Bistro Ember

"Bistro Ember is a sultry Turkish spot in Noe Valley that works best as a last-minute weeknight date spot if you find yourself in this stroller-filled neighborhood. With dim overhead lighting, small table lights, and soft acoustic covers of Top 40 hits playing in the background, the dining room is a perfect backdrop for couples seeking to slow down and enjoy their meal after a long day. Servers spray raki perfume (a Turkish liquor in a spray bottle) on kampachi crudo with melon gel and deliver chickpea yeast bread served with a side of butter that’s shaped like a honeycomb. Unfortunately, the entrees are where the menu is the weakest. When you’re paying upwards of $40 for a piece of lamb that doesn’t taste like much, it makes more sense to just grab a cold and hot appetizer, get a glass of zinfandel, and stare deeply into the eyes of the person across from you. Food Rundown photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Chickpea Yeast Bread Sure, honeycomb butter adds a bit of sparkle to this bread dish, but great butter can’t make up for the sadness of tough bread. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Fish & Raki A theatrical crudo that’s prepared with a tangy granita and sprayed with a raki perfume. Yes, it’s a show, but it’s delicious. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Manti Creamy, juicy, tender. Get these soft little pillows on your table. photo credit: Ricky Rodriguez Lamb Mutancana At $42 you would expect this slow-braised lamb to simply fall apart with one touch of your fork. Unfortunately, it doesn’t, and it’s pretty gamey as well, despite being slow-cooked for 12 hours." - Ricky Rodriguez

"Bistro Ember is best for a special date night, birthday, or an “I can’t do this anymore, I need something nice” meal. This upscale Turkish spot in Noe Valley has a dark, sultry vibe with small table lamps, barely lit overhead lights, and soft acoustic music playing over the speaker. What else makes this place special are the stellar dishes that look like art, from the chickpea yeast bread that’s served with a side of spicy honey that comes in honeycomb-shaped butter to the kampachi crudo with melon gel and a raki perfume. The well-seasoned lamb manti is their Monet—grand and larger than life (we would dedicate a museum to these dumplings). A meal here moves slowly, not because the kitchen takes its time, but rather because you’re going to want to drag it on forever. " - Julia Chen 1, Ricky Rodriguez

"This upscale Turkish spot is best for special date nights, birthdays, or an “I need self-care in the form of a nice meal." It has a sultry vibe with small table lamps, barely lit overhead lights, and soft acoustic music playing over the speaker. Stellar dishes that look like art also make this place feel special, from the chickpea yeast bread that’s served with spicy honey and honeycomb-shaped butter to the kampachi crudo with melon gel and raki perfume. The well-seasoned lamb manti is their Monet—grand and larger than life (we would dedicate a museum to them). Dinner here moves slowly, not because the kitchen takes its time, but rather because you’ll want to drag it on forever. " - Lani Conway, Ricky Rodriguez, Julia Chen 1