Kevin W.

Most of my reviews focus on the perceived value I believe I get for the money spent. Overall, I think Ember Kitchen is certainly worth checking out, but I think I might order a little differently next time. First off - parking is convenient in the Seaholm parking garage. My understanding is that Ember will validate, but it wasn't apparent to me how that works and honestly I walked out forgetting it and having to pay the bill for parking - oh well. I came with a party of six and we were celebrating a birthday. The team at Ember was very accommodating. We were seated downstairs in their "Speakeasy" room. It's a bit dark, but cool atmosphere. There are other dining options if you prefer a bit brighter setting. We were served complimentary birthday shots! These were quite tasty - enough so that I ordered another round of those citrus based shooters. Everyone at the table ordered a cocktail. Nearly all the cocktails on the menu are going to be served in a feminine looking glass and with a flower. The cocktail menu is pretty much for the ladies. On the bright side, they have a good selection of bourbons, tequila, etc available for straight pours at a decent price. Not extensive selection, but I think a good choice - enough that I think you will find something to fit your price point and taste profile. Our waitress was top notch. Very attentive and paid close attention to the orders from our gluten sensitive guest ensuring she ordered safely. We ordered a couple small plates as appetizers for the whole table. Everyone loved the crab cake. I thought it was tasty but wasn't expecting whole kernel corn in a crab cake so that threw me off a little. Market seafood crudo - this is a fish appetizer and as the name implies changes based on availability. The night we ate was a Hamachi or Salmon option. The salmon had a bit more of a spicy sauce so we chose that. It was a hit. We also chose a tuna tartare and it was fresh, good but didn't knock our socks off. When ready for the main course - our waitress had a number of off-menu specials to tell us about and honestly many were very interesting options. In fact, we chose to split a 50oz Tomahawk steak. This was a huge steak plated on a hot platter, already sliced off the bone with some fingerling potatoes. This was honestly the most expensive part of the meal (no surprise), but also the least impressive. Now visually it was a spectacle for sure, but the meat certainly had pieces that were tough with some large pieces of fat. Now I don't mind the fat, but when sliced there were a couple pieces that were nothing but fat, other pieces still that were mostly gristle. We all agreed the seasoning was just missing, it seemed to have no seasoning at all. It was also quite charred. One of the claims to fame here is their Josper oven and clearly it can put a good char on a steak. Some in our party liked it, but I thought it was a bit much. There can be fine line between a good steak crust and a burnt crust. I thought it was a bit much, and maybe why the seasoning seemed missing. On the bright side, it was cooked correctly to order. My only problem was, for the price, this was a complete miss. We also ordered scallops and the morida shrimp. Both were excellent. These were probably worth coming back for. The morida shrimp come served in a bowl with a rich sauce that was enjoyed by the whole party. The scallops come pan seared and were cooked perfectly - which is key to enjoying a good scallop. Be aware that the typical order of scallops though comes with only two scallops - rather light even for a single individual, because these were not on the "small plates" menu, it was supposed to be a full entree. Great experience overall, but we just felt not quite worth what we had to pay for it. Overall, it was just over $150 per person. What could have saved it - for that price, the steak HAS to be on point.

Theron H.

Visited here over the weekend and we enjoyed our brunch! We were able to make a reservation quite easily and even get seated a little early. The space inside the restaurant was very nice. Lots of windows allowed for a great amount of natural light so even though it was filled with people it didn't feel crowded. My favorite part of the meal was the biscuits and gravy. I'd very much return just to get those again. We also had the plantain pancakes, steak and eggs, a blueberry drink, and a mango mocktail. Everything tasted great and the wait time wasn't even long either. Thankfully parking wasn't a hassle since they validate parking at the garage. It was a beautiful day to brunch and we had a great time!

Tope O.

From the service to the plate, Ember Kitchen is a must-visit. The crab cake appetizer was light yet flavorful, but the short ribs stole the show. They were savory, tender, and served over the dreamiest polenta. I loved the interactive element of choosing our own knives,it's those little details that make the service here top-tier. Highly recommend!

Kristin S.

There is garage parking with validation from the restaurant for 2 hours. They also take reservations. The live music was great when I went! We sat at the chefs table which was just ok, usually I'm used to chefs table interacting with chefs but that didn't happen. To start we were given complimentary plantains and guacamole. Drink: The paper wisdom was yummy and not too sweet and the in lieu of sleep was like an espresso martini. Small plates: The crab cake was great! We also had the Morita Shrimp, which honestly that was overcooked. The bread that it comes with was a very yummy, along with the sauce that the shrimp was in. Main dishes: The scallops were cooked well. The Wagyu steak was also very yummy. The star dish for me was an off the menu short rib which was to die for, but pricey! Make sure you ask the cost before you order! Side dish: The crispy beef fat potatoes are a MUST try. Dessert: The Maíz y Chocolate is a MUST have! If you are a fan of dark chocolate get it, because the raspberry dark chocolate combo is scrumptious!

Michaela P.

I was so excited that Ember started to serve brunch and decided to give it a go with the hubs. We were promptly seated and placed our entire drink and food order and then, we waited. The Crudo eventually made it to our table well before our Mimosa and Bloody Mary, which was just ok. We ordered another round of drinks, and asked for more spice in the Bloody Mary, and we waited again. The Chilaquilles and the Migas with Josper Chicken made their appearance before our second drink order. Fine, but also annoying as we didn't order "craft" cocktails. The extra spice for the BM was "accomplished?" By adding a slice of jalapeño to the skewer, nothing extra in the drink itself. Disappointing. Back to the food. The chilaquiles were good, but hubs claimed he had better at other places. My migas were more like a Frittata due to their skillet cooking, thankfully I like Frittatas. I was really looking forward to the Josper chicken, but sadly I only found maybe 6 small pieces, albeit very tasty, in the entire dish. For the price I should've just ordered the 1/2 chicken entree. All in all it was ok, there are for sure better and cheaper brunch places in Austin

Melissa A.

We've been to Ember Restaurant several times now, and it never misses.This visit was for dinner, and we sat at the chef's counter- which is absolutely worth it. Watching the chefs work up close adds so much to the experience and really highlights the care and skill that goes into every dish. We started with the morita shrimp appetizer, then had the short rib special and the half chicken. Every bite was packed with flavor- the food is consistently incredible. What really sets Ember apart, though, is the service. It's consistently warm, attentive, and perfectly timed without ever feeling overbearing. Whether it's your first visit or your fifth, Ember delivers on food, experience, and hospitality. One of our go-to spots in Austin and always worth coming back to.

Brandelyn G.

I surprised my husband with a reservation at Ember kitchen for his birthday! I planned for us to sit at the chef's counter but when we arrived there were 2 other people sitting there and we would have been elbow to elbow so we asked for a table by ourselves-- which was more of the vibe we wanted for that night. I ordered the Julian Collins mocktail (which had matcha in it) but it wasn't my favorite. Our waitress was kind of enough to bring me another mocktail that has ginger cider (I forgot the name) -- and while it was beautifully crafted it was a bit too sweet for me and tasted like a super sweet cold apple cider. For dinner we each decided to try the Josper chicken (even though we could have split it) and we ordered the beef fat potatoes and fried plantains as our sides. The Josper chicken was humongous and truly the best chicken I think I have ever had. I'm so glad we don't split it because we both tore it up That charcoal flavor was everything!!! The potatoes were nice and crispy and the plantains were perfectly cooked, The salad that comes with the Ember Kitchen was light and refreshing and was the perfect compliment. They were kind enough to give my husband a free desert which were churros filled with dulce de leche and they were the most incredible thing I ever had!!! My husband also ordered the chocolate gelato but he said it tasted like ice cream-- although he really enjoyed it. TLDR: - Josper Chicken is amazing! Try it and see - Churros delicious - Mocktails are creative and beautifully crafted, but not my favorite - Amazing place to celebrate birthday, anniversaries or special occasions

Stephanie M.

We came in for a little date night around Christmas time. Made a reservation and were seated promptly when we arrived. At 1st they say us at a 2 top upstairs just right in the middle where a lot of people were passing by us. It seemed a bit too hectic for us and they happily moved us to another 2 top near the railing and with a nice few to see down to the 1st floor. Our server, Victoria, brought us some lovely welcome shots and even a second round a little later into our visit since our main entree's took a little long to arrive. She even added some churros for us to go. Nice gesture for the wait. We had the following items: Tuna Tartare $25 - Tuna was fresh and paired very well with the plantain chips. Decent portion size. Morita Shrimp $23 - Wow this dish was our absolute favorite. Would 100% order again. The creamy sauce is super garlicky(I LOVE garlic) and perfect for dipping the flatbread in. We cleaned the bowl! Filet Skewer $34 - Tender filet and love me some grilled sweet peppers. Great flavor. Pork Chop $54 - Sadly our least favorite dish. Pork was overcooked. Overcharred. Meat dry. Buuut it was fun to pick our own knives to use to cut up our Pork Chop. Crispy Beef Fat Potatoes $16 - Nothing special here. Not enough flavor for me. I would not order again. They do give a large portion though. Charred Broccolini $16 - Decent portion and cooked perfectly. Overall the ambiance and exceptional wait staff are what made our date night such a lovely experience. There were some hits and misses on the food we selected, but I'm definitely open to trying more menu items and 100% getting the Shrimp Morita again.

Food was amazing, & our waiter Seth was super attentive. It was our 20th anniversary & we got complimentary shots & churros! They made our night special & we will definitely be back. The crab cake was full of crab, & the crudo was fabulous! Josper chicken & ribeye were great too!

Katalina P.

Went here for a celebration and they gave her a compliment cocktail to start:) The crab cake was my favorite appetizer. It had large crab flakes and slight kick was perfect. The mussels were another favorite. You must get a little bit in one bite: baguette dipped in the sauce and a mussel with veggies! Such a unique, delicious flavor. The tomahawk was perfect for sharing. The server let us pick out own cutting knife. The fish quality was great but the sauce and flavor wasn't the best combo. Overall, I think the apps are better than the main dishes. Service was a little slow. It's a little overpriced for what you are getting.

Cam H.

This place was very spacious and pretty! Liked the vibes when I first walked in. We sat at a nice booth. Our waitress was sweet. The Wagyu steak was decent. I expected a Wagyu steak to be a little more melt-in-your-mouth texture but it wasn't that at all. Just tasted like a typical good steak but nothing too special. I liked the mocktails that I got, esp the toasted marshmallow one. The plantains could've been a bit sweeter and softer. I liked the halibut dish and it was a nice touch to add extra scallops on top. The sauce was buttery and blended in well with the fish. Potatoes were also excellent. One thing that stood out to me was their corn tortillas! I usually prefer flour tortillas but these corn ones were so good. They were made fresh in house, brought out warm and soft. Also very aromatic. We went overboard and ordered a bunch of desserts. I enjoyed the sundae but didn't love the chocoflan. The cake was quite dry and the flan was not creamy enough. I'd still come back because of the ambiance and their main dishes were good enough.

Henry L.

Such a fantastic experience! We made a reservation at the Chef's Counter for our wedding anniversary on a Sunday night. The staff was superb and we really felt welcomed. The food was amazing as well. We looked around for a place with delicious and uniquely prepared dishes, and Ember didn't disappoint. Let's start with the parking. Parking was super easy. We parked in the Seaholm Garage and scanned the QR code in the garage to start our parking session. Ember has a QR code at their host stand to take 2 hours off of your ticket. No need to ask your waiter; just scan the code on your way out. The Chef's Counter experience was super fun. We got to watch the Josper doing its thing, and all of the kitchen staff working like a well oiled machine. Would definitely recommend! We started off with the Market Fish Crudo (Ora King Salmon) and the Crispy Tamal "Ahogada". The salmon was super tender and delicious and paired nicely with the light sauce. The Tamal was great as well and is definitely the more interesting of the two apps. Would love to try the Salpicon de Pulpo and the mussels next time. For entrees, we got the Scallops and the Josper-Roasted Market Fish (Halibut). The scallops were cooked perfectly and the corn was deliciously sweet. Always wished to have more scallops though. The halibut is a meaty fish, and flaked so well. It was tender with a nice crispy sear on top. The sauce for the fish was absolutely addicting and we definitely used our spoons to not waste a drop. The sides were great as well. The Beef Fat potatoes were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The amount of potatoes could easily feed another person. The salad was also high quality. We ended the night with the churros, which, as expected, was solid. Despite sitting next to others at the counter, the place felt pretty intimate. Wished the music wasn't as loud though. Definitely a memorable night and would love to come back for the next special occasion.

Kim H.

We accidentally made reservations here thinking it was another restaurant that began with an E. We are so glad we made the mistake they went above and beyond for my husbands bday. We started off with complimentary caviar bites. My husband described them as little caviar tacos because of the shells. They also gave us plantains and guacamole and shots to start the evening off. We got the crab cake to share. It was honestly one of my favorite crab cakes because it was different than your traditional crab cake. I loved the black beans and corn and the spiciness from the peppers. He got the halibut. I t was decent portion and lovely presentation. I splurged and got seafood platter special. It was big and I could not finish it but it had a great flavor and variety of seafood. The beef fat potatoes were one of our favorite sides, so crispy and full of flavor. For dessert we ordered the suspiro, it has a hard meringue and dulce de leche with pecans and a Carmel sauce. They also gave us churros has his bday dessert. We sat at the seats that faced the kitchen and got a perfect view of all the food coming out. We are already talking about our next 2 visits and what we plan to order. There is a parking garage right behind the restaurant that they honor 2 hours of complimentary parking just know your license plate when you get to the restaurant.