The staff was pleasant and attentive. Although we came in with a party of six and no reservation, they were able to seat our party almost right away. Everyone raved about their dishes; however, our waitress, Ashley, was spectacular. She was very friendly and helpful and our food came out quickly. When a member of our party spilled a glass of water on her meal, she was spot on. The table was completely cleaned and drenched food was replaced in a flash. She saved the day and at the end of our meal I told her that she won our award for the best waitress ever. read more

We stumbled accross 1/2 price bar menu the first night we came. While the bar was hopping, we found a table immediately and the service was excellent. Decent wine selection and interesting, upscale kinds of food. The stuffed avocados were great as was the grilled truffled cheese and tomato soup. (The soup was really a dip, not a soup at all, but it tasted okay). Try the oreo stuffed doughnuts with raspberry sauce. AMAZING! The bar was full of 40-somethings in suits which had come after work or with a date. Makes for good people watching. read more

Embers - Oreo stuffed donuts with raspberry sauce and raspberry chip ice cream - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This was an interesting one. The area was quiet which was great for us. The waiter was quite satisfactory. The helpers were a little pushy. The sushi was not available with brown rice. The filet mignon was tough and too salty. Would I go here again I'm really not sure. If they had brown rice I would. And I would be sure to tell him not to salt the filet mignon so much. Who knows maybe there's not any tender beef available to him. read more

Embers - Seating area. Yummy! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Steak charred on the outside looking burnt. Very small for the price. Sweet potatoes were excellent. Drinks pricey. Have had better steaks elsewhere. read more

I didn't know Ember's existed until today. This restaurant is a high class steakhouse, seafood restaurant, AND sushi bar combined. I had a dinner meeting here and the atmosphere was almost perfect for the meeting except for the fact that sometimes we had trouble hearing each other over the noise of the restaurant. I ordered the lobster bisque ($6) which was to die for, I mean literally melt in your mouth (not that it wasn't hot already) and had a nice little spicy kick to it. I also ordered an eel roll ($7.50) which didn't live up to my expectations of an eel roll. I didn't like the crunch of the cucumber in the middle. I like my eels to be soft and gooey! I tried my companions food and I can also attest to the fact that the edamame is excellent as well as the seaweed salad. One of my colleagues ordered the kobe beef sushi (yes, raw beef) and it loved it. I was too scared to try it. The restaurant is beautiful with low lighting. The waiter we had was impeccable in his service. Always polite, always served and took orders on the correct side, brought more drinks without us having to ask, and gladly split up the bill into separate checks after we forgot to mention that. Now this place is nice, but you're going to pay for it. I spent about $22 on a meal just for myself after tip. And that was with ordering a soup and one sushi roll. The restaurants main entrees of seafood and steak will run you at about $30 a piece. Yes, I know! Check out the burning torch thing that's out by the street. It's pretty cool! read more

Embers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Myself and 2 friends ate at Embers in Kenwood this past Thursday, May 11th! All of our first times there. And all we could say was WOW! From the atmosphere to our waitress, Kristy, to the food...it was all impeccable, and we had a great time. Can't remember the last time I had such a great tasting steak, it was like butter, so delicious. And my friends had wonderful meals of scallops and salmon. We will definitely be back! Thank you, Embers, for such a great dining experience! read more

My boyfriend and I had been recommended this restaurant with a gift card to use, so we went! The food was partially edible! I had chicken, and my boyfriend had steak. The broccoli he had with his dinner was half yellow from being to old. My carrots were so burnt and the chicken was so nasty! My boyfriend forgot to use the gift card, so we paid 150.00 for the worst meal of our lives. Never going back!! read more

Very nice restaurant food was delish service was fantastic servers were on point food was prompt the best service and good food we have had in this pandemic we will go back soon and recommend to all of our friends And family read more

I came to Embers for the first time with a small group of coworkers. I hadn't come here before, and hadn't heard much, but left very impressed: Food: We probably over did it on food, but is that even possible? For appetizers, we had the Alaskan king crab legs, which were split in half for easy eating. Nom nom. We also had the classic shrimp cocktails, with huge shrimp served with cocktail sauce. Hard to find issues with something so simple and delicious. And we also did the seared crab cakes, which are made with generous crab and minimal filling. Very happy, and honestly, full meal from the appetizers we ordered. For my meal, I had the rack of lamb. It was cooked perfectly, medium rare as I requested, and was a generous portion. For sides, I tried the lobster mac and cheese and the duck fat fries. Everything was amazing. I wanted to try the steaks, and from what I saw around the table, the steaks would be a great choice, but literally had dinner at another steak place the day prior. For dessert, I had the oreo stuffed donuts, and I would have to say, if you come to Ember's, you must try these. It's delicious, decadent and a perfect way to finish your meal. Service: Our server was great. He came by as each person arrived to introduce himself and grab drink orders. Appetizers came out quickly, and the meal came out at a great pace. He was great about not interrupting or hovering but kept checking in and provided great recommendations. Facilities: Embers has ample parking outside, and even a valet option if you're so inclined. Inside, it's kind of the typical dim lighting upscale decor you probably expected. The tables are nicely spread out, and it's not overly crowded. read more

Ember's was meh, pretty average. We tried to come on Wednesday night but it was packed and we couldn't get in. By this we just knew it would be great. We made reservations for Friday night and returned. We were a little disappointed. Ember's didn't turn out to be that great. This was stop number 4 during #GCRWeek2018. We started our night off with some drinks. My husband had an Old-Fashioned and I had a Ember's Flirtini. He didn't like his Old-Fashioned. My martini was actually pretty good. I love sweeter drinks so this was right up my alley. It had Raspberry Vodka, Cranberry, Pineapple Fresh Lime, Fresh Raspberry, Champagne. It was mixed well. I started drinking a little too fast and it snuck up on me. The bread and butter was pretty good. Nothing special but the bread had a good flavor and seemed fresh. For an appetizer my husband ordered the California Roll. It was actually very good. I ordered the Chilean Seabass, my husband ordered the Ribs (Southern Style), and we ordered our daughter Chicken Finger and Fries. My Seabass was actually pretty decent. It was cooked perfectly. The risotto and broccolini served with it was good as well. This dish was seasoned ok. It could have used a little more seasoning overall. A pretty decent dish. My husband ordered the Ribs (Southern Style) and it came with Mac & Cheese. These ribs were not good. If your going to have ribs on your menu they should at least be decent. These were almost a joke. They were over cooked, very dry. Just not good! The Mac & Cheese was not good either. It was bland and overly creamy. The cheese sauce had no flavor, and needed some seasoning. However, our daughter's Chicken Finger & Fries were good. Probably some of the best chicken tenders from a restaurant. I'm not sure how the kid's chicken fingers were better than the adult meals. Hmm? Overall, We weren't that impressed with Ember. We wont be back. read more

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Embers is an amazing place to dine in Cincinnati. One of the best places in the city for steak or sushi. The food is outstanding. Fine dining without a pretentious atmosphere. The staff is amazing. Owner and managers are all around to be sure that you are enjoying you meal too. The bar side of Embers is great for a more informal atmosphere with the same great food if you want to socialize or catch a game on TV and a bar menu. If you are very hungry, that Cowboy steak is one of the best I've had. Also recommend trying the Duck Fat Fries. read more

Robert is the best sever!!! The food was great and I'd come back again just because of Robert. Deserts are delish and the sushi is a must try. This is also a place that knows how to make vodka gimlets!! read more

Embers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This was my second time eating here, and it was just ok. It was kind of early, so there was a ridiculous amount of wait staff hovering. I could barely set my water glass down without it being refilled, and we were asked how everything was way too many times. By the end of the meal we couldn't even tell who our actual waiter was. I got Sushi to start, and it was good. Everything is separately priced on the menu, and I just couldn't decide what I wanted, so I went with the ribs because they come with Mac and cheese. I asked if the Mac and cheese could be upgraded to the lobster mac and cheese, and the waiter said that was no problem. Food comes out, and everything looks good. I see chunks of lobster on top of the Mac and cheese and dig in. Even though it tasted fine, it was obviously microwaved. The pasta around the edge was dried out and the sauce separated and was oily around the outside. The ribs, which say they're a half rack, are very small. They were extremely dry, but when dunked in the sauce had a good taste. Everyone was nice, and the atmosphere is nice, but for the price there are much better options and we won't be back. read more

Nice service and ambiance but the food isn't that great. Firstly they forgot my macaroni and cheese, then proceeded to tell me they missed it on the check and now the kitchen is closed. The steak was not seasoned at all, just tasted like a grill. Not Impressed. read more

I've been to Embers about 5 times in as many years and think they deserve every Yelp star they've earned. We've always had great service and food. Prices are in line with quality, and their sushi is a good value. Glad to have them serving my community and wish them continued success! read more

I rarely ever venture to the not-mall section of Montgomery Road so it wasn't until Restaurant Week 2011 that I ever heard of and been to Embers. The best thing about Embers is that it's more high-scale than expected. What I mean by that is when you walk in you'll see a nice, clean, almost-fancy bar and in the dining area you see art, candles on the table, and will be presented with a pretty stellar wine and champagne list. I wouldn't expect that kind of thing from a restaurant within a mile from the largest mall in the area (especially since most of the restaurants around there are chains or bars). The menu is full of great steak, seafood, pasta, and sushi. Order the lobster bisque for an appetizer - it's probably the best I've had. I usually don't like when steakhouses (or other non-Japanese restaurants) have sushi on the menu, but the sushi at Embers doesn't disappoint. What keeps Embers from a fifth star from me is the service and the proximity to downtown. The latter isn't their fault at all, just my own little opinion. If it were closer to downtown I'd frequent it more often... simple as that. The service, however, is definitely their issue they need to sort out. Our waitress was very, very slow getting water refills and getting us our checks. I'd love it if the service was as good as the food. If I ever have a reason to head up to Kenwood and feel like prancing around in my little black dress, I'll head back to Embers. read more

Embers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Good sushi good service good everything. Great bartenders making good cocktails. So busy no one goes there anymore but I like busy places so it's worth squeezing in. read more

This place is always extremely enjoyable. It has great atmosphere, excellent food, an impressive wine selection, and the service is always top notch. The location is a little deceiving. It's in a shopping center and does not match the experience inside though there is always an impressive lineup of cars in the front row of valet. The menu has a nice selection of appetisers, salads, and they also offer sushi. The steaks are mouth watering. They have a great selection of cuts including my favorite, the cowboy bone in ribeye. They also have a wide variety of toppings you can add to your steak if you are into that. I think it's criminal to smother their steaks in anything but the butter they finish them with. WOW The wine list is as impressive as their steaks. They also offer half off wine nights on Tuesday. That's going to be my favorite night. Some favorites like Caravan, Prisoner, and Duckhorn Migration are just a few on their list. They also offer a daily happy hour from 4 - 6 with a separate small bite menu. There are many reasons to visit this place. They legitimately deserve a five star. read more

Embers - You have to love half off wine night! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Fantastic food and service every time. I've been dining at Embers with my family for years and the food and service is always fantastic. They are known for the steak and sushi, but the chicken is a personal favorite of mine. On my last visit I had a delicious crab cake appetizer. They have an extensive wine menu and great cocktails. Embers is definitely a restaurant to keep on the list! read more

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

Embers - Excellent combo of dishes for our Embers dinner! See my review for details on each course! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We got a groupon and decided to give it a try on my birthday since it has a nice and sophisticated atmosphere, and it didn't disappoint us!! Service was amazing and food was really good. Price is on the higher end but I definitely recommend this place for a special occasion. read more

Embers - The seabass was so gooood - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Stopped in to Embers on 10/19/22 to have dinner and sat at the bar. They were busy and it was close to the end of the night the bar maid working offered water and ask if I wanted anything else to drink I told her I would let her know in a few minutes. It took her quite a bit of time to get back, when she finally got back I ordered my 1st glass of wine and she went to get the wine as soon as she got back I told her I knew what I wanted and ordered my dinner. The dinner came rather quickly she asked how did I like my meal and I had only just gotten one bite of the vegetables and then she went on to wait on someone else after that I didn't see her for quite some time which shocked me because typically they check in with at least a couple of times. She finally returned back I then requested a baked potato she said okay but again was gone for a while only to return only to tell me they didn't have any baked potatoes because they had run out and then I said OK she then ask i'd want an alternative Side item I then ask do you have any baked sweet potatoes? She leaves again for a while and comes back to tell me no baked sweet potatoes The kitchen is closed and all we have is soup. I tell her no thank you and no problem it appears as though the restaurant was pretty busy. So she offers me a complementary glass of wine and brought it back before I could finish the glass I had in front of me so I poured the one I had into the glass that she brought then a little later she brings my bill that was $105 and some change I give her $120 cash to cover the bill (1-$100 and 1-$20 bill ) expecting to get back $14 and some change because it was more than enough money to cover the bill and I wanted to add an additional $40 to the change I was to receive from the payment to leave her a gracious tip .... Well I'm guessing she thought I was drunk or couldn't count or I wasn't going to tip her because she comes back with without The original bills I placed with the receipt but change for $100 less the $20 and tries to tell me that I only gave her $100 to cover the check and said that she thought I want to change for $100 which I could not believe that she sat there in my face and lied then proceeded with gaslighting me !!! I asked for the manager and couldn't believe that the manager was so disrespectful and continued with the gaslighting trying to make me believe that I made the mistake and didn't know how much cash I gave her and told me that he would cover the $20 and to not worry about it I told him you have a thief working at your freaking bar I expected to get $14 and some change because I was going to leave her $50 tip . I knew I only had 3 $20 bills in my billfold with a couple of $100 bills because I don't typically carry cash and I had two clients give me cash as payments for their service earlier that day totaling $260 in large bills. Her fever he lost her a generous tip because I know it's someone who gets tipped by my clients that a little extra can go a long way so when I have extra I usually try to be kind and generous to wait staff but I would never go back there again knowing that they have people like this working behind the bar! there's no telling how many people have been had or put into a confusing situation because of this type of scamming! read more

Underwhelmed. Tried to eat dinner here about 5 years ago while in town and couldn't get a table. Ate there tonight. Appetizers and service great. Ordered the filet special medium. It was medium well with a push. And no gnocchi which was supposed to accompany. Wish we had known we would be in Cincinnati sooner to make reservations at c and j read more

Fantastic happy hour special! ****You must sit in the bar area**** First we enjoyed delightful mini apps like crab cakes and cheeseburger sliders. Next we ordered some half price sushi, I picked the sea bass which was the bomb! My friends ordered the surf n turf which they devoured-it was delicious! If you're an onion ring fan, order some from Embers- the seasoning was tasty and they were crunchy while not all sliding out in one bite. The happy hour also had great drink deals- I ordered some white wine but they also had beers and cocktails featured. Embers happy hour is the way to dine! Fantastic food (taste and quality) for a cost that won't break the bank! Gotta try it! read more

This place is awesome every time! On November 10, 2017 my friend Kim and I dined at Embers. We were both torn on entree. I chose the sea bass feature. It was the best fish entree I've ever eaten. It was seared sea bass, risotto, brocccolini, mushrooms and a gastrique. This dish was amazing and thanks to our server for the recommendation! If every fish dish was prepared this well, I would eat it every week. read more

Embers is nestled between several chain restaurants in the Kenwood area, so it is quite easy to overlook which I had done for number of years. After a fellow Yelper gushed about her delicious meal, I decided it was time that I give Embers a chance and I am so glad I did. We started with a sushi roll and the beef tartare. Not only was it delicious, but both the taste and quality were equivalent to what I would expect from one of Cincinnati's higher end restaurants. We chose to share the Oscar fillet and the rack of lamb. Seasoning, the temperature, and the cuts were absolutely perfect. I'm honestly not a big fan of Oreos, yet the Oreo donuts were simply divine. I could have eaten an entire order myself. This restaurant has been added to our short list of places we take out of town guests to dine. I have absolutely nothing negative to say, and cannot wait to experience Embers again! read more

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We went there on a Friday for an anniversary dinner. We are right on time for our reservation and were seated immediately. The staff was polite, friendly, and super attentive. The food was awesome - including salad, steak, fish, sides, dessert, wine. It's on the expensive side but the experience was so stellar it seem like a very good deal. A truly exceptional dining experience! We will be back! read more

Service is unreal. We ordered the ocean roll and it was out in 2 minutes unreal. Steak was cooked to perfection and the fried Oreo balls topped with Ice cream and a raspberry sauce. The only reason it's not a 5 star review is because they have those weird couples that feed each other on the same side of the booth all over the restaurant. Wednesday's are half priced sushi but was warned by my waiter to make sure and get reservations cause the wait can get out of hand. Dress to impress! read more

Embers - Ocean roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food was really good and the waiter was very friendly. I felt like royalty while dinning. I was there to celebrate my wedding anniversary and they made it very special for me. read more

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Wonderful sushi! Tuna is delicious! Filet minion is tender and juicy! A very tempting selection of desserts! Relaxing atmosphere. Satisfying service . What more could you ask for. read more

I came to Embers as part of a professional dinner and was very impressed. The staff was very attentive and friendly. I started with the Caesar salad which was delicious--topped with multiple types of cheese..who doesn't love cheese? My entrée was the salmon which was excellent, paired with fresh vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes. The flavors mixed together perfectly, the salmon was cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. The best part of any meal is always dessert, I ordered the oreo stuffed doughnuts--this is definitely in the top 3 best desserts I have every had. No description will give this heavenly masterpiece justice. They were served with oreo ice cream and a raspberry sauce which added the perfect amount of sweetness. I will definitely come back here for dinner and drinks--but most importantly for dessert! read more

Everything is tasty, good wine. Wish they have more choices but all the 'finer' restaurants r like that.Great location, easy parking. Will definitely go back for more! read more

Embers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We go often with little kids, the service is always great and they are always understanding and nice with all the babies. Their sushi is very good, the filet is good as well, add a side of mushroom and one of Mac and cheese. If you want something lighter I highly recommend the salmon. The deep fried Oreos are awesome to share! read more

Took my wife to this location for our 10 year anniversary and it was just amazing. They have a amazing sushi selection, which we ordered both the Philadelphia roll and the California roll which were perfect. We then picked a 3 course meal, which were fabulous and were reasonably priced. When you go try their Pan Seared Filet Mignon, and for dessert Oreo stuffed donuts. Trust me you will not be disappointed. Highly recommend for anniversary or special event, staff is very professional and helpful, the atmosphere is also very relaxing. read more

To say we were disappointed on Embers would be an understatement. The greeter welcomed us with no more than a grunt. The server said little more when she bothered to turn up. When the food turned up we were very disappointed with the quality. The atmosphere was one up from a golf club and a place I would never set foot in again. My recommendation would be go to Embers or Outback they are of similar quality. read more

Embers has successfully dredged itself out of the depths of being a "special occasion" restaurant with their lively bar and weekly specials. The bar is almost always packed (even on week nights) thanks to their bar menu and sushi menu. Sign up for their email newsletter and find out what wine specials they have for "Wine Week" during the last week of each month. Serious wines for minimum pricing. What a great way to try a glass of an upscale wine ($100/bottle) without making the commitment of a whole bottle. I was originally afraid to post about their great specials because I didn't want it to be more crowded than it already is, but we go here so often now, I don't mind sharing the joy. As far as their dining room? I don't know because I haven't eaten there in years. The prices are ridiculous. I suspect that their steaks aren't USDA Prime and that they just employ the use of cleverly placed "quotation marks". And $45 for Dover Sole Meuniere? I've paid less than that a Michelin 3 star... Don't waste your money on that or their Bonbonerie desserts. 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!

Groupon offered up a $25 for $50 at Embers, so I figured, "why not?!" My wife and I stopped in there on a Sunday evening about a week ago. The atmosphere is nice, with dimmed lighting, leather booths, etc. I still can't quite get used to what could be considered a "fine dining" restaurant being in a shopping center, but hey, who am I to judge... oh wait, I do a fair number of reviews for Yelp! Haha! Anyway, I had a Colorado filet, duck-fat fries, and sautéed Spinach which was all quite good. Overall, I felt my experience there was good and I really have nothing bad to say about it. That said, for some reason it didn't really drive me to want to go back there; it was kind of a vanilla experience. I guess I feel like if you're gonna drop enough money to eat at Embers, spend a little bit more and go to any of Jeff Ruby's joints; the atmosphere and the food is just better. To be honest, Embers feels like a high end Applebees or TGI-Fridays, sans the "Grandma's" attic, random collection of crap on the walls. Its a fine place, and I'm not gonna say that I won't ever go back there, but It just wasn't blow-me-away impressive. Honestly, I wanted to give this place the 2-star, "Meh, I've had better," but I didn't think that would be fair, so it got the 3-star A-Ok rating; its actually a, 3-star, "meh, its okay" rating. read more

My boyfriend and I often go to the Precinct when we want a good steak. After dining at Embers, we will continue to stick with Precinct. Our waiter had an odd creepiness to him, and he spoke so softly we couldn't hear him even after repeatedly asking him to speak up. We started with sushi, which was far spicier than the waiter informed us it was. I ordered a filet, which was lined with fat. To top it all off, my boyfriend and I both were up sick all night and the next day. We will NEVER go back there. Even if we hadn't gotten sick - their menu is pricier than Precinct and quality isn't even close. read more

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