The Ruby Fruit - Review - Silver Lake - Los Angeles - The Infatuation
"After a rough few months that included a brief closure and reopening—and a dose of controversy—The Ruby Fruit is back. If you’ve never heard of the place, the “sapphically-inclined” wine bar opened in 2023 and was one of the first new lesbian bars to open in LA in decades. We even named it one of LA’s Best New Restaurants that year. So what’s Ruby Fruit like now? It’s still pretty great. In the afternoon, the colorful room functions as a co-working space with laptop warriors sharing space with solo diners and weekday meet-cutes sipping ginger beer. It’s a good idea to come hungry, because the menu of upgraded diner classics can quickly turn a happy hour drop-in into a full-on meal. Prioritize the gooey mozzarella sticks, fried gigante beans that taste like fries, and a Danish-style hot dog topped with remoulade and crispy shallots. At night, crowds no longer spill into the front parking lot like they did when the bar first opened, but you can still count on Ruby Fruit to be a chill, dependable spot for first dates and roommate hangs while listening to people intently discuss podcasts. photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp photo credit: Jessie Clapp Pause Unmute Food Rundown Fried Gigante Beans Beans that you can eat with your hands? Sorry bar nuts, we’ve got a new drinking snack. Topped with rosemary sprigs and a lemon wedge for spritzing, these salty crunchies are a nice thing to have on the table while having a deep discussion about the latest Queery episode. photo credit: Brant Cox Grilled Shrimp Cocktail Seasoned in Old Bay and charred over charcoal, these are plump, smoky shrimp that crackle as you take a bite. They’re great on their own, but you can also add them on to the two salads on the menu. photo credit: Brant Cox Grilled Chicken Sandwich The fried chicken sandwich had its moment, now it’s the grilled chicken sandwich’s time to shine. Or at least the one at Ruby Fruit. Even with all the toppings—mayo, pickles, cabbage, and fresno chile vinegar—it’s the tender slightly smoky chicken and soft potato bun that do the heavy lifting here. photo credit: Jessie Clapp The Roob Hot Dog Our go-to snack when that fourth glass of barbera hits. The condiments are a nod to Denmark, which means creamy remoulade, sweet pickles, ketchup, mustard, and crispy shallots. It’s a salty, tasty little treat that’s perfect to have in your hands while hanging on the sidewalk. photo credit: Jessie Clapp Olive Oil Cake Is the solo dessert lunch a thing yet? Well, it should be, and this olive oil cake—moist, spongy, and topped with jam—is proof. If you see us order a second one of these by ourselves, mind your business. photo credit: Jessie Clapp" - Brant Cox
