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Blue Ribbon is like a movie that you haven’t seen in 10 years that makes you think: “I forgot how good this is.” This American restaurant—which opened in 1992—is known for a lot of things, such as being a destination for chefs after their shifts and spawning a restaurant empire spanning multiple cities (including an offshoot based on a single dish). But we mostly think of it as an undisputed NYC classic and one of the first places we want to go at 11pm when we need a meal that doesn’t involve something between two buns.
It feels like the staff at Blue Ribbon get together every January and go through a presentation titled "Let’s Make Sure This Year is Exactly the Same as Last Year.” Fittingly, the menu hasn’t changed much since this place opened. Some of the go-to items are still the beef bone marrow with oxtail marmalade, the rack of lamb, and anything from the extensive cold seafood section of the menu. (We gravitate towards the raw clams and the king crab cocktail with spicy mayo.) Gems you shouldn’t overlook include the super tender and garlicky strips of sauteed calamari and the collards that maintain some of their crunchy texture despite being cooked in butter. The latter make an appearance in multiple dishes (and on their own as a side), which suggests that the kitchen probably knows they're a highlight too.
photo credit: Blue Ribbon Brasserie
We forget how small this restaurant's dimly-lit dining room is every time we come here. You’ll usually see some regulars who have been dining at Blue Ribbon Brasserie for decades sitting together in mostly silence, making a few obligatory comments about the kids or how the heat doesn’t seem to be working that well recently. At this point, this place probably isn’t the first restaurant that comes to mind when you’re thinking of where to eat. But once you plan a meal here, you'll feel like you’re about to hang out with someone you’ve always had a crush on but never get to see.
Food Rundown
Raw Clams
Crab Cocktail
photo credit: Blue Ribbon Brasserie
Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade
Sautéed Calamari
photo credit: Blue Ribbon Brasserie