Fleming's Family Diner Brings Homemade Experience to San Angelo

Fleming’s Family Diner is having its grand opening today at the Stadium Lanes Bowling Center, 2105 Knickerbocker Rd.

The restaurant will provide a family-centered atmosphere that will include a vintage 50s diner theme and a menu filled with family comfort food. 

Some of the lunch specials include fried chicken with corn and garlic potatoes on Mondays; pot roast with green beans and garlic potatoes on Thursdays; and turkey with gravy, dressing and green beans on Sundays.

Samantha Hunt, daughter of owner Fred Fleming, gave some insight into what makes this restaurant stand out in the San Angelo community.

“We are very family centered,” Hunt said. “We want to ensure that the restaurant provides a great atmosphere for families.”

Knowing the diner would be replacing T Bears Café at Stadium Lanes, the Fleming family wants to make sure and build a good relationship with patrons by offering great entertainment and great food.

“We wanted to introduce the idea of family night where families could come to bowl and have dinner in one place,” Hunt said.

The family began renovating the location in late May and dedicated the last two months to finishing for today's grand opening.

“We renovated everything because we wanted it to look right," Hunt said. “I think the diner will provide a different atmosphere then most restaurants can provide.”

Though the play on a vintage theme isn’t a new concept, Fleming’s promises to provide homemade food from their burgers, steak fries and chicken tenders to really capture the customers' favorite meals from when they were growing up.

The idea of cooking home cooked meals started with Hunt’s grandmother who serves as the inspiration for Fleming’s menu.

Hunt explained her dad’s side of the family comes from ranching and farming lifestyles. Her grandmother farmed peanuts and her grandfather was a rancher at the family’s ranch.

“The comfort food came from that era because my grandmother was always cooking homemade food," Hunt said. “A lot of the desserts we offer are from her original recipes.”

She also explained that her dad learned how to cook from Hunt’s grandmother, and many of the restaurant's meals were inspired from her teachings.    

The family also owns Bubba’s Smoke House on Ben Ficklin here in San Angelo, and Crown Burger in Ballinger, Texas. Fleming’s is the family’s effort to provide a different experience than their other restaurants.

Fred Fleming explained that the diner provides an opportunity for families to come eat their favorite comfort food without the hassle of cooking at home.  

“Instead of cooking at home, you can come here and have the same great experience,” Fleming said. He noted that having the 50s diner theme, mixed with a modern look, gives off the authentic feel of a family diner.

He thinks families will enjoy the casual feel of the restaurant that is also accompanied by the homemade food and variety of lunch specials. Some of the desserts being offered include homemade cheesecake, cobblers, and the opportunity for different cakes that will come later after the grand opening.

Fleming also mentioned there will be a Blue Bell ice cream display in the diner, and customers can come enjoy some of Texas' best ice creme accompanied with Fleming’s milkshakes and ice creme floats.

The diner’s regular hours will be 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Hunt stated there are still a couple of job opportunities open at Fleming’s, and those job seekers who are interested can contact her at [email protected].