Ruby’s Diner

Note: all my recent vacation in Ireland Unilocal reviews will have the same 1^st paragraph preamble, for just the review itself skip to the 2^nd paragraph.
On a whirlwind 2 week vacation to Ireland, the girlfriend & I tried to see & experience absolutely as much of this incredible land as we could. We did not accomplish every last activity we wished we could have on our rather ambitious itinerary. Nonetheless, we did discover a land of numerous stunning & magical wonders. We did see a land of unending natural beauty. We did learn of a land with a monumentally long history of trials, tragedies & triumphs. We did get to meet many kind, humorous, warm & generous people. Our vacation to Ireland was just 2 weeks, but that was time enough to know this is a land easy to love & a land to be sorely missed.
After a much less than desirable dinner experience at our hotel, I knew I didn’t want to bother attempting to get breakfast there. Ruby’s Diner was just a couple blocks from our hotel so I figured it was worth a try. While not looking like much on the outside, inside Ruby’s Diner is a greasy spoon with a touch of 1950’s Americana. This was encouraging as both the girlfriend & I were in the mood for a big, heavy, greasy spoon, heart-​attack-​of-​a-​breakfast.
Service was casual & relaxed but attentive. We had a great conversation with the owner throughout our meal. Without looking at any menus, we asked if we could get a big Irish breakfast & he said he would get us just the right thing. Eggs, jumbo sausages, rashers, beans & toast were presented in short order. All of it was, in fact, just the right thing. We also had coffees with breakfast & that was really good too. The girlfriend & I liked everything so much that we came back the next morning for more of the same. Both mornings, the place got pretty busy with locals grabbing coffees on their way to work.
Ruby’s Diner is a little neighborhood spot that is a popular morning stop for locals going to work. For us, it was also a spot for a couple of overseas travelers to find good comfort food & friendly conversation.

A grand diner typa place to pop into for a quiet lunch or even a naughty greasy spoon breakfast.
The food is unfussy and basic but very tasty. You basically get what you pay for.
I’ve just had a take-​away BLT from here before and found the staff to be really sound and friendly. Price was under £3 too, so I was pleased with that.
Not a place I would go out of my way to track down, but if you’re passing it will hit the spot.

I like it in here. It’s a strange little place though — part greasy spoon, part American diner, but it works.
The food is actually really tasty. I used to work in the Linenhall Street area, and it was my Friday treat to go in there and get something fattening, featuring as many fired ingredients as possible!
Ruby’s was always packed to the rafters, which does mean you can be waiting a while on your food, but i’s always piping hot, so it’s not like it just sits under a heat lamp for ages.

Ruby’s looks a little worse for wear on the outside which would make most people keep walking past to look for somewhere swankier and more clean cut, but never judge a book by its cover because this place is a wee gem! The food is really great and we’ve been here afew times and the standards have never slipped! The sandwiched are mighty and they’re not afraid to skimp on the fillings! Their tea is great too! A fab wee café in the city centre to visit on your lunch break or on a shopping trip! I’m a big fan of this place and love going for lunch here!

Runy’s is a solid little place on Linenhall street, so it wouldnt get the same level of footfall as other cit centre places, which may explain its somewhat average exterior. But a wise person once said don’t judge a book by its cover, and I’m glad the interior of this metaphorical book was a lot better!
As mentioned in the other reviews, the staff here are genuinely warm and caring, and treat you well from the moment you enter the place to the moment you leave. I was going to take my sandwich to go one day but I was talked into eating it out front, and I was glad I did as it was one of the few days of glorious sunshine in Belfast!
This place does a solid sandwich, with fresh, locally sourced ingredients given out in liberal portions. It is not often that a sandwich beats me with its size, and it still didn’t here, but it sure had a good shot at it! :)
The prices are fairly standard for the city centre and the shop itself is small but not cramped, and they provide a wide range of options from salads, to sandwiches, soups and other hot food options.

As the exterior of Ruby’s Diner looks a bit dog eared my expectations were, rather unfairly, not high.
But I’m delighted to say I was well pleased by my Times Square Sandwich (turkey, bacon, cheese and salad) on fresh toasted bread which was reasonably priced, with tea or coffee included.
To me it’s what a café should be like — unpretentious, good food served by pleasant staff who offered me a newspaper to look at as well!