Restaurant Review: The Capital Grille, Seattle

My Lovely Wife and I stumbled into the Minneapolis incarnation of this steakhouse chain and had a lovely evening. The food was excellent and the service understated and effective, and we happened in on a night when a string quartet was playing selections from Baroque (my L.W.'s favorite) to the Beatles.

We were thus very interested when we heard that a Seattle Capital Grille had opened and tried it earlier this month.

The food was excellent, even better than I remember from Minneapolis. I had a very flavorful tenderloin prepared perfectly and L.W.'s salmon was also delicious.

The service, however ... was fawning and incompetent. I don't like being fawned over when they know how to do it, much less to come back to the table from washing my hands to find the waiter trying but failing to refold my napkin on the table. I stood there for seconds until he finally got it the way he wanted it and left; I don't think he ever noticed me.

They do have a slick "free" valet parking service, some kind of parking help probably being necessary on the busy stretch of 4th Avenue downtown Seattle where they are. Free in quotes because I couldn't see not leaving a tip, of course.

We'll go back in a few months to see if the service has improved ... the food was enough of a draw that I'll have to try it again.

The Capital Grille, Seattle, 1501 4th Ave at University. 206-382-0900. Reservations available on Opentable, my favorite way to make restaurant reservations.

Update: Precision Class Starts May 1 2008

Hi All,

I finally am scheduling the Precision class I mentioned earlier. Class will
be 8 Thursdays beginning May 1 (no class June 12 as I'll be out of town),
location TBD (probably Issaquah or Redmond (WA))library according to
student locations.

The fee is $20, with all proceeds split between a local food bank and the
ACBL program to encourage junior bridge.

Want to know more? Call me 425-369-8286 or email me!