Ruby Red Flamingo has been on my list for years. I think. I’m not sure how long it’s been open but it feels like it’s been beckoning to me for far too long. Now that we’ve been there, that silent subtle beckoning has turned into a full blown stalker-like yelling. I think about it all the time, and I’m telling you, it wants to me to go back. Actually, maybe I’m the one with the stalker vibes.
If you know me, you probably know how much I love Golden Boy, and suggest it for any birthday, anniversary, Friday, Saturday… any day. Thankfully, Golden Boy and RRF are at different ends of the date night world, otherwise there would be some stiff competition. Golden Boy is the forever fun friend who shouts for more food, shots, conversations, and is generally a wild clang of activity (in the best way imaginable), RRF is a warm, strong embrace on a cold night that just wants to hold you. It is the perfect date night destination.
I’m glad we saved RRF for a celebratory date night, because it gave us an excuse to go all out. What’s wrong with 2 serves of bread, 2 entrees and 3 mains between 2 people? Nothing. We did go to the bakery afterwards though, so I will accept some judgement on that.
It filled up about 20 minutes after this - we were there as soon as it opened! |
We started with the Manzo Tonnato which was thinly sliced scotch fillet with tuna sauce and little hidden tuna nuggets. This was 100% out of my comfort zone, and tasted 100% like tuna. I’m glad I gave it a go, but it just wasn’t my thing. If you’re a big tuna fan, this one is for you. Contrary to that, Paul isn’t much of a tuna eater, and he absolutely loved this dish. So basically, surprise yourself.
We obviously had to get a pasta, and we finally decided on the Cappellacci, which is a tumeric infused pasta filled with spinach, pumpkin, gorgonzola with leek veloute sauce and a touch of sticky balsamic (I’m reading this from their website - as if I could remember that without cheating). It tasted like heaven. It was the most melt in your mouth plate of incredible that I’d ever eaten and I had to genuinely hold myself back from picking up the plate and licking it. It was at this point that they bought us more bread because they could see us desperately scraping up all the sauce. I wasn’t even embarrassed. If you could eat a melody I’m pretty sure that’s what this would taste like.
The second main I unfortunately couldn’t find a technical description of, but it was a saffron veal osso bucco risotto. I’m a sucker for a rice dish, and this did not disappoint. The only disappointing thing about it was that I had to share it. Paul and I were subtly trying to scrape more and more onto our own plates, and it very nearly turned into a firm discussion about who chose the risotto and therefore should get more of it. A bullshit argument, but it was desperate times. I went full Nigella eating this dish, and while I’m ready to string together very suggestive sentences of how this food made me feel, I won’t, because it might make people uncomfortable.
In saying all that about both of these meals, as amazing as they were, they were equally as rich. I’m glad we went halves in both because I don’t know that I could eat a whole plate of just one. It worked out perfect for us because I always end up looking longingly at Paul’s meal until he lets me eat some, so this way I didn’t have to bother making eyes, I could just go right along and take it.
I mentioned three mains. The third dish was slow cooked beef cheeks. Now, I’m not really a fan of beef cheek because it’s flavour is so strong and just down right meaty, but I feel like if you were a fan you’d go to town on these. Paul hadn't tried them before and figured that if he was going to try them, this would be the place to do it. They were fall off the fork kind of tender and everything that you would want in a cut of meat like that. I assume.
All in all, Ruby Red Flamingo is now the equal love of my life with Golden Boy. Paul understands that he comes a very close third. I know he understands because on Valentine’s Day he went to the O’Connell Street bakery and got me my favourite baked goods, because what better to say I love you than with tasty treats? Which is the exact reason you should be at Ruby Red, now.