Ruby Begonia's Restaurant and Lounge — Restaurant in Town of Sullivan

For full transparency this review was written before the official grand opening of the place of business. It was an advertised early opening night. To be specific a Thursday evening around 6pm.

My wife and visited Ruby Begonias. A new bar and restaurant, drawn by its promise of a high-ish end craft cocktail (compared to the rest of the places in Chittenango)/southern fusion cuisine. Unfortunately, our first visit left us underwhelmed.

It took approximately seven minutes before anyone approached us to take our drink order. When our server/bartender did arrive(We were sitting at the bar) my wife and I each ordered a signature cocktail directly from their menu---A lemonade-based vodka drink, the other being a bourbon cocktail with lemon and honey. The server took the names of the cocktail down on a piece of paper, as well as my first name, but then walked away for another 4 minutes before beginning to make the drinks. Once this person started making the drink, the first cocktail arrived 3 minutes later, while the second didn't make it for another 3 minutes after that.

At the time the first drink was served, we were informed that the kitchen was not accepting food orders temporarily. During this period, we did observe a burger being delivered to the guest next to us, only to be sent back immediately for being prepared incorrectly (guest wanted it plain, and it arrived with different toppings etc.) To be clear, during our entire 25-minute visit, this guest never received a replacement hamburger meal.

Back to the drinks, frankly, they were disappointing. My wife's "Pink Porch" cocktail--a pink lemonade vodka drink--was served in a warm-to-the-touch martini glass filled to the brim with ice, which felt more careless than crafted. Both cocktails lacked the expected alcoholic presence and depth we've come to anticipate from establishments that brand themselves from the competition as craft focused. Especially at these premium price points, the drinks simply didn't deliver.

Aesthetically, the bar space felt unfinished. The brown and tan interior, paired with minimal decor, created a stark, almost empty atmosphere. Earthy toned spaces should be filled with plants, and things that make you feel welcomed and relaxed. This was not the case. On top of that, the staff had this strange juxtaposition of either being not relaxed, hustling, and under pressure, or other staff members who just seemed to be standing around doing nothing, one of which we just saw chatting with patrons, and pouring themselves a glass of wine. The one's under pressure, seemed to be dealing with complications from the kitchen. It created a noticeable tension that affected the overall vibe in our opinion.

After seeing the kitchen issues firsthand and hearing of further delays, we decided to close our tab. It then took over ten minutes just to receive the bill for two drinks.

To be completely clear, let me just say, we understand that this is a new restaurant, during their "soft-opening" period. With any opening, there are bound to be growing pains. We recognize that and truly hope these are just early hiccups. Despite our disappointment, we're willing to return in the future to see how things improve. Until then, we feel this place of business deserves a 2 out of 5 stars.

This review was written on 6/30/2025, and will be updated...

I had the pleasure of attending the soft opening of this new local gem, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. I sat at the bar, which had a sleek lounge vibe—cozy, stylish, and the perfect setting to unwind.

The owners were incredibly warm and welcoming, making you feel like part of the family from the moment you walked in. That kind of genuine hospitality is hard to come by and made the whole experience even more special.

Now let’s talk about the food—absolutely phenomenal. The fried chicken sandwich was out of this world—crispy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The fried green tomatoes were equally impressive—golden, tangy, and so satisfying with an amazing sauce that paired so well. And don’t even get me started on the coconut cake—it was light, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet. The perfect ending to a fantastic meal.

So excited to see this place thrive—our town is lucky to have it! Can’t...

Really enjoyed my experience at RB tonight. Service was friendly and attentive. We tried a few different items. For appetizers we had the fried green tomatoes as well as the shrimp & Scallop cakes. Both were good, the shrimp scallops cake was the winner for me! Real shrimp and scallops lumped and fried with lemon was a great start! For entree I had the fish, which was lightly dusted and easy fried served with fresh coleslaw and hot sauce on the side... yum! We also tried the fried chicken, it was perfectly done. Didn't seem deep fried, maybe pressure cooked... either was it was delicious! Crunchy, crispy and not burnt at all. I'll have to get that for myself next go around! Took a large slice of coconut cream cake home and devoured it in minutes, that thing didn't stand a chance lol. Very reasonably priced. 2 apps, drinks, 3 dinners and 2 desserts was barely over $100. Im looking forward to...