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Blue Ribbon Brasserie
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Seafood, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
97 Sullivan St(between Spring St & Prince St)
New York, NY 10012
Neighbourhood: South Village
(212) 274-0404
- Nearest Transit:
-
Spring St (A, C, E)
Houston St (1, 2)
Canal St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4 pm - 4 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
406 reviews for Blue Ribbon Brasserie
Review Highlights
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"The BEEF MARROW & OXTAIL MARMALADE is to die for." In 33 reviews -
"fried chicken is amazing as well." In 83 reviews -
"The Sweet and Spicy Catfish was nice and tangy." In 10 reviews
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405 reviews in English
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Review from William S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/22/2012
Only in NY can one go to a sitdown restaurant and have amazing food at 1am....fried chicken at 1am......YES. You're in NYC..... Why not? Outside of Asia, I am most impressed with NYC's late night dining options.
Blue Ribbon is easily one of my favorite restaurants in this great great city. This place is loud and bold like NYC yet delicious like....... NYC. I experienced bone marrow for the first time at BR a few years ago. Loved it then, love it now. And loved it a month ago when I was in town. The most delicious bone marrow dish to me , after trying bone marrow dishes in over 25 restaurants cross-country is at the Blue Ribbon. BR's version is simple, luscious buttery marrow served in-bone with crumby rock salt .....oxtail marmalade....simple....... doesnt need anything else but a genius piece of toast and a wine that sends your boat asail. You come to BR craving comfort food, maybe light fare, late at night when you don't want a half a cow between rye. Is it appetizers, a glass of wine with oysters, a pint, a grilled fish, a steak frites or something substantial that only a NYC hunger pang craves, driving you to visit? Of course. I've come here for an amazing oyster platter and a salad, a pasta, a dessert, an after dinner drink before bed @ 2am. Once there, I can't not help but join the party of hungry loud patrons sharing my vision for late night ecstasy before going home.
My favorite meal here? Fried chicken and mash at 1am....... after the cold seafood platter to share. I make no excuses for my insanity. And Blue Ribbon does serve up an amazing fried chicken to seal your happiness for the evening: perfectly crunchy garlicky teasingly spicy chicken, biscuit n honey, collards, mash or French Fries and guaranteed, even my friends from the South will give this meal a thumbs up. BR serves up a superbly delectable cold seafood platter that tempers a frigid NY heart....for a minute. What's in it? The freshest to the tooth Maine lobster, perfectly chilled prawns, a mosaic of clams, oysters, kelp peeking out of ice and a genius mignonette & lemon slices lodged in convenient places. Add a Kir Royale and I go to heaven and back. It's a NYC brasserie. The food here is bolder, more daring, more inventive, more soulful and defines a different dimension to food than its Parisian counterparts. Service here is brisk, interactive, determined and focused. Blue Ribbon symbolizes eating in NYC to me....... in caps. Everreeyything is bawdy deeeeelisshus!
Genius tip: Come here late, after midnight if you can. If you think you are the only hungry one, BR is also a late nite spot for NY chefs to share food and scandalous moments in the kitchen (or elsewhere, LOL) with .......whomever.
Visits: 15+ -
Review from Ariel D.
Manhattan, NY
5/21/2012
My last meal on earth would be my usual at Blue Ribbon Brasserie:
1. Half dozen oysters
2. Bone marrow & oxtail marmalade
3. Duck a l'orange
4. Creme brulee -
Review from Van L.
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
charming restaurant all around - from the decor, to the food, to the service.
the menu is amazing, we all had a hard time choosing. but overall, everything was fantastic.
apps:
- ribs: japanese style where you can sear them on a little mini grill on your own!
- fried oysters: so good we ordered another round. oh, and ask for the hot sauce to go with it.
main dishes:
- duck: a bit overcooked for me, so order it on the rare side when you go. mind you - it's duck a l'orange so a bit sweet.
- ny strip: cooked perfectly with a heaping amount of fries on the side.
- rack of lamb: also cooked perfectly, and so tender.
dessert:
- creme brulee all the way.
make a reservation for a large party, grab someone for a cozy meal, or stop in for their raw bar.
next time i'm definitely trying the paella, and i'm sure they'll earn their fifth star. and of course their sushi restaurant.Listed in: nyc things
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Review from Lulu C.
Manhattan, NY
5/13/2012
I think the novelty of ordering "beef marrow & oxtail marmalade" colors people's opinion of this dish. My dinner companion and I traded a few "What exactly is bone marrow?" queries before one bite confirmed that it tastes, at least, like 100% fat. The marmalade's sweetness does a decent job of counteracting the richness of the marrow, though we had trouble discerning where the oxtail comes into play - the main ingredients are beets and red onions as far as we could tell.
Sticking with seafood dishes for our entrees turned out to be a good decision. Alice's sweet and spicy catfish was perfectly seasoned and the crispy skin on my striped bass provided a great textural complement to the flaky meat.
Brownie points for the oldies soundtrack and the attentive service (always a good sign when your waiter feels compelled to apologize for being too "detail-oriented"). Makes me eager to check out the other establishments in the Blue Ribbon family. -
Review from Eric H.
New York, NY
5/2/2012
Bone Marrow + Oxtail = Best Dish Around
I finally made it out to Blue Ribbon Brasserie (Note: There are several restaurants under the Blue Ribbon name) and came away very impressed. A lot of new restaurants are taking unique approaches to food preparation and presentation, but I've found some of these restaurants fall short on flavor. Blue Ribbon is an exception.
The menu is innovative, offering unique food and combinations. You won't see your everyday restaurant specializing in bone marrow and having an entrée of sweetbreads, but Blue Ribbon's menu is bold and I loved that.
Everyone must try their Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade ($16.75) appetizer. That oxtail marmalade was the star of the dish, something hard to accomplish when you're up against the fatty, richness of bone marrow. The marmalade tasted like a reduced oxtail stew and was a great accompaniment to the bone marrow. Spread it on the toast and you have a base of rich oxtail with a slight hint of sweetness. Top it off with the deliciousness that is bone marrow and knock your taste buds away.
I would also recommend the Fried Oysters ($18.50 for 6) appetizer to start. The oysters were nicely breaded and fried and were served on top of greens mixed with horse radish. You get all the flavors of normal raw oysters, just in a different medium.
For entrees, I split the Sweetbreads (arugula, wild mushrooms and carrot; $29.75) and Rack of Lamb (spinach, potato cake, thyme; $34). Both were really tasty, and I think it was a good idea to share since the sweetbreads are so rich and heavy. I don't think I could eat the whole plate by myself, but it's definitely worth trying. If you've never had sweetbreads, which are usually cow thymus, I would describe the texture between foie gras and a scallop. It has this fatty, yet meaty texture, and is incredibly rich. Meanwhile, the rack of lamb was cooked perfectly and was extremely tender.
I highly recommend Blue Ribbon Brasserie, but do take into consideration they only take reservations for tables of at least 5 people (max 8). -
Review from Hana T.
Boston, MA
4/23/2012
One word: DROOOOOLLL.
Bone marrow was heavenly
I want to go back to NYC ASAP
Extra points for being open late
Our second dinner of the night
Definitely worth the 5hr- bus ride
Just to get my tastebuds satisfied
Restaurant was bustling at 2am
All the staff were on their game
The clock then rolls to 3
People still waiting for tables to be free
Thank god we stayed around the block
So stuffed, we can't even walk! -
Review from Rich K.
Astoria, NY
Updated - 4/6/2012
I came to Blue Ribbon Brasserie last Saturday night at around 10 p.m. It was about my 10th time here but hadn't gone in about 2 years... What's the verdict???
It's as good as I remembered and we were thoroughly happy. I usually get the rack of lamb but I decided to try the seabass. My date had the grilled octopus. Both were above average, though not spectacular...
So why 5 stars? The bone marrow/oxtail marmalade was ridiculous (have had it at blue ribbon sushi midtown a bunch and in las vegas @ the cosmopolitan), the fried oysters were also amazing and of course for finishers the chocolate bruno dessert (yep it's flourless!). My only regret was not getting the steak tartare. There's always next time...
Always a good meal. A top 5 restaurant for me in NYC.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2008
I used to work in the Blue Ribbon network of restaurants so I know what to expect whether I go to… Read more »
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Review from Kimberly Q.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
OMG, the food here is sublime. A friend and I had our second (yes SECOND) dinner here last night after having sushi at Blue Ribbon Sushi up the street. We really came for oysters but then I saw bone marrow accompanied by oxtail marmalade on le menu (so we ordered both things of course). Everything was amazingly scrumptious.
We met really nice patrons, and Benjamin, the barman, rocks. PLUS they have Bruichladdich on the wall. This may end up being my new fave place when I'm away from home. ;) -
Review from Chanel H.
Los Angeles, CA
4/22/2012
Yum! I really wanted to try Blue Ribbon while in NYC, and I was nervous we wouldn't be able to since the place is notorious for having an hour (or more) wait as the night wanes on. So my boyfriend and I decided to go for an earlier dinner (around 7:30) and got seated right away!
We started with the Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade. Ughhh, so good. My taste buds sang and danced a little tune while my arteries slowly cried as they clogged up. Rich oxtail with rich marrow? Yes please!
For the main courses, we had the Duck Breast and Fried Chicken.
The duck breast was cooked very well, and I while I do love duck breast with orange flavors, it's not necessarily new and imaginative. Very solid dish though.
I was skeptical when the waiter recommended the fried chicken--I mean, that's what KFC is for, right? WRONG! The fried chicken here was fantastic! The breading was very crispy, but not necessarily too greasy (like fastfood is). Also, they serve it with honey. Maybe I just haven't eaten fried chicken enough in my life, so if this is normal, cool! I loved it.
I ordered a drink...ah, sad I forgot what it was called. All I know is that our waiter described it as "sort of like a Manhattan". Hm, sure, I'll take it! It turned out to be very strong--almost too strong, which is saying something considering *cough* I just might drink anything. But maybe it seemed too much since I'm not a huge fan of whiskey. Bottom line, their drinks are strong...and with what you're paying for them, that's a good thing.
Overall, the atmosphere was nice. The service was great, they even had a coat check which is nice.
I'd come back, but since I have little patience, I probably wouldn't wait an hour to eat here. -
Review from Lissa V.
3/27/2012
After walking by Blue Ribbon 289,765 times - yes, this is the real count and no, I'm not a Blue Ribbon stalker my friends live across the street - I finally made it in for dinner.
Blue Ribbon is always packed whether it's 7pm or 3am - that should tell you something right there. The atmosphere is full of energy yet cozy at the same time. Service is great, everyone is upbeat and helpful with recommendations. T and I put our names down and came back a little over an hour later, which really isn't bad for a Saturday at 8pm.
We started with whiskey cocktails. I can't remember the name but they had delicious black cherries at the bottom of the glass and tasted similar to a Manhattan. Then I had some west coast oysters from Washington which were excellent. In fact, there wasn't a single thing I tasted the whole evening that I didn't like.
I've heard my girl T go on and on about the bone marrow about as many times as I've walked by the place, and I can finally say it did not disappoint! They serve it with this wonderful Oxtail Marmalade, which is unique to Blue Ribbon. Best bone marrow I've had in the city hands down!!!
We also shared the steamed artichoke, green salad with goat cheese crostini, and the steak tartare... my eyes were bigger than my stomach clearly. Everything was quite tasty. In fact... I'm drooling writing this review right now. The steak tartare comes with a tangy pickled relish and the crostini in the salad is so delicious they could sell it on it's own. I've also gotten a takeout burger here - for as tasty as it was in the box I can't imagine how juicy it would be in-house. For the quality, prices at Blue Ribbon really aren't too bad either.
My lovely Sullivan ladies have also gotten grilled cheese late night takeout (not on the menu - just a request) which is top notch for drunken munchie food! Nom, nom, nom. -
Review from Jonathan S.
3/30/2012
Went to Blue Ribbon last night and had to wait for just over 1 hour to get a table ... that was how busy it was... but boy was it amazing and worth it! We went for the whole hog. We had the Royale Seafood Platter for appetizers followed by the signature bone marrow and fried chicken. The service was impeccable and we were suggested great matching wines - and everything was amazing. My friend liked seafood - so the two half lobsters, crab, caviar with 4 seasonings, home made mustard and the oysters were a treat. I am more of a meat-eater and I was blown away by the bone marrow.
Definitely a place to experience tastes that will blow you away.
The restaurant is tiny and has many people talking there so if you're after the quiet french style it's not for you - but this was perfect for us - you're in the best city in the world and you want to feel you're in a hip place!
Definitely one of my best eats in USA. -
Review from Sonja M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/4/2012
First impression: me & the bf get there at 2 am and 1. it's packed! and 2. the place is pretty small... smaller than I expected and LOUD.
Soooo we enter, look around, wait for a couple mins and nobody approaches us! Then another couple walks in, rudely steps in front of us and immediately gets approached. Me and the bf are then told it's gonna be a 30 min wait, while this couple gets seated before us and rather quickly at that (within 10-15 mins). One strike for Blue Ribbon. :/
We get seated and the waiter's service is perfunctory for us, but obviously more friendly and attentive to the tables seated on either side of us. By this point, it's obvious that we don't fit the mold of their typical customer (young, trendy NY hipster), and we were being treated accordingly.
But anyway, we were there for the food, not to fall in love with the wait staff so.....
To start, we had the grilled calamari - looked completely unappetizing, but hey, how good do you expect a bowl of tentacles to look? As far as taste, in the bf's words, it was like day-old lo mein. Bland, rubbery, and overall meh.
Next, the fried chicken - for $28, we expected our taste buds to be blown away, and it really wasn't any better than the local fried chicken joint. 3 small tender, but unseasoned pieces of chicken.The honey it came with was really good though, to be fair.
Salmon - awesome! I really enjoyed it, but again the portion was just way too small!!
To drink, we both had champagne (Cava, I think?) which was really nice.
Would we go back? Maybe. The hours are great, and I'm curious to try other things on the menu. But for the price point, the food was just okay & the service sucked. -
Review from Kate S.
Leonia, NJ
4/30/2012
Love the possibility of being able to head out for a gourmet bite after the hubby's restaurant shift gets off... but I am getting a little bored with the menu. How about changing up the menu a bit after all these years, Blue? Keep the Smoked Trout, lose the gross Escargot....?
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Review from Melissa B.
Manhattan, NY
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant is absolutely incredible. Hip and energetic crowd, awesome drinks, dark lighting, friendly staff and ridiculously good food.
My bf and I stopped in unexpectedly for dinner, and the bar and restaurant was packed. We ordered drinks and lingered around the bar, thinking there's no way we'll get a table. Lo and behold, the bartender tells us they've got a table tucked away in a corner space that we can enjoy dinner at, as long as we don't mind the awkward placement, and he'll wait on us- duh, yes, this place is HOT so we took the table and ordered some apps and wine.
Beef marrow with oxtail marmalade- awesome. With the marmalade sauce, even a non-bone marrow lover will enjoy this!
Foie gras terrine- Rich and flavorful, very well done!
Sauteed Calamari- That was our safe choice, and it was divine. The portion was slightly small, but with our other apps, it worked.
If you're coming for dinner, make a reservation. If you're coming for drinks, you may have to stand. Either way, it's worth the trip if you want to try new and adventurous foods. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Sarah T.
West Palm Beach, FL
3/8/2012
OK, I didn't get the bone marrow, which everyone had recommended to me (including the Yelp reviews I read), so this review is based on ambiance and service.
Plain and simple, our server was kind of stuck up. The bottle of wine we ordered was corked, which I had never had happen before, and he made me feel like a tard for asking him what he thought. I just felt foolish and annoyed.
We ordered simple stuff because it was late at night (we were there at 11, the place closes at 4 I think), and that just seemed to be an overcomplication. He took forever ...probably because he was annoyed with us.
Overall, not a pleasant experience - I will never go back. -
Review from Gloria H.
We love this place. On our recent NYC visit, we made it in here twice. Once with my sis and bro-in-law and had:
6 Barron Point oysters - $21
6 Caraquet oysters - $18
12 scallops - $36
2 orders of New Orleans shrimp - $33.50
steak tartare - $15.50
steamed clams - $16.50
glass of Avinyo Cava for me - $14
a pint of Dentergems and Jever at $8 each for hubby and bro-in-law
I love their seafood - everything was delicious. The New Orleans shrimp is to die for - it's a must have.
We had to visit again and this time sat at the bar to enjoy more seafood and drinks. Besides the oysters and scallops, we also had the little neck clams and of course the New Orleans shrimp - extra spicy! We didn't know it was an option until the bartender suggested it - that's how I'll order it from now on. He also highly recommend the bone marrow, which we'll have to check out next time.
Super friendly bartender and the guy who shucks the oysters, scallops and clams - super nice. LOVE this place!Listed in: Fresh oysters...slurping them…, Tartare
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2011
Our last dinner in NYC and so happy we came here - it was definitely the best dinner of our trip!
… Read more »
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Review from Foodie W.
Westerville, OH
4/24/2012 2 photos
Great service and great food! We didn't have a reservation but was greeted warmly by the host. Very chic and stylist restaurant but at the same time, giving you this casual and unpretentious feel. Started off with the bone marrow and marmalade! Absolutely delicious, the bone marrow really do melt in your mouth and the combination with the marmalade and toast was divine. Our server provided us great service and attentive. Duck breast was perfectly cooked medium rare. Love the taste! Good side of this restaurant is they do encourage walk-ins and only take reservation for larger group. And the downside is because this restaurant is pretty small, so, you may be sitting pretty closely to other diners.
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Review from Gina X.
New York, NY
2/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
OmfingG. Bone marrow. Gasp. Huge chunks of bone marrow.
And I'm in love.
Ginza cocktail so delicious I had to get a second one.
Surprising hint of horseradish in smoked trout salad. Well played Blue Ribbon. Well played. -
Review from Katey G.
1/30/2012
Welp, I'll just add to the praises here. In short, the food was delicious and the service went above and beyond.
So my husband and I, together, with our allergies combined, are some sort of anti-restaurant nightmare. No wheat, no milk, no coconut...the list can go on, and does.
Blue Ribbon did not even blink. Our waiter went above and beyond - he didn't point out the one, sad dish that we "could" eat, he asked us what dish sounded good. With his power and the kitchen staff's combined, they altered the dishes (even the sides!) in order to accommodate us. I had the salmon with asparagus and (instead of potatoes) carrots (which I chose out of a long list of options), with a nice whole grain mustard sauce on the side. It was the best salmon I've ever had. My husband had the skate fish with sides he could eat (I don't know which, because I was too busy stuffing my face with salmon). The skate, which I tried, was flaky and had a nice flavor (not fishy at all). The husband also ordered some oysters, which he reported were very good. I did not partake, because to me, oysters are akin to sniffing really hard when you have a cold. You know what I mean.
On the drink end of things, they have Junipero gin, which is fantastic.
Overall, this place made me giddy with delight (or was that just the gin?) -
Review from Alessandra N.
Greenbrae, CA
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yes!!! Great service and to die for food!
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Review from Thalia K.
New York, NY
12/28/2011 1 photo
It's 3 AM. You're craving something decadent, sumptuous, and sinfully delicious. No need to settle for anything less because Blue Ribbon Brasserie is here for you, my friend. Fresh shucked oysters, foie gras terrine, bone marrow with oxtail marmalade, rack of lamb... I think I love you.
The place is usually packed to the gills, but grab a drink at the bar, it's worth the wait. Why these brothers have not been able to translate the quality here over to their sushi place down the street boggles my mind, but maybe they should just stick to the bad for your diet, good for your soul, foods.Listed in: Romancing the Tastebuds
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Review from G. H.
Arlington, VA
1/2/2012
This is my first Yelp review! I have avoided writing reviews on Yelp for a long time because I find the task of writing witty reviews to be very intimidating. However, I've realized that you've got to start somewhere, or else you'll never get anywhere. No wittiness here, just going for the straightforward until I muster up the magic one day far from now... :) Today, I am going to think of all my favorite restaurants I've eaten at in 2011 and will write a word or two about them.
2 amazing things I ate here:
1) One of the appetizers. Forgot the exact name of it but it's bone marrow with oxtail marmalade and it is incredible!!! One of the most unique and tasty things I've ever eaten. The key is the French grey sea salt that you're supposed to sprinkle over it.... Mmmmmm....
2) Oysters! I believe I had 2 west coast oysters and 2 east coast oysters. All were delicious.
The place was small and dark but I very much enjoyed it! -
Review from Joe S.
Hempstead, NY
2/15/2012
Walked in by myself at 2 AM for a super late night bite...
Loved the vibe right away...Awesome music and a hip sophisticated crowd...
Ordered the Bone Marrow's and Oxtail Marmalade...Totally kicked ass...
Finished off with the Fried Chicken...Loved the Collard Greens...They were cooked to a perfect al dente...Not the usually mushy, yellowish, grey slop...These were actually green! Biscuits and honey were awesome as well...
I felt really comfortable here...I also was not the only person eating alone which was cool...
Cannot wait to go back with GF! -
Review from Zach C.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
Blue Ribbon fits everything that's great about NYC dining to me...hours: 4pm-4am 365 days a year...laid back ambiance with great food served at reasonable prices..
It's probably been a year since I ate here but have been 5+ times which is a ton for a restaurant that isn't in my neighborhood...still remember the first time I was there...BRB has had dishes on their menu for years before they became hip in NYC: bone marrow, fried chicken with syrup and sweetbreads among others..one thing that sticks out about this place is everytime they tell you the specials they tell the price too so there is nothing deceiving the customer (prices are more than reasonable in $18-25 range for mains).
Good wine list for all price ranges...take rez for 5+ which is way to go if you have a group -
Review from Nelly N.
Manhattan, NY
5/10/2012
Got a quick bite. Oysters and bone marrow, yum.
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Review from Homer M.
Jersey City, NJ
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
After starting the evening with happy hour at Lure, my girlfriend and I walked here for a "nightcap" which turned into three appetizers and a few drinks. The drinks were good. I enjoyed a Jever, an excellent-tasting German pilsner. My girlfriend enjoyed the wines she got: a Sauvignon blanc from NZ and a red wine, whose name escapes me.
Feeling adventurous from our happy hour, we ordered 3 appetizers: a foie gras, a bone marrow, and sautéed calamari, my "safe" pick. The calamari was very flavorful, and its presentation reminded me of an Asian noodle dish. I surprisingly enjoyed the bone marrow, especially with the marmalade. The foie gras was a little too rich for my liking though my girlfriend, the ultimate foodie, really liked it.
In terms of ambiance, the place was buzzing. It had a very nice crowd. Service was also good. Definitely considering coming back here. -
Review from Rob G.
Pocono, PA
4/10/2012
Wow. Awesome. Love the bone marrow, catfish, pigeon, oysters, bread and wine selection.
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Review from Sara D.
Manhattan, NY
Mmmmm bone marrow... Mmmmm escargot .... Mmmmm carbalicious paella
Hadn't been back in years, but glad we stopped by while visiting the old "hood." BR is one of those place where you don't come solely for the ambiance, but more so for the food. To start we had a delectable, yet nontraditional version of escargot crafted with mushroom, carrot and out of the shell escargot in a red wine reduction sauce. Absolutely delicious. The bone marrow is a must and believe it or not it a lite bite even though it looks massive.
For our main course we should have shared (it's big enough for 4), however CD was adamant about consuming this one on his own. He tried hard, but sadly came out short. SD on the other hand devoured the sweet & spicy catfish. Mmmm what a treat. CD appreciated the boneless factor, while SD enjoyed the Cajun twist.
Overall, this was a delicious dining experience. The service was friendly, the music was good and the food was awesome! We'll definitely revisit.
Check out our photo set: http://saradish.com/po... -
Review from Kyle C.
Manhattan, NY
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 Stars. Soooo, I like Blue Ribbon Brasserie but I'm clearly not in love with it. Stopped by on a rainy Monday night for dinner and from the very beginning service is attentive, though at times it feels like they're hovering over your table just a bit too long.
There's a long list of entrees, though honestly none of them really seemed to stand out. So we opted to try a handful of appetizers, including:
1) Sea urchin (special) - Something tells me that uni isn't supposed to taste like a mix of salt water and floor cleaner. FAIL.
2) Escargot - I'm glad the server told me when I ordered that Blue Ribbon doesn't do the usual garlic and breadcrumb preparation. Instead, their escargot are sauteed in a port wine sauce that's accompanied by slivers of french bread and bacon. Quite tasty, although a little on the salty side.
3) Fried oysters - Deep fried oysters served on the half-shell with what appears to be creamed spinach with a touch of horseradish. Good texture, and the tastes offset each other well. Six to an order.
4) Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade - Easily the star of the evening. Three beef bone sections with baked marrow served with toasted bread and a oxtail marmalade. The beef marrow was liquid fatty deliciousness. The marmalade was good, although remarkably similar to the port reduction used in the escargot.
5) Seared foie gras (special) - Honestly, neither as rich nor as unique as I had expected. Two smallish slabs of foie gras served over a bland polenta.
6) Mixed greens - Fresh greens, slightly tangy vinagrette. Tasty, and neither special nor amazing.
Thought we could get off cheap by avoiding the entrees, but the total damage for six apps and two glasses of malbec came out to $150 incl tax and tip. -
Review from Brittan B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/23/2011
This place was amazing. Our waiter was great, I got the Catfish and I say with confidence it was the best catfish I've ever eaten. It came with mashed potatoes and greens and was sweet and spicy, definitely didn't need the tarter sauce it came with. It smelled incredible and I cleaned my plate.
My boyfriend got the Fried Chicken and has not stopped talking about it. Our waiter was very cool and helpful, knew exactly how to help us order and gave us all the pertinent info we needed.
Can't wait to go back. -
Review from George S.
New York, NY
1/18/2012
Pretty discrete place. No big sign, just a small one on the door. Kind of dark inside. Ordered half a dozen oysters which were pretty tasty. Ordered the whole flounder and the filet mignon which was the special they had that day. The flounder was yummy but it wasn't deboned which would have made it easier to eat and less messy. The filet mignon was cooked just right and the special potato pancakes that came with it was pretty darn good. Better that the usual mash potatoes one would expect to get at other steak houses. It was a welcomed surprise. I would suggest, which I did to the manager, that they lay off the sauce a little bit. I found it to be too much and therefore a little overpowering of the steak. It was actually drenched in sauce.
The dining experience was good, but a little loud. It was a little difficult for me to converse with my friend bc the music was blasting. Good for friends avoid if on a first date bc you'll have trouble hearing what they're saying. -
Review from Digital D.
Los Angeles, CA
3/22/2012
Very yum
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Review from Patrick S.
Oakland, CA
3/11/2012
An amazing late night dinner spot. Great service and atmosphere. The app platter was really impressive, but don't get it if you want real dinner. It's very rich and filling. We left around 2AM and people were flooding in the door.
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Review from Jason T.
Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn, NY
3/7/2012
Pleasantly surprised, the food is pretty good, even the gross looking things I was forced to try by the girlfriend were good. Just a bit pricy come prepared for that. Also the waiter was a bit snobby until I pulled out a pocket full of money near the end of the meall, I do believe I was being profiled and treated accordingly, not treated badly but not attended to as much as the other more (expensive) looking patrons. But I would go again nice place.
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Review from James B.
KNICKERBOCKER, NY
3/5/2012
Incredible. The ambiance is the perfect mix of traditional elegance and downtown hip. The marrow oxtail appetizer is an absolute must. Its HUGE, so great for sharing - plus it is very rich. Can't wait to go back
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Review from Cali J.
Jersey City, NJ
4/28/2012
THE SEAFOOD WASN'T FRESH. The wine the waiter recommended was TERRIBLE. I wouldn't even cook with that wine. The waiter was cocky and obnoxious. Everyone in our party thought the food was gross. I got sick (literally) as soon as I got home. It goes without saying that it was over-priced, although we gladly would have paid that much for a quality meal. What a serious disappointment. YELP FAIL!!!!
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Review from crystal g.
Brooklyn, NY
3/22/2012
This was a great date night. Great staff and ambiance, extensive wine list and excellent bread.
You MUST get the bone marrow. It was out of this world as were the oyster selections, both east and west coast selections. Mmmmmm I will go again foooooor sure. -
Review from Will E.
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Introduced to me as a "chefs' restaurant" because the food is that good and the kitchen closes at 4am Blue Ribbon is a great place to hit after a late night flight whence in search of good cooked meal. The problem with a chefs' restaurant, however, is the nepotism shown to those who are obviously in the food service industry; and I get that but that doesn't mean I subscribe.
I ordered the Skate without the bacon for my entree but started with the Fried Oysters. I was not disappointed at all! The Fried Oysters were tasty and succulent! The condiment they were served with were the perfect accompaniment but I could have devoured them without.
The skate was really good and the potatoes it was laid on were just as tasty! The food was great and the atmosphere was lively. The cost is pretty hefty and a two person meal can easily run you $100 plus. All in all my experience was pleasant but was told I should have gone to the Brooklyn location!
I guess its now on the list... -
Review from Ksenja T.
11/7/2011
The Blue ribbon re-defines late-night food.
Think gourmet--full menu-- available to you into the early hours of the morning. We came here at around 1 am on Thursday night and it was absolutely packed, luckily scored the last table. The vibe was great, it was definitely happening. The restaurant was very dim, warm and dark and the attire was definitely dressy. People were still pouring in way after 2 am. We ordered two cocktails; my Lillipad Martini with cucumber was so light and refreshing but still very strong.
From the menu, we got the beef tartar, pierogies and I got a chicken salad. The beef tartar was so well seasoned, the spicy mustard on the side complimented it well. The chips on the side were also a nice touch. The waiter asked us if we wanted boiled or fried pierogies. I decided to go with the fried but what we got were more like empanadas than pierogies because they were deep fried. The filling was still delicious though, but when he said fried I envisioned the old-school pan-fry way.
Prior to coming to the Blue Ribbon, we tried both Vins et Fleurs and Balthazar and they were both closed, but I'm so happy we ended up here instead! -
Review from Michele W.
Astoria, NY
9/30/2011
My absolute favorite restaurant in the city! (so far)
So here's the scoop, my friends visiting came in on a very late Friday night. By the time we were all ready to have our "big night on the town" it was already 2am. My friends drove over 6 hrs and were basically tired, hungry, and in need of a strong drink. Needless to say our night out drinking and dancing turned into our search for a restaurant that could wine and dine us. Just when we thought every restaurant was closing their doors, the bartenders at The Smith in the East Village (who were closing) recommended Blue Ribbon. Wow, they knew exactly what we needed!
The restaurant has THE best staff. They are completely knowledgeable of the menu, make suggestions according to your tastes, and are so friendly.
The environment was small and intimate. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two. Our group had four people total and it was perfect for us to talk, share laughs, and enjoy the fabulous food and drinks. Parties over six may overwhelm the restaurant.
The food. Omygosh. First we started with oysters, the waiter gave us two types - east coast and west coast to let us taste the difference between the two. (This is an example of the little things that make me really appreciate a good server) All of our food was wonderful. From the bone marrow dish, to salmon, to paella - everyone was completely satisfied. They also have great appetizers and soups.
The drinks. When we first got there the only thing my friend and I wanted was an espresso martini (our fave). Even though the bartender said he normally never makes them - we jokingly pointed out the espresso machine near him, and he kindly obliged us. We were so thankful and they were delicious! The rest of the night we sipped champagne. Come on - champagne and espresso martini's? What more can you ask for?
Ultimately our party was completely delighted with our late night find. We had such a great time we ended up staying until almost 5am, with absolutely no complaints from the staff (I think they were enjoying our company too!)
I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone, especially for a quality late night meal. Also, don't be afraid to have fun with the staff, ask them questions about the menu or drink recommendations - they know what they're talking about! Bon a petite!
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