Ruth's Chris Steak House

Ruth's Chris Steak House is the white-tablecloth dinner option at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort, 777 Casino Dr, Cherokee. It opened to guests on May 21, 2012, and it remains the most formal restaurant on the Cherokee side of the Smokies. Think of it as a celebration dinner, not a quick stop after a hike.

Ruth's Chris is a national steakhouse brand, so the format is familiar: dinner only, steaks and sides, a full table-service experience. The Cherokee location is inside the resort complex, which means parking in the casino garage or lot and walking in through the resort. You do not need to gamble to eat here.

• Dinner only. Published directory hours put service in the evening (roughly 4 or 5 PM to 9, 10, or 11 PM depending on the day), but the listings disagree with each other. Call the restaurant or check the Harrah's Cherokee site for this week's hours before you drive over.
• Reserve. One directory lists reservations as accepted, and a Friday or Saturday night, or any holiday weekend, is not the time to hope for a table.
• Dress. Nobody will check your hiking boots at the door, but most guests dress up a notch from trail clothes.
• Budget. This is the top price tier in town ($$$$). Expect a check closer to a night out than to a roadside meal.

Cherokee is the North Carolina gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the town's food scene leans toward casino buffets, quick-serve spots, and counter cafes. A steak dinner here works well as the closing night of a trip, after a day on the Blue Ridge Parkway or at the park's Oconaluftee end.

A good pairing is a daytime visit to the Museum of the Cherokee People (renamed in October 2023, formerly the Museum of the Cherokee Indian), then dinner at the resort. Check museum hours before you plan around it.

Entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free, but any vehicle parked in the park longer than 15 minutes needs a parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week). Buy one before the day starts so a late return to Cherokee for dinner is not interrupted by a parking problem. The NPS fee page explains where to buy tags.

Couples, anniversaries, and small groups who want a quiet, formal dinner. Families with young children will probably be happier at one of the casual restaurants in town.