Ruth’s Chris Steak House opens with two floors of beef, three patios, and three bars
Construction workers put the final touches on the largest restaurant in the Des Moines metro ahead of its opening on Monday. Some finishing on the millwork for handsome doors that keep the wine lockers closed continued on Sunday morning. At the front, workers cleaned up while a photographer worked on beauty shots of the restaurant interior.
The long-awaited Ruth’s Chris Steak House opened its doors on Monday in West Des Moines with two levels of restaurant featuring three patios taking up 3,300 square feet, eight private dining rooms sprawled across the 15,000-square-foot restaurant, and three bars, including one in a room that can convert into a potential private dining room.
The franchise of the steakhouse joins more than 155 locations in 21 countries, including 81 company-owned or company-operated restaurants and 74 franchised restaurants. Prime Hospitality Group based in Indianapolis owns the West Des Moines location, as well as 11 others in North Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Indiana and Arkansas.
Here’s what you need to know before you dine at Ruth’s Chris yourself:
Take a tour of the new space
As big as Ruth’s Chris is, it never feels huge inside. The restaurant spreads over two floors, with pockets of hidden rooms and spaces that can be partitioned off for more private dining experiences. The restaurant seats 459, and 500-plus when the patio is considered.
Diners walk in through an entrance at the southwest corner of Ashworth Road and Jordan Creek Parkway after parking or taking advantage of the free valet service.
Astute readers may remember that the 9.5-acre plot of land once housed seven homes that were bought and razed to make way for the steakhouse, along with a four-story apartment complex and retail space. In 2021, when the project was announced, West Des Moines estimated the project would cost between $25 million and $30 million.
Every surface in the restaurant features designer touches, whether it’s a modern sconce or chandelier, three types of plush carpet in a single room, backlit bottles showcasing the liquor collection above and behind the bars, textured wallpaper that seems to change with the lighting, velvet touches on the furnishings, or an iridescent quality to fabrics that make you wonder if it’s gray or brown. Many of the windows offer optional curtains to add to the privacy and layers of luxury, and some of the private dining rooms even have one-way mirrors to spy on the dining room on the other side.
The effect of all of these personal touches gives the steakhouse a modern, upscale and elegant air where one might want to close a deal, bring business contacts to impress for a lunch, or celebrate a special occasion from an anniversary or birthday to a new job and graduation. Some people make Ruth’s Chris a regular stop for lunch, dinner or brunch.
General Manager Todd Zietlow, who grew up in Marshalltown and lived in St. Louis for 25 years before returning to central Iowa, said Prime Hospitality Group spent five years finding the perfect location and then building it out in West Des Moines, the first location for the steakhouse in Iowa. “This is the blueprint, moving forward,” he said of the design of the space.
Of note, the closest Ruth’s Chris outside of West Des Moines is in Minneapolis, meaning Kansas City and Omaha, two steak-loving cities bigger than the Des Molines metro, do not have a Ruth’s Chris.
What’s on the first floor of Ruth’s Chris?
Inside, a hostess stand awaits with 40 of the 85 wine lockers, including two for Prime Hospitality Group CEO Ryan Rans and President Kristy Rans, off to the right of the entrance. For $500, diners can buy a one-year membership, get discounts on up to 12 bottles of wine, and receive invitations to wine dinners.
Customers can opt to stay downstairs or head to the second level via stairs or an elevator.
Diners immediately see a double-sided fireplace when they walk toward the bars and dining rooms on the first level. To the right, an area that can convert into a private dining room with its own bar and a narrow patio. Accordion doors fold out to give diners privacy in this area of the dining room. Four tops of tables with crisp, white table cloths already set up with folded napkins, silverware and wine glasses surrounded by posh leather chairs decorate the room.
When someone needs a large private dining room, this space converts into the Ashworth Room, seating 68; the Jordan Creek Room, seating 54; and the two combine for 142. The space even has a separate private dining wine room with 1,600 bottles waiting to be opened and seating for 10.
In all, the steakhouse could have up to eight private dining rooms. “The guests love private areas,” Zietlow said. “They always want to be part of that experience. Our sales manager Brad Harbert already booked about $500,000 in sales and we haven’t even opened.”
When diners walk to the left side of the fireplace, they find another bar anchoring that space with low-slung tables and big round Hollywood booths where people will want to see and be seen. Another patio stretches along Jordan Creek Parkway with misters and heaters. Zietlow anticipates seating people for up to 10 months of the year comfortably.
Another private dining room on the first level is on the way with a future round table and seating for 10. Diners there can look out through one-way glass and see the patio from here.
Do be sure to look in the bathrooms on both levels. Downstairs features framed pieces of ties in the men’s room and black and white art of women’s clothing in the ladies’ room. Upstairs offers a rich wallpaper with large pink flowers on a bed of green and a tuxedoed gentleman playing a guitar.
What’s on the second level of Ruth’s Chris?
Back at the hostess stand, diners can use the stairs ― decorated with three large urns holding giant plants ― or an elevator to the left to head up to the second level. There, the first thing they notice is a projection wall with flowers that sway. The image changes every two hours and with the seasons.
Another hostess area upstairs is ready to seat diners by the time they arrive, or customers can wait in a small area outfitted with chairs and a bookcase. Do note the design on the spines of the books.
A different bar awaits upstairs with more of a casual ― at least for Ruth’s Chris ― vibe and different music from downstairs. This bar features bottles of liquor backlit overhead, 25 seats around it and a Coravin wine system that dispenses wines by the glass in one-and-a-half-, three- and six-ounce pours so diners can sample Faust cabernet sauvignon, Viña Cobos “Felino” malbec, or a Sea Sun pinot noir. Aragon gas keeps the wine fresh.
Surrounding the bar are more tables, and a small section of booths at the back.
Outside, diners can sit on another patio with screens, louvres that close to keep out the elements, heaters, misters and ceiling fans.
The Boardroom seats 10 while another private dining room dubbed the Botanical Gardens will feature plenty of plants and windows that can open.
More: Meet the 5 Iowa restaurants that made Yelp’s Top 100 in the Midwest
Do you need a reservation for Ruth’s Chris?
Zietlow recommends that everyone make a reservation, even though the steakhouse has 459 seats. For the first week, the restaurant already has 160 reservations booked per night through Thursday and 200 a night on Friday and Saturday. “That’s where we’re going to stay for a while,” he said, noting that he wants to give the staff a chance to work the rooms before unleashing a large crowd on the restaurant.
“It’s important to point out we do recommend reservations,” Union Williams, the vice president of account services for JDA Worldwide based in Indianapolis, said. “People can walk in and we’ll try to accommodate them.”
Bar seating in particular can accommodate walk-in diners.
Head to OpenTable to make a reservation.
Does Ruth’s Chris have a dress code?
Yes, but it’s a smart casual look. For example, if you’re wearing a hat or a team jersey, Ruth’s Chris managers might direct you to the bar area or patios. You can wear a polo shirt and shorts and still Hats should be removed inside. Clothes with “offensive graphics or language … exposed undergarments, cut-off shorts, and tank tops are not considered appropriate attire,” per the Ruth’s Chris website.
Who is Ruth’s Chris?
The story starts in 1965, when Ruth Fertel mortgaged her home to buy a New Orleans steakhouse with seating for 60. The single mother taught herself the restaurant business. In 1976, a fire destroyed the original location, and because she could not move the Chris Steak House name to another location, according to her contract, she changed the name to Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
What is Ruth’s Chris known for?
The steakhouse obviously specializes in USDA Prime beef steaks such as a bone-in filet, 40-ounce tomahawk rib-eye steak, filet Oscar with lump crab meat and asparagus over a Bearnaise sauce, truffle-crusted filet, and a bone-in New York strip. Ruth’s Chris serves its steaks on a 500-degree plate with a pat of butter, a bit of pageantry when it arrives at the table. The restaurant uses an 1,800-degree broiler to finish its steaks.
If steak doesn't strike your fancy, try the marinated Berkshire pork chop or the stuffed chicken breast, both recommended by Zietlow.
Keep in mind that entrees at Ruth's Chris do not include any sides.
The garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach are cornerstones of the menu. A Caesar salad, steak house salad lobster bisque are some other classics from the menu, along with a slab of carrot cake for dessert.
At lunch, diners can order the 30-minute lunch for $24 with filet sliders, crab cake sandwich, shrimp po’boy or soup and salad.
Does Ruth’s Chris serve brunch?
Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes a Cajun tenderloin eggs Benedict, Creole biscuits, and bloody marys and mimosas. Diners can also order a filet and spicy crab, filet Oscar, barbecue shrimp or the chef's fresh catch.
Who owns Ruth’s Chris?
In June, Darden Restaurants acquired the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain for about $715 million. The company has 154 locations worldwide, including 80 company-owned or -operated restaurants and 74 franchised restaurants. Darden's portfolio includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V's and Bahama Breeze.
Where to find Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Location: 950 Jordan Creek Parkway, Suite 1100 West Des Moines,
Contact: 515-416-6080 or https://ruthschris.com/west-des-moines/
Hours: Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for lunch; from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Friday and from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for dinner; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for brunch.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ruth's Chris Steak House opens in West Des Moines with filets, ribeyes
