Rustic House re-energizes Los Altos downtown

Anoushka Buch

One of the restaurant’s most popular items, the “Fried Po’ Boy” combines sandwich and salad in a brioche burger that encapsulates fried shrimp and a spring mix salad. To go with the setting of the eatery, Rustic House serves the burger with thick handcut potato fries and a housemade coleslaw.

by Anoushka Buch, Reporter
March 20, 2018

Though alive with excitement during the day, the streets of Los Altos downtown at 8 p.m. are quiet and dark. The stillness of the area is interrupted, however, by a bar-and-grill that, from the outside, seems to be the only space pulsing with conversation, alight with activity.

Rustic House recently opened on a corner of Main Street, right in the hub of Los Altos’ downtown. Surrounded by grab-and-go cafés and miscellaneous shops, the bar-and-grill stands out, its sit-down dining a refreshing break from the always-on-the-move feeling of the downtown.

Anoushka Buch
Adults have the opportunity to sit at the bar, right in the center of the restaurant. The restaurant features a rustic theme, in conjunction with the restaurant’s name.

Oaky wood tables paired with dimly-lit yellow lamps help the space live up to its name: everything about the decor is truly rustic with a unique old-style, austere charm.

The restaurant is especially known for its oysters, as the restaurant’s oysters are featured on a separate menu. Descriptions of each oyster selection include the imported location of the seafood as well as the history of their cultivation. Oysters come in multiples of three, shells resting on a bed of ice; the restaurant provides well-paired condiments and garnishes as well.

At its peak, 8 to 9 p.m., the space is abuzz with diners ranging from rowdy young adults seated at the bar to quieter older couples in their sixties. While seeing children at the bar-and-grill is rare, Rustic House takes care to include a kids selection on their menu with simpler options like buttered pasta and chicken strips.

The central theme of the restaurant is seafood; however, Rustic House offers a variety of other options like sandwiches, grilled seafood and unusual pizzas. Specifically, the grill’s appetizers display the most diversity: dishes range from the grilled artichoke ($11) to sautéd scallops complete with bourbon butter sauce ($16).

Anoushka Buch
The grilled artichoke appetizer offers a vegetarian change from the primarily fish-themed menu. Served with garlic lemon aioli, the simple dish helps a customer start their meal off on the right note.

To establish a consistency with the ambience and name of the restaurant, most categories feature a ‘rustic’ item. These dishes tend to be the stars of their respective selections, offering an option that is a new spin on an ordinary recipe. For example, the ‘Rustic Pizza,’ for $24, is topped with three different cheeses, fig preserves and prosciutto.

To end the meal on a sweet note, Rustic House keeps it simple by offering three dessert options: s’mores, key lime pie and cheesecake.

Rustic House’s opening was a remarkable addition to the Los Altos downtown, and its atmosphere and food are family-friendly; overall, the restaurant offers an inexpensive, sophisticated yet lively experience.