Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Prime time
July 3, 2021
By Liesel Schmidt
SANDESTIN – While restaurant chains can get a bad rap for food that seems unimaginative and rote, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar breaks the mold, offering a menu of luxurious dishes created with the intent of giving diners an unforgettable experience of the senses.
Founded in 1998 by restaurateurs Paul Fleming and Bill Allen in Newport Beach, Calif., the flagship restaurant was later expanded to include 65 locations nationwide, with a location at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin opening on June 4, 2007. The reason for its success is self-evident in the quality of the food and the caliber of the chefs, whose execution of classic American steakhouse dishes has a contemporary twist that displays culinary artistry.
“When you dine at Fleming’s, you will find a strong passion for Prime steak and wine, with thoughtfully engineered menus that delight even the most sophisticated palates,” said Elizabeth Watts, director of media and community relations at Bloomin’ Brands, which owns Fleming’s.
While all of Fleming’s chefs are chosen from among the best, Grand Boulevard is in the capable hands of Chef Partner Craig Sams, who spent 15 years working for several high-end restaurants in California before joining the Fleming’s team in January of 2019. Under his guidance, the culinary team in the kitchen creates exceptional dishes whose components are largely house made, including salad dressings and vinaigrettes, sauces, and signature butters as well as desserts. Filets are hand-cut every day, and the calamari and onion rings are hand-breaded.
“We strive to serve our guests the highest quality and freshest ingredients in every dish,” Watts explained.
Best known for their Prime steaks, among Fleming’s most popular are the 8-ounce Petite Filet Mignon and the 20-ounce Prime Bone-In Ribeye. Adding even more decadence to already luxurious steaks are “Over the Top” options including Truffle-Poached Lobster and Seared Pork Belly. Offering a three-course dinner for two featuring a choice of two salads, two sides, two desserts, and a shareable 35-ounce Prime Tomahawk, Tomahawk Tuesday is one of their most popular weekday prix fixe menus. Other guest favorites include the Caesar Salad, Crab Cakes, and the Sweet Chili Calamari, while sides that top the list include Fleming’s Potatoes and Crispy Brussels Sprouts & Bacon. For a sweet finish, nothing beats the Chocolate Lava Cake and Carrot Cake, both of which are made in-house daily.
“Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar differentiates itself with our promise to provide world-class food to each and every guest, beginning with steak,” says Watts. “It is the meticulous preparation, culinary craftsmanship, and obsessive attention to detail that makes every steak and dining experience at Fleming’s extraordinary.”
Part of what makes that experience extraordinary is, of course, the wide selection of dry-aged and wet-aged specialty and classic cuts. In fact, every USDA Prime steak cut offered is aged 21 days to develop depth of flavor and texture. Guests also love the diversity of the menu, which, in addition to steaks, features best-in-class seafood as well as innovative plant-based entrées. As one would hope, the wine list is equal to the demands of such excellent food, with selections from the best of Napa Valley and varietals from other prominent wine regions.
“Along with delicious food and wine pairings, our associates’ attention to detail throughout our guests’ dining experience is what keeps them coming back,” Watts contends.
Seated in the refined, stylish, and lively atmosphere for which Fleming’s has become known, one can’t help but be drawn into the unique setting, watching as the exhibition kitchen hums with activity. From the open dining room to the expansive bar and the patio, every seat is the best seat in the house.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is located at 600 Grand Blvd., Suite M105, Sandestin. Open Monday to Saturday 4 to 10 p.m.; Sunday 4 to 9 p.m. Open for curbside pick-up Monday to Saturday noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m. Delivery hours are Monday to Saturday 12:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. Reservations accepted. For more information, call 850-269-0830 or visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com
