Take a culinary journey to Italy’s Northern Lake Region — but without ever leaving the lush beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Your adventure begins at Casa Rustica, which pays homage to the culinary traditions of a quaint Italian village. There, the remarkable Pina Pedroni ran a hotel, where she served satisfying meals, relying on recipes passed down through multiple generations.
Pina’s son Peter joined the family business at a young age but added innovative flourishes as he traveled the world and discovered numerous sources of inspiration. He and his wife eventually settled in the small mountain town of Boone and, after years of success, passed the torch to their son Ricky.
These days, Casa Rustica continues to emphasize the wonderful traditions that have made the family’s recipes stand out for decades. The restaurant’s motto? Chi mangia bene, vive bene — who eats well, lives well. It’s impossible, then, not to live well if you spend time at Casa Rustica, as there’s no doubt that you’ll eat well there.
The menu features several familiar dishes, as well as a few more innovative options that are sure to please. Enjoy one of several great selections from the curated wine list.
The interior might not live up to your vision of Italy, but the log cabin style is comforting nonetheless. Dim lighting enhances the romantic appeal, making this a great spot for date night. Service can be slow at times, although the friendly atmosphere should more than makeup for any delays.
A few of our favorite menu items include the following:
Fried Combo
Treat yourself to a medley of fried favorites: zucchini, mozzarella, calamari, and mushrooms. All are fried to perfection and can be dipped in three delicious sauces: ranch, mustard, and marinara.
Soup & Salad
When you’re not feeling particularly hungry, soup and salad can certainly satisfy. With this delightful selection, you get either a bowl of the soup of the day or the standard French onion. A refill is available for your soup. You’ll also receive either the house or Caesar salad.
Picatta
Available with chicken or veal, this memorable entree emphasizes the distinct flavor of sauteed capers, which are complemented by the lemon white wine sauce. Like all entrees on the Casa Rustica menu, this comes with soup or salad, as well as garlic bread and rolls. You also get the choice of a side: risotto, fries, vegetable of the day, or baked potato.
Seafood Fra Diavolo
If you’re obsessed with seafood, this is the entree for you. It’s loaded with all your favorites: scallops, clams, shrimp, calamari, and mussels. All these exquisite ingredients are sauteed with mushrooms and simmered in a delectable tomato sauce. Finally, the sauce is tossed with pasta.
Pasta Creations
If you’re all about DIY dining, you’ll appreciate the vast array of selections available via the Pasta Creations option. This gives you the ability to mix and match favorites. Pasta selections include spaghetti, angel hair, linguini, fettuccine, and penne. Enjoy with indulgent sauces such as Alfredo, carbonara, Cajun cream, pesto cream, or vodka sauce. You can also add toppings, such as Italian sausage, grilled chicken, or meatballs.
Treat yourself to the finest Italian food Boone has to offer. The dishes served at Casa Rustica will instantly transport you to the quaint village environment that the restaurant aims to replicate. The atmosphere, however, exemplifies the best of Boone: cozy, friendly, and impossible not to love.
Insider Tips:
-Reservations are recommended if you hope to visit during peak dinner hours. These can easily be made directly on the Casa Rustica website or via OpenTable. Reservations are also welcome over the phone.
-On most Thursday nights, local jazz musicians Todd Wright and Andy Page deliver extra ambiance in the form of live music.
-Splitting entrees incurs an extra fee, although this provides an additional side and salad.