Rutabegorz

I came here at least three times already, and all three times I had different dish, it was all amazingly made. This time I tried their popular dish garlic chicken pasta, which was made with real cheese. Like literally you see chunks of cheese on the pasta. Melted and stuff… Oooo yes. With sun dried tomatoes. Oh delicious! Also their seasonal special ham sandwich with apricot jam is just as amazing (if not, more?) the food here all taste so freshly made, and refreshing with ingredients that’s just… Oh the quality. I love it here. And now I moved and live even closer to it, I’ll be coming here way more often. And most likely try out every single dish and desserts and stuff on their menu.

Awful customer service. Don’t come here.
I came here because I used to go to the Rutabegorz in Orange when I lived closer to that location. I know that location has good food and I never had any trouble with the service there.
I’ve also been to this location before and I’ve never had trouble before until today.
Food is okay. I can make most of the menu at home.

You can never go wrong at Ruta’s. Make sure to always get the dip of the month whether it sounds good or not (99% of the time you will find odd combinations that come together perfectly). If you don’t know what to get, ask your waiter/​waitress as they are always up front and truthful in telling you whats good and whats not. The portions are huge and you will almost always be taking something home. Their menu changes by the season so you can always find something new and amazing. Out of the three locations, this one is by far the best! Lastly, if you want a desert, try to tell your waiter/​waitress as soon as possible as they only make a limited amount and they sell out quickly (these change daily).

I’ve been coming here for several years and can’t believe I have not left it a review yet. From soups to salads to sandwiches and more, this place is a great stop for anyone looking for something fresh and healthy. They also have a happy hour food and drink menu that is reasonable (try the nachos– i’ve filled up many times on this HR special) but fairly unknown. Don’t forget to save room for their HUGE cookies or take one to go. I especially love the lone ranger (coconut, cornflakes, & walnuts) cookie.
One last thing, this place is great for vegetarians and people who need GF or DF menus.

My girlfriend and I came for an early lunch and beat the lunch rush. I think we arrived around 11:15am and got a table right away. I got the Italiano salad while she got the BBQ Chicken Fiesta Salad. We both really loved our salads. The salads were huge! It came out in a small serving bowl, filled to the rim.
We were so full after but still got the cheesecake to take home. The cheesecake was delicious!

I really love this place. I found it when I needed to adjust my daily diet and embrace a healthier line up. It served that purpose and keeps me coming back because its soooo awesome.
Service is great, its a seat your self environment and they are all fast and friendly. You can see the regulars have deep roots with the crew and the interaction is nice to see.
The food is plentiful. My wife and I have a few times doubled up thinking we needed more than listed and tend to take large amounts home with me. The left overs are always welcome.
Great locations, great staff, awesome food. This is a real gem here in OC.

Because my sister went to Fullerton, she in turn found Rutabegorz. We have over 30 years of memories coming to this fabulous restaurant. From when she stayed with us one intern summer, through the course of three babies of mine, we’ve managed to meet there whenever we could. Babies are now 26, 29 and 31 years old. Then Kevin joined us and entertained the boys in all sorts of creative ways. Can you say, Pope Hats? The boys generally picked the bagels with melted cheese. I loved Paul’s Ratatouille and The Squash that got stuffed. Sadly those are gone, but the Stew-​U is pretty close. My husband always gets the Chinese chicken salad that comes in the most ginormous bowl.
We could never get enough of the yummy coffee drinks or the amazing cheesecake. I don’t know where this cheesecake comes from, but it is still as delicious as it was 30 years ago. In fact, everything is delicious.
Tonight we had a bottle of petite Syrah and came home with a cute bag containing two wine glasses as a souvenir. I love Rutabegorz, please don’t ever change, you are perfect. Also, I drive in from Temecula these days just to get my Rutabegorz fix.

WHY IS THE SERVICE SO BAD HERE!!! The menu is amazing with so many yummy options but every time I come here I get ignored by the waitresses. I can’t make a trip here without staying a few hours because they never even check on you. Also don’t bother asking for any changes on your meal because you’ll get sass. The food is tasty and there’s lots of healthy options which I love. I just wish the employees actually had the customers interest in mind. This place would be perfect otherwise.

I had the garlic chicken salad w/​o noodles and it was really good. The glazed walnuts are huge and super thick with sweet glaze; it was like candy in my salad. So, if you’re watching your sugar, I suggest no walnuts ;) also, they say on the menu that the salad is a «smaller portion», don’t be fooled, it’s plenty big!
Pros: clean, cute atmosphere, friendly service, good price for value, filtered water
Cons: for being a health food type restaurant, I was disappointed they didn’t have stevia as a sweetener option :/

I’ve been coming here for years and I’m still waiting to order something I didn’t enjoy. Love both chilies and the sliced egg sandwich. Must the sandwich on squaw bread. I dare to say that you will not be disappointed if you give this quaint place a try!

I had a salad and it was great! All the ingredients were really fresh! Just note that the salads are huge! It can feed 3 pple easily!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE RUTABEGORZ!
I’ve always dined at the Fullerton location but had to make a stop at Tustin prior to my roadtrip to San Diego. I ordered the mu shu entrée which was delicious as always! My boyfriend got the cheesy chicken pasta option which he loved as well. I just had to bring him here to experience his first Rutabegorz meal.
The ambience is quirky yet inviting and the staff is always accomodating. Comfort food made healthy, as I like to think of it. The best part is that it offers so many options for every dietary preference imaginable.
I love coming here and look forward to coming back!

The atmosphere at this place is unique and very eclectic, and if you’re looking to get a salad this places where you want to go. Salads are served in giant bowls and with all the different vegetables you can imagine thrown in.

Showed up to the place. Excellent location and very nice. The sign says seat yourself so we manage to seat at a table on the very corner of the restaurant. Waited 7min and started waiving at which ever waiter passed by. No acknowledgement and or even a semblance of «let me call your waiter» took a phone call and sat for another 10 min waived again 2 more times and decided to walk out. Try to speak to the manager at which point our supposed to be waitress was the one that told us that she had just been there. Well I took my call at 2:12pm and we left at 2:22pm. She offer to take our order but in all honesty I was just so disappointed on the quality of the service that I figure why give the business or the food a try. Not worth the effort we went to the BLACK MARLIN which is just around the corner who took no time in serving us and appreciating our business. Clearly they wanted it more and thought better of their customers.

Yummy healthy American food.
I ordered Killer chilli and it was great.
My friends avocado with shrimp sandwich looked so yummy, I had to steal some of his. LoL.

I like this location more than the orange one. the parking situation is a lot better. I’ve tried a couple of things of their menu and they’re all really good. However, I seem to always stick to the same thing which is the garlic chicken salad with feta! It is absolutely delicious and their caramelized walnuts are a must try! Their nachos are also very good and their shrimp pita is also a must try! Whenever you order a sandwich you get a pickle and a very delicious side of macaroni salad! For beverages get their passion tea or Arnold Palmer! They have plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians too!

Love this place. Been going here for 10 plus years. Never disappoints. I get the nachos with only the cheese and chips and pico de gallo — absolutely delicious. The cheese melts in your mouth.

Very cozy in here, I love how the décor just takes you back. Service is very friendly and sweet. Speaking of sweet OMG the cookies are DELICIOUS! And the 46 cent. Yes! 46 cents… Texas caviar salsa is very good, tastes similar to ceviche. I had the veggie lasagna which was tastier than I expected and soo cheesy. I am definitely going back I want to try everything on the menu!

I came here for a networking event so it might not have been the same experience as everyone else. The service was impeccable, but I felt that the food was just average. Our group had a set menu so the choices were limited to about 4 things– one being a variation of sandwiches. I totally understand that they want to streamline things for a big party, so I didn’t mind, but I felt for the price I paid for a half sammy or salad and cup of soup– it left a lot to be desired. I ordered the cauliflower cheese soup and though it sounded good, it was kind of on the bland side. This is coming from a person who likes savory stuff so maybe it’s my pregnancy palate that thinks the soup was under seasoned *shrugs* I digress.
Before leaving, I was still hungry and decided to purchase dessert to go. Ended up with a brownie with nuts because chocolate sounded delish. I thought it was too dense and rich for my blood after a couple bites. Best served with a beverage, but I didn’t order anything else.
All in all, looks like a happening place for women to hang out and chill in Tustin, but just not my kinda thing.

I wish there were more places like Rutabegorz. I love it here! Fresh vegetables in their salads. And they are huge filling salads. A lot of other wonderful items on the menu like sandwiches, wraps, and a couple soups and chili. Service has always been excellent.
If you can’t find parking on the main street, there’s a parking lot right behind the restaurant. Just go up this concrete ramp and there’s a good amount of parking on the 2^nd floor.

The server Josh is a total sweetheart and was completely on point! He made me feel better after their blond server girl went out of her way (at least this is what it seemed to me) to ignore me and serve everyone else around me. Thank you Josh!!! I’m still giving 5 stars because this is one of my favorite restaurants and I’ve never had a problem with service before and I hope I never do again.

Ruta’s in Tustin is one my favorite places in the area. I’ve said it more than once, and I’ll say it again– there’s something magical about this place. One of my favorite things to do on a lazy Saturday is head on over and chill on the patio sipping on one of their deliciously spicy Bloody Mary’s. Heck– their Bloody Mary’s are so good they could just about knock everything else off the menu and I’d still be a regular. Furthering that– I think their Bloody Mary’s are the best you can get around town. The next closest Bloody Mary that competes is over at the Rusty Pelican in Newport Beach… but who the hell wants to drive all the way over there?!
Anyway, do yourself a favor and roll up one weekend when you’re looking to treat yourself, pull up a seat on the patio, order up a Bloody Mary (the spicier, the better) and let them know that Matt sent you. They won’t know who the heck you’re talking about, but it’ll make you sound important.

Came in on a Tuesday night around 7:30pm.
I have to say the interior is fun to look at. Lots of different drawings and knickknacks everywhere. It looks like they have a gift shop for their own restaurant inside which is interesting.
We ordered the hummus with pita bread for an appetizer. The hummus was flavorful, and has a more nutty flavor than a rich, oily flavor which is usually found at Lebanese/​Mediterranean restaurants. I prefer the more traditional oily hummus but this one was good too. I have to say though, the pita bread was almost stone cold…
I order the café milano and I really loved the taste of it. It came in a tall-​ish mug, which was unexpected. Lots of whipped cream and a reddish-​brown powder on top.
As for the food, I ordered the salami sandwich. The tomato they used was really fresh and full of crunch. It was juicy. This is coming from someone who loathes tomatoes… I actually ate the tomato this time.
My boyfriend however got the better choice, which was the seasonal ham and pear sandwich. It was nice and sweet, toasted and cheesy.
We live really close by so we’ll probably be back if we’re in the mood for healthy stuff again. We were debating between this place and Freesoulcaffe but ended up here instead. Definitely do not regret that decision.

I like coming to Rutabegorz. Their menu has something for everyone, and is one of a kind. I dont know how they manage to keep that many items on the menu, but they do. I usually get salads, priced from 9 to 12 $s. My fav is garlic chicken salad, with $ 1 extra feta cheese. its delicious. the large portion is 2 $ more but stick with small size. its still huge. their curry dressing is amazing, and they dont mind giving you extra servings of dressing if you request.
also, i find their wine list and wine prices to be very competitive. I got a Wente Cab for 20 $ a bottle. which is just 3 $ more than what i would have paid at costco. Solid wine selection, and amazing prices. its like eating and drinking at your grandma’s place, I never feel like i am spending too much money. its easy on my wallet, and tasty!
only complaint is they dont keep their wines in refrigerator at right temperature so when it comes out its really warm, especially with now being summer and all. if you getting a bottle, ask them to leave in the fridge for about 15minutes (order right away). it will make all the difference in the world when you sip it!

GIANT salads for $ 10 – 12! Big enough for 2 meals, seriously. I ordered the seasonal kale and turkey salad, which came with cranberries, glazed pecans (I think, or was it walnuts?), and I believe homemade croutons. SO filling, and I barely finished half the huge bowl before asking for a box to pack up the rest (which made a great dinner later!). I wish it was a little closer to me, because then I’d definitely come often whenever I was craving a good salad. I think it can get a little crowded during peak hours, especially the outside seating on a nice day. Their menu is huge, so I’d love to try other items if I’m not in the mood for a salad.

I’d searched Unilocal for a local restaurant to host a recent ten year college reunion, and this place popped up as having a free private room for up to 35 people. Well, our count ended up being a bit lower than that, but Andra was great at helping coordinate the evening, picking the menu, and staying in contact throughout the process.
The food was fantastic (one of the attendees said «This is the most hipster thing I’ve ever eaten… but it’s really good» about the quinoa bowl), and hearty portions all around — the kale and turkey salad that I had came in a giant mixing bowl. I also had the cockie leeky soup (which I’ve had at other locations) and it was great. There are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-​free type options.
Our first waitress was great at getting apps on the table and taking drink/​food orders, but there was a switch about an hour into the event, and our waiter was a bit scarce after that (even though we had a couple of stragglers who also wanted to order food and drink).
Plenty of parking around the corner in the public lot. If you’re looking for a place to throw a small party or have an informal get together, this is a great place to do so!

I’m a sucker for places with funky décor. This place definitely fits that bill. Eclectic artwork adorn the walls. The ONLY thing I didn’t care for were the crazy «cat lady» coffee mugs right when you walk in.
Jeremy and I went on the back end of a super busy lunch rush. Even with all the commotion and people, we had terrific service.
I ordered a cup of chili. It had textured soy protein and beans. I enjoyed it. I’m used to having meat in my chili, so this was a nice change.
I also asked for a falafel plate. It had 3 falafel, some hummus, carrot sticks, some pita triangles and a dipping sauce. I didn’t care for the dipping sauce. The falafel were the brown variety; a little tough. The star was the hummus. My goodness, it was great. When I return, I will get that for an appetizer. It really had a good texture and was flavorful. Had I known the size of the plate, I would have not gotten the chili, too. I guess I was expecting a few falafel and maybe a sauce.
Jeremy got a piece of red velvet cheesecake. It was super thick, magenta in color and incredibly rich. He ended up taking it home.
If you’re a bigger guy like me, don’t even try to sit in the booths. They are made for children from the 1800s.

Cute. Relaxing. Great atmosphere.
The menu is inventive.
Lots of fresh & natural.
(Not organic)
A bummer. I just don’t choose to eat GMOs and pesticides.
My eating companion choose to enjoy the fine fare.
I’m an #OrganicWoman. No GMO debauchery for me.
If fresh and Good is ok. Go it’s a nice place.
I’m jealous. I’m denied.
Get me some organic Rutaz!:)
Thanks!:)

I’ve passed by the Rutabegorz in Old Towne Orange many times and it’s caught my interest but Chapman Ave traffic has always deterred me from actually stopping in. A friend told me about the Tustin location and we decided to grab dinner there on a weeknight. They’re a small establishment located on Main and El Camino Real. At first it’ll look like there’s no parking in sight that isn’t 20 minutes max but just around the corner you’ll find a ramp that leads to a big parking lot that’s free and doesn’t have a set time limit.
This Rutabegorz offers self seating on their patio and inside. They have heat warmers so even though it was a bit cold outside we decided to sit outside. Their menu is awesome! They’re got a ton to choose from: like 100 different salads, pastas, sandwiches and soups. They also have a seasonal menu with a select list of salads and sandwiches. I debated between the Italiano salad and the turkey and kale salad which was seasonal. With our waitress’s recommendation I decided to get the turkey and kale salad and she offered to bring me over the Italiano if I didn’t like my salad. My friend got their bigger cobb salad.
Despite how enormous my salad was, I finished very last bite because it was so delicious! It included, kale, turkey, pecans, parmesan, avocados and dried cranberries. It’s drizzled with a lemon poppyseed dressing that took away from the bitterness that kale usually offers and really topped off the salad. I could have that for lunch everyday and be totally satisfied. My friend really enjoyed her cobb salad and took some cookies to go. Her salad admittedly didn’t look as good as mine did so I definitely recommend checking out the seasonal menu.
They offered a hummus special that’s like 49 cents. When I visited they had a tomato basil hummus so if you’re in the mood for an appetizer you might consider taking advantage of the hummus offer. They also have a ton of desserts that I had to fight myself to stay away from. Service was great and friendly. I’ll be back soon.

Winner, winner… Vegan dinner! Well, OK… Lunch!
My wife and I left Claro’s Italian Deli, having picked up a few essentials this Sunday afternoon; Claro’s meatballs, shreaded parm cheese and a panatoni Italian cake… Mama Mia it’s all good, right? The meatballs? It’s one of 6 meat components for my spaghetti bolognese and our visiting friends and family. At the outset of a vegan café’ review, I figured you might question that one. :-)
After that brush with Italian cuisine, but passing on their sandwich deli area, we both knew we were hungry for «something…», but didn’t know what. My thoughts drifted to Vegetarian, as my wife doesn’t eat meat, and I’m still juicing and eating about 70% veggies and fruit… so I hit Unilocal.And within a mile appeared Soulfood and Rutabegorz. Lucky for us, Soulfood on Main was closed. But Ruta’s was open! It has made my «black book of places I recommend!»
First thing I loved about this place was the interior… very 1930’s-40’s… and a «seat yourself protocol.» We found the booth in the SE corner of the dining area on the left. Our waitress came to our booth within a couple minutes, and got us «hooked up!» What a great mix of total true Raw-​Vegan, along with many «less vegan-​strict» entrees. We loved the menu with the many salads and sandwiches. And both immediately settled on what turned out to be two items we would easily do again! My wife had the open-​face veggie «hot» veggie sandwich on squaw bread, and I the large cobb salad.
Just take a look at my montage-​photo of our visit… and know that the sandwich was delicious, what with the melted cheese, layered above with the grilled veggies and a side of salsa. My wife loved it, and I did too! (I did my usual «sampling» across the table). And I sooo wanted a crisp salad, and wanted some protein to boot. My cobb was served in a large tupper type plastic bowl, with sufficient remaining sides to allow me to drop in the blue cheese dressing, and actually toss it myself! That’s exactly how I make my salads at home. And boy was the chicken, avocado and veggie serving huge! Both of us walked out at «Full+some discomfort»… but from a great meal.
I sooo recommend you guys try this place. Our lunch came to $ 23, and I left a $ 5 tip. It was well worth it, and Ruta’s, as I like to call it, is now on my «Top Ten Vegan Café List.» Actually, here in So. OC, it’s way up at the top, if not now my number 1. … I know… ask me how I really feel, right?

Nice local chain.
Unexceptional food.
I have gotten much better food and deals at the other 3 local SoCal area chains Broken Yolk (
), Spires (
), and Carrows
6 friggin bucks for a very small bowl of soup, are you kidding me?
The side was a store bought slice of pumpernickel bread.
I thought they were local and made their own?
Blue Frog in Olde Towne Orange has MUCH better bread.
They make it homemade.
The reasons they might get me back…
The cheap a$$ bowl of soup had some nice pieces of chicken.
And my waitress is legally deaf, and reads lips.
Hey, this is kinda cool.
VERY nice environment.
Just the food in unexceptional and much too pricey compared to other VERY good locals.
6 BUCKS for a dollah 95 BOWL of SOUP?
Are you kidding me?