NYCReview
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Attention restaurateurs: the Upper West Side is famished, starving for anything that resembles a cool downtown restaurant. More than any other Manhattan neighborhood, the UWS has been neglected. Badly. And judging by the level of human enjoyment at The Ribbon so far, you guys are missing out on a GOLD MINE.
Dip into The Ribbon on a Saturday night, and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Blue Ribbon’s first Upper West Side outpost is banging like 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” days. It’s overflowing with people, and, more importantly, happiness. People simply can’t believe they finally have a better option than the so-so stuff they’ve been surviving on locally for so long, especially for dinner.
The Ribbon is smart, too. Their menu, like the restaurant itself, is massive, and is built to please pretty much anyone. At brunch, lunch, and dinner, they serve the classics with enough of a twist to make the food stand out. Its flexibility makes it the perfect location for any number of occasions: on one hand, The Ribbon is a great place to come early with kids, but it’s also the perfect spot to watch college football during the day at the bar, or to visit for a night out on the town with a big group. Recently we were lucky enough to land the private room, which has one of the best round tables in all of Manhattan. There’s an old rock ’n roll jukebox, TVs at the bar that don’t interfere with the rest of the dining experience, and an impressive assortment of brown liquor. Service is on point, and overall, it’s just a really fun place to hang out.
The Ribbon has a lot of style, and plenty of substance. It’s essentially a classier, more upscale version of The Smith. If you live up here, check it out. If you don’t live up here, now you can travel north to go out with your friends who do, without having to settle for slop.
I’m ending this review the way I started it, but this time I’m going to yell. OPEN MORE GOOD RESTAURANTS ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE. TONS OF PEOPLE LIVE UP HERE AND WANT TO EAT GOOD FOOD. AND NOT JUST BRUNCH.