Ripplewood Whiskey & Craft — Restaurant in Lower Merion Township

Oh Ripplewood. It's my neighborhood watering hole and this review is LONG overdue. I first walked in sometime in April of 2018 after a workout roughly 3 weeks after it opened and ordered the Brussels sprouts and a whiskey sour. Almost once a week since then, I've walked in and ordered about the same thing, sometimes swapping in a different beverage or additional dish. The menu rotates with the seasons and they're really good about offering up meat-free dishes (I order my sprouts sans bacon) so I always have things to choose from. There are too many delicious offerings to name but for non-meat-eaters like myself, I would recommend the wild mushroom flatbread and Mediterranean salad (farro based and really hearty).

The atmosphere is great both early and late and the noise level is usually conversational. It's always my top choice for stopping in with friends to unwind after a long day. The service is quick and the staff are all awesome people. The classic cocktails are always made the way they should be and the rotating craft cocktails are tasty and unique. The beer selection is usually varied and always includes gluten free options like cider, usually a couple of hop forwards, a couple of lagers and a sour or stout/porter seasonally.

I suppose I'm supposed to say something bad to make my review more believable so here: they don't have their tater tots on the regular menu, only on the late night menu. They're supposed to be fried in duck fat but I order mine without (I know I'm boring). They need to put them on the regular menu (tater tots are good ALL THE TIME doesn't everyone know that?) I guess maybe I'm a little biased because it's one of my regular haunts but I would definitely recommend it as a an unpretentious place to get phenomenal top tier food and beverages.

....so definitely try...

Went here for the first time with a few friends in October and loved it! The vibe and ambiance of the place is really cool - we sat in there indoor/outdoor section that gave me garden vibes which I loved. They also apparently have an upstairs and downstairs area, but didn't get to see that (hopefully next visit).

Our server and all the staff were great. Very friendly with every interaction, our waiter was helpful on menu options and attentive throughout the entire dining experience. The food and drinks were on point! I only had one drink but it was well made, not too strong and strong enough to feel the alcohol a little later. We got Mahi Tacos as out app and they were pretty good - we didn't get a bunch of stuff just to make sure we could eat our entree. I'd never had Cobia before but that's what I got as my entree, the Blackened Cobia Filet with coconut rice, mango, pineapple salsa and pistachio... delicious! I generally like fish/seafood so thought I would be good with it, but the fish was cooked perfectly and was accented well with the sides. And the portion size was perfect. My friends also really enjoyed their entree options: Roasted Honeynut Squash Steak, Grilled Lamb Chops, and Salmon.

Overall, such a great vibe, good food & drinks. Would love to go back to try more of the dishes (I was eyeing the Lamb Chops and saw the Catfish & Fried Chicken dishes on the menu too), and definitely would tell anyone to...

I came here since friends have recommended this place. The reviews claim food like “Michelin” star food. Last night was not what I expected from the food at all. Upon arrival my water glass was dirty. Our waitress was super kind and even checked on the specials that they had.

We ordered the following: pretzel bun with truffle butter, paella croquettes, the burger with RIPP fries and the braised short rib.

The pretzel bun held up to everyone reviews!

The paella croquettes were served cold the first time around and had to be sent back. Both times I did not see any rock shrimp. It was not bad if served correctly.

The burger with ripp fries. The ripp fries were delicious perfectly crisp and the burger was okay. The sauce and lettuce was on the bottom bun and it came out soggy.

Lastly, the braised short rib. I felt like I was drinking oil with how much oil there was in the dish. Also the amount of onions was ridiculous. The mushroom idea added to the risotto was phenomenal but wish it wasn’t drenched in oil.

The ambiance in the back dining room is nice. You will have to use your phone light to see the menu. The garden area for dining in the middle is lovely. The bar had plenty of seats. We also were able to get a seat without reservations.

I give this place a 3 for the waitress, vibe and pretzel bun. Also with how busy it was the wait staff did their best to...