3.5 edging to 4
Took my wife and children out to the capital Grill on a Saturday evening.
The ambiance is nice and stylish and about what your would expect from an upscale steakhouse.
The Service was very good, but not the best I have had at a top end steak house. They did not scrape breadcrumbs, but did offer hot towels. I would not say the service was bad our waiter was very friendly and accommodating.
As a family we ordered and shared several items.
Table Bread: Very nice selection of breads with butter. There was 4 distinct breads in the basket, and I will say they all were nicely made with a varying flavor and texture. One of the best selections of table bread I have had at any steakhouse.
Lobster and Crab cakes, $26: 2 good sized cakes served with tartar and what I would call a corn relish. They were nicely prepared with large lumps of meat and a slightly fried exterior. The Tartar was very good and the corn added some interesting sweetness when mixed with the cake. Great to share between a couple people, or possibly a meal for a light eater.
Cold Shellfish platter, $60: A chilled 1 LB lobster, 6 jumbo cocktail shrimps and 6 oysters. the lobster was cooked perfectly and came out of the shell with no effort and the meat was not chewy. The Jumbo shrimp were very good size and texture. The cocktail sauce was great match for the shrimp. The Oysters were a bit of a disappointment. I know that it was not really in season, but they were very small and mushy. While oysters have very little texture and chew as it is, these were almost just slime. The flavor of them was not bad, they were just not very apitizing.
Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar, $15: This was not a bad drink, but It did not seem strong at all. and it did not have much of a distinct flavor, even though there was several unique ingredients and garnashes. In the end it was just a sweet drink that was ok, but not memorable.
Stoli Doli, $15 "The Houses Signature drink": Better than the Sidecar, however still just ok. I also felt it was a bit weak. The flavor was smooth so someone who is looking for a drink without any burn would like this one.
Au Gratin Potatoes, $12: Average sized portion of Potatoes, probably enough for 4 good servings. They were creamy and had a nice toasty breadcrumb crust on top. The flavor was fine, not the best I have ever had. I was not disappointed in the side, but it was nothing special.
Creamed Spinach, $11: Same sized portion as the Potatoes. Big disappointment. Not super creamy and the flavor was bland at best. I honestly mixed them with the potatoes and other sauces to try and make them taste better, it did not help.
Seared Salmon with Tomatoes and White Wine Butter, $42: A medium piece of salmon, that was flaky and cooked nicely. We ordered the sauce on the side so the kids could eat some without the sauce. The sauce itself was very nicely done.
Dry Aged NY Strip 14oz, $53: We ordered the steak medium so the kids could have some. It came out properly cooked and was very tender. It was a good size and had a great flavor. The steak was probably the best dish we had.
I liked the Capital Grill and feel that they hit all the important parts of being a competent upscale steakhouse. With that said I was not wowed by anything and was a little disappointed in a few items. I think this would be a fine place to take a date or someone for a specials occasion. The price is mostly in line with other Steak houses in Houston so expect to spend $75+ per person. I am in no hurry to go back any time soon, but would say that I would not be opposed to giving them another try. In the end competent seems to sum up the experience.
I would recommend The Capital Grill and would return. read more