Ruth's Chris Steak House — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

Amazing experience! I went to Ruth’s for my 18th anniversary and I am over the moon impressed with this establishment. When I booked our reservation online, the form has a section for “special occasion” they also ask you upon entering “Are you celebrating anything?” They sprinkled heart shaped confetti on our table for an added special touch! It was beyond adorable. The ambience of the restaurant was very laid back and relaxing. No waiters are rushing around like chickens because they have 20+ tables to manage. We received very personalized service without being pestered too much at the table. The booth was surprisingly comfortable and not hardened as to get you out faster.

The Drinks- My dining partner and I ordered two drinks. The Blueberry Mojito and the Blackberry Sidecar for round two of drinks we just switched orders! The Mojito- Topped with several very fresh plump blueberries, the mint was also very fresh, quite robust in scent. I especially liked that they strained the drink and put the fruit &mint at the top so that I was able to enjoy all the flavors of my beverage without having to use my mouth as the sifter of bits. For the Sidecar- As you guessed, the blackberries were delightfully fresh and very juicy! The sugar rim is a nice touch as it complements the bite of the cognac very well, it is not plain white sugar, it is slightly flavored.

The Food- Where do I begin?! The fresh baked, still warm, tableside bread down to the lobster mac n cheese with some steak and cheesecake sprinkled in! My partner and I both ordered the Filet and Shrimp Special three course meal. Lobster Bisque and the French Onion. I am not a fan of seafood soup, but this bisque is delightful. Very smooth and creamy with a nice lobster finish. Nothing “fishy” about it. The French Onion was perhaps the best FO Soup I have had since my mom passed. The onions were tender but yet firm, the cheese was melty and not stringy with a very full-bodied flavor. The Filet & Shrimp – I ordered my filet medium and my partner order medium rare. Both were cooked to absolute perfection! The steak was the perfect color, red but not leaking. However, on the medium rare, it was rather juicy. The shrimp were huge and cooked properly. Definitely not a generic frozen rubber shrimp like most chain restaurants. For side dishes we ordered the garlic mashed potatoes and the roasted brussel sprouts. Potatoes were typical mashed potatoes; my one comment is that you can tell they were real potatoes not instant! The brussel sprouts were awesome- nice buttery flavor mixed with the savory smokiness of the bacon bits (not bitter). We also ordered a side of Lobster Mac-n-Cheese – it is a MUST have when at Chris’. The combination of cheese that the chefs decided on pairs so well with the fresh ocean-y lobster, we had to order one to-go! After the creamy mac n cheese is packed full of lobster and then more piled on top, the whole dish is passed under the broiler to provide a nice crunch on top! For dessert – who can forget about dessert??-Our three-course special came with a dessert however, we ventured off the beaten path and ordered different desserts. We ordered the cheesecake and the Crème Brûlée (for a small upcharge). Decadent, creamy, slight tart lemony bite to counter the sweetness of the cream, topped with more fresh...

My husband and I have been frequent patrons for several years at this location and once upon a time absolutely loved it. Our choice of waiter was Christopher (he has since moved to the Tampa location) and Ruth's Chris was great at proving to be consistent. In more recent times (since April through current) Ruth's Chris has fallen so far down on the rating scale I am unsure if it is salvageable at this point. First bad visit happened to be my sister's birthday (she had never been to Ruth's Chris before) - we weren't given the waiter or table requested, but even that aside, the displeasing experience continued further to include inexperienced waitress who was inattentive, forgetful, and brough food to different people at our table out of sequence (some were eating while others were waiting, etc). Hoping this was just a one-off, I brought my father here for Father's Day as is our tradition. Another terrible visit. This visit was so awful (ran out of baked potatoes, bad seating, overbooked/understaffed) the evening manager (recognizing me as a frequent diner) came to apologize and offer a gift card. This brings me to our last, and final, visit - this past Wednesday 07/05/2023, for my mother's birthday. We only made the choice to come here because we needed to use the gift card, so why not. Slow to be seated although there was not a crowd nor others waiting (Note - we always have a reservation, so not just walking in with expectations), my father's steak had to be sent back not once but twice (Another side note, we are not picky eaters but his steak was brought out originally undercooked for his taste and in two separate pieces - it was a filet, the second time it was brought out it was again still rare), so by the time his steak was prepared properly and brought out the rest of our table already finished eating. The cheesecake they brought my mother for her birthday was smaller than a sampler of a wedding cake. My husband paid using his debit card not realizing my father and I chose to come here to use the gift card up and thus we asked for the transaction to be reversed and paid for using a gift card and the remaining balance on my card - I still have not received the refund of the original transaction. The manager this time (a blonde young woman) took my information down and said she would get back to me tomorrow - never happened. Unfortunately, I will have to go up there this evening and speak with someone about my unreturned funds that are still showing as a posted transaction on my bank account.

In sum, my husband and I enjoyed our Friday night date night here for the last many years, and celebrating occasions, as well as I take many of my clients here when they are in town - but no more chances for this location. We will miss our old routine with the old quality of Ruth's Chris that has seemingly disappeared. My suggestion would be to cross the bridge and go to Ocean Prime.

Mrs. Katlin M....

Like Khaki Pants or Ralph Lauren Polo Shirts, Ruth Chris Steak House is a true American original. Having been to Ruth Chris many years ago, my wife had never been. What better way to celebrate our 10 year anniversary than going to Ruth Chris. Upon arriving at our table, the staff had placed rose petals and all those we passed on our way wished us happy anniversary. We were seated and Armani arrived with water and fresh baked bread with butter. Not long after, Dylan introduced himself as our waiter and he too wished us a happy anniversary. We ordered the spinach, sun-dried tomato, artichoke heart with goat cheese appetizer. It was delicious. I had to fight the urge to place it on the floor to lick the dish clean. My wife ordered the pomegranate martini and I had the blueberry mojito. Both were very flavorful and enjoyable. We decided to split the roasted brussel sprouts side dish. My wife had the filet and I had the cowboy ribeye. When the side dish and steaks arrived with their signature 500 degree plates, we both were anxious to enjoy our meal. Dylan made multiple trips to ensure we were happy with each phase of our meal. Armani was present to pour more water and ensure our satisfaction. My wife commented how juicy, flavorful and tender her steak was. I nodded in agreement as I had my mouth full of ribeye and brussel sprouts. As we were enjoying our meal, Dylan asked if we were interested in dessert. I let my wife make the decision. She said why not. In a few minutes, Dylan was back. We couldn't make up our minds so decided to have the creme brulee and the flourless chocolate cake. Dylan commented on our choices as they both were favorites of the staff and other diners. Shortly, Dylan returned with both desserts saying they were on the house as their way of celebrating our wedding anniversary. The chocolate cake had "Happy 10th Anniversary" written in chocolate on the plate. Upon seeing this, both my wife and I were overwhelmed by the gesture and extra touch. Both desserts exceeded our expectations. Ruth Chris is one of the premier restaurants for a reason. They aren't the cheapest. Yet if you're looking for quality, and an extraordinary meal with the phenomenal amenities that make you feel valued as a customer, you won't find a better choice than the Saint...