I'm curious if there is a clear preference between the two steakhouses. Which do you prefer?
Which city or cities? I've never been, because I think you can easily outdo them on your own grill, for about a quarter the price. The wife has been, however, on biz trips. Ruth's in New Orleans. Fleming's in Gaslight District, San Diego. Hands down, she thought the Fleming's was better. Her dinner mates agreed. Wife always orders filet mignon. Good luck and post pics!! T
We don't live near a Fleming's, but I've eaten at Ruth's Chris plenty (including the original New Orleans location) and I agree with Tom: I've always been underwhelmed by the flavor-to-dollar cost. Sure, the ambience is nice, but I look at it as going is more for the experience than the actual food. For that reason, we haven't eaten at a Ruth's Chris in probably five or six years. There's just too many other great steakhouses that offer better food for the same or less money.
+ 1 Here in Sarasota we have both. Every Wednesday night is steak night for a group of guys I've been eating with for the last 10 years. We used to go to Flemings until the steaks tasted different about 5 years ago , almost like an Outback steak. For the last 5 years we frequent Ruth's every Wednesday night. Ps the steak to get is the double cut porterhouse ~ 90$ that 2 people can barely finish.
I'm in the Raleigh NC area. I've been to some great steak houses around the country but not to either of these. I'm trying to decide on a different dinner date for the wife's birthday.
Perhaps Yelp? I find Yelp to be a good option, especially if there are a significant number of reviews. Sullivan's Steakhouse seems popular. 4 stars. 210 reviews...T
In Denver, Flemings accepts the Ferrari of Denver White Card, which gets you a table without reservations even on Valentine's Day. Food is good there also, but maybe a little below Ruth Chris.....may depend on location.
I think there are better steak restaurants out there, most are local vs corporate. Comparing these two corporate restaurants, there is no comparison between the two. Here Ruth's Chris is far better. I agree with Cigarzman, Fleming's steak reminded me of Outback last time I was there.
Between the choices - Flemmings. Ruths Chris is just ok... and for chain steak houses I like Mortons... and in Atlanta I like Chops.
I prefer independent places, especially if they butcher and cure their own meats. This is a great documentary: Steak Revolution Documentary Film Matt
I think Fleming's is wet aged and Ruth's Chris is dry aged. Big difference right there depending on which you prefer.
+1 I hardly order steak out anymore. Now that is relatively easy to get prime beef (Costco) and DFW has a couple of great indy butchers, I can do just as good in my backyard for less $$, less hassle and can drink all the wine with it that I want without having to worry about driving home...T
You ever try David Burke's Primehouse? Perhaps the best steak that I've eaten that did not come from my own back yard! And, they'll sell you a couple so that you can take them home and cook on your own grill...T
Ruth's Chris used to dry age, but wet age now. I prefer Edwards, and once in a while we take advantage of their 5 for $6 till 7 bar menu. At the location I visit (Edgewater, NJ) the restaurant overlooks the Hudson River with great NYC views, and this deal is a bargain with a million dollar view.
I'm a fan of Ruth Chris in that, its the best option if you don't know the area well. If its say your first visit or you just moved there. You can't go wrong with Ruth Chris as a go to option when you don't know better! My best example. Is I moved to my parents house in Paradise Valley in my early 20's. I ate out but normal places, nothing fancy. On my birthday I was only there a few months. Didn't know any higher end steak places. So we did Ruth Chris in Scottsdale. Good enough I remember it. Morton's, I didn't know about them. Looking back should have made a whole day or two. Drive the few hours to LA and do Morton's.
"Wet Age" is a fancy way of saying "we don't do anything." I stay away from both... quality has dipped and there are a lot of other options in most major cities. My current favorite, behind my own grill, is Kayne Prime in Nashville, TN.
Wife and I went to Ruths Chris in the DC area. Totally underwhelmed. Capital Grille was better. But, best steak we've ever had out was at Bern's in Tampa.
My wife and I had the total opposite experience in King of Prussia. Tried CG twice and each time the service and food were blah whereas Ruth's Chris we've had good luck there. Give a huge shout out to our waiter George, last I heard he was now the manager st the Philly location, he was simply amazing with my parents who were both in poor health at the time. If I recall correctly I gave him like a 40-50% tip. I will recommend CG for lunch. Their lunch menu and cooking for the Plate menu has always been spot on and when it wasn't (steak sandwich was under cooked med rare instead of med well) they gave us a free dessert or didnt charge us for our 1 glass of wine and beer.
Yeah its definitely funny how the experience can change from location to location. Every restaurant is different, no matter how much effort they make to have everything be identical. The service was solid at RC, but for the price, we expected better meat.
Ruth's is ok, but not worthy of the price from my experience. Better than outback or other cheap chains, but not better than my own grill. Want to try Bern's in Tampa. Lots of good reviews. In Orlando, Charlie's has a really good steak. As well as "A Land Remembered" in the Rosen.
Ruth's here is hit or miss, not consistent at all. Stopped going because of the price when it was off, hurt. If it was a good night, price was worth it - however that was rare. Rare. LOL. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk