FLEMINGS PRIME STEAKHOUSE, RANCHO CUCAMONGA

Located just off of the Ontario Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse is one of the premier eateries in the area. With a menu that features exciting and unique choices as well as well-prepared American cuisine staples, Fleming’s succeeds in providing a quality dining experience including great food and picturesque interior design.

My tenure as a professional interior design photographer has often taken me into some of the most exquisite restaurants in California. Each time I am drawn into the experience of a casual patron and I am able to feel what it is like for a first time visitor and what attributes work to turn first-timers into repeat customers. Inside Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse it is easy to see what draws hungry customers and exactly what keeps them coming back for more.

 While the menu and wine selections are certainly enough to draw in those with even the most discriminating palate, what sets this fine dining attraction apart are the design accents and theme that provides the overall inviting atmosphere.

The building occupies a corner space and the interior design strategy takes full advantage of that feature. None of the dining areas feel cramped yet with a comfortable amount of space; the interior seems to flow naturally without feeling airy or impersonal. Patrons are greeted to wood tones throughout and a dining table arrangement that is as suited for an intimate dinner or a lively gathering of parties several diners deep.

One of the most important features for a professional interior design photographer is the ways in which the scheming of the interior facets of the subject work with each other. At times there appears to be a lack of a consistent theme which can lead to a disjointed and ill-flowing interior design overall. At Fleming’s, the strategy is quite clear. The design of the dining area and wine bar succeeds is crafting an environment that takes advantage of the space in delivering a comforting setting without wasting space or adding design features that serve little purpose.

Eno Wine Bar / San Francisco, California

One of the most satisfying parts of restaurant photography is the sheer number of interesting subjects to shoot. The ENO Wine Bar is one such place where there are a bounty of features that beg to be captured in print. I recently had the privilege of photographing the ENO Wine Bar where I was able to find all sorts of ways in which the bar stands out as a truly remarkable establishment. The planning stages of any photo session involves scouting the location to uncover ideas for the final shoot. When I visited ENO, I was immediately struck by the interior design that blends a warm and inviting atmosphere with a high-quality feel that is sure to please patrons. Some of the features that caught my eye included the string of stone wall treatments that hung from the ceilings. Touches like these decorations really showcase an attention to detail that was seen throughout the building.

Other features that are sure to be the topic of conversation for wine aficionados were the uniquely shaped stemware and how the light wood of the tables presented the perfect canvas to display the deep reds and sparkling blondes of the wide array of wine selections.

The fireplaces and stainless fixtures were subtle touches that spoke to ENO’s high-class environment and the various cushioned seating were evidence that the designers intended visitors to be comfortable as they sampled the vino.

Having a wine bar so closed to California’s wine country demands that the experience be a unique one. ENO Wine Bar begins to differentiate itself from the pack of other wine bars with strikingly golden doorways that really stand out amidst the assortment of shops near Union Square.

Being involved with restaurant photography, one becomes accustomed to used to seeing a wide range of retail and restaurant establishments, the detail of ENO is important in creating a different vibe and one that is sure to attract those who favor great wine as well as interesting and eclectic interior design.

ROY YAMAGUCHIS RESTAURANT, LA JOLLA

Roy Yamaguchi is a well-known chef who specializes in Hawaiian Fusion cuisine. After studying his culinary craft in New York City, Yamaguchi began an apprenticeship in Los Angeles before venturing out on his own with an array of eateries in Southern California. His story reminds me of my own journey from student to apprentice and eventually on my own as a San Diego architectural photographer.

Roy Yamaguchi’s Pacific Rim Cuisine (formerly known as Roy’s) is a newly remodeled and upgraded Pacific Rim Cuisine restaurant located in San Diego’s prime location in UTC/La Jolla. Though Roy currently calls Hawaii his home, the Tokyo born chef still maintains his signature restaurant in La Jolla where some of the finest Pacific Rim cuisine can be enjoyed by tourists and greater San Diego residents year-round.

The shoot for the restaurant starts with the tropical scene outside. Palm trees and torch lighting set the mood for patrons as they enter the building. After entering the restaurant itself, diners are able to relax in a serene atmosphere of high-quality design.

The lighting, for example, is shone through swirling fixtures that allow the light to dance across the ceilings in a unique display. Below, the booths against the wall are upholstered with dark leather to match the dark wood of the tables and chairs. The bar area borrows from the colors in the main dining area and adds lighter wood tables that match the wooden enclosures that house the wine racks.

Seating is available to accommodate varying party sizes from the intimate two person dining group to a family or group gathering at longer tables.

Being able to photograph the restaurant from all sorts of angles was a treat. While the restaurant was empty for my session, I was able to imagine the bustling staff serving a diverse assortment of clientele.

FLEMINGS PRIME STEAKHOUSE, BEVERLY HILLS

The vast number of beautiful buildings in the area offers tons of opportunities for a Beverly Hills restaurant photography expert. Some of the retail establishments in greater Los Angeles provide me with a chance to step into a different sort of design and architecture that keeps my job exciting. Southern California-based Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is a world-class, critically acclaimed restaurant offering the best in steakhouse dining, aged beef, chops and fresh seafood. The high-end menu options are coupled with a unique wine list with more than 100 world-class wines served by the glass.

The 7,200 square foot restaurant seats 250 guests and features a two story all-glass wine room, a second story mezzanine dining room and an exterior patio marked by a dramatic soaring floor-to-ceiling glass window allowing passers-by to view inside. Once inside, guests are treated to a dining experience that extends well-beyond the food and beverages.

The dark wood and brick of Fleming’s Steakhouse signifies a sturdy design theme. Look at the bar area where the unique plan of seating and exposed pipe work in the rafters combines a rustic feel with a polished atmosphere. The main dining area carries the theme while adding the opportunity for patrons to have an intimate setting or substantial space for a larger party.

I was particularly taken by the wine rack. The huge assortment of winery scales the height of the restaurant and sits visible through glass and wood displays. This format offered me the chance to capture the selection from different angels and do justice to just how expansive the collection is.

Outside, Fleming’s sits comfortably on Olympic Blvd. just a stone’s throw from Staple’s Center. This section of town offers a variety of options for Los Angeles residents, visitors after a Lakers or Clippers game, and a Los Angeles architectural photographer hoping to capture it all.