JOINTS: Capital Grille

I was lucky enough last night to have a truly fine dining experience.  A friend of mine, miss L, had herself a little birthday yesterday, so as a birthday present I decided to take her out to a nice steak dinner. ("I wanna buy you a steak dinner")

To be honest, my first thoughts went something like this...Texas Land & Cattle Co. or H3 Brothers in Ft. Worth.  Both are fine restaurants in their own right, but then I decided to wanted to do something really special for her.  Luckily, as she always is, miss L took matters into her own hands and got herself a reservation to Capital Grille, located in the Crescent in uptown Dallas.

If you're a vegetarian or someone who can't eat things that have faces, this place is must seem like the 4th level of Hell.  But for those that are looking for one of the BEST RESTAURANTS I'VE EVER BEEN TO...I know, bold statement...then look no further.

Filet Oscar...and yes, it tasted as good as it looks

Since it was miss L's birthday, they rolled out the red carpet for her.  The hostess greeted us warmly and quickly sat us at our table, which was decorated with birthday confetti and candles.  Our waiter, Steve, introduced himself and let it be known that the kitchen had a few special things prepared for us.  Miss L ordered a bottle of wine, and we were off!

The wine came out and two glasses were poured, and then Steve came back with two appetizers...the first was their crab & lobster cake with house-made tartar sauce, and the second was house-made mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto with heirloom tomatoes soaked in 12 year old Balsamic.  To say they were heavenly was to do them injustice.  The only thing that I could possibly see wrong with the meal was the mozzarella was cold, but delicious.  Seriously, I don't think I've had mozzarella that good before...and especially not wrapped in prosciutto!

We ordered our main entrees...Miss L went with the Filet Oliver (small filet with crab meat & Bearnaise sauce drizzled over the top of it) and I went with the bone in Kona crusted dry aged sirloin with caramelized shallot butter.  To say that this was one of the best steaks in my life wouldn't be a lie...it ranks up there with the very best!

Mine wasn't cooked this well, but it tasted sooooo good

My only complaints are minor and not at all worthy of writing here...but since this is food blog, I've gotta.  I ordered my steak medium, hoping to get a nice wet center...but what I got was medium well to almost well done.  No hot pink center, mostly cooked meat throughout.  The center was better than the sides of the steak, but for a place as renowned as Capitol Grille, and for the prices we were paying, I should have gotten exactly what I was ordering.  Miss L ordered her filet medium rare, but that little bastard almost moo'ed at us...it was RAW.  That was really the only thing that I could complain about the whole experience...but for a steak house, this is a pretty major flaw.


One thing that wasn't lacking was the customer service.  Steve was a professional waiter, and I don't mean that in a derogatory sort of way.   This man was a PROFESSIONAL...which is something that is kinda lacking in society.  The night was made special by the way that Steve treated us and waited on us, and he was really what made the night as enjoyable as it was.  I will probably go into this more in another blog post, but professional waiters (and professional bartenders) are some of my favorite people in the world.  Get to know them, chat 'em up, because if you do, you might find a friend for life...and get in good at some of the top restaurants in town.


The night ended with a surprise birthday cheesecake for Miss L and two glasses of champagne.  The night was really special, and I hope my friend had a good birthday.  Needless to say, the next time I want to impress someone, I'm taking them to Capital Grille!

Capital Grille
locations across the US
http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/

Dallas location...
500 Crescent Court
Dallas, Texas 75201
In the Crescent Shops & Galleries
214-303-0500

***UPDATE***
From now on, miss L will be referred to as "THE GIRLFRIEND", as she has become my culinary partner for the foreseeable future.  See what a nice dinner can get you?