Ruby Tuesday at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota

Having frequented several Ruby Tuesday restaurants in many states, I find this is usually one consistent dining option. It's not the kind of food that makes you moan with pleasure as you enjoy every morsel, but it is the kind of food that can warm you up, cool you down and just leave you feeling full and satisfied. Some of you may be more satisfied than others, just in case you do hear a sigh of pleasure, which either means something was cooked "dead on great" or, well lets not think about the other alternative. Come on now, I'm trying to discuss this restaurant so get your minds out of the gutter for a few more minutes if you can.

The Ruby Tuesday restaurant at the Mall of America can be found on the second level at the central entrance from the north parking lot. This certainly makes for easy parking and easy access if you only want to come and eat. However, you may want to consider a short stroll through the mall after dinner to help digest all the wonderful food you just gorged yourself on.

There is nothing over the top about Ruby Tuesday. For me it brings back a fairly old memory of the Lum's restaurants, if anyone can remember those, but with a little extra in the decor department. Similar in setting to a Bennigan's or Applebee's, among others, it is very casual and an enjoyable place to eat. The staff is usually very upbeat and happy to make any changes if requested. The booths and tables available are comfortable enough to six and relax for a while.

Now I myself like to take the long arduous task of deciding what I'm going to have to drink before even opening the menu. It's funny, you would think that after thirty and then some years of telling waitresses what I want to drink, it still takes a good twenty minutes to decide. Shall I just have a soda or a cocktail? If I finally decide on a cocktail, then it's at least another ten minutes to decide which one. Either way there are so many choices at Ruby Tuesday. They serve Coca-Cola products, along with teas and lemonade. For the more adventurous side, try a zero proof cocktail with a variety of juices and flavors. If you're seeking something with a little kick, then I would always recommend trying the Bloody Mary before an early weekend lunch. If a good tall cold glass of beer is more your taste, then your palette should be quite pleased. Make sure to find out about the handcrafted draft of the day. If you prefer something a little more refined, like a nice glass of wine, which you will find a decent variety here. How about something a little different that will chill you to the bone like their new Strawberry Margarita or a specialty drink such as a Chilled Grape Martini. Trust me, they are fabulous.

The appetizers at Ruby Tuesday are a good place to start. My favorite has always been the Spinach Artichoke Dip, but you may prefer the Southwestern Spring Rolls with grilled chicken and vegetables, including black beans and cheese. I always moved to the salad bar from there. Whether I pair it with a bowl of their wonderful broccoli and cheese soup or add it to an entree, such as the 7 oz petite sirloin, it is always a must for me. There are lots of choices on the salad bar, including chopped ham, cheeses, tomatoes, potato salads and many other items to choose from. The best part is that I have always found it to be fresh, but the staff could work to keep it a little neater between diners.

You shouldn't have any problem finding something to eat at Ruby Tuesday due to the fairly extensive menu. If you're there at lunch time, you may prefer something lighter such as just the salad bar which alone runs about $8 or if you have it with an entree will cost about $3. You can do a combo of salad bar and soup, chicken pot pie, quiche or mini burgers. There is also a large choice of 100% USDA burgers with all the fixings, or try a different twist on the traditional burger by ordering a turkey burger or lump crab burger. Featured items may include Ribs and Louisiana Fried Shrimp or Steak and Crab Cake combos. If that's too much food, then your choices of chicken, steaks, seafood and ribs are sure to offer something perfect for your appetite. The steaks will all run around $18 or less and come with fresh vegetable and mashed potatoes. There are several other side items you can also pick from. A dinner for two with one appetizer, no cocktails and a trip for two to the salad bar is going to run you just about $35-$50. They also offer a children's menu with a few choices of simple pasta dishes, including mac&cheese, mini burgers and chicken tenders. Just make sure you leave room for dessert.

Ruby Tuesday's opens for lunch at 11:00 a.m. all week long and stays open until 11:00 p.m., except for Friday and Saturday night when they are opened until midnight. This certainly leaves plenty of hours in the day to eat, drink and hopefully be merry. Obviously the weekend hours will tend to be busier and you may have a wait, which you can always do at the bar, but with the movie theater upstairs and, well, the entire mall itself, the turnaround is usually pretty reasonable.
If you've already had dinner at home or somewhere else, then stop on in and have one of their specialty cocktails or even something not so special. Just enjoy!