Ruth's Chris has had a good long run in Pier 5 Hotel. It opened in the hotel's main restaurant space in 2005.
But nothing seems to work in hotel's smaller restaurant space. The Peacock Grill, Pizzazz Tuscan Grill and My Panini have come and gone. But that space has an amenity that Ruth's Chris doesn't have -- a waterfront deck. Actually, that deck hasn't always been there, and none of the cafes ever took full advantage of it.
Now, Ruth's Chris at Pier 5 has taken over both the cafe space, which it will be using as a banquet facility and the adjoining deck, which they will open Wednesday through Sunday nights.
The Ruth's Chris will be served on the deck. Think, prime burger with fries, oysters on the half shell, and tenderloin skewers, with happy hour discounts in effect from 4-6:30 p.m. (The full Ruth's Chris menu will only be available on the deck by special request.) A calypso band will play on Thursday and Saturday nights.
Ruth's Chris appeared to be giving the deck a tryout during Sailabration, and people I saw there seemed to be living it up, with the summer breeze blowing through the jasmine in their minds.
