Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Restaurant Review:

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar has dozens of restaurants around the country, but it all started in 1998 at this flagship location in Newport Beach. The restaurant has a well-deserved reputation for being a place where the OC’s pretty people come to hang at the bar, order a glass from the extensive wine list, and enjoy appetizers at happy hour. Diners will be interested in starters like the wedge salad with crumbled blue cheese; sweet chili calamari; and pan-seared pork belly with goat cheese grits. Steaks are the stars, as chef-partner Kevin Monahan blends traditional preparations with progressive touches like smoked chili butter or a spicy diablo shrimp accompaniment. Everything is served à la carte, and side dishes such as the chipotle cheddar mac ‘n’ cheese come in enormous portions. Adventurous patrons may want to book a seat at Monahan's chef's table, where he shows off some of the innovative techniques he learned while working under José Andrés at The Bazaar by José Andrés in Los Angeles. End the evening with the New York-style cheesecake. After-dinner drinks range from Irish coffee to port and ice wine, or guests may revive with a cup of cinnamon-tinged cappuccino. At lunch, consider a glass of wine and a burger while lounging about the semi-secluded patio.