Dining Out: Christmas Eve 2025 Dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House

We originally wanted to have our annual family Christmas Eve dinner at The Keg, but obviously, they were fully booked unless we wanted to eat at 4:00PM or 9:00PM. (We didn't.) We were scrambling to find somewhere decent to eat for the holiday that had a reservation time from 5:00PM to 7:00PM, and then my brilliant mind thought of Ruth's Chris Steak House — definitely pricier than we were seeking, but then my brother insisted that Christmas dinner was on him because he and his family weren't coming up this year. And lo and behold, they had one 6:45PM reservation slot left. It was meant to be!

Arugula salad with goat cheese, cranberries, and grapes tossed in cranberry pomegranate vinaigrette
6 oz. centre-cut filet with shrimp
Garlic mashed potatoes
Maple-glazed butternut squash with maple candied pecans
Creamed spinach
Roasted Brussels sprouts with applewood-smoked bacon and honey butter
Mini white chocolate cheesecake

All four of us went for the Ruth's Classics prix fixe menu, which includes a starter, an entrée, a personal side, and dessert for $97. I got the cranberry arugula salad (the perfect combination of sweet, bitter, and tangy — I could honestly eat this everyday), the 6-ounce centre-cut filet and shrimp (okay, The Keg does great steak, but Ruth's Chris does IMPECCABLE steak — the beef is so melt-in-your-mouth tender, I almost didn't need a steak knife), and my mom shared the garlic mashed potatoes and the maple-glazed butternut squash. We also got the creamed spinach (the ultimate steakhouse side dish and the unanimous favourite) and roasted Brussels sprouts (sweet, salty, smoky, crunchy — addictively delicious) for the table to share. For dessert, a perfect mini white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry coulis and two pieces of dark chocolate bark — rich, sweet, and decadent, but small enough to keep us from feeling too guilty (and bursting out of our pants because they know how full we'd be by the time dessert rolled around).

This was the best Christmas dinner I've had in years. I think this might be a new Christmas tradition in the making. (At least, I will make it so. My family will have no say in the matter because I make the reservations and therefore hold all the power.)

Ruth's Chris Steak House

170 Enterprise Blvd., Unit J101

Markham, ON L6G 0G5

(647) 794-0170

Dining Out: A Belated Birthday Dinner at The Keg

My colleague very generously gave me a $50 gift card for The Keg for my birthday, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to make up for the super disappointing birthday dinner I had at Bâton Rouge (during which I wished I gone to The Keg instead). So I asked my friends Minji and Daniel to join me and we had a most delicious time:

Prime rib Yorkshire puddings
Peppercorn steak with garlic mashed potatoes
Billy Miner pie

Minji and I were both originally going to get the prime rib, which has been my go-to for many years, but we noticed that they now have prime rib Yorkshire puddings available as a seasonal appetizer, and immediately agreed to order them. (They are DELIGHTFUL, golden and crispy, served with an incredible horseradish cream sauce — would 100% order again if it's still on the menu.) But we thought it might be overkill to have prime rib for both our starter and our mains, so I opted instead for the peppercorn steak (cooked so perfectly medium rare, and was so juicy and tender and freaking DELICIOUS, I nearly wept) with a side of my fave garlic mashed potatoes. We had told our server the dinner was in celebration of my birthday, so we also shared a free slice of their Billy Miner pie for dessert, one of my favourite desserts of all time — the perfect ending to a glorious meal. (Getting a slice of free Billy Miner pie for my birthday is one of my favourite traditions, so I'm glad I wasn't robbed of it this year.)

The Keg proves to me year after year that their reliability for serving excellent quality food with incredible service is why they've been around for over 50 years and is still packed all the damn time. (Reservations are always recommended, at any of The Keg locations. Even during non-peak hours. We went for dinner at 5:30, and both the bar and the dining room proper were already full.) Now, that having been said... how long after my birthday can I still celebrate it?

The Keg

162 York Blvd.

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3J6

(905) 882-0500

Dining Out: An Early Birthday Dinner at The Keg

My dad insisted on taking me out for a birthday dinner, so along with my mom, we went to The Keg to celebrate tonight:

Iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese

Caesar Brussels sprouts with bacon

Prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and crispy fried onions

Billy Miner Pie

Of course, I got all my favourites: An iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese to start, the Caesar Brussels sprouts to share, and the classic prime rib cooked a perfect medium rare with garlic mashed potatoes as my main. And because this dinner was to celebrate my birthday, our lovely server prepared a slice of Billy Miner Pie (mocha ice cream, chocolate crust, fudge, caramel, and almonds) for dessert on the house, which is one of my favourite things about celebrating birthdays at The Keg. (Billy Miner Pie has been one of my favourite desserts since I was a kid, and it is absolutely crucial to save stomach space for it.) Honestly, after going to The Keg for over three decades, it's still my favourite Canadian chain restaurant. 

The Keg

162 York Blvd.

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3J6

(905) 882-0500

Dining Out: An Early Birthday Steak Dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House

Back from NYC and back to work, but I got to continue my glorious feasting because Ronsee took me out for an early birthday dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House:

Blueberry mojito and raspberry sour mocktails
Ribeye steak
Creamed spinach
Potatoes au gratin
Crème brûlée
Chocolate Oreo crumble birthday cake

A magnificent cut of steak, perfectly marbled and impossibly juicy, served sizzling in butter on a 500° plate, paired with rich creamed spinach (thank you to my brother for introducing me to this pure fattening delight 15 years ago in NYC) and baked cheesy sliced potatoes. For dessert, a gorgeous crème brûlée and an incredible chocolate Oreo crumble cake that they surprised me with for my birthday. Indulgent, delicious, decadent. Ironic that I left New York yesterday only to eat the most classic New York steakhouse dinner tonight.

Ruth's Chris Steak House

170 Enterprise Blvd., Unit J101

Markham, ON L6G 0E6

(647) 794-0170

Dining Out: Canada Day Dinner at The Keg

Since my brother and sister-in-law are visiting this weekend and are rarely ever back in Canada to celebrate Canada Day, we decided to have dinner at The Keg, a truly Canadian dining establishment:

Iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese
Escargot in mushroom caps
Baked garlic shrimp with cheese
Fried calamari with jalapeños
Prime rib with red wine herb jus and garlic mashed potatoes

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians and happy long weekend to my fellow North Americans!

The Keg Steakhouse + Bar

162 York Blvd.

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3J6

(905) 882-0500

Photolog 2021: Day 252 of 365

My brother and sister-in-law are spending a long weekend here and their flight got pushed up so we met up for an impromptu family dinner tonight. We usually opt for The Keg for our first dinner together (my brother loves their prime rib), but it was fully booked tonight so my brother made a reservation at Baton Rouge instead. None of us had been there in over a decade, and we actually forgot how good it is. 

Clockwise from left: Crispy shrimp, calamari, cauliflower wings, and lobster-stuffed mushrooms
Prime rib au jus with garlic mashed potatoes
We ordered a bunch of appetizers to share — cauliflower "wings," calamari, crispy shrimp, and lobster-stuffed mushrooms — and I got myself the 10 oz. prime rib, medium rare, with garlic mashed potatoes (my exact order at The Keg). I will say that The Keg does offer a much bigger steak variety and more classic steakhouse offerings, but at least for the prime rib, I thought the quality and flavour were almost as good as the one from The Keg. And shockingly, I thought the garlic mashed potatoes were actually better here. (Baton Rouge does need to add some horseradish on the side, though. And offer unlimited bread. The Keg's bread is fantastic.) At the end of the day, I still think The Keg is better as a true steakhouse (more prestigious, more classic), but Baton Rouge is definitely a strong contender.

Bâton Rouge Steakhouse & Bar

230 Commerce Valley Dr. E., Unit 7

Thornhill, ON L3T 7Y3

(905) 764-6959

Photolog 2020: Day 33 of 366

Iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese
New York striploin with twice-baked potato
Billy Miner pie
My dad took us out to The Keg for an early birthday dinner for my mom, and thus I had my first steak of the year. It has been too long since I've had a big slab of cow, and it was glorious. (Honestly, I love birthdays. I don't really care about how old someone's turning. It's just a great excuse to eat good food.)

Photolog 2019: Day 235 of 365

Calamari with deep-fried jalapeños, Greek feta dip, and ginger garlic sauce
Mushrooms Neptune
Iceberg wedge salad with tomatoes, smoky smoked bacon, and blue cheese dressing
Prime rib with red wine herb jus, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables, and mushrooms
Billy Miner Pie
My brother and sister-in-law flew in from NYC this evening to visit us this weekend since my dad and sister are also in town. Since it's a rare occasion for all of us to be in the same city at once, we're doing fam jam dinners all weekend. My brother decided on a "casual dinner" at The Keg tonight. (What's a "casual" restaurant to my brother is a "special occasion" restaurant to others.) Calamari with deep-fried jalapeños, mushrooms Neptune, and iceberg wedge salad to start. Prime rib, medium rare, with red wine herb jus, garlic mashed potatoes, and veggies for me. And Billy Miner Pie (mocha ice cream on a chocolate crust with hot fudge, caramel, and almonds) to share for dessert. CHEAT DAY IS THE BEST DAY.

Photolog 2019: Day 31 of 365

Went to the newly-opened Ruth's Chris Steakhouse with Ronsee for the $170 Tomahawk steak and not a single regret was had.

Photolog 2018: Day 135 of 365

My brother had some business in town today so we took the opportunity to have a family dinner with our parents since we haven't all been in the same city since Christmas. We decided to go to The Keg and indulged in a massive meal that started with shrimp cocktail, blue cheese iceberg wedge salad, and bacon-wrapped scallops; a massive slab of prime rib (my favourite) with red wine herb jus and garlic mashed potatoes; and crème brûlée and Billy Miner pie (mocha ice cream on a chocolate crust with hot fudge, caramel, and almonds — again, my favourite) for dessert. I do so love my brother visiting us. It always guarantees good food.

NYC — Spring 2017: Delmonico's

Once my friend and I had finalized our trip to NYC earlier this month, I texted my brother to meet up for a dinner. He was deciding on which restaurant to take us to when he asked if he had ever taken me to Delmonico's. I'd heard of Delmonico's a long time ago, mostly because it's a New York institution, but partially because when my brother first moved to NYC, he had said that it was there that he had the most epic steak of his life. Of course, he's had many epic steaks since, but Delmonico's will always hold a special place in his heart. Strangely enough, he'd never taken me there, despite this. We'd always get distracted by newer restaurants, or eateries that were closer to where we were staying. My brother said it was ridiculous that he had never taken me to Delmonico's after visiting him there for a decade, so it was decided.

Heirloom tomato salad and Billy's house-cured bacon
Delmonico steak with foie gras butter
If you've never heard of it, Delmonico's was first opened in the late 1820s in what is now New York's Financial District. In the 1830s, Delmonico's moved to the location where it still currently stands; with three stories, private dining rooms, and pillars imported from the ruins of Pompeii, it became America's first fine dining restaurant. It quickly gained a reputation as one of the nation's top fine dining establishments — they threw balls, hosted cotillions, and held dinners for the likes of Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, and Oscar Wilde. It is the birthplace of the widely imitated Delmonico steak, Eggs Benedict, Lobster Newberg, Baked Alaska, and wedge salad; is credited with being the first American restaurant to allow patrons to order from a menu à la carte; and is the first restaurant to employ a separate wine list. So, basically, you're not just there to eat. You're there to experience fine dining history.
We started with the heirloom tomato salad, tossed with pickled red onion, feta, cucumber, and aged lemon vinegar — refreshing and tasty, with a most satisfying crunch. The sweetness of the tomatoes and cucumber meld brilliantly with the bite of red onion and the tanginess of feta. It's a salad that you can eat everyday and never get sick of. Of course, we had to contrast that with the house-cured bacon; thick, decadent slabs of maple-brushed pork belly. Smoky, sweet, fatty, and almost shamefully delicious. But on to the main show: the signature Delmonico steak. It is a boneless ribeye that is cooked to perfection: ultra-tender, super-juicy, and incredibly flavourful. And how do you make a $51 steak even more indulgent? Add some foie gras butter. I'm not usually a fan of foie gras, but in butter form on top of a perfectly cooked, exquisite cut of steak? It's like divine intervention. With sides of creamed spinach (which I still can't find anywhere in Toronto), whipped potatoes with roasted garlic, and button mushrooms with crispy shrimp, there was just no room for dessert. A bit of regret there, since you know, they invented Baked Alaska and all. But I will know better next time. Sometimes I forget just how insane the American portion size is. (In fact, none of us could even finish our steaks. My brother brought home so many leftovers, he had enough for another meal for him and his fiancée. Which they thoroughly enjoyed.) 
Service was impeccable, of course; our server was incredibly nice, informative, attentive, and had a sense of humour. Despite its elite reputation and historical prominence, it wasn't stuffy or pretentious or overly formal, and all of us really had a really enjoyable time. If you want a true, classic New York fine dining experience, Delmonico's is a must-visit. 

Delmonico's 56 Beaver Street New York, NY 10004 (212) 509-1144

Birthday Dinner: Harbour Sixty

My friends Ronsee, Chelsea, and Corrado took me out for an early birthday dinner on Sunday night at Harbour Sixty (a restaurant I'd been wanting to try for ages). I don't write about a lot of my food adventures here anymore (they are mostly captured on my Instagram nowadays), but as long-time followers will know, birthday dinner posts are tradition here. Harbour Sixty is definitely a classic steakhouse, and even though the dress code is business casual, it has a very old-world upscale feel with a marbled lobby, brocade detailing, gilded mirrors, velvet banquettes, and dim lighting.

Buffalo Mozzarella Salad
The table is presented with a variety of warm, toasty breads in a basket, a dish of whipped herbed butter, and a little platter of nibbles that includes cubes of feta, pickled peppers, and black and green olives. We decided to start off by sharing the buffalo mozzarella salad, which features torn mozzarella, field tomatoes, arugula, olive oil, basil, and capers. I personally prefer thick cuts of mozzarella and beefsteak tomatoes (like the one at Wolfgang's) over the more deconstructed version at Harbour Sixty, but the cheese and tomatoes are fresh and flavourful and those who like caprese salad will be able to appreciate it.
Porterhouse Steak
It's hard to beat the quality of the top steakhouses in NYC, but Harbour Sixty definitely has the best steak I've had in Toronto so far (however, I haven't been to Jacob & Co. Steakhouse yet, which is more contemporary and more expensive, but more widely lauded and has higher ratings). The porterhouse I had was gigantic, more than enough for two people to share, and so makes the $70 price tag a little easier to stomach. It was a truly gorgeous, perfectly cooked medium rare steak: thick, ultra-tender, plush red centre, beautiful flavour, and spectacularly juicy. (And maintains this integrity even after re-heating, which I did at home for dinner the next day.) While Harbour Sixty has an excellent variety of seafood as well, it would be a waste to come here without eating the steak.
White Truffle Mac & Cheese
Buttermilk Fried Cauliflower
Since Harbour Sixty is a classic steakhouse and steaks are served as standalone items, we ordered a couple of sides as well, the first of which was the white truffle mac and cheese. It is definitely tasty, but not the best (that honour goes to the version at Prohibition Gastropub) — I think using a sharper cheese and a smaller pasta (maybe using actual macaroni instead of large shell pasta) would add flavour that I think it's lacking — though it does have that satisfying crunchy outer layer that is essential in any good mac and cheese dish, and has a good amount of truffle. The second side, and a must-have from here, is the buttermilk fried cauliflower, a dish I have have not found on any menu before. Crisp cauliflower is delicately coated and deep-fried, leaving a beautiful golden finish and satisfying crunch, and served with hot sauce and blue cheese buttermilk dressing to add an amazing harmony of tangy and spicy flavours. It is the perfect side to any of the steaks here.
Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée
Nutella Banana Cheesecake
Finally, dessert! We decided on the Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée and the Nutella Banana Cheesecake. The custard in the crème brûlée was soft and plush and pleasantly eggy with a perfect crunchy caramelized shell, and served with fresh berries to add some tartness and texture. It's a great option who want a dessert option that's not too heavy. But the Nutella Banana Cheesecake is the star on the dessert menu, a perfect marriage of flavours from the caramelized bananas, to the chocolate-hazelnut crémeux, to the Oreo cookie crust. The cheesecake is smooth and creamy and not overly dense, but it is still substantial, so I recommend this to share (if you even make it to dessert, 'cause we were almost-about-to-explode full after our steaks).
Service was impeccable; our server was knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, but not too stiff or uptight. He was attentive but it never felt like he was interrupting, and he never missed a beat. When a glass of wine or a plate of food was finished, he removed the it from the table like a ninja (e.g. without us even noticing him). He made sure to make me feel special by wishing me a happy birthday and adding a candle to my dessert and really making sure everything was to my liking. I would definitely visit Harbour Sixty again; it's perfect for all special occasions, from a birthday to a date to even a business dinner. 

Harbour Sixty
60 Harbour Street
Toronto, ON M5J 1B7
(416)777-2111