Ruggles Café Bakery

I’ve eaten here plenty of times — burgers, pasta, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Never a disappointment. This last time, I tried the pulled pork sandwich and it was as expected — delicious!
I just realized I never finished this review, and now the place closed down. Or did they move? Does anyone know?

This is our second review for this restaurant and we had a terrible experience. People at the register are always nice and all but when the food came out, I think our salmon was undercooked…
After 15 – 20 min of eating, we rushed ourselves to the restroom to take care of business. My gf was about to throw up in the restroom. This was one of our favorite place for brunch but we are traumatized to go back. Had to go to the doctors to get checked for food poisoning and had a terrible experience

Ruggles is one of my go to places when I’m in a rut and cant decide what to make for dinner.
My favorite menu item is the Grilled Salmon Salad. I don’t eat bacon, so I sub both the fried egg and bacon for avocado, and they do this without any problem.
I also enjoy the grilled cheese with tomato basil soup. The grilled cheese does have three types of cheese, and grilled onions, so adjust to your liking.
I’ve had the fish tacos and they were very light, definitely a health option. They did lack in flavor tho.
The pastas are also pretty good, I’ve had the Cajun pasta as well as the Alfredo.
Obviously the best dessert item here is the white chocolate bread pudding. Just get it. The raspberry sauce is also delicious on top of the pudding and vanilla ice cream. The sand cookies are also good. The red velvet cake is alright. Stick with the white chocolate bread pudding!
Overall I’ve always had a good experience at Ruggles in Rice Village.

Ruggles is my favorite for a casual lunch or for dessert. This past weekend, we had dinner at a nice restaurant, but their dessert menu just wasn’t that appealing, so I knew the place to go: Ruggles! The red velvet cake and the white chocolate bread pudding are the BEST! Creamy and oh-​so-​decadent.
If you’re going for lunch, my favorite is the grilled salmon salad: nutritious but filling (a big salad)!

I’ve been a fan of Ruggles for years. I recently went back and had their baked goat cheese salad, which was pretty good. I requested the salad dressing on the side, but they dressed the salad for me so the lettuce was soggy when I got my entre. I wish I had just gotten dessert though. I split a sticky bun with my dining companion before our entres came out, which was good. It was probably baked early that morning so it didn’t taste really fresh. They were also offering cinnamon buns for the same price. Shining star was the white chocolate bread pudding for dessert… wow! I wish we hadn’t eaten so much before so we could’ve finished it. It’s a very large serving topped with delicious vanilla ice cream.
We went on a Sunday afternoon and parking wasn’t an issue. They have a designated parking lot shared with a few other businesses. Seating is indoor/​outdoor with a nice patio. It’s counter service — I took away a couple stars as it seemed like we waited a little too long for our food, and the main courses didn’t have the wow factor it once had.
Not a bad place to grab a meal, but definitely go here for dessert!

It looks like Unilocalers are kinda split on this place. Sorry Ruggles, but I’m on the negative side.
We came for Saturday night dinner. The grill was down that day so they told us they weren’t making burgers. I wanted the veggie burger, so I was kinda bummed. The only other vegetarian option left for me was the veggie wrap. I mean, the wrap looked good, and I was soo ready to dig in while we were waiting for everyone to get their food. Unfortunately, I was also sooo dissappointed when I did. The wrap tasted like plain spinach with plain roasted vegetables inside a tortilla. It was so bland. I had to drown the thing in ketchup to give it some flavor.
The worst part of our meal — My friend ordered the café combo for $ 10. Turns out the café combo is a large bowl of soup and half a sandwich that took literally three bites to eat. My other friend paid only a dollar more for a huge chicken sandwich and a side of roasted veggies. She was understandably pissed. What’s up ruggles? The café combo should have cost less or had a better description at the very least.
Apparently this place is great for desserts. And I really do want to try the veggie burger. It will just be a while before I give them another shot.

The best part about Ruggles is that they have a really large parking lot (for Rice Village). Ruggles also has a very nice, calm, homey atmosphere. Other than that, food here is okay. Personally, I think Ruggles Green down the street on Kirby is a much better deal, even if you have to pay a couple dollars extra.
When I go to Ruggles, I usually order one of their burgers or their salad. Both of which, in my opinion, are a bit overpriced. The food here is decent, but not anything special. I do love that they offer sweet potato fries, which are really nicely made. Also, their salads tend to have a lot of toppings on them and are large enough that I can usually take some home to eat later.

Super sad. Waited a while to get a piece of cake to go because they plated it on accident. Once they handed me my to go bag I ran out the door, when I got home my chocolate crumble cheesecake was missing half the crumble crust… sorry Ruggles, not cool. Everyone knows the crust is the best part!

I’ve only always had the desserts here. I LOVE the desserts here.
Anytime we are in the Museum district we make sure to stop in to either take some deliciously undeserved treat home with us, or sit and sinfully enjoy decadent cake or brownie or maybe cookies.
Everything I’ve had has been delicious. I can’t recall them all, but a few of my favorites include domino cake and a gluten free chocolate cake like roll with a whipped cream filling (doesn’t seem like it could possibly be gluten free), the brownie with the chunks of white chocolate, dark chocolate, caramel, and walnuts… mmmmm I so wish I had that right now… and the tiramisu, or whoopee pies…

I have been here over five times now, and have become a fan of their desserts. I’ve had the strawberry bomb, the white and chocolate tres leches cakes, fish tacos, and a few of the pasta dishes. The pasta dishes are probably 3 stars, with not much to write home about in terms of the cook.
They heavily sauce the pastas, give huge portions, and aren’t stingy on the meat, but there’s also nothing fantastic about them. The fish tacos were rather dry the last time I came, but otherwise flavorful with aggressive seasoning and the mango salsa was decent.
Their baked goods are what I usually come here for. The white tres leches cake is a hit. I got this cake once, when I was introduced to the restaurant, and have been attempting to get it ever since. Unfortunately, they’re always sold out of it. The tres leches cakes are very moist (obviously), sweet, and huge. You can definitely take home some and it will still be delicious, if not even more delicious eaten the next day.
We went to local foods for lunch and came to Ruggles to hit up dessert, which is probably a good idea considering the lack of pep in their entrée step!
Happy eating!

I personally hate the taste of chocolate. In milk, in cake, in drinks, or just plain milk or dark chocolate.
i was recommended by a friend to try out their tres leche cake.
with his exaggeration of «they will be sold out before 3pm everyday» and «4 out of 5 times i came here they were gone» i had my hopes up for this wonderful attention grabbing cake!
unfortunately for me, they ran out of the white tres leche cake. the only reason we came here for after a wonderful lunch.
fortunately for me, they still have the chocolate flavored one.
back to the chocolate topic.
i hesitated on trying it (my friend paid for the cake). but here is the reason why i am giving it a 4 star.
IT. WAS. AMAZING.
i am a chocolate hater. i really do. but this cake changed my whole view on chocolate flavored anything! i went to buy some cocoa powder right after this from central market. it was that life changing!
the cake was soft and moist and it was the best cake i have ever had. the milk was creamy and the plating was beautiful.
this made me want the white tres leche cake ever more. i wonder how amazing that would be!
reading other reviews made me curious on how their food taste! will be back for sure! and may the luck be on my side with the white cake!

I went here off of a recommendation from a friend who lives in the area. I had ½ of the tuna salad croissant with a cup of tomato basil soup. It was AMAZING. I’m a lover of tomato basil soup, and there’s is one of the best I’ve ever had! The tuna was good. Simple salad spiced up with some pecans. All things I love! The croissant was delicious as well.
I also had a carafe of raspberry lemonade which was equally yummy.
The menu was sort of confusing. I felt like I was rushed a little to look and order. Maybe there were actual menus somewhere, and I didn’t see them? Also the English major in me had to document the weird, incorrect, possessive menu titles. Someone should probably fix that.

Not the Ruggles it once was.
Having gone to Rice University just down the block, I have eaten at Ruggles several times per year for the last half of a decade. Ruggles has always been a solid meeting place for lunches, dinners, etc., but after my two most recent visits, which were the first in 6 months and in the same week, I hopefully do not have to go back ever again.
Having eaten the salad of the day, a turkey burger, my friend having a wrap, and a Reuben sandwich over the course of the two meals, I was completely, 100% disappointed and unimpressed.
The turkey meat was small, dry, and mostly flavorless. The sweet potato fries were simply not good. Probably from a bag. Nothing like they used to be. The Reuben sandwich was pathetic. If Lunchable made Reubens, that’s exactly what was on her plate. The salad was okay and the wrap was dry.
My friends and family used to frequent Ruggles for their fresh breads, lush greens, and moist meats, but those days are over, unfortunately.
The company at each meal was good and there were seating accommodations with each visit so I can appreciate that. Come back good Ruggles, come back!

Great place to meet up for lunch!
They have everything you can imagine on a café lunch menu, fresh, healthy and yummy too!
I have gotten their kale salad, sandwiches and veggie burger, all really great. It’s hard to park on Rice Boulevard, but this Ruggles location has plenty of parking which is another reason we like coming here.

Ruggles Café Bakery is amazing for desserts. I highly recommend sharing your dessert as they are served in large portions and are very rich. I ordered the chocolate tres leches. I am very familiar with tres leches, but had never seen this variety. It was AMAZING. Another reason to split your dessert, you will probably want to eat all of it! (Aside, your satisfaction is surely and obviously subjective to your taste preferences. While I loved the tres leches, my friend wasn’t as big a fan.)
Their display of desserts is very enticing. Their selection is diverse, so unless you are craving something specific, you will likely find something to indulge your sweet tooth.
The venue is quaint and medium-​sized, however it’s location in Rice Village adds to the small town local bakery feel. If it’s too crowded, there is additional outdoor seating. It’s a casual dining atmosphere. You order your own food at a register and are given a number. You get utensils and your drink and they bring you your food when it’s ready.

You have got to try their White Chocolate Bread Pudding. It is served hot with a scoop vanilla ice cream and raspberry glaze. It is heaven in your mouth. Although a brunch place, their breakfast menu isn’t as impressive as their lunch/​dinner menu. Warning — their portions are huge. Their grilled ranch chicken sandwich has enough chicken to feed three people, and a bit too much melted cheese. Although I wasn’t so much impressed with their food, their bread pudding is what makes me come back again and again.
They have their own parking, but during busy hours it fills up pretty fast.

What happened to this place? Either it has gone down or my snobbery has increased? (I guess it’s the latter because I’m bombarded by the 5-​star reviews).
Hubbs and I came here for a light dinner and dessert to-​go for a friend’s birthday. So we ordered the salad special of the day (Southwest Chicken Caesar) and fish tacos, with a carrot cake and their famous bread pudding to go. The fish tacos had two small pieces of breaded fish on them with a pile of (unmelted) shredded cheese on top. Their tiny scoop of potato salad was tasty, though. The salad I got was… just bland. It was pre-​tossed with dressing and had a very dry piece of chicken on top. Hubbs disliked it so much that he returned it and got their spinach salad with chicken, which was a little better. The dressing was tangy, but the spinach was drowning under a sea of raw mushrooms, cooked eggs, bacon bits and pecans. It was a little disappointing.
If I feel like I can make something better at home, I cannot in good conscience give a place more than 3 stars. Sorry Ruggles.
However, the desserts were delicious. The birthday boy was very happy, and I would go back for the bread pudding alone.

PSA: Ruggles Café Bakery is not the same as Ruggles Green. Ruggles Green uses organic ingredients, but Ruggles Café is cheaper, and I’m not gonna front like I always choose social responsibility over economic benefit.
The food isn’t wildly innovative. I like the fish tacos and tomato basil soup. I come here for my sugar fix. If you don’t know about these exceptional desserts, you know nothing, Jon Snow.
Hummingbird cake– you are the LOML (love of my life) in dessert form. If I’m a dog, you’re a bone. If I’m a moth, you’re a flame. If I’m a mosquito, you’re me soundly asleep in the night. I can’t get enough of your pineapple/​banana/​cream cheese/​pecan perfection.
You guys. I know the white chocolate bread pudding is incredible. But I could argue that the salted caramel bread pudding is even better, if you actually like caramel. I say this because someone once told me «caramel sucks.» No new friends? Drake was wrong; I definitely need new friends.
When my friend ordered this, I got to try a bite. One bite turned into three, and then five… Bro, I’m sorry. This is why you should never be the ONE person at a table who orders dessert, grabs extra spoons, and offers to share with everyone. Take note from that other girl who ate the crème brulee by herself as everyone else looked with predatory eyes.
Honestly, Ruggles doesn’t need another review, but I felt compelled to write one. It’s better than The Chocolate Bar, Cloud 10, and any other dessert spot in Rice Village.

My friend and I came to the village with the intention of going to the Chocolate Bar because we were both craving something sweet. However, I got hungry first and we decided to just eat somewhere in the village. Ruggles it is!
The parking lot for Ruggles is small and there’s a lot of traffic. I got lucky and I found a parking spot in the lot. While I was dining, a couple of other spots opened up. So there’s no harm in checking here first before parking somewhere else.
They have outside dining area. Some tables are on the side of the restaurant and covered. Some tables are outside the restaurant alongside the windows. The restaurants did get packed and we had to sit outside.
We walked in and we saw all the desserts on display and decided to just eat here and get dessert here. I’d been here many moons ago and remembered that I’d enjoyed my meals and my desserts. So, why not?
There’s no waiter service. You order, you get a number, and then the only kind of service you get is when they deliver your food to your table and when they’re cleaning the plates off your table.
I decided to get the Prime Angus Burger with bacon and cheese and my friend decided to be a bit healthier and ordered from the skinny menu. She ordered the Jerk Fish Tacos. I also ordered a carrot cake for myself and she ordered Charlotte’s web. When we were ordering, we did ask the cashier about what she thought was the best item on the menu to which she replied, «Ranch Chicken Sandwich.» That’s what I’ll be ordering the next time I come in here but for right now, let’s talk about what I did order.
The Bacon Cheeseburger: I asked for medium. I got well done. The patty was a little bit dry and the flavor of the bacon totally overpowered the burger. Definitely just meh.
The Jerk Chicken Tacos: According to my friend, they were just okay. She said that they should put a different kind of sauce in the taco to make it more flavorful even though it might defeat the purpose of the tacos being on the skinny menu. She said, that should at least be made an option.
Carrot cake: Not bad at all. Really not bad at all. Rich. Creamy. And just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.
Charlotte’s Web: Also not bad at all. If you like coffee, you’ll like this.
I’ll be back here for the desserts. I would eat the food because they weren’t bad. But for the price that they’re charging, I’d rather be spending my money for better food that might be cheaper.

Who has the best dessert in town? RUGGLES!!! the best white chocolate bread pudding!!! omg, it was to die for!!!
Comes in a good size portion that cane be shared between four people. We got that and a brownie. We know which one was the favorite because the brownie was UNTOUCHED!!! brownie was too rich for my taste. I didn’t like it after tasting the bread pudding. OOoO yum!!! I was so happy after eating that hahahah