Capital Grille Company History

Steak is what's for dinner at The Capital Grille.

The Capital Grille is one of several national steakhouse chains geared toward business travelers with an expense account. It is owned by Orlando, Fla.-based Darden Restaurants, whose portfolio also includes Red Lobster and The Olive Garden.

Origin

The Capital Grille was opened in Providence, R.I., in 1990 by Ned Grace, who ran a small chain of family-oriented steakhouses called Bugaboo Creek Steak House.

Early Expansion

Through the mid-1990s, The Capital Grille opened sister restaurants in Boston and Washington, D.C.

LongHorn Steaks

In 1996, the corporate parent of The Capital Grille, which had the three locations, was acquired by LongHorn Steaks Inc. Early the next year its new owner, LongHorn Steaks, changed its name to RARE Hospitality International Inc.

Darden Restaurants

The Capital Grille rode the nationwide boom in high-end steakhouses and opened 25 more restaurants through 2007. In August of that year, Darden Restaurants acquired RARE Hospitality International and The Capital Grille.

Expansion

Expansion continued with the acquisition by Darden. With new restaurants in Los Angeles, lower Manhattan and Orange County by the end of 2010, The Capital Grille had 43 locations in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

References

• Darden Restaurants
• Rare Hospitality International Inc.
• Zagat
• "New York Times"; Darden Restaurants to Acquire 2 Chains; August 17, 2007
• The Capital Grille

Resources

• The Capital Grille
• "Rare Hospitality International Inc."
• Zagat
• Darden Restaurants