Ruthie's - Broad Channel

The bartender-server made me a fantastic strawberry margarita, not too sweet and a bit spicy. The grilled avocado and pork chop were delicious. Unfortunately, the prices – especially for the mains – felt out of control, while the portions were small. Had the pork chop come with something beyond four shishito peppers, I might have been okay with $36 for it, but as is I left hungry and went across the street after dinner for an order of French fries. On this hot evening, the air conditioning seemed also not to be working. It got increasingly hot and humid inside the place, despite very few guests – another reason we left for Big Tiny to continue our post-dinner conversation. For a cocktail and a snack, Ruthie's is a good choice, but not for dinner.

Only stopped in for drinks. Service was very kind and attentive, and the drink was very good. But the atmosphere seems a little unfinished and/or rough around the edges. It felt like a confusing mix of a low key neighborhood bar and an aspiring food destination.

Very enjoyable meal. The steak and the soft-shelled crab were excellent.

I suppose it is hard to properly review a restaurant on Smith Street on a Friday night. I’ll tell you one thing: there’s a reason this one is popular. Any restaurant that has a limited menu I swear it might’ve been under 10 items has to be proud of each and every item. My very kind server suggested the oysters in Serrano chili sauce, and for the very hungry, a sizzling skirt steak with hazelnuts and asparagus. She also recommended a nice Italian red wine that went well with the steak particularly. The oysters, paired with the sauce had a little bite, but not that spicy – and the perfect amount of brine. I was a little intimidated by the sizzling platter of steak especially as a solo diner but every single bite – every morsel of hazelnut, of tender asparagus, and of succulent steak was worth it. Solo diners who get overwhelmed by noise may find a Friday night dinner a little challenging perhaps, but read a good book on your Kindle (like “Kamogawa Food Detectives” and you’ll be fine. Really delicious.

Awful natural hipster wine. Food was almost inedibly spicy