Me and some friends been trying to do a monthly dinner at a place that is new for everyone or most the group. This months we decided to try Amara after seeing a Instagram reel about it. We have been at this location in the past for Water Dog Tavern and Hola's, so we were all curious what they did with this large nice space. Customer Service was great. We were promptly greeted, a good introduction by the sommelier, and our waiter was a friendly face and super helpful guiding us through the menu making sure we made great decisions. We also met the general manager? Or maybe the owner? He was friendly, but I feel like him not introducing himself was a bit of a blunder. He was a well dressed man that I saw making his way around the restaurant a few times, so I could only assume that was his role. Drinks - This was a hit and miss. I really liked the Moroccan breeze and one other drink a friend had, the the old fashion and another It tried kind of missed the mark. They were easily forgetful and they were kind of drank as not to waste them. Food - Each item we had I would get again. The stand outs are the green hummus, oyster mushrooms, the hot sauce went well with the mushrooms, and hanger steak. We all really enjoyed each thing other than the portion of the ravioli. Yes the Ravioli tasted great, but the item was listed as a large portion to share as a entree. There was only 5 ravioli which I wouldn't consider a sharable entree, more like a portion for one entree. I could probably just have easily finished the hanger steak myself, but at least that seemed more appropriate of a sharable. We all enjoyed the experience overall and will be coming back, hopefully with a larger group so we can try the table of abundance. read more

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Amara is one of those places where every part of the experience just clicks. I went for the tasting menu and it was outstanding from start to finish. The meal began with warm, pillowy pita and an assortment of spreads that were packed with flavor -- the pistachio-topped green dip and the smoky red pepper spread were especially addictive. Simple, vibrant, and the perfect start. The seafood courses were incredible. The grilled branzino was beautifully cooked with citrus, herbs, and just the right amount of char, served alongside fragrant rice with peas that balanced the dish perfectly. The shrimp were sweet, tender, and layered with bright flavors. But the dish I'm still thinking about? The mushrooms. Honestly... stupid good. Deeply savory, perfectly cooked, topped with pine nuts and sitting on a vibrant green puree that tied everything together. I could easily have ordered another plate. We also started with fresh oysters, and the cocktails were spectacular -- balanced, creative, and clearly crafted with care. The vibe of the restaurant is just as good as the food. While we dined, DJ Fantom Cat was spinning smooth chill beats that created such a relaxed, stylish energy in the room. It made the whole evening feel special without feeling pretentious. Beautiful space, excellent service, thoughtful food, and a menu that makes you want to come back and try everything. Amara absolutely deserves the buzz. read more

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Came here once before a little over a year ago and came back for Valentine's Day. Their Valentine's menu was super nice and very reasonably priced! (Usually this place is a pretty high price point). Our favorite thing was the shrimp appetizer. I personally also loved the dips. And could have eaten a whole cup of the chocolate mousse filling in the dessert. Staff was attentive and friendly. The space is big and very nicely decorated. Not noisy at all, very comfortable for a nice evening. The only thing I didn't care for was my drink. It sounded like it would be fruity but it was more herb forward. read more

Came here for the first time recently with a group of 8. The restaurant itself is very attractive so an A for that. The food was extremely flavorful and enjoyable. My hesitation is that the service was beyond slow, the prices high, and the portions fairly small. About the food. The meats were excellent - wonderfully flavored chicken, tender steak, interesting lamb and good kofte. The hummus and various yogurt sauces were all tasty. The charcuterie was quite small given the price and pretty average in taste. Desserts were good. It's lovely to have time to sit and relax but families are hungry and taking almost an hour to get the first food and drink is ridiculous. Our server was attentive when he appeared - and the restaurant was not crowded. read more

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So I have tried their other 2 restaurants. I loved the higher end saffron but that become casual and the food was not great. I got on their mailing list and kept getting notices for Amara and so we had a friend dinner and decided to go. First it's a nice place. More higher end. Drinks are fine. Nothing off the charts that we tried but passable. Their by the glass wine was not good imo. I had called about corkage and their 55 dollar fee was wow. The appetizers of octopus was nice. Well made and good flavors. We went to the mushrooms which were nicely textured but too subtle for me. Went on to the branzino which was nicely made and tasted good. The soups vid chicken was tender and flavorful. Service was very spotty. I think they are understaffed for a Friday night. Good experience. Worth a visit. read more

Great place with nice ambiance. Serves a little upscale Mediterranean food. Wide array of choices, good for sharing . I enjoyed their hummus selection , octopus and they have a good serving of the tomahawk which we got two for our party of 6 which was more than plenty. On the pricey end but good for celebrations read more

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Amazing food and service! We were a party of six celebrating three birthdays. The wait staff was so attentive and made sure we were well taken care of. They even brought over three separate ice cream desserts with a lit candle and sang happy birthday! Really liked green hummus and Muhammara. Lots of flavor for a dip! And the freshly baked pita was so soft that it paired nicely with the two dips that we used it to scrape the bowl clean! Lol! The chicken was very tender and juicy with a crispy skin. So flavorful with the spicy aioli and mashed potatoes. The rice was good too because of the melted butter and spices. Oh and the grilled broccoli was cooked perfectly and tasted great with the sauce! I'm definitely coming back to try other dishes! read more

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Beautiful place with amazing warm vibes. Definitely on the pricey side and portions are smaller but the quality was excellent. Would come here just to enjoy the vibes and get a drink. Braised octopus - tender, juicy, good flavor. Mirza Ghasemi (eggplant tomato dip) - a huge hit with the group, definitely would order again. Saffron Marinated roast half chicken - whole piece of chicken was juicy and tasty. branzino - crispy skin with juicy flesh Baba ghanoush and pita - solid option Rabbit tajine - rabbit tasted a bit dry, this was the dish that stood out the least. read more

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Came in with a friend. Oh wow! What a surprise! Food was absolutely amazing, decoration was top notch. Service was fabulous! We would definitely come back for more! Would love to try their happy hour next time! I ordered shakshuka. Plate was beautiful and flavor was on point. Great find! read more

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Amara is a Belmont gem! Parking: Easy and free in a shopping center Seating: Beautiful both indoors and outside, umbrellas outside and it's by a beautiful pond and garden! Inside is gorgeous modern and marble decor Service: Friendly and personable. You can tell they really care. The owners even came by to greet us Food: Delicious, fresh and healthy. Brunch plates are meant to share. Highly recommend the Ciblir, Shakshuka, and Mezze Platter Overall had a great experience here and I'm excited to come back! read more

Amara - Mezze Platter - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Belmont, California

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From the owners of Rasa and Saffron (two amazing Indian fine dining restaurants on the Peninsula) comes Amara, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with an absolutely gorgeous dining room and garden. The plates here were all creative and beautifully-presented, and we started off with spreads to share including Green Hummus (made with spring onions, pistachios, herb oil, crème fraîche), Black Hummus (charred onions and chilis, topped with crisp garlic, fried anchovies, fried curry leaves, and paprika oil), and Muhammara (red pepper and walnut paste). Maybe I'm a bit of a hummus purist, but I found the Green Hummus dry and gritty, and the Black Hummus, while super tasty, was too savory and funky to be considered hummus. However, the best part of the spreads was the soft, freshly-baked white and wheat pita breads that came on the side! We continued our meal with small plates for sharing including Phyllo-Crusted Petrale Sole fillets served over bouillabaisse tomato sauce; Roasted Cauliflower with cauliflower puree, dates, golden raisins, pine nuts, and dukkah; Braised Octopus with papas bravas; BBQ Lamb Shortribs with garlic tahini sauce; and Goat Gozleme (flatbread stuffed with ground goat). My favorite dishes were the cauliflower, octopus, and lamb ribs, but everything was delicious and tasty in its own way! For our mains, I tried the Saffron Marinated Roast Half Chicken and the Rabbit Tajine (a rabbit leg served over black lentils), both of which were decent but not as memorable as the small plates. Overall, the food here was creative and delicious, but the menu prices were extremely high for the portion sizes. That said, the atmosphere and service were both on point, making this restaurant a worthwhile stop for a special occasion. read more

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This time around we had an amazing experience at Amara. Ajay the owner reached out shortly after my review and invited us back as guests, however I still want to be honest with my review. We were sat near the window which had a great view of the patio. There were ants around the window, and some food pieces on the floor under the table... not many but maybe 3-4 ants that crawled around the window during our meal. The Muhammara dip with pita - was probably our favorite dish. The walnuts gave the dip an amazing texture. Asparagus salad - was fresh with a light salad dressing. Oysters -- were chilled to perfection, and paired well with the vinaigrette. BBQ lamb - tender, smoky, and fell off the bone easily. Tasted almost like ribs. Branzino - flaky, moist, and enhanced with a touch of olive oil, capers, and hint lemon. It was delicious! Praline Pistachio Opera - tasted as amazing as it looked. Everything was perfect with this dish. We had leftovers that were boxed up, but never brought back to the table? So we just left. Overall this was a good dining experience - we finished the meal in under 2 hours and everything was paced really well. The servers were all so nice, and so was the owner. We tipped $100, because even though the meal was comped we enjoyed our visit. read more

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It was our first time here and our dining experience was spectacular. We got there right in time and enjoy a quiet, and pleasant birthday celebration for my Mom. From the top service that we received to the amazing, delicious food We are all have a great time but one thing I would suggest is get there early because it gets super busy and the acoustics aren't that great. But that's my only complaint. read more

Opening at the beginning of the year, the interior is beautiful. Lots of different seating option and they have a beautiful outdoor space. Baba ghanoush (2/5): All the spreads come with one pita. Additional pita is $5. The pita was outstanding. Came out hot and super fluffy. Unfortunately, the baba ghanoush itself was disappointing. It lacked much flavor or salt. Wouldn't order again. Roasted cauliflower (2/5): A staple Mediterranean dish that was a bit of a letdown here. The portion is on the smaller side, and the cauliflower lacked much seasoning. BBQ lamb (4/5): The garlic tahini sauce was delicious and the lamb was well cooked and easily fell off the bone. Would order again. Dungeness crab borek (4/5): Think of a Mediterranean egg roll. The bouillabaisse tomato sauce was tasty and complimented crab. The crispy leek gave some nice texture as well. Whole Branzino (4.5/5): Deboned and really well cooked. The lemon and spices added great flavors and the skin was super crispy. The only negative is that it was a bit on the oily side. Spaghetti squash (4/5): love the texture and again the main downside was that it is quite oily. Overall, their food quality was mixed, but the decor is fantastic. I still prefer some of the other Mediterranean places in the peninsula, but happy to have come once. read more

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An unexpected elevated Mediterranean place in Belmont . The jazzy music , red velvet chairs and well dressed staff made it worth to dine based on first impression . On-site parking was easy to find . Service was great . Staff kept coming back to check on us if we needed anything . They were nice enough to change our plates. Dishes we had : BLACK HUMMUS-Charred onions and chilis, fried smelt, curry leaves, paprika oil -dish comes with pita bread . Extra pita bread will cost you . Pita bread was super fluffy and acts as a sponge for the hummus . Black hummus is has a more bitter smd fragrant taste . White hummus is usually creamier . This was still delicious . CHICORY SALAD -Winter citrus, dried cherries, green olives, shaved fennel, candied sunflower seeds, tahini dressing After doing research , chicory salad ironically does not have chicory in it . I was disappointed at first but they did it right. Salad was ok and refreshing DUNGENESS CRAB BÖREK.. Bouillabaisse tomato sauce, crispy leeks, toasted leek oil, crème fraîche The BÖREK was super flakey and crispy . You can hear the crispy as I cut it open . The portion of crab to BÖREK was unfortunately small . We tasted more of the BÖREK than the meat . I was not able to taste the crispy leeks . SAFFRON MARINATED ROAST HALF CHICKEN -Charred Persian cucumbers, tzatziki This was by far the best dish . Chicken was juicy and tender with the rich coat of saffron tingling after every bite . The cucumber and tzatziki added a refreshing tat to the rich saffron flavor and juicy chicken . Chicken might if been sous vide. read more

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My friend and I dined here for a nice farewell dinner this past Saturday evening. Can I just say how beautiful the place looked as soon as I stepped in! There is a huge bar in the middle with a beautiful green counter top and a modern fire place corner towards the back. We had Kendrick to serve us that night. Kendrick was extremely nice and courteous, I could tell he is well trained off the bat and I appreciated the warm welcome he gave us! While we figured out what we wanted to share, he took his time with us and also assured that he would help gauge if that is just the right amount of food to share. We ended up getting the lamb shawarma, the grilled oyster mushroom kabob and their oysters. Everything was delicious! The oysters came with a mignonette sauce. The oyster mushroom kabob was easily our favorite and was a big highlight. We loved all the flavors that came with it, it was extremely savory. The lamb shawarma was satisfying, but minor feedback is that it did seem a tad dry and we both agreed more seasoning would have helped it out. However the bread itself was amazing and so unique, I loved the bits of salt the crust had, and the pickles and sweet sauce it came with was a unique touch. Overall we still finished everything! To top it off, Kendrick was extremely nice to offer an on the house dessert due to our special occasion. The butterscotch vanilla ice cream is to DIE for!!! I am never too impressed with any ice cream dessert but I would easily pay money for this. All in all it was an extremely wonderful, lovely dinner and I am so glad my friend recommended us to try Amara for our special dinner! Would highly recommend! read more

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Love coming to Amara. It's our go to local spot. The food here is great but a little under seasoned for my taste. Overall still great tho with so many options. The restaurant interior is really great with a fireplace, private room if needed and a great view of the outside garden. The bar is also really beautiful and a great place for drinks. Kendrick is the best server. He's got the energy! I recommend this spot and their menu changes seasonally. I usually get their charcuterie and their branzino read more

Top notch overall experience. This is a great place for dates, business meals, friends, occasions, and anything else. It's upscale with great decor, but still somehow not stuffy. Food was all excellent and service is friendly, welcoming, and attentive. read more

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Every item on the menu is "hyper-seasoned". If you view seasoning as a compliment to your beef or chicken or vegetable.....this place is NOT for you. Amara chefs overpower and smother their offerings. It was like someone made me drink bottled sauces from the grocery store shelf. That's it! Their food is a sauce delivery system. It's a yuck for me. Let the diner beware. read more

New kid on the block? Love to see it! I'm so happy about this new restaurant, it's very immersive and has the best food I've had all summer. I especially like the vibe as it feels like a vacation somewhere in Europe. I'll take a no-flight Europe setting any day. Get the ribs and get the meza platter, best dips/sauces. The pita bread lives rent free in my head. And will do so forever. I wish I was exaggerating... read more

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Amara is a hidden gem here in Belmont. From the moment you enter through the door, you are immediately blown away by the ambiance. The creativity of the decor, the lighting, the outdoor garden and the beautiful jade marble top bar. Every inch of detail was well thought out with the interior design. Elegant and charming! Had the pleasure of tasting some bar bites. BTW, shout out to their mixologist Oscar, he was awesome! We tried their Mezze appetizers which includes their version of classic green hummus which was unique and creamy. Love their baba ganoush, it was perfect. The Muhammara had this red pepper and pomegranate molasses top with walnuts, it was devine. The lamb riblets with the spicy sauce had a nice kick. The aleppo pepper fries were delicious. We were treated with a trio of dessert, which were all equally indulgent! Here's what we had: PRALINE PISTACHIO OPERA with tahini pistachio mousse, brandy soaked citrus biscuit, feuilletine chocolate crunch. IT WAS ART ON A PLATE!!! BAKLAVA SUNDAE with rose, saffron, pistachio, walnut, honeycomb ice cream. MY FAVORITE OF THE THREE! ORANGE BLOSSOM CHEESECAKE with torched orange segments, fleur de sel, and micro greens. ABSOLUTE SWEET INDULGENCE! SO PRETTY! All treats paired with a luscious glass of Tokaji! But most of all. It was the warm welcome from the proprietors Reena and Ajay. Felt like family when they greeted us. It's always heartwarming to see owners take the time to greet their guests. Can Can't wait to come back to try more items on the menu. This place is an absolute GEM! read more

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Great experience during soft opening. Amara brings some much needed flavor and variety to Belmont. We were greeted with the nicest staff, and were served by some of the nicest staff we've ever met where we ate at the bar. Everyone was immensely polite and helpful, as well as knowledgeable of the menu; impressive for day 3! We ordered: Lamb small plate Octopus small plate (favorite!) Lobster small plate Pita side Fingerling potato side Labneh Cheesecake dessert (favorite!) Food was delicious and flavorful without being too abstract, new interior was great to look at and had perfect lighting for dinner. We could come here again just for drinks and a bite because it's such a nice atmosphere. What can be worked on: -It's COLD inside. AC was on almost the entire dinner. No reason for this in the end of December. A neighbor also mentioned it was very cold. -Music could be louder to match the amazing interior -timing of food could improve but this is expected during a soft opening. Well done! read more

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You can tell Amara is a labor of love based on the fact their kind servers and the fact that the owners were camped out and keeping an eye on things. I also noticed their careful attention to the beautiful decor and how they chose a location next to a garden, what a nice touch. Ambiance and service aside, leaving 3 stars for what I felt was just-OK brunch food. And perhaps this is personal preference since I don't typically gravitate towards mediterranean food and the menu was very limited, and/or dinner is different and better. * Baba Ghanoush - 3.5 stars ($13): Would have been 4 stars if the portion was larger. It was good and appreciated that they brought out extra pita chips. The pita chips were a little too oily and burnt for me, but they had a nice chew to them and tasted fresh! * Ekmek n' Egg s- 3 stars ($17): Overall, I'd say this was a pretty good portion of lamb! It was a bit too gamey for me and the bread got soggy. * Shakshuka - 3.5 stars ($24): Appreciated that this came with 3 stars to keep me full. This was a homey meal, and probably my favorite out of the mains. * Thousand Hole Pancake - 3 stars ($14): Thin, non-traditional pancakes. Kids seemed to like it, but wish there was a larger portion. * Amara Basket - 4 stars ($12): 3 pastries - carrot muffin (amazing!), blueberry scone (delish!). There was one more pastry but I can't recall it now. * Cinnamon bun - 3 stars: There was a spiced cinnamon bun which I thought was so uniquely flavored. It was just too sweet for me and not my cup of tea. Beautiful spot, interesting menu, look forward to see more varied dishes coming out. read more

Amara - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Belmont, California

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Amara in Belmont is a unique gem. I've visited three times and sat in the lounge, bar area, and table for four dining, which has a great view into the outdoor dining space. Each experience was met with professional and informed service, excellent menu options, thoughtful aesthetic choices, and delicious meals and beverages. I'm excited to bring more friends and family to this warm community restaurant. read more

Amara - Great selection of NA and specialty crafted cocktails - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Belmont, California

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Very beautiful restaurant with lots of potential but don't judge a book by its cover as they say. Sadly the service here is sub-par. Went for lunch and not kidding, our meal took an hour and 15 minutes to arrive. Fortunately, we ordered an appetizer and wine. We asked a staff member why our food was taking so long. They gave some explanation that didn't make any sense. We ordered chicken so nothing special that should take so long. By the time, the meal finally arrived, they presented it like it were such an impressive meal explaining how it was made. It was a roasted chicken on a bed of rice and hummus. But we only got one when we had ordered two plates. We asked about the second plate and the guy scrambled to find out what happened. 5 minutes later he arrived with my plate and said that was supposed to be his lunch but he would give it up to me. Huh? What? I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for lunch since most people have to get back to work and we were there just over two hours. read more

Paradise found, right here in Belmont! What a beautiful and delicious place! My friend and I joined a Sip & Script Calligraphy Class at Amara, and from the moment we walked in, we were transported to a Mediterranean oasis. The space is stunning - chandeliers, hand-painted frescoes, and even a signature scent (yes, it smells like vacation!). The co-founder Reena welcomed everyone with such warmth , you can feel the love behind this restaurant. We had Sauvignon Blanc, Green Hummus (best ever!), Fattoush Salad, Grilled Broccoli with smoked plum gel and duck prosciutto, and Beef Kefta Kebab , everything was flavorful and beautifully presented. The service was attentive yet relaxed, and the whole evening felt unhurried , exactly what Amara promises: "Paradise, found -- not for someday, but every day." Bonus: I learned they have DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, plus a lineup of community events throughout the year. So yes, I'll definitely be back , next time for dinner, drinks, and maybe a little dancing under those chandeliers. Highly recommend for date nights, girls' nights, or just a treat-yourself kind of evening. Thank you Amara. read more

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I attended a event at Amara and was very honored to meet Ajay and Reena the founders of the restaurant. They were both amazing and super friendly. They told us their stories and our conversations were never ending. Our group were hosted in their outdoor venue. But they also have an indoor private venue that can seat 50 people. I order Gran Especia for my cocktail to start. I like sweet drinks and this taste great. The drink is easy to drink and it can be dangerous. We had small bites at the event, we tried their Charcuterie & Cheese Platter, oysters, their spreads (tried all of the flavors), and a few special dishes that was not in the menu. Everything was incredible. Oysters were fresh! I really like one of the special dish they made with anchovies. The anchovies were not overpowering and paired with really well with the rest of garnishment on the small toast. I can't wait to come back! read more

Hot new Mediterranean spot near our place! We came with our baby this weekend and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The owner came by to say hi as well. We have been to Greece, so the food here is quite authentic! The interior aesthetic is beautiful! The dishes we loved: Chicken (sous vide perfection)- the most tender and flavorful chicken we have ever had Branzino- also the most tender and flavorful we have had Octopus- tender and flavorful Baklava dessert with ice cream- mind blowing and not soaked in sugar. The crispness with ice cream was a perfect way to end our meal Baba ganoush - seasoned perfectly The portions are on the smaller side for the price/ plate so be prepared to order more of be full. We personally will pass on the hummus but everything else was great! read more

Amara - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Belmont, California

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Omg we went there for their Valentines prix fixe dinner, and we were blown away. The five course meal was amazing, the drinks delicious, the service fantastic, the atmosphere was so beautiful. We had the avocado tartare, meze dips with pita, beet salad, shrimp bites, mushroom bites, hangar steak with potatoes, rice, and carrots, and a delicious chocolate dessert. Truly a dining triumph, and we can't wait to go back again! read more

Nice ambiance but service is a bit slow and seems like they're still working out the kinks. For instance, they have a soup portioned for two people but only brought out one spoon. The eggplant dip with egg was good but needed some more seasoning. The cauliflower was tasty but a bit small. I liked the rack of lamb and left pretty full. The shaved asparagus salad with bits of fried asparagus was very good, will order again. Apparently it's the same owner as Saffron and Rasa. It will be nice when the patio is open and we can bring the dogs! read more

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I haven't been genuinely impressed by a restaurant for quite some time & Amara did just that. The atmosphere, the food, the drinks, the service were all absolutely outstanding. The passion the owners have is so evident in all aspects. The ambiance is stunning & the food was extremely flavorful. My friend & I couldn't stop raving about it. Can't wait to go back! read more

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My sister brought me here for my birthday dinner. Omg. I love how lovely this place looks. Theres also a very nice view outside. Loving their interior design. We ordered a few cocktails, honestly, they were all well made so you won't regret ordering any on the menu. We got a few small plates, cauliflower, Octopus the pita bread with hummus. We also got the fish and tohohawk, everything came out delicious! The plates were all shareable so I love that we can try out a few different dishes. Our server nick was top notch! Super happy guy with brilliant service! But everyone else who approached us was very friendly too! I highly recommend this place because not only was the food good, the service here is more then beyond. Thanks for the wonderful experience Amara! read more

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Good morning Oscar , Amara Menu was amazing, the food preparation was so different than what I tasted, very cleverly announced , the Avocado Tartare had a sparkling tangy taste and a little pinch of fire but I enjoyed it , your Mom Loved the lamb and the sweet savory taste of the Sauce was delicious. I had the Hanger Steak also Delicious! I have to admit I was envious of your Mom's Lamb , but next time ! We wished we had the doublling portions of the Chocolate Pate ! James , was an excellent server, very friendly and attentive ! We had Marvelous, Delectable experience!! Thanks again read more

We tried this place for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was really lovely. The service is fast, professional, and friendly. We shared a bunch of dishes, and really liked everything we got. I think the standout was the green hummus. I can't remember what's in it, but it was absolutely delicious. Paired with their housemade pita bread, I could eat that everyday!!! I also had a cocktail that was delicious. read more

Wow what an amazing place!! The food, vibes and service were impeccable! Went here on a Saturday night and it was not too busy. You are offered still or sparkling water, note the sparkling water is $7 and not free. My friends and I started off with a few of their smaller bites ( Mezzes) like the delicious fresh pistachio hummus, juicy beef kebabs, salmón crudo, and the grilled prawns. You must try the basmati rice, it was so fluffy and flavorful, I have never had it like this anywhere else. You can tell these food items are crafted with love and I highly highly recommend the place. I cannot wait to go back and try more menu items and their larger dinner plates. The cocktail menu is also great and has some unique personalized drinks. We tried the spritz and the margarita. read more

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Very unique flavors to each of the dishes. My son and I really enjoyed the family style presentation. The location is very near where I used to work and the garden below is beautiful. The staff is highly attentive and quite delightful, I was looking forward to the opening and so glad I had an opportunity to such amazing sensations. Well worth the small bit of travel from San Jose. A real gem! read more

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This restaurant is a hidden gem in Belmont, it is tucked away in a rather unassuming complex near a supermarket (but hey easy parking) so I was surprised to step inside and discover a lush and sunlit oasis. The plush furniture, gold finishes, plenty of natural lighting and elevated decor evoke the rich sunny Mediterranean from which the dishes take inspiration. We ordered the mezzes platter and the muhammara (roasted red pepper dip) really stood out - I just wish the dish came with more pita (we ordered more) but the dips were so good that I used a spoon to eat the rest anyway. The grilled broccoli was recommended by our server James and this dish did not disappoint, the duck prosciutto was flavorful and complemented the perfectly grilled broccoli nicely. The lamb kebabs were delectably spicy and satisfied my Korean tastebuds. The branzino was crispy on the outside and very fresh and flavorful as well. We finished off the meal with the baklava sundae which had these delightful crunchy honeycomb chunks in it. The food was a bit slow to come out but we didn't mind for a leisurely date night dinner. James was very attentive and we appreciated his recommendations and company. Overall we really enjoyed our first experience here and are keen to return! read more

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Amara will take you on a culinary journey that you won't forget! You need to try this place!

tldr; This place scammed us by adding extra bottles of wine onto our dinner without asking us. ---------- I live on the peninsula and frequently find myself in the Carlmont shopping center. So I was pretty excited to see a new restaurant here. Peeking through the window, the remodel looked great and the website looked like they had a tasty menu. However, I noted that prices are higher than is typical and that they seemed to be trying to position themselves as a high-class restaurant. I came here with a big party. After we sat, I immediately noticed 2 red flags. First, their "sommelier" immediately recommended the expensive bottles of wine. Typically, even a waiter will just recommend different options, usually spanning a price range. Secondly, I found it a bit odd given their wine menu wasn't so extensive that you needed a dedicated sommelier. In my experience, sommeliers will actually tell you about the region where the wine comes from. The second odd thing was that the waiter said he could "curate" a menu for us since we had a big party. So I asked him what that would look like and the first thing he says is that we should get the tomahawk steak. Of course, tomahawk steaks are typically very pricey. (In my personal opinion, they're also very gimmicky because they look cool and they're expensive but I'd prefer a better cut of meat for quality and taste.). And then he just rambled through a number of dishes saying "this is good, that is good." What kind of curation was this? No questions like: Are there any dietary restrictions? Do you like seafood? How do you feel about spice? His rambling was just typical of what any waiter would say. Looking back, I could tell they were trying to give a haute-cuisine experience to justify their haute-cuisine prices. But both of these people seemed inexperienced in actually providing that experience. The food was good and my credit goes to the back of the house. The dishes were interesting, tasty, well-cooked and well-prepared. The presentation was good. The night seemed to be going well and the sommelier kept coming by and refilling people's glasses. Looking back, I should've noticed that he didn't leave the bottle and kept pouring. But we were having a good time as one does with friends. We had ordered 2 bottles of wine for our group -- a red and a white. But when we got our bill, it had 5 bottles of wine!!! Each bottle was at least $100, so this was about $300 they added to our bill. Looking back, we realized that that's why he kept pouring. But in a large group, we couldn't keep track of who was drinking what. Also, in our group, a few people did not drink at all and or had very little. I'm actually quite skeptical we even drank 5 bottles unless the last 2 bottles still had a lot of wine in them (they never even showed us). I have never had this kind of experience. I have always been asked by waiters even the table wants to order more wine, even at Michelin-starred restaurants. I'm not sure if this shady behavior was the work of the staff or the owners, but given how they seemed to try to upsell us elsewhere I'm guessing that they've been told to do this. (It's well known in the industry that much of the profit for restaurants come from beverages and that people have been drinking less.) I'm terribly disappointed. It looks like they invested a lot in the decor and they hired good chefs and have a nice menu. And the peninsula could use more, nice restaurants. However, I don't think they can justify these prices when the experience is not up to par. I'd rather go to Evvia in Palo Alto or Kokkari in SF for high-quality Mediterranean. If I want actual high quality service, I'd rather go to The Village Pub in Woodside where the staff is very well trained and knowledgable. Also, this shady incident with the wine should never happen to a patron. I'm hoping that the owners read this and stop this from happening again. I will tell all my friends in the area about this experience. The owners still have time to rectify their restaurant. read more

June 2025. I dropped by Amara for brunch with my family (kids 6 & 4) after a hike at water dog lake. My first impression of Amara is that it seems new and modern and fresh for Belmont. The ambiance is great and the view from the window into their terrace is very nice. The terrace wasn't open, but I could imagine it being full on a nice warm day. Service was solid and friendly, but it wasn't very busy. There were attentive and engaged with my kids. Cute. The food is good. It's not what you would call standard Greek or Middle Eastern Mediterranean fare. They blend different regions and offer special flat breads and unique dishes. Definitely a cut above. When we visited, they had two special hummus on the menu: green and black. The hummus came with pita chips, but I wish they just had fresh puffy pita instead. Special nod to their zero proof cocktails which were very good. My wife and I were impressed. Pricing, as you can imagine, is steeper given the experience, service, food, drink menu etc. I haven't visited for dinner, but this would be a great date spot. The restaurant feels fancy and with this price point likely requires a visit to be a bit more special. I'm only saying this because I feel like for lunch or brunch, it felt like a missed opportunity to create lines out the door. Theres nothing like Amara in the Peninsula and a few menu tweaks and must-eat dishes at the right price point would drive many more families in. read more