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| - It's no secret that I'm not a huge steak fan, but since my parents like it and they were treating for dinner, I was powerless in the negotiation of venue and we went to Fleming's, an upscale steakhouse serving dead animals graded USDA Prime. Mmm.
Despite the mall location, the restaurant is dark and intimate and the bar looked inviting. My affinity for plastic is relatively low, and with the exception of the Scottsdale equivalent of a gangbanger (an adult frat boy bearing a backwards-turned cap indoors) and his Barbie doll/date, the only people who were in desperate need of recycling were the hostesses which was a pleasant surprise given the environs.
On the recommendations from a sweet but not saccharine waitress, we sampled:
[NB: Prices are approximate, since Fleming's avoids website sticker shock.]
- Starter platter (Gratis): Brie, olive tapenade and some crostini, celery and radish - a light start and a substantial improvement over the standard bread offering (which is also optionally served at entree time upon request)
- Crab Cakes (~$15): Great crabmeat to breading ratio but not superlative as advertised
- Sweet Chili Calamari (~$12): Expertly lightly fried, breaded and sweetened
- Petite Filet (~$30): Dry, which is unfortunate in the most tender of steaks
- Bone-in Ribeye (~$30): Very juicy and flavorful, significantly superior to the former
- Beef Flemington (~$28): Filet Mignon in a light pastry shell and a Madiera sauce, juicy unlike the vanilla offering - a solid A
- Dessert Sampler ($13):
- Creme Brulee: Divine vanilla goodness, I'd order it again and I'm not a general fan
- Cheesecake: Thoroughly unremarkable
- Chocolate Lava Cake: Overly sugary molten chocolate in a thin souffle-ish cake shell
- Peach Cobbler a La Mode: Proving the exception of the "less filler" trend, heavy on the cobbler but light on the fruit
Outside of parental benevolence, an expense account or a serious apology to a significant other from the heartland, I wouldn't be looking for a dining experience like this, but I'd come back if the time was right. Unlike other local high end steakhouses, Fleming's does it with more tender delicious substance than heavy oily pretension.
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