Famous Upscale Steak Restaurant With Locations In North Carolina Sold For Big Bucks

We look forward to an upscale night out every once and a while.  And, usually it happens in conjunction with a special life event.  Or, we reserve those nights out for using the occasional gift card some loving family member was kind enough to give us for Christmas.  Well, one of those spots that fits the bill was sometimes Ruth's Chris Steak House.  And now, we learn from WSPA that Ruth's Chris, with locations in North Carolina, sold for around $715 million.

It seems that Florida based Darden Restaurants shelled out the big bucks for the hospitality group that owns the famous steak restaurant chain.  And, if the name Darden sounds familiar you probably have seen the name on gift cards you have to other restaurants in their family.  Among some of the spots under their umbrella are Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille and Eddie V's.

Chris Steak House started in New Orleans in 1927.  In 1965, Ruth Fertel took over the brand,  adding her moniker to the original "Chris Steak House" name.  And, with more than 150 locations around the world they did experience challenges during COVID.

Therefore, with closings, furloughs and pay reductions the chain had issues to tackle.  Eventually, they recovered.  And now, Ruth's Chris Hospitality Group sold to Darden. They expect the sale to take place as early as June.  Read the full story and learn more about the Ruth's Chris portfolio in the article from WSPA.

One of our all-time favorite restaurants is Capital Grille, with a location in Uptown Charlotte.  And, of course they are owned by Darden.  So, I think Ruth's Chris is in good hands.  Ruth's Chris has locations in Charlotte, Greensboro and Cary.

It's no secret among my family and friends that I love finding quality restaurants to try.  One of the things I love about Charlotte is there's never a lack of cool places to go for a celebration. The restaurant scene in Charlotte and the surrounding areas is really impressive.  That inspired me to put together a list of Charlotte's Best Restaurants to visit for special occasions. And, with family coming to visit for the holidays, we need somewhere special to take everybody. We usually plan a couple of special nights out when family comes to town. We always save the super nice meal out for Christmas Eve.

So, when I came across Charlotte Magazine's steakhouse guide, I immediately took a look. The list is great. In fact, I've been to so many on it!  I decided to include those along with some others of our personal favorites, too.  I hope you can try some of our favorites on this list for your next celebratory outing.  Charlotte's Best Restaurants For Special Occasions and Holidays is a good list to keep handy when planning your upcoming events. And, I even threw in one from South Carolina we just discovered since relocating to the area.

The Capital Grille has to be one of our absolute favorites in town. Although it's been a few years since we visited, it was our go-to anniversary spot for several years in a row. We love the upscale vibe and dark wood features of the dining room.  From the minute we walked in, the service was always top notch. We felt special with the little touches they added, including a personalized note and dessert for our occasion. The steaks are amazing. And, we thoroughly enjoyed the sides. We loved the truffle fries. And, our son couldn't get enough lobster mac n cheese.  They're located at 201 N. Tryon St.  Reach them at 704-348-1400.

Steak 48 is another great choice that is relatively new to Charlotte.  The chain opened on Sharon Rd. over the last few years.  Once again, service was first and foremost from the minute we arrived.  Steaks were great!  And, in keeping with most steakhouses of its kind, the sides are big enough for the table.  I remember some pretty amazing cocktails, too.  And, everyone raves about the seafood tower.  I recommend the Deviled Eggs Topped with Crispy Shrimp as an appetizer!  Find them at 4425 Sharon Rd.  Reach them at 980-580-4848.

We have had some incredible meals at The Porter's House over the years.  They're located in Waverly shopping center on Providence Rd. not far from 485.  We made it a Christmas Eve destination a couple of times.  Once, when my in-laws visited, we just happened to get the "private room."  It was lovely.  I've had unbelievable meals there, including everything from steak, to seafood to a thick, juicy pork chop.  And, during the holidays, they typically offer a seasonal "Mule" cocktail that's delicious.  They're at 7417 Waverly Walk Ave.  Reach them at 704-930-7878.

Staying in the same shopping center, Ted's Montana Grill is another favorite.  It's a chain founded by Ted Turner and George McKerrow.  It opened in Charlotte in 2017.  I remember the first time we went.  We took our son, and once he had the "Bison Nachos," he was hooked.  Yes, they serve bison in nachos, burgers and meatloaf.  It's so yummy.  And, every table got the house made pickles as a little treat before ordering.  This spot is nice enough for a special occasion, but it works for a nice night out anytime.  Find Ted's at 7404 Waverly Walk Ave.  Reach them at 704-841-7502.

This spot is relatively new to Charlotte. We visited RH Rooftop Restaurant last year during the holidays for the first time, and we were blown away. The unique and beautiful restaurant is on the third floor of RH Charlotte at Phillips Place near South Park Mall. It's breathtaking. The chandeliers in the dining room are stunning, and the views are spectacular. One of the best items on the menu is the lobster roll. I highly recommend it. This spot is definitely Instagram photo worthy. And, it's also a great lunch or brunch spot! Find RH at 6903 Phillips Place Court. Reach them at 704-790-4970.

So, I promised you a bonus location in South Carolina.  Just recently, we discovered The Pump House in Rock Hill.  This place was amazing.  The view from the top is incredible.  It towers five stories along the banks of the Catawba River.  I definitely recommend trying to snag a table up top with a view.  They feature an award-winning wine list and a southern-inspired chophouse menu.  On our first visit, I had a delicious seafood feature of trout, and the soup of the day was an amazing tomato.  The service was top notch and the food out of this world.  Find them at 575 Herrons Ferry Rd, Rock Hill.  Reach them at 803-329-8888.