With all of the new restaurants in town to check out, especially steakhouses, The Capital Grille Miami had been off my agenda for a long time, though I always enjoyed the clubby, comfortable environment, highly professional service and dependably very good fare. With news of a new bar menu, Mr. W and I made our way there for an informal end of the week cocktail and bite. The bar menu is served in a newly designed area called the lounge.
There are several super comfy raised leather banquettes with starched white linen tablecloths, perfect lighting, and a view to the bar and other lounge tables. On the menu are traditional entrees The Capital Grille is known for, such as a selection of top quality steaks and seafood with steakhouse fare sides. Sides not to miss are the roasted wild mushrooms with crimini, Portobello, shitake and oyster mushrooms. The au gratin potatoes are downright decadent, creamy and rich with jarlsberg and white cheddar cheeses, all layered like lasagna, and then topped with crunchy roasted garlic and onion (a candidate for best dish of the year).
For The Capital Grille experience, but less food, enter the new cocktail plates to share, a wider selection than found at most places offering lighter bites, and some cool new cocktails.
Find oysters, garlic shrimp, shrimp cocktail (glad to see that standby) and calamari, along with lollipop lamb chops and steak tartare. Our favorites were the mini lobster and crab burger sliders, generous in the chunks of fresh shellfish which were perfectly paired with buttery brioche buns.
Slices of beef tenderloin that were slightly piquant are another good choice, and ideal for sharing.
They were well accompanied by a classic wedge salad with bleu cheese and crispy Applewood smoked bacon.
Lounge patrons can also enjoy the full dessert menu ranging from seasonal berries and warm apple cobbler to staples of cheesecake and warm double chocolate cake.
Cocktail plate selections average $17; salads and sandwiches are in the teens; and entrees average in the 40’s. Wines by the glass (6 ounce pour) start at $9 and bottles start at $30. Corkage fee is $25. And how could I forget a major plus — the full menu is served from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for those of you on Southern European lunch time. It’s also served in the main restaurant. Steve Harmon, Executive Chef Partner, told us that this new bar menu is being test marketed here in Miami and if a success, will then be rolled out at all The Capital Grille restaurants. Based on our experience, they’ve got a winner.