La Ripaille

Yes, my followers know we eat at @laripaillenyc every Tuesday or Wednesday weekly, outdoor, since October 2020. They only closed for the months with no indoor dining. The owners are like families; staffs are super friendly and professional. The food is just yummy; anything on the menu, appetizers to desserts. Wine choices are great too. We meet WV neighbors and become pandemic dinner buddies. This place is such a neighborhood gem 💓.

French food... yes, but come for cosy ambiance of walls painted French blue, warmth of fire place (will this work soon?), and charming hosts! Great broccoli mousse!!!

Love to dine at this French bistro. I went to this restaurant twice already in a short period of time. The place is cozy, the food is good and the service is attentive. I highly recommend to order the daily specials he suggest because they are cooked just right.The owner himself serves the tables and funny, you can't resist his thank you kisses. Every customer is so so welcome from him.

Cosy French bistro with great food and excellent and attentive service. Went for brunch and cocktails and totally enjoyed it!

Truly the best restaurant in the neighborhood. It is hard to say which is better, the food or the service. Excellent menu and the specials are delightful. The wine list is perfect. If you need a French fix or just a nice dinner in the neighborhood, this is your place. Always wonderful!

What a treat! I was out with a friend when we walked by this place and decided to give it a try; that may have been our best decision of the night! The service was wonderful, friendly and engaging but not obtrusive. And the food was amazing. We started with the "Feuilleté de Champignons Sauvages a la Crème de Cognac -Wild Mushrooms flambee in Cognac under Pillow of Puff Pastry" which almost looked too good to devour. Almost. The flavors were incredible and well layered; nothing overpowering anything else in the dish. And the puff pastry was perfectly flaky, buttery, and delicious. The rest of the meal (consisting of the filet mignon and some enjoyable wine) was also great. Everything was perfectly prepared and tasted exquisite. After we finished our meal, they allowed us to linger behind to wait out the rain storm that descended from the heavens. They never rushed us out, which truly made this feel like an authentic French bistro. I already informed my partner, who loves French cuisine, that we would be coming here sometime soon. My taste buds are already anticipating the deliciousness...

I didn't know broccoli mousse was a thing. We came here and experienced an incredible dining evening. Broccoli mousse and flambeed mushrooms with the best aperol spritz I've ever had led to filets and cassoulet with a bottle of cahors followed by desserts and Pannier. An absolute must-visit. Food is phenomenal and the owner and staff are so friendly and accommodating. A true gem.

This is one of my favorite restaurants. The dishes are excellent and well worth the price. Recently, we dined on lamb chops, salmon and duck liver pate. All were excellent as we expected.

La Ripaille offers a great ambience at a decent price point. The food is very good and evidences an experienced kitchen with chefs who know what they are doing. Given the restaurant is closing soon at an unknown or imprecise date, you would be advised to make your reservation sooner than later. It was easy to get a reservation at an early Thursday evening time, but people are arriving in greater numbers by 7PM. I arrived a bit early and promptly chose an outdoor seat, perfect at this time of year. I ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, a House variety I'm sure. The Provence Rose was tempting,but it would not stand up to what I would order. I started off with their escargot cassoulet served in a creamy tomato base with basil and grape tomatoes that have been blanched or placed briefly under a broiler to soften and sweeten them. They are served with two flattened slices of baguette, which could have been four slices ideally for the creamy basil and tomato sauce. It was not too rich and was not an overwrought buttery affair. It was balanced, but I wanted it to be more substantial it was so good. These were not the traditional garlic, butter and herb escargot,but still very good and not too heavy at this time of year. Next came the lamb, sliced thinly on a bias in a deep and savory sauce with black pepper and rosemary, served with a square of pommes gratin in the middle and some thinly sliced carrots and string beans cooked to perfection, the former cooked until the sweetness of the carrots emerges and tey latter with a welcome hint of garlic and sea salt. I ordered the lamb medium rare and it leaned toward medium, but it was still tender and juicy, with the rosemary and black pepper making themselves known and elevating the savory palate. The pommes gratin square could have been more generous along with the three mini carrots sliced longitudinally and cut short. The string beans were the surprise. They were perfectly cooked and the kitchen excelled in the restraint on cooking times for the vegetables. Nothing was overcooked. The owner is quite popular and personable. He talks to all his patrons and some who are regulars. I ordered the special dessert this evening from his grandmother's recipe: lemon Tarte. It was great, perfect for this time of year. The total was almost a hundred before tip. This was a very good meal, which could have been better if they served it automatically with a few slices of baguette and a little butter. The French people I know are always sopping up the sauce and cleaning their plates with pieces of baguette. That would make for a more authentic experience and, if the food were served a bit more generously, the experience would be a bit more appealing to the American appetite, especially how good it is. These are quibbles given the four star experience awaiting you peacefully at La Ripaille in the West Village. Enjoy it while it lasts in its final months.

If I hadn't been at La Ripaille on a date, things would have ended quite differently. I ordered the tiger prawn entree for $35. That price is ludicrous regardless of what the dish looks like. The dish had a fistful of the smallest shrimp I've ever been served at a restaurant--smaller than Red Lobster's. In the middle was a spoonful of rice that had also been minified. I was outraged by the size of this dish. "Tiger" typically indicates superior size, here it indicated a callous ripoff. I also had the duck confit special which I didn't even check the price of but was probably $40. It was just shredded pieces of duck on top of mashed potatoes. Aside from the one piece of bone that my date almost choked on, there was no "bone." This was not what I'd consider traditional duck confit. Another ripoff. Similar to the other reviews, service started off fine then devolved to being served by three separate people and taking forever to get the check. The bathrooms are dive bar quality. The atmosphere is a mishmash of holiday lights, candles, and LED table lamps. Even the plating is amateurish. Where others see a hidden gem, I found an obnoxious riff on French food at fine dining prices.

This place has been around for decades, I was working couple blocks from this restaurant back in 1989. And La Ripaille was there already!. Amazing food, from appetizers through desserts, the owner was super friendly and the one who explained their today's special and all sounded so delicious! Perfect place for intimate dining, highly recommend!.

La Ripaille is a rare find because it is actually a French restaurant owned and operated by a Frenchman. Almost all other "French" restaurants are either owned by someone else who might have been schooled in the French culinary tradition or owned by a private equity firm. La Ripaille is truly a French restaurant. The space feels just like French restaurants that I have eaten at in France. It is genuine, if a little rough around the edges. It is small and has that bistro feel. Since they are a small business, we felt appreciated, and we were given full attention. The prices were fair. The location in the West Village is actually lots of fun. It is a charming neighborhood by day. When we left the restaurant at night, it was lit up beautifully. So, it is lots of fun to eat there.

Lovely welcome from the staff, which is important to me. Our waiter recommended the special Chicken Dijonaise, and I was not disappointed. The prices are really good in comparison to other restaurants in the area. Don't miss this charming, old world spot.

I'm left with mixed impressions. The ambiance is cozy and rustic French, which is delightful. The food was quite good. However, the service was a bit odd. We came on a holiday weekend, and at first, it was quiet and we received lots of attention. (Albeit: note the owner is very aggressive, loud and even pushy towards the customers.) It was a major turn off. As the place got more crowded and there was a private party in the back, service slowed down to a trickle. We had to wait a long time for dessert and the check. I value a slow cooked meal at a relaxed pace. But when you have been waiting a long time and are ready to wrap it up, it gets annoying having to flag down a waitress. No complaints about the food-- as it was authentic and very good quality.

Food was terrific and perfectly cooked. Timeless place, highly recommend for relaxed fine dining.

Time for this guy to hang up his hat. Wine mark up stupid crazy. $78 for a$7 bottle. Food is decent for a bistro in Syracuse not NYC. Do yourself a favor spend your money elsewhere.

This was my first time eating here, and I was impressed. Reasonably priced for the West Village~ I got the Broccoli Mousse, something I've never had before; light and airy, with lemon butter sauce. The owner recommended I try the special Blanquette de Veau, which was fabulous! I will definitely come here again the next time I am in the neighborhood. I was thrilled to spend an evening in this charming, authentic bistro atmosphere.

Tried for the first time this week and came out with mixed feelings. The restaurant itself is a cute bistro with an intimate and romantic ambiance. Outdoor seating available as well. We were greater by the owner who was very charming and asked if we'd like to start with drinks as we were being seated. The staff were all very attentive and kind. The service was one of the best parts of our eating experience. For drinks we got a happy hour spritz which was light on the alcohol and very sweet. A vodka martini with olives at the bottom of the glass that was strong. An espresso martini which was strong and delicious. Appetizers we got the broccoli mouse that everyone was recommending. It was a bit on the smaller portion size but very flavorful. The plating left a bit to be desired but the flavor made up for it. We got the special of assorted mushrooms which was simple but well seasoned. We got escargot which was interesting to have escargot in tomato sauce. It wasn't my personal favorite. The watermelon mint salad was refreshing though. Entrees we got the rack of lamb and the blanquette de veau. The rack of lamp left a lot to be desired. I ordered medium rare. The lamb chops were incredibley small and cut into pieces of two, for a total of 4 lamb chops. The outsides were very heavily sheared, if not burnt, which left them hard and chewy with a spot of rare cold meat in the middle when cutting the two pieces apart. I ended up eating more off my partners plate than mine. The blanquette de veau was good, seasoned well, tender meat. The texture of the meat was super soft that made me suspect it might have been frozen then recooked, but the flavor was nice. For dessert we got the frozen souffle which, for the record, we had no idea what to expect despite hearing the description. It was similar to a frozen mousse tart. The crust was very crumbley and dry. Overall, I thought the restaurant ambiance and service was amazing, but the food had me wanting more out of it.

This place is a gem, for the most part. The owner is a gregarious, funny and friendly French transplant that has improved NYC and America for many decades. The menu is small and excellent, both food and drinks. Try a cocktail! I had my very first Negroni here and thought it was quite good. If you are going to bring a bottle of wine do let the restaurant know in advance. The music is basically French radio from a small but not tinny speaker, modern and old. The atmosphere is much quieter than the average NYC restaurant, making it a much better option when you want to enjoy the people you are dining with. There are about eight seats outside and perhaps twenty-four inside. The filet mignon was one of the best I've had in my life. The onion goat cheese tarte was delicious. All the food, in fact, was excellent. I will keep coming back on every visit to NYC.

What a happy, yet chill, place to meet friends for dinner. That's the most striking thing about La Ripaille. Server staff also quite attentive and professional. The food could be more tasty and balanced, though. Had a veal with mashed potato special - veal was supposedly slow-cooked for 10 hours, and, it tasted like that too. The meat cubes were dry and tasteless, like an overcooked stew meat. Wines were a bit overpriced, perhaps this is typical for Village restaurants (I'm not from NYC). Don't know if I'd dine there again - but, the atmosphere is really terrific.

I had dinner here with 2 friends from Europe: what a pleasant surprise to find this gem in a city of restaurant group places. The owner is an absolute French original and even 35 years in, you could feel how much he (and all other staff) still cares about his guests, the food, the atmosphere. The bistro is cozy and rustic. If you are looking for a glitzy French restaurant you are in the wrong place. If you are looking for a warm and welcoming restaurant with great food (portions tend to be on the smaller 'European' side...) you are in the right place. Wine list is perfectly balanced. Definitely coming back!

Entered the cozy restaurant with high expectations, only to be met with an owner/manager with the worst customer service. Needs to learn manners. Completely turned me off from eating here. He only seems to be polite to those who are willing to spend big bucks. Others beware. Cozy atmosphere? Yeah right!

Dined at La Ripaille, a cozy French spot. Delicious, authentic dishes and great service. A must-visit for French cuisine lovers!

I feel like there are 2 types of French restaurants in the city, glitzy upscale small portioned French, and then there are restaurants like La Ripaille that are dripping in history and secret recipes that date back decades. I absolutely love trying new French places in the city and La Ripaille had one of the coziest warm and inviting feels from the moment we arrived. I noticed we were seated next to a painting of the actual restaurant and I venture to guess that's the owner, who we presumed to be our server, in the painting. If you love broccoli you will love the broccoli mousse. It comes surrounded by a creme sauce that was cheesy and delicious. It's so unique to see whipped broccoli like that, I absolutely recommend. We also order the Magret de canard, aka the duck. It was a special for the evening done in a honey and soy glaze. It was very good though I'd come back for canard aux cerises. We got the crème de cassis for desert. We will return for another date night!

La ripaille is a cute, classy white table cloth whole in the wall in a great little spot in the Meat Packing District. We were here on a Friday night, and unfortunately it was a bit slow. Regardless the food was amazing and the wine selection was simple and great as well. A 3 course meal fir 2 and a bottle of wine came out to 220$ so this place isn't cheap, but every bite will be worth it! Mushroom appetizer was killer, as was the specials that they had that day.

SUCH a quaint little French restaurant - I cant believe I didn't go here sooner! I'm a sucker for adorable French restaurants but this one had a handful of the right touches. It's small, they hang your coats when you walk in, they have French music playing in the background, there's dim lighting and candles on each table (some are Eiffel Tower candles). The food presentation is gorgeous and I can't believe I didn't get photos! Next time. I will note that they had a handful of yummy sounding dishes as specials, which they told us about, but we decided to order off the menu. I ordered the Mediterranean salad which came with quinoa, kale, tomatoes, and pears I believe. I ate the entire thing - it was so tasty and just what I was in the mood for. My friend ordered the tiger shrimp pasta with saffron sauce and enjoyed hers as well. She said the sauce was just what she was hoping it'd be. I vividly remember us both finishing our meals and looking up to realize it was probably the first time we'd ever both completely cleaned our plates! Portions aren't massive, they are just right. We each had a couple slices of bread with olive oil before our entrees as well. Great place if you're looking for a date night spot or if you just want a relaxing dinner without all the city craziness.

We loved this spot. Cozy atmosphere. Excellent food. Attentive service. Good wine. Lovely owner/host! Go!

Yes, my IG followers know we eat at @laripaillenyc every Tuesday or Wednesday weekly, outdoor, since October 2020. They only closed for the months with no indoor dining. The owners are like families; staffs are super friendly and professional. The food is just yummy; anything on the menu, appetizers to desserts. Wine choices are great too. We meet WV neighbors and become pandemic dinner buddies. This place is such a neighborhood gem .

Fantastic. The space is small and cute and casual. Staff is very friendly and hard-working. Feels very French but not at all fussy. Just delicious bistro food. We had the broccoli mouse and mushroom pastry as appetizers and they were both very tasty. Mains (ravioli and fish) were very good. The owner/waiter said the side of string beans was unnecessary and he was right but we ate them anyway. Desserts were really good. Chocolate dome was a nice mix of flavors and textures. The special coconut souffle was even better, frozen and with really great flavor. Finally, given the type of place and the relatively small menu, there are are a surprising number of vegetarian options. If you're a vegetarian or pescetarian you won't find yourself pigeonholed into the one or two options you often find and restaurants with even larger menus. We will be back.

So thrilled La Ripaille is still here. Returned recently with friends for a first visit since the pandemic. Was a frequent diner in the very late 80s and early 90s until moving more north. Just wow. It's as awesome and welcoming as ever. The food is divine, great choices for wine. We had an array of items. The fish special was exquisite. Alain Laurent is still there...he and I are just a bit greyer these days, but gosh this is like stepping into France for supper--small, cozy, delicious. Highly, highly recommend, especially for groups of 2, 3, 4.

Like Babette's Feast but in the West Village. Amazing food and great service. Love the intimate feel.

I don't know why this place isn't slammed when I come here . The food is *delicious*, the vibe is so authentic without trying. Chill atmosphere, excellent wine. I think it has somehow stayed beneath the radar of 'post covid' vibe shift. But it def will blow up if foodies get wind and realize what we have on our hands here.

This restaurant is a little jewel! The 4 of us discovered this recently and have been back twice in a month. We just love it. Tonight we celebrated a birthday and it was a great time! I had the escargot and ravioli; others had foie gras and filet of sole; another had the veal. The food by all accounts was simply delicious. The owner is a charming and engaging man who really adds to the authentic flavor of this restaurant! The service is impeccable. We will return often.. that is certain! I'm the NewYorkLady

A very over priced bistro that looks old and tired. The food is quite good and the service excellent. But for the price I expected fine dining. Photos do not match the actual experience. Would not go back.

I like crème brûlée. My main course is little over cooked fish. Good environment but small restaurant.

Having not dined here for at least two years due to the current pandemic however everything is excellent again here and it is as just the same and better! I cannot recommend this West Village Treasure more for dining, special occasions and the like. If you have not as yet dined here you certainly are missing out on an authentic French cuisine experience. The owner, his wife and staff could not be more friendly and pprofessional with their service. Beyond HIGHLY recommended!!

Just wow. Gone out for date night dinner here and it was amazing! The timing of the entrees coming out was perfectly done, there was not much of a wait and since we were headed to the Billy Joel concert that evening, they rushed it a bit but just the right amount of time in between each dish. The food is absolutely amazing. And again, the service of our waiters were superb! It was my first time dining here, and it wont be my last. I can't get over how tasty and savory the escargot appetizer was. Literally craving it right now because of its rich and creamy tomato sauce. I do have to point out, the steak in peppercorn sauce was a bit too peppercorny, maybe having less peppercorn would have made it less spicy and overpowering, but still enjoyable. The steak was delicious regardless. Had a glass of the popular red to pair with the meal. And lastly for dessert, creme brulee, a personal favorite. It was delicious!

You can tell the food is cooked with love! Great ambiance and the staff/owner is so friendly. We came here for a birthday and were very well taken care of and the food was incredible. A great dining experience, will definitely be back!

Come for the ambiance, outlandish owner, and super-charming Francophone staff. My buddy led us in here when the trendier eateries were too busy (at 10 pm!). I didn't get a proper entree, but the charcuterie plate was filling and satisfying. My wife's ravioli, which she was kind enough to share, was rich and creamy. The prices are definitely not what I would call friendly to the wallet. But so it goes. I'm bumping this to 4 stars for the charm and old-school, devil-may-care decor.

Dining at this restaurant is the closest feeling that you can get to dining in Paris without leaving Manhattan. Food was delicious, service was fantastic and atmosphere and music transported me back to many happy meals in the city of light. Between the four of us we had the specials of the chicken dijon, bass in lemon butter and fine herbs, and two lamb dishes. We shared three desserts with the outstanding ones being the chocolate hazelnut "dome" and lemon tart. The apple tarte tatin was good but the other two were the stars. Nice wine list which ranged in price which was nice to see as opposed to the limited overpriced wines offered at many French restaurants. Cannot wait to return to this jewel of a place! Highly recommend this restaurant!

Wednesday night, me and one other table. Ambiance could've been lovely, if not for the neverending beratement the owner or manager heaped on the poor 20 year old newbie waiter. The owner/manager (not sure) was perfectly dazzling French host for the arriving guests. But when you can hear him literally turn on a dime and be a horror to his staff? Ick. Oh. The food was just ok.

Decided to try this spot last minute since I just moved to an apartment a block away. Got the steak frites and it was delicious! The fries, the sauce, the steak was tender and juicy. The espresso martinis were strong and just the right amount of sweet. Definitely go!

Truly a unique and authentic French restaurant. The food tastes impeccable, and is the perfect place to take a date with such a compelling ambiance. They always change up the specials, which always come out to be amazing. We always stick with at least one order of the steak frites, which comes with an amazing sauce.

Bottom line: I could go so far as saying 4.5 stars for this little French gem. Good simple French entrees executed well, and I am a fan of that. Delicious food with a positive staff lead to us putting La Ripaille on our list of places we'd like to visit again in the future. The Deets: Walking around the West Village, we got shot down at the original place we had wanted to try last Saturday night...they were booked solid with no room to squeeze us in. We walked around and decided on giving La Ripaille a try since it was in the area. I'm glad we did, it's a good find. Going in, we were greeted at the bar/desk by manager-owner that was in very good spirits and happy to see us. He confirmed a table for us and we were shown to it with no issues. Inside is a very quaint atmosphere with all sorts of French countryside type items on the walls as well as very eye catching French posters/art. I liked it, intimate enough for a date but casual enough for anytime. Our cocktail orders were taken and filled quickly, and we enjoyed our drinks, very well done. We started out with a charcuterie plate that included pâté, sausage, dry saucisson, ham, and condiments (we specifically asked for the country pâté). Honestly it was one of the best charcuterie plates I've had, we thoroughly enjoyed it. For entrees, we both chose specials for the night...I got the chicken made with a white grape cream sauce with vegetables on the side while Chris M. got the steak with double dijon mustard sauces accompanying it and shoestring pommes frites. Both entrees were very well done, nice presentation and taste with both. I really enjoyed the chicken, never had a cream sauce with white grapes and it was better than I imagined it could be. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the sauce was so well done and flavorful. The steak with the dijon was thumbs up as well as I did enjoy a few bites of it also, so good! The staff as well as the manager-owner checked on us frequently and made sure we had a good experience, and we definitely did at that.

We found the food to be nice; the decorum to be dated to a French restaurant from the 1980s, and the outdoor seating to be pleasant. The head waiter (and potentially owner) soured much of the experience though. Being garrulous and a bit overweening, he made customers uncomfortable soliciting additional food and drinks. There were several customers in the restaurant who would literally be looking down when he talked to avoid eye contact. Not exactly the experience you want for a meal that costs $100 per head.

Just went there after pride for dinner. We were hungry and were willing to pay the $$ to eat a good meal. We started off with a watermelon salad and there was a bloody bandaid in the salad. When we confronted the owner/manager about this issue, he said "That's strange because no one has a cut in the kitchen" essentially accusing us of of placing the bandaid in the food. The waiter came back and was extremely apologetic, saying that it belonged to a member of the staff but that doesn't excuse the manager's reaction (which was to blame 4 queer women, the majority of whom were people of color, for he bloody bandaid in our food) and the fact that for the bandaid to be in the food in the first place someone on food prep was not wearing gloves ESPECIALLY since he was injured and bleeding. This is a serious food safety issue. The waiter offered to make us a new salad but at that point it was clear to us that there were some public health issues in the kitchen in addition to an extremely rude manager and we left.

I've been coming here for Christmas for that past few years with my mother. My mother has been succumbing to dementia so I was super concerned how our Christmas lunch would be. We were greeted by a lovely young gentlemen who immediately gave a complement to my mom. My mom takes a bit of time with a menu, and the staff (and I believe the owner!) was wonderful with understanding this. The food is from my childhood. Perfectly French. The best part? My mother ate an appetizer and entree, the most she has eaten for a while! Thank you La Ripaille staff!

This restaurant has seen better days. The pate, the broccoli mousse, the duck were all flat. The wines were so so. The bathroom was filthy. The waiters forgot about us when it got busy. All this for $340 for 4 people. It's one saving grace is the atmosphere. But oh! , we came here to eat.

The food was excellent, the service lovely, and the atmosphere old school romantic & classy in this little treasure of brick-and-mortar that remains elevated above newer & hipper spots by its reliable French cuisine and the owner, Alan, whose personality and charm makes every guest feel transported. And real candlelight!

Le magnifique!! Wonderful restaurant! Loved the food, the ambiance and the service was exceptional!! The restaurant is small, cute yet cozy at the same time. Dimly lit, its a charming restaurant and a good option for a romantic night out. The service here was excellent, with our group closing down the restaurant because we had such a great time here. The servers were attentive and made sure to answer any questions and concerns that we had. On to the food!! The food was very flavorful and extremely delicious! For appetizers we had the duck pate, the broccoli mousse and the warm brie with pear. Oh goodness all of these were sooooo good!! My favorite was the duck pate, bursting with flavor, velvety and so delicious I want to go back and have some more again! For dinner I had the sea bass and my husband had the chicken special that night....both extremely delicious. I don't think I left anything on my plate, I ate it all!! :) Dessert again was yum! Great selection of wine and dessert wines as well! I will definitely be coming back! La Ripaille is a good choice if you're looking for a date night option or a night out with friends. They usually have reservations available on opentable which is always a plus.

Very warm staff. Too expensive for what you get. French would have say bofbof. Not too crowded. Interesting experience.

Lovely little french restaurant in the west Village. One of our favorites. Dimly lit, cozy and friendly atmosphere with very good food choices. The owner greeted us and engaged in pleasant conversation. We went there on a hot summer evening and started with the cheese plate and a cool, refreshing watermelon salad. The wine and the food were top notch. Can't wait to go back!

Amazing! We went with another couple and ordered many different dishes and all were wonderful. The salmon special was incredible, great salads. One friend ordered steak and it was perfect. And desserts to die for. The owner was very gracious and welcoming. We are outside which was very cozy. Definitely will be back. Only problem is this place made me think of Paris so much that I am yearning to go back!

Wonderful spot! The food - c'est magnifique! I especially love the escargot, any special chicken or duck dish they might have (and oh my god the scalloped potatoes on the side are to die for) and the broccoli mousse- yum! I've been going several times a month during COVID and the outdoor space has been safe, cozy and well heated. The owner is very welcoming and very entertaining! And he's been great at picking wine, always good choices. Love this place...it's been the highlight of my week to meet up with friends here.

Nestled in the West Village, La Ripaille was a $30 cab from the Upper West Side. When we got out of the cab we were in the heart of the Meatpacking District and it was slightly difficult to walk from the Gansevoort to La Ripaille, since many of the streets are confusing down there. When we finally got to the restaurant it was a picture-esque French Bistro, and was only half full. The Restaurant and Food: La Riaille was a perfect restaurant for a Valentines Day date. The table was candlelit with a large flaming candle in the center. The Valentines Day pre-fixe menu was $68 per person, not including wine or dessert, which is a bit steep if you ask me. However, the menu had hand-drawn hearts on it which was adorable. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli to start which were not good, and the sauce was very watery. The ravioli I was served did not look like the ravioli in cream sauce in pictures on yelp. My boyfriends mushrooms in a pastry was much better though, and had a delicious sauce. For my main course, I ordered the filet of sea bass which was delicious, and the sauce was perfect. My boyfriend ordered the steak and frites, The steak was a bit tough, but was good too. The service was impeccable. As soon as we walked in the Maître d took our coats enthusiastically. We were waited on hand and foot throughout the meal by our waiter as well, who constantly made sure we had everything needed. Overall, the price was a little steep. But, the ambiance of a fireplace, candles and a homey feel made for the perfect valentines day.

Amazing spot, owner is so welcoming and food is delicious. Went in for a quick bite and left four hours later. Cozy, warm atmosphere definitely found my new go to French bistro in the west village.

Reallly enjoyed both my time and the meal at La Ripaille. We had a chance to spend time with the owner, who could not be a nicer individual and welcoming. The overall atmosphere is very intimate and that feeling of being at home. Even though I came during the day for lunch, the lighting is dim and provided for a very comfortable time with my co-worker as we devoured the tomato soup - which was perfectly balanced and just the way I like it. I had the chicken with mushrooms which was juicy, quite substantial, and very tasty. It was not overpowered by the mushrooms at all and went perfect with the potatoes and green beans both of which were very tasty. This is a place that I would certainly come to eat at again and would recommend for when you are in the Emery's village again...or border of Chelsea.