Talk Of The Region: February

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High-End Comfort Food

New Orleans-based Ruth’s Chris Steak House launches another salvo in the fight to win the stomachs of the region’s discerning carnivores with franchise No. 92, opened in mid-December on the site of the former Mace’s at the Pavilions.
    According to Craig Miller, president and CEO, the location is a natural fit — due to its proximity to downtown and lack of chain competition — and a strong next move for the upscale steakhouse. “There is a component of Southern hospitality in Sacramento; it’s not a snooty place but a familiar market, more real.” Miller is also happy with the quality of stores at Pavilions, such as David Berkley, Ralph Lauren and Williams-Sonoma, whose upscale shoppers will hang around for the Ruth’s Chris dinner-only seating.
    Miller says contrary to the popular perception of a steakhouse’s patrons being cigar-smoking male powerbrokers, research shows that 40 percent of the chain’s diners are women. And, while 50 percent of orders involve red meat, 12 percent are seafood, and “we have made sure we can accommodate vegan diners as well.”
    Spoken in true road warrior fashion, Miller says he has yet to spend enough time in Sacramento to have a sense of the place, often seeing not much other then his restaurant and the inside of the Hilton or the Residence Inn.
    So what does he think is missing in this marketplace to take Sacramento to the next level? “It is not as driven by entertainment and tourism as, say, Louisville or Memphis,” he notes. “And even though hotel rooms are just a place to hang my shirt, I think the area would benefit from a truly world-class hotel.”

The Birth of a Chain

Mike and Abe Alizadeh, franchisee extraordinaires and developers of hotels, convention centers and restaurants, are looking west for their latest concept restaurant idea. Crush 29, an “upper-end casual restaurant” will open its doors this spring in Roseville. “We are taking a little bit of Napa and using its popularity to our advantage,” says Mark Fucci, operational general manager for Crush 29 and formerly of PF Chang Restaurants.
Continued...

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