Delisous food Wonderful atmosphere Friendly staff Try the mushrooms! The potato au gratin is wonderful too read more

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Cozy neighborhood French restaurant, family owned and very attentive staff. Wonderful escargot, lamb loin and chocolate dessert. Worth a visit. Many regulars. read more

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La Ripaille offers a great ambience at a decent price point. The food is very good and evidences an experienced kitchen with chefs who know what they are doing. Given the restaurant is closing soon at an unknown or imprecise date, you would be advised to make your reservation sooner than later. It was easy to get a reservation at an early Thursday evening time, but people are arriving in greater numbers by 7PM. I arrived a bit early and promptly chose an outdoor seat, perfect at this time of year. I ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, a House variety I'm sure. The Provence Rose was tempting,but it would not stand up to what I would order. I started off with their escargot cassoulet served in a creamy tomato base with basil and grape tomatoes that have been blanched or placed briefly under a broiler to soften and sweeten them. They are served with two flattened slices of baguette, which could have been four slices ideally for the creamy basil and tomato sauce. It was not too rich and was not an overwrought buttery affair. It was balanced, but I wanted it to be more substantial it was so good. These were not the traditional garlic, butter and herb escargot,but still very good and not too heavy at this time of year. Next came the lamb, sliced thinly on a bias in a deep and savory sauce with black pepper and rosemary, served with a square of pommes gratin in the middle and some thinly sliced carrots and string beans cooked to perfection, the former cooked until the sweetness of the carrots emerges and tey latter with a welcome hint of garlic and sea salt. I ordered the lamb medium rare and it leaned toward medium, but it was still tender and juicy, with the rosemary and black pepper making themselves known and elevating the savory palate. The pommes gratin square could have been more generous along with the three mini carrots sliced longitudinally and cut short. The string beans were the surprise. They were perfectly cooked and the kitchen excelled in the restraint on cooking times for the vegetables. Nothing was overcooked. The owner is quite popular and personable. He talks to all his patrons and some who are regulars. I ordered the special dessert this evening from his grandmother's recipe: lemon Tarte. It was great, perfect for this time of year. The total was almost a hundred before tip. This was a very good meal, which could have been better if they served it automatically with a few slices of baguette and a little butter. The French people I know are always sopping up the sauce and cleaning their plates with pieces of baguette. That would make for a more authentic experience and, if the food were served a bit more generously, the experience would be a bit more appealing to the American appetite, especially how good it is. These are quibbles given the four star experience awaiting you peacefully at La Ripaille in the West Village. Enjoy it while it lasts in its final months. read more

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New favorite restaurant!! The broccoli mousse was amazing. Salmon tartare was excellent. Mains were yummy. The crème brûlée was perfect. So silky and light and yet creamy and indulgent. Chocolate mousse was excellent too. New favorite restaurant!! The broccoli mousse was amazing. Salmon tartare was excellent. Mains were yummy. The crème brûlée was perfect. Silky and light and yet creamy and indulgent. Chocolate mousse was so good too. Lots of gluten free (celiac safe) options. A lot of dishes either naturally gluten free or can be made gluten free. Romantic & cozy vibes. Can't wait to go back. Highly recommend. read more

Very cozy. Delicious. Friendly service. It doesn't seem like you can go wrong with the specials read more

La Ripaille - Chicken special - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Quiet; excellent food, service and wine list. Unhurried. Lovely. Small but not crowded. A rare find.

This is the best little French bistro that we've eaten at in NYC. Unpretentious with a focus on truly great ingredients and food. The filet was the best we've ever had at a French restaurant. The lamb-phenomenal. The tomato bisque-phenomenal. The creme brulee -phenomenal. And a very friendly staff and a hearty owner that greets you with laughter the minute you walk in. Skip the Chez Fifis and come here. read more

If I hadn't been at La Ripaille on a date, things would have ended quite differently. I ordered the tiger prawn entree for $35. That price is ludicrous regardless of what the dish looks like. The dish had a fistful of the smallest shrimp I've ever been served at a restaurant--smaller than Red Lobster's. In the middle was a spoonful of rice that had also been minified. I was outraged by the size of this dish. "Tiger" typically indicates superior size, here it indicated a callous ripoff. I also had the duck confit special which I didn't even check the price of but was probably $40. It was just shredded pieces of duck on top of mashed potatoes. Aside from the one piece of bone that my date almost choked on, there was no "bone." This was not what I'd consider traditional duck confit. Another ripoff. Similar to the other reviews, service started off fine then devolved to being served by three separate people and taking forever to get the check. The bathrooms are dive bar quality. The atmosphere is a mishmash of holiday lights, candles, and LED table lamps. Even the plating is amateurish. Where others see a hidden gem, I found an obnoxious riff on French food at fine dining prices. read more

This place was quaint and cute, the flavors were delicious. Unlike many other places in America the portions were quite small. We ordered an app, 2 x entrees and a dessert between two, and we were a little hungry afterwards. I'd recommend an app each or a side or two to share as well. Delicious. I'd go again. read more

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La Ripaille is a rare find because it is actually a French restaurant owned and operated by a Frenchman. Almost all other "French" restaurants are either owned by someone else who might have been schooled in the French culinary tradition or owned by a private equity firm. La Ripaille is truly a French restaurant. The space feels just like French restaurants that I have eaten at in France. It is genuine, if a little rough around the edges. It is small and has that bistro feel. Since they are a small business, we felt appreciated, and we were given full attention. The prices were fair. The location in the West Village is actually lots of fun. It is a charming neighborhood by day. When we left the restaurant at night, it was lit up beautifully. So, it is lots of fun to eat there. read more

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This place has been around for decades, I was working couple blocks from this restaurant back in 1989. And La Ripaille was there already!. Amazing food, from appetizers through desserts, the owner was super friendly and the one who explained their today's special and all sounded so delicious! Perfect place for intimate dining, highly recommend!. read more

If you are looking for a charming place with wonderful ambience to share an excellent meal - this is the place! Wonderful and attentive staff and food. The broccoli mouse is excellent. We had the bass special -- and it was truly special and cooked perfectly! Highly recommend. read more

Tried for the first time this week and came out with mixed feelings. The restaurant itself is a cute bistro with an intimate and romantic ambiance. Outdoor seating available as well. We were greater by the owner who was very charming and asked if we'd like to start with drinks as we were being seated. The staff were all very attentive and kind. The service was one of the best parts of our eating experience. For drinks we got a happy hour spritz which was light on the alcohol and very sweet. A vodka martini with olives at the bottom of the glass that was strong. An espresso martini which was strong and delicious. Appetizers we got the broccoli mouse that everyone was recommending. It was a bit on the smaller portion size but very flavorful. The plating left a bit to be desired but the flavor made up for it. We got the special of assorted mushrooms which was simple but well seasoned. We got escargot which was interesting to have escargot in tomato sauce. It wasn't my personal favorite. The watermelon mint salad was refreshing though. Entrees we got the rack of lamb and the blanquette de veau. The rack of lamp left a lot to be desired. I ordered medium rare. The lamb chops were incredibley small and cut into pieces of two, for a total of 4 lamb chops. The outsides were very heavily sheared, if not burnt, which left them hard and chewy with a spot of rare cold meat in the middle when cutting the two pieces apart. I ended up eating more off my partners plate than mine. The blanquette de veau was good, seasoned well, tender meat. The texture of the meat was super soft that made me suspect it might have been frozen then recooked, but the flavor was nice. For dessert we got the frozen souffle which, for the record, we had no idea what to expect despite hearing the description. It was similar to a frozen mousse tart. The crust was very crumbley and dry. Overall, I thought the restaurant ambiance and service was amazing, but the food had me wanting more out of it. read more

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This place is a gem, for the most part. The owner is a gregarious, funny and friendly French transplant that has improved NYC and America for many decades. The menu is small and excellent, both food and drinks. Try a cocktail! I had my very first Negroni here and thought it was quite good. If you are going to bring a bottle of wine do let the restaurant know in advance. The music is basically French radio from a small but not tinny speaker, modern and old. The atmosphere is much quieter than the average NYC restaurant, making it a much better option when you want to enjoy the people you are dining with. There are about eight seats outside and perhaps twenty-four inside. The filet mignon was one of the best I've had in my life. The onion goat cheese tarte was delicious. All the food, in fact, was excellent. I will keep coming back on every visit to NYC. read more

La Ripaille - Dinner with my daughter. The filet mignon is in the foreground. - French Near Me - New York, New York

I'm left with mixed impressions. The ambiance is cozy and rustic French, which is delightful. The food was quite good. However, the service was a bit odd. We came on a holiday weekend, and at first, it was quiet and we received lots of attention. (Albeit: note the owner is very aggressive, loud and even pushy towards the customers.) It was a major turn off. As the place got more crowded and there was a private party in the back, service slowed down to a trickle. We had to wait a long time for dessert and the check. I value a slow cooked meal at a relaxed pace. But when you have been waiting a long time and are ready to wrap it up, it gets annoying having to flag down a waitress. No complaints about the food-- as it was authentic and very good quality. read more

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Time for this guy to hang up his hat. Wine mark up stupid crazy. $78 for a$7 bottle. Food is decent for a bistro in Syracuse not NYC. Do yourself a favor spend your money elsewhere. read more

I feel like there are 2 types of French restaurants in the city, glitzy upscale small portioned French, and then there are restaurants like La Ripaille that are dripping in history and secret recipes that date back decades. I absolutely love trying new French places in the city and La Ripaille had one of the coziest warm and inviting feels from the moment we arrived. I noticed we were seated next to a painting of the actual restaurant and I venture to guess that's the owner, who we presumed to be our server, in the painting. If you love broccoli you will love the broccoli mousse. It comes surrounded by a creme sauce that was cheesy and delicious. It's so unique to see whipped broccoli like that, I absolutely recommend. We also order the Magret de canard, aka the duck. It was a special for the evening done in a honey and soy glaze. It was very good though I'd come back for canard aux cerises. We got the crème de cassis for desert. We will return for another date night! read more

La Ripaille - a painting on a brick wall - French Near Me - New York, New York

Food was terrific and perfectly cooked. Timeless place, highly recommend for relaxed fine dining.

Lovely welcome from the staff, which is important to me. Our waiter recommended the special Chicken Dijonaise, and I was not disappointed. The prices are really good in comparison to other restaurants in the area. Don't miss this charming, old world spot. read more

SUCH a quaint little French restaurant - I cant believe I didn't go here sooner! I'm a sucker for adorable French restaurants but this one had a handful of the right touches. It's small, they hang your coats when you walk in, they have French music playing in the background, there's dim lighting and candles on each table (some are Eiffel Tower candles). The food presentation is gorgeous and I can't believe I didn't get photos! Next time. I will note that they had a handful of yummy sounding dishes as specials, which they told us about, but we decided to order off the menu. I ordered the Mediterranean salad which came with quinoa, kale, tomatoes, and pears I believe. I ate the entire thing - it was so tasty and just what I was in the mood for. My friend ordered the tiger shrimp pasta with saffron sauce and enjoyed hers as well. She said the sauce was just what she was hoping it'd be. I vividly remember us both finishing our meals and looking up to realize it was probably the first time we'd ever both completely cleaned our plates! Portions aren't massive, they are just right. We each had a couple slices of bread with olive oil before our entrees as well. Great place if you're looking for a date night spot or if you just want a relaxing dinner without all the city craziness. read more

What a happy, yet chill, place to meet friends for dinner. That's the most striking thing about La Ripaille. Server staff also quite attentive and professional. The food could be more tasty and balanced, though. Had a veal with mashed potato special - veal was supposedly slow-cooked for 10 hours, and, it tasted like that too. The meat cubes were dry and tasteless, like an overcooked stew meat. Wines were a bit overpriced, perhaps this is typical for Village restaurants (I'm not from NYC). Don't know if I'd dine there again - but, the atmosphere is really terrific. read more

This was my first time eating here, and I was impressed. Reasonably priced for the West Village~ I got the Broccoli Mousse, something I've never had before; light and airy, with lemon butter sauce. The owner recommended I try the special Blanquette de Veau, which was fabulous! I will definitely come here again the next time I am in the neighborhood. I was thrilled to spend an evening in this charming, authentic bistro atmosphere. read more

La Ripaille - French Near Me - New York, New York

I had dinner here with 2 friends from Europe: what a pleasant surprise to find this gem in a city of restaurant group places. The owner is an absolute French original and even 35 years in, you could feel how much he (and all other staff) still cares about his guests, the food, the atmosphere. The bistro is cozy and rustic. If you are looking for a glitzy French restaurant you are in the wrong place. If you are looking for a warm and welcoming restaurant with great food (portions tend to be on the smaller 'European' side...) you are in the right place. Wine list is perfectly balanced. Definitely coming back! read more

Yes, my IG followers know we eat at @laripaillenyc every Tuesday or Wednesday weekly, outdoor, since October 2020. They only closed for the months with no indoor dining. The owners are like families; staffs are super friendly and professional. The food is just yummy; anything on the menu, appetizers to desserts. Wine choices are great too. We meet WV neighbors and become pandemic dinner buddies. This place is such a neighborhood gem . read more

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Entered the cozy restaurant with high expectations, only to be met with an owner/manager with the worst customer service. Needs to learn manners. Completely turned me off from eating here. He only seems to be polite to those who are willing to spend big bucks. Others beware. Cozy atmosphere? Yeah right! read more

Dined at La Ripaille, a cozy French spot. Delicious, authentic dishes and great service. A must-visit for French cuisine lovers!

We loved this spot. Cozy atmosphere. Excellent food. Attentive service. Good wine. Lovely owner/host! Go!

La ripaille is a cute, classy white table cloth whole in the wall in a great little spot in the Meat Packing District. We were here on a Friday night, and unfortunately it was a bit slow. Regardless the food was amazing and the wine selection was simple and great as well. A 3 course meal fir 2 and a bottle of wine came out to 220$ so this place isn't cheap, but every bite will be worth it! Mushroom appetizer was killer, as was the specials that they had that day. read more

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Fantastic. The space is small and cute and casual. Staff is very friendly and hard-working. Feels very French but not at all fussy. Just delicious bistro food. We had the broccoli mouse and mushroom pastry as appetizers and they were both very tasty. Mains (ravioli and fish) were very good. The owner/waiter said the side of string beans was unnecessary and he was right but we ate them anyway. Desserts were really good. Chocolate dome was a nice mix of flavors and textures. The special coconut souffle was even better, frozen and with really great flavor. Finally, given the type of place and the relatively small menu, there are are a surprising number of vegetarian options. If you're a vegetarian or pescetarian you won't find yourself pigeonholed into the one or two options you often find and restaurants with even larger menus. We will be back. read more

Just wow. Gone out for date night dinner here and it was amazing! The timing of the entrees coming out was perfectly done, there was not much of a wait and since we were headed to the Billy Joel concert that evening, they rushed it a bit but just the right amount of time in between each dish. The food is absolutely amazing. And again, the service of our waiters were superb! It was my first time dining here, and it wont be my last. I can't get over how tasty and savory the escargot appetizer was. Literally craving it right now because of its rich and creamy tomato sauce. I do have to point out, the steak in peppercorn sauce was a bit too peppercorny, maybe having less peppercorn would have made it less spicy and overpowering, but still enjoyable. The steak was delicious regardless. Had a glass of the popular red to pair with the meal. And lastly for dessert, creme brulee, a personal favorite. It was delicious! read more

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This restaurant is a little jewel! The 4 of us discovered this recently and have been back twice in a month. We just love it. Tonight we celebrated a birthday and it was a great time! I had the escargot and ravioli; others had foie gras and filet of sole; another had the veal. The food by all accounts was simply delicious. The owner is a charming and engaging man who really adds to the authentic flavor of this restaurant! The service is impeccable. We will return often.. that is certain! I'm the NewYorkLady read more

I don't know why this place isn't slammed when I come here . The food is *delicious*, the vibe is so authentic without trying. Chill atmosphere, excellent wine. I think it has somehow stayed beneath the radar of 'post covid' vibe shift. But it def will blow up if foodies get wind and realize what we have on our hands here. read more

Like Babette's Feast but in the West Village. Amazing food and great service. Love the intimate feel.

Come for the ambiance, outlandish owner, and super-charming Francophone staff. My buddy led us in here when the trendier eateries were too busy (at 10 pm!). I didn't get a proper entree, but the charcuterie plate was filling and satisfying. My wife's ravioli, which she was kind enough to share, was rich and creamy. The prices are definitely not what I would call friendly to the wallet. But so it goes. I'm bumping this to 4 stars for the charm and old-school, devil-may-care decor. read more

You can tell the food is cooked with love! Great ambiance and the staff/owner is so friendly. We came here for a birthday and were very well taken care of and the food was incredible. A great dining experience, will definitely be back! read more

Wednesday night, me and one other table. Ambiance could've been lovely, if not for the neverending beratement the owner or manager heaped on the poor 20 year old newbie waiter. The owner/manager (not sure) was perfectly dazzling French host for the arriving guests. But when you can hear him literally turn on a dime and be a horror to his staff? Ick. Oh. The food was just ok. read more

So thrilled La Ripaille is still here. Returned recently with friends for a first visit since the pandemic. Was a frequent diner in the very late 80s and early 90s until moving more north. Just wow. It's as awesome and welcoming as ever. The food is divine, great choices for wine. We had an array of items. The fish special was exquisite. Alain Laurent is still there...he and I are just a bit greyer these days, but gosh this is like stepping into France for supper--small, cozy, delicious. Highly, highly recommend, especially for groups of 2, 3, 4. read more

Bottom line: I could go so far as saying 4.5 stars for this little French gem. Good simple French entrees executed well, and I am a fan of that. Delicious food with a positive staff lead to us putting La Ripaille on our list of places we'd like to visit again in the future. The Deets: Walking around the West Village, we got shot down at the original place we had wanted to try last Saturday night...they were booked solid with no room to squeeze us in. We walked around and decided on giving La Ripaille a try since it was in the area. I'm glad we did, it's a good find. Going in, we were greeted at the bar/desk by manager-owner that was in very good spirits and happy to see us. He confirmed a table for us and we were shown to it with no issues. Inside is a very quaint atmosphere with all sorts of French countryside type items on the walls as well as very eye catching French posters/art. I liked it, intimate enough for a date but casual enough for anytime. Our cocktail orders were taken and filled quickly, and we enjoyed our drinks, very well done. We started out with a charcuterie plate that included pâté, sausage, dry saucisson, ham, and condiments (we specifically asked for the country pâté). Honestly it was one of the best charcuterie plates I've had, we thoroughly enjoyed it. For entrees, we both chose specials for the night...I got the chicken made with a white grape cream sauce with vegetables on the side while Chris M. got the steak with double dijon mustard sauces accompanying it and shoestring pommes frites. Both entrees were very well done, nice presentation and taste with both. I really enjoyed the chicken, never had a cream sauce with white grapes and it was better than I imagined it could be. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the sauce was so well done and flavorful. The steak with the dijon was thumbs up as well as I did enjoy a few bites of it also, so good! The staff as well as the manager-owner checked on us frequently and made sure we had a good experience, and we definitely did at that. read more

La Ripaille - One of tonight's specials, chicken in a white grape sauce. - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Le magnifique!! Wonderful restaurant! Loved the food, the ambiance and the service was exceptional!! The restaurant is small, cute yet cozy at the same time. Dimly lit, its a charming restaurant and a good option for a romantic night out. The service here was excellent, with our group closing down the restaurant because we had such a great time here. The servers were attentive and made sure to answer any questions and concerns that we had. On to the food!! The food was very flavorful and extremely delicious! For appetizers we had the duck pate, the broccoli mousse and the warm brie with pear. Oh goodness all of these were sooooo good!! My favorite was the duck pate, bursting with flavor, velvety and so delicious I want to go back and have some more again! For dinner I had the sea bass and my husband had the chicken special that night....both extremely delicious. I don't think I left anything on my plate, I ate it all!! :) Dessert again was yum! Great selection of wine and dessert wines as well! I will definitely be coming back! La Ripaille is a good choice if you're looking for a date night option or a night out with friends. They usually have reservations available on opentable which is always a plus. read more

La Ripaille - Warm Brie with Pear! - French Near Me - New York, New York

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Decided to try this spot last minute since I just moved to an apartment a block away. Got the steak frites and it was delicious! The fries, the sauce, the steak was tender and juicy. The espresso martinis were strong and just the right amount of sweet. Definitely go! read more