Little Ruby's East Village — Restaurant in New York

We had such a lovely meal at Little Ruby’s East Village, one of the newer locations of this beloved Australian café that first opened in Nolita back in 2002. Over the years, Ruby’s has expanded to SoHo and Midtown, building a reputation for blending Australian café culture with Italian and Mediterranean comfort foods. It’s casual and approachable, but every dish has a sense of intention a nod to tradition with a playful, modern twist.

The spicy Italian sausage rigatoni was pure comfort with character. Rigatoni, a pasta shape that comes from central and southern Italy, is known for its ridges that cling to rich sauces. Here, it was perfectly al dente, coated in a balanced tomato cream sauce that was bright but also indulgent. Parmesan gave it a nutty, salty finish, while the baby peas added a subtle sweetness. The sausage was distinctly southern Italian in style spicy, fennel-laced, and hearty enough to ground the dish. It felt like a modern echo of cucina povera, the rustic Italian tradition of stretching ingredients into bold, nourishing meals.

The Bronte burger is a Ruby’s signature, and for good reason. Named after Sydney’s Bronte Beach, it reflects the fresh, multicultural spirit of Australian café food. The 7oz beef patty was juicy and flavorful, layered with tomato, spinach, swiss, and a sweet chili–mayo combo on toasted ciabatta. Ciabatta, a relatively recent invention from 1980s Italy, was the perfect choice airy and chewy inside, crisp outside, sturdy enough to hold everything together. The side of fries was just as memorable: thin, crisp, tossed with herbs and garlic, perfect for dipping. It’s the kind of burger-and-fries plate that feels indulgent but elevated.

For dessert, the date cake with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce was the highlight. Sticky, warm, and spiced with cinnamon, it came drenched in buttery toffee sauce that melted into the cake and balanced beautifully with the cold vanilla ice cream. This version leaned closer to the traditional British sticky toffee pudding, a mid-20th century classic born out of home baking, where dates provided natural sweetness and richness. Ruby’s take felt nostalgic yet modern, capturing the essence of that pudding but with a lighter café touch.

The East Village location carries Ruby’s laid-back Aussie ethos into one of New York’s liveliest neighborhoods. While Nolita, SoHo, and Midtown each bring their own personality, the East Village outpost feels especially cozy and vibrant. And we have to mention the service our waiter Miguel was fantastic, attentive, warm, and knowledgeable, which made the whole experience...

I go back and forth between giving this a 2.5 and a 3. I came with a group of 7 people (called a few minutes ahead of time on a Friday night and were seated within 2 minutes of arriving). The atmosphere was really nice, and our waiter was absolutely lovely and gave some good recommendations.

One of these included the yuzu jalapeño margarita punch bowl. The punch bowl format was nice (served not in a bowl, but a miniature dispenser placed on the table), but the actual drink itself was not the best. The citrus notes were nice but dulled by overtones of jalapeño - not the spice, but the actual taste of biting into the skin and flesh of an uncooked pepper. On top of that, the punch bowl and glasses came served so full of ice that no one could taste any alcohol. We were left wondering if it would have been better to get individual drinks for about the same price.

This theme continued as flavor was a struggle for almost all of the dishes. On top of being small portions, the Malibu bowl, Ruby’s Ragu, shrimp pasta, and crispy rice bowl (with smoked salmon) were all fairly bland. They benefitted from a bit of salt and pepper, but it was odd that we had to ask our waiter for shakers, as they weren’t freely available on any table. As a positive, I would like to note that the classic cheeseburger, the Bondi burger, and the fries were all really well seasoned and cooked well. If I were to go back, I would definitely get those.

Overall, while I understand the prices are standard for this type of restaurant, I am disappointed that I paid almost $300 for a dissatisfying meal. I’m writing this less than an hour after eating a whole portion of the ragu and I’m still hungry! I wish the best to the staff - they were super great! I just see some areas of improvement in the food at this...

We feel incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon this charming little Aussie cafe. As fellow Australians, it felt like destiny to discover such a unique culinary gem in New York City.

The cafe's exceptional quality and attention to detail left a lasting impression on us. After a week of exploring the city's diverse cuisine, we can confidently say that this cafe stands above the rest. The food was impeccably prepared, with fresh and flavorful ingredients, and was served promptly with great care.

Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with our experience and would highly recommend this cafe to anyone looking for an outstanding culinary adventure.

The staff at this cafe were truly exceptional - their welcoming demeanor and attentive service left a lasting impression on me. Had I been in New York City for a longer period of time, I would have undoubtedly returned to this establishment multiple times.

The cafe's ambiance exuded a sense of warmth and comfort, reminiscent of the feeling of being at home. It's clear that the cafe's atmosphere and staff have created a truly unique and inviting experience.

I would highly recommend stopping by this cafe if you happen to be in the area - the exceptional service and comforting atmosphere are sure to make for an unforgettable...