Another Saturday night, and another exquisite meal at Embers Restaurant. When we have friends come in town we often turn to Embers for dinner because of their diverse menu, excellent food, and friendly service that is sure to impress our guests. This night did not disappoint!
We have our favorite waiters at Embers, but overall their service team understands how to put the guest first better than almost any restaurant. The friendly hostess sat us at a warm booth in the back and we were greeted by many of the service team on the way to our seats. Our waiter Brian had already set up the table to accommodate our wine with a decanter and aerator table side.
We began the meal by opening a couple bottles of wine, one an Australian Shiraz by Molly Dooker, and the second a decade old Napa Valley Cabernet. Both were delicious from the start, but the cab would really shine later in the meal when the steak arrived.
The first course we ordered was the green goddess salad, a recent fixture to their menu and our favorite salad available at this time. The dressing is creamy and delicious, while the crunch of the radish, candied pecans, and cucumber adds a nice texture to the Bibb lettuce. Not being a fan of blue cheese, I subbed it for Parmesan for a lighter, but still flavorful cheese.
For the second course we turned to their sushi menu, and began with the toro, or fatty tuna, that was a special for the evening. It came two pieces to an order and lightly seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and green onions. We enjoyed one bite per person, and wow was it a great bite! So soft and tender it almost melted in your mouth. We would order more, but this stuff is expensive and we had a lot more food on the tasting menu I was creating for our table.
Next up for our third course, I ordered two sushi rolls. One was a special for the night with seared toro and green onions on top with an inside full of tempura shrimp, cucumber, and avocado. On the side they served a seven pepper dipping sauce, but it's a bit too spicy for my taste and I opted for a side of sweet eel sauce made in house. The seared toro on top made for a soft and flavorful mouthfeel, while the shrimp tempura inside added the perfect crunch. The second roll was a custom creation that I've been ordering now for years at Embers. Dubbed the double tempura sea bass roll, this roll consists of tempered sea bass on top and in the middle. Sounds simple, but it is perfectly delicious with the crunchy fish throughout and the rich, yet moist flavor profile of the sea bass. You can add avocado or mango (available seasonally) inside for an added bonus.
Next up was our main course for which I ordered the prime strip steak "pan seared" style. This style is amazing and should be highlighted more on the menu for I fear most patrons don't know about it. The steak is seasoned with their homemade steak dust and seared to lock in the flavors, then plated with cipollini onions, roasted mushrooms, gnocchi, and shaved Parmesan, and then topped with a truffle sauce made from reduced veal stock. All around delicious combination that needs to be shared with others. Embers was kind enough to split the steak four ways in the back and design each person's plate accordingly. Their prime steak is some of the best in the city and the sauce is heavenly. Medium rare came out bright red throughout and tender as ever. Each bite was a delicious combination of flavors that left everyone fully satisfied and the Napa cab paired perfectly with this course.
To accompany the steak, we ordered a side of "Burke" vegetables. This medley was created by my family and is ordered at almost every Embers dinner. The delicious combination of brussel sprouts, carrots, onions, cauliflower, and broccoli is sautéed with olive oil till lightly browned. One of our favorite healthy and flavorful sides to pair with any meat, chicken, or fish. Maybe if enough people request the "Burke" vegetable medley Embers will add it to the menu!
We wouldn't have done justice for our guests if we stopped there, so we pushed forward even though I don't think anyone needed more food at this point. When contemplating dessert, you need to start thinking about their Oreo stuffed donuts. This award-winning dessert is paired with Bailey's cookies and cream ice cream and a delicious dipping sauce made with bourbon and vanilla. One donut for each guest perfectly satisfied our sweet tooth. This dish is meant for sharing at the end of a big meal and I'm confident it will end your meal with a happy belly too.
We will keep coming back to Embers often and I'll keep recommending it to anyone that appreciates great food and service or is interested in celebrating a special occasion. After hundreds of visits, it is consistently one of the best restaurants in town. My only "warning" is that after you dine here you will likely become a regular too! read more