Mei B.
Yelp
First review of the year. Let's go! After being MIA for a bit, my boyfriend and I were super excited to check out Black Ruby, the newest Thai fusion spot in Cambridge. The concept of blending Thai flavors with burgers and pasta caught our attention right away. The restaurant itself is super chic, and overall, we'd give our experience a 4/5.
We ordered a Thai tea float, a Thai beer, and calamari for appetizers, followed by the Tom Yum pasta and Khao Soi burger for our entrees. We finished the meal with a mango sticky rice sundae. Everything was flavorful and creative, but a few things kept it from being a full five-star experience. The Tom Yum pasta was the highlight, with a perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and cheesy flavors, but the shrimp was a letdown. I ordered extra shrimp, only to find that they were butterflied with the shells still on, making them overcooked and difficult to eat. The Khao Soi burger was another standout, and my boyfriend thought it would have been perfect with more of the khao soi sauce. The mango sticky rice sundae was the best part of the meal. The vanilla ice cream took it to the next level, making it even more addicting.
On the downside, the Thai tea float was mostly ice, and the ice cream on top was a bit too icy. The calamari was delicious but came in such a small portion that we finished it in minutes. Service was efficient but not particularly engaging, which wasn't a huge issue but didn't add to the experience either.
For the price, we expected just a bit more, but Black Ruby is a great addition to the area with a creative menu. We might be back to try other dishes, but we're not in a hurry. If you go, definitely try the mango sticky rice sundae.