Q: negative

A: I have now been to Embers twice, once for dinner and once for brunch. Dinner was more of a two star really. Food was ok, but I've definitely had better. My steak was way overpriced for what I got, and it was corn-fed, not grass-fed. What clinched the one star for me was the brunch. First off, the coffee was very bitter and is probably the first time I've had to add milk to restaurant coffee, I always drink coffee black. Then my fiance and I ordered bacon-wrapped dates and crunchy beef tacos - both were ok. What really took home the grand prize for bad food was my omelet that I ordered. It was the Chorizo and Piquillo Pepper Omelet which had no seasoning/salt added to it whatsoever and the chorizo was flat tasting. They top it with chimichurri - which caused me to gag. With the omelet that was provided to me, this sauce couldn't have gone any worse with it. I will not return to this place again.

Q: positive

A: Have eaten here twice and both times thought the meal was great but just not worth the price. The second time we had a Groupon but still ended up spending like $150 for two people. For that much money, my expectations go up and the whole experience does not live up to the price tag. It is in a Safeway Plaza, and the place is a bit barebones. The service is fine but it is not a fine dining experience. I would say there are other better places to spend your money. With that said, they have a Sunday special menu with lower pricing.

Q: negative

A: Oy, Here is what. I wanted a celery soda, liverwurst sandwich and black and white cookie. All were obtained and enjoyed but extracting them from Chompie's at PV was a serious pain in the tushie. First, I get to the mall door coming from DIllard's at 8:42 pm. The door was locked! I made sure to leave Dillard's early enough to make Chompie's insanely early 9pm closing time. I very rarely eat before 10 so I was already put out. WHY do does anyone close their kitchen before 11 in Phoenix is beyond me but that is a separate issue. I check my phone for the time to make sure I have not lost time in a department store and voila! A man comes and opens the door for me saying he had locked that side early. Here is a thing with me as this has happened before at many establishments in this valley. If your closing time is 10pm you had better not even TOUCH that door before 10 PM is registered on a GPS calibrated device. Not restaurant time, not imaginary friend time. REAL time. Open until whatever o'clock means that I am to be served until that time. Receiving no direction I wander to the counter. There is beer on tap and OH how I would love one but I sense lingering over a beer might get my food spit in. I go to the deli and make my order. I had to ask for normal black and whites as only Chinese almond are displayed. Yum pumpernicle bread! Yum celery soda! Yum liverwurst! Unfortunately all was packed to go without consulting me. I intended to eat there. There is a large sign on the counter indicating select pastry is half off after 3! I had to ask what was included as nothing indicated the days choices. Oh well. Then the whammie. Dr. Brown's Cel-ray soda is 2.39 for a CAN. Are you kidding me? Who charges 2.39 for a can of anything? It's more than a ball-park can. Ugh. I read the can. Since when is a traditionally kosher soda made with hi fructose corn syrup?!?! The end times are coming. I think I am done with Chompie's. I have worked in the industry most of my adult life and would not close a main entrance before closing time with the exceptions of safety and emergency. Nor would I give anything less than full service to anyone who arrived before the appointed time with the exception of liquor licensing regulated situations. It is true, in a bar situation you have to be strict and run people off but in a primarily dining establishment if you make it in under the wire you are good. There have been many an evening where close was 10 pm but I have been at work until after 12 because of this and I expect nothing less in return. All the foodstuff I ordered was correct and delicious but the pricing and convenience factor are so awful I can not recommend this place. Bummer as I am all about local businesses being successful. I am between 3 and 2 stars for this. The food was really good and so I started with the 3 but as I wrote the review I became increasingly angry with the pricing and closing time attitude. I will say that the lady at the counter was very nice and with the exception of making my order to go was quite patient... Chompie's, pull it together! Don't charge higher than NY prices in Phoenix. 2.5 stars but I won't round up.

Q: negative

A:
This review is only for the seafood department in the store. I'm not an idiot, I realize that trying to buy fresh seafood in the Phoenix area is not one of the greatest ideas one could have, but I live in Boston and make my living as a fish monger/fish cook. So I know about fish, and my family was hoping that i would cook for them while I'm out here. This place was a fail as soon as I walked to the counter. The shell fish were all kept on plates above the ice and I noticed that several mussels and clams had already opened. Not only should shell fish be kept directly on ice, part way buried in the stuff is best, and if you loose a few in the process of the day you take them out of the case and dispose of the them. Not leave them out for everyone to see that your not keeping your seafood cold and just letting it go south. You may as well keep it out side in the trunk of your car. Spoiled seafood is spoiled seafood. I don't care if you do put it on a shiny platter and put a "sale" sticker on it. I ended up having to make do with some frozen flounder, I brought them home and thawed them out, only to find they were SATURATED with water, I actually had to hold them over the sink and gently squeeze water out of them. In the years I've worked with all manner of fish, I've never actually had wring a fish dry like it was some sort of towel. Honest to god, I twisted the ends until the fillets started to curl, then they started realizing an truly unusual amount of fluids. It was disgusting.