Ruth's Chris Steak House — Restaurant in Florida

“Are we celebrating anything special tonight?” is how we were greeted by Dee, our waitress. No special occasion, but our love of food had brought us back to Ruth’s Chris in Sarasota as it had so many times before.

The restaurant was crowed but we were seated right away. We ordered drinks and the crab cakes appetizer. While waiting we talked about how excited we were to be back at Ruth’s. I noticed couples at three different tables each celebrating their anniversaries.

The crab cakes came and were amazing as they always are. He commented that his blueberry mojito was even better than the last time we were there. He ordered for both of us - we were each going to have the filet cooked medium, and we were going to share the au gratin potatoes and since our favorite brussel sprouts with bacon and honey weren’t on the menu we were going to have the roasted tomato.

In no time, the sound of the sizzling butter was coming closer - our food had arrived. The waiter warned us that our plates were really hot and not to touch them. The steaks looked amazing. I grabbed my knife and sliced off a little piece, eager for my first bite. It was raw. The outside was seared but the inside was completed raw. He cut into his steak - same thing. We have never had a problem with anything at Ruth’s, ever. Dee came back to check on us and we showed her the steaks and asked that they be cooked a little more. In a few minutes, a waiter brought our steaks back to us. This time I cut mine in half. It was rare. Still cold to the touch. His steak looked exactly like it had before she took it away. I contemplated slicing my steak and “cooking” it in the melted butter on my plate. We were both feeling pretty disappointed at this point. We don’t usually complain - and who complains and Ruth’s? Twice? When Dee came back we showed her the steaks again. She offered to have them cooked more. She also took our sides away so they would be warm when our steaks came back. At this point, we had resigned ourselves to the fact that we were going to be eating the steaks when they came back no matter how they were cooked. When our steaks came back for the third time, I was hoping they were cooked. He sliced into his and it was medium well. Mine was well done - not a spot of pink anywhere. Our “medium” steaks had come out every temperature except the one we ordered. The manager came to check on us and we said everything was fine.

We finished our dinner and tried to enjoy it. Dee came back and apologized for all the trouble and offered us a free dessert. Neither of us were in the mood for dessert but she offered to pack up a slice of cheesecake for us to take home.

He paid the bill - $146 for dinner for two - and we were talking about how much to tip. He is always a very generous tipper and frankly, the issues with our steaks were not Dee’s fault. She dropped off the cheesecake and said “next time we’ll try medium plus.” It took me a second but I looked at him and said “did she just tell us we ordered our steaks wrong?” It was the perfect nightcap for our evening. A disappointing meal followed up by a personal insult.

We usually drive home from Ruth’s in a sort of food coma - completely satisfied. Tonight we drove home in total...

My husband and I enjoy Ruth's Chris evey year for our anniversary. They NEVER disappoint us. We were big Charley's fans but decided to enjoy a different steak house for our 16th year anniversary and have never looked back at any other steakhouse. We just celebrated our 32nd anniversary and again, 16 year later, they are still amazing. The staff is so personable, everyone that works there goes out of their way to say hello, to ask about your experience and they go out of their way to make your night feel special, ensure you've had a perfect evening and the manager visits takes throughout the evening to ensure his guests are happy and having a wonderful experience for their celebrations.

I love Ruth's so much that I now take friends their for their wedding anniversaries. I was there last night 9/12/21, with friends that have never experienced the pleasures at Ruth's. They were stunned, well pleased and extremely stuffed. Our waiter was running all over the place yet NEVER looked overwhelmed, even though he seemed REALLY in the weeds (I've been a server before) yet he was still happy, so kind and explained the menu to our friends, the delicious cuts of steaks, the family sized portionsside dishes. he handled all his tables, no matter how thy were spread across the dining area. He stopped by often to ask if we needed ANYTHING. Another visit and many more are always an excitement for me. Ruth's is my favorite and introducing friends to the pampering you receive once you step through the door is imperative. Also, I can't forget about the valet staff. Every employee asks, did you have a wonderful experience?

Keep doing what you do best Ruth's...and that would be EVERYTHING! We'll be returning with another couple to celebrate in December. By the way, even though the insane COVID protocols, this location seriously steps it up a knotch. It's a wonderful upscale experience every one should enjoy and absolutely worth it, prices and all. I wish I could remember our servers name because he was funny, personable, caring and made certain our dinner was all I expected it to be... DELICIOUS! If I could leave more than 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ offered. Thank you for an amazing time. When I travel, the first thing I do is search for other locations.

Thank you again for the amazing meal...

First of all, this was a dinner for me and my wife, son and daughter whom we only get to see once a year. They are very busy traveling the world, and running their own businesses and managing others. So it’s nice when we have quality time! Overall this was a wonderful experience, the food was vibrant and delicious, divine more so. Steak was very tender, and fairly generous. The only issue I had is my server ( will not say the name ) of this person, was kind, caring, almost a little too much... kind of too personal. Most might find it admirable, I however do not. A server is a server; a bottom feeder. I’d prefer to keep the interactions to a minimum. Until they work in a proper industry and have a proper career with a proper bank account, I’d prefer to the engagements to be a bare and solid: minimum. If they have personality, that is good but it doesn’t draw the line away from their current job, which is... server. Peasants are servers and servers are peasants, I’d prefer more of a bowing on the knees, like a proper server; rather than a frank smile, and somewhat awkward small talk. Please do not be offended if I only tip a tiny little couple hundred dollars, for the work of a peasant is quite simple. Some of them have the audacity to even try to request more money! To that I laugh! You want more money than minimum wage, which is plenty for your minimum peasant life? Oh goody, that’s rich! I’d personally just like the rest of my associates, friends, and family, would like to be treated for how we truly are, like successful, wealthy people... like royalty. A knee bow, and head down with a platter of the finest cocktail easy for my grab would be appreciated and appropriate, not awkward small talk. Until your bank account is at least 7 figures, please don’t try to talk to my family as anything more than a peasant, and that’s saying the absolute minimum. Now if you excuse me, I have to go tell my assistant to yell at the poolboy and to get the yacht clean and rid of any scratches, it may have a tiny scrape on the underside that no one can see, but I don’t like...