The man and I decided to stray from our norm of sushi, and try a new cuisine...we settled on French! We made a reservation for 7 on a Saturday night, but the place was empty when we arrived so if you are an early eater, no need to make a reservation! The owner took our orders, spoke with a thick accent, while interesting French music played in the background. Food was good - I had the calamari app, he had escargot. Both were good! Warning, the calamari is full on tentacles and all! He ate those... Dinner was the shrimp with linguine with a safrron cream sauce - delicious! He ordered the special, a cassoule with lamb and two types of sausage - he ate the whole thing! The ambiance was nice, the owner made us want to become regulars! Would recommend - by the time we left, there were 6 other tables full of people(and the place only holds about 12 tables - very cozy! read more

5 stars, 5 stars, 5 stars!!!!!!!! Chef Alan is truly talented and a master of French cuisine. The welcoming staff, cozy ambience, AMAZING food and personalized service ensure that this will be a meal you won't forget. It was my first time here and I will certainly be coming back many times in the future!! read more

In short: thank you Barbara and Steve for finding this place for us. My wife and i felt like we were in Paris, The owner Laurent was great, choosing the wine for us and the dinner selection, scallops and pasta and shrimp French style, service was impeccable although the place was packed, At the end of dinner the owner sent over around of champagne after we finished our desert. We recommend this place !! PS la ripaille," which means a sumptuous feast in French read more

First time, last time visit. Christmas Day evening. From a quality standpoint, the food simply was NOT there. Oh, I thought price gouging was a European thing not to be found in New York. Very nice young staff doing their best while being berated by a manager/owner. read more

We had an outstanding dinner on Saturday night. The service was attentive, but not overbearing, and the owner personally explained the menu options to us, including several excellent specials. We had a Cote du Rhone that was delicious and reasonably priced. Our appetizers were excellent, as were our entrees. We had two different chicken entrees, a fantastic duck dish, and fresh snapper. All were perfectly prepared. We had flan and lemon tart for dessert, both capped off a perfect meal. Highly recommended. Excellent food, reasonable prices. read more

A very nice French restaurant, amazing food and good selection of wine. The owner was there when we got there and made us feel special and as if we're in France. Highly recommended, for any special dinner of a date read more

Words cannot describe how much I love this place. My boyfriend and I stumbled on this restaurant by chance a week or two ago, and I've been back two more times since then. The food is beautifully plated, apart from being delicious, fresh and innovative without being insane. I've never had my brain explode until I've eaten La Ripaille's lamb. Order the lamb, if there's one thing you learn from this. I typically never eat pate or confit, but I'll eat it here. What does this tell you? The waiters are attentive without being intrusive, and they're also fun to talk to. However, no one beats Monsieur Alain Laurent. His very presence lights up the restaurant, as he shouts "S'IL VOUS PLAIT" and "FABULEUX" at everyone. He actually makes me excited about food as he ticks through the hilarious House Rules. There are no obvious cons, just be prepared to take your time. This IS NOT a standard American where you're in, out, and the table's cleared within an hour. Also, Mr. Laurent is a football (soccer) fan, so I love it even more. read more

c'est délicieux Found this place on open table and was pleasantly surprised. First off the ambience was amazing and its clear why this place has been around for more then 30 years. Everything from the French music to the jovial proprietor reminded me of my travels throughout France. The restaurant is small but very charming, adorned with vintage posters and old farming tools on the walls. The wine was reasonably priced 40-60/bottle, and the specials were fantastic. I had the scallops special in beurre blanc which was delicious. Portions were a great size, enough to leave everyone satisfied but not overly stuffed. My favorite part was that i never felt rushed. We sat and enjoyed dinner over 2.5hours. My companions thought the service was a bit slow, however I hadn't noticed, perhaps because I'm quite accustomed to French dining? Overall I would certainly go back and recommend this to anyone who is looking for an authentic French meal. read more

I went back to La Ripaille last week and I was so glad to see the place stills the same and the food delicious! It is so nice to see a place that is so romantic stays romantic. Love the owner and his knowledge on food and love on what he does. A place to eat at least once in your life when in NY! read more

Very rude owner (or maître de) and very mediocre food. I walked in with my wife and an elderly overweight french gentleman was busy stacking menus. We stood there staring for about a minute when I kindly asked him about getting a table for two. He then very brusquely said "yes yes, give me a moment!" Someone else politely came over to seat us. I was ready to walk out at this point but didn't want to cause a scene. I figured maybe, a decent meal would make up for the fact we were treated this way.....it didn't unfortunately. My wife and I eat at restaurants all over the city and this is extremely substandard in every way. Not to mention, both my wife and I had a sour stomach later that evening. Horrendous. read more

Wow. I am surprised by the 4 stars that this place has. I went based on that but should have walked out the minute I stepped in here. The owner guy was ordering the staff around and basically berating them. Why don't you have them act as waiters instead of trying to read your mind every second? The service was slow due to the fact that he wouldn't let anyone do anything without his commands. I know this because I heard him say this to one of the staff. It was so distracting. On to the food and drinks. Wine pour was terrible. A crappy white was poured and we were charged $12. I ordered a cocktail and it was mediocre and tiny. $13. $13 is fine if you make a good drink but he didn't even measure out the portions! We only ordered apps as we wanted to leave ASAP. We had the escargot and salmon tartare. The salmon was fishy and tough to chew. The escargot were good in a creamy tomato sauce. Bread was terrible. Surprised they would serve that quality. All in all this 2 star is generous. read more

It should have negative stars for the owner of this place who is terrible... I was facing him and he was just mistreating the 2 waiters... his behavior is just unacceptable... 5 stars for the waiters who are very courageous to work for such a jerk... the owner shouldn't behave like this in front of customers... plus he doesn't look professional... Nasty guy and does not give a good image of his restaurant. He rings the bell when he wants the waiters to be back and see him and then he talks to them badly... he should stop drinking wine while working. The food was good but nothing exceptional when it's pricey ($308.00--5 people) besides I'm French !!... Service was slow... bread was bad and sliced so thin... I feel ashamed when I meet a French restaurant owner behaving like this. I will never go back. He does not deserve my money. It makes no doubt that the waiters will resign from this place... it's just HELL. read more

Ate here on Valentine's Day. I was looking forward to a romantic and delicious dinner. The service was acceptable and cordial. However, the food just didn't cut it. It was like you are dating a French girl and her mom who really isn't a great cook makes you dinner. Very uninventive and plain French dishes. Our waiter described every dish as "interesting." Also, the wine list was extremely small. I like classic French dishes but if that is your menu then you better knock it out of the park. I would love to sit and write a stellar review but I just can't. This restaurant reminded me of my first trip to Paris when I ended up eating in a restaurant filled with only Americans bc no local would eat there. read more

La Ripaille has been a winner for me for decades. If you want authentic, delicious, French comfort cuisine with a wonderful and attentive owner, Alain, this place was created for you. I recently had a first date there and I can't help to think that the warm, quiet, atmosphere at La Ripaille enhanced our budding romance. read more

Over priced for not a good food at all. We do not recommend - Plates are small, French fries and omelets are flavorless, chicken comes with very small side and lamb is overcooked.. Bread is not good, which is a shame for a French restaurant. Only good point is the pâté with cornichons. read more

I never had French food before. I will definitely have it again - this place was awesome. I was there with some coworkers who are much better versed in French cuisine than I am (including someone from Paris), and they were very impressed. We went here for lunch (group of 6) and it was completely dead, which was actually good - great service, fun host (he seemed like the owner) .. had some good wine, and great food and desserts. Fairly reasonably priced, too. This would definitely make for a good dinner date spot also. I heard them taking reservations, so perhaps they get booked up in the evenings. Will definitely go back. read more

It's very Parisian. The owner is an eccentric acting, but, somehow charming, Frenchman, right out of a 1950s movie comedy. It is such fun in there that, even if the food wasn't as good as it is, you would leave sated. The outside patio is small but real nice since that block doesn't seem to be heavily trafficked. read more

My disappointment with this restaurant motivated me to create a Yelp account and write my first review. There's really only one thing I have to tell you about this "French" restaurant. They served us a bread basket that LITERALLY contained a pile of your standard bottega sandwich hero rolls, cut in half and toasted pressed flat in a panini press. We were already put off by the fact that we were the only people in the carpet-must-scented dining room, and the waiter was about as far as one man could be from knowing or giving a F--- about French food. The appetizers were not only mediocre in terms of flavor and ingredients, but also just plain wrong. But something about that basket of stale toasted bottega bread was really stuck in my head. when the check landed, north of $250 for four people. read more

My bf and in came here last night and we had an amazing time. The owner came and talked to us as well as the captain. We sat at the bar for what was supposed to be just some glasses of wine; turned to a full meal. The mussles were delicious; the charcuterie was ok, the pate wasnt my favorite. We also got the escargot which was delicious! The apple tatin was not however. It tasted burnt and there wasnt much pastry. The wine list is super small but because the owner and staff were able to make us feel so welcome; i give this place a charming 4 stars! read more

I'm surprised by all the top reviews as our experience was horrible. As we stood contemplating whether or not to dine there, the waitress stood and stared at us and kept talking as we read the menu. After scouting a few other places, we decided to try it because there was ample outdoor seating available. The fact that only one other party was dining should've been a clue as to the restaurant's quality. The waitress was terrible, she kept insisting we order alcohol and when only one of us did, she raised her eyebrows disapprovingly and said, only one of you? Don't you want some too? We don't need alcohol pushed on us. Also, this is supposed to be a nice French restaurant but the wine list was presented as "Malbec Argentina". It didn't have vineyard or year information - a tell-take sign of bad wine/not a high-end restaurant. We decided on an app and two entrees. Before our appetizer arrived, we were given a small basket of bread, which was completely stall. Not toasted, just stale. We sent it back and were given another log, fresher, but definitely at least day old bread, and still quite stale. Upon receiving the bread, we cancelled our dinner order. We did enjoy the broccoli mousse which was delicious! Once we canceled the order, our waitress's attitude was even worse. When I complained about the bread, she responded that they get fresh bread daily insinuating that I was wrong. We left and went a block down the street to Meme which was delicious and had unquestionably fresh and delicious bread and an experienced server. Normally when you have a bad experience at a restaurant, the owner or manager comes to apologize. The owner happened to be right outside the entire time (in fact he was sitting at the only other occupied table) and never once came over to try to make amends. One of the worst dining experiences I've had in a long time! read more

Way overpriced... No French people working in the restaurant. Our waiter told us they were out of every bottle we tried to order but suggested wines around $150. I will never go back and I live in the west village :-( read more

Adorable, homey little place -- I felt like I was in Paris again! Brunch is reasonably priced and it was delicious.

I was very surprised to see these high reviews on yelp about this restaurant. Maybe we didn't have a comprehensive enough sampling of the menu, however, I was very disappointed. I ordered the lamb, which was very overcooked and uninteresting. It didn't have a strong lamb flavor, and there were barely any sides to accompany it. We also ordered the pate, which was fine. The tarte tatin was not particularly great. The bill was quite pricey to top it off! read more

Tres Disappointing Not much to recommend about this hole in the wall French bistro in the West Village. Actually, if the French knew that this was referred to as a bistro they might break off diplomatic relations. They ran out of virtually every special on the menu which really wasn't such a tragedy because they were not that great. Did make it up to us with several bottles of wine, which was appropriate. Unfortunately, the waiter was the classic Craig Claiborne "disaster with a smile." Probably better for a date than a larger group. I will give them an extra star because the broccoli mousse is quite extraordinary and they did try to make amends after things had gone awry. Listen lots of other people really like this place and maybe we hit it on a bad night. To do a real review you should go to a place two or three times. I'd mix in some of the other reviews to reach a conclusion! read more

I've eaten at this reataurant many times. It's a real gem in the neighborhood. The food is fresh and consistently delicious. The service is friendly. This is a great spot for a romantic dinner! A friend of mine has complicated food allergies; the restaurant is good about customizing the food. read more

The fourth star is for the owner, who charmed all the diners with his warmth and presence. Last night, I met a school friend for drinks and dinner, sans our wives, who were off travelling the world. This was an excellent spot for a quiet chat about years past, our children and our work. The food was well prepared and presented, but not memorable. (I had scallops Provencal style.) The interior was stodgy in an attractive way. My one complaint: I loved hearng Brel's"Ne me quitte pas" the first three times, but after that, I had had enough. read more

Transports you to France!!! I was visiting friends on the UES but they suggested we head to the West Village so I could try this place- and I am so glad we did! Service was impeccable. Food was absolutely delicious! CREME BRULEE. read more

Wonderful atmosphere, great food and excellent service. Great French and Brazilian music in the background. Fun meeting the owner. We highly recommend! read more

I had a wonderful time. The food was delicious. My steak was cooked exactly as I like it. The dessert was delicious (upside down apple tart). Alain is very nice and had a table outside for me and my precious baby girl (7 yo Cairn Terrier). The food and the service made it a wonderful experience. Can't wait to go back. read more

The restaurant is very dark inside, which I loved. It made it a relaxing, romantic evening with my husband and break for us from the stressful work day. Food was good - not outstanding, but enjoyable, and the prices are pretty reasonable, considering our bill was about $130 including a $40 bottle of wine. One thing is that the servers just take care of your drinks and food-running and the owner takes care of everything else, which is a good and bad thing. We waited for our check forever, but maybe they were waiting for us to ask. Hard to be sure. read more

I've been to La Ripaille for brunch with friends. Three of us got the pre-fixe brunch, which comes with a brunch cocktail/juice, entree and coffee/ tea ; (1) eggs benedict and (2) eggs florentine -all delicious - and one of us had the lobster ravioli (daily special); she says she could taste the lobster and yummy but it could be a little bit more flavored. The owner and the staff were really friendly and the menu is reasonably priced. We are planning to go for lunch/dinner... read more

Passionate owner and decent food.

This is our go to restaurant for important events. Alan, the owner, treats each customer as a VIP guest. Food is excellent. We usually look for the specials except for the broccoli moose. I think this is one of the most romantic places in the city. read more

Great food, owner is super nice, staff is friendly and professional. We stumbled upon this place after waking around and seeing too many concept restaurants with no soul. This is a simple French restaurant with a straightforward menu, fresh specials, good wine, and a warm, sweet vibe. Great place for a date or to bring your mother in law. read more

My boyfriend and I had a decent meal at La Ripaille last Friday night. I came here because it was rated as one of the most romantic restaurants in the city. When I walked in at 7:45 pm on a Friday night, I was surprised to see it half empty. It started to fill up a bit as the night went on but I was still surprised not to see it full. The atmosphere is sweet. It is dimly lit with candles at every table. For appetizers, I had the broccoli mousse and my boyfriend had the brie cheese. Both were fine dishes but nothing mind blowing. For entrée, I had the bass which was on special and was served in a vodka-like sauce. My boyfriend had the penne with sausage. There were only three small pieces of sausage in the entire dish. Both entrees were tasty. For dessert, we shared the special they had which was a strawberry tart. This tart was probably my favorite part of the meal. I was annoyed though to see as we were leaving the couple next to us who didn't order dessert received complimentary truffles. Why should I be punished for ordering dessert? After I left the restaurant, I was still slightly hungry because the portions were very small all around. read more

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Amazingly cute spot that I cannot believe it took me this long to discover. Beyond romantic, a true gem - unpretentious- and evokes warmth!

Super tasty! I had the escargot and the pâté for apps, and the escargots was soooo good... Especially the sauce that is was swimming in. Usually I like them in the shell, but these were an exception. Entrees: lobster ravioli and veal, both equally tasty depending on what you are in the mood for. Lemon tart and chocolate mousse for desserts, still did not disappoint! Even though I had red wine, if you are a port lover, you would love their 10 year port. I couldn't believe from start to finish the entire meal was amazing! I finally had top it off with expresso! (only downside ironically is their French bread- odd) read more

Excellent food, cozy setting, warm and diverse staff. What more would u ask for ? Total 180-degree turn from my last yelp experience. Food was off the chain, I still can't get the flavors out of my head. I saw french chefs about to riot on top chef 2009 b/c of a lack of balance and harmony. No such difficulties here. Everyone and everything flowed with quality and value from the moment that I stepped into the door to the time I left. A bit of an older crowd and may be a 3rd-period french refresher, but well worth the visit. Definitely a repeater ! read more

Cozy, cute, and warm French restaurant. Staffs are very friendly and nice. The owner takled to us like a friend who's known us for a long time. I liked this welcoming atmosphere. Inside of the restaurant is prettily decorated. I think the food is average. Some taste too light, and some are too strong. For example, that night's special, stew with many kinds of meats was too strong. But the mussels for appetizer was slightly taste less. Fish for main was just right. Dessert: Cream flan was sort of too sweet (however it went well with black coffee!). Overall, they are good, but not sophisticated, and feel like home style food. read more

Maybe this kind of food is from a different region of France that I'm not familiar with but the food seemed somewhat like an old-fashioned French/Italian cuisine. The escargot were de-shelled and drenched in some kind of penne sauce. They weren't bad but just not what I was expecting. Both my girlfriend and I got pasta dishes. She ordered the bow-time w/salmon and I ordered the penne with sausages and mushrooms. Both seemed liked a dish for an average italian restaurant. I don't know. It was good but I'm not sure I ate French food tonight. Maybe I'm just ignorant to the whole thing. read more