This is the WORST PLACE EVER! PRICES ARE INSANE. Soggy french fries for $10, and not many. Ketchup in plastic condiment cup had a skin on it from sitting out. Service is non existent. Wine arrived after dinner, despite asking server 3 times (and going to bar). Manager perhaps even worse. AVE YOURSELF. GO TO WENDYS. read more

Nice place, wait staff nice, you order at your table, swipe your card and it starts your tab. I had a burger and juice 26 and the tip is included. Fancy, this will be the norm of restaurants very soon. read more

Not good. No comments about the ordering system - the iPads are standard at IAH and not unique to this restaurant. I ordered two things - the beet and frisée salad and the brocolli tempura. The beet salad is lousy - the beets taste like they are from a can, the goat cheese portion is skimpy, and the frisée was gritty (like it hadn't been washed). It was not a good salad. The broccoli is ok - it's pretty heavy, but the flavor was fine. I do not recommend this restaurant, read more

I just want to say that We enjoy a good cocktail. Not sure if it was the right day with the right time. But Lucas the bartender who took care of us was informative and magnificent. With the iPads depleting their customer relationships he still shines thru his great cocktail skills! I was excited to hear that he trained other employees as well. So not sure what the other reviews are about but for a burger and BOMB made from scratch cocktail this spot was money with the amazing Lucas!! read more

Delicious breakfast options! I got the breakfast tacos which were filling and scrumptious. Perfect sit down meal that was quick but not rushed. Our waitress was was really friendly and made sure our coffee was never empty. I didn't have time to finish my fruit cup and she packed it for me to go. Great option if you're in terminal C! read more

Flew into IAH on Wednesday morning for a connecting flight and decided to grab a bite here. I was served by such an intelligent and charismatic young lady named Miesha. Usually when I eat at an airport restaurant I'm not always greeted with kindness and tend to be rushed. Let me tell you, Miesha has single handily changed my view on Airport dining! The food was AMAZING!! I had the Potato skin eggs and I was beyond impressed! For now on I will be trying to make sure all my flights connect in IAH just for this service and food! THANK YOU, MIESHA AND THE GREAT CHEFS AT EMBERS! read more

We had an amazing burger and a pleasant visit as we awaited our flight. We enjoyed speaking with Oscar who was both efficient and friendly. Overall we were impressed with the quality of food and service. The only drawback is of course the airport prices which are exorbitant. Still we did enjoy our wait. read more

Ok... the food is not bad... possibly good or great, but my experience was far from enjoyable. With 1 hour to sit down with the family before the next flight, the first 15 minutes were spent with one person being the waiter (iPad based ordering) so that everyone's order would be on one charge. Then after adding drinks, appetizers, entrees to the order, and finally starting to have some conversation, the screen in front of me changed and I looked down and saw my order vanished. I asked a passing server if there was a way to check on it and he said that if I didn't swipe my credit card in a certain period of time, the order doesn't get processed. So here I am reordering everyone's food and swiping my card to pay before the timer runs out. Any guess on what the recommended tip amounts were on the check? Yep... 16% on up. For what? Me having to do what a wait person is supposed to be compensated for? Ember.... it doesn't matter what your food tastes like when the experience of the diner is of no concern to you. Something as simple as a "full service" option could remedy this level of frustration. Until then, I'll just keep walking to the next spot. read more

They tell you it takes 10-12 minutes, however we have been siting for over 30 minutes and have not received out food. We told them 10 minutes ago that we had not recieved our food and now they brought us the wrong order. Food is average at best and service is horrible. Do not recommend! Hope we get a refund because the omelet was about $15 for the size of my fist! read more

Worst experience and service and beverages!! So you sit down with many servers in front of you but still have to order through a iPad with an auto tip added in and crappy overpriced drinks! Absolutely no interaction! I get stuff is more at the airport but dont waste your time here! read more

Horrid. 1. Over cooked burger. It was ordered medium rare, came out well done. 2. Ordered pork chop that was supposed to come with spicy chili butter and pictured a healthy sized green salad. They served it with no butter, because they were out of the butter. The salad was a paltry arugla salad. The salad tasted good. 3. Tater tots casserole. It was pictured swimming in cheese sauce (last day of vacation, why not), I received some "crispy" tater tots with a little cheese at the bottom of the pan. The place looks great. It's expensive. There are fancy tablets for every seat, it the food simply sucks. The folks who run this place are great marketers, but have no execution. STAY AWAY!! read more

Just had the pork chop with pastor sauce and it was really good. Really well cooked. Good enough to get me to come post about it. read more

The absolute worst customer service I have ever experienced. Possibly in their mindset, the ordering application and less chance for tips gives the employees a stance to treat transit customers like crap. I honestly don't recommend this spot for anyone wanting to sit down and enjoy their time and meal. read more

Interesting concept very innovative way of ordering, food was fast. But i had 3 hours to kill. So I played with the iPad and almost ordered even more food. read more

Ember - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I had the chicken sandwich and it was amazing! Pricey though sheeeeeesh. My total was $41 and I only got a chicken sandwich and a spiked peach ice tea. read more

Wow- I thought something that presents themselves as a wine bar would have a better selection by the glass and at least reasonable bottle prices. $348 for Silver Oak Alexander? That's nearly a 6x mark- up from retail. Outrageous! The Franciscan Cab and Stags Leap Artemis are typical at 3x for a high end restaurant, but this does not qualify as such. Also their by-the-glass selections are mediocre at best.... read more

Ember - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is definitely not my kind of place. There is zero contact with any of the bartenders. The I Pad ordering thing was frozen and when I asked for assistance they looked confused. They then went into this ingrained explanation of how to use it. Even when they did talk they didn't even listen to the issue. The lovely lady next to me helped out more than the staff. Once I completed my order on the BS Tec tablet, some mysterious hand delivered my beer and shot from behind the taps without a word. THANKS GHOST OF BARTENDERS PAST. I guess I just love old school bars where enjoyment is encouraged. Thank GOD I don't stop in Houston much. read more

I ordered the frittata and coffee. The frittata was good, would like to have had an alternative to fried potatoes, such as fruit or tomatoes, but none was offered. My coffee did not arrive until after I finished eating, and I had to hail the server twice to get it. And then hail him yet again for a refill. The flashing screen cannot be turned off, so I put a placemat over it. Recommend Ember get thicker placemats - the screen still flashed multi colors at my severely jet lagged face. Seems there is no place to go in this airport to get away from audio and visual media during a 5 hour layover. My intention was to leave no tip. However, I had no opportunity to review my bill. I see on another review that an automatic 20% tip is added. If this so, I most strongly protest. I have waited tables and know what good service looks like. This service deserved no tip at all! read more

It is so sad that you have to pay upfront and the tip is included as you prepay for your breakfast. The good thing about Yelp is you have a platform where you can praise a place or share you're unpleasant experience so people that can read can be warned of the experience. This airport restaurant could have been better if the staff knows how to treat customers with a little importance. The worse i've ever seen in service. The waitress never said good morning and i never saw even a faint smile. When I asked for an extra plate so I can share some, she gave me a very cold underliner plate after 10 minutes and was a bit surprised when we did not use it and have the nerve to ask why. Hot breakfast on a cold plate?, REALLY! read more

Good concept. Executed poorly. You order through an iPad, food is good. Supposedly there is a way to call server if order is wrong or you need a water refill, but nobody came when called. Save your money, head somewhere else. read more

Love the decor, and all of the easy-order tablets. Only ordered the catfish po'boy, and I really can't recommend it. I took it to go, so there was no way to take it back as I only found out at the gate that the fish was not cooked all the way and the whole thing was slimy and smelled muddy and fishy. I just threw it out. Luckily the fries was in a separate box, and they staved off my hunger. I'll try a burger or something else next time, but probably to order in to avoid the same mistake. read more

Wish I had checked Yelp before sitting down. I just had, hands down, the worst salad of my life. Flavorless, with a dressing that was acidic and nothing else. The tater tot casserole was meh. What a waste of a layover. Boo. read more

I spend a lot of time at IAH and Ember is one of my favorites for a longer layover! I've love that I can pay with miles and order on the iPad. Seating is comfortable and I think there's a plug at every seat. Service is always fast as well. Tonight, a server brought me water within a minute of me sitting down. And even though just about ever seat was filled, I had my food in maybe 5 minutes. I was shocked at the speed! Everything I've had has always been presented really nicely and been delicious! Highly recommend! read more

Very disappointing experience this evening. I wouldn't waste money or time here again. Steak was gristly and tough. It was supposed to come with a sauce that was not delivered. Staff did not respond to my calls on the order system to try to resolve the sauce issue. And the "large" pour of wine was a thimble that was barely consumable. And i spent more than $100 for the pleasure! I GUARANTEE I will never waste time or money here again! read more

Beautiful atmosphere, but terrible food and cocktails. Kitchen staff should also take note of the glass walls that allow the customers to see their unhygienic activities. read more

On October 9 I ordered, with the help of the wait staff since the I-Pod kept giving me, and the waiter helping, an "Error" message: one beer and $10 wings. The bill I signed was just for that. They charged my American Express double, listing two of each item. No biggie, errors happen. I called SEVERAL times, my request was (supposed to be) related to a "manager" (they do not have a billing/accounting department or anything of that nature) a few times, but the only response I received, via e-mail, was from the manager of a location in Chicago. He seemed nice, but unable to help he instructed that I call back the original number and ...start over. I did, 3 times. Still no answer. I received one drink and one appetizer, I signed for 1 drink and one appetizer, they charged my AMEX double. Should be a simple resolve, but it is not. Today is November 6 and I disputed with AMEX, but the $23 difference has nothing to do with me writing my first review ever, but with the fact that the I-pad system (the entire terminal is using it) does not have a back-up system and it is frightening that there's no one (hired?) to resolve a simple issue. Poor system, poor management. read more

Remember the little 6 ounce glasses that Dennys serves OJ in? Well that is what I was given for a glass when I paid $17.88 at Ember! I realize I'm captive in an air terminal but Holy God, add ice and I think they are pouring with a thimble! The very nice waiter asked if I'd like another and I declined... read more

Ember - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ordered via the iPad which is the only way to order. They in person told me it was a 40-minute wait to get food so take my time. It was morning around 10am so I ordered "2 eggs any way." I received my food in about 10 minutes so not sure if it was my order or not. It was unrecognizable from the menu but did include 2 eggs and 2 strips of bacon. The menu item came with toast that I'd selected but toast never showed up. I decided I could live without that but did ask the waitress about the ($4.50) tea I had ordered but had not received and she brought me a large glass of iced tea which wasn't even close to what I'd ordered. Overall, I paid for at least 2 items that I never received. They were understaffed and overpriced so I will not eat there again. read more

Horrible!! They automatically include 18% tip when the servers nd bartenders do not do a damn thing! You order your own food, have to call them when you need something, and they do not even great you or offer you a glass of water. What a racket!! Then, 15 minutes after ordering after being told that my order would be up in 2 minutes someone comes and tells me that they don't have the ingredients for my meal!! This place sucks!! read more

Worst mistake not checking reviews before sitting down. Waited 40 min in an empty room for a $60 steak salty as hell. There it goes my only chance to have dinner between long ass flights. Hope you check reviews. read more

Good meal although the automation is convenient, getting help can be a bit problematic because the staff's focus in delivering not on your needs especially when you'd like a Iced Tea or Water refill or napkins. I'd try again at the Airport although you need to have enough time at least an hour before your next flight. read more

This place is horrible. First, they have the 'seat yourself format,' but when you walk in, none of the tables have been cleaned off so there's nowhere to sit. Second, it took over an hour to get the Eggs Benedict i ordered (as a matter of fact, I'm still waiting and asked for my food, and my waiter has no idea what I'm talking about). And lastly, there's not even that many people in here. While I've been waiting, i overheard 2 other customers complaining that the service was horrible and it was the worse dining experience he's ever had. I'm with him 100%. read more

Our waiter was Manuel and he was an excellent service. I had oatmeal and a ham Benedict. It was fantastic. The place was veryvery clean.

Terrible experience. Ordered onion rings, asked the manager about them. He basically made fun of where I was from. Food came out separate. Husband didn't get his food until later. Got the order all wrong. (This is ordered on an iPad guys) not hard. Finally got onion rings. Husband order was wrong. Took like 10 min to get ketchup. Over priced and missing personal touch. Never again!!! read more

Ember - Terrible experience here. Over priced and missing the personal connection. - American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Not worth it. Literally all I can say bc it's simply just not. Ordered the shrimp po boy and it was a weird sandwich, only good thing was it was a large portion. I also ordered veggies and they came out super late and literally had only three pieces of broccoli and teeny tiny pieces of carrot, no other veggies as advertised on the menu. If you're at this airport skip the food and go for the drinks instead. Staff is great but because everything is done through the iPads they are not as attentive as they may need to be. Especially if you appreciate extra attention when dining out. read more

There are numerous practices being employed here that are fundamentally wrong, from the consumer's standpoint and also a basic level of human interaction, or lack thereof. The positives first, though: the decor is inviting; they have numerous TX craft beers on tap. Moving on, Ember perfectly illustrates what's historically been wrong with service industry compensation in the US. Here's how they do it: You order through an app on a tablet, they automatically apply 18% gratuity, you swipe your credit card, and your order is brought out. Full disclosure - the app does offer the ability to adjust the automatic gratuity prior to placing your first order, but herein lies the evidence of my previous statement -- Why are we allowing businesses to tax the consumer on top of what we're paying in sales tax and for the product itself, all so they can grossly underpay their staff? If they're going to automate the communication/human interaction element of dining, then why not automate the execution as well and eliminate the implied mandatory service charge? There is no building of rapport from the staff, and the atmosphere is creepily quiet as everyone plays games and/or is subjected to unsolicited advertisements while mindlessly starring into the tablet planted in front of them. Next up, there are too many requests for personal information. Some of these are mandatory as well. Number one - they ask to scan your boarding pass. The only justification from their end that I can see for this is that they're gathering and accessing your frequent flier account. There is no explanation as to why this is being requested, nor is a password or identification verification required, yet my approximate mileage balance was magically displayed. Yes, I think the idea of being able to pay using miles is innovative, but this has to absolutely be an opt-in scenario AND a password and/or ID has to be required. But maybe I missed the option to skip the boarding pass scan. If you're not a MileagePlus member, though, what happens? Are you asked to join, thus prompting yet another unsolicited decision and a need to provide personal information? Number two, and this is the MOST important, you cannot get a receipt without supplying either your email address or mobile number. I explicitly requested they print a receipt only to be told they do not have a printer. When I pointed to the printer that prints the orders, the "bartender" said they have no way to print a receipt. Which leads to my next observation... The app they use is set to automatically settle your bill after a default amount of time, 30 minutes I believe. I understand the logic and their reasoning -- the logic is that it's a simple setting that can be adjusted by an admin user; their reasoning is that they have this cockamamie system in place that no one is accustomed to and they've had people accidentally (or possibly not) walk off without paying. Regardless, this is a poor business practice on numerous levels: the consumer is given no ability to authorize payment; if the consumer chose the "no receipt" option because they didn't wish to provide personal information they will not receive a receipt (see additional disclosure below); if the consumer ended up being unhappy with the "service," they have no ability to adjust the tip to their preference; it assumes the consumer will be on the tablet indefinitely; it implies the consumer will be ordering something within the default amount of time. Additional disclosure - the manager came out and I had to give her my email address in order to receive a copy of the receipt for which I was given no chance to authorize payment. I've not had a customer service experience that's left me this unsettled for a long time. I see IAH's attempts to automate at every turn, so if there is an independent owner of Ember I suspect these failures are not entirely their fault. Those that are directly related to their tech are extremely easily rectified, though. I hope they take action. At the end of the day, understand what you're getting yourself into. Which is a ridiculously absurd way to have to approach going to a bar in an airport. read more

The other reviews are accurate if a bit harsh. Yes the iPad ordering is a little unorthodox, but can be very reassuring as well. While the beer selection may not be that creative, it is extensive with many Texas and national selections. My burger came out within 10 minutes of my ordering and was exactly to temperature. The ability to substitute a side salad for fries at no upcharge was a nice touch. At the end of the day, the iPad ordering is silly but the service was excellent. read more

I am 56, so kind of old fashion guy, but seated at Ember at Houston Airport attracted by the flashing Ipads at the table and the restaurant atmosphere, at the end of the day all that was great but the cherry of the cake was the human touch provided by Elisabeth, she did a super great service with a big smile always at her face, she explained me the system and helped at any step of my dining. Lovely evening at Ember! read more

This place is terrible! The music was loud and totally stressed me out! It was awful music that literally got my blood pressure up!!!! LOL My husband ordered the "Express Breakfast Sandwich". I guess "Express" means made an hour ago and stale and cold. I had some sort of Benedict. The muffin was dry and stale. The sauce was so bitter I could not eat it and the potatoes were bland and cold. The ordering process is a pain in the butt. What happened to people waiting on you? PLUS...you order at a kiosk and it adds an 18% gratuity!!!! For what???? Crappy food and someone to fill my water once? I paid $23 for breakfast for one! What a ripoff!!! read more

2 stars. The bad or annoying: 1) you seat yourself, and about 2/3 of the tabletops when I arrived were covered with used napkins, drinks, etc. 2) you have to order with those iPads. Want to ask what kind of fish the "Gulf fish" is before you order it? Want to ask for salt after your food comes out! Good luck! 3) they ask you to pay a tip before you order. I guess I'm old-fashioned, but before I pay an 18% default tip, I want to know if food will actually arrive. The good: my burger did actually arrive, and was pretty good for an airport burger... although it was pretty cold. read more