02/23/09

Disappointing during restaurant week

by wapacheco

Normally I am not one to write a review, but this was such a disappointing experience that I felt I had no choice. We chose Ruth's Chris for 5280 week because it is such a great chance to try out this upscale restaurant. My husband and I are steak and seafood lovers, so we were very excited about their menu for the event - each person received a salad, entree (steak, lobster, etc) and a dessert. Unfortunately, the food and service fell short. Very, very short.

My husband's steak was ordered medium rare and delivered well done. Normally we would just deal with it, but it is a steak house, so we asked for a new steak. Our friend was delivered the wrong dinner altogether. Both items that can be overlooked on a regular day, but it only got worse. I ordered the crab-stuffed lobster tail. It was served undercooked, with raw lobster in the middle. Our waiter was very apologetic, especially considering the other mishaps, and had the manager bring me a new lobster. Unfortunately this new lobster had the exact same problem. So the manager asked me to put it on my bread plate so she could take it back and re-heat it - not bring me a new one, reheat the current one...with no mention of "I'm sorry" or "Let us make this up to you".

A bit later, they did try to make it up to us by bringing us a dessert platter. Nevermind that dessert was already included in the price of the meal...and the platter didn't even have the desserts we ordered. Seriously? Unfortunately I had to speak to the manager and voice my complaint. While they did comp us 2 of our dinners, they included a host of excuses on how they were so busy, etc. It was Saturday night during restaurant week - of course you are busy. We all have bad days but it is in poor taste to make it the customer's fault.

We were good customers...ordered 2 bottles of wine, an extra side dish...we weren't just there for a cheap night out at a nice restaurant. Now we will never go back.

• Pros: Our reservation was honored promptly
• Cons: Service, food quality, overall experience

02/15/09

Quality just not there for price - cook it at home for 1/8 the price and a better culinary experience

by allyko

We chose Ruth Chris late on Valentine's, our other plans fell through and we were happy their kitchen was open quite late. The other pro was that our server was excellent. Service though, can not make up for a weak kitchen (or menu) and outrageously marked up prices. To start - these wine & champagne bottle prices are marked up well beyond those seen at five star luxury hotels in top US cities, and I'm talking the "room service" mark up price. The menu was priced at LEAST 30% higher than what it should have been at a top notch steak house IF the food was excellent. It was not excellent though. The chop salad was closer to large chunk coleslaw, the mushrooms seemed to be stuffed with straight garlic - terribly overseasoned and mushy as though they had been around for a while - I was hungry, and these were barely edible. The presentation was lacking, crablegs piled on the edge of a too full steak plate, stinking things up. Steaks were decent, but I have had much better. Champagne was served warm-ish as well. The vegetable side was okay, but has also been done far better by other steakhouses. (keep in mind everything here is ala carte - nothing comes "with" your meal and is a course you order and pay for) Espresso was strange tasting, maybe watered down? We passed on dessert - our check was $240 for two and we didn't even order a bottle of wine. I truly believe we could have enjoyed a much higher quality meal for $90-120 elsewhere. This was just barely a middle of the road meal and just not worth the cost. I'm sure most other steakhouses in the area offer more. I would avoid Ruth Chris Denver, unless money is no object/value whatsoever, and it just happens to be a convenient location for you. (note about ambience - it's fine, nothing "special")

• Pros: Service, kitchen open late on
• Cons: obscenely overpriced, weak food preperation/kitchen

04/23/08

Arguably one of the best steaks I've ever had

by LeviBeers

Late for our reservations at the Denver Chophouse, my wife and I found Ruth's by default as it's great location to the hearth of the downtown area, Larimer Sq. and the 16th street mall. Vallet parking on their busy street is a blessing, and if your looking for downtown fun after dinner, ask the vallet to leave your car there (if your not planning to be out until after close). Tracy has says the Crab or Lobster Bisque is by far the best soup she's ever had, we both agree the salads are superb with freshness and quality in every ingredient used and the fillets rival any we've ever had. By far the best in Denver, leaps over Morton's (also in Denver). Since our first time we've returned many times, now counting 11 (we really, really enjoy the entire dinner). I'm not huge on wine or think I know enough to say they have a 'limited selection' -- however "Flight #8" is quite tasty and enjoyable from the bread thru the steak course. If your interested in a truely fine Ruth's experience, I recommend calling in the AM of that day, and explaining you're interested in having a truely great dinner, and you would like a booth with Ryan if at all possible. Calling ahead and requesting a booth will put you in a truely great seat for a really good dinner. Ryan is by far one of Ruth's best waiters as his knowledge of the menu, wine pairing and attentiveness to your needs throughout the night will truely make it a good experience. I've not always stuck with Ryan and twice, the food has always been truely superb but I find the waiter very lacking. And not requesting a booth one time stuck us at a tiny table near the bar area with a bad waiter... At least the food was great as always. So to ensure you're Ruth's visit is the best, call ahead, request a booth, and ask for Ryan -- if he's not working, tell them you're looking for one of their better waiters, they do have bad ones :( -- My wife and I always spend $200 for the food, drinks & wine (n/i tip or vallet).

• Pros: Salads, Fillets, Lobster Bisque, Garlic Mashed, Ryan, Booth and Vallet
• Cons: If you dont request a good waiter, you may get a bad one.