The Capital Grille

My wife and I dined at The Capital Grille in Cincinnati on Saturday, January 24th, just before the big snowfall, and the entire evening was nothing short of spectacular. I made the reservation to celebrate my birthday, and the restaurant went above and beyond — decorating our table with festive confetti and a personalized card. It was a thoughtful touch that set the tone for an unforgettable meal. We started with their beautiful bread basket accompanied by salted butter. Every piece was delicious, but the standout was the in‑house baked pumpernickel with golden raisins and walnuts. The onion ciabatta and lahvosh were fantastic as well — overall one of the best bread services we've had. For drinks, I ordered The Doli, The Capital Grille’s signature martini made with Wheatley American Craft Vodka infused with fresh Dole pineapple. It was chilled, smooth, and served table‑side — a classic since 1991 and still excellent. My wife enjoyed a Dirty Goose Extra Filthy, also shaken and poured table‑side with Grey Goose and plenty of olive brine. For my second cocktail, I had the Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar made with Angel’s Envy, Cointreau, blackberries, lemon, and thyme — incredibly well balanced and flavorful. For appetizers, we shared the Pan‑Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers, their signature starter. It was perfectly fried, tender, and packed with a satisfying kick of heat. My wife ordered the Bone‑In Filet with Black Garlic and Wine Reduction, a special that evening. She had it cooked rare, and it arrived absolutely perfect — melt‑in‑your‑mouth tender and beautifully flavored. I ordered the Kona‑Crusted Dry Aged Bone‑In NY Strip with shallot butter. The steak was seasoned with their famous Kona coffee rub. It came out flawlessly medium‑rare, deeply flavorful, and among the best cuts of beef I’ve ever had. We shared a side of Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese, and it was outstanding — al dente pasta enveloped in a rich blend of cream cheese, mascarpone, Parmesan, and Havarti, finished with a white cheddar and Grana Padano crust. Truly decadent. Then came the birthday surprises: a Mini Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake made with Belgian chocolate and Hawaiian espresso, and a Mini Capital Grille Cheesecake with a brûléed top and fresh seasonal berries. They even plated the cheesecake with “Happy Birthday” written in chocolate. Both desserts were phenomenal and a perfect finish to the evening. If I had one critique, it would be that service timing felt a bit delayed at moments — particularly toward the end when we were ready for the check. But despite that, our server was friendly and attentive overall, and the quality of the meal and the experience more than made up for the minor slowdown. All in all, this was one of the best dinners my wife and I have ever enjoyed. From the food, to the atmosphere, to the thoughtful birthday touches, The Capital Grille absolutely delivered. We can’t wait to go back!