Embers

Embers is authentic.  There is no pretense here.

Cathy pretty much defined this place when she shared this with us: "Everyone pretty much knows everyone around here."

She was our authentically friendly waitress who talked with us for a long time and filled us in on Ember's without much prompting.  The property used to be a big chicken farm.  The guy at the bar has owned it for 35 years.  Susie's been behind the bar for 26 years.  There's karaoke every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  She went down the list of groups playing here, when and what kind of music they play, and she told us about BIlly Mulligan - it used to be standing room only when they played here.  She said they have a slightly older clientele.

She wasn't kidding.  My aunt Joyce once jokingly referred to Embers as "The Morgue".  She was fifty years old at the time.  Seriously, I'd kill to check out this crowd on a Saturday night, see these people having fun.

For lunch, it was just the two of us in the connected dining room, sitting at super-comfortable chairs among the dart boards, a big screen television and fake ficus trees trimmed with white xmas lights.  In the very dark bar was maybe ten old-timers, sharing afternoon beers next to the six video poker machines with holiday ornaments left dangling from the ceiling.

Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread and green salad was surprisingly good - I can't believe I ate the whole thing.  The battered steak fingers were kind of crazy delicious.  The rest of the dinner menu (they also serve breakfast and lunch) includes things like various steaks, prime rib, broasted chicken, a couple of prawn dishes, deep-fried seafood and everyone's favorite: liver & onions.  Grandma, did you see that?

One other thing: stiffest cocktail I've ever had, and I've had more than a few.  The Jack & Coke was kind of clearish and kind of gasolineish there was so little cola in it.  Well cocktails are $3.50 and those made with call liquor run $4.50.

Embers is one of those places that makes you feel like, somewhere between your car and the front door, you stepped through a portal that has thrown you back to a different era: Wood paneling, ficuses draped in Christmas lights, 60s style leather arm chairs around the table. (Actually, I suspect they're not '60s style' but original 1960s chairs).

Embers is a cross-over between a bar, club and diner. The menu is too. Grab a diner style breakfast, a sandwich, or some fried bar food. Their star dish is something called 'Broasted chicken'. Our incredibly friendly waitress explained the process to me, which involves frying and pressure cooking at once. Sounds a little like an explosion waiting to happen to me, but hey, if it produces delicious crispy-yet-tender chicken and pork chop, I'm all for it!

Our waitress gave us a full introduction to Embers, including an overview of their live shows which include everything from country to jazz. On weekdays (except Monday) there's karaoke. I think Embers has known better days, in previous decades, but it seems they still get their share of loyal regulars. I suspect they fill up pretty well on weekend nights.

The food is fairly typical for a diner/bar. My friend had the spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. It was not bad, the sauce was chunky and fresh tasting, but the spaghetti was a little overcooked. The garlic bread was good but not spectacular. I decided to go for the all-out fried plate of steak fingers (or are they finger steaks?) with fries. Their fries come in 'beer battered', 'waffles', 'sweet potato' and 'tater tots'. I was tempted to ask for a bit of each but decided to restrain myself and opt for the beer battered fries. And they were very good! Seasoned, crispy, freshly fried. No complaints there. The steak fingers (finger steaks?) were fabulous and tender, though they did need a good sprinkling of salt.

Best part about Embers was undeniably the service (well, and the strangely comforting old-time feel). Our waitress told us about the history of Embers, which includes a previous incarnation as a chicken farm (!). Apparently the dining area and bar were the chicken coup. I'd hoped there were photos, but the waitress didn't know of any. It doesn't seem like Embers has changed a whole lot from its initial conversion from chicken farm into a diner and club, but Embers has survived thanks to its loyal customers, and as James says: It has a very authentic dive-y charm! I can't wait to come back for some live music and more $3.50 ultra alcoholic cocktails.

We called this place after the Dead show to ascertain they were open to serve food.  Got there and we were dumfounded that there were NO tables being served.  We were awestruck at the deadness and the seediness of the place.  Finally someone came out and told us only deepfried food being served.  Teaches me to ask is the full menu being served til 2am?
How does this place get a four star rating is beyond me...
Could have said only serving deepfried food late at night...