Why is it called Ruth’s Chris?
Our founder, Ruth Fertel, purchased a restaurant called Chris Steak House in May of 1965 in New Orleans. Ruth had never planned to expand, but after a fierce kitchen fire decimated the property she was forced to relocate in order to stay in business. Within ten days Ruth had the restaurant up and running. But the Chris Steak House name was not allowed to move with it. With little time and a mischievous smile, Ruth added her own name to the sign, making it “Ruth’s Chris Steak House.” Now with her own name in lights the tongue-twisting name was born. Later Ruth admitted the name was strange, but she managed to work around it.
Who is Ruth?
More than fifty-five years ago in New Orleans—one of America’s most culturally rich cities—Ruth Fertel, a single working mother looking to provide a better life for her two sons, browsed the “Classifieds” section of the Times-Picayune. She spotted an ad reading “Steak House for Sale.” Driven by an inherent entrepreneurial spirit, she mortgaged her home to purchase Chris’ Steak House on the corner of North Broad St. and Ursulines in New Orleans. Even though she had no restaurant experience, her intelligence and drive to succeed enabled her to become a successful business owner and eventually to lead the company to become the largest upscale steak house in the world.
Ruth worked and lived by the mantra, “Do what you love, love what you do.” She had the reputation of being a driven, hard-working person who never met a challenge not worth overcoming. Ruth was successful because of her strong work ethic and keen ability to understand her guests.
Ruth had a certain way of doing things. How to run a restaurant. How to treat people. How to handcraft the perfect cocktail and how to maintain the best wine list in town. Of course, Ruth was a stickler for sourcing only the top 2% of the country’s beef and serving the best steak on a 500° sizzling plate (that’s so it would stay warm through the very last bite). She also insisted on making things fresh in-house daily, from fresh-squeezed juices for handcrafted cocktails to her own famous sides and desserts. Often, people would ask Ruth why her food was so good, and she’d simply say, “Just follow the recipe.” We invite you to experience how Ruth’s timeless recipe is alive and well to this day.
What restaurant guidelines and policies should I be aware of prior to dining?
At Ruth’s Chris we promote a comfortable, family friendly and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. We ask guests to support this atmosphere by not wearing clothing with offensive graphics or language, midriff-baring outfits, exposed undergarments, cut-off shorts and tank tops. Hats are not allowed in the dining room, and we kindly ask all guests to remove their hats when entering. Hats and team support jerseys are welcome in our bar areas.
To maintain our service experience, we request all guests in a party arrive prior to being seated. There is a 15-minute grace period for late arrivals. Should you need to cancel a reservation, please call the restaurant and let us know.
We will not tolerate verbal or physical abuse of any kind toward our Team Members or other guests in the restaurant. Guests who do not follow this guideline will be asked to leave the restaurant.
We kindly ask phone and video call conversations be taken outside out of respect for those dining around you.
Please notify your server of any allergies you or someone in your party may have so we can accommodate.
What is your reservation policy?
Reservations are recommended, but not required. Please call the location you wish to visit to make and confirm your reservations. You can also make your reservations online.
What do you do for special occasions?
Ruth’s Chris is the best place to celebrate life’s special moments, big or small. Whether it’s a romantic steak dinner for two, an important business meeting or a private party, Ruth’s Chris Steak House can accommodate your needs.