Carrabba's is shopped? Must go looking!

@kimmiemae wrote:

Carrabba's is shopped? Must go looking!

Yes!!!! And, at least for me, it is a rather decent reimbursement.

It's perfect for us, too. I'll give a hint: it's a company that requires photos and detailed narratives per section, and they have their own reporting platform. I'm sure that they got grabbed up fast. Mine is in March. I just happened to be sitting at the computer when the email from the scheduler came. Their job board isn't even showing March shops yet so the only way I found out about it was from her email.

Is it one that they try to get you to do an undesirable shop in order to give you a desirable one? Or I am wondering if they are only shopped in certain areas. Nevertheless, there is only one in my area so I could very well be missing it.

Yeah, some of the tricky schedulers used to do that. I think it might be just some locations are getting shopped, then, because otherwise you would have seen it. They are the same MSC that used to try to trap shoppers using a stuffed bear shop to pair with a less desirable one. Since I find stuffed animals freaky, that never worked on me

The Capital Grille in Raleigh is great. The entire chain is great (at least the ones I have visited).

@sealford wrote:

Self-proclaimed nerd here It's also one of my favorite words, besides ennui. I am going to research Fleming's locations. I think there is a Capital Grille in Raleigh, which is about 2.5 hours from me.

I've never seen an email about it then so you are probably right and only certain locations are shopped. Bummer.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Yeah, some of the tricky schedulers used to do that. I think it might be just some locations are getting shopped, then, because otherwise you would have seen it. They are the same MSC that used to try to trap shoppers using a stuffed bear shop to pair with a less desirable one. Since I find stuffed animals freaky, that never worked on me

I have , not to bad.

Love Capital Grille, but went way over reimbursement. It's worth it for a special dinner though.

That must be a regional thing... I've been to two different locations in the Seattle area (never as a shop) and have worn jeans each time....

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

Makesure you dress the part. This is NOT a jeans place and will escort out... we saw that with others.

Fleming's has a rewards program. I have heard they have spectacular brunches for holidays like Mother's Day and Easter. I have been meaning to try it.

@sealford wrote:

I just checked, and there is a Fleming's location in Raleigh, which is less than 3 hours away from me. Now I want to see what all the hype is about. It gives me a good excuse to look for a hotel shop while I am at it.

The Ruth Chris in Raleigh is across the street from Capital Grille and the Fleming's is only a couple miles away. They're all so close to me, it's a good thing the rotations are so long. I haven't done any, but occasionally get emails for hotel stays in Raleigh or Durham from ACL.

Is Fleming's still shopped with the same MSC that shops Ruth Chris?

@MsJudi wrote:

Love Capital Grille, but went way over reimbursement. It's worth it for a special dinner though.

Darden gift shops can be found easily on a discount. That alone can help increase the wiggle room of the shop reimbursement limit.

@kimmiemae wrote:

Is it one that they try to get you to do an undesirable shop in order to give you a desirable one? Or I am wondering if they are only shopped in certain areas. Nevertheless, there is only one in my area so I could very well be missing it.

Right this minute the Raleigh location is listed for the first week of February.

How much are people usually spending for 2 at Ruth's Chris?

I haven't done one, so I can't say, but I would guess around $200? That's what the Fleming's reimburses (plus an additional fee for the bar and valet).

@Mysterion wrote:

How much are people usually spending for 2 at Ruth's Chris?

Recently, without the cocktails or wine which will be up to you how many and what you want to order up to the limit, pretax food only was $135. One of us got the prix fix special that runs from $55 to higher and got the $65 one, plus another appetizer and steak for the other person. The second person did not order the least expensive, something mid priced.You can find the prices online.

For this year's shops, can someone share the ordering requirements at the table? Is there a bar component. I would prefer to do the "menu math" before diving in. All the ones in my area have been assigned already, but good to be prepared for the next release!

Ours is bar first then table.. and no way you can squeeze it all in money wise.

@macrophage wrote:

For this year's shops, can someone share the ordering requirements at the table? Is there a bar component. I would prefer to do the "menu math" before diving in. All the ones in my area have been assigned already, but good to be prepared for the next release!

The COO for the MSC that shops this client was kind enough to reach out to me with some details of the shop. In addition, he let me know that I could share the following:

"We currently do shop programs for multiple Ruth's Chris Franchise Groups. Most of those are bar & dinner shops together. However, starting this year we've added a program shopping the corporate owned locations. The shops for the corporate owned locations will have separate dinner only shops and bar only shops. We have begun rolling them out and will continue to do so throughout the year. "

Hope this helps some folks. Review the assignments carefully!

Now if they would only cover the entire required food.

DH and I love Ruth's Chris. We have hosted dinner parties there and it was a wonderful experience. Haven't gotten a job yet recently, but I keep applying. From my experience, it's once a year. Too far and long in between. The report is rather long. We always go over, but it's all good.

I saw one of Ruth's Chris shops but it is at least a two hour drive from me so no I'll pass.

I had done one of those bear shops they asked me to leave and not return after I took my bear up to pay for it. They said the leather and chains that I used were not appreciated.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Yeah, some of the tricky schedulers used to do that. I think it might be just some locations are getting shopped, then, because otherwise you would have seen it. They are the same MSC that used to try to trap shoppers using a stuffed bear shop to pair with a less desirable one. Since I find stuffed animals freaky, that never worked on me

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2020 09:51PM by 2stepps.

what company does ruth chris? always wanted to give this place a whirl

If at first you aren't accepted, keep applying: I got assigned on about the 10th try (between two nearby locations). For my particular shop there is no bar visit and actually no paid beverage requirement at all, so with the pre-fix we should be able to pretty much get in under the reimbursement (although the extra amount above reimbursement that the valet will cost will negate the shop fee).

Note that gift cards are explicitly not allowed per the guidelines. Coupons or use of the prefix special are allowed.

For those wonderinf about the reimbursement on the dining room only visits: The total for our check (in a city which would be on the expensive city if menu prices vary) was $146.32 including 20% post-tax tip, a small glass of wine (not required) and utilizing the pre-fixe.

I’m tempted but the budget does seem right

I just went $70 over allotted reimbursement, but we didn't skimp on ordering. It included one regular steak, side and dessert and one Prix-fixe menu order. I had a large glass of wine and hubby had two cocktails which amounted to about $48 of that. Alcohol was not a requirement. I will do an occasional fine dining shop to treat my husband who is a meat and potatoes diner and loves a good filet. I can't justify going to a great steakhouse and ordering chicken or not getting what you would really like if it weren't a shop. As I've said, I only do it once in a while, but I've done several over the past few months. If you have a Roots near you..grab it. It was by far the best service and food of anywhere I've been including Ruth's, Flemings, Del Frisco's, and Peter Luger's. (Not all shops)

I'll be taking my sister's wife to a very nice Tapas restaurant next month. It's not my husband's style and he would be a grumpy companion.

Reports take me awhile to write up, but I clear the next day to write them. They do seem to be similar across most companies. I don't do Coyle restaurants anymore, but have. They took me ALL DAY to write which is too much IMO...as I said, I'm not the fastest doing narratives.

Best of all was dear hubby paid for the Ruth's bill. I wasn't expecting that but it was nice. I'll throw him some $$ when I get paid to keep him happy cause I know I will eventually hear about how much my shopping costs him.

I haven't done the new reports since the shop returned this year. I've done a few in the past. The old reports were long comparable to the fine dining reports of Coyle. There's a new scheduler in my area and for whatever reason they don't seem keen on scheduling me one after applying several times despite the fact that my previous scores for that msc and client are high.