Ruby Restaurant
(206) 675-1770
4241 University Way NE
Seattle,
WA
98105
47.659
-122.3134
Neighborhoods: University District, Northeast
Reviews & Ratings for Ruby Restaurant
11 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 11 reviews
Great food, excellent service.
by waldschatten
February 18, 2008
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.
- Pros: Great food, nice people, plenty of space if you go during the day.
- Cons: Can get rather full at night.
Lousy food
by aryuw
February 05, 2007
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.
- Pros: A nice big window to watch all the people walking by on their way to better restaurants
- Cons: lousy food, subpar service, no parking
In the mood for some pseudo international food?
by lbrisbo
August 28, 2006
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.
- Cons: Everything
The second nicest bar on the Ave! by Todd B. at InsiderPages
Contributor
June 22, 2005
From the moment you walk in the door you see that there is something about Ruby that you won't find in any onther bar on the Ave... No jocks, no meatheads, no frat boys, no t.v.'s, no pool tables... Just good music, and real human interaction...Ruby is the PERFECT place to take a date for a romantic evening on the Ave and there food is AMAZING!!
PROS: best food on the ave!
CONS:
Usually Hit, sometimes miss
by cafejay
January 24, 2005
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.
- Pros: Food, Drink specials, ambiance
- Cons: , parking, U District
miss the old ruby
by thisre
June 21, 2004
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.
- Pros: great food, drinks, music
- Cons: , service
whatever happened to...
by literati
June 20, 2004
... 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...
- Pros: good food, drinks, sometimes
- Cons: , too many "kids"
Are you kidding?
by njfazio
August 06, 2003
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...
Best eats on the Ave.
by boeing_leo
July 24, 2003
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.
- Pros: price, food, wait staff
- Cons: parking
Best Salad in Seattle
by larsliden
December 11, 2002
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.
