The name might be a mouthful, but Ruth’s Chris Steak House is more than just an oddly titled dining chain—it’s a quintessential American success story rooted in grit, risk, and resilience. At the heart of this now-global steak empire lies Ruth Fertel, a determined woman from New Orleans whose personal tenacity turned a bankrupt neighborhood steak joint into one of the most iconic upscale dining establishments in the world.
Ruth Ann Udstad Fertel was born on February 5, 1927, in New Orleans, Louisiana. A single mother and former lab technician, Ruth found herself in a financial bind in 1965. She needed money to put her two sons through college, and in a moment of bold intuition, she stumbled across a small classified ad in the Times-Picayune: a steak house for sale—Chris Steak House.
It wasn’t just any day when she discovered the listing—it was for a business that had opened on the exact date of her birth, February 5, 1927. She took this as a sign. Despite warnings from her banker, lawyer, and peers, and with no prior restaurant experience, Ruth mortgaged her house and scraped together $22,000 to buy the struggling eatery at 1100 North Broad Street. Chris Steak House had already failed six times under previous owner Chris Matulich, but Ruth saw potential.
On her first day of business—May 24, 1965—Ruth sold 35 steaks at $5 apiece. It was a modest start, but her relentless work ethic quickly transformed the restaurant’s fortunes. She taught herself how to butcher meat, personally sawed through heavy beef short loins, and staffed the restaurant with single mothers, believing them to be the most dependable employees.
Ruth’s early success was defined not only by hard work but also by character. She cultivated a restaurant culture that welcomed local politicians, journalists, athletes, and entertainers. Fats Domino was a regular, and the restaurant became a go-to spot during election seasons. It was also notable for having an all-female waitstaff, an unusual feature in the high-end dining scene at the time.
In 1976, tragedy struck when a fire gutted the original location. With characteristic determination, Ruth pivoted quickly, relocating the restaurant just a few blocks away to 711 Broad Street within a week. However, legal complications with the name “Chris Steak House” meant she could not use it at the new address. Her solution: add her own name to the front, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House was born.
Though she later admitted, “I’ve always hated the name,” it stuck—and became a symbol of her unbreakable spirit. The restaurant expanded to 160 seats, doubling its original capacity, and business boomed.
In 1977, the first Ruth’s Chris franchise opened in Baton Rouge under the stewardship of Thomas J. “T.J.” Moran, a devoted customer turned entrepreneur. The success of this location launched the brand’s aggressive but measured expansion. Ruth insisted that every franchisee had to first be a customer. This people-first approach maintained a consistent ethos across all branches.
Over the next two decades, Ruth’s Chris grew to over 80 locations, both domestic and international. Despite its growth, Ruth remained deeply hands-on. Even in her seventies, she visited dozens of restaurants each year to ensure quality and consistency.
In 1999, as her health began to decline, Ruth sold the business to Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity firm. She died three years later from lung cancer in 2002, at the age of 75.
Ruth’s final resting place was as unique as her life. Alongside longtime friend and business partner Lana Duke, she commissioned an elaborate $500,000 granite mausoleum at Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery, featuring stained glass, black columns, and the phrase “It’s a Wonderful World.” In true Ruth fashion, the 1999 dedication party was attended by 150 guests and blessed with beer by Father Bob Massett.
Ruth Fertel is remembered today not only as a restaurateur but as a trailblazing entrepreneur who carved out a space for herself in a male-dominated industry. Her business was born from necessity but sustained through integrity, community loyalty, and unrelenting hard work. The fact that she built an empire while raising children as a single mother makes her story all the more compelling.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House today continues to operate across the globe, a testament to her vision and values. And though the name might be a bit awkward, it has come to signify something rare in the dining world: a personal legacy of perseverance, excellence, and heart.
