Food rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Service rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Atmosphere rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Will I return? Absolutely.
My husband and I dined at the Capitol Restaurant on July 18, 2012 for our anniversary dinner. It was around six in the evening on a Wednesday. When we walked in, we were their first customers for the night, but several couples came in behind us. There was only one server on duty at this time, and he had to seat guests, take orders, and run the bar. Our service was slow for this reason. I don’t know if Wednesdays aren’t usually busy for them, or if someone had called off unexpectedly. The owner came out to deliver food and bus tables to help out her waiter.
The slow service was the only negative aspect of our trip to the Capitol Restaurant. The food was amazing, and worth a little longer of a wait. It arrived hot and fresh. We began with an appetizer, the onion toasted green beans. These were so crispy and came with a yummy dipping sauce. For my main course I had a N.Y. strip steak with bacon and blue cheese topping. It was cooked exactly as I’d asked, medium, and was tender and juicy. I had the roasted red potatoes and red beets for my side dishes. It was all amazing. The veggies were all from local farmers and I could taste how fresh they were. My husband had the pork flat iron with blackberry chutney, with the red potatoes and sauteed zucchini. He said his food was excellent as well. The bar at the Capitol features a lot of unique drafts from small, microbrewery companies. My husband got a beer sampler, which he really enjoyed, then ordered a full glass of his favorite.
The ambiance of the Capitol was just as great as the food. The Capitol Restaurant used to be the Capitol Theater. The new owners kept the big screen and show silent black and white movies during lunch and dinner. The walls still have the classic theater sconces, with framed classic movie posters in between. The lighting was dimmed, but we had no problem reading the menu. There were lit candles on all the tables and linen tablecloths, giving it a romantic feel.
Our entire dining experience came to under fifty dollars. My entree was around $18, my husband’s was $15. Considering my husband’s drinks and the appetizer, we both thought we had a fantastic meal for a very reasonable price.
The Capitol Restaurant’s dinner entree menu changes every Wednesday, and features fresh, local, seasonal food. They also serve soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers (very reasonably priced). There is bar seating available and a special bar menu that begins at 3 pm and runs through midnight. Lunch is from 11 am until 5 pm, and dinner is from 5 pm until 10 pm (8 pm on Sundays). They are open every day except major holidays. The Capitol is a bar in a college town, so if you go after 9 pm expect to find college students out to party. I’d recommend going earlier in the evening if you are looking for a quiet, romantic meal. After ten, their dining area becomes a dance floor, often with live music.
The Capitol is located on main street in Bloomsburg, so parking is along the street or in the metered municipal lots. You don’t have to feed the meters after 5 pm. The atmosphere is casual, so don’t feel the need to dress up. You don’t need reservations, but they are encouraged for large groups. If you plan to bring small children, be aware that their children’s menu is very limited.
