This was a memorable discovery for me on a recent return visit to the Central Coast while dining with local friends. All dishes were given with care but not necessarily to overly impress, meaning that the portion size was generous rather than dainty. The experience of the place was considerably more sophisticated than I recall from the Central Coast of almost 20 years ago when I lived in the area. (Granted, time has passed, but still refreshing to see.) Staff also seemed happy to be there and engaging with diners, more than merely doing their jobs. Thank you Ember for raising the bar and impressing this out of town guest! read more

Everything about Ember is superb! From the moment you enter, seated, order a cocktail, meals, dessert service... Yes it is that wonderful. Ambience is for everyone ie., dates, groups, just because. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself. Oh, and no pics? No time for any. It's the type of establishment you show up and just enjoy. read more

We have visited Ember on multiple occasions and, until recently, it had always been an excellent experience. Unfortunately, our last visit a couple of months ago was disappointing. Our server was difficult to find for most of the meal. As for the food: the pâté appetizer was good, but the pizza dough was raw and soggy. The lasagna was burned on top and appeared to be covered with sauce to mask it. The burnt layer was very bitter and unappetizing; I had to remove the top layer to eat it. To their credit, the manager addressed the issue and removed the problematic dishes from our bill. While we appreciated that gesture, the overall experience did not meet the standard we had come to expect from Ember Ambiance Nothing special. read more

Our family decided to utilize Ember's Christmas Eve dinner - if you are a foodie and love local farm to table food.. Ember is your place! Everything was packed up in nice to go boxes and separated into hot/cold bags We decided to upgrade our meal $25 for the Prime Rib instead of the braised cheek. The prime rib was smoked to perfection. Sides included a huge charcuterie board, a butter leaf wedge salad, glazed carrots, brussel sprouts with the most delicious pancetta I've ever tasted, and potato gratin. Not to mention rolls with flaked sea salt And for dessert an Apple crisp topped with steel cut oats I highly recommend trying out Ember for your next holiday season! Save yourself some time out of the kitchen and embrace in 5 cities foodie gems read more

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Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Service is really friendly and attentive! We immediately got water and a plate of complimentary bread and butter. The bread was pretty good. We ordered a 50 layer pasta, a kabocha squash starter plate, and a purple potato croquette starter plate. I especially liked the kabocha squash plate; it was savory and cooked thoroughly so it was soft but not mushy. The 50 layer pasta was delicious. Fair warning, it does have cream in it for those who are lactose intolerant, but you can scoot the béchamel cream on the top to the side and otherwise it just has parmesan in the layers which my partner tends to find doesn't affect him as much as cream. I really liked the cream and everything else in it! We didn't do a reservation so even when we got there at 5pm on a Saturday, all the indoor seats were either reserved or already had other people sat, and we took patio seating. The patio seating is surrounded by a plastic smell just because the covering is made of plastic, but it is otherwise really dry and warm even though it rained quite hard while we were there. Four stars just because of the plastic smell, everything else was otherwise great! I added a pic of the dessert menu because I liked how they had dessert cocktails and wines. We were too full to try them but we would've otherwise gotten something. read more

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Came here for dinner on a weekday. Made reservations for patio seating. They had a lot of heat lamps so it was nice and warm outside. The waiter was so friendly and helpful. He gave great recommendations and checked on us throughout the night. They provided bread and butter to start. I got the ginealogy research (gin cocktail -- not too sweet and super refreshing) and my sister got the sunset and chill (tequila slightly spicy cocktail, could barely taste any alcohol... so good) We started with Prosciutto pear salad. Super light and fresh! Loved it. We got the rib eye cooked medium rare. The potato layers were so good. The veggies on side were a perfect balance. For dessert we shared the marshmallow dessert and it was so good! It was a gourmet s'mores lol -- it's served yearlong and just perfect way to end the meal! read more

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Absolutely amazing!! Pics didn't turn out too well but food was fabulous. Serve was five stars. Swordfish fresh and salad perfect. But their signature toasted marshmallow dessert was my car the best. read more

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We really wanted to like Ember as we read great reviews and know a few folks that had eaten there but I think this may have just been an off night. We ended up having to wait a long time even with a reservation as they appeared to be short staffed which is understandable and they comped a round of drinks which was a nice touch. The service was great throughout the evening. The real miss was the food. It just didn't have it. Based on the other reviews maybe its worth giving another shot but I'd maybe avoid a weekend time. read more

Ember - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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While this was once at the top of my list for special occasions, I have to say that my anniversary dinner yesterday left some things to be desired, both in service and taste. I'm still a fan of the creative small plates but our most recent experience no longer delivered a 5-star experience. read more

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A farm to table menu - a variety of new Americans dishes with fresh seasonal vegetables and flavorful ingredients. Open concept kitchen and friendly customer service. wood fried pizza, roasted cauliflower, Kale and apple salad and main entree with fresh swordfish/roasted cabbages are strongly recommended. Enjoy!! read more

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Visiting from out of town and decided to try Ember based on reviews and so glad we did! Tucked away in a small strip mall on East Grand, the interior is warm and inviting with an overall casual feel. Interaction with the staff - from hostess to server to kitchen to bussers - was positive. We chose to sit in the back patio which is set up with outdoor lighting, heat lamps and nicely spaced tables. For dinner we had the fava bean bruschetta, the fried quail and the rabbit pasta - all were nothing short of outstanding with layered flavors and beautiful presentation. The wine list reflects the abundance of locally produced wines along the central coast with a few options from other regions. We observed couples, groups of friends and families all seeming to have a great time. Overall this was one of the best meals we've had anywhere and we hope to come back some day. read more

The food was delicious. We had the meatballs with pea puree, so good! Then had the kale salad, very light and refreshing. The cocktails were great! Main entrees were split the sausage and kale pizza and lamb pasta. Pasta was absolutely best ever! Then finished it with s'mores and blueberry tart along with an espresso martini. All were good, but the blueberry tart and martinis were top notch! read more

Ember - Blueberry tart - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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I just had the best dinner at Ember. Easy reservation for a seat at the bar, even on late notice. The bar was clean, and cozy without feeling crowded. I was a solo diner, so it was nice to not look up and accidentally stare at a table of people. Instead, I could check out the cool tap handles and ceiling woodwork. Signature cocktails were tasty and unique, but the highlight was the southern fried quail. I've had all the quail I could get my hands on in the central coast, and this was probably my favorite. It tasted like the best fried chicken you've ever had with just a hint of heat. I'm usually finding oak-grilled quail, which is delicious--but this was something special with the garbanzos and aioli and the *perfect* crispy breading read more

Ember - Southern fried quail (wow) - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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Summed up in one word: Impressive. Ember has been in my radar since we moved to the central coast and it did not disappoint. We had a 5:30 reservation at the patio to celebrate a friends' anniversary. We were immediately seated. The ambiance of ember is very much like a steak house. You can dressed up, or just come casually. You won't feel out of place. Our server, Michael, was very friendly and welcoming. He saw we had brought our own bottle of wine and was ready with wine glasses as soon as he came to our table. Every item of food we ordered was well plated, high quality, and delicious. For starters, we tried the charred cucumbers. Light, playful, the veggies were delicious. My friend ordered the half chicken. A spatchcock chicken that was tender and juicy served with a delicious green sauce atop a bed of polenta and side of baby broccoli. His wife ordered the summer squash pizza. You can definitely tell it was a wood fire brick oven. You really can't go wrong ordering a pizza. My wife and I shared the 50 layer lasagna. Delicious and rich. Definitely recommend. For dessert, we ordered the strawberry pavlova. They didn't have the blueberry tart, but instead an apricot crostata, It was a flaky danish like pastry with apricot jam filling in the middle. Served with a gelato made with the apricot pith and amaretto. Very delicious. I understand why it has a Michelin recommendation. Simple ingredients elevated. No avante garde pretentiousness. Just really good food with really good service. Definitely come here. read more

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Look, I don't wanna be overly unkind. I enjoyed my meal here. The food was tasty. It was nice to sit in the warm environment of a restaurant. Staff was simply amazing. But was this a Michelin experience? Not particularly. Other than my last drink, appropriately named the "exit strategy", none of the food here was particularly amazing. In fact, I was somewhat surprised at how lackluster everything was given that this was the only Michelin reader restaurant in a substantial radius. We enjoyed our meal. We enjoyed our drinks. The prawn dish that we had was a bit underwhelming, for the cost the size and number of shrimp was not where it should've been. Overall the food menu was a bit underwhelming. I've eaten at multiple dozens of Michelin star restaurants, in general I pursue gourmet cuisine. The food here was decent. It was OK. You might find a reason or two to complain if you're looking for them, I was looking for reasons to write praise with multiple exclamation marks and simply could not find them. Maybe you can? read more

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Great local place, good easy location to find, nice place for a date night! Friendly staff, and great customer service and care!

Always incredible food, drinks, and service. Not pictured but we also ordered a pepperoni pizza off of the happy hour menu and a filet mignon. We were too excited to eat that I forgot to take pictures first and then they were gone lol. If you want a memorable meal and fun date night, I highly recommend Ember. It is pricey but worth every penny and such an experience. This is my husband and I's go to restaurant for the rare occasion we get alone time for a date night. We typically do the high top tables near the bar and have the best time. Thank you to all of the staff who make Ember so special! You all work so hard and deserve recognition. read more

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So excited every time we come here. We sat with our pups in the patio, with warm heaters. Excellent food and service as usual. Daughter got the spaghetti, which sounded boring but was the most amazing thing I've ever tried. Entree envy the whole time. The blueberry tart at the end was spot on also. Love this place so much!!! From other Yelpers' menu posts, looks like we just missed the pizza blanco. Bummer. Next time hopefully. read more

Ember - Don't remember what this was but it was super refreshing and yummy. - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

Food is as good as everyone says it is. I thought the strawberry cream puff dessert was unique, delicious, and memorable. Atmosphere is vibrant. Front desk made us wait thirty minutes when we arrived early for our reservation. When I checked in for a second time, they claimed I was a no-show, but seated us immediately. Poor marks for not tracking properly but did not take away from an excellent meal. Squeaky wheel gets the grease in a busy restaurant. read more

Ember - The sunset hit the window just right and projected the window stencil "101" and some waiting guests' silhouettes onto the back wall. - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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Food, and drinks are amazing. Beautiful garden on the patio and nice atmosphere inside. Bill our server was amazing and gave great recommendations. We had the fried quail. Sausage pizza and rib eye. They did not disappoint and Bill's service was fast friendly and attentive. We will come back and recommend. read more

Michael our server was excellent! We each had the ribeye steak and it was made to perfection the sides amazing as well! My only regret was not making reservations earlier because patio dining was not the best ambiance but our server made up for it for sure!!! read more

Ember - Ribeye steak dinner - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

Saturday night of Valentines/Presidents weekend, so it was crazy busy. We are a party of two and we made reservations for the bar, but it wasn't ready when we arrived so they gave us a high top which was great. Ron Swanson cocktail: delicious Terrifico lager: delicious Braised beef cheeks: delicious and a must-get! Served with the smoothest mashed potatoes 14 oz ribeye: asked for medium-rare, was served medium, our server took it back right away and they crushed it the 2nd time, it was so so good! Served with au gratin, broccoli rabe, and cauliflower. 50 layer lasagna: house special. Must-try. I don't know if it was 50 layers, but it was really really really good. All the flavors melded together so distinctly in such a good balance. Roasted marshmallow ice cream cocoa cake: must try. Good lord, this was good. Not sweet cocoa cake, layered with vanilla ice cream, topped with an oven-toasted marshmallow slab, and toasted hazelnuts to top it off. Absolutely worth the price. Great service. Loud but it's a popular restaurant. Plenty of parking out front. read more

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I've heard a lot of great things about Ember and was really excited to finally try it out on a visit to California. After my lovely experience, I'm already looking forward to going again. The service was wonderful; everyone was nice and friendly. My water was refilled multiple times, which I appreciated, and my group and I got the delicious complimentary rosemary bread with butter three times. Between the two appetizers, the Hamachi Crudo and the Salmon Creek Citrus Braised Pork Belly, I enjoyed the flavors and textures of the crudo more, but the pork belly was also really good. I ordered the 50 Layer Lasagna, and it did not disappoint. The flavor was really tasty, and I enjoyed how the corners and edges were crispy. I also tried some bites of the Arka Antarctic Crispy Skinned Salmon, and I loved how crispy the skin was while the salmon itself remained tender. For dessert, we shared the Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream Cocoa Cake, and it was my favorite dish of the night. I thought all the elements (warm, cold, soft, crunchy, sweet, salty) paired well together. I was properly stuffed by the end of the meal, and all in all, thoroughly enjoyed my first time at Ember. read more

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I am so glad my wife made a reservation for Ember, it fills up on Saturday nights. Just looking at the menu, which changes monthly made our mouths water. Knowing the chef hails from Alice Waters Chez Panisse sealed the deal for me. It's evident the locally grown California cuisine is featured on the menu. A wide variety of dishes are featured with beautiful creations encompassing a variety of textures and tastes. Nothing on the menu is simple like at a steak house. It's easy to sample several dishes from the small plates menu and split an entree or a pizza. The pizza's are a full size pie meant for at least 2 or 3 people, not a small single serving. Dishes we enjoyed included the Winter Grain Salad. But it had too much dressing for our tastes. We prefer just enough dressing to make it flavorful not a full soak. Otherwise it was a nice salad. The charred Broccolini was delightful and full of flavor. The Wild Chantrelles pizza was fabulous and happy to take most of it home for a second meal. The Grilled "Pollo al Mattone" half chicken grilled under a brick caught my eye with the mention of using a brick. It was succulent, tender, and juicy. A rare feat when cooking a chicken dish. Definitely recommend making reservations as it gets packed. Plenty of parking out front and off the side. A special place for a romantic evening. Good cocktails, and nice beer and wine selection available. read more

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The food was smashing, top to bottom, but boy oh boy was there a seismic gap in service after appetizers. The server is the face of the franchise, whether you dropped the ball or not. 3 tables on the patio waiting for AT LEAST 25 minutes for their entrees(our party included). No communication. Back of the house, front of the house, who owns the misses here? It has cast a troubling halo effect on an otherwise worthwhile experience. As I've gotten older I realize just how important service is, especially if you are held in the Michelin stratosphere in any regard. Just a real bummer. read more

Ember - 50 Layer lasagne - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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10/10 recommend! This place was fantastic -- from the service (shoutout to Michael, who was amazing!) to the food and the overall vibe. It's a cozy spot with rustic decor and an open kitchen where you can see them making pizzas. The moment we walked in, it smelled incredible. We started with cocktails -- super tasty and well-balanced. Appetizer: The charred cucumber dish was really creative. Loved the walnut pesto with the light cheese and tomato confit. Mains: We had the wild king salmon and the half chicken -- both were excellent, and the sides were just as good. Dessert: marshmallow ice cream with cake - you absolutely have to try it! Sweet salty hot and cold all at the same time, such a fun experience Some friends came the week before and couldn't stop talking about the lasagna -- adding that to our list for next time! read more

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Food is incredibly good, had a Porqueta Ragu and one of their signature flat bread pizza with beets and vegetables; absolutely delish! Service was just outstanding and I want to mention him by name: Brian. Great service, very kind and accommodating. We brought a bottle of wine from our wine club that day and wanted to try it with dinner; corkage is $25, which was perfect! Dim lit ambiance with a view into the front door and the preparation of all the food and cocktails right in front of you. Great ambiance here inside, at the bar and even out back on the patio- really no bad seat here. read more

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I enjoyed everything about this funky location sort of Grover Beach close in what looks like an old commercial building. Inside it's sort of rustic and charming. I loved everything about it except the bar reservation only seating (we had gotten there early to enjoy a drink before our table was ready, but we couldn't sit at the bar even tho there was space because it was "reserved"). No mind, we had a 7pm reser and they had us seated by 6:35pm. The evening picked up from there. We had a great server who explained all the specials and menu to us. I had two glasses of wine and my hubby had a beer. We split an appie of warm pear with gorgonzola and hazelnut salad, he had the duck cassoulet and I had the most amazing woodfired chicken I can ever remember eating. It was tremendously good! He recommended the deconstructed Smore dessert and it was huge for sharing, we ate the entire thing. Out the door with tip it was $207, really not bad compared to paying that for ok food elsewhere. It was a very long drive for us from Cambria, but will continue to be our "go to spot" for special nights out like this last weekend. ~Ms. Ali read more

Riley was an amazing server from beginning to finish. Her recommendation on dessert was superb (see photo: blackberry trifle), Ribeye was perfectly cooked and upon walking in this establishment even the chefs wished is a welcome in. Don't forget the end of dinner cocktail a superb espresso martini .... Will be back ! read more

Ember - Blackberry trifle dessert - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

We have been going to Ember since 2014 and it was always consistently excellent. However, last Sunday we had a bad experience. Our orders of chicken took 45 minutes to arrive. The waitress was flip about it, and didn't even check in with us until we called her over after 35 minutes to see what was going on. The chimichurri sauce on the chicken wasn't nearly as good as it used to be. Also, the polenta lacked the slight smokey taste and was not as creamy. And the chicken was not as succulent. Lastly, the 80's rock music just doesn't fit with a supposed higher end restaurant. This place has gone downhill under the new ownership. Sorry to say, we won't be back. read more

Finally made it to Ember in Arroyo Grande, and I can't stop raving about it!! From the moment I walked in, the intimate lighting and phenomenal customer service set the perfect mood for an exceptional experience! We ordered their rib eye, and the pasta special which had panchetta and meyer lemon sauce - which were both absolutely phenomenal. Cooked to perfection, the rib eye was tender, flavorful, and just melted with each bite. The pasta special was equally impressive--rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. I was blown away by the quality and presentation of both dishes! The toasted marshmallow dessert was the cherry on top of an already amazing meal. It was sweet, gooey, and perfectly nostalgic with a gourmet twist. I highly recommend saving room for it! What truly made the experience stand out was the incredibly friendly service. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and made us feel like we were family! Their warm hospitality elevated the whole dining experience. If you're in Arroyo Grande and looking for a restaurant with phenomenal food, intimate ambiance, and top-notch service, Ember is the place to be. I can't wait to go back! read more

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I wish I would've sent this review earlier because I haven't gone there since my girlfriend's party, the fried green tomatoes were amazing. I'm not sure if that's what they call it on the menu? Regardless, the service was top-notch and even though I am not fancy enough to understand everything on the menu, I do know good food so thank you. It was delicious.. read more

I would eat here once a week if I could. What a treat. Service is phenomenal, professional, prompt, great attitude, and knowledgeable of the menu. I think I'm going to come back here and just try appetizers as my meal because their fried green tomato appetizer is to die for. Their oven baked pizzas are out of this world. They can handle groups of 20 or 30 or even a small intimate group of only a few. They have beautiful outdoor seating as well in their own secluded garden area. This is an absolute treat and one must dress, smart, and be ready for a culinary experience. Hands-down, a phenomenal restaurant all around. Don't forget to try the 100 layer lasagna. read more

Delicious seasonal dessert. Cara Cara crème brûlé. Food is so good and seasoned well. We had the wood fired shrimp, NY steak and crispy skin salmon. read more

Ember - Cara cara crème brûlé - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

The duck cassoulet is absolutely phenomenal: easily the star of the show. The duck had perfectly crispy skin and the pork sausage was genuinely life changing. I'm still thinking about it days later. These two elements alone are worth the visit. The only downside to the cassoulet was that the beans were oversalted, which was a bit disappointing given how central they are to the dish. Service was friendly but notably slow. We waited 38 minutes between appetizers and our main course, which felt excessive. Our server was pleasant enough but appeared to be under the influence, which affected the overall attentiveness. We dined on the porch, which was comfortable temperature wise but quite loud. The ambiance was fine overall, just not ideal for intimate conversation. Bottom line: Come for the incredible duck and that unforgettable sausage. Just plan for a leisurely meal and maybe request indoor seating if noise is a concern. read more

The food is farm to table and the specials rotate accordingly. A vegetarian dish or two is available every night and they are beautifully presented. Reservations are important if you want to sit in the main dining room. read more

Seriously??!!! I regret not ever eating here sooner. This place is a gem. I will do my best to share while pleasantly suffering a food coma. We started with a wedge salad and carpaccio. For dinner we shared the Pepperoni pizza, 50 layer Lasagna and the ribeye. All great! But let me circle back on that lasagna. I never order lasagna when I eat out. It's always the same brick. Except here... I was blown away! I will come back from OC just to eat experience this menu again. P.S. the dessert. I gatta go. Also, Joey and Raul are awesome! Thank you read more

Ember - 50 Layer Lasagna - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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I went again for my second time and omg it's very delicious. It doesn't disappoint! I tried a New dish the broccoli salad and omg it was so tasty and delicious. I really enjoyed the experience again . And the service is always amazing and kind . The ambiance was nice and comfortable. read more

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Went to Ember to celebrate my mom's birthday while visiting SLO. We started with some beets and cauliflower flan. The beets were my favorite of the two appetizers, but the mushroom ragu in the cauliflower dish was also memorable. For entrees, we shared the sausage and kale pizza, as well as the asparagus carbonara. Both were incredible, but the carbonara was particularly impressive - pasta and asparagus were cooked perfectly, and I'm not typically a huge pasta fan. The service was decent, and the inside of the restaurant was nice but nothing wildly special. In hindsight, wish we'd been able to sit outside. All around positive experience and would go back again! read more

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This was a dream experience starting with Anastazia, our server. The roasted beets were indescribably delicious. The fried green tomatoes were so delicately flavorful. (I didn't want to order them because they were fried. They didn't taste like it.) The lasagna was my least favorite but still good. The crème brûlée with the peaches and heavenly components (not even sure what) was so wonderful. I didn't not want to leave this restaurant at the end. It was so dreamy. We sat outside where it was pretty. The inside was too loud for me. Other than that, this was the best restaurant I remember experiencing on the three continents I've visited. Can you tell I loved it? Thank you. read more