Mber
Tucked downstairs on a corner of Pudding Lane, this restaurant is that rare thing, with a City bar that’s cool, calm and collected, a brilliant ambience, helped in no small part by a fabulous interior design. Named after the Great Fire of London, which is believed to have started on the very spot, Ember not only serves serious cocktails and wines by a knowledgeable sommelier, it also offers the most divine pan-Asian food. On our visit, on an early mid-week evening, most tables were occupied and there was even a wine tasting going on in the private dining room at the back. Despite being busy, our waiter couldn’t have been more attentive, bringing us a glass of Champagne and a delicious amuse bouche while we perused the menu. For starters we opted for prawn and coconut ceviche and confit of duck leg and orange blossom labneh (like a Greek yoghurt), both of which packed powerful flavour punches, definitely a signature of head chef Jonathan Villar. Similarly, with our mains of weeping tiger fillet beef and Thai green curry the clever use of herbs and spices made both dishes stand out.
1a Pudding Lane
London, EC3R 8AB
ember.london