Embers

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.

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.

We loved this restaurant. We had Hawaiian Roll appetizer, filet mignon, and oreo donuts dessert. This may have been the best meal we ever had. The filet was cooked perfectly and paired very well with sauces, gnocchi and mushrooms. It was a perfect combination. The service was very nice and attentive. Timing of food was great and created a relaxed paced meal. We used a groupon and that was an easy process as well. The meal was pricey, but understandable so and well worth it!

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.

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.

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!

Not Jeff Ruby’s, but pretty close. We’ll worth a visit. Steaks were great, service was perfect.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

This place is a nice up-​scale dining area (valet parking available), but if you are on a budget, feel free to visit during the happy hour as they have a lot of great deals. I enjoyed the mini crabcakes for 4.50 and a couple of cheeseburger sliders for 1.50 ea. They also have half priced sushi and great drink specials. I haven’t eaten dinner, but the cheeseburger sliders were really great and a definite bargain for what you get.

By far the Worst steak I’ve ever eaten.
Why not just say all marble with a hint of meat.
You should never ever call yourself a steak place.

Snagged a Groupon $ 25 for $ 50 dining credit to try this place out. Steaks ($ 32 – 38 range) are well-​aged, perfectly seared, buttery and accompanied by bearnaise. Tried the bleu cheese wedge, hefty chunks of bleu, bacon crumbles over iceberg and potatoes au gratin with tangy cheeses. Good wine list, sampled a couple before settling on a glass of Paraduxx zinfandel– cabernet ($ 15).
This is an amazing wine, with the silky mouthfeel of Orin Swift red blend the Prisoner (my favorite) — the spicy richness of Zinfandel and rich berry-​leather-​vanilla notes of a good cabernet really stands up to the steaks. I tried a sip of Liberty School (and I usually like Paso Robles reds) but it felt thin and a bit watery mid-​palate. Shared a half order of the fried oreo donut — rich, hot and steamy.

Made my very first visit to Embers and was NOT disappointed. We reserved the private room for my parents 65^th 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.

All I can say is… TRY their KOBE Sushi Rolls and their OREO doughnuts!!! Unbelievably delicious. Then, try everything else!
They offer bar specials every night.
Half price sushi weekly!
Extremely enjoyable always!

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!

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.