Alex Boehm

Amazing dining experience. Michael had great energy and was super friendly. My water glass was never empty, the thyme after thyme drink is my new favorite cocktail. The pear ana prosciutto small plate was so delicious, so many incredible flavors just came together so beautifully. We also got the half chicken and the 50 layer lasagna which was the absolute best lasagna ever! The chicken was so juicy and the vegetables were cooked too perfection. Finally we ordered the marshmallow cake for dessert, sounds simple maybe but it was divine!!

+4

Berenice Andrade

I love coming to Ember, the service is really great from the host that seats you, the bar tenders, and the servers! We love coming here for special occasions and it’s always so amazing and I LOVE the steak so much and the veggies that it comes with. The appetizers are all delicious and for dessert I would recommend the Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream Cocoa Cake

Jordyn Anderson

We found Ember after asking for happy hour recs on the Grover Beach Facebook page, and it did not disappoint! We sat at the bar and had Karissa as our bartender. She was awesome and gave us great food and cocktail recommendations. We tried the happy hour meatballs (a little spicy but super flavorful) and couldn’t pass up the $10 half pizzas. Great little happy hour deal. Skipped dessert this time because we were stuffed, but we’ll definitely be back for a date night to try their dessert food and drink menu.

+1

Jason Thoman

My wife and I had an incredible dining experience at Ember in Arroyo Grande. From the moment we were seated, our server Megan made us feel completely at home. She was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely warm. It was never awkward when she checked in on us, even mid-bite—she had that perfect timing that made everything feel effortless. We started with the deep-fried quail and the wedge salad with bacon. Both were excellent—my quail was crispy and flavorful, and the wedge salad was fresh, generous, and perfectly balanced with the smoky bacon. For our mains, I had the 14 oz ribeye, cooked to perfection: tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. My wife chose the filet mignon, which was equally impressive. We also tried one of their specialty cocktails, the French 75, and it definitely packed a punch while still being well-balanced and refreshing. To finish off the night, we shared the cherry cheesecake, and it was next-level good. Rich, creamy, and the perfect way to end an already amazing meal. We’ll absolutely be coming back. Ember nails both the food and the experience.

+1

Ariel Magid

Always a treat to come to Ember. Easily one of the best restaurants in SLO county, and it has been consistent for close to a decade! We had the mushroom pizza which was excellent, but everything on the menu is delicious. You can't do wrong.

Beatriz Peralta

The food here is amazing. My bf is usually the steak person, but he decided to get the chorizo pizza. Which was really good, don't get me wrong. But that was one of the best ribeyes I've ever had. It came with an avocado chimichurri, which was delicious, but it definitely did not need it. It was amazing alone. My bf definitely regretted not getting it, lol. Let's not forget that the service was also great. Everyone was super nice and down to earth. This will be a continuous place to eat when I'm in the area.

Angel Weir

This is such a special place that adds small touches to every area that they can think of. The price is worth every penny of the food and service provided. What a wonderful treat. I highly recommend! We weren't for sure if we wanted dessert due to being so full, but decided to get dessert. At the beginning of our visit they asked if we were there for a special occasion, and we told them we were celebrating our daughter's birthday. When they brought our dessert they had lit a candle and surprised us with wishing her a happy birthday. So sweet.

Kevin B

Perfectly executed everything. Flavors spot-on, served in large portions and at exactly the right temperature. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the atmosphere is lively but elevated. Definitely a top spot among the five cities, and should my wallet allow for it, a place I would like to visit again sooner rather than later. One thing: Allow extra time for parking since their parking lot is not large enough to accommodate all their guests on a busy night.

+2

Nick Leachman

Food here is always beyond expectations! Ordered the NY steak, filet mignon (my mom’s favorite), and two pasta dishes - all incredibly well prepared. Staff are knowledgeable and attentive. If I had to offer one critique: the dinner flatware is simple and practical over luxurious - but food tastes just as great. Would highly recommend visiting if you have the opportunity.

K Saunds

The food is consistently great at Ember. You’ll get the best steak in the county and a delightful local vibe where the open kitchen staff greet you when you arrive and thank you when you leave. Expect to see a diverse patronage including a local cowboy or 2. Vibrant floor and bar experience and always a friendly service from familiar faces who have been with the restaurant for years. Whilst the prices aren’t at the low end, what you are served for your money is far superior to other restaurants in the area. We love dining at Ember. Walk-ins are pretty easy after 7.30pm and the kitchen is happy to adjust a dish for dietary requirements.

Alexandro Muñoz

This place was very tasty. The only problem we had, i would say it was parking. The parking lot is too small for the amout of people that eat at this place, or maybe it was just our luck 😅 We started our order with espresso martinis and a disaeonno drink. Then we ordered the pepperoni pizza 🍕 which was very tasty! We the proceeded to ordered the crispy duck plate and the ribeye and let me tell you that neither of those disappointed. They were very balanced in flavors and the presentation was also great. We finished the night with their famous toasted marshmallow ice cream cocoa cake, which it was delicious! Not too sweet and great portion size to share. I highly recommend you to try this place out, from the drinks to the main courses, the service and their desserts...we enjoyed it all and we will definitely come back for more!

+2

BREE KHAIRA

Beautiful restaurant in the SLO area (Arroyo Grande)- and the service staff were friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. Riley was our server and she knew the menu and the flavor profiles like the back of her hand. The appetizers were unique and delicious, the dessert was fantastic. The main show didn’t hit the spot - pizza. Bianco was lacking in flavor and the Pepperoni and peppers tasted pretty basic. Next time, I’ll have to try the mushroom pizza.

+2

Neesh Shah

We really wanted to like Ember as we read great reviews and know a few folks that had eaten there but I think this may have just been an off night. We ended up having to wait a long time even with a reservation as they appeared to be short staffed which is understandable and they comped a round of drinks which was a nice touch. The service was great throughout the evening. The real miss was the food. It just didn't have it. Based on the other reviews maybe its worth giving another shot but I'd maybe avoid a weekend time.

I have been back here multiple times, and I've noticed the service has not been so excellent lately. Food also has changed, and the price you pay with service seems higher than when it first opened. Three times the hostess was unkind and had so much attitude. I'm unsure if she's trying to have an LA attitude to elevate her position or is not the right fit for the job. One other time we also made a reservation, and we were told that if you do not choose what type of table, we automatically got seated at the bar. Who sits at the bar? It was a special occasion, and we sat at the bar because I did not want to make a scene. The hostess was so unfriendly and accommodating and then called the manager, who then told us that we were the ones that made the reservation, and so the mistake was on our end. For a place that wants to be upscale and hopes to get a Michelin star, these types of service issues should not be happening. Previous Review: Good food and good service. I ordered the ribeye, and it was delicious. We also shared the marshmallow dessert, and that was scrumptious. By the way, the drinks were good too!