Tomato soup. Yes, tomato soup. The common ordinary comfort food, plain, predictable, uninspiring. The soup that warmed us up as kids, was the fallback when there was really no time to cook lunch, yeah, good ole tomato soup, we all know its story. Enter the chefs at the Ripe Tomato. No canned Campbell's or Sysco soup for them. This dish (I believe it was called Tomato Soup with Dill and Crab) comes to life in the Ripe Tomato kitchen from scratch, with chunks of tomato and some onion, a bit of dill, and a generous amount of crab meat. I asked and yes, it IS real lump crab meat, not that pathetic imitation stuff that some think can be sold as "crab". Add in a pinch of dill, and whatever it takes to make the soup delightfully creamy without being thick and pasty, and the creation is ready to serve. This dish above all else demonstrates my long held belief that superb cooking does not need a French name, unpronounceable ingredients, an hour's waiting time, being served in some sort of exquisite china by snobby haughty waiters, to be magical and engaging. Ordinary everyday food, and nothing is more ordinary and everyday than tomato soup, can become an experience and not just part of a meal; an amazing surprise that rocks one's understanding of what dish can and should be; in the hands of a talented and inspired chef. The Ripe Tomato has become our favorite lunch spot in the Tri-Cities. If we went out for dinner, it would be our favorite dinner spot. Warm, homey, welcoming, without pretense or glitter, when we walk in the door we feel at home. The place is real and enjoyable. Service is excellent, prompt, always considerate and friendly. The service is such that it is easy to feel that you are at your friend's place, and they made some special meals that they want to share. Lest you think that culinary excellence is going to cost an arm and a leg, I had an enormous and delicious order of quiche for an entree with my soup; my wife had a large Bahama Salad with enough tender juicy chicken for 2 meals, and the price was the same as 2 burgers at Red Robin. Granted that would be 2 of their fancier burgers, but tell me - what would YOU rather eat? I am running out of time here, but I want to assure you that the entrees live up to the expectations generated by the soup. read more

This is one of the best places I have ever been. They are so easy to work with even when we have an event with an undefined end time, they still work with us.Every time the food is great.The service is amazing, and our server was absolutely incredible.Thank you so much Maria, for taking such good care of us. read more

It's a cool night in early spring. Perfect for some fettuccini alfredo. Everything was wicked hot when served. The chicken was char grilled for that robust flavor. Maria was a delight as always and kept the orders moving on her bar. read more

This place is super cute. It's a place frequented by locals. It's old school Saratoga. Decorated with images from the local area. We had lunch here on a snowy Thursday, we started with their famous scallop shrimp bisque. The soup is award winning. We found it to be excellent. I ordered the haddock almondine and my daughter had the chicken parm. Both solid meals. The fish was nicely cooked. Loved the mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. The pasta sauce on the noodles was tasty, and it was a huge piece of chicken. Portions here are very ample. They offer many home made desserts. They stress that everything is homemade. M Service was friendly and experienced. Overall a great experience. read more

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This used to be a go-to place for our family but unfortunately the food quality has only continued to have gotten worse. The service is still friendly and the atmosphere has not changed, (ever) but over the last 3 times we have gone back to the Ripe Tomato, we have only left disappointed in the food quality. Hopefully someday they can improve the quality of the food again but until then this place is dead to us. read more

Not surprisingly, eleven years is a long time between visits. Many things change. The Ripe Tomato looks the same as it did when I last reviewed it. The service is still friendly. Maybe my standards have change somewhat. But whatever the reason I feel the need to lower my rating. On a rainy Sunday we arrived just after 6 pm. The main dining area was full, so we were seated in the addition with the metal roof. We, and several others who arrived after us, kept our coats on while we dined. I don't know if the baseboard heat was turned on, but I did feel warmer while I was eating. A very thickly cut and crispy crusted bread with garlic soaked olive oil was promptly served with glasses of tap water. I avoided eating all of the delicious bread so I wouldn't fill up before dinner arrived. Pints of Switchback Lager and Guinness ($6 each) continued to keep our thirst quenched until the arrival of the Crispy Cheese Curds ($13.95) for our appetizer. The seasoned and breaded cheese was served with sides of both a marinara and an excellent raspberry Melba sauce. Some of the bread that I saved earlier was also delicious dipped in the marinara. Overall, this was a very enjoyable start to dinner. My wife and I both had our attention grabbed by an entrée Special, Mediterranean Scampi ($26.95). She offered it to me and ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana ($19.95) which she had focused on before noticing the Scampi. The Scampi had a combination of sea scallops, jumbo shrimp, littleneck clams, and chopped ocean clams sauteed in a classic lemon scampi sauce with tomatoes, kalamata olives, and asparagus tips. All of this was served over linguine with some feta cheese. It was impressive to look at. Overall, it tasted good even though the clams were overcooked, but the flavor lacked a wow factor. My wife's eggplant lacked eggplant flavor. She said the eggplant was sliced so thin you only tasted the breading and the sauce. Having earlier enjoyed both the bread and cheese curds, she never even touched the side of linguine and sauce. read more

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Took my wife to the Ripe Tomato for a Valentine's Day dinner. She ordered the eggplant parmigiana and I ordered the seafood Fra Diavolo which was extremely delicious! Service was fantastic considering it was Valentine's Day. As always it's a cozy place to eat. read more

My family used to eat here regularly about a decade ago- we'd drive from out of town to enjoy a great Italian meal. I'm not sure if my tastes have changed but this isn't as delicious as I remember. This was maybe our 3rd visit in the past year. It's definitely decent food and the menu has a wide selection- everyone in our party of 4 on this visit was easily able to find something they liked. I ordered the open faced turkey sandwich. The entire thing was heavy on the rosemary. The turkey was tender and the portion size was great. Another member of our group had the pot roast and enjoyed it. The Haddock Almondine was also enjoyed by a friend. My mom had the spaghetti marinara, which used to be her absolute favorite. She didn't feel like the sauce was as tasty as she remembered. The pasta could have been cooked a bit better- it was kind of clumped together. What we did really like-- food prepared in the restaurant and made to order. For example, the turkey me gravy are made in their kitchen. We also liked the dessert selection and the Boston Cream Pie we shared. The restaurant has an old fashioned vibe that I like as well. Overall, a very average lunch. Decent food that I'd eat if someone else really wanted to go here but not necessarily a place that would be my first choice. My mom didn't like it and wouldn't go back. read more

Our favorite neighborhood restaurant. Can't wait to try the Tomato soup with crab. New on menu?

Oh I really enjoyed the delicious fresh dining here. Cute ambiance from a past era very quaint yet very clean. Very busy yet we were seated immediately with friendly staff. read more

The Ripe Tomato - Special - Italian Near Me - Malta, New York

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I haven't eaten here in years but I noticed their packed parking lot whenever I pass by. Naturally this piques my interest and I have a renewed desire to stop in for dinner. I was seated right away on a week night as I made an early dinner reservation. The establishment was quite busy and I am excited for dinner! The ambiance is quaint and rather homey. The place gives off an old fashioned vibe, as if you're eating at grandma's. Service was quite good on a busy night. Our server took our orders promptly and was very attentive throughout our meal. We had the Thai chili calamari appetizer special and the flavors were vibrant and addicting. The only slight drawback was that the battered coating was not crisp but still tasty. For our entrees we had eggplant parm with a side of spaghetti with marinara sauce, pork schnitzel with pickled beets and a side of crisp potato pancakes, seafood fra diavolo with mussels and shrimp and coquille st jacques with scallops and shrimp in a decadent cream sauce with mashed potatoes. Everything was very good, but the seafood fra diavolo and pork schnitzel was outstanding. The portions overall were generous. Some entrees on the menu offered an option to order a full size as well as a smaller portion size. It works out well for those with smaller appetites. Also it affords you room for a nice coffee and dessert after. I had to pass on dessert but I'll be sure to leave room next time. The cake offerings such as tiramisu, dark chocolate tiered layer cake, cheesecake etc all sounded dreamy. I left The Ripe Tomato feeling full, satisfied and very happy. I will definitely be joining others who appear to be their regulars. This establishment is a keeper and a must try. read more

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Ambience: lighting was terrible. I couldn't read the menu and had my wife read it to me. We went there for the calamari. Not so good. Cooked to low heat and maybe too long. No flavor and rubbery. Waitress was friendly but very busy, made service slow. Spaghetti sauce was bland. Sorry, not from here and won't come back for another try. read more

I love this place! Whenever I'm visiting my folks (I live in California) we come here. Food is delicious, recommend Chicken Franchise or Yankee Pot Roast, all kinds of yummy options. So this year is my Parents 60th anniversary, and I set up a lunch for 25 people (long distance from CA) EVERYONE I talked to was so helpful, and day of they let me in a little early so I could add a few decorations. Lindsey was our server and she flawlessly handled the group (plus other tables) sharp and friendly, even served the cake! Highly recommend this cozy establishment. read more

Service was excellent , the food was absolutely delicious. Chicken Marsala was tender,sauce was wonderful , haddock was cooked perfectly, pot roast just like grandma used to make. read more

Great food at a very reasonable price. Attentive service, although wait time for food was a little long.

Just outstanding from food to decor. I had the linguine and clam sauce. It is the best ever. read more

We were driving home when we saw a lot of cars parked at this restaurant so we decided to give it a try. We were seated pretty fast. The restaurant building is apparently more than a 100 years old. Inside is a step back in time. Family owned for 22 or more years. Our server is attentive. The food was delicious. My seafood tagliatelle was tasty and it came out steaming hot. Husband had cedar salmon, he said it was good as well. Definitely recommended. read more

The Ripe Tomato - Cedar Salmon! - Italian Near Me - Malta, New York

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Meeting with friends for a Sunday Brunch/Lunch as they recommended. Doesn't look like much when you drive up, but the billboard reads "since 1934" - they must be doing something right. And yes, they have a phone booth with a rotary phone so that your kids can text grandma/pa - wink. The interior is 1970's country, with wood paneling, looks busy. Our friends arrived before we did so we were seated immediately. It took us a while to make a decision. I was not very hungry as I had a big breakfast. We all perused the menu.. The Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Champagne, Screw Driver were $5. The most expensive dish on the dinner menu was Veal Parmigiana at a whopping $23.95. This is post pandemic price in 2022. I ordered as did our friends Shrimp and Scallop bisque. The bisque is a winner of 'BEST' in the Capital Region many years in a row. The others ordered Crabby Club sandwich, Chicken Parmigiana, Penne Alfresco with Shrimp and Salmon Florentine. Eventually our food arrived, very generous portions. I tried my bisque - oooh delicious, yes it can be the 'BEST' - creamy, with lots of small shrimp and plenty of scallops. My wife who had the Crabby Club sandwich was not impressed. Did not try any of the other dishes but everyone finished their portions except my son who ordered the pasta. This was a very relaxing brunch/lunch, a total of 2 hours. We were not rushed at all. Hey, if you're in the Capital/Lake George NY region worth a visit, it won't break the bank. read more

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Went there for the first time last night for our son's birthday. We got there early so it wasn't too crowded but by the time we left, 7:00 PM, it was packed. Our server, Lindsey was absolutely wonderful. Attentive, efficient and most of all, friendly and a joy to deal with. The menu selection is quite varied and even though Italian seems to be favored, none of the 4 of us had an Italian entree. Yankee pot roast was delicious as were the fish dishes. We were in a back room which was perfect, not noisy at all even though all the tables were in use. We could have normal conversations without talking loudly. Definitely will come back here. read more

Friday night on our way to a concert! Food was very good ! Service was excellent! And we were early enough where the place wasn't crowded! Overall it was a very pleasant experience for myself and the three other people that were with me! Keep up the good work! And thank you to all the the staff that made our dining experience so enjoyable!!!!' read more

The Ripe Tomato is a pleasure to dine at. The decor is warm and welcoming. Reminds you of visiting family you like to visit. Their pork schnitzel is delicious as is the red cabbage, potato pancake and homemade apple sauce that accompany it. My husband always orders their Yankee pot roast with veggies and mashed potatoes. He loves the hearty goodness of this entree. If you enjoy a great bowl of soup, I highly recommend their shrimp and scallop bisque--it is spectacular! Great food, great service in a charming setting. read more

Worst chicken Parm ever, seemingly made from frozen chicken patties, their sauce has a funky taste and I couldn't wait to get home to brush it from my mouth. And the hostess guy just gives you the creeps, the service was friendly although they were very forgetful and had to come back to the table to bring us what we requested more than once. Also not to mention the place is dingy and dirty. They say you can judge a kitchen by the cleanliness of the bathroom if that's any indication this place is a real dive. read more

Malta classic. Great food. Good atmosphere. Has most of the traditional Italian dishes. Highly recommend.

Service was great! Food was great! Authentic Italian... excellent pasta... excellent steak... party of 6 all had good things to say about their meals. Decor and ambiance was charming. Prices were reasonable. There are a lot of good restaurants in the area, and The Ripe Tomato will be on my list of repeat visits, for sure. read more

The Ripe Tomato - Decor - Italian Near Me - Malta, New York

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It saddens me to leave this review, but unfortunately old Saratoga is Old. The service left much to be desired, with usual drink orders left at the bar, and our dinner entrees taking more than an hour to come out. I loved the room where we were sat, but would have preferred to have the decent food we have been used to for the past couple of years. My family has been coming here for decent italian food for the past 5 years and will not be coming back for next year. read more

I was born & raised in the Troy area. My wife & I have lived in FL for the past 3 decades. We return to the Saratoga area for a week each summer to visit friends and attend the races. One definite stop is Ripe Tomato. We have been enjoying their wonderful menu every visit for many years. I always order eggplant Parmesan. It is the best I have ever eaten at any restaurant, rivaling my grandmother which is the highest compliment. We highly recommend Ripe Tomato for an unforgettable dining experience!! read more

No no no!! I have eaten here twice now. The first time for take out and the second dine in. Our server was very good. He was super kind, attentive and young, I don't remember his name unfortunately. Both the ambiance and the food quality are firmly stuck in the 1970's. Everything overall was meh at best. I can't say I would go back. read more

Bananas foster pancakes! Good service, nice local place , good locale, worth every penny.

Ordered trays of pasta, salad, and chicken parm for a soccer team dinner at a local hotel. Communication with the staff was excellent and the food was delicious. Delivery was on time. read more

Great food, great service from start to finish. Everything is super cute I in the restaurant.

The table that we had reservations for was not ready upon arrival. Place settings and plates had to be asked for the bread. Dinner delivery to our table was almost an hour. The waitress made up for some of the inconvenience with free desserts. The dinner was unremarkable. read more

Great food and service! The tiramisu is delish and so is the chicken Parmesan. Would recommend to anyone!

It's always fun to visit a local restaurant that's been around as long as the Ripe Tomato. Our server was prompt and sweet. My dad and uncle opted for heavier homestyle lunchtime meals like an open faced sandwich. My dad wasn't a fan of the red cabbage, but otherwise both men raved about their filling dishes. I got a $5 side salad and added cheese, which was simple but good. I also got the bruschetta -- I asked if the olives could be removed, but it was a prepared mix. Hoping I could pick them out, I ordered the dish anyway. The olives were way too integrated in the mix to remove, but I was kind of okay with it! I don't like olives at all, but somehow the flavors worked with the tomatoes, garlic, and basil. The crispy bread brought it together. I wouldn't have chosen this place on my own, but they seem to offer good meals at good prices. read more

The Ripe Tomato - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Malta, New York

Great, old world ambiance. Attentive staff and great service. Fair food, unimpressive bread. I had the pasta bolognese. The pasta was well cooked, and the sauce was OK, but not hot. Maybe because it was early in the dinner service? Good in a pinch or when atmosphere is more important than food read more

Recently, Sept. 1st, My Husband and I made reservations for dinner, for 2:00, pulled up the menu on- line and were happy with the options. Upon arriving we were seated and given a simple menu without the specials, when asked, were told that they weren't available until 4:00, not printed on the website anywhere and not told when I made the reservation for our Anniversary dinner. Sadly, we left hungry, ate at home. This should be printed on-line, to save disappointment. Perhaps we will try another time, and make sure of the dinner hour, as other restaurants have listed on their websites. N & E read more

We can't believe this was our first visit here, as we live 3 minutes away, but it was worth the wait! Really tasty food, decently priced, and wonderful service. Truly a neighbohood gem, and a likely substitute for our usual overpriced haunts in Saratoga Springs with easier parking as a bonus! read more

Went here on a Sunday afternoon during what I thought was going to be a busy lunch hour. Restaurant was not super busy. The atmosphere is quaint and nostalgic. The service was ok ... not great. In ordered a crab cake sandwich which was quite bland. The other people at my table both ordered a Rueben which they said was tasty but typical Rueben. I was actually looking forward to the brunch menu but it was nothing to write home about so I went with the crab sandwich. I've been to Ripe Tomato previously and it teeters between a 3 and 4 star review (in my opinion). I would love to see some specials or something different for them to stand out a bit. read more

OMG. THIS PLACE IS JUST AMAZING!! after celebrating my friends' daughters' b.day at chain restaurants, past few yrs., i was surprised when she told me they wanted to eat at THE RIPE TOMATO. have dined here a couple times, with no complaints whatsoever, (other peoples' treat) and was happy my friends decided to come here instead. b.day girls reasoning: "well, i did some price comparisons, and saw that "ripe tomato" is actually a bit more affordable.....and all the reviews looked good..." so here we were. with about a 15 minute wait, we managed to have a comfortable booth. b.day girl and her mom asked our lovely waitress, "jackie", if they had raspberry lemonade. they did not, but she managed to put something together, which had actual REAL PUREED FRUIT into tall glasses with lemonade. mom and daughter said it was better than anything they'd had at the usual chain eateries. they kept saying it was " very flavorable, much tastier then ones they'd had at chain restaurants. this inspired me to order one as well, and i was not disappointed. we were all IMPRESSED when they brought out obviously freshly baked bread, still warm in a basket-slightly crispy crust, with melt in your mouth yumminess...and a plate of beautifully shaded olive oil, and several whole chunks of roasted garlic! birthday girl kept saying "OMG, i don't even LIKE bread. i don't even EAT bread at home, i really don't, but OMG....this is soooooo good!", in between bites, slices, and dunking. gotta say, my good friend is seldom, if ever, happy with a meal, lol. she always finds something to complain about. always, bless her picky little heart. she was THRILLED with her seafood dish, which had some kind of fish, along with shrimp, and rice....served on the SIDE, not below the seafood offerings, so it stayed fresh. the only sounds coming out of her were "Omg, this is so GOOD"....and bday girl was absolutely THRILLED with her steak. she kept forking the vegetables, happily, holding up mushrooms..."OMG! look at THESE MUSHROOMS! ...WHOLE MUSHROOMS! omg, THIS IS SOOO GOOD!" her steak was sizeable, and she loved the seasoning/flavor, and mashed potatoes that came with it. i ordered the chicken alfredo, a very generous portion that was simply amazing; not overly salted, or ridiculously "thick" with the sauce. jackie (our server) was on the ball, completely; very attentive, even when the place was slamming busy. as it slowed down, and people had left, we engaged her in a bit of conversation, and could tell she truly loves her job here, and takes pride in her work. i think she convinced us not to bother with chain restaurants again, lol. i was the only one who ordered/wanted dessert....and OMG, the slice of chocolate layer cake??? suffice it to say that in a chain restaurant, it would have been (or IS) 1/4 the size of the offering (if not less)-and good chance it would have cost more than, i believe, the 8.00that it was. we were blown away. suffice it to say, i took 80 percent of that cake home... i was expecting my friend to come up with...well, SOMETHING a little critical of the dining experience, on the drive home...but alas, i think she was absolutely thrilled upon dining at THE RIPE TOMATO. not an easy task, lol. THANK YOU!! we will see you again soon!! read more

Cant say enough good things about this place! Just passing through and looking for dinner at 8:00 We just liked the look of it and went in Decor was family and date night friendly. Smell was great, prices were very fair, the Bread and dipping sauce were amazing. Specials we had we very good The service? Pijitra was as good as it gets - and quite a character! Desert finished it all - amazing Oreo pie Wow read more

We were able to get a table without much of a wait. Atmosphere was pleasant - busy but not loud. Food was great. I had the Haddock Almondine, which was delicious and cooked to perfection. Servings are huge! The bread they serve first comes with roasted garlic in olive oil. I could live on that alone the bread was awesome. read more