Our dinner was simply amazing. Definitely the best German food I’ve ever had outside of Germany. I ordered the schnitzel which was delicious. I would drive for several hours specifically to eat here. They also had several delicious German beers that made the evening even better.

Cafe Rustika is awesome. It has super authentic German food and a FOH manager who is happy to help you understand the entire German menu.Its a super relaxed restaurant, a nice chill spot to eat and talk.The Shnitzel is bomb regardless of the toppings you get with it. I got the Dijon-Dill special and it definitely did not suck. This place is great!

Authentic German place with delicious food and beer. The veal schnitzel was tender and crispy with lots of flavor. The Black Forest cake was not too sweet but rich and full of flavor. The waitress was so friendly and we were called when our table was ready. I didn’t realize this gem was in Richmond and it reminds me of my grandmother’s German cooking. Can’t wait to go back!

This place had been on our want to go list for a while, and it just happened to be October, and we were in desperate need of German food. My expectations were far surpassed. It was the best meal, of any type, Ive had in a while (and we eat great food all the time). We had the daily special schnitzel & Käsespätzle with bratwurst. Everything was beyond incredible, the sides, even the mustard & ketchup were better than any Ive ever had. We had to get both the black forest & German chocolate cake to go, also amazing! The staff were wonderful! Even the other people in the restaurant were great to talk to. We talked about what we ordered and what they usually get, what to try, etc. The decor is ecclic and interesting. It has an intimate and inviting feeling. I cant wait to go back and try another special, and more menu items. Im hoping it becomes one of our regular stops!

Some of the best German food I’ve ever had. Amazing bratwurst, spatzel, kartoflen, and sauerkraut. Come by and see Mike for a cold German bier!

Excellently prepared chicken schnitzel. I highly recommend the Dijon lemon sauce, it was a special offering today, so get it if they have it available. If not, then default to the jaegerschnitzel, you won’t regret it.They make most buttery and tender spaetzel I’ve ever had in a restaurant! I also loved the blaukraut; it has the perfect blend of sweet and tangy that paired wonderfully with the Dijon sauce on the chicken.I’d give them 10 stars if I could. Definitely I’ll return. I really want to retry their Zwiebelfleisch worst spaetzel next!For the two of us with tip it was

Calling all German food lovers !! One of the only spots in Richmond to enjoy an authentic German meal. Love love the staff, so sweet and friendly and helpful with food choices.

Not much to say other than it is a MUST try if you love authentic German food. Everything we ordered was great, and beware of the large portions so come hungry!

Good food. Will come back. Huge portions. Each German restaurant is like the Italian restaurants where the food flavoring differs slightly. If you were a fan of das walde cafe in NN or the German Bavarian restaurant in York county, this one has its own taste range but same welcoming vibe. It got busy quickly in there. Not a fan of the spatzle here. It was heavy on the egg side and taste. Everything else was wonderful. The Black Forest cake also has some added flavor for adults. The torte dessert is close to a fudge like consistency. Its worth a visit and exploring the menu.

Fabulous food! Schnitzel was perfect. Beer, sauerkraut, German chocolate cake - all perfect! Service was also friendly and attentive. The restaurant is small and cozy. Will definitely be coming back.

The German food here was amazing! Homemade Bratwurst and chicken schnitzel we’re highly recommended.

So far Ive only been once as I am absolutely going to be going again. The schnitzel is very good and accurate to traditional German food. The bratwurst was excellent and next time I go I absolutely will be ordering it. The sauerkraut also was surprisingly good as Im very picky when it comes to German food. I have to go back just to try the deserts but Im sure theyll be great!

Ive lived in Richmond for 6 years and have been meaning to come here for a long time, finally went and had the schnitzel special with curry.Without a doubt the best meal Ive ever had in the United States, go, you will not be disappointed I promise.

Excellent authentic German food in downtown Richmond. The various schnitzel versions are all good and the hand-made bratwursts are velvet smooth inside. Great flavors all around. Beer and wine only and super friendly. Dont miss this one.

Great food. Very sharp staff and happy staff

Great German food in a cozy,, relaxed atmosphere. We all had a fantastic dinner with delightful German beers. Cant wait for my next visit.

German food is top knotch. Great for getting your schnitzel fill with authentic German beers on tap too. Owner is awesome and provided great service. Small location most tables are for 2 or 4 so plan your group accordingly. Some space at the bar as well

Food was great, and service was top notch!We called in a order a little less than under an hour from closing. We were told they were quite backed up, but would stay past closing to get our order pushed through, we told them we could call another place that was open later to keep from making the staff stay late, but they insisted it was not a problem.Despite that, they still got our order ready earlier than promised and everything was terrific. There is a local German restaurant where we live that e use to set the bar, but now this place has stolen that spot.Kudos on being one of the most authentic German restaurants weve visited outside of our last visit to Deutschland!

I was very excited to try this restaurant after seeing so many positive reviews online. My boyfriend and I ordered Kasespatzle and Nordsee Frikadellen. The Kasespatzle is cheesy but a bit over priced as it has no meat in it. The taste of the Nordsee Frikadellen is ok. The salad was too wet that it made the bottom of the patty too soggy to eat. We went on a very busy Saturday night and it took us 30 mins for the bread to come and almost an hour for our entrees so we were not very happy about it.

First time in and I caught it was impressed. I’ve had authentic German food and this place is on the money. Will find my way back again.

Wonderful dinner experience. Service was smooth and friendly. Food was wonderful and filling. Everything from the complimentary focaccia to the dessert was delicious. Will definitely make it a point to return next time were in town

I was really excited to try this place. Born and raised in Germany. It was busy upon getting there. Luckily, there was a spot at the bar for me. There are about 6 booths, 1 table, and 2 hiop-tops. The bar can seat maybe 12 people next to each other. I ordered the Paulaner Hefe-Weizen, because, duh, best beer. I wanted to order jägerschnitzel mit pommes, but they dont offer fries, unfortunately. So I wanted to order the gurkensalat, but they were out of the cucumber salad. Instead, I ordered with a side of regular salad and the carrot soup.I would have written my review last night, but I didnt want to write a hangry review. I waited a little over an hour to receive my food. While waiting, I had my beer, and they did provide a piece of bread for appetizer. It was a little past 9pm, so I decided to ask for it to go. I didnt even think to check it before getting back to the hotel because I was ready to go and wanted to eat. Upon opening my food, I was missing my jäger sauce... I was already upset waiting so long, but I was hungry and I was not going back to get that because it was 15 minutes and 3 toll booths away. The pork schnitzel was just the right large youd expect, and delicious. It was worth the wait, but would have been even better had they not forgotten my sauce, served fries, and had the cucumber salad. I will be going back, because I will give them the benefit of the doubt, and I love German food.

First time dining here, and it was a great. Small place with limited seating however its cozy. They have a nice beer and wine selection. We had the schnitzel with a couple sides. The food was very authentic German. The meals are very reasonably priced. I definitely will back. Thanks Mike.

One of the most lovely establishments in all of RVA, with deliciously authentic food, satisfying beers, and fine folk running it.Ive been twice for dine in, and once for take out, and every time the food is perfect.

Quaint, nothing fancy, but delicious German food. Some of the best Blaukraut I have ever tasted and the homemade brats were to die for!My party also truly enjoyed the Black Forest Cake.

Good food, good Beer! But I ordered a Green Salad that came with all the ingredients on a plate and I had to do it myself.

I loved this place! I got there twice! The food was awesome, it really makes you feel as you were in Germany, the decoration is Bavarian based, with really good options in the menu, the Schnitzel cordon Blu is a must, highly recommended! Excellent place to hang out with friends and enjoy something german

Small place, amazing food!

The reviews did not disappoint. European pub ambience, delightful German beer and food. Sumptuous serving sizes as well. The sides were just as good as entrees

The food was delicious. My husband adores German food and made us detour to Helen Ga on our drive north from the south. Helen can not hold a candle to the delightful meal we had at this cafe. The proprietor was efficient and pleasant. The food was amazing. The schnitzel was tender, the sides were authentic. The bratwurst was perfectly spiced and served with curry ketchup. Very homemade, we ate like goats.

First time eating food like this and it was delicious! Great service and beer too 🙂

From the moment I walked in the door, I knew I would love this place. Met with a warm welcome and a sense of pride for the culinary delights I was about to experience. Solid selection of German imports and wine to start. The menu is full of all the favorites and everything sounds delicious. The portions are overly generous and full of flavor. I would have no problem saying this is the best German food in Richmond, and probably the region.

This gem in downtown Richmond is so worth a visit. It is a family run joint and is very cozy and welcoming.The schnitzels were delicious!!

This place is amazing. great food, awesome service and cool atmosphere. Small place, but well worth it

German food in the heart of Richmond! They have several different schnitzel options as well as other items (bratwurst, sausages, etc) that we found to be very good. The schnitzel can be pork, chicken, or veal depending on what you like. The only vegetarian main was a spatzel option that is basically “German mac and cheese” it is a lot of the same flavor by itself but also pretty delicious.

I had made a reservation to make sure the six of us had seats. (Recommended). Only four made it, but they had the table ready and that was just lovely. Do NOT be in a hurry. This place is a good place to sit, chit chat, hang out, have a beer or two before your meal shows up. No pre--made packaged stuff here. Cooked in traditional German style. The staff is friendly and helpful. We enjoyed every minute we were here. We will go back. (Hint: free parking on the street on Saturdays in Richmond.) So that was nice too. Brotchen was delicious. The schnitzel was cooked wonderfully and the gravy was very flavorful.

Always an excellent experience at Cafe Rustika. Schnitzel is their specialty, served hot and crispy with delicious sauces. Sides are wonderful too. Great with any of the imported beers on tap. Service is always friendly too. One of my favorite places in Richmond.

Mostly authentic German food! Tastes really nice! Good prices and the staff is super friendly and welcoming. The German chocolate cake was killer. Lacks a little atmosphere but the food more than makes up for it.

Great food and amazing service. It shows up as a coffee shop on Google, thats why we went... It is NOT a coffee shop.I showed up upset at the lack of coffee and left in a happy food induced coma.

A pleasant surprise in downtown Richmond. Im so glad I took a chance to try the schnitzel at this small restaurant. The service was fast and friendly. Although a limited menu, everything we ordered was delicious.

Pleasantly pleased! Space is small but warm and cozy with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Food was delicious and German authentic. I had marinated beef with egg noodles and cucumber salad and was blown away. The beef was melt in your mouth out of this world and I could slice with my fork. The egg noodles were spectacular for just being egg noodles and butter and the cucumber salad was just as good! Good wine and beer selection. Oh, and the home made bread is excellent!

This was like being served in Germany all over again. The food was so authentic, I thought I was dreaming.

You like the schnitzel? Go here.

Ive never had real German cuisine so I have nothing to compare this too, but this food was delicious. Its a very tiny place with a handful of booths and seating along the bar and one table that can seat 6. The decor is a little tired but the food makes up for it. Nothing but German food on the menu so if you have picky eaters in the group this may not be a great spot, but if youre looking to try something a little different you should leave happy.

Wow great bratwurst thats all I need to say.

Real German food, from scratch, with care, not too salty. Carefully selected German beers. Good prices too!

Great food! Huge portions. Authentic german food. Recommend.

Traveled to Richmond for work and was glad Yelp helped me find this place. A local spot with limited seating. When you get there, the food does not disappoint. The schnitzel is served in many ways and I dont think you can go wrong either way. Huge portions and delicious sides. I would definitely go back if Im ever in the area.

Mike and the staff were friendly and provided great service. The food was out of this world authentic. We have added it to our saved list in google maps and now have our place for great German food.

We were turned away at the door due to having our 9 month old son. It was very apparent that they do not allow children to dine in when the first word that came from the employees mouth was an aggressive no. Literally only 2 tables were taken when we arrived and the guy told us it would be a 45 minute wait and quickly started trying to convince us to eat at Penny Lane...

Small and cozy, which is great for an intimate meal. The food is delicious and the staff are so friendly. This is my whole familys fav German restaurant in Richmond.

One of the best meals Ive had in a long time. Dont go if youre in a hurry, but it is worth the wait. Wait staff was very friendly and the food was delicious.

Excellent German food, very nice staff. Would definitely go back again! We had the Jaegerschnitzel w veal, and the Nordsee Frikadelle (seafood cakes); both were delish!

5 stars for the schnitzel. Nothing else matters. Very friendly place, good beers!

Unpretentious and delicious! Get ready for some buttery spatzle that you can’t put down. According to my dining companion, the chicken schnitzel was 10/10 and if we hadn’t ordered takeout he would’ve gotten two.

Authentic, delish

Went in on a rainy Presidents Day for lunch. I couldnt have asked for anything more. The Rahmschnitzel was fantastic and my Mom got the Cordon Bleu. Service and food was great. Will definitely be back.

Very delicious. Will definitely return. Ive been looking for a German restaurant. So glad we decided to visit.

The staff is so welcoming and friendly. The food is amazinggggg. German chocolate cake is a must!!

We ordered carry out, great idea. friendly staff, timely service, delicious food with flexibility on menu items as needed. the potatoes/bratkartoffeln are beyond words yummy.

Schnitzel comes in pork, chicken, or veal. You can pick a variety of delicious toppings. I picked the dill mustard which was delish. Wife picked lemon caper. Bring your appetite since it is a large serving ! The sauerkraut was wow. The potato salad was very good. German drafts on tap. Prices fair and service good. I see how the ratings are so high. Well deserved. And totally authentic.

Really great spot im just now finding, cant wait to come back

Spectacular food and authentic German laid-back atmosphere. Sauerbraten is spectacular. Oh and great classic German bier.

Just a small restaurant with some great food!

Amazing schnitzel, sides, great friendly service

As a German/French girl in the states I long for home sometimes, so when I tell you I felt so nostalgic coming here with my boyfriend I really mean it, food was authentic and delicious, staff are really friendly and fun and the ambiance was just like home, definitely coming here again and bringing my family next time :), Grüße von rheinland-pfalz!

Beer was great, food was so schön, ja we’ll be back.

Cozy german cuisine, that serves authentic

The most tender delicious schnitzel Ive ever eaten! Easily one of the best meals ever.

Note: you do need reservations for dinner, but you might get lucky if there’s room at the bar!So happy we came across this place while walking downtown. They have a small but perfectly sized menu of schnitzel and German cuisine, great portion sizes, quick service, and a quaint overall vibe. Nice small beer selection too!

Great food. Cool place.

The place was nice but they were very busy and understaffed.

Always a fabulous experience. Sam and his wonderful staff are so welcoming. And of course....the food!!!. Nice pilsners and a great wine selection. The kitchen take the time necessary to make you a perfect nights dinner. And they do everytime. Dont go there if you are in a rush. This a perfect date night or cozy family night out.

Everything is made fresh to order. This can lead to long wait times for the food, but boy is it worth the wait. The Spätzle is to die for, perfectly buttered, and appears to be made by hand in the schwäbisch manner.

Everything we ordered was delicious.

Great beer selection, delicious authentic food, and wonderful service! Prost!

Obviously the schnitzel is great. But, dont miss the black forest cake. Awesome

Authentic and amazing German food, cozy spot, friendly staff.

One of the best meals I have had in a couple years! The food is awesome, the service is excellent and friendly. Family owned restaurant. I cant wait to come back!

I go to Richmond for work quite often and as long as it isn’t Monday (they’re close) I go to Cafe Rustika. Always ask for the specials of the day and you can’t go wrong.

Great food german vibe. Be prepared to wait for the fresh cooked food. Will dine here again!

Wow, this place is absolutely delicious. It’s hard to find affordable German food and this place is very reasonably priced for the quality and quantity you get. As someone who grew up eating German food with family and has traveled to Germany repeatedly, this is the best German food I’ve had at a restaurant state-side. I’ll definitely be back.

Very authentic, great food

I wouldnt advise ordering take out, unless youre willing to wait 3 hours only to be told it will be another 30 minutes when you arrive to pick it up!

If you enjoy good German food and beer the Cafe Rustika is you. Located in the heart of Richmond the cafe serves up generous selections of classic German cuisine like the schnitzel and sauerbraten.Though google will indicates the restaurant is only doing takeout, it is serving both takeout and dine in service as of 9/26/2020.

Delicious homemade German food. We will be returning soon all the food was homemade. I ate Rahmschnitzel chicken Schnitzel topped with a lemon cream sauce. Yum! Yum! Yum!

The staff are kind, the beer selection is focused, and seriously this is some of the best schnitzel I’ve had since I’ve been in Germany.

Cozy spot with great food, beer, and service. Could easily become a regular spot for anyone downtown.

Great place for delicious German food. the service was very friendly and attentive. bring your appetite because portions are generous.

Great selection of authentic German food. Spaetzles made in a variety of styles. Amazing service too!

Food was excellent and authentic. Just got back from Eastern Europe and it felt like I was still there!

I love this place I will eat here every time I pass through Richmond. Great schnitzels and cucumber salads.

Food was good! Enjoyed what I ordered very much. Location is small. FYI they will not separate your bill of who ordered what if you have a larger party like more then 3. So some members of our dinner party ended up paying more when they order less. The guy gave us the option to split it evenly with everyone or figure it out ourselves. The guy said he was not going to spend his time separating our bill.

Wow!!! The best place I have ever eaten. Yum, just thinking of this place makes me hungry. We ordered so much food. My husband, who was born and raised in Germany and is half German, was so excited for this place we had never tried. Low and behold, every penny spent was so worth it. I love the Black Forest cake, the potato salad, the pasta, the veal, etc. This was one of the few times I had to extend my compliments to the chef. Yum. You need to go. I’m in love with the chef. Xoxoxox to you Chefy. 😬

Food was absolutely amazing!! Great hole in the wall bar with a cozy atmosphere. The servings are worth the cost of the meal and the drinks all taste awesome! Only criticism is the service was a little slow but it’s only two people and there’s a bar and like 10 tables to service. Highly Recommend!!

One word,“FANTASTIC”The food is amazing, great service nice central location!!I recommend this place to everyone even those not too fond of German food. I guarantee you will find something you will love!!!

This is a great place! The food is so delicious and authentic. Visited a few years ago. Had a wonderful experience. Heading back tonight with family and friends. Such a unique and friendly place for Richmond, VA. We highley recommend Cafe Rustika.

A-maz-ing. The schnitzel, spaetzle and potatoes were all incredible. The lemon cream sauce was delicious!

Went here for dinner on a Saturday night. I lived in Germany for 8 years, and the food here was great. We both had schnitzel and dessert. Both were excellent. Highly recommend.

Dont be put off by the somewhat run down appearance. Cafe Rustika was delicious! We enjoyed every bite of our freshly prepared schnitzel and every sip of the nice cold German beer. Were going back and bringing friends.