8 Things Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Doesn't Want You To Know
Key Highlights :
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is the kind of place that you can go for a celebration. With its sleek decor, dimly-lit ambiance, and expensive menu, it is a place that many diners wish to celebrate with their own loved ones. It is important to be aware, however, that Ruth's Chris is not the family-run business that it appears to be. In reality, the chain is owned by Darden Restaurants, a major corporation with several other chains in its portfolio. Additionally, the restaurant has faced multiple lawsuits over the years, including an alleged 2019 incident of racial discrimination. To make matters worse, the restaurant also applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic, which sparked public outrage.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is a stalwart of the U.S. fine dining scene, but it has a checkered history. Founded by Ruth Fertel in 1965, the chain was originally a small New Orleans steakhouse. Over the years, it has expanded and become a large chain, owned by the massive corporation Darden Restaurants. This means that the former family business is now owned by the same people who run other major chains, such as the Olive Garden and the Capital Grille.
Unfortunately, like many other large corporations, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse has faced multiple lawsuits over the years. In 2019, the restaurant chain was sued for racial discrimination after a Black couple alleged that they were harassed while trying to enjoy their anniversary dinner at one of the chain's Memphis, Tennessee locations. The couple said that they were called the "n-word" by a white man seated nearby, and when they asked the waiter for help, their concerns were brushed aside. They were then asked to leave the restaurant, while the white man was allowed to stay.
In 2011, female employees of the restaurant also filed a class-action lawsuit in which they alleged that the company discriminated against its workers based on sex. The lawsuit claimed that the work environment at Ruth's Chris was "one that is demeaning to women, reflects a culture of male domination and female subjugation, and is a causative factor in the discrimination against women in compensation, promotion, and termination."
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the restaurant industry was hit hard. To help small businesses stay afloat, the federal government introduced the Paycheck Protection Program. Unfortunately, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse was also able to apply for a loan, leading to public outrage. The restaurant eventually returned the loan money after a petition was signed by 262,394 people demanding that the restaurant do so.
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is the kind of place that many diners wish to celebrate special occasions with their loved ones. However, it is important to be aware of the restaurant's checkered history. While the chain may appear to be a family-run business, it is actually owned by a large corporation, and has faced multiple lawsuits over the years, including one for racial discrimination. Additionally, the restaurant applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking public outrage. These are 8 things that Ruth's Chris Steakhouse doesn't want you to know.
