Boulderspace

My first Restaurant Design Critic review is at Ruby’s Diner. Having heard about this new 40’s style diner, I was excited to see how they would be able to pull off the ambiance and the feel of this era.

First impression: It is located in the 29th Street Mall vacinity (1750 29th Street, Suite #1064), and it feels a little like Denny’s or IHOP, but I was intrigued by the Indian motorcycle on display.

Colors and Lighting: It is very bright - feels fresh. Other than a turquoise band at the ceiling and the vinyl covers on the chairs, the color is used conservatively. The wall paneling is a traditional veneer nutmeg oak and chrome vintage-esk lights hang around the perimeter of the space. The flooring felt like an afterthought, I am guessing they had to trim the budget?

Layout: Overall the seating layout is OK, but does not get the gold star. However, a couple of very large booths “that can seat around 10 people” is a nice addition. An outside patio is surrounded in clear plastic to provide a larger dinning space. It is good to see them use their patio year round.

Menu Presentation and Table Settings: Vinyl menus with large pictures of the special of the day are displayed, and the format of the menu feels a little cluttered. Silverware is wrapped in a napkin and the food is brought out on Chef’s Mart traditional white round plates. Presentation is not top of their list.

Hostess and Staff Clothing: Women are dressed in uniforms of red and white vertical pattern one piece dresses with white pointed aprons. The men were wearing tan dockers with a basic white dress shirt and a white hat. Overall, clothing felt clean, but lacked the personality of the people.

Likes and Dislikes: I liked the space from the perspective that it’s not your normal Boulder scene. In some ways, it is kind of refreshing. I was happy to see an effort to bring pieces of nostalgia into the space, for example the Indian motorcycle. It does not feel like a place that I would walk in and get a sense of “you belong here”. Everyone seems a little distracted, and it comes across as if they are trying to portray the “experience” of eating in a diner, versus the actuality of a place that feels like you can call home.

Tags: 183, 186, 243, 359, 78