Ripe Kitchen & Bar: A Taste of the Caribbean in Mount Vernon, NY

Ripe Kitchen & Bar Introduce

In the vibrant and diverse food scene of the New York metropolitan area, certain places stand out not just for their food, but for the entire experience they offer. Ripe Kitchen & Bar, located in Mount Vernon, is one such place. This isn't your average bar and grill; it's a Caribbean oasis that transports you with its authentic flavors, lively atmosphere, and warm hospitality. Ripe has successfully created a space that feels both trendy and cozy, making it the perfect spot for a variety of occasions, from a romantic dinner to a fun night out with friends.

The culinary philosophy at Ripe Kitchen & Bar is rooted in authentic Jamaican and Caribbean traditions, but with a modern twist. The menu is a celebration of island flavors, featuring dishes that are bold, fresh, and deeply satisfying. The chefs take pride in using high-quality ingredients to create a truly memorable dining experience. From the slow-cooked, marinated jerk chicken to the flavorful seafood and vegetarian options, every dish tells a story of the Caribbean. The attention to detail and commitment to flavor have earned Ripe a reputation as a must-visit destination for anyone craving a taste of the islands without leaving New York.

Beyond the food, Ripe offers a full bar that is a highlight in itself. Known for its fantastic cocktail and wine lists, the bar serves up refreshing and expertly crafted drinks that perfectly complement the spicy and savory dishes. The "Great cocktails" and "Happy hour drinks" are a significant draw, creating a lively social scene. The venue's ambiance is a key part of its appeal, described as casual, cozy, and romantic. This versatility allows it to cater to different moods and crowds, whether it's a bustling evening or a quiet weekday lunch.

Ripe Kitchen & Bar is more than just a restaurant; it’s a cultural hub that brings the best of the Caribbean to the New York area. The atmosphere, a blend of casual and trendy, makes it a comfortable and exciting place to be. It’s a place where locals and tourists alike can come together to enjoy great food, drinks, and a genuinely good time. This unique combination of quality, ambiance, and authenticity solidifies Ripe's position as a standout establishment in the region.

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Location and Accessibility

Ripe Kitchen & Bar is conveniently located at 151 W Sandford Blvd, Mt Vernon, NY 10550, USA. Situated in Mount Vernon, it is easily accessible from various parts of the New York metropolitan area. For those driving, the availability of free street parking is a huge plus, making your visit stress-free. The restaurant's location is well-known, and its presence on a main road ensures it is easy to find. The venue has also made a strong commitment to accessibility, which is worth noting.

The restaurant is designed to be accessible to all patrons. It features wheelchair-accessible restrooms and seating, ensuring that everyone can dine comfortably. This thoughtful approach to accessibility, combined with the convenient location and parking options, makes Ripe Kitchen & Bar a welcoming destination for a diverse range of customers. Whether you are coming from the Bronx or other parts of New York, getting to Ripe is a straightforward and comfortable experience.

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Services Offered

Ripe Kitchen & Bar is a full-service establishment that provides a range of options to meet your dining preferences. Their services are designed for convenience and a high-quality experience.

Outdoor Seating: Enjoy your meal in the fresh air with Ripe's outdoor seating options, perfect for a pleasant dining experience during warmer weather.
Takeout: For those on the go or who prefer to eat at home, Ripe offers a convenient takeout service. You can call ahead to place your order and pick it up at your convenience.
Dine-in: The restaurant's indoor seating provides a cozy and trendy atmosphere for a relaxed meal.
Catering: Ripe also offers catering services, allowing you to bring their delicious Caribbean food to your next event or party.
Happy Hour: Enjoy special pricing on drinks and food during happy hour, making it an ideal spot for a quick bite or a drink after work.
Late-Night Food: The restaurant offers late-night food, making it a great place to stop by for a meal or snack after a long day or night.

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Features / Highlights

Ripe Kitchen & Bar stands out for a number of reasons, from its award-winning dishes to its vibrant atmosphere. Here are some of the key highlights that make it a special place to dine:

Award-Winning Jerk Rib-eye Steak: Ripe's "Big-ass Jerk Rib-eye Steak" is a major highlight, famously featured on a Food Network show where it beat Iron Chef Bobby Flay's version. This is a must-try for steak lovers.
Great Cocktails: The bar is known for its excellent cocktail list, with customers raving about the quality and flavor of the drinks, particularly the rum punch.
Authentic Jamaican Flavors: Ripe prides itself on serving local specialty dishes that are both authentic and delicious. The "Original Backyard Jerk Chicken" is a testament to their commitment to genuine Caribbean cuisine.
Casual and Cozy Atmosphere: The restaurant’s atmosphere is described as casual, cozy, and even romantic, making it a versatile venue for a wide range of social gatherings.
Healthy and Vegetarian Options: The menu includes healthy and vegetarian options, such as the "Sauteed Organic Spinach" and a vegetarian version of the "Yard Gone To Italy (rasta Pasta)," ensuring there’s something for everyone.

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Contact Information

To make a reservation or for any inquiries, you can reach out to Ripe Kitchen & Bar using the contact details below. Reservations are recommended, especially for dinner, as the restaurant can have a wait due to its popularity.

Address: 151 W Sandford Blvd, Mt Vernon, NY 10550, USA

Phone: (914) 665-7689

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What is worth choosing

Navigating the menu at Ripe Kitchen & Bar is a delightful experience, with so many amazing options to choose from. For a dish that has earned national recognition, you absolutely must try Ripe's big-ass Jerk Rib-eye Steak. This 16oz steak, marinated in their signature jerk rub, is a culinary masterpiece and a customer favorite. It's a bold and flavorful choice that showcases the best of their cooking. Another top contender is the Ripes Original backyard Jerk Chicken, a dish that has been marinated for 24 hours to achieve its rich and authentic flavor.

If you're looking for a seafood option, the Jamaican Beachside Style Fried Fish is an excellent choice. This super-fresh, whole red or yellowtail snapper is a study in deliciousness, served with a pickled sauce of vinegary onion, carrot, and scotch bonnet. Another unique and popular dish is the Yard Gone To Italy (rasta Pasta), a creative fusion of Italian and Caribbean flavors with linguine, shrimp, and a creamy, cheesy sauce. This dish is a great example of the restaurant's innovative approach to Caribbean cuisine.

For smaller bites, the Jerk Chicken Quesadilla is a perfect way to start your meal. It combines the classic comfort of a quesadilla with Ripe's signature jerk chicken and a tropical mango salsa. The Strawberry Hill Codfish Spring Rolls are also a fan favorite, offering a unique blend of sweet and savory flavors. And of course, no meal is complete without a side of their perfectly cooked Rice & Peas, a staple of Jamaican cuisine.

Finally, make sure to save room for a cocktail. Ripe is renowned for its drinks, and the rum punch is a highly recommended choice. The bar's extensive selection of hard liquor, beer, and wine ensures you'll find the perfect beverage to complement your meal. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a returning customer, Ripe Kitchen & Bar offers a culinary journey that is both exciting and deeply satisfying, making it a true gem in the Mount Vernon area.

Ripe Kitchen & Bar Menu

Small Bites
Cuban Plantain Boat
a roasted ripe plantain stuffed with a codfish vegetable medley- a sexy play on salt and sweet fidel's favorite.
Jerk Chicken Quesadilla
a soft flour tortilla stuffed with jerk chicken, pepper jack cheese, and grilled mushrooms. served with mexican sour cream and a tropical mango salsa. for the jamexican in you.
Strawberry Hill Codfish Spring Rolls
a customer favorite, asian style deep-fried rolls stuffed with plantain, codfish, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, and spinach. served with a vidalia onion mustard sauce.
Island Style Spicy Peppered Shrimp
peel and eat head-on, shell-on, florida shrimp steeped in a spicy scotch bonnet sauce 10 xtra-large shrimp.

Large Bites
Ripes big-ass Jerk Rib-eye Steak
a 16 oz rib-eye monster, marinated in our signature jerk rub, flashed on the grill, and crowned with a chandon beni sauce. it would please even fred flintstone. we dare you to finish it served with rice & peas or french fries.
Ripes Original backyard Jerk Chicken
our infamous jerk chicken is marinated for 24 hours in our own made from scratch dry and wet jerk rub, then slow cooked for 2 hours to create the irie-est jerk chicken north of port antonio, jamaica. none of that lame-ass, oven baked crap. comes with rice or hardough bread. 1/4 chicken.1/2 chicken.
Yard Gone To Italy (rasta Pasta)
a rastaman informed us we were not being politically correct, so we changed the name. another customer favorite (even the dang italians love it!) linguine with large florida shrimp, mushrooms, organic spinach, ricotta, and imported parmesan cheese in a heavenly, shrimpy, garlicky, cheesy sauce. you may substitute jerk chicken instead of shrimp.
The Jerk Chicken Salad
mixed baby field greens in a balsamic vinaigrette, with fresh imported parmesan cheese, and ripes original jerk chicken breast. you may substitute with dark meat.
Negril Style Curried Shrimp
large florida shrimp stewed in a rich and spicy curry, served with garden vegetables, diced potatoes and your choice of rice. you can substitute roti (when available).
Jamaican Beachside Style Fried Fish
always super fresh brazilian or floridian whole red, or yellowtail snapper, cooked whole with head and tail on, and served with a vinegary onion, carrot, and scotch bonnet julienne pickled sauce. a study in deliciousness.
Kingston Curried Goat
it is rumored that kingston, jamaica, affectionately called town by the locals, has the best tasting curried goat due to the animals affinity for digging through community garbage heaps, and taking leisurely strolls along the seaside. be careful, this is served just as it would be in jamaica, with bones and all, and a likkle spice! you can substitute roti (when available).

Side Bites
Mixed Baby Field Green Salad
Sauteed Organic Spinach
Rice & Peas

Ripe Kitchen & Bar Details

Service options
Outdoor seating
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Fast service
Great cocktails
Serves local specialty

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Wheelchair accessible entrance

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Comfort food
Happy hour drinks
Happy hour food
Hard liquor
Healthy options
Late-night food
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy
Romantic
Trendy

Crowd
Groups
Tourists

Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Usually a wait

Payments
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
High chairs
Kids' menu

Parking
Free street parking

Ripe Kitchen & Bar Photos

No photos available at the moment.

Ripe Kitchen & Bar Location

Ripe Kitchen & Bar

New York Westchester County Mount Vernon South Side West Sandford Boulevard

151 W Sandford Blvd, Mt Vernon, NY 10550, USA

Ripe Kitchen & Bar Reviews

An average rating of ★4.3 from 944 user reviews.

ribeyerum punchtacoscod fishintimatespring rollscrab cakesjerk steakATMrenovation

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Friendly staff, lovely drinks and delicious eats. Crab cakes for the win. 🥇 Kerri knew the perfect recommendation for each of us. See you again soon!
April 11 · Brittany Griffith
Jerk chicken n rice and beans very dry.. cod fish spring rolls sooo salty can not eat all of it! Rum punch excellent.. upset with the food though because it’s pricey not to enjoy it! Picture u see is what I threw away
April 26 · shyiera daniels
The food was okay. The service was not good at all. It took forever for someone to come over and take our orders or acknowledge us. The waitress brought the bill over faster than our drinks and when we were done we were rushed out. Won’t be going back.
August 24 · Bri K
Ripe Kitchen & Bar is described as a “glorified hole in the wall” by its owner. It surely is, and it’s a whole vibe!Ripe is the vision of chef Nigel Spence, a Jamaican native who complete his degree at the Culinary Institute of America, following with time working at the Food Network, most notably Bobby Flay. In fact, his Jerk ribeye steak beat Bobby on his own show.On my first visit, I had to try the steak, which according to the menu has sold close to 150,000 plates.The steak is 16 oz. It’s a mix of lean and fat, and the menu is VERY clear about that. I would say the steak is probably about half and half, or maybe 60/40. I stuck to the lean, but that’s a me thing, not a them thing. The flavor is something I can’t describe, maybe because I’ve never had jerk flavor on a charcoal grilled steak before.I thought it was delicious—grilled and seared on the outside, medium to medium rare inside. I requested medium, and it might have been a little on the rarer side of that, but it really was just perfect.It came with tasty rice and beans as well as a refreshing green salad.I also got a side order of spicy fries, which were hot and seasoned, in a huge portion.I had the rum punch, which is quite strong. I was surprised, but their mojito is one of the best I’ve had. All of their drinks are simple—nothing fancy—tropical—things that make you feel like you’re on island time.The decor also makes you feel like you’re on island time—bright reds, plants, photos of Jamaica. Spence has said in his own words that this will never be a white tablecloth establishment; he wants it unpretentious and wants his crowds tipsy and inclined to sing and dance at any moment. This is more than a restaurant, it’s a community!Prices are super crazy reasonable. The steak meal was 32 dollars. Drinks 13-15.Service laid back, but welcoming. You could tell they didn’t care who you were or where you came from, they were just glad you were there! The owner/chef himself bussed my table and was there helping his staff, and that means a lot to me.The menu also has oxtail (only certain days), Rasta pasta, jerk chicken, a jerk chicken quesadilla, various iterations of plantains, shrimp, curry. I think next time I’ll either try to quesadilla or the pasta (which can be served with shrimp, chicken, or vegetarian).The parking is street parking. The outside is pretty unassuming and you can pass right by if you’re not paying attention. On warm evenings they open their patio and have live music, otherwise they play reggae overhead. I went around six on a Saturday and was seated immediately, though there were already several tables occupied (it’s a fairly small place). I spent a couple hours there and by the time I left, several more people had come to the party.It was all locals here. And everyone besides me was Black. That tells me I was in the right place. Can’t wait to go back.
April 21 · Hunter Stidham
Mushy rice. Extra small fish (red snapper). burnt plantains. I complained about the meal unsatisfactoriness. They still charged me $28 for the meal. I took the fish and fed it to the birds in the park. Jerk wings are advertised as huge. But look at those baby wings. No spiceness at all.
July 27 · David Scott