Finally. Confirmation. (And a chance to post something I wrote over 30 days ago...)
After a slew of rumors regarding if and when it could, should, and would close, a barrage of unreturned phone calls to the corporate office (thank you, Ian Froeb, for absorbing all THAT frustration), some serious wagering on the exact date of closure, word comes today that Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse at River City Casino is (with an apology to the mayor of Munchkinland--and feel free to sing along here), "morally, ethically, spiritually, physically, positively, absolutely, undeniably and reliably...dead."
The last day of operation apparently was Friday, November 19, although there has still been no "official" word or release announcing its closing. Ruby's is no longer listed on River City's website and "St. Louis" is no longer listed anywhere on Ruby's. And the restaurant is dark. Apparently that will have to suffice.
Ruby's received positive initial press when River City opened its floodgates in the Spring of this year...and then, oddly but simply, never got the attention it deserved. In our December cover story on "Steakhouses" (on newsstands NOW!!), I went out on a limb proclaiming Ruby's as "the best steakhouse in town...period" and "the best steakhouse no one bothered to patronize." You'll have to pick up the issue to see what else we had to say on the subject. <shameless plug>
And what will become of Ruby's space at the casino? More rumors...Pinnacle may find a new lessee or, short of that, may try its luck internally.