Ruby Restaurant

Recommends

waldschatten

Joined 5 years ago

Great food, excellent service.. The quality of the rice bowls and sandwiches, as well as how pleasant the wait staff are make this an excellent place to eat, we've been out of town for a few months but our first plan on returning is to stop in here for a rice bowl like we did several times a week when we lived right down the street from it.

Doesn't Recommend

aryuw

Joined 6 years ago

Lousy food. Ruby used to be one of my favorite restaurants. But I think they got a new chef because the food just hasn't been the same. I used to love the Lamb Bumbu, but it hasn't been very good the last few times. Last time I went, just a few days ago, I tried the Ahi Tuna sandwich. It was, hands down, the absolute worst seafood I have ever had. The fish was maybe 1/4" thin and cooked until it was beyond well-done. We're talking shoe leather here. Overcooking Ahi Tuna apparently gives it a pretty nasty flavor. I actually had to go somewhere else to get something to take the taste out of my mouth. The waiter was none too friendly and was insensitive enough to seat me right next to a couple in the process of breaking up, complete with tears and everything. (There were plenty of empty seats. You'd think he could give them some semblance of privacy.) For the first time in my life, I refused to give any tip whatsoever. I used to go to this place about once a week. Lately, more like once every few months. Now, I've finally given up on the old Ruby and am never going back.

Doesn't Recommend

lbrisbo

Joined 7 years ago

In the mood for some pseudo international food?. From the outside, Ruby's hip, tavern-like decor beckons the senses. But my experience with this restaurant's 'international' food ought to teach me not to judge a book by it's cover. This is the restaurant right next to Flowers--which technically has it's own name, but the food and service is so indistinguishably bad that it really doesn't matter. I ordered the 'Monk's Curry' which was essentially eggplant drowning in cooking oil. Even excessive amounts of Sariacha sauce couldn't salvage this dish. My boyfriend ordered the 'Seven Spice Beef' which was beef stir-fried in some tomato paste mixture. If I wanted tomato paste I would got to Pizza Hut, thanks. This experience has taught me that 'international cuisine' restaurants cast too wide of a culinary net--they can't make any one type of food extraordinarily well, but they can make a whole lot of simple foods extraordinarily sub-par. I will stick to the booze menu next time.

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cafejay

Joined 8 years ago

Usually Hit, sometimes miss. I love this place, most of the time. You can't beat the HUGE rice bowls and service. For the UDist it's got some romanic seating. Also, a comfortable couch. Now and then a band of rowdy college kids can ruin the atmosphere, but if that happens, just walk up two doors to the sister bar: Flowers. There's often some characters at the bar to talk to, and the music is usually pretty good (if sometimes a bit loud in the bar area). This is a nice spot to start a date.

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thisre

Joined 10 years ago

miss the old ruby. there's a couple of drinks that i used to love at ruby. but the last couple of times i've been in there, the regular bartendar was gone, and the drinks tasted like i got them at a corner store. it was too loud, and full of jocks... what happened to the old crowd? i used to be a regular, and ruby was a great place for me to get a great drink and read a book, but now it seems that the college crowd has taken over. i didn't see any of the other regulars i used to love talking to, and it's too bad, because the college kids won't be there this summer, but i don't know if any of the regulars will come back if there's no reason (good drinks, good conversation) to. i don't think i will.

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literati

Joined 9 years ago

whatever happened to.... ... the old ruby that i used to love? one night i went to Ruby, and i thought that i was in the All American. where did all the artists and intellectuals go? i always thought it was a getaway from all the "fratty" places in the area, but it seems that lately i'd be better off at home. if i wanted to get beer splashed on me, i'd go to the Knar...

Doesn't Recommend

njfazio

Joined 10 years ago

Are you kidding?. If this is the best salad in Seattle, people should get out more...we left knowing we should have stayed at home and made our own. Perhaps this place is the best on the Ave but we won't be going back. A positive note - the wait staff was efficient and nice. Unfortunately, the food and the ambiance have a long way to go...

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boeing_leo

Joined 10 years ago

Best eats on the Ave.. Ruby provides a bar/resturant atmosphere. The food features bowls of various asian infused dishes that are so bountiful and economical. Last time I was there I had this seafood and rice noodle bowl with a lime broth. The seafood was great, so plentiful. They also have a full bar and 2 kinds of Mac and Jack beer!! This turned my dining experience into a 2 hr treat. The wait staff is kind and cute. Overall this is a great place to eat, drink, and be merry.

Recommends

larsliden

Joined 11 years ago

Best Salad in Seattle. I can't over emphasize how much I like this place. Everything I have tried on the menu is wonderful and the tuna spinach salad is the best salad I've had in Seattle. The staff is also wonderful.

Recommends

Kabuki

Joined 11 years ago

I'm in love!!. This place was absolutely charming and beautiful. I felt comfortable eating there in my jeans, even with the artful surroundings. The food was delicious and my smaller rice bowl was enough for lunch the next day. My date had the jasmine rice with coconut milk and curried mussels. There was a huge portion of mussels- they were tender and tasted like heaven. The menu prices were what initially lured us in, but the whole package will keep us coming back.