Capitol Social not yet ready for prime time

Grilled lamb chops from Capitol Social in downtown Charleston, WV

Downtown Charleston restaurant a little underwhelming so far

When upscale steakhouse DT Prime closed its doors in Charleston last summer, there was much anticipation over what business may take its place on the corner of Capitol and Quarrier streets in the heart of downtown. 

Grilled salmon from Capitol Social

I was initially intrigued (borderline giddy) last November when a new spot calling itself Capitol Social said it would be bringing “live entertainment, comedians and great food” to West Virginia’s capital city. The restaurant opened its doors in March, but initial unfavorable reviews told me the place probably needed more time to smooth out the wrinkles.

I waited a few more months before checking the place out, but Capitol Social still hasn’t found its groove. Customer reviews remain mixed, often citing inconsistent service and food quality, and my experience has been hit or miss on the few times I’ve stopped by.

One visit featured a moderately lively bar crowd and decent food, while another was hampered by empty tables, low energy, messy plating and subpar food. Long story short, we didn’t walk away loving either experience. 

Beef filet and fries from Capitol Social

But with the owner walking around checking on tables, a few familiar faces among the serving crew and a couple of dishes with promise, I’m still hopeful Capitol Social can turn the corner from mediocre to marvelous before a lack of sustainable business gets the better of it.

Located at 201 Capitol St. in the location that formerly housed DT Prime and The Block before it, the restaurant’s elegant-yet-cozy space is still one of my favorite dining rooms in Charleston.

Exposed brick and other rustic touches blend with black leather, glass, soft lighting and a palette of warm tones to create an elegant vibe that is still very much approachable.

The restaurant’s ambitious menu, however, appears to be a bit much for the kitchen to master at the moment. 

Caribbean jerk shrimp from Capitol Social

There are wings, fried pickles and nachos on the appetizer menu, but also fresh oysters, shrimp cocktail and calamari.

You’ve got basic salads, burgers and sandwiches, but also crab legs, lobster tails, seafood, steaks and pasta.

I get that many new restaurants want to offer something for everyone to draw more people in, but those are some pretty diverse options that definitely need pared down.

Offer less, but execute more.

You’ll build a stronger customer base over time if you’re known for serving 10 delicious items instead of 50 lackluster ones. First, the highlights. 

Monte Cristo sandwich from Capitol Social

The Caribbean Jerk Shrimp were large and fresh, a basket of fried alligator bites wasn’t bad and a friend dining with me during my first visit said she enjoyed her swai, a freshwater catfish native to Southeast Asia that is hard to find around these parts.

A few other dishes, however, didn’t fare as well for us.

I was excited to try the Monte Cristo – an indulgence I haven’t enjoyed in years – but their version of this battered and deep-fried sandwich stuffed with sliced ham, turkey and Swiss, then topped with powdered sugar and a tart fruit sauce, was very greasy and unpleasant tasting.

Instead of the oil browning the sandwich’s batter coating, it seemed to seep deep into the bread itself.

My blackened grilled salmon was capably cooked, but the asparagus served with it was bitter, mushy and stringy, while the mac ‘n’ cheese was cold and gummy. One of the lamb chops could’ve used a more deliberate sear; because the three on the plate were different sizes and thicknesses, they were all unevenly cooked. 

French onion soup from Capitol Social

Our cup of French onion soup was served with cheese swimming in the broth, rather than a blanket of cheese on top of it. Our small filet was buried under a mound of fries, making the most expensive item on the menu at $45 seem fairly unimpressive.

And that’s the thing. With two-thirds of the entrées running in the $33-45 range, a good impression is definitely expected.

All in all, neither visit to Capitol Social was bad, but neither left us exactly craving to go back either.

For now, I’ll give it more time to see how other customer reviews continue to evolve.

More entertainment? Yes, please!

Alligator bites from Capitol Social

Now about those comedians that were promised before Capitol Social opened its doors. I haven’t seen any yet, but I do believe leaning into that vibe could be what saves this place. 

I’m not sure it will survive as a restaurant alone, but can see it morph into more of a “social club” (like its name already implies) offering good drinks, bar snacks and a light menu of easy entrees paired with live music and more diverse entertainment.

How cool would it be to have a lively lounge downtown where you could hear everything from live jazz to comedy to poetry readings and maybe even short one-act plays or other performances in a smaller and more intimate space?

I know I’d dig it.

• IF YOU GO: Capitol Social at 201 Capitol St. in Charleston is open from 3 to 11 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. For more information, call 681-205-2002, visit www.capitolsocialwv.com or check out the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, X, Instagram and Pinterest as “WV Food Guy.” He can be reached at wvfoodguy@aol.com.