Ruby River Steakhouse — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

I have been to several Ruby River Steakhouses over the years, and to this one in particular twice. I like that it is a regional chain. I place RRS a step south of the Black Angus chain circa mid-90s and a bit north of national chains like Texas Roadhouse.

I miss the peanuts (not sure if this is an issue at this location or across all locations). It was a tacky, granted, 'differentiator' that made for some light-hearted fun before your meal or while waiting for a seat, though I am sure it was a nightmare for the staff.

This is not fine-dining (see comparisons above). You aren't getting Charlie Palmer; then again, you aren't paying those prices. The steaks are well-priced even if they are almost too aggressively seasoned/tenderized (note I said 'almost'). The salads are all well-prepared. The jacket potatoes are a thing of trashy goodness. The sides are standard, though well done. If you come prepared, you don't leave hungry.

This location could probably use a refresh: some new carpet or, better yet, fake-plank flooring. The outside is starting to look a tad sketchy. The music caters to those who find the yodel-rock of nu-country-western music appealing (I tend to just laugh as it plays in the background). The decor is squarely garish Tejas cowboy bric-a-brac, so obviously affected you have to applaud the attempt in a place like SLC, or Reno, or Provo.

This visit, the thing that was the best was our server (I wish I recalled her name). Service with what seemed a genuine smile. Quick refills. Cheery responses. Case in point: we had a person with us that had dietary issues that don't bode well for a steakhouse. Rather than acting like she knew the answers, she went back to the kitchen no less than three times to check with the cooks.Never acted put out by the questions; in fact, she seemed interested in the dietary restrictions! Amazing. This location should give her a raise.

I'll come back next time I am in SLC. Ditto for the Reno location. If you come knowing what to expect, you likely won't be disappointed.

Speaking of which, some of the negative reviews are a hoot. They suggest a Grocery Outlet vibe trying to pass themselves off as Whole Foods foodies. Read the horseradish one. I'll wait. Priceless! Complaints about take-out . . . from a steakhouse?!?! You are a precious thing, you! I guess flexing a bit of finger-muscle counts as exercise, right? To be fair, I don't doubt people have an off evening at a place like this. But tone down the umbrage a scooch. You were eating...

Sadly, if this is a representation of the best Ruby River can put forward, I won't eat here again. It's been a few years since I last enjoyed a meal at Ruby River and I did not enjoy this one. The atmosphere is amazing, our server was wonderful. The meal started out with a straw wrapper in my bread. It was all wadded up and I don't know if it was in the butter or in the bread but it ended up in my mouth. The food all looked amazing, the salad wasn't bad, but it just didn't deliver. In the past I would have raved about their prime rib. The first plate of prime rib they brought me was inedible. You literally couldn't chew it because it was filled with gristle. The server took it back and got me another plate. The second plate was okay with about half of it being edible. The other half was tough as nails. And for the life of me I don't understand why they do not have creamy horseradish. The prime rib came with shredded strings of horseradish on top of the meat. I brushed it aside after finding the taste repulsive. Again, get real edible horseradish with sour cream. Every steakhouse that is reputable has it. Perhaps the most concerning experience is that the entire time that we were there we could hear somebody coughing loudly. And it did not sound like they were trying to cover their cough at all. At one point we thought that it was perhaps a person eating at the restaurant who swallowed something down the wrong pipe. We've all done that right? As we were departing we realized it was actually a staff member who was coughing nearly non-stop the entire time. I'm sorry, but I don't care what position you fulfill in the restaurant, if you are sick, stay home. I honestly hope that we don't get sick because we were in close proximity to this person for a period of time. Well over a decade ago there was Ruby River in St George, Itah and unfortunately it went out of business. But back then it was pretty much my favorite restaurant to eat at. Not anymore. One last note. The creme brulee was...

100% RECOMMEND.

On a nice long road trip with a carnivorous craving i haven't been able to outrun since the sizzle and sear smacked my system way back in Omaha, NE. This was the first opportunity to get a sizzling slab of seared flesh since setting out on a treacherously tremendous trek across this great nation.

As we encroached upon the enchanting entity, etched entirely in between an echoing environment I turned to my beautiful copilot and said: "Baby, we've been busting our butts to be able to bench ourselves for only but a few moments before darting back up on that dusty old trail. Find us the best steak in this serene and sunken city of salt. "

Ruby River came to us with recommendations far and wide. Realizing we needed to rest, relax, and rejoice in such a relatively well roaded ride. We rolled on in and received kind welcome. Following by food with quality and quantity for a price I couldn't quite come to conjure an understanding clearly. Surely there must've been a mistake. Food this bolstering, with such bounty and beaut, certainly can't be bought at such bargain?!

Aha, the joke is on me. Joyful and jolly we decree, Ruby River has earned admiration from her, and from me.

I will highly recommend this place. I'm from way far away, but many of my friends and family scattered between WI & WA travel through SLC semi regularly, I've already let them know to stop in. If you're reading this, you should too. Atmosphere, value, flavor, and staff were all above and beyond expectations! Big shout out to Candice for a great recommendation for drinks and appetizers!

This will be a must have every time in in SLC moving forward. Thank you for a...