Cucina Rustica is an Italian restaurant at 24 Ludgate Hill in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Open for lunch and dinner, it occupies a historic venue while presenting itself as a friendly neighbourhood restaurant. The setting works equally well for dates, family meals and informal occasions with friends.
Pizza is prepared with dough and tomato sauce made in house before each order is topped and freshly baked. Pasta and other Italian dishes give diners plenty of alternatives, with ingredients and familiar regional flavours doing more of the work than elaborate presentation. Regular specials allow the kitchen to introduce different combinations alongside the core menu.
Vegetarian cooking is treated as a meaningful part of the selection, with vegetable led pizza, pasta and salads among the possibilities. Made to order pizza can also be adjusted when a topping needs to be omitted, subject to what the kitchen can safely provide. Diners with allergies should consult the current allergen information and speak with the restaurant before ordering.
The combination of a characterful building and an accessible Italian menu encourages diners to linger over several courses. Lunch can be kept straightforward, while dinner lends itself to sharing starters, pizza or pasta and dessert. Cucina Rustica offers the Jewellery Quarter a warm, adaptable restaurant grounded in freshly prepared Italian food.
Address: 24 Ludgate Hill, Birmingham B3 1DX, United Kingdom
Cucina Rustica Menu
To Share
Starters to share, per person pricing, minimum 2 people.
Cucina Antipasto
Italian artisan cured meats, salami & cheeses – Parma ham, salame Napoli, mortadella, buffalo mozzarella, grana Padano served with bread. (Min 2 People)
Frittura Di Pesce Portofino
Deep fried calamari, king prawns, scampi, scallops and courgettes served with homemade tartar sauce. (Min 2 People)
Gli Antipasti
Starters
Minestrone Soup
Traditional Italian vegetable soup.
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Baked potato dumplings, tomato sauce, mozzarella & basil pesto.
Melanzane alla Parmigiana
Baked Aubergine with pecorino, tomato, basil & mozzarella cheese.
Caprese
Campania Bufallo mozzarella, vine tomato & basil pesto dressing.
Arancini
Meat ragu stuffed rice balls, coated with breadcrumbs, bed of tomato sauce.
Calamari
Calamari lightly dusted with seasoned flour, deep-fried, lemon wedge, homemade tartare sauce.
Caprino Fritto
Lightly fried coated goats cheese, poached pear, sweet balsamic vinegar.
Burrata
Toasted ciabatta smothered in spicy Calabrian sausage with creamy burrata
Gamberoni
Pan fried King prawns, tomato, garlic, chilli & hint of cream on bed of crostini.
Salmone con Granchio
Finest Scottish smoked salmon, crabmeat with shallots, lemon zest mayonnaise, ripe avocado and mix leaf.
Bruschette e Pane
Breads and bruschetta
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Beef tomato, garlic, fresh basil, red onions, & toasted Ciabatta.
Pizza Garlic Bread with Tomato
Pizza Garlic Bread with Mozzarella
Focaccia Romana
Focaccia bread, chopped tomatoes, red onions, rocket lettuce & Pecorino Cheese.
Le Insalate
Salads
Insalata Tri-colore
Avocado, vine tomato, buffalo mozzarella, mix leaves, rocket & basil pesto dressing
Insalata di Pollo
Grilled chicken, crispy pancetta, mix leaves, tomatoes, red onion, Parmesan shavings & Caesar dressing.
Insalata di Mare
Prawns, smoked salmon, king prawns, tomatoes, red onion & Lemon dressing.
Pasta e Risotto
Pasta and risotto dishes
Gnocchi
Walnuts, baby spinaches, gorgonzola sauce.
Penne arrabbiata
Fresh chilli, roast peppers, and tomato sauce.
Tagliatelle con pollo
Chicken breast, fresh spinach, cream, and parmesan.
Risotto con funghi
Mixed mushroom, asparagus, light cream sauce.
Penne Vegeteriana
Mixed vegetables, butter and blue cheese tomato sauce.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Slow cooked beef ragu, and tomato sauce.
Tris di paste
Let the chef surprise you with a selection of three different pasta dishes (Min 2 People)
Spaghetti carbonara
Pancetta, bacon, parmesan, and egg yolk.
Lasagne
Baked pasta sheets, mince beef, tomato & mozzarella.
Tagliatelle con anatra
Duck, porcini mushroom, truffle oil, and cream.
Fagottini al Cinghiale
Large pasta parcels filled with wild boar served with porcini mushrooms and cream sauce.
Linguine con granchio
White crab meat, sun blushed tomato, garlic, chilli and tomato.
Tagliatelle con salmon
Smoked salmon, tomato, cream, and chives.
Ravioli di Granchio
Fresh crab filled ravioli with cream clams and tomato sauce.
Risotto ai frutti di mare
King prawns, mixed seafood, garlic, and San Marzano tomato sauce.
Linguine frutti di mare
Wild red king prawn, Scottish rope grown mussels, palourde clams, calamari, garlic, tomato and chill.
Penne della Cucina
Shallot onion, fresh chilly, garlic, marinated chicken and king prawns cooked in cream, and tomato sauce.
Carni
Meat dishes
Pollo Milanese
Breaded fried chicken breast, tomato sauce, mozzarella, rocket and cherry tomatoes.
Pollo della casa
Chicken breast, asparagus, cream and mushrooms.
Vitello al funghi
Veal cooked in cream, brandy and mushroom.
Pollo alla Romana
Chicken breast, spicy sausage, peppers, onions, garlic and tomato.
Scallopa alla Milanese
Tuscan veal escalope in breadcrumbs, pan fried in olive oil served with spaghetti in tomato sauce (no vegetables).
Anatra
Crispy duck leg, chianti wine sauce.
Cosciotto D'agnello
Slowly roasted Lamb shank, rosemary, tomatoes and red wine sauce, mash potato.
Medaglioni
80z Pan-fried beef fillet medallions, Parma ham, porcini mushroom sauce.
Costolette D'agnello
Lamb cutlets, with Barolo red wine, rosemary and garlic.
Bistecca con funghi
8oz grilled fillet steak, mustard, mushroom & cream sauce
Bistecca al vino rosso
Grilled extra mature filled steak, served with diced shallots, peppers, garlic and red wine sauce.
Pizza
All our pizzas are made to order so if you can’t find your favourite topping here, feel free to ask and we’ll make you your own pizza.
Margherita
Buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil.
Funghi
Mushroom, spinach, garlic, and tomato sauce.
Romana
Mixed vegetables, tomato sauce, pecorino cheese, mozzarella, and fresh rocket.
Caprino
Goat’s cheese, mozzarella, caramelised onion, olives, pesto and, tomato sauce.
Piccante
Spicy sausage, red onion, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and fresh chilli.
4 Stagioni
Mushrooms, artichokes, ham, olives, mozzarella, and tomato sauce.
Prosciutto
Tomato, buffalo mozzarella, and San Daniele parma ham.
Calabrese
Spicy Nduja sausage, Fior di latte san marzano tomato and salami.
Contorni
Mash potatoes
Chips
Sautéed potatoes
Tomato & onion salad
Fried courgettes
Rocket salad
Mixed leaves salad
Mix seasonal vegetables
Sautéed spinach
Mains
Bistecca al pepe verde
8oz grilled fillet steak, with brandy and green peppercorn sauce.