I love rustico. I think it is the best restaurant on Kent Island... But I am little unhappy with the new menu. Please consider bringing some old items back like the penne a la vodka, the old tiramisu and the fra diavolo sauce.

Went there to celebrate a few birthdays. Service was pretty good. Prices OK. Some alarm went off while we were eating. We (5 of us) knew it wasn't a fire alarm because hardly a thing we ate was hot. I had the stuffed pork chop. Presentation was nice. Over cooked and lacking flavor. Mashed potatoes were smooth. Asparagus was cooked just right. The sauce/glaze was burnt and tasted like it. We had the Calamari. A little under cooked and a bit greasy. We all finished up then had some coffee and a dessert. Again, somehow even the coffee wasn't hot. The Apple strudel was warm and the ice cream was cold. :) Heard there is a new chef. Not sure if the lack of heat problem was a result of the kitchen or the delivery of the food.

Local to the area, I've lived near Rustico for years and finally got around to eating here just a few weeks ago. My initial experience was very positive, my SO and I ordered a wide array of their appetizers to sample italian cuisine and I was very impressed with their Bruschetta, Frittura Di Pomodori Verdi, and Antipasto Misti. Our meal took a turn for the worse, however, after ordering the Gamberi Napoletana (a shrimp dish). I felt increasingly ill after eating the seafood dish and visited the restroom briefly to be sick before hurriedly paying off the bill and walking home. I continued to be violently sick for a few hours afterwards and called the management to set things straight once I could comfortably speak on the phone. The woman I spoke with was kind and courteous, apologizing for the problems I had with the dish, and offered to refund the meal via check. I was grateful, but the check never came so it seems she blew me off. The ambience of the restaurant is nice, and the wait staff are kind and attentive, but I highly recommend skipping their seafood dishes.

Nice Ambiance, Unimpressive Value. We enjoyed a romantic dinner-date, but after reading all the enthusiastic earlier reviews, it was a bit of a disappointment overall despite some highlights. The house Sangiovese was good for $8/glass, and the very nice bread & seasoned dipping oil were a great start to the meal. The calamari appetizer was EXCELLENT -- perfectly sauteed with light breading and tasty dipping sauces, and a very generous portion. The penne a la vodka with sausage was far too salty and not served with any accompaniments to balance it. The Rockfish Mediterranean in a white wine sauce was extremely bland and not very tender; I quite liked the accompanying angel hair pasta tossed with crabmeat and capers, but that didn't justify a $24 pricetag for the entree. We stopped by on a Sunday evening because we were passing through on 301 and saw that this place was very conveniently located, and it had good reviews and a $$ rating. Upon seeing the dinner menu, I think it should be rated $$$ instead -- all the meat & fish entrees were in the $20-30 range, and even pastas were all in the $14-20 range. We asked about specials, and were not offered the Sunday deals others wrote about. The service was very warm and prompt at first, but at the end of our meal when we asked for the check and said we needed to get back on the road, it took 10 minutes to get the bill & complete the transaction. The crowd skews toward 'advanced age.' The dining room was attractive and didn't get too noisy even as it filled up. In all, the food was good -- certainly the quality of ingredients and the range of menu options placed Rustico a step above Olive Garden. Yes, I realize that's damning with faint praise, but the flavors and presentation lacked the sophistication and balance I've come to expect at this price point. I would believe that this is the nicest restaurant in Stevensville, but I'd hope that there are restaurants in Annapolis that would make it worth driving across the Bay Bridge instead of settling for Rustico.

This a very cute atmosphere, delicious food, and our server, Rachel is absolutely wonderful. Very attentive and kind. I will return every time I cross the Bay Bridge