Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

Why go: USDA Prime steaks seared at 1,800 degrees and served sizzling on 500-degree plates at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, with a New Orleans-rooted menu that stretches from sizzling crab cakes to a 40-ounce Porterhouse for Two.

About Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris traces its origins to 1965, when Ruth Fertel mortgaged her home to purchase a 60-seat New Orleans restaurant called Chris Steak House. She added her name to the sign, built a cooking method around extreme heat and sizzling plate service, and created one of the most recognized steakhouse brands in the country. The Cherokee location operates inside Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and serves the same USDA Prime beef that has defined the brand for six decades.

Every steak is custom-aged Midwestern beef, cooked in a 1,800-degree oven that locks in the natural flavor, then delivered on a 500-degree sizzling plate that keeps it hot from first bite to last. All steaks are finished with butter and freshly chopped parsley unless you request otherwise.

The menu extends well beyond beef. New Orleans-inspired starters include sizzling crab cakes and Louisiana seafood gumbo. A full bar and wine list support the dining room. Sides are generous and built for sharing: garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, sweet potato casserole, au gratin potatoes, and lobster mac and cheese are the most consistently ordered. The Ruth’s Classic, a three-course prix fixe covers a starter, an entree, a personal side, and a mini dessert. Private dining rooms are available for groups of any size.

Getting to Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris Steak House is inside Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort at 777 Casino Drive. The resort offers self-parking in the hotel and casino garages, with valet parking available at the casino entrance off the main rotunda. The restaurant is accessible from inside the resort without returning to your car. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on weekends and during peak casino periods. Business casual attire is the stated dress code.

Why Choose Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris is the fine dining steakhouse standard in Cherokee, operating at a price point and level of execution that separates it from every other option on the local dining landscape.

• USDA Prime beef, custom-aged and cooked at 1,800 degrees, served sizzling on 500-degree plates. The cooking method and the beef grade are central to the concept, not add-ons.
• A full cut lineup that runs from the Petite Filet through the Filet, Ribeye, Cowboy Ribeye, T-Bone, New York Strip, and a 40-ounce Porterhouse for Two. The table can cover significant ground in a single visit.
• New Orleans roots show up throughout the menu in the appetizer program, the flavor profiles of the sides, and the gumbo. This is not a generic steakhouse template.
• The Ruth’s Classic three-course prix fixe menu is consistently described as strong value for the level of the experience.
• Rated 4.7 stars on OpenTable across more than 6,600 verified diner reviews. The consistency floor here is high.
• Private dining rooms available for celebrations, business dinners, and group events of any size, with full event planning support from the team.
• Children’s menu available, and the staff is well-practiced at birthday and milestone dinner setups.
• Delivery and takeout available for hotel guests who want the steak experience back at the room.

Menu Favorites

The steaks anchor the menu, but the full experience runs from appetizers through dessert. These are the items most consistently praised across verified diner reviews.

• Filet (11 oz). The most tender cut on the menu. Corn-fed Midwestern beef, frequently called out in reviews as the go-to order for first-time visitors.
• Ribeye (16 oz). Well-marbled USDA Prime, consistently described in reviews as juicy and full-flavored. One of the two most-ordered cuts alongside the filet.
• Cowboy Ribeye. The bone-in version of the ribeye. A larger, more dramatic cut with a slightly richer flavor profile from the bone.
• Porterhouse for Two (40 oz). Combines the body of the New York Strip with the tenderness of a filet in a single shared cut.
• Filet Oscar. The filet topped with crab meat, asparagus, and bearnaise sauce. A natural bridge between the steak menu and the New Orleans-rooted appetizer program.
• Sizzling Crab Cakes. Delivered on a 500-degree plate, same as the steaks. A New Orleans-rooted starter and one of the most frequently ordered appetizers.
• Louisiana Seafood Gumbo. A signature starter that reflects the brand’s New Orleans origin. Available as a first course on the prix fixe.
• Creamed Spinach. The most recommended side across diner reviews. Rich, consistent, and large enough to share.
• Sweet Potato Casserole. A recurring mention in positive reviews. Works as a sweet counterpoint to the richer, saltier sides.
• Chocolate Sin Cake. Flourless chocolate dessert and the top-ranked dessert pick in recent diner reviews.

What to Expect

Ruth’s Chris is a polished fine dining steakhouse inside a major casino resort. The setting is elevated but approachable, and the staff handles everything from solo diners to large group celebrations with equal competence.

• Reservations recommended. Walk-ins can sometimes be seated at the bar, but the dining room fills quickly on weekend evenings and peak casino nights. Book ahead.
• Business casual dress code. Smart casual attire is the standard. The environment is polished but not white-glove formal.
• Sizzling plate arrival. Every steak arrives on a 500-degree plate. Allow a moment before cutting in.
• Weekdays are quieter. Monday through Thursday evenings offer more relaxed pacing and attentive service. Fridays and Saturdays run at full casino-driven volume.
• Bar available for walk-ins. The bar section may seat parties without reservations, but on late seatings the bar sometimes closes before the dining room does.
• The team is experienced with birthday and celebration setups. Mention the occasion when booking and expect the table to reflect it.
• Delivery and takeout available. Order directly through the Ruth’s Chris website.

Nearby Restaurants in Cherokee

• El Cajelito Mexican Restaurant and Bar. Family-owned Mexican directly across from Harrah’s, with house-made corn tortillas, a daily lunch buffet, and a full bar.
• Granny’s Kitchen. A Cherokee institution since 1984, serving Southern buffet-style cooking on US 19 with hand-carved roast beef and fried chicken at honest prices.
• Mabel’s Kitchen. A locally owned diner serving generous homestyle breakfasts and lunches near the main Cherokee attractions.

Explore More

My Smoky Mountain Guide Cherokee is a great resource for finding things to do and places to eat.

• Cherokee Food & Beverage Guide. Discover restaurants, cafes, breweries, and other local dining favorites.
• Attractions and Entertainment. Check out all the attractions in Cherokee.
• Outdoor Adventure. Explore all the great outdoor adventure in Cherokee.