Ruth's Chris Steakhouse occupies the site of the former Maison Robert. They have valet parking so we did not need to worry about parking. As we were early for our reservation, we first went to the bar for a cocktail. The bar is spacious, with a long bar, and numerous tables. It is elegant though not pretentious. It was not yet busy so the noise level was low.
I tried their Fusion Martini ($12.50), which is a mix of Belvedere Lemonessence and Belvedere Vodka with a touch of fresh lemon sour. Ruth's Chris created Belvedere Lemonessence, a liquer using Belvedere Vodka and the freshest of lemons. Martini prices are comparable to other high end bars in Boston. This Fusion Martini was quite delicious, like an excellent lemonade. You really could not notice the alcohol which was either because there was not much in it, or the Lemonessence masks the taste. Everyone else also enjoyed the Martini. It makes for a refreshing cocktail, especially during the summer.
We were later seated in a small dining room near a window. They have multiple dining rooms which disguises the true size of the restaurant. This is conducive to a more intimate atmosphere. Our window looked out into a historical cemetary, which did not bother anyone at our table though I am not sure all diners would feel the same.
I did not pay much attention to the wine list as I had brought a few bottles of my own. Ruth's Chris allows you to bring your own wine and charges a $25 corkage fee, which I consider reasonable. I ended up bringing a bottle of 2005 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir, 1995 Remirez de Ganuza Gran Reserva Rioja, and a 2003 Dolc de L'Obac (dessert wine). And when we received the bill later that evening, they only charged us a total corkage of $25 rather than for each bottle. Our server handled the wine very well, decanting the Rioja and keeping the Dolc on ice.
The food menu is generally typical for a steakhouse, though they have plenty of seafood and other entree choices such as Veal Chop and Stuffed Chicken Breast. Entrees are ala carte and side generally can serve two or three people. Prices are comparable to other high end steakhouses in Boston.
We decided to begin our meal with the Veal Osso Buco Ravioli (about $14) and the Seafood Tower for four ($110). The Ravioli are saffron infused pasta filled with veal osso buco and fresh mozzarella cheese. It is served with sautéed spinach and a white wine demi glace. You receive five large ravioli and they were exceptional. An excellent melange of flavors with plenty of meat in a savory, light sauce. I would highly recommend them.
The Seafood Tower was a massive plate of raw seafood, including about 10 oysters, four Alaskan King Crab legs, four pieces of Maine lobster (couple claws and tails), four jumbo shrimp and scallop ceviche. It came with drawn butter, cocktail sauce, lemon and fresh horseradish. The seafood was very fresh, tender and delicious. The crab was nicely sweet and the shrimp were quite large. The ceviche seemed to have pieces of ahi tuna in it and the citrus flavors complemented the seafood. There was plenty of food but we basically devoured it all. The King Crab legs were a menu special and you could get them as a side for any meal for an extra $31.
For dinner, I chose the Cowboy Ribeye (around $45). My wife also had the Cowboy Ribeye and the other couple had a Filet Mignon, with a side of Crab Legs, and the Veal Chop. We then got a couple sides, the Potato au Gratin and Sauteed mushrooms. All of their steaks are USDA Prime cut and are seared at 1800 degrees and topped with fresh butter so they sizzle all the way to your table. My ribeye and the filet were both excellent, good-sized pieces of beef with plenty of flavor. My ribeye had their Bleu Cheese crust which was a good choice, with the pungent cheese making a nice contrast with the beef. The other ribeye and the veal chop were not as good, the meat being a bit tougher. There was a noticeable difference between the ribeyes. The veal on a prior visit had been superb. So, half the entrees were excellent while the other half was good bit could have been better. Both sides were quite good. The Potatoes were cheesy and creamy and we finished the entire bowl. The mushrooms too were a big hit.
For dessert, we shared a Caramelized Banana Cream Pie and the Bread Pudding. As it was a birthday celebration, the birthday girl's dessert was free. A nice touch. The Pie was a creamy white chocolate banana custard in a flaky crust and topped with caramelized bananas. It was sinfully delicious with a rich banana flavor, a creamy custard and a thin flaky exterior. Definitely something I would order again. The Bread pudding came with a Whiskey sauce and it too was very good. Though it contained black raisins, which I don't like. I did taste some without the raisins and though the bread pudding was very tasty.
Service was exceptional. Our server, Andre, did an excellent job. We wanted to take our time and enjoy the evening and he never rushed us. He was personable, gracious and very accomodating. The rest of the service staff did a very good job as well.
Ruth's Chris has many things going for it, though the fact two of our entrees were not as good as they could of been does put a bit of a damper on my recommendation. The appetizers and desserts were excellent, as were two of the entrees. Their corkage policy is also a big plus in their favor. Service is also another plus. So, I would have to cautiously recommend it with a caveat. I will likely try it again to see how it measures us on a second visit.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Old City Hall
45 School Street
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-742-8401
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