Best Steak Restaurants in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill
Rey’s in Cary, North Carolina is in the old Ruth’s Chris location. In fact, the former manager of Ruth’s Chris is Rey himself, having taken over this location when Ruth’s Chris moved to North Cary, right off of I-40 on Harrison Avenue. Rey’s still has the dark wood, quiet decor, with several different dining rooms. The service here was excellent. Not too pushy, but always there when you needed something. The food, however, was a big step down from its predecessor at that location. The food was merely ok, and not worth the prices, an unfortunate result for one of the few upscale restaurants in the Crossroads neighborhood.
The new Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in the Triangle is much more modern than the previous location. Not in a post-modern, weird lighting kind of vibe, but in a clean, open lighter kind of way. Gone is the dark room, dark wood feel, but the privacy and intimacy remains. There is a better view of the kitchen, still a few private rooms, and great tables upstairs overlooking the main dining room. There is a table that seats 10-12 upstairs that has a surrounding curtain to offer privacy while maintaining the great view. The food at Ruth’s Chris remains wonderful. The sides are large and delicious and everything is served by a well-trained waitstaff. While it is definitely worth the money, particularly for a more formal setting, Ruth’s Chris does not have the best steak in the Triangle.
That award goes to Prime Only, right off of I-540 at Leesville Road. While i was reluctant to try Prime Only, after having been disappointed when it was still located behind Crabtree Mall, I was convinced to try it and remain very pleased that I did. The spare ribs off the appetizer menu are so tender, they can’t be picked up by the bone, or the meat slides right off. The steaks are aged in house and are filled with flavor. Somehow the chef manages to retain the flavor and quality of the meat while eliminating the fat and trimmings that usually accompany a steak. Prime Only’s atmosphere is slightly less formal than Ruth’s Chris, but pants and a collar are still highly recommended. The service is impeccable and I am yet to have a dessert I don’t love. The sides at Prime Only can’t stand up to Ruth’s Chris, but then again, this isn’t an article about Sides Restaurants.
In summation, Ruth’s Chris is great to go celebrate or go somewhere that everyone has heard of, but Prime Only will forever be your neighborhood steak place, your regular date restaurant, and/or the best steak you’ve ever had.
