When you go to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, it’s reasonable to expect a premium dining experience. However, for this TikToker, their evening of fine dining was ruined once they were faced with their order.
The restaurant has gone viral before due to questions over dining etiquette and alleged secret menu items, but this TikTok may be its most divisive yet.
The viral clip, which has garnered 406,500 views, was posted by TikTok user @thatsolady. It consisted of footage from the restaurant table. The camera is pointed at a plate of chicken leg slathered in a pale sauce, with inconsistent brownness on the top.
As the viral “saxophones getting louder” sound plays, a woman can be heard speaking to Ruth’s staff.
“The other one looks like that, too?” she asks.
“Yeah,” the man replies.
“Uh uh,” she responds.
“You can just uh … you can just bring the check,” the woman adds. “I don’t want—we don’t want those.” Accompanying on-screen text reads: “Ruth’s Chris, what’s going on?”
The TikToker then added in the video description: “The manager really looked me dead in my face and said this was cooked.”
BroBible reached out to the TikToker via TikTok direct message and Darden, Ruth’s Chris’s parent company, by email.
Did People Agree With Her?
Most commenters were unsure.
“Who goes to Ruth’s Chris and orders chicken?” one asked. “Think I’ll get a hot dog next time.”
“Why go to a steakhouse and order chicken?” a second echoed.
While a third said, “I’m sure it’s cooked. It’s just not as crispy as you’d like.”
And a fourth quipped, “Just say you’re not going to tip…”
“Everybody just not used to eating out…” a fifth opined, “They need to ban cell phones from restaurant dinners tables.”
Other commenters were on the TikToker’s side. More than one shared a photo of what the chicken dish was meant to look like—which has a consistent coating of crispy brown skin.
@thatsolady . The manager really looked me dead in my face and said this was cooked 😭 #ruthchris #stuffedchicken #fyp #foryoupage #blowthisup
How Can You Tell If A Chicken Is Undercooked?
Generally, the most reliable way of knowing whether a chicken is fully cooked is by using a meat thermometer. But it’s probably bad etiquette to whip one of these out in the middle of a restaurant.
Still, there are other ways of checking if your chicken is cooked as a customer—but they aren’t as reliable as a thermometer. Visually, according to ChefIQ, one way of knowing if a chicken is cooked is by looking at its skin. According to the website, a fully cooked chicken should have “golden brown” skin.
Another way of telling is by cutting into the chicken. ChefIQ notes that if the juices run pink, the food probably isn’t cooked properly. A cooked chicken’s juices should run clear. However, as the website reiterates, you can only fully know by using a meat thermometer. So, in a restaurant situation, it’s probably best to get the chef’s opinion.