The Ruins

The only reason I would say that it is worth visiting would be to see the sheer over-the-topness of it all. A local artist has painted the walls floor to ceiling in detailed murals, there is an elephant room with a mechanical elephant from the 1930-something fair in Paris, the chocolate room, a library room, a grand ballroom with impressive chandeliers.

But really it is a terrible place. The food is boring and bad, the service is slow, the paint is peeling, and who really wants to sit around with a group of old rich farts in a private club anyway. My boss is a member and loves it there (likely for the exclusivity and air of wealth) so every special lunch we end up at the Ruins, hence my regular visitations. Occasionally I can talk my boss into places like Campagne or Lola or Union (when they did lunch), but usually it is the Ruins.

As it is a private restaurant going or not going may not be a choice you have the liberty to make, but trust me you really aren’t missing anything. If you can tour it, especially during the holidays, do that but give the food a miss.