Review: Steakhouse serves USDA prime and wagyu, plus some menu surprises and valet parking

Lucie Regensdorf
·3 min read

Downtown Stuart is the setting for several beautiful restaurants, and now Kyle G has opened Oak & Ember on Colorado Avenue in the space that previously was Lou Ronzo’s.

Personally, I love our downtown area, but the biggest complaint I hear from people about dining there is the difficulty finding available parking, particularly when there’s a show at The Lyric. I can happily report that Oak & Ember has addressed that issue with valet parking. So, pull up, climb out, and walk on in.

The décor is bold and flashy. Red leather chairs, red accent lighting, and large sparkly chandeliers vie for attention. White starched tablecloths and white napkins with red stripes completed the theme. The walls are rustic stone and shiny black tile with ginormous photographs of food. A window into the open kitchen displays the calm efficiency of the chefs.

Oak and Ember Steakhouse in downtown Stuart has a bold decor. The space is confident and attractive with a lively vibe and energetic energy.
Oak and Ember Steakhouse in downtown Stuart has a bold decor. The space is confident and attractive with a lively vibe and energetic energy.

Oak & Ember is a quintessential steakhouse with USDA prime and wagyu steak selections such as filet mignon, New York strip steak, tomahawk steak, porterhouse and prime rib. You can choose additions such as sauteed mushrooms, pearl onions, truffle butter or au poivre.

Sides are potatoes and veggies such as creamed spinach, Brussels sprouts, or baked or sweet potatoes. Other dining options include salmon, sea scallops, flounder, sea bass, octopus, pork chop, and lamb chops. If you dare, you can start off with calamari, arepas, oysters on the half shell, lobster bisque, or split pea soup.

We were celebrating a special occasion, so we decided to live dangerously and order an appetizer, knowing that this would guarantee that we would be bringing home leftovers. The braised lamb empanadas ($16) were simply amazing. Tender, golden puff pastry cradled thinly sliced lamb au jus, which was topped with aji amarillo sauce and chopped tomatoes. The aji amarillo sauce is made with a Peruvian yellow chili pepper, but it is mildly mustardy flavored rather than spicy. This was definitely worth spoiling our appetite.

At Oak and Ember Steakhouse in downtown Stuart, the braised lamb empanadas were tender, golden puff pastries cradling thinly sliced lamb au jus, which was topped with aji amarillo sauce and chopped tomatoes.
At Oak and Ember Steakhouse in downtown Stuart, the braised lamb empanadas were tender, golden puff pastries cradling thinly sliced lamb au jus, which was topped with aji amarillo sauce and chopped tomatoes.

The hubby ordered a righteous meal for his birthday, which was the 10-ounce filet mignon ($66) with decadent gorgonzola ($6) and Bearnaise sauces and a side of potatoes au gratin ($16). The beef was “30-day wet aged,” which definitely helped keep the meat moist and succulent. The serving of cheesy, creamy, sliced potatoes was generous and plenty for us to share.

My dinner was the braised lamb shank ($39), which is available in limited quantities because the meat is braised for four hours daily. The substantial serving of lamb was luscious, tender, juicy and falling off the bone. The whipped potato puree soaked up the hearty gravy and the enormous stalks of grilled asparagus collectively created a delicious meal.

In keeping with the other Kyle G restaurants, our waitress, Jocelyn, reminded us that a 16% service charge is automatically added to the check. A card on the table outlines the benefits to the service team, and the servers are unerring in making sure you are aware.

At Oak and Ember Steakhouse in downtown Stuart, the 10-ounce filet mignon was 30-day wet aged, which kept the meat succulent and flavorful.
At Oak and Ember Steakhouse in downtown Stuart, the 10-ounce filet mignon was 30-day wet aged, which kept the meat succulent and flavorful.

We are all familiar with the old-fashioned dark and dimly lit steakhouses of the past. But no one could ever describe Oak & Ember as boring. Visually, the space is confident and attractive with a lively vibe and energetic energy. The staff is well-trained and efficient. Diners talking at the next table described the food as top-notch. The quality, quantity, and presentations are superb.

Oak & Ember is a welcome addition to downtown Stuart. It’s a steakhouse but with a twist of creativity and a few surprises on the menu. And, as a bonus, a valet to park your car.

Oak & Ember Steakhouse

  • Cuisine: Steak and seafood

  • Address: 301 S. Colorado Ave., Stuart

  • Hours: Lunch is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Dinner is 3-9 p.m. (and bar until 10 p.m.) Sunday-Thursday; 3-10 p.m. (and bar until 11 p.m.) Friday-Saturday. Happy hour is 11a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the restaurant and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the bar daily.

  • Address: 848 S.E. Becker Road, Port St. Lucie

  • Alcohol: Full bar

  • Online: oakandembersteakhouse.com

Lucie Regensdorf dines anonymously at the expense of TCPalm for #WhatToDoIn772. Contact her at Lucie@theloveofcooking.com

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Restaurant review: Kyle G's Oak & Ember steakhouse in downtown Stuart