What you need to know about Olive Garden (and Capital Grille) buying Ruth’s Chris

$715 million deal for Ruth’s Chris steaks

Hey, Bud! What happens downtown now if Capital Grille buys Ruth’s Chris?

—Main Street watchers

Nobody knows yet. But Florida-based Darden Restaurants, owner of Capital Grille and Olive Garden, dropped $715 million to buy Ruth [Fertel’s] Chris Steak House.

So far, it looks like the company will operate the two brands separately, even across the 800 block of Main Street.

Know your chains. (Grace isn’t in one.)

Hey, Bud! So who owns which steakhouse?

—Chain watcher

Olive Garden now will own Capital Grille, Ruth’s Chris, Eddie V’s and LongHorn Steakhouse.

Meanwhile, Houston-based Landry’s Seafood owns Del Frisco’s, Saltgrass and Morton’s. Dallas-based Omni Hotels owns part of Bob’s Steak & Chop House.

The Grace steak and seafood restaurant, a neighbor at 777 Main St., remains locally owned along with Mercury Chophouse, 525 Taylor St.

Grace owner Adam Jones said the corporate deal will mean updates and “all good things” for Ruth’s Chris. But he said the chain expansion is good for Grace, too, he said: “The consumer still enjoys the local independent.”

The Original still moving June 30

Hey, Bud! What do you hear about The Original Mexican Eats Cafe? Is it still closing?

—”Fooled me”

Nothing at all.

And I think that might mean it will move June 30 to its other location, 1400 N. Main St.

The restaurant and landlord allowed extra time for discussion. (The restaurant’s lease has been ruled invalid.)

Right now, I think the clock is going to run out and it’ll move from its location since 1930.

This story was originally published May 3, 2023 at 12:58 PM.

Bud Kennedy’s Eats Beat

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription