Rip's Cafe

Had a hotel room in town, as we are traveling, and wanted a dinner and a drink. Lots of options, but chose Rip's because of what we saw on Yelp and what we saw of their menu.We were so very happy to have made the decision to land here. The food was amazing, From the stuffed cabbage to egg rolls. All wonderfully flavored and served very nicely.Speaking of serving, the staff was a bit stressed, lots of people and only a couple of them... but they kept up and even took time to 'chat' with some out-of-town strangers.It was a fun place, a good old Cheers style bar, I felt everyone else in the place knew each other. But, they included and welcomed us. I would go back tomorrow, if I lived a little closer!

Craig Hockenberry Rips Cafe has some of the best food in the Youngstown area. I try to hit this place several times a month. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY

I found this place thanks to Yelp. I had the Rip's burger with cheese, bacon and the fried egg. Beyond amazing and my picture is proof of how much I loved it. The meat is seasoned very well and it was cooked exactly how I ordered it. They didn't have fries but the tater tots did it. The atmosphere is pleasant. Quiet place with plenty of nice people having meaningful conversations. I loved it.

Let's start with the important stuff. For all those people out there who never carry cash, like me, Rip's is CASH ONLY! Of the plethora of reviews I read, none of them happened to mention this important fact. Rip's doesn't take credit cards, which I should have guessed about this old school hangout. Thankfully, the owner let me to run down the street to an ATM after dinner, trusting me to return without leaving collateral as reassurance. Trust is still alive in America.Having recently returned from my fifth visit to Budapest, I've been craving expertly prepared Eastern European cuisine. So I scoured the Internet and came across a news story about Rip's. Patrons of this dimly-lit bar outside of Youngstown, Ohio, just minutes from the Pennsylvania border raved about the authentic Polish food. The three-generational establishment had operated since the 1930s with stellar reviews, but the article indicted they would be closed by the end of 2018. That was it, I was making the 9-hour pilgrimage from Nashville to Youngstown to enjoy Rip's before the doors closed forever.Who can blame the grandchild of the original owner for giving up the old cafe? Now in their mid-80s, it's way past time to retire! It made sense coming from my waitress and the restaurant's co-owner, although shockingly she didn't look a day over 60! The great-grandkids don't want to keep the restaurant going either, so that's it. The bar looks a little daunting from Google streetview, a dive in working class America. Would there be a smoky room with blue collar gentlemen glaring at this city slicker when I walked in? Instead, I found a clean, classic interior with a few such men, but none of them stared and the staff was incredibly welcoming. All my fears were alleviated.I had predetermined that my selection would by the legendary Hunky Platter. This sampler features three pirohy (Polish for what we call pierogis) with the smoothest potato filling, topped with the most perfectly softened onions, flavorful but not overpowering. The platter also includes a generous serving of halušky, tiny dumplings of soft, chewy dough thoroughly blended with tender, marinated cabbage. The third part of this Polish trilogy is the pig in a blanket, a massive loaf of juicy, flavorful ground sausage wrapped in a cabbage leaf. Oh that sauce!!! I had to order an extra pig in a blanket!You only have until the end of 2018 to make your pilgrimage, so don't delay! And may you Rest In Peace Rip's!

Genuinely the best stuffed cabbage and haluski I've ever had from a restaurant. There's nothing else to say, that's the review. Just order it.

Great food.... Excellent value.... Daily specials.... I recommend it to anyone as long as you can do without French fries.

Five out of five stars? Have I lost my mind? Well, slightly... You see this is a museum, a static display, of what a mill workers bar was back in the day.I honestly had dreams of the place last night. Getting the "Hunky Platter" and a beer, Genny on draft. $1.50 for the 16 oz glass. The Hunk Platter, a large stuffed cabbage (halubky) three pierogies(homemade) and haluski. Haluski, that is one of the cross over dishes you will find in Italian as well as Ukrainian or Hungarian homes across the Steel Valley.Usually, it is pretty simple. Egg noodles, fried cabbage, and butter maybe bacon. At Rip's, they use dumplings, homemade dumplings, instead of the egg noodles. The stuffed cabbage comes with a side of red paprika gravy, and the pierogies are homemade as well, with or without butter simmered onions.Oh yeah and hot dogs, chili dogs, for $1.25!!!No juke box. No pool table. About 600 sq feet maybe. One length of the wall is the bar, the other side is all booths. Tv's over the bar, but really no one much watches them. This is a place you go to when you are off work, and want some Grandma food. Oh, and the meals come with butter and some of the best freshest Italian bread I have ever had.I absolutely love this place, because I truly dislike frozen pierogies from the grocery store. Here, if you just want pierogies, butter simmered onions, bread and butter, you can get all you want for $.70 apiece. Better to me than wings, just get a chili dog on the side and a couple beers, and you have some of the best bar food available anywhere.And corned beef and cabbage for saint Patricks day, they sell out so get there early. Again. St. Patricks day, Youngstown area, corned beef and cabbage. Rip's.Stop in, enjoy some history. Clean, nice, great hunky food, sports on the TV's, what else do you want? Oh yeah. Beer and a bar. Well, this place fills all the squares!

First visit to this iconic restaurant/bar in Struthers; we came for the hunky platter. Surprised to see that hunky food is not available any other day. The platter is it, and only on Thursdays. The menu is otherwise routine bar food. For some reason I thought you could get pieroghies, etc any day of the week and on Thurs it was a special. In any case it was good, not great. The noodles were gummy and the cabbage and meat bland. Everything needed a big dose of seasoning. Or bacon.That aside, it's a fun little place to hang out, have a cheap beer and watch sports on TV. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the wait staff were working hard and friendly. So three stars for being local, working hard, and an honest effort at a menu item few attempt. Oh, and although I paid cash, there are credit card signs on the window, so maybe that has changed now.

A small place that suggests 90% of the occupants are daily regulars. Kind people. Undoubtedly the best stuffed Hungarian hot pepper you will ever find. I would visit this place for the pepper, a beer, and an hour on a bar stool any day.

Was told about Rip's and couldn't wait to try the Hunky special! Yes, authentic and flavorful meal actually memorable! Casual atmosphere family oriented and oh boy are you in for a tr