Blue Ribbon Brasserie is a landmark late-night American restaurant and raw bar at 97 Sullivan Street in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. Opened in November 1992 by brothers Bruce and Eric Bromberg—both graduates of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris—this intimate dining room between Spring and Prince Streets helped define downtown Manhattan’s late-night culinary culture. Known for welcoming off-duty chefs, neighborhood regulars, and travelers until 2:00 AM every night of the week, the restaurant pairs classic French brasserie technique with eclectic American comfort dishes, tiered shellfish plateaus, and an unfussy, high-energy bar scene.
What to Expect at Blue Ribbon Brasserie
Stepping through the red-trimmed storefront on Sullivan Street brings guests into a cozy, amber-lit room with burgundy banquettes, closely spaced bistro tables, white-papered surfaces, and a zinc-topped bar near the entrance. The Bromberg brothers originally designed the menu so diners could enjoy everything from a simple bowl of matzo ball soup or a plate of oysters to an extravagant multi-course feast well after midnight. That philosophy still anchors the kitchen today: the menu spans over forty dishes without rigid stylistic boundaries, moving effortlessly from French bistro staples like beef marrow with oxtail marmalade and escargots in garlic butter to Jewish deli classics, kosher-style hot dogs, and prime steaks.
Seafood and hearty mains share equal billing across the evening. The raw bar near the front shucks East and West Coast oysters to order alongside littleneck clams, jumbo shrimp, lobster, and stone crab claws. For main courses, the kitchen’s signature fried chicken—dredged with matzo meal and egg whites for an extra-crisp crust and served with mashed potatoes, collard greens, and wildflower honey—has remained one of New York City’s most celebrated comfort plates for more than three decades. Diners can also pair their meals with a French- and American-focused wine list, classic martinis and Manhattans, or bring a personal bottle for a $40 corkage fee.
- Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken: The flagship main course prepared with a crisp matzo-meal coating, plated with whipped potatoes, slow-braised collard greens, and a ramekin of white clover honey for dipping.
- Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade: Roasted canoe-cut bone marrow served bubbling hot alongside sweet-savory braised oxtail marmalade, coarse sea salt, and toasted Pullman bread.
- The Royale & Raw Bar Plateaus: Tiered towers of chilled Atlantic lobster, oysters, cherrystone clams, shrimp, and crab claws built for two to six guests at the table or bar.
- Pu Pu Platter & Escargots: Shareable starters ranging from classic French snails in herbaceous garlic butter to an indulgent assortment of ribs, wings, fried oysters, and marrow bones.
- Chocolate Bruno: A rich, flourless Belgian chocolate mousse cake topped with house-made vanilla bean ice cream and warm chocolate sauce that closes out late-night meals.
Blue Ribbon Brasserie at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 97 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012 |
| Neighborhood / Area | SoHo (between Spring St & Prince St), Manhattan |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM |
| Admission / Price Range | $$ – $$$ (Appetizers $16–$32; Mains $28–$58; Raw Bar Towers $95–$225; $40 corkage fee) |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1.5 to 2.5 hours |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Spring St Station (C, E trains) 2 blocks west; Prince St Station (R, W trains) 4 blocks east; Spring St Station (6 train) 5 blocks east |
| Official Website & Phone | blueribbonbrasserie.com | +1 212-274-0404 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
For years, Blue Ribbon Brasserie operated strictly on a walk-in basis with legendary sidewalk waits, though travelers can now book tables online in advance through the official reservations portal. Prime dinner hours between 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM fill days ahead, especially Thursday through Saturday. Solo diners and couples without reservations have the best luck arriving right at 5:00 PM opening or after 11:00 PM, when the full dinner menu is still served at the bar and late-night hospitality workers arrive. The dress code is smart casual; neat jeans, sweaters, and clean sneakers fit right in alongside dressier evening attire.
Reaching 97 Sullivan Street is straightforward via the NYC Subway: take the C or E train to Spring Street and walk two blocks east, or take the R or W train to Prince Street and walk four blocks west through the SoHo Cast-Iron Historic District. Street parking on narrow Sullivan Street is scarce, though commercial parking garages operate along Thompson Street and Broome Street. The ground-level entrance has a slight threshold step into a compact dining room where tables are set close together; guests needing step-free seating near the front door should notify the host team when booking. Before or after dinner, pair your meal with a walk past the cast-iron facades on Greene Street, an espresso at Cafe Reggio on MacDougal Street ten minutes north in Greenwich Village, or jazz sets at nearby downtown clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours at Blue Ribbon Brasserie and when is the best time to go?
Blue Ribbon Brasserie is open seven nights a week from 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM, serving its full dinner and raw bar menu until closing. Arriving between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM offers the calmest dining room experience, while arriving after 11:00 PM captures the signature late-night SoHo atmosphere created for New York’s chefs and night owls.
Do you need reservations at Blue Ribbon Brasserie, and what do dishes cost?
Advance reservations are strongly recommended for main dining room tables and can be booked online via the official website, though walk-in seating is held at the bar. Starters and raw bar plates generally range from $16 to $32, signature mains like the fried chicken, hanger steak, and seafood dishes run $28 to $58, and wine corkage is available for $40 per bottle.
How much time should I budget for dinner at Blue Ribbon Brasserie?
Plan to spend 1.5 to 2 hours for a two- or three-course dinner, or up to 2.5 hours if ordering a multi-tier shellfish plateau and dessert during peak evening hours. Solo guests dining at the front bar can comfortably complete a meal in 60 to 75 minutes.
What is the dress code and accessibility layout at Blue Ribbon Brasserie?
The restaurant maintains a relaxed downtown New York dress code where nice jeans, tailored sneakers, and casual evening wear are welcome. The historic Sullivan Street storefront is compact with closely spaced bistro tables and banquettes, so travelers with mobility devices should call +1 212-274-0404 ahead so staff can reserve an accessible front table.
When planning your Paradise travel guide or browsing verified american restaurant in Paradise, pair this stop with standout local spots including Porter House Bar and Grill, Altro Paradiso, Nakaji, and La Mercerie (0.6 km away).
