Ryan's Wake — Restaurant in New York

We had a birthday celebration for my bride on Sat 1/20/24 5:30pm. Ryan's Wake is a true public house in the tradition of the Irish pubs. I had made an online reservation request for a party of 8 on Fri. And had a very prompt response, one hour, from Emily to confirm our reservation. When we arrived we were greeted by the hostess - tall, dark hair young woman who I failed to get her name. I had asked her if she was Emily b/c I wanted to thank her for the reservation. She said no but later she introduced us to Emily because she said that everybody likes to be recognized for their good service. Sweet. Our table was set with menus. Our server was J.J. (Justin) who took the drink orders. One of our party knew J.J., as he was a customer at his Stewart's Shop. The final two of our party arrived and we ordered our meals. Apps up first - bacon ranch fries ($12) enough for 4, bbq chicken dusters (tenders) ($12), and a "Not Too Many" (7) shrimp cocktail ($12). NOTE: the "Way Too Many" is 14 for $20. Whatta Deal! Dinners were: bacon blue burger ($15), Chicken Quesadilla ($15), two of the "Best Reuben You Ever Had" corned beef w/ requested mustard instead of Russian dressing w/ fries ($15). Nailed it. A Kickin' chicken sandwich (ala Nashville( ($13) - chix thigh crunchy outside, moist & tender inside.And two "Quintessence" chicken teriyaki dinners w/ cold spinach noodles & side Parisian salad w/ pickled veg ($15). A Capitol District favorite that Ryan's does exceptionally well. One diner didn't really like her Caesar wrap b/c of the dressing was different from her previous Caesar experiences. JJ & hostess apologized but this was not a big deal to us. Surprised when we got the bill that her meal was "comped". Not necessary, but GREAT customer service. As we were leaving we ran into Chris Ryan the owner. This was fortunate b/c we got to thank him in person and compliment his staff. A most gracious publican. A great time during another fun visit to Ryan's Wake. Thank you to Emily, JJ, the hostess, the kitchen, & Chris. See ya soon. Nick & the birthday girl...

UPDATE 8/13/24: This is now the 6th time I've gone since the last review, yeah I said 6th. I'm doubling down on everything below and adding that I appreciate the warm greeting from my guy Jared. Please read below and follow suit. Thank me later!

Listen, Linda, listen, this is my second time here and I'm just gonna say it like this, if you haven't gone please bring that you know what there. I honestly love everything I've tried, drinks included in that testament 😂. Does it get a little windy at times, sure -- but thats mother nature's fault and actually feels nice when its 1,000 degrees out. Suggestion is to sit outside whether it is windy or not, enjoy the river and the atmosphere. We had another great server today, Mia or Mya (forgive the spelling), she was attentive and did not try and rush us out after we finished eating, she actually asked us if we were going to just chill out or did we need the check. Now that is some REAL service right there. Who does that today? There is always a feeling of having to rush through a meal, so thank you for not making us feel rushed -- even though we didn't stick around too long afterwards.

I met Jared today as well, stand-up guy, gave me a handshake and all. I told him I would be back, and I will be coming back!

Pictures are of Baja Tacos, and the Bacon Blue -- I'm fat and I already started digging into that. I had that with the onion rings and homemade blue cheese .. sheesh it was delicious. Also, get the Calamari (extra crispy). UPDATE: pictures are of the Reuben (yeah I took a bite), fish and chips, and Kickin Chicken sandwich all 🔥

Don't wait, don't hesitate just go there and you will enjoy it.

I can't wait to go back honestly

Thank me...

Ryan’s Wake is one of those rare places that really sticks with you—not just because of the food or the atmosphere (which are both fantastic), but because of the people behind it. I recently had the pleasure of connecting with Jared, the general manager, and from our first email exchange, he was nothing but kind, professional, and easy to work with. It’s always refreshing when someone takes the time to respond personally and thoughtfully, especially in a world where that kind of customer care can be hard to find.

When I stopped into the restaurant, I was greeted by a hostess who was just as lovely—super helpful and accommodating. She made sure everything I needed was taken care of, and it really reinforced the positive impression I already had. It’s clear that the team at Ryan’s Wake puts people first, and it shows in how they treat their guests.

The vibe inside is welcoming and fun without being over the top. You can tell it’s a spot where both regulars and first-timers feel comfortable. I haven’t even sat down for a full meal there yet, but based on the warmth, professionalism, and good energy I experienced, I absolutely will be back soon—and I’ll be telling my friends and coworkers to do the same.

Places like this are what make downtown...