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    Ruffian

    4.6 (313 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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    RUFFIAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Ruffian

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    Amanda S.

    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!

    Chanda A.

    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!

    Tartare course
    Raia S.

    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!

    Michelle S.

    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.

    Dumplings
    Jon B.

    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

    Cheese board with bread
    Ash B.

    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.

    Wine Flight Trio with Duck Pastrami in foreground

    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.

    Alexis B.

    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!

    Girls wine night
    Helen S.

    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.

    Jan B.

    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.

    Dumplings

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    1 month ago

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    Colleen C.

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    William, so happy to welcome you to the Ruffian family!

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    7 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

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

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    Ask the Community - Ruffian

    Do they have non alc beer & wine options as I'm looking to moderate esp as we head towards Dry January?

    Yes, we also have mocktails.

    Is it ok to come here just for the food?

    I don't drink, and I loved it!

    Is the outdoor seating heated?

    When/what is happy hour?

    There is no more happy hour

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Rake Wine Bar - Wine Flights

    Rake Wine Bar

    4.8(29 reviews)
    0.3 miEast Village

    Wow East Village! You have yourself a gem with Rake Wine Bar! We were waiting for our dinner…read morereservations and decided to stop in here for a pre-dinner drink and bite. I am SO glad we did. The vibe drew us in, they had great music bumpin from the outside, it looked lively and welcoming. Let me tell you- I would have skipped dinner and just stayed here all evening if it was my choice! But alas, my husband wanted a bit more to eat. But let me tell you- their knowledge of wine is PRISTINE! I can't tell you what white wine we had but they captured our tastes perfectly. We also shared a bruschetta and it was deliciouso! I love how friendly the staff was here and how unpretentious it all was. Next time we are in NYC- we will definitely make a point to come visit Rake!

    My partner and I were looking for a great double date spot, so we decided to give Rake a try due to…read moreits relaxing vibe and multitude of bites we could share. First I'll start with the wine - we ended up trying all three happy hour wines (HH until 7), which the tables favorites were the white and we ended up getting a bottle to split once HH ended (but I really enjoyed the other vino verde option). It was incredibly refreshing and paired well with the many tinned fish options. As you'd expect - it's a pretty massive selection and there is bound to be a varietal and glass for any palate. It's also attached to a wine store - so it's fine to see all the bottles when peaking over. Food-wise - this is where it was hit or miss, they have a pretty extensive menu (with a whole tinned fish section!) and we ended up ordering the buratta on focaccia (buratta was excellent, focaccia was too dense for my tastes), mushroom truffle crostini (way too salty), the flatbread with sliced kielbasa (was fine), halloume (table favorite ), tinned sardines in lemon oil (delicious), tinned smoked trout (my favorite). Overall the four of us were very full at the end of the meal! The space itself felt very relaxing and rustic, and definitely got busier as the night went on (we got there at 6:50 and left around 9). The service was also fast and attentive - even for the amount of tables they were serving. Overall - I'd definitely go back again, and maybe just focus on the wine and another tinned fish selection!

    Photos
    Rake Wine Bar
    Rake Wine Bar
    Rake Wine Bar - Menu

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    Menu

    Sunn’s - Banchan. Potato salad with pear and the roasted eggplant were favorites.

    Sunn’s

    4.1(43 reviews)
    0.9 miLower East Side, Chinatown

    Played the Opentable notification game and got a Friday night counter spot. My boyfriend and I…read moreshared: + Banchan of the day + added gochujang candied squid + Sunn's salad with chicories, sweet potato, sesame jang + Spicy tomato Tteokbokki + Ssam (beef brisket) + Sesame Crusted Mochi Cake Ssam was my favorite dish. Also loved the kimchi, cucumbers and potato salad from the banchan. Tteokbokki was a standout as well. It was more than enough food, and we even took home leftovers. Service was very friendly, and coat check was a nice touch!

    I wanted to love Sunn's but overall it felt overrated…read more We ordered the banchan, chigae, bossam and tteokbokki. Starting with the positives -the banchan was solid across the board and really flavorful. That said, charging for banchan feels strange to me. Traditionally, it's complimentary, like bread at an Italian restaurant so that part didn't sit right but it was flavorful. The chigae was interesting and probably the standout dish. It had a unique flavor that reminded me of a mix between soondubu and dwenjang chigae which worked well. Unfortunately, the rest was a miss. The bossam was overly salty and didn't feel true to the dish. The tteokbokki was another disappointment -it came with cheese (which wasn't expected) and just fell flat overall. For the hype, I expected much more especially because I've eaten Korean food my whole life. The venue is small and the seats in the back are uncomfortable.

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    Sunn’s - Vibes + wine bottle + cute water dispenser

    Vibes + wine bottle + cute water dispenser

    Sunn’s - Cozy sitting corner by the window

    Cozy sitting corner by the window

    Sunn’s - The counter by the kitchen

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    The counter by the kitchen

    Ruffian - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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