A Review of the Capital Grille in Houston, Texas

If you are in the Houston, Texas area, run, don't walk, to The Capital Grille restaurant. The food is really that good. We chose to dine there during Houston's Restaurant Week, where a portion of our bill went towards the Houston Food Bank. It was a wonderful way to try a new restaurant and donate to charity at the same time. The Capital Grille has valet parking but it is not required as there are a plethora of parking spots in the large shopping center in which the restaurant is located (in the Galleria area). Attire is casual elegant which basically means you can wear whatever you want, but the ambiance begs for its diners to dress up - at least a little.

We were seated at a romantic booth, but because of the noise level - due to its popularity - it was difficult to carry on a quiet conversation. That did not stop us from enjoying our evening however because the food was spectacular. We were provided with a basket full of different types of bread including a large cracker which was similar to Matzo. They all tasted fresh and though we were asked if we wanted another basket, we declined because we knew we would fill up and not have room for our meal.

For diners wishing to participate in Houston's Restaurant Week, there was a set menu and there was something for everyone. There were no prices on the menu so we assumed it would be very expensive - especially after eating our three course meal - but lo and behold, a three course meal at an upscale restaurant cost just $35 per person. That was excellent value considering the top notch ingredients and finest cuts of steaks that we were served.

For my appetizer, I ordered the salad which consisted of field greens, tomatoes, and herbs. I did not think it was going to be anything special but I wound up eating every morsel on my plate, and for a non-salad lover, that says a lot. My husband ordered the clam chowder which was served in a cup that was just the right size: not too big as to ruin his appetite, but enough to satiate him until his main course arrived.

Both my husband and I ordered the Kona crusted sirloin with caramelized shallot butter. The serving size was large and the steak was to die for. It was tender like butter and packed full of flavor. Despite the fact that I ordered mine medium-rare and my husband had his medium, we were both head-over-heels over the Filet mignon at The Capital Grille in Houston, Texas. Because the portion was so large, I could only eat half of my steak - well, that, and the fact I knew dessert was coming.

So what was for dessert? Well, I opted for the sorbet, and though I thought my husband was going to order the chocolate espresso cake, he decided to copy me and went for the sorbet as well. We both finished our sorbet quickly as it made the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

The Capital Grille is actually a national chain; to find a restaurant near you, visit their web site at Thecapitalgrille.com. The location of The Capital Grille we dined at is 5365 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX, 77056. Their phone number is (713) 623-4600.