Food was exceptional. Cool vibe in the dining room with a great patio for outdoor seating. Great addition to the Columbus food scene. We will return. read more

Wowza talk about FLAVOR! The food is simply amazing. Every dish we got was a joy to eat. The cocktails were equally delicious and different and every bite makes you want to go back in for more. The best thing by far is the smoked cauliflower. Admittedly it is a bit expensive but was worth it. For a weeknight diner it was a bit much. Most downtown restaurants have some special on weeknight sadly they do not at Amara. The refreshed decor from the Milestone vibe is beautiful. Service was attentive and prompt. read more

Let me start off by saying the food has not a single complaint. Some of the best food I've had here in Columbus. We had an overall good experience with a couple little things that we ran into during our visit that will make sure that I request a different server than the one that we had next time we come back The server we had was kind up until we had questions about the menu and had notified her about allergies within our party. Two of the people in our party have severe allergies and we were asking questions about cross-contamination and if there were any other items that might have these ingredients in them and she became very defensive and standoffish when we were just trying to make sure that what we ordered was going to be safe for us to eat My true only complaint about the food is the hummus on the menu is advertised by the server to share, but they only bring out one little pita bread per hummus which is not nearly enough We had asked about cross-contamination for seafood and she informed us that it is impossible to prevent cross-contamination and we just need to be cautious with what we order. To that, we had ordered the potatoes, and when I went to order them for my partner, she made sure to tell me " you can't have those they're fried in the same grease as fish" which I did let her know that they weren't for me, but she did not like that. I was the one ordering them for my partner Besides her and her attitude, the cocktails were just okay and did not wow us and all of the cocktails came out before one of our Cokes which we think the server ended up forgetting to put it in until we had to ask 10 to 15 minutes later For being as high-end as a restaurant, as they are presenting, I would've expected a better experience, but I think due to us being such a big party (6 guests) it just overwhelmed this server was ultimately led to a less than satisfactory experience As I mentioned above, if we were to return, we would definitely make sure that we had a different server this time around to try to have a better experience read more

Parking was pretty easy. They have either valet or there's a public lot across the street for around $8, there's also street parking if you can find it. Location is very nice as it's right next to the river. We sat at a high top table, the ambience is very nice. They also have outdoor seating. We were promptly seated by a very nice host. Our waitress came over pretty quickly to introduce herself and ask if we had any questions. Service was very good. We ordered two cocktails, a hummus, a dip, a salad and two entrées. Cocktails were really good. Hummus was decent. Feta dip was good. Made the tomato salad, which was very, very good. My wife had the cauliflower entrée and I had the lamb chops. Cauliflower entrée was good. Presentation was really good. The lamb chops were average. There were two pieces of lamb chop and though cooked well was more fatty than I would like. We had a nice time at Amara my major complaint is the value. Fairly expensive for what you're getting. Lamb chop dish was $50 for two lamb chops that were fatty. Cocktails range anywhere from $15-$20. Our total bill came out to over $200 for the two of us. The service and ambience are great. read more

See all

I came with a few friends on a Thursday night, the hostess was so warm and welcoming. Upon entering, the restaurant is gorgeous with floor to ceiling windows & moody with the shades of brown. We arrived early so they sat us on the patio to have cocktails. It took a while to get service on the patio, I had to flag someone down after ten minutes of waiting. The espresso martinis were delicious. Once our table was ready we were able to move inside, our server there was so attentive and sweet. We tried a multitude of things but the standouts included the pita, which was soo warm and soft, Muhammara was so full of flavor, the labneh was so full of herbs and flavor but I felt like there wasn't much of the labneh itself, branzino had perfectly crisp skin but tender meat, & the Wagyu skewers were cooked perfectly although the sauce it came on was just ok - it kind of tasted like ketchup. My friend who's vegan came, they didn't have many options for her I assumed for Mediterranean food they would have more than just vegetables. For dessert we had the soft serve which was delicious! read more

See all

One of the best restaurants in Columbus. They have a beautiful patio and we sat outside. The atmosphere was great and the staff were incredible. It's a smaller menus but a wide variety and we shared multiple plates which for portion size was easy. The indoor was loud and the outdoor created easier conversations. The quality and taste of the food was over the top, best Mediterranean food I've had. We will be back. read more

Amara - Patio seating - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

By far the best meal I've had in a very long time! This place is perfect! I love the decor and all the windows make the view perfect. It's in the center of downtown, so it's very lively. The service was great and everyone was very attentive. The recommendations were also great! We started with the mom's feta dip and wowww! Literally sooooo delicious and flavorful. You have to order this! I had the branzino and gem salad for my main course. The fish was tender and perfectly seasoned. The sauce was delicious and complimented it perfectly. The salad was good, way too much dressing and on the salty side. read more

See all

Overpriced and overrated. Service was fussy and unintuitive. The restaurant looks nice and food was ok, but service and price were major downfalls. Over $250 for a couple drinks, couple apps, couple entrees. Don't expect this place to last long. read more

Amara - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Amara knocked it out of the park - the food, the service, the atmosphere, and the playlist! I felt like I was on vacation. We ordered the lamb hummus, the whipped feta, and the roasted chicken. Everything was so flavorful, and I cannot wait to return to try the rest of the menu. I am telling everyone about this place! Oh- don't skip dessert. The cardamom soft serve with kataifi and the honey drizzle cannot be beaten. read more

Amara - Cardamom soft serve - Mediterranean Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Excellent opening night at Amara! 10/10 This must-try new addition to Downtown Columbus was the perfect way to celebrate my sister's birthday. Entering Amara I was immediately reminded of my visit to Marrakesh Morocco. The space looks both inviting and mysterious with boho chic hanging lamps, candlelit lanterns, vibrant sounds and jade green tagines lining the serving counter. The team welcomed us into the space for our late evening reservation. While we sat inside, the patio space looked like the perfect date night atmosphere. We ordered an assortment of hummus and spreads. The lamb hummus and muhammara were my favorite. Paired with the piping hot pita they set our expectations high for the meal to come. I had the smoked cauliflower which was a flavor sensation. My brother and sister shared the ribeye. They were initially taken aback my the chefs recommendation for medium rare but soon learned that his recommendation was on point. They raved about the flavor! I've never seen a steak devoured so quickly. We also had the lamb chops which were so tender. The desert menu was so foreign sounding it didn't seem particularly tempting. But the restaurant gifted a couple of desserts for my sister's birthday. Since it was also the restaurants birthday. They were light and luscious. Definitely don't skip dessert. My family described the dining experience as communal and familial. Like a visit to a family dinner. We left raving about the food, the attentive service and the vibe. We can't wait for our next visit. read more

See all

Had a wonderful first meal on the patio at Amara. The service was fantastic starting with the valet. Everything we tried was delicious but the wagyu beef skewers and branzino were standouts. read more

See all

Went on a Friday night for dinner, our group of 6 have a reservation and we were seated promptly. Our seating was at the outdoor patio area which I wasn't too thrilled about because of the heat and humidity. Within 5 minutes of sitting down, I have 2 big mosquito bites. I'm very sensitive to mosquitoes so if you're like me, make sure you sit indoors. We ordered hummus, feta spread, and, tuna crudo to share. The size of these apps are very small, you only get one(!) pita bread per hummus or spread order. For my main, I ordered the branzino (small) while others in my group had the lamb (was told that it was chewy), roasted chicken, and steak. Overall, the food wasn't bad. But it wasn't great either. The portions are small. Quality, taste and portion doesn't justify the price they charge. Also, they add a 3% service charge automatically to your bill and also automatically another 20% tip for large group. I don't particularly agree for that 3% service charge that supposedly help cover staff benefits or something. I feel that should be part of a restaurant's operating expense and if they want to do that, just price your menu items accordingly. So people know upfront how much their meal is going to cost without being surprised by these extra charges that are being added. If you have money to burn, go check it out. But if you want value for your money, find another place. read more

Went for the soft open. Upscale creative Mediterranean-inspired food. Beautiful decor - clean lines and warm colors. Creative cocktails - we tried several and they were all creative and iterating (see pic of the cocktail menu). My daughter especially liked the Bellini. We had the Agora (market) hummus with roasted radish (!) and garlic and shallot in brown butter. Top 5 hummus, easily. Main dishes were the dorade and lamb chops with a side of mujadarra. The mujadarra was beautifully spiced. The dorade was beautiful and the lamb chops were large and delicious. Could have maybe used a little more grill but honestly delicious! Dessert was rice pudding with cherries. The rice pudding has tahini and rose water ... I couldn't pick those flavors out individually - they were subtle and blended well together. Everything was beautifully presented and well prepared. I want to go back and try more dishes and I can't wait for that beautiful patio to open! Service was terrific - the atmosphere was positive and upbeat. The staff was so excited for the future. This is a gorgeous spot - great addition to downtown dining! read more

See all

Welcome Amara! Fantastic addition to downtown Columbus and so glad they are here! From the folks that have Speck, my expectations were high. And they were met. Beautiful space that really took me back to the Mediterranean. Perfect lighting and music. Service was spot on and the food was delicious. Classic hummus, beef tartare, roasted chicken and rice pudding. Look forward to trying some of the other dishes and experiencing the patio once it's open. Keep up the great work team, can't wait to come back! read more

Amara is the place !!!!!! It is very spacious while also making a warm and intimate Setting. All of the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. Parking has valet service or lot across the street so downtown parking was not stressful. The pita and Hummus was amazing and adding the lamb took it to another level. For drink the tahini espresso martini was an exciting way to change up a classic cocktail to meet the moment. Will be coming back for many more celebrations. Thank you Amara staff!!!! read more

1/5 -- Extremely Disappointing Experience My attempt to experience Amara was awful from the moment we walked in. Upon arrival, the greeter looked at us and disrespectfully asked, "Ummm, what can I do for you?" as if we were lost or somehow didn't belong there. That immediately set an uncomfortable and unwelcoming tone. Unfortunately, it only got worse. We waited for approximately 10 minutes without receiving any service whatsoever. During that time, at least five waiters were nearby, yet not one person acknowledged us, greeted us, asked if we had been helped, or made any effort to assist us. For a restaurant that presumably wants guests to feel welcomed and valued, this was an incredibly disappointing first impression. We ultimately left without ever being served. There are far too many restaurants that understand basic hospitality and genuinely appreciate their customers. Based on this experience, I will never visit Amara again. read more

Incredible new addition to the Columbus food scene. Food, drinks, and interior were phenomenal! We loved all of the dips, spreads and pita we got to start. We enjoyed the dishes we got from each section. But the dips, spreads and desserts were must haves in our minds. For only one month open, was throughly impressed. read more

See all

Everything was A+, the food, the ambience, and the service! Our server, Fabio was very engaging in fun to speak with, and the food was excellent. I will be going back soon. read more

Our server, Fabio, the girls that go around to check on each customer. All fabulous. We ate on the patio which was perfect. The chicken was incredible. Everything was delicious!!!!!!! read more