Dine at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Boston and be prepared to change your mind about standard steak houses. The difference is palpable as soon as you enter the restaurant as you are treated like a friend. From the pleasant greeting and warm handshake to the familiar sound and smell of the sizzle, the atmosphere is very informal and inviting.

Steaks, being their mainstay are taken very seriously and are carefully selected and aged for tenderness, cut thick to ensure juiciness and seared to perfection at eighteen hundred degrees. With just a dash of salt, pepper and parsley, and topped with fresh butter which sizzles seductively on your plate, you can relish the natural flavour and taste of great beef.

The beautifully presented food, the familiar sound of the sizzle and the perfectly cooked food ensure that you not only have good meal but carry great memories as well. It explains why this award winning restaurant goes beyond just nice décor and comfortable surroundings, has very satisfied clientele who keep returning.

The steak house chain has come a long way from its humble beginnings on Broad Street in New Orleans and now has over one hundred branches across different locations. In fact they celebrated their fortieth anniversary in 2005 and paid rich tributes to Ruth Fertel, the enterprising woman who battled against odds to start the steak house and whose values of quality food and genuine hospitality are the driving values there.

The best ingredients are used from the kitchen to the bar, which boasts of a wide selection of wines, spirits and cocktails. You'll find that they offer some of the finest vintages from different parts of the world by the bottle or glass. Their twenty-five-year-old Macallan single malt Scotch has warmed the heart of many a connoisseur.

You could start your meal there with a barbecued shrimp, sizzling blue crab cake or the veal osso buco ravioli with its subtle flavor of saffron and fresh mozzarella, served with sautéed spinach and a white wine demi glace. As accompaniments choose the colorful house specialty of Ruth's chop salad or go for vine ripe tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad with its sliced beefsteak tomato, basil, mozzarella cheese with a light drizzle of vinaigrette dressing.

Potatoes are served in various styles here from the humble mashed variety with a trace of garlic to lyonnaise style and baked sweet potatoes with a pecan crust. For mains try the stuffed chicken breast or the grilled Portobello mushroom or choose from the day's special seafood selection. Caramelized banana cream pie, warm apple crumb tart, homemade cheesecake or aptly called chocolate sin cake are perhaps sinful but very delightful ways of ending a meal here.

As you would have discovered that while steak is king here, the royal family is large and the menu extensive, making it necessary for you to visit Ruth's Chris steakhouse again to sample something new and enjoy a sizzling meal, however, at least you can find out more in advance by visiting their Website.