Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
www.FlemingsSteakhouse.com
380 K Street, Gaslamp Quarter
619-237-1155
8970 University Center Ln., La Jolla
858-535-0078
Fleming’s is a choice locale to celebrate a special event, as we did recently for my husband Frank’s 45th birthday.
Our attentive server Josh brought out rosemary bread with two soft cheese spreads while we perused the menu. We began our meal with Cajun barbecued shrimp ($13.95), so hot it was still bubbling in its delicious, creamy sauce.
Frank ordered a New York Strip with Lobster ($66.95). His perfectly cooked, medium rare steak arrived with a huge lobster tail that a second waiter cracked open at the table, removing the meat and preparing it for dipping into a trough of warm butter. Don’t forget to request peppercorn, béarnaise or madeira sauces to accompany your steak.
My niçoise salad ($21.95) had a tasty broiled salmon fillet, roasted potatoes, green beans, truffled deviled eggs, roasted peppers and lemon-balsamic vinaigrette. It was nice to have this lighter fare to balance the other dishes, which were prepared with lots of butter, cream and cheese.
James, 8, was in steak heaven, eating nearly an entire porcini-rubbed Filet Mignon ($35.95) accompanied by a side of Fleming’s house potatoes (thinly sliced scalloped potatoes with cheese) while I happily finished off the accompanying grilled asparagus in gorgonzola cream sauce.
Frances, 16, ordered the Tillamook Bay Petrale sole ($27.50), a good-sized fish fillet served with lemon butter sauce and crisp crab beignets. She proclaimed her dish excellent.
We shared several family-style sides. The creamed corn ($7.95) was spicy, rich and delicious; we preferred it to the tasty, but slightly heavy, chipotle cheddar mac & cheese ($8.50). The sautéed French green beans with shiitake mushrooms and porcini essence added a welcome bit of color to our plates.
Our children had Shirley Temples ($2.95), but there’s a large selection of wines and specialty drinks available for grown-ups.
We finished our meal with an excellent crème brulee ($7.95)—warm custard with a fresh, vanilla flavor and crisp burnt sugar shell. Josh brought Frank a complimentary chocolate lava cake with house-made chantilly cream, vanilla ice cream and chopped pistachios. Is there anything better than molten chocolate on your birthday? I think not!
Fleming’s also offers burgers, pork and lamb chops, chicken, veal and seafood. Its luxurious, wood-paneled ambience makes this restaurant better suited to families with teens and older children, as toddlers and little ones will soon grow restless without the crayons and kid’s menus they may be accustomed to.
If the prices are a bit too rich for your wallet, stop by on Sundays to take advantage of the prix fixe prime rib dinner, which includes three sauces, a salad, side dish and dessert ($36.95). Check the website for additional prix fixe selections and dining specials throughout the month.
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Kristin Powell is a freelance writer who lives with her family in South Park.