New Year's Eve dinner '14. The good and bad: Drinks: Grey Goose slightly dirty Martini's were "best ever", according to the wives. All drinks priced well for a big city restaurant. Rolls: good, came with whipped butter. Appetizer: Rock Tempura Shrimp, very bad - should never have left the kitchen; someone messed up! Tempura lost its crunch on the way to the table (aka, soggy), shrimp was curled up baby shrimp probably frozen right out of the Kroger sale bin, not hot, the dish was overall unappealing looking, the sauce/flavor was good. Salads: excellent! We ordered 3 types. All greens were fresh/cold/crispy, plenty of goodies (bacon, anchovies, etc) - I was told by the ladies the anchovies were fresh. Main Dishes: fish dishes good (extra thumbs up on the Sea Bass), sushi rolls were as good as we can find anywhere, all dishes looked beautiful, the only slight complaint was the fish portion sizes per price. Desert: had the chocolate cake - dry, very dry, may have sat around for awhile causing the bread to dry. Service: outstanding (you will go far, Zach); multiple well dressed and respectful waiters, servers and managers getting involved and in synch. Ambiance: excellent. Cleanliness: excellent. read more

Everything was amazing! The butter was probably my favorite things.. it was very different. Our waitress was amazing and the food was perfect. read more

Truly can't say much for the food, but the SERVICE!! Impeccable. Our waitress Ali was extremely attentive. The perfect balance of "checking in to see how you're doing" without "interrupting mid bite"... you know what I mean.... Our water glasses were never empty, which is a feat considering the camel that I am dating, and the table was always free of unnecessary clutter. The manager Mike was equally as impressive. Took the time to come to our table personally and see how our meal was. Insisted on providing a substitute for a side I didn't care for, despite my protests. The food was not bad, but nothing special so I took a star off, but I daresay, this was by far the BEST customer service I have ever had in Cincinnati. read more

this was probably the worst place i have ever been. I first walked into this restaurant, i got a dirty look from the hostess, very judge-mental. Then i got sat at my table. They took my drink order. I looked around and noticed everyone got a drink menu and bread. Never once did we get a bread basket. He asked if we need a few more minutes and came back within 2 mins. Very judge-mental place. Would not recommend, looks old and gross and raggedy inside. very creepy server, kept giving me weird looks. read more

I was extremely disappointed with my experience here. I was expecting a great meal but my expectations were not met, especially with the prices paid. There is nothing special about the food here. The atmosphere is nice but the food does not match the prices. How someone can rate this place 5 stars is beyond belief. read more

We have always enjoyed the food at Embers. It's exceptional. The service is good but we were very disappointed with the pours for a glass of wine. The wine prices are very expensive and a glass is only 5oz. read more

This place is extraordinary in every way! A must for anyone who loves food and the experience of perfect staff and service. Try Kaze in OTR. Same owner, same delights. read more

The groupon was a rip off. Their parking situation sucks. Will NEVER go back.

Took my wife out to dinner and her entree was served with a few long black hairs overtop. The server removed the dish and the manager returned no less than 5 minutes later with what I'm 99% sure was the same dish. They did apologize and bought us dessert but to not at least offer to comp the meal I thought was unacceptable. When you spend $150 on a dinner out for two the expectations are a little higher than that. We will not be back. read more

Embers is the quintessential gathering place for successful adults (30+ in age). A interesting fusion between designer sushi rolls and prime cut steaks coupled with an electric bar scene makes Embers an excellent choice for an after-work gathering or to impress a date. The service is excellent and the food prepared with a flash of art culinarie. If you like surf & turf, have your steak "oscared" either traditionally or a la Embers with a medley of seafood. Valet parking is offered and somewhat necessary given the small size of the parking lot. If you arrive after 6:30 pm, it may be hard to find a seat at the bar! read more

We've been dining at Embers off and on for a few years now. Lately we've become regulars thanks to the genius addition of their bar menu. The main restaurant, while very nice, is a little too stuffy for my tastes. The newly remodeled bar has a great vibe and while you can order anything off the regular menu, the bar menu is amazingly good and super affordable. The street ribs and duck fat fries are a favorite. Embers also does a great steak although I wish I could get more jazzed about their sides. Service is always friendly and very accomodating. read more

We ate there last night for the first time. I must say the was really good. When we arrived a little earlier then our reservation we had a drink at the bar first. The bartender was very quick and friendly. When we were seated we has great food and service. The manager came over twice saying our food will be right out and apologizing on the wait. But we didn't think we waited long at all. For out wait they even gave us a free desert of our choice. So of course we chose the Oreo doughnuts. They were amazing! read more

My wife and I tried this restaurant for the first time last night. Overall we were both impressed. We were seated promptly and our waiter quickly came to out table to greet us and take our drink orders. He was very helpful and gave us recommendations. We started with sushi that was very reasonably priced in my opinion. The drinks and other food were a little on the pricey side but keep in mind that this is an upscale restaurant. The service and food was excellent. This is a great place for a special occasion or perhaps a business dinner. read more

Embers is one of my favorite restaurants. Their sushi is probably the best sushi I've ever had. The severs are extremely polite. Also their donuts with cherry sauce are so good! read more

This may be one of my favorite Groupon finds. We came in on a Sunday night for dinner. I had checked out the menu in advance & knew it would be pricey even with the Groupon. Wine averaged about $9/glass. Normally this wouldn't dissuade me, but the BF & I had had a long, exhausting day, so I stuck with water & the BF got a coke. We each ordered a steak - colorado filet for me & I want to say NY strip for the BF. At $32 each, our steaks did not come cheap, but they were delicious. Sides are a la carte, but most are large enough to share. We went with the $5 mashed potatoes. Our food came out very quickly, though considering how few people were in the restaurant, I guess we shouldn't have been so surprised. Our steaks were cooked to our specifications & had very little (if any) fat on them. Our waitress was a little slow, particularly slow in bringing the check. We probably wouldn't have normally noticed, but we had been awake since 5am & really wanted to go home & get to sleep. However, the bus boys were great. Constantly refilling our water glasses, clearing our plates the second we finished, asking if there was anything else we needed. If only our waitress had been so attentive. Once I have the funds, I'll go back. Until then, I'll wait for the next Groupon deal. read more

Overall, great experience. The food was good and the server was attentive. We got mostly sushi and while it wasn't the most amazing sushi i have ever had it was good for Ohio. However, I will say that I have had comparable sushi at other places for a way more reasonable price. Their entree prices are pretty step here too (greater than $30) so be prepared to spend some $$$. Aside from the sushi we ordered the soup of the day, which was an apple gouda bisque that was delicious. I would definitely recommend this place as long as you don't mind the price tag that's attached to it. Could be a nice place for an upscale date night if that's what you are in the mood for. read more

I can't personally speak for the dining room, but I enjoyed the lounge/bar area very much! The lounge is a little less stuffy and a little more youthful. They have a pretty decent happy hour which includes craft cocktails, sushi, and small bites. When you dine in the lounge, you have the choice of the full restaurant menu, or the "bar" menu. Our waiter was super friendly and attentive. I'll be back for Happy Hour! read more

Just tried Embers tonight for the first time. I can't believe I haven't been there before now. Husband and I enjoyed an amazing meal with fantastic service. Husband ordered ribs and asparagus. He loved it. I had the veggie sushi rolls. So good! We also tried the sides: mushrooms, duck fat fries and brussel sprouts. Everything was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. For dessert, my husband couldn't resist the Oreo donut! Wow! I thought he was going to lick the plate. We will definitely be going back!!! read more

I went to Embers during the tennis tournament this summer, so it was really crowded; however, the bartender was awesome and made the best Hendricks cocktail I've ever had.....and I have had my fair share of Hendricks cocktails. The food was amazing. I would definitely come here again for a special occasion. read more

we had a fantastic dinner experience. the staff is courteous and well-trained (a bit more so than i expected for this part of cincinnati). recommended. it's a bit pricey, so we'll be back for the next special occasion. read more

Excellent experience! He started with the sashimi platter and I had the chilled crab legs. So much flavor and perfectly cooked. He had Caeser and I had Green Goddess salad. Then to the main course! He had the strip and I had Filet Oscar. Loved the crusty char on my steak and the Oscar topping. His steak was cooked to perfection. Service was excellent! read more

Sat at the bar for a quick easy date. Food was delicious but bartender was as unfriendly as any I've ever experienced. Rarely smiled. Never asked how our drinks or dinner was and made little or no eye contact until he brought the check. For a restaurant of this caliber he needs some Training in interpersonal skills. The dude was an efficient drink maker but zero personality. Won't ever sit at the bar when he is behind it. Not a happy guy! read more

Dinner Jan 19 The Restaurant: beautiful decor, cozy, intimate and very classy. The Service: it was okay. Our water glasses were empty quite a lot. I was a bit surprised no wait staff were there just to fill water glasses. And I will never understand why when people order water to drink, they just don't bring a bigger glass to begin with. But, our server's suggestions were "spot on". I especially appreciated that he mentioned the house salad had blue cheese and made sure that was okay. The Food: portions are not big, so if your real hungry or a big eater you had better order an appetizer or two. BUT, what Embers loses in quantity, it more than makes up for in Quality! Everything ordered at our table was beautifully presented. The ingredients were fresh, very flavorful&, seasoned wonderfully and cooked perfectly. I ordered the Seared Sea Scallop was blown away at the unique taste of the dish. The scallops were rather small, but seared perfectly and tasted even better than they looked. The Boursin Risotto with mushrooms was incredible and was a magnificent accompaniment with the scallops. The only thing that was ordered that was disappointing was the side dish of Asparagus. A surprisingly large portion, enough for table to share, but very bland and flavorless. The Desserts: The Bonbonerie Opera Cream Torte was simply decadent! A wonderful creation that simply melted in my mouth! My table also ordered the Oreo Stuffed Donuts, they were unique and a very different dessert. Very, very rich and plenty enough to share. This is certainly not a place to go after a softball game with the boys. It is expensive, so be prepared to pay a lot, but it is worth it! read more

This place knows steak. Fantastic piece of meat treated with the respect it deserved! Top notch service! Valet parking. The flavors were spot on. Highly recommended! read more

Went here for my wife's birthday. Nice ambience. Food was excellent. Ordered some sushi as appetizer and for maincourse the 72 hour short rib and the Lamb chops, can't go wrong with that! Drinks are great too. Service was great, Our server Bryan made us feel comfortable and gave us some description about what is good in the menu. They even gave us a complementary dessert for my wife's birthday. This is a great place for special occassions or just normal dining. read more

We ate here about 2 weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We had purchased a local deal, so we knew that we would be limited on what we could order. The server was nice enough to allow us to order off the bar menu, which was great! We were able to try multiple appetizers and still order two fabulous meals. The guacamole with plaintains is delicious. We will be back! read more

Our waiter was phenomenal and the food was perfect. We had a few special requests on our entree orders and they couldn't have executed better. We'll definitely be back! read more

I've only been here for happy hour. My understanding is that dinner is on the expensive side. On Thursdays, the bar menu is half off, select wine and beer is $5, house cocktails are also $5. I've liked all the menu items I've tried, but my favorite is the Stuffed Avocado. It's two avocado halves stuffed with crab and shrimp, drizzled with spicy mayo and teriyaki. Delish! If you're a sushi fan, they have half off sushi rolls on Wednesday. The atmosphere relaxed but classy. read more

Everything and I mean everything was on point! The moment we walked in were greeted by the hostess and she was delightful! The atmosphere was pleasant and enjoyable. The lighting is perfect! Once we were seated our lovely waitress was professional and friendly. Always arriving at our table at just the right moment to ensure our dining experience was excellent. The food was out of this world delicious. I have to say, we have been to many of the fine dining restaurants around the city but Embers has exceeded expectations and will now be our favorite spot. The filet with the blue cheese crust was amazing! We shared duck fat fries and the scalloped potatoes as sides and they were good. Oh, don't let me forget the appetizers.......shrimp cocktail were huge!! The crab cakes though......the best we have ever had! I simply cannot wait to go back and try the sushi and the bar food. I want so badly to go and sit at the bar. It was jamming. Yay, thanks for a delightful evening Embers!! We will be back for certain! read more

My husband and I went for drinks and light bites after a movie at the Kenwood theater. Could not have been more perfect! The sushi special was the best we've ever tasted. The goddess salad was divine. The chocolate salted caramel cake was magnificent. And the "long goodnight" cocktail finished the evening just wonderfully. We sat in the bar area which was more lively than the dining room but had a distinctly elegant vibe. Our server was professional and personable without being intrusive. A treasure to have this place so close by! read more

Excellent evening at Embers. This was our first time dining here and we will be back, the service, food and ambiance we all excellent and I really have no complaints at all. We started with a salad each, the wedge was really tasty, I liked that they offered either a thousand Island or Blue Cheese option, my husband had the chopped salad that he really enjoyed, The steaks were truly outstanding, I had the special with gnocci, mushrooms and onions, the steak was cooked to perfection, my husband had the 8oz filet which was equally as good. We shared the duck fat fries ( easily large enough to share - as were all the sides) brussel sprouts and cauliflower. I enjoyed the Flirtini - very tasty and refreshing and my husband had a couple of beers. All in all a great night out, and highly recommended for steak lovers. read more

Used a groupon to try them out. Very happy. Great atmosphere. Great booth. Shout out to Rich the bearded waiter- among the best in waiters we've encountered. Food. Chop salad - fantastic Chicken spring rolls - fair Sushi rolls - tasty. However rice was a bit mushy and made rolls fall apart a bit when picking up with chopsticks. Fish was sliced awfully thin on these rolls as well. 7 out of 10 on sushi rolls. Super expensive! Need a grouon to go back but will definitely want to. read more

First time visiting embers. 5 stars for service. From the manager to our waitress to the busboys; the service was top notch. We started with the crab cakes, which were pretty good. For our main courses my wife got the filet and green goddess salad and I got the southern style ribs with duck fat fries. Filet and ribs were good but we were not "wowed" by them. The BBQ sauce was very good. I was disappointed with the duck fat fries. Now to the highlight of the night... the Oreo donuts dessert. WOW! These things were amazing. Served with a side of cookies and cream ice cream and a berry chocolate sauce. I thought I was stuffed until I scarfed down two donuts in no time. read more

Its Cincy sushi, not really expecting much so its tough to disappointed. The sea bass roll was ok. No need to check this out if you live somewhere with good sushi as you'll be disappointed and shocked with the prices. read more

My son and I went there since we had a Groupon and wanted to give it a try. The service was excellent and they seated us right away. Seemed like we sat there for a little while and the manager came over and took our drink order. Our server was very nice, but seemed nervous while giving us some recommendations. I had the Filet which was cooked perfectly and my son had the Ohio Ribeye. His was really rare, but he didn't tell me until it was too late. I am certain they would have made it right though. We had the macaroni and cheese which he called "amazing". Overall, we had a fun night bonding. The food and service was really good, but a little pricy for my taste. read more

If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Embers is really in a class of its own in Cincinnati. Serving the best quality ingredients in the best casual fine dining atmosphere is what Embers is known for. Their surf and turf is arguably the best in town. Sushi is fantastic! Service is spot on. Great management too! read more

The service was great and the food was good. Had the surf and turf with Mac n cheese and brussel sprouts and caprese salad. Everything tasted good but not excellent. The mac n cheese was grainy and the Brussel sprouts were a bit undercooked but the taste was fine. The steak was cooked perfectly but was limited in flavor, the lobster was great as was the caprese salad. read more

Great steaks - and lots of other choices. We were back in Cincy in mid September for a visit and they had really great crab legs. Everything on the menu is very good to great - but they lose a star for being a bit pricey... read more

Originally from Cincinnati and currently living in Colorado, I saw the Groupon for Embers and decided to go there when I visited home. I got the Colorado filet which isn't too comparable to the steaks in Colorado but I would have to say it is probably one of the best steaks I have had in Cinci, however it is pretty expensive. I don't remember if the steak came with a side item, but I do remember it coming with a delish garlic bloom (I don't know why but it was a really good garlic bloom). I also had the sushi, which was really good and fresh. The service was also superb. I didn't use the valet parking because I can park my own car and walk a minute or two. I take one star off because of the prices and valet that really isn't necessary (but it is in Kenwood...). I hope Embers has some more deals, more items on their happy hour, or something doing promotions. I would go back again. read more

Very good food and very good service but the only keeping this from being five stars is the price; I understand the quality, but a little pricey even for a business meeting dinner. I was with bosses so the bill is covered but they are priced out of range for a regular business trip meal. I enjoyed the cowboy steak and the Brussels sprouts, but the cauliflower was a little dry this time read more