MAIN Travel New York City Ruth's Chris Steak House

From humble beginnings on Broad Street in New Orleans to their current position as the world's largest fine dining company, Ruth's Chris Steak House has come quite a long way in its first four decades.

A divorced mother of two when she first bought Chris Steakhouse in New Orleans in 1965 (later appending her name to the marquee) founder Ruth Fertel grew her business from the ground up, later expanding her empire across the country and around the world.

Today, the sophisticated New York location has been heartily adopted by New Yorkers as one of the city's most popular and visited dining spots. And for good reason....

On our visit to Ruth's Chris, located on West 51st Street in the heart of the New York City's Theater District, we found the international chain anything but "institutional".

Elegant and yet family-friendly, Ruth's Chris serves up everything from gourmet meals for family gatherings to quiet tables for two for a romantic and memorable date night - as well as rooms for business meetings with hi-tech video connections.

Like the city it serves, Ruth's Chris has it all.

On our last visit during the holiday season, our group consisted of several adults, teens and kids (who deemed the shoestring fries "awesome") all of whom eyed a varied menu designed to appeal to all ages.

The steaks - thick, succulent and juicy - come highly recommended, of course, and were served to perfection - including a huge but tender porterhouse for two.

Although famous for their steaks and chops, Ruth's Chris also has a soft spot in their hearts for seafood lovers, as well.

Included on the menu are "Petite Filet and Shrimp" (aka surf & turf), whole steamed lobster, and other fish dishes depending on the market that day.

Harking back to their roots, the barbecued shrimp dish is served New Orleans style - with lots of spices, white wine, butter and garlic - and also comes highly recommended.

Service overall was professional and courteous but, again, the holiday rush proved a bit overwhelming on our last visit. Timing became a noticeable but not an altogether unpleasant factor, given that our group had enough time to decide on dessert!

If nothing else, try the warm apple crumb tart with a heap of vanilla ice cream to finish off an already hearty meal (and if you're calorie-watching there's always fresh seasonal berries and cream.) Meanwhile, one of the teens in our group polished off a slab of Chocolate Sin Cake without a second glance, while leaving no doubt as to how the dessert got its name.

Ruth's Chris Steak House
148 West 51st Street,
New York City, NY 10019
Phone: (212) 245 - 9600
http://www.ruthschris.com/

Recommended: Porterhouse for Two, Rib Eye Steak, Petit Filet and Shrimp, Barbecued Shrimp, Warm Apple Crumb Tart, Chocolate Sin Cake.

Hours and Opening Times:
Lunch - Monday thru Friday only 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Dinners - Sunday 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Monday thru Saturday 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

About the author: Chiff Editorial Team

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