Capital Grill
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I know that a person from that company is frequently around the forum. Perhaps she can PM you. For any of the rest of us to do so would be a violation of our ICA.
If someone from the MSC that shops Capital Grill is on the forum and looking for a shopper, please contact me. I'm sure I'm registered with your company, I just can't remember who you are! Thanks.
I have not seen it posted in a long time. Another restaurant owned by the company is frequently shopped by the same company. It could be Capital Grill is not currently shopped due to the economy.
It is shopped. I saw it posted for June near me. Of course they may not have the client nationwide, that I don't know.
I'm shopping Capital Grille this month. Hopefully, it's better than the last time
Negative reports are such a booger to report.
Negative reports are such a booger to report.
Yes, I only did them once. While I really liked the one in Washington DC, the local one was pretentious, expensive and totally underwhelming.
I see Capital Grill locations available in my local area plus many other locales, so as far as I know, they are still being shopped.
I actually went there last night (not on a shop) and it was fab! I had such a great server, and I so wished I was shopping. The food was also perfect.
Flash - I love the Washington DC location, it holds a special place in my heart. Not sure which location you found underwhelming, but of the two Florida locations I have been - both have been not so great.
I actually went there last night (not on a shop) and it was fab! I had such a great server, and I so wished I was shopping. The food was also perfect.
Flash - I love the Washington DC location, it holds a special place in my heart. Not sure which location you found underwhelming, but of the two Florida locations I have been - both have been not so great.
I'm in a FL location and it was pretty awful. Prestigious area, but that made neither the food nor the service excellent and especially not for the price tag. And yes, there is still a lunch shop available out there. The dinners all seem to have been taken.
I've been to the one in Orlando (not as a shopper) and it was excellent. The one I want to shop is in Jacksonville. I took a "close look" at the MSC's website and I don't see a Capital Grille shop anywhere in the entire state of Florida for dinner or lunch. Maybe I haven't figured it out and I'm not looking at the right website. Which location did you visit where it was pretty awful?
The MSP doesn't follow a set release date each month for posting shops, which can be downright annoying
Some shops I have scheduled with them for June were posted about May 17. Their home page indicates July shops will start posting June 21. "start posting" are the operative words. Available shops will likely continue to be posted on their site sporadically.
Some shops I have scheduled with them for June were posted about May 17. Their home page indicates July shops will start posting June 21. "start posting" are the operative words. Available shops will likely continue to be posted on their site sporadically.
If you took a close look and didn't see it, I would suggest you call them. There is a lunch in Jacksonville in the next week or so. I don't know if they have any kind of screening that some shops are visible only after X acceptable shops, but since this is lingering, I would call the company on the toll free number listed on their "Contact Us" page.
My awful location was in South Florida when we were down there.
My awful location was in South Florida when we were down there.
I didn't start seeing the C.G. shops on my page until after performing a few "less expensive" shops. Right now there are 2 lunch shops for Jacksonville. Unfortunately, I am not in the area during weekday lunch times.
There is definitely a tier you reach where you can see the more prestigious shops.
I did CG last week and found that, in my area, it's tough to come in under the reimbursement for dinner with the ordering requirements. At that point I'd rather throw in $20 of my own money to have a good meal experience, however.
I did find the food and service to be excellent, which made the report really simple and worth the significant discount it offered.
I did CG last week and found that, in my area, it's tough to come in under the reimbursement for dinner with the ordering requirements. At that point I'd rather throw in $20 of my own money to have a good meal experience, however.
I did find the food and service to be excellent, which made the report really simple and worth the significant discount it offered.
My recent CG dinner shop was excellent and writing the report was a pleasure.
When you can't self-assign, if a fine dining shop is a new-to-you gig, the MSP may be more inclined to assign you the lunch shop first. Years back, when I couldn't self-assign, there was a CG lunch and dinner shop posted. I requested both The lunch shop was assigned to me. That got my foot in the self-assign door. It helped that I had done a few shops for the MSP and I knew what they wanted in a report.
When you can't self-assign, if a fine dining shop is a new-to-you gig, the MSP may be more inclined to assign you the lunch shop first. Years back, when I couldn't self-assign, there was a CG lunch and dinner shop posted. I requested both
The lunch shop was assigned to me. That got my foot in the self-assign door. It helped that I had done a few shops for the MSP and I knew what they wanted in a report.
goldfl Wrote:
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> I've been to the one in Orlando (not as a shopper)
> and it was excellent. The one I want to shop is
> in Jacksonville. I took a "close look" at the
> MSC's website and I don't see a Capital Grille
> shop anywhere in the entire state of Florida for
> dinner or lunch. Maybe I haven't figured it out
> and I'm not looking at the right website. Which
> location did you visit where it was pretty awful?
I also shop NE FL and they don't just pass these shops out, as you have to do 4-5 of their other shops first. The Cap Grille shops go fast, too. The other shops also only pay reimbursement or less depending on which ones you do, and some only pay in gift cards that don't pay the cost of the meal. Also, no matter how much detail you give, they always want more. After spending 14 years as a restaurant manager before 5 years doing restaurant MS, I have a good idea of how to report things that might be beneficial to a client. Take your money doing other jobs and treat yourself to a meal without having to deal with the repetitive tome they will require to reimburse you for less that the cost of your meal.
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> I've been to the one in Orlando (not as a shopper)
> and it was excellent. The one I want to shop is
> in Jacksonville. I took a "close look" at the
> MSC's website and I don't see a Capital Grille
> shop anywhere in the entire state of Florida for
> dinner or lunch. Maybe I haven't figured it out
> and I'm not looking at the right website. Which
> location did you visit where it was pretty awful?
I also shop NE FL and they don't just pass these shops out, as you have to do 4-5 of their other shops first. The Cap Grille shops go fast, too. The other shops also only pay reimbursement or less depending on which ones you do, and some only pay in gift cards that don't pay the cost of the meal. Also, no matter how much detail you give, they always want more. After spending 14 years as a restaurant manager before 5 years doing restaurant MS, I have a good idea of how to report things that might be beneficial to a client. Take your money doing other jobs and treat yourself to a meal without having to deal with the repetitive tome they will require to reimburse you for less that the cost of your meal.
Good point. I understand where you're coming from. I did a fine dining recently and the detail required and back and forth with the report was exhausting. As for as Cap Grille, I would love to do some lesser shops for this company to establish myself but I never see anything in northern Florida although there are plenty in Tampa, Orlando and south Florida.
Fascinating. My Capital Grill went over reimbursement by less than 10%, but we did not order bottom or middle of the menu. Their forms were virtually the same as for any of their other restaurant shops and as long as you respond to any "no" questions, keep opinion out of it and give them at least the number of complete sentences requested for each section. I certainly got no request for further information. It was just too bad the place was not yummy with great service. But I may try it again.
Flash; How sad that your CG experience was not so good. My guest is still talking about how good it was.
They are newcomers to the west coast and I think they are working hard to make good impression out here.
Regarding my overage; I chose the option to get a bottle of wine with dinner and got one that I really wanted. I could have had two glasses of house wine and probably been right around the budget, so it was my decision to spend what I did, and still a good value for night out and a great meal.
The report took under an hour in total and I never heard a peep back from the MSC regarding my work.
They are newcomers to the west coast and I think they are working hard to make good impression out here.
Regarding my overage; I chose the option to get a bottle of wine with dinner and got one that I really wanted. I could have had two glasses of house wine and probably been right around the budget, so it was my decision to spend what I did, and still a good value for night out and a great meal.
The report took under an hour in total and I never heard a peep back from the MSC regarding my work.
My previous experience with CG was in Washington DC and was poetically good, so I went into this one with high expectations (hmmm, guess I was not an 'unbiased shopper'). We ordered high because we expected excellence and what we got was mundane at best. But as I have mentioned, it would appear it has improved so we are likely to try it again. Perhaps they have gotten their act together.
What company is doing Capital Grill in Illinois these days? A-Closer-Look used to have them at one time.
Please edit your post howzer12. Your ICA and this forum's guidelines dictate that you not name MSP and client in the same thread/post.
Capital Grille used to be done by another MSC. I haven't seen it in MA for over a year. May have went to another company
I have done lunch and dinner shops for CG at 5 different New England locations. I must say in all honestly, each visit has been top notch for food and service. It is a place where I would not likely spend my own money; too pricey for my purse. At one dinner, I had to say I was celebrating a special event, which it so happened was really the birthday week of my guest. They had the table set up with confetti and a birthday card in advance, signed by the staff. They also brought a huge piece of some delectable dessert with a candle. They even took our picture and put it in a card for the guest to take home. I have brought several different guests and they all have raved about the food and service. I love these shops.
goldfl Wrote:
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> Good point. I understand where you're coming
> from. I did a fine dining recently and the detail
> required and back and forth with the report was
> exhausting. As for as Cap Grille, I would love to
> do some lesser shops for this company to establish
> myself but I never see anything in northern
> Florida although there are plenty in Tampa,
> Orlando and south Florida.
There is a Hawaiian fusion chain that regularly shops NE FL, but restricts shoppers to one/year. These shops are reasonably configured, as opposed to the company that does Cap Grille. I did a lesser shop for them where my time in the establishment was literally nine minutes, and a nine year old child waited on me. My other substandard shop was reimbursement only for mediocre food and service. They ask for irrelevant detail.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good point. I understand where you're coming
> from. I did a fine dining recently and the detail
> required and back and forth with the report was
> exhausting. As for as Cap Grille, I would love to
> do some lesser shops for this company to establish
> myself but I never see anything in northern
> Florida although there are plenty in Tampa,
> Orlando and south Florida.
There is a Hawaiian fusion chain that regularly shops NE FL, but restricts shoppers to one/year. These shops are reasonably configured, as opposed to the company that does Cap Grille. I did a lesser shop for them where my time in the establishment was literally nine minutes, and a nine year old child waited on me. My other substandard shop was reimbursement only for mediocre food and service. They ask for irrelevant detail.
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