Ruth's Chris Steak House - Memphis

Truth be told, yours truly is not into chain restaurants - at all. But Ruth's Chris is a huge exception to that rule. The small bar area is where your local editor can be found every few weeks, catching up with her bestie over bartender Julie's special cosmos and a center cut filet - totally indulgent Girls Night Out. Ruth's Chris sears their steaks in butter on a 500-degree plate before serving, and in true steakhouse tradition, everything is a la carte; the service is always top-notch, and the menu is now starting to show some seasonal variation with special packages and seasonally-focused offerings. This is indeed the ultimate steakhouse experience, even if it is a chain.