I had a light meal here for about $36 during happy hour on a Saturday. It's certainly a bit expensive, but I was impressed. Sourdough dumplings - the dumplings had just the right bite to them in terms of texture and were filled with a warm, starchy filling - looked like green peas and cabbage/kimchi. The broth is savory from the porcini mushrooms, and with a delicious aromatic note of ginger, and a touch of sweetness to balance everything. The oil over top made a gorgeous fractal pattern over the broth. Elderflower tonic - this mocktail was fizzy, a bit sour, and a bit sweet. Light and refreshing. read more

Ruffian - Sourdough Dumplings - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

We dined here back in September 2024 (I know, I know, this review is long overdue!). They offer a tasting menu that changes seasonally, and is primarily vegetarian-based. Props for creativity because I have yet to encounter any dishes quite like what we had here prior and since. To be honest, I wasn't too crazy about the lentil salad with the sicilian melon. Taste-wise it was fine, but the presentation to this day reminds me of a slug on a pile of detritus. Aside from that, I remember fondly the savory dill granita, the cool and spicy elements and fresh herbs from the cucumber salad, and the krofne trifle - an ensemble of fermented rice cream, pickled plums, and anise crumble) that strangely worked well together. You can also add on a wine pairing if needed or just enjoy the wine here! They specialize in Eastern European wines. Service was excellent and attentive. I would not mind visiting again, especially since the menu changes up seasonally. Also, based on my lack of wine photos, it appears that I did not partake in the wine pairing so will need to remedy that. Until next time! read more

Hosted a wine tasting for my birthday here, and could not have been more pleased with the experience! The team was incredibly helpful in getting things organized from a curated wine list to great recommendations for food. There also was an option to add non- alcoholic drinks so everyone could truly decide to celebrate as they wished. Tucked away, this wine bar is cozy and homey, but with enough space to feel private. The wine list ranges in Eastern European wines which is a great way to try wines you might not be as familiar with with. The team is super knowledgeable about wines and really gives you more context on what youre drinking. Food consists of a rotating seasonal menu of small plates that all boasted an array of flavors that mesheed well with any wine we were drinking. The staff was also accommodating in making certain dishes vegetarian based on preference, further emphasizing the flexibility of this place. The food tasted fresh and had bursts of flavor in every bite. Overall, I would come back here for a night with friends or even a date night. The vibe is welcoming and with the flexibility of the staff and ability to have alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, there truly is something for everyone. read more

Ruffian - Winter menu - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Exquisite! My friend was skeptical but I knew this spot would be phenomenal. We each ordered the build a flight from the unique wines-by-the-glass list, very exciting to try wines from regions you don't normally see on a wine list. We shared 3 plates - the feta, the dumplings and the duck- each one better than the last. The servers were nice and very good at their jobs, it was overall a special evening and i highly recommend a visit! read more

Ruffian - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Paradise found = a cozy natural wine bar with a great happy hour and delicious vegetarian options! Ruffian is the wine bar I didn't know I needed. While not technically vegetarian, the default on their menu is vegetarian, and vegan and non veg options have special notations. The menu is seasonal, and if you come for dinner you can choose from a vegetarian or non veg prefix menu (or order a la carte). They focus on Eastern European natural wines and have an extensive wine list of over 250 wines. During happy hour (3-5 PM every day!) you can get $5 any glass or 10% off a bottle - much more generous than many happy hours. We went at a weird time in between lunch and dinner, so we only tried a couple dishes, but I will be back for the tasting menu! We ordered the Vegetable Dumplings and the White Bean Hummus with Papadum. The vegetable dumplings weren't my favorite, but we couldn't get enough of the white bean hummus. It had a hint of chili and was one of the best dishes I've had in recent memory. Perfect spot for a date night or to impress a special vegetarian or vegan in your life! read more

Ruffian - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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The five course wine tasting menu is a delightful and unique experience. I went for a birthday and was impressed by how attentive and personalized the service was, with each course and pairing explained to us in detail. I think the wines were very well-chosen, and my favorite courses were the dessert (light as air orange pound cake garnished with cream and flowers, one of my favorite sweets ever!) and the duck pastrami (the vegetable pairings were smothered in sauces layered with flavor and was very unique and thoughtful). I thought the bread was a little dense and the charcuterie and vegetable courses could have used a bit of refinement, the tartare was okay and the fava bean salad felt like a miss and I think the flavors could have been more sophisticated and creative. Lovely restaurant that has a very intimate feeling but with a fun soundtrack, a worthwhile expense and great for trying new wines and having an interesting collective experience, but for the price tag each course should be equally inventive, deliberate, and tasty! read more

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We had a reservation at 9, but it took a bit of time to get seated. Jes (I hope I got the name right!) was so thoughtful and offered us a complimentary round of wine, which was such a kind gesture and made the wait feel much smoother. Our server in the red dress was absolutely wonderful, so sweet, attentive, and patient in answering all my questions. The beef shoulder was incredible!! It was so tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. I also loved the pumpkin dish, which had this unique, it was like savory ice cream that I can't stop thinking about! Some of the other dishes were fine, though not as memorable. The space itself is really interesting, there are two connected areas with separate entrances, and each one gives off a slightly different vibe. We were seated in the more dimly lit side, which felt cozy and intimate, perfect for a late dinner. read more

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Great wine by the glass! The tables were small honestly but the servers were very friendly and helpful with suggestions. The vibe was able to toe the line between cozy and lively which was great. Stand out food included the pork shoulder and Parker house rolls. Beware that the menu does change and I'm not sure their website was up to date with what we were offered on the day (could be wrong about that!) read more

Come to Ruffian for dinner by recommendation of a friend. The venue is quite hidden and unassuming - don't be fooled. The decor is cozy and nothing. Fancy but everything else makes up for it . Firstly , the service is stellar and very personable with an amazing wine list . The food is truly delicious with seasoning from the gods . I don't excited that often but this gem truly did it for me - exceptional read more

Ruffian - Dumplings - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Small plates, hefty prices butttt I do think it's worth it. We shared these plates amongst 3 of us and we were quite full at the end. I truly wasn't expecting to like food at a wine bar this much so I have to hand it to them for the uniqueness of these dishes. The wine of course was light, fruity, and paired well with our food -- thanks to a recommendation by our server. All in all, the experience here is that of an elevated picnic but indoors. read more

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Ruffian has two sides. One being more for tables with the other a bar. We sat at the bar and the wine was good and food was amazing. 100% will be back. The bartender recommended good wines and you are able to do flights of the glass pours which is a nice touch. Hard to pick a favorite but the duck pastrami was the favorite with the spicy raw beef salad and cabbage goulash neck and neck for next favorite. 100% will be back. read more

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I had dinner at Ruffian a week or so ago when I was in NYC for a solo Labor Day weekend. I was so excited to have dinner here because it's a wine bar with a focus - on natural and Eastern European wines and vegetarian and vegetable-forward food. I did the four course tasting menu ($60 per person) with the wine pairing ($55 per person). I really appreciated that the menu is mostly vegetarian and focused on vegetables, but I didn't find the food very memorable. Because I had selected the tasting menu to avoid making choices, I hadn't paid much attention to the menu before ordering. But the descriptions when the dishes were brought to the table were really minimal and quiet, so I was often confused by what I was eating and occasionally asked some follow up questions when staff swung back around. That might be a part of why the food wasn't that memorable for me. I do remember that one course was my absolute favorite but I couldn't tell you what it was (something with Swiss Chard over the top - but what was under it? something delicious!). There was a cucumber starter that was light but maybe not a standout (but good for summer). And the main was a roast melon with dukkah and served over lentils, I think - good dish overall. I remember enjoying the dessert but now (a little over a week later), I can't remember at all what it was. And there was an amuse bouche to start that I remember being interesting but again can't remember what it was. The wines served with the wine pairing were interesting and definitely different than your typical wine pairings with a tasting menu. I ended up having one more glass after the pairing. The space is charming but tight - so I definitely felt in the way as staff walked behind where I was seated at the bar to get to the other side of the bar or as guests walked behind me to get to the bathroom. The music and ambiance were good, but I just wish there was a little more space behind the bar seating. The service was friendly, but I do wish there had been more communication about the individual dishes in the tasting menu. This wasn't a bad meal. The food I had was interesting (especially since I didn't always understand what I was eating), and so were the wines. I think the value is good for the tasting menu and the wine pairing. And I did really enjoy the wines they offer - different from your average wine list for sure. But the space and the service (just lack of explanation about the dishes, the service was fine otherwise) just left me a little underwhelmed by the experience. I would return - especially just for a wine tasting at the bar - though! read more

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Fabulous experience at Ruffian last week with great service featuring their well curated wine list focusing on excellent and interesting selections from Eastern Europe. The food is at a very high level and extremely creative. Order the pastrami duck breast and Parker House rolls with caviar butter. Enjoy! read more

Our favorite meal of our recent New York trip. Great food and super allergen friendly. Nothing missed. We had the chefs tasting menu and the braised pork was phenomenal. The spicy beef salad was so good as well. We also had a few bottles of great orange wine and our server was knowledgeable about the wine list and helped guide us to the best option. read more

Local chill spot. Selection of wines to compliment the delicate food offerings. Service is gentle and homey vibes.

Really unique dishes (the dumplings were my favorite!), amazing wine (coming from someone who usually isn't a fan), super cozy inside, and service was good as well, had a great time here! read more

I was in town visiting friends and looking for the perfect place to catch up--Ruffian totally delivered. We did the tasting menu with wine pairings, and every course was exciting and deeply satisfying. The steak tartare was such a fun mix of textures and flavors, and I'm still thinking about the pork shoulder with Brussels sprouts and sour plum. Absolute flavor bomb. Dessert sealed the deal: chocolate coconut rice pudding with pickled pistachios--so good. The wine pairings were spot-on, enhancing the food without ever stealing the show. You can really feel how much care goes into every choice. What really makes Ruffian special is the vibe: casual, warm, and polished all at once. The team is incredibly knowledgeable but totally approachable--excited to share and clearly passionate about what they do. Left already planning my next visit. A truly standout food and wine experience. read more

Cute little wine bar that actually has two areas for seating. They have a great selection of funky and orange wines and a great set of snacks and apps including many great vegan and gluten free options. I love how the space is very relaxed and cosy, not crazy packed on a weekday night but lively with several groups of young people catching up. read more

Ruffian - Girls wine night - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Hmm... This is... Interesting! Dishes are a bit hit or miss. The wine is definitely the main draw. And service is impeccable. The food is not for me. Had a reservation here at 8:00 pm with my friends. Upon entering, it's cozy yet lively-- tiny space that's packed full of chattering customers. Given that it's mainly small bites, we ordered a variety to share. 3 DIP SNACK PACK: The liptauer dip is to die for! First time trying this. Savory with a bit of heat. I liked this with their papadum more than the bread. The other dips were good, but didn't hold a candle to the first. CRISPY SPAETZLE: A bit... Sweet? Sweeter than I'd like. And not particularly crispy, more mushy and casserole-like in texture KHACHAPURI: Quite petite for a khachapuri, just enough to house the egg and a bit of cheese. It's fine. DUCK PIE: Dry? And not much of the sweetness of duck. I can appreciate that Ruffian's menu includes a variety of cultural influences more than most. While it's not for me, I am glad I tried it-- and would come back for their excellent selection of wines. read more

Three Stars because in 2022 I had an excellent meal here with an excellent wine pairing and wonderful service. I left 5 stars on Resy. I returned recently for a glass of wine - the server poured a taste and I fished cork out of my mouth. I said what is this? Sediment? Cork? And the server said, "Probably cork" and just stared at me. An obvious piece of cork was also in my sister's glass. So we said, okay we will try another wine please. No apology from the server, or acknowledgement from the server of why we wouldn't want more wine from the Cork Bottle. She was poised to pour us more. We chose other wines without any suggestions or thoughts from the server. They were okay, I can say they had no cork. Another table near us got increasingly loud and disruptive as we finished our glasses. I don't think I'll be back here anytime soon. We ended up walking all the way to Somm Time down in the LES to end the night on a better note. read more

Hopped in here for some out of the ordinary wine options. While they do serve dinner, we were not dining and opted for the seating option in the outside structure. 2 bottles of Austrian wines - an orange and a slightly effervescent red. The staff is quite knowledgeable of the wine gems and have the descriptions nailed down. The fact that the love what they do is obvious in the discussion of the wine, the region, the vineyard and grape. Time well spent. Out the door having had 2 bottles for roughly-$280. read more

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It was the sweetest person's bday last week and we weren't able to make the weekend happen because his mom was in town. My other friend wanted to make sure we hung out because I made a cake for his bday and didn't want it to go to waste. So on a Monday night, we met here for light drinks and bites. Such a gem of a place. Fun fact, this place was Michelin in 2020 and 2021. I did not get to try the food but a bean dip like moment, but I would love to come back here and try more of their food. East Village is a hit or miss for me and it is a bit of a pain to get to, but it is also an area I would like to venture out to more. I did not see a single wine on the menu that was from California. Good them! I give this place a two thumbs up with an asterisk because I need to give this place a second go with the food. read more

Very nice wine bar in LES. Good service and interesting plates to go with the wines. While it's on the pricier side I think after you've tried the wines you can easily compare it with higher priced names and find the wines are very good quality. read more

Ruffian - Dumplings - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

A cute little wine bar in the heart of East Village serving up delicious wine and tapas -- the outdoor patio is so lovely and we stopped by on a Friday afternoon, highly recommend to soak up the sunshine. The wine menu is extensive, but we opted for a bottle to share. It can definitely get a bit pricey, but the wine was really great. We got a Roaster Pepper and Eggplant Dip, so delicious. I'd definitely come back! read more

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I don't know too much about wine, but lord do the staff at Ruffian! As others have mentioned, they specialize in wine from Eastern Europe. Came here with a friend before going to grab dinner. Happy hour was bottles only, so we split a bottle of wine and got the pita bread just to prep our stomachs. I hadn't eaten all day as I am trying to be rockstar skinny. We sat in the cute little outside area, and the decor was beautiful. Magical even. Absolutely stellar ambiance. I asked one question about the wine, and our waiter gave me more info than I possibly could have ever imagine. He was LOCKED in. I retained very little but that is 100% a me problem. As others have mentioned, just not a lot of bang for your buck. The dollar doesn't go very far here, but it is New York City. read more

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I'm not quite sure why there are so many positive reviews. I'll give five stars for the service and ambiance, though the atmosphere was somewhat spoiled by the loud table next to us, which isn't the restaurant's fault. I tried the red wine tasting flight, and unfortunately, the wine was quite disappointing--two out of the three were terrible, with the Italian merlot being the worst, followed by a wine called "Who Do You Love." The dips were bland, and the trout was too salty. Overall, it was just mediocre. read more

Had my first date with my girlfriend here, so definitely a sentimental place for me, but sentimental bias aside, this is probably my favorite wine bar in the city! Super cute vibe all around; whether you're in the bar area, the dining room next door, or in the outdoor parklet, you're definitely gonna enjoy the space. I had the course menu the first time I went here. It's a lighter, vegetable-forward small-plates menu. Definitely advise you to not come here hungry if you're coming here for dinner. The dessert was impressive but otherwise the food was good but not super memorable. Of course, you're here for the wine. And they have a great selection of natural wines, including the stuff you've had a bunch before vs. really unique wines with notes you didn't think would make sense but somehow do (I had a very vegetable-y Chardonnay on my first visit and were surprised and impressed). The staff are super helpful and knowledgeable about wine and will always offer a good recommendation, along with being super friendly and attentive. This is one of my favorite places to take friends visiting from out of town and it's never disappointed! read more

A delightful wine bar with great natty wines and a cozy ambiance. Think warm lights, white tiles, oak tables with a hint of elevated record bar vibes. Great date spot or with friends. Bar is small but not overcrowded. Quiet but good vibes even on a Monday night. The staff were nice too. I like this wine bar more than Amelie - both vibes and wine-wise. Highly recommend and would definitely come back. Bring a date ;) Not precisely canoodling energy as it would be a bit vulgar but this place will make you feel intimate and romantic. Hand holding energy would be appropriate. No rush, smooches can happen afterward. read more

Ruffian - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Outstanding meal here. Big flavors and great textures with every dish. Started with the black cardamom feta on toast. It might've been my favorite dish of the entire meal; hard to believe they got so much flavor out of such a simple dish. Others: - tikka masala cauliflower: bold flavor, excellent dish - parsnip dumplings with beat emulsion: great - pork shoulder: cooked just perfectly, great sauce The only slight disappointment was the chocolate cake for dessert, which was too salty and had a slightly off texture. Wines were great, a pretty amazing selection. read more

We made a last minute decision to come here for dinner on a Saturday. I was able to get a reservation for two on the same day! I was super happy as Ruffian had been on my to try list for several months now. They have two indoor and one outdoor set up! We sat in the smaller indoor part! We both ended up getting three different glasses of wine each. My friend tried more of the white variety and I tried a mixture of white, red and orange! The descriptions for each of the wine were super well written and witty. They made me want to try several more wines. But then I would've gotten sick, which means I'll just have to come again to sample more. The dinner menu wasn't super extensive and there were a lot of vegetarian options. We ended up going the easy route by choosing the three course menu as then we didn't have to choose. The three courses didn't have any stellar meal that I would want to eat again. There was an Austro Hungarian theme for the month, which I don't have much experience with, but after eating here, I suspect it involves a lot of sourness in the food. There was a point when I couldn't tell if the food was too sour or not. Or if I even liked that it was that sour. The dessert had an interesting texture. It was the first time in a while that I didn't finish the dessert. In summary, I would definitely come back to try the wine, but not sure if I would order food from here again or at least not the three course meal. read more

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Ruffian is a fun, playful, quirky and creative natural wine bar serving up some fab small plates that can accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions. The menus change often, highlighting different regions around the world to showcase all that global winemaking and gastronomy have to offer. Given that we as humans are constantly evolving, it's nice to encounter a venue that values the organic and the dynamic. You'll absolutely enjoy whatever it is you order here, and you also may learn a thing or two. Smaller wine producers often have fascinating stories behind them, and the staff will readily share them with you. Ruffian may not be for the wine traditionalists out there, but it's certainly for all y'all looking for something funky and whimsical. Came here at 8pm on a Saturday night. We sat outdoors, which was really lovely -- they've built a modest and cozy outdoor structure here, adorned with potted hanging pothos plants. The space overall is quite small, and outdoors affords much more real estate than the indoor portion anyway. The wine here is five stars no question. They do *not* have a full bar (though their sister restaurant, Kindred, does) so do not come here looking for a mixed drink. Once you break into the wine menu, though, you'll forget about other varieties of alcohol altogether. There's a reason Ruffian is consistently rated one of the best wine bars in the city -- it is not overrated. We sampled a two of the orange wines (they have both a "light contact" and a "full contact" section, pretty special) which were both outstanding, and then tried a white and a red. The wine menu already has spot-on descriptions of all glasses and bottles, but our server was also super helpful in helping us decide which glasses to go with. Food-wise, Ruffian is currently featuring dishes that pay homage to the Austro-Hungarian empire -- but keeping it veggie focused and mostly gluten-free. I eat like a rabbit if left to my own devices, so this was a great find. The plates are all meant to be shared and most of them are on the small side, so I'd recommend ordered a bunch and splitting. We ordered five (though only received four, will get to that later) and they were healthy and delicious. Eats, below: Octo Dog (Confited Octopus, Pickled Red Cabbage, Kaiser Green Sosse, Steamed Sourdough Bun): A- Paying a lot for a little here, but still tasty. Did not blow us away but was still solid if you're feeling like you need some protein amidst otherwise vegetarian fare. The sosse is something like a salsa verde and added some nice flavor to the dish. Potato Royale (Potato Salad, Kentucky Caviar, Saffron Aioli, Wakame): A A very decadent and delicious potato salad, sexed up with caviar and seaweed. Definitely unlike any potato salad I've had to date. The aioli is rich and so so flavorful. Water Serpents (Stuffed Bull's Horn Pepper, Smoked Carrot, Chickpeas, Cucumber, Grüne Sosse): A I'm not usually one to go for a stuffed pepper but I loved this preparation. Nice presentation too. Flavorful and hearty but still light. Topped with some crispy potato sort of thing, which added some nice texture. Me And Your Mamaliga (Heirloom Tomato and Chickpea Chorba, Polenta Cake, Pickled Peppers, Oyster Mushrooms): A More chickpeas and peppers here, which I'm not mad about. Basically just one big, delicious plate of veggies with the addition of some yummy polenta. The tomatoes added some brightness and the mushrooms some earthiness, all topped with some bitter greens. Delightful! We were expecting the Lady in Gold but after 90 minutes it still didn't show. We had a reservation elsewhere that we had to jet to, so we ended up cancelling it. A shame, we were excited to try it. And odd, because our first three plates came out quickly. The Me And Your Mamaliga was also delayed, but thankfully it came in time for us to enjoy it. read more

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Great wine, interesting appetizers and a small but warm environment for a date night or even just a drink before dinner. In a great location as well. read more

Well I absolutely inhaled the potato & onion dumplings, while my friend delighted in the Cabbage Patch (watercress gnocchi, seared cabbage, roasted maitake). Then, as the dessert glutton that I am, I had the PSL - an almond cake with pumpkin slice glaze and Ottoman coffee ice cream which tasted so delicious that I felt I could run an empire. Finally, the red was Rawlins Tarllc from Armenia - it hits you good, so don't recommend for a work day but go off on the weekend. Service by Taylor deserves a shout-out because was on it, was quirky, gave us space to chat, and effortlessly convinced us on the wines & dishes. read more

Ruffian - Rawlins Tarllc 'L. 2020-041' Areni Noir / Vayots Dzor, Armenia 2020 - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Ruffian was a fun and new experience for me! This review is for the five course meal that they had over the summer this year. We were seated at the corner of their outdoor seating area, where they had some cozy plush seating. Originally, my friends and I wanted to come here for their happy hour, which they had before the pandemic but not when we were looking to go. We decided to try it anyway because their food review photos looked so good - and we weren't disappointed! One of the foods that's missing from the photos is the All Black Everything, which was hearty and delicious, and mango jelly with coconut flakes. There was a good mix of flavors in each dish. The wine was also really good and paired well with the food, and our waiter was very helpful by going through most the wine list and describing the taste of each. I'd love to go back to try the other wines on their menu. read more

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Easily made a res for a weeknight. Wines were excellent - I had a rose and my friend experimented with some orange wines. Food was also great. We shared: + The Midas touch + 24 carrots + Golden shores + Colchis crepe + Naked calypso + Stone roses The Midas touch and Colchis crepe were my favorite dishes. Definitely recommended for a cool wine bar with good vegetarian plates! read more

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I finally had the chance to try the tasting menu at Ruffian, which is an all vegetarian, mostly vegan, tapas-style dining experience and wine bar. They used to offer kombucha but no longer do. Instead, we started with a round of their nonalcoholic "tonics" and enjoyed the one with goldenrod, raspberry leaf, and pennyroyal. We were then delighted with the amuse-bouche of grilled castelvetrano olives, braised dates, and orange slices. Next we had the roasted cauliflower dish that was most notable for the fried caper berries - salty but delicious little things! Possibly the best dish was the basil-mint malfatti (gnocchi-like little dumplings served with fresh basil and grilled romaine). We added the spinach garlic dip to our tasting menu and enjoyed it; the papadum crackers used as dippers were innovative and fun. Lastly we had the poppy sable dessert with sunflower cream, which was fresh and delicious. Overall, I enjoyed the experience here. The food is vegetable-forward, well-seasoned, and strikes a balance between innovative touches and comforting familiar flavors. I'm not sure how quickly I would return unless they added a bunch of new menu items, but I would definitely keep this on the list of places to bring a friend on a special occasion, and it is food that even a non-vegan or non-vegetarian would enjoy. read more

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This is a small restaurant with a huge and delightfully readable wine list. We tried a number of dishes, the excellent hummus with poppadoms, the duck liver mousse dumplings and the outrageously good roast pork stand out in memory. Patrick Cournot, an owner and the somm, has an extraordinary palate and the ability to pair food and wine so well that one flows seamlessly into the other. The wines - all from eastern Europe, the very birthplace of wine - invite exploration into a new range and depth of flavor. Service is friendly, knowledgable and unobtrusive. The decor is simple and somehow comforting. Music was interesting but kept to a volume that permitted conversation. Will return. read more

Came with a girlfriend for vegetarian tapas and happy hour. What I didn't realize was that happy hour was bottles only. I wish they did individual HH drinks, but that's just my opinion. I really liked the variety of options they had, everything was quite flavorful. I really enjoyed the pasta dish they had at the time. I know their menu evolves quite often, so that's fun. I absolutely LOVED their sourdough pita and spiced oil. I actually am craving it now just thinking of it! They had some beet dumplings when I came that I wasn't a huge fan of, but I think it was a personal palate thing. What I did think was a bit odd was that when they sat us they put us completely alone in another room. The service was great but it took over an hour for anyone else to get sat in the secondary room so it was almost too quiet, if that makes sense. They also sat us way in the back. It was interesting. I'd definitely come back for HH with the girls! 4/5 read more

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Came for dinner and the place was so quiet! It was the day *after* Valentine's, to be fair. It's hard to say what people know Ruffian for: it's wine menu or it's food, fortunately moving away from the tasting menu allowed ample opportunity for trying as much of both as possible! The in dreams cauliflower dish (not pictured) was my favorite, but the chestnut dumplings were a close second. I was particularly excited to see a South African white on the glass menu (Bosman Adama) which was lovely and the Klaus Lenstch 'Bachgart' Pinot Noir was amazing and the staff was great at helping us navigate all our decisions. Treat yourself to a visit here! read more

Ruffian - Three babas & the empress - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Good wine, good food... battery tea candles? At these prices it's the little things that matter, why not have good lighting?