Good-Bye Ruby Tuesday?

NEW YORK (TheStreet) – Casual-dining restaurant chain Ruby Tuesday issued a press release last week meant to show investors that the company is taking steps to turn itself around, but what it told me is that theroad to recovery may be a long one.

Coming on the heels of worse-than-expected results for its fiscal first quarter and then the sudden resignations of the company’s chairman and a key vice president, plus a downgrade of its debt by Moody’s deeper into junk territory, the press release gave more details about the cost-cutting initiatives Ruby Tuesday is undertaking in attempts to right its ship.

In its efforts to cut $6 million from its selling, general and administrative costs beginning in 2015, the company is reviewing its cost structure. The first move will be the elimination of 50 jobs at its Maryville, Tenn., restaurant support center. Next, the restaurant chain will hire a consulting firm to help it cut cost of goods sold and other restaurant operating costs.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/philly/story/good-bye-ruby-tuesday/12124084

Ruby Tuesday, Lehigh Valley Mall, Restaurant Review

I needed to go to Allentown today and had a coupon for a free burger at Ruby Tuesday so I decided to hit the Lehigh Valley Mall as part of my trip.

Let’s just dive right in!

I was seated right away and the host was pleasant.  Sadly, I waited entirely too long for my server to make her way to my table.  They were NOT busy.  Once she arrived she was pleasant enough, but it took entirely too long.

Décor is tomb-like.  Talk about being ripe for a make-over!  Oy veh, I almost needed a miner’s helmet!  Everything is dark, including the lighting.  Whole place needs a gut and remodel.  Calling Candice Olson!  http://www.hgtv.com/candice-olson/bio/index.html  Worst décor in a Ruby Tuesday I have EVER seen!

The salad bar was awesome as usual.  Ruby Tuesday has a very nice salad bar.  It’s only $2.99 with a meal or sandwich so what the hell.  The salad bar was well stocked, clean, fresh and all those important things.

My entrée was a total disappointment.  I asked for my burger to be medium well.  It was medium rare.  There was entirely too much BBQ sauce, hardly any bacon, blue cheese or onion rings.  It was the Boston Blue Burger (a Ruby Tuesday signature item) topped with blue cheese crumbles, crisp onion rings, and our house-made Boston barbecue sauce $8.99.  If that’s a signature item you all should close the damn doors!  It SUCKED!  The meat, in addition to being undercooked, was tasteless.  I don’t think it was seasoned (don’t we watch the Food Network?)  It came with unlimited fries.

For dessert I tried the Tiramisu.  I asked the waitress if it was good and she didn’t know.  I gambled thinking it if sucked I would complain about it.  Thankfully, it was a nice sized portion and very tasty.  I could taste all the flavors and it was fresh.  The $4.99 price was a good value for a restaurant dessert.

The waitress did keep my tea glass full and she did offer me more French fries with the crappy entrée, which I declined.  She gets a few points for that.  She also wished me a happy birthday since my free meal was a birthday gift from Ruby Tuesday.  It is a shame that a signature item was so awful.  I have eaten and at number of Ruby Tuesday restaurants and have always enjoyed my food.  However, I never tried a burger before.  Nor will I again.

Décor/Ambience – F

Salad bar – A

Entrée – F

Dessert – A

Service – B

Overall score – C