Ember — Review by Eating With Tod
Northampton, United Kingdom — Woodfired / Live Fire Cooking
Ember is an independent woodfired restaurant in Northampton specializing in live fire cooking under owner James Peek's expertise. The reviewer was blown away by the quality of dishes from the cheeseburger Meline to the standout Iberico pork shoulder, calling it one of their favorite meals of the year and expressing amazement that the restaurant hasn't earned a Michelin star.
What was great: Cheeseburger Meline brushed with beef fat and Parmesan, scallops cooked on charcoal with caviar and dill sauce, fire roasted woodplank salmon, whole Iberico pork shoulder with samphire and mussels, tandoori spatchcooked chicken
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
Ember's menu showcases exceptional live fire cooking from start to finish. The cheeseburger Meline proved to be a perfect opening, with beef fat brushed patties finished with grated Parmesan cheese that left the reviewer wishing they'd ordered more. The scallops were cooked directly on charcoal then completed with baby gem fricassee, caviar, and dill, creating a sauce so remarkable the reviewer joked they could drink it like beer. This dish ranks in their top three scallop dishes of all time.
The fire roasted woodplank salmon arrived piled onto flatbread and topped with basil oil, prawn head mayo, cucumber, and fresh lemon, tasting like what the reviewer described as a dirty salmon kebab in the best possible way. For mains, the whole Iberico pork shoulder emerged as the standout dish of the night, served with samphire, garlic butter, and mussels. The combination of the pork's natural richness, the saltiness of the mussels, the sweetness of the samphire, and the fresh basil cutting through all the smoke and fat created a perfectly balanced dish. The tandoori spatchcooked chicken with aioli and burnt lime was also described as an absolute banger.
The Experience
Owner James Peek brings genuine passion and expertise to the operation, with the reviewer comparing him to Gandalf as a fire wizard. The atmosphere was celebratory and joyful, with family members clearly enjoying the experience and the food prompting genuine reactions of delight throughout the meal.
Value and Pricing
No specific prices were mentioned in the transcript, but the quality of ingredients and cooking technique suggests premium pricing typical of high-end independent restaurants.
Notable Moments
How this restaurant doesn't have a Michelin star, I will never know
I could drink that sauce like beer
It tastes like a dirty salmon kebab. And it was bloody delicious
The Verdict
Ember represents an exceptional dining experience that left the reviewer declaring it their favorite meal of the year. The restaurant's focus on live fire cooking and high-quality ingredients results in dishes that are both technically impressive and genuinely delicious. This establishment is perfect for anyone seeking adventurous, skillfully executed cuisine in an unfussy setting that celebrates the art of fire cooking.