Head-to-Head

The Capital Grille vs St. Anselm

The Capital Grille for the room; St. Anselm for the value.

The Capital Grille

Washington Dc · American Steakhouse · $$$$

Food 9.1 · Ambience 9 · Value 7.5

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St. Anselm

Washington Dc · American Steakhouse · $$$

Food 9 · Ambience 8.7 · Value 8.9

View full review →

The Verdict

The Capital Grille for the room; St. Anselm for the value.

The Capital Grille runs the stronger kitchen — food at 9.1 vs 9 on our scoring. The Capital Grille takes the room (9 vs 8.7); the verdict is between a kitchen-first room and a room-first kitchen. St. Anselm prices in better (8.9 vs 7.5) — the same evening costs less.

Both kitchens cook American Steakhouse in Washington Dc, but the rooms read differently. The Capital Grille works for close a deal, impress clients; St. Anselm works for team dinner, birthday.

The Capital Grille runs heavier ($$$$) than St. Anselm ($$$). For one-off occasions, the higher tier reads correctly; for a regular table, the cheaper one carries.

Which One for Which Occasion

Occasion	Editorial Pick
First Date	St. Anselmtagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.
Close a Deal	The Capital Grilletagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.
Birthday	The Capital Grilleambience scores higher (9 vs 8.7).
Impress Clients	The Capital Grilletagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.
Proposal	The Capital Grilleambience scores higher (9 vs 8.7).
Solo Dining	St. Anselmtagged for this occasion in our editorial; the other isn't.
Team Dinner	St. Anselmbetter value per cover for group spend (8.9 vs 7.5).

The Numbers

Our scoring puts The Capital Grille at 9.1/9/7.5 (food / ambience / value) and St. Anselm at 9/8.7/8.9. Pick the dimension that matters most to your evening and follow it.

How to Book

Both restaurants sit in Washington Dc's top scoring tier — neither takes same-week walk-ins for prime weekend slots. Set booking alerts on the platform each uses (check the practical-info card on the linked detail pages above). Weekday and earlier-seating windows are the realistic targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, The Capital Grille or St. Anselm?

On our editorial scoring, St. Anselm leads (9/8.7/8.9 vs 9.1/9/7.5 for food / ambience / value). That said, the better pick depends on the occasion — see the table above for the per-occasion call.

How much do The Capital Grille and St. Anselm cost?

The Capital Grille sits at $$$$ ($250+ per person); St. Anselm at $$$ ($120–250 per person). Add 30–40% for pairings.

Which is harder to book, The Capital Grille or St. Anselm?

Both sit in Washington Dc's top tier — same-week tables are rare. Prime weekend slots fill within minutes of release at either; weekday and earlier-seating slots are the realistic targets. Set booking alerts on whichever platform each restaurant uses.

What's the best occasion for The Capital Grille vs St. Anselm?

The occasion table above maps each of the seven RFK occasions to the editorial pick. In short: pick the restaurant whose room and format match the moment, not the higher absolute score.

Can I do both The Capital Grille and St. Anselm on the same trip?

Yes — both are in Washington Dc. Pace at least one full day apart; at this price tier each is a full-evening commitment. If you're optimising for one over the other, the per-occasion verdict in this guide is the right tiebreaker.