Capones Restaurant & Bar (Cedar Rapids)
1201 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA
(319)364-0207
http://www.caponesrestaurantcr.com/
My husband and I stopped by for a few appetizers around noon on a Saturday. I had wanted to check out Capones Restaurant and Bar, since I saw it under construction over the winter. The building is unique as it was a bank at one time. The owners of Capones wisely chose to keep some of the details of the bank in tact like the safe doors and the teller windows. The dining room and bar area are separated by a beautiful dark wood 360 degree bar. The high ceilings, logical spacial layout and tasteful architecture gave me a great first impression of Capones.
Where the dining experience began to go south was our initial greeting by the hostess. Her appearance was sloppy and incongruent with the clean and tidy restaurant. She and led us to a table and we asked her if we could be seated in a booth. She stammered and told us she wasn't supposed to let a party of two have a larger, more spacious booth. (really?? Don't tell your guests that!) As there were only two other tables with guests in the entire dining room, she acquiesced. Next, our server brought us menus and asked if we would like to start off with a drink. We had browsed the beer taps when we first arrived so my husband asked for a Peace Tree Hop Wrangler. Our server returned a few minutes later and told us that they didn't have it because there wasn't a button on the computer that would allow her to ring it up. I pointed to the Peace Tree tap and said, "pull the tap handle, if beer comes out, then you indeed have it". She disappeared again and brought the beer. She said that the bartender also said that they didn't carry Hop Wrangler, so she was confused. What confuses me is that there are less than 20 beers on tap and two of the staff (one being the bar tender!) don't know the list.
Jeff and I were beginning to get really turned off by the staff at this point so we just ordered the Calamari Fritti ($9) and Fries ($4.75). The tiny plates of food arrived in a timely manner. I have never paid so much for so little. There is a reason the prices are not listed on their web site, for shame. The French fries were good, crisp and seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside, definitely from a bag in the freezer though. The Calamari was a disappointment. As you can see from the photo, this was the palest deep fried food I have ever consumed. I understand that over cooking Calamari will turn it into rubber, but there needs to be a little color and crispness to the item. I have no problem paying premium price for fine dining, but this isn't fine dining.
I know we didn't order entire meals, but I feel that I can still give a fair rating to Capones. I award Capones
out of 5 possible. The good news is, there is room to grow! Capones is tidy, smart, and attractive. All they need is staff that are as well. Also, a little music in the dining room would help fill the cavernous space with atmosphere.
(319)364-0207
http://www.caponesrestaurantcr.com/
My husband and I stopped by for a few appetizers around noon on a Saturday. I had wanted to check out Capones Restaurant and Bar, since I saw it under construction over the winter. The building is unique as it was a bank at one time. The owners of Capones wisely chose to keep some of the details of the bank in tact like the safe doors and the teller windows. The dining room and bar area are separated by a beautiful dark wood 360 degree bar. The high ceilings, logical spacial layout and tasteful architecture gave me a great first impression of Capones.
Where the dining experience began to go south was our initial greeting by the hostess. Her appearance was sloppy and incongruent with the clean and tidy restaurant. She and led us to a table and we asked her if we could be seated in a booth. She stammered and told us she wasn't supposed to let a party of two have a larger, more spacious booth. (really?? Don't tell your guests that!) As there were only two other tables with guests in the entire dining room, she acquiesced. Next, our server brought us menus and asked if we would like to start off with a drink. We had browsed the beer taps when we first arrived so my husband asked for a Peace Tree Hop Wrangler. Our server returned a few minutes later and told us that they didn't have it because there wasn't a button on the computer that would allow her to ring it up. I pointed to the Peace Tree tap and said, "pull the tap handle, if beer comes out, then you indeed have it". She disappeared again and brought the beer. She said that the bartender also said that they didn't carry Hop Wrangler, so she was confused. What confuses me is that there are less than 20 beers on tap and two of the staff (one being the bar tender!) don't know the list.
Jeff and I were beginning to get really turned off by the staff at this point so we just ordered the Calamari Fritti ($9) and Fries ($4.75). The tiny plates of food arrived in a timely manner. I have never paid so much for so little. There is a reason the prices are not listed on their web site, for shame. The French fries were good, crisp and seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside, definitely from a bag in the freezer though. The Calamari was a disappointment. As you can see from the photo, this was the palest deep fried food I have ever consumed. I understand that over cooking Calamari will turn it into rubber, but there needs to be a little color and crispness to the item. I have no problem paying premium price for fine dining, but this isn't fine dining.
I know we didn't order entire meals, but I feel that I can still give a fair rating to Capones. I award Capones
out of 5 possible. The good news is, there is room to grow! Capones is tidy, smart, and attractive. All they need is staff that are as well. Also, a little music in the dining room would help fill the cavernous space with atmosphere. 
I was disappointed in your review. overcooked Calamari is the worst. And, if you haven't checked lately it is very expensive. I don't think this place is fine dining, I think it is advertised as upscale casual dining.
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