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Categories: Diners, Bars, American (New)
Neighborhood: Grandview HeightsMon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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I heart this place. It's awesome for parties big and small. The food comes in enormous portions so that you can always take the leftovers for lunch the next day. I can't say that I have had a bad meal here. The chicken parm is great; you get like 4 chicken cutlets! The chocolate cake is gimormous. I also love the Sunday brunch menu. They serve it with glazed cinnamon rolls that are gooey and to die for.
The servers are super accommodating. My bridesmaids had planned a shower on the patio for me during GRADUATION week, so you know it was super busy. Well, it ended up raining so they moved our entire party inside without blinking an eye. (Sorry for everyone that had to wait because we took up the entire restaurant.) The servers were nice enough to split the checks for people with differnet meals and stuff. Super food, super service!
We were visiting in Columbus so I don't want to be snobbish about this place, but our food and dining experience was just okay. Had the prices been a tad bit lower, I think I would have been more pleased. The one good thing is that the portion sizes were huge so we were able to split an entree. We had the fish and chips ($14.95) and I had high expectations for the beer battered fish fillets. They were good, not excellent, but good. The fish wasn't cod, but it was another white fish (that I can't recall). The batter was okay, but I've had much better and more flavorful beer batter before. The tarter sauce was also okay, but I expected more flair and not something that tasted as mainstream. The blue cheese coleslaw was better than most coleslaws that I've tasted, but I didn't get any of the blue cheese flavor. Most appalling was the 2.50 tea, which is on the high end for regular lipton brews.
The fries were also decent, but not fried properly so they were squishy instead of crisp. The fillets were also greasy and oily which I wish they would have been drained properly before serving. The restaurant was very nice to split our entree onto separate plates and we left pretty full but still had room for desert. Coming from the south, I was amused at the dining experience because it seemed so akin to home. The sweet rolls were traditional but I would have preferred them not to be slathered in butter.
In short, I've had much better fish and chips for the same price, or even lower. Like I said, the meal wasn't terrible, but it wasn't anything to really write home about. For the entree costing 14.95, I expect more flavor or other interesting components (like better tarter sauce or a flavorful beer batter) to justify a $5.00 (in quality) meal. Personally I would much rather have small portions of something very flavorful instead of greasy large portions of "okay" food that one could gorge themselves on.
I love Cap City. I can never pass up the two apple spinach salad. My favorite main dish is the pecan crusted pork chops. If you save enough room for dessert, there are some great options, but plan to share or take some home because they are huge.
The service is consistently wonderful. That is pretty standard across Cameron Mitchell restaurants, and really does make them stand out.
I'm very tempted to give 5 stars, but I'm holding back because of the prices and because I have had a couple dishes here that missed the mark (the tilapia sandwich was a bit dry).
As I continue to experience "Yelp", I am utterly amazed at the educated people here who think that a Cameron Mitchell restaurant will be offering diner grub at a bargain price. If you simply drive up to the place, and view the extensive patio area and the bar, I think you may be able to figure out that this is no "Nancy's", "Chef's House" (a Hilliard favorite) or the "Goody Boy". I do not know of a diner with alcohol service either - unless it's a "pub"....
In my opinion, you can get a great meal here that is imaginative, served with flair. it is a coffee shop turned finer diner with the front dining room resembling a dining car, while the back room is large and open with high ceilings and a very cozy fireplace
A quick run down on the pricing and the menu:
Appetizers - Maytag Blue Cheese Potato Chips to Boiled Shrimp - priceed between $6 and 10.00. Big portions - easy to share...
Salads - cool, fresh ranging from side portions to entree sized, priced from $5.00 to 10.00 - Next ttime, why not share a side salad with your entree - no one says you have to have a whole one for yourself, especially if you have another big food plate coming? I suggest teh 2 apple/spinach salad.
Sandwiches - Burgers, Ruebens, Clubs (with salmon if you like), Turkey Burger, Meat Loaf Melt - priced between $6.00 and 10.00.
Entrees - Romano Crusted Fried Chicken, Pecan Crusted Pork Chops, Ponzu Glazed Salmon, Meatloaf - thick sliced, piled high with potatoes and vegetable - not your typical 80/20 hamburg here....Daily specials. All entrees come with two AMPLE side dishes - if you don't like the sides listed, feel free to ask for a substitution. Entree prices are $12.00 to 20.00. To me - the portions are AMPLE - I eat half my entree and take the other half home for the next day - that usually doesn't happen at the other diners for me. Fantastic sides - sticky rice, pasta cake, buttered noodles, various mashed potato blends with cheese and peppers, skillet green beans (steamed with pecans and red peppers), spinach saute with shallots and tomato - excellent, FRESH preparations
Even better - you can ask for the "Lunch" portion - half the entree priced between 8.00 and 14.00.
Deeserts - wow - huge portions once again - really "BIG" chocolate cake, carrot cake, apple pie with almond crust, cherry pie, ley lime tart, Bananas Foster, Bread Pudding.. Most are priced between $5.00 and 7.00.
I guess I don't take offense to the pricing for this eclectic food like others do. In my opinion, their prices are not out of line with any casual dining chain restaurant you might flock to - and there is the opportunity to eat cheaper with a side salad and an appetizer, a sandwich, a shared entree, etc. I find the alcohol pricing to be comparable with any other restaurant with a full bar - if that's too prohibitive - maybe drink before dinner? I assume you must have some disposable income - because you are eating out. Even the 5 star chicken finger place charges you $8.00 for a sooped up meal - and you likely feel hungry after eating it.
As for your dress code - I wore jeans and a sweater tonight. I saw jeans and tennis shoes, If you go on Sunday morning for brunch - yes you will see some people dressed - likely because they are coming from Church. I can say the same thing for First Watch or my local Bob Evans...
The menu is creative - stretch your limits - order something fun instead of the entree salad - there are plenty of healthy offerings without having to resort to the salad like other posters.
Stop your whining, order something interesting, enjoy the excellent and accomodating service, and full bar if you've got the cash. Great outside dining when the weather is nice! Just enjoy the very reason you go out to dinner - great tasting food.
I visit Cap City often for lunch meetings at work or dinners when we have people in town from other offices.
As far as a fine diner concept the place delivers. As with all 'fine'dining you get what you pay for.
I would not consider cap city fine dining but the quality ingredients are superior to what you would find at a traditional diner.
The interior is fun and a bit kitschy. The menu is a crowd pleasure as well as the cheese covered chips as a group starter.
I like small plates so I always USED to get the corn and chees risotto that was recently dropped from the menue with a side of vegetarian chili.
There are not many vegetarian options but if you ask, like I do with the chili they will accomodate.
Deserts are huge and delicious. I usually split the apple pie with a partner.
Don't expect a greasy spoon at cap city or a check under $50 for two, but it is well worth it.
What makes Cap City Diner so great is how owner Cameron Mitchell gives you a high-end service experience in a super-casual setting. It makes you feel like you're a great meal without the uncomfortable formality of an upscale restaurant. You can feel the value for the dollar.
Get the Romano Crusted Chicken. It's pan-fried chicken breasts on spaghetti with a tomato sauce. The sauce makes it great. I don't know what they put in it, maybe a bit of cream? It has this punch to it that's absolutely addicting. The lunch portion is smaller than the dinner portion (two chicken breasts vs. three). It makes top-shelf leftovers.
The peel and eat shrimp are excellent appetizers, and the Long Island Iced Tea is the wife's drink of choice. Either the deep dish apple pie (how do they do that?), or the seriously big chocolate cake are musts if you still have room (get 'em to go if you don't).
The dining experience Saturday afternoon was better than the previous.
We went for lunch and two of us selected the Meatloaf melt, delicious.
My mom had the meatloaf and loved it along with the crispy onions.
Jon chose the Philly Beef and said it was not authentic but good for a gourmet diner sandwich.
We all shared the chocolate cake, one slice was enough for four.
The ambiance was better than before, we were sat by the fire.
But our server didn't smile until he asked us if we'd like dessert, not until we said yes did he make small talk. I don't desire small talk, but don't engage when you're turning over the bill.
Will I be back, Yes. I can't totally blame him it was during an OSU game.
What is the BIG DEAL? So it's owned by Cameron Mitchell, that doesn't make it good. The food was… Read more »
This is a pretty nice place, although expensive for a "diner." I had the "two apple" salad which was pretty good. It came with a mustard vinegrette which I asked for more of it. For my entree I had the meatloaf. There was a LOT of it. I didn't even finish it. Probably could have skipped the salad. The asparagus (which I requested instead of broccoli was either undercooked or the stems needed peeled, depending on how you looked at it. All in all, not bad, but nothing to write home about.
I love Cameron Mitchell restaurants across the board, but of all the concepts, this is my least favorite. It's not a reflection of the food or even the popularity with so many others, but it's just my personal opinion.
A diner is an interesting American concept, yet I can't connect with the idea of an 'upscale', somewhat overpriced "diner". It's hard to leave Cap City with a $75 bill, feeling like you had a diner experience... but ahhh... remember the name is Cap City FINER DINER. That's the catch! The food is awesome and WELL worth the $75 bill, which we just had last night. I may not patronize Cap City as often as some folks, but I'd say once a quarter is enough to recognize I drop a pretty chunk of change every time I eat here. But I'm OK with it. Just be advised... it is not your greasy spoon diner.
The booze, on the other hand is overpriced (especially, when I just want a casual dining experience), but Cap City's happy hour is another thing. Certain appetizers are on sale, as are a handful of drinks. Not the most generous discounts, but if you like the atmosphere, it's certainly worth a visit between 4 and 7.
We just had dinner here last night and were seated in the "original" diner section (as opposed to the dining room), which we speculated could have been inspired by the original hotel diner previously located in the same area of this building.
We also thought the 80's-ish music, which is not what one would expect to be playing at a "traditional" diner, was nostalgic enough to evoke a newer "diner ambiance". Interesting and updated idea. I like that Mitchell takes what could be an outdated concept and gives it a new and modern twist.
My only complaint: The tableside service (including last night) wavers between mediocre and good, but I've always had great bartender service. Our server last night more or less tossed our food on the table and ran off, but everything came out piping hot and tasted great. I stand firm in my three star review based simply on the fact that I have had five star service at other Cameron Mitchell restaurants. I will continue to come to the Finer Diner when I am craving stick-to-the-ribs comfort food, spare no expense.
One of my favorite places to eat for a fancy dinner. The Romano Crusted Chicken is to die for. If it's warm, try to sit outside, because it's very pleasant.
Let 'em know it's your birthday, and they'll usually bring out a complimentary piece of cake.
If you do get cake, understand that you alone will not be able to finish it. So bring a friend.
This is, by far, my favorite restaurant in Columbus.
The lunch prices are amazing when you take into account the amount of food you get. The food is also fantastic. I don't think I've ever had anything I wouldn't eat every bite of if I had the stomach capacity. The meatloaf is of course incredibly note worthy. And I've always been impressed with their appetizers. The potato chips are wonderful, just enough blue cheese to give it a little bite. The wings are fab. I really love the sauce they use on them.
I'm a huge fan of Cameron Mitchell restaurants. I wish I could find something like them in Boston. The service is always fast and friendly, the atmospheres are cute and always appropriate and the food is to die for. I love me some Cap City!!
Oh, and if you need somewhere to listen to jazz, sit out on a porch and drink a beer, you've got it at Cap City. Their outdoor seating area is rather fantastic, especially if you get a wedge salad to nom on. Mmmmm.
Firstly, don't come here expecting diner prices. My boyfriend and I once spent $70 here for two drinks, an appetizer, two entrees and a piece of pie. Cap City is an "upscale" diner and is priced accordingly.
I've had both the vegetable plate (which i do enjoy, since I tend to get bored with a big entree - the plate offers a few different things like pasta, veggies, and a spring roll) and the huevos quesadilla and while both were fine, neither was particularly impressive. The brunch dish did provide a lot of food between the quesadilla, the included side of fruit, and the yummy rolls that are on every table. Cap City's brunch has a good mix of breakfast food, sandwiches, and heartier entrees - sure to please any group.
Service has always been very good here. This was an excellent choice for my family when they were visiting - it's close to campus but not overrun with hungover undergrads, the service is good, the food is better than cafeteria food and in my experience you'll get a table faster than you would at Bob Evans.
Overall, not my favorite restaurant in Columbus (or even my favorite Cameron Mitchell restaurant) but the brunch is probably the best of the restaurants close to campus.
Cap City Fine Diner bills itself as a diner that's also upscale. Wait, what?
That's not a very good concept to me. The whole reason for diners is to get bad food, hopefully fast, some bad coffee, hopefully often, and a touch of class from sitting in a greasy, cramped little dive where the locals are loud, the regulars are rude, and if you're lucky, a few truckers will offer to give you Bibles- it happened to me!
None of that's going to happen at Cap City. It's all way too much. It's too dark to be a diner. The booths are too high backed. The music is too obvious. It's really nothing like a diner, even in passing- at least visually. The menu does have some sort of semblance to diner food- I guess I've seen a few diners serve meatloaf (eggs are fare more common, right?). It's just kind of nothing like a diner.
The food- it's not bad. The meatloaf I had didn't strike me as anything all that more extravagant than any other meatloaf I've had. The onion rings were a nice touch, but - well, for a few less dollars it'd have been pretty awesome, actually. But the prices are far more north of diner fare than the actual fare offered.
But at the end: a huge cup o' chocolate. I'm pretty sure that's fairly close to the real name on the menu. It was huge. It was o' chocolate. And it was delicious- I had to share it three ways, but we finished it. And I wanted more, although I knew it might kill me.
Cap City, you confound me. You creeped me out the whole time I was there with your weird, gothic take on a diner. But I liked your food. Even loved dessert. Couldn't you make this easier on me?
By far my favorite all around restaurant in Columbus. The food is moderately priced for the quality. Larry, if he is still the head chef (he is!), is great at creating amazing comfort food of outstanding quality. If you order a plate you likely won't spend over $17, and if you go the sandwich route, you'll be walking out under $10.
Cameron Mitchell isn't a self-made millionaire for nothing. Unless you catch your server on a terrible night, you will probably get some of the best service you've ever had. Cap City has the same standards as Cameron's or any of CMR's other locations, but with a slightly better price because it is, after all, a diner.
The Sunday brunch is the highlight of Cap City, in my opinion. So many amazing omelet options, fantastic cinnamon rolls (instead of dinner rolls), great fresh fruit, specials, I could go on.
Each night has a blue plate special, as well as a nightly special. Furthermore, I don't even like meatloaf, but Cap City has, and I absolutely mean this, the best meatloaf on the planet. Yes, it is better than your mother's. I'm sorry, it's true.
They usually feature a few seasonal beers at the bar, nothing too fancy though. Like all CMR joints, it has a drink menu, amazing desserts and a dessert drink list featuring coffee drinks and ports.
It is also great for large parties and kids.
Oh, also, for summer months there is a great patio that features live jazz on Friday nights.
I take all of my out-of-town friends here at least once. They walk away full and happy.
I guess I had pretty high expectations for Cap City. You always hear such great things about Cameron Mitchell restaurants and I had never been here before. A couple of friends and I decided to come here one Sunday afternoon for lunch.
It's located in a good spot - right on Olentangy River Rd so it's easy to spot. It's also kind of big and hard to miss.
We went in and sort of felt out of place. This place was a bit fancier than we expected. I think the word "diner" in the title through us off. We were all hungover and wearing our clothes from the bar the night before. Yeah, it was one of those Sundays. To sum this experience up, I'll just say that we would have been better off going to our regular First Watch.
But we were seated anyway. I guess we didn't look too bad. It was really pretty in there, but also very bright. One of the walls was all glass, and that allowed you to see right onto the patio where many people were seated outside enjoying the weather. I bet the patio is really great, it just wasn't for us that particular afternoon. The tables were covered in white table cloths and the napkins were cloth as well.
Our server filled our glasses with water which we all drank very quickly. They were pretty good about refilling the waters. When I looked at the menu I was quite surprised with how expensive everything was. There was no way I was getting a meal under $10. I didn't want too much to eat, but I wasn't wanting to spend a fortune, either. Again, the diner thing fooled us.
I wanted something light so I went for a salad. I got the BBQ Chopped Salad. My boyfriend got the mussels and one of my friends got the meatloaf. Apparently they are famous for their meatloaf, but I had never heard of it before.
We were waiting quite a while for our food. They might have been pretty busy but it didn't look too bad. Of course, I couldn't see how many people were out on the patio. When our food finally came we were anxious to eat. My salad was pretty big, and it was good, but there was nothing about it that really stood out. It was sort of plain compared to other BBQ salads I've had (see BJ's or Surly Girl's! - the best!). It was about $12 for my salad. Most other places manage to keep the salads under $10. My boyfriend rather enjoyed his mussels and my friend devoured his meatloaf. This meatloaf looked ridiculous. It was in layers. There was a layer of mashed potatoes, a layer of onion rings and the meatloaf itself. It looked really good. Maybe I'll have to give it a try sometime.
They had a pretty extensive menu and there were a lot of choices, I just don't think that I went with the right one. This salad seemed so unexciting compared to what most people got. The service was pretty good, but if you ever feel like checking this place out, maybe dress a bit nicer and prepare to spend a little more money than what you might normally spend at a diner! It really seems like they are going for a sort of casual elegance here.
This restaurant is my favorite place in town. Not only is the food simply amazing but the ambiance is second to none. Best way to describe both the food and the decor is - confort food meets class.
Its hard for me not to just order the vegetarian plate everytime I go. It varies from season to season but every variation is as good as the last. Portabello mushroom egg rolls, pasta cake, squash lasagna, ect. Other great options- fish and chips, meatloaf melt and the romano chicken.
Fully stocked bar that seems to always be hoppin, but be aware some of the signature drinks are usually around 8/9 dollars, but well worth it for the quality. If you are feeling brave try the PineFin on the rocks, a Cameron Mitchell signature.
Once its warm the patio opens and just enhances the dining experience that much more.
A staple when dining in Columbus, especially if you have a large group and/or very picky company. The atmosphere is a bit "chain-y", but their food and service are always superb, as are all of Cameron Mitchell's restaurants. The pork chop I had on my most recent visit was one of the best I've ever had, and the cheddar-chipotle mashed potatoes are a must have! This is one of my family's favorite casual restaurants in town.
Very good food, but not a lot of vegetarian options.
I've had good service and sub-par service, so like anywhere else, it just depends on the server.
Sometimes there's quite a wait, but the dining rooms don't feel incredibly crowded.
In general, the style of the food (upscale diner) is not my thing, but it's good for what it is.
We've eaten here 4 or 5 times, and never had a bad lunch at CCFD&B. I love diners, and I love that this place offers traditional American fare but with a bit of an upscale twist. Admittedly, I've only ever had the meatloaf (delicious!), but he's had the fish sandwich, the Romano crusted chicken, and the Reuben, and always been extremely satisfied. I recall the steamed mussels being really good too. Prices are definitely reasonable imo. Service has always been excellent - super attentive but not annoying.
One thing I like about the Cameron Mitchell restaurants is that the websites include recipes for many of their dishes. Kinda fun to try and recreate the stuff at home!
While I have no problem with Cameron Mitchell restaurants, they are usually not first on my list of places to go out to eat. I don't know what the stigma is - or maybe it's just that they never cross my mind.
At any rate -
Cap City is a "fine" diner, meaning its comfort food, but at a premium. While we didn't spend as much as some others have commented on their reviews, it isn't a place to go when you're trying to eat diner food for cheap (that's what the dube is for, people!)
We had about a 20 minute wait, but for a saturday night that was understandable.
In addition to the excellent rolls (i love bread, i will slay any bread basket in front of me), I had the lobster bisque (very rich, very tasty on a cold night) and the salmon salad. the salmon was cooked well although the portion was small, but the salad itself was very good. I also had the Great Lakes Nosferatu on tap.
Our server was extremely friendly and funny, and while she was very busy, her banter gave us a few laughs. When a server is obviously busy, I'm not one to get upset unless it's really a ridiculous situation, so the fact that we had to wait a little bit was no big deal.
Overall, it was a good experience. Didn't blow my mind, but I'd go back for the rolls.
I will always remember this place for many reasons. I embarked on my 3,000 mile journey with my late grandfather in the Fall of 2005 from Boston and after 15 hours of driving we settled in Columbus to stay the night. We had no idea we would end up finding one of the Best diners i have ever eaten in. It was a good sign when i walked in 5 minutes past close and the manager said to come on in. It was first class from the folded cloth napkins to the decor and the plates and silverware. I order to this day one of the best fried chicken dinners with a side of mashed potatoes that i would have again in a heartbeat. Cap City Diner will always be remembered. 93/100
Cap City is another one of Cameron Mitchell's creations. Its upscale for a diner, but casual clothes are just fine here. You'll find many comfort foods made with quality ingrediants. There is a mix of diner style booths, contemporary tables, a bar area, and even a handful of barstools facing the kitchen to choose from when you are seated.
The signature plate here is the Cap City meatloaf. It is famous around the city and even referred to on the menu's of other restaurants where they claim to have meatloaf, "cap city style."
The meatloaf is primarily made of veal, pork, beef, and shittake mushrooms. Served open face as a 1 inch thick slice on a slice of bread. On top of that comes a scoop of buttermilk chive mashed potatoes. It is covered with their own homemade bbq sauce. The top is sprinkled with some fried onion straws. Broccoli comes on the side.
This is must try item makes Cap City worthy of making a special effort to try. The BBQ sauce is absolutely delicious and my favorite component of the meal.
The quality of service here is excellent. The staff here is top notch and quick to resolve any issue you might have. I'm a big fan for good service and I'll give them an extra star for this alone.
My only compliant is the size of the desserts. They are enormous and if your not going to share one you will need a to-go box. After a meal, I like a nicely portioned dessert.. Most items on the menu are going to fill you up. Afterwards, there's no slight way to just satisfy your sweet tooth. Desserts here are just too much.
Going above and beyond. If you find a menu item you enjoy, their website has a recipe section where you can find out exactly how to make it.
TIP : Seek out the Grandview location over the Gahanna location. I think there is more character and diner feel at the Grandview place.
Cap City Diner seems to be a bit confused to me. Not really a diner at all, but with sort of a mod-diner feel and little to no diner food. Cap City seems to be trying to to dress up basic American semi-classics such as the much-Yelped meatloaf.
I cannot be the judge as to whether or not they hit the mark on the meatloaf, as I have not yet gotten over my childhood disdain of the dish and have never tried it. I always fall for one the sandwiches, pork chops or occasional chicken dish.
The front of the restaurant and hostess area looks an awful lot like a diner but that is where the similarities really stop. As a Cameron Mitchell joint it is not cheap, making the price-point over standard diner fare. The bar area is nice but the TV's are small, too small to really get any good sports watching done.
OH, and the blue-cheese chips. Yes please. Love 'em but they cannot be good for you. The old "Steve's afternoon delight" chips at Betty's are the only ones better.
Wow. What happened to this place? I hadn't been here for several years but I was back in Columbus to see my family and I thought it would make for a nice place to take my mom and sister for lunch. The place was packed so i thought it had to still have the same quality of food that I had known several years ago. I was wrong. Everything was bland. Greasy and just not worth it. I would put it on the same level of Cheesecake Factory. All the sandwiches taste the same and they appear to be going for more "quantity" than "quality". This place has fallen far. I have no desire to return.
Mom the Meatloaf!!!
Meatloaf is off the hook. Service is just ok but the quality of everything is great. A little pricier than a normal sit down but well worth it. The Sunday brunch is on point too. I met Troy Smith in here once and he had the meatloaf too. So there.
-s
be careful on the lemonade they charge you an arm and a leg for refills
One of the best places to eat in all of Columbus! I haven't been to this place since I've been back home in a year. Still I had to write about it, this is easily one of the best places to get a decent meal in all of Columbus. The Cap City Diner near campus tends to be a little more crowded than the one in Gahanna, still both places of a great atmosphere and definitely good grub. The meatloaf and buttermilk mashed potatoes can't be beat and finish it off with the 24k carrot cake..OMG!! I miss that cake.
Cameron has a bunch of great restaurants in the area but this was one of his first and I'd have to say personally speaking best ideas of all the restaurants. Simple concept, good service and great food.
Gourmet meatloaf. They even have the billboards all over town to prove it. That should serve as a perfect indicator as to what this Grandview "diner" really is all about.
The first time I ate here was before I had any idea who Cameron Mitchell was, but once a friend that worked there explained his MO and a few of his other more well known restaurants to, everything here made perfect sense. Basically, this is a yuppy white guy's take on the prototypical neighborhood diner of the good old days- the kind with a neon "Eat at Joe's" sign outside and a table full of lazy cops on the inside. It reminded me a lot of a place Bruce Wayne would meet Commissioner Gordon in "Batman: The Animated Series" before he mysteriously disappeared in to the night to fight crime. Subtle, this place is not. A willful suspension of disbelief is definitely a prerequisite to enjoying your dinner here.
As for the food, the menu is a charming mix of gourmet classics (like that Meatloaf) as well as other Cameron Mitchell twists on American cuisine. Expected favorites like grilled cheese sandwiches, BLTs, and pork chops get modern updates for the Volvo-NPR set, and they sit quite nicely amongst more inventive dishes like the Blackened Tilapia Po' Boy and the Blue Cheese Kobe Burger. With the latter being the exception, most of these dishes are under $10- not bad at all!
Once you get in to the "Famous Large Plates" section, however, things take a sharp turn in the pricey direction. That meatloaf plate I keep talking about will run you $15.95, and although it comes with some of the best onion rings you'll ever get to taste this side of the Mississippi, I still have a hard time believing anyone would spend almost 16 bucks on a piece of meatloaf. Herein lies the essence of Cap City Diner, and Cameron Mitchell's entire chain of restaurants for that matter- the prices are needlessly dressed up to give you the impression that your dining experience truly is "upscale". This is Grandview, after all- you don't need to tack a few extra dollars on to every dish in order to keep out the riff raff.
If the food wasn't as good as it is, I'd refuse to eat here on principle. Luckily, there's plenty of great sandwiches that you won't find anywhere else that are sure to keep you coming back whenever you run out of better ideas for dinner. The word "diner" might be something of a misnomer, however. Besides the subtle aesthetics and the obvious neon lines on the exterior, Cap City has precious little in common with places like Tee Jaye's or Denny's. That's definitely a good thing, though.
Brunch 4-5 stars, dinner 3
The blue cheese covered chips are amazing. I don't even like blue cheese and I go there just for them. They fry the chips just right too. That's a great way to start a brunch, mix in some nicely done coffee, and follow it up with a wonderful entree (I'm partial to the desert-like French toast), and you're off to a good start on Sunday. FYI, they don't open until 11am on Sunday (I've shown up early and was rather disappointed).
Dinner is hit and miss, alternating between good (but certainly not great) to very good (but never remarkable). I'd go back, but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to do so (unless I really want those blue cheese chips).
This is one of those places that is worth all the hype it receives. Cap City Diner is a perfect combination of classy ambiance and approachable food (tamarind glazed chicken wings, steamed mussels, their famous gourmet meatloaf).
The prices, particularly at lunch, are very reasonable for the serving size and presentation. The atmosphere is great. You feel like you're eating at a much nicer (and more expensive) place than you really are. Crowds can get out of hand at the Grandview location. The Gahanna location is much easier to get into. Enjoy.
Of all the Cameron Mitchell restaurants, this is my favorite.
The concept here - upscale American greasy spoon food - is not especially interesting or original. This does not prevent Cap City from being a very good restaurant, and one I really enjoy. The service is excellent, the food consistently pleasing. I have found it a great place to enjoy a meal with parents and grandparents, as their uncomplicated menu has something for everyone and delivers value for your dollar.
My favorite entree is probably the Romano-crusted chicken. The meatloaf is a lot like my mother's: delicious, but not exactly difficult to make. My grandfather says you can't go wrong with prime rib (which I believe they have every Saturday) and Cap City's made him a happy man. I got prime rib hash as a blue plate special there one Saturday morning: strips of prime rib, shredded potatoes, and two eggs all fried in a skillet that was upended on my plate. It was as good as it sounds.
The desserts are deservingly praised, while the bar is too often overlooked. They use fresh juice. There aren't enough bars in Columbus that do.
One of Cameron Mitchell's earliest concepts, and still one of my favorites. Cap City is basically slightly higher-end diner food, but all very well prepared & presented, with a great variety of options.
The Maytag Blue Cheese chips are excellent, and the Calamari appetizer (the same/very similar appears at other CM locations around town) is excellent.
The classic favorites have already been mentioned - the Meatloaf (and it's cousin, the Meatloaf sandwich) are perennial favorites - though the sauce is different than what some might be used to, and can be a bit off-putting for folks expecting the standard ketchup or brown gravy. Also see the Romano Crusted Chicken (with angel hair & a good version of vodka sauce). Daily blue plates are available, and brunch options on Sundays... though I'd steer clear of the beef hash & eggs - it's strips of thinly sliced steak-style beef instead of the standard corned beef, and just comes across as too bland with the potato hash.
Atmosphere-wise... well, it's a diner theme, though with a LOT more table seating than bar/counter seating. Service is decent, but given the location, beware arrival times on weekdays, as lunch especially fills up VERY fast.
I liked the idea of an upscale diner, but once I ate at Cap City I realized that this concept just doesn't carry over well in reality. It's not that Cap City isn't a nice place. It's really beautifully designed with great lightening and interesting seating. But the addition of diner music and neon signs doesn't figure well into the equation.
The food is the saving grace of Cap City. Our table started off with the Maytag Blue Cheese Potato Chips, and while the concept was good I think the Alfredo sauce made the appetizer too heavy. For dinner all I had to do was look at the giant neon sign on the wall the proclaimed "Cheese Steak". Their version of the Philly is piled high with shaved prime rib and topped with veggies and white cheddar cheese. This was one helluva sandwich, and this might sound strange but the mushrooms on this Philly were the freshest and best tasting mushrooms I've had in a long time.
A friend ordered the Knife and Fork Chili Dog and while they were good he remarked that they were not worth the $7.25 for two dogs. My boyfriend ordered the meatloaf and devoured it in record time.
Of course we had to try dessert and whenever I see Crme Brle on a menu I dive for it. "Topped with fresh berries" in this case meant strawberries and I was a little disappointed because I really craving some raspberries and blueberries. Somehow in our dining orgy we also ordered the Big Cup O' Chocolate. The warm chocolate lava cake and cold vanilla ice cream does not disappoint. I recommend this.
So with all the great reviews on food, why am I giving this place only 3 stars? Service was slow, and I mean really slow. I felt under dressed as well, which adds to my confusion of "upscale diner". I just don't think this concept works.
Meh. That's about all I've got. The greasy spoon thing is cool in theory and if that is your white whale, maybe you will love this place. The vegetarian selection isn't that impressive. The mac & cheese is very good but not enough to make an effort to go here on a regular basis. Now if my friends wanted to go there I wouldn't make a fuss either.
My favorite of the Cameron Mitchell restaurants. Cap City is a traditional diner with a slightly trendy and upscale twist. It's a place you can dress up and go to, or just roll up in jeans and a sweater, and not feel out of place either time. The patio is absolutely fantastic, especially in the spring and fall when the weather in Columbus is conducive to eating outside.
The Maytag blue cheese chips are the number one reason I go to Cap City. I've tried blue cheese chips at other restaurants and they do not even compare to Cap City's. I think the reason they are the best at Cap City is that they come with alfredo sauce and have just a slight kick of blue cheese without being overwhelming. The sandwiches and salads on the menu are delicious as well. Of course, you have to save room for dessert, which are awesome. In fact, just order one dessert for the table because they are huge!
It wouldn't be my first pick on the CMR list, but when it's the boss' treat...
I went to Cap City today for the first time. I wasn't very impressed with the menu. It's lacking in vegetarian options. So, if you're a veg head, beware - the only plates you can have are the vegetable plate or the omelet (which sometimes has bacon or ham). I actually went with the vegetable plate, a heap of baked spaghetti with a slight bit of marinara sauce, two stalks of broccoli, a pile of spinach with onions, a mix of green beans and carrots, and a spring rolls featuring portabella mushrooms. The spaghetti itself was delicious but left me with unbearably bad breath. If you get it, be sure to pocket some mints on the way out. I'm a fan of semi-crisp steamed veggies, but the broccoli was barely steamed at all, way too crisp for my tastes. The spinach was totally opposite - total mush and not the most pleasant flavor, which is odd because I usually like spinach. The green beans and carrots were very good, well seasoned and perfectly cooked. The spring rolls were the stars of the plate. I could have eaten about fifty of those spring rolls. Oh, and the entire expanse was littered with wonderful soft goat cheese.
Before the entrees came, we munched on the hot and sour calamari. One of my coworkers was worried about it being too spicy, but she was happy to find it was much more akin to sweet and sour sauce, not at all hot. The calamari was good. The Maytag chips we had were unremarkable - despite some rave reviews from other people at the table who apparently eat at Cap City all the time. The chips were kettle cooked. The cheese was a bit salty but otherwise pretty tasteless. There was a lot lacking there.
The décor was okay. It felt very warm, and the huge hanging lights were fun. But other than the entryway and the design of the menus, it definitely didn't feel like a diner - not even like an upscale diner.
The service was very good. I noticed the bus staff clearing the empty table of a large group that had been behind us. They didn't let the dirty plates sit on the table at all. They were there as soon as the group walked away. Our waiter had a good sense of humor. The best thing about the meal was the short wait time. Despite the restaurant being packed, we were seated immediately, ordered quickly, and were brought our food in record time. I couldn't believe my eyes when the entrees came out seemingly minutes after placing our orders. And the food was at a great temperature, not scoldingly hot like it had just come straight from the oven onto my tongue.
Very wimpy drink menu. I liked the calamari, wasn't blown away by the entrée, but would go back to try the dessert, which I hear is amazing.
Slightly above average food and slightly below average decor. I don't like meatloaf and that is what this place is kind of known for. I would put it on par with a great meal from Fridays.
I'm not was wild about the meat loaf as most people, and I hate the Maytag Chips. The prime rib special was average, and I once had a heart stoppingly good chicken fried steak. The desserts are also good, and quite large.
I love this place, great meatloaf :) . Menu is a simple diner menu with a little flare. Everything I have had on the menu has met and exceeded my expectations.
I've been there a couple of times, it's not that great. I don't really understand the concept... If you want diner food, you probably don't want to eat at an upscale restaurant. Likewise, if you want upscale food, you probably don't want upscale *diner* food. The food is sub-par and somewhat bland.
Neighborhood: Gahanna
Category: Diners
Columbus, OH
Category: Fast Food
Neighborhood: German Village
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Short North
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
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