The Capital Grille

05/09/2008 Posted by stacyadell

I took my boyfriend to the Capital Grille for his birthday on May 7. I went to their website, made reservations & noted it was his birthday. It is a bit loud there but they seated us in a nice secluded area and the only time we noticed the noise level was when the waiter told us the specials. Service was great too, very attentive but not haunting. After they sat us, we were greeted with two complementary flutes of champagne, a very nice birthday touch. This was followed by a wonderful lobster appetizer overflowing with lobster meat and cooked just right courtesy of the chef. We started with the Pan Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers served on two plates, one plate would have been enough for two. I love the combination of calamari and hot cherry peppers and these did not disappoint. For the entree I ordered the Porcini Rubbed Delmonico with 12-Year Aged Balsamic (rear) and the beau ordered the Kona Crusted Dry Aged Sirloin with Caramelized Shallot Butter (medium rear). For sides we ordered the season vegetable medley and the Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese. I'm not a big mac & cheese person but I read in another review so I figured we should give it a try. They were right, big chunks of fresh lobster meat in a very light white cheese sauce. Our steaks were both massive in portion and taste! Mine could have been a bit rearer but the meat was so good that having it a little over cooked did not hurt the flavor. As we sat in a food coma looking at the dessert menu, our server brought over complimentary dessert, the flour-less chocolate espresso cake with a single candle and their version of cheesecake which was round and very airy. I don't like cheesecake but this cheesecake was to die for! Equally impressive was the flour-less chocolate espresso cake. Our food comma's didn't stop us from almost finishing both! I don't mind spending a lot of money on great food, even better company and good service. If you are the same then go out and splurge at the Capital Grille!

Pros: Outstanding Steaks, Huge Wine List, Cater to Special Occasions

Cons: Can be a bit loud

03/13/2008 Posted by thiii

It was crowded-mall noisy. We (2 couples) arrived on time for a 7pm week-night reservation and seated 10 minutes later. Handed poster-sized menus so big you could not set them on the table so you stood them awkwardly in your lap or put them on the floor when done looking. 2/3 of the menu is wine/drinks. You get Bottled or tap water and a basket of cold bread/whipped butter. All food is a la carte. We anticipated a cozy, 'clubbish' atmosphere to get acquainted. Instead,it was like a busy cafeteria. The waiter couldn't hear us and we couldn't hear him. Literally everything had to be repeated. LOUDLY. We each ordered steak from several choices (priced from $28 to $38). Side dishes started at $7. A shared appetizer of proscuitto-wrapped mozzarella was tasty with generous-sized pieces. STEAKS: NOT GOOD! 3 of our 4 steaks should not have been served at any price. We all ordered medium rare. My 'Steak Au Poivre' was dry, badly seasoned, scant sauce, and card-boardy. My friend's Porter House was stringy in parts and cooked hard in the filet portion. His wife's steak was also overcooked and bland. I tasted my wife's crab topped 'Steak Oscar'. It was the only steak not badly prepared. The Vidalia Onion rings were huge, oily, and delicious. The lobster mac 'n cheese was clumsy in a skillet, but flavorful. The sauteed mushrooms (also in a small warm skillet) was bland and the sauce too black as to distinguish the varieties of mushrooms. For desert, the Creme Brulee was correctly done (crispy on top, silky inside). Chocolate hazelnut cake was refrigerator cold, flavorless. Our bill (only soft drinks) was just over $300. We were 2 couples newly acquainted. I wish we had chosen another place to dine. (It was cold outside and cars were already parked by valet - too late to change). I would have sent back our steaks if things weren't already chaotic with the noise. This is not the level of quality expected at any steakhouse. Especially at such prices. Absurd is the word.

Pros: Free valet parking (although little other choice)

Cons: Noisy, Overpriced, Improperly prepared, sub-standard steaks