Ruby’s Top 3 Restaurants of September 2025
Farra Wine Bar
Don’t let their tiny kitchen fool you—Farra Wine Bar offers some of the biggest flavors I’ve had in NYC. “Farra,” an old Basque word meaning “to drink,” sets the tone for this small, intimate space (only 22 seats!) designed to bring people together over drinks. They’re known for their beautiful Shrimp Ravioli (an absolute stunner), but my favorites of the night were definitely the Foie Gras Mousse, Beef Tartare, and Scallop Rice—all best enjoyed with a glass of wine. I went with orange for the night, but I stole some sips of my friend’s white (cause why not try them all).
Matsunori Handroll Bar
Don’t you love it when you walk into a restaurant with zero expectations and end up completely blown away? That was my experience at Matsunori Handroll Bar in Long Island City. From the quality and flavor to the size of these hand rolls. Everything exceeded my expectations! Matsunori serves individual handrolls with a variety of fresh fish, meats, and vegetarian options. I’d recommend ordering around 4–5 hand rolls per person. They might look hefty, but they’re surprisingly light and packed with flavor. My personal favorites? The Toro Mushroom, Botan Ebi Ikura, A5 Wagyu, and the Salmon Cups appetizer. Absolute standouts. Forget cheers-ing your drinks, let’s start cheers-ing with handrolls!
Experimental Cocktail Club
This place is a literal hidden gem. When Milly called me at 9 PM and said, “Get up, we’re going to my favorite bar in the city,” my expectations were high—and I was not disappointed. Finding this spot will probably be the most difficult part of your night. There’s no sign—just a red rope, a bouncer, and a line outside a plain metal door next to a wine bar. But once you’re in? The vibes are immaculate: intimate, cozy, and the music is on point. 10/10. You have to try the Milk Money, a creative twist on an espresso martini, featuring salt foam and a black sesame base. I had three different drinks that night (pray for me) and honestly, they were the best cocktails of my life. One tasted like apple pie, another like a croissant, and another like banana bread. A wild experience and one I’m so happy to have had. Would 100% come back and get shamelessly tipsy again.