I took my partner here for his 40th birthday last week -- he is a basic meat & potatoes guy and appreciates fine service and a good view. Although it is indeed expensive, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is in line with other legit steakhouses in New York, Boston, or Chicago and also delivers fine professional service (a rarity in Jacksonville) and gorgeous view of the St. Johns River and downtown skyline.
We requested and received a corner window table so we had water views on two sides. The service from start to finish was superb but never intrusive. An early Times-Union review (1997) of this steakhouse faults their use of fake bread and this unpardonable error has been corrected since we received a warmed 'pain au levain'. We each ordered a martini (Grey Goose, one dirty) and they were perfect - and generous. Our appetizers were the escargot and the luscious ahi tuna and both were quite good.
My main course was a 'surf and turf' special - a perfectly rare filet paired with a mound of lump backfin crab, mounted by several just-cooked spears of thick asparagus drizzled with a light fresh hollandaise. My partner had a petit filet, and we ordered two sides for the table: potatoes au gratin and additional asparagus with hollandaise.
By the time dessert rolled around, I wasn't sure we could handle it but I bravely persevered and ordered their famous creme brulee. It was quite good but maybe not as good as Smith & Wollensky's in Boston.
The bill for this indulgent dinner was around $230 including tip. For those who have never been outside of Jacksonville, that may seem like a lot, but trust me that is quite normal for a steakhouse of this caliber.
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