Ripe - Full Menu

This use to be my go to place in Sassafras. Lovely ambience, great food, cute and cozy, and always buzzing. Unfortunately the food that was once so great is now... read more This use to be my go to place in Sassafras. Lovely ambience, great food, cute and cozy, and always buzzing. Unfortunately the food that was once so great is now just bland and tasteless, as was the service. At least the surroundings haven't changed. I'm not sure if the chef here tastes his produce, because I'm guessing he would be as disappointed as I was. Stale bread, bland soups, undercooked vegetables, and ingredients that just don't gel together. It's sad to watch once good restaurants fade into obscurity when they can't get the basics right.

We visited Ripe twice while staying in Sassafras recently, and had been there on previous visits too. It is just lovely, warm, lots of tables for two and share... read more We visited Ripe twice while staying in Sassafras recently, and had been there on previous visits too. It is just lovely, warm, lots of tables for two and share tables if they are busy, inside and outside dining, magazines and papers to read, nice jazz playing, helpful staff, nice atmosphere with wooden floors, a fireplace. lots or scrumptious things to eat, we had a choice of beautiful biscuits, baklava, scones, shortbreads, slices, cheesecake served with local cream, Portuguese tarts, choc chip cookies, lovely baguettes, or more serious meals like chicken Parma, roast pork belly, Atlantic salmon or their special Ripe beef burger or lasagne. They have delicious tasting plates too.Definitely we will eat there again. Good to see such as good, busy cafe. There is a more famous tea shop close by but it is always full of bus tours. Give Ripe a try, it is great value. Oh and close by is the best fine wool clothing shops with alpaca and NZ merino and possum fur, have lunch and Ripe and then browse in the lovely shops nearby.