07/03/09

Better than average

by htown01

First of all let me say that the service and ambiance at Capital Grille is fantastic. The waiters truly go above and beyond to meet your every need. It doesn't matter if you are there for once a year romantic dinner, a regular who eats there once a week or dining customers for a business dinner. The restaurant itself has this era gone by charm. It's filled with beautiful painings and low lighting that make you feel like you are eating in an elegant home instead of a restaurant.

I have eaten at Capital Grille a few times in the last year and each time I tell people, to their dismay, that the food is just ok. The seafood is very fresh and well presented. The side dishes are all delicious, especially the lobster mac and cheese. The desserts are very plentiful but mediocre. And the steaks.....are just average. The meat is good quality and well prepared; it is the flavor that is lacking. I have had a better steak from the grill in my backyard. I'm not sure why the meat lacks flavor but I would rather not pay $40 a steak again to try and see if it has improved.

There are other places here in Houston that have better food without the big dent on your wallet.

• Pros: Service is phenomenal
• Cons: Food could be better

02/15/09

Met and exceeded my high expectations

by QueenVictoria

I've lived in Houston all my life and had yet to try Capital Grille. My lovely bf thought that Vday 09 would be a great chance for both of us to try it out. We went for the 13th to try and cut down on the crowds a teeny bit. We got lucky and snagged a parking space without valet. The restaurant was packed to the gills. We were seated within 5 minutes of our reservation time and greeted by our very pleasant and knowledgeable server Rene. The wine list is extensive with choices in various price ranges. We chose an easy drinking cab and proceeded to go over the menu. Here's what we had:

Shrimp cocktail - 5 large, fresh, dense meat shrimp served on ice with a mild cocktail sauce

Filet and butter poached lobster - melt in your mouth filet, paired with tender lobster claw meat over soft mashed potatoes

Kona crusted dry aged sirloin with roasted shallot butter - a flavorful crust of ground Kona coffee, something different and delicious

Parmesan truffle fries - like McD's on steroids! Crispy fries with salty parmesan cheese and promninent but not overpowering earthiness of truffle

Roasted seasonal mushrooms - cremini, portobello, shitake, and oyster mushrooms in rosemary-thyme-garlic butter

Cheesecake with fresh berries - a great, not too dense, not too sweet cheesecake with strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries

What a fantastic meal we had! The service was attentive without being intrusive. We will definitely be back again soon!

• Pros: Steak! (all the food really), location, service

01/31/09

Best Lobster Mac and Cheese. Friendly Staff.

by restuarantfamily

I just discovered Capital Grille this summer in D.C... we were at the Capital Grille at the Capitol. And so I had to try the Houston location because I couldn't stop thinking about the LOBSTER Mac N Cheese. Yeah, Lobster! It sounds weird, at least it did to me, but it is the absolute best. It's a side dish. The cheese is a high quality combo of a few different cheeses and the lobster is soft and tender--PERFECTION. We went there for drinks and apps before a big dinner party in midtown. There was four of us, we had three beers, an amaretto sour, two orders of Lobster mac n cheese, and the onion rings. The onion rings were very tasty and the batter was crispy, almost like big flakes of panko Japanese bread crumbs, light, airy, crunchy. The bar staff was super nice. They set up a table cloth on our table since we were eating. Half the part was pretty casual, but they treated us very nicely nonetheless. They block A LOT of spaces for valet so you may need to walk across the parking lot if you want to park yourself. Great food, great service. We will be back. You should check them out!

• Pros: Lobster Mac N Cheese, onion rings, service
• Cons: too many spaces blocked for valet