A 2012 Elite Welcome Reception at The Capital Grille

Seriously, this was the BEST. I can see why we couldn’t bring guests… this was too special for guests!!!
Ok, the lobster rolls, the tuffle fries, the tenderloin sandwiches, the shrimp size of sharks, and the nice cocktails… ok you had me there. But then, a tour of the kitchen where dry aged beef develops and that gift bag!!! Stop it! It’s too much! Just kidding, it wasn’t too much — it was perfect and just great.
Can’t wait to go back to this place to eat, it is Classy, Classy, Classy. They know how to make food and treat guests at The Capital Grille!!! WOW — SHOCKER!
Thanks Rachel!!!

I am so overwhelmed by this event that I’ll just list what made it one of the greatest ever:
C hoicest cuts of dry aged beef. Overheard, «OMG, this is the best meat I’ve ever tasted!»
A wesome tenderloin sandwiches: so juicy, so tasty!
P ineapple infused vodka drink of the gods: the amazing, and dangerous, Stoli Doli.
I nformative tour of the kitchen with executive Chef Mike. I love the Kona rub!
T rip to the wine cellar with the very knowledgeable manager Paul. 5000 bottles, people!
A bundance of delicious lobster rolls. So much that an entire tray was left over!
L arge platters of jumbo shrimp. How big do they have to be before we call them prawns?
G enerous collection of parting gifts for each Unilocaler: Truffles, free lunch, and spice rubs.
R ed meat, red meat, and more red meat! Did I mention red meat?
I nteresting and friendly Unilocalers. And some funny ones too.
L uke, the hardest working photog in the house.
L ovely Rachel F, CM extraordinaire, who coordinated this outstanding event.
E xemplary service: professional, polite, and polished.
I know I’ve bandied about several superlatives but they are well deserved. This event was that good!

A classy event for some classy people! The Capital Grille is a really awesome place and everyone was so gracious and welcoming. It was cool to get a mini tour of the place.
It was great to chat with new friends and old!
I look forward to coming back for lunch and took note of the complimentary valet.

Did someone say incredible?
Yes! Yes they did. Wow. Huge kudos to Rachel for hooking up the first elite event of 2012; if the time at Capital Grille is any indication, it is going to be a great year!
Tour of the wine cellar? Un-​Check (whoops, I missed this part). Tour of the kitchen and dry rub aged steak? Double check. Meeting so many awesome elite friends face-​to-​face? Triple check!
I’ll be back for lunch (and dinner) soon… yum city in downtown MKE.

Despite all of us looking fancy in our pretty clothes, I couldn’t help but hear Homer Simpson going «Mmmmm, Meat!» in my head all night long.
So clearly, I’m not one of the classy people everyone else is talking about.
Not going to lie, if you all wouldn’t have judged me, I’d have taken that platter of rubbed tenderloin for my very own.
Chef Mike said some of my favorite words when he drizzled the steak with a «12 year Balsamic,» but the winner of the night was that shallot butter reduction. Paula Deen wishes she could make something so buttery and delicious.
Capital Grille hasn’t really been on my radar in terms of steakhouses, but I was way impressed. The food was decadent and delicious. The steak melted in your mouth. The staff was helpful, informative and completely unobtrusive. They were also incredibly generous. Even if they hadn’t offered a free lunch, I’d go back. It’s clear the GM and Chef Mike are passionate about serving great food.
Thanks so much — what a way to kick of Elite ’12

Because this was a classy event, I’m going to skip the jokes about meat rubbing…
Seriously, this was a top notch evening full of giant shrimp, plentiful steak, cool people and dee– licious drinks (big ups for the champagne cocktail action). If you are reading this and thinking «hmm…those Elites are snobby a-​holes who are currently full of free steak»…please get active, write a bunch of reviews and JOIN us!
Thank you Rachel + Capital Grill for a great time. Everything was delicious, your servers were awesome and your kitchen tour refedined food porn for me!

Wow.
I confess, I was ignorant. This definitely changed my uneducated opinion of what the Capital Grille is. I had no idea. I’ll admit, I was wrong. Please forgive me, please accept my apologizes.
We were privy to a tour of the kitchen and the basement meat locker. Truly meat porn. I asked that my fellow tour goers excuse me and give me a few moments alone with all the aging sides of beef. Probably best that request was denied…
I learned a lot today about aging meat from Chef Micheal. I truly appreciate the lesson. I’ve always appreciated good beef, now I feel closer than ever before. Great place to get your meat on. The rarer the better. Just knock off the moo and put it on my plate.
Thanks to Rachael F. (of course), and thanks to the GM Paul and the awesome staff at CG. I’ll see you soon for lunch, dinner, drinks, and various other times in between.

Anytime I can go in the basement of a fancy restaurant I’ve been meaning to try, and watch a guy rub meat, I consider that a success.
Hence, tonight’s Elite ’12 welcome reception was a great success!
Had such a blast hanging out with Unilocal friends old and new.
Mowed on delicious truffle fries (so good I had to abandon the tongs and just shove them in my mouth, no need for plate), glorious cuts of meat (the one in that shallot sauce, dear lord, yes) and some monster-​size shrimp.
Was thoroughly impressed with the excellent drinks selection. Though I’m preggo and stuck to the yummy grapefruit soda, I was envious of the pineapple vodka thingy and yummy looking champagne/​berry concoction. Very nice spread, from the food to drink. Not that I’m surprised. It’s Unilocal + one of Milwaukee’s swankiest. It had to impress, and it did!
So appreciative of the awesome gift bags the Grille so graciously bestowed upon each of us. Can’t wait to return with a lucky friend for lunch. And meat rub!!! Heck yes.
A hearty kudos to all the staff, who were so kind and welcoming. The chef that posed so sweetly with the meat downstairs? Total champ. The general manager was super sweet, and the random kitchen staff member who found Kyle and I wandering around looking for the rest of the crew was a wonderful help as well.
Glad I finally got to try the Grille in such a fun way, will definitely be back!

A-​MAZING. In all caps. This is such a great spot for private parties. In talking with the bartender, he shared that they have private groups there on nearly a daily basis, which is generally a good sign. Hors d’oeurvres included a lobster roll, mini tenderloin sandwiches (to DIE for), roasted pepper soup, and gigantic shrimp. Add in some delicious cocktails, and you’ve got yourself an exceptional event.
The staff was utterly fantastic, engaging with guests and taking us on tours of the kitchen (which included mouth-​watering steak samples). The door prize goodie bags were also awesome, and I can’t wait to go back for lunch. All in all, an outstanding event and a great opportunity to meet some friendly Unilocalers in person. Thanks to Rachel and The Capital Grille staff!