Nearly 24 years after Little Ruby’s first debuted in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, the five-location brand has officially expanded beyond New York for the first time, opening its sixth outpost in Dallas’ Uptown district. Located on the property where the 26-story 23Springs tower opened last August, the restaurant comes from the Wish You Were Here Restaurant Group, led by Nick Mathers, Founder, and Tim Sykes, Managing Partner, who hail from Sydney, Australia.
The Australian-inspired all-day restaurant takes a more sophisticated turn compared to its quintet of NYC locations. While most of the original outposts stick to an all-day menu, the Dallas location offers a brekkie/lunch menu alongside a dedicated dinner lineup featuring knife-and-fork entrées. The elevated approach extends to the table settings, too—linen napkins and water glasses replace New York’s paper napkins and plastic cups, according to a manager at the Dallas outpost.
Guests can choose to dine inside the 1,790-square-foot dining room or out on the beautiful 950-square-foot patio. Friendly, knowledgeable staff members make diners feel welcome right away, and even those clearing plates are happy to share their favorite drinks and dishes when asked.
With breakfast and lunch served until 4 p.m.—and mimosas and Bloody Marys and Marias always in play—Little Ruby’s makes an easy case for brunch any day of the week. Aussie staples like Vegemite toast and hearty breakfast plates complete with baked beans, mushrooms, and roasted tomatoes nod to the restaurant’s roots, while burritos, smoothies, crispy grain bowls, and a lineup of sandwiches offer something for nearly every craving. A robust coffee program rounds out the appeal, making it just as suitable for a casual meal as it is for a mid-day meeting.
If patio day drinking is on the agenda, bring a group and order one of the punch-bowl cocktails designed to serve up to seven. Many of Little Ruby’s draft favorites—Aperol Spritzes, Aussie Cucumber Mules, and Palomas—translate seamlessly to the large format, alongside a lineup of bright, refreshing house cocktails. The signature Little Ruby blends grapefruit, lavender, and plum liqueur, and can be smartly customized with your choice of tequila, vodka, gin, rum, or mezcal.
After sundown, the lights dim and the music turns up, transforming the restaurant’s sunny coastal vibe into a chic, nightlife-ready dinner destination. The streamlined dinner menu keeps things approachable with just a handful of options in each category—appetizers, salads and bowls, pastas, burgers, and main courses—offering variety without feeling overwhelming.
The pork ribs are a standout starter, lacquered in a sticky glaze and finished with a roasted mandarin wedge for a bright squeeze of citrus over the top. The shrimp and avocado salad is a vibrant mix of bibb lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon radish, and snow peas, topped with plenty of plump shrimp tossed in a mustard-cider vinaigrette—and it’s easily large enough to share.
When it comes to burgers, the decision narrows to two contenders: the Bronte, built around a single 7-ounce patty, and the Classic Cheeseburger stacked with two 3-ounce patties. The Bronte leans a bit more distinctive, layered on toasted ciabatta with tomato, Swiss, and sweet chili sauce. But the Classic ultimately steals the spotlight—oozing good ol’ American cheese and topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and special sauce on a pillowy potato bun. Add the thin, crispy fries with truffle aioli for a modest $4 upgrade; they’re well worth it.
Five pastas round out the menu, spanning rich and creamy to bright with heat, each paired with a thoughtful protein—though you can mix and match if you’re feeling particular. The spicy vodka pasta, features delicate canestri shells coated in a silky sauce that clings to every curve. Opt for the crispy chicken over grilled; the crunch against the velvety vodka sauce gives it a chicken Parm energy—only lighter and arguably better.
Entrées keep the momentum going with polished plates like roasted salmon, brick chicken, and steak frites, plus sides such as creamed spinach and crispy Brussels sprouts. For the table, a full rack of ribs or a 10-ounce New York strip makes sharing feel like the right move.
And then there’s dessert. The sticky date pudding, crowned with vanilla gelato and caramel sauce, disappears quickly—so quickly, in fact, that ordering the warm chocolate mousse cake as insurance might be a wise decision.
Even in its early days, Little Ruby’s hums along like a well-oiled machine, thanks to a skilled and genuinely welcoming staff—something Dallas diners never take for granted. And for New York fans visiting the city, the Uptown outpost offers a chance to see what all the cloth-napkin fuss is about.23Springs, 2305 Cedar Springs Rd., Ste. 150, Dallas; rubyscafe.com
