Ruby’s Diner review, Waverley @Not Quite Nigella

Ruby’s Diner, Waverley

January 26, 2010 by Not Quite Nigella

rubys diner waverley sign

rubys diner waverley inside

“Are you from a blog or something?” the tattooed gentleman asks me as he is clearing up the tables having spotted our camera work. The tattoo work is echoed on the walls with tattoo swallows although it doesn’t quite match his arm art. He’s friendly though and the question is asked with interest rather than suspicion. Around us are families with young children and babies as well as couples. Prices are very reasonable and the menu, although not American diner style is more Australian cafe style.

rubys diner waverley sparkling black

Sparkling Black $5

The Sparkling Black is a bit of an inauspicious start. We enquired as to whether this was just a fancy name for saying Coke and the waitress tells us that it’s a coffee drink with sparkling mineral water (although she doesn’t admit to liking it herself). Envisaging those slightly bitter Italian drinks like Chinotto we’re instead presented with a glass with a foamy Guinness type head on the top. It’s an unsweetened long black with sparkling mineral water and is not popular with the table at all with each of us trying some and passing it on quickly. “Worth a try” some of us say whilst Queen Viv is less enamoured “No it wasn’t” she says grimacing.

rubys diner waverley milkshake

Belgian Chocolate milkshake $6

The milkshakes are made with homemade syrups. You can taste the Belgian chocolate but it needs a touch more syrup and a bit more richness via some ice cream as tastes more like chocolate milk.

rubys diner waverley cloudy apple

Organic Cloudy Apple juice $5

I do like organic cloudy apple juice as it’s sweet and delicious. I find cloudy apple juice to be like drinking the juice from a freshly bitten apple.

rubys diner waverley rolls

Sourdough rolls

We’re given complimentary sourdough rolls and they’re deliciously soft and fresh.

rubys diner waverley salad

Chickpea salad $14

My chickpea salad was one I ordered because I was hoping to eat a bit healthier. It comes with roasted carrots, rocket, tabouli, chickpeas , mint and parsley and is tasty with a light and zingy preserved lemon dressing and fresh herbs and I happily finish every morsel.

rubys diner waverley burger

Rubys’ Organic Beef burger $14

Time Out magazine rated the Ruby’s Diner burger in the Top 5 burgers of Sydney so we were intrigued to try them. The bun is thin and toasted which reminds me of a panini and it comes with a beetroot relish, egg, pickles and a vintage cheddar cheese which gives it a nice, sharp edge. A top 5 burger is a tough call though and perhaps it’s a little too left of centre for burger purists although it is very enjoyable.

rubys diner waverley fries

Fries $6

The burger doesn’t come with fries so we order these. They arrive halfway through the burger and are a bit patchy with some parts golden and some parts pale.

rubys diner waverley squid

Salt and pepper squid, cucumber salad, lime and chilli mayo $15

Queen Viv orders the salt and pepper squid and finds the lime and chilli mayo too spicy for her but it’s fine for me. I like this dish although it’s not a huge one but the cucumber salad is plentiful with fresh herbs and flavours.

rubys diner waverley ocean trout

Cured Ocean trout $15

Miss America’s cured ocean trout comes in sashimi like slices with celeriac remoulade and asparagus and crostini shards. He seems to enjoy it although leaves most of the crostini shards behind.

rubys diner waverley true love

It’s not typical diner food though it’s well priced Australian cafe food. Couple this with its proximity to us and we can imagine coming back for more.

So tell me Dear Reader what’s your favourite milkshake flavour?

rubys diner waverley outside

Ruby’s Diner

173-179 Bronte Road, Waverley, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9386 5964
Open 7 days 7am-4pm, Thursday-Saturday 6pm-9:30pm

If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?

Print Page

Subscribe to Not Quite Nigella

Subscribe to Not Quite Nigella to receive daily updates via email. Just enter your email address and press Subscribe.

No Related Post

Posted in Cafe & Casual Eating, Eating, Restaurants by cuisine, Sydney - East

53 Comments | Add your own

1. Erica | January 26, 2010 at 5:32 am | #

I would love to try the chocolate milkshake and the chickpea salad.All that food looks delicious.
2. Heavenly Housewife | January 26, 2010 at 5:55 am | #

I want the chocolate milkshake. YUM My favourite milkshake is one I’ve had at GBK which is an oreo milkshake, its divine.
3. deana | January 26, 2010 at 6:14 am | #

I have to say, sparkling black looks wonderful and has a great name… pity the taste doesn’t measure up…bet you could turn it in something grand!
4. Kitchen Butterfly | January 26, 2010 at 6:32 am | #

That chickpea salad rocks…..
5. Hannah | January 26, 2010 at 6:45 am | #

I would have opted for the chickpea salad too I have been known to eat chickpeas straight from the can… (Oh, I mean, straight from the saucepan after boiling them from scratch for hours, because I’m a *good* cook. Yes. Hmm.)

Favourite milkshake flavour? I’m still fantasising about those candy bar shakes you had recently, and still want a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup version. Does that count?
6. BuBbles | January 26, 2010 at 6:50 am | #

Although not a big fan of tattoos, the decor of the diner looks great.

My favourite milkshake flavour is apple pie. Yep, apple pie! The Counter at Crows Nest makes them and you can taste chunks of apple and pastry – yummo! They also do a peanut butter flavour if you’re interested
7. Lisa (bakebikeblog) | January 26, 2010 at 6:50 am | #

Hmm that sparkling black does look interesting -although your salad looks AMAZING!
Hmm I am a vanilla or caramel gal when it comes to milkshakes.
8. Mowie @ Mowielicious | January 26, 2010 at 7:17 am | #

It’s so funny, whenever I get my camera out in a restaurant to take pictures for my blog, someone will always ask why. So I usually go with other food bloggers, like yesterday at Ottolenghi’s =)

Your pictures look yummy and they make me miss Oz so much. Happy Australia Day by the way xxx
9. joey@FoodiePop | January 26, 2010 at 7:35 am | #

Love the look of the milkshake! Funny looking burger though; I think the ‘buns’ are thinner than the beef patty am I right? And Poh is right; salt and pepper squid is Australia’s new national dish! They’re everywhere! LOL
10. Fiona | January 26, 2010 at 7:51 am | #

Your salad looks great. I would have ordered that Bu not the sparkling black *gags*
11. grace | January 26, 2010 at 8:17 am | #

the coffee beverage sounds frightening, but the rolls and chickpea salad definitely appeal. neat stop!
12. Jacinta | January 26, 2010 at 8:45 am | #

I can’t pass by a Chocolate Milk shake, rich and creamy. The best one I ever tasted was at the cafe at Port Macquarie Hospital! My grandmother discovered them and took us deliberately to the hospital for morning tea so we could try them
13. Howard | January 26, 2010 at 9:08 am | #

Strawberry…..it’s like it all started with that flavour…
14. Jen | January 26, 2010 at 9:13 am | #

Sounds yummy! If ever I am in that vicinity of the world, I may have to try it! And my favourite shake flavor is anything with berries, but chocolate is high on the list too!
15. kathy s | January 26, 2010 at 9:21 am | #

my all time fave flavour has to be Blue Heaven- creamy and smooth with just a hint of icecream floating around in it
16. Matilda | January 26, 2010 at 9:29 am | #

Lime all the way for me……..so Retro lol
17. Amanda N | January 26, 2010 at 9:34 am | #

My favourite milkshake flavour is chocolate and peanut butter!
18. Amanda | January 26, 2010 at 9:39 am | #

Caramel – sweet thicky fatty caramel.
19. Linda M | January 26, 2010 at 9:52 am | #

Haven’t had one in years, but chocolate mint is my absolute favourite milkshake!
20. Anita | January 26, 2010 at 9:59 am | #

The squid looks perfectly cooked. It looks like a nice place to eat at.
21. Mary Preston | January 26, 2010 at 10:24 am | #

Chocolate. Always chocolate.
22. Diane | January 26, 2010 at 11:04 am | #

Thanks to your previous review of the Counter in Crows Nest, we headed there for dinner on Saturday. I can safely say, as a general non-shake drinker, that the apple pie & malt shake is an absolute star. Wow! Definitely something I think about & go ‘mmmm’ (like the iced coffees from Campos)
23. Faith | January 26, 2010 at 11:14 am | #

Chocolate or mint chocolate chip.

I know no one really enjoyed the Sparkling Black, but for some reason I’m really intrigued by it (and would love a sip!), lol!
24. carrie | January 26, 2010 at 12:11 pm | #

Believe it or not…I have never been a milkshake kind of girl…I will take a fruit smoothie though!
25. Gail | January 26, 2010 at 12:34 pm | #

chickpeas salad looks and sounds great, but what is the white blob on top?
26. anna | January 26, 2010 at 12:56 pm | #

Strawberry milkshake yes please! That food looks really good and I definitely would have tried the fizzy black, even though I don’t normally drink coffee I’d probably end up drinking a lot just being intrigued by it
27. MaryPoppinsinHeels | January 26, 2010 at 2:17 pm | #

Looks like a wonderful trip!
28. The Little Teochew | January 26, 2010 at 2:36 pm | #

Yum! That salt & pepper squid is so delish. Any milkshake does it for me, as long as there is malt!
29. Iron Chef Shellie | January 26, 2010 at 2:47 pm | #

ahhhh… this is Ruby’s Diner! They kept sending me emails and I was like “I LIVE IN A DIFFERENT STATE!!!”

I hate when fries don’t come with a burger.. and when they arrive at a different time to the burger, even more annoying!!

My favorite milkshake flavour… can’t go past chocolate =D
30. sophia | January 26, 2010 at 2:55 pm | #

The sparkling black sounds really fascinating…too bad it didn’t make a good effect.
But I would LOVE that beef burger!
31. taxing woman | January 26, 2010 at 3:15 pm | #

Sparkling black looks like a take on that Melbourne Greek cafe standby, “ena frappe” (my one word of Greek!, the frappe consisting of a couple spoons of nescafe (real coffee won’t foam up), lots of sugar, cold H20 and tons of ice, shaken to a foamy frosty delight that satisfies like no other on a sleepy sunburnt Aussie (or Aegean) afternoon. No milk in this shake, Lorraine, but it’s the very best!
32. Trisha | January 26, 2010 at 4:00 pm | #

So did you answer the tattooed gentleman? The salt and pepper squid looks wonderfully cooked… I love munching on the crispy tentacles hehehe!
33. Min Ai | January 26, 2010 at 5:00 pm | #

Definitely strawberry!!
34. Krista | January 26, 2010 at 5:42 pm | #

Chocolate, of course And your chickpea salad looks really good.
35. La Pastry Chef | January 26, 2010 at 6:20 pm | #

You make me want to travel halfway across the world for that chickpea salad! Only 22 hours or so away from nyc right?

ps: I forgot all about Chinotto! Craving one right now!
36. Jamie | January 26, 2010 at 7:28 pm | #

That salad looks fantastic! I need that tonight too! Too bad all those beautiful drinks were a deception. But it sounds like you always have fun eating out.
37. kirgibg | January 26, 2010 at 7:45 pm | #

My first ever job as a teenager was at the local milk bar on weekends, where I came across some fabulous milkshake flavour combinations…
*chocolate and caramel
*strawberry and chocolate (like a cherry ripe)
*chocolate and lime (looks gross, but kind of refreshing)
- but my absolute favourite is vanilla and strawberry mixed together. It’s super sweet and just divine!
38. Ladybird | January 26, 2010 at 8:22 pm | #

Mmm.. that chickpea salad looked yummy, and a great healthy option. The belgian choc milkshake looked awesome (and I will ignore the health factor)
39. mica | January 26, 2010 at 10:01 pm | #

o my…long black with sparkling water? tat IS really interesting i must say. really looks like guiness stout! as a coffeelover, i’m not sure if i’ll order tat! but i guess its always worth a try
40. BethieofVA | January 26, 2010 at 10:28 pm | #

The burger looked good. I like my fries crispy, crispy, crispy and my shake good ol’vanilla.
41. April Marie | January 26, 2010 at 10:29 pm | #

hmmmm is that Coffee Jelly? (pudding)?
42. Moya | January 26, 2010 at 11:16 pm | #

The sparkling black reminds me of a drink I bought once, about 10 years ago, in one of the major supermarket chains. It was called Kaffe: Carbonated Coffee Drink and contained sparkling mineral water, coffee and lemon essence. It was manufactured in South Australia and I’m afraid to say I’ve still got it on my pantry shelf, maybe it’s time to crack it open! It seems sparkling coffee may not be that unusual after all! My favourite milkshake flavour swings between vanilla and caramel – if the ingredients are really good you can taste the flavour and not just the sugar!
43. Katrina Smit-Eadie | January 26, 2010 at 11:32 pm | #

Milkshakes remind me of being a kid and nothing can go past a proper banana or lime milkshake with malt in a stainless steel cup with a striped, red or pink straw.
44. the projectivist | January 26, 2010 at 11:56 pm | #

i was very excited when i saw ‘Diner’ in the title of this post, Lorraine! you know how i feel about diners.

Ruby’s looked very nice, but no cheese fries???!!! sigh.

malt shakes are definitely my favourite flavour when it comes to milkshakes.
45. Angela@spinachtiger.com | January 27, 2010 at 2:39 am | #

I’m boring. Vanilla, but my preference is an old fashioned ice cream soda.
46. Cakelaw | January 27, 2010 at 8:20 am | #

What a sweet cafe – I want the salt n pepper squid with the cloudy apple juice.

I don’t think I could stomach a milkshake anymore, but my favourite flavour used to be strawberry.
47. Jeannie | January 27, 2010 at 10:25 am | #

Malt! Although I don’t think I know anywhere that makes them really…
48. jules | January 27, 2010 at 11:52 am | #

I don’t mean to be a downer, but I have eaten at Ruby’s Diner and was very disappointed. We went for breakfast, waited 40 minutes for our order to be taken and then over an hour for our order to arrive. There were two of us and we both had an order of scrambled eggs, chorizo and toast. Hardly rocket science. The eggs were watery and the chorizo burnt and all for the small price of $20 each. No thanks. I won’t be returning.
49. Jen | January 27, 2010 at 9:06 pm | #

Has to be chocolate for the milkshake!!

I can’t decide whether to give Ruby’s another try or not. Its very near my house but they were victim to my one-strike-and-you’re-out breakfast rule when they served up some strange scrambled eggs – lemon zest was included with no warning – strange combo! The dinner prices look very reasonable though
50. overtime | January 27, 2010 at 10:15 pm | #

Rubys rocks..well curated food out of a small place good tunes fine staff..well done..love the shots..go there
51. rubys diner | January 27, 2010 at 10:53 pm | #

Hi all..i am the tattoed gentleman and owner of Ruby’s.First of all thank you for the lovely photos and review ..very nice and balanced.
I feel compelled to reply to the post no 48 by Jules.
In two years of operation I have never seen anyone sit in our place for 40 minutes without an order being placed.Ruby’s has a footprint of 30 ssquare metres with 12 tables and to be overlooked and not pipe up for 40 minutes I find very hard to fathom.I can understand that food is subjective and is open to taste , or infact on a busy sunday may not be executed to the level required or expected.For this in our defense I can only offer that often the best time to try a small one chef place like Ruby’s for the first time is not peak hour on a weekend.If you have worked on short order , you would be more understanding. Yet I can accept that sometimes under duress we may miss the mark.What I find hard to stomach is that on anyones watch in my shop that you could sit for 40 minutes and not have an order taken.This is surley hyperbole.If infact you sat for 1hour and forty minutes and did not mention it to us I commend you highly for your patience.If it was brought to our attention we would have tried to compensate you in some way if infact you had been there for so long . If you would like to come in and introduce yourself to us I would love to enquire as to the staff who left you waiting for such an inordinate amount of time in such a small place and let us try and make it up to you(we’re nice people).

So dear readers my suggestion …if something irks you at any place, bring it to the attention of the staff, but be nice about it.You will find that we are there to help, but like all humans we can get stressed , overworked and underloved, but we are happy when you have a nice time.
So see you all on the corner,,and introduce yourselves as a reader of this fab blog.
Ed
52. justJENN | January 28, 2010 at 7:40 am | #

Darn! That sparkling black looked like it had potential!
53. Not Quite Nigella | January 28, 2010 at 4:42 pm | #

Hi Erica-I would love another serve of that chickpeas salad-that was delicious!

Hi Heavenly Housewife-Oh that sounds fabulous! Me wanty!

Hi deana-I know, it had so much potential! Thankyou!

Hi Kitchen Butterfly-Agreed!

Hi Hannah-Hehe me too! They’re so good aren’t they! Oh yes I bet they would really work!

Hi BuBbles-It’s very pretty! I love birds so I really liked the decor Yep been there and had those already!

Hi Lisa-Ahh classic flavours! I like it!

Hi Mowie-hehe yes safety in numbers! Happy Australia day Mowie! xxx

Hi joey-Yes they were, that’s what I meant by a little left of centre LOL too true, luckily I love that dish!

Hi Fiona-Hehe we were so curious about it!

Hi grace-yes it’s closeby to us too!

Hi Jacinta-really! how funny for it to be at a hospital! That is so cute! I wonder what the secret is?!

Hi Howard-hehe! I like how you put it

Hi Jen-Absolutely! You know I don’t see enough berry shakes!

Hi kathy-Oh cool, silly question but is it blue in colour?

Hi Matilda-hehe yes! I love lime too

Hi Amanda-Yum! Like a Reese’s peanut butter cup!

Hi Amanda-Mmm I do like the sweetness of caramel

Hi Linda-Ahh perhaps it’s time to have one again! I love having food from when I was young!

Hi Anita-Yes it’s a nice casual place to eat

Hi Mary-hehe I like how definite you are!

Hi Diane-Oh YAY! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it and thanks for letting me know! I wish they had one a bit closer by to me

Hi Faith-It’s pretty easy to replicate it at home I’d love to know what you think of it!

Hi carrie-hehe fair enough! Smoothies are a bit more refreshing I find!

Hi Gail-Oh that was cheese!

Hi anna-hehe we all had to give it a try!

Hi MaryPoppinsinHeels-it was!

Hi The Little Teochew-Ahh so malt is a must have huh? I like it in shakes but I tried a malt drink once and that wasn’t so good

Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Oh really? How funny! You should come over here then Yes burger and fries are best friends and should never be parted

Hi sophia-We had such high hopes for the sparkling black!

Hi taxing woman-Ahhh I had no idea that real coffee won’t foam! I think if you added sugar that would definitely help. Your description of it is mouth watering!

Hi Trisha-hehe of course! Hehe tentacles!

Hi Min Ai-hehe!

Hi Krista-I’m amazed there aren’t more chocolate milkshake drinkers!

Hi La Pastry Chef-hehe you should come and visit Australia! yes only 22 hours I love the size of chinotto, just right for me!

Hi Jamie-We always do-good company always helps to make a meal!

Hi kirgibg-I can so see them working! I’ve made a chocolate and lime cheesecake (a Nigella recipe) and it was fabulous! Mmmm Imust try vanilla and strawberry!

Hi Ladybird-yes I need to eat healthier! Hehe very smart!

Hi mica-I know, it wasn’t what we expected at all both taste and looks wise! Yes we had to try it

Hi Bethie-Ahh good old vanilla!

Hi April Marie-No, it’s coffee and sparkling water

Hi Moya-Wow and lemon essence? Apparently it was a drink that they had in Italy once so perhaps you have an Australian version of it. Did you like it?

Hi Katrina-I have a soft spot for waxed straws! Although they always went a bit soggy by the end of the drink!

Hi the projectivist-Hehe yes! There’s only one American diner in Sydney though! Just malt?

Hi Angela-Not boring at all! it’s classic!

Hi Cakelaw-I would love some right now! Yeah I don’t really drink entire milkshakes-that’s what Mr NQN is for

Hi Jeannie-Oh don’t they do them anymore? What a shame

Hi jules-that’s a long time to wait, sorry to hear that. I think the owner Ed wanted to respond to that below

Hi Jen-Hehe Belgian Chocolate? Lemon zest is quite unusual, I wonder if that was an accident? The prices are great especially for dinner

Hi overtime-Glad that you like it!

Hi Ed-Thanks and glad that you liked the review and photos thanks too for sharing your thoughts on the comments too, it’s always great to get everyone’s perspective

Hi justJENN-it did I agree!