Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
West Hartford
March 11, 2024
As you’ve read before, dear reader, I’m pretty content eating Cheesecake Factory. But there’s another level beyond casual dining, and that’s fine dining. I figured it was time to level myself up as a foodie and take the dive.
I went to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar in West Hartford Center to find out what I’ve been missing. The restaurant runs a surf and turf special on Sunday, so it was the best opportunity to try out different parts of the menu without going totally broke.
I ordered the Socal V&T to start. It’s a drink made with Absolut Elyx vodka, craft tonic, California seasonal herbs and ripe fruit. While the herbs looked cool in the glass, I noticed that there was no fruit to be seen, other than a lime wedge. The drink ended up tasting like Mountain Dew, which isn’t objectionable, but not what I was expecting from an alcoholic cocktail.
The PCH Vesper that I ordered next tasted more like a cocktail. It was a mix of vodka and gin, and came in a martini glass. It had a lemony, citrus taste that was refreshing and masked the taste of the alcohol.
The meal began with a Caesar salad that featured prosciutto and fried capers alongside the staples of the salad. The contrasting textures of the ingredients made the eating experience a lively one.
The main course came out soon after. I ordered the filet mignon with lobster tail, and when the plate arrived they looked picture perfect. As the meal went on though, there were a few problems that held back my enjoyment.
One issue was that the steak came out well done instead of medium well. I often joke that part of becoming an adult for me was recognizing that a little bit of pink in a steak won’t kill me. The fact is that medium well gives you a better chew and a better taste than well done, so it was enough of a difference to send the steak back. The replacement steak was cooked perfectly through, and each bite was well seasoned and flavorful. I discovered the wonders of 57 sauce to eat the steak with, as a different option to traditional steak sauce. The lobster tail was succulent and well cooked, and came with a butter sauce that added a sweet, fatty layer to the fresh taste of the lobster.
Another issue was that the restaurant didn’t have the sides I requested. I ordered asparagus and mashed potatoes. After ten minutes, the waitress came back, apologizing that they didn’t have any more mashed potatoes. I asked for the Fleming’s potatoes instead, which the waitress described as basically potatoes au gratin. She offered a loaded baked potato in addition to make up for the mashed potatoes. She brought out the loaded baked potato, but I never received the au gratin potatoes. I wasn’t charged for either one though.
Normally I don’t bring up stuff like this when I write reviews. As the child of a former restaurant owner, I know how hectic it is to try to feed a room full of people to their exacting standards, so I’m pretty forgiving. But this is fine dining, which means it’s expensive. Part of that expense is the experience that fine dining supposedly offers. When the order is wrong and incomplete, I have to wonder what it is that I’m paying for.
Don’t get me wrong, the service was outstanding and the staff, from the waitress to the manager, went out of their way to make sure I was still pleased. The food was very good too, but with the slip ups that occurred, I’m not sure what I got that justified a night at Fleming’s costing nearly three times as much as the same meal at Longhorn Steakhouse.
The evening ended with cheesecake covered in strawberry wine sauce. It was exactly as decadent as I hoped, with a thickness to the cake that meshed well with the thin, crunchy crust that cradled it. The wine sauce was good, but a little too strawberry-flavored, so I mostly ate around it.
Maybe it was just an off night for Fleming’s. Maybe I shouldn’t have waited until 8 p.m. to have dinner. If this was a regular restaurant at regular prices, then I would say it was a good experience despite the flubs. After nearly $300 though, I really felt disappointed. I thought that fine dining was supposed to be a special occasion, and the whole thing ended up feeling very regular. I’m a regular guy most of the time, but not for that kind of money.
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Fleming’s is open seven days a week.
Jamil goes to Real Art Ways to check out some clothes.
