I had the opportunity to attend the VIP Luncheon at the new Ruby Tuesday that has just opened on North 10th in front of Best Buy. I had never eaten at a Ruby Tuesday so I had no idea what to expect. They were practising the wait staff and cooks. Food was good and seems like the prices were inline with what the other area places charge. (Fortunately I didn't have to pay for it.)

Another good place that opened recently was the Longhorn Steakhouse on N. 10th. On my trip to Austin I noticed that they were builing new ones in Austin and San Antonio. I asked the manager if they wer doing an expansion and he said that they would be opening about 100 new ones per year for the next 5 years. I guess they are expecting the economy to improve!

Longhorn is great.

10X better than that dump across the street with peanuts on the floor

A friend went to Ruby Tuesday last night with his wife, MIL and 2 year old daughter. Got there at 7:00. Service was bad and slow...staff didn't know the menu or, as he put it, how to speak English properly. Orders were mixed up and not to order. He did say the food was OK. They finally finished eating and left about 10:05. I don't think I'll be heading over there any time soon.

I am bad about going to paces just as they open and often the places don't have the kinks worked out yet. Hopefully after a while they will get things running smoothly. Sorry your friend had a bad experience.

My experience was pretty good but it seemed like the waiters were still learning their paces. Might also have been that the owner is a friend of mine and he kept a watch on how we were getting treated.

....and yes the Lonhorn Steakhouse is far better than that place across the street with the peanuts!