RAVING ABOUT RAVI CONTINENTAL CUISINE
There's nothing pretentious about Ravi Continental Cuisine.
By Kevin Czerwinski
There's nothing pretentious about Ravi Continental Cuisine.
One of the Village's latest additions, Ravi Continental Cuisine offers a simple yet classy experience, providing area residents with an opportunity to step outside what has become an all-too-familiar box when it comes to eating out in this part of Rockland County. You'll find a warm, friendly atmosphere in the Lafayette Avenue eatery with an all-encompassing menu that is certain to please just about everyone.
"We're not Italian or Mexican, this area didn't need something like that," manager Karen McDade said. "We didn't want to do that, we wanted to do something that was a little Asian, a little Italian, a little American, something eclectic. It was a niche that was open in this area.
"And out clientele has proven to be as eclectic as the menu. We're pulling from a mostly older clientele right now but we're starting to see younger faces, too. We've had a couple of 19-year-old tables lately with people on their first date, that kind of thing, so we're starting to see more of a younger crowd."
Ravi Continental Cuisine, which is owned by Ravi Buckredan, has such diverse menu that choosing an entrée is often difficult. But McDade, who grew up in Rockland and worked for years at her family-owned business [The Platz Brahaus in Pomona], says the braised short ribs seem to have emerged as the early favorite since the restaurant's opening nine months ago.
While it's the biggest seller it's by no means the only dish worth trying on the menu. There's an array of fresh fish, steaks, chops and lamb dishes. Pasta specialties are also available and all the meals come at consistently affordable prices.
Then there's dessert, which seems to be McDade's specialty. While there are a host of wonderful pastries [she does the baking], she says the favorite seems to be the classic ice cream sundae.
"Over the summer we put a 'Sinful Sundae' on the menu with brown sugar sauce and toppings and all that and we were going to take it off the menu but it's our biggest seller right now," she said. "You can't go wrong with chocolate. It used to be cheesecake but that's not as popular now. We have an apple dessert and puff pastries, too."
Ravi Continental Cuisine, which has a warm and inviting bar, is also available for parties, corporate affairs, bridal showers and the like. You can get an idea of what to expect by visiting their website RAVISNY.com. You can get a better idea of what a nice meal and a friendly atmosphere is like by going and seeing what a wonderful addition Ravi is to the community.
"Everyone has been so friendly here [in Suffern]," McDade said. "It's an interesting town. There's a little bit of everything here. There are a lot of nice places to eat and go. And we want to be here for a while. You don't go into business to close.
"We're making some changes here and there because we know everyone is struggling with the economy. But Marcello's has been here forever and we'd like to be part of this town like that, too. It's a growing area and if we keep doing our job, we'll be around."
It's not pretentious and it isn't stuffy. Ravi Continental Cuisine is an upscale yet affordable place to eat, one that appears headed to becoming as much a part of Suffern as the Lafayette Theater.