Ember & Ash

This is such a great spot, owners are a local couple and the love comes through. Recently I was getting a drink at the bar at the end of the night and the owner told us he could make extra vegetarian dishes if we just asked. So we did and he came through! We had such a fabulous meal, drinks, service (Thanks Devin!), vibe. Really recommend it for any occassion! And it's a great bar to sit at too.

From the moment I walked in, I knew I was in for a treat. The food was absolutely amazing!! Every dish was full of flavor, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. You can really tell that the kitchen puts heart and skill into every plate that they make. What truly made my experience unforgettable, though, was our server. DEVON was hands-down the best I’ve ever had. Friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly attentive without being overbearing. She made me feel genuinely welcomed and went above and beyond to ensure I had a perfect evening and that’s more than I can ask for. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for top-tier food and great service. I’ll definitely be back very soon!&

I highly recommend this place!!!. Me and my partner have come three times, one for our anniversary, a casual dinner and most recently my birthday. We had a great experience the three times. Since we entered, they were all kind, our waiter helped us the first time, he guided us through the menu and we had a great anniversary dinner. On our most recent visit for my birthday, our experience began very well with my name printed on the menu (a small detail that is appreciated), we saw that there were new dishes that we decided to try them without thinking twice. We had the mushrooms to start with and it had become our favorite dish because we always ordered them, we continued our dinner with the broccoli that was quite good with a crispi texture, we had the kung pao cauliflower that had a great taste and it was also a great complement to start with and also the grilled avocado that I was excited to try, I was not disappointed at all, it was delicious and quite good for a dish that sounds simple. We continued with the Fried Octopus that my partner totally loved, the combination of flavors from the taste of the octopus along with the passion fruit sauce was incredible, we had the gnochi that was quite good, we continued with the lamb ribs, it was a great dish I did not expect I to like it so much since initially I thought I would not like the bittersweet taste but I loved it and I RECOMMEND YOU TRY IT YOURSELF!!!!. Finally, I got the steak frites and my partner ordered the seared hallibut, she loved the taste of the hallibut and as it was complemented by the crab salad, I finally loved the steak frites, I loved the taste and the steak was cooked perfectly. I honestly went to a great dinner and I will return to this place more times, I want to thank ALL the staff for the great birthday I got at Ember and Ash. Of course, I will return in the future excited to try new dishes 10/10 I'll recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good night and have a good meal.

We recently hosted my sister-in-law's baby shower at Ember & Ash on Passyunk Ave, and it was an unforgettable experience! The upstairs dining room comfortably accommodated our 50 guests, providing a cozy yet elegant atmosphere perfect for the occasion. The food was nothing short of incredible – each catering dish was a delightful blend of flavors, beautifully presented, and enjoyed by all our guests. The culinary expertise of cooking with fire truly shines through in their menu. The wait staff were exceptionally helpful and attentive, ensuring that every guest felt taken care of throughout the event. Special thanks to the owners, Scott & Lulu, who went above and beyond to make our vision come to life. Their dedication and attention to detail were evident in every aspect of the planning and execution. If you're looking for a venue for a special event or just a fantastic dining experience in South Philly, Ember & Ash is the place to go. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and will definitely be returning!

Disappointing Brunch Experience—Won't Be Back We decided to give Ember & Ash another shot after hearing that they had revamped their menu and started offering brunch. We weren’t exactly thrilled with our previous dinner experience, but a friend assured us that brunch was a whole different story. So, on Sunday, March 23, at 1 PM, my husband and I, along with four friends, ventured back—hopeful but cautious. First Impressions? Mixed. We were surprised to be seated upstairs, which we didn’t even know existed. It was spacious and had only two other groups—a party of three and a very large group of 10-12 with children who, as the meal progressed, turned the space into what felt like a Chuck E. Cheese with zero parental intervention. Screaming, crying, and an impressive amount of food, napkins, and cutlery strewn across the floor—not exactly the calm, boozy brunch vibe we were hoping for. Service? Enthusiastic but Overwhelmed. Our server was bubbly and excited to showcase the new menu, which we appreciated. We all ordered a variety of brunch cocktails—a screw driver, an espresso martini, 2 bloody marys, and a glass of wine. But then… we waited. And waited. And waited. It took over 30 minutes to get our first round of drinks. While waiting (and listening to the brunch equivalent of a daycare meltdown), we decided to check Instagram to get a better sense of the food because, honestly, the menu descriptions weren’t cutting it. That’s when we noticed the table next to us was one of the owners. Imagine our surprise as we watched her and her group help themselves to mimosas straight from the bar while we were still parched. To make it worse, we later found out that our server was the only server upstairs, trying to juggle several tables, including the owner’s large group, with only one food runner and one host. Pro Tip: If you're going to open a second floor, maybe staff it appropriately. Bloody Hell, Literally. When the drinks finally arrived, I took a sip of my bloody mary—only to be met with whole peppercorns. Yes, WHOLE peppercorns. Think of boba tea, but instead of sweet tapioca pearls, you get pepper bullets. It was watery, bland, and just plain bad. I had to send it back, which is not something I do lightly. Trying to Be Low-Maintenance, but Nope. To make life easier for our server (because we could tell they were drowning), we collectively decided to switch from cocktails to two bottles of wine. Less fuss, right? Wrong. It still took forever, and by the time we received the first bottle, most of us were already done eating—if you can call it that. Food Fail. Speaking of the food… my husband and I ordered the chargrilled gem lettuce Caesar salad with salmon and fries. I was expecting a beautifully grilled piece of salmon to complement the char on the lettuce. What I got instead? Lox. Yes, lox. Like the kind you’d expect on a bagel, not on a Caesar salad. Needless to say, the dish was completely unappetizing, and we just pushed it around the plate. I’m attaching a photo for reference because words can’t do it justice. Wine, Finally… But What’s the Point? By the time the wine arrived, the table was collectively over it. We told the server just to bring one bottle instead of the two we initially ordered—at that point, prolonging the experience felt like punishment. Final Thoughts? Thanks, But No Thanks. What left the worst taste in our mouths (aside from the lox Caesar) was the sheer disregard from the owner. Watching her enjoy mimosas with her friends while her staff struggled and her patrons waited endlessly was disappointing at best and disrespectful at worst. If you’re going to promote a new brunch menu, maybe—just maybe—support your team and ensure guests have a decent experience. We won’t be giving Ember & Ash a third chance.

First things first - our server, Devon, was perfect. She was warm, personable, and had great knowledge of the menu and made many recommendations. The service was the standout of our visit and we’d come back just because of that! We very much enjoyed our starters and small plates; I’d live in a bowl of that corn husk cavatelli. The cocktails were great; the seasonal spritz was super refreshing but the Mai Thai tea was the best! The entrées were not our favorite as they were both pretty oily (steak and halibut), but that might just be personal preferences. Overall, it was enjoyable and we’ll be back!

My husband and I had a late dinner here. We did have reservations, but there was no wait. We sat outside and had great service. We had the octopus tostada for our starter. It was on the smaller side and honestly the least exciting part of our dinner. We had the scarpinocc which was delicious. It was different than something we would normally pick, but it was very good. Then we had the lamb ribs which was also delicious! Food was great, portions were a little smaller but it was still worth it. We also had the charcoal old fashion and the pickle beet martini!! Yummy!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to write a review for this incredible spot that I’m lucky enough to have in my neighborhood. We’ve been coming here for years. Every visit feels special, whether it’s a casual weeknight dinner or a celebratory evening out. The food is consistently excellent—tonight we had the crab toast (delicious), the steak frites (perfectly cooked), and the chicken (spicy, flavorful and comforting). The cocktails are just as thoughtfully crafted and always hit the mark. [We miss you Ryan, but Abby is a delight!] What really makes this place shine is the warm, welcoming service. The staff is lovely—attentive without being overbearing—and the owners are hands-on, often checking in and clearly passionate about what they do. It’s rare to find a restaurant that strikes such a perfect balance of quality, consistency, and genuine hospitality.

We attended a lovely kid-friendly happy hour event with some friends! They dedicated the upstairs to pumpkin painting, which our kids LOVED and I enjoyed a nice glass of wine while the kids went to town. I wouldn't say the menu is kid-friendly, but my kids surprisingly explored a bit more than usual, and really enjoyed the crispy potatoes (as did my husband and I!). The sliders were also excellent, according to my 2 year old and husband. Meanwhile the wine list was excellent, service was fast even with the number of families with small children upstairs, and they had the Phillies on the bar TVs and radio upstairs. Afterwards it was a short walk to get the kids ice cream as an after dinner treat.

First time at Ember & Ash last night. One of my good friend's wanted three of us to gather to be in solidarity with each other post-election-nightmare-news. It was a great decision (not the outcome of the election, I *mean* choosing Ember & Ash as a place to gather. ) I started things off with the beet martini. This drink composition is wonderful! Pickle Beet Martini- stateside vodka, house dill pickle brine, beet juice, caraway... Delicious! I wasn't put off by any of these ingredients but didn't know how great they would work together. We had a 3 cocktail dinner and I never strayed from my original order. Wasn't even tempted. (And the color! Gorgeous!) The local grain focaccia is a necessary order. So fresh and good with whipped butter. It is also a delight to have because you will want to dip this bread into all the delicious that comes with orders like the tuna tartar or the whipped burrata and beets. My entree order was the stuffed cannelloni. Chorizo, octopus ragu, smoked tomato, sherry cream and olive crumb. This dish was tasty but I thought my dining partners choice (both of them) of the smoked chicken was a much better decision. The chicken was so smoky and beautifully cooked. I definitely recommend. This place is cozy with the open kitchen in the rear of the restaurant with the wood fire visible that gives all of the food here such delicious flavor. I'm definitely going to return. And when I do, I will definitely order that pickle Beet Martini again.

Conchiglia is only amazing dish 5/5 Crispy potatos 4/5, Ribeye 4/5, Chicken 3/5 midsummer fizz 0/5 taste like carbonated water, would advise against Simple to get a seat and good ambiance and staff. Overall things tasted great but adjusted for price/money it's a 3/5 place - but food wise I'll give it 4/5.

This was my first stop for dinner in Philly and everything was delicious! It was a short walk away from our AirBNB, so I got to see a bit of the neighborhood as well. The restaurant is small, but very sleek and welcoming. I liked the big windows letting in sunlight. I was so busy catching up with friends that I can't remember the name of everything, but the cucumber dish was easily my fav. It was so pretty and the flavors were poppin. I tried a cocktail and a wine, both hit the spot. The only thing we didn't try was dessert since we were so full. Our waitress was on it all evening and gave great suggestions. There were people filtering in and out throughout our meal and the bar got more packed over time. Seemed like a great spot to get an evening cocktail or have a date night.

Came to Ember & Ash for a cute girls night catch up date. The interior of the restaurant is cozy and clean. Love the wood accents and dark colors against the light furniture. We got a few dishes to share and it was great for our evening. The roasted half a chicken was really well cooked and the flavoring sauce was excellent. The pasta dish was delicious, really well balanced and savory. The bread, well who doesn't love bread. Light airy and wonderful in the oil. Our service was great, attentive but not intrusive since it was a week night and somewhat slow. Overall the menu is compact but very well done and is right on Passyunk Ave so easy to either get a night cap or cup of ice cream and stroll along to end your day.

Wow! This place was amazing! From our happy hour drinks at the bar with Leslie and Julian, to our entree meal that included beef shin (delicious tender beef with cringe name), pasta and octopus, to our dessert of pudding and sorbet, one of our best meals in the city. Brenna was our great server who helped make decisions on food for our group of 6. Everything came out hot and delicious. Served family style in our case. The beef shin was the star of the show. Served with lettuce cups and rice noodles and mint and a couple other things I can't recall at the moment. Absolutely delicious. Insider tip - order the focaccia to soak up the juice from the dish. Highly recommend!

This restaurant is amazing. I ventured here with friends while visiting town for the weekend. It's such a fun neighborhood spot located in South Philly. The space is surprisingly large with an upstairs that can seat larger groups. We had a reservation, so I would recommend making one for bigger parties. All of the food we had was incredible. They do mention each person should have 2-3 small plates. Our group felt the estimate was a little high and you could get away with ordering less. We felt 1-2 per person and were perfect, with most of us ordering pasta dishes as our main for the meal. The cocktails were unique, but they also have a full bar if you want something classic. I definitely suggest trying this out if you're looking for a great dining experience. Cheers!

We really enjoyed our dinner at Ember & Ash! We were seated upstairs, which had a cozy feel to it...dark toned paint complimenting the dark wood floors. It is simple, but one of those places you feel like you could go as a group (we were a party of 6) or just be on a date, and you don't feel overwhelmed by the space or other patrons...it is spaced out rather nicely. They have music playing on both floors, and I am sure this is just an oddity of the night we went, but it felt kind of "dead" upstairs. Only a few other tables were seated the entire evening (and in some instances, that could very well be appreciated) but I left wishing the same energy I saw walking out of the restaurant on the first floor, was matched upstairs. Downstairs was certainly more full and had a fun crowd at the bar (could be a good sign of somewhere to just pop in and get a drink/apps.) Our service was good overall - she provided some nice direction on the menu and drinks. She was a bit assertive in her recommendations, not totally consultative with what our interests/preferences were, but none the loss, can appreciate the conviction (and she wasn't steering us to the most expensive options either). We had mentioned in our reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, and they had some nice touches there (menus printed with "happy birthday" on it, and they even wrote the date & restaurant name on our wine cork and gave that to us as a little momento. The food was solid...menu definitely accommodating for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Fresh & summer-forward ingredients. It feels built out to where you should get 2-4 small plates to share with the table (again reference to a part of 6), and an entree per person. They obviously have a focus on their wood-fired stove, and what I thought was cool is that you see this executed in a variety of ways. From their cocktails, to their bread, to their main dishes. Their toasted bread is a must-get for the table, perfect for dipping in pasta dishes, or just eating stand alone (they had a spicy strawberry butter). Their pasta dishes were killer - I had the gemelli (oxtail ragu)...this stole the show I think. One dish, that I personally thought was a letdown, was the Lancaster chicken. It was served as a couple of pieces on the bone, and buttered beans/salsa verde just felt kind of bland for the amount of chicken that came with the dish. Our octopus and burrata app's were also memorable! We got a kick out of their desserts. Waitress sold us on the cheesecake, and that did not disappoint - this was a unique dish since it was a basque-style cheesecake. You don't often see that, but it must just be cooked in a different way - definitely lighter and more custard like texture (less dense), but coupled with the caramel sauce...mmm, mmm, mmm! We couldn't pass up on their funnel cake - very nostalgic, but the strawberry rhubarb vanilla ice cream also gave it an elevated finish. Would we go back? Absolutely! Will we go back before trying more places in the city...probably not, but all in all, it was really nice experience.

Great service great food and was in great taste. Not ideal for large groups but we managed to get Reservations for a party of 8 and was seated in the back near the kitchen. They had fantastic craft drinks, delish foods to share like family style and great ambience! Located in a cute neighborhood although it was a little scary to drive to in very narrow streets that are one way, so glad we Uber-ed there since the street parking was a bit cramped as well. Highly recommend!

Recommendation: Pan fried the leftover shin and made tacos. Softened up w crispy edges. Like a whole new meal.

Love the warm and cozy vibes here. Such a nice chill place to go on a weekday for happy hour-the playlist was perfect. Food is always superb and thoughtfully seasonal. I loved all the dishes attached, and also had the focaccia (house made !!!) and the lamb ribs (perfect). the dessert (an off menu special) was to die for. however, the service really made the meal. brenna took excellent care of me, and was intuitive to my every want or need. the young man who brought me my food was a delight as well. the manager, gionna, always remembers me and says hello! can't get enough of this place!!!!

We had stopped here almost a year ago for a quick drink and we tried a special tripe appetizer which was amazing so we were excited to try a full meal. The two of us ordered one small and two large plates to share. The oxtail ragú was delicious and I would come back just for that, perfectly seasoned and balanced. We started with the burrata which had the completely wrong texture, it was hard and chewy instead of delicate and creamy. The pistachio pesto was a little too bitter, but the charred delicate squash was yummy. Something just didn't connect with all the flavors. We also got the ribeye which came out cooked to the right temperature but it was cold by the time it made it to us, the fat had started to congeal and it just wasn't pleasant to eat. It came with a radicchio salad that had a sweet barbecuey flavor to the dressing, it was ok but again the flavors didn't completely work together. Disappointing for a $50 entree. Service and wine were both great and the ambience was good, based on the meh experience in two out of three dishes not sure if I'd be back.

Such a great dinner! Cute spot right on passyunk Great cocktails, food, and service. We shared a few Things and the butternut squash ravioli Was my favorite! Will definitely be back!

WE LOVED IT HERE. Food: bananas good Cocktails/wine: fantastic Service: amazing Highly recommend sharing so you can try many things on the menu. Top items were crispy potatoes and the cabbage small plates. Right behind those were the seasonal pasta (summer squash and blossoms with fettuccini), roasted broccoli, fried chicken sandwich, and scorpion fish. I'd place the scallop crudo at the bottom of the pack but that bottom is a high one! And I also don't love raw scallop so that didn't help. The pickle beet martini is quite possibly the best cocktail I've ever had. If you like pickles, definitely do not miss it. Incredibly creative and delicious. The service was attentive and so friendly and made our evening even more amazing. Plus the music they had playing was top notch. Can't wait to come back!

I truly wanted to give this place at least 4 stars, but my experience last night wouldn't let me. My friends and I have been eyeing E&A for a while and once we had a chance to get together I suggested we go to this place once and for all. The place is nice and cozy; a quaint place to go for 1st date or just hanging out with friends. We got there and was welcomed by 2 kind hostesses. But, thats about it thats pleasant. I'll start my review. Food: i read some of the reviews and saw "hit or miss" so I guess last night was a miss for us. -cocktail: watered down -bbq dry rub wings: taste not so bad, but nothing you'd be dreaming about. You can go to your local dive bar for those. -mussels: this is the first resto ive been to that they did not provide lemons/any type of sauce to go along with it. Unless your mussels are A1, which they were not, then I suggest start including them. -Octopus: salty af - the best thing on that plate probably was the potatoes -Ribeye: salty af and we asked for medium but it came out more on the medium-well. -Gemelli - indifferent about this -BEEF SHANK - this is the main dish that we were ohsolookingforward to but was hit with a major disappointment. -another salty af taste and a bit on the dry side. Us three people couldnt even finish 1/2 of the portion. Service: i won't blame her, but maybe they need more servers? Asked for water and never got it until I had to ask again towards the end. Sorry, your food is salty af - i had to wash it down with plenty of H2O. Price: i absolutely will not pay for that $90 sodium overload beef shank. Location: absolutely love East Passyunk - go to the POPE for awesome wings! Anywho, please still go to this place and try it yourself. Who knows maybe it'll be a hit for you. I know I wont.

As a restaurant that prides itself on its hearth and meat, we were so disappointed. Ember & Ash had been on our list for ages, and while the staff is fantastic and attentive, the food was not up to snuff. The crispy potatoes were nice and crsipy (duh) with the comeback sauce (a mayo-sriracha like aioli). The octopus was nice but VERY small for what it was. The bread had a nice cranberry butter, but was nothing special. The rabe salad was much better than expected with decent flavor but nothing really calling out a Caesar flavor. Highly recommend the gemelli pasta with oxtail ragú, but be warned, there was a LOT of remnants of fat with no meat. Dish to avoid - the burger. I'm not sure what happened here but it was WAY overcooked, surprisingly plain, and a small patty. There was nothing redeeming about it, and I was floored to hear that it was even recommended in the first place. The way it came out was as if it was right out of a freezer. It was really disappointing. Overall, such a bummer compared to what we had heard and hoped. Truthfully I'm not sure if we'll come back.

Excellent food, very fresh oysters with an amazing strawberry vinaigrette and the smoked chicken was beautiful and tasty. The Italian red wine was great - they only have Italian but it's so good and a very relaxing atmosphere!

Incredible food, outstanding service, delicious drinks, beautiful restaurant. The food blew us away. The octopus tostada made me cry. The beet agnolotti was unreal. Every single thing we ate was a knockout home run touchdown slam dunk. Consistently awesome. Brenna was the best server I've ever had and the bartender Kaighl invented the most creative, tasty drink I've ever had (everything bagel) Can't say enough good things! Go here and order everything.

This place was very intriguing to me. It seemed like such a different vibe than some of the other places on Passyunk right nearby. Not your typical south philly bar/restaurant type of place. I went with a friend for my birthday dinner this year. I would personally prefer a larger menu with a few more options but I get why it is a small menu. If you are a picky eater this may limit your choices. But having said that, everything we ate was very tasty! The bread and specialty butter is something I was looking forward to most and it was a bit underwhelming because the bread was burnt- as seen in my photo. We still ate most of it though and the strawberry butter was better than I had thought it would be when he told is the variety of the day. The potatoes were so crispy and flavorful I would probably go back just to have those again. Steak dish was also cooked perfectly and very tasty. The oxtail pasta was my favorite dish and we finished that almost immediately because it was so good. The decor was nice and well thought out inside the restaurant, my only critique was the chairs had no backs and this was a friday night dinner so I really wanted to relax into a comfy restaurant chair and we were seated at the high top bar type table. I would go back again to try more of their food though and see what kind of new butters they have on the menu!

I am giving Ember and Ash 4 stars for their appetizers. The octopus was perfectly grilled and had a great charred flavor. The pork mousse went great with the brioche toast. It had a very rich organ flavor. When the mousse was eaten alone, it was not as enjoyable. Tasty when paired with the bread and mustard. The beef shin was average. We thought it would be the star of the show, but it was a bit dry in some areas. The bone slid right off. There was not enough curry sauce at the bottom of the pot for dipping the beef. While we were eating it with the lettuce, we thought it would be better paired with some type of carb such as rice or naan.

The pasta special was incredible, the drinks were really good too! The restaurant had a chill vibe that was rustic but still cute, and the severs were all so nice! 10/10 would recommend!

I visited Ember & Ash on a Saturday evening after taking in a comedy show with the missus. A fellow foodie recommended Ember & Ash when we told him we would be in the East Passyunk area. We arrived around 9 ish and found that the venue wasn't crowded. The hostess showed us to a high top but I asked for a regular table and she accommodated the request. Our waitress arrived to take our drink order and we asked about the dirty martini that we had read about but didn't see on the menu. The waitress told us, of course they could make the drink and she gave us time to look at the menu as she placed our drink order. She returned shortly with our drinks. The martini was extra dirty just how we like and very tasty. We ordered the octopus and oysters as a starter. For our entrees we picked the burger and the fried chicken sandwich with a side of crispy potatoes. We enjoyed our drinks while waiting for our food and we surveyed the restaurant. Ember & Ash has a nice long bar along with high top and traditional tables. A portion of the kitchen is open and my eye was drawn to the wood fire being used to cook. There must've been a party upstairs because we heard lively music and saw patrons making their way to the room. Our starters arrived and they both looked amazing. The octopus was flavorful and extremely tender. The oysters were fresh and delicious. Next our entrees came out. The burger was yummy, cooked medium like I asked and juicy. A portion of the chicken breast was stringy and I'm not sure if that was due to preparation or overcooking. The crispy potatoes were good. The server told us that they had funnel cake for dessert and my lovely dining companions face lit up. That's one of her favorites. We also tried the cheesecake. The funnel cake was disappointing. It was hard, not soft like what you would get at a carnival. The ice cream on top was good. The cheesecake was solid. I would return to try some of the other menu items.

The service was good and the atmosphere here is nice, the cocktails are interesting, and the small plates were good, but what was really lacking and disappointing especially at this price point were the entrees. We got the bread & butter, the chicken liver mousse (really good), and the octopus (good) to start. Then for our entrees we got the ribeye and the oxtail ragu gemelli, both very disappointing. The ribeye was thin, and had almost no flavor. For $50 I was expecting a great steak but it was under seasoned and just not a great cut of meat. The gemelli was also flavorless, it needed more acidity, the only flavor that came through was the cheese so it was pretty bland. Overall, I would come back for happy hour just for drinks and small plates but won't be back for dinner.

Our experience at Ember and Ash was incredible from start to finish. We were seated upstairs, which was nice because it's a little quieter than the downstairs (we've sat at the bar once for drinks, which is also a great environment - just more lively!) Our server was attentive, knowledgeable and gave great recommendations. They also worked well as a team to have our waters full, clean plates between courses and cleared off the table if it got messy. I'm currently not drinking alcohol so really enjoyed the well balanced zero proof options & my husband really enjoyed his charcoal infused bourbon drinks. For starters, we had the bread and leek butter (unique and delicious), burrata with kale pesto & delicata squash and the Lunar New Year special of pork dumplings. All were outstanding, but the main courses of longevity noodles (also a special) and smoked chicken with kimchi were true standouts. I'm typically a wimp with spicy foods, but everything was so well balanced I enjoyed it all. We finished with a light, fluffy basque cheesecake topped with salted caramel. Couldn't recommend this restaurant highly enough for a nice dinner or cocktails!

Oysters are my kryptonite...and Ember & Ash is my Krypton. Warning...this place is dangerous! You're going to want to be here every night. I stumbled upon E & A while searching for "oysters" in the local Yelpdom. I split time between D.C. and Philadelphia. It's easy to find oysters the Capital, perhaps less so in its northern counterpart. I did, however, discover a happy hour oyster special right in the neighborhood, so obviously I was anxious to try. I'm so glad I did! A half dozen coveted mollusks in a refreshingly tart mignonette, and my palate was awaked. Another dish was in order, and the octopus (picture below) was recommended to me by my lovely bartender. As I was waiting for the second course to arrive, one of mi amicos who shares my affinity for all things Italian happened to wander in. He was kind enough to recommend the wonders of the Lambrusco wine...which happens to be on tap at E & A. One glass of the slightly chilled, barely effervescent, light-bodied red, and I was hooked. We enjoyed that, as we flipped through pictures of Bologna, and I didn't hesitate for a moment to order another glass to accompany the pulpo (sorry to mix languages). A truly magical pairing; get it. I look forward to exploring the rest of the (seasonal) menu during my next stint in Philadelphia. Check it out ASAP, Yelp fam, and thanks for being awesome Ember & Ash.

Great vibe and great food! Fun and innovative cocktails. Love having this spot in the neighborhood.

Smallish place with great ambience and a casual friendly atmosphere. Our server Gionna confidently recommend the beef shin, Octopus, bread and butter, grilled broccoli, and the burrata for our party of six. We share it all family style and thoroughly enjoyed it. All our cocktails were great, including my Korean spice margarita mocktail. Kudos to the chef here. Highly recommend this place.

The restaurant itself has a nice ambiance, unfortunately the service was extremely slow and took over 40mins to get a wine order and serve. Something to note is they need you to put in the full order straight away. The wine, crudo and lamb Ragu pasta were delicious. Unfortunately the octopus wasn't a dish I would suggest as the flavours didn't pair well.

Great little gem. Excellent service and great ambiance. I was pleased with all the dishes. My favorite was the hamachi, octopus and pasta. We sat upstairs in a cozy corner. There was also a nice cozy bar on the first level and outside seating. Would absolutely return to this place.

A classy date-night spot with food that tastes and is presented like it's Michelin star, candlelit, woodsy atmosphere, and very friendly and knowledgeable staff. The food options were plentiful, with creative pairings I never would have tried before (oysters and fig? Poussin and eggplant with a miso glaze? mmMmMmMM), and for a decent price for the high quality. Recommend getting 3-4 dishes for two people - you will not be let down. Additionally, mixed drinks were creative as well- I preferred the gin and honey, and while I was impressed by the ingredients in the beet juice martini, it reminded me a bit too much of a Bloody Mary for my liking. Will definitely return to try out their other dishes!!

I had a really nice experience here for dinner with a friend. The restaurant has an amazing inviting and modern farmhouse aesthetic and you can see straight back to the kitchen. They recommend sharing dishes and our server gave us good menu suggestions which were appreciated. The highlights were the octopus and oxtail ragu pasta, both fresh, flavorful and well cooked. Service was attentive but not overbearing, would definitely return to try more of the menu!

OK - Where to start! Very unusual menu - but don't let that scare you off. There were 3 of us and we all suggested what we wanted to try and it was served family style, meaning one entree at a time. The sauces served with each were absolutely delicious and very different from what we have tasted before. The setting itself is very warm and comfortable, even only with a little art on the walls. The sound level was loud, even for a Philly restaurant. The cocktail menu is also unusual. Both the Seasonal Spritz and the Pickle Beet Martini were very good, as were 2 of the beers that were tried. Their version of Surf & Turf is Skate Cheeks & Sweetbreads fried in a fish caramel sauce with marinated onions. Delicious. The Charred Rabe, for me, was a little too strong of the taste of anchovies but I was in the minority with that opinion. The Blood Sausage in Coconut Broth with Crispy Croutons was amazing but the sauce itself and the rice croutons stole the show! The Smoked Octopus was cooked and seasoned perfectly with Charred Scallion, Kimchi and Basil Aioli. The Poussin was half a grilled chicken with Miso eggplant, lychee and oregano. Very very good. We ended the night sharing a Basque Style Cheesecake which was one of the lightest we have ever tasted. The above was enough for the 3 of us and we certainly didn't leave hungry. You may have to try more depending on your appetite. Kristian, our server, said their menu changes periodically so we will be returning again at some point to try new things. The bill, before tip, came to around $133.

Loved our experience at Ember and Ash! We ordered oysters, octopus and the zucchette pasta. All our food was really delicious & well prepared. The red wine (special that night) was so smooth! 10/10 Definitely recommend this restaurant!

The food was so good here! First timers, but will definitely be back again. Glad we stumbled across this place for sure

Had a nice night out here, our first dinner out at our new place in south Philly! We were not disappointed at our choice. We enjoyed happy hour drinks including Negronis and Pinot Noir. Had the crispy potatoe app, half dozen oysters and the hangar steak cooked rare. All were amazing, tasty and cooked to perfection. Will be back!

Another great spot that proves Philly's food scene is no joke! Dined here on a Sunday night close to close so we got a pretty private experience. Interior is very cute and cozy with an open kitchen concept in the back (our favorite!). Not a lot of seating inside makes it a bit more cozy and a few tables outside. Service was great, friendly, and knowledgeable. Food was phenomenal! I mean it, eat here you won't regret it I promise you.

Ember and ash is a go to in Passyunk square. Right across from the fountain, the ambiance is an A+ - wide open windows, ambient lighting but still well-lit, and thoughtful decorations. The Star of the Show is the menu: heavy on smoked meats, light on options, but everything is guaranteed to be delicious - the menu changes frequently but we got two small plates + bread and one large plate and it was the perfect amount . If you're reading this before you go you probably missed out on the cocktail of the summer: smoked watermelon jalapeño tequila and tajin, I got two and could have had 10 (unsure if I could have made it home, but still woulda). Ember & Ash is small with attentive, knowledgeable staff. Definitely add this to your date night list!

Ember & Ash has some of the most unique, impressive, and quality food/cocktails I've had in a long time. I have been here several times in the last year and finally remembered to take a few pictures before I devoured my plate. The restaurant is unique in that it follows a theme: low-waste, seasonal cooking under a wood fire. You might see beef shin, a whole pig's head, a whole fish(see pic!), or a cannoli with pig's blood drizzle. They also have far less adventurous meals, such as wood-fire grilled cauliflower (see pic) or asparagus lasagna. The asparagus lasagna was so good that we ate it before we could capture an image. Each menu item has an element of the wood fire, like their strawberry aperol spritz, which has an incredible smoky flavor. Although expensive (the whole fish was market priced at $52), the menu is so interesting that your dinner partners will never be bored. This restaurant is a true experience that'll always surprise you and leave you coming back to try more! Perfect for a date that you're willing to impress! And in an amazing/safe location in East Passyunk.

We dined at Ember & Ash's opening night for indoor dining, and were blown away. I can't say I've been to a place like Ember & Ash in Philly. Needless to say, this restaurant is a great addition to our city. Service started off great, but dwindled as the night went on. Could be the fact that it was opening night, and the strong showing of diners, that the kitchen was probably backed up. My husband and I ordered the Dirty Molé, Beef Tendon Chicharrones, Blood Sausage, Lamb Belly Loco Moco, and Salt Potatoes to share. The Dirty Molé and chicharrones were the first dishes to come out; however after that, there was a long period of time before the other dishes were brought out. The Beef Tendon chicharrones were unique, and tasted light and fun. Instead of pork rinds, these are made with beef tendons. Served with a thick tajin mayo, which wasn't really necessary as the chicharrones already taste great on its own. The Dirty Molé was chicken liver mousse, likely mixed with mole, which explains the dark coloring. It tasted like any other well-made chicken liver mousse. The blood sausage was one of our favorites of the night, though it was a tad too salty. Other than that, the blood sausage was delicious, and I promise you the crowder peas taste 100x better than they looked. The Lamb Belly Loco Moco was another favorite. The lamb was perfectly prepared - so tender. The fried soft boiled egg was a nice touch, but the lamb was the best part of the whole dish. I thought the Salt potatoes would mostly be salted potatoes, but it was more than that, and had an even distribution of potatoes and sunchokes. At $12, it seems a bit steep for a side, but these were quality ingredients, and I can appreciate that. We ended the night with the Basque Style Cheesecake, which I know it says Basque Style in the name, but reminded me of the Japanese Style Cheesecake. Light and fluffy, and paired perfectly with the kumquat preserves topping. The craft cocktails on the menu sounded amazing, but we opted for wine with our dinner. The wines here were more than reasonably priced. My husband and I enjoyed a lovely bottle of Syrah from South of the Rhone Valley.

So many restaurants have closed during this time, but I'm so impressed that this spot was able to rise like a phoenix out of the embers and ash. And the food is fire! They have takeout, delivery, and limited indoor dining and you can even order wine and cocktails to go. I saw plexiglass all the way around the bar and everyone masked, hand sani at the front. I opted for takeout and ordered online for pickup at 7:45. Got there a few minutes early and food wasn't ready yet (which is honestly a great thing knowing my food wasn't just sitting there getting cold). The takeout all had little labels to tell me what everything was and there was even reheating instructions for one of the items. Loved: The octopus with kumquats- honestly it's hard for some restaurants to get this right when dining in so it's impressive it was really good for takeout. Corn donuts with uni- I love ordering things I'm not sure what they'll taste like. These are like luxurious hush puppies. Lamb belly loco moco- very impressed with a takeout runny yolk! Lamb was tender and I loved this take on the hawaiian classic. Spritz- said it served 3 for $11 which I thought was a steal, maybe I've become heavyhanded during quarantinetime but I thought this was an appropriate portion for 1. Cauliflower- great vegetarian option- loved the salsa verde. Chocolate blood pudding with tajin- loved the tangy spice, this tasted like a rich chocolate pudding, don't be scared of the blood! Overall I'm so happy to have something to look forward to and spruce up my takeout game in the neighborhood. The food was excellent and held up as takeout. Great for a special occasion or just to try something new. Can't wait to visit in person when I'm feeling more comfortable dining in!

Casual place, looks more like a bar than a restaurant. Food was very good. Service was very good. No complaints at all.

The service was great and all fo the staff is very friendly. Food was also on point. We had the beef shin 4lb for 4 people and it was a lot of food. We also got the octopus (it was just okay) beef chips (really good) and charred broccoli for side (highly recommend it) Beat drink was prob the best drink there.

The second time we came in for happy hour was lovely. The first time as well, but we got to sit at the bar today and enjoyed the company of Kale. She gave us great conversation as well as recommendations while we enjoyed the happy hour. We tried other items from the regular menu and were not disappointed. Definitely going to be back for a dinner night with the husband in the upstairs area and check out more of the options. Try it out, you will love it.

Dined here as part of the Tasting Collective tasting menu with two friends. We had a great time listening to the Chef discuss the meal and his approach to sustainable ingredients. Service was a bit rushed and inexperienced - we had several spills of water over the table and on several patrons, wait staff try to remove dishes from the table before we were finished, etc. Food - honestly was a hit or miss, I think the Beef Shin is what redeems a 4 star rather than a 3 star for the rest of the courses. Chicken Liver Mousse - possibly a bit too sweet and pungent for my liking Grilled pear salad - a great use of the pair ingredient to contrast the kale, warm grains and cheese - balanced flavor and something I could snack on for hours Zuchette Pasta - the pasta itself was a bit undercooked (?too al dente) to my liking Beef Shin served on the bone - highlight for sure, the green curry, lettuce cups and pickles could give any beef dish in Philly a run for their money - truly a beautiful piece of meat with hardy and exciting flavors. A kick of spice and a huge serving for three of us. Grilled olive oil cake - the cake itself was just okay, the stone fruit curd and whipped sour cream on top were a great mixture to elevate the dish. Tips/Takeaways: -Beef shin was a huge plus, other dishes were okay but was not blown away by them -Service could have been better

Our favorite date spot! Great ambience, top-notch service, and stellar cocktails. The fried chicken sandwich and crispy potatoes are especially tasty.

Everything I've tried here has been the best ____ I've ever had. - Old fashioned - Broccoli - Octopus - Beef Shin - Burger - Fried Chicken Sandwich Try any of the above and you'll be happy. Or, close your eyes and point at the menu--you truly can't miss. Bonus points because the atmosphere and service at both incredible. It can get a little loud when it's crowded but it's not really a big issue. New favorite Philly spot for me!

The mussels, clams, bbq rubbed chicken, and grilled bronzino was so delicious. I highly recommend this place. It's small, but thr food is great. The burrata salad was a hit as well.

The mussels are good. That I will say for sure. Unfortunately, this restaurant fell apart in nearly every other way. We had a 7:30 reservation on Friday. Both my boyfriend and I were so excited to eat here as the reviews were good and the food looked delicious in pictures from online. We sat down and didn't see a server for 20 minutes. Kind of annoying, but ok fine. Put in our drink orders (two of their menu cocktails) and waited 30 minutes (!!) for them. They were fine but certainly nothing to write home about. We put in appetizers - unfortunately they were out of the octopus, the main thing we wanted to try from the apps section, but as I said we got the mussels and they were good. Waited another 10 minutes after our appetizer had come out to even put in entrees. Ordered the oxtail ragu gemelli and the ribeye steak - we were super excited to get the steak. Waiter didn't even ask how we wanted the steak done - had to bring this up and mention the temp we wanted. Another 30 minutes later, the gemelli came out - it was ok. The oxtail was all kind of clumped together in a greasy fatty pile but the sauce was good and then noodles nicely al dente. This is where things really go off the rails and why I was motivated to write this review - we finish the gemelli and no sign of the ribeye. We call our waiter over to ask and he goes to "check" on the steak but doesn't come back. He comes by again and we again ask about it - we were so fed up with this place at this point that we said if the steak is not imminently coming just cancel it. He finally comes back over and gives us a double thumbs up - not because the steak is almost (finally) ready, but because it was never put in in the first place so he is just going to bring our bill!!! We couldn't believe it. The worst part was that at no point was there any sort of acknowledgement of the experience we were having, no offer to comp a drink, no apologies for what was overall an awful dinner with poor service. Total waste of time and money. Will not be back, and would recommend against spending your money here.

Phew... this place is delicious. I've enjoyed some take out from there, but just recently stopped by for a nice dinner date with the wifey. The service was enjoyable and fun, and they were able to describe their dishes so well. The cocktails were phenomenal, and the the food itself was divine. I can't wait to go back. Ps. Get the Smokey Old Fashioned? Manhattan? I forget ; )