Rustica | Rialto

The Verdict

The Rustica empire keeps on keeping on. Earlier this year the bakery business expanded into sunny Hawthorn, and now it’s set up shop inside Collins St’s newly revamped Rialto Towers.

Any long-time Rustica fans will be happy to know that Rustica Rialto is an evolution, not a revolution. The bakery will still be churning out some of the city’s best sourdough, cronuts and bombolinos (sugar-dusted wonder nuggets, piped with custard or Nutella). The new site will just have a slightly more grab-and-go mentality (which makes sense given its target clientele are all time-poor, very busy, and crazy about doughnuts).

“We’ve placed a huge focus on the menu being efficient and delicious while ensuring our faster turnaround times never impact the Rustica experience,” says Rustica founder Brenton Lang.

The fit-out is a little more upmarket than the bakery’s traditional digs in Guildford Ln. Think slick lines, luxe marble details and plenty of shiny brass. The menu has changed a little too, to fit with the swanky new address.

There’s blueberry porridge with hazelnuts and cacao, vine fruit toast, topped with fresh figs and feta, and dill-cured ocean trout served with chilli labneh, garlic pangrattato and heirloom tomatoes. A few deli-style sandwiches and a bunch of salads round out the menu nicely. The coffee, as always, is banging, and there’s a range of juices and fizzy stuff on offer.

Same great Rustica taste. New-look menu. Looks like everybody’s kicked a goal. 

Image credit: Michelle Jarni