The Capital Grill
2502 E Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Companion and I arrived for a dinner reservation at 5:30 and were seated immediately. We were
immediately brought warm bread and lavosh along with butter lightly salted on top. Drinks were ordered.
Companion ordered a Pink Squirrel, which we were surprised that the bartender knew how to make. I ordered a Beefeater martini very dry with a double olive. Both libations were well made.
Companion ordered Lobster Bisque, which came out like a deep pink pool of elegance sporting nice immediately brought warm bread and lavosh along with butter lightly salted on top. Drinks were ordered.
Companion ordered a Pink Squirrel, which we were surprised that the bartender knew how to make. I ordered a Beefeater martini very dry with a double olive. Both libations were well made.
pieces of lobster in it. Dry Sherry was nicely poured over the top as a finishing touch. I ordered a crab
meat cocktail, which was adequate but nothing to brag about.
Next came main courses. Companion ordered the Porcini rubbed Bone In Ribeye, cooked rare. It
arrived perfectly cooked rare, but not blue. For myself, I ordered the Broiled Lobster, which also came
out cooked to perfection. It is easy to ruin a lobster by undercooking or overcooking it, but this was
carefully watched. It was served with lots of melted sweet butter, which apparently all restaurants are
now doing. I added my own salt to it which brought out that buttery flavor that I sought.
arrived perfectly cooked rare, but not blue. For myself, I ordered the Broiled Lobster, which also came
out cooked to perfection. It is easy to ruin a lobster by undercooking or overcooking it, but this was
carefully watched. It was served with lots of melted sweet butter, which apparently all restaurants are
now doing. I added my own salt to it which brought out that buttery flavor that I sought.
Side dishes were Wild Mushrooms and Creamed Spinach. The shrooms were nicely cooked, and while
not necessarily wild (the same are available in most markets) nonetheless had good flavor. The
creamed spinach was adequate. It lacked finishing flavor and the requisite creaminess. Perhaps they
could get the recipe from Lawry’s Prime Rib for there's, which is the standard yardstick for comparison.
not necessarily wild (the same are available in most markets) nonetheless had good flavor. The
creamed spinach was adequate. It lacked finishing flavor and the requisite creaminess. Perhaps they
could get the recipe from Lawry’s Prime Rib for there's, which is the standard yardstick for comparison.
On to dessert. This was the one area that the meal failed totally in expectation. Companion ordered
Creme Brulee, which is not a difficult dessert to create. The first thing noticed was that the dish was
warm. The creme was eggy and lacked vanilla. Worse, it had never properly set, and was watery.
Probably as a result, the crystalized sugar top was very thin, and had no snap or crunch, which is a
signature of this dish. If this is the best the pastry chef can do, perhaps its time to look for another one.
For myself, I ordered vanilla ice cream with strawberries and aged balsamic vinegar on top. The
“homemade” ice cream had an odd flavor and while I know that an aged balsamic is costly, I had to
wonder if they could spare it.
Creme Brulee, which is not a difficult dessert to create. The first thing noticed was that the dish was
warm. The creme was eggy and lacked vanilla. Worse, it had never properly set, and was watery.
Probably as a result, the crystalized sugar top was very thin, and had no snap or crunch, which is a
signature of this dish. If this is the best the pastry chef can do, perhaps its time to look for another one.
For myself, I ordered vanilla ice cream with strawberries and aged balsamic vinegar on top. The
“homemade” ice cream had an odd flavor and while I know that an aged balsamic is costly, I had to
wonder if they could spare it.
Overall service was excellent and attentive. The premises were spotless and the restrooms were
properly maintained with good sanitation.
properly maintained with good sanitation.
With the exception of the dessert, the meal was excellent and had the dessert been up to snuff,
would have been given 5 stars.
would have been given 5 stars.
4 Stars for excellent meal except dessert, excellent service and excellent cleanliness.
