I want to give this place 3.5, but I am rounding down. There is nothing significantly wrong with Capital Grille, but I nothing particularly impressive either. It is a big chain, and it shows. The entire menu is a cut-n-paste from every other steak place in the city. Blindfolded, you cannot tell this place from Perrys/RuthChris/Bobs/Flemmings/ Sullivans/etc. Vince Young might have a few better seafood options, Sullivans might have a slightly better lunch menu but we are splitting hairs. They all serve basically the same menu are roughly the same price. Review: The citrus and campari cocktail I got (forget the name) was very good, but overpriced. As far as our dinner went, we got the Grand Plateau (seafood tower) which was fine, but predictable. The steamed Lobster was exactly what you would expect. The shrimp were cooked well, but there we just a few oysters and the sauces were all jarred. Why not toss some herbs in there? Do a house made butter garlic sauce? Why not put some scallops on the tower? Do SOMETHING. They were generous with the lump crab, but it was clearly pre-picked. Regardless, without an interesting sauce, who cares? For a main, I got the "Dry Aged Sirloin Steak" ($44). If that steak had been aged, it was clearly not for long enough. I would hope for 21-28 days minimum, but I am guessing that thing was less than two weeks, if all. Basically, no "aged" flavor. I ordered it medium rare and it came out medium ++. The sear was good on it, so kudos there. For sides we got creamed spinach, which tasted exactly like creamed spinach. The grilled asparagus was overcooked and limp, which is a shame because the lemon was nice. The lobster mac and cheese was really good. The wine menu was downright pathetic. It is basically a list of bulk buy wines easily secured through large distributors. Don't get me wrong, Franciscan and La Cream (etc etc) make good stuff, but these pretty much a list of "high end grocery store" wines with a 4x markup. There is no thought put into the wine list. Interior was nice, but again, predictable. The need to "Texas it up" was funny. I thought the giant Farrah Fawcet painting was amusing, if strange. Service was good, which you would expect at a highish end steak place. Better than I would have guess after just a few weeks after opening. Overall, there is no reason to pick this place over any other steakhouse, but I won't be a bad meal if you go here.
(3)
Marie T.
For Valentine's Day, my boyfriend surprised me and treated me to this wonderful restaurant! I cannot speak highly enough about our experience at The Capital Grille. We were seated in a very quiet, romantic corner and were treated supremely well by our waiter, Bryan, and the staff. We were never for want of anything! Every bit of the food was fantastic, even the bread assortment and salted butter! We had a calamari appetizer (which introduced me to pepperoncinis and hot cherry peppers--I love them now!), and for dinner, we had dry aged steaks (his was plain; mine had gorgonzola cheese and cabernet wine reduction--YUM!), and lobster macaroni and cheese. It was all exquisite. The portions were more than enough. For a special Valentine's touch, they gave us a single red rose. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, especially couples, looking for an all-around amazing dining experience.
(5)
Teri K.
These 5 stars are for the service and exceptional management of the Capital Grille Austin. The food is delicious, of course, but I experienced an unfortunate incident of less than fresh lobster on my mac n cheese side 2 weeks ago (it happens). There was definitely a strong odor ammonia odor and the server promptly removed the dish and sent the manager (Heather) to our table. Without hesitation, she immediately apologized and stated the dish was unacceptable. I appreciated the simple and professional manner she took but when the bill came, I was blown away. Heather not only removed the charge for the dish, but also comped our very nice bottle of wine (which was not expected, but very much appreciated). That is how you handle a blemish with class! I will certainly be back to enjoy their food and service. Capital Grille sets a high bar in the elite restaurant market. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and friendly as well.
(5)
Terry N.
Even though this is a chain I think it's the best steakhouse downtown. They usually have an off menu bone in aged filet which is the most flavorful filet I have ever eaten. The ambiance is upscale jazz club like and the service is excellent. The drinks are well made and the fresh bread hot and yummy! I highly recommend this steakhouse.
(5)
Alison N.
While the food was delicious, the service is what was really spectacular. Our server Dan made our evening out feel like a very special occasion. He had every detail covered and went beyond helping us with transportation and walkable late night hot spots.
(5)
Todd E.
Amazing burger for lunch. Great service.
(5)
Clau C.
Poor service,I had dinner with my husband to celebrate Mother's Day. The welcome was very nice but the service was bad. Our waitress kept disappearing for long period of times. The bread was brought once we asked for it after our appetizers , that's because we asked for it. She said she had a big table , which frankly it's not my problem for the amount of cash we were dropping at this dinner. Food was good but I can get the same in another steak place with exceptional service, not a POOR service like this place. We are avid steak restaurant visitors and This was my first and last time at this place.
(1)
Ken K.
Fantastic dinner. Both the steaks and seafood were very good. Probably the best service I have ever received. Thank you.
(5)
Phillip W.
I've been to this location 2 times now. Dinner was ok - and for $100 each (granted, we had nice wine), it should have been phenomenal. Lunch this time was very nice - a good experience. The service was very professional and the special salad option was very good. I'll definitely come again.
(4)
Tiffany J.
Can't say enough great things about this restaurant. Tonight was our first time in and we were celebrating a birthday. I let them know ahead of time, and the staff really went out of their way to make the birthday boy feel special. The service was spectacular and the food was phenomenal!
(5)
Christopher K.
Great selection of wine, live jazz, great location, good service; the outside sitting area was a perfect place to talk/hang out--
(4)
Rik W.
I don't normally patronize mega-chain expense-account and convention steakhouses, since they are all cookie-cutter in ambience, menu, price and wine list. However, I received an unsolicited gift certificate to try the place, a very nice gesture and good marketing idea, so I decided to give it a try. I first went to their web site to peruse the menu. It is posted, without prices. Terrible idea! Price is important for many people looking to dine out, and omitting them is inexcusable. If they think showing the prices will drive people away, just imagine the reaction when they arrive and are surprised. The wine list is not posted on the website, just a few suggestions from their touted Master Sommelier. Again, bad idea. The wine list is important for many people choosing a restaurant. The website would not permit me to make a reservation without giving my email addy. I am NOT giving a restaurant my email. Once we arrived, we were seated promptly. The ambience is nice, but exactly like all the other upscale steakhouse chains except for the Texas-themed portraits on the walls. I dare you to enter blindfolded and be able to guess which steakhouse you are in. Seated two tables from us was a couple, the man wearing (I kid you not) a T shirt, shorts and flip flops. This is totally unacceptable in a restaurant striving for upscale elegance and charging those prices. If I want to see that I can go to Hoffbrau. Is there really no dress code whatsoever or are they just lazy? One star off just for that. The food and service were good, which it should be in a restaurant like this, but not life-changing. Again, exactly like Morton's, Ruth's Chris, Fleming's, Bob's, Perry's, Sullivan's, etc., etc. The wine list, while large, was very disappointing. While most of the business/convention diners wouldn't know or care, since they are looking only to impress by ordering expensive wines, most of the wines on the list are the most common brands from large producers. I am not sure exactly why a master sommelier is needed. I could have produced this list in a couple hours. I suppose this comes from being a mega-chain, where the wines must always be readily available in large quantities so they rarely have to alter the list. Most of the bottles are recent vintages, which means the better wines are not yet ready to drink. The inclusion of Santa Margherita pinot grigio on the list alone diminishes the list. While a decent wine, it is one of the cheapest in Italy, about 8 Euro a bottle, and has become popular in America due to marketing. It is grossly overpriced here, $18-21 in most stores ( I'm sure Capital pays more like $15-16 a bottle and charges $60). There are many Italian pino grigios better than this at the same or lower prices, if the somm made any effort at all. And, while many probably don't care, my own pet peeve--they do not provide or allow corkage. This is inexcusable in my book, and that precludes me from patronizing a restaurant. Let's keep Austin weird. Patronize local restaurants, avoid the chains, and keep Austin from becoming Dallas, Atlanta or Phoenix.
(2)
Russell P.
Off to a great start. The Capital Grille has been been open for a month now and it's a nice addition to the Austin dining scene. First, I'll admit that my favorite Steak/Seafood place is still Eddie V's but TCG is almost there. Food = 5 stars. Service = 4 stars. They're still getting up to speed but trying very hard. The crab/lobster cake appetizers were awesome, the lobster bisque tasty with nice chunks of lobster meat. The shrimp cocktail was good but nothing special. The tenderloin with poached lobster tails was fantastic. While it is certainly on the pricey side, the atmosphere is very nice, wine list is extensive, the food outstanding and the service is almost there. Definitely worth a try.
(4)
Mark A.
Amazing meal, fantastic service and great jazz band in the bar. This was our first time at The Capital Grill and it could not have gone better. Our waiter, Richard, did a great job of explaining the menu and recommending selections. Started with the calamari appetizer, then a salad and finished with the peppercorn steak. Amazing meal!
(5)
Greg L.
Had a really disappointing encounter with Truluck's on Colorado. Greeted by the dude who "stars" in their television spots. Arrived at 6 andI was looking for a table for 6. I was immediately told the absolute earliest would be 8:30 and in the same breath Mr. Television turns to my client and snippily asks him to remove his cap. He then proceeds to tell us he would cobble two lounge tables together under stairwell and right next to the piano where we could wait or order off the menu. His dismissive attitude created as cold a reception as I have ever received in our fair city. My client's , who were in from Denver and Houston, commented that they thought Austin was supposed to be this laid back and friendly city. Next thing I see a guy walk in with a dirty straw cowboy hat who is escorted to table upstairs. Next a dude walks in in cargo shorts, flops and sport shirt. He too is greeted and seated. We left having found immediate seating at our choice of Sullivan's or Capital Grill. The meal we had at Capital Grill was delicious and the management bent over backwards to provide excellent service. I am not sure where Truluck's and their Mr. Television come off with such an attitude-but it sucked. I'll never, ever set foot in their restaurant again. And if asked will happily share my story with those who enquire. Unfortunately for Truluck's my company heavily entertains out of town clients and makes many recommendations for our sister companies. Mr. Television and Truluck's will not have to bother with us again. Austin has way too many great places to eat to put up with haughty and rude behavior from any establishment.
(5)
Erika J.
Came for Mother's Day brunch and had a great time. Dan our server was excellent very attentive & funny (would recommend you request him!) Food was delicious we tried the crab cakes, lobster eggs Benedict and the filet mignon. Atmosphere is upscale, elegant, not too noisy which is nice. Would recommend the Stoli Doli as well, if you want a fun drink.
(5)
Roni S.
My husband and I had a wonderful experience here tonight. The restaurant has been open for less than a week but you would never know it because the food and service were exceptional. Our steaks were cooked to perfection. The lobster Mac n Cheese and the fresh tomato mozzarella salad are a must order. The service was attentive but not overbearing. We were fortunate to have Lorrie as our server. She was awesome! Very professional. Actually, the entire staff was awesome. They made us feel so welcomed. Two thumbs up!! We highly recommend.
We wanted to try Capital Grille for Mother's Day dinner. We had been to the one in Midtown NYC a few times. The hostesses were very welcoming upon arrival. They took us to our booth and it was right next to the kitchen, so we asked if we could have another booth. (There were two empty near by). Instead of walking us right over, we were escorted back to the foyer and waited for I don't know what. We were finally seated in the booth nearby the original one. We were with our 4-year old daughter and they had a little goodie bag full of strikers and bracelets. Very sweet. We asked the hostess for a booster but it never came. We finally asked a server walking by and finally got one. Paul was our server and he was great. We started with martinis and oysters. Martinis were perfectly made. Unfortunately the oysters were just ok. There was no sommelier but Paul brought over another server Jared and he was very great and knowledgable. The filets were cooked to perfection. They were served with what tasted like a vermouth based sauce. Not my favorite, but my hubby loved it. The Mac & cheese was to die for. The mushrooms were very good. Our daughter had a burger & fries. My husband and I could not keep our hands off her fries and she was raving about the burger, practically consuming the whole thing. We ordered the coconut cream pie and would not recommend it. In a wonderful gesture, Paul brought out the chocolate hazelnut cake to go for us to try later. Over all a great experience. Try it!
(3)
Dave C.
Absolutely excellent -- everything was perfect! I took my mother and my younger sister here for a nice celebratory dinner and we had an amazing meal! I am still full! The steaks are hands down the best steaks I have ever had. They definitely tops Perry's and Ruth Chris steakhouse for sure. There's no comparison/competition. Capital Grille is THE best. The ambience is beautiful - it's romantically lit and a great place for a romantic date, a celebration, or a wedding proposal. I love it here. They have so many great wines -- it's almost overwhelming. We had the special - a filet mignon with demi glas sauce and red-skin potatoes and asparagus. It was to die for. If this was my last meal ever, I wouldn't complain a bit! We even saved room for dessert -- a chocolate-espresso cake and also the berries with whipped cream. It was excellent. The steaks were cooked to perfection. The potatoes were buttery and complimented the steak very well. The server was very kind and hospitable. Even the house wine was great. I am not sure how anyone could not give this place 5 stars. To the person who was agitated about how long things were taking - this is not a restaurant you go to for a quick bite to eat. It's an experience. They pace the meal so that you have time to talk and reminisce with your friends and family over amazing food. Absolutely wonderful, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. The only thing that surprised me is that it wasn't more busy/crowded. This is a hidden gem in Austin and I wish I had known about it sooner! A+!
(5)
Kacy M.
Wonderful food and amazing service! Clarence took great care of us!
(5)
Victor W.
Solid steakhouse though nothing special here as it's part of a very large chain. On one hand you know what you're getting, on the other hand you know what you're getting. Service is excellent -- very friendly, attentive, and fast. The kona bone in sirloin was nicely cooked and tasted great. The oysters were finely presented and tasty as well. It's upscale steakhouse pricing so you're getting what you pay for. My big gripe was the drink menu was un-navigable -- it's an iPad with terrible design. I had a hard time figuring out how to view wines by the glass (and part of my day job is in in user design/experience!). I had an even harder time ordering beer since it turned out the beers aren't listed in the drinks menu at all. I think the iPad is incredibly less classy than a normal wine/drinks menu though I'd guess they do it to cheap out on having a real sommelier. I have no problem doing business dinners here but I don't think of it as a foodie's heaven.
(3)
Ryan F.
One of my favorite steakhouses in Austin. I love coming here. It is in alignment with the capital grille brand. Quality meals for a higher price & worth the money!
(5)
Anne A.
I visited this upscale chain steakhouse in Austin during South by. We were a group of 7 and this was the only nicer place in Downtown Austin accepting reservations. Service was professional and as expected at a white table cloth restaurant steakhouse. Not quite as attentive as the service at Mastro's in Beverly Hills. We shared a variety of sides such burrata and tomato salad, calamari, and brussel sprouts. All pretty standard dishes, and nothing I haven't had before at any other restaurant. The server recommended the truffle steak for my entree. As I ate the steak, it was a bit difficult me to finish the entire dish. It wasn't a bad steak, but it also wasn't really one easy for me to eat. I'm not sure what it was but with all the great food I was eating in Austin, this place just wasn't as exciting for me. The food is classic steakhouse fare, but with all the great places to eat in Austin, this probably would not be on the top of my list any time soon, even if they have a location here in Los Angeles. My expectations are probably a bit more higher now for the perfect steak after dining at Asador Etxebarri.
(3)
Jennifer E.
I took my father her for Father's Day. We made our reservations via Open Table. Our waitress was Dominque Morales. Dominque did a great job showing us how to use the iPad for wine and drinks. She explained the process they do for meats. She made suggestions and made sure the table was always satisfied without being in our face. For our starters we had the French Onion soup, the lobster bisque and the Tomato and Mozzarella salad. The Tomato and Mozzarella salad was amazing. Almost as good as the ones I had in Florance. Not as good but the closest thing I have had since. My father really enjoyed his French Onion soup. He kept telling us how good it was. My husband ordered the Gorgonzola Truffles Strip. It was huge but he ate every bite. He did state the cheese was a tad too powerful for the meat. He still ate it all but thought maybe a different version of Gorgonzola would have been better. My father and I ordered the Filet Mignons. Both were cooked to our liking. For the table we got the Au Gratin Potatoes and the Brussel Sprouts. The side were maybe the disappointing part of the evening to me. They were ok. I found the bacon in the sprouts over done. Next time I will order different sides. We ended the night with their Cheesecake and an Espresso and cups of coffee. Everyone was stuffed but happy with the food. The entire evening was enjoyable. A perfect Father's Day. The valet has some issues as only two were working but nothing to upset the night. I would recommend maybe more than two work. It was $350 night but that is ok for special occasions. The volume of the place does get a tad loud. I am glad we had early reservations and were able to enjoy our meal without the volume. I enjoyed the feel and look of the place. Nice to be able to see in the kitchen without the kitchen noise. We would be back for another special occasion.
(4)
Alisha R.
Best place for brunch in Austin I had the carrot cake French toast with venison sausage and have never ever EVER had anything taste so good. It is usually packed in the mornings though so I would recommend making a reservation.
(5)
John H.
Game on Austin steakhouses because CG is on its game! The interior is spectacular and not a dime was spared. You will notice as soon as you take a seat in a seriously plush leather chair. The semi-open glassed in kitchen showcases the clockwork like operation. I hit high end steakhouses all the time entertaining clients and know the drill. I have been to other CG locations that were not at this level. The food was very good as expected. The cocktails were perfect. But on top of everything the service was expertly attentive. So everything was great and then guess what? It was Generous Pour night. $25 bottomless selection of 7 wines. Need I say more? Yes it is a chain but they have certainly gone out of their way to open on a high note. For now it's great so let's check back in a year from now and see if they are still on their game.
(5)
Andrew B.
Rock solid steakhouse experience. Great wine list, dry aged steaks, knowledgeable wait staff, the ability to accommodate a 2-person dinner or a dozen person party, across the board good. Like most other places in central Austin, parking can be a bit of a problem, but that's life in the ATX. I'd go again, especially if it's on someone else's dime.
(4)
Errol M.
You should stop by just to see what they've done to the place. We came here on a whim, ten-minutes past closing, mainly to glance inside. The front-end staff could not have been more gracious or accommodating. We slipped into the bar, and our bartender Charles slipped us cocktails and a steak. If superb hospitality is wrong, I don't want to know what's right. Something like that. I've never been to a Capital Grille before, it's an upscale steakhouse chain, and I enjoyed our shared filet. I was less fond of the sauce. But that's subjective, and there are other things I'll try next time. And as we were leaving, they noticed I was taking one last look around, and offered us a complete tour. Now that, was very cool. We revisited the bar we were in (bigger than we thought), the main dining area, and the three enclosed private rooms - each adorned with portraits and themes of Texas. I'm not going to post any interior pics here, I think you should experience Farrah Fawcett for yourself. I also think Capital Grille should be on your go-to list. Although we arrived way late, there was still a vibrant if dwindling crowd here on a Tuesday night, and I'm still flummoxed by the lack of any t-shirts, shorts, or flip-flops in an Austin restaurant. Yes, Toto, we are still in Austin. Maybe it just isn't Kansas anymore.
(4)
Troy M.
Had another great meal from this Austin Favorite! Virginia Lill was on point with her recommendations and service and it was MUCH appreciated! Thanks so much! The Marcus Family
(5)
Lou S.
Hmmm... I find it bizarre to be writing a less than praiseful account of a capital grille restaurant. However, they are not all equals apparently. Last night while in town for some dear friends' 20th anniv we visited this new location in downtown Austin. It was as usual very good food and wines. What made it not so enjoyable was the service. It started with appetizers being brought out and offered to each one of our party of eight. The server never served any to our guests of honor. Our friend had to ask someone at our table to pass him the plate. Then the lead server seemed to be swapped out for someone else who "pushed" the pace by asking if we were ready to place our main course order. We werent ready and we kindly told him so. He came back two minutes later asking again while we were still enjoying appetizers and his tone was more urgent asking for our order. This time I took over from my more timid friend and dispensed him with simply a look. He must of gotten the message as lead server number two came back next and i assured him we were now ready to order. But water glasses went dry. Wine presentations were amateur, etc. even the customary dessert course for our anniversary guest had to be prompted. This all comes down to one thing. Management. I watched all evening the manager Mr. Mirabal doting over 2 tables exclusively and wondered who they were to merit that level of pampering and, who I wasnt. At our usual local capital grille 240 miles north in Plano Tx. we never have to put up with careless service. Manager Greg sees every table enjoying dinner by a personal visit. At this price level ($200 pp) service IS what youre selling. On our way out the door my quiet friend asked to see the manager for a moment and the hostess said he was "busy". We waited. His attitude appeared to be only mildly concerned and offered no explanation for the "olive garden" level of service. He only offered to write an email. He needs more training. His service staff needs better direction and instruction. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â-------------------- Follow up 042015: Mr. Mirabal called me personally to apologize for the less than par service which he acknowledged. He offered to make things right by having us back, however since we don't visit Austin very often, that would not be likely to happen. He even offered us a do over in the Plano location, but I did not want to trouble the Plano location with any obligation as I visit them frequently. Most importantly he asked me about our service experience at his restaurant and assured me he'd correct the issues I mentioned to him. As a fellow Texan, I take him at his word he will do so and I will someday in the future revisit his location. This really is a superb restaurant and one mediocre night would never drive me away. Their food quality is above all other steakhouses I've visited !
(3)
Cris G.
Let's fix this. I've been back to Capital Grille a few more times. The food is excellent, the service is excellent.
(5)
Larry C.
We were out celebrating a special occasion and we usually eat at Perry's, Trudy's, Eddie V's or Sullivan's for steaks (all of them excellent establishments), but we decided to check out the Capital Grille based on Yelp reviews. Damn, we should've stayed with our usual places. The Capital Grille steaks are not in the same league as the four I mentioned. The food is more akin to Ruth Chris or McCormick and Schmick's: expensive but not worth it. The service was excellent, our waitress was wonderful but she was no help with the menu. When we asked about different dishes, her responses were the same, "that's an incredible dish", "that one is one of my favorite", "you can't go wrong with that steak" and "that one is equally as good". So we really didn't receive any concrete information to help us with our decision. We decided on the Bone-in Kona Crusted NY Strip and the Seared Tenderloin with the Lobster Tails. The Tenderloin was pretty good, but the NY Strip was a bad piece of meat: tough, stringy and way too much fat. I knew it would arrive blackened but this was burnt on the outside and tasteless on the inside. I couldn't even finish eating the steak so I took it home so my dog would enjoy this expensive meal. The lobster and mac was good, although not much lobster (we counted two pieces). We didn't say anything to the manager that night, we blamed ourselves for straying away from our usual places. When we arrived on that Sunday evening, there were only two occupied tables in the whole restaurant. That should have been our first clue. The restaurant sent us a standard e-mail the next day to inquire about our meal which is a nice touch. So we provided them with the feedback above and the marketing rep called us and apologized and said they would be sending us coupons to make up for the bad experience. Three days later we received two $25 coupons for $50 off our next meal there. The bill for our meal was around $150 and they basically gave us 30% back. It isn't very likely we will return and shell out another $100 or more and take the chance we will get served substandard steaks. So they evidently like to cut corners. Perhaps we were there on an off night in the kitchen. Maybe you'll get there on a good night and get one of there premier cuts of meat cooked to perfection. Or maybe you'll end up treating your dog to a $50 meal.
(2)
Asha U.
Great experience! I went here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary....and we're both so glad we chose this restaurant for dinner. We didn't make a reservation, but were seated promptly. The atmosphere and decor was really great - very classy and intimate. They had a glass window in the kitchen, which was also pretty cool. I decided to order the fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil salad, along with the shrimp cocktail appetizer. My boyfriend got the filet mignon with mashed potatoes. All three dishes were delicious. The shrimp cocktail was as good as shrimp cocktail can get, and the salad was refreshing (that 15 year old balsamic was on point!). The steak was cooked perfectly too, and tasted really great. Our server (Dan) was really friendly. When he heard we were celebrating our anniversary, he brought us dessert and two glasses of Dom Perignon on the house!!! Dan even took a photo of us together and printed one copy for us each to have. Overall a great experience and really good food.
(5)
Cyrus T.
This is a high end steakhouse chain with a political theme....regal lamps, chandeliers, and large paintings of the likes of LBJ and Anne Richards adorn the walls. At first glance we thought it should give the likes of Perry's, Three Forks, or even Eddie V's a run for their money. We came for steak and were delighted to see dry-aged beef on the menu. But where's the strip? Or the ribeye? They offer a filet, bone-in porterhouse, and a sirloin....if you like thick and marbled meat you're a bit out of luck, which is just strange for a high end steakhouse like this. Wishing they had a strip or rib-eye, we opted to share a giant dry-aged sirloin and several sides and salads. The salads and sides were fine but the steak was entirely underwhelming. Service was abundant and friendly though not wholly informed. The wine list was extensive and overpriced. Dessert was excellent. Overall the experience was just ok and certainly not worth the price. I would pick Perry's over this place any day.
(3)
WEijia X.
We went here with my in-laws for dinner on the Sunday night after Valentines. I was able to make a reservation the day of at 6:30, and found the restaurant bustling (although they still had plenty of bar seating. We were treated with free champagne due to the previous day being Valentines which was a nice touch. We started with the lobster and crab cakes and the calamari. My In-Laws who are not Calamari fans loved it, especially the hot pepper addition to the dish. The lobster and crab cakes were also really good, and the corn salad that came with it was great too. My father in law got the spinach and mushroom salad and it was well dressed and delicious. For the mains, I got the sea bass in soy broth, my husband got the steak au poivre median rare, my mother in law got the steak with butter poached lobster medium, and my father in law got the special bone in filet medium. All were perfectly cooked and delicious. We got the twice baked potatoes, roasted wild mushrooms and asparagus to share. The roasted mushrooms was outstanding. It is a chain and a bit pricy, but I thought it definitely puts pressure on the other surrounding chain steakhouses like Trulucks, Sullivans, etc. It doesn't have as good of a steak selection as some of the other places, but the quality of the food that came out was excellent.
(4)
Justin A.
A solid steak house that is also open for lunch... which is what brought us there today after trying Bobs and Trulucks who were closed. It was normal priced... about $40 for lunch with a glass of wine (no apps or dessert). If I'd gone for dinner, 2 glasses of wine and split an app, which is what I would normally do for dinner, it would easily run around $100 a person with tax and tip. The food was all good... my first choice was scallops, but they were out of them at 12:30, so I opted for the lobster bisque which was full of lobster, the filet sandwich which was cooked well (although a little more bloody woulda been good), and the truffle fries. The wine and service was also good... although I felt like a hillbilly dressed in jeans and a polo shirt, my friend in a t shirt (we work at a software company and I have since given away all my suits from the days I was in banking and public finance) while most people were clearly there for business meetings and dressed in suits. The decor is nice.. like most steak houses, with dimmer lighting, wine on display, staff in ties, and a swanky feel. Its not the most Austin-esque place, since its a huge franchise, but still is a solid choice for a steak or seafood.
(4)
Cory M.
We went her last night after making reservations a few hours earlier. My wife and I went with another couple and as soon a you walk in you had a feeling that this would be a great dinner. Decor: swanky, upscale, painting of past presidents and think I saw one of napoleon. A very woody and old school feeling, yet still somewhat modern. Wearing a jacket is prob best way to go but def a button up shirt. Waiter: We were quickly greeted by our sub waiter who took our initial drink orders and brought us a drink tablet. Once we ordered our drinks our actual waiter who was Very knowledgeable and friendly. He brought out our drinks quickly and explained our menu plus the specialty items and his favorites allowing us to ask additional questions. Food: This is what we came for and were not disappointed one bit. Fresh baked bread was brought to our table which was delicious and served with salted butter Next the chef introduced himself with a complimentary small serving of squash soup with cherry chutney. It was absolutely delicious and gave us tease for what was about to come. Lastly our main courses came which was the best part. I ordered the tenderloins and lobster tail. The tenderloin medallions were cooked perfectly and seasoned well. They were so tender and fork pull apart easy. The Lobster tail was delicate and buttery and both went very well together. My wife had the citrus seared salmon and prob the best salmon Ive ever tasted. Lastly the sides. We ordered Lobster Mac and Cheese and Brussel sprouts cooked and served with bacon. The Mac and Cheese was good with big chunks of lobster but prob my least fav food of the night surprisingly (but still yummy). The brussel sprouts were unbelievable. The combination of bacon, brussel sprouts and aged balsamic vinegar went so well together. We were all too stuffed for dessert but the waiter brought out a super chocolate piece of cake on the house since it was our first time there. In conclusion this restaurant went above and beyond and earned their 5 stars from me and I think everyone at the table would agree. Def check this place out if you want check out a high end steak and seafood restaurant.
(5)
Mike C.
Capital Grille gave us a thrill! I thought I saw Frank Sinatra in the bar when we walked in. And on the way to our table I swore I saw Ava Gardner and Cary Grant at a dimly lit table for two. It just got better from there. We like to get dressed up and go out to a really good steak house every once in a while and decided to try the Capital Grille this holiday Season. Man are we glad we did. We made reservations on Open Table on their Yelp page, took the valet parking option and strolled in on a chilly winter's night. There was a really good jazz trio making light conversation music and a spot at the bar so we had a drink before dinner. The bartender made a superb Negroni and a healthy pour on the Knob Creek so we were already in a mood to like the place. And the bar drink menus are on iPads which makes it so much easier for my less than teenaged eyes to read in a bar atmosphere. The ambience is steak house but not as dark and leathery as some. A bit more refined and lighter. Our waiter was Jeffrey and he was top notch. First he brought us a delightful salmon amuse bouche, then noted the specials and wine pairings, then gave us a minute to ponder. We decided on the New York Strip and the Surf & Turf. When Mistress Linda ordered the S&T I knew she was testing the place. Most Surf & Turfs are a very small and usually overcooked lobster and a small Filet. Capital Grille don't play that game. When the Entrees came the S & T was a huge lobster that was cooked so perfectly it was among the best I've ever tasted. Note I said tasted. ML gave up a few bites because she loves me but she kept the lobster. The Filet was large enough to be a meal by itself too. My NY strip was juicy and full of flavor with just the right amount of sear. The sides were Yukon gold Mashed potatos with the skins on and broccolini, and they were delicious too but you don't go to a steak house for the sides. Dessert was a gift from Jeffry because it was our first time at Capital Grille, and we also got a gift card for $50 off our next visit. You can't beat that! We'll use it soon, that's a promise. The bill was normal for an upscale steak house, and we got great value for our dining dollar. A very good wine list, outstanding service, tremendous food, and date night atmosphere. This may well be our go to spot for a really good dinner experience.
(5)
E S.
Amazing food and wonderful service. Lobster Mac is a must and cheesecake to finish things off. I'd eat here daily but I'd be broke and weigh about 500lbs but it might be worth it.
(5)
Tracy B.
Pretty amazing to see the renovation from the former Spaghetti Warehouse. What a transformation!!! Typically I like to avoid chain restaurants and this one is owned by a biggie in the playing field- but they maintained integrity when acquiring Eddie V's and the quality shines here as well. I've taken clients here for lunch and each time the service and food has been impeccable. Big thanks to Virginia and Sarah for making everyone feel pampered and welcomed. Their Gluten Free menu is very thoughtful and extensive and as a result, they will be added to my weekly rotation (yay me!!). My clients have loved their "generous pour" wine tastings and on a recent visit the complimentary desert for an upcoming birthday was as appreciated gesture. I only deducted a star because they do not have valet at lunch and parking and walking several muggy and hot blocks in business attire and high heels is a rather big pain. If they added valet I would probably come here for lunch several times a week.
(4)
Beth D.
Dim. Regal. Elegant. (Redundant?) Expensive. Well-staffed. Swarm service style. Lobster. Oysters. Steak. Shrimp. Live jazz music. Sullivan's x 10. Fleming's x 5. Perry's x 3 with more decor. Lotsa pictures of important dead men. You like your server? Ask for their card. Bathroom: annoyingly located at the corner of the bar next to a clump of servers at all times. Bathroom: very nice. Wine by the glass. Wine by the bottle. Come with an appetite. Valet's the only way to go. Please, don't wear flip flops.
I came here for a business lunch with my company as we were invited to preview their lunch menu - for FREE! I had sliced filet mignon - cooked rare, and clam chowder. Both were excellent and would have been well worth the money had we paid. That being said, the service was almost TOO much. We were greeted and welcomed by more that 8 different people, and my co-worker was escorted to the restroom which he said made him feel like a child. Maybe ease up on the Stepford smiles and 'pardon my reach'es and lean towards a more authentic experience..maybe because it was before they opened but we found the level of service so good it was almost too intense. Will definitely be back for business lunches or client dinners though - good atmosphere, food, classy joint.
(4)
Ru L.
I've been to the Capital Grille twice for lunch and the service is top notch but I was disappointed with the steaks, mostly how they are cooked. Granted, it's not prime time dinner rush but one would figure the steak would be consistent regardless of the time of day. Also, I'm basing this opinion on the steaks I've had at the Capital Grille in Dallas and in DC, at lunch and at dinner. My steak in Austin came back over cooked to my request. First time I ordered it medium well but came back well done. Second time I decided to order it medium and it came back well done. The steak was definitely tender but not juicy and that is the result of over cooking it. I'd like to blame it on lunch rush but the place was pretty empty both times. Other than that the salad I had was wonderful. It tasted fresh and clean with the right amount of dressing to bring out the flavor of the spring mix.
(3)
John S.
This is perhaps the best steakhouse I have ever experienced, period. My old standard was the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle, but Capital Grille just may be .00005 better ----------- The decor is nice, lots of wood, low lighting, really cozy. Service was simple outstanding - Robert was a gem - I wanted for nothing. The wine list was extensive and expensive, as you would expect from a high end eatery. We started with a Caesar's salad - nicely done, very crisp and tasty. The steaks are simple outstanding, I had the dry aged Porterhouse and I have not had a better piece of beef. We paired that with the lobster mac and cheese (the best EVER!!) and the roasted Brussel sprouts. Sorry to report, after a 24 oz. steak there was not room to try the dessert selections - maybe next time?
(5)
Liz I.
I do like that it's a high end place open for lunch. I guess since it's a chain that it had higher lunch prices. But we treated respectfully even tho dressed as if we were headed to ACL. The service was a little stuffy and lengthy at all the wrong times. Their wine list by the glass was fair and we ended up choosing a glass of wine from the dinner menu. Their lobster bisque was plentiful with loads of lobster. The tenderloin sliders were good too, but just seemed overpriced for everything at about $40. The part that gets me the most is mixing up our credit cards at the end. I mean, one girl and one guy with properly-genedered names but we had the exact same credit card although not really crowded. I didn't notice til later after making payments at another place. I was disappointed to see the service slip at the last minute. Overall too stuffy for me. I like fancy, but I wasn't wowed. I will stick to Eddie V's.
(3)
Gigi C.
I met a girlfriend here for her "birthday lunch"...and did not realize it was their first day! I am definitely going to be coming back to this hip spot for another delicious meal. Joe was our server and even though the restaurant just opened he seemed confident, at ease, and offered us superior service. The menu had quite a few choices for a lunch menu. We started out with a refreshing lemonade/mint cooler-a sort of mocktail. My friend had the watermelon and feta salad, and mini filet sliders with fries which were delicious according to her. I had the field green salad which had a nice dressing on it. Then I moved to the filet hash and had it done with a scrambeled egg and a side of bernaise sauce. The filet has was absolute yummy and perfectly cooked. We finished off with the strawberries with two types of sauce-yummy! This was a really fabulous and special lunch. We will definitely be back-don't miss out on this new find in Austin!
(5)
Wilson E.
Wonderful place to celebrate my wife's birthday! Amazing service - Chris made us feel like royalty! Delicious food, Chris helped with recommendations and his favorites. The wine flight was an awesome deal as well - tried lots of great wine at an awesome price! We'll be back!
(5)
Diane S.
My CEC husband and I came to celebrate my recent promotion, and were completely blown away by the level of service at The Capital Grille-Austin. The food was spectacular, although the in-house dry-aged beef could've been a bit more tender. My tuna was absolutely perfect, and the wine list was wonderful. The dessert had us absolutely over the moon, and we will definitely be back. We'd previously had another Austin-area eatery as our "go-to" for special occasions; the pride of place is now officially held by The Capital Grille-Austin.
(5)
Megan V.
I've dined at several Capital Grilles, so when I heard there was one in Austin I knew we had to go there on this visit. I think this is one of the best CGs I've been to. It was easy making reservations for a Sunday night for me, my daughter and son-in-law. Ed was our server and he was fabulous. Everything was paced properly, he always knew exactly what we wanted sometimes even before we wanted it. We shared the lobster and crab cakes, each had a salad (chop salad, mixed greens and a wedge), and a steak (filet, sliced filet and Kona crusted sirloin) with au gratin potatoes and asparagus for sides. We split a cheesecake for dessert. The daughter had a Stoli Doli (the pineapple infused vodka) and I had the Bohemian. SIL had whiskey sours. Everything was phenomenal. I usually have the filet and it was amazing as always. The daughter loved her sliced filet, and the SIL pronounced the Kona crusted sirloin "the best thing I've eaten in my life". The rest of the food was just as good. The lobster and crab cakes have chunks of meat and no filler, the salads are fresh with homemade dressing, the steaks were superlative. The cheesecake is not really heavy and was a nice finishing touch. The service throughout was impeccable; I would highly recommend you ask for Ed when you go.
(5)
Tiffany H.
Lunch experience on a Wednesday was great. The restaurant was not at all full at 12:30, but we had made a reservation an hour ahead anyway and were seated right away. First, the host offered to replace white linen napkins with black linen napkins if you're wearing black bottoms to keep white lint from getting on your pants. She also proceeded to offer all 4 of us some shawls because we looked like we were freezing. The A/C was on full blast so I'd suggest a light jacket. Our waiter then asked us about our time constraints so he could be mindful of our schedule, which was much appreciated because we needed to be done in about an hour to get back to the office for a meeting. At this point, we haven't even looked at the menu and we're already feeling quite taken care of. The food lived up to the service, though. There are lots of great lunch options to choose from, but not very many vegetarian options if you have those dietary restrictions. The cobb salad with tenderloin that I had was perfectly cooked medium rare the way I asked. The salmon salad, grilled shrimp salad, and cheeseburger with truffle fries (thicker, not shoe string) that the others ordered were also devoured so I assume they enjoyed their food too.
(5)
Steve S.
Simply the finest steak and dining experience in Austin. Excellent staff.
(5)
Jeffrey M.
. Bit of a comedy of errors. The Capital Grill sort of lost our reservation and us while we were waiting at the bar. After a couple inquiries and a couple of promised "three minutes" warnings, we finallly were seated about an hour after our reservation time. They just misplaced us and when we inquired did nothing to get us seated. It was embarrassing and amateurish. In fairness, the management was very nice about it and comped our meal but by then I was really irritated. I don't like eating that late for health reasons. Strike One. Then they give us the worst table in the entire restaurant. This was compounded by the fact that I had asked for a "good" table as we were celebrating a belated 35th anniversary. They gave us this table when there were better tables readily available. One has to ask why? They were a bit chagrined for having lost us in the bar and now they gave us a "special" table that was in a terrible location. Even the manager agreed it was a terrible table. Strike Two. After all of this travail, the service was slow. Incredibly slow. The waiter was apologetic it was so slow. The waiter was excellent. Strike Three. The steak was superb. Best I have ever eaten but by this hour I was irritated and tired. I really could not enjoy it by the time the food was finally delivered. The Capital Grill is a conundrum. Great facility. Great steak. The waiter and his service were first rate. Terrible reservation administration. Too slow in their food delivery and prep. Does not inspire confidence or a longing to return. Underwhelmed my expectations by a mile. The management could not have been more apologetic but honestly they ruined my anniversary celebration. One only has one 35th anniversary and it is a shame they ruined mine. .
(2)
Is D.
Over-seasonsed and over-prized cafeteria food served on a hot plate and clean linens. Many better options, just around the corner. + for cleanliness and ambiance.
(2)
Stacy M.
Had a lunch date here a few days ago and must say it was pretty solid all around. I've been to the Capital Grille multiple times in Houston so it's nice that Austin is expanding its good steak options. The handmade potato chips they serve at the bar are delicious! I would choose that over bread any day of the week! The steak was delicious also! The building is gorgeous and doesn't look anything remotely close to the old spaghetti warehouse that used to fill the space. Great date location, fa sho!
(4)
Jon G.
Classy atmosphere. Reminds me of the good old days in New York. Great place, excellent staff. They know how to treat a customer here. At least they made me feel special and welcome. I have traveled the world and been to many places who try to be upscale but don't make you feel welcome. This place does.
(5)
Christine F.
The Bohemian drinks were a great start with the tomato mozzarella salad (fresh pulled every 90 minutes) along with the Chilean sea ass and Porcini Delmonico rib eye were a spectacular match. Ask for Chris!
(5)
William H.
Looking for a short for lunch and we came across The Capital Grill. Looked a little pricy when we entered. Wait staff were quick and polite. The waiter suggested the chef's special and we tried it. Steak over a Ceasar salad. It was cooked to perfection. I like medium rare. The stark was juicy and tender. The price was right at 24$ for the meal. Definitely recommend you give it a try.
(5)
Lisa D.
One of the best meals and best service of any place I have been. Our server Clarence Deddens III was simply perfect. His recommendations were spot on. Bravo Capital Grille and thanks for the photo and bday dessert!
(5)
John R.
Having lived in Austin for over 10 years, I certainly have my favorite places to grab a steak and nice bottle of wine. In fact, I was planning a night out to go to another steakhouse to order my favorite steak, the Cote de Boeuf. But I had heard Capital Grille had recently opened, so we decided to give them a shot. I was pretty impressed when I walked through the front door. A warm welcome from the staff plus some great jazz music playing in the bar area. We were promptly seated and quickly noticed the dark wood decor with paintings of famous Texans on the wall. It's hard to believe this was the old Spaghetti Warehouse. Our server, Richard, came to the table and immediately welcomed us as if we were old friends. He suggested a fruity pineapple specialty drink, which is not normally my style. But he ensured us it was great, and he was right! So we decided to go with his suggestions for the meal as well. Richard told us about all of the steaks, and I began to realize that my old friend Bob around the corner might have some competition. Well...he definitely does! Richard recommended the sirloin with pepper rub and courvoiseir sauce. I was a tad offended/surprised that out of all of their steaks, he suggested a sirloin. I told him this and he said I would be incredibly happy with it, and I was! An amazing take on sirloin... It was tender and tasty like a filet. We also got the seared salmon, which was excellent. For sides, my new friend Richard suggested the Lobster Mac and Cheese along with the asparagus. Both great. And to top it all off, Richard brought us a complimentary champagne toast, as we were celebrating something special that evening. Great food. But more specifically, wonderful service from Richard. We will be going back to The Capital Grille many more times thanks to him.
(5)
B A.
Overall a 9. Take a point off for the Salmon citric sauce. It was WAY overpowering and took away from a perfectly prepared fish
Went here for lunch last Friday. The first thing the waiter, Jared Johnson, asked was if we were under a time constraint like a lunch hour - which we were. I ordered the scallops & mushroom risotto with a cup of clam chowder, my friend ordered a steak cobb salad. The food was fantastic - perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I always had drink refills without having to ask for them. Plates were cleared immediately and Jared being ever mindful of our time, made sure to ask if we wanted dessert with enough time to enjoy it if we ordered it (we didn't because we were full!). Everything about this lunch was fantastic. If every restaurant had service like this - the world would be a much happier place. But then again, if every restaurant was like The Capital Grille, we wouldn't need Yelp.
(5)
Laura F.
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch but today, I had a free lunch- and an amazing one at that! My parents & I were invited to the soft opening of the Capital Grille. It is downtown where Spaghetti Warehouse used to be but it's way nicer. Capital Grille is a high-end chain with many locations all across the US. The ambience is classic steakhouse with a variety of Texas-themed portraits hanging on the dark walls. There's an open kitchen and some private rooms as well as a large wine cellar. Chris W. was our waiter and he did a great job of explaining the concept and menu. The service was excellent the entire time and I'd definitely recommend asking for Chris as your server! There was a limited menu since it was a preview day but we had our choice of a small list of salad/soups, entrees and the chef's choice of dessert. I had the watermelon feta salad which was refreshing and light followed by the Maine lobster roll & parmesan truffle fries (OMG). My parents ordered the scallops which were delicious as well. The portions were very generous for lunch- I couldn't eat all of mine! The dessert was a coconut pie which was stellar. They have a reasonable wine list and an exciting cocktail list as well. I asked if they are planning on having a happy hour but they weren't sure yet. I hope they do! This is a wonderful choice for a business lunch, date night dinner or special event. I can't wait to come back for dinner once they are open full time!
(5)
Emily P.
Wow! Amazing food and service. This was my first visit here, and I will be back. The staff was genuinely courteous and professional. The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The lobster in the lobster mac and cheese was the most tender I have ever had. The cheesecake - oh my. Words cannot do it justice. I may or may not have bought an extra piece to take home and eat for breakfast. Server Virginia was attentive, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and friendly. Will definitely ask for her next time!
(5)
Molly K.
We went here for my sister's birthday. I loved the lobster macaroni. the servers were very nice.
(4)
Mike C.
I'm usually not a big fan of chain restaurants, but Capital Grille is the exception to the rule ! 4 stars food 4 stars ambience 5 stars bar staff ( Christina, Kat, Charles, & Joe ) Enjoy !
(4)
C. G.
This restaurant is better suited to business gatherings versus meeting friends and family for pleasure, at least on week nights. We were seated in an area with several large groups of 7 or more people who came for dinner after work. This meant that we were hurried along so that the wait staff could tend to the large groups. Our waiter was gracious when I asked for more time, but the demands of the large groups overshadowed our dining experience. This is not what one expects when spending over $300.00 for two people. There are other places to try. Onward!
(2)
Dan O.
Del Monico was perfectly cooked rare+ per my request. Au Gratin was unbelievable. Most importantly a great wine suggestion and candid conversation from bar tender Joe Mac. Excellent overall experience for my first time at The Capital. I'll be back.
(5)
Lori D.
My husband and I wanted to try a nice steak house that we had never been to before and had good reviews...so here we were at capital grille. Delicious! Fantastic! Better than Sullivans, Ruth Chris or Three Forks...yum! He had the Delmonico 22 oz steak and I had the tenderloin and lobster tails. Both steaks melted in your mouth in a tender, juicy explosion of scrumptious-ness! We shared the creamed spinach and roasted mushrooms (large enough to share sides). The mushrooms were just alright, but we hadn't come for the mushrooms anyhow :) For dessert we had the berries and vanilla cream...can you say decadent? My new favorite steakhouse! The entrees are between $40- $55 each, sides about $10-15 each and desserts are all about $10 each...I personally hate when a classy restaurant does not list their prices on their website (who wants to go if they don't have an idea of what it will cost?) so thought this could be helpful
(5)
Bruce B.
WOW. I"m not a big steak eater, so I had the salmon with citrus juice - there was nothing left on my plate!! Perfectly cooked. My nephew had the "surf and turf" and he was the quietest he's been in a long time. We shared the cab and lobster cakes and they were equally as delicious. Ron - Ronnie was our waiter and he knows his steak and menu. Was very personable and attentive. I loved the wine menu was on an iPad and so you read about each wine at your pace and make a good decision. I went right for the Dripping Springs Dirty Martini! Thank you Dripping Springs and thank you Capital Grille for having DS! Over all a great experience. Everyone was very friendly, atmosphere was upscale but comfortable. The bar area huge and will hit that up when I'm in a hurry. Thank you Capital Grille for coming to Austin. See you again soon!
(4)
Joe W.
My girlfriend and I recently dined and had a very memorable experience. Our server Geoff was awesome! Very knowledgeable of the menu and wine list. My girlfriend had the South African lobster tail and raved about it the entire night. I had the delmonico with the Gorgonzola truffle topping with the Cabernet reduction. Phenomenal. Major compliments to Chef Brent and his team! Looking forward to our next visit!
(5)
Cindy B.
Excellent dining place! I have been to many Capital Grille locations and this is one of the best. I enjoyed the fantastic wine selection and most of all the raw oysters on the half shell and lobster! Great live entertainment as well! This is a restaurant worth dining at!
(5)
Blair T.
I managed to make a reservation for a party of ten yesterday afternoon for yesterday evening (during SXSW, no less). Heather, the sales manager, could not have been more helpful or accommodating. The food was delicious, the service was perfect and we all rolled out out of there feeling fat and happy.
(5)
Jack A.
Manager John Mirabel has something going on here. He sent me an invitation to try the Capital Grill. I nearly chucked it in the trash thinking it was one of those schemes to get me to buy insurance or a time share. Wow are we glad we went! Drinks: evidently, a martini is an impossible task for many of Austin's Bartenders to handle. Pour beer? Sure. Shake gin with ice? Too much. But not here. Perfectly prepared martini along with a shot sample of their specialty pineapple infused vodka-tini. A very nice gesture and appreciated. If you love sweet cocktails, this will please you. I did not order wine, but the list of those available is enormous. Apps: Calamari with hot cherry peppers! Yes! And a huge portion. They sent out a title lanaippe crepe square with smoked salmon, capers and dill creme. Wow. Nothing but small plates would be a great move here. Entree: But then you'd miss dry-aged steak coated with coffee and topped with something oniony straight from heaven. Perfectly cooked, bone-in sirloin. Dry-aged beef meets the hype. Sides: We could not pass up lobster mac-n-cheese. This was the un-healtiest meal we've ordered in months. Worth every calorie. Dessert: No room :( Our server, Emilie, brought us a small taste of coconut sorbet - the perfect close. Service: I mentioned Emilie. She's icing on a perfect cake. Happy, informed, professional. She even took us on a tour of the art and private rooms available for family or corporate parties. Price: worth it. Go. Atmosphere: Beautiful, Texas traditions.Giant portraits of Darrel Royal, LBJ, and Farah Fawcett, Lamer and Travis as well. Deer and ram heads, and plenty of dark wood. A classic steak house vibe, which I love. Tables are far enough apart to feel private. Kitchen has a window that allows the diner to see some action. Wine shelves are open to view. Very nice. One negative on the HUGE portions. It seemed like everyone was taking something home. Since fine food never reheats as well as I wish, we split everything. For my preferences, the plates would be smaller (with smaller prices), allowing us to try more variety. Even so, I'll return and send friends.
(5)
Julie B.
Had an excellent time here. Great food, great atmosphere and awesome staff. Our server Craig made our food and wine choices easy and fun. The lobster mac is to die for and the steaks were phenomenal. New Austin tradition for my family.
(5)
Jared W.
From the second we walked in the front door we had a perfect experience. The staff was welcoming! The restaurants build outbid is drop dead gorgeous! Our server was on point through out the full meal! The food was exceptional!
(5)
Julia F.
Amazing service from Ed and crew. Great food and atmosphere. Excellent for work meetings. Had the fillet mignon and Chilean sea bass followed by dessert that we couldn't pass up. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Brandon K.
All I can say is, my girlfriend hit the birthday dinner choice on the spot. We had a 6pm reservation on Labor Day and we were the only ones in the restaurant when we got in. The meal started with a fantastic assortment of bread that came out nice and warm. I ordered the dry aged NY strip and my gf ordered the fillet mignon. Both were amazing and cooked to perfection. We also ordered a side of mushrooms to go along with the meal and I can say, they were some of the best mushrooms I have ever had. The meal ended with a great looking birthday dessert sampler to cleanse the pallet. Overall, the service was 100% and the meal was even better. To top it off, there was a nice hand written birthday card waiting for us at the table!
(5)
Pamela R.
This is my new favorite steakhouse in Austin! Definitely worthy of 5 stars from service, to FOOD, to ambience! They serve PRIME, DRY/AGED BEEF!! Need I say more?! It is the most flavorful, tender, delectable beef you will ever put in your mouth and they cook it to perfection. And they serve whole Maine Lobster! Unfortunately, they were out but I will be back to try. Apps, sides and desserts were all superior as well. We excitedly did the current "Generous Pour" wine promotion. And it is truly generous! Probably 3 oz x 8 pours. Needless to say, neither of us could finish it. The wine quality was only mediocre but if you are not particular, it is a super value that lets you try 8 different varietals. Next time, I will stick to the regular wine menu as they had several good bottles. I must mention our outstanding hostess, Mae! I know, a hostess? But she set a wonderful tone for the entire evening with her knowledge and cheerfulness while our server was busy. She also had our table decorated and sent us an appetizer when she learned it was our anniversary! All around, it's the best I have had in town.
(5)
Adam L.
I currently would put Capital Grille as the best steak house in Austin. Ignore the fact it is a 'chain' - it is still the best. The steaks are MUCH better than Sullivans, Flemings, Bobs, etc. The service is fantastic; it reminds me of elite NYC or CHI service (really knowledgeable and passionate wait staff). The ambiance is great. I have eaten here 8x or so this year and every time I think, damn that was a great meal. Highly recommend.
(5)
Courtney B.
Today was my birthday! My boss and another work associate took me to The Capital Grille (for my first time) to celebrate. And I cannot rave enough on the service we received!!! Everything was just amazing!!! When we first arrived the table it was decorated with confetti and there was a hand signed birthday card for me!! Then when we all got seated they brought everyone a flute of champagne!! Rob, our server, was extremely attentive and helpful with the menu and wine selections. He even took a picture of our party with the restaurant digital camera and then brought us a print out! At the end of the meal I was surprised with a dessert plate with "happy birthday" written in chocolate!! My experience was truly just amazing!! Thank you Rob and the rest of the staff of Capital Grille for making my birthday wonderful!!! :)) and thanks to the chef for AMAZING food!!
(5)
Summer P.
Beautiful interior, amazing wait staff, delicious steaks. Did not like the au gratin potatoes at all and didn't eat them. My date's steak was a little over cooked and they comped it for him which I thought was really generous. Will definitely be going back!
(4)
Cris W.
Salmon overcooked Asparagus cold Augratin cold Lobster Mac good Mozzarella & Tom good Austin Amber good
(2)
Kristy P.
If you've never been to a Capital Grill (it's a chain), then you need to go. They are first class when it comes to steakhouses. Knowledgeable and top notch wait staff and steaks cooked to perfection. Definitely at a higher price point, but well worth it. Most of their entrees and pretty large though and can be easily split between two people. They also usually do something special for you if you're celebrating and vent - just let your waiter know!
(5)
Medvedi P.
So The Capital Grille - Austin wanted to make up for having my car towed and sent me a gift card. This is what I call excellent customer service. Thank you guys!
(5)
Noora B.
Had the lamb shanks- absolutely divine. came with a side of blueberry marmalade. when I noticed this, I was like "what? Who spreads fruit on lamb?" I have two words for you when I tried the combination: mind blown. Couldn't stop talking about it for months. Still mention it to friends today. "You know, one time I went to Capital Grille and they gave me blueberry marmalade to go with my Lamb Shanks". Lobster mac n cheese- delicious. Mashed potatoes- perfectly whipped- asparagus- yum. I've also had the steak and it is cooked to perfection. :)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
craig b.
I want to give this place 3.5, but I am rounding down. There is nothing significantly wrong with Capital Grille, but I nothing particularly impressive either. It is a big chain, and it shows. The entire menu is a cut-n-paste from every other steak place in the city. Blindfolded, you cannot tell this place from Perrys/RuthChris/Bobs/Flemmings/ Sullivans/etc. Vince Young might have a few better seafood options, Sullivans might have a slightly better lunch menu but we are splitting hairs. They all serve basically the same menu are roughly the same price. Review: The citrus and campari cocktail I got (forget the name) was very good, but overpriced. As far as our dinner went, we got the Grand Plateau (seafood tower) which was fine, but predictable. The steamed Lobster was exactly what you would expect. The shrimp were cooked well, but there we just a few oysters and the sauces were all jarred. Why not toss some herbs in there? Do a house made butter garlic sauce? Why not put some scallops on the tower? Do SOMETHING. They were generous with the lump crab, but it was clearly pre-picked. Regardless, without an interesting sauce, who cares? For a main, I got the "Dry Aged Sirloin Steak" ($44). If that steak had been aged, it was clearly not for long enough. I would hope for 21-28 days minimum, but I am guessing that thing was less than two weeks, if all. Basically, no "aged" flavor. I ordered it medium rare and it came out medium ++. The sear was good on it, so kudos there. For sides we got creamed spinach, which tasted exactly like creamed spinach. The grilled asparagus was overcooked and limp, which is a shame because the lemon was nice. The lobster mac and cheese was really good. The wine menu was downright pathetic. It is basically a list of bulk buy wines easily secured through large distributors. Don't get me wrong, Franciscan and La Cream (etc etc) make good stuff, but these pretty much a list of "high end grocery store" wines with a 4x markup. There is no thought put into the wine list. Interior was nice, but again, predictable. The need to "Texas it up" was funny. I thought the giant Farrah Fawcet painting was amusing, if strange. Service was good, which you would expect at a highish end steak place. Better than I would have guess after just a few weeks after opening. Overall, there is no reason to pick this place over any other steakhouse, but I won't be a bad meal if you go here.
(3)Marie T.
For Valentine's Day, my boyfriend surprised me and treated me to this wonderful restaurant! I cannot speak highly enough about our experience at The Capital Grille. We were seated in a very quiet, romantic corner and were treated supremely well by our waiter, Bryan, and the staff. We were never for want of anything! Every bit of the food was fantastic, even the bread assortment and salted butter! We had a calamari appetizer (which introduced me to pepperoncinis and hot cherry peppers--I love them now!), and for dinner, we had dry aged steaks (his was plain; mine had gorgonzola cheese and cabernet wine reduction--YUM!), and lobster macaroni and cheese. It was all exquisite. The portions were more than enough. For a special Valentine's touch, they gave us a single red rose. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, especially couples, looking for an all-around amazing dining experience.
(5)Teri K.
These 5 stars are for the service and exceptional management of the Capital Grille Austin. The food is delicious, of course, but I experienced an unfortunate incident of less than fresh lobster on my mac n cheese side 2 weeks ago (it happens). There was definitely a strong odor ammonia odor and the server promptly removed the dish and sent the manager (Heather) to our table. Without hesitation, she immediately apologized and stated the dish was unacceptable. I appreciated the simple and professional manner she took but when the bill came, I was blown away. Heather not only removed the charge for the dish, but also comped our very nice bottle of wine (which was not expected, but very much appreciated). That is how you handle a blemish with class! I will certainly be back to enjoy their food and service. Capital Grille sets a high bar in the elite restaurant market. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and friendly as well.
(5)Terry N.
Even though this is a chain I think it's the best steakhouse downtown. They usually have an off menu bone in aged filet which is the most flavorful filet I have ever eaten. The ambiance is upscale jazz club like and the service is excellent. The drinks are well made and the fresh bread hot and yummy! I highly recommend this steakhouse.
(5)Alison N.
While the food was delicious, the service is what was really spectacular. Our server Dan made our evening out feel like a very special occasion. He had every detail covered and went beyond helping us with transportation and walkable late night hot spots.
(5)Todd E.
Amazing burger for lunch. Great service.
(5)Clau C.
Poor service,I had dinner with my husband to celebrate Mother's Day. The welcome was very nice but the service was bad. Our waitress kept disappearing for long period of times. The bread was brought once we asked for it after our appetizers , that's because we asked for it. She said she had a big table , which frankly it's not my problem for the amount of cash we were dropping at this dinner. Food was good but I can get the same in another steak place with exceptional service, not a POOR service like this place. We are avid steak restaurant visitors and This was my first and last time at this place.
(1)Ken K.
Fantastic dinner. Both the steaks and seafood were very good. Probably the best service I have ever received. Thank you.
(5)Phillip W.
I've been to this location 2 times now. Dinner was ok - and for $100 each (granted, we had nice wine), it should have been phenomenal. Lunch this time was very nice - a good experience. The service was very professional and the special salad option was very good. I'll definitely come again.
(4)Tiffany J.
Can't say enough great things about this restaurant. Tonight was our first time in and we were celebrating a birthday. I let them know ahead of time, and the staff really went out of their way to make the birthday boy feel special. The service was spectacular and the food was phenomenal!
(5)Christopher K.
Great selection of wine, live jazz, great location, good service; the outside sitting area was a perfect place to talk/hang out--
(4)Rik W.
I don't normally patronize mega-chain expense-account and convention steakhouses, since they are all cookie-cutter in ambience, menu, price and wine list. However, I received an unsolicited gift certificate to try the place, a very nice gesture and good marketing idea, so I decided to give it a try. I first went to their web site to peruse the menu. It is posted, without prices. Terrible idea! Price is important for many people looking to dine out, and omitting them is inexcusable. If they think showing the prices will drive people away, just imagine the reaction when they arrive and are surprised. The wine list is not posted on the website, just a few suggestions from their touted Master Sommelier. Again, bad idea. The wine list is important for many people choosing a restaurant. The website would not permit me to make a reservation without giving my email addy. I am NOT giving a restaurant my email. Once we arrived, we were seated promptly. The ambience is nice, but exactly like all the other upscale steakhouse chains except for the Texas-themed portraits on the walls. I dare you to enter blindfolded and be able to guess which steakhouse you are in. Seated two tables from us was a couple, the man wearing (I kid you not) a T shirt, shorts and flip flops. This is totally unacceptable in a restaurant striving for upscale elegance and charging those prices. If I want to see that I can go to Hoffbrau. Is there really no dress code whatsoever or are they just lazy? One star off just for that. The food and service were good, which it should be in a restaurant like this, but not life-changing. Again, exactly like Morton's, Ruth's Chris, Fleming's, Bob's, Perry's, Sullivan's, etc., etc. The wine list, while large, was very disappointing. While most of the business/convention diners wouldn't know or care, since they are looking only to impress by ordering expensive wines, most of the wines on the list are the most common brands from large producers. I am not sure exactly why a master sommelier is needed. I could have produced this list in a couple hours. I suppose this comes from being a mega-chain, where the wines must always be readily available in large quantities so they rarely have to alter the list. Most of the bottles are recent vintages, which means the better wines are not yet ready to drink. The inclusion of Santa Margherita pinot grigio on the list alone diminishes the list. While a decent wine, it is one of the cheapest in Italy, about 8 Euro a bottle, and has become popular in America due to marketing. It is grossly overpriced here, $18-21 in most stores ( I'm sure Capital pays more like $15-16 a bottle and charges $60). There are many Italian pino grigios better than this at the same or lower prices, if the somm made any effort at all. And, while many probably don't care, my own pet peeve--they do not provide or allow corkage. This is inexcusable in my book, and that precludes me from patronizing a restaurant. Let's keep Austin weird. Patronize local restaurants, avoid the chains, and keep Austin from becoming Dallas, Atlanta or Phoenix.
(2)Russell P.
Off to a great start. The Capital Grille has been been open for a month now and it's a nice addition to the Austin dining scene. First, I'll admit that my favorite Steak/Seafood place is still Eddie V's but TCG is almost there. Food = 5 stars. Service = 4 stars. They're still getting up to speed but trying very hard. The crab/lobster cake appetizers were awesome, the lobster bisque tasty with nice chunks of lobster meat. The shrimp cocktail was good but nothing special. The tenderloin with poached lobster tails was fantastic. While it is certainly on the pricey side, the atmosphere is very nice, wine list is extensive, the food outstanding and the service is almost there. Definitely worth a try.
(4)Mark A.
Amazing meal, fantastic service and great jazz band in the bar. This was our first time at The Capital Grill and it could not have gone better. Our waiter, Richard, did a great job of explaining the menu and recommending selections. Started with the calamari appetizer, then a salad and finished with the peppercorn steak. Amazing meal!
(5)Greg L.
Had a really disappointing encounter with Truluck's on Colorado. Greeted by the dude who "stars" in their television spots. Arrived at 6 andI was looking for a table for 6. I was immediately told the absolute earliest would be 8:30 and in the same breath Mr. Television turns to my client and snippily asks him to remove his cap. He then proceeds to tell us he would cobble two lounge tables together under stairwell and right next to the piano where we could wait or order off the menu. His dismissive attitude created as cold a reception as I have ever received in our fair city. My client's , who were in from Denver and Houston, commented that they thought Austin was supposed to be this laid back and friendly city. Next thing I see a guy walk in with a dirty straw cowboy hat who is escorted to table upstairs. Next a dude walks in in cargo shorts, flops and sport shirt. He too is greeted and seated. We left having found immediate seating at our choice of Sullivan's or Capital Grill. The meal we had at Capital Grill was delicious and the management bent over backwards to provide excellent service. I am not sure where Truluck's and their Mr. Television come off with such an attitude-but it sucked. I'll never, ever set foot in their restaurant again. And if asked will happily share my story with those who enquire. Unfortunately for Truluck's my company heavily entertains out of town clients and makes many recommendations for our sister companies. Mr. Television and Truluck's will not have to bother with us again. Austin has way too many great places to eat to put up with haughty and rude behavior from any establishment.
(5)Erika J.
Came for Mother's Day brunch and had a great time. Dan our server was excellent very attentive & funny (would recommend you request him!) Food was delicious we tried the crab cakes, lobster eggs Benedict and the filet mignon. Atmosphere is upscale, elegant, not too noisy which is nice. Would recommend the Stoli Doli as well, if you want a fun drink.
(5)Roni S.
My husband and I had a wonderful experience here tonight. The restaurant has been open for less than a week but you would never know it because the food and service were exceptional. Our steaks were cooked to perfection. The lobster Mac n Cheese and the fresh tomato mozzarella salad are a must order. The service was attentive but not overbearing. We were fortunate to have Lorrie as our server. She was awesome! Very professional. Actually, the entire staff was awesome. They made us feel so welcomed. Two thumbs up!! We highly recommend.
(5)Natasha T.
My expectations for this price point were definitely not met. However, The service was excellent and the steak was good. We had cocktails, champagne, calamari, entrees with sides and dessert. We started with calamari per the waiters suggestion. He claimed it was "lightly fried." I'm not quite sure where he's from but it was loaded with breading and it didn't even have a sauce. My husband ordered the peppercorn crusted filet. He really enjoyed the steak. I had the Chilean sea bass. It was not worth nearly 50$. Go to Eddie Vs if you want outstanding sea bass. It was edible but no flavor. We had the creamed corn and potatoes both were really subpar. We tasted the flour less chocolate cake and the cheesecake. Both were good. I preferred the cheesecake. They burn the top like a creme brûlée which was really unique and tasty. Overall I struggle between 2 and 3 stars because it was just OK and for those prices the food should blow your mind. We definitely will not go back. Too many other great steak places downtown.
(3)Deanna V.
We wanted to try Capital Grille for Mother's Day dinner. We had been to the one in Midtown NYC a few times. The hostesses were very welcoming upon arrival. They took us to our booth and it was right next to the kitchen, so we asked if we could have another booth. (There were two empty near by). Instead of walking us right over, we were escorted back to the foyer and waited for I don't know what. We were finally seated in the booth nearby the original one. We were with our 4-year old daughter and they had a little goodie bag full of strikers and bracelets. Very sweet. We asked the hostess for a booster but it never came. We finally asked a server walking by and finally got one. Paul was our server and he was great. We started with martinis and oysters. Martinis were perfectly made. Unfortunately the oysters were just ok. There was no sommelier but Paul brought over another server Jared and he was very great and knowledgable. The filets were cooked to perfection. They were served with what tasted like a vermouth based sauce. Not my favorite, but my hubby loved it. The Mac & cheese was to die for. The mushrooms were very good. Our daughter had a burger & fries. My husband and I could not keep our hands off her fries and she was raving about the burger, practically consuming the whole thing. We ordered the coconut cream pie and would not recommend it. In a wonderful gesture, Paul brought out the chocolate hazelnut cake to go for us to try later. Over all a great experience. Try it!
(3)Dave C.
Absolutely excellent -- everything was perfect! I took my mother and my younger sister here for a nice celebratory dinner and we had an amazing meal! I am still full! The steaks are hands down the best steaks I have ever had. They definitely tops Perry's and Ruth Chris steakhouse for sure. There's no comparison/competition. Capital Grille is THE best. The ambience is beautiful - it's romantically lit and a great place for a romantic date, a celebration, or a wedding proposal. I love it here. They have so many great wines -- it's almost overwhelming. We had the special - a filet mignon with demi glas sauce and red-skin potatoes and asparagus. It was to die for. If this was my last meal ever, I wouldn't complain a bit! We even saved room for dessert -- a chocolate-espresso cake and also the berries with whipped cream. It was excellent. The steaks were cooked to perfection. The potatoes were buttery and complimented the steak very well. The server was very kind and hospitable. Even the house wine was great. I am not sure how anyone could not give this place 5 stars. To the person who was agitated about how long things were taking - this is not a restaurant you go to for a quick bite to eat. It's an experience. They pace the meal so that you have time to talk and reminisce with your friends and family over amazing food. Absolutely wonderful, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. The only thing that surprised me is that it wasn't more busy/crowded. This is a hidden gem in Austin and I wish I had known about it sooner! A+!
(5)Kacy M.
Wonderful food and amazing service! Clarence took great care of us!
(5)Victor W.
Solid steakhouse though nothing special here as it's part of a very large chain. On one hand you know what you're getting, on the other hand you know what you're getting. Service is excellent -- very friendly, attentive, and fast. The kona bone in sirloin was nicely cooked and tasted great. The oysters were finely presented and tasty as well. It's upscale steakhouse pricing so you're getting what you pay for. My big gripe was the drink menu was un-navigable -- it's an iPad with terrible design. I had a hard time figuring out how to view wines by the glass (and part of my day job is in in user design/experience!). I had an even harder time ordering beer since it turned out the beers aren't listed in the drinks menu at all. I think the iPad is incredibly less classy than a normal wine/drinks menu though I'd guess they do it to cheap out on having a real sommelier. I have no problem doing business dinners here but I don't think of it as a foodie's heaven.
(3)Ryan F.
One of my favorite steakhouses in Austin. I love coming here. It is in alignment with the capital grille brand. Quality meals for a higher price & worth the money!
(5)Anne A.
I visited this upscale chain steakhouse in Austin during South by. We were a group of 7 and this was the only nicer place in Downtown Austin accepting reservations. Service was professional and as expected at a white table cloth restaurant steakhouse. Not quite as attentive as the service at Mastro's in Beverly Hills. We shared a variety of sides such burrata and tomato salad, calamari, and brussel sprouts. All pretty standard dishes, and nothing I haven't had before at any other restaurant. The server recommended the truffle steak for my entree. As I ate the steak, it was a bit difficult me to finish the entire dish. It wasn't a bad steak, but it also wasn't really one easy for me to eat. I'm not sure what it was but with all the great food I was eating in Austin, this place just wasn't as exciting for me. The food is classic steakhouse fare, but with all the great places to eat in Austin, this probably would not be on the top of my list any time soon, even if they have a location here in Los Angeles. My expectations are probably a bit more higher now for the perfect steak after dining at Asador Etxebarri.
(3)Jennifer E.
I took my father her for Father's Day. We made our reservations via Open Table. Our waitress was Dominque Morales. Dominque did a great job showing us how to use the iPad for wine and drinks. She explained the process they do for meats. She made suggestions and made sure the table was always satisfied without being in our face. For our starters we had the French Onion soup, the lobster bisque and the Tomato and Mozzarella salad. The Tomato and Mozzarella salad was amazing. Almost as good as the ones I had in Florance. Not as good but the closest thing I have had since. My father really enjoyed his French Onion soup. He kept telling us how good it was. My husband ordered the Gorgonzola Truffles Strip. It was huge but he ate every bite. He did state the cheese was a tad too powerful for the meat. He still ate it all but thought maybe a different version of Gorgonzola would have been better. My father and I ordered the Filet Mignons. Both were cooked to our liking. For the table we got the Au Gratin Potatoes and the Brussel Sprouts. The side were maybe the disappointing part of the evening to me. They were ok. I found the bacon in the sprouts over done. Next time I will order different sides. We ended the night with their Cheesecake and an Espresso and cups of coffee. Everyone was stuffed but happy with the food. The entire evening was enjoyable. A perfect Father's Day. The valet has some issues as only two were working but nothing to upset the night. I would recommend maybe more than two work. It was $350 night but that is ok for special occasions. The volume of the place does get a tad loud. I am glad we had early reservations and were able to enjoy our meal without the volume. I enjoyed the feel and look of the place. Nice to be able to see in the kitchen without the kitchen noise. We would be back for another special occasion.
(4)Alisha R.
Best place for brunch in Austin I had the carrot cake French toast with venison sausage and have never ever EVER had anything taste so good. It is usually packed in the mornings though so I would recommend making a reservation.
(5)John H.
Game on Austin steakhouses because CG is on its game! The interior is spectacular and not a dime was spared. You will notice as soon as you take a seat in a seriously plush leather chair. The semi-open glassed in kitchen showcases the clockwork like operation. I hit high end steakhouses all the time entertaining clients and know the drill. I have been to other CG locations that were not at this level. The food was very good as expected. The cocktails were perfect. But on top of everything the service was expertly attentive. So everything was great and then guess what? It was Generous Pour night. $25 bottomless selection of 7 wines. Need I say more? Yes it is a chain but they have certainly gone out of their way to open on a high note. For now it's great so let's check back in a year from now and see if they are still on their game.
(5)Andrew B.
Rock solid steakhouse experience. Great wine list, dry aged steaks, knowledgeable wait staff, the ability to accommodate a 2-person dinner or a dozen person party, across the board good. Like most other places in central Austin, parking can be a bit of a problem, but that's life in the ATX. I'd go again, especially if it's on someone else's dime.
(4)Errol M.
You should stop by just to see what they've done to the place. We came here on a whim, ten-minutes past closing, mainly to glance inside. The front-end staff could not have been more gracious or accommodating. We slipped into the bar, and our bartender Charles slipped us cocktails and a steak. If superb hospitality is wrong, I don't want to know what's right. Something like that. I've never been to a Capital Grille before, it's an upscale steakhouse chain, and I enjoyed our shared filet. I was less fond of the sauce. But that's subjective, and there are other things I'll try next time. And as we were leaving, they noticed I was taking one last look around, and offered us a complete tour. Now that, was very cool. We revisited the bar we were in (bigger than we thought), the main dining area, and the three enclosed private rooms - each adorned with portraits and themes of Texas. I'm not going to post any interior pics here, I think you should experience Farrah Fawcett for yourself. I also think Capital Grille should be on your go-to list. Although we arrived way late, there was still a vibrant if dwindling crowd here on a Tuesday night, and I'm still flummoxed by the lack of any t-shirts, shorts, or flip-flops in an Austin restaurant. Yes, Toto, we are still in Austin. Maybe it just isn't Kansas anymore.
(4)Troy M.
Had another great meal from this Austin Favorite! Virginia Lill was on point with her recommendations and service and it was MUCH appreciated! Thanks so much! The Marcus Family
(5)Lou S.
Hmmm... I find it bizarre to be writing a less than praiseful account of a capital grille restaurant. However, they are not all equals apparently. Last night while in town for some dear friends' 20th anniv we visited this new location in downtown Austin. It was as usual very good food and wines. What made it not so enjoyable was the service. It started with appetizers being brought out and offered to each one of our party of eight. The server never served any to our guests of honor. Our friend had to ask someone at our table to pass him the plate. Then the lead server seemed to be swapped out for someone else who "pushed" the pace by asking if we were ready to place our main course order. We werent ready and we kindly told him so. He came back two minutes later asking again while we were still enjoying appetizers and his tone was more urgent asking for our order. This time I took over from my more timid friend and dispensed him with simply a look. He must of gotten the message as lead server number two came back next and i assured him we were now ready to order. But water glasses went dry. Wine presentations were amateur, etc. even the customary dessert course for our anniversary guest had to be prompted. This all comes down to one thing. Management. I watched all evening the manager Mr. Mirabal doting over 2 tables exclusively and wondered who they were to merit that level of pampering and, who I wasnt. At our usual local capital grille 240 miles north in Plano Tx. we never have to put up with careless service. Manager Greg sees every table enjoying dinner by a personal visit. At this price level ($200 pp) service IS what youre selling. On our way out the door my quiet friend asked to see the manager for a moment and the hostess said he was "busy". We waited. His attitude appeared to be only mildly concerned and offered no explanation for the "olive garden" level of service. He only offered to write an email. He needs more training. His service staff needs better direction and instruction. --------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â--------------------------------------------------Â-------------------- Follow up 042015: Mr. Mirabal called me personally to apologize for the less than par service which he acknowledged. He offered to make things right by having us back, however since we don't visit Austin very often, that would not be likely to happen. He even offered us a do over in the Plano location, but I did not want to trouble the Plano location with any obligation as I visit them frequently. Most importantly he asked me about our service experience at his restaurant and assured me he'd correct the issues I mentioned to him. As a fellow Texan, I take him at his word he will do so and I will someday in the future revisit his location. This really is a superb restaurant and one mediocre night would never drive me away. Their food quality is above all other steakhouses I've visited !
(3)Cris G.
Let's fix this. I've been back to Capital Grille a few more times. The food is excellent, the service is excellent.
(5)Larry C.
We were out celebrating a special occasion and we usually eat at Perry's, Trudy's, Eddie V's or Sullivan's for steaks (all of them excellent establishments), but we decided to check out the Capital Grille based on Yelp reviews. Damn, we should've stayed with our usual places. The Capital Grille steaks are not in the same league as the four I mentioned. The food is more akin to Ruth Chris or McCormick and Schmick's: expensive but not worth it. The service was excellent, our waitress was wonderful but she was no help with the menu. When we asked about different dishes, her responses were the same, "that's an incredible dish", "that one is one of my favorite", "you can't go wrong with that steak" and "that one is equally as good". So we really didn't receive any concrete information to help us with our decision. We decided on the Bone-in Kona Crusted NY Strip and the Seared Tenderloin with the Lobster Tails. The Tenderloin was pretty good, but the NY Strip was a bad piece of meat: tough, stringy and way too much fat. I knew it would arrive blackened but this was burnt on the outside and tasteless on the inside. I couldn't even finish eating the steak so I took it home so my dog would enjoy this expensive meal. The lobster and mac was good, although not much lobster (we counted two pieces). We didn't say anything to the manager that night, we blamed ourselves for straying away from our usual places. When we arrived on that Sunday evening, there were only two occupied tables in the whole restaurant. That should have been our first clue. The restaurant sent us a standard e-mail the next day to inquire about our meal which is a nice touch. So we provided them with the feedback above and the marketing rep called us and apologized and said they would be sending us coupons to make up for the bad experience. Three days later we received two $25 coupons for $50 off our next meal there. The bill for our meal was around $150 and they basically gave us 30% back. It isn't very likely we will return and shell out another $100 or more and take the chance we will get served substandard steaks. So they evidently like to cut corners. Perhaps we were there on an off night in the kitchen. Maybe you'll get there on a good night and get one of there premier cuts of meat cooked to perfection. Or maybe you'll end up treating your dog to a $50 meal.
(2)Asha U.
Great experience! I went here with my boyfriend to celebrate our anniversary....and we're both so glad we chose this restaurant for dinner. We didn't make a reservation, but were seated promptly. The atmosphere and decor was really great - very classy and intimate. They had a glass window in the kitchen, which was also pretty cool. I decided to order the fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil salad, along with the shrimp cocktail appetizer. My boyfriend got the filet mignon with mashed potatoes. All three dishes were delicious. The shrimp cocktail was as good as shrimp cocktail can get, and the salad was refreshing (that 15 year old balsamic was on point!). The steak was cooked perfectly too, and tasted really great. Our server (Dan) was really friendly. When he heard we were celebrating our anniversary, he brought us dessert and two glasses of Dom Perignon on the house!!! Dan even took a photo of us together and printed one copy for us each to have. Overall a great experience and really good food.
(5)Cyrus T.
This is a high end steakhouse chain with a political theme....regal lamps, chandeliers, and large paintings of the likes of LBJ and Anne Richards adorn the walls. At first glance we thought it should give the likes of Perry's, Three Forks, or even Eddie V's a run for their money. We came for steak and were delighted to see dry-aged beef on the menu. But where's the strip? Or the ribeye? They offer a filet, bone-in porterhouse, and a sirloin....if you like thick and marbled meat you're a bit out of luck, which is just strange for a high end steakhouse like this. Wishing they had a strip or rib-eye, we opted to share a giant dry-aged sirloin and several sides and salads. The salads and sides were fine but the steak was entirely underwhelming. Service was abundant and friendly though not wholly informed. The wine list was extensive and overpriced. Dessert was excellent. Overall the experience was just ok and certainly not worth the price. I would pick Perry's over this place any day.
(3)WEijia X.
We went here with my in-laws for dinner on the Sunday night after Valentines. I was able to make a reservation the day of at 6:30, and found the restaurant bustling (although they still had plenty of bar seating. We were treated with free champagne due to the previous day being Valentines which was a nice touch. We started with the lobster and crab cakes and the calamari. My In-Laws who are not Calamari fans loved it, especially the hot pepper addition to the dish. The lobster and crab cakes were also really good, and the corn salad that came with it was great too. My father in law got the spinach and mushroom salad and it was well dressed and delicious. For the mains, I got the sea bass in soy broth, my husband got the steak au poivre median rare, my mother in law got the steak with butter poached lobster medium, and my father in law got the special bone in filet medium. All were perfectly cooked and delicious. We got the twice baked potatoes, roasted wild mushrooms and asparagus to share. The roasted mushrooms was outstanding. It is a chain and a bit pricy, but I thought it definitely puts pressure on the other surrounding chain steakhouses like Trulucks, Sullivans, etc. It doesn't have as good of a steak selection as some of the other places, but the quality of the food that came out was excellent.
(4)Justin A.
A solid steak house that is also open for lunch... which is what brought us there today after trying Bobs and Trulucks who were closed. It was normal priced... about $40 for lunch with a glass of wine (no apps or dessert). If I'd gone for dinner, 2 glasses of wine and split an app, which is what I would normally do for dinner, it would easily run around $100 a person with tax and tip. The food was all good... my first choice was scallops, but they were out of them at 12:30, so I opted for the lobster bisque which was full of lobster, the filet sandwich which was cooked well (although a little more bloody woulda been good), and the truffle fries. The wine and service was also good... although I felt like a hillbilly dressed in jeans and a polo shirt, my friend in a t shirt (we work at a software company and I have since given away all my suits from the days I was in banking and public finance) while most people were clearly there for business meetings and dressed in suits. The decor is nice.. like most steak houses, with dimmer lighting, wine on display, staff in ties, and a swanky feel. Its not the most Austin-esque place, since its a huge franchise, but still is a solid choice for a steak or seafood.
(4)Cory M.
We went her last night after making reservations a few hours earlier. My wife and I went with another couple and as soon a you walk in you had a feeling that this would be a great dinner. Decor: swanky, upscale, painting of past presidents and think I saw one of napoleon. A very woody and old school feeling, yet still somewhat modern. Wearing a jacket is prob best way to go but def a button up shirt. Waiter: We were quickly greeted by our sub waiter who took our initial drink orders and brought us a drink tablet. Once we ordered our drinks our actual waiter who was Very knowledgeable and friendly. He brought out our drinks quickly and explained our menu plus the specialty items and his favorites allowing us to ask additional questions. Food: This is what we came for and were not disappointed one bit. Fresh baked bread was brought to our table which was delicious and served with salted butter Next the chef introduced himself with a complimentary small serving of squash soup with cherry chutney. It was absolutely delicious and gave us tease for what was about to come. Lastly our main courses came which was the best part. I ordered the tenderloins and lobster tail. The tenderloin medallions were cooked perfectly and seasoned well. They were so tender and fork pull apart easy. The Lobster tail was delicate and buttery and both went very well together. My wife had the citrus seared salmon and prob the best salmon Ive ever tasted. Lastly the sides. We ordered Lobster Mac and Cheese and Brussel sprouts cooked and served with bacon. The Mac and Cheese was good with big chunks of lobster but prob my least fav food of the night surprisingly (but still yummy). The brussel sprouts were unbelievable. The combination of bacon, brussel sprouts and aged balsamic vinegar went so well together. We were all too stuffed for dessert but the waiter brought out a super chocolate piece of cake on the house since it was our first time there. In conclusion this restaurant went above and beyond and earned their 5 stars from me and I think everyone at the table would agree. Def check this place out if you want check out a high end steak and seafood restaurant.
(5)Mike C.
Capital Grille gave us a thrill! I thought I saw Frank Sinatra in the bar when we walked in. And on the way to our table I swore I saw Ava Gardner and Cary Grant at a dimly lit table for two. It just got better from there. We like to get dressed up and go out to a really good steak house every once in a while and decided to try the Capital Grille this holiday Season. Man are we glad we did. We made reservations on Open Table on their Yelp page, took the valet parking option and strolled in on a chilly winter's night. There was a really good jazz trio making light conversation music and a spot at the bar so we had a drink before dinner. The bartender made a superb Negroni and a healthy pour on the Knob Creek so we were already in a mood to like the place. And the bar drink menus are on iPads which makes it so much easier for my less than teenaged eyes to read in a bar atmosphere. The ambience is steak house but not as dark and leathery as some. A bit more refined and lighter. Our waiter was Jeffrey and he was top notch. First he brought us a delightful salmon amuse bouche, then noted the specials and wine pairings, then gave us a minute to ponder. We decided on the New York Strip and the Surf & Turf. When Mistress Linda ordered the S&T I knew she was testing the place. Most Surf & Turfs are a very small and usually overcooked lobster and a small Filet. Capital Grille don't play that game. When the Entrees came the S & T was a huge lobster that was cooked so perfectly it was among the best I've ever tasted. Note I said tasted. ML gave up a few bites because she loves me but she kept the lobster. The Filet was large enough to be a meal by itself too. My NY strip was juicy and full of flavor with just the right amount of sear. The sides were Yukon gold Mashed potatos with the skins on and broccolini, and they were delicious too but you don't go to a steak house for the sides. Dessert was a gift from Jeffry because it was our first time at Capital Grille, and we also got a gift card for $50 off our next visit. You can't beat that! We'll use it soon, that's a promise. The bill was normal for an upscale steak house, and we got great value for our dining dollar. A very good wine list, outstanding service, tremendous food, and date night atmosphere. This may well be our go to spot for a really good dinner experience.
(5)E S.
Amazing food and wonderful service. Lobster Mac is a must and cheesecake to finish things off. I'd eat here daily but I'd be broke and weigh about 500lbs but it might be worth it.
(5)Tracy B.
Pretty amazing to see the renovation from the former Spaghetti Warehouse. What a transformation!!! Typically I like to avoid chain restaurants and this one is owned by a biggie in the playing field- but they maintained integrity when acquiring Eddie V's and the quality shines here as well. I've taken clients here for lunch and each time the service and food has been impeccable. Big thanks to Virginia and Sarah for making everyone feel pampered and welcomed. Their Gluten Free menu is very thoughtful and extensive and as a result, they will be added to my weekly rotation (yay me!!). My clients have loved their "generous pour" wine tastings and on a recent visit the complimentary desert for an upcoming birthday was as appreciated gesture. I only deducted a star because they do not have valet at lunch and parking and walking several muggy and hot blocks in business attire and high heels is a rather big pain. If they added valet I would probably come here for lunch several times a week.
(4)Beth D.
Dim. Regal. Elegant. (Redundant?) Expensive. Well-staffed. Swarm service style. Lobster. Oysters. Steak. Shrimp. Live jazz music. Sullivan's x 10. Fleming's x 5. Perry's x 3 with more decor. Lotsa pictures of important dead men. You like your server? Ask for their card. Bathroom: annoyingly located at the corner of the bar next to a clump of servers at all times. Bathroom: very nice. Wine by the glass. Wine by the bottle. Come with an appetite. Valet's the only way to go. Please, don't wear flip flops.
(4)Melissa A.
It may take at least 20 years before people in Austin will stop saying, "Capital Grille, you know, where Spaghetti Warehouse used to be" but CG will only be in SW's shadow location-wise: food, decor, and service leave the Warehouse in the dust. Part of the hangover is that the old SW place sat empty for so long--felt like 10 years, but apparently only three? Other spots in the area are much quicker to close, transform, and repeat--Frank for example, used to be Starlite, then was something else, then maybe something else, then Frank. But was never closed for more than a few months it seemed and certainly not for years and years. Any restaurant would be ambitious and possibly fool-hardy to take on this huge space but CG is ambitious. Heck, they just opened a week ago and it seems like half their wine lockers are already taken, so they don't seem fool-hardy at all. The way they transformed the funky warehouse into a upscale, gorgeous, sultry restaurant is a miracle in itself. It felt like the whole place was black velvet, gun metal, and wood, punctuated by chandlers, flowers, and, of course, a grand piano in the bar area. The walls in the dinning rooms are adorned with oil paintings of various Texas governor's and their dogs and horses. There are some separate dining areas that have fancy names, that I cannot remember. They use various partitions, doors, and even a see-through wine cellar to break up the space. Even the ceilings are impeccable. The service is very accommodating and warm . Supposedly, they close at 10, but let us order a steak at 15 after. It came at quick and was mostly cooked to perfection. There were a couple spots where our medium rare steak had some crunchy charred bits but nothing too distracting. The most off-putting was the au jus which tasted like the broth of Campbell's Beef and Barley soup (sorry Errol, I'm writing my review first so I get to use the comparison!). I would like to come back and get steak with a different sauce to really give an honest evaluation. The Filet Oscar with crabmeat and Béarnaise sounds like a good dish to try next time. Overall, in Capital Grille's seeming attempt to corner the politicos and lobbyists market, while also providing an upscale steakhouse for the rest of us if off to a great start.
(4)Aalia U.
I came here for a business lunch with my company as we were invited to preview their lunch menu - for FREE! I had sliced filet mignon - cooked rare, and clam chowder. Both were excellent and would have been well worth the money had we paid. That being said, the service was almost TOO much. We were greeted and welcomed by more that 8 different people, and my co-worker was escorted to the restroom which he said made him feel like a child. Maybe ease up on the Stepford smiles and 'pardon my reach'es and lean towards a more authentic experience..maybe because it was before they opened but we found the level of service so good it was almost too intense. Will definitely be back for business lunches or client dinners though - good atmosphere, food, classy joint.
(4)Ru L.
I've been to the Capital Grille twice for lunch and the service is top notch but I was disappointed with the steaks, mostly how they are cooked. Granted, it's not prime time dinner rush but one would figure the steak would be consistent regardless of the time of day. Also, I'm basing this opinion on the steaks I've had at the Capital Grille in Dallas and in DC, at lunch and at dinner. My steak in Austin came back over cooked to my request. First time I ordered it medium well but came back well done. Second time I decided to order it medium and it came back well done. The steak was definitely tender but not juicy and that is the result of over cooking it. I'd like to blame it on lunch rush but the place was pretty empty both times. Other than that the salad I had was wonderful. It tasted fresh and clean with the right amount of dressing to bring out the flavor of the spring mix.
(3)John S.
This is perhaps the best steakhouse I have ever experienced, period. My old standard was the Metropolitan Grill in Seattle, but Capital Grille just may be .00005 better ----------- The decor is nice, lots of wood, low lighting, really cozy. Service was simple outstanding - Robert was a gem - I wanted for nothing. The wine list was extensive and expensive, as you would expect from a high end eatery. We started with a Caesar's salad - nicely done, very crisp and tasty. The steaks are simple outstanding, I had the dry aged Porterhouse and I have not had a better piece of beef. We paired that with the lobster mac and cheese (the best EVER!!) and the roasted Brussel sprouts. Sorry to report, after a 24 oz. steak there was not room to try the dessert selections - maybe next time?
(5)Liz I.
I do like that it's a high end place open for lunch. I guess since it's a chain that it had higher lunch prices. But we treated respectfully even tho dressed as if we were headed to ACL. The service was a little stuffy and lengthy at all the wrong times. Their wine list by the glass was fair and we ended up choosing a glass of wine from the dinner menu. Their lobster bisque was plentiful with loads of lobster. The tenderloin sliders were good too, but just seemed overpriced for everything at about $40. The part that gets me the most is mixing up our credit cards at the end. I mean, one girl and one guy with properly-genedered names but we had the exact same credit card although not really crowded. I didn't notice til later after making payments at another place. I was disappointed to see the service slip at the last minute. Overall too stuffy for me. I like fancy, but I wasn't wowed. I will stick to Eddie V's.
(3)Gigi C.
I met a girlfriend here for her "birthday lunch"...and did not realize it was their first day! I am definitely going to be coming back to this hip spot for another delicious meal. Joe was our server and even though the restaurant just opened he seemed confident, at ease, and offered us superior service. The menu had quite a few choices for a lunch menu. We started out with a refreshing lemonade/mint cooler-a sort of mocktail. My friend had the watermelon and feta salad, and mini filet sliders with fries which were delicious according to her. I had the field green salad which had a nice dressing on it. Then I moved to the filet hash and had it done with a scrambeled egg and a side of bernaise sauce. The filet has was absolute yummy and perfectly cooked. We finished off with the strawberries with two types of sauce-yummy! This was a really fabulous and special lunch. We will definitely be back-don't miss out on this new find in Austin!
(5)Wilson E.
Wonderful place to celebrate my wife's birthday! Amazing service - Chris made us feel like royalty! Delicious food, Chris helped with recommendations and his favorites. The wine flight was an awesome deal as well - tried lots of great wine at an awesome price! We'll be back!
(5)Diane S.
My CEC husband and I came to celebrate my recent promotion, and were completely blown away by the level of service at The Capital Grille-Austin. The food was spectacular, although the in-house dry-aged beef could've been a bit more tender. My tuna was absolutely perfect, and the wine list was wonderful. The dessert had us absolutely over the moon, and we will definitely be back. We'd previously had another Austin-area eatery as our "go-to" for special occasions; the pride of place is now officially held by The Capital Grille-Austin.
(5)Megan V.
I've dined at several Capital Grilles, so when I heard there was one in Austin I knew we had to go there on this visit. I think this is one of the best CGs I've been to. It was easy making reservations for a Sunday night for me, my daughter and son-in-law. Ed was our server and he was fabulous. Everything was paced properly, he always knew exactly what we wanted sometimes even before we wanted it. We shared the lobster and crab cakes, each had a salad (chop salad, mixed greens and a wedge), and a steak (filet, sliced filet and Kona crusted sirloin) with au gratin potatoes and asparagus for sides. We split a cheesecake for dessert. The daughter had a Stoli Doli (the pineapple infused vodka) and I had the Bohemian. SIL had whiskey sours. Everything was phenomenal. I usually have the filet and it was amazing as always. The daughter loved her sliced filet, and the SIL pronounced the Kona crusted sirloin "the best thing I've eaten in my life". The rest of the food was just as good. The lobster and crab cakes have chunks of meat and no filler, the salads are fresh with homemade dressing, the steaks were superlative. The cheesecake is not really heavy and was a nice finishing touch. The service throughout was impeccable; I would highly recommend you ask for Ed when you go.
(5)Tiffany H.
Lunch experience on a Wednesday was great. The restaurant was not at all full at 12:30, but we had made a reservation an hour ahead anyway and were seated right away. First, the host offered to replace white linen napkins with black linen napkins if you're wearing black bottoms to keep white lint from getting on your pants. She also proceeded to offer all 4 of us some shawls because we looked like we were freezing. The A/C was on full blast so I'd suggest a light jacket. Our waiter then asked us about our time constraints so he could be mindful of our schedule, which was much appreciated because we needed to be done in about an hour to get back to the office for a meeting. At this point, we haven't even looked at the menu and we're already feeling quite taken care of. The food lived up to the service, though. There are lots of great lunch options to choose from, but not very many vegetarian options if you have those dietary restrictions. The cobb salad with tenderloin that I had was perfectly cooked medium rare the way I asked. The salmon salad, grilled shrimp salad, and cheeseburger with truffle fries (thicker, not shoe string) that the others ordered were also devoured so I assume they enjoyed their food too.
(5)Steve S.
Simply the finest steak and dining experience in Austin. Excellent staff.
(5)Jeffrey M.
. Bit of a comedy of errors. The Capital Grill sort of lost our reservation and us while we were waiting at the bar. After a couple inquiries and a couple of promised "three minutes" warnings, we finallly were seated about an hour after our reservation time. They just misplaced us and when we inquired did nothing to get us seated. It was embarrassing and amateurish. In fairness, the management was very nice about it and comped our meal but by then I was really irritated. I don't like eating that late for health reasons. Strike One. Then they give us the worst table in the entire restaurant. This was compounded by the fact that I had asked for a "good" table as we were celebrating a belated 35th anniversary. They gave us this table when there were better tables readily available. One has to ask why? They were a bit chagrined for having lost us in the bar and now they gave us a "special" table that was in a terrible location. Even the manager agreed it was a terrible table. Strike Two. After all of this travail, the service was slow. Incredibly slow. The waiter was apologetic it was so slow. The waiter was excellent. Strike Three. The steak was superb. Best I have ever eaten but by this hour I was irritated and tired. I really could not enjoy it by the time the food was finally delivered. The Capital Grill is a conundrum. Great facility. Great steak. The waiter and his service were first rate. Terrible reservation administration. Too slow in their food delivery and prep. Does not inspire confidence or a longing to return. Underwhelmed my expectations by a mile. The management could not have been more apologetic but honestly they ruined my anniversary celebration. One only has one 35th anniversary and it is a shame they ruined mine. .
(2)Is D.
Over-seasonsed and over-prized cafeteria food served on a hot plate and clean linens. Many better options, just around the corner. + for cleanliness and ambiance.
(2)Stacy M.
Had a lunch date here a few days ago and must say it was pretty solid all around. I've been to the Capital Grille multiple times in Houston so it's nice that Austin is expanding its good steak options. The handmade potato chips they serve at the bar are delicious! I would choose that over bread any day of the week! The steak was delicious also! The building is gorgeous and doesn't look anything remotely close to the old spaghetti warehouse that used to fill the space. Great date location, fa sho!
(4)Jon G.
Classy atmosphere. Reminds me of the good old days in New York. Great place, excellent staff. They know how to treat a customer here. At least they made me feel special and welcome. I have traveled the world and been to many places who try to be upscale but don't make you feel welcome. This place does.
(5)Christine F.
The Bohemian drinks were a great start with the tomato mozzarella salad (fresh pulled every 90 minutes) along with the Chilean sea ass and Porcini Delmonico rib eye were a spectacular match. Ask for Chris!
(5)William H.
Looking for a short for lunch and we came across The Capital Grill. Looked a little pricy when we entered. Wait staff were quick and polite. The waiter suggested the chef's special and we tried it. Steak over a Ceasar salad. It was cooked to perfection. I like medium rare. The stark was juicy and tender. The price was right at 24$ for the meal. Definitely recommend you give it a try.
(5)Lisa D.
One of the best meals and best service of any place I have been. Our server Clarence Deddens III was simply perfect. His recommendations were spot on. Bravo Capital Grille and thanks for the photo and bday dessert!
(5)John R.
Having lived in Austin for over 10 years, I certainly have my favorite places to grab a steak and nice bottle of wine. In fact, I was planning a night out to go to another steakhouse to order my favorite steak, the Cote de Boeuf. But I had heard Capital Grille had recently opened, so we decided to give them a shot. I was pretty impressed when I walked through the front door. A warm welcome from the staff plus some great jazz music playing in the bar area. We were promptly seated and quickly noticed the dark wood decor with paintings of famous Texans on the wall. It's hard to believe this was the old Spaghetti Warehouse. Our server, Richard, came to the table and immediately welcomed us as if we were old friends. He suggested a fruity pineapple specialty drink, which is not normally my style. But he ensured us it was great, and he was right! So we decided to go with his suggestions for the meal as well. Richard told us about all of the steaks, and I began to realize that my old friend Bob around the corner might have some competition. Well...he definitely does! Richard recommended the sirloin with pepper rub and courvoiseir sauce. I was a tad offended/surprised that out of all of their steaks, he suggested a sirloin. I told him this and he said I would be incredibly happy with it, and I was! An amazing take on sirloin... It was tender and tasty like a filet. We also got the seared salmon, which was excellent. For sides, my new friend Richard suggested the Lobster Mac and Cheese along with the asparagus. Both great. And to top it all off, Richard brought us a complimentary champagne toast, as we were celebrating something special that evening. Great food. But more specifically, wonderful service from Richard. We will be going back to The Capital Grille many more times thanks to him.
(5)B A.
Overall a 9. Take a point off for the Salmon citric sauce. It was WAY overpowering and took away from a perfectly prepared fish
(4)Aamirah S.
Had valentine dinner with my husband at this pace last night. Loved every bit of it. Our server, Gabby, was such a friendly and good person. My husband has their aged steak and it was delicious and I had their salmon, worth every bit of it. On top of that had best cheesecake ever, it was actually brûlée real nice!! Romantic and cozy ambience! Would definitely go there again.
(5)Elizabeth L.
Went here for lunch last Friday. The first thing the waiter, Jared Johnson, asked was if we were under a time constraint like a lunch hour - which we were. I ordered the scallops & mushroom risotto with a cup of clam chowder, my friend ordered a steak cobb salad. The food was fantastic - perfectly cooked and full of flavor. I always had drink refills without having to ask for them. Plates were cleared immediately and Jared being ever mindful of our time, made sure to ask if we wanted dessert with enough time to enjoy it if we ordered it (we didn't because we were full!). Everything about this lunch was fantastic. If every restaurant had service like this - the world would be a much happier place. But then again, if every restaurant was like The Capital Grille, we wouldn't need Yelp.
(5)Laura F.
They say there's no such thing as a free lunch but today, I had a free lunch- and an amazing one at that! My parents & I were invited to the soft opening of the Capital Grille. It is downtown where Spaghetti Warehouse used to be but it's way nicer. Capital Grille is a high-end chain with many locations all across the US. The ambience is classic steakhouse with a variety of Texas-themed portraits hanging on the dark walls. There's an open kitchen and some private rooms as well as a large wine cellar. Chris W. was our waiter and he did a great job of explaining the concept and menu. The service was excellent the entire time and I'd definitely recommend asking for Chris as your server! There was a limited menu since it was a preview day but we had our choice of a small list of salad/soups, entrees and the chef's choice of dessert. I had the watermelon feta salad which was refreshing and light followed by the Maine lobster roll & parmesan truffle fries (OMG). My parents ordered the scallops which were delicious as well. The portions were very generous for lunch- I couldn't eat all of mine! The dessert was a coconut pie which was stellar. They have a reasonable wine list and an exciting cocktail list as well. I asked if they are planning on having a happy hour but they weren't sure yet. I hope they do! This is a wonderful choice for a business lunch, date night dinner or special event. I can't wait to come back for dinner once they are open full time!
(5)Emily P.
Wow! Amazing food and service. This was my first visit here, and I will be back. The staff was genuinely courteous and professional. The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The lobster in the lobster mac and cheese was the most tender I have ever had. The cheesecake - oh my. Words cannot do it justice. I may or may not have bought an extra piece to take home and eat for breakfast. Server Virginia was attentive, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and friendly. Will definitely ask for her next time!
(5)Molly K.
We went here for my sister's birthday. I loved the lobster macaroni. the servers were very nice.
(4)Mike C.
I'm usually not a big fan of chain restaurants, but Capital Grille is the exception to the rule ! 4 stars food 4 stars ambience 5 stars bar staff ( Christina, Kat, Charles, & Joe ) Enjoy !
(4)C. G.
This restaurant is better suited to business gatherings versus meeting friends and family for pleasure, at least on week nights. We were seated in an area with several large groups of 7 or more people who came for dinner after work. This meant that we were hurried along so that the wait staff could tend to the large groups. Our waiter was gracious when I asked for more time, but the demands of the large groups overshadowed our dining experience. This is not what one expects when spending over $300.00 for two people. There are other places to try. Onward!
(2)Dan O.
Del Monico was perfectly cooked rare+ per my request. Au Gratin was unbelievable. Most importantly a great wine suggestion and candid conversation from bar tender Joe Mac. Excellent overall experience for my first time at The Capital. I'll be back.
(5)Lori D.
My husband and I wanted to try a nice steak house that we had never been to before and had good reviews...so here we were at capital grille. Delicious! Fantastic! Better than Sullivans, Ruth Chris or Three Forks...yum! He had the Delmonico 22 oz steak and I had the tenderloin and lobster tails. Both steaks melted in your mouth in a tender, juicy explosion of scrumptious-ness! We shared the creamed spinach and roasted mushrooms (large enough to share sides). The mushrooms were just alright, but we hadn't come for the mushrooms anyhow :) For dessert we had the berries and vanilla cream...can you say decadent? My new favorite steakhouse! The entrees are between $40- $55 each, sides about $10-15 each and desserts are all about $10 each...I personally hate when a classy restaurant does not list their prices on their website (who wants to go if they don't have an idea of what it will cost?) so thought this could be helpful
(5)Bruce B.
WOW. I"m not a big steak eater, so I had the salmon with citrus juice - there was nothing left on my plate!! Perfectly cooked. My nephew had the "surf and turf" and he was the quietest he's been in a long time. We shared the cab and lobster cakes and they were equally as delicious. Ron - Ronnie was our waiter and he knows his steak and menu. Was very personable and attentive. I loved the wine menu was on an iPad and so you read about each wine at your pace and make a good decision. I went right for the Dripping Springs Dirty Martini! Thank you Dripping Springs and thank you Capital Grille for having DS! Over all a great experience. Everyone was very friendly, atmosphere was upscale but comfortable. The bar area huge and will hit that up when I'm in a hurry. Thank you Capital Grille for coming to Austin. See you again soon!
(4)Joe W.
My girlfriend and I recently dined and had a very memorable experience. Our server Geoff was awesome! Very knowledgeable of the menu and wine list. My girlfriend had the South African lobster tail and raved about it the entire night. I had the delmonico with the Gorgonzola truffle topping with the Cabernet reduction. Phenomenal. Major compliments to Chef Brent and his team! Looking forward to our next visit!
(5)Cindy B.
Excellent dining place! I have been to many Capital Grille locations and this is one of the best. I enjoyed the fantastic wine selection and most of all the raw oysters on the half shell and lobster! Great live entertainment as well! This is a restaurant worth dining at!
(5)Blair T.
I managed to make a reservation for a party of ten yesterday afternoon for yesterday evening (during SXSW, no less). Heather, the sales manager, could not have been more helpful or accommodating. The food was delicious, the service was perfect and we all rolled out out of there feeling fat and happy.
(5)Jack A.
Manager John Mirabel has something going on here. He sent me an invitation to try the Capital Grill. I nearly chucked it in the trash thinking it was one of those schemes to get me to buy insurance or a time share. Wow are we glad we went! Drinks: evidently, a martini is an impossible task for many of Austin's Bartenders to handle. Pour beer? Sure. Shake gin with ice? Too much. But not here. Perfectly prepared martini along with a shot sample of their specialty pineapple infused vodka-tini. A very nice gesture and appreciated. If you love sweet cocktails, this will please you. I did not order wine, but the list of those available is enormous. Apps: Calamari with hot cherry peppers! Yes! And a huge portion. They sent out a title lanaippe crepe square with smoked salmon, capers and dill creme. Wow. Nothing but small plates would be a great move here. Entree: But then you'd miss dry-aged steak coated with coffee and topped with something oniony straight from heaven. Perfectly cooked, bone-in sirloin. Dry-aged beef meets the hype. Sides: We could not pass up lobster mac-n-cheese. This was the un-healtiest meal we've ordered in months. Worth every calorie. Dessert: No room :( Our server, Emilie, brought us a small taste of coconut sorbet - the perfect close. Service: I mentioned Emilie. She's icing on a perfect cake. Happy, informed, professional. She even took us on a tour of the art and private rooms available for family or corporate parties. Price: worth it. Go. Atmosphere: Beautiful, Texas traditions.Giant portraits of Darrel Royal, LBJ, and Farah Fawcett, Lamer and Travis as well. Deer and ram heads, and plenty of dark wood. A classic steak house vibe, which I love. Tables are far enough apart to feel private. Kitchen has a window that allows the diner to see some action. Wine shelves are open to view. Very nice. One negative on the HUGE portions. It seemed like everyone was taking something home. Since fine food never reheats as well as I wish, we split everything. For my preferences, the plates would be smaller (with smaller prices), allowing us to try more variety. Even so, I'll return and send friends.
(5)Julie B.
Had an excellent time here. Great food, great atmosphere and awesome staff. Our server Craig made our food and wine choices easy and fun. The lobster mac is to die for and the steaks were phenomenal. New Austin tradition for my family.
(5)Jared W.
From the second we walked in the front door we had a perfect experience. The staff was welcoming! The restaurants build outbid is drop dead gorgeous! Our server was on point through out the full meal! The food was exceptional!
(5)Julia F.
Amazing service from Ed and crew. Great food and atmosphere. Excellent for work meetings. Had the fillet mignon and Chilean sea bass followed by dessert that we couldn't pass up. Definitely recommend!
(5)Brandon K.
All I can say is, my girlfriend hit the birthday dinner choice on the spot. We had a 6pm reservation on Labor Day and we were the only ones in the restaurant when we got in. The meal started with a fantastic assortment of bread that came out nice and warm. I ordered the dry aged NY strip and my gf ordered the fillet mignon. Both were amazing and cooked to perfection. We also ordered a side of mushrooms to go along with the meal and I can say, they were some of the best mushrooms I have ever had. The meal ended with a great looking birthday dessert sampler to cleanse the pallet. Overall, the service was 100% and the meal was even better. To top it off, there was a nice hand written birthday card waiting for us at the table!
(5)Pamela R.
This is my new favorite steakhouse in Austin! Definitely worthy of 5 stars from service, to FOOD, to ambience! They serve PRIME, DRY/AGED BEEF!! Need I say more?! It is the most flavorful, tender, delectable beef you will ever put in your mouth and they cook it to perfection. And they serve whole Maine Lobster! Unfortunately, they were out but I will be back to try. Apps, sides and desserts were all superior as well. We excitedly did the current "Generous Pour" wine promotion. And it is truly generous! Probably 3 oz x 8 pours. Needless to say, neither of us could finish it. The wine quality was only mediocre but if you are not particular, it is a super value that lets you try 8 different varietals. Next time, I will stick to the regular wine menu as they had several good bottles. I must mention our outstanding hostess, Mae! I know, a hostess? But she set a wonderful tone for the entire evening with her knowledge and cheerfulness while our server was busy. She also had our table decorated and sent us an appetizer when she learned it was our anniversary! All around, it's the best I have had in town.
(5)Adam L.
I currently would put Capital Grille as the best steak house in Austin. Ignore the fact it is a 'chain' - it is still the best. The steaks are MUCH better than Sullivans, Flemings, Bobs, etc. The service is fantastic; it reminds me of elite NYC or CHI service (really knowledgeable and passionate wait staff). The ambiance is great. I have eaten here 8x or so this year and every time I think, damn that was a great meal. Highly recommend.
(5)Courtney B.
Today was my birthday! My boss and another work associate took me to The Capital Grille (for my first time) to celebrate. And I cannot rave enough on the service we received!!! Everything was just amazing!!! When we first arrived the table it was decorated with confetti and there was a hand signed birthday card for me!! Then when we all got seated they brought everyone a flute of champagne!! Rob, our server, was extremely attentive and helpful with the menu and wine selections. He even took a picture of our party with the restaurant digital camera and then brought us a print out! At the end of the meal I was surprised with a dessert plate with "happy birthday" written in chocolate!! My experience was truly just amazing!! Thank you Rob and the rest of the staff of Capital Grille for making my birthday wonderful!!! :)) and thanks to the chef for AMAZING food!!
(5)Summer P.
Beautiful interior, amazing wait staff, delicious steaks. Did not like the au gratin potatoes at all and didn't eat them. My date's steak was a little over cooked and they comped it for him which I thought was really generous. Will definitely be going back!
(4)Cris W.
Salmon overcooked Asparagus cold Augratin cold Lobster Mac good Mozzarella & Tom good Austin Amber good
(2)Kristy P.
If you've never been to a Capital Grill (it's a chain), then you need to go. They are first class when it comes to steakhouses. Knowledgeable and top notch wait staff and steaks cooked to perfection. Definitely at a higher price point, but well worth it. Most of their entrees and pretty large though and can be easily split between two people. They also usually do something special for you if you're celebrating and vent - just let your waiter know!
(5)Medvedi P.
So The Capital Grille - Austin wanted to make up for having my car towed and sent me a gift card. This is what I call excellent customer service. Thank you guys!
(5)Noora B.
Had the lamb shanks- absolutely divine. came with a side of blueberry marmalade. when I noticed this, I was like "what? Who spreads fruit on lamb?" I have two words for you when I tried the combination: mind blown. Couldn't stop talking about it for months. Still mention it to friends today. "You know, one time I went to Capital Grille and they gave me blueberry marmalade to go with my Lamb Shanks". Lobster mac n cheese- delicious. Mashed potatoes- perfectly whipped- asparagus- yum. I've also had the steak and it is cooked to perfection. :)
(5)