Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Olive Garden, has introduced a stringent new dress code policy for its upscale sister restaurant, Ruth's Chris Steak House. The policy explicitly mandates business casual attire and prohibits hats for diners in the main dining rooms.
Strict Attire Requirements at Ruth's Chris
Ruth's Chris Steak House has clearly outlined its dress code on its official website, emphasizing that proper attire is required. The restaurant categorically states that all guests must adhere to a business casual standard. A key component of this policy is the requirement for patrons to remove hats. Those who do not comply will be directed to dine in the bar or lounge areas instead of the main dining room.
Banned Clothing Items
The steakhouse has provided a comprehensive list of attire that is not permitted within its establishments. This includes gym wear, pool attire, tank tops, clothing featuring offensive graphics or language, revealing clothing, and exposed undergarments. The policy further specifies that all men's shirts must have sleeves, reinforcing the restaurant's commitment to maintaining an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere.
Contrast with The Capital Grille
Interestingly, The Capital Grille, another fine dining restaurant under the Darden Restaurants umbrella, does not enforce a ban on hats within its dress code. However, it shares many similar restrictions with Ruth's Chris. The Capital Grille prohibits athletic shorts, uncovered sports bras, other bra-style tops, excessively revealing clothing, exposed undergarments, clothing with offensive language or imagery, and clothing emitting offensive odors.
Darden Restaurants' Extensive Portfolio
Darden Restaurants operates a vast network of more than 2,100 restaurants across the United States. The company employs approximately 200,000 staff members and serves over 440 million customers annually. In addition to Ruth's Chris Steak House and The Capital Grille, its portfolio includes major brands such as Longhorn Steakhouse, Seasons 52, and Eddie V's Prime Seafood.
Olive Garden's New Lighter Portions Menu
Simultaneously, Darden Restaurants has launched a significant menu innovation at Olive Garden, its largest brand with over 900 locations. The new Lighter Portions menu features smaller servings of seven existing dishes at a reduced price point. The entrees included in this menu change are Chicken Parmigiana, Eggplant Parmigiana, Cheese Ravioli, Fettuccine Alfredo, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Lasagna Classico.
Darden began testing this menu at forty percent of Olive Garden locations in September. CEO Rick Cardenas reported that the pilot restaurants experienced a notable increase in diners' perceptions of affordability after ordering from the lighter portions menu. Furthermore, these guests demonstrated a higher frequency of return visits.
Pricing and Customer Response
The lighter meals are priced between $12.99 and $13.99, varying by location. In contrast, full-sized portions can cost up to $25, depending on the market. Cardenas highlighted that Olive Garden has observed a double-digit increase in affordability perceptions among guests who order from the lighter portions menu. This positive response is expected to help build customer traffic over time, as guests appreciate the value and portion control options.
This dual strategy from Darden Restaurants—enforcing upscale dress codes at its steakhouse chains while introducing budget-friendly, healthier options at Olive Garden—reflects the company's adaptive approach to catering to diverse customer preferences and enhancing the overall dining experience across its brands.
