1 June 2010

In Praise of The Ruby

| johnboy
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It’s a bit of a long bow to say that a restaurant that’s been around 28 years and with ties to Jackie Chan is a hidden gem.

But at the same time a lot of experienced Wooley St regulars have never been in to The Ruby in Dickson.

Which is odd as in many ways Dickson’s China Town strip is there because of this venerable restaurant paving the way.

Yesterday after dog walking a friend and I, with a three year old in tow, were looking for a suitable place to lunch and decided to give it a go.

Walking through the door the first impression is off the large tanks full of crayfish, crabs, eels, and other fish.

The second thing was that the rest of the clientelle were in sharp suits and we were dressed for dog walking, and had a three year old in company.

But here’s where one of two really good things happened. The staff didn’t blink, provided excellent service, and engaged wonderfully with the three year old.

The other really good thing is the food.

The menu runs a huge gamut of the very expensive and unusual. Dishes such as lobster, duck’s tongues, pigeon, crocodile, goat hot pot.

But it’s also got more usual, and cheaply priced standards like good old mongolian lamb, and the execution is spot-on

The spring rolls, for instance were stuffed with delicious tid-bits (I’ve never found calamari in a roll by way of example, it worked well).

We had a very tasty meal, with a couple of bottles of Tsing Tao beer for $30 each with flawless service; attentive but not intrusive.

Compared to the service with a snarl of the noodle and BBQ pits of Wooley St it was remarkable, but the service was right up there with the $100 a head eateries servicing the top end of town.

It may be a little unfashionable. But the Ruby is well worth checking out if you’re in Dickson.

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always good for a plateload of calamari before heading over to Rockape in the old days…

Clown Killer10:35 pm 01 Jun 10

I’m glad to see that the Ruby has regained it’s feet. We were regulars there when we lived in the inner north but stopped going when the food and the service went south about twelve years ago. In it was great – then its was really bad – now it’s good to hear that it’s great again … if we get over that way again for a feed of Chinese, chances are it will be at the Ruby – if only for old times sake.

grunge_hippy10:30 pm 01 Jun 10

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

I’ve never found calamari in a roll by way of example, it worked well

Oh, John. How could you? Can I interest you in Tarvuism? It’s so easy to join! You’ll never look at calamari the same way again once you’ve learned to talk to an octopus.

surely this is taking the piss? this is my favourite…

“Every land is nice, and everyone who lives there is nice too”. (Chronicles of Amzamiviram, Cpt 44).”

They obviously haven’t been to Queanbeyan or The Causeway.

For those who like many cannot stomach seeing the “tanks of ……. (insert “sea creatures not always fresh”, Rasa Sayang is fantastic. Out of sight, out of mind.

SmileOnTrial2:11 pm 01 Jun 10

A+ for Ruby’s. Give the jellyfish a go. Sounds yuck but tastes good.

Woody Mann-Caruso2:03 pm 01 Jun 10

I’ve never found calamari in a roll by way of example, it worked well

Oh, John. How could you? Can I interest you in Tarvuism? It’s so easy to join! You’ll never look at calamari the same way again once you’ve learned to talk to an octopus.

Two thumbs up!!

My wife and I actually had a wedding celebration there over 1 1/2 years ago and they were fantastic. We hired the entire back room which had a dance floor, we were allowed to bring our own stereo setup, and the food and service was fantastic. We were the last to leave the place and they were happy for us to take our time.

Pommy bastard12:53 pm 01 Jun 10

I thought it would be an Indian place with a name like that…

Never been partial to Chinese food.

well next meal out ill be going to the Ruby.
Thanks for the review.

I’m saying nothing ground breaking here, but the reason that Ruby – and that other Dickson old timer, Rasa Sayang – are still around is because they are good. Not inventive (I have eaten at Rasa Sayang for at least 15 years and can’t remember a menu change) but good solid cheapish food served cheerfully.

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