Critic Declares Ruth's Chris 'Doesn’t Enhance Downtown Charleston’s Dining Scene'

The newest chain restaurant to hit Charleston, Ruth's Chris Steak House, opened on Memorial Day and Post and Courier critic Hanna Raskin took the opportunity to assess the Market Street spot over the weekend. It didn't go well.

Raskin starts her critique by stating she isn't against chain restaurants. "Sometimes sameness is a virtue," she writes, but by the end of her meal, she can't fathom the appeal of the Ruth's Chris chain. Here's a few of the more piercing comments:

• "The main room has the bland combination of boxy light fixtures and neutral tones that make you feel like someone might bust out a PowerPoint presentation."
• "But beyond the cushy parbaked bread, the food was pretty grim."
• "The steak, though, was beyond salvation."
• "So much butter."
• "While I completely understand why tourists would eat at Ruth’s Chris ... the restaurant doesn’t enhance downtown Charleston’s dining scene."

Raskin ends her account by suggesting readers take their $58 and try local meat-centric restaurants Grill 225 or Oak Steakhouse instead.

With prices of real estate going up and more chains moving to Charleston, it will be interesting to see how these nationwide restaurants try to stack up against the hometown talent — it didn't seem to work out this time.