Seminal Blue Ribbon Group Takes Over Guy Fieri’s Former Times Square Space Today

Blue Ribbon’s 24th restaurant nationwide and 16th in New York City is now open in Times Square, a second location of Bruce and Eric Bromberg’s Ribbon concept.

The Ribbon Midtown moves into a high-profile location at 220 West 44th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues — the site of Guy Fieri’s former restaurant, which reportedly closed in late 2017 due to high rents from landlord Kushner Companies. It’s a huge space at 16,000 square feet, seating 297 people across a ground-floor bar and upstairs dining room.

The food is signature Bromberg brothers, American brasserie fare with a bent toward Southern comfort. There’s the famous Blue Ribbon fried chicken, deviled eggs, various burgers, a raw bar, and a spit-roast for chicken, pork, and beef. Drinks go heavy on whiskeys, with 98 types, as well as a 117-bottle wine list, and local beer and cider. The full menu is below.

This move into Times Square is a major one for the Brombergs. Since 1992, when their seminal restaurant Blue Ribbon Brasserie opened in Soho and became a late-night and industry destination, the Blue Ribbon brand has exploded.

The group now has a dozen restaurants in NYC and a further 12 in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Miami, mainly dedicated to brasseries, sushi bars, and wine bars. The original is still regarded as an influential place that paved the way for chef-driven, late-night restaurants such as Ssäm Bar and the Dutch, though later openings have not all had that same reputation.

The Ribbon Midtown is now open daily for dinner from 4 p.m. to midnight.

The Ribbon [Official Photo]