Framed by the very energetic streets of Shantinagar, the sound of forks on plates and friendly conversations drift from a space that feels less like a restaurant and more like your favorite spot in the city. Yes, the Rustic Eatery. It’s the Shantinagar branch, a space that captures everything the brand stands for: familiarity, comfort, and the kind of vibe that lets you breathe. No pretentious plating, no pressure to dress up. Just good food, warm lights, and an ambiance that says, “Come as you are.”
Rustic Eatery stretches across four neighborhoods in Dhaka: Dhanmondi, Banani, Uttara, and Shantinagar. And at each branch, the experience is the same — inviting, relaxed, and intentionally un-fancy. It’s a space where a quick lunch with friends, a quiet date, or even a family gathering feels completely natural. Founded nearly a decade ago by MD. Rajib Shahabuddin,
Rustic Eatery was never about trends. It was about people.
About giving Dhaka’s youth and families a place where they could feel at ease, like their favorite corner in the neighborhood, but with great food and better lighting.
To bring that vision to life, Rajib commissioned Ehsan Uz Zaman and Associates; the principal architect of the firm, S. M. Ehsan Uz Zaman, and his colleague architect Anusha Simran Zahid assumed the design and construction responsibility. Nothing flamboyant, nothing overly stylized. Just raw, grounded, and real, much like the city itself. They deliberately used familiar materials like fair-face concrete and Bangla bricks, known for their understated texture and natural appearance. Even the furniture was kept sturdy and simple, with varnished finishes that felt accessible and unpretentious. One of the most charming design elements lies overhead.
The ceiling lights are more than just fixtures; they’re a clever nod to Dhaka’s notorious traffic.
Warm lights mimic headlights, while red crisscross patterns subtly recall taillights on congested streets, all placed against a blank canvas. It’s a playful touch that feels uniquely Dhaka without being too on-the-nose. The walls, on the other hand, were kept minimal to avoid overwhelming the space, letting the textures and materials do the talking.
Rustic Eatery has been open for nearly a decade now. And what’s special is that the restaurant’s first guests, mostly students — still return, only now they bring more people with them. Like, their partners, their children, their parents. It’s the kind of loyalty that can’t be bought, only earned. The place has quietly grown into a community hub, where guests don’t just dine, they linger. And because over 90 percent of the clientele are regulars, most already know what they want to eat. They barely glance at the menu, which is kept intentionally short with just 47 items, enough to have variety, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.
The food matches the ambiance — straightforward, comforting, and satisfying.
The cuisine leans towards continental fusion, with a bit of Asian and fast food influence. It’s designed so guests won’t get bored eating there every day, but it’s not trying to be overly experimental either. Among the favorites are the famous Katsu and Fries, the rich cream of mushroom soup, and a crowd-pleasing “half a chicken” served in three flavors. The prawn wrap and fish cram are also big hits, full of flavor and consistently loved by regulars. Around 60 percent of the dishes have been on the menu since the beginning, while the remaining 40 percent rotates, keeping things fresh.
Rustic Eatery also caters thoughtfully to students with a dedicated student meal served daily from 3 to 6 pm for just 285 BDT. There’s even a “platter for two” at 995 BDT, which changes monthly — making it affordable to dine out without breaking the bank.
The biggest challenge in the project was the tight timeline. But Ehsan Uz Zaman and his team delivered right on schedule, executing the vision precisely. Rajib gave the architects a unique mix of freedom and direction, while the spatial layout was firmly defined, the design details like materials, lighting, and furniture were left open for creative exploration. The confidence Ehsan and Anusha brought to the project, along with their shared taste with Rajib, led to a smooth collaboration. They’ve already completed 6 projects together (*), built on trust and mutual understanding.
Perhaps the most special thing about Rustic Eatery is that it doesn’t try too hard, and that’s exactly why it works. There are concrete seaters that resemble a park bench more than a dining chair, adding to the laid-back vibe. Even the name “Rustic” was chosen to match the interior — familiar, slightly nostalgic, and gently aged, just like the city that inspired it. Now, with plans in motion to open two more branches in Mirpur and Puran Dhaka, Rajib is continuing his journey of building spaces where Dhaka’s people can gather, eat, and just be themselves.
Rustic Eatery is a reminder that sometimes, the best places are the ones that feel like they’ve always been there.
