Gainesville FL: Embers

My University of Florida friends took me to an outstanding dinner at Embers to continue our discussion. The atmosphere is fairly classic steakhouse with a modern touch. The service was very gracious and helpful.

The meal started with not one but three different types of bread: garlic, cheese, and one other. The garlic bread was my favorite.

We started with two appetizers. The blue crab bisque was outstanding. It was nicely rich but the crab still came through. The calamari was outstanding with a crunchy crust and delicate interior.

My ribeye was the best steak I've had in quite some time. The fat content and the meat were very nicely balanced; the steak was nicely tender with just the right amount of tooth. The vegetables were excellent, including both a zucchini drizzled with balsamic vinegar and a grilled Vidalia onion.

My flourless chocolate cake was outstanding. The steak had done its job so I saved most of the cake for breakfast.

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