2 min read- Ruth’s Chris Steak House is reminding guests that its dining rooms follow a business casual dress code.
- The policy says hats should be removed upon entering, and guests in ball caps may be asked to dine in the bar or lounge instead.
- Online reaction has been split, with some calling the policy outdated and others saying it’s a fair way to protect the restaurant’s atmosphere.
If you’re heading to Ruth’s Chris anytime soon, you may want to think about your outfit before you think about how you want to enjoy your steak. The steakhouse’s dress code is getting fresh attention online, and one part in particular is setting people off: no hats in the dining room.
According to the notice currently posted by the restaurant, the vibe is “business casual” and “proper attire” is required. The policy asks guests to remove hats when entering, and says anyone wearing a ball cap should dine in the bar or lounge rather than the main dining room.
That’s not the only thing on the no-go list. The notice also says dining rooms do not allow gym wear, pool attire, tank tops, clothing with offensive graphics or language, revealing clothing, or exposed undergarments.
Naturally, the internet had thoughts, and they were very much not aligned.
Some people were fully against it, arguing that Ruth’s Chris is aiming a little high for a chain steakhouse. One person wrote, “Ruth’s Chris isn’t fine dining, it’s like one step up from Outback. This is going to make a lot of people not go.” Another called it “the Applebee’s of expensive steakhouses,” which is… not exactly a compliment.
Others questioned how that kind of policy is supposed to work in beach towns, where hats and tank tops are less a fashion statement and more a warm-weather survival strategy.
But not everyone was rolling their eyes. Plenty of people were on board with the idea that a steakhouse gets to set the tone it wants.
“Nothing wrong with controlling the environment you’re trying to create,” one person wrote. Another pointed out that for a lot of diners, going to a steakhouse is still an occasion. And one commenter summed up the pro-dress-code side with a demand to “bring back elegance and class to fine dining!”
Whether it reads classy or completely extra probably depends on what’s in your closet.