Restaurant Review: Ember & Ash — A Seasonal, Fire-Forward Tasting Menu

Location: Seattle, WA • Price: $115 tasting menu

Ember & Ash crafts a tasting menu around elemental cooking: smoke, char, and direct fire. The restaurant’s open hearth is both kitchen and theater, with chefs working live embers to sear, smoke, and glaze seasonal ingredients. The result is a menu that leans on primal flavors while maintaining finesse.

Atmosphere

The dining room is warm and intimate, with soft lighting and a view of the hearth. Service is attentive but not showy; staff explain techniques and provenance behind each dish.

Highlights from the menu

• Charred leek velouté: A silky soup brightened with preserved lemon and olive oil.
• Smoked trout: Lightly smoked over alder, paired with fermented cucumber and whey vinaigrette.
• Coal-roasted carrots: Sweet caramelization and a backbone of grilled bitterness, finished with yogurt and Aleppo pepper.
• Seared duck breast: A precise crust and rosy interior balanced with burned apple purée.
• Ember-roasted pear: Served with burnt honey and a shard of brittle for contrast.

Technique & sourcing

Ember & Ash prioritizes local produce and heritage animals, working with small farms for seasonal supply. Their technique emphasizes controlled ignition and timing—small variations can profoundly change flavor, so execution matters.

Service & pacing

The meal is paced intentionally, with dishes arriving at a rhythm that lets flavors settle between courses. Wine pairings are curated but the sommelier is open to substitutions for diners with preferences.

Value assessment

At $115 for the tasting menu, Ember & Ash delivers a distinct culinary point of view. The price sits in a fair range for a hearth-driven tasting experience in a major city when factoring in high-quality sourcing and technique.

Who should go

Food lovers who appreciate elemental cooking and seasonal storytelling. Those seeking novelty and deep smoke-forward flavors will be rewarded.

Final verdict

Ember & Ash is an accomplished restaurant that celebrates the visceral pleasures of fire-cooked food. It is both educational and delicious—an excellent stop for diners who value technique, terroir, and tactile flavors.