Blue Ribbon Brasserie thrives on oysters and fried chicken

The read on Blue Ribbon Brasserie

Blue Ribbon Brasserie has a 4.7 Google rating from more than 1,000 reviews. That tracks with the public feedback, which describes a busy, energetic restaurant that works for a spontaneous dinner as well as a late-night meal. The room is compact and lively, and the selection ranges well beyond a narrowly defined American menu.

Most of the praise lands on the cooking. Reviewers describe dishes that are straightforward and skillfully executed, especially the fried chicken, oysters and richer starters. The expensive price designation puts it closer to a planned dinner, date or celebration than an everyday stop. After midnight, though, it takes on a useful second identity.

What diners order

Fried chicken is the surest recommendation across the available reviews. Diners mention watching it come out of the kitchen, ordering it because of its reputation and ranking it among the best parts of the meal. It fits as a dinner centerpiece. It also makes sense as late-night comfort food.

The raw bar comes up often, too. Oysters earn repeated endorsements, including from diners who like being able to choose exactly how many they want. One reviewer preferred the appetizers and raw-bar choices to the main courses, pointing toward a practical way to order: oysters, then several shared plates.

Bone marrow gets consistent approval, particularly for its pairing with oxtail marmalade. Reviewers call the combination one of the more complex preparations in a lineup of otherwise simple dishes. There is one practical complaint. The bones can be awkward to navigate when they are not split. Steak tartare is praised for its generous portion and salty chips, while barbecue pork spare ribs stand out for good cooking and sauce. Some appetizers arrive with a small flame or heat source, allowing diners to crisp them further at the table.

Room and service

The atmosphere seems to depend on the night. Some reviewers found the restaurant crowded, loud and high-energy. Another called it comfortable and not overly loud. Based on those accounts, diners should expect a social, bustling brasserie rather than a quiet dining room. For dates, celebrations and unplanned evenings, that energy is part of the appeal.

Service is mostly reviewed favorably, especially at the door. One first-time visitor said the welcome had the warmth usually reserved for a regular. One notable lapse does appear in the feedback: a Caesar salad and fries never arrived, and the waiter went some time without checking back. The food was strong enough to soften that experience, but diners ordering several rounds may want to follow up on anything delayed.

Bottom line

Taken together, the high rating and repeated themes in public reviews make Blue Ribbon Brasserie look best as an energetic, appetizer-driven night out. Start with oysters, add the bone marrow with oxtail marmalade, then get the fried chicken. Diners who are sensitive to noise or expect tightly paced service should choose their timing carefully. Even so, the recurring praise for those signature dishes makes it a persuasive New York option.