The Capital Grille — Restaurant in Tampa

Went for a celebratory Grad and Birthday dinner. Food and Service USED TO BE amazing. Now, not so much... My son ordered his steak Med Well and it was far underdone...dark red medium rare at best. I ordered Steak Au Poive medium to medium well and there was absolutely zero juices, zero pink... Mine was well done, overcooked, dark brown, dried out, and chewy. However, the dry-aged steak's meat quality was superb! I can only imagine how great it would've been if cooked properly and not burnt. The Au Poive sauce was delish, but only less than a tablespoon puddled on my dry steak. There were way more peppercorns than sauce, and it would've made the dried steak MUCH better if I could've dipped or covered it with sauce (again, the meat quality was excellent even after burning). But our server was not attentive or highly communicative, or caring. He stuck his head halfway around a stairwell and barely into our view to quickly ask if everything was good, then disappeared before making eye contact or entering our space. The head of the table (paying the $800+ bill) and the men adjacent were completely ignored after one woman said hers was good. And he was gone! NO ONE wants to send back a $60 steak that took a half hour to prepare. And I didn't even get a chance to ask for extra sauce to make the steak more palatable and enjoyable. For a steakhouse with an average meal ticket of around a $100… This trip was very disappointing and nowhere near a good value at all. Sorry, but there is no excuse for a $60 à la cart steak at one of the best steak houses in town to be far under cooked or over cooked. Maybe at Denny's but not at Capital Grille! Bread was excellent. Caesar salad was fresh, but extremely heavy on the Parm, could not even taste any decent Caesar flavors. Sides were also very good, but very expensive and everything is à la cart. Desserts were 'meh' unfortunately. Meat quality was excellent, but execution in the kitchen was far far sub par. And service needs a swift kick in the rear to pay attention, be observant, and read the room before disappearing for 15 – 20 minute intervals. Ruined the celebration. My adult son did not eat his steak except for a few bites around the edge that were cooked. He took it home, butterfly'd it and cooked it, and THEN thoroughly enjoyed it.

UPDATE: Lowering my 2-Stars to a 1-Star due to post-visit (non-)activity. Per the management request to reach out via email (first time I've ever been asked to contact anyone after a review) I emailed per instructions. I received a phone call within a day or two from someone to follow up...impressive! But I was in a meeting, couldn't discuss at the moment, and he said, 'No problem, he'd call me back.' Never got a call back, no message or text or follow up...unimpressive! - Again, when paying $100+/person for a nice meal, and it's ruined due to chef and server performance...there is no excuse. If this were a standard $20-30 meal it would be understandable if the exception, even expected sometimes, but NOT at $100+ per person and NOT at a fine steak house when ordering a NY Strip steak. It appears evident that management does not care much about client satisfaction or this would've never happened in the first place, and/or it would've been correctly handled once brought to their...

Wife's Birthday Dinner at the Capital Grill Tampa 12/10/23

I haven't been here In a decade plus. Instead choosing Eddie V's, Ruth's Chris and Charlie's in its place. Bad decision.

Not sure what they did but they dialled it in. Service was Second to none (thanks Matt) and EVERYTHING more then exceeded our expectations.

Service as a 10/10. The initial entry was warm and inviting. We asked after our apps, if we could move to a booth that became free (not fans of tables and when we arrived the place was packed). The manager came and said no problem how is that table. Again, warm and inviting. Our server, Matt was also a 10/10. He went above and beyond. Explained the menu in fine detail and with personality. Always checking on us and making sure we were enjoying our time, and if we needed anything. Never rushed and never intrusive. One of the best servers we have EVER had. And that is saying a lot.

The craft cocktails were also 10/10. some of the best we have had at a resturant. An amazing Black Tie Margarita, amazing Espresso Martini and Amazing Mule with reserve Belvedere vodka. Wasn't a fan of the run drink but that was because I don't enjoy mango.

Appetizers also a 10/10.

She had the lobster bisque (Matt's recommendation) and was creamy, the correct amount of Sea taste and full of good sized chunks of lobster. 10/10

Bacon wrapped mozz was a surprising and amazing choice also. Don't sleep on this. Out of the three this was the most Amazing. 10/10

We also tried the Tuna Tartar which was extremely fresh and hit on all cylinders. I can't pinpoint anything wrong with it other then the other apps outshines. 9/10

Split a field greens salad with an amazing parm vinegarette that I will be searching for the recipe. The portions on the spilt were big which we loved.

Perfectly cooked filet for her and an outstanding Veal Chop for me. The quality of the meat was on par with the better places we visit the veal chop was outstanding (cena in Tampa also has one of the best). We shared asparagus that were properly prepared without stalk issues.

The food was 10/10 all Of it. Including the comp b-day dessert.

May have been one of the best dinning experiences we have had in a very, very long time (outside of Beau and Mos in st Pete which sets the grading bar high).

The food and drinks are the superstar but without Matt as a server it wouldn't of been 10/10

We will be adding this into our rotation replacing Ruth's Chris and Eddie V's.

Was blown away with what he have...

Where do I start? The disappointment is on so many levels. I only share this information in hopes that the management will see this and correct these shortcomings to improve service to match the environment and price. Its been years since I've dined here. I understand cultivating a team can be very difficult so I will be direct. Arrived at 10:58. The west doors were locked. Several people tried continuously to open these doors up until 11:05 to no avail. (I was on a call standing out front to witness this). At one point, everyone realized that the other doors toward the valet were in fact open and there were already people seated and being served at the bar. When we walked in to the middle of the dining room and found our way to host desk I mentioned that the doors on the side were locked, a woman at the desk argued with me (with a smile on her face) and said that they were unlocked precisely at 11. It should be noted that I was standing right there at 11 and no one came out to open the door and greet the customers that were standing there with me. There was also no sign to encourage guests to enter through the side doors. Moving on, a gentleman escorted us to our table, and from there it was a pleasure until the food arrived. The dining room is beautiful, very clean and reminds me of the popular upscale steak houses up north. One salad was ordered without bacon, served covered in bacon, the other, a cobb, was swimming in dressing. I have never seen a Cobb tossed to begin with and this was a horrible presentation. It truly looked as though it was dropped on the floor and scooped up onto the plate. My guest did not realize her salad was overly dressed until she got into it and decided not to complain because they already took one dish back and did not want to cause a problem or distract from our attempt at a first class dining experience.....when in fact they had already clearly missed the presentation of the first salad which was the 'special', a wedge with a tenderloin (which was perfectly cooked by the way). I do not mind spending $40 for a salad and ice tea for a quick lunch with a very special guest but please elevate your attention to detail. Signs out front, expedite the line (with someone qualified) and for god sake put professionals on the door. I will...