Amazing food and service! We ordered almost everything on the menu. Loved every bite! Wonderful location.

A special trip to the recently James Beard-recognized Chef Brandon Dearden's unexpected haven off Main in Hamilton, Montana EST 2024. An unassuming door opens to a wide-open space framed by rustic wood panels and leather booths leading to a walk-in kitchen. There is no chef's counter; instead a long chef's table and views of wood-fired meals from any seat in the house. The menu is tailored but varied by local and seasonal selections. I would have appreciated stronger leadership during seating and dining, as service requires a touch of polish. Nonetheless, the local Embered Beets tipped the scales on my typical avoidance - the earthy taste is brined and balanced after firing, served along with gently sweet goat cheese speckled in fresh cracked black pepper topped with savory (crunch!) granola & radish micro greens. Another local pick - Premium Filet Mignon from Billings is fresh from the range, tender enough to cut with a butter knife, and coated in bruléed blue cheese that blends with rich jus. Comparatively the 24-Hour Potato is showy but bland compared to the effort & ingredients involved. Knocking socks off - the Toffee Cake is dessert ELEVATED - a dense butter cake in Bundt shape soaks up ALL the caramelized toffee that's sweet but not TOO, warming and comforting with a single scoop of rich vanilla ice cream and a touch of thyme on top. AMEN! p.s. A thoughtful thank you note to-go is an exceptional way to end a lovely meal. read more

Ember - Butter Toffee Cake - Steakhouses Near Me - Hamilton, Montana

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I enjoyed one of the best meals I've ever had at Ember last night. The Brisket was absolutely perfect. Short ribs, Pulled pork, mac and cheese, potato salad, corn on the cobb, Cole slaw, cornbread, dinner rolls. WOW, Chef Brandon really outdid himself on this one. The apple crisp desert was great too. Bring your big credit card because this place is not cheap but well worth it. read more

Ember - Steakhouses Near Me - Hamilton, Montana

My husband and I went to this restaurant to celebrate our birthdays. We had watched the owner/chef on this season of Top Chef, and we were excited to try his food. We were not disappointed. The restaurant has a lovely open layout, and we were able to sit where we could watch everything going on in the kitchen. They have some open fires with hefty amounts of coals, hence Ember. It was a lovely atmosphere. The staff was very attentive and engaging. We started with their wedge salad, which we shared. It had a very nice seasoning on top, that we hadn't had on a salad before, but it was delicious. We loved their homemade sourdough bread with the lovely ribbon of butter it was served with. My husband had a steak, which we both thought was very good. I chose the beef cheeks, which were served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. The dish was very different from the beef cheeks I had in Italy, but they were delicious and so tender, no knife needed. The beef cheeks dish was big enough I had plenty to share with my husband, in exchange for a bite of his steak. The only thing I would change would be less salt, as the beef cheek dish was just a tad too salty for my tastes. We were quite filled and decided against a dessert, although they all sounded delicious. The waiter was very kind, and decided to treat us to a dish of strawberry sorbet for our birthdays. It was quite delicious, not too sweet, which we both really enjoyed. We had a great dinner and will hopefully be back soon. read more

great place with excellent food, atmosphere, service and style! The owners make you feel welcome and the staff is super friendly.

My wife and I had the pleasure of going to Ember Restaurant inaugural Sunday brunch this morning. Words cannot describe how delicious everything was. The tallow potatoes were perfection... chef's kiss. Definitely check out Chef Brandon on Bravo's tv show Top Chef where he is competing against some of the best chefs across the country. We can't wait to go back for another amazing meal. Thank you to the entire Ember staff, you all rock. read more

High expectations, but the value wasn't there! My wife and I plus our two friends visited Ember after hearing the chef was slated for Top Chef. As someone who has had the privilege of dining all over the world, I was thrilled to see a higher-end concept in Hamilton. Unfortunately, our experience last night left us feeling that the price point is significantly out of sync with the actual offering. The Atmosphere & Service: The evening started on a restrictive note. I was surprised that a local restaurant requires a reservation with a cancellation fee--especially since we ended up being the only party in the entire building. Despite the empty dining room, the server was completely unwilling to accommodate a simple side substitution. I really wanted the duck but don't care for polenta; I asked for the mashed potatoes (which were already being prepared for another dish at our table), the server agreed mashed would be a good option with the duck, but essentially "no substitutions." In a small town where you want to build a loyal local following, that level of rigidity is disappointing. The Food: We found the portions to be very small for the premium prices charged. Here is a breakdown of our table's experience: Wagyu Beef Cheek: While the mashed potatoes were incredible, the "Wagyu" was essentially a single, small piece of pot roast. It tasted fine, but calling it Wagyu felt like a way to justify a fancy name for a standard dish. Chicken Pot Pie: This was the biggest letdown. It was literally a small ladle of chicken soup with a piece of puffed pastry on top to create the illusion of a meal. The chicken itself was quite dry. Pork Chop & Salmon: The pork chop was incredibly thin and served solo with no sides, tasted okay. Similarly, the salmon didn't resemble the plating shown on their marketing materials and felt very lonely on the plate for the price, it too was okay and not exceptional in any way. Beet Salad: The flavor was good, but the presentation was almost comical--a massive bowl for a tiny portion that looked lost in the middle. The Finish: The dessert menu was limited and lacked a single chocolate option. None of it sounded appealing, so we ended up paying the tab and going next door for dessert. Final Thoughts: I truly want small businesses in Hamilton to succeed. I suspect Ember does well in the summer with the Stock Farm crowd, but for those of us who live here year-round, we need a reason to return. Between the tiny portions, the high prices, and the lack of flexibility in the kitchen, we didn't find a reason to come back. We hope they can adjust their approach to better serve the local community. read more

I live in Chicago, a city known for its restaurant scene, and I can confidently say that Ember could compete with anything back home. Finding food of this caliber in a remote town like Hamilton is beyond impressive. From the moment we walked in, we were welcomed into a modern yet warm space, complete with an open kitchen that served as the heartbeat of the restaurant. The atmosphere is upscale yet inviting, with earthy, handmade plates that add to the experience. The food? Absolutely incredible. Every dish showcased fresh, locally sourced ingredients and was plated beautifully. Some standout highlights: Salmon Belly Amuse Bouche - Served on a potato chip, this little bite was salty, creamy, and bright--I'm not quite sure what I ate, but it woke up my palate and set the tone for the food to come. Potato & Leek Soup - Served in a cute little handleless cup, the perfect cozy start. Endive Salad - Featuring Stilton blue cheese and candied pecans, the balance of flavors was exceptional. Wagyu Rib Cap Lifter - Three beautifully tender medallions, so soft you could cut them with a butter knife. Viral 24-Hour Potato - Crispy outside, tender inside, with a velvety cheese sauce that added the perfect hint of tartness. Honeycomb Dessert - The buttery ice cream paired with the crumbly topping made for an amazing contrast in texture. We also opted for the wine pairing, and the selections were fantastic--starting with white, ending with red, and a dessert wine that was my favorite of the night. Oh, and let's just say the pours were generous! Service was attentive and knowledgeable. Our server not only expertly described every dish but also recommended a fantastic local distillery when we wanted a pre-dinner cocktail. The pacing of the meal was perfect, and I have to shout out the bread and cultured butter--so good that we asked the chef for more! Speaking of the chef, interacting with him truly made this dinner special. I'd been following Ember on TikTok for a year, and to have Chef Toby personally come out multiple times to check on us and share insights about the dishes was incredible. If you're anywhere near Hamilton, Montana, Ember is an absolute must-visit. Whether it's date night, a special occasion, or just a memorable meal, this spot delivers big-city quality with small-town hospitality. I can't wait to come back! This is a dining experience worth traveling for. I can't wait to come back next year!!! read more

Ember - Salmon Belly Amuse Bouche - Steakhouses Near Me - Hamilton, Montana

The food was good but having to pay for sides and bread is kind of ridiculous we spent $350 and ate everything but still went home hungry... Very loud environment and only continued to get louder as more people showed up. read more

We stopped by with family for dinner for 4 and were seated close to the kitchen. The restaurant itself is beautiful, but the choice of chairs could've been better. I just loathe the curved chairs because they're uncomfortable to sit in for a long period of time, and my coat kept falling off of the back. - Japanese milk buns: fluffy and tasty, and a great start to our meal. - Embered beets: I love beets and goat cheese, so this dish was a favorite of mine. - Wagyu skirt steak: this came out so tasteless. There was no seasoning on the meat, so we had to ask for salt to make it taste slightly better. What a shame for such a nice cut. - Wagyu pot pie: the puff pastry is a little absurd. I get it, they're trying to be edgy and different, but it was rather annoying to eat. The dish, again, was pretty bland, and the "wagyu" meat was pretty tough and flavorless. - Flat iron steak: 3 of our dishes came out, and we sat there waiting for about 10 minutes before we had to finally say something. I didn't realize how small it was until they brought out the dish, but the menu does say it's only 6 ounces. - Angolotti: my husband seemed to enjoy this dish, but it was a pretty small portion, especially when compared to the pot pie. Overall, I'd say this is a nice addition to the food scene in Hamilton. The flavors could definitely be better. Service was fine, but I can see the kitchen being easily overwhelmed and taking longer with food, as was our experience. read more

La Donna. Eli. Brooks(??? I may have his name incorrect and I apologize if I do. All are stupendous!!!!!!!!!!!! We go EVERY Friday and we are treated like family. The food is insane. Steaks cooked to perfection!!!!!! The Bounty Greens salad and Beets are simple but incredibly delicious. Moving here we left all our favorite restaurants behind where we were regulars and the food incredible and were so afraid we would not find our Friday night dinner home but we did and more. I am as happy here as I have been in restaurants around the world. World class great. Thank you so much. We will see you again and again. read more

This place is 1 star IMO. I added an additional star for the amazing service. Do not order the PHO. The broth was tasteless. I had 5 spoonfuls of the soup and 2 bites of the rice noodles. Couldn't take it anymore. It was a disgrace. I should have known not to order an Asian noodle dish at a "Steak" house. Total there were 5 thin slices of beef. I contemplated asking for salt but didn't want to be rude. My partner had a sip of the broth and looked at me and said is that water? $32 for washed down pho is no bueno. Ember, if you are reading this, please remove PHO from your menu. Japanese milk bun is dinner roll with a layer of glaze and salt on top. Beef carpaccio was very fatty and I can see that they tried to be creative with the fried puff tendon. The two just don't go together fat on fat. Beef pot pie was mediocre. Think of beef stew in a bowl with puff pastry on top of the bowl. $38 for creativity. Best dishes of the night were the vegetables - Fire roasted carrots were amazing. Since I was unable to indulge in the Pho, I ate all the carrots. The 24 hour potato was good too if you like cheese. Although if you don't like fat, you will taste the beef tallow in the potatoes. Seems like the restaurant put beef tallow in majority of their dishes. Ambiance was nice, clean and I appreciate that there are plenty of spaces in between the tables so we're not on top of each other and my partner and I can have a conversation comfortably. Overall, not a true high-end restaurant IMO. Nice and friendly staff. Good and clean ambiance. Dishes need a lot of fine tuning and flavor development. read more

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We have eaten at Ember several times, and we have had several of their menu items during different seasons. It has all been fantastic! The service, the food, the preparation-- second to none. Tonight we decided to take advantage of their online ordering to go. Even though we did not get a chance to eat it immediately, the pork chops were delectable! I can honestly say it's the best pork chop I've ever tasted. In its "naked form" without any additional seasonings, it was sensational! Adding the "bacon jam" added a whole new level to the experience. In fact, I alternated between bites, adding the jam every other bite, as it was so delicious both ways. Ember, thank you once again for the saporous dinner! I'll look forward to our next meal. read more

A simply amazing dining experience. Each staff member with whom we engaged offered friendly, welcoming, unpretentious, and unhurried yet efficient service. The courses were stunningly presented, well-proportioned, and delightfully delicious. My impression is the menu changes regularly; we had a choice of halibut, beef, or lamb. The halibut was perhaps one of the best meals Ive had. I asked about a vegetarian option; the Chef pulls one together whenever requested. If one knows ahead they prefer meatless, it's helpful to mention that when making the reservation. 5 stars, without hesitation. Welcome to Hamilton, Ember! read more

Food was delicious although expensive. Bottled water was $9.00 but it's a great experience! Live getting to see the chefs cooking from our table, the crab dish was way cool! read more

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Service here was phenomenal. The restaurant stayed open late for our food and wine pairing. The 10 courses were awesome! My favorites were the beets and the wagyu beef carpaccio. And all of the wines were unique and so light, and paired great with the dishes we tried. Thank you guys for having us! read more

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Over priced and not worth it. Food was so-so, service- slow. The new place in Hamilton is not even the best place....

Overall, this was an incredible experience. We made an early reservation (right at opening, 5pm) because my 11 month old son would be joining. I was very nervous about a baby in this type of environment, but the entire staff was so incredible and so lovely with him. Chef brought him his own plate of mashed potatoes and scoop of ice cream for dessert and all the servers were so friendly and interacted with him the entire night. For the adults, the food was to die for. The beef carpaccio was one of the best dishes I have had. Every single dish we had was incredible. This is a do not miss experience. read more

Never a bad meal at this phenomenal restaurant-from start to finish- every time! Best food, best service! One of my favorite restaurants of all time. read more

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I had heard Ember was really good. And I have to say, it's one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in a long time. I live in San Francisco, a foody town and Ember would be at the top of my list. Wish Chef Toby would consider bringing his talents to SF. The food was outstanding. The Lamb, Potato Leek soup, Pho were to die for. The Endive salad was so fresh and perfectly dressed. I was with a group so I got to taste many of the dishes. We did the wine pairing. I'd be there again tonight if only it were open on Sundays! read more

True fine dining. Owner and staff are fantastic in every way. Impressive wine list, excellent main courses and desserts to die for.

My wife and I stopped by Ember during our stay in Hamilton last week. Everything, including the service, was amazing -- the steak was perfectly cooked and the crispy chicken was maybe the best I've ever tried. Leave some room for the Milk & Honey dessert. Very cool ambiance and a little different than what you might typically find in the area. Prices were very reasonable, at least by our California standards. read more

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Wonderful staff, service and dishes! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fine dining, locally sourced meal. Portions were perfect for sharing and the head chef delivered our appetizer and dessert. Will be coming back :) read more

Ember - Steakhouses Near Me - Hamilton, Montana

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This place is nice but the food is hot and miss and very overpriced. The Wild Mare in Corvallis is much better!

Ate at Ember last year and it was fantastic. We came back this year with our grown children. What a disappointment. My husband ordered the $98.00 American Wagyu ribeye, medium. It was beyond rare and so chewy it was inedible. I ordered the pork chop and literally had to chew it 40 times to macerate it before I could swallow it. The "super greens" were thrown in a bowl and terrible. There was no attractive presentation of any dish, like we experienced last year. Since it is an open kitchen, when my husband told the waiter about the steak, the chef should have taken 2 minutes to come out and apologized. We will not return nor will we recommend this restaurant. sadly if they continue like this they will only attract one time customer. read more

I have eaten at Ember about 10 times now. I will say the food is fabulous esp for our little town of Hamilton.... The problem I have is for a repeat customer the menu is limited. I'm almost a vegetarian and all that's offered on sides is potato , broccoliini( very tough, slightly burned and smoky) and smoky cabbage... It's summer now could I recommend a bit lighter fare besides your salads?? More veggies and a different salad besides the usual menu? Thanks!!!! read more

SO wanted to like this place, and 1 star really isn't indicative of the food (because we never had the chance to order), but the service was amazingly awful. Had reservations (which was cool, since most places around here don't offer them), and got a text to just let them know when we arrived and they'd let us know when our table was ready. So far, that's awesome! No place to wait inside, and it was scorching out that day, so we waited in the car...no return text. Went inside to find it almost empty, so it was obvious that no text was forthcoming. Place was nicely done and had a good vibe, got seated and were told the waitress would be "right with us", but never saw ANY waitress for 25 minutes. And when we did, she was taking the order for the people next to us, who were already there when we arrived. Expected her to at least acknowledge us, but after taking their order, she walked past and out of sight. 5 minutes later, people were now coming in and being seated, but we still had zero contact from anybody, so we walked out. You'd think with the super high-end pricing they command (and we knew this going in) they'd at least have a little bit of service. We weren't in a hurry, and someone just stopping by our table to check on us would have been ok with us. In the time we sat at that table we were able to go to another restaurant nearby (also higher end), and have our entire meal. Sorry Ember. We SO wanted to love you, but you're a hard pass. read more

The BEST restaurant in town! The food is so fresh, creative and tasty! I love coming because they change the menu often per what's in season and it's fun to see and taste their new dishes. Everything they make is art. Ask them to help with pairing the food to wine too because they have that dialed in as well! So grateful they are in town!!!! Also they were so accommodating with gluten free requests. read more

Ember - Steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Hamilton, Montana

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Here on a business trip and decided to try it. The service was excellent! My water glass never went past half-full. The food, although pricey, was excellent! I had the beets, the halibut and cauliflower. All of it was very good! I would definitely eat here again on my next trip. read more

Great service and food! The prices are very high and the reservation system is flawed. Half of the restaurant was empty for hours as we waited for an opening read more

Came for the food and wine pairing with a large group. A little expensive but the wines were light and tasty , and the dishes all paired well with the wines. Loved the beef carpaccio and the beef cheek cudo. Awesome service too read more

We went to Hamilton from Missoula last night and Ember is so worth the drive. We started with Embered beets that was so good, even my husband who doesn't care for beets loved it. Then we had tamari braised cippolini onions that were not on the menu that night but they made for us anyway, my husband had the wagyu pot pie which was super flakey and delicious and I had the smoked pork belly on lentils with strawberries so good. We had to try the 24 hour potato which was interesting and ended with the raw milk and honey ice cream which was such a treat. This was a most memorable meal and we loved it. Thank you chefs! read more

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Absolutely phenomenal service and food. Best experience we've had so far in Montana. From appetizers to dessert, just delicious. Excellent service throughout the meal. Cannot wait to go back. Yes, it's pricey. But now and again you need to treat yourself to a special experience. This was it. Started with the beet appetizer, then salmon and the 24 hr potato, and finished with Milk and Honey ice cream dessert. All 5 star. Kudos to the Chef and the owner on bringing high end eating to our valley. Next time I'll take photos. read more

Delicious food! We basically got a little bit of everything off the menu. Our favorite was the hammer and the 24 hour potato. Only downside is you can only get beer and wine, no cocktails. Very cute atmosphere and our waitress was excellent read more

Really expensive for the bitterroot valley and for the portion sizes. This is NOT for a family who is on a budget. Service was ok, took awhile for refills. The atmosphere was great and felt comfortable. read more

This is exactly what Hamilton needed. An excellent high end dining experience while still being casual. By Hamilton standards, this isn't cheap, but that is because you are being served food at a caliber not previously available here. The staff here is excellent. I can't believe they are so well trained and coordinated after being open for such a short period of time. Make a reservation, they are currently too busy to seat walk in parties. The Wagyu ribeye was one of the best steaks I've ever had. read more

This night was a birthday dinner and it did not disappoint, even with a couple of picky eaters in our table of seven. The appetizers (oh! the bone marrow! Mmmm) were exquisite, we swapped bites if our entrees and desserts and had a delightful time with service that was par excellent. Not a meal I can afford often but absolutely the choice for celebrating. read more

We had a fantastic experience. Food was incredible, wine selection was solid and the ambiance was unmatched. The staff made us feel right at home immediately and it felt like a complete team atmosphere where everyone was helping everyone. Highly recommend. read more

We ordered the take-home prepared Thanksgiving dinner from Embers. Picked it up Wednesday night, then assembled and warmed up everything on Thursday. They provided access to an online video that gave instructions to ensure each course was warmed and presented properly. There was a ton of food and every course was delicious. Lots of fun! read more

Ember is one of about three good restaurants in Hamilton. What sets Ember apart is their very high prices, and their presumption that they deserve the highest accolades and maybe even a Michelin star. The quality of the food is generally good, but inconsistent. The last time I ordered the pork which came to the table dried out and tough, with a small dab of an unidentifiable sauce. I much enjoy the flatbread, the beets, the salad, but all these are simple dishes and require no great kitchen skills. Most people choose to stay away from the beef entrees, they are disappointing. I cannot say this restaurant provides good value for the money, and I truly do not think they would succeed in a market of really high quality restaurants. Too bad. read more