The Capital Grille
Burlington, MA 01803
Phone: (781) 328-2135
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
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