The next time you dine at Ruth's Chris Steak House, you just might find yourself in the Regas Room.

Craig Miller, CEO of the Florida-based fine-dining chain, was in town last week to dedicate the private room located on the main floor of the downtown waterfront restaurant to the Regas family.

"We want people to embrace it and to consider it a special place. Now, we have an added tie-in with Regas," said Miller, who has long been friends with Bill Regas since their days working together at the National Restaurant Association.

Bill and his cousin, Gus, are the sons of Frank and George Regas, who founded Regas Restaurant, 318 N. Gay St., in 1919. It is the oldest restaurant in Tennessee.

More than a dozen members of the Regas family as well as friends, business and civic leaders celebrated the dedication with a private lunch and champagne toast. (The meal was under $25, Miller said.)

But don't get your hopes up about lunch. There isn't any talk of opening for lunch any time soon.

In fact, Miller said the company recently stopped serving lunch at its Manhattan location.

For all the doubters who wondered whether Knoxville could support such a high-end restaurant, Miller points to the numbers, particularly at a time when the industry has been tight. Sales at the restaurant are 15 percent over original estimates, he said.

He expects business to continue to grow, especially through private-event bookings.

Part of the success, he said, has been the company's efforts to be a part of the community.

Before the restaurant opened in October, Ruth's Chris sponsored the city's first race 15K run entirely on the Knoxville greenway system.

"This location has exceeded our expectations. It's been outstanding, and we still have huge opportunities ahead of us," Miller said.

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