Ember & Alma Cocktail Bar — Restaurant in Marlborough

Went tonight with my wife for our anniversary and I don’t believe we could have imagined how wonderful our night would turn out.

From the moment we were greeted all the way to our departure, service and the food were impeccable. I never expect people to go out of their way on my behalf but the team there did that throughout.

Lillian, our server, was perfect. Aside from her warm personality, she was efficient in both service as well as her explanation of the menu and made a special night of ours even more so.

We met the owner, as well as several other staff, each of whom made us feel welcome and appreciated.

The food was so amazing. We went on Thursday for their homemade pasta night and the fettuccini was wicked good. As they have a lot of small plate items, we went with the Pao de Queijo (spelling may be off)and the short rib egg rolls and grilled pineapple with cinnamon.

If ever I get to choose my last meal, it will be those egg rolls, but each we would happily order again. For dessert we got the brownie and passionfruit ice cream, the latter being my wife’s favorite.

I’m excited to have found such a great place and will return soon. I hope the entire staff are successful and the business thrives. Marlborough is in great hands with people at Ember and Alma.

Joe

PS: My wife got the paloma and said it was her favorite version of that drink. You could see how much care the bartenders put in to each drink, while carrying conversations effortlessly...

There was a time when you needed to go to Boston (or even New York) to find a place like Ember & Alma. We are now extremely lucky to have such excellent food and cocktails available right in Marlborough!

Behind the bar, Marcello and Anthony are the beating heart of Ember & Alma. They make every visit feel like seeing an old friend, and have created an environment that is inclusive, engaging, and fun. The bar program itself is, well, exceptional. The cocktails are varied, balanced, and do a great job of highlighting the high-quality spirits they use. There is an emphasis on South American spirits, and their selection of Cachaça, Mezcal, and Tequila is truly elite. Anyone who enjoys tasting fine and rare spirits owes it to themselves to stop by.

The food is also killer! The menu focuses on elevated Brazilian classics, with Churrasco style skewers and steaks taking the center stage. They also offer creative renditions of global favorites. The tapioca cubes, chimichurri steak, burrata (made fresh!), and brigadeiro ice cream especially stand out to me (so far). There is something for every taste, and enough variety that I always find something new to try.

To put it simply, I have been back at least once a week since I discovered Ember & Alma, including a special Mezcal-themed food and cocktail pairing. This place is really special, and the emphasis on quality is obvious. Highly...

We had an amazing first visit to Ember & Alma this weekend and are already planning our return! We sat outside and lucked out with one of the cushioned lounge-style couches—super comfy and perfect for a summer evening out.

Joao was our server and made the experience even better. Since it was our first time, he walked us through the menu and gave amazing recommendations, from cocktails to small plates.

We came primarily for the cocktails and wow—they were all show-stoppers. Think Brazilian classic cocktails with creative tropical twists. The caipirinhas are next-level (get the mango or passion fruit), and the batida instantly transported me to a beach somewhere much warmer than Marlborough. But the standout was the Marlborough Sour—a gorgeous, whiskey sour riff with a Malbec float that I’m still thinking about the morning after.

We also tried the pão de queijo, and it was phenomenal—warm, cheesy, pillowy perfection. The sweet and spicy jam it is served with is so good I would take a whole jar home with me if they served it. Didn’t get to try as much food this time, but we’re definitely coming back for more.

PS We learned that on Wednesdays they feature a selection of $9 cocktail specials! BRB sprinting back now that I know that’s a...