“Embers” is still a hot restaurant

It’s a new day for Embers restaurant, which celebrated its grandopening on September 1, marking its transition to a new owner, and,serving as a grand reintroduction for the long-time Brooklynbistro.

Embers – a steakhouse known for its juicy and filling T-bonesteaks- had served the people of Bay Ridge out of its 95th Streetand Third Avenue location since 1985 under former owners Lou andTerry Rocanelli, before being sold to Jose Alejandro.

Alejandro, a trained chef and entrepreneur, owns another restaurantin Manhattan, and had a burning desire to acquire Embers from thehusband and wife owners for years.

He first discovered the restaurant after the Rocanellis visited hisManhattan eatery El Parador and invited him to Embers. He took hisfuture wife-a native Brooklynite- on dates at Embers and remembersthe steakhouse as a magical local place.

There is nothing wrong with opening a place from scratch, andputting your dream and effort into it, but I like places with a bitof history, and charisma and tradition. I like to perpetuate that,said Alejandro.

After the Rocanellis retired from the restaurant business,Alejandro acquired Embers and took control. He promised to keep therestaurant open as a family place where locals can enjoy deliciousfood and have a great time, but Alejandro also has a couple ofideas to improve the restaurant.

He wants to add an outdoor café, and more seafood, salads, homemadedesserts and wines to the menu, and extend the hours of serviceafter Labor Day from noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays, noon to 11 p.m.on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Lastly, he wants to add a little more spices and flavors to somecurrent dishes to bring in a little influence from his home countryof Spain.

I think there are plenty of Italian restaurants around here, saidAlejandro. People would welcome the opportunity to taste somethinga little bit more exotic.

But, for the most part, the new restaurant owner just wants tocontinue the tradition and fit in with the community.

It’s a shame to see a place that’s been established for so manyyears and that has such a great track record for providing a greatservice for to community go bad or go out of business, saidAlejandro. New York City needs places like that.