Capriccio Grill, Part 1

For our second celebration of trivia wins, Sissy, Chazzy, and me decided on a dinner at the Capriccio Grill. Lucky for us, money was not really an object, since all our food was to be purchased with gift cards. This allowed us to order much more than we normally would! Since we did eat so much, I will probably split this review into several posts so I write about it all.

Capriccio Grill is an interesting restaurant in itself. The dishes are of such high quality and excellent flavor, yet the ambience of the place does not really match the level of the food. The lights are bright and not dimmed, the décor is fairly plain, and the restaurant is very open. We were even seated in a typical booth…. However, even with this contradiction in “niceness” and atmosphere, we had a great time and had some amazing food. And after a brief wait at the beginning for our server to greet us, the service was quick, attentive, and very courteous.

First, we ordered wine. I was very (pleasantly) surprised to see a wide variety on the menu, including a very affordable, drinkable $25 pinot noir. We also placed appetizer and soup orders at the same time. After much discussion, we decided on two seafood dishes, one beef dish, and two bowls (rather than cups) of the soup.

The ahi tuna tartare ended up being one of our favorite dishes. With chunks of tuna (rather than the usually smaller pieces), the flavor really came through and paired perfectly with the smoothness of the avocado and the spiciness of the shichimi pepper. The bread points were not needed and actually took away from the combination of flavors.

The porcini crusted beef carpaccio was a bit of a surprise. Rather than very very thinly sliced beef, it was a bit thicker and more of a typical “roast beef” flavor and texture when eaten by itself. However, a bite that also included the arugula and whatever the “green things” were on the plate brought a deeper immersion of the beef flavor.

The seafood tower can be designed in several different ways. There are options of 4 or 5 different seafoods and then you can specify how many portions of each. We decided on the lump crabmeat and the clams. While the clams were a bit on the expensive side (and only one per person), they tasted extremely fresh and delicious. They were the perfect texture, temperature, and flavor. The lump crabmeat portions were huge by comparison. Tender and flaky, a touch of lemon helped bring out the perfect bite of crab.

The lobster bisque is “served tableside.” A bowl is set on the table with cold lobster meat and bit of a creamy substance. The server pours the hot soup on top, creating the swirled soup. (Note for those who order it: wait a few minuets after the presentation to let the lobster heat up a bit.) The soup was rich and creamy, with gravy-bisque type flavor. The lobster was chunky and plentiful (although you can never have TOO much lobster), creating a nice balance of smooth and chewy textures.

The gazpacho was one of the better ones I have tasted. The pureed tomatoes were left with just the right amount of chunk, and the pieces of cucumber in the soup were still nice and crisp.

After the soups, our server mentioned our food would still be a few minutes, so he brought us a caprese salad on the house. (Note to restaurant managers: while not necessary, this simple gesture is a great way to instill loyalty and really facilitate a great customer experience.) With just the right amount of basil, thick slices of mozzarella, and delicious swirls of balsamic vinegar across the bottom, this “salad” was a refreshing middle course before the entrees.

So far, so good…. Well REALLY good!! Stay tuned for entrees and dessert!!