Reviewer Gushes Compliments Over Ruth's Chris Service, Fare

If you know of and its fine reputation, it’s quite possible I’m not going to tell you anything you do not already know.

But I’m going to gush anyway. You’ve been warned.

I arrived at the Pikesville location, 1777 Reisterstown Road in the Commerce Centre, at about 7 p.m. on a weeknight. The dining room was less than half full, so I was a bit surprised when the hostess asked for my last name. Isn’t that what they do to put you on a waiting list for a table?

No, at Ruth’s Chris, that’s how they help your service person address you both personally and formally.  “Good evening, Ms. Wexler,” the waiter said to me, as a young lady filled my water glass and left bread on the table.

The atmosphere is at the same time elegant and inviting. The music and lighting are low, but not too low, so that both fulfill their role with your senses. I looked around after perusing the menu and ordering, and saw a smattering of tables that appeared to be business dinners, and others filled with families.

The bread is warm, soft, and fresh. The service is impeccable, and seamless. The servers appear as if from thin air at the moment you need something. My water and soda glasses were never empty, and the waiter checked on me just enough times, with just enough time in between; I felt neither ignored nor smothered.

So if service is your thing, Ruth’s Chris is your place.

I opted for simple: a petit filet and a baked potato. I listened as I waited for my dinner; you could hear the sizzling of the prime cuts of beef as the waiter approached each table.

After a few minutes, my mouth started to water. After 10 minutes, I began to wonder if each sound of sizzle I heard would be my meal. It came out after just about 15 minutes: I heard the sizzle, and heard it coming closer to my table, and started to actually get excited.

The sizzling filet was a delectable piece of meat, and seasoned just right. Not only did I decline the freshly-ground pepper my waiter offered, I didn’t add a grain of salt or pepper. It didn’t need it, at least for my tastes.

The baked potato was bigger than my fillet, and came with three sides: butter, sour cream, and real bacon bits. My mother always told me to eat the skin of a baked potato. “That’s where all the vitamins are,” she told me. But I couldn’t even finish the potato itself, I was so full.

So if delicious food is your thing as well, Ruth’s Chris is your place.

On my way out I spoke with Ben El-Dahabi, the general manager. I didn’t realize that was his job when he stopped by my table earlier, to ask how my meal was and tell me “we’re glad you are here.”

He told me they have been at the Pikesville location since 2002. He also gave me a mini-tour; they had five private parties going on, all professional gatherings, on this particular Tuesday evening. Pharmaceuticals manufacturer representatives, veterinarians, and psychiatrists were among the groups.

Three of the five were in separate rooms in the restaurant proper. The other two were in the separate party room that was segmented by dividers.

Ruth’s Chris offers a formal menu, where the filets start at $34.95. It includes prime rib, New York Strip, and the like. There are also crabcakes (of course), and fish entrees. The sides are separate ($8.95 each), and inclue the one-pound baked potato I had, creamed spinach, and their signature three-cheese potatoes au gratin, to name a few.

There is a new, more casual menu in the lounge, where treats start at $8.95.

The attire is casual, but the service and food are out of this world.

Ruth’s Chris is a bit hard on the wallet—but more than worth it. Go for a special occasion, or make an ordinary day special just by going.

Hours:

Lounge opens at 4 p.m. daily

Dinner served:
Sunday, from  4-9 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, from 5-10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, from 5-11 p.m.

Contact:
Phone: 410-837-0033, or 800-544-0808, Ext. 178

Reservations are recommended.

For more information, visit http://www.ruthschris-pikesville.com/