Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Fleming's walks in with the confidence of a national chain that's actually invested in wine — a 100-label list organized by varietal, proper Riedel stems on every table, and servers who at least attempt the pronunciation. The leather-bound wine menu weighs more than some restaurants' entire beverage programs, which is either impressive or intimidating depending on your tolerance for corporate steakhouse theatre.

The list skews heavily toward Napa Cab and big-name Bordeaux, as expected, but there's more range here than the wood-paneled walls suggest. You'll find a respectable Burgundy section with village-level producers like Louis Jadot and Bouchard, some Oregon Pinot from Willamette Valley stalwarts, and even a token nod to Rhône with Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Perrin. The Italian section leans on safe Tuscan choices — Antinori, Banfi, Ruffino — but at least they're there. What's missing: any sense of adventure, natural wines, or anything under $50 that isn't mass-produced.

Fleming's rotates 15-20 wines by the glass through their proprietary preservation system, which means fresher pours than most steakhouses manage. The selection mirrors the bottle list — lots of California Cab, some Malbec for the casual drinker, a token Sancerre. Pours are generous at 6oz, and the Tuesday discount actually makes the program viable for non-expense-account dining. Still, don't expect discovery here — it's the greatest hits album, not the deep cuts.