My son was married, last Saturday Afternoon, in La Jolla, CA. We were thrilled. Because of the COVID quarantine the wedding party consisted of nine people. I booked a 6:30 reservation at Flemmings and we arrived on time and were seated promptly.

The salad was delicious. By 8:00 we had still not received the entre'. We were told the chef doesn't begin to cook the steaks until after the salad had been taken from the table.

When the steaks finally arrived, two of them were cold. The plate was cold, the steaks were room temperature.

My daughter-in-law, seeing I was ready to do the "Ninja dance of death" went to the manager and explained that several of our guests had a 2 1/2 hour drive and this was her wedding celebration and could they please do something?

The the manager's credit he comped the meal. She returned to the table and we waited for dessert. By 9:15 I asked if we'd waited long enough? Everyone agreed. As we left the manager rushed up and asked, "Where are you going, the dessert is just about out of the oven?!".

I expected dinner would be $1,000. The fact we ate for free isn't even relevant to the day, starting with such promise ended on such a sour note.

***Update***

The Managing Partner for Flemings just called me to apologize. "Two key people called in sick", "This hasn't ever happened before", "My staff feels sick about ruining your special day", "Please come back, give us a chance to prove we can be better, no charge", "We're really sorry".

I haven't ever had someone be so abjectly sorrowful and apologetic. I explained that it's a 2 1/2 hour drive for us to come to the restaurant and for the Bride's Dad, it's a flight from Idaho. He asked me to save his number and call him if we were ever in the area and we would be welcome in his restaurant.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wasabibill,

Wow. From bad to worse.

The only silver lining is you were all together, and hopefully at a future date, think back and have a great laugh.

My wife took me last year to Fleming's for my b-day, nice place. I ordered the Tomahawk Rib eye, I think it was about 40 oz and $90 or so, that thing was tough like a shitty Sirloin. Service was slow as well

It takes something special to get me near or in Atlanta, highly disappointed and will never go back

My wife doesn't allow me to go to steak houses or buy steaks anymore. She just asks me if I really want the disappointment or not, and it usually works. When you know how to cook a steak properly, one out just isn't worth it. I have a gift card in my wallet for Morton's which may never get used.

Sorry about your special day getting messed up.

I hate being obtuse and being the one to say, "I don't spend my money on XYZ because I can do it better at home," like I'm somehow better at something than someone who does it for a living...

BUT, honestly, Skins is right on the money. We never opt for to dine at a steak house because traditional steakhouse fare is easily perfected at home. There are dozens of ways to achieve a restaurant quality steak with repeatable consistency, and you can spend as much or as little on the quality of the steak as your budget allows. Stuff like mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach are all easy-peasy.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
My wife doesn't allow me to go to steak houses or buy steaks anymore. She just asks me if I really want the disappointment or not, and it usually works. When you know how to cook a steak properly, one out just isn't worth it. I have a gift card in my wallet for Morton's which may never get used.

This is why we don't bother with the time/expense at work.
Every year for Christmas, my boss just buys 3 good steaks & we cook them in the warehouse at work & do a department lunch there.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
When you know how to cook a steak properly, one out just isn't worth it.

I'm the same way, I'd rather go to Costco and pickup some Rib Eyes and throw them on the BBQ.

The only "steak" I will order at a restaurant is Prime Rib, only because I can't really do that at home. But the neighbor and I have already planned one for New Years.

I had a neighbor who thinks Texas Roadhouse is a steakhouse. When she asked me why I said if I really had to explain, she would get it.

One benefit of living in El Paso, one of a very few, is that there’s a really good steak house near here. Definitely worth the 45 minute drive and $35/plate. We don’t go often but they get it right every time. That and the pineapple coleslaw is amazing.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
One benefit of living in El Paso, one of a very few, is that there’s a really good steak house near here. Definitely worth the 45 minute drive and $35/plate. We don’t go often but they get it right every time. That and the pineapple coleslaw is amazing.

What the heck was the name of that place? I'm have a brain lock.

Brain just unlocked: was it Cattleman's Steakhouse at Indian Cliffs Ranch?

Flemmings had to comp our last meal there as well, they couldnt get my wife's steak done right.

I know getting a filet mignon medium well is not what a chef wants to see, but you are a steak house, you should be able to pull it off. She asked for slight pink, they couldnt get it right, we even said butterfly it if you have to we dont care.

The chain Stoney River is not far from us, and I have never had a bad steak there.

FWIW, we've never had a bad experience at Fleming's in Las Vegas (Town Square location). Quite the opposite, they're consistently excellent. We normally go every 2-3 months.

Side note: If you're in the restaurant business in Las Vegas (serving locals) you'd better be on your game because the competition will eat your lunch (no pun intended) and you'll be gone.

Our flemings in Knoxville TN has always been great. I can see the issue if two folks called in and couldn't be replaced.

Re the Tomahawk steak - no excuse for an expensive place like flemings to serve tough meat... Even a bad cut of steak can be made tender if you try hard enough.

Fleming's in Memphis is one of the few nicer restaurants that will offer outdoor seating, so during the height of the COVID scare, when my wife (who has asthma, hypertension, and MS) wouldn't go out to eat at an indoor restaurant, we went there for dinner. Seated at 6:45pm, ordered by 7, salad at 7:30, steaks at 8:15, dessert at 9. We were nice and did leave a tip, but come on, the bill was over $150 for 2 of us, and the wait was ridiculous. We had a gift card for $100, so it wasn't so bad, but we won't be back if we are paying our own money for that slow of service.

The restaurant business is a very tough business.
I have a ton of respect for those who try to maintain a good establishment.
Still, not an excuse for poor performance (food + service).
I think many really try to do good for the customers.
Sometimes things slip through the cracks.
The management needs to know when something is reasonably not up to par.
Our favorite high end restaurant is Eddie V's (Darden Company).
It is expensive, I expect the best.
I almost always get it.
I have done reviews on poor/slow service and the GM would read and send me $100.
Never had much reason to complain and why we go back.
Still let management know.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
When you know how to cook a steak properly, one out just isn't worth it.

There is a LOT of truth in that!

I know I have made steaks as good as any I have had in a Steakhouse.
Still, I do go once in a while just to check.
It's nice to have a nice outing once in a while with a nice steak I didn't have to cook.

Maybe it is why my favorite restaurant I get Seafood.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
It's nice to have a nice outing once in a while with a nice steak I didn't have to cook.

Yep.

I feel the same way about BBQ. I can smoke BBQ that's as good or better than what you get from most restaurants, but sometimes it's nice not to have to deal with the 6-16 hours of prepping/smoking/cleaning up.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
The restaurant business is a very tough business......

Probably was until this Covid 19 crap became major headline news.

Now, most restaurants still alive do take out/delivery service only. They fuck up the order and the customer has to deal with it. Plus, many joints operate with fewer staff.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
The restaurant business is a very tough business......

Probably was until this Covid 19 crap became major headline news.

Now, most restaurants still alive do take out/delivery service only. They fuck up the order and the customer has to deal with it. Plus, many joints operate with fewer staff.

The Wu Flu has only made it worse.
Still lots of hard working people who must under Government Intervention try to survive now under even harsher conditions.
Especially while take it is not their core business and they must maintain with less staff and an uncertainty of business.

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
Seated at 6:45pm, ordered by 7, salad at 7:30, steaks at 8:15, dessert at 9.

To me, that sounds like perfect timing. When I am out to a nice meal with my wife, or a group, I do not want to be rushed. I want to take my time and savor the meal. If I order at 7pm and desert is served by 8pm, then I am not happy.

quote:

Originally posted by holdem:

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
Seated at 6:45pm, ordered by 7, salad at 7:30, steaks at 8:15, dessert at 9.

To me, that sounds like perfect timing. When I am out to a nice meal with my wife, or a group, I do not want to be rushed. I want to take my time and savor the meal. If I order at 7pm and desert is served by 8pm, then I am not happy.

Interesting how different folks prefer different dining experience. Thirty minutes for the salad to come out? And, one hour and fifteen minutes between order time and main course time is never going to cut it in this family. I agree with slabsides45 that the wait was ridiculous.