Hunter S.
Yelp
Ruby's has a few locations. This is for East Village specifically. I'm pretty sure Ruby's is owned by the same group that owns Dudley's, and maybe Sonnyboy. Styled as Australian, though Vegemite and ricotta pancakes (a Bill's original--IYKYK) are the only things that really stand out as Australian.
They have an all day brekkie menu--fruit and yogurt bowels, banana bread, breakfast sandwiches. They also have grain bowls, rice bowls, and salads. My friend really loved her kale salad--made with pear, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, pecorino, and sunflower dressing. She added avocado for extra.
I had the Ruby's ragu, made with slow braised beef short rib, pappardelle, pecorino, and burrata sauce. There is some bacon added in there too. The pasta was good. Small portion. Filling, though I did get hungry later in the night. I was torn between that at the spicy Italian sausage, made with rigatoni, tomato cream sauce, baby peas, and parmesan.
I had "that watermelon drink," which was light and refreshing. Made with vodka, fresh watermelon juice, lime, and mint. I also had the yuzu jalapeño margarita, which was ok, but apparently forgettable, as I have no adjectives to offer.
They also have burgers and sides and a few other pastas.
New York gets a bad wrap when it comes to how nice they are. I've had some of the best service I've ever had while dining in NYC. This was not one of those times. Our server acted as if she were being crushed under the weight of existence and the diners, us at least, were a pain in her ass. I am usually a big tipper. This is the first time in a long while I remember tipping around 20%, which is my minimum. I get it, people can have a bad day, but it was just oozing out of every pore of her body.
Wouldn't go out of my way to go back here.