(Note : I will do more of the Charisma series when I get home I promise.)

     Last night The Lass and I went out to Ruth's Chris Steak House in Annapolis. Like every other night we had gone out on it was cold and rainy but we soldiered on as it had to be better than the night we went to the Orioles game (shiver)....

    I had made our reservations online here (very easy and free) and we drove the KIA down. The Lass was a little apprehensive about letting the valet have her car but relented and we went inside. I had never been to one of these restaurants before and hoenstly my experience with "5 star" dining had been porr to date. The only reason I wanted to give it another go was Sean Hannity's repeated radio recommendation of the joint. I know he is paid to say it but the endorsement always sounded very heartfelt so I wanted to give it a whirl.

     I was *not* disppointed. We were greeted immediately upon arrival, they found our reservations in about 3 seconds, and were immediately led to our table upstairs. The decor is well done with dark woods, leather, and low lights.

     This place believes in staffing! We were seated in a small room with place settings for just under 20 people at 5 tables. This was serviced by 3 waitresses, 2 busboys, and one beverage server. My wine glass was never empty and they kept The Lass stocked with icewater.

     The waitress explained the restaurants concept of simple dining and detailed the entire menu and specials for as as first time diners. She was quick, competent, and accurately judged what we wanted from the experience.

     The meal started well with a lobster bisque and several house breads, moving into the main course of the *most* succulent beef I have ever been priviledged to taste (and I have eaten a lot of cow!), then cresting with a Chocolate Sin cake that was the richest most genuinely chocolate thing I have ever had. With desert the Lass treated me to a taste of 25 year old Macallan Scotch Whiskey (This stuff should be illegal as it is the heroin of whiskeys) which even she ejoyed along with some french press coffee.

     What was the price of all this you ask? Exorbitant, but as someone once told me you pay 1000% more money for the last 10% of performance and it is worth every penny. Very true. This restaurant is a monument to capitalism and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.