Ruth's Chris Steak House Announces Preliminary Fourth Quarter Sales for Company-owned Restaurants

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 2006--Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc., (Nasdaq: RUTH) announced today that company-owned restaurant sales, which does not include franchise or other income, increased 10.1% to $54.9 million for the fourth quarter ended December 25, 2005 versus $49.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2004.

During the quarter, total company-owned restaurant sales were driven by strong comparable restaurant sales growth, the opening of three new locations, and the re-opening of one hurricane damaged restaurant in Metairie, Louisiana. Sales, however, were adversely affected by the loss of 185 hurricane-related closure days compared to 7 hurricane-related closure days in the fourth quarter of 2004. The average restaurant volume of all operating company-owned locations for the quarter increased 9.9%.

Company-owned comparable restaurant sales for the fourth quarter of 2005, excluding the Company's hurricane damaged New Orleans and Metairie locations, increased 8.5% driven primarily by increased per entree spending and to a lesser degree positive entree growth. This comparable growth was partially offset by 23 lost operating days. The increase in comparable restaurant sales compares to an increase of 13.0% in the fourth quarter of 2004, which was affected by 11 lost operating days.

For the full fiscal year ended December 25, 2005, company-owned restaurant sales increased 11.2% to $202.6 million versus $182.3 million for fiscal 2004. Company-owned comparable restaurant sales for fiscal 2005, excluding the Company's hurricane damaged New Orleans and Metairie locations, increased 10.4% driven by entree growth and increased per entree spending. This comparable growth was partially offset by 40 lost operating days. The increase in comparable restaurant sales compares to an increase of 11.6% during fiscal year 2004, which was affected by 93 lost operating days.

The average restaurant volume of all operating company-owned locations increased 10.4% to $5.2 million during fiscal 2005 versus $4.7 million during fiscal year 2004. The average weekly volumes of the three new locations opened in 2005 continue to perform at sales levels greater than the overall company restaurant average.

In terms of development during the quarter, Ruth's Chris Steak House opened two company-owned restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts and Sacramento, California and re-opened its Metairie, Louisiana location which had been damaged during Hurricane Katrina. For 2006, the company expects growth to expand to 6-8 company openings and 5-7 franchise openings.

The company also announced today that it will present at the 8th Annual ICR XChange Investor Conference in Naples, Florida, on January 12, 2006 at 1:35 p.m. ET. The company will meet individually with investors in two breakout sessions at 10:40 a.m. and 2:25 p.m. The investor presentation will be webcast live at www.ruthschris.com under the investor relations section.

About the Company

Founded in New Orleans by Ruth Fertel in 1965, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc. is one of the largest upscale steak house companies in the U.S., as measured by the total number of company-owned and franchise-owned restaurants, with 90 locations worldwide. Ruth's Chris specializes in USDA Prime grade steaks served in Ruth's Chris signature fashion - "sizzling." Information about Ruth's Chris is available at www.ruthschris.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this release that are not historical facts and relate to future results and events, including, without limitation, statements regarding our ability to reopen restaurants that have closed and open new restaurants, are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current beliefs and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from those contained in forward-looking statements based on a number of factors including, without limitation, the impact of weather including the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, and the risks identified as "risk factors" in our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-124285), as amended, and the other factors identified from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Investors should take these risks into account when making investment decisions. Shareholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.