Ember

We had another fantastic evening at Ember last night. We managed to get in quite last minute for an early evening supper which we were pleased about due to some last minute plans. As always, we enjoyed all the different dishes that we tried plus the favourites we have had before. The great thing about Ember is the ever-changing menu and the enthusiasm and top notch service from the staff. It is a pleasure to eat here. We will of course be back again soon!! Thank you to the team.

I think Ember's great. This was only my second visit (and have been to the Four Pears as well) when we went for Sunday lunch just before Christmas. The food was excellent - the pork belly especially delicious. The service team are polite and courteous and quick to want to rectify even the tiniest of mistakes. If I have one criticism, it is the lack of a local beer. The gin is from Warner's in Harrington, the cider is from Saxby's in Farndish. One local beer from Phipps, Great Oakley, Roman Way, NVB or any of the Northamptonshire brewers would be great to see.

Well. Ooshh! I’ve been wanting to go for ages, to the point where I was worried I’d think it wasn’t worth the hype. Worrying over, it was absolutely immense!!! We had a tapes style meal, choosing a selection of meat, veg and fish dishes. Such a varied menu with some wild and traditional dishes - the scallops, flat iron steak and sticky toffee pudding were to die for. The cheese doughnuts were the best combo since GARLIC? BREAD? 😂 Also, when you think Tapas, you think small. Not here! The portions are immensely generous and every dish so tasty, all the star of their own show and complimenting each other beautifully. Cocktails delicious, and the Number 13 bar round the corner owned by the same group is perfect for pre or post drinks with a lovely atmosphere and some delicious options. Atmosphere fab, staff fab - so warm, lovely and knowledgeable. Chef who curated our steak came over and checked we were happy with how it was cooked which I am glad to report was freaking perfect and the best steak my husband has ever had. If you’ve been meaning to go or looking for the first time, for the love of God, GO. You’ll be glad you did 💖 See you soon Ember 💕

+1

My friend organised a special lunch last Saturday for six of us and booked the bench seating at the bar for the chef’s-table experience. We chose the set tasting menu and, as it was a celebration, went all-in with the wine pairing too. Although the restaurant was fairly quiet at that time of day, there was so much to take in that it didn’t matter for a second. And honestly—what a sensory overload. The food, the service, the atmosphere… everything was exceptional. Sitting at the bar felt like watching edible art come to life. Cooking over an open fire is no small feat, yet Chef James made it look effortlessly natural, supported by his remarkable team who worked with total harmony. This place is a genuine hidden gem. I only wish it were closer to London—I'd be back in a heartbeat.

Had the tasting menu at the chefs table which is basically the bar/counter where everything happens. Fascinating to see how everything is cooked in the coals right in front of you. Food was superb and each of the wines paired perfectly to the dish. Will be back to try the à la carte menu.

If you're looking to go somewhere nice for a special occasion, don't bother with a restaurant chain at Rushden Lakes, get down to Ember. Amazing experience, incredibly quality food and great value!

My husband took me for our 20th wedding anniversary and what can I say. WOW!! My husband is a fussy eater and was worried as he had booked the taster menu, but he went for it and loved every single dish. I was in food heaven!!! I’m gluten intolerant and normally feel I miss out in other restaurants, but not here. I even dreamt about eating the food again, the night after. The staff are all so attentive, the food is incredible!! I loved how everyone that worked there was so passionate about the food and this came through in the experience. Loved it!! Thank you Ember!!

+3

Had a fantastic time many thanks. Nice touch with the happy anniversary card when arriving. All the staff where excellent we engaged with bar, floor, chefs and kitchen staff just about everyone and they all represented Ember magnificently. Loved seeing the food being cooked and was all delicious. Stand outs were the cauliflower taco, carrots and sticky toffee pudding. Definitely got value for money. Will definitely be back Many thanks team Ember.

We had an amazing lunch here, and I could not fault a thing. Food was outstanding and we really enjoyed watching it be prepared. The choice and options available were great. The sticky toffee pudding is the best I've ever eaten! As was the beef! Service and friendliness of the staff made the experience top notch. We will definitely be returning.

This place is special, very special. Outside of the major cities it's very rare to find somewhere cooking the food over live fire 🔥 We went in for a special Collab event which was absolutely amazing. Really made me push my boundaries on what I usually eat, but the Chefs on the night did an awesome job of each and every dish. This is the kind of spot which needs to be shouted about from the rooftops and keep them as busy as possible all the time. Seems the restaurant industry is struggling at the moment, forget the chains! Support local. We drove nearly an hour each way to eat here and it was absolutely worth it. Will be back in the new year for sure.

+6

First time at Ember today and it was amazing. The Food, team, atmosphere was great. Hospitality at its best. We sat at the chefs table and had great interaction with the chefs throughout our meal. We went for the small plates option and everything we tried was fab. Stand outs were the flat iron steak, trout and the sticky toffee pudding. Would highly recommend a visit to Ember.

I went to Ember Restaurant in Wellingborough for the first time and was blown away. The place looks amazing, and the food is out of this world— I went on a Sunday so the roast was available but dam this is a roast dinner with a twist - flavours I’ve never ever tasted before in my life. The staff were friendly, making sure we had everything we need whether that’s drinks or something else and made the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. I’m 100% going back and would definitely recommend it to others! Again thank you guys so much for that experience 🙏🙏👌👌

Lovely place to celebrate special days. Had a few different small plates, they are all very special and delicious. I love to support local business, especially they hired a lot of young adults who are passionate with what they are doing, always put a smile on their faces.

+1

A fabulous girls' night out at Ember Wellingborough's Chef's Table! We indulged in exquisite dishes while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and each other's company. Laughter, great food, and unforgettable memories made for the perfect evening! Follow ➡️ @daddyslittlelunchbox

+6

We enjoyed a lovely meal here, we chose the tasting menu with wine as it was a special occasion and sat on ‘the best seat in the house’. Firstly, the restaurant has a special vibe about it and you completely forget you’re in Wellingborough! We had special attention from the waiting staff who were all brilliant and so friendly, we also were served by the chefs who could talk about the food. The chefs also were keen to have feedback on the food so that it can be improved on next time which we thought was excellent. We had a really good time celebrating at Ember and both said we would like to return to enjoy a main meal here. The tasting menu was a fun experience but all the courses that were chosen this month were rather salty including the deserts! And we left feeling a little hungry but that’s just us!

A wonderful experience at Ember. Booked for a birthday and all went off quite well and everyone left with stomach full, after some great quality foods, cooked excellently. Thanks to Josh & Luke for being gest hosts throughout. The ambience was great as we were lucky enough to have the entire place to ourselves early lunch booking. Standouts were the pork belly, steak, sweet potato dish & the lemon sole. Wonderful place, worth a visit and definitely coming back.

From the moment we arrived, the entire evening felt like something truly special. The 7-course tasting menu was nothing short of exceptional — each dish beautifully presented, perfectly balanced, and full of thoughtful, creative flavour combinations. Every course felt purposeful, building seamlessly from one to the next in a way that kept us excited for what was coming. What really elevated the experience was the chefs themselves. Their interaction with guests added such a personal touch — explaining techniques, sharing inspiration behind the dishes, and bringing genuine warmth and passion to the table. It transformed the meal from simply dining out into an immersive culinary experience. The atmosphere struck the perfect balance between refined and relaxed. It felt intimate, welcoming, and vibrant without ever being overwhelming. You could sense the pride and care in every detail, from the service to the plating to the pacing of the evening. An unforgettable experience from start to finish. If you’re looking for something beyond just a meal — something memorable, engaging, and absolutely delicious — this is it. Highly, highly recommended. Can’t wait to return!

Visited area for a birthday party and decided to make a weekend of it. Booked Ember on the back of excellent reviews. Very very glad I did. Fabulous ambience, warm, friendly and helpful staff. We had the tasting menu. And it was belting. Difficult to pick a favourite when they were all so great.the japapeno jam tart was splendid but maybe the beef won. A superb meal and a brilliant evening. Next time we’re coming back solely for a return visit to Ember. It’s that good.

What a superb place. Really excellent food and service- small portions but chef-style cooking. I'll be coming back.

Wow, great place with a fantastic ambiance. The owner and staff were all engaging and made us feel very welcome. The food is meticulously prepared with fresh ingredients in the open kitchen. All the dishes were well thought out to merge the many different flavours. I can highly recommend the tasting menu.

I’ve been wanting to visit Ember restaurant in Wellingborough for such a long time so when partner suggested a date night/lunch this was the first place that I thought of and the wait was worth it! Food, staff and atmosphere was perfect Definitely looking forward to going back to try their tasting menu

Ember is a wonderful restaurant and ticks all the boxes. It's a unique small plate bbq restaurant with quality food and excellent service. We arrived for lunch and sat at the counter in front the bbq grill where we could see our food being prepared and cooked on the charcoal fire. You can also chat to the chefs Dave and Hannah about the food on the menu. Today we were served from the new Spring menu which was delicious and inspiring. We ordered the flat iron steak which was served rare as to our liking. The baby patatas bravas were delicious and we had a generous portion, The swede was cooked overnight in the embers and served with a tasty Mole sauce. The lamb bacon taco was full of flavour and beautifully garnished. A treat for teyes and palate. To end our lunch we ordered Hannah's amazing Burnt Basque cheesecake which was melt in the mouth paradise! Even better than the cheesecakes we'd sampled on holiday in San Sebastian last summer. The staff here are friendly and welcoming. Kaiya did an excellent job of looking after us and making sure we had everything we needed. She is an asset to this restaurant and also makes wonderful Espresso Martinis. I would wholeheartedly recommend Ember to anyone looking for a unique and memorable dining experience. It's a restaurant you can keep returning to serving beautifully presented high quality delicious food. Well done to all the team at Ember. You rock! 😊👍

A wonderful friendly and warm greeting started off our evening along with a card on our table congratulating us on our anniversary. A fabulous start to our evening and it just got better and better with the exceptional food. A refreshingly new dining experience that is becoming the talk of the town.

Second visit and they absolutely smashed it again. Service always with a smile and the restaurant although small is just beautiful. Highly recommend the chefs table and tasting.

Outstanding food with some truly amazing flavours. I always order an extra dish for the table when I can’t quite decide what to choose from, at Ember I honestly think i will have to work my way through the entire menu on a number of sittings as all the food stood out with a massive invitation to try. To top it all off it’s seems to be a family run business so the passion for perfection is evident with their level of service and attention to detail.The young waitress was absolutely incredible, enthusiastic to explain the dishes and pleasant to talk to, dining is not just about the food it’s about the whole experience and Ember really ticks all the boxes, can’t wait to return. Highly recommended the Norwegian doughnuts for the complete indulgence experience (see photo)

A really great place with a very unique menu, great atmosphere and super friendly and welcoming staff. Loved the whole experience. The ceviche was delicious. Also absolutely loved the cauliflower tacos. Would definitely return when I come back up to visit my friend 😀

Amazing food as always so fresh. Love how the menu changes every time we go. This is a hidden gem. Their new bar no 13 is a lovely intimate venue with top class service.

Absolutely amazing experience and food! I went with a group of friends and we sat at the chefs table so were able to see the food being cooked and bask in the full atmosphere of the place. Service was fantastic & the food was out of this world. We all had something different so got to try a lot of different dishes. Would 100% recommend, can’t wait to go back!

We came to Ember for my fiancé's birthday and it was incredible! Hannah chatted to us at the chef's table and we loved watching the food being put together. The 7 course tasting menu was stunning and the most delicious food we've had in a long time. Definitely want to come back and try the small plates!

Such a lovely place. Really nice ambience and the food and service was exceptional. We had the seven course tasting menu, all prepared and served in front of us with the chef guiding us through the produce. Really high quality throughout. Loved it and will be back.

We went to Ember last night. I've been meaning to try the place for a while (after having moved out of London not too long ago, and missing restaurants that aren't pubs, which are common in Northants). The staff are great, very friendly and there are a lot (or enough) of them to mean you're never waiting long if you want another drink etc. or the bill. The owner is clearly very passionate about what the restaurant is, the food and how it feels to be in the space - which I am here for. The food is fab - very good quality ingredients, and the smokiness is lovely (the octopus picks it up especially well). Plates come out as they are made but at the right speed if that makes sense. The only (slight) irk was the Flat Iron steak being fridge cold in the middle. I understand its hard to get a rare steak warm all the way through, but it isn't impossible (perhaps this is down to the cooking method - it's all over coal/wood in a fire pit). The cost is representative of the quality of the food (and so is good value) - but its not a cheap meal (and it shouldn't be for the quality). For two, with a couple of drinks and 7 plates (which was probably one too many for us), it was around £140. Go! NB - Be mindful of the (fair) cancellation policy (which is buried at the end of a slab of text on the booking form as you're looking at filling the form out, you may miss it like I did). Open Table want to put this in bold/red or something, but it is there.

We went for our recent anniversary. Happened to stumble across after trawling the internet for local restaurants. Fantastic place - we went for the tasting menu at the bar. The interaction with the kitchen staff and head chef was brilliant and they were very accommodating with any dietary requirements. Food served was of a high standard and everything explained as it was served. Will definitely be back.

We tipped up for Sunday lunch and the food was epic. The pork belly was the best I’ve ever had. And it was a proper Sunday lunch with all the trimmings you’d expect plus, considering the quality of the meats, fabulous value. I did find the beef too smoked for me, but that’s my personal preference.

Visited for our anniversary. Simply amazing. The service was great and very attentive (without being too much). The food was fantastic. We had a selection of the "small plates" and were impressed by the quality.

Amazing food - every bite was pure heaven. We had the tasting menu and each dish was so considered with all the attention and care and love paid. Thank you - we can’t wait to come back

First visit this evening and definitely will not be the last. Amazing food cooked simply over fire/coals. Every course was outstanding. Staff were excellent, knowledgeable about the food being served and very friendly. 10/10 the best place to eat in Northants.

Wow, my tastebuds have never been so HAPPY! I went with a group of friends and ordered almost everything lol But the main stars of the show for me were the flat iron steak, octopus and the sticky toffee pud; Dear God In Heaven!! they were so good. Be prepared to leave there smelling like a bonfire, but honestly, i do not and never will regret my time at Ember! Friendly staff and hard working chefs who prep everything out in the open. be sure to book a table well in advance, people flock to this place and now I understand why! My friends and I came from London! Thank you Ember for a great time. Until we meet again... because WE WILL lol

Me and my wife have been wanting to visit ember for a while and we finally did last Friday and let me tell you it did not disappoint! We did the taster menu with the wine pairing and can honestly say that was some of the best food I’ve had, especially liked the flat iron and the empanadas. So if you’re thinking about visiting you’d be a fool not too. Thanks for an amazing meal. Ryan

Food amazing but what stood out was that I got the date wrong for our booking and turned up 24 hours late! As per the terms my account was debited as a ‘no show’ but they very kindly said that whatever we ate would be put credited towards what had been debited. They didn’t have to do this and it was really appreciated. Highly recommend.

We arrived and were not asked to take our coats... Best table in the house watching the chefs and team on the range and they all work damn hard to deliver solid flavour. We had the 7 course £70 menu and the stand out dish was the STP! Followed closely by the sauce on the scallops. Wait staff/servers are polite and knowledgeable however, service was 'clunky' and akward at times (removing plates, leaning very closely whilst placing plates down). I hope this is seen as constructive feedback - entirely how it is intended. Great choice in music, and Ambience was decadent. Wine choices are good and varied whereas rum choices Captain Morgan's or other generic. My espresso martini was good- if a little sweet. Bathroom is a tad Heath Robinson but has ambition. Definitely returning for the squid, flank steak and STP 😊

Having read numerous reviews, we visited this new venture on Saturday. We were advised that later on the restaurant would be fully booked but managed to get a sitting at 5.00pm we opted for the main menu starting with the tasty little snacks of jalapeño & cheddar muffins, smoked lamb and black garlic belly ends....all very delicious. Followed by roasted pink potatoes and hanger steak (£30)....Classic affogato to finish. Total bill with one drink £93. Interesting dining experience, the staff were excellent and the overall atmosphere closer to rustic rather than fine dining. Next time IF we have the hanger steak, will order it medium rare....ours was closer to blue!!!...most likely would come back and stick to the tasty snacks, the Tasting Menu at £70/person, a little too much!

Interesting, not overwhelming. The beef stake was way to salty, the desert with caramel the same. The asparagus and cauliflower overcooked. The chefs was supposed to explain the dishes, taste combinations and be more involved. Is good that wasn't a pizza in the menu. 😀

The food was nice and the staff were friendly. A good experience however we just weren’t impressed as much as we thought we would be, unfortunately, and in our expectations not being met the prices didn’t seem justifiable. We wouldn’t return.