For some meals, you should wear real pants. In McLean, Virginia, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is just that kind of place. The filet mignon is so soft that you could cut it with a sharp look.
It’s almost Mother’s Day, and let’s be honest: Mom deserves better than your messy cooking or another scented candle this year.
That perfectly cooked beef will help her forget about all the sleepless nights you gave her for a little while.
Fleming’s isn’t trying to change the way people eat with molecular gastronomy or by giving you tiny amounts on big plates.
They’re doing something much more impressive: they’re making the oldies taste even better with no pretense.
The upscale neighborhood of Tysons Corner is home to Fleming’s, which has become the place where Virginians who know their steaks go.
The restaurant is right next to the Courtyard Marriott. The beautiful stone exterior gives you a hint of the delicious food that’s inside.
It looks classy without being scary, like a friend who always dresses well but never makes you feel like you’re not dressed enough.
When you walk through the doors, you’ll feel like you’re in a place that’s just right for a special event while also feeling like home.
The inside is filled with warm colors and carefully chosen textures, like rich woods, caramel-colored furniture, and white tables that show care without being too stuffy.
Copper pendant lights hang from the ceiling and give off a nice glow that makes everyone look like they just got back from a trip.
There are plenty of booths and tables in the dining room, so you can have a private chat without hearing your neighbors argue about their fantasy football lineup.
You can celebrate a big date or just the fact that you made it through another week of Virginia traffic in this kind of place.
There are high-top tables and comfy chairs in the bar area, which has a more laid-back vibe and is great for people who want to experience Fleming’s without committing to a full multi-course meal.
The part of their name that says “wine bar” isn’t just marketing fluff.
Fleming’s really cares about their wine list, with over 100 wines by the glass, which is a huge range.
Their temperature-controlled wine room isn’t tucked away in the back corner; it’s right out in the open, with bottles from all over the world on display in a glass case.
The staff can help you find the best wine match, even if all you know about wine is “red goes with beef, white goes with fish.”
They have choices from different countries and price ranges, so there is something for everyone.
But let’s get to what you came here for: the steak, especially that filet mignon that will change your life and make the drive worth it.
USDA Prime beef is what Fleming’s gets. This grade of beef makes up less than 2% of all beef rated in the US.
This is not just marketing talk; you can taste the dedication to quality in every bite.
Their filet mignon is aged for at least 21 days, which lets natural enzymes change the texture and taste of the meat.
When it’s time to cook, the chefs at Fleming’s believe in beautiful simplicity. They season food with kosher salt and black pepper and then broil it at temperatures that would make your home smoke alarms go off.
If you cook something over high heat, the caramelized outside and juicy, soft inside will go so well together that they almost melt on your tongue.
When you eat this steak, the texture and taste are just right, and you might find yourself closing your eyes to fully enjoy the experience.
When someone brings out this kind of meat, everyone at the table stops talking and tastes it in silence.
The filet comes in both 8-ounce and 12-ounce sizes, so you can pick based on your hunger or your desire for extras (though those don’t happen very often; you’ll find room).
If you want to take your steak experience to the next level, Fleming’s has extras like diablo shrimp or lobster cooked in truffle oil.
Their famous “Butter” from Fleming’s is a compound butter that melts gently over the hot steak and adds another level of richness.
Even though the filet mignon is the star of the show, the other cuts will also impress.
If you like your steak with more character, the bone-in ribeye has a lot of marbling and a strong flavor.
Steak lovers love the unique feel that the New York strip gives the steak.
For those who are really bold (or who are eating with someone they like enough to share with), the tomahawk steak looks amazing and tastes great.
Every cut gets the same careful attention as the filet, so the menu is always the same.
From the starters to the main course, Fleming’s has just the right amount of food to get you ready.
Their Sweet & Spicy Filet Bites are a delicious taste of the great beef that’s to come. They are small pieces of tender filet with a peppercorn sauce that makes the heat and sweetness go well together.
The brown butter seared diver scallops have a golden crust that gives way to a tender center. They come with a strawberry basil salsa that is a nice contrast.
If you want something lighter, the housemade hummus with veggie crudité comes with fresh cauliflower florets, cucumbers, carrots, campari tomatoes, and lavash crackers. It’s a great way to start your meal without feeling too full before the main course.
The salads are a nice break between the starters and main courses.
Walnuts, tomatoes, dried cranberries, red onion, and a lemon balsamic sauce make up Fleming’s Salad. The dressing makes everything taste great together.
With bacon, campari tomatoes, red onion, and Danish blue cheese crumbles, the Chopped Wedge Salad takes the basic steakhouse salad to a whole new level. It’s all drizzled with blue cheese dressing and balsamic glaze.
Like steakhouses everywhere else, Fleming’s side dishes come in big amounts that can be shared and go well with the main course.
With just butter, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, the Mashed Potatoes get the right texture—creamy without being soupy and dense without being gluey.
The North Atlantic Lobster Macaroni & Cheese is the ultimate treat. It has soft lobster, cavatappi pasta, smoked cheese, and a crunchy topping of chipotle panko breadcrumbs.
With its herb butter and roasted asparagus, the roasted asparagus adds a vital green element that makes you think this meal is healthy.
Even though meat is Fleming’s main attraction, seafood lovers are not left out in the cold.
You could also try the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass, which is sautéed with greens and sesame-orange spinach in a miso broth.
The fish is cooked with the same care as the steaks, so it’s flaky, moist, and full of complicated flavors that won’t make you feel like you settled for something less than ideal.
The Double Breast of Chicken is roasted with white wine, mushroom, leek, and thyme sauce for those who like chicken. It’s like comfort food taken to a higher level of eating.
The roasted vegetable cavatappi has roasted red bell pepper, cauliflower, red onion, maitake mushrooms, asparagus, and sautéed spinach in herb olive oil with pea shoot stalks. It’s not just a small selection of vegetables.
Fleming’s desserts keep up the theme of classic luxury done right.
Their New York Cheesecake is made in a traditional way, and it comes with a seasonal fruit garnish that stands out against the rich, creamy texture.
On top of the warm Chocolate Gooey Brownie are honeycomb candy and chocolate sauce. Vanilla ice cream and a salted caramel drizzle are then added to the top.
If you were sure you couldn’t eat another bite, this treat will make you find room.
The way Fleming’s serves their food is what makes the experience more memorable than just the food.
The staff acts in a way that is becoming more and more uncommon in restaurants: professionally.
From the exact way the steaks are aged to the taste profiles of the wines, the servers know everything about the menu.
There is just the right amount of attention while still giving you room to enjoy your food and talk.
Answers to questions are given with knowledge instead of prepared lines, and suggestions seem unique instead of pre-written.
The pace of the meal is well-thought-out; you’re not rushed through plates so that the table can be turned, and there aren’t long breaks that make you feel like you’ve been forgotten.
That is the kind of service that makes you feel like a guest and not just another customer.
The people who go to Fleming’s in McLean show that it is one of the best places to eat in Northern Virginia.
Any given night, you might see couples enjoying important events, businesspeople closing deals, or families getting together to celebrate important events.
All of these situations can happen in this environment without making it feel disconnected.
The level of noise stays just right so that you can enjoy the lively atmosphere of a busy restaurant without having to yell.
Even though Fleming’s is part of a restaurant chain with locations all over the country, the McLean site stays true to its Virginia roots.
The restaurant takes part in local events and has made friends with companies and people in the area over the years.
It doesn’t feel like a business transplant; instead, it feels like a long-time fixture in the dining scene in Northern Virginia.
For people who want to try Fleming’s in a different way, the bar menu is an easier way to get started.
You can try five wines by the glass, five drinks, and five appetizers for just $6 each until 7 PM during their “5 for $6 ’til 7” happy hour.
This is a great way to try Fleming’s without having to commit to a full steakhouse dinner.
There are private dining choices for people who are celebrating a special occasion or holding a business meeting.
Their private dining rooms have the same elegant feel as the main dining room, but they are separate enough for important events.
The events team can make menus and wine pairings that fit the needs of groups of all kinds.
Fleming’s is worth the drive from anywhere in Virginia because they are always the same.
Consistency is one of the hardest things to keep up in the food business, but Fleming’s does it every night.
There will be no difference in how great that filet mignon is on your fifth or fifteenth visit.
Customers are loyal and keep coming back because the restaurant is reliable and does a great job with every part of the experience.
Yes, Virginia does have other steakhouses, some with more modern or flashier decor or ways of cooking.
But Fleming’s knows that the most important parts of a great steakhouse experience are great beef, good cooking, attentive service, and an atmosphere that makes the meal better instead of taking away from it.
The place is in Tysons Corner, which makes it easy for people in Northern Virginia and the greater DC metro area to get to.
Just off of Route 123 and a few minutes from the Capital Beltway, it’s an easy place to get to from Maryland or the District.
For Mother’s Day in particular, Fleming’s usually has special menus and touches that make the event unforgettable.
They haven’t said what they’ll be serving for Mother’s Day in 2023 yet, but in the past, they’ve had three-course prix fixe meals and given moms free small gifts.
Keep in mind that Mother’s Day is one of their busiest days of the year, so you should definitely make an appointment.
For events other than Mother’s Day, Fleming’s adds thoughtful touches that make the experience better.
If you mention an anniversary or birthday when you make your appointment, your table might be set with rose petals or a card just for you.
These small actions show that the restaurant wants to make dinner experiences that people will remember.
Perhaps the filet mignon is what draws you in, but it’s the whole experience that will keep you coming back.
From the friendly welcome at the door to the last sip of coffee after dinner, Fleming’s makes sure that your meal feels special without being pretentious.
These days, a lot of places follow trends or skimp on quality to save time, but Fleming’s stays true to the classic appeal of doing simple things very well.
For anyone in Virginia who wants to treat their mom to a special meal this Mother’s Day or who just wants to try some of the best beef in the Commonwealth, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in McLean is the place to go.
Check out Fleming’s website or Facebook page for the most up-to-date information on how to plan your visit or find out more about what they have to offer for Mother’s Day.
Where: 1960 A Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22102
Instead of flowery gifts for Mom on Mother’s Day, give her what she really wants: a great steak and some time off from cooking and cleaning.
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