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Categories: Steakhouses, Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Near North SideHappy Hour at Fleming's. 5 Cocktails, 5 Wines all $6 all night long.
5 Appetizers and our Prime Burger $6 each until 7pm
Grand (Red)
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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3rd update...a bit, obsessed?!
Just wanted to let you know that they're having $5.00 burgers (w/ fries!) in the bar for the month of April. Went here last night & had a burger, 2 beers, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, and wild cajun bbq shrimp for $28.00. Not a bad deal if you ask this little lady & her burger loving date!
Took my valentine here last Saturday for din-din & cannot stop thinking about our delicious meal! We… Read more »
We ordered from their fall prix fixe (prefix) menu and I ordered a glass of the red wine that was a suggested pairing. Here's my experience:
- It's on the pricier side, definitely, but the food is done very well, the wine really enhanced the filet i ordered. bread basket is great. their soup was delicious. their side corn dish was OK. i think I expected better for this kind of restaurant, but it it was still pretty decent.
- service is genuine, unpretentious yet attentive without over doing it.
- atmosphere is as nice as any nice restaurant. it really reminded me
of the capital grille in lombard. almost identical layout with open kitchen. so you can see it can have a nice-chain-restaurant feel.
- you get a kind of discount if you make reservations from their website, but look into the small print.
Parking is valet which cost $11.99 when we went there.
my only complaint would be that the filet i ordered was a little too pink for my taste (ordered it medium). I should have sent it back, but i was hungry and didn't want to really wait.
overall, i'd recommend as a good place to wine and dine if you want to impress and enjoy.
Flemings tries hard to not strike you as a chain. They do a good job. The food is delicious and the wine selection is pretty robust - plus they have private dining rooms for larger groups at no extra cost to you.
I can't complain at all - it's a good choice for groups who tend toward american food (ie, steak) but allows you a few other options. I like it.
Here is an update to one of my favorite steak places to go to in Chicago. We went to Flemings on a Friday night to celebrate my mom's birthday. I had made reservations online and wrote that it was for my mom's birthday celebration.
Let's talk about the food - AMAZING! I've never had a bad filet here - they always seem to be cooking it just right. Props to the chefs that do a phenomenal job. We started off with the calamari, which is very very delicious. A bit spicy and has a thai style - but soo good! We also ordered the creamed corn, which is also a little spicy but still piping hot and delicious. We ended the evening with the chocolate lava cake, which takes about 20 minutes to prepare but definitely worth the wait. The chocolate lava cake is probably one of the best desserts I've had. The chocolate comes oozing out of the center and the Chantilly cream that accompanies it is just perfect.
Let's talk about the service. Everyone including the hostess seemed to be aware that it was my mother's birthday except for our very own waitress, Kaitin. Although it was a pretty busy Friday night for Flemings, I had expected better service from an upscale steakhouse. It seemed as though Kaitlin didn't have time for us and didn't care much for our table. Here's a list of what upset me about our waitress:
1) 2 of the 4 of us ordered wine - she never cleared the other 2 wine glasses from the table to make room for our appetizers/meals.
2) My sister requested a straw - she had to ask a bus boy to get a straw since Kaitin seemed to forget.
3) During dinner, Kaitin had asked if we wanted to order any of the bake desserts since they take awhile - we had placed an order for the lava cake. After dinner, she didn't ask us if we wanted any coffee or any other desserts.
4) The most appalling fact goes back to my comment that everyone but our waitress knew it was my mother's birthday. We've been here numerous times for birthday celebration and Flemings does an exceptional job of making that someone feel special, except for this evening. Kaitin didn't wish my mother a happy birthday nor did she give her the complimentary chocolates (that accompany a birthday). My sister had to request this once we left the restaurant from the hostess.
Overall, I can't complain about the food - it's always perfect and ever so delicious. Flemings should work on the service going forward. It seems that it goes back and forth - sometimes I have amazing service and sometimes I don't. I can only hope that Flemings will work on servicing customers better in the future.
So my family and I celebrated the little sis's b-day last week at Fleming's. The food was just as… Read more »
Great Happy Hour menu - I think it was pick 6! Loved all of them. Ive also dined for lunch and the Salmon was delicious!!!!
First time I went there and had Filet Mignion, and I absolutely loved it, pricing was decent as well , would recommend it for a romantic date...
The bartender, Gary, never dissappoints. He makes such a mean apple-martini that I can only drink 2 and I have to check out. As always, there food, wine and drink specials until 7pm, and they are always changing so beware. A drink special one week, may not be there the next.
OK. So I have been putting off writing a review because I am selfish. Yes, they have an awesome… Read more »
If u live in a 606 zip - stay away!
The room looks great, its gorgeous. There is an American flag in the entrance way.
The goods: great wine list AND they keep their wines at the exact right temperature so I must give them that! And, they have 20+ wines by the glass and you can make your own flight. I have never been to a restaurant where you could pick any wine from a huge list to make your own flight.
The food I tried sucked ass! I had carpaccio had mayonnaise and shredded cheese on it - barf! And it was served with cheesy-bread like you'd get from a cheap pizza place. Toast with bad tomato sauce and cheese. Who the F eats carpaccio with cheesy-bread!! Like pizza bread. Why!?!
Next we tried the crab cake. I don't like crab cake but the lump crab cake was really plump with full pieces of meat so that was a bonus. This items was not bad. It was good.
I can imagine that their steaks would be really good. We weren't there for dinner so we didn't try the steaks. I would likely go back for Fleming's wine list but it would in no way be at the top of my list.
I am a fan of the happy hour, which will translate to a full meal down the line.
We always get the beef capraccio and crab cake. Both are excellent dishes. The beef is sliced thin, but not too thin, you can taste the tasty beef. The crab cakes are full of crab lumps, you can see it as you out your fork in it. And the rosemary loaf of bread is delicious too
We also got the calamari but not the best dish. We will skip it next time and save room for the chocolate lava cake.
Steak - Check
Yummy Side dishes - Check
AMAZING CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE - CHECK!!!
If nothing else - go there for desert and a nice glass of cab to go with that chocolate lava cake!!!
Fantastic. We had the filet migon and barbacue salmon. Cooked to perfection. The sweet corn side dish was really great. The service was exceptional. We will come back.
I came here because I LOVE a fancy steak restaurant but I'm a terrible cheapskate when it comes to treating myself to said steak restaurant. But the $35.95 prix fix menu caught my eye so I gave this place a go.
http://www.flemingsste...
So the menu is supposed to invoke the "flavors of the season". Umm ok.
B Spinach Salad ; meh. The spinach salad was more a vehicle for the vinaigrette dressing (which was certainly tasty). I didn't see how this translated into a summer flavor.
A- Filet Mignon : Rare: my first bite was SO salty I got a little worried but after that first bite everything was wonderful. Cooked a perfect rare, (cool in the center) and really delicious. I have to say the 3 potatoes croquettes that came on the side was the best part of this meal. Those guys were the stars of the show.
A- Caramelized Banana Crème Brulée with chantilly crème : you know when you get crème brulee and you always wish there was just a little bit more? OK well not with this dish; a tremendous serving. My 6'2" friend couldn't even finish his. (I finished mine of course). Plus it comes with a bowl of whipped crème which you can dollop at will. The flavors should give this dish a B+ but the portion size bumps it up a notch (in my book when talking crème brulee, more is more)
A Service : really attentive, a tad over-scripted. Our server Colleen was so sweet and accommodating. It's nice to feel 'waited on' and they do an excellent job making you feel pampered and special so come here if you are looking for that. But I feel she came over just one time too many.
The $35 prix-fixe is a good deal but remember: factor in a glass of wine, tip and taxes and you're talking more along the lines of $70....
My cousin had her wedding reception at Fleming's in Las Vegas a couple years ago. We had a nice private room for our group, and apparently my table (which we coined, the "rowdy table") was the only one to take advantage of the open bar. We made lots of noise. That's what happens when the cousins have a reunion. I enjoyed my time at that Fleming's.
I was excited to hear it was in Chicago. It took me awhile to finally eat here, though. It took me till last week. My friend was in town and treated us all to a nice steak dinner while watching game 6 of the epic Bulls-Celtics series. I like my steaks bloody, to the point i kinda dip my steak in blood when i can. They charred my New York strip a little more than i'd prefer, but it was still good. We had shoestring fries, the specialty potatoes, and the chipotle mac n cheese. All of which were outstanding. The mac n cheese was nice and gooey and had a spicy kick and the specialty potatoes were so awesome i don't know how to describe it.
Our server was very nice and patient with our indecisive group. We also changed our order frequently and asked her to shift the TV at an angle most conducive to our viewing pleasure. She was awesome. Although my brother asked for water and got a glass that had leaves from a mojito in it. It was the most alcoholic water i'd seen. She quickly replaced it...she was quick about everything.
Overall i would give this a low 4 stars, just barely crossing the mythical "Yay, I'm a fan!" line. I like to be blown away by steak, and this place scrapes by.
Great experience all around. The service and food were excellent. The lava cake was delicious.
They get 4 stars for the 5 for $6 deals.
Am surprised this place is so barren every time I see it. It's got ample, comfortable seating in the barroom with a great street view. My guess is that it looks expensive - well, the regular menu IS expensive - and that's deterring people in this economy. I'd definitely go back for the specials - too bad they're not open for lunch.
I wish I could give 3.5 stars because of my first experience dining there. It was a slow Sunday. ESPN Zone was full because of the 1st Round of NBA Playoffs. They did change one of the channels from CNN to the Lakers game for us. No props to the overbearing bar manager that practically sat at our table throughout our meal. She also didn't have the 5 for $6 menu plaques on the table and shoved the full price menu in front of us. Sure she put out the full price menu and sat with us during our meal to charm a large tip, but we'd appreciate it more if she gave us the specials menu and hung out with the other patrons.
The specials are exceptional. The cab was swell, and the cocktails (esp the mojito) were awesome! I ordered the calamari and my friends ordered the crab cakes. It was a large helping of succulent crab - they didn't cheap out by deep-frying it in something ridiculous. Also, the calamari was huge - there were 3 of us eating consistently and barely made a dent. It was a Friday night and a little busier than that Sunday. The bar manager was cute and friendly, but didn't overstay the welcome.
I went here to take advantage of the Happy hour deal which includes drinks and appetizers. The drinks were very good. Wine by the glass is also included in the 5,6,7 deal. I ordered the crab cakes they were a little salty. My BF had the cheese burger, it was good. I ordered the seafood tower as an entree. It was very fresh, they even cracked my crab legs for me. The place is beautiful, I loved the decor and atmosphere. Didn't really care for our waitress she wouldn't leave us alone it was very annoying. Every few minutes she would hurry over to ask how everything was...other than that I cant wait to go again.......
If you're craving steak, this is NOT the place for you.
Chicago is bustling with awesome steakhouses and Flemings does not meet up. This was my first time and Flemings and maybe it was an off night, but the steak was Outback quality at Chicago Chophouse pricing.
Not to mention, we were there for a surprise bday dinner and the waiter ruined the surprise... waiter says "are you here for the bday dinner" to the bday boy. ugh.
Lovely atmosphere, great location.
"Meh. I've experienced better" is exactly what I'm thinking. Maybe it's b/c I eat so much that I've become a "food snob," but seriously, the food was just o.k. The steak was tender but bland and was gray in color. The side items were also mediocre.
There are so many other steak places in Chicago - go there instead!
I have been craving prime rib for the last 3 weeks. And I am talking about serious cravings!
So now that the boy is FINALLY back in town, we decided to go out for a nice dinner on Saturday. I never noticed that prime rib is pretty expensive! Erie Street Cafe is charging $41, Gene and Georgetti's slightly less. With the economy the way it is, I was beginning to think maybe I will not be able to satisfy my need... my need for meat!
After much googling, I stumbled across Fleming Steakhouse and their Sunday dinner special. Salad, 12 oz prime rib, 1 side and dessert for $35.75. Sounds too good to be true... but we went last night and boy was I happy we did.
Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a hostess who directed us to head on upstairs. We were seated at a booth next to the giant windows overlooking Ohio Street. Romantic ambience and they did not bat an eye to our casual dress (T-shirts, jeans and sneakers). Our server was great... Informative, went through all the specials with speed and familiarity, checked in on us often without hovering too much. Even the floor manager was very attentive.
We both went for the prime rib special. The boy had the Fleming salad, and I asked if I could sub the french onion soup for the salad. French onion soup was done differently than I expected. Instead of a giant piece of bread, there were smaller cubes of croutons covered in gruyere and parm cheeses. It was also served in a regular soup bowl instead of a crock like most other restaurants. A little too much onions (I left that in the bowl), but the broth was good and not too salty.
Next up was the star of the night... prime ribs done medium rare. Perfectly warm red in the middle, juicy slabs of meat. I think our portions were over 12 oz, since neither one of us could finish it. Tender, flavorful meat. Nice ring of fat around, but not too much. He thought that the crust had too much rosemary, but I thought it was fine.
Our sides were grilled mushrooms (he's on a health kick) and Fleming potatoes (mine!). Mushrooms were fine... Nothing to write home about. But the potatoes were out of this world. A giant block of scalloped potatoes topped with cheese and jalapenos. Crusty on the outside, creamy on the side. Potatoes were not mushy and still retained some toothsome texture. The portion was a little big especially since it is so rich. But I'm not complaining, especially since most of it is sitting in my refrigerator, waiting for me to get home tonight!
Dessert was creme brulee for me, and walnut turtle pie for him. Perfect cracking crust on my creme brulee with smooth creamy custard on the bottom, with specks of vanilla bean, . But after that huge meal, I left half behind. He polished off his walnut turtle pie which means that it was very good!
Dinner for two without drinks and before tip was $80... A great deal especially since we have the equivalent of 1 prime rib dinner as left overs!
For the past year I've walked by Fleming's and thought "I should eat there". Well, I finally did. It was my bf's birthday, so we headed to Fleming's to celebrate. And if there were ever an occasion for you to go to Fleming's, go on someone's birthday (just be sure to tell them when you make the reservation). It felt like everyone working there knew it was my bf's birthday. The hostess, several waiters, and the floor manager all wished him a happy birthday. There was even a special page in the menu that thanked him for choosing to dine at Fleming's on his special day. And as if that wasn't enough, at the end of our meal, they gave him a box of chocolate covered strawberries. SPOILED!
The atmosphere is relaxed, calm, and very conducive to a romantic dinner for two, or a talkative group affair. If you prefer a more private feel, ask for a booth: they are a little raised from the main floor, giving you a feeling of being separate but still in the crowd.
For the most part, the food is very good. I LOVED the champagne infused brie, which is a refreshing break from the regular bread and butter routine (although they bring that with your actual meal). We had a full meal appetizer (bbq shrimp, yum!) entrees and dessert (lava cake). But by the time dessert rolled around, I was so full that I couldn't even enjoy the cake. Don't get me wrong, I still scarfed if down. My only complaint: the chipotle mac and cheese. It doesn't really taste like it has chipotle in it, and it is VERY heavy. I had a little bit of trouble falling asleep that night because it was not agreeing with my stomach and triggered a little bit of heartburn. I need to take most of the blame though, because we orginally ordered the side to share, and I ended up eating more than3/4 of the dish. Lesson learned.
So what's the bottom line: if you like great food in a relaxed but intimate and classy atmosphere, and if you want to be treated extra-special for your birthday, Fleming's is the place to be.
Wow!
Da P. J. and I went on a girls' date here and had a GREAT meal. Please please please go on a Sunday night and have their prime rib dinner (Sundays only), which includes prime rib with 3 different sauces, a salad, a side, and dessert--all for $35!!! Not only was it a total sweet deal, the food was also delicious. We had the lobster tempura to start, and we were impressed by how generous they were with the lobster. The salad was nondescript, but the steak and sides (we chose the macaroni and cheese and the Fleming's potato) were amazing. The macaroni and cheese is probably the best I've ever had. To top it all off, we had the chocolate lava cake and creme brulee for dessert, with some coffee and tea. HEAVEN :)
The service was also commendable--I don't think my water glass was ever empty, which is a peeve of mine.
They have such awesome specials! You can't miss out. The 5 for 6 till 7pm promo ends in August but they extended the hours, so worth it and September the manager mentioned they are doing a full size burger promo and offering free mini-burgers in the bar on certain days plus 25% OFF a bottle of wine on a certain day I think Tuesdays. Check it out if you haven't been you'll love it!
My family attended the opening event and said it was excellent! Anyways, last night we happened to… Read more »
I went for happy hour the other day and the specials weren't bad. I order the Tropical Martini which was tasty and on the lighter side of martinis. My g/f had the Margarita Martini and that was good as well.
As for food we ordered the following: sweet chili calamari, ahi tuna, and crabcakes. The calamari is fried but the dish was drenched in sauce so it was a bit soggy. The ahi tuna was a small amount but good - had better but it was fine for a happy hour. Lastly, there were 2 crabcakes and they were also good.
We were able to find seats and the service was good. Decent place for happy hour deals.
Tonight was my birthday so we decided to try out Fleming's, when my husband called to make reservations they asked him if we were celebrating an event, so my husband mentioned it was my birthday-
So when I came in tonight as soon as we mentioned our name the hostess knew it was my birthday and wished me a happy birthday-We get upstairs and as we were being taken to our seats I was wished another happy birthday-
When we were sitting and looking at the menu it dawned on me that they had printed up a happy birthday sheet with my name on it and put it into my menu! The little things count to me-Everyone kept wishing me a happy birthday, from management to workers-
I have never been to a more friendly place here in Chicago, Flemings treats you like are VIP's-I was so impressed, our waiter(s) were amazing, management was great, they truly made me feel special-
Now for the food, it was good but the service was better-When they dropped the check off they gave me a box of chocolate covered strawberries for my birthday, so very thoughtful-
You just don't get this in Chicago, they were all sincere and being a Southern girl I miss the South for this reason, but they made me feel so comfortable by just being nice :0
If you have a birthday, anniversary, engagement etc...come here, they will take care of you and make you feel amazing-
Went here for Restaurant Week, but turns out they already serve a $36 winter 3-course prix fixe and were just going with that for their special. I think that special continues through the whole season. I give Flemings a 5 star ONLY because of that special - without it, probably a "4".
Its a really nice place. Very comfortable and a great vibe in there. The service was very good - just a hair short of the "fold your napkin when you slip off to the bathroom".
The food was great - it can be hard to judge Chicago steakhouses because there's day-to-day variability and a lot of them serve cuts from similar suppliers, but this place was good enough. The clam chowder was one of the best that I've had, and our steaks were perfectly cooked. I wasn't impressed with the dessert on the prix fixe, the milk and cookies, but then again I wasn't expecting much.
If it wasn't for the value of the prix fixe, I probably wouldn't be able to separate this place much from other steakhouses. But I'd go to Flemings again and again because that prix fixe makes it a fantastic value. Its actually a 4-course because you get a full side like mashed potatoes or asparagus with your filet. I don't know anywhere else you can get a complete Chicago steakhouse-quality dinner for $36.
Disclaimer: This is a non-red meat eater's review of a Steakhouse :)
I've been here half a dozen times.
Fleming's has some of the best service I've ever seen! They will accomodate any special request. The food is wonderful. Everyone is very friendly. After I forgot my hat, they even chased me down a half a block!
Great lounge to grab an appetizer/cocktail after work. They always have the perfect drink recommendation.
My only complaint is the weird wine decor. There are bottles and pictures of wine everywhere upstairs, I always laugh to myself.
P.S. the Mac n Cheese is delicious.
Wow - Fleming's has made its way into our hearts as our new favorite steakhouse in downtown Chicago. My husband couldn't stop raving about the decor and service. Even though we ran a little late for our reservations (10 minutes), we were seated immediately upstairs. Our waiter, Chris, was really fabulous. When we were seated, instead of a bread basket, we got this basket with whipped brie with champagne served with little toasts and celery sticks and goat cheese infused with something else magnificent and radish. What a wonderful treat!
We started off with the lobster tempura which was amazing - there were at least 6-7 pieces of lobster and other vegetable tempura, as well. We had to stop ourselves before we filled up on our appetizer! It came with a red jalapeno pepper sauce and a soy ginger sauce. Delicious :)
My husband had their NY strip steak medium rare which came out cooked to perfection. We added a side of peppercorn parmesean mashed potatoes which was huge and I'm just glad that we opted to share that! I opted for the Daily Special which was a petite filet that was bacon wrapped drizzled in sauce with an Alaskan lobster tail on top served with grilled asparagus. My bacon wrapped filet was amazing and the lobster was the perfect addition.
And of course - we HAD to try their chocolate lava cake that literally burst before our eyes and oozed out its chocolatey goodness with their BlueBell vanilla ice cream. And since we were celebrating our one year wedding anniversary, Fleming's surprised us with a mini box of chocolate covered strawberries! Thanks!!
Service was amazing - Chris was very attentive and the perfect waiter. Our water glasses were also refilled immediately and never went empty while every time we went to the bathroom, we came back to a tidied up table and nicely folded napkins. I can't wait to return here again - I saw more things on their menu that I'd love to try out.
A great big thanks to Lori L for sharing her good fortune of a gift certificate with me, on our hot date to Fleming's.
Saturday night, reservations made. We arrived and spoke to some slightly frazzled hosts, despite a fairly empty waiting area. We were directed up the stairs to our table, a cozy booth with a friendly server. It's decorated beautifully. The decor is not overbearingly masculine and still warm despite the dark wood and low lights.
Deeeeeelicious martinis, friends. Mine, dirty, Lori's, peachy. We skipped the appetizers in favor of polishing off the nifty little crudite plate they brought. Lori went for the petite filet which we both agreed was cooked to perfection. Broiled, tender and really juicy. My crab and shrimp scampi was also very good, though they didn't clean the crab as well as I'd liked, as I found a few pieces of shell in a few bites, and the piece of cartilage had to be pulled out. The shrimp were huge (if not slightly overcooked) and the scampi sauce perfectly seasoned.
We ordered a side of mashed potatoes which came with bleu cheese butter and there are two words for that: Holy. Crap. Lori had to pry the dish out of my hands so I didn't make an ass out of myself by licking it clean.
Just kidding. But at home without witnesses, I would have.
We both agreed that Fleming's got a raw deal early on due to bad experiences and subsequent harsh reviews, but we truly had no complaints when we left the restaurant, full and happy.
It's pricey, as any steakhouse in the city can be, but nothing outrageous and worth it, I'd say.
Breakdown:
Three martinis
One glass of wine
Two entrees
One side
$125
I am no stranger to Flemings. I have dined at this restaurant chain in several cities, but last night was my 1st visit to the D/T Chicago location. First, the service was OUTSTANDING! I have never had better service----with this being said, this location is by far the best I've dined at.
Okay, now let's get to the food (and wine). I ordered a NY Strip, the wifey had the petite filet, and we paired this with a bottle of Pinot (VERY extensive wine list makes me very happy). I am EXTREMELY picky about my steak, and this was probably the best strip I've ever had. The wifey's filet could literally be cut with a fork . For desert, we shared the creme brulee....and, of course, after dinner drinks. Yes, I do have a drinking problem :)
To top it off, the dining room Manager gave us a $25 gift certificate for a future visit. Excellent food, and excellent service = A+
Great happy hour special! $6 wine and appetizers was great while we waited for our dinner reservations at Frontera grill (never did get a table after 3 hour wait but that is another story). The wine selection is amazing (even the $6 special wines were really good) and the calamari app. was HUGE and really good (I lived in Boston so I know good seafood)! The service was attentive and we will definitely be back (p.s. no wait)!!!
I was first introduced to Flemings about 13 years ago in Scottsdale. Since then, on my trips out there, I am a bit of a regular. Fast forward to this year when Fleming's opens up right here in my town! I went to the Yelp pre-opening event (very nice) and then recently had the chance to try if again.
This place does it right. From the time I walked in the door, they were calling me by name and pretty much falling over themselves to take care of me and my friends. I sat at the bar and ordered my standard dirty martini. Perfectly poured and chilled and the bartender couldn't have been nicer. And given the day I had had- it was nice to just sit and reflect with friends for a minute.
Upstairs at our table, our server Joe, again took great pains to make sure everything was perfect. It was textbook as to what makes a great server. He had suggestions on the menu, learned all of our names and called us by them, ensured that our dinners were done exactly to our liking and even offered up mid meal- a desert favorite of his that takes a while to cook so he wanted to make sure if we wanted it- the timing would be right. Thanks Joe- you made our night.
The food? Delicious! We started with the calamari which was sweet instead of spicy- a nice change and then a seafood tower. Just a note- we ordered this for 2 even though there were 4 of us and it was plenty of shrimp, lobster, ceviche and crab for everyone.
We all ordered steaks that were perfectly done. The bone in NY strip and the ribeye were my favorites. As for the sides- the Flemings potatoes were cheesy and had a touch of jalapeno for flavor and the mushrooms and asparagus perfectly done.
The finale? A chocolate melted cake which came with whipped cream, ice cream and was probably the most decadent thing I have had in a long time. The warm chocolate just oozed out of the thing.
Nice wine list, delicious food, good ambiance and outstanding service. Now that's the sign of a good restaurant. And you know something else? They even took my expired gift certificate that I had gotten at the Yelp event without even a second glance. Gotta love a place that takes such good care of it's guests.
I have been saving this review for my 100th!!!! Wooo-hoooo!
Our dining experience here was absolutely fabulous!
I'm sorry to read that other "Yelpers" did not have the same satisfaction.
We first heard of "Fleming's" at the Yelp Pre-Grand Opening Event.
That evening was a wee bit of a taste of what we expected for our "real" dining experience. Everything from service to appetizers, that first night was outstanding.
Extra special and pleasant surprise, AFTER we had made a reservation for the following Thursday night, was the $100.00 Gift Certificate we received as a parting gift as we were leaving,
Fast forward to a week later (my husband HAD to try the steak after being teased like that at the pre-grand opening)
We started with the complimentary and tasty wine/champagne infused cheese spreads.
I had a fantastic cocktail (I can't remember the cutesy name) it was a Grapefruit/Pomegranate Martini with Pom Froth.
Our appetizer was the "Sweet Chili Calamari"
It was yummy, nothing to write home about, but good.
I was eying another table's seafood appetizer and asked the waiter "What's that?"
It was the "Seafood Tower" (Lobster, shrimp, crab claws, & a seasonal selection) WOW....note to self, next time.
I ordered the Chef's Mixed Grill (lamp chop, bacon-wrapped petite filet & stuffed salmon) Every piece cooked to perfection!
The hubby ordered the 22oz. Porterhouse Steak.
Oh my that's a lotta cow!!! He loved it!
We shared the "Fleming's Potatoes" (scalloped potatoes with a cheddar, cream, jalapeno sauce" Just seal the arteries now!
We had mentioned to the waiter that we had enjoyed the Yelp event the week before and we had the Red Carpet rolled out even more, both managers stopped at our table AND the chef came and introduced himself. Chef Patrick "Quack" Quakenbush, loads of personality, I could easily see him becoming the next Emeril or Chef Ramsey!
Talk about the power of Yelp!
Anyways we finished off the dinner (yes we are pigs) with a fantastic perfect Creme Brulee. They have a dessert sampler plate (mini lava cake, creme brulee & peach cobbler) but if we ordered that I would have literally burst.
The service was professional and first rate (even before we mentioned Yelp).
The atmosphere, exactly what a steakhouse should be...dark woods, two fantastic bar areas, sexy lighting, big booths, rich, rich, rich.
I was invited back for a complimentary second try after speaking to management about the "Black Saturday" experience (their term). This time we spent a leisurely two hours, got all three courses, and everything went smoothly. Dinner was terrific and my mood is restored to happy.
This time I tried the bone-in NY strip, which was cooked perfectly and quite tasty. Also had a delish mac & cheese side, grilled asparagus. Salmon bruchetta and portobello fries for appetizers. Dessert sampler platter. And an excellent mojito.
Just as last time, the service was great. The timing was vastly improved during this visit.
I'm pissed off at Fleming's.
I spent OVER THREE HOURS at the restaurant last night and got two…
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My first ever steakhouse dinner in Chicago...no really, I've never graced Gibson's with my presence, lolled around Lawry's, danced at Ditka's, or cow coma'd at Keefer's or Kinzie Chophouse. Never, not once.
My first impression in this place is "ohhh, fancy." Then I see the extra large booze/wine bottle decorations by the downstairs table, which scream....COLLEGE APARTMENT in my mind. Wine bottles are not decor unless they are smacked in a wine rack or in my hand.
In fact, the one time I was taken out for Prime Rib in the northern outskirts of Illinois...Richmond, perhaps? I thought Prime Rib meant "ribs" and told my manfriend that I didn't eat ribs because "they were too messy, and there were too many bones." Yes, so...ya know, I didn't grow up with the greatest red meat educmacation, mmmmk? Forgive me, but my arteries have faith in my resistance.
So, Fleming's. Sigh. The steakhouse that popped my Chicago steak cherry, and what do I have to show for it? Nada much. Sort of like a high school lover; sloppy, uncoordinated, overconfident and awkward...OMG, and lacking booze.
Yes, no booze last night. For a "winebar" methinks that's a sign of TROUBLE. Apparently they were having some sort of issue with the liquor license. Well, I'm sorry...WHAT!? You are a chain restaurant in downtown Chicago...this is unforgivable. Don't they have corporate minions that oversee this type of thing? This is not some authentic mom 'n pop joint that got screwed over by the city...that is understandable, and I will happily run across the street to fetch my own libations, but a winebar/steakhouse...NO. Double NO.
The food was fine, and we expected to drop a bit of cash. However, for the price point the food lacked significantly. The shining light was the grilled asparagus. Yeah, I can cook that...so let's not get carried away here. I had the double chicken breast (I know, I know...I'm sorry steak just doesn't appeal to me all that much), and it was good...but it was just chicken on a plate swimming in some minced mushrooms. Not impressive, by any standard, though it was well cooked. I guess. I could've used a glass of wine to swill it down with, but ya know the story with that....
Our server started out quite good, and then declined...capping it off with COUNTING HIS CASH TIP in front of us. I mean really bro? C'mon. We left him over 20 percent, at least count it in the kitchen.
Not impressed.
Update: We gave Fleming's another try and the food was just as good as when it had just opened. The service has also gotten less scripted and more comfortable. They had the bottle of wine we asked for. So I am happy to add a star! I think we un-quit Fleming's and will be back very soon.
Also- the happy hour until 7 seem to be pretty happening...
Old Review:
My Sig-O and I have eaten here more than a handful of times and we finally decided that we quit Flemings.
We want to like it more than we do.
Our first meal here was incredible- absolutely amazing (It was in the first couple of weeks they were open though). Since then we have dutifully gone back, over and over, in hopes of replicating that meal. And it has consistently been inconsistent.
The things we love (when they are good):
the wedge salad- even with a chilled fork, a classic version.
the snow peas- spicy, chili and sesame oil heaven.
the Fleming's potatoes- turbocharged au gratin.
the filets- can be wonderful, can be just OK.
the wine list- good selection.
the atmosphere- nice and chill, not too loud.
The things that drive us crazy:
the overly scripted service- we really don't need a speech about the complimentary starter every- single- time we come in 'specially when you know that we have been there a bunch of times.... ditto for almost everything else. Some of the servers seem really lovely and it is a shame that they have to play server-bot.
wild inconsistency over food prep- it usually looks the same but the chefs haven't gotten it down over flavor. Sometimes the potatoes and peas are atomic, other times it is like nursing home bland.
meat quality- it varies waaaay too much, I have had some of the tastiest slabs here and other times some of the worst. We had a V-day 40oz porterhouse for 2 and it was horrific, super tiny filet and chewy yuck other side. Gristle city.
Wine- great selection, bad at keeping it stocked. They have been out of the bottle we requested more than once.
Overall: We really, really wanted this place to be better. The location is great, it is beautiful inside, etc. but there are too many good steakhouses here to tolerate the randomness.
I'm honestly not all that impressed. I suppose the company didn't help and neither did the fact that I really just don't eat red meat. But, regardless, what I did have wasn't all that amazing. Seeing as I had never been there before I asked the waiter what seafood dish he thought was the best. He said their special was, but it was a white flaky fish and I tend not to like those. So, I asked what else he would recommend. He suggested the scallops, so I said okay let's get those and add in a crab cake appetizer.
Good thing I went with my gut and got the appetizer, cause it was really great. I loved the sauce that came with it. However, the main course wasn't so spectacular. I wish I could've given them a chance to win me over by ordering dessert, but my company was horrid and I couldn't stand to be with them a minute longer. I'm not sure if their desserts are good enough for me to want to go back. On another note, the mashed potatoes didn't have any spark to them. They were just really creamy with nothing to write home about.
I definitely wouldn't be back to spend money here on my own. I'd rather spend it somewhere else.
OH YES!!!!!! YESSSS!!!! Dinners like these are the ones I dream about. Impeccable. Just great!
This location DOES live up to the Scottsdale location. Wow...it was so awesome. Especially after going to Sixteen a few nights prior. This is what a meal SHOULD be!!
Located on Ohio, I feel sorry that this spot might not get as much traffic as it deserves. I got a glass of Rutherford Hill Cabernet. VERY INSANELY extensive choice of wines, put in order of intensity in a huge book.
The celery, beets and toasted bread w/ champagne infused brie on the table was ADDICTING. sooo good. We also got a caprese salad. I was almost full at that point!
I ordered a petite filet, my friend ordered the King Crab legs. We shared the creamed corn and Fleming's potatoes. The creamed corn had a little bit of a kick to them! I think there was chili powder in them. VERY good. The Fleming's potatoes are like a au gratin casserole w/ cream, jalapenos, and cheddar cheese. ABSOLUTELY delicious!!
The chocolate lava cake is just AMAZING. I would even go to Fleming's just to cap off a different meal w/ that cake. Talk about oozing. Sooo good.
wow, I CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK TO FLEMING'S!!!!!
Typical Steakhouse - however the atmosphere was beautiful. I was with a group of 5 so we ordered a bunch of sides to share and every single thing I put in my mouth was salty - over salty. I'm not very salt sensitive either, although I never add salt to a dish (unless it's popcorn).
I was disappointed with the food but the service was good - he did go the extra mile when my sister in law ordered goat cheese stuffed olives (which they do not carry). He made them himself which was really really cool in my book!
Went here for dinner last night and I was expecting a wall to wall crowd. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was not one to be found. It was briskly busy but not too loud or cramped. This place is huge though and very nicely and tastefully decorated.
We started out with the calamari appetizer which was was lightly battered in a tasty sauce that had just a hint of spiciness but it didn't;t overpower the mouth. We both ordered the Steak Flemington which was a steak in a light pastry crust drizzled with a light mushroom sauce and we split a side of chipotle mac-n-cheese. The mac and cheese was rich and rich and not an over powering but tasty flavor. The mushroom sauce was an excellent compliment to a pretty good steak.
I think the common denominator here was tasty but not overpowering which I an happy to write over and over and over about a meal. When places start to overpower with spice then all of the other flavors start to get lost in the spice. Fleming's did and excellent job of keeping the food from being bland and not overpowering it. Big kudos for that.
Everything here is a la carte so just a word of warning:with wine, appetizer, entree, sides, drinks and dessert, you can easily rack up an astronomical bill very easily. The service here is solid as our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable!
Like many yelpers who have reviewed Fleming's my husband and I were each lucky enough to receive a $100 gift certificate at their opening party. We gave 1 gift cert to my brother (aren't I a nice sister?) and kept the other one for ourselves. My brother took a date there a few months ago and claimed it was one of the worst meals (including both the food and the service) he's ever had- and it must have been really bad because this kid will eat anything! So my husband and I haven't been rushing to use our gift certificate...
A few days ago my "always looking for a deal" hubby realized that the gift certificate expires the end of August so thought we should go enjoy a free steak and brace ourselves for the bad experiences we've heard about from my brother and others. And so we went...expecting the worst, but hoping for the best! And fortunately we got the best...phew!
Perhaps Flemings has worked out their kinks because the service we received here was great and the food was pretty good too! I really enjoyed the crackers and cheese spread they give you instead of bread and our crab cake appetizer was very good (loved the lime sauce on it). While my husband enjoyed a steak that he thought was good (but not great) the scallops I ordered were excellent and a huge portion! No room for dessert, well besides wine from their very impressive wine menu.
My only complaint for Fleming's would be the atmosphere- it just has that boring, chain feeling to it. And my husband pointed out that it feels/smells like a movie theater, which I have to agree with him on. There are so many great steakhouses to choose from in our fair city so Fleming's wouldn't be my first choice in the future, but I wouldn't be opposed to going again either...especially if another gift certificate happens to fall into my hands. Thanks for the free meal Fleming's!
Neighborhood: Streeterville
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
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