Capitol Grill inside the State Capitol Reviews

I was at the Capitol on a Tuesday. I got to the Capitol Grill right around noon and it was very, very busy. I found it difficult to understand how the lines worked and heard others say the same. Of course, once you've done it, the confusion ends. I had a taco salad that was quite good. It was loaded with goodies in a crispy taco shell. I have forgotten everything that was included but I know there was lettuce, shredded chicken, tomatoes, rice, sour cream, cheese, and I got a glob of guacamole for a $1 more. I didn't taste of it, but the loaded baked potato looked really good, too. It had about the same ingredients as the salad, without the lettuce, of course. There are tons of tables, but I found most of them full. I asked a woman if I could sit at her table. It was fun to meet her and her party and find out why they were at the Capitol.

Reasonable priced healthy choices and nice selection of desserts too. Not overly crowded or loud and plenty of seating.

Working nearby I ate here often. Regular cafeteria-style food with some attempts at special dishes. They also have a sandwich counter (including burgers) and various snacks (power bars, etc). I found it very expensive for daily meals at work, the prices seem geared to tourists visiting the Capitol. Large space with lots of tables.

Ate there every day for several years. Food is very expensive, and not that great unless you are desperate. Staff is usually nice. Highly recommend going to the Texas Chili Parlor, one block west on Lavaca Streeet, see other reviews. Much more fun, better food and much more affordable!!!

They do their best to create variety and I really don't have a problem with the food. Usually eating there because it's convenient, I can't leave due to pending business and there isn't really anything else outside the grounds that's close and fast.

Since there weren't many restaurant options nearby we decided to give this a try & were really glad we did. Several entrees & lots of veggies to choose from for the "plate lunch" we decided on. We chose the chicken fried steak with 2 veggies & a roll which were all good. They also had barbeq, baked potatoes, salads, sandwiches & a number of other entrees all reasonably priced & probably cheaper then any restaurant in the area. Large dining room & great place to people watch. This is a cafeteria so you wait on & seat yourself.

Visited this grill at the height of lunch hour traffic while visiting the capitol and completing the free guided tour. The lines move quickly and there is a good variety of grab and go items - sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit... Reminds me of the Senate Annex cafeteria in Washington, DC on a much smaller scale. You never know who might be sitting at the table next to you - maybe a mover and shaker representative or senator. Convenient if you want to continue exploring the capitol and/or museums without having to leave the grounds to find a meal.

Pleasantly surprised by the range of food and drink . There is something for everyone including interesting salads and cooked vegetarian options. The coffee was great too . The staff are friendly and helpful . It is a step up on usual museum type food for sure.

Visited capital and took tour. Wanted to explore some more on our own. Didn’t want to go through security again. Had a very good variety of options and excellent salad bar. Cafeteria style, but food was good and lots of choices.

We have so enjoyed our meals at Capitol Grill. The Easter Brunch was especially good. The menu was the save for Mother's Day, or we would have gone again.

Found that out when I wanted to eat a good meal at 4pm..the cashier said they only had cold food, but I was in the mood for a good meal. The place gets crowded at noonish, but most of the people take it out..the hot meal which was cooked chicken had asparagus as one of the vegetables so I opted 2 get a hot dog..but regretted it later when I saw the portion of the chicken in the next table..either way, my lunch was delicious and not that expensive..recommend going out the way u came in on the same elevators or u might get lost and panic like I did..

Ate here and was truly surprised. Fresh made sandwiches, plates and treats. Good breakfast items. Good lunch time food.. Also, good " grab and go " items at the end of the day. Large dining hall.

We ate here after the guided tour of the building. Probably the best value in the City! Good food, friendly staff. Really glad we visited here.

Stopped by with 2 kiddos to grab a quick bite before their honorary page shift started. Walked around & around searching for an empty table available, but nope! So I asked a man if we could join him. He was the former mayor of Abilene & he was amazing company for us! Thankfully, We had a great conversation over good food. Kids ate quesadillas and I had a chicken salad sandwich. Very tasty considering they were pre-packaged. The line to the deli was entirely too long for our timeframe. Wish we would have had more time to enjoy it! I’d give it 5 stars if it hadn’t been so packed in there. I wonder what the capacity for that place is...because it was standing room only.

"Grill" is a funny name for this place, since it's a well organized, generously stocked cafeteria. All self-serve. The food is well prepared, tasty (at least all in our party of six thought so), and reasonably priced. If you're on business in the Capitol and need a feeding locale merely for the food, use this place. Don't waste time finding something away from the Capitol. Anyone can find something good to eat in this place.

This self serve buffet has a lot to offer inside the capital! The food was well portioned and the variety is unbelievable. You can’t get a better lunch for a better price.

We had curried sweet potato soup for $1.50. Where can you get excellent food at these prices. Many delicious items on the menu. Very large selection. Loads of seating and extremely clean. Great place to eat and relax during sightseeing.

This very-busy-during-session restaurant is a fine place to eat. There is a lot of variety and the prices are fair and reasonable. There is a daily entree selection, along with salad station, and a grilled and made-to-order sandwich bar. Really love this place!!! Especially during the legislative session, the energy is electric! Fun to just sit and absorb the energy. When it is not so busy, it continues to be a fine place to eat.

Good food, fair price and wonderful history to look at. Beware that if a tour is there or the legislative session is in, you may have to wait awhile.

They had a really nice staff. It’s a bit pricy for the amount of food that they do give you AND they charge you for refills but the food it’s self was pretty good. If it wasn’t roughly $15 for a burrito bowl and a soda I definitely would’ve had seconds. The menu I did find online had completely different food items that weren’t available at the actual cafe.

A useful facility for staff and public alike. There is a very wide choice of food making it suitable for lunch or coffee breaks and the rest. Stopped by for a short break between touring options and found the ambience pleadant, though it was not crowded

Recommended by the Bullock Museum across the road. Be prepared to pass through metal detector security. Staff will direct you to the Cafe Annex. Food served cafeteria style. Hot meals and serve yourself salad bar and drinks. Everything in plastic and disposable save for trays. Cash desk on your way to seating. Since the house and senate are in session for their biennial 144-day session the place was crowded. Food is economical and good.

This was a nice way to finish our tour. They had many selections to choose from. We picked a salad and a custom burrito. It was a typical cafeteria.

Busy and swift. Lots of options and certainly an experience for a tourist to take a sandwich or lunch next to aides and school groups. Value for money OK.

You know the food is going to be good, realizing that the hundreds of people who work at the Capitol tend to eat at the Capitol Grill. Something hot - or something cold. I tried the freshly made Chicken Salad Sandwich. Thumbs Up. Perfect - and fast.

Everything from salad to a full meal. Self serve cafeteria style. Excellent! The staff was friendly and the facility was very clean.

The food at the Capitol Grill is not necessarily the best, but for someone like me working at the Capitol, it's convenient.

Our family ate here while visiting the capitol. It was quite crowded and the lines to get hot food were long. I was surprised at the variety of food available and the effort to provide a variety of healthy options.The prices are fair and the staff seemed friendly and helpful. Expect to share a table in the dining area with people you don't know- every vacant chair is needed! Use it as an opportunity to meet someone new! Be sure to bus your own table as someone else who is in a hurry needs your seat.

They have hot plates at a reasonable price, salads, hot coffee and a variety of sodas and teas. Good food to not have to leave the premises to continue on with your activities within the building.

Don't miss this Grill/cafeteria. In the east side of the Capitol's extension, you will find something you like, as will the kids. Fresh salads. Soups. Full meals. Breakfast items. And as you look around, be sure to have a facebook of Texas legislators--they will all be in there at some point in the day.

Cafeteria has a wide variety of food types (hot, cold, grilled, salads) to accommodate the family. It is located on floor E1 in Capitol extension. Reasonable priced. No need to leave the Capitol complex to get a meal or light refreshment.

Cafeteria style but food it cooked quickly while you wait. Lots of choices to fit every hunger even those on a strict diet. Good food for a low fare. After walking your legs off on a tour of the Capitol, stop in the Cafe to get a cold drink and some food and the go next door to the Gift Shop for some cool souveniers.

The prices are so low that I wondered if this is subsidized. Not tables are cramped together. There are people who camp out and do work here

When visiting the Capitol, it makes sense to visit the Grill. You know how you get after a guided tour - hungry and thirsty. This place is convenient, and serves both hot entrees, fresh salads and sandwiches.

Can here for breakfast and was told by friends to get the pancake. I was expecting a normal size pancake but I was surprised to see that it covered the entire plate and fell off the sides. Plentiful for a huge appetite.

I have eaten in the Capitol Grill many times and am amazed at their offerings. The new Grill is nothing like the "linoleum Grill" that used to be in the basement. You can still get Chicken Fried Steak and Bar B Q but you can also get grilled fish Tampico style, fresh soup and a delicious salad at the salad bar. They have made to order sandwiches, burgers and fries and each day there is a daily special. However the specials are popular so if that is what you want, come early. There is also a Grab & Go section with a lot of variety. the desserts are good and there are homemade cookies as well.

Although sometimes crowded this place throws out a good choice of food from salads to bbq. The service is quick and the folks are friendly. The prices were reasonable too!

When I was on the tour of the Capitol Building, I saw the sign from the outside, and it looked like it was a fine or finer dining restaurant. That would make sense considering it was inside the state capitol building. I could not have been more wrong on that call. It was a cafeteria, a large selection of foods at a desent price, but still just a cafeteria. After such a wonderful tour, I would eat outside at a real restaurant if I were you.

This is lovely 2 venue location has both fine and casual dining options across from one another with good service, but found the casual side expensive for mediocre fair.

The Texas State Capitol is worth a special trip to see what is most likely the best looking state capitol you'll ever see. A lunch break at the Capitol Grill is a convenient easy and reasonable place to eat lunch. A cafeteria line, deli, and a grill is all available at affordable prices. Try the Capitol Club, only $5.95 and it is a terrific sandwich.

I guess if it is good enough for our State congress, its good enough for the rest of us. But that is about all....its good enough.

What a great find in the underground of the State Capitol building. We were tired and hungry after our Capitol tour and a little shopping...then we found the Capitol Grill. We even met a state senator while we were there. My salad was fresh and plentiful; my husband's veggie burger was superb. A great find!

The Capitol Grill is a good place to eat if you're around the capitol. I ordered the Lone Star Taco Salad with spiced chicken. It comes in an edible tortilla bowl with your choice of meat, re-fried beans, rice, lettuce, tomato, jalapenos, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole. Delicious! This is a hearty meal with plenty of each ingredient including the chicken. I had sweet tea to drink and it was pretty good. One of the very few restaurants downtown that even offer sweet tea. They have a large variety of food to choose from so there's something for everyone. The service was fast and friendly. The prices are reasonable.

Had a delicious lunch there! We went on a Tuesday and before the special session had begun so there were no lines:) No free refills on drinks, though.

Cafeteria food, pretty good variety. The tuna salad I had was very good and it came with a side of fruit!

While visiting the State Capitol in Texas, grab lunch at the Capitol Grill. They have good soups, salad bar, sandwiches, hamburgers or hot dogs and daily specials. It's convenient and right next to the Capitol Gift Shop.

I stopped by the grill during my visit to the capitol not expecting to find any vegan options. To my surprise, a vegetarian burger and a salad bar were available. It's a typical government facility cafeteria.

This seems lie a typical café you would find in a large office building or a hospital. The food is good even if the menu is a bit limited. Nice for employees and visitors just needing food. The layout is roomy and did not seem crowded anywhere.

You can find a good range of common fare, at decent prices. I highly recommend getting a potato stuffed with taco meat and all the salad fixings. Very, very tasty, and surprisingly cheap.

OK, I haven't tried everything on the menu. The baked/roasted chicken is good, but needs seasoning. Salad bar is average. Thursday's are max soft serve, as much as you can get in the cup with toppings. That's a good deal! I heard the other food is good. I will continue to go back until I get a bad meal.

I had a chicken wrap that was delish! Can't find that kind of meal at that price anywhere close by. The only complaint is that there are no free refills on soda! But you can't beat the price and quality.

Went here for a luncheon. Had a prefix menu. Everything that was served was HIGH QUALITY and of good portion. Wait staff was amazingly attentive.

Pay attention to the hours it is open. We went there after our building tour. Even though it was very, very busy our wait in line was reasonable and we found a quick, clean table to sit. I enjoyed one of the freshest taco salads ever!

The title says it all. Surprisingly in expensive. This cafeteria is not advertised and is on lower level two. Easiest access is via the elevators. You can also walk down the broad stairways that are under the stairways that go up. The stairways to the lower levels are hidden behind closed doors, but they are open to the public and are the same as the open stairs that go to the upper floors.

I don't know what I was expecting (just ordinary I suppose) but I must say the food was excellent and the service matched the quality of the meal. The prices were reasonable (considering) and the variety was better than expected. This is well worth your time as you experience the capitol.

although hard to find (take north elevator down to E1 and then stroll north)...was well organized, pleasant serving staff...generous portions, quick checkout, great seating in several rooms, ....can rub shoulders with our Senators and Members of the House...

Spent several hours touring the capital so had to top it off with a visit to the Capital Grill. Burgers were actually pretty good. Pleasant people. Nice setting. Good service. Just a final step for the afternoon.

The grill guy is just not that bright. He can only take a couple of orders at a time, no urgency, and plan on 20+ minutes to get something if you are not in his queue of three. All I wanted were french fries, just sitting there, easy to get, but not if he has to grill an order first! No fries for me! Won't even look at your or take an order if you are waiting and he has his three lined up. UNLESS, you are his "special" friend... then you don't even have to get in the queue and get whatever you want. Ahead of everyone else. The food isn't bad, the surly short order cook and wait time make it less than pleasant.

Stopped here after our tour of the capital. There is a good selection of food at very reasonable prices. It is located in the new office complex for the capital which is underground - take the elevator in the capital to bottom and then go to the new office area.