We Finally Know Why Ruby Tuesday Is So Cheap

Unlike a buttery Ribeye or roasted chicken breast, the side dishes are where Ruby Tuesday saves money. Much of its menu can stay relatively affordable because the sides are just plain cheap. Just looking at Ruby Tuesday’s menu online, you’ll notice that none of them require extravagant seasonings or complicated cooking techniques, and the ingredients themselves are frugal to obtain. For example, zucchini costs $1.20 by the pound on average, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (via The Packer). Rice for the chain’s rice pilaf side is a whopping 82 cents per pound (via Statista). And it’s convenient that mashed spuds compliment a steak dinner so swimmingly, because potatoes are also easy to buy in bulk, averaging at 78 cents a pound (via Statista).

If you remain skeptical of the economical properties found in a Ruby Tuesday accompaniment, heed the words of this anonymous employee who once provided Daily Press with the recipe for its potato salad. Essentially, the ingredients consisted of cheap kitchen staples: russet potatoes, green pepper, bacon, and chopped onion. Same thing for the dressing, which allegedly mixes humble components including celery salt, mustard, pepper, and classic mayo. 

By maintaining a low-maintenance approach to the garnishes, Ruby Tuesday can focus its dollars on the entrees that compose the main attraction of any sit-down meal. The meat, so to speak, is what people come for, so keeping the side dishes affordable allows for excess in other places.