The Capital Restaurant

My mother in law was over from NYC for my wife 37th birthday, so I thought we would indulge in French cuisine at The Capitol. The degustation menu is a real treat!

The 7 or 8 courses paired with the wine were all worth it. A little let down was a young Southern Portuguese wine which the somelier quickly changed for something more subtile. The service was absolutely splendid and but the food was really the super start of the evening. One remark if I may, if this restaurant wants to get the so coveted third Michelin star, they will need to change the lighting and redesign this restaurant.
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Mr Cyrille Delval
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 9
Sunday, February 18, 2007

We had lunch at The Capital after a long time without visiting this restaurant. We had good memories of it and our experience today was again very positive. The restaurant has been redecorated and I am not sure that it has gained from it. In was certainly sort of old style in the past but the current scheme is very bland. The food though, was very nice and an excellent deal at £30. Special mention for the starter of white beans veloute, chorizo ravioli and ceps. Service was friendly and professional and the somelier was keen to provide down to earth advice on the wine. Recommendable.
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Hannah
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 9
Saturday, February 03, 2007

I took my boyfriend here for lunch and it was a truly wonderful experience. The food was divine and the service impeccable. great value at £30. Shame the wine is so expensive.
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laura
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, November 10, 2006

Went here on a recommendation. Have to very honest, for a two star restaurant, with a bill for £309 for two, don't think we will be back in a hurry.In my opinion, not a patch on the likes of pied a terre, the ledbury etc.Travelled 280 miles for this, other than an outstanding pre starter, what followed was just ok. Bread was terrible, certainly was not fresh for that night.
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R.Johns
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Sunday, September 10, 2006

Ignore the more recent reviews below - we had a fabulous dinner at The Capital last night.

It was my birthday and when my husband told me that he had booked a table, I looked on London-eating to read the reviews. As a result, it would be fair to say that I approached the evening with trepidation. My concern was totally unfounded.

The restaurant is surprisingly small and intimate but tables are well-spaced. The food was sublime. The amuse boche consisted of a shot glass of coconut and lime soup plus a tiny chilli duck kebab, both mouth-wateringly good. The selection of breads was innovative and tasty. We had starters of toasted fois gras and langoustine and then both chose Lamb with cous cous for our main course - all were delicious. While portions are rather 'nouvelle' (though exquisitely presented) they were the perfect size to ensure that we had enough space left for pudding.

Service was terrific, not too 'in yer face' but atttentive. The house champagne is excellent and the wine list varied.

It's not inexpensive but we had one of the best meals we've had in London for a while and would unreservedly recommend it for a special occasion meal.
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Lesley - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Friday, August 04, 2006

First and Last Time at The Capital

I went there with someone special and the evening was not as great as i was expecting. We had booked at 7pm and were having drinks at the bar and the lady kept up coming to us in the bar to rush us in the restaurant which i was not happy about that at all. She came 3 times or more to the bar and said to us if we would like to come for dinner.

So finally we moved to our table. We ordered sparkling water, degustation menu and the sommelier degustation menu. My lady who is a restaurant supervisor herself spotted that the water glass had a grease spot. We ask to be changed, then the "clean" came and water was poured and there was something in the glass. i was annoyed at this point because as a 2 star you dont expect this to happen at this level.

Nothing to complaint about the food, though it took little bit long at times, but anyway, Then the manager came and startes pouring wine in the glasses, and drops, some wine on the table cloth, what a disaster.... During our mains water was being refilled and STILL water was poured into her glass and my lady was very furious with the service staff, I mean people from such a high standard cant expect to do such minor errors. We had a chat with the manager and he was upset in a way coz we are in the hospitality business and since i used to work in a 2 star i know how it works.

Then for the dessert, we ask the supervisor if we could have it in the bar, and she said yes and then when we was about to move she appeared and said that the manager refused, think he was upset, and have to tell you people reading this review that on this day we was not the only people complaining about the service and the glasses and food.

Then finally, we got the dessert and had our petit fours at the bar, which was not bad, PErsonally i think the bill was not bad even though i was not charged for the bottle of water. but anyway at this level, mistakes should not occur.
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Ludovic Baulacky
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, May 11, 2006

2 Michelin Stars? You're having a giraffe. Between the 4 of us we had Frogs Legs - tasteless; Crab Lasagne - tasteless; Foie Gras - overwhelmed by the bacon. Mains - the Turbot might as well have been fish & chips; Rabbit - not bad, but the tomato risotto was poor; Apparently the duck was nice though. After the main course the waiter might as well have shoved the cheese board in our face, and the sommellier was trying to 'sell' us some of the more expensive wines. Massively overrated - there are many better places. Please go somewhere else.
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Greg Winterton
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Friday, May 05, 2006

Having discovered this little oasis in the early 1990s, we decided to celebrate our 23rd anniversary with lunch on 9 March.

The marguerita accompanied by olives, nuts and cherries in alcohol were all fine and worth the £9.

Started with a Billicart rose champagne (half bottle), amuse bouche of mussel and citrus dominated accompaniants - little sea food flavour came through; the first course of scallop with quite similar accompaniant - again little sea food flavour; livers and salad were fine.

My main, a grilled red mullet fillet was just above average, with excellent texture. My partner ordered the steamed fish which arrived barely tepid. We both ordered the "crushed potatoes" which turned out to be diced potatoes mixed with quite a bit of red peppers. I am allergic to peppers, so pointed this out to the excellent staff who said they could not describe all ingredients on the menu. What utter nonsense! Most major restaurants now indicate the major components of the various dishes.

Without hesitation, because of these two issues, we were not charged for the food. But that is not the point. We wanted a memorable meal - which this turned out to be BUT for all the wrong reasons.

We skipped the cheese, and went to the deserts, which I cannot recall because I was so disappointed.

After many visits to The Capital, I have now deleted the phone number from my mobile.
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Vaughan Howell
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, April 12, 2006

My boyfriend and I went to The Capital to celebrate our anniversary, the food and service were amazing, I really have only one comment bin the slighly clunky cutlery, it was fine but not great for my tiny hands! Apart from that, if you want somewhere special it is a definite must. The staff were so friendly and not at all snobby, we never felt rushed or bothered and the food as I was expecting was sensational. I loved it.
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Caroline
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Dinner here with wife and daughter was outstanding. Attentive but not overbearing service, excellent menu choices, delicious and creative flavors, comfortable surroundings. Before our visit we advised the manager and chef of our daughter's food allergy problems - they were amazingly responsive and made every effort to accommodate her culinary needs. I cannot say enough about the management and staff taking care of us and providing a truly wonderful evening.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, February 05, 2006