We had such a wonderful experience at Ember on Clarence in downtown Ottawa — this was our second time there, and it absolutely did not disappoint! We went for Valentine’s Day and enjoyed their set menu, and every single dish was outstanding.
We started with the kale Caesar salad (so good!), the spicy crispy tuna (my personal favourite), and the beef tartare. My husband had the steak, which he thoroughly enjoyed, served with truffle parmesan herb fries that were unbelievably delicious — I definitely stole a few from his plate! I had the wood-fired pesto margherita pizza, and it was fantastic as well. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts, and honestly, they were the best Brussels sprouts I’ve ever had.
For dessert, we had the cheesecake and the Lokma — both were absolutely to die for.
The cocktails and mocktails were beautifully balanced and so tasty. A special shout-out to our bartender, Jonah — he was amazing, poised, professional, and provided top-notch service that really elevated our evening.
The only small notes I would mention are that the host made a mistake when seating us — we were first placed at the wrong table and then asked to move to the bar 15 minutes later (nothing wrong with sitting at the bar), but was a bit inconvenient, especially being almost six months pregnant. Once you’re settled, the last thing you want is to move again. The bar seating also happens to be right by the entrance, and on a cold winter evening the draft from the door (with guests coming in frequently) made it quite chilly at times. That said, it ultimately led to us being served by Jonah, so it all worked out in the end. Aside from those minor details, the evening was near perfect.
The food, service, and overall quality are consistently exceptional. Ember is easily one of my favourite restaurants in Ottawa, and I’m more than happy to give them the full five stars they deserve!
