The Capital Grille — Restaurant in Minneapolis

I had a very disappointing experience at this restaurant, which I had specifically chosen for a Thanksgiving dinner. As a foreigner visiting the US, I had been looking forward to experiencing a traditional Thanksgiving meal, so I made a reservation well in advance.

I arrived early, as advised during my phone conversation with the restaurant staff a few days before, who mentioned that arriving early would allow me to be seated promptly and ensure the staff could finish their shifts on time. However, after being seated, I was left waiting for 15 minutes before anyone came to take my order. I was ok with this because it was busy.

When the waiter approached, he took my drink order but did not inform me of anything else at the time. When he returned with the drink he informed me that the turkey dinner was no longer available. I explained that I had chosen this restaurant over others in the area when I planned the trip, because it offered a Thanksgiving meal downtown and that was something I had never experienced before. I expressed my disappointment, as the turkey was the reason I came to this restaurant , and asked if there were any alternatives. The waiter was unhelpful and dismissive, stating that there was nothing they could do. Every other option on the menu was a la carte, which would end up costing significantly 2-3 times more, but he showed no interest in offering a suitable solution.

When I asked if I could substitute the turkey for another ingredient or if there were other meal options that could replicate the Thanksgiving experience, the waiter reiterated that I had to choose from the a la carte menu. When I expressed my frustration and said I would like to leave since they were unable to provide the meal I had come for, he still tried to charge me for the drink, despite the fact that I hadn't even tasted it.

This was my first negative review I've ever written for a restaurant, and I truly regret having to leave such feedback. The waiter’s flippant attitude ultimately led me to walking out what I am sure is a good restaurant on any other day. I walked out because the staff's lack of interest in helping me find a solution made it clear that they weren’t willing to make my...

Absolutely amazing experience. Be prepared to spend money that is WELL worth it My girlfriend and I chose The Capital Grille for our 7 year anniversary. We were lead to a quiet booth that they had set up with rose petals. The dirty martini was made well and they had 5 or 6 options for champagne. Girlfriend had the scallops, I had the pan sears tuna. Both were DELICIOUS! Perfect portion sizes in my opinion, we both almost finished because it was so tasty, but were too full to clean the plate (I prefer this over being left wanting more). As we were getting ready to close out, we were surprised with a desert plate that read “Happy Anniversary.” Suddenly our stomachs made space and thank god they did. Hands down the best cheesecake I have ever had. Service throughout the evening was prompt but not overbearing. I took 1 star off of atmosphere because of the table next to us. A family came in with their teenage sons. I heard one of the boys say “I don’t know what any of this is” whilst reading the menu. Shortly after, the father requested that the kitchen make burgers even though they are not on the menu and no longer a special. The server went back to check with the kitchen and returned to the table to say “We can make burgers but it will take extra time as they are no longer a menu item.” It was clear that he was trying to remain professional while also hinting that this was out of the norm and unnecessary extra work for the kitchen staff. The table insisted on having THREE burgers and a salad for the mother. The Capital Grille staff handled the situation with class and grace, I just have no idea why the family chose fine dining over a burger joint with their kids. Regardless, the experience exceeded our expectations and we will absolutely be returning to try...

UPDATED REVIEW: We came back to the Capital Grille for my husband’s birthday and we had the best experience. Our table had confetti on it, which was a very cute touch. Our server was super attentive and kind. The chef sent out a couple of complimentary tasters for us to start. The lamb lollipop over mashed potatoes with aged balsamic was to die for! It was the most flavorful and tender lamb we have ever had. The bacon appetizer was also very tender. For our sides, we got the au gratin potatoes and the lobster Mac n cheese. Both were super cheesy, creamy, and very rich and decadent. For our steaks we got the NY strip au poivre and the Gorgonzola crusted bone-in NY strip. Both were cooked to absolute perfection and were packed with flavor. We were so stuffed by the end of our meal and took plenty of leftovers home. They brought out complimentary desserts and glasses of champagne as a birthday treat, so of course we did not let that go to waste! We would consider coming back for special occasions after the wonderful experience we had this time.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: My husband received a very generous gift card for The Capital Grille so we used it for our anniversary dinner and splurged a bit! It is an incredibly upscale restaurant. We felt a little bit out of place when first arrived, but the service was excellent and the food was absolutely divine. We started with the cherrywood smoked bacon appetizer, which literally just melts in your mouth. We each ordered a New York strip and both were cooked as we asked. We got sides of asparagus and brussels sprouts. We definitely favored the brussels sprouts. It was overall a very nice experience, but it was very expensive and I don’t know that we would be willing to spend that kind of money without...