The Ribbon

"Attention restaurateurs: the Upper West Side is famished, starving for anything that resembles a cool downtown restaurant. More than any other Manhattan neighborhood, the UWS has been neglected. Badly. And judging by the level of human enjoyment at The Ribbon so far, you guys are missing out on a GOLD MINE. Dip into The Ribbon on a Saturday night, and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Blue Ribbon’s first Upper West Side outpost is banging like 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” days. It’s overflowing with people, and, more importantly, happiness. People simply can’t believe they finally have a better option than the so-so stuff they’ve been surviving on locally for so long, especially for dinner. The Ribbon is smart, too. Their menu, like the restaurant itself, is massive, and is built to please pretty much anyone. At brunch, lunch, and dinner, they serve the classics with enough of a twist to make the food stand out. Its flexibility makes it the perfect location for any number of occasions: on one hand, The Ribbon is a great place to come early with kids, but it’s also the perfect spot to watch college football during the day at the bar, or to visit for a night out on the town with a big group. Recently we were lucky enough to land the private room, which has one of the best round tables in all of Manhattan. There’s an old rock ’n roll jukebox, TVs at the bar that don’t interfere with the rest of the dining experience, and an impressive assortment of brown liquor. Service is on point, and overall, it’s just a really fun place to hang out. The Ribbon has a lot of style, and plenty of substance. It’s essentially a classier, more upscale version of The Smith. If you live up here, check it out. If you don’t live up here, now you can travel north to go out with your friends who do, without having to settle for slop. I’m ending this review the way I started it, but this time I’m going to yell. OPEN MORE GOOD RESTAURANTS ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE. TONS OF PEOPLE LIVE UP HERE AND WANT TO EAT GOOD FOOD. AND NOT JUST BRUNCH. Food Rundown Deviled Egg Trio Deviled egg bling. It’s a new thing. We’re down with any restaurant that has an entire menu section dedicated to deviled eggs. The smoked salmon and trout roe are ????, the pickled peppers and olive oil mayo are ????, but the fried oysters and pickled jalapeños are our favorite. Butcher’s Board All of the MEEEEEATS. All of the CHEEEEESE. Buffalo Cauliflower Putting buffalo sauce on anything makes it taste good, but even so, this is good on a shockingly addicting level. We needed to order seconds. Of cauliflower. You read that right. Definitely get this. Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade Bone marrow has long been a greatest hit of the Blue Ribbon brand, as the one they serve at the Brasserie in Soho is one of the best that exists on the planet. The Ribbon’s isn’t quite on that level, but it’s close. If you like eating pure fat out of bones, order it. Prime Rib Of Pork Fancy. One of the softest, butteriest, tender pieces of pig you’ll ever sink your teeth into. Rub that apricot and chile jam all over and enjoy. Ribbon Steak Sliced hanger steak in a green peppercorn sauce, with a big plate of fries. The sauce is thick and rich, which makes this a heavy dish, and a great one to share. Half Amish Chicken Solid, simple chicken. Lots of garlic. Extra juicy. We’d order it again. The Ox Burger An open face monstrosity of a burger, smothered in oxtail marmalade and topped with a poached egg atop challah toast. You’re going to need a fork and knife. And a nap. The Ribbon Dip Their take on the classic french dip is a good one. The gravy dip is on point. Corned Beef Hash They do the classics quite well here. The hash - with poached eggs and hollandaise - will fill your belly with enough carbs to last you until dinner. Challah French Toast Good French toast, not great. Eggs Benedict With Smoked Salmon Because when you have brunch on the UWS, smoked salmon should be involved." - Andrew Steinthal