Embers Wood Grill

The wife and I really enjoyed our night out at Embers. The food was cooked to our requests. The taste and flavor of the food was wonderful and plate presentation was excellent. We noted my wife's birthday on the reservation and they gave her a nice Birthday treat. I got the Duck breast and she got a steak. We will make this her birthday dinner treat every year now. Atmosphere was okay. Alot of servers and other employees walking around constantly, no type of music playing just dead air and the drop ceiling should be replaced to fit the Embers design and Atmosphere. But don't let that deter you from visiting this place.

This is a fancy restaurant in Gainesville. Staffs are well-trained, very professional. Steaks are great. I had a grilled fish, but when I return next time, I'll go for the steak. The steak, my wife ordered, wad so good. She got the ribeye, and you never fail with that. I was happy that she said she wall full quite early, so I was able to finish the rest of it. I'm happy that she eats little portion of foods (just joking). Anyway, when you are in a steak-mood, come check this place out. It's worth it.

Finally got a chance to visit Spark. Loved everything!! Had filet mignon with lobster croquette. Perfect, melt in your mouth. A glass of 40yr old tawny port with lemon layer cake was ther perfect ending ❤️

The service was incredible! We had Steve and he was really kind and helpful. Walked us through everything and quick to fix any problems we had. Steve also brought over a Somme to help select our desert wine course, I believe Jerry was his name, also really great and attentive. We would come back to sit with them any day. The wine selection is incredible here as well. Thanks so much for a great time Steve and Jerry! Before dinner we sat at the bar for a cocktail and the bartender there was really kind and helpful, honestly the whole place does service very well. We’re really grateful

This place was one of the best steakhouses I’ve been to, and I’ve been to many different restaurants around the country. During my trip to Florida, I dined here twice and every waiter and server was so kind. The food was excellent as well. For the seafood, I tried the bass which might be the best fish I’ve ever had. The meat was so soft and cut so smoothly, eating it was a delight. The shrimp was delicious as well. For the steaks, the smoke grill adds a unique, rich flavor that makes this place stand out. When I come back to Florida next year, I’ll make sure to dine again!

The food was amazing for the most part. I ordered the chicken expecting a fine dining experience type meal ie small artful delicious food my chicken breast was massive the flavor was good but the size of the breast made the meat tough and dry even though it was brined and stuffed with goat cheese. Other than that the experience was good except my first drink ordered they didn't shake the cream and there were curds in my drink. My suggestion is to move to a smaller breast size like a 7oz and actually hammer the meat stuff it then roll it to a more pleasing appearance and fine dineable size. Otherwise a good night even though our anniversary was missed by the server. Next time will definitely go to Mark's Prime instead

My boyfriend and I celebrated my birthday there and we had a wonderful time. I got the blackberry martini, an appetizer of their margherita flatbread, an entree of duck, and crème brûlée for desert. Everything was delicious. My partner got the stuffed chicken with the Mac and four cheeses. He got the chocolate torte for dessert. He said everything was perfect. Our server Eric (or Aaron; he only said it once) was very sweet and attentive. Overall we will definitely be returning!

Great experience with delightful selections. Incredible flavors throughout the dining experience. Steak was phenomenal as well as the soup, the sides and the crab. Must try for any occasion in gainsville.

Great ambience, dimly lit. Our server Melvin was very attentive and informative. All the food was great.

Guess I've got a lot more discerning in my old age. Where to start? Bread for the table was very slow to appear as were the drinks which showed up some time later. I ordered a Caesar Salad but what I received required a new definition. How about a salad wedge covered in creamy dressing with a large parmigiano chip on top. Really? While I no longer expect the salad to be prepared at the table given today's low standards I still expect a Caesar Salad when I order one. I wonder what would have happened if I asked for Anchovies? Moving on - We were seated in a dinning room with upholstered seating the length of one wall with tables and chairs for couples; plenty of space between to enter your seat. This however was an invitation for the wait staff to stand between the tables when taking an order. What I didn't need was the wait staffs ass overhanging my dining table while I dined. The temptation to stick a fork in them was over whelming. Now the stake (a prime NY Strip). Not really. No better grade than Choice. My dad owned a butcher shop in Brooklyn when I was a kid and I know what I am talking about. Of course I guess it did compliment the Mac and Cheese side that is served in all the top-shelf steakhouses these days. Let's top it off with a flourless chocolate cake with port for two. The cake although prepared well had the presentation of a 24 hour diner pie. And just to be consistent the port was of low quality which did not complement the Death-by-chocolate.

Food was wonderful as was the service. Very nice table & setting. We were able to sit & talk without being disturbed- really enjoyed Embers & will definitely go again.

So we had a gift card to blow through laying around for about a year before using it up on take away. It also happened to be a very busy Gator weekend and honestly, I wasn't really wanting to deal with all that. Everything was excellent and I don't like take away. Blue Crab Bisque, Goddammed, Goddamed; nice chunky bits. Escargot, woo hoo! Deliciously rivals all I've ever had before. Lobsta' mashed was fantastic. Chedda' grits nom nom nom yum yum. lol. Went for both desserts, that famous lemon layer cake and banana foster cheescake because why not, @!#?@! it. Both were delicious. And those berries though?! And damn, ask for the bread. I turned those into croutons. Everyone we interacted wth was posh and professional, friendly, helpful, and nice. Kids but on spot. They did forget something but immediately realized it and it all worked out. Sharp. My final thoughts are, and I wouldn't have thunk this, is I guess you can do deliciously wonderful expense account steak house at the house. We did have to time a few things when rewarming stuffs and I broke the bernaise but it all worked out famously despite itself; something I never would have thought or expected would.

If you are looking for the best meal of your life, make a reservation today! The crab bisque is incredible! Full of flavor and the perfect texture! The filet was cooked perfectly as requested (rare plus) and presented beautifully. The lemon cake for dessert was moist, dense and not too sweet. Service is wonderful and you get two choices of ambiance. Date night romantic vibes on the Embers side and casual upscale vibes on the Sparks side. I went with the Sparks side and it was impeccable!

We went for the first time tonight, it was our 20th anniversary. We haven't treated ourselves to anything special in a long time, we decided 20 years was well worth a celebration! Thank you Ryce for such an amazing evening! Your recommendations and descriptions of the food were on point!!! We will definitely go back again!

This restaurant frequently turns up on Top 10 in Gainesville lists. We were disappointed to say the least. Our waiter started out attentive and interested in our experience and ended up ignoring us after the entrees were served. The food itself was okay but nothing special. My husband had lamb chops. I had duck. The highlight of my meal was the grilled Caesar salad. After finishing our entrees, we sat with empty plates awhile before the waiter came to ask about dessert. We ordered creme brulee and a cheese plate. After almost 10 minutes without being served, we stopped the waiter on his way by and he told us they were making the cheese plate at their bistro next door and they had gotten busy and had fallen behind. Should only be a minute. The waiter did not come by the table again for another 10 minutes. It seemed he was deliberately avoiding our side of the restaurant. I was trying to get his attention so that we could cancel our dessert order due to the wait but did not see him again until he returned with the dessert we had ordered 20 minutes earlier. As he placed the desserts on the table, I asked for our check and let him know the 20 minute wait for dessert was unacceptable. He did not apologize for the wait or his lack of communication but went on to let us know my husband was getting their free sorbet since it was his birthday. I've lived in Gainesville for 16 years and had never been to this top rated restaurant. I will not be returning. We knew what the prices were before we made the reservation. We expected food and service that would justify the prices. They did not. A very disappointing experience overall.

Came here on a Thursday evening. Definitely make a reservation. We had one and needed to add another chair so we needed to wait, which was fine. When you first walk in to the right of you is a dining room that can be reserved that easily sits twenty people it appeared. Would be great for holiday parties! Our waiter Davante was amazing with the different personalities of our table. He had great suggestions, was friendly and efficient. I had the tuna with a side of mushrooms. The seared tuna was fresh, and the entree was a great portion with the two sides. The bring around different breads to choose from, and offer however many you would like to try. The restrooms were maintained, there was a lighted parking lot as well. The dining area is large enough for someone with a wheelchair which is so beneficial and helpful. When I am back in the area, I wouldn't hesitate to come here again. Enjoy!

Really one of Gainesville's hidden gems! I hesitate to mention this one because I love it so much! I fly from across the country at least once a year to eat here. The service is always good. They are a safe space and so chilled. If you want high quality food with a classic vibe (inclusive energy though). Warning: I don't eat sweets but every single item on their dessert menu is delicious. I have to order something sweet every time I visit. The bread pudding is amazing!

I had a beautiful piece of salmon that was 100% overcooked. So sad. Cheesecake for dessert that tasted like it had been left open in the refrigerator for a week and a half. A server who was totally indifferent and hated his job. Fortunately, our cocktails were very good and the crab bisque is as good as it has always been. The experience we paid for was definitely not the experience we got. Very disappointing.

This was at least my tenth time there. Amazing every time. Very courteous and professional staff.

This was my first time to Embers! I was celebrating my husband's birthday. Our server Xavier was phenomenal! He explained the menu and gave recommendations and had a sense of humor as well. The ambiance was nice and for perfect for date night! For starters we had the ceviche with was atop of tostones. The ceviche was fresh and delicious and the tostones were good but a bit too done for my taste. For entrees I had the duck with sweet potato mash and asparagus. Everything tasted great, I was looking for a bit more duck though. My husband had the steak with lobster mashed potatoes and mushrooms. He said everything was delicious and described the steak as melt in your mouth! For drinks I had a gin martini and my husband had an old fashion which were both good and they gave us complimentary champagne and a desert for celebrating my husband's birthday! Definitely recommend!

The food was good and tasty. The ribeye, grits, and Mac and cheese were great. For the area the prices are high but the ingredients were a good quality so I guess that's ok. I docked it star because of the price and it being a challenge to get a reservation. There was also confusion over reservations when I arrived.

The steaks are amazing, and the service is fantastic. Start the evening next door at Spark, and then finish at Embers in their main dining room. Everything from the appetizers (get the bisque!), to the main course (get the porterhouse), to the dessert (simple cookies and milk), tot he craft drinks - you will love every moment.

I called to make reservations and left 2 messages without any return call. Disappointed but if you can't return a call for reservations don't have voicemail!

Steaks are excellent. Service is solid. The place is a little noisy at times for other conversations, but workable.

We took our friends out to dinner here, as a thank you for all the hard work and extra help they selflessly gave for our son's wedding in June. I can wholeheartedly say this was the best dining experience I have had in my life. The service and restaurant ambiance was excellent. Our server was kind, attentive, we never felt rushed, and before we knew it nearly 3 hours had passed. Every single employee we had contact with smiled, acknowledged you, and made polite conversation. The food was excellent, from the braised short rib appetizer he recommended, to our entrees, to dessert. We were so engaged in conversation I didn't remember to take pictures, but I still can't recommend it enough. My husband had a ribeye, my friend and I had the surf and turf with the filet/scallops. I don't remember what her husband ordered as his entree, but what really sticks out to me was our conversation with the server about the sweet potato soufflé side dish, and how our friend jokingly mentioned it sounds amazing, but would be perfect if they had marshmallows (it came with a brown sugar crumble on top). Our server had the chefs find marshmallows and even toasted them to perfection! What amazing attention to detail! We can definitely see ourselves returning here in the future! Great experience and great food!

Love their happy hour in the bar. Do have specials there but you can also order from the main menu.

Amazing food and place. Service is also great. Not the first time I have been there and it has been consistently great. Paul was very informed of all the menu items. We had the flat bread with steak appetizer and rib eye steak which was perfectly cooked to the order. I highly recommend if you come to Gainesville, try this place. You won't be disappointed. I promise.

Amazing food and atmosphere. Started in the Sparks Bar and had great drinks. Went to the main restaurant for dinner and it was phenomenal!

We enjoyed an exceptional dinner at Embers the other night - everything was beautifully presented and completely delicious! The excellent meal we shared was accompanied by the perfect wine pairing, which was recommend by our helpful and friendly server.   Tip: One of the best things they serve here (a total surprise to us) was freshly baked focaccia bread.  It's made with asiago and garlic - I could have dined on that alone, but in conjunction with our meal it was a total feast :-) There was literally nothing that Embers could have done to make our dining experience better - highly recommended!!

The only reason I gave Embers two stars was because the hostesses were nice and accommodating but If there was an option to give a zero rating on everything else I would choose it. It was a Friday night and my husband wanted to eat lamb chops. I checked around and found that Embers had lamb chops on their menu. It was around 7:00pm when we arrived there. The hostess said that it would be an hour wait but she would check if any reservation didn't show up. I asked if we needed a reservation and she said no but on the weekend it is better to have one. She seated us at our table and our server came and presented us with the menu and asked what we wanted to drink. My husband ordered the chef speciality wood grilled porterhouse lamb chops and I ordered the stuffed tanglewood farms chicken breast. Our server said that she would send over the server with the bread tray. We waited 30 mins and our server came back and asked if we enjoyed the bread? We asked... what bread we never received any but the table next to us was served but we didn't. She seemed surprised and said she would send him over right away. The bread came finally and by that time we just wanted to get the real food. After an hour the meals were served and the lamb chops were a disappointment!!! There was no meat...it was just bones. For the price we paid at least it could have had a serving size of meat on it but instead it was just bones. Not impressed at all and will not be going back. Inside the restaurant it is dimly lit so you really cannot see if something is in your food other than food and that is not appealing to me.

My husband and I were celebrating a milestone anniversary today and made reservations here as we have celebrated special occasions here for over eight years. We were sorely disappointed on this occasion. My entree of chicken was like a piece of rubber, hard to cut and not edible. After attempting one bite I sent it back to the kitchen and didn't reorder anything else. My husband's entree of scallops was over seasoned, but at least not overcooked. The service was subpar. Our waiter was obviously busier with larger tables and we felt ignored (almost invisible). The appetizers and wine were just "OK". I would hope that the steaks are much better. However, we won't be back anytime soon to give them a try after the experience we had today.

Very elegant and worth the price. My dad is a serious steak guy, and compliments the TBone every time. They have great sides, and the Mac and cheese and very good. The atmosphere is relaxing and quiet, great for celebration dinners. Service is always spot on.

We were a group of 12 for UF graduation weekend on Saturday night. Ryse our waiter was friendly and excellent. Took all of our orders and everything was correct. He is very professional. A lot of our group had the filet mignon and loved it. I had scallops which were excellent. Everyone that had the gator tail appetizer loved it. A wonderful place to celebrate, but must make reservations for busy weekends months in advance. We ordered a cake and it was huge, citrusy and fabulous. Topnotch service and food. Highly recommend.

Everything about embers is absolutely on par. Great service. Fabulous food. Cool atmosphere. Prices are very fair. Highly recommend.

Manager disregards seating reservation, and gives it away. Be sure you call right before you leave for your dinner to be sure she/he has not given your seat reservation away.

Overview: 5/5 Embers never disappoints. Always a great meal even though it's a bit pricey. Ambiance : 5/5 Bother indoor and outdoor seating is available. They can accommodate both small and large groups. Food/Drink 5/5 We had the filet mignon with shrimp. Filet mignon with scallops, macaroni and cheese, spicy grits and grilled romaine Caesar that was excellent. We paired it with a Cabernet Sauvignon from their vast wine list. A true wine lovers paradise. Service : 5/5 They get busy but the service was fine and they were attentive to our needs. Conclusion : Always delivers Awaiting the annual wine events to returns!!

When I called to make graduation luncheon reservations, I specifically asked if there were vegetarian options for a special guest who would be at our table. I was advised not only does the restaurant offer a vegetarian platter, but was told the chef would be happy to make anything to order that the guest would like! I was thrilled, since our soon to be graduate loves steak; I thought The Embers would be the perfect fine dining option for us all to celebrate this very special occasion. Boy, was I wrong. Do not ruin your joy by choosing this restaurant. The waitress lectured and berated us for asking for vegetarian options. She told us she's been told at three different seatings, that same day, that guests cannot be accommodated for anything off the menu and that "our guest would have to choose from two side salad options, only"! She even went so far as to explain how our guest could not have the Caesar salad because it had anchovies. The server was so abusive, nasty and argumentative that I had to excuse myself from the table and ask to speak with a manager in the next room. The manager was gracious and was kind enough to come to our table. Although the manager's attention was appreciated, this unfolding scene made us all very uncomfortable; but, at least our guest would have Vegetarian options to enjoy. After the manager left, our service went from bad to worse. We had to ask for the cocktail menu so many times that our first course came and went before we received beverages. Our waters were not refilled after numerous requests. Our bottle of wine was not brought to the table until our entrees arrived! One of our guests asked for pepper for her Caesar salad, and the server showed up with a pepper grinder after the salad was consumed, asking if she would like that pepper now??? We were never offered bread, when we saw diners at adjacent tables enjoying what looked like delicious sourdough. Then, on top of everything, we were delivered the check before we were even asked if we'd like dessert?! All of us wanted dessert, it was a special occasion! The waitress was visibly annoyed she had to take the check away and bring us dessert menus -- it was unbelievable. What an embarrassment. The food was delicious, but we will never be back nor will we recommend it. In fact, quite the opposite. The chef needs to run, not walk, to another fine dining establishment. This was not at all what we had in mind on graduation day. Incredibly disappointing

Nice steakhouse in Gainesville. We were a party of seven and all enjoyed our meals. Extensive wine list. Friendly service. One of my pet peeves at a restaurant is cleanliness. Directly above us was a light fixture full of cobwebs. See the picture I attached. For me, this put a serious damper on the whole experience

Beloved got a tip that Embers Wood Grill was one of the "good as it gets" restaurants in Gainesville, and to our total delight, it indeed turned out to be that. It's a classy-looking place but with a casual comfort about it. The wait staff is totally professional and attentive. It has two certified Sommeliers on staff with over 420 wine selections and 30 available by the glass. I started with their Grilled Caesar with Organic Romaine, Parmesan Crackers, and Kalamata Olives plus, at my request, anchovies. Then for my entrée, I had their special of the night prime truffled butter filet mignon with mushroom sauce and foie gras. It was exceptional in every way from tender texture to taste and flavor. So, yup, Embers Wood Grill is about as good as it gets.

Read with Caution: I'm disgusted! Here it is Black history month and my friend Cheryl and I went out to dinner in Gainesville, FL. I had tickets to a ballet, "Horse of a Different Color at the Curtis M. Phillip Center for Performing Arts. We decided to go to Ember's Restaurant in Gainesville, for dinner. I made reservations for 5P.M. because the Ballet was starting at 7:30 PM. We arrived at the restaurant about 15 minutes early - it was cold outside so we stepped inside to get out of the cold. The wait staff promptly let us know they were not yet open and we informed them that we knew they opened at 5 p.m. We were the first to arrive, followed by a party of 4. At 5p. m., we were taken to our seats in the back of the restaurant in very dark room where I couldn't even read the menu. I actually had to use a flashlight. The party of 4 were seated in the main part of the restaurant with linen table cloths and beautiful ambience and large scenic windows. Both Cheryl and I were much better dressed- the foursome in jeans and shirts, and us in our semi- formal attire. Cheryl felt uncomfortable when they initially seated us. I was not aware of her feelings at the time, although I noticed a difference in our location but for me, it seemed more quit and I was not cognizant of what took place. Almost immediately after we were seated, another minority couple was seated in the same room while the foursome who came behind us were seated in the main dining area. The staff had already taken their order no doubt because it was 10 minutes before anyone asked us if we wanted drinks. When our waitress came to the table we asked to be moved to main dining area. She didn't seem happy at all. I had to turn on my phone flashlight in order to read my menu it was so dark. The main reason we moved - Cheryl was very uncomfortable sitting in the back of the restaurant. We changed seats and the staff's attitude toward us got worse. From Cheryl's seat now, she could see that nearly all minorities were being seated in the back, while the front tables were filled with white folks! We ordered our food, the first mistake! Our waitress said it would be 30 minutes before the steaks would come out but as we noticed, the group who came in, not only got their appetizers and meal by the time we got our meal, but also their dessert. Approximately 45 minutes later our food arrived - COLD! That's when I addressed the "Elephant in the Room". I asked to see the manager and it turns out, the Manager was our waitress! Strange how that worked out. I let her have it from telling her I was going to do a full review stating the staff was very disrespectful and selective of who was assigned tables in the main dining room. Explained how we were seated in the back when clearly other tables were available. She informed me, she wasn't responsible for the way the staff seated people! Seriously - she's the manager!! She managed to put another order of our two sides in and they came out luke warm- but not great. The best part of the evening was the delicious bread. It actually was quite tasty. The front staff tried to say tables were reserved but clearly, during the hour and one half time frame we were present, there were still 3 tables of two in the main dining room, one table with three chairs and several tables to seat 4. When I left, I told them I would NEVER come back and the front door staff even argued with me that the tables were assigned by reservation. Clearly they were covering their tracks - they were just plain NASTY and RUDE. You'll do well if you want a racist atmosphere, cold food and rude staff. I for one, plan to notify everyone I know, particularly since we are both disabled Veterans - to avoid this place like the plague. Sad- in the 21st century, we have business, operating like this! More to follow after the Ballet!!!!

This restaurant is capable of being much better than it currently is. Their serving staff appears to either be understaffed or just novice. They were in frequent and rushed when coming to the table to check on drinks and needs. Our food came out cold, and the waiter admitted that whoever brought our food out wasn't supposed to, because he hadn't fired it yet. Everything we ate that was fully prepared was very delicious. They have a great wine list, although the first bottle we requested was no longer available, and the bottle we ended up getting was not the same as was in the menu. This is easily the best restaurant in the Gainesville area, so I am sure they will continue to thrive. But it could definitely be a lot better.

Certainly not worth the price. The food was fine, the atmosphere is nice, service is hit or miss depending on who your server is. For the price, the food could be greatly improved. As an example, Mark's is similarly priced but far superior in quality.

Embers was an incredible dining experience for my husbands birthday. Excellent time with family and our wonderful server Melvin! finally adding photos now!

Undoubtedly a Triple B, but not for those Ballin on a Budget. Still, some of the best steak I've ever had, and none of the sides have disappointed.

we've eaten here many times, i do prefer Sparks is more laid back and i find the food better in the sense it's smaller plates. overall good price for quality of food, the make an unbelievable old fashion. Service is always excellent, we've never had a bad experience. Highly recommend

This is the place where we go to celebrate good and big things in life. This place has been there for years and years that we go to celebrate our girlfriend's birthdays, date nights, special occasions, staff dinners, and more. The food is always good and consistent and the service is excellent. We got to sit outside this Monday next to the water fountain and it was so delightful to be outside enjoying the nice weather, good food, and great company. As one of my friends put it, it was coming out party as in coming out of the pandemic:) Love all the appetizers that I have ever tried and I almost tried everything!!! I love their Cesar salad that I share with a girlfriend of mine whenever I go there with her. I stick with what I usually order but over the years, I have seen and tasted other people's orders right out of their plates ( What can I say? I am not shy to ask for a bite of my friend's food and I invite myself to get a bite of their food even before they know what they want to order! I say, "If you order the lamb shank, I want a bite of that! And, they order the lamb shank!). I know I know! I am so lucky to have nice friends like that! Their gator tail, flat bread, ceviche, steak, duck, grilled vegetables with goat cheese, lamb shank, seabass, scallops are all excellent. All the sides are fantastic! Their bar is nice and easy place to hang out as well with good selection of awesome bar food! Check it out!!! Gainesville is so lucky to have a restaurant like this.

Service was outstanding ! Ambience was peaceful and calming! Food was delicious ! Pricey but worth it as the dining experience was wonderful! We will be going back for sure !

Ate at Embers last night with 6 guests. Let me start off by saying that the food was excellent. However, we found our server to be rude and even sometimes arrogant. He told us on more that one occasion that "this was not his first rodeo". It took him a long time to refill our drinks and one item I asked for twice he never brought. If not for the server, I would definitely give it 5 stars. We have been to Embers many times and always have had excellent service as well as food. Not this time! In addition, in the past the bread service came around several times but last night only once. It just seemed like we were an after thought for being served.

Embers is the kind of place we usually take visitors from out of town to dinner. Either friends or if you're entertaining somebody for work. The ambience is wonderful and the food is probably some of the best in Gainesville. One of my favorite steak restaurants in town, but also has some really great fish dishes. Overall an excellent elegant dining experience. The price is reasonable for what you get, but isn't someplace we'd frequent too often. Otherwise, II'd give this a hearty recommendation.

The best restaurant in Gainesville. I have dined here many times over the years. Every item is perfection. I have never had a disappointing dish, let alone meal there. I usually get the filet. It is always cooked to perfection. They have the best bisque, salad and sides. I recommend eating half your meal and saving the rest for dinner the next day. This way you will have room for their dessert. The atmosphere is beautiful. It is upscale but not stuffy. They have professional servers you feel in good hands with. It is the perfect date night experience or time with your best friends. It is expensive, but worth every penny.

This restaurant has a small town feel and at the same time retains its elegance, unfortunately we must have ordered wrong because the short ribs that we were served had to be the worst I've ever had , they were flavorless and just not up to par. We had to return them and the manager didn't even bother to come by the table to check on us and try to find out what was wrong with the meal. I do have to say that the young lady that served us was delightful and very apologetic.

During my first visit to Gainesville we visited Embers for my sisters 21st bday. The atmosphere is a great vibe and the customer service was exceptional! Only reason I give them 4 stars is because the taste food wasn't anything spectacular. The gator tails were actually my favorite dish of the night. They were fried and seasoned perfectly and the sauce was the perfect touch. I ordered the lamb shank, mashed sweet potatoes, and asparagus. Although the lamb was tender and falling off the bone, there wasn't much flavor to it. It tasted very gamey. My fiancé ordered the salmon with lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus. There were a lot of lobster chunks within the potatoes which was nice. The salmon was also a nice size and it didn't have any special seasoning but he said the sauce it came with was delicious.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Embers! I love coming here to celebrate special occasions such as anniversaries, graduations, and birthdays. Embers is an upscale steakhouse that easily serves one of the best steaks I've ever had! I've been here a couple of times, so I've been able to try a few things from their menu. It's difficult to pick a favorite dish because they're all SO GOOD! I've had their filet mignon, New York strip, and ribeye. Each steak is amazing in their own way, but if I were to go back, I would order the filet again just because it was so tender. My go to side dishes are the Mac and four cheeses with truffle oil and the lobster mashed potatoes. Both side dishes are easily the best of their kind. I seriously cannot put into words how amazing the food is. The portions are pretty large, I always end up having leftovers after my meal. The service is amazing. The servers are extremely kind and attentive. They are all very knowledgeable about the menu and are more than willing to answer any questions about it. I've never had a bad experience here with the service. As someone who loves to find the best deals, I will say the price is a bit steep. A dinner for two can easily cost over $100 here. That being said, I think the price is 100% worth it. The food is amazing and you really can't get it anywhere else in Gainesville. Overall, Embers is a great place to go when you have something important you want to celebrate. If you like a good steak, I highly recommend you try it out!

Finally came to Embers to sit down and celebrate my girlfriends birthday, and it surprisingly was not a bad meal at all. In fact, our waiter knew his wines well and made great suggestions. We have a crisp Chardonnay to start the meal, then moved on to appetizers of scallop ceviche which was served on homemade tostones, which was a nice touch. To pair with that, we had the blue crab bisque, which was so creamy and delicious. Extremely rich, so I'm glad we just got the smaller serving size. Finally we got to the mains: we split the cumin crusted Chilean Sea bass and the stuffed chicken breast. Both were cooked to perfection, and the sides we got paired well (lobster mashed potatoes, beefsteak tomatoes were bomb). We also were able to order drinks from the cocktail bar attached to Embers, called Spark. We had originally tried to come early to grab a drink there but sadly they had a private party, so I'm glad we were able to visit in spirit. I had an old fashioned that I will definitely try again. The only downside of the entire place was the ambiance - it's a nice restaurant and the waiters treated us as such, but the vibe of everyone else around, and the lighting just didn't make me feel as though I was in a fine dining establishment, rather like I was having lunch at a country club. Either way, the food and service was great. I'm sure I'll be back. The creme brûlée at the end was delightful, might have to come back just for that. Pros: Food Cocktails Wine menu Dessert Cons: Ambiance

On a scale of documentaries to fluffy romance novels, Embers Wood Grill is The Great Gatsby in opulence and styling. From a red carpet leading into the restaurant to the cloth towels in the bathroom, no detail is overlooked, but the true decadence comes from the menu and drinks. Everything about Embers Wood Grill blew me away. Our group was seated at a large circular table (we were a group of eight), and our server offered impeccable service, providing information and well-timed humor. While I wish I could say I'm a wine connoisseur, I'm not. I chose my wine simply by the cost, and the $20 glass of red wine was amazing. Most red wine causes me painful heartburn, but this red wine did not (how I wish I knew the exact wine it was). We shared a seafood platter appetizer, and each seafood item was cooked to perfection. It melted in the mouth in the best possible way. Embers lives up to its promises with its steak, and I don't know if I'll ever experience another steak that's quite that good! The sides of mac n' cheese and vanilla sweet potatoes were pure bliss, and I'll be dreaming of those for days to come. If you ever have the opportunity to visit Embers Wood Grill, I absolutely suggest it. The prices are steep, but the food and service is exquisite.

Jerry our waiter was very attentive and The steaks were cooked just right. Sides were tasty Loved it Great place to celebrate our Anniversary!!

Was back in Gainesville for the Gator game and had to do dinner at Embers, I mean it's half the reason I'm ever in Gainesville. Once again we were quickly seated ordered drinks. I changed it up (well not that much) and ordered the Manhattan which was very good and had some great bourbon in it. After a short time of drinks being dropped off our savior the bread man arrived. Their fresh baked bread it's always amazing and warm. Probably the best free bread you can get at a restaurant and the server also will let you try all the bread they have to offer and even seconds. For my entree I went with the Scallops since they are some of the best I have ever had and they are always tender and fresh. Since I clearly didn't have enough shellfish and richness to my meal I went with my 2 sides being the Lobster Mashed Potatoes and the Mac and Four Cheeses with Truffle Oil. Both are always amazing and easily in my top 5 sides ever. I love that with each entree you get 2 of their amazing sides to chose from and at $28 for my meal it was a steal. For desert we had the Banana Foster Cheesecake which was also very good. I can't say it enough about Embers. It's the best restaurant in Gainesville I will always make time to stop in when I'm in town.