There are a lot of choices in Tampa Bay for a business meeting or celebration dinner and all of the top restaurant chains have noticed this...and moved to town. Capital Grille replaced the failed Keyshawn Johnson's sushi restaurant in it's prime International Plaza location and it has flourished ever since. The decor is top notch, food always prepared fresh and arrives at your table hot and seasoned just right. The calamari is the best I have ever tried and the steaks are always cooked to the right temperature, which is hard even for other top chains to consistently produce. The bar area, centered around a two-story glass wine tower (the only part of the aforementioned sushi restaurant that remains) is probably the best in Tampa Bay. The atmosphere is welcoming and the bartenders always make you feel like you belong. The wine list certainly covers a lot of ground and is quite brash with some selections letting you know that there are some wines that are best left for people that don't ask the price (try the Screaming Eagle if you can get it), but just as many selections that will be easy on your wallet and fit well with the menu. The original manager (Paul Hawkins) that designed the wine list has left, but the remaining managers have a thorough knowledge of the cellar, so be sure to ask for suggestions. But for any restaurant where charge cards roam happily in fields of hundred dollar bills, to be rated 5 stars, the service must be beyond reproach; attentive when needed and anticipating your needs before they arise. This is where the Capital Grille shines - as close to the Ritz Carlton service standard as one can hope for outside of the Ritz.
Pros: The standard for the big chains to strive for
Cons: Can get crowded at times and parking is a detractor when compared to competitors
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