The Capital Grille (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Tampa)
The Capital Grille, 444 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131 (305) 374-4500.
This evening, I had dinner in the “upscale-white tablecloth steak-joint”…The Capital Grille located in Miami.
Just so you know, The Capital Grille which has something like 32 locations in the United States is owned and operated by publiclly traded Darden Restaurants which also owns/operates Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 restaurants. The Capital Grille is Darden’s UPSCALE STEAKHOUSE CONCEPT.
At this juncture of the review you can check The Capital Grille’s website www.thecapitalgrille.com for menu/prices/locations.
Using a $50 gift card from American Express which also included 2 free desserts, I still managed to run-up a $250 tab for dinner for—4.
I’m not going to bother you with details…let’s just say, that the food isn’t very good…my Delmonico steak was salty and McDonald’s has better french-fries…
This joint is a rip-off…overpriced crap.
One good thing to report, we had a waiter, David M. who was outrageously good. He knew the menu inside and out…provided outstanding service and even gave me a full-walking tour of the kitchen.
The Capital Grille does lunch- Monday-Friday and dinner Monday-Sunday.
Don’t waste your time.
***As a postscript to the above…two days after eating at The Capital Grille, I contacted Darden’s corporate offices and advised the President’s Office of what a lousy meal I and my party had had. Various information was exchanged and I was assured that the individual who oversaw the South Florida Region would personally contact me to discuss the matter. Just wanted to let you guys know, that it is now July 20, 2015 and to date, I have not recieved a phone call, letter or any form of communication from anyone at Darden. Obviously, this public company couldn’t give a rats-ass about what I think about their operation. This…should give you a heads-up about what this chain’s customer service may-be all about.
I have eaten in Boca Raton and Miami locations. The food is overpriced and very chainlike. The food is okay but this is by no stretch of the imagination a top steak restaurant which its prices would suggest that it is. Both meals were on business so I didn’t pick them.
hey jeff, like you I got roped into The Capital using an American Express promotion. I live in Ft lauderdale and have eaten in NY Prime, Abe & Louie’s, Ruth Chris’, Morton’s just to name but a few. The Capital is just an upgraded LongHorn Steak House. It gets big prices for inferior food. This is a total con job.
food c
service b
prices d
What did you expect from the guys who own Red Lobster and Olive Garden? Capital Grille is one step above LongHorn and that’s not a very big step. The fancy interior can’t hide the just fair food served at high prices.
This chain also owns Seasons 52.
We go to the Boca Seasons quite a bit and really enjoy the food. We also really enjoy the music provided by Jamie King Colton who works the bar area. The food, ambiance and music makes for a very pleasant evening.
We tried the Capital Grille which is right across the road from Seasons and found it extremely overpriced for what was served. The food was fair but for the price not worth it when you can get a much better meal for the same money at Abe & Loiue’s which is also right in the area.
Just an opinion but Seasons 52 is the best of this chain’s offerings.
My wife and I also have frequented the above-mentioned Boca Raton restaurants. We dine out most nights, while we are in town.
Abe & Louie’s is by far the best for steak. I usually order the filet mignon on the bone, it’s fabulous. My wife has truly enjoyed a variety of different menu items.
Capital Grille can not compare. Although the decor is upscale, it still is over priced for food quality.
We have been to Season’s 52 several times. I can’t say it’s my personal selection for food, being low calorie, but I must say it has always been very busy. It is hard to get a seat at the bar, during dinner hours, but it’s worth the wait to hear Jamie King Colton’s music. The last time we went, it must have been his night off. We should have called first to make sure he was playing that night. My wife also enjoys his music, and is pleased with the food. We do like the change of menu items which they do every so often.
NY Prime, is been a busy place as well. They also have live music. I have not found the steaks to be consistently great, but for the most part very good. We do enjoy going there on occasion. Would much rather listen to the music at Season’s 52.
jeff. i thought the food in boca was darn good. a bit pricey but the meal was real good. maybe you hit an off night.
Over the years I have eaten in number of what many consider to be Florida’s top steakhouses. The Capital Grille isn’t on that list. It charges as if it was, but its food is not even close to being top rated.
The uninformed are fooled by this chain.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE SAME QUALITY BEEF YOU GET AT OUTBACK, LONGHORN AND APPLEBEES. YOU WANT A GREAT STEAKHOUSE, GO TO NEW YORK PRIME NEARBY, BUT THEY ARE SO BUSY IT IS HARD TO GET IN ESPECIALLY ON THE WEEKENDS.
I had dinner in the Boca Raton Capital Grille. It is a sharp woodsy looking restaurant that gives off an upscale vibe. That all collapses when the food hits the table, because it is not good. When ordering I thought from looking at menu the food was going to be awesome. But when my rib eye arrived holy crap, Long Horn Steakhouse arrived. The French fries are not big delicious steak fries like you get in most of the top steak houses but rather some garbage fries that even the worst fast food place probably can beat. The prices are heavy duty but you don’t get what you expect. If you are looking for a great meal this restaurant is not for you.
I read your postscript. I think it is mazing that you didn’t receive a call from management. Forgetting that you have a well followed blog you are still a dissatisfied customer and common sense that your complaints should have been addressed.
The Capital Grille is just one player in a getting real crowed steakhouse sector.
This one would not be on my personal list as a must eat at. It is just a glorified Long Horn.
What I don’t get is that someone from the restaurant didn’t respond to your call. That is terrible customer service. At the least you should have been offered another dinner to try and regain you as a customer.
Someone dropped the ball here.
Jeff Eats, my wife and I live in Boca Raton and enjoy the many different restaurants that the area has to offer. Over the years we have eaten in most of the upscale steak houses. If we had to rate them in order NY Prime would be the best and The Capital Grille at the bottom. By the way, we think that the steak at Matteos (which we know is one of your favorite restaurants) is as good as that served at these steakhouses.
The Capital Grille looks the part but doesn’t deliver on the food. You are so right about the French Fries which were laughable. They weren’t even fit for a fastfood restaurant.
What the Boca Capital Grille has going for it is location that being at the Town Center Mall. It is in a great spot.
My wife and I enjoy your site. You really do find some terrific restaurants. Sometimes you miss but that’s the way the game is played.
Looking forward to your next pick.
RR: Just had a chance to read your post.
Over the years, I have eaten in tons of restaurants, some good, some bad. The Capital Grille outing was one of the bad-days. When I have a bad meal, I usually chalk it off to experience and move on. What really pissed me off about The Capital Grille outing was that my daughter picked this restaurant for “my birthday” and paid the bill. She was really looking forward to taking me to this joint. My daughter, my wife, my daughter’s boyfriend and I couldn’t believe what an overpriced lousy meal was served. That’s the only reason why I contacted the corporate headquarters to voice my complaint.
Like you, I am shocked that a huge chain like this did not followup on my complaint.
That’s the story in a nutshell.
Thanks for reading…
there is ny prime and then all the rest.
capital is a chain operation. overpriced and not the best.
they same company owns seasons 52 which is good.
Jeff, you have this restaurant perfectly pegged.
I too live in Boca…and thought exactly the same thing… Abe & Louies is ten times better. However the service was pretty good at Capital.
A friend of mine gave me a gift certificate to eat at Capital Grill. I ate in the Boca restaurant and was very disappointed. The food isn’t great and the prices are high. This is not a top quality steak house.
Why anyone would waste his or her time eating here is beyond me. Under no stretch of the imagination is this a first class steak restaurant. NY Prime right across Glades Road is the place to eat if you are looking for a great steak dinner.
I read some of the reviews on this website and rarely agree with any review that I ever see on it (although that I do agree with the one comments that NY prime is the best in Boca- it is really good). Capital Grill is a successful restaurant, so it is obvious the majority of people disagree with these opinions. I alos always notice that whenever a restaurant is not liked, the very next thing is the price is talked about….perhaps that is the real issue. Some people just can’t afford to go to some restaurants that are reviewed, but can’t accept that, and when the editor mentions a gift card was used, that tells a lot more about the situation than anyhting else. Come on, french are better than McDonalds?
comment by Lisa is way off base.she obviously knows nothing about the restaurant business. there are tons of papa john’s, domino’s, denny’s. because there are a lot of stores doesnt mean that the food is any good. the reason why there are so many is because of low price point. same goes for McDonald’s. price point.
i have been reading jeff eats for a few years. jeff has loads of winners and has his share of clinkers.
i ate in the capital grill in miami. the food is not the best when compared to the real top steak restaurants. this place gets top dollar for mediocre food.
when i ate there i ordered a french fries side. they were crap.
Lisa I suspect that you really dont know what good food is all about.
Jeff Eats, just curious, did Capital Grille’s management ever contact you about your concerns and complaints? I would think that such a huge public company would contact you with a gift certificate offer etc.
George S. Just had a chance to read your post.
The answer is NOPE.
Thanks for reading…
Last night a few friends and I went to Capital Grille in Boca Raton around 5:45 pm. We couldn’t believe that it didn’t have a Friday night happy hour. The bar was empty and the restaurant itself was empty which seemed very strange for a Friday night. We asked the hostess about happy hour specials and she said “We aren’t there yet.” Well, after one drink we drove over to Moprton’s where happy hour runs to 5:30pm and they have $5 sliders and other $5 finger foods. The bar was jammed and the restaurant was very busy.
Right in the same area where Capital is there is Morton’s, Abe & Louie’s and NY Prime. All have happy hours and bar food specials.
This Capital Grille has no idea how to run a business. They lost me and my friends real fast.
I’ve been eating at The Capital Grille a few times annually for about 12 years now. Originally…the closest one to Broward was in North Miami, and it was most definitely worth the drive. These days, although the food is good, it’s nothing like it used to be. If AMEX didn’t offer the gift cards for points, I probably wouldn’t eat there at all anymore–but it is definitely the type of place that you go and order what the server suggests. I’m never unhappy with something Kona-Crusted. They have delicious potatoes au grautin, and fabulous lobster mac and cheese.
Although–all of these things are edible and delicious at the Fort Lauderdale location. I heard Boca Raton’s new store is not quite as good, so I can’t bring myself to try it.
Jeff Eats: I have eaten in various Capital Grilles 20 times or more. Never had a bad meal.
You must have really caught a bad night. By the way, I am in the restaurant business and work for an upscale chain which currently has 25 locations.
What I can’t figure out is why the chain didn’t return or bother to followup on your complaint? Our chain would have had a district manager contact you and offer to buy you and your family dinner.
Enjoy your take on things.
JJ
Received a gift certificate for Capital Grille. Wife and I used it at the Boca location at Town Centre. Okay but nothing really special. For the same money I wish my sister had given me an Abe & Louie’s or NY Prime certificate.
I have been to Capital Grille in Fort Lauderdale about 5 times. Each time I go the food is great along with the service. I have had a better experience at the Capital Grille then at Mortons and Ruth Chris. I find the food to be very consistent that each time you go, you know that you are going to get a high quality meal and great service. It is wonderful night out to celebrate a special ocassion. The only steak house I can say that can compare is NY Prime in Boca – there steaks are better but the sides at Capital Grille set the bar
Dinner last night at Capital Grille. Food is fair. Anyone who thinks that Capital is in the same league as Abe & Louie’s, NY Prime, Morton’s, Ruth Chris, all in Boca is nuts. The steaks are no match and Capital is a wipeout in the sides department with the French fries being some of the worse that I have eaten.
I live in Boca Raton. The food at the Capital Grille is second rate. Don’t waste your time eating there. If you want a really good steak and great sides then you have to try NY Prime in Boca. That’s the story for this town.
the one in boca is a craphole.
They sure have took a lot of business away from Abe & Louies in Boca.
food is second rate.
go to ny prime.
absolute overpriced garbage
My wife and I have lived in Boca Raton for over 35 years. We are very familiar with most of the decent restaurants in our area. For the record, I have never heard anyone ever ask us if we wanted to eat at The Capital Grille or for that matter ever told us that they were going to The Capital Grille or that they had eaten at The Capital Grille. This restaurant from what we can tell has absolutely no following whatsoever.
For the record, we ate there about 1 year ago and the food was about as good as they serve at Longhorn Steak. This restaurant being upscale is a fraud.
And that’s the truth.
BFD
Used an American Express $50 off gift card the other night. Food is not very good. I’ll stick with Abe & Louies and NY Prime in Boca.
With NY Prime, Abe & Louie’s, Morton’s, Ruth Cris, Chops all in the Boca area, there is absolutely no reason to even think about going to Capital Grille. The food is crap.
ate here last night. ok food and service. for same money you can do better at ny prime or abe and louie’s.
Sure must be a lot of desperate people down here in Boca braving the cold weather. Went by Capital and Grand Luxe and both of these after runs were busy. Guess they get the overflow because in regular season very few go to either one.
Jeff, I live in Boca. The area has a ton of steak restaurant. Just to name a few, NY prime, Abe & Louie’s, Ruth Cris, Chops, Capital Grille. Personally, I think that Capital Grille is the best of the bunch. I also like NY Prime but the scene takes away from the great food and service.
Was in FT Lauderdale one last night. The food isn’t top quality. Same for service. This isn’t a top notch steak house. Won’t be going back.
Jeff, you were so right on this one.
no way no how is this a heavy duty steakhouse,
food tastes like lone star.
not a top steak joint. food is lousy.
DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!
ate in boca outpost. not worth the money. food is second rate.
lousy.
boca stinks. pbg delicious. go figure
boca loc not good, why eat there when you got abe and louies and ny prime right down the street?
capital is strictly chain food.
This isn’t a top notch place. They get big money for mediocre food. Don’t waste your time.
definitely not in the big leagues. food is fair and very overpriced.
garbage. dont waste your money
I live in Boca.
Capital Grille is not a top of the line steak anything.
You want good in Boca you go to Ny Prime, Abe & Louie’s not Capital Grille.