There is no denying the fact that Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse has fabulous ambiance. The well-designed interior includes rich wood paneling, a stunning bar that looks like something out of a 1920s movie, crisp white tablecloths, a perfect combination of tables and cozy booths, and soft lighting supplied in part by candles spread throughout the dining area.
Fleming’s is the kind of place one might celebrate a special occasion or first date. It’s the type of restaurant one would expect to be consistently wonderful. The problem – at least with the Sandestin location – is that Fleming’s can be inconsistent at times. Ask two different people what they thought of their experience and you are may receive two starkly different answers.
We suspect that the sometimes-long waits may make it more likely that a diner would keep a dish they were unhappy with than send it back to the kitchen for a replacement. Anyone who feels they waited too long for their food to arrive in the first place may simply not be willing to wait.
On the whole, our Fleming’s experience was positive. Not perfect, but positive. Back to that “when it’s good, it’s very good” comment, here are the dishes we found to be very good:
Seared Pork Belly Appetizer
We encourage you to savor this seared pork belly with creamy goat cheese grits and a fig demi glace. It is an amazing meal starter.
Seared Scallop with Creamy Risotto
We were surprised by how perfectly the ingredients in this dish worked together to create an unforgettable flavor. The chef began with seared scallops and added prosciutto, cream cheese, mushrooms, basil, and mint. Each bite offered a new, flavorful surprise.
Snapper Mediterranean
As seafood lovers, we tend to be a big fan of snapper. Still, we were delighted by how different this version was. Snapper Mediterranean includes olives, tomatoes, lemon, onion, parsley, and olive oil — nothing like most of us make at home.
Broccoli Sauteed
Even if you think you hate broccoli, this dish is worth a try. It’s a blend of broccoli, red bell pepper, onion, and roasted garlic. What we were surprised by was the degree to which the roasted garlic changed the overall taste of the broccoli. Truly, an awesome twist on what could have been a so-so menu option.
Lobster Bacon Corn Chowder
There is absolutely nothing about this chowder not to love. It’s made with the addition of lobster meat, bacon, cream sherry, and parmesan cheese.
Lobster Bisque
What makes this bisque worth a mention is how simple it is. North Atlantic lobster in a spiced sherry cream is simply fabulous.
Petite Filet Mignon
Fleming’s offers a variety of steaks, but we opted for the Petite Filet Mignon. One of the things we like about all of their steaks is that they are served with the diner’s choice of butters, including smoked chile (interesting), herbed horseradish, and our favorite, bearnaise, made with butter, white wine, vinegar, minced shallots, fresh tarragon, and lemon zest. Although we have heard complaints about how well other’s steaks were prepared, ours was cooked to perfection, pink in the center and oh-so-tender.
Fleming’s Potatoes
We simply had to try this famous side. Made with potatoes au gratin, creamy cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, leeks, and jalapenos, these potatoes are as fabulous as they sound.
Desserts
Fleming’s boasts a mouth-watering dessert menu. While we have enjoyed many of them at other restaurants (many times), we did find a couple that were unique enough to inspire us to highlight them. The first, Triple-Layer Chocolate Caramel Cake is so rich it could be a meal of its own. This amazing three-layer cake is infused with caramel mousse and topped with spiced candied walnuts. The taste is terrific and the texture makes it even more so.
Although bread pudding does not tend to be a “go-to” for anyone in our party, we found the Tres Leches Bread Pudding amazing. We decided that it must be due to the dulce de leche crème anglaise, although the side of vanilla ice cream certainly did not hurt.
In spite of the occasional glitch, Fleming’s is worth a visit. While they don’t hit it out of the park every time, when they do it is unforgettable.
Insider Tip:
Flemings offers what they call the “5-6-7” promotion. This special deal allows you to choose from food and drink specials starting at $6, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.