Ruby Tuesday has gone low-carb and boldly displays calories
Written: Mar 24 '05 (Updated Mar 24 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: New menu, change is good
Cons: Not all locations are good
The Bottom Line: I like the upbeat atmosphere and the menu choices at Ruby's.
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| xyzwyatt's Full Review: Ruby Tuesday |
I keep getting buy-one-get-one free coupons in fliers and magazines so I keep going back for more. Ruby Tuesday is a casual American sit-down full-service restaurant that has been growing steadily over several decades.
Ruby Tuesday has approximately 700 locations in 42 states so it is probably a restaurant many are already familiar with. You can check their website to see if there is one in your area: http://www.rubytuesday.com/CI/locations.htm . You will find these restaurants free standing and they are also common in or around a shopping mall or movie theater. The environment is casual and suitable for most people including dates, friends, and families.
I have to give Ruby Tuesday’s credit for taking their menu to the next level. Ruby Tuesday has been around for years and after eating there so many times I just couldn’t do it anymore. I noticed through advertising that they had an entirely different menu selection so we started going again.
Ruby Tuesday’s is taking a new approach to dining and letting the consumer know exactly how many calories they are consuming by putting the calories right on the menu. I have to really respect a company that will tell you that there are 1500 calories in your main course.
In order to accommodate health-conscious individuals they have changed their menu look and their selection. They are now marketing their meals to the low-carbohydrate dieters. There is a symbol beside the low-carb choices and there are about 30 to choose from. Even if you are not on a low-carb diet you will still benefit by knowing what the calories are.
Ruby’s is also the only major restaurant chain that fries in Canola oil which is a healthier choice because there is no trans fats and is low in saturated fat.
Ruby’s has a salad bar for $7 that can be eaten as an entree or added to a meal for $2 more. I am particularly fond of Ruby’s baked French onion soup for $5. Of course after eating this there isn’t much room for anything else.
There are gourmet sandwiches in the $8 range which are served with fries. Some selections in this area are chicken, turkey and bacon panini, turkey B.L.T., and more. One time I had a wrap and didn't get too much out of it. It was a flour tortilla with a bunch of lettuce and some chicken wrapped together. It kept falling apart and I was hungry sooner than normal. It tasted okay but I woudln't choose it again. I tried the Turkey BLT and didn’t think it was worth the 1029 calories that it cost me which is why I went with the burger the next time.
There are at least 10 choices for a $7 hamburger which is served with fries and traditional garnishing. This will run you over 1,000 calories per burger but I thought mine tasted worth the price and calories.
Specialty items are in the $10-$12 served with toast and include choices such as Asian Peppercorn Salmon, Chicken tenders, and an assortment of pastas. There are several Ruby’s Stackers to choose from for $10 which are served with steamed broccoli and garlic toast. There is an assortment of Ribeye or sirloin steaks in the $14 range. There are also some more expensive choices such as ribs in the platters section.
The highest priced and highest calorie item on the menu is the Triple Play and is a combination of Ruby's premium back ribs, tenders and fried shrimp with a side of smoky honey Dijon dressing and cocktail sauce $17 and a whopping 1568 calories 97 grams of fat and 92 net carbs.
Should you have room for desserts, they range from $5-$7. I went to Ruby Tuesday just for dessert once and had the Chocolate Tallcake . It is layered chocolate cake and chocolate mousse made with Oreo cookies, drenched in caramel and fudge sauce, topped with vanilla ice cream and mounds of whipped cream. This is definitely delicious and will set you back $6 and up 871 calories.
The restaurant is also kid friendly. There is a variety on the kids menu such as spaghetti, mac & cheese, grilled cheese, hamburger, chicken tenders, or salad bar. The meal is served with a soda, milk, or juice box. High chairs and crayons are also available.
One thing that bothers me about Ruby’s is that they have small tables and narrow walk paths. Since the tables are so close together there is very little privacy and is fairly loud when they’re busy. We never go in when the parking lot is full because we despise waiting. We usually go in for lunch and are immediately seated. It takes a little while to get our order. Ruby’s is definitely not a place that I would go if I were in a hurry.
This would be a nice place to go to socialize with friends since it is a laid back slow atmosphere which in addition to food serves really good mixed drinks.
One thing that I have noticed is results vary at different locations. There is one location in the mall that we eat at that is inferior to the new one in our town. One is overall better with more attentive employees, a cleaner restaurant, and better tasting food. I have also found that the good ones are consistently good and visa versa.
Company Information
Locations: http://www.rubytuesday.com/CI/locations.htm
Hours: Monday – Sunday 11AM – 10PM
Payment: Cash, Master Card, Visa, Discover, and American Express
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
xyzwyatt
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Location: Nashville, TN
Reviews written: 548
Trusted by: 172 members
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Be a coffee-drinking individual - espresso yourself!
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