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RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK
HOUSE
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By Sarah B.
Smith
St. Louisans might remember the Ruth’s Chris Steak House of yesteryear.
Located on 11th Street, the restaurant was a fixture of the stadium
area of downtown. The return of this national brand luxury steak
house to the St. Louis region does not disappoint—from a cuisine,
atmosphere, or service perspective.
(Left
to right): Executive Chef Craig Reynolds and General
Manager Mark Stephens |
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After an eight-year hiatus, the restaurant has returned to a great
new location in Clayton. Conveniently located at Brentwood and Forsyth
across from Shaw Park, Ruth’s Chris Steak House has already become
popular with business clientele, special occasion diners, and those
like me, who just love a great steak.
Ruth Fertel, who at the time was a Professor at Tulane University
in New Orleans, started the original Ruth’s Chris restaurant in
1965. She purchased the long established Chris Steak House, renamed
it and added her own signature favorites. The chain has grown to
include 95 restaurants worldwide, including locations in Hong Kong,
Mexico and Canada. The St. Louis restaurant’s franchise owners include
Larry Griggers, Jere Shopf and Mike O’Donnell.
Griggers, who already has two Ruth’s Chris restaurants in Indianapolis,
sought out the St. Louis market because of both the strong demographics,
and the region’s intangibles. “It felt like it was ready for a Ruth’s,”
says Griggers, who spent years researching potential new markets.
“There is a buzz about St. Louis. We looked at a lot of cities.
St. Louis and Sacramento were at the top of the list.”
The design and finishes of the newest Ruth’s Chris makes for a comfortable
level of intimacy in what turns out to be a generous amount of space.
Creatively laid out and appointed, the main dining room features
seating for 200 in a contemporary and sophisticated atmosphere.
Several small private rooms lined with wine racks are available
for private dining and meetings, each with blinds for privacy, and
each also equipped with plasma screen TVs for a great spot to catch
a game.
A sleek copper and black bar add to a modern, but warm feel for
the lounge entry area; several booths are available here on a non-reservation
basis. The adjacent patio, which seats 65, is likely to be very
sought out once a planned gazebo and plantings are completed.
As is the case with any great steak house, steaks are the name of
the game here. And indeed they are outstanding. According to General
Manager Mark Stephens, part of the key to the great flavor is the
cooking process. Steaks are broiled in an 1800-degree oven, which
sears the outside and locks the juices in right away. The filet
($31.95) that I had certainly met my high expectations; as promised,
it was served on a sizzling plate, tender and cooked to perfection.
The rib eye and New York strip are also among their most popular
selections. The restaurant offers generously portioned side dishes
served a la carte. The sweet potato casserole, creamed spinach and
sautéed mushrooms—each at $6.50—were well received at our table.
Appetizers feature some of their established New Orleans favorites
such as Louisiana seafood gumbo and Cajun popcorn shrimp.
For those looking for alternatives to steak, Ruth’s Chris offers
several to choose from. In addition to a fresh catch-of-the-day,
diners can select salmon, lobster, lamb chops and a stuffed chicken
breast among other appealing options. The wine selection is extensive,
if a bit pricey, with over 250 wines by the bottle and some 25-30
by the glass. The restaurant also has wine lockers available, which
they will fill with the diner’s favorite wines for future visits.
Ruth’s Chris’ signature entrees are also available at lunch, as
are some lighter sandwich and salad options priced in the $6.95
- $15.95 range.
With the ample portions they serve, it’s a wonder they even offer
desserts, but if you have room, they are very worthwhile. The bread
pudding with whiskey sauce (as in Jack Daniels) was great as was
the caramelized banana cream pie.
Griggers long search for a new location has resulted in a “sizzling”
addition to the region’s growing repertoire of notable restaurants.
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TalkingPOINTS
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Ruth’s
Chris Steak House
One North Brentwood Boulevard
(314) 783-9900
www.ruthschris.com
Open seven days a week.
Lunch served:
Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dinner served:
Monday – Thursday, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday, 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Reservations recommended.
Valet parking available. |
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