Ember Room
647 9th Avenue
Tel: 212.245.8880
Designer: Roy Nachum

Noted restaurant designer Roy Nachum (1oak, Mel’s Burger Bar, as well as the forthcoming Southern Hospitality) puts another notch on his drafting table with the opening of Ember Room, a contemporary Asian-inspired barbecue restaurant featuring menus from celebrated chefs Todd English and Ian Chalermkittichai. The interior of the 140-seat space on 9th Avenue in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen takes its visual cues from contemporary Asian and American design while also celebrating the beauty found in natural materials, like the reclaimed firewood that covers the walls. A focal point of the space is a piece by Roy Nachum, but the most striking design element may be the thousands of tiny gold bells that shimmer on the ceiling, their impact more visual than aural. The open kitchen allows diners to see the Ember Room’s chefs prepare meals on one of the seven roasting ovens, two stone woks, or the grill of the custom-built Nobile oven. Made of clay bricks, volcanic rock, and natural stone, the Nobile bears the initials “TE” (for chef Todd English, naturally). Visitors can also opt for the more intimate upstairs, which looks down over the action in the dining room below.

Alyssa Nordhauser