Coming from $8 happy hours and $50 steak FRITES (not even a full cut) in NYC, stopping in Embers is a relief on the wallet. Doubly so when you account for the happy hour this place has; its extraordinary. That said, the Embers model is pretty diverse, trying to tap every "luxury" cuisine all at once which feels more like a reach rather than an all-encompassing experience. Disjointed and inconsistent, Embers doesn't really do anything perfectly; instead they do everything just OK. The big problem with Embers is the service, which ends up being standoffish when you assert your own interests and too intimate and friendly when you don't. Waiters knows best? Really, you knew of my guest's allergy? And having to /ask/ for more water? Side-eying me when I ask? I'm confused. Inattention goes as far as the opposite, and so does taking it all personally. And when the "sommelier" is a 23 year old doubling as your waiter, you must wonder: is Embers being thorough, arming every waiter with the knowledge they need to offer a truly carefree meal, or just cutting corners? What about top-to-bottom knowledge of the menu? Are there any restaurants in Cincinnati with truly great service anymore? read more

Service was mediocre at best. The New York strip is not very good. Overall very expensive and left us wanting more or better!

I went to Embers with some co-workers one night for an appreciation dinner, and I felt extremely appreciated. The service was wonderful, as was the food. I ordered a Filet Mignon and a Caesar salad. I was impressed with the salad, which included optional anchovy, and the steak was perfect. The price per glass of wine was a bit higher than I like to pay, but it's in line with the other prices at the restaurant and the caliber of the restaurant. At about $9/glass, it was noticeable. read more

Much better than expected. I am always skeptical about a restaurant that serves various kinds of food. It seems to me they are not experts or something. An American restaurant has Sushi and Rolls in its menu. I would refuse to go. Or at least I won't eat sushi there anyway. But Ember's surprised me with its ambiance, attitude, and food which I couldn't ask for more. I could not catch our server's name. However he was super helpful and kind. He was knowledgeable with the items on the menu. I thought Ember's is a chain having a few restaurants around this area. That's why my expectation was low on the food. I was wrong. They did not have that strong feeling of salty taste and pre-made dishes. Everything tasted fresh, and I could taste different dimensions of ingredients. Many people would try to kill me for saying this but their rib was better than Montgomery's. It's my preference that I don't like sauce overpowering actual ribs. Also sea bass was cooked perfectly. I liked their dark atmosphere, too. It just gives you the upscale feeling. It was just right between casual and fancy. So the restaurant is really all-around for any occasion. Well, actually it's rather pricey for any occasion. Overall, it's a great restaurant. I cannot say the best, though. read more

came here for dinner the other night with my boyfriend. he bought a groupon so we figured it would be a good time to try it. the atmosphere was very calming and quaint. the service was great! our server recommended the filet so that's what my boyfriend got. I got the Chilean sea bass and steak tartare for an appetizer. the filet was perfect with a nice char on the outside. the sea bass was also very delicious. melted like butter. the steak tartare was different but it was good! all the dishes were very flavorful. would definitely come back for some steak! read more

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This was a great Groupon find. This is definitely a classy establishment.... my favorite part of the night was the old lady two tables back who had Cruella DeVille hair.....If you are going to come here, just know that people who come here dress up, so get your hair did. The food and and service was great. It does lose one star because they serve warm water lobster, not your usual cold water. Warm water is definitely not as good. Our waiter told us that the older patrons complained that the cold water lobsters were too small, so they switched to warm water, which are bigger. Anyway, warm water lobster sucks, so don't order it. Everything else was great though! read more

Made my very first visit to Embers and was NOT disappointed. We reserved the private room for my parents 65th wedding anniversary. We had a reservation for 13 at 6:30 we were seated as soon as we arrived. After being greeted by a smiling gracious hostess. Zak Minturn our most excellent server allowed us to set our own pace for drink orders, menu decisions and selections. He explained every special and patiently made recommendations. We spent the time sharing stories and taking pictures as the food began to arrive. Pork Chops, Filet, Sushi and Sirloin with plenty of great sides. Every thing was prepared perfectly arriving hot and tasty prepared to perfection. Everyone was very satisfied. We took more pictures told more stories and thoroughly enjoyed celebrating the anniversary. Desert menus arrived again every question answered and helpful suggestions made. Our 3 hour dinner flew by and everyone had a fantabulous time. A dining experience as it was meant to be. I would highly recommend the Embers for your next 5 star dinner in Kenwood. read more

My husband and I ate here for the first time, on a Thursday evening. The parking lot was nearly full, so we expected a wait inside but we had a reservation for dinner. We only waited a minute to be seated, as the crowd was in a private room and the bar? The dining room was only half full. My lobster was good, the side of mushrooms I ordered was fantastic, and the boursin cheese potatoes were good. I had saved room for a chocolate dessert, but even though a lot of desserts with chocolate in them were on the menu, they all were gimmicky (Oreo, etc.) and not the pure chocolaty dessert I craved. I tried the chocolate cake, but it tasted more espresso / coffee than chocolate and was a small portion for $10 - although I didn't really care that much about eating it all. My husband said his steak, onion rings, and brussels sprouts were very good. The server was very nice, and did a decent job on my water refills, until the end. However, our empty dishes sat on our table a long time, and our server even walked past at least once before he said that someone would pick them up, so I guess it wasn't his job. read more

Steakhouses are the genre of restaurants I feel most ambivalent about. If you want a really good cut of meat, that's where you go. Just be prepared to pay through the nose for it, and probably extra for sides. This is why I prefer to have steak at home, and fortunately DLW is a culinary master who knows just how to maximize steakiness for not so much. Sometimes however DLW prefers to go out for her prime cuts. We went here to get our fill of meat on a Friday night. The place was not as crowded as I had anticipated, so we walked in without a reservation. It's big, about 200 seats, and nicely appointed. Service was good, as it must be in these places. Immediately upon opening the menu I was irritated. Prices were pretty high, but I knew that would be the case. What got me was seeing that this place also serves sushi. I've harped on the ridiculous number of restaurants in Cincy who feel the need to offer sushi where it has no business being, but seriously? At a steakhouse? We went with a steak tartare appetizer, green goddess salad, lamb chops and side of asparagus. Everything tasted fine, and the wine by the glass selection was good. But for a final tab of $115 it should have been great. Steakhouse! read more

This place was great. MUCH better service & food than Jag's & for roughly the same if not less $$. Had some cooked sushi rolls, they were tasty. The petit filet was the perfect size & the sauteed garlic spinach was a great substitute side. along with tasty onion straws. I have to say the house salad was nothing special though. The Precinct/Celestial will always be 5* steak places to me, but I still loved it. read more

Two adults for dinner. This is our third time at this restaurant. We've enjoyed better sushi there on half-price sushi night at the bar than on this occasion. Pork chop was very good - rest of dishes were not particularly good. In particular the onion rings as a side were detestable. When fast food restaurants serve up better rings, then you know there's trouble in the kitchen. Our server was not the best, even while the overall service was good. After three experiences we've decided there are other places that have earned our interest. read more

The food was on point! The server was on point! It's very upscale but casual... it worth every penny . We started with surf and turf sushi , very tasty! Brussels spouts were the best I ever had ! The sides are hands down authentic and favors on point . I ordered crab legs appt , they came out steamy and yummy! The food and bar area are just awesome read more

Embers Restaurant - The feast - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

YUM! I went here with my husband for a special date and was blown away by the food and the friendliness of the manager. My husband ordered the NY Strip and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I had the crab cake appetizer as my entree and they were some of the best ones I've had! We split the grilled asparagus and scalloped potatoes. Both were super good and just like most steak houses all of the sides are made to share. Our waitress wasn't the most friendly, but the manager made up for her lack of enthusiasm. He checked in with all the tables and seemed genuinely interested in the well being of his guests, rather than just doing it because it's expected. I can't wait to go back and try the sushi! read more

I think I have an unfair advantage with Embers because I didn't have to pay for my meal! I came here for a bridal shower luncheon, and I was thoroughly impressed. The service for our large party was really wonderful. They were very discreet, trying not to interrupt our festivities, but were on top of refilling drinks and clearing plates. I had the Trio Salad, but it might be from their restaurant called Trio and not on their menu. Uuuh, delish! It's one of the best salads I have ever had-I can't wait to recreate it tonight! It was made with spinach and bibb lettuce (THANK YOU for not using field greens, blech), pine nuts, cranberries, grilled onion, smoked goat cheese and I chose Salmon over chicken. I am always leery of restaurants that have sushi, seafood, steak, etc. all rolled into one, but the salmon on my salad was perfect. It wasn't over-seasoned, it was a perfect portion and it wasn't overcooked even though they didn't ask how I wanted it. MAJOR points on not overcooking/ over-seasoning such a beautiful piece of fish. If I lived nearby it would be a great lunch spot with the girls or romantic dinner spot for date nights. I was really impressed! read more

Hands down one of the best atmospheres for a nice glass of wine and some apps. Seafood and pasta dishes for certain!!!

I hadn't seen too many recent reviews of this place so was hesitant, but it was an awesome / satisfying meal. My husband and I got 2 appetizers, filets, split 2 sides, and a dessert and walked out of there for under $200 (tip included but no alcohol). It was all delicious and worth every penny. read more

Dinner last night was AMAZING! Service by Nicole was excellent. My Black Angus filet was cooked perfectly. Added some delicious sautéed mushrooms. We ordered a few sides: creamed spinach, duck fat fries, and mashed potatoes. All were gobbled up and enjoyed by all. Split a chopped salad with my hubby. Good idea since half the salad was just the right size. They were out of the Oreo stuffed donuts :0( but the banana paninis were out of this world! Cinnamon bread was used which really made the dish. Also tried the chocolate mousse that was light as a feather! Our favorite restaurant for special occasions! read more

Sushi and steaks. Naturally, this will be an expensive place. You're highly unlikely to get out of here for less than $40/head, but if you book an appetizer, entree, and drink, you're likely to spend over $60/head. The sushi was fresh and crisp tasting. The filet looked delicious and the rack of lamb was tasty (even if I had to really dissect it from how fatty it was). Both were cooked medium rare (as requested) and tender as can be. If you don't want the fancy atmosphere, the bar area is great, but it doesn't come with bar prices. Judging by the Aston Martin and the talk with some restaurant-goers, I think it's a place to be seen about Cincinnati amongst those who are into being seen about Cincinnati. Overall, the food is great, but somehow doesn't seem worthy of such a high price tag. Bottom Line: I'll be back if I'm craving a fantastic steak and willing to shell out some serious cashola. read more

Although I have reviewed Embers before, my experience there tonight was so amazing, I had to write another. I will start by saying that we wanted an early reservation in order to have a nice dinner before our Christmas eve commitments. That can be tricky, because staff can arrive in shifts, and the kitchen is not always geared-up for immediate orders. Not to worry, we were approached right away for drink and appetizer orders. I had the small filet, which was the best I ever had, and my dining companion had the ribeye with blue-cheese encrusted crab, which he said was incredible. The service was wonderful, and the holiday music playing in the background was so nice. I was so relaxed in the comfortable booth, with flickering candle light, soft music and a perfect dinner. read more

Here's the thing - For a $150 meal you'd expect to be knocked off your feet. But the reality is the steaks are good. The ribeye I had was excellent but the service was nothing spectacular - underwhelming actually. 12 oz filet, cowboy ribeye, duck fries, mushrooms, arugala salad, chop salad and fig manahatten. $147.50 with tax. I'll go to the Precinct next time where the food is excellent and the service is over the top. We came, we tried. Checked that box. Won't be back. read more

Loved this place! Ember's is a 4 star restaurant with 5 star service. The waiter was great and the food was excellent. The steak was very good and the side dishes are pretty large. The overall price is high but it is a great place to take a date or have a very nice dinner. read more

I normally avoid places that are rumored to be popular with "cougars" and the midlife crisis set. A visit to Embers reminded me that I need to form my own opinion before listening to others. We stepped in the door for a late dinner and were promptly greeted by a hostess and directed to a roomy booth in the main dining room. The server took our drink order (the bartender pours a nice Manhattan) and we poured over the special, Restaurant Week menu. Between the two of us, we decided to try one of everything. The dishes were inventive, featured a nice presentation and represented a solid fusion concept. My dining companion and I are foodies who have done some traveling together in the name of good eats. We've eaten in some spectacular restaurants and were quite surprised by how well Embers pulled off dinner. We will likely go back another time, even if we have to contend with cougars (which we didn't spot). read more

Ok to start with half price wine is a big draw. We had the smoked garlic and caramelized onion bisque. Followed by the heirloom tomato and urata cheese, outstanding our normal spicy tempura roll, out of bounds. Ask for Joe read more

Nice atmosphere and solid food. I opted for the sashimi platter as a starter in place of a salad. Tuna and yellowtail, nice presentation and great taste. For my main, I did their specialty 'Ohio' ribeye, medium rare, salt crusted ribeye with a blue cheese, crab topping in a bourbon demi glaze (the glaze was great, the crab, blue cheese topping was just ok - kind of a strange mix of you ask me). As a side, I tried the boursin au gratin potatoes...a really nice dish. Would definitely recommend Embers. read more

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I came to embers in a large group of very diverse palates. We ranged from strictly vegan to hard core beef lovers. All were satisfied. The diverse menu did not overreach it's abilities. The different cuts of beef from around the country (they specified where) were so tender and expertly prepared. Our group ordered the filet mignon, ribeye, Chilean sea bass, seared scallops and vegan vegetable platter. And it was all divine. We did not order any sushi and cannot speak to that , but what we did have was spectacular. In terms of beverages, our waitress was very knowledgeable about the extensive wine list and recommended a fantastic bottle of a red blend. As for their cocktail menu, creative twists on loved classics. The decor, ambiance and staff completed the experience and completed our night. read more

Outstanding! We had a party of 4. The drinks were great the pours were perfect. Our food was amazing. Steak tar tar was very good as was the sushi. Kobe Roll was one of the best rolls I have had. We all had Steak and shared a side of the Duck Fat Fries. Our service was great. Because we had a small wait the server brought us a plate of Oreo Donuts. I recomend Embers highly. If you are from Cinci and like any of the Ruby eastablishments, give Embers a try. Better Steaks at half the price. read more

Been here twice, once for a special occasion and once for happy hour in the bar. We had sushi and a filet on the first visit and some small plates at the happy hour. This is a little more expensive than most but the food is phenomenal, and great wine selection as well. Try the sushi roll with Kobe beef! The sliders and stuffed avocados were also very good in the bar. read more

We enjoyed a small family birthday celebration here for my husband today - a real treat! Sat in a round booth in the bar area which was perfectly cozy for our party of 3. Nice selection of beer and wine. We ordered the crab cake appetizer - rich and flavorful. All three of us had steaks - I had the special filet w/ mushrooms and gnocchi - the steak was perfectly cooked, the mushrooms, onions, gnocchi and Parmesan were an indulgent combo (tho I wish there were a few more gnocchi plated). My son got the 12 oz filet and loved every bite. Husband got the prime strip - huge cut, also cooked to perfection! Duck fat fries were irresistible. The grilled asparagus was a generous portion but could have been more well grilled (just our preference). We shared the chocolate cake with bourbon honey (interesting, yummy flavors) and the house made vanilla ice cream is not to be missed. Service from everyone on staff was excellent - friendly, informative, efficient. I think we may have started a new birthday celebration tradition - just a great, relaxing, satisfying night out! read more

We started our anniversary at another restaurant. It was a disaster. My wife, who made the reservation was so mad. She wanted the evening to be special. In the parking lot, I said "Don't trip out. I will save our evening!" I called Embers to see if they could squeeze us in. I told them it was an anniversary emergency. They were able to seat us in the amount of time it would take to get there from downtown. Everything that was wrong with the first restaurant, was beyond expectations at Embers. The hostesses greeted us warmly. They seated us right away. The manager even came by and said hello. Our server was attentive and made great recommendations. The ambiance was low and warm, giving my wife and I the opportunity to have romantic conversation. I had the Vietnamese ribs and WOW- were they fantastic. Their macaroni and cheese was light years ahead of what the kids and the babysitter were eating at home. For dessert, they even brought us a nice little sampler of their homemade ice creams. I will say that Embers is a bit pricey- but deservedly so. They pay attention to the details. They do everything right. When they reset the tables, the staffers hold each and every glass up to the light to look for spots. And if I can remember what I had for dinner that night, you know the food had to have been top notch. Thank you, Embers. Thank you for completely turning around our anniversary. read more

Went here with the mister for a dinner date. Ambiance is really nice and quiet. Most people come here dressed all spiffy, but some people were casual. Servers are very attentive and friendly. We were able to get seated at a booth with zero wait time, but I think reservations would be a good idea since it got busy as dinner service progressed. We got a Spicy Crunchy Roll to share, which was a solid appetizer with varying texture. Bread came with embedded olives for half of the basket, with garlic butter which was good. Bread was soft. yum. Boyfriend got wine, and he thought it was weird but he downed the whole thing (he's sitting next to me and doesn't remember the name of it.) I got the Lemon Twizzle, but the vodka was strong with this one. Entrees were delicious--the mister got the seabass, and I got the 14 oz. New York Strip. The seabass flaked apart and was very tasty, and the apple curry sauce that it came with had a nice flavor to it without being overpowering. The steak had a nice spice crust. We also got onion straws, which was a bit greasy, but the mac & cheese was good. For dessert we tried the oreo stuffed donuts. SUPER SWEET, so if you have a major sweettooth, then this is for you. There's four donuts, with a side of raspberry sauce (sweet), and black raspberry chip icecream, so this is good for at least two people. I also got the chocolate mousse, which comes with a side of whipped cream and raspberry drizzle in a chocolate tuile bowl. I liked the mousse more because it was light. Excellent place for a date. The bill came out steep though (nearly $200), but well worth. read more

The food was great. Everyone around here knows the food is great. I mean, it's not cheap, but it's pretty well worth it. The filet mignon (which I'm making it a mission to try everywhere in town) was superb, and the creme brulee was fantastic. Our server was a super kind, fantastic individual named Jessica. I was able to observe that she had been having a hard night, but she didn't let it affect our experience even a little bit. She's awesome, and I'd highly recommend asking for her if you stop on in. read more

Best steak I have ever eaten. Would recommend to anyone try the filet migno. Will be back!! read more

Embers Restaurant - California Roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Evidently, there is a huge market for a steakhouse that's not quite as expensive as places like the nearby Carlo & Johnny or Capitol Grille, because the place was packed on a Wednesday. Nice atmosphere, if a little dark; very good and friendly service; food that was consistently unexceptional. My strip steak had a fair amount of gristle; the touted brussels sprouts were good but kinda bland; the sautéed spinach was funky and previously-frozen tasting. This is a great steak town; if I'm willing to spend $50 for an a la carte steak, then I'm going to spend another $10 or so to get to one of the top places. read more

Had reservations for our anniversary. Was greeted by a really nice staff, ordered delicious wine. We had amazing sashimi, sushi, steak and scallops! Our server was amazing, management checked on us and the support staff ensued dirty dishes were never left on our table. The flavors were all great and we'll definitely be back! read more

Embers is great because I can get scrumptious sushi, and my husband can get a delicious steak. I love steak, but the sushi here is so good that I've never ordered one. The husband says it's pretty stellar, though. The restaurant has a nice ambiance, with soft lighting and an elegant feel. It's pretty pricey, but a nice place for a special occasion. read more

My husband and I had a double date on Saturday night and we chose Embers. We started out wiht a drink in the bar area, then made our way to our table for our reservation. I had the wedge salad and the crab cake appetizer as my meal. I really enjoyed my crab cakes, I would definitely get them again. My husband had a caesar salad and a sushi roll (I can't remember which one) and he really liked his meal. Our friends each got the filet and it looked really good, they both said that they liked it. I noticed that they have a pretty good happy hour, so I can't wait to go back and enjoy some discount drinks and apps! read more

I really enjoyed my experience here! The food here is so so good! I went here with my boyfriend and my family. Everyone was very please with our orders. I ordered the stuffed avocados and the duck fat fries both were soo good. The avocados were stuffed with yummy seafood and the fries were nice and crispy with yummy sauces on the side. My mom ordered the pad thai which I tried and I thought was very good. My dad ordered a steak which was perfectly beautiful! My sister ordered Macaroni and cheese. Now I must say that she and I both agreed that this has to be the best macaroni and cheese ever!! It was flavorful and creamy! My boyfriend ordered a chicken dish that was very tasty. We had excellent service here! And the waiter even gave us the fried Oreo's for dessert on the house!! What a nice guy! read more

Best sushi in Cincinnati!! Fresh and yummy combinations. Half price on Wednesday in the bar area. Be careful...it's addicting!! Bar area can be quite loud. Dining room is much quieter. read more

My fiance and I went to Embers for our anniversary. The atmosphere in this restaurant is very nice. We knew before going that it was an upscale restaurant, so we picked out nice outfits for the evening. I had a scallop appetizer that was heavenly!! I can't remember what my fiance got. We both got the same dish, which we usually don't do, but it sounded so good. We got the filet oscar over a portabello mushroom with hollandaise sauce and lump crab on top. The steak literally melted in my mouth. To this day that is definitely the best steak I have ever had. We ended up spending $134 for our meal, and it was worth every dime!!! read more

I have been here three times. Once for a company dinner and twice with my wife. The first time I got the cowboy steak with a baked potato and veggies. Very, very good steak. Huge. Classic dish with the baked potato. The steak just melts when you eat it. Again. Very, very good. I've had a steak at Carlo and Johnny and this one was better. Granted, I wouldn't say that I am a fine steak connoisseur. Second time, I had the rack of lamb. Again, very, very good. I actually had a gift card there but couldn't find it so I just paid - hence the third visit when I found the gift card. All the side dishes were excellent as well. Not a huge sample, but every time I've been its been excellent. If I want a really good steak, this is where I will go until I get a chance to sample some other venues. read more