Beachcombing -- Ruth's Chris

After 18 years of hearing great things about Ruth’s Chris Steak House, I recently had the opportunity to visit the one in Anaheim. It did not disappoint. In fact, it was one of my finest meals … ever!

The story goes back to the early days of working with one of Beeler & Associates’ earliest and longest-running marketing communications clients for nearly three decades, Mills Insurance Agency in Los Alamitos, Lake Forest and Palm Desert. Owner Tom Braly and his wife, Marilyn, lived a good life and they owned several racehorses. Evening Jewel was a top California filly who won the 2010 Ashland Stakes and Del Mar Oaks. Tom was diagnosed with leukemia in 2003 but lived until Sept. 3, 2010 – at 73 years-old – long enough to witness Evening Jewel’s wins.

Tom was very astute at marketing his business and followed my advice to test different advertising techniques. “If it works, keep doing it,” was my guidance to him. His advice to me was “Check out Ruth’s Chris Steak House. It’s a great place to dine.”

During my career I’ve been fortunate to have eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the world. Most of that time was as communications director for Hyatt Medical Enterprises, a subsidiary of Hyatt Hotels. Hyatt’s top restaurant was called Hugo’s, named after Hyatt President Hugo “Skip” Friend, Jr. That came to a crashing halt around 1978 when Skip had a falling out with his brother-in-law, Jay Pritzker, who owned the hotel chain along with his brother, Donald, and dad, A.N. Pritzker.

Fast forward to 2023 when Sebastian Grewal came to the Beachcomber as a journalism intern from CSULB. I learned that he was a server at Ruth’s Chris in Anaheim, near Disneyland at 2041 S. Harbor Blvd. My son, Jeff, also works in Anaheim and loves steak. So, I’ve been bugging him to check out the restaurant with me, and it finally happened on August 25.

A 38-year-old single mom, Ruth Fertel, purchased Chris Steak House in 1965 in New Orleans. When a fire destroyed the restaurant in 1976, Fertel relocated. Her purchase agreement prevented her from using the Chris Steak House name at another location, so she added her own name, creating Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The first franchise also opened that year.

Today it has more than 140 locations worldwide in 21 countries. The company emphasizes the overall dining experience with USDA Prime steaks, 1,800-degree broilers and steaks served sizzling on 500-degree plates.

In a 2024 Nation’s Restaurant News/Technomic survey, Ruth’s Chris ranked No. 1 among America’s favorite restaurant chains. It received strong ratings for “world-class” service and hospitality. Locally it starts with small things, such as your choice of three waters followed by the presentation of a box of steak knives for use with your meal.

Throughout our dinner we saw a dozen servers and attendants working in the main dining room, fashioned after Bourbon Street in New Orleans. We met Chef Raul Andrade before we were seated, followed by Beverage Manager Melchor Ruiz asking about our wine preferences. In short order General Manager Ryan Williams welcomed us.

Of course we relied on our server, Sebastian, to recommend menu items. Jeff ordered the New York strip, and I had two petit filets and shrimp. We were tempted to try the 40 oz., 2-inch-thick tomahawk ribeye for two. It features an extra-long, French-trimmed rib bone with at least five inches exposed, giving the steak a tomahawk-axe appearance.

Our entire meal was perfection, right down to the creme brulee dessert.

The Ruth’s Chris website notes that “our team members are trained to deliver memorable meals that consistently exceed expectations.” They nailed it.

Next, I’d like to visit the Long Beach Ruth’s Chris at 180 E. Ocean Blvd. That will happen within a few weeks instead of taking another 18 years.

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