Kimberly Lim Legaspi
Google
We had such a lovely meal at Little Ruby’s East Village, one of the newer locations of this beloved Australian café that first opened in Nolita back in 2002. Over the years, Ruby’s has expanded to SoHo and Midtown, building a reputation for blending Australian café culture with Italian and Mediterranean comfort foods. It’s casual and approachable, but every dish has a sense of intention a nod to tradition with a playful, modern twist.
The spicy Italian sausage rigatoni was pure comfort with character. Rigatoni, a pasta shape that comes from central and southern Italy, is known for its ridges that cling to rich sauces. Here, it was perfectly al dente, coated in a balanced tomato cream sauce that was bright but also indulgent. Parmesan gave it a nutty, salty finish, while the baby peas added a subtle sweetness. The sausage was distinctly southern Italian in style spicy, fennel-laced, and hearty enough to ground the dish. It felt like a modern echo of cucina povera, the rustic Italian tradition of stretching ingredients into bold, nourishing meals.
The Bronte burger is a Ruby’s signature, and for good reason. Named after Sydney’s Bronte Beach, it reflects the fresh, multicultural spirit of Australian café food. The 7oz beef patty was juicy and flavorful, layered with tomato, spinach, swiss, and a sweet chili–mayo combo on toasted ciabatta. Ciabatta, a relatively recent invention from 1980s Italy, was the perfect choice airy and chewy inside, crisp outside, sturdy enough to hold everything together. The side of fries was just as memorable: thin, crisp, tossed with herbs and garlic, perfect for dipping. It’s the kind of burger-and-fries plate that feels indulgent but elevated.
For dessert, the date cake with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce was the highlight. Sticky, warm, and spiced with cinnamon, it came drenched in buttery toffee sauce that melted into the cake and balanced beautifully with the cold vanilla ice cream. This version leaned closer to the traditional British sticky toffee pudding, a mid-20th century classic born out of home baking, where dates provided natural sweetness and richness. Ruby’s take felt nostalgic yet modern, capturing the essence of that pudding but with a lighter café touch.
The East Village location carries Ruby’s laid-back Aussie ethos into one of New York’s liveliest neighborhoods. While Nolita, SoHo, and Midtown each bring their own personality, the East Village outpost feels especially cozy and vibrant. And we have to mention the service our waiter Miguel was fantastic, attentive, warm, and knowledgeable, which made the whole experience even better.