Capitol Chophouse

In a word: Worth it if you're into the fine dining thing.

The specs: #0062
Address, hours & details via Isthmus; reviews by Dennis Getto, Chris Martell (2003 & 2006), at Yelp, Culinary Adventures of Jahboh and Tossy, Madison Fish Fry; Madison Hilton web site, Chophouse web site;

Latest Capitol Chophouse news and reviews

JM ate the open-faced prime rib sandwich with a lemonade.
Nichole ate the champagne chicken with a latte.
The bill was $28, or $14/person, plus tip.
JM and Nichole both gave Capitol Chophouse an A- (see our grading rubric).

Jerry Minich wrote a fine review of dinner at the Capitol Chophouse, so we decided to try lunch. We found it just as good - and a great deal cheaper - than we'd expected. In fact, our bill came to a cool hundred less than theirs, and we still had a great experience.

It's the details. Free hotel parking with a handy "You are parked on ..." ticket system was nice, and this made us smile:

Once in the restaurant, a welcoming maitre d' (not so common when you're young and a bit scruffy like us) took our coats and seated us in an ample booth. Our server was quick and accurate. The staff even tolerated us taking a few pictures.

The fare was top notch. (Nichole can forgive a hotel for serving Starbucks coffee - barely.) For starters, the house salads featured fine chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, bleu cheese, bacon, eggs, cucumbers, and yummy toast.

The champagne chicken made Nichole's best-chicken-ever list, right up there with Chicken Unlimited of Eau Claire, North American Rotisserie, and the holy grail of poultry that a culinary school graduate FOAF served at his own graduation party - something continental Indian, involving yogurt marinade, skewers and an outdoor stone hearth. *pauses to wipe drool from keyboard* Anyway, it was bliss; the grilled asparagus and skin-in mashed garlic potatoes were a delight.

JM's sandwich was prima, his only complaint being that the gravy could have been more flavorful. The prime rib was well-prepared and sufficiently juicy but the potatoes were not.  (Thus the need for gravy.)  The toast was as good as any tasted 'neath bread and meat.

Warm peanut butter cookies topped it all off nicely.