Ruth’s Chris Is Reminding Diners About Its Dress Code — And the Internet Has a Lot to Say About It
The steakhouse’s “proper attire required” notice sparked a very familiar debate about hats, hoodies, and whether nice restaurants should still care what guests wear.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House is reminding diners that yes, it still has a dress code — and people online have plenty of opinions about it.
The upscale chain recently drew attention for a notice on its website stating that guests dining in the main dining room are expected to follow a business casual dress code. Hats are not allowed at the table, and guests wearing ball caps may be asked to dine in the bar or lounge instead.
The policy also says gym wear, pool attire, tank tops, clothing with offensive graphics or language, revealing clothing, and exposed undergarments are not permitted in dining rooms. In other words, Ruth’s Chris is making it clear that it does not want the main dining room feeling too casual.
That reminder comes a couple of years after the steakhouse joined Darden Restaurants, the restaurant giant behind Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and The Capital Grille, in a $715 million acquisition.
Some People Think This Is Completely Reasonable
A lot of commenters were firmly on Ruth’s Chris’ side, arguing that if people are paying steakhouse prices, they expect a certain atmosphere to come with it.
“One commenter wrote, “People pay $300+ for dinner not just for food, but an ambience that is not comparable to Wingstop on a Friday night.”
Another kept it even simpler: “Good. You shouldn’t be wearing PJs to a steak dinner.”
That general sentiment came up again and again. Some people saw the policy as basic manners, not some outrageous attempt at exclusivity. “No matter the scale, no hats at the table,” one person wrote, while another added, “Respectful dinner attire is always a good thing, but why is this news?”
There was also a strong thread of nostalgia running through the comments. Several people pointed out that dress codes at sit-down restaurants used to be much more common, and in some places, much stricter.
“Early 2000, a jacket was required for Men,” one person recalled. Another shared, “There was a time not that long ago where people would always wear their best when dining out at a sit down restaurant. Dining out was a treat not a common occurrence.”
Other Diners Think the Policy Feels Outdated
Not everyone was impressed.
Some commenters felt Ruth’s Chris was taking itself a little too seriously, especially in a time when even expensive restaurants have gotten more relaxed about what people wear. One person from California wrote, “The richest person in the restaurant is probably the worst dressed,” adding that the restaurant should just “serve the food and take payment.”
Another commenter joked that the policy may be less about tradition and more about image, writing, “They must’ve saw that TikTok that said they weren’t upscale and now this is their plan to make it upscale.”
That is probably why this story took off. It is not really just about baseball caps. It taps into a bigger debate about what “nice dining” is supposed to look like now and whether restaurants still get to set the tone once people are spending that much money.
Ruth’s Chris Isn’t the Only Restaurant With Standards
To be fair, Ruth’s Chris is hardly alone here.
Plenty of higher-end restaurants still encourage guests to dress like they made at least a little effort, even if the old-school jacket-and-tie days are mostly gone. And Ruth’s Chris has long leaned into a more formal steakhouse image, so this is not exactly coming out of nowhere.
Still, the reaction makes it pretty clear that Americans are split on whether dress codes in restaurants feel classy or just dated.
Personally, I can see both sides. I do not think every dinner out needs to look like a country club in 1998, but I also understand why a steakhouse charging that much wants the dining room to feel a little more polished than the average chain.
And judging by the comments, this was never really just about Ruth’s Chris. It turned into another internet argument about what people should wear in public — the same kind of debate that flared up when one airport said it was “banning” pajamas. For another surprisingly heated style-related travel debate, see which cities landed on a recent list of America’s worst-dressed flyers.
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