Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar

I recently made my first visit to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar in Tampa. My sweetheart picked Fleming's for his birthday dinner after falling in love with their steak during several work dinners with various vendors. He claimed that Flemings is the best steak he's had in Tampa.

We arrived at Fleming's around 8pm on a Tuesday night. The parking lot, bar, and dining room were still relatively full. The food menu is 2 pages, and the wine menu is huge! I ordered a glass of champagne, and skipped the wine. Maybe next time.

We started with our appetizers: Sweet Chile Calamari ($13.95) and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes ($15.95). These were gone before I even remembered to take a picture. The sweet chile sauce on the calamari was light and not overbearing at all. The crab cakes were full of real crab meat, and no filler! The crab meat was tossed with red pepper and lime butter sauce. The 2 crab cakes were worth every penny and were the best crab cakes I've ever had.

Classic Caesar salad 

The biggest downside to Fleming's is the a la carte menu. If you are ordering steak you get just that - steak. (Note: There are a few exceptions to this, but not many. Check the menu for details.) Any salad or side items are optional and will cost you extra. The good news is that the side items are large and big enough to share with 2 or 3 others. Sides range in price from $7.95 to $9.95 . Side options include potatoes prepared to your liking (baked, mashed, loaded, or fried), veggies (corn, spinach, green beans, asparagus, mushrooms), and Chipotle Cheddar Mac and Cheese. 4 varieties of salads are available, and range in price from $8.50 to $9.50.

Half and Half - fries and onion rings

Sautéed mushrooms

Grilled asparagus

The steaks at Fleming's are USDA aged prime beef, and seasoned with only salt and pepper. They are broiled at 1600 degrees to the doneness of your choosing. I ordered the Lite Filet Mignon which is around 6 ounces and actually came with a side of Fleming's potatoes ($35.95). The peppercorns on the outside of the steak were a little too big and coarse for my taste. Luckily, a quick swipe with my fork easily removed the offenders.

Lite filet mignon

Prime bone-in ribeye

We were too full to order dessert. The best part of the night was that the server presented us with a $25 gift card for our next visit for celebrating a birthday there. I have never seen a restaurant present something so valuable for a birthday, and I thought it was pretty awesome! Thanks, Flemings!

So does Fleming's cook the best steak in Tampa? You will have to pay them a visit and decide for yourself.

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Conch Republic Grill

Last Memorial Day, on a beach trip to Indian Shores, we kept hearing about the famous Conch Republic. We decided to stop by one day for lunch to check it out. We shared a seafood platter with shrimp, scallops, and grouper. We loved it so much, we went back the same night for dinner, and we have been going back ever since.

The Conch Republic Grill is located at 16699 Gulf Boulevard on North Redington Beach. If you visit during peak hours, the parking lot will be full, but street parking is available. There is a small outside bar with a few outside tables. If you want the full Key West effect, venture inside.

Conch Republic has a fun and casual atmosphere. Key West pictures and fun memorable surround you as island crooners like Jimmy Buffett serenade you through the overhead speakers. Grab a strawberry daiquiri or pina colada from the bar, and embark on your temporary island vacation.

The stars of the menu at Conch are obviously the fresh seafood. Near the hostess stand you will see a cooler proudly displaying fresh fish on ice. You will also see a chalkboard filled with the daily specials. While seafood draws the people in, the menu is abundant for those who prefer their protein to come from land (or no meat at all). Enjoy a greek salad, a Cuban sandwich, a hamburger, or a juicy steak.

I am a "carbivore", so I judge a place highly on the bread served before a meal. The rolls at Conch are always fresh out of the oven, and served with real butter packets on the side. Order an appetizer of conch fritters, fish spread, cracker shrimp (think "Bang Bang"), calamari, or oysters, and you are off to a fabulous start! We typically opt for the potato skins since they are harder and harder to find at restaurants. Thick cut potatoes, fried and topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, and scallions. Need I say more?

On my most recent visit, we tried the fried group sandwich and ribeye steak. The grouper was fresh and crispy. This is served on an onion roll, and I got the "secret sauce" on the side. I always pick the black beans and rice for my side item at Conch - this is topped with fresh diced tomatoes and white onions. The ribeye was grilled well, and served with a loaded baked potato.

As you are eating, I am sure you will smell the aroma of cinnamon at some point, wafting from the Bananas Foster preparation at a nearby table. If you have any room left for dessert, try the Bananas Foster, daily cheesecake special (Butterfinger on this visit), or Key Lime Pie.

Conch Republic also has a wide variety of rums available. Flights are available at a reasonable price. Hey, you're on vacation, or at least pretending to be!

On your way out, pick up some Mussels Diablo sauce and a souvenir t-shirt. When you're reminiscing about your beach vacation, put on your shirt and recreate your visit to Conch Republic.

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