A TikTok creator says a restaurant chain changed its dress code policy after he complained on video about how other diners were dressed. The creator, who posts under the username @drepslams, said the incident happened at a Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
The creator said in the video that he took his wife to Ruth’s Chris for Valentine’s Day and saw other guests dressed in a way he did not like, including people “sagging their pants.” He claims the restaurant chain saw that video and responded to it.
His video has been viewed 791,200 times and has received more than 84,400 likes. The caption reads, “I’d like to think I had some kind of influence in this in some capacity BUT even if I didn’t I think this is an awesome direction the company is moving in 🙌🏽”
Creator says Ruth’s Chris confirmed seeing his earlier video before announcing the policy update
In the video, the man says, “So it turns out not only did Ruth’s Chris see that video, they liked that video.” He then says the company “just came out with a statement saying they’re about to reinforce a dress code policy in their restaurants.”
@drepslams I’d like to think I had some kind of influence in this in some capacity BUT even if I didn’t I think this is an awesome direction the company is moving in 🙌🏽 #ruthschrissteakhouse #ruthchris #steakhouse #dresscode #finedining
♬ original sound – drepsalms
He points to a New York Post article to support his claim. He shows the article is titled “Ruth’s Chris Steak House owners crack down on diners’ dress code” and was published on March 13, 2026, one day before he recorded his video. He tells viewers, “Y’all can read the rest of the article, y’all can look it up, but basically they cracking down on a whole lot of stuff.”
Ruth’s Chris Steak House’s dress code, listed on the company’s website, requires “business casual” attire and states “proper attire required please.” The policy asks guests to remove hats when entering the restaurant, though guests wearing ball caps may dine in the bar or lounge area. The dress code also lists items that are not permitted in the dining rooms, including gym wear, pool attire, tank tops, clothing with offensive graphics or language, and revealing clothing or exposed undergarments.
The man does not present direct proof that the restaurant chain saw or reacted to his video. He acknowledges this himself, saying, “Now maybe this is a coincidence, maybe they never saw my videos, maybe this was already coming on, coming down the pipeline, but I- come on, like, you know what I’m saying? Like, it’s not, it ain’t no coincidence, it’s not no coincidence.”
He also asks the restaurant chain to work with him. “Hey, Ruth’s Chris, let’s, let’s, let’s partner together real quick, you know what I’m saying? Why not? Why not? Let’s, let’s, let’s do something together real quick. Let’s do an ad or commercial. Let’s, let’s just do something,” he says.
The man also mentions that the Instagram account “Black Millionaires” reported on the dress code update, and he says more details are available in that post’s description. He ends the video by saying, “change is coming.” Such debates over restaurant policies are not new, like when black women were allegedly told they couldn’t take pictures at a famous Dallas restaurant while other women could.
Viewers left mixed reactions in the comments section of the video. Some agreed with the creator’s stance on dress codes at upscale restaurants. One commenter wrote, “All upscale restaurants should have a strict dress code.” Another wrote, “Whoever disagreed is the problem, you said nothing wrong.”
Other commenters raised concerns about how the policy might affect their own routines. One person wrote, “The annoying part is, they’re right next to the Pilates studio and we would go for lunch. But now we cannot wear athletic attire for lunch and our Pilates studio doesn’t have a locker room so we can’t just pop over for lunch anymore.”
Some commenters pushed back on the idea that Ruth’s Chris is a strict fine-dining establishment. One wrote, “Ruth Chris is not that upscale it’s a regular restaurant.” Other commenters disagreed with the idea of enforcing dress codes at all. Ruth’s Chris also draws diners with specific dietary preferences, such as a vegetarian who loved his meatless meal there.
One wrote, “I dont think a dress code is a bad idea. its their establishment and they can require what they require. as long as they enforce it with EVERYONE.” Another commenter took a different view, writing, “I will never understand the concept of willingly trying to police or care about what anyone wears or looks like.”
