Flame Steakhouse & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Springfield

I had avoided Flame for the longest time because I had received several reports from friends that the fare was above average, but the masquerade of a metropolitan steak house came with prices that scaled even higher. On a whim, I decided to find out myself.

Before I entered, I walked past the small valet lot to the east of the building where attentive college students were parking and retrieving vehicles. If there is inclement weather or if a party member has chosen footwear not meant for longer walks, this might be a worthwhile option.

I checked in as a single and was informed the wait for a table in the main dining area was 40 minutes, which was not a huge surprise since it was First Friday. Reservations are apparently recommended, and they are accepted both via phone and on their website. Even the main bar was at capacity, so I was directed down a spiral staircase to the Red Room

The Red Room is a downstairs lounge which features tall 2-top tables, normal 4-tops, a bar, and some communal seating areas. The lighting/decor is closer to a club than a restaurant, and I learned they have a DJ come in some nights, so while it might be good for a group, if you're on date and want quiet conversation, you might stay upstairs. It seems to serve as both an overfill/waiting room for the main dining area and a place where drink specials and lower-priced, smaller-portion dishes can be offered. Thankfully, it also serves the full "upstairs" menu as well.

After grabbing the last seat on the bar, I was promptly welcomed by the bartender and given a menu. It is a single double-sided sheet (available on their website), and in keeping with the gourmet theme, has fewer options than something like a chain restaurant. I selected the 14oz ribeye steak (medium-rare, advertised 25-day wet aged and 21-day dry aged) with lyonnaise potatoes, a choice that was praised by a fellow bar patron.

While I waited for my food, the bartender kept easy conversation with everyone in his charge. I asked him for his recommendation of a simple tequila drink, and after a few questions regarding my preferences, he served me a Milagro reposado on the rocks with a splash of lime, which was spot on.

When the entree came, it was blessedly simple: a thick steak with olive oil and seasoning on a white plate paired with potatoes served in a small cast iron pan. It's refreshing to see a restaurant with the "gourmet" title confident enough in its ingredients and process to not add a glaze, garnish construct, or something else "exotic" to appease the foodies. The steak appeared to be broiled and was medium-rare bordering on rare, which I expect from a proper steak house. The potatoes were a good mixture of textures with crispy edges and soft flesh, and both they and the accompanying sauteed onions were heavily seasoned, which I prefer.

Simply aging a steak this long doesn't automatically mean good results, but if my meal is any indication, they know what they're doing in both their kitchen and their aging room. Whoever trimmed my piece left just enough fat on the edge to add an extra bit of flavor to each sliced piece. It was cooked fairly uniformly throughout and had just a hint of char on the edges. The seasoning was light and worked with the oil to enhance the flavor of the meat, not overpower it.

With my tequila drink, the whole meal ended up being just over $50 before tip, which I consider a decent value. I would have preferred a quiet table to a bar seat, but that was my fault for not making a reservation, and the bartender and other patrons were jovial enough to make it a fun evening. My favorite steak in Missouri is still found in Kansas City, but this is the best one I've had in Springfield by a fairly wide margin, so I'll...

Where to start? Well, I think the most appropriate place to start is the ambiance and decor. Our group sat downstairs and while I wasn’t immediately taken aback by the lighting in the lounge, it did set the mood very well once the food was served. I would have preferred normal lighting, but then again I’m not the choosiest person in that respect.

-Service: Right off the bat our server was courteous, professional and prompt with moving beverages to our table. I definitely appreciated the explanation of some of the menu items, as I was somewhat unfamiliar with the cut of steak I selected. The wait for the food wasn’t especially long, either. For the food you’re paying for, the service couldn’t have been faster.

-Food: I am having difficulties with expressing how taken aback I was with the cut of steak I had selected. For starters we can begin with presentation. The steak was presented on a large, but simple, white plate. I think it is to showcase the delicate yet luxuriant nature of the meal you are about to consume. Next was the Lobster Macaroni and cheese, which gave off a rich, yet light aroma. The steak I had ordered was their “Delmonico” , which after a brief reading on was essentially a thick-cut rib steak. Definitely an interesting choice to serve such an unknown cut, but nonetheless interesting. My initial cut into the steak was almost fluid-like. I have never cut into a steak that was this soft, yet meaty and smoky in aroma. Oh, the flavor.... my first bite was, in a word: bliss. Well, when I say bliss, it’s that I’m having a difficult time describing a more superlative term to use when describing the flavor of this steak. If anything, it’s almost criminal that this is being hidden from the rest of the steak world. A steak this exquisite shouldn’t be tucked away in a small part of the world such as this. My palate was immediately coated by the richness and meatiness and savory nature of the texture. I could’ve sworn that this was like eating butter. I then tried the Lobster Macaroni and cheese, and once again, the flavors and texture of the lobster and cheese and pasta are so delicately balanced that no bite ever overstayed it’s welcome. The Coca Cola I also ordered was probably the best and most crisp I’ve had in a long time. All in all if you’re ever in Springfield, MO. please don’t second guess this place. If you’re strongly considering on patronizing such a place, just do it. I promise you that this place is absolutely worth your time. I only wish I could’ve made a reservation, but all things considered this was by far the best place I have had dinner...

I'm not even sure where to start! We have came to Flame for years...it was always our "go to" if we wanted a great dinner (steak), and a great atmosphere with great service! Especially if we were celebrating something, or taking friends out for a great dinner experience! We went to Flame tonight to celebrate a belated birthday....had a reservation....was seated at a tiny table upstairs that would barely hold 2 plates, 2 wine glasses, and 2 water glasses!! You had to continually move your water glass or be "reached over" because the "water girl" came every 5 minutes to keep it full! She came by once while I was drinking my FULL glass of water; and just stood and waited for me to put it down so she could top it off!?!? The staff in the past were perfect!! They were very attentive and accommodating, but not intrusive every few minutes! You couldn't put a bite in your mouth, or have any sort of conversation because there was someone always just THERE!! The bread plate was underwhelming but ok. I ordered the steak medallions, medium well (slight pink inside....the waitress description); and it was very well done and VERY SMALL!! (I have had these before, and they looked nothing like these.) A pulled apart piece of bacon laid on top...my mouth dropped open when she brought it! My husband had the 14 oz. ribeye...what he always gets....usually we have to take some home because it is so big! Not tonight....it would do good to be a 10 oz. and the flavor of his and mine were very bland! The twice-baked potato I had, tasted more like it had been baked many more times than that!! I'm glad the wine was good, and our waitress was sweet....other than that a big miss!!! The total time we were there was 40 minutes from walking in the door to being back in the car headed home... and normally we have a dining experience of at least an hour and a half! (I thought the food came extra fast compared to normal....now I know why!!) I get that prices are rising everywhere....and if it was still quality food...no problem at all! BUT....this place is just "average" now in my book...another eating place marked off of our list to go to...so sad!! Thank God we had a $100 gift card and our meal total was $108, so we only spent $8.00 of our own money! And that is about what I left thinking it was worth...$8.00!!! SO DISAPPOINTING!!! Probably our last hoorah...