good food, fantastic first impression, very very friendly people who do their best, felt like we were in beautiful Italy, excellent ingridnets. Will be back soon as we found this place and is the best to catch up with friends.

Took wife as birthday treat.Fortunate to have booked.Full up.only 14-16 covers.

I visited this restaurant with my daughter recently - neither of us had been before but it was recommended. The welcome was warm and friendly, service excellent, and the place itself

Moved into the area recently and visited late May, prompted by the TA reviews but slightly skeptical as it doesn’t look anything special. I was very wrong - we’ve been back twice since in under 4 weeks (and would’ve been a fourth time, but they were booked).

Totally amazing dinner. Could easily have chosen every single option on the menu. 4 scrumptious looking starters, same with the mains. Food looks amazing on instagram and is even better in reality. Amazing ravioli, moreish gnocchi, seafood to die for.

What a great little place! They re-jigged tables to accommodate four of us and the food, coffee and service were all excellent. Happy first anniversary and best wishes for many more of them.

A small restaurant offering a wonderful Italian experience. Very friendly people, a good choice of well cooked dishes and with reasonably priced wines in accompaniment. I would think booking is essential.

Congratulations to Rustico on their first year in Linslade. We are very happy to have such a great cafe nearby and look forward to our regular Saturday coffee and brunch. Food and drink is delicious, and service is always friendly and personal. Long may you continue!

The search engine came up with Rustico having vegetarian and vegan options. The staff are eager to accommodate but I'm not too sure they have a grasp on what vegan is. The vegan option of pasta had a few bits of meat in it which made us think the others had just been picked out. We only thought of it later, but I suspect their pasta was made with egg.The meat meals weren't too great either, one too salty and one sludgy. My friends have raved about this place but I'm not risking going again.

wanted to try "something different" for lunch and am glad we did... had the "sharing platter" - a lovely fresh mix of artichoke hummous; roast peppers; aubergine; parma ham, salami; mozzarella and a (cream?/goats?) cheese - all delicious, served with a warm ciabatta which a lovely crisp bite to it... Totally demolished - but proportions just right to enable us to have some Italian Gelato - the real deal - pistacchio and vanilla, served with delicious lemon or pistacchio "snaps". Great spot for lunch; friendly staff and small enough to hear yourself think (14 covers). Recommended.

Decided to pop in at last minute as close to home. So glad we did. What a fantastic meal with wonderful friendly service. Only had one course each but difficult to see how we could have managed three!

Went for lunch. The food was beautifully fresh and absolutely delicious, served by friendly and engaging staff. Can’t wait to go back to try dinner in the evening.

Thank you Valentina, Giovanni and Luca. We enjoyed the warm welcome and the delicious lunch. Good quality ingredients cooked simply, but with the most important ingredient being the fact it is cooked and served from the heart. Loved the passion and knowledge, like when I asked about the thickness of the pastry in the apricot tart, Valentina explained that because the apricot reaches such a high temperature if the pastry is too thin it will break or they would need to make it shorter than they want. It is this kind of attention to detail which makes Rustico a real joy. If you want flashy pretentiousness then look elsewhere, but if you want authentic Italian food, served in a great atmosphere, I highly recommend this restaurant.

Four of us had such a fun evening at Rustico last night. We all ordered something different so we could try most of the menu and everything was absolutely delicious. The pork and plum main was particularly amazing but above and beyond the food is the fact that this is a tiny place run by 3 Italian friends who want to showcase the dishes and cooking styles you find in Italy - no ‘tourist’ food here! We even learned that Peroni beer is a big “no-no” which we were told in the nicest possible way! Lovely chat and banter with the owners who made us feel very welcome and we all left full and happy.

Absolutely fabulous meal at this quaint restaurant tonight- exceptionally good food, service and atmosphere. Will definitely return very soon

We'd been meaning to try Rustico since it opened last Summer - so glad we finally got there for my wife's birthday. Lovely & beautifully presented Italian food in intimate surroundings with friendly & welcoming owners/staff. We'll take our friends next time.

We stumbled across this cosy restaurant as it's a little out of town but just on our doorstep! Its only small but WOW! What a find! The food is excellent and if you're unsure the team is more than willing to help! They are all very friendly but they don't impose on your meal. Each time we've been the menu has changed and we come away with a new favourite. Its great to try the different dishes and they are all so tasty! The fact that they also do 'takeaway' is a nightmare as it's so easy to pop round and grab some delicious food! lol! We absolutely love this place and we're looking forward to our next visit in a few weeks

Popped in for Lunch, not realising how good the food and what we have been missing out on in terms of good service and quality food.

To accommodate our party size they offered to open for longer. Whilst the restaurant area is intimate, the decor is modern and comfortable. The rustica staff were amazing, as it's a smaller restaurant you are looked after like family, so welcoming and freindly. So many Italian restaurants in the UK have lost their connection to the old country, compromised by the demand to turn over covers quickly at low cost. NOT THESE GUYS! This is genuine Italian cooking at its best. High quality fresh ingredients, prepared and cook with lots of heart and passion. Coming from Italian heritage, I've grown up with lots of home cooked Italian food and these guys nailed it. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD WITH A MODERN TWIST THEN YOU NEED TO GO HERE.

We stopped on our canal travels in Linslade and looked on TA to find somewhere to dine with close friends.

My wife and I have always enjoyed the food & drinks as well as the wonderful genuinely friendly Italian trio running the place. They recently started an evening menu more in line with Italian fine dining.

Love going to Rustico! Had several breakfasts and one evening meal. Food delicious, staff lovely. Sometimes you have to wait a little, but it's worth it.

We have been for coffee in the daytime on numerous occasions and wanted to try Rustico for an evening meal. Our first visit on Saturday night was everything we hoped for and more - cannot fault a thing. From the warm welcome, fabulous service and amazing food we had a brilliant experience. Will certainly be recommending to friends and cannot wait to return. Thank you!

lunch today was a complete taste explosion. Sooo delicious. Could have eaten it again. The staff are always friendly and engaging, eager to please and accommodate extra or alternative needs or even wishes. Rustico will fast become a regular haunt. Service with a smile? Absolutely!

Simply a truly authentic italian cuisine, with love for fresh ingredients and recipes from tradition. If you are searching for an unforgettable taste of Italy in the UK should really stop by Rustico.

Lovely little place with friendly staff and delicious Italian food and drink. Scallops, sirloin and tiramisu, washed down with a bottle of Montepulciano and a Montenegro digestiv.

A lovely vibrant little bistro. The food is authentic Italian. The staff are a delight. Our only criticism was that the crockery was all cold. They are addressing the issue though. They deserve to do well. Lovely to have a privately run restaurant.

We had an excellent and reasonably priced lunch here as a family. The service was friendly and attentive and they were accomodating enough to change the components in a salad on request.