Located conveniently on the corner of 36th and Chestnut St., Pizza Rustica attempts to be a tiny slice of Italy in the middle of University City — from the red and white-checkered table cloths to the chefs in the kitchen hand-tossing dough and the Dean Martin lyrics running around the walls.
For our appetizer, my companions and I ordered the bruschetta sampler, which consisted of different toppings served on warm toasted baguette. The traditional plum tomato was declared too oily overall, although the tomatoes themselves were generously portioned and the bread deliciously crunchy. The roasted red pepper tapenade had a nice kick to it, although the strong flavor was a little jarring for our taste.
For our main course, we initially ordered a dish of penne pasta with house vodka sauce and the pizza parma prosciutto to share. However, the waiter informed us that the restaurant did not serve pasta for lunch. (Good to know!) Disappointed, we opted for the chicken parmesan panini.
And the panini did not disappoint: it was a sandwich that had exactly the right balance of every component. The ciabatta roll was warm and just soft enough without being soggy, the chicken was tender and juicy and the sauce was flavorful but not overpowering. It came with a strange side of coleslaw that did not seem to complement the panini but was delicious in itself. Plus, for under $6, it was a steal.
The pizza parma prosciutto ($13.50) was also scrumptious and satisfying. We appreciated the presence of real plum tomatoes in the sauce, and the prosciutto bacon topping was tangy and delicious. The cheese was a perfect warm mixture of fontina, gruyere, mozzarella, gorgonzola and parmesan that complemented the hardwood fired crust. Again, the balance of the dish’s components was admirable, with no one ingredient overpowering another, and the crust was neither too thick nor too thin.
For dessert, we bypassed the elaborate baklavas and cannolis on the menu in favor of Pizza Rustica’s homemade gelato ($3.50/dish). We chose to split the pomegranate and the white chocolate raspberry between the three of us — a perfect way to end the meal. The pomegranate was tangy and just fruity enough, but still had the texture and flavor of ice cream. The white chocolate raspberry was to die for — by far our favorite part of the experience. The creamy white chocolate was sweet and velvety, and the swirls of raspberry flavor added just the right amount of zest to the bowl. The crunchy addition of real white chocolate chunks and raspberry pieces were a delightful surprise in every spoonful.
The luncheon atmosphere at Pizza Rustica was just what you would expect from a mid-price range Italian bistro: bustling, bright and lively, but not overcrowded. The wait staff was very accommodating and friendly, and brought every dish in a timely manner. For a tasty, reasonably-priced Italian meal close to campus that’s a step above Allegro, Pizza Rustica does the trick.
Pizza Rustica 3602 Chestnut St. Don’t Miss: Dessert Skip: The bruschetta sampler Bottom Line: A large selection of typical Italian cuisine makes this campus eatery a good choice for picky eaters.
