The brand-new Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN has been a welcome addition to the downtown area with a fantastic location in the Kahler Grand Hotel.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Rochester, MN
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Rochester, MN
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The popular upscale restaurant officially opened to the public on Monday, June 17th. The Friday prior, they hosted a soft opening, giving community members a chance to sample the menu while providing the staff with valuable training experience.

My wife, Jen, and I were lucky enough to attend the soft 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.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse dining room, Rochester, MN
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse dining room, Rochester, MN (Ruth's Chris Steakhouse)
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Price Check: How Much Does Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Cost?

For those who love a good steak, you might be curious: how much does a luxurious 4-course meal at the iconic Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse set you back? Let’s break it down course by course and see if it's worth the splurge. I’ll include the itemized receipt at the bottom of this article.

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During the soft opening, Ruth’s Chris offered select menus featuring some of their most popular items. Each couple could order one appetizer, a soup or salad each, two entrees, one shareable side, a dessert, and two drinks each. Here’s the menu we were given (excluding drinks):

ruth's chris steakhouse rochester mn
Menu from Ruth's Chris Soft Opening in Rochester, MN
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Drinks: Two Ruth’s Manhattans, Pomegranate Martini, Gamblers Old Fashioned - $63 ($15-$16 each)

Ruth’s Chris in Rochester boasts a fantastic bar with an impressive selection. I started with a Ruth's Manhattan, crafted with Woodford Reserve, Southern Comfort, and garnished with black cherries. Jen opted for a pomegranate martini made with Tito's vodka, Cointreau, pomegranate, and cranberry.

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

Our drinks were expertly mixed and delicious – no complaints here.

Ruth's Manhattan and Pomegranate Martini (Aaron Galloway)
Ruth's Manhattan and Pomegranate Martini (Aaron Galloway)
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Course 1: Calamari Appetizer - $23.00

We chose the lightly fried calamari appetizer with spicy chili sauce. The breading was perfectly light as advertised, and the chili sauce provided an explosion of flavor. However, the calamari was served tossed in the sauce, resulting in some soggy pieces.

Pro tip: order this dish with the chili sauce on the side.

Ruth's Chris steakhouse review rochester mnn
Calamari appetizer at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Rochester, MN
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Course 2: Lobster Bisque - $15.00 each

The lobster bisque at Ruth’s Chris stands out from the usual. Our server explained its New Orleans style, blending a thick and creamy base with rich flavors of brandy and sherry. I thoroughly enjoyed it; the bisque was packed with lobster pieces and bursting with incredible flavor.

Lobster Bisque, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN
Lobster Bisque, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN (Aaron Galloway)
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Course 3: Filet and Ribeye Steaks + Shareable Mushroom Side - $145

I’m a filet guy while Jen always goes for the biggest ribeye on the menu. I opted for the 8oz Petite Filet ($56) and she chose the 26oz Cowboy Ribeye ($83) listed on the menu we were given, however, she received the 16oz boneless ribeye ($73) instead – no big deal, as she enjoys good beef in any form. Our steaks were perfectly seasoned and cooked as ordered using their patented broiling method, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth meat that did not disappoint.

8oz Petite Filet at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN
8oz Petite Filet at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN (Aaron Galloway)
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Bonus: Ruth’s Chris steaks are served sizzling with a pat of butter on an oven-hot 500-degree plate. I’ve never been served a steak in this way and I’m a big fan! The sizzle is super satisfying and my steak stayed warm to the last bite!

16oz Bonless Ribeye at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN
16oz Boneless Ribeye at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN (Jennifer Galloway)
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For our side, we chose the pan-roasted cremini mushrooms served in a veal demi-glaze sprinkled with fresh thyme ($16). They were perfectly plump, and that demi-glaze is to die for! I poured it all over my steak, taking it to a new level of deliciousness.

Cremini Mushrooms at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN
Cremini Mushrooms at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN (Aaron Galloway)
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Course 4: Crème Brûlée Dessert - $13.00

Even though I was completely stuffed, dessert was on its way. Jen, who always takes charge of our shared dessert choices, picked the crème brûlée, which came highly recommended by several servers. It was good—not something I would rave about, but my wife absolutely loved it. The fruit was large and fresh, and the raw sugar crust was perfectly caramelized. The best part was cracking the crust to reveal the creamy vanilla bean custard beneath.

Creme Brulee dessert at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN
Creme Brulee dessert at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Rochester, MN (Aaron Galloway)
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Total Cost of Our 4-Course Meal at Ruth’s Chris in Rochester

Although everything was complimentary during the soft opening, the bill was still presented at the end to allow the servers to practice the full-service routine. After a delightful dining experience, the total came to just under $300 before tip.

Ruth's Chris rochester mn prices
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Rochester, MN (tap to enlarge)
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RELATED: Best Steakhouse Chain In U.S. Only Has One Minnesota Location

Yeah, that’s a pretty steep price tag for a night out for most, but all things considered, I think the price reflects the premium quality ingredients, the expertise in preparation, and the elegant atmosphere. For us, Ruth’s Chris is not a place we would visit frequently, but a fine dining experience worthy of special celebrations and milestones for sure.

Happy Hour at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

If forking over a couple of bills is not in the cards for you right now but you still want to try the food at Ruth’s Chris, they do offer discounts on select drinks and apps during their happy hour from 4pm to 6pm, Mon-Fri. Happy hour items start at $9, according to the menu.

All 37 Minnesota Restaurants that Have Been Featured on the Food Network

Many Minnesota restaurants have been featured on the Food Network over the years. Some have closed now, but I checked out the Food Networks website, the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives website, and TVFoodMaps.com to find all of the Minnesota restaurants that have been featured on their channel in the past and found these 37 (in no particular order) that are still open.

Gallery Credit: Carly Ross

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