Dining Out: Serious steak at Embers

With the weather turning slightly cooler, foodies may begin looking for something more substantial to eat. Well, you can look no further than Embers Steakhouse.

Run for the past two years on the upper end of Third Avenue by husband and wife Alex and Amy Alejandro, the long-beloved restaurant serves up chicken, fish and steak that are freshly and adeptly prepared on the premises by Chef Franklin Romero.

“We do it right and we care. We like good food and are picky eaters, so we want to give people good, comfy food,” Amy Alejandro said. “People don’t want to cook anymore, so they come in and grab a quick sandwich or burger.”

If steaks aren’t your thing, you can easily find something on the menu that suits your palate.

“We give people a variety and rotate our fish and steak,” she stressed. “There are so many cuts of beef so people don’t get bored.”

But there is nothing boring about this menu.

First, I enjoyed the French Onion Soup ($6) which came served in a crock. The broth was slightly salty but savory, strewn with thinly sliced onions, melted Swiss cheese on top and a single piece of French bread soaked in the bottom. It was totally delicious.

Then, I had the Baked Clams ($12 for 8) which were tasty little morsels made with breadcrumbs, shallots and pancetta. It was super buttery, tender and tasty. The single bit of pancetta on top was the icing on the cake, so to speak.

Next up was a beautifully prepared Lobster Salad ($16) served in a half lobster shell. It featured chunks of decadent lobster, mixed spring greens, apples, slices of radish, corn, shallots and parsley tossed in a simple vinaigrette. It was a refreshing mix of sweet and tangy – and a dream for any lobster lover.

Then, I thoroughly enjoyed the Grass Fed Rib-Eye Steak ($25) which came with mashed potatoes and a vegetable of choice – sautéed escarole. The chunk of hormone-free beef was downright sinful and did not need any of the chimmichurri or steak sauce that was served with it. The fluffy potatoes were mashed with melted cheddar cheese and bacon bits. The silky escarole was sautéed with garlic and olive oil. Need we say more?

Somehow, I made room for dessert, a decadent Chocolate Mousse ($7) that Alejandro prepared herself, just like all of the other desserts on the menu. It was served in a pot de crème, topped with freshly made whipped cream, toasted almond slivers and a Pirouette for good measure. The mousse was super light and fluffy, with hints of vanilla. Hats off to the chef!

Embers Steakhouse also has a lunch menu, available Monday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., as well as a $27 Pre Fixe menu, available Tuesday through Friday between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Next time you find yourself in the high 90s of Bay Ridge, check out Ember’s. We know we will.

Embers Steakhouse

9519 Third Avenue

718-745-3700

www.embersbayridge.com

Open Monday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sundays, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.