The Capital Grille
| File:Capital Grille.svg | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Genre | Fine dining |
| Founded | 1990, in Providence, Rhode Island |
| Founder | Ned Grace |
| Headquarters | 1000 Darden Center Drive Orlando, Florida, U.S. 32837 |
Number of locations | 74 (October 2025) |
Key people | Eugene Lee (chairman and CEO of Darden) |
| Products | USDA Choice Steaks |
| Parent | Rare Hospitality International (1990–2007) Darden Restaurants (2007–present) |
| Website | thecapitalgrille.com |
The Capital Grille is a premium American steakhouse chain under the ownership of Darden Restaurants. It maintains 74 venues spread throughout twenty-five U.S. states, including the District of Columbia, as well as locations in Mexico City and Costa Rica.[1]
History
Established in 1990 by Ned Grace in Providence, Rhode Island, The Capital Grille initially catered to business and political leaders despite launching amid an economic downturn and within a deteriorated neighborhood. Within seven years, the inaugural site surpassed $4 million in yearly revenue.[2]
By 1996, the chain, operated by Grace's Bugaboo Creek Steak House Inc., had expanded into key cities such as Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Boston. A $20 million credit facility secured in 1997 enabled the opening of four more restaurants.[2] Bugaboo Creek Steak House Inc., which went public in 1994, was later renamed RARE Hospitality International, Inc.[3] In 2007, Darden Restaurants acquired the brand through a $1.19 billion transaction involving RARE Hospitality.[4]
Currently operating within Darden's Specialty Restaurant Group division,[5] The Capital Grille broadened its portfolio by introducing The Capital Burger, debuting its first outlet in Washington, DC in 2018 followed by a second location in Reston, Virginia two years later.[6]
Lawsuit
In 2012, workers from five different states initiated legal action alleging racial discrimination and violations related to wages. The accusations involved preferential treatment of white employees for high-paying tipped roles and mandates requiring tipped staff to share their tips with employees who do not receive tips.
Thanksgiving controversy
In 2013, the Pittsburgh location of The Capital Grille operated on Thanksgiving Day for the first time. This decision prompted protests from employees and the Restaurant Opportunities Center over the lack of holiday pay. Additionally, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a resolution opposing mandatory work on Thanksgiving without extra compensation.
External links
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- Pages with broken file links
- Orlando, Florida-based companies
- Restaurants founded in 1990
- Brands under Darden Restaurants
- United States restaurant chains
- Franchised restaurants
- Steakhouses across the United States
- 1990 establishments in Rhode Island
- Mergers and acquisitions in 2007
- American corporations founded in 1990
- American companies established in 1990
- Pages with reference errors
- Pages with script errors