How much is a 4-course meal at Ruth’s Chris in Rochester?

The brand new Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, Minnesota is a welcome addition to the downtown area with its fantastic location in the Kahler Grand Hotel.

The popular upscale restaurant officially opened to the public on Monday, June 17. An unofficial opening was held the Friday before, giving community members a chance to sample the menu and staff valuable training experience.

My wife Jen and I were lucky enough to be there for the opening and it was a wonderful dining experience. The restaurant itself is stunning, the food was exquisite and the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful.

Price check: How much does Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse cost?

Anyone who loves a good steak may be wondering: how much does a luxurious 4-course meal at the legendary Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse cost? Let’s go through it course by course and see if it’s worth the money. I’ll include the detailed receipt at the end of this article.

During the soft opening event, Ruth’s Chris offered select menus featuring some of the most popular dishes. Each couple could order an appetizer, a soup or salad, two main dishes, a side dish to share, a dessert and two drinks. Here is the menu we got (excluding drinks):

Drinks: Two Ruth’s Manhattans, Pomegranate Martini, Gamblers Old Fashioned – $63 ($15-16 each)

Ruth’s Chris in Rochester has a fantastic bar with an impressive selection. I started with a Ruth’s Manhattan, made with Woodford Reserve, Southern Comfort and garnished with black cherries. Jen opted for a Pomegranate Martini with Tito’s Vodka, Cointreau, pomegranate and cranberry.

For the second round, I chose the Gamblers Old Fashioned with aromatic bitters Knob Creek, Demerara and Bitter Truth. My wife liked my Manhattan so much that she ordered one for herself.

Our drinks were expertly mixed and delicious – nothing to complain about here.

Course 1: Calamari Appetizer – $23.00

We opted for the lightly fried calamari starter with a spicy chili sauce. The breading was perfectly light, as advertised, and the chili sauce provided an explosion of flavor. However, the calamari were served tossed in the sauce, which meant that some of the pieces were mushy.

Pro tip: Order this dish with the chili sauce as a side dish.

Course 2: Lobster bisque – $15.00 each

The lobster bisque at Ruth’s Chris is something special. Our server explained that it is made in the New Orleans style, which blends a thick, creamy base with the rich flavors of brandy and sherry. I enjoyed it very much; the bisque was full of chunks of lobster and bursting with incredible flavor.

Course 3: Filet and ribeye steaks + mushroom side dish to share – $145

I’m a filet guy, while Jen always goes for the largest ribeye steak on the menu. I chose the 8oz Petite Filet ($56) and she chose the 26oz Cowboy Ribeye ($83) that was on the menu we got, however she got the 16oz boneless ribeye steak ($73) instead – not a big deal as she likes good beef in any form. Our steaks were perfectly seasoned and cooked as ordered using her patented grilling method, resulting in melt-in-the-mouth meat that did not disappoint.

Bonus: Ruth’s Chris steaks are served sizzling with a pat of butter on a 500 degree oven hot plate. I’ve never had a steak served this way before and I’m a huge fan! The sizzle is super satisfying and my steak stayed warm until the last bite!

For the side, we chose pan-seared mushrooms in a veal demi-glace with fresh thyme ($16). They were perfectly plump and the demi-glace is to die for! I poured it over my steak and it made it even more delicious.

Course 4: Crème Brûlée Dessert – $13.00

Even though I was completely full, dessert arrived. Jen, who always takes charge of our shared dessert selections, chose the crème brûlée, which came highly recommended by several servers. It was good—not something I would have raved about, but my wife absolutely loved it. The fruit was big and fresh, and the raw sugar crust was perfectly caramelized. The best part was cracking the crust open to reveal the creamy custard underneath.

Total cost of our 4-course meal at Ruth’s Chris in Rochester

Although everything was free during the soft opening, the bill was still presented at the end so that the waiters could practice the full service. After a wonderful dining experience, the total bill, excluding tips, was just under $300.

RELATED: Best steakhouse chain in the US has only one location in Minnesota

Yes, that’s a pretty high price for a night out for most, but all in all I think the price reflects the quality ingredients, expert preparation and elegant atmosphere. For us, Ruth’s Chris is not a place we would frequent, but a fine dining experience that is definitely worthy of special celebrations and milestones.

Happy Hour at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

If you don’t want to shell out a few bucks right now but still want to try the food at Ruth’s Chris, there are discounts on select drinks and apps during happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Happy hour dishes start at $9, according to the menu.