Restaurant Review: Fleming's Prime Steak House and Wine Bar

Fleming's Prime Steak House and Wine Bar
323 North Old Woodward Avenue
Birmingham, MI 48009
248-723-0134

www.flemingssteakhouse.com

For a special dinner in the true chophouse tradition, consider splurging for the dining adventure of your life at Fleming's Prime Steak House and Wine Bar. Following the cues of Morton's of Chicago or Ruth's Chris Steak House, Fleming's elevates the steak experience from old and stodgy to flavors closer to Nirvana.

Fleming's has been in operation since 1998, but the Detroit area has only recently gained the addition of two Fleming's, one in Novi and the other in Birmingham. We were introduced to the restaurant after test-driving a luxury car. For my husband's one hour of time speeding around in a foreign sports car he wasn't going to buy, he was awarded a gift certificate to Fleming's. At the time, Fleming's wasn't even open for business yet, and we had no experience with the restaurant, so we were wary.

Once the Birmingham Fleming's was operational a few months later, we decided to cash in on our gift card. My husband went online to research the restaurant, which is part of a larger chain. The same people who operate Outback Steakhouse own Fleming's. While Outback is a decent enough steakhouse, Fleming's is definitely a cut above.

The web site is slick, glossy and beautiful. There's trendy jazz music in the background that sets the mood for the restaurant. The clincher on the web site (at least for my husband) was the section relating to Fleming's phenomenal wine list. Fleming's has 100 wines that can be purchased by the glass or are available for tasting, about fifteen times more than a normal restaurant of the same caliber.

While Morton's reminds me more of a corporate man's restaurant, heavy with dark woods and the smell of cigar smoke, Fleming's has a more contemporary feel. Sure, it's dark in there, too, but Muzaked Led Zeppelin is piped over the sound system. It's dressy and special, yet casual.