Ratner's

Ratner's was a famous Lower East Side dairy restaurant in New York City, renowned for its vegetarian Jewish cuisine. Founded in 1905 by Jacob and Morris Ratner, immigrant brothers-in-law, it operated for nearly a century, finally closing its doors in 2002.

Ratner's was known for its simple, hearty fare, including dishes like potato pancakes (latkes), cheese blintzes, matzo ball soup, vegetable borscht, and kasha varnishkes. The restaurant adhered to kosher dairy rules, meaning no meat was served. Its long hours, reasonable prices, and distinct atmosphere made it a popular destination for generations of New Yorkers, from theatergoers and artists to families and neighborhood regulars.

The restaurant actually consisted of two adjacent locations: Ratner's Dairy Restaurant and Ratner's Meatless Restaurant. The "Meatless" side was intended to be more upscale, though both sides were beloved for their unpretentious character. Over the years, Ratner's became a cultural landmark, featured in countless movies, television shows, and books, and embodying the vibrant immigrant history of the Lower East Side. After its closure, the name "Ratner's" remained a potent symbol of old New York and traditional Jewish comfort food.