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Web DesignDevelopmentFood & Hospitality

Ember & Oak Kitchen

Where San Francisco's food culture meets the craft of fire

Client

Ember & Oak Kitchen

Industry

Food & Hospitality

Year

2025

Duration

3 weeks

caldesign.studio/work/ember-oak
Project Preview
Ember & Oak Kitchen
+67%
Reservations
+40%
Private Dining Revenue
SF Chronicle
Press Coverage
+28%
Avg Booking Value
The Challenge

Ember & Oak had a cult following on Instagram but no website that matched their premium positioning. Competitors with stronger digital presence were winning the private events and group booking market. A revenue stream that required no ad spend, just a site that could close the deal.

The Goal

Redesign the online presence to reflect Ember & Oak's upscale farm to table brand and make it effortless for guests to discover, browse the menu, and reserve a table.

+67%
Reservations
Primary outcome
Our approach

How We Solved It

01

Editorial style visual narrative: full bleed fire photography

Editorial style visual narrative: full bleed fire photography, chef profile, and origin story front and center. Builds the emotional connection that justifies premium pricing.

02

Seasonal menu system with a lightweight management d…

Seasonal menu system with a lightweight management dashboard. Updated in minutes without developer involvement.

03

Integrated reservation flow with OpenTable plus a de…

Integrated reservation flow with OpenTable plus a dedicated private dining inquiry module with budget qualifier and headcount selector

04

Local SEO build targeting 'best wood fired restauran…

Local SEO build targeting 'best wood fired restaurant San Francisco' and 12 adjacent intent terms. All on page one within 8 weeks.

The result

What We Delivered

+67%
Reservations
+40%
Private Dining Revenue
SF Chronicle
Press Coverage
+28%
Avg Booking Value

Online reservations climbed 67% in the two months following launch. Average cover value increased as the refined digital experience attracted a higher intent diner, and waitlist sign ups grew 42%.