If you’re already familiar with Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar, then not much can be said about the restaurant that will be any different from what you probably already know. If I may take a guess, I can assume that your perspective of Fleming’s is that they have impeccable food and beautiful interior. Both of which are completely true. Just as important as the restaurant’s perfect plates and refined décor, there’s an aspect of Fleming’s that can be easily overlooked. While seated in the restaurant’s private dinning room with a handful of strangers, I realized how relaxed the restaurant feels and how natural the restaurant made it to make new friends over wine and food. This isn’t a review solely about how great the dishes are, which they were. Tthis is a review about how great restaurant was at creating a unforgettable evening with delicious food as the connector.

To be honest, it wasn’t the first appetizer of the Sweet Chile Calamari ($16.95) that brought us all together. Although myself and my friend Ajay were sitting at the far corner of the table of about 15 people, the calamari wasn’t the dish that made the four-chair radius around us engage in conversation. The lightly battered squid that was drizzled with a sweet chile sauce was pleasing to see and enjoyable to taste. Sure they almost bounced onto our forks and disappeared from the plate in a matter of minutes, but they didn’t that jump-start the evening. What they did do was set the stage for the plates to quickly follow.

It also wasn’t the Fleming’s Salad ($11.50). I would love to say that the plate of leafy greens topped with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, herbed crostini, and accompanied by a lemon vinaigrette did the trick but it didn’t. At least not as much as we would have thought. This plate was actually everything that it was supposed to be. A fresh and healthy side dish of crispy lettuce with additions of the sweetest walnuts was simply the plate that got each of us paying more attention to the person nearby us. There wasn’t much of an interaction as we all dove into the bright colored plate, but in that moment we were more aware of others around us who we didn’t arrive with. With this dish, I could feel the ice begin to break.

I can say that the impromptu conversations kicked somewhere between the second glass of wine and as the Fleming’s Potatoes ($12.95) arrived. Guests of the restaurant know the potatoes as a side dish is so good that it could be considered a main. In no way can it replace any Fleming’s entree, but the thought would cross your mind for at least a moment. As Ajay and I ate the potatoes made with cheddar cheese, jalapenos, and cream we suddenly found ourselves in conversation with those sitting around us—in particular Stephanie. Somehow gushing over how cheesy and creamy the potatoes were and trying to figure out how to get a second helping without looking like gluttons brought us together. Stephanie told us her stories about traveling internationally and the adventures she got into which sounded like they were articles written for Vice or National Geographic. Each time I took a bite of the perfectly seasoned potatoes, it seemed like her story got even better and my portion got smaller.

As Ajay and I continued to fall deeper into the captivating stories from Stephanie and those chiming in, the Petite Filet Mignon ($45.95, 8oz.) with string beans came to the table. From the first glance, the steak didn’t catch our eyes. On the white plate, the steak looked simple and straight-forward. It was until it was cut in half that our hearts soared. Steam escaped from the meat and the medium-rare filet looked incredibly succulent. Bites showed just how well it was cooked and each morsel was juicer than the last. Although it didn’t look amazing in its initial delivery, the taste far outweighed its appearance. For all of us at the table, this was gone quickly.

The last dish was the dessert. Here we dined on a selection of cakes with my favorite being the Cheesecake ($13.50). Fleming’s put their own spin on the New York style classic by adding long white chocolate shavings and blueberry sauce. Creamy, smooth, and sweet were the words that came to mind as I began to finish the cake. In between it all, the laughs continued to bounce from person to person across the table. At this point our private dining room got louder from all the chatter and jokes. It felt like we all knew each other even though we had just met hours prior. This cake was the best way to close the dinner and seal the conversations that grew throughout the evening.

After this dinner, I would find it hard to believe that anyone could have a poor dining experience at Fleming’s. The food is so perfect that with the right company you may never want to leave. I love that though we all started as strangers sitting in their gorgeous dining room, we left as companions and friends ready to relieve the night all over. And should we do it, there would be no better place than in the restaurant and over the food that brought us all together.

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Address: 252 N Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: (310) 278-8710
Hours: Monday through Thursday – 5:00pm to 10:00pm, Friday and Saturday – 5:00pm to 11:00pm, and Sunday 4:00pm to 9:00pm
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