Dining pick of the week: Embers Grille + Spirits

PICK OF THE WEEK:

EMBERS GRILLE + SPIRITS

Boca Park, 740 S. Rampart Blvd., 778-2160

It's always nice when a local kid makes good. That happened to Aaron Klafter-Phillips, who was named executive chef at Embers Grille + Spirits. Klafter-Phillips is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas who majored in restaurant management and now oversees all facets of the Embers kitchen. His new menu offerings can be paired with vintage cocktails such as Moscow Mule, Sazerac, Manhattan and Vesper. Several small plates are roasted garlic hummus with grilled pita, goat cheese crostinis with roasted fennel and fig, barbecue tri tip sliders on challah roll and fried artichoke hearts. Among the salads are Caesar, the grilled steak with cherry tomatoes, crispy shallots, roasted garlic vinaigrette and blue cheese crostini, and the seared ahi tuna with a mix of cherry tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, hard-cooked eggs, haricot verts and Kalamata olive vinaigrette. Featured entrees are wild mushroom risotto, tri tip with glazed sweet potatoes, pan-roasted seabass, grilled chimichurri chicken breast burger with lettuce, tomato and red pepper chili aioli, cioppino, veggie burger with avocado and grilled miso salmon served with jasmine rice, bok choy, edamame and red pepper. Entrees start at $18 and small plates at $7. Embers Grille + Spirits is open daily from 3 to 11 p.m. - Jack Bulavsky