Ruby Tuesday, Went There Twice on a Thursday, But Why?
Written: Sep 06 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Varied selection with good prices.
Cons: Those "airy rolls"
The Bottom Line: Having the salad bar for just a couple-a-few bucks more is a very good deal.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Ruby Tuesday |
The truth is until this last weekend I have never been to a Ruby Tuesday Restaurant. Most of my family has but somehow I didn't get there.
Last weekend I was up in Maine dropping my daughter off at school. She had been in touch with the gal who was to be her roommate. As it happened we were up and in town the night before "Move-in" to the dorms and so was her room mate and her parents. We made plans to meet each other over dinner at Ruby Tuesday's.
Our daughters made some quick arrangements one saying they could see the chain name of the hotel we were staying at from their hotel and both could see the Friendly's Ice Cream place nearby too. Ruby Tuesday's was with-in site of that chain restaurant to both girls. This was just outside Portland, Maine, along the Interstate, in an area full of shopping malls.
Our First Experience
We easily parked the car in the large lot that circled the restaurant, walked up to the front doors and were very warmly greeted by two young people, each holding a door for us. Not seeing the party we were to meet we then asked if this was the particular Ruby Tuesday's we were looking for. My daughter had some kind of location name. "Sorry," they said, "You must travel a few more miles down the turnpike for that one." We said goodbye, moved back toward the lot and both the workers said they wish were were staying with them. It was so sweet, the way it was said. It sounded heartfelt.
Our Second Ruby Tuesday
So we hopped back into the car, OK, so I don't hop so well and we quickly made the ride to the proper destination in about five minutes. Yes this one was near a Friendly's too. We again parked in a large lot that circled the restaurant and walked into the doors. This time we were greeted by my daughters room-mate and her parents. They were sweet and the immediate warmth between all of us was genuine and heartfelt.
We were promptly greeted by Ruby's staff and seated at a large booth that easily seated the six of us.
The Staff
Our waitstaff was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. Best of all they got our drinks, meal orders, and the bill absolutely correct and everything was brought to the table in timely fashion. Well everything was perfect except one thing that I kept to myself. More later.
I was surprised by the fact that our waiter asked if we wanted the bills written up separately for each family. I could not ever recall anyone, in all my dining years, offering to do that. We did take separate bills and that negated any awkwardness in ordering or splitting the tab. No, popsrocks, though independently wealthy, ha, ha, was not picking up the whole tab.
Decor
Though I never set foot in a Ruby Tuesday's before, well except for five minutes earlier, down the road a piece, I felt like I knew this place well. Well yes, it's just like TGI Fridays in it's layout and feel. All kinds of memorabilia crowded every open space of the interior walls. A few TV's were set up in many corners high above the tables, and booths made their way around a center point of a bar that seemed pretty active.
This particular restaurant was busy but not busy feeling, if you know what I mean. I was relaxed and wasn't aware of any particular harried movements and actions of the staff. No clanging dishes and glasses. It was late in the day and the floors were clean. I visit to the clean and well stocked rest room assured me that they cared about their restaurant.
The Menu
Though Ruby Tuesday's has the usual appetizers, they call them "Kick Starters", there were also a few different offerings I'll have to try as time goes by. Both Coconut Shrimp and Crispy Cajun Shrimp were available as were a few Asian specialties of Steamed Dumplings, Buffalo Chicken Wontons and Asian Glazed Wings.
The restaurant also featured a number of southwestern type dishes like Double Cheese Chicken Quesadilla's, Mega Nachos, Queso, Queso that is their form of a spinach dip, Southwestern Spring Rolls and more. There were over twenty and a sampler dish too.
We didn't even get to one of them but my ever roaming eye checked out the plates of these items making their way to tables around us. The portions all looked very sharable. However none of the surrounding tables shared anything with me.
I found out that Ruby Tuesday's does have a very complete TGI Friday type menu. Sorry I keep comparing it to that chain, but it's one I know pretty well. It does seem that Ruby's has more burgers on the menu and even more in other types of selections. I was impressed by the menu.
My daughter had one of their burgers and it looked quite good. What I don't care for are the over-sized rolls they are on. They look like they are puffed up with air and purposely make it so the sandwiches look huge, well they are huge anyway. The bread just makes it even harder to get a bite. These people offer the Ultimate Collosal Burger that is impossible to eat while holding in one's hands and trying to take a bit at a time. The thing probably measures eight inches high or more!
I was very surprised to see Bison on the menu. I happen to like the stuff and there is a bison farm right on Long Island where I live. I would like to see more restaurants offer it. It's a good tasting meat that is a bit better for the body than beef, not that I am extremely good to my body in my usual choices.
I was impressed with all the different kinds of non-beef burgers they offered. Here are a few right from their web site.
Florentine Turkey Burger
Ruby's turkey burger with cheesy spinach sauce.
Fiesta Turkey Burger
Our turkey burger topped with spicy queso sauce.
Bacon Jack Turkey Burger
A juicy turkey burger topped with Monterey Jack cheese and crisp bacon.
Jimmy Jax Crabcake Burger
Our signature grilled crabcake with remoulade sauce.
Killer Fish Burger
A jumbo serving of spicy broiled tilapia with rémoulade sauce.
Veggie Burger
A veggie burger with Monterey Jack 'n cheddar cheese.
Alpine Swiss Veggie Burger
Topped with Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms.
Mama Mia Veggie Burger
With marinara sauce and Swiss cheese.
You can see that they have some kind of burger for just about everyone. Even with all these choices the bulk of our table went for the traditional beef that were said to be very good. They sure looked it.
Now I went and ordered a Bison Burger. Well I thought I had. I was engrossed in talk made a choice and while we were all talking I pointed to something on the menu when the waiter was taking orders. Silly me, instead of ordering the Bison Burger I pointed to the Buffalo and Bleu Chicken Burger, ha, I even said medium rare. This dish, as I read later was described as A fried chicken breast tossed in Buffalo sauce with Monterey Jack cheese. Served with a side of bleu cheese dressing. Man was it ever so good!! It had a nice spice and I happen to love blue cheese. The chicken was moist (perhaps that was the medium rare I asked for) and the outside coating was crisp.
As I enjoyed my Bison...er...Buffalo/chicken sandwich I noticed that everyone around me were enjoying their beef selections. There didn't seem to be any complaints.
The adults orders beer that was served in 16 or 24 ounce mugs. They had a good selection but nothing in local beers. There are some good microbreweries in Maine and particularly in the Portland area where we were. I was disappointed they didn't have any. We were happy enough with some Sam Adams and Fosters.
Ruby Tuesday's also had a menu featuring large cocktails. My wife and I will have to try their Margaritas one day. I'll update when we do. We are fussy about our Margarita's.
Salad Bar
I liked that Ruby Tuesday's has a salad bar. This brings it a step above TGI's. For two bucks and change you can add it to your entree. When I saw the salad bar I thought it a good deal. They had a couple of different kinds of lettuce and spinach. I like a mix of my greens. The dressing were good and they also had a wide variety of add-ons. The stringed beets were very good. Beets are a favorite of mine and the consistency of them made it even better. No breads are offered at the bar, not that I needed or missed them.
The salad bar was well stocked, fresh looking and clean.
It was a funny thing, because I ordered the wrong item, that I wasn't particularly crazy about when I saw it placed on the table in front of me, I decided I would eat half the sandwich and bring the rest back to the hotel room and eat it while watching the late news. Yes, I do have some very healthy eating habits. I ate my salad and then cut the sandwich in half. Before you know it, both halves were gone. I really did like that chicken sandwich!
Last Thoughts
Though the atmosphere is much like many other places I have been before, I put Ruby Tuesday's up a notch higher than most others. I particularly liked the staff and the way we were treated. I wonder if it was more regional or not. The folks in Maine, I have met, are very hospitable. I will try a place or two on Long island where I live. I'll update again on that point too.
I liked the varied selections and I believe it's one of the largest and most diverse menus of all this sort of chain restaurant. I saw an order of ribs come out to another table. They looked pretty good. I read that they have four different toppings, Classic Barbecue, Spicy Honey Barbecue, Asian Glazed and Memphis Dry Rub. All the same I still want to get my first bite of their Bison Burgers. I'll add that the tomato I had on my sandwich was very good tasting and not one of those "pink plastic" ones I get so often at other places.
The portions were very generous and the food was brought out looking just fine, nothing special, but it was hot and ready to eat. The prices make this place a good value. All was perfect, except for those silly looking air pumped rolls.
Ruby Tuesday's, I went there twice in one day. Maybe I'll do it again some time and eat in each one. I give this place four recommended stars. "Hello Ruby Tuesday"
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / Red Lobster / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Friendly's / Jillian's / Ruth's Chris Steak House
Recommended:
Yes
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