Date night tonight. We shared the albacore crudo, Fried green tomatoes with poached white shrimp and the Wood oven roasted monterey bay squid with housemade chorizo. Absolutely everything was wonderful and our server Alex was above and beyond. Can't wait until we go back. read more

Ember really knew their flavors. I was impressed with the execution of the two dishes I got to taste. No reservations, so the wait on weekends can get a little crazy. However seats at the bar are first come first serve, and they serve the full menu there, so look out for open spots. The vibe is trendy, wood and metal decor everywhere with a huge bar and beers on tap. Gnocchi appetizer: this is actually gnudi (ricotta dumplings) they were super soft and tender, with a crispy element. The greens underneath soaked up all the flavor and it was delicious. Scallop appetizer: four perfectly cooked scallops topped with frisée and a classic buerre blanc. This was classic and delicious, I loved the duo of sauces. We never received bread, which was kind of weird as I noticed everyone around us got some. But overall, awesome food and would definitely recommend! read more

Ember - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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You guys. This restaurant is phenomenal! The cocktails are yummy and the food is delicious. Very visually pleasing as well. I love that everything is share plate style, and there's a lot to choose from. The service was exceptional, so welcoming, accommodating, and friendly. Not to mention, the food came out so quickly! There was hardly any wait time for anything to come out, yet we didn't feel rushed at all. Expect to spend a decent amount of $$ here, just as you would for anything of this caliber. But it's beyond worth it! read more

Ember - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

We came here to try their brunch, and it was absolutely amazing! I also had the pleasure of trying their passion fruit tarts, and I couldn't resist having more. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the staff was perfect. I will definitely be coming back again. read more

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Took a while to get seated, but everything was definitely worth the wait!! The layered lasagna was amazing! We also enjoyed the tricolor salad and the flan. Pizza was delicious as well. Our desserts were to die for!! Blueberry cream puff was good, but the strawberry meringue even better! The s'mores dessert was incredible - my favorite dessert option! read more

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

Spent five days in the San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach area and this was by far the best restaurant we ate at the whole time. We had the lobster and fried green tomato appetizer. We also had the pappardelle pasta and pepperoni pizza. It was all delicious. Every dish was so flavorful. All ingredients locally sourced. You could taste the difference. Definitely recommend Ember for anyone who wants to get away from the tourist traps in Pismo Beach. read more

Ember - Lobster and Fried Green Tomato appetizer - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

Delicious. Steaks, dessert, drinks. All of it. Server was great. Bread was great. Sides were cold when they came out but it happens. The server was quick to bring out hot sides. I can't wait to go back. read more

Delicious food, great staff, and the best pastry chef in the area. Wish they were open for lunch.

One of my absolute favorite restaurants! Not only is it hip and trendy, but it's got some really really exquisite dishes. Although the menu is always changing, the Ribeye always remains. I've never been able to gobble a steak as large as this, because I simply just can't stop, it's SO GOOD! One of my favorites here is also the beef carpaccio, which I believe is a staple of the menu. But from what I've tried here, everything is fantastic. Great selection of wine as well. read more

Ember - New American Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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The service is friendly and attentive, the food amazing flavors and delicious, and ambience comfortable and inviting and cocktails served in great glassware! read more

Ember was on my list to try next time I was in the area, and I finally did and had the opportunity to go there twice. The first time I had their fish and it was incredible. The combination of ingredients and textures was just perfect. I think I said "oh wow" several times while eating it. Two weeks later we were in the area again and I had to go back and have the same dish. While it was ok the 2nd time it wasn't as good. It had not been made with the same care. Ingredients were tossed in without thought to the quantity and combination. The cook on the fish was ok, but not the delicate perfect cook they did the first time. It was a sloppy presentation and fell short. The only thing that was different that I could tell is that the first time we were there on a Friday, it was busy and we could see the head chef preparing meals with his crew. The 2nd time we were there on a Sunday and it didn't look like the head chef was there. So my advice would be go, but when the main chef is there. read more

My party and I came here on a Friday night and it was packed. Wait time was estimated to be around 45 minutes, but we probably only waited about half of the time. You can order drinks while you wait. I love the "fine rustic dining" atmosphere here. Such cozy and inviting vibes. After getting seated, we proceeded to order a feast! -Soup of the day: It was a stew that night and it was delish! Great way to start the meal. The meat was so tender. -Scallops appetizer: Perfectly cooked! Our party liked it so much we ordered another one. I wish this was made an entree so I can have more scallops. -Wild ramps flatbread pizza: I liked the earthy flavor profile, but a tad too salty for me. -Grilled chicken entree: Besides the greens being overdressed, I enjoyed this. Chicken was nicely cooked and sauce was good. -Porterhouse steak: I don't think I've ever had a Porterhouse steak before. Half filet mignon, half New York steak. I thought this was okay, kind of salty for me. But my party liked it. -"Strawberry shortcake": Everything on this plate was house made. Instead of cake, they used pan toasted bread. Not bad, but not great. I appreciated the house made ice cream, but the strawberry base and the fresh strawberries were too tart. -Oven toasted marshmallow: Really good. My party devoured this quickly. Overall, it was an amazing meal topped off with great service. It would be a pleasure to come back if I'm in the area again. read more

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Had birthday dinner tonight Bruschetta Squid chorizo cannellini beans Halibut on potato cake Absolutely outstanding meal as always read more

I celebrated my Birthday here last night and it was incredible! The head Chef/owner of the restaurant, Brian, kindly greeted us and made sure our dinner was a great experience! Joey our server was nice and friendly. The food was exceptional! Try the Ricotta, goat cheese, honey pizza, the filet mignon, the salmon and of course the Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream Cocoa cake! We will be back next time we visit the area! read more

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Great food, stay out of the weekend days. The service can be slow on weekends as they are very busy. We go on special occasions as the prices are on the high side, but the food is great. read more

Ember is the type of place that you want to keep a secret because it's so good but at the same time want to share with the world. I'm reluctantly sharing. We've been there many times over the past couple of years and always come home satisfied, usually discussing when we can go back! The menu is seasonal, therefore frequently changing. Of course, there are a few staples that remain, such as the ribeye; my favorite! They have a great wine menu, beers on tap and make some of the best cocktails in SLO county. My favorite is the Paloma that I get with Mezcal instead of Tequila. This adds a smokey flavor that enhances the wood-fired experience that Ember offers! Service is always top notch and the kitchen crew usually give a nod even though they're super busy. Ember is too good to keep secret. The word is out. Ember is great and the masses know it! read more

Easiest 5 star review to date. Chef Brian Collins is a rockstar. This place came highly recommend and we know why. The friggen food is awesome. We visited on a Thursday and was lucky enough to get seated right away. We order two martinis and were blown away by how perfect these cocktails tasted. Homemade bread came out next and yes, even the bread was heavenly. For dinner we decide to order the Cayucos Abalone & Pork Belly, Wood-Fired Octopus and a Crispy Kale & Sausage Pizza. The Abalone and Octopus dishes come out first and our journey to flavor town begins. The Abalone is savory, succulent and the Pork Belly adds a salty fatty goodness to this dish. The Octopus is cooked to perfection and sits on top a bed of arugula and potatoes that is creamy, garlicky and a perfect compliment to the Octopus. Next came the Crispy Kale and Sausage Pizza. This is a thin crust wood fired oven pie with light tomato sauce, mozzarella, kale, spicy fennel & garlic sausage, capers, red onion and OMG calabrian Pepper Aioli. This pie is to die for. We normally skip dessert but when dining 5 star, we can't skip the sweet stuff tonight. Upon recommendation we order the Strawberry & Rhubarb Crostata with balsamic pearls & creme fraiche gelato. One word describes it: Yummo! To sum this up, if I could give 6 stars to Ember Restaurant I would but Yelp only allows me to give 5. So yes, Ember Restaurant is "as good as it gets! Back for our 3rd visit out of 4 total nights in Arroyo Grande. To say I am obsessed with this restaurant is an understatement. We are wine tasting in Paso Robles and staying in Arroyo Grande because we wanted to be close to Ember. We enjoyed another fantastic meal last night and I am already dreaming of what I will order Saturday night when we return to celebrate my wife's birthday. This will make 4 trips to Ember over 6 nights in the area. Yes, it is that good. Taking into consideration; service, quality, price and wow factor, nothing comes close to Ember... read more

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I have been coming to Ember for quite a while, so I guess it would be fitting if I finally sat down and wrote a review. Where to start? How about the Appetizers? The menu changes every month, so expect a seasonal change on one or more of the appetizers, as well as an entree and salad. My favorite Appetizer is the Abalone and Pork Belly, although they recently changed the pork belly out for solo shot of Abalone done piccata style. A nice touch, but the pork belly is to die for with the Abalone. The pizzas are really good, but I really fill myself up on all the wonderful appetizers. The chicken entree is deboned, and cooked under a hot brick. It's really done well and worth a go. And speaking of entrees, the steaks are Fantastic! Whatever you do, save room for the chocolate, marshmallow cake for dessert. This dish is so good, it should have its own place on the food pyramid. They used to just serve wine and beer, but just recently got their full bar license (Congrats Ember). The Wine selection focuses on the local boutique and wineries that have real top notch stuff, but not in commercial volume. I don't give out many 5 star reviews, but Embers quality food, presentation, and ambience in general are a no brainer here. The constant adjustments each month are just enough to keep the regulars coming back for a bit of something new month to month. If you happened to be on the central coast, do yourself a favor and stop in for some quality food and a great dining experience. Don't be in a hurry. The don't take reservations and generally have a wait most nights after 7:00. But it's worth the wait, I promise! Cheers! read more

I love this restaurant. My favorite thing is the S'mores dessert. The only negatives are that it's loud, and they don't take reservations.

We were treated to dinner at Ember by my sister and brother-in-law who swore up and down it was a fantastic place. That was an understatement. The staff at Ember are that staff you always wish to get when wanting to enjoy a night out. Personable, genuinely friendly and helpful. The meal we all had (4 different meals) I couldn't tell you which one I would have preferred. Our experience at Ember absolutely made every other restaurant we visited those three days pale in comparison. If a couple of drinks is all your out for. They nailed that for sure. way up. read more

If we could give more than 5 stars we would. Our food was incredible and our waiter James did a marvelous job. If you want a good quality meal this is a must stop. From the presentation of the food to the taste the meal was perfect. read more

We had a wonderful dinner last night with friends at ember. The food and drink was excellent ..lamb was cooked and seasoned so well. The server, Jill, was spot on and friendly. The cocktails were amazing...love the Ron Swanson! Thank you Brian for your attention to details and bringing a great one of a kind restaurant to the central coast! Michael Brady Ps ..love the farm to table experience read more

We needed a cute but fancy style restaurant to celebrate my bfs birthday and we're glad we chose ember. From the welcoming staff, to very attended waiter. The food was amazing and don't even think twice about getting dessert. Just get it!! read more

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Absolutely the best food in SLO county. I have absolutely loved everything I have tried. The lasagna is so delicious and it's great to save half for tomorrow's lunch, which also makes it possible to have room for any of the amazing desserts. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

Love Ember always a great atmosphere with amazing cocktails and excellent food. Service is always exceptional

5 years later and this place is still some of the BEST food I've ever had. Most recently (this last weekend), Ember had Autumn Vegetable and Duck Confit risotto on their November menu and it is hands down, the very best. The dish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. It was warm, salty, comforting, and had the most delicious pieces of tender duck in every bite. We loved it so much, we contemplated getting another order! We also ordered the ribeye which still remains a solid entree and is always big enough to split. We sat at the dessert chef's table and everything looked amazing. We ended up trying both the pecan pie and the pumpkin cheesecake. They did not disappoint. The chefs at Ember know exactly what they're doing and they are amazing at their craft. read more

Excellent food, super fresh and amazing. I will definitely be coming back again. The toasted marshmallow dessert and fried green tomatoes are to die for. read more

Our meal was really not very good. Service was ok but the food was not prepared well. We had scallops and pork chop. The scallops were almost raw and pork chop was dry. Will not be going back again read more

My favorite place anywhere in slo! Hoping they return to the normal menu sometime soon. The set menu is good if you take advantage of it , but for people like us who do not eat desert the price can be steep. It would be awesome if you could get a drink in substitution for desert. All whining aside this is my favorite restaurant probably anywhere. read more

We had dinner on the 7/22 and were delighted with the food, service, and surroundings. We were so pleased that we decided to order pizza to go on August 28, expecting to have our taste buds delighted by an extraordinary pizza--not! We ordered the Carmelized onion and walnut pizza, $26, and expected a similar experience in excellence. We were quite disappointed in the lack of onion and walnut toppings. It was a very mediocre pizza and certainly not worthy of the $26 price. read more

We've been dining at Ember since Brian and Harmony opened 10 years ago. It set a new standard for fine dining in South County and consistently maintained this until they sold last year. Our first experience with the new owners last Summer was fine; we just had a pizza at one of the high tops. We returned last night with some friends and had a mixed experience. The 50 layer lasagna was a hit with two of our friends and the albacore crudo was well received, except they stopped serving crackers, which really complimented this dish. The filet was up to its usual high standard, albeit small. However, I ordered my long-time favorite, the ribeye, and it was a real disappointment. I recall the waitress mentioning a new supplier but didn't really give it much thought. For $64, they need to return to their old supplier; this steak was big but not even a distant relative to the original. The meat was tough, there was little flavor and even the avocado chimicurri couldn't save it. I wondered if it was really a ribeye cut. Ember has never been inexpensive. However, for the prices paid last night, we would expect everything to be excellent. It wasn't. The food is good (except the ribeye) but it has lost that special fineness that was present under Brian's leadership. Hopefully, it will return but we may not. read more

Great food and fantastic service. We were seated right away since we had reservations. The restaurant was busy but well under control. Our server Alex was very patient with us and all of our questions on wine. We finally settled on a great glass of Chardonnay and red blend. We had the lasagna and the filet mignon and started with the crudo. Everything was absolutely outstanding. We will be coming back! read more

I've been wanting to try this spot for years and finally got to experience the most amazing porterhouse I have ever had my life. Simple preparation of salt and pepper but it's the oak that makes it all taste so damn good. Ember knows how to really use the fire. The other dishes were excellent too. But that porterhouse... read more

Been waiting to have dinner here for the last couple years when I have come into town for work....I must say it was so worth the wait! I was gifted a wine paring dinner with Laetitia Winery at $165 a person. We sat with the wine makers of the Vineyard, and they were so kind and informative. The food pairing with this wine would not have been more spot on. The chef is the owner, and they are known for farm to table. Amazing meal. The ambiance is Rustic and romantic. Farm style seating which makes open conversation nice. The servers were professional and on it with the timing of food service and wine. Highly recommend dining here! read more

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Ember has it all. The patio is comfortable, the food is consistently excellent, and the staff is attentive and knowledgeable. Appetizers are unique and delicious. The ribeye and Ron Swanson are my husband's go-to faves. There's always an interesting lighter entree such as fresh fish that I enjoy. The s'more dessert keeps us coming back. Ok, now I'm hungry. read more

An amazing ATV trip at Prismo Beach could have easily been the highlight of the weekend had we not stopped for dinner at EMBER. Comparable to many of my favorite modern American restaurants in NYC, Ember serves delicious cuisine at an affordable price. The only drawback that I can think of is that the wait time is long (no reservations). We came on a Saturday and was later told by locals that our 1 hour wait time was "quick." On average, they say the wait time on a busy weekend night is 1.5 hours. To skip the wait, next time we will arrive at 4pm, which is when doors open for dinner (Wednesday -Sunday only). We ordered the following: 1. Avocado and beet salad (12). This is one of our favorite salads and comes with goat cheese (not overpowering), almonds, and watercress with a light vinaigrette. The portion size is average for a salad appetizer. We highly recommend this to start your night. 2. Crispy Buttermilk Quail (17). The quail itself is fully deep-fried and very easy to cut (please see picture). The small bird sits over a bed of chickpeas and mildly spicy aioli, both of which are incredibly tasty. My only gripe is that the quail could be larger in size. Yes, this is me complaining that there is not enough meat...haha. 3. Short Ribs (42). This generous portion of braised short ribs with a red wine reduction is your ideal "meat-melts-off-the-bone" cut. It is perfectly seasoned with cilantro salsa and a light horseradish sauce. The mashed potatoes on the side is delicious and goes well with the natural meat jus. 4. Coffee Trifle (10). When we were walking to our table, we couldn't help but notice that every other person was eating this amazing chocolate mousse with a biscotti in a coffee cup. If everyone orders the same dessert, I guess it makes our choice too easy! This is a 5/5 must get. Overall, we enjoyed our first experience at Ember. The excellent food, amazing dessert, and casual/friendly ambiance will be hard to beat elsewhere. read more

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Outstanding meal. I always like to watch them cook. Our steaks came out piping hot and done to perfection

Always always Always Delicious. Ran in for a cocktail stop on our way home from work and we were able to nab a seat at the bar (after we called hostess to make sure it was allowed since it's mostly reservation only post Covid for now). Friendly staff and we had to grab a couple desserts before they stopped serving. So dang good. We may or may not have licked the plates clean. I love the atmosphere and watching the open kitchen. This place has always been a gem since the day they opened. They hold true to their high standards for quality, service and uniqueness. I don't have any photos to share because the food was in my mouth the second I could reach my spoon. Definitely will be back next time we're off work in time and when they have space to take us. read more

And I had to call for a reservation because why? Ms. Server didn't even understand what I was asking in regards to the menu, let alone what al dente was. I get this is No Cal but don't call yourself farm to table unless you understand the concept. I sent me food back and won't be back. Good pinot, though.... Good luck! read more

Love it all! Food taste so good and fresh , be sure to chase it with one of the cocktails!