Ruth's Chris Steak House: Surprisingly Vegetarian Friendly

The words steak house and vegetarian are usually not synonymous. But when it comes to being vegetarian friendly, Ruth's Chris Steak House stands out from the rest. The chain of steak houses that originated in New Orleans and are now located in major cities across the country are surprisingly accommodating to their vegetarian clientele.

Of course, most vegetarians would not normally choose to dine at a steak house, but when the occasion calls for a night out with meat eaters, Ruth's Chris is an option that will please everyone in your party.

So what can a vegetarian eat at Ruth's Chris? There are several tantalizing items on the menu that are meat free. First, there is the bread. Most vegetarians I know are not adverse to carbs, so dig into to the freshly baked loaf brought out to the table. Ruth's Chris has some of the best bread that I have ever tasted and I am not shy about indulging in it.

Then there is the salad. The Ruth's Chop House Salad is by far my favorite salad ever. The lettuce is tossed with mushrooms, onions, and olives, and is topped with fried onion strings. It comes with a basil lemon dressing that is tasty, but I prefer Ruth's Chris' ranch on the side. Although the salad is prepared with bacon, bleu cheese, and eggs, the wait staff will happily accommodate your request to leave these items off.

The most coveted items on the Ruth's Chris menu--for vegetarians of course--are the Grilled Portobello Mushrooms. The dish is an actual entrée, so it's a large portion that comes with several of Ruth's Chris' side dishes. The portabellas are cooked so well that they melt in your mouth and they are served over mashed potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, and broiled tomatoes sizzling with lemon butter.

If you are not in the mood for an entire entrée, Ruth's Chris' side dishes are also well prepared and large enough to satisfy several eaters if you are sharing. In addition to the mashed potatoes, asparagus, tomatoes, and broccoli, Ruth's Chris also offers several varieties of spinach, onion rings, and my personal favorite, sautéed mushrooms.

With all of these choices, Ruth's Chris offers vegetarians more than the typical steak house does. The restaurant goes out of its way to accommodate vegetarians with delicious food and great service. The next time an occasion calls for a steakhouse, bypass the others, and go to Ruth's Chris, a steak house that's surprisingly vegetarian friendly.