Ruth's Chris Steak House — Restaurant in St. Louis

We decided on this restaurant for our anniversary dinner. Admittedly, we came in with some preconceived notions. This establishment comes with a certain reputation and receipt. To establish an overall tone moving forward, this place is far from mediocre. From the beginning, we chose to park in the garage after seeing the $40 valet cost at the hotel. We will call the feeling surprised, learning that self parking was still $30 (on the way out we found they drastically discount the rate for their diners). The lot was underground and monitored. Which in St. Louis, is reassuring. We easily made our way up the elevator and through the lobby. We were greeted by to gracious hostesses. They wished us a happy anniversary as soon as we confirmed our identity. I found it to be a nice touch that I could indicate such a thing on the reservation. We were immediately seated. Standard table with a wonderful window view. The scene etched out around this place nearly transports you. Flowering trees in bloom on the adjacent arch grounds muddy the memory of the Mississippi meandering along just strong stones throw away. The 5 stars for atmosphere is a no-brainer. We had some time to converse before being offered a beverage. Love talking with the wife but maybe the hostess could bring water to the table as you’re seated. Maybe it’s petty, but parched is not a feeling I desire during this experience. We ordered cocktails. Wife was fond of the moscato and the bourbon mixer was shockingly complex and satisfying. I suppose not many order apps here, perhaps because we weren’t asked if we wanted one. We did, asked for it and it did come out. I just didn’t care for having to ask. Again, maybe I’m expecting the moon, but shouldn’t I? So the calamari , a mix of rings and tentacles, was a bit larger than I’ve had anywhere else around here. It was flavored incredibly well with a sweet and slightly spicy sauce and had some delicious little red bell pepper pieces mixed in. It was slightly chewy, but we live in the Midwest. There is no saltwater nearby, so I blame that idea more than the kitchen. Squidward, he needs a name in this instance, apparently worked out the whole quest to our restless river city. Happy I got to devour him. Left no crumbs. The better half also had a salad arrive, it was perked with the pretty lettuce that I love and she is ,well, wiling to eat. Just maybe you added to her affinity for finer greens! High marks for the greenery. Now for the star of the event, I mean Steak House is clearly emblazoned on the outer edifice. The selection of an entree from some lovely bovine beast was a must for me, the wife had a different idea. Stuffed yardbird for the lady. The delivery of your meal o the table is akin to the scene set in the window. You can’t help but smile when the overly done cart rolls up to your table. The lid opens and feast of sensations ensues. The 500 degree plate makes it way to the stage. The sizzle of filet in its bed of boiling butter was like a sweet serenade. Lobster Mac provided lush background vocals. Flinched slightly at the price of its fare, but one taste cleared the air. They could raise the price on that dish. Added some Brussels sprouts as well. The bacon and honey, chefs make out sesh (kiss didn’t seem like enough)! First few chews, captivating to say the least. Expectations for this filet are in the clouds at this point, so I cut into it. It looked slightly brick as it lay in front of me, but I figured they knew something about searing in flavor with an incredible char that I just hadn’t experienced before. I was wrong. The lack of any tone of red pink was like a blow to the chest. Immediately I guide the knife towards the center of the cut, maybe its medium in the middle. Nope. The debate about sending it back was short. No way this is what the hype is about. The wife’s stuffed yardbird was all that she hoped it could be. I could tell she was satisfied because I got to watch her enjoy it instead of dining with her. As she was nearly finishing my second filet . . .full review posted on...

I apologize in advance for such a late review due to moving back to St. Louis, Missouri from Houston, Texas, and health issues (Disabled Retired USAF Veteran). But on September 1, 2024 @3;30pm, 7 family members and I celebrated my mother’s 80th birthday at Ruth Chris’s Steakhouse restaurant at their St. Louis, MO. downtown location. I flew in from Houston, TX for this great occasion. There was great anticipation by me and family due to the previous visits to Ruth Chris’s Steakhouse down through the decades.

The happy anticipation was short lived. The service and usual standards of Ruth Chris’s have changed to say the least. When we arrived for our reservation, we had to wait for them to prepare a table for our family. Secondly the waiter who waited on our table was clumsy where he dropped or knocked over different items on the table, including but not limited to glasses, plates on the table awkwardly placed, several meals was given to the wrong person, and knowledge of the menu questionable and uncertain. And while seated at our table, numerous flies were flying around our food and drinks, in fact a fly was found in my lemonade pointed out by my sister. I got up from my chair and then asked for the manager, who was noted standing near the entrance to the restaurant. I informed her that there a lot of flies flying around our table and food, also a fly was noticed in my lemonade to which she stated, “oh they come in from the hotel lobby door opening and closing during the day.” Her response, body language, and attitude were very non chalant, and as a matter of fact but not at all concerned especially of her guests (my family).

I was so disappointed, saddened, and angered by this treatment at Ruth Chris’s restaurant. It was one of my favorite restaurants in the St. Louis city and surrounding area for decades. Often debated with others on the best place to eat in St. Louis, Mo. I was warned by a friend on how Ruth Chris’s had changed, but I didn’t want to believe him. Ruth Chris’s had such high standards of service, ambiance, classy, with quality foods/dishes, and steak was always impeccable, delicious, and I never ate my steaks with no added seasoning or additives. Restaurant was always clean, and no flies ever seen. The managers were always walking around the room, and if anything at all was not right, the manager made it right to your perfection. I was always impressed beyond words.

After my last experience/visit at Ruth Chris’s Steakhouse restaurant St. Louis, MO. downtown location and after spending over $800, in my opinion, there is no longer standards, management no longer cares about their guests nor any professionalism demonstrated, I am still angered, and saddened at this time due to Ruth Chris’s St. Louis, MO. downtown location having flies flying around your food and drinks, no discount suggested, recommended, and/or apologies, waiters not knowledgeable of the menu, flavor of the steaks need additional seasoning and lastly questionable cleanliness. I no longer recommend Ruth Chris’s Steakhouse restaurant St. Louis, MO. downtown location. Because of this experience, I don’t think I will visit or spend any more of my money at the Chesterfield location, unless I could be contacted by Ruth Chris’s Home...

So I need to explain why I’m only giving four stars; because it was a 5-star experience for 99.9% of our meal. We took my mom out to dinner at Ruth’s Chris for her birthday on December 30. We had a reservation for the seven of us in the family to go. We do this every year for her birthday and have been doing it at the Clayton location for the past 10 years or so and was our first visit to the new Chesterfield location.

Frankly, we love the new location. It’s easier to get to, It seems larger, And it is beautifully decorated. We sat at a large eight top near the bar. We loved our table. In the past we’ve gotten A private room, but We absolutely loved where our table was, and the surroundings near the bar. Our service was spectacular. Our waiter wished my mother a happy birthday as she walked in and sat down, he was Attentive and professional. Great guy.

We Go all out for this dinner. For the seven of us, I think we enjoyed five appetizers (the best calamari I’ve ever had), soup/salads, Of course, steaks for everyone (and even the more expensive steaks and options, for example, I think three of us got the king crab Oscar), except for my niece Who can’t eat steak who had a wonderful chicken. We had a bottle of wine, I had a cocktail, and I think we ended up with five or six different side dishes, I can’t remember. I can’t say anything but great things about the food. We all loved it. It was a very nice touch at the end when our waiter brought my mom a small cheesecake for her and we wished her happy birthday.

The only part of this experience that was a negative, but it stuck with us, especially my mom, was right after we paid the bill (I mean within 2-3 minutes of us signing our credit card receipts), the manager asked us to leave because he had a 12-top to seat. He did it kindly, but not kind enough that it didn’t leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Believe me, I worked as a waiter in college, and if we had been lollygagging for 20 or 30 minutes, staring at each other, and talking without ordering, I would’ve understood. But literally, we finished our meal, signed our credit card receipts (I split the bill with my brother) and it was like The manager appeared right then and there to hurry us out the door. To Give some perspective here, I think the total bill was around $1500. We were so happy with the service we tipped generously on top of the 18% mandatory/Included gratuity.

I love Ruth’s Chris, and frequented the original NOLA location all the time when I lived there. I’m not going to let a single, mild irritation by a young manager color my impression of the dozens of people that work there and do such a great job. I’ve probably eaten there in different cities on my dime or the company dime 30 times, and will always be a fan. But if we don’t come back next year and go to the Capitol Grille or Tony’s, it will be because my 80 year old mother, who grew up poor, won’t want to go back to the place that hustled her out the door like she had been nursing a cup of coffee and a side salad at Denny’s after her her sons dropped $1500 for dinner on...