La Ripaille

My two friends and I went to La Ripaille for dinner tonight and loved it. I was a touch antsy when we weren't given menus for the first 20 minutes but it served to relax us and the rest of the dinner went perfectly slowly and was very enjoyable. The food was delicious and there wasn't too much of it. The atmosphere was very cozy on a cold December evening. All in all, a fantastic dinner. Pros: Delicious food, cozy atmosphere Cons: Not the place to go in a hurry more

We loved the food, ambience, service...It's like being in a new home...been there 3 times and can't wait to go back for those snails! lol Pros: relaxing, no pressure, intimate Cons: not for big parties more

You cannot live or visit the West Village without enjoying a meal (brunch, lunch, dinner) at La Ripaille. This restaurant is a gem. The ambiance is very french, with french music and the restaurant, itself, is relaxed and very serene. You would really have to make an effort to remember that you are in New York and not Paris. The wine list is excellent and I recommend those who enjoy a good, solid wine with dinner come here for the opportunities. We went for brunch. We tried the belgian waffles that came with berries and the omelette with country ham and cheese. The belgian waffles were excellent; the berries fresh with syrup on the side. The omelette (white omelette) was firm, fresh and the country bacon was savoury and perfectly cooked. The bread, a french baguette, was warm and the butter was creamy and sweet. The coffee was perfect -- every cup. This is a lovely restaurant for a rendezvous -- whether friendly or amorous. A real find and one that will always stay on your list. Pros: Service, Cuisine, Wine List more

We celebrated my girlfriend's 26th birthday at La Ripaille on November 2, 2007. It has been a while, so unfortunately I cannot recall many details. However, I would recommend this restaurant to people who not only enjoy true gourmet food but like to do so in an intimate, relaxed setting. The staff were very friendly and accomodating; I brought in a birthday cake, and they never hassled me for doing so. In fact, the plating charge was quite low ($1 or $2 per plate) because the owner believed that with the cake there would be more wine. Now, that perspective is refreshing in a snobbish, affluent city such as New York. Pros: Service, food, ambience, overall experience Cons: Tiny bit dark at times more

La Ripaille is like to go to France for couple of hours. The ambience is just wonderful. Candlelights and Edith Piaf make this restaurant the real place for romantic dinner or a first date. No wonder that my husband proposed there five years ago. Since then we go to La Ripaille for every special occasion and failing in love again. You have to try ?Broccoli Mousse? with lemon butter sauce that is just delightful! My favorite main dish is Steak ?au poivre?. The peppercorn sauce with touch of cognac makes this dish absolutely special. You have to see 1000 places before you die. I would say that you have to see 1001 places before you die and La Ripaille is one of them! Pros: romantic more

I have nothing but good things to say about La Ripaille. I went there with girlfriends for brunch and was enthusiastically greeted by the owner. He let me sit down outside and order a drink even though my friends had not arrived yet. The service was great. The waiter was very friendly and attentive and answered all of our questions about the menu. And the food - fabulous! I ordered an omelete which was delicious- fluffy and very flavorful. It came with the most tasty fries. Dessert was equally appealing. Overall, my friends and I agreed this place is a total find and I will definitely be going back. more

Me and my girlfriend decided to dine at this spot after it being highly recommended by people knowledgeable in French cuisine. We were pleased to see see a rather cosy and dark bistro and anticipated a great evening. Appetizers were very strong and the wine was up to par but unfortunately that's where it all ended. We were disgusted with the main course after finding a hair in one of our dishes and completely shocked when the bill was brought to us and we were required to pay for the entire meal. The only ""cancellation"" we had was two glasses of cheap champaigne. Note to owners: if you want people to overlook this rather unpleasent experience as finding hair in your food, go a bit farther than just trying to cover the mess up with after dinner drinks. In all my years of dininig out I never had a more unpleasent experience. Cons: Hair in food, complete ignorance of that fact and need to pay for the entire dinner more

This is a lovely, relaxed little bistro on Hudson -- a real break from the fast pace of the city. The food -- especially soups -- is excellent, and the service is gentle and genial, if not exactly speedy. But if you have time to indulge in a lengthy, pleasant, lowkey meal, this is a great place to do it. more