02/27/09

Consistently great

by mar933

I've never left this place disappointed. Yesterday, as usual we had an extremely pleasant evening -- good service and excellent food. Their menu selections are exquisite. Duck confit yesterday was great. I love their combinations -- how flavors complement each other. Excellent atmosphere and decor. Looking forward to going back.

• Pros: Excellent food, choices, combinations, wine list, service
• Cons: Expensive. Occasionally loud diners

02/07/09

The Best Fried chicken and bread pudding

by epicurian0003

I love Blue Ribbon Bakery in the winter. The downstairs dining area is juxtaposed to the wood burning ovens of their bakery and the wine cellar gives it an old world charm. I highly recommend the fried chicken, the batter is light and the chicken is juicy. The chocolate bread pudding is a perfect ending to a decadent meal or the ice cream sundae which is equally naughty.

• Pros: Great Service and ambiance
• Cons: can be expensive

07/02/08

busy because it's damn good...

by mabstb

good restaurants in nyc are always busy. so is the case with blue ribbon bakery. formerly a bodega, it was converted to a bakery which, in addition to making bread, began to serve small plates. the last step of its conversion occurred circa 2003 when the retail component left in favor of a bar. serving several classics, including the BR fried chicken, one of the best parts about the place is its small plates. everything from pickled veggies and olives, to steak tartare and marrow, to caviar and smoked trout. i recommend the small plates for the tables in lieu of the full "meals". try 12 things instead of 2. you wont regret it. ask for the bacon bread - they dont bring it with the regular bread basket...but you want it.

• Pros: corner location, bread, menu, blue ribbon wine bar across the street
• Cons: nousy and busy, not intimate, not veyr kid friendly

05/10/08

Under-rated, if that's possible

by MartinH

What a high quality New York restaurant should be -- casual atmosphere, attentive but not obsequious service, lively but not posturing atmosphere, and excellent food. I say food rather than cuisine because the dishes are straightforward and lack pretension. This is the most thoroughly enjoyable dining experience in New York, suprising perhaps because of the omnipresence of the Blue Ribbon brand. Nothing on the menu has ever disappointed -- worth explicit mention is the fried chicken, french onion soup, lamb, and french toast. And of course the fresh baked bread, which arrives warm from baking rather than reheating. Although you can't go wrong with any of the bread options, the bacon/grilled onion and sesame deserve mention.

• Pros: Excellent food, extensive menu, attentive service, charming space
• Cons: None, really

03/05/08

Lack of menu

by luvefode

The food was mediocre with a small selection on the menu. The host had us wait even though we arrived prior to other patrons. Worst of all was our waiter. He had no idea what was on the menu and wa helped by fellow staffer. Definitely find another place for brunch.

• Pros: Bread
• Cons: Menu and Staff

03/02/08

bad waiter

by mayoman

Had something to eat there last night and in twenty years of eating out in New York I never experienced such bad service. The waiter that we got was in such a bad mood, he never introduce himself, just tossed the plates down in front of us. He never told us about any specials and to finish it off he dropped a fork on my wifes lap not once but twice without saying anything just a look as if to say oh well. I couldn't get out of there fast enought. My wife did convince me that maybe he was having a bad night so I might go back because the food was good even the cheeses which again the tall waiter with the beard just tossed on the table and walked away without any word about them.

• Pros: good food
• Cons: overpriced for the service

02/19/08

Bread Pudding & Cocktails!

by jcplaywright

My favorite way to cap off an evening is to go to Blue Ribbon Bakery around midnight or later - when there's not a wait - and get the Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding and cocktails. Sometimes we'll mix it up and get other desserts too, but mostly this is my staple. I've eaten dinner and brunch here as well - and it's always delicious, fun, great service. But I put my money on dessert and cocktails. Oh, and definitely take a trip downstairs - where you can smell the fresh baked bread!

• Pros: Best NYC Dessert!
• Cons: Long waits during prime times

02/02/08

great food...but really poor manner

by ny11102

just called for try to book a brunch for 20...it will be the brunch after my wedding...and this "nice" waiter after I told him the number of people simply replied: "we don't handle this kind of numbers" and just hanged on me.

Congratulations to this "little" person, never got a reply like that...I defenetely hope that this ignorant will be put out on the street asap. expecially because I've been there few times, and downstairs we were a party of more than 20, so I'm really disappointed

• Cons: arrogant and poor manners

11/30/07

carb heaven but a great neighborhood stand-by!

by kalinka

This place is our "old faithful". We go on friday nights after we are back in the city because they serve dinner until 2am! You almost ALWAYS have to wait for a table (even at 11pm) but we don't mind. The bread is fantastic and we love the chorizo and garlic shrimp appetizer and the steak frites are great comfort food. The chocolate chip bread pudding is my favorite dessert in all of NYC - probably! Cozy environment. Service is hitt or miss (as is the bartender) but its a great place to hang out, eat comfort food, drink wine - there's no 'scene' here (other than locals). Prices are on par with most NYC restaurants (except for the person who said they could get 'food' at McDonald's)

• Pros: Cozy environment, delicious bread, bread pudding (embrace the carbs!)
• Cons: wait can be long during peak hours (over an hour!) Bartender is less than attentive

Editorial Review by Marcella Veneziale

by Contributor

It would be easy to make a meal of bread, but save room for favorites like the BLT and butcher's platter.