Ruthies Restaurant

They are now know as Foster’s. Started eating here 15 years ago. The quality of food has not changed one bit. Ms. Ruthie is gone in body. But her spirit and love can still be felt.

i finally made it to ruthie’s, only to find the eponymous owner had passed away. it was a sad day… but the staff still seemed nice and pleasant, although i did have to wait for a seemingly personal phone conversation until i could order my take out. (hence 4 instead of 5 stars.)
i ordered the smothered chicken platter with mac and cheese (obviously) and the collared greens. got home and it was amazing. the chicken fell off the bone, the mac and cheese was perfectly seasoned, and the collared greens were perfectly done. awesome… i will be back.
ruthie, rip.

The food is delicious. Ordered the Smothered Chicken with Yams and Greens, as well as a Half and Half. The Chicken fell readily off the bone. The Yams and Half and Half were better here than at Mitchell’s (see review). Neither was overly sweet. Mitchell’s got em beat on the cornbread, though.
So why the 3 stars? The food brings in a lot of customers but the place is too cramped to accomodate and they seemed understaffed. Granted, I’m sure they can’t fit anymore people back there but that just confirms the size issue.
I was the only one dining in and was surprised that my food came quickly compared to all of the take-​out orders. Many customers seemed unhappy with orders getting mixed up or the long wait time — especially those who’d called ahead.
While I enjoyed the food, the ambience of unhappy customers inches away from me dampened the mood. I would opt for take-​out instead but witnessing how well that seems to go, I am quite torn.

I used to come here all the time due to my job being so close and I had no complaints. Up until the time I decided to bring my boyfriend along for lunch. The place wasn’t crowded or anything although at times it does get busy so I was kind of surprised that day because number one, the barbequed ribs I ordered were not barbequed, but instead cooked with the sauce poured over the ribs. Number two, my boyfriend asked to use the restroom, and was told by the lady at the counter, who probably didn’t appreciate him asking, to wait a few minutes. Mind you, nobody was in the restroom. But then again, in order for you to go to the restroom, you would have to pass the kitchen, as the place is kind of small. But whatever, you know? All I know is that I never went back and don’t expect to, because quite frankly, soul food is one of my favorite cuisines, and there was nothing soulful about those ribs.

Act 1 — Restaurant
Me — «Hello can I have an order of smothered pork chops, mac n cheese, candied yams, fried chicken, collards, and a slice of coconut pineapple «
Lady — Okay. what is your name
Me — Beverly
Lady — It will be a few minutes
Me…okay
(few minutes)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lady — Beverly, your order is ready
Me…handing her my card
Lady — Oh. this is cash only
Me — (looking around for the cash only notice)
Me — Miss, I do not see the cash only sign»
Lady — Oh we have always been cash only, we have been here for over 10 years
Me — Well. that is nice but I am new to the neighborhood… and was not aware that it was cash only
Lady — okay I will put a cash only sign up
Me — (thinking yeah right lady. tell me anything… damn you)
Me — «I will be back» (goes to the ghetto ATM in front of the bodega)
Act 2 — Home
Me — «Oh hell no… I did not order this crap… I ordered smothered pork chops not fried!!! the nerve»
So, as for the portion of my order that was correct. It was just okay… I have had better… the chicken was bland, the fried pork chops that I did not order were also bland… i mean damn they could have slap a little seasoning on them.
Not gonna front the mac n cheese was good and so were the yams. The collards were yuck… Glory in the can is better. the corn bread was also bland.
The cake — Good, not Great.
Still a little pissed about the cash only thingy. All in all I probably will not be going back.

I have never experienced dining in a restaurant that was so hectic and busy, but where I felt so relaxed and comfortable. Ruthie’s is truly wonderful — How did I never know about this place?
Their menu offers simple, filling and comforting soul food options from fried chicken to meatloaf to catfish and everything in between. I had the meatloaf which was truly amazing (OK, maybe not as amazing as my own grandmother’s, but still amazing) and served with two sides served in huge portions. I had the candied yams (amazing and NOT mushy — how do they do it!?) and macaroni & cheese which was some over-​the-​top homemade goodness. We were also served sweet, buttery cornbread (as if we needed it, but no complaints). My friend had the fried chicken breast which looked amazing and as I looked at what the other people dining there simultaneously were eating, I can’t help but think that everything here is just excellent. Even the iced tea was (for some reason) ridiculously good and tasted homemade (none of that «4C» taste, you know?). (We were too full to even think of dessert, but the cakes and pies look great — Next time, I think I will go prepared to have dessert…) At $ 10-​$ 14 for entrees including sides, the prices aren’t bad considering the huge portions you get and the obvious popularity of this place.
On a Friday night, we walked into the small space (only five tables, each seating two people) and the cute dining area was filled with people waiting for take away orders. They also deliver, and it was apparent that the kitchen/​counter staff of three had a lot on their hands, but they handled the crowd with aplomb. Table service is a bit slow and two parties who were seated after us got their food first, but we were apologized to profusely for this by the staff. I was actually slightly annoyed by this and getting kind of cranky, but one taste of the food and I was seriously cheered up beyond measure. Awesome. As I mentioned, Ruthie’s is HECTIC and you unfortunately won’t have time to slouch back and relax after enjoying your meal because there will be someone waiting for the table you’re sitting at. I am convinced that they’ve perfectly replicated the essence of southern hospitality here. I already can’t wait to return.

i often wonder about how I’ll die.
i thought i wanted to die during sex
my heart giving out at the peak of ecstasy.
not being able to close my casket
because rigor mortis set in
quickly changed my mind.
passing on in my sleep seemed peaceful to me
but now that doesn’t seem right.
I want to leave this world after eating at Ruthie’s
face down in what remains of smothered pork chops
and mac & cheese. for when the coroner rolls me over
he will look at me and say «wow that man looks happy»
Ruthie’s is happy food.

I love ANY place that — 1) feels like you’re walking into somebody’s grandmother’s house — staff turns on the genuine Southern hospitality, and they remember the regulars, 2) explicitly warns vegetarians that all veggies are prepped w/​smoked turkey necks, and 3) asks if you want gravy on everything. MmmmmMmmm. That’s my kinda cookin’. Oh and they’re closed Sundays for chuuuch.
The boy and I are happy regulars at this place. My favorites are the smothered pork chops, smothered chicken, meatloaf, and the baked salmon (served only Thurs-​Sat.) Each dinner plate comes w/​two large sides so the avg. price of $ 10-​$ 14 per plate is well worth it. Of course everything is served w/​buttery corn bread. Wash it down w/​a half n half combo of southern sweet tea and lemonade. Come hungry or leave w/​a nice box of leftovers. Furthermore, I have seen on occasion the staff give food to a needy soul — no questions asked. This place makes me travel from my home in Bed-​Stuy (land of all things southern, West Indian, and everything in-​between) to neighboring Fort Greene because it makes me feel right at home.

Yes the food is great. Really, really great. Every last thing on the menu. The portions are generous. Don’t tell me about that other place — these are the best ribs in Fort Greene. And this is a neighborhood original. It’s been here since the mid nineties, at least — and probably much longer.
That said, their delivery service has become humorously unreliable. It didn’t used to be this way… I’m not sure what changed, but lately I feel lucky if 1) they agree to take my order, and 2) my food actually arrives. It could be their delivery person didn’t come in that day. It could be they are running behind in the kitchen and they stopped taking delivery orders early. Or it just could be they didn’t feel like answering the phone. I’ve seriously had them let the phone ring forever only to pick it up on my second call and immediately hang up without ever even saying hello. At least twice!
My success rate ordering delivery from Ruthie’s has dipped down to between 30 and 40% the past year. Much of the time there is some reason why don’t take the order. When they do, it can easily be more than an hour before the food will arrive. And it too often happens there was some unexpected substitution or a mistake in the kitchen. I’ve never been shortchanged at Ruthie’s. No way. But I’ve gotten barbecued chicken when I ordered smothered, rolls when I ordered corn bread, mac n cheese when I ordered mashed potatoes– and other mix ups similar.
I don’t mind much when my order doesn’t come precisely as I ordered… I’ve never had anything from her kitchen that was not simply delicious. I take all of this as being part of the character of the place. But I’ve stopped ordering from Ruthie’s when I am too hungry to wait forever for my food to arrive, or I’ve got somewhere I’ve got to go in the next two hours. That’s too bad, because this is a place I like to support.
So order from Ruthie’s when you are not in a hurry and want some comfort food that will warm your tummy happy. Or go there in person where you won’t have to chance the spotty delivery. You will roll out afterwards, stuffed and happy.
Ruthie, if you are reading this, please sort out their delivery business! Disorganization is costing you too many customers. And the neighborhood is too often missing out on your wonderful food. I love you anyway. But I want to love you better!

This place used to be a best kept secret.
Before I get into the food-​food, can I just say that I’d gladly recommend eating dessert here any day over Junior’s (which is 2 blocks away). (In fact, everything they offer here is better than Junior’s). My friend and I used to walk here a few times a week to get the apple pie, so we could take it to his place and heat it up and top it with a scoop of vanilla… it’s the best! Their cakes are damn good, too. I feel sorry for the people who work at the hospital or attend L.I.U. across the street, because I know they pack on the extra weight being so close to this place.
I know it may appear to be a little pricey seeing as it resembles a Chinese restaurant in ambiance, but don’t judge the food by its florescent cramped dining space with yellowed plastic covered seats and greasy faux-​paneled walls… this soul food is the troof… def. the best in the area, and possibly the borough. If you can’t get over your need for everything to look funky & chic cuz this damn town has turned you into a retail zombie, go home and put your dinner on a fancy damn plate and eat with fine silver if you’re thaat in need of presentation, or just get over yourself… (In my opinion Brooklyn is overrun with places that give you all of the frills but not a lot of the literal (quality) product… everyone’s busy trying to spin a classic into something trendy. Well Ruthie’s is the classic that everyone is trying to spin… and it’s the classic done right, so hurry up and get yours!
Everything is tasty here, everything. I once died and almost went to hell from eating the ribs, (but that’s mostly because I was trying to be a vegetarian at that time). Even their homemade (sugary) iced tea and lemonade is good. So it’s not pricey when you take quality and authenticity into account. Try everything on the menu. All at once.

OMG this place is awesome.

The food here is very good and tasty. I love the smoothered chicken, pork chops, and turkey. I like anything with a lot of gravy. I am from the midwest and we love our gravy. Ha ha.
The mac ‘n cheese is great, then candied yams, and green are the best. They have potato salad, and cakes that make you want to slap someone it is soooo gooood. Love it. I am a hard critc of southern and soul food, since my family is from the South and MidWest. I am used to my grandmommas, and mommas good cooking. You can see by my size, I know good food when I taste it. If you go to Ruthies you are in for a treat.

I can’t believe that I am one of the first to review yay! I love Ruthies. We don’t have any good down home soul food places in Los Angeles, sorry M&M. The food here is always perfectly seasoned and well cooked. I love the salmon cake thingies and the yams… Watch out cause the greens are so good you may just slap yo momma. I love this place.