Even with all of the exciting restaurant additions to the Miami Design District over the past year, Brad Kilgore’s latest restaurant, Ember, is one Miami diners have been anxiously waiting for. Lucky for them, its fateful opening has finally arrived—and as you’d expect of anything Kilgore touches, the food is mind-blowing good.
Best known for both Alter and the Miami Design District’s Tokyo-inspired cocktail den, Kaido, James Beard-nominated chef Brad Kilgore is no stranger to the Miami food scene. His latest concept, Ember, is a wood-fired American bistro with a standout menu of unique smoke-laden meats, homemade pastas, shareable sides and more.
Created alongside Chef de Cuisine Nick Graves, the menu at Ember goes back to Kilgore’s childhood roots, putting an inventive spin on the traditional American fare and woodfired favorites he grew up with. But in true Kilgore fashion, Ember’s dishes are anything but ordinary.
Start with the flavorful NOLA Beignet with pimento cheese, hot sauce and ash, or if you like snails, get the Escargot Chorizo Cassoulet with Chimichurri butter, smoked white bean purée and a sourdough crisp. The Roasted Cornbread Custard with bone marrow butter, beef ragout and herb salad is sure to be a favorite, as is the Fire Roasted Lasagna with layers of pasta and ricotta charred over embers and topped with a mushroom-roasted tomato ragu sauce.
On the meat side of things, choose from plates like the woodfired Duck Breast with charred Cabbage “kraut” and raisin jus with Indian flavors, steaks served classic or “embered,” or the Smoked Fried Chicken with spicy pickles and caviar butter.
Here, even the desserts have a woodfired tinge to them. Offering a take on strawberry shortcake, try the Grilled Strawberries and Cream with grilled Angel food cake, black pepper crema and roasted strawberry compote. If you want your dessert with a show, order the Tableside Branded Crème Brûlée.
The setting at Ember is just as appealing as the food on your plate. Designed by Mark Diaz from MAD Design, the 3,200-square-foot indoor-outdoor space draws inspiration from Art Deco modern styles—creating a bold, elegant and inviting space with plenty of natural light. Grab a table in the 90-seat dining room, or for a truly special experience, reserve a seat at the six-chair chef’s counter. No matter where you sit, the aroma of Ember’s woodfire oven will put you in a trance; resulting in a night every one of your senses won’t be able to forget.
Ember is located in Paradise Plaza, at 151 NE 41st Street #117. The bar opens Tuesday through Sunday at 6 p.m., with the restaurant opening at 6:30 p.m. Brunch and lunch are expected to launch in the coming months.
