A Model Of Consistency
Granted, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is probably the least exotic restaurant that you could choose from amongst the 21 participating venues for Wailea Restaurant Week 2013, but that by no means says anything about the quality of food. Contrarily, I know what to expect from them every time I visit—outstanding service, perfectly cooked steaks, and wines from around the world—so I thought this should be a great baseline experience to compare the rest of my week with.
So, What’s For Dinner?
My choice for entree, Ruth’s Famous Filet, served on a sizzling 500 degree plate.
Like all the other restaurants featured during this week, the full menu is available—but where’s the fun in that? For $49, the pre-fixe option is offered, and you have the following selections to choose from to craft your meal. To start, a choice of Caesar Salad, Steak House Salad, or the Soup of the Day. For the entree, either Ruth’s Famous Filet, a Free Ranged Stuffed Chicken Breast (double breast stuffed with garlic herb cheese), or the Fresh Fish of the Day (with the Chef’s special preparation); as well as one choice of side, either garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, broccoli, sauteed mushrooms, or local broiled tomatoes. Finally, choose from a selection of desserts, Chocolate Lava Cake, Mud Pie, or Bread Pudding.
What Did I Choose?
I went into this meal with the intentions to indulge in a classic American meal, so I thought there’s no better way to start than with the Steak House Salad with Blue Cheese dressing. My plate was nicely sized, full of mixed greens, red onions, tomatoes, croutons, and topped with a creamy dressing and fresh-cracked black pepper. This was a solid selection and set the table for things to come. My entree choice was (for me, at least) a no-brainer—Ruth’s Famous Filet cooked “medium.” This is the standard I use to judge all other beef tenderloin, and I was not disappointed. The steak came out still sizzling, with a divine smelling garlic-herb-butter sauce, and was cooked perfectly. It was deep pink all the way through, with a crunchy crust— sensational!
I asked my waiter to come back to my table when I was done with my entree so I could choose my dessert based off how I was feeling. To complete my ultimate Steak House Meal, I had all the intentions of ordering their famous Chocolate Lave Cake—the way the molting, gooey center spills out always gets me! However, when my server returned, I realized my stomach was full of rich flavors and wanted something a little lighter to temper it all. They kindly suggested I could substitute a Raspberry Sorbet for my dessert and I ordered that without hesitation.
It came out promptly, served in a chilled Martini glass, and garnished with mint leaf. I took my first bite and knew this was the perfect selection for the evening. It was extremely refreshing and was a nice counter balance to the heavier flavors from earlier. I thanked my waiter for their excellent suggestion, and allowing me to substitute another dessert into the pre-fixe menu.
My Overall Impression
As I mentioned at the start, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a model of consistency, and this dinner was no exception. The food was superb, service was friendly and helpful, and everything came out promptly and with a smile. If you’re looking to indulge in a classic American Steak House dinner, a visit to this restaurant in the upper corner of the Shops At Wailea would be the perfect choice.
Bon Appétit,
Dano Sayles R(B)
808-870-4899