Ruby Cafe in Hackney

Trip Advisor refuse to believe this place exists, which is a shame as it is arguably the best restaurant/cafe in London taking price into account. Just incredibly good tasty food. The band of Eastern Europeans pretending to be Italian that run this place are fantastic!

Small place but the food is ALWAYS great, they have another cafe down the road which is always amazing! Would definitely recommend this place

Encontramos a sugestão deste lugar no Trip Advisor. O lugar eh muito bom, fomos muito bem atendidos pessoalmente pelo proprietário que nos explicou os pratos servidos, que por sua vez estavam excelentes. Ambiente muito agradável. Voltarei lá. Recomendado!

Yo y mi madre parado para una comida antes de una boda ya llegamos una hora antes. Ambos nos pidió huevos Royale y tengo que decir que quizás fue el más delicioso huevos Royale ambos hemos probado. Tiene un precio muy razonable. Tuve una bebida caliente, un hermoso color crema con leche y mi madre había un Pinot Gricio vino. Ella lo disfrutamos. Tuve que dar felicitaciones al chef que tengo que decir. El personal es muy educado, lo único que puedo decir es la música era un toque muy ruidoso, aparte de eso, una encantadora.

Living here for about two years now. Still the best value for money in the area. Amazing pasta and fish dishes

An excellent place although we only had tea. Very friendly service and exceptional mint tea! Just a lovely little place to relax

Me encanta este sitio. Yo una vez en un tiempo (puede ser incluso meses) con mis amigos para cenar. El lugar es pequeño, pero el personal es agradable y la comida (todo!) es excelente. El precio es increíble. Además, está muy bien situado. Me encanta!

Um bom restaurante italiano, onde tudo e todos são italianos... a cara de Londres! Fica no bairro de Shoreditch, passeio imperdivel. e proximo a uma praça onde os estudantes faziam picnic, crianças brincavam, até distribuiram flores no dia em que fomos. Muito gostoso!

A lovely lunch time venue, a nice short menu and you can see the chefs preparing your food at the back!

Sólo ha estado aquí una vez pero tuvimos una experiencia muy agradable y una buena comida. Pedimos el pato y estaba bien. Tenía un excelente cóctel. camarera era estupenda. Sábado contemplando los acontecimientos interesantes en la plaza. La comida no fuera del mundo, pero muy bueno y un buen precio.

Really delicious place, not expensive, salads are good as well as deserts and slowly cooked chicken. The playlist is radiohead and mgmt.

Had tuna salat. It was fresh and tasty. Nice atmosphere. Really good deserts. Helpful staff. Good value of money. Worse to visit.

Good food, good service, fantastic location.Menu is diverse and simple, fantastic choice without complexity.Enjoy and return.

They make an amazing cod fillet and mash- my favourite at this cafe by hoxton square. I invited my husband to come and have lunch there today (10 June 2015). But his cod fillet had many bones in it, a few in mine too- something I have never encountered before with this dish. On flagging it up with my regular waiter during payment (a bill of £38, not exactly cheap), one of the chefs popped his head out- and we got almost shouted at for complaining. He could have just noted down our observation and moved on (like most do), but was so rude, that I feel quite shocked. I am a journalist and I have reviewed food for a living at one point. Never ever I have come across such an impolite chef in my experience. I used to be their regular customer, but now I don't think I will ever go back there again.

just started working in the area everyone recommended this place and they were right.Salmon was lovely and the banoffee pie was amazing !!!!Well worth a visit but expect to pay more than you would for a sandwich ,definitely good for a treat though

Went for a lunch with some friends and I was surprised by both the meal and the beverage selection this nice place had. Incredible pasta with fresh salad was a great choice. It is one of the few places where you can find a great service and delicious food. Needless to say my friends loved it too and are going there every now and then.

I was recommended this place by a colleague who joined me. It's a very simple unpretentious place nicely located - especially if you are staying in the Holiday Inn on Old Street. Simple menu with a few specials. Nice starters but the star of the show was tagliatelle with crawfish. As nice a pasta a dish as I have had anywhere. I was pretty sure that the pasta was freshly made - it had a real bite to it and the sauce was very tasty. Very good value for London. Real friendly and helpful staff

"Happy" by Pharrell Williams in food. It's right, wholesome, now, worth repeating without tiring. I love the staff, from phone to meal placement. The others having a meal? Local, young, lovely people. Generous portions of good food. Coffee at 8pm is fresh and good. The price is such a relief! Again, I love the staff.

Everything came together in my dining experience. The food choices were all so appealing I ventured out of the usual to have starters, mains and dessert (Nutella Cheesecake!)A gentleman I assume to be the owner was personally on the floor taking care of his guests. The decor is not over stated and the atmosphere is good. Don't browse around - try Ruby's.

We just found this restaurant after shopping around old street tube. The basics beautifully done and nicely matched wine. A lovely find.

Had a great dinner at this place. Very good food and service. And the price is also responsible. We Recommend this restaurant.

I love this place. the food tastes fresh and is very filling. The service was great, the young lady was very polite and on the ball despite there being loads of people. i will definitely go back!

In early Feb I was staying in nearby hotel I went on Trip Advisor and liked the look of this place after reading the reviews - but you can never tell.Well TripAdvisor came up trumps. This place is small and the place was quite busy (along with a lot of places around Hoxton). As I was eating alone(away with business) I was able to get a table. There was a good choice of wholesome, homemade food but ended up selecting of the Specials Board - Prawn and chilli linguine...it was cracking. Service and atmosphere was relaxed and friendly and with a starter and a drink was £20. Great value for proper food that isn't just burger and chips !I went back last week, and again was not disappointed. A bit quieter but still relaxed and nice atmosphere and not rushed at all. Food was fab again and I will be going back. Excuse the pun but Ruby's is a real gem !!!

About ten of us ate there to celebrate a birthday on a Sunday. We had a really good time in this welcoming and relaxed place which is really a restaurant! The 3 course menu was very good value for the area and staff were very understanding for the vegetarians and artichoke-phobes amongst us... The portions are very big and we were all struggling by dessert time.Mille grazie i ci torneremo presto :-)

Ruby's is a friendly, small place with excellent Italian food. The waiter was extremely accommodating for my girlfriend's allergies, and the food served was delicious and very fairly priced for a London meal. The decor is nothing to write home about, but the Italian ambience, local atmosphere and wonderful food more than makes up for it.

I'm long overdue for this review, which is actually for the lunch location located on Charlotte Rd. (just down the street from the main restaurant in Hoxton Square). I've never been to the restaurant, but the lunch spot is amazing.I work a short walk from here and for the past 8 months or so, I have never gone anywhere else. Call me crazy, but it's that good. I'm from the US, so was very happy to find an awesome, quick, and affordable lunch spot so close to work. The food is fresh, flavorful, and delicious. The regular menu has a selection of hot sandwiches, some salads, and a few mains. They also have a rotating menu everyday of about 4 or 5 items (usually pastas and 1 protein). I think this is part of the reason I haven't gotten tired of it!The staff are super friendly. Everyday, I walk in, 'Heyyy!! Americano!!' I always feel welcome and I think any other patron would say the same.It's a small place, so eating in isn't always a possibility, but if you can get a table, it's a cute place to go as a couple or in a small group. To be honest, I always chuckle to myself a little when I see people walking into EAT, or Pret, or Subway, just a couple doors down. Why would you ever go there when you have Ruby 50 meters away!? It's pretty much just as cheap (between £5.50 - £7.50) for each item on the menu.If you work and/or live in Shoreditch, don't even think about what you want for lunch, just go to Ruby. :)

What a place, almost didn't go in as says cafe and wanted an evening meal but so glad we did. Everything was amazing - atmosphere, staff, food, wine, even the water (as it had lemon in it!) the menu was tough to choose from as it all sounded good. 2 of us had a main meal each, shared a starter, shared a dessert (they all looked good but bannoffee was delicious) and a glass of wine each and it was £41 which was great value. Don't live in London but I will try to get back here to eat again

Great little spot in Hoxton Square. The food is always tasty and fresh, I've eaten everything here from swordfish to lamb chops to seafood risotto. Cant say I've ever had a bad meal here!

This is a regular haunt of mine. A very casual place selling paninis, pasta, salads, mostly to take away, but there are a few small tables. Often a long queue from about 12:30 to 13:00, but worth joining.If you want a simple grilled chicken & avocado salad, this is a good one, and steak sandwiches are remarkably tasty and superbly cooked. However, it's their burger which never ceases to amaze. Also daily specials indicate that the chef here is arguably wasted!Expect to pay about £7 for a lunch main here.Outdoor seating is minimal.

Throw a stick in Hoxton and you're sure to hit the door of a newly opened eatery charging £15 quid for a basic and usually mediocre main. Ruby is great value, it doesn't feel the need to rip you off even though it looks out onto Hoxton Square. I had a lovely breakfast this morning for £7, the best I've been served in ages and left feeling very happy. I've eaten here a lot over the years and always come back to enjoy the good food and welcoming service. Ruby excels at simple, well executed food. The staff are always pleasant and friendly. Highly recommend. Really good on a summer's day to sit outside with a coffee. In the evening you can sneak downstairs to Happiness Forgets for a cocktail or three. Divine.

Ruby is one of my favourite restaurants in the area, ideal for a quick and tasty lunch or for a pre-theatre dinner. On the menu good choice of traditional Italian dishes prepared with care and good ingredients. Also with an area for sitting al fresco if the weather allows. Excellent value for money.

Quite small breakfast but cool place. Atmosphere is relaxed and service was good. Cappuccino was really good.

There is nothing quiet as depressing as eating out along when away on business. I walked passed Ruby's and was drawn in by the simple and informal layout. Service was friendly and welcoming. The food was unfussy but delicious. I had the feeling i could have stayed there all night nursing a coffee and chilling out over a book.

Authentic Italian cuisine with a relaxed atmosphere. I recommend the Risotto and any pasta. The chef/owner takes his stuff very seriously!

We were looking for somewhere to eat around Hoxon and stumbled across this place. It's good simple food but done really well. Best steak I've had in ages. Loads of charm and character and great service.

ok the food is not spectacular (and doesn't pretend to be) - but nothing to complain about either. The service (family run I think) is superb, and the prices for the area border on ridiculously cheap. Stumbled across this place and would be very happy to go again and again. Despite being in Hoxton Square, it feels like a welcoming local restaurant/bar. If you're in the area, it's worth a look.

Appena seduti abbiamo avuto qualche dubbio sulla scelta ma poi ...Cucina in vista, ottima bruschetta e splendidi i secondi di carne di maiale e la bistecca ai ferri.Buono anche il dolce.Prezzi assolutamente onesti.Consigliato.

Qualité de l'accueil, amabilité du service et carte simple mais de très bonne qualitéAu sein d'un quartier très animé et branché. Nombreux pubs à proximitéExcellente adresse pour un repas en couple ou en famille

Ruby's has a real buzz but with a very relaxed atmosphere. Service impeccable and staff friendly and welcoming. I had the mushroom and leek risotto. Seriously guys that was the best Ive ever tasted. Excellent value too

Non conoscevo il ristorante, ci sono capitato x caso e anche di sera tardi...devo dire che sono rimasto molto colpito, innanzitutto per il servizio è ottimo, si respira aria serena e gioviale .Nn si vedono spesso ristoranti di quel tipo...direi molto personalizzati!!Il cibo era super e il mangiare è pieno di gusto e sfizioso !! Anche il vino accompagna gradevolmente le portate .Peccato che non sono della zona, sarei diventato una cliente abituale

My very pregnant friend and I met up in east London earlier this week, we wanted to have a girlie catch up, eat a nice meal and not spend too much money. We stumbled across the Ruby Cafe in Hoxton Square where we indulged in a beautiful meal and great conversation (baby stuff!)..... Even though I had planned on having alight dinner I couldn't resist the pork chops with mashed potatoes and red onion which everyone seemed to be ordering. Some other dishes that everyone seemed to be ordering were the calamari salad, seafood risotto and scrumptious looking hummus covered in green olives and surrounded by toasted french stick bread. Last but not least the service is some of the best I have ever had in London... I am already planing my next visit back...

Ruby, nestled within Hoxton Square, is a small Italian restaurant that’s easy to miss. My partner and I were able to get a table outside as a walk up on a busy Friday night. The waitress made the whole experience a real pleasure, they epitomised good service and gave off such warmth it felt like we were regulars. The food was delicious and the bruschetta, with its fresh tomatoes and warm doughy bread, was a highlight. They forgot to put any avocado in my chicken and avocado salad but the staff quickly rectified the mistake. The place has such a nice atmosphere with good food at a reasonable price.

Hoxton Square is hip and if you are late on a Saturday all the restaurants are crowded. Not Ruby's (amazing), so we enjoyed a 3 course meal there. Simple, good and yummy food, and the staff is extremely nice, helpful and they love their own food. It's a pity a glass of wine is rather expensive, but it is good wine! We love Ruby's!

You know those times when you search around in London for a place to eat but you don't really know what you want. You're kind of bored with the same old same old and you don't just want an Indian meal since you had it twice that week already... and its only TuesdaySo you've ended up in Hoxton Square in ShoreDitch because you've been told its "fun" and "hip" and "has great little cafes"... Hmmm.... And you spy a little cafe at the end of a row of restaurants that "seems OK" but then again, ALL the cafes in Hoxton "seem OK". It's Rubys Cafe - you have a quick look inside what seems a tiny little space while mumbling to each other "well what do you think?" "Yeh OK if you want, I'm just tired of looking" and then sit down with a hint of apprehension and a whiff of doubt that maybe its just going to be another medicore Italian mashup.But then something wonderful happens. You see the blackboard with tonight's menu handwritten upon it. Wow... Looks great! You look around and see that around the cozy tables are pretty contented people with plates of delish looking food on the tables or cheap reds being quaffed at a steady rate. Just like you saw in Sestri Levante last summer...The waiting staff are friendly and funny and you can see the chef out the back, bouncing between gas hobs and the staff and flat out busy.You realise that hey... this place is comfortable. The food is great. The staff are actually.... nice!. The prices are excellent....Its not just another Italian cliche with pre-frozen pasta and stale bread but a memorable, cheap night with a cool little friendly crowd.Ruby's is awesome. But please... shhhhh... Just don't tell everyone OK?Why am I even writing this? I want it to be MY Italian secret!Buon Appetito...:)

My wife and I were desperate for some mid afternoon food (hadn't eaten all day and had done a lot of climbing). I was boasting about some of the places in Shoreditch. Unfortunately when we marched our way through, everything was either shut, or not serving food.Then we found Ruby's. A tiny little undemanding cafe tucked in the middle of Hoxton Square. Friendly, welcoming, warm and quick service. And the food . . . oh yeeeeeeh. Massive portions for what you're paying for and brilliantly presented and wonderfully deliciousI had the full Ruby english, my wife had the hangover cure. We also had a massive plate of olives prior and a couple of beers and a milkshake.All was well received and was the saviour of our hunger that day. Thanks Ruby, we will DEFINATELY come again.Luke and Katie

Lovely little restaurant. This place has it all, great atmosphere, great food and excellent customer service.

We live about 2 minutes away and, since discovering Ruby, we've been numerous times. The food is unfussy and universally fantastic quality, with a few different specials every night in addition to the standard menu. It's unbelievably good value - mains for £7-10, a glass of decent red wine for £4 - yet still feels like a proper restaurant rather than a cafe or snack bar. Understandably busy on Fridays and Saturdays but nice and relaxing during the week. It also does a decent brunch at the weekend - much better than the overpriced mass-produced junk that people queue up for at the Breakfast Club across the square. Top marks.

We stumbled upon this little cafe by accident a while back whilst looking for a place to have a quiet coffee and sandwich - places like The Diner were not ideal! So pleased we found Ruby. It looks quite unassuming and we would have been happy to sit with a standard coffee and sandwich so we were pleasantly surprised when we got sandwiches in really good quality ciabatta with no skimping on the filling. Will definitely be back soon :-)