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| - This is sort of a tough review. Flemings puts themselves out as high-end, and they charge high-end prices. So one expects more from them than, for example, a Black Angus.
Normally I wouldn't go to a high-end steak house. Frankly between my wife and I, we can do as well or better at home. She does a couple of different seasonings depending on her mood, and I am pretty good at grilling them.
Anyway...we were invited to a seminar and the deal was they would feed us here. Flemings does have some menu options you won't see at Black Angus, which is fine. On this occasion I had the filet medallions (I think that's what they called them) with mashed potatoes and green beans. Really nothing that fancy, but done properly this would be really good.
First point...I ordered medium well. We agreed (the waiter and I) that this meant there would be a little pink, but not much. Just a bit. So when it come out it's medium rare. VERY pink. Not even medium. Gotta mark them down for that. Lots of places do that, and it's annoying. I've given up asking anyone to cook it more because it always comes back either dry or burned. Not Flemings specifically, but any steak place. It's like they're annoyed..."you want it done more, I'll show you 'done more', you cretin!!". Instead I just live with it.
Flavor-wise the filet was good. Basic seasoning, nothing fancy. But "nothing fancy" works in this case. Nice flavor. The potatoes were a bit cheesy, not much garlic. They were fine. Nothing special. I think a bit more garlic was in order as I couldn't really detect any. The green beans I thought were a little under-cooked but I know a lot of people like that crisp snap. The seasoning of the beans was good. More than just a little salt, they really jazzed them up. I liked them.
So the verdict? Well, given how they bill themselves and what you pay I simply expect more. I expect exciting flavors (even with potatoes), and I expect them to know what "medium-well" means and how to achieve it. The meal was fine. Even good. But was it truly "high-end"? I don't think so. I've had high-end a few times, and this wasn't it. So they're "OK", but I can't go so far as to say I'm a fan. Three stars.
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