I Spent $600 on Fish at 801, Ruth's Chris, and Fleming's. Did Any Actually Nail It?

Of course they can all do a great steak. But if your dining pal wants fish and you want a steak (or vice versa), which spot should you choose? You know I'll tell you.

Des Moines has no trouble turning out an excellent steak—especially at our top-tier steakhouses. Carnivores can dine well at any of them. But what about pescatarians? Can they feel just as indulged? I visited three of the city’s high-end mainstays to find out.

I’ll be frank. As an omnivore, I’ll probably always order steak at a prime steakhouse, even if I’m cutting back on red meat. Still, it got me wondering: If someone in your group doesn’t eat (or want) red meat, which spot won’t leave them feeling shortchanged—or mad at you—for dragging them along?

Note that I’m not talking about appetizers—calamari and oysters and shrimp cocktails and the like. I was seeking main dishes—what to order when everyone else is ponying up for beef. I also only went to high-end, special-occasion restaurants—the “prime” steakhouses—where the stakes (and prices) are higher. Finally, I did not include Prime and Providence, which gives seafood equal billing. This is about finding great fish dishes at restaurants where steak rules the roost.

I’ve already reported on 801 Chop House (back in February; recap below). Here, I offer more recent visits to Ruth’s Chris and Fleming’s. Both steakhouses turned out genuinely good fish, with one outperforming the other. What surprised me most: lackluster service at the place that delivered my favorite dish of them all. And yes, I will tell you about it.

This one’s behind a paywall. Honest food writing takes time, care, and money out of pocket—$600 in this case. I always pay my own way, which is essential to doing this work with integrity. If you value independent reporting—no hype, no freebies, no paid sponsorships—I hope you’ll consider supporting my work.