Our History - Food and Downtown Revitalization
It all started in 2014 with the food and a vision for Downtown Alexandria. When Owner Jennifer Atwood set out to open Embers, she wanted to create a restaurant that offers fresh and unique ingredients and dishes inspired by her travels across the globe.
In her mind, Alexandria’s Downtown was a perfect backdrop for such a restaurant. Having been to other cities with thriving downtown areas, she wanted to bring some of her favorite places and flavors into one restaurant.
Jennifer purchased the historic building at the corner of Third and Desoto Streets in November of 2013 and, after extensive renovation, Embers opened its doors almost exactly a year later.
During the renovation process, some of the original features had been revealed and flowed into the inspiration of the design elements that make Embers what it is today.
The historic building at the corner of Third and Desoto Streets has seen many uses over the years - originally a liquor store, its other uses over the years included a rave club and an illegal gambling outfit.
Embers offers fresh, artisan fusion-style cuisine - so you should not be surprised to see pizzas inspired by Mexican, Italian and Cajun cuisine, pastas that marry Asian and Texan flavors, and maybe a salad that is reminiscent of a late fall afternoon in the French country side.
Jennifer is a connoisseurs of bold flavors and an ambassadors for the great ingredients. Enjoy her creations and explore new flavors and ingredients in every dish and every one of our handcrafted cocktails.
Come as you are, enjoy the casual atmosphere, feel like you’re family ... welcome to Embers, we hope you'll enjoy the food.