A Deal at Ruth’s

Ruth’s Chris is a steakhouse built on a certain expectation of expense, with steaks that pass seventy dollars and a dining room that reflects that price point in its quiet formality. Weeknights between 4 and 6 p.m., the script flips just a bit, with the bar and lounge offering some of their signature dishes and handcrafted cocktails at half price (steaks not included, however, except in the form of a sandwich).

RIGHT: PRIME BEEF CHEESEBURGER WITH MELTED BLUE CHEESE
LEFT: GOLDEN-FRIED BUTTERFLIED SPICY JUMBO SHRIMP

We kicked things off on a Monday night with the pomegranate martini ($12), made with Tito’s Vodka, Cointreau, pomegranate, and fresh lemon juice, served with a sugared rim. Sweet, no question about it. We also ordered the Gambler’s Old Fashioned ($12), Knob Creek bourbon with demerara and Bitter Truth Aromatic Bitters, which had a nice subtle orange note.

Along with our drinks, we ordered the Spicy Shrimp ($17), golden-fried butterflied jumbo shrimp tossed in a spicy cream sauce. The batter was light enough that you still got the crunch, but the shrimp inside stayed soft.

The prime beef cheeseburger ($17) arrived cut in half, displaying a medium-rare center with melted blue cheese, crisp lettuce, and a sliced tomato inside a brioche bun, served with a side of house-cut fries, lightly salted and seasoned. Looking around, the happy hour crowd was thin, three people at the bar and another at a high table, young professionals kicking back after work. Granted, it was Monday, but for a deal this good, it was surprising not more people had caught on.