Rustico Ristorante | Telluride

This is what passes for a bad day in Telluride—I only had time to visit Rustico Ristorante for lunch. That is, I couldn’t stay for dinner, which kept me from delving into their outstanding Wine Spectator-reviewed wine list, with seldom-seen whites such as Albana and Friulano and the red Lagrein. For the well-heeled, it’s an oeno-rific rush; for the rest of us, a reminder to buy that lottery ticket.

Lunch was a wonderful experience regardless, starting with the Alla Verza e Al Funghi salad—thinly sliced green cabbage, wild mushrooms and pine nuts, tossed with a lemony Mediterranean dressing. Rustico boasts the only authentic Italian pizza oven in town, and my favorite turned out to be the Pizza Boscaiola, with handmade Italian mild sausage, mushrooms and roasted bell peppers, marinara sauce and mozzarella. Rustico’s outstanding decor emitted the feel of a Tuscan village, and coupled with the patio view of Telluride.

Like I said, a bad time.

114 E. Colorado Ave.; 970-728-4046;
RusticoRistorante.com

 

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