Fancy Lunch Idea: A Leisurely Steak Meal at the Capital Grille
Sometimes, you need to treat yourself to a luxurious lunch. When you’re feeling in need of a pick-me-up, skip the desk salad scarfed under the glow of the fluorescent office lighting and head to the Capital Grille (120 Broadway) for something more satisfying.
The classic steakhouse, which recently reopened, feels sumptuous from the moment you step in. Crisp white tablecloths, comfortable leather chairs, sleek granite bars and warm lighting from the flickering tabletop lamps set the stage for what’s to come. On the walls, you’ll notice a collection of still life and landscape paintings in burnished gold frames. Jazz plays from unobtrusive speakers at exactly the right volume.
On a recent visit, the Alliance opted for a classic steakhouse meal: Caesar salad, filet mignon, mashed potatoes and a glass of red wine. The Caesar salad was memorably good, which is not often always a descriptor bestowed on the salad. But the generously thick shavings of cheese and buttery croutons made it a dish of note. The mashed potatoes were perfect: dense, creamy and rich. Thankfully for solo diners, they’re available in half portions. And of course, the star of the show is the steak. The filet mignon is melt-in-your-mouth perfection. It’s tender and juicy with a little bit of a crust. It all paired perfectly with a glass of red wine — maybe a cheeky order at lunchtime, but one we wholeheartedly support.
Other noteworthy items on the lunch menu include a lobster bisque, sushi-grade sesame seared tuna, seared salmon with couscous, asparagus and heirloom tomatoes and roasted chicken. There’s an extensive wine list — a banner on the scaffolding outside reads “our wine list is longer than this scaffolding” — as well as a curated cocktail menu with drinks like the Stoli Doli, a vodka and pineapple combo that’s been on the Capital Grille menu since 1991, and the Dirty Goose, a dirty martini with olive brine and hand-stuffed blue cheese olives.
The Capital Grille’s Wall Street location also has plenty of private rooms if you’re looking to plan your company party or schmooze with clients. We’d recommend the Calloway Room, which is built into a space that was previously a bank vault and still has the original heavy steel door. It seats 24 people.
