I dined alone a little after 4 PM and was seated right away before the dinner rush, although there…read morewere already about 12 to 15 people inside. By the time I left around 6, there were people standing and waiting to be seated. The patio was open with one couple enjoying the nice weather and relative quiet of outdoors.
Embur recently relocated to Smyres Place in Greensboro and the new space feels much smaller than I expected. The design reminded me of what I imagine a modern restaurant in Peru might look like. Industrial with solid wood floors, warm finishes, and a large wine display.
There are around 25 to 26 tables, mostly two tops and four tops. The largest table seats six, but they will push tables together for larger groups. While I was there, a group of more than 20 came in celebrating something and they were seated quickly without disrupting the rest of the room. The small patio has outdoor seating with about 8 tables and a they have bar area with about nine comfortable seats.
The menu took me a minute to understand but I ended up liking the setup. You choose your entrée, which comes with set ingredients, and then choose your protein. Each protein has a different price, so you can control the cost of your meal somewhat. Most menu items can also be made gluten free according to the menu, and vegetarian options seem easy to do.
For my appetizer, I ordered the flatbread. Perfection. Rosemary, olive oil, sea salt. Crispy outside, soft inside, and so flavorful I almost ate the whole thing before my meal was served. The server came with water right away and remain attentive but not intrusive the whole time.
For my entree, I ordered the Arroz Chaufa with salmon. Arroz Chaufa literally means fried rice. At first the dish seemed a bit salty to me, but once I added the green sauce that comes with it (served on the side), everything balanced out. The green sauce has very mild heat, so if you are not a fan of spicy food, that is the one I would recommend. There is a list of sauces so I assume you can customize your entree. According to my server, the other sauces bring more heat.
The salmon was excellent, well seasoned but not too much, and moist. The portion was ample. I was very hungry but I had leftovers to bring home.
Service was exactly what I want when dining alone. Attentive without being intrusive. I watched Netflix while I ate and enjoyed my meal without feeling rushed or bothered. The noise level is average for a busy small restaurant. Comfortable enough to relax, but if you want to talk to someone in your group a couple of seats away, you will need your outside voice.
This place feels upscale without being fussy, so expected to pay more than average, but I thought it was good value for the quality and portions.
I loved this restaurant and will absolutely go back.
Must order: Rosemary flatbread appetizer.
Tip: Ask about sauce heat before ordering. If you do not like spicy food, start with the green sauce.
