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Had a fun brunch and we sampled lots of menu items. Love the small plates! We opted for the unlimited brunch with 99 cent mimosas. I also had a cappuccino that was excellent and a yummy carrot ginger spritz. We tried shrimp and grits 4 stars, hanger steak 5 stars, baklava and Apple Carmel waffles 5 stars, salmon Benedict 5 stars and house made pickles which have a little kick. Our server was friendly and attentive and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating.
Since only a few blocks walk from our hotel in Arlington, we decided to check out their Greek/Mediterranean style buffet brunch on Sunday... This was just one of 3 locations in the DC area...and each one is beautifully decorated. Not sure if it was a seasonal decor, but we came during the Cherry Blossom season, and the pretty blossoms decor matched it! We opted for their AYCE Buffet Brunch for only $32...which included everything on the menu (minus dessert). Think if you add desserts, it's a bit more. Anyway, all I can say is WOW. Every plate I tried was truly delicious...and we both thoroughly enjoyed it! If I had to pick, my favorite was the Meat Pie and the White Bean Hummus with the Olivier spread. The buffet pricing was generous for all that we were able to try on the menu...well worth it! We loved this so much, we vowed to try Ambar again...possibly at the DC location on our next visit!
I can't believe I haven't heard more people talking about Ambar in DC/Clarendon! We went to the Clarendon location for dinner yesterday and it was absolutely incredible. They offer an all-you-can-eat dinner menu (plus brunch), and every single thing we tried was delicious. We were a party of two and definitely overstuffed ourselves trying as much as we could Honestly, I think 3-4 people would be the perfect group size so you can share everything and sample more dishes comfortably. The food came out quickly, tapas-style, which made the whole experience even better. Great price for the amount and quality of food, excellent service, and such a fun ambiance. The decor was also super cute. I really liked that they had a large disability ramp as well.
Ambar was my favorite brunch spot a few years ago, but I hadn't been in a few years.I decided to go with friends last weekend and I was very disappointed in the experience. They do an all you can eat brunch. We got there, we ordered our $1 mimosas and a few dishes to start. They kept the mimosas flowing, but each food dish came out so slowly. The worst part, the dishes came out slowly and were also cold. I also got a few foods that were weirdly wet, that shouldn't have been. Like my salmon Benedict was sitting in a layer of juices, and when they took the plate they spilled them all over my phone. The service was also so slow. As an AYCE brunch, the service to order more dishes was so slow. Then to end the experience, they were reminding us we needed to leave the restaurant since they were closing, while we were actively waiting for our waitress to check us.
We had a great experience with the delicious food, wonderful staff, and warm, welcoming environment. I'd been wanting to try this place for a while and finally got around to it and was not disappointed. Everything was great. Our server was very helpful as well and I appreciate her time. My wife and I started with the urbenes, which was very good, and the white bean hummus, which was decent (not the best but decent). For our main meal I had the pork belly stuffed sour cabbage and found it absolutely delicious, along with a delicious bowl of veal soup. A real keeper. My wife tried the grilled trout and raved about it. She doesn't usually get trout but absolutely loved it. We chased our food down with a carrot ginger spritz and a mango mule, both of which were delicious.
I LOVE me some Ambar!! Great ambiance, amazing service and delicious food. Their all you can eat tapas style menu is unbeatable. The quality and flavor of the food is unmatched for the price. So many options to choose from and you can't go wrong with any. I have yet to try something that I don't like. My absolute favorites are: short rib goulash, pepper croquettes, pork belly stuffed cabbage, roasted cauliflower, shrimp with corn, chicken stroganoff. You really can't go wrong with anything. Parking is hard to find (street) but there is a garage nearby and a paid parking lot right next to the restaurant.
Ana was an incredible waitress! She was very kind and attentive! I love to come to Ambar when i'm in town! The restaurant is decorated so beautifully, the food is delicious and service is quick.
This is definitely one of my favorite brunch places. The food is delicious at such a great price. I find that the parking is easier at the Arlington location. They get crowded but still have top notch service.
Stopped in for lunch with a co-worker a couple weeks ago and happily stumbled upon thier restaurant week menu! This was a great way for us to try so many different things. Food was delicious and fresh. Some of my favorites were the beet salad, lamb lasagna, cheese pie.
Ambar Clarendon totally delivers on that casual late-night or a la carte dinner when you're not in the mood for the the unlimited tapas style which seemed to be the go-to for a lot of parties we were sitting around. Great overall experience! AMBIANCE Made a reservation a few nights earlier for a high-top table. When we arrived, it was definitely popping since it was closing in on the holiday and Christmas/New Year's break. Definitely looked like a lot of company parties were a-happening...it was buzzing enough for groups, lively for sure, but not super quiet if that's what you'r looking for. We were immediately seated at our high-top table closer to the kitchen but next to the bar and were handed the all-you-can-eat unlimited 2-hour block tapas menu. We had previously decided to do the entree/a la carte menu instead so had to flag down the waiter for it. She immediately went to grab it but seemed like not many opted for that - we just knew we wanted specific items on the a la carte menu. SERVICE We ended up ordering the veal soup, tomato soup, eggplant moussake, goulash, and the complementary pita and cornbread. I was incredibly impressed by the speed of the kitchen. In less than 5 minutes, our soups arrived on dishes and our pita breads came shortly after. Our waitress was attentive and the general manager came by to ask how things were and loved his animated energy! FOOD Loved the warmth of the veal soup and a solid portion of veal in my opinion; tomato soup was also good. After finishing, our two main entrees of the eggplant mousakka and beef goulash with orzo (instead of egg noodles) arrived on the table in less than 10 minutes later. The eggplant moussaka was deliciously well-seasoned and had a good amount of eggplant and tomato sauce and the nice still-semi crunchy potato slice in between. The beef goulash had orzo instead of the usual egg noodles we expected, but taste-wise it was excellent and provided an ample amount of protein -- no complaints there at all. We also ordered the trout over lentils which came in 3 pre-portioned fillets that easily came off the skin. Great taste and we were definitely full at the end with leftovers like the beef goulash we took to go. Solid quality and flavor of food is definitely solid. I can see it as a solid spot for casual. We were also pleased we were able to to use our InKind credit for this!
We had such a great experience at Ambar. Our server, Ana, was excellent and attentive with our gluten allergy - gave us a separate menu and helped make us decisions as the menu was overwhelming for us at first! The atmosphere was incredible, just absolutely beautiful and so lively. The food was impeccably spiced, and came out in small portions (such as two servings of skewers and meatballs with each order). There was quite a variety with the menu, and we were eager to try so much. My absolute favorites: Balkan Kebab, Drunken Mussels, Halloumi! I wish I had a second stomach to eat everything on the menu. I felt as if the service was very personalized, the staff was great and accommodating and Ana's attention to detail and willingness to help us was unmatched. Thank you so much for the incredible experience!
Place was nice the food was ok nice staff and sitting area Overall, it was a pleasant experience that left me feeling relaxed. I may consider returning for another meal in the future.
Overall, we had a great first time experience at Ambar. We've talked about going forever and really happy we finally did. For 42.99 it's an all you can eat tapas style which works out well for larger parties. Most of these places are iffy when it comes to service as they tell you you only have 2hrs but then take forever to come back and even ask if you want more. Here though, someone was always asking us if we wanted more (we even had the manager telling us an empty table wasn't acceptable to him as we were breathing between dishes lol). Plates were cleared just as fast as they were delivered. We ordered quite a few dishes and There were only a few complaints in regards to the food: - Salmon Benedict was cold and it was pretty clear the poached eggs were bulk made and stored making it not super enjoyable served Luke warm - The flatbread we got was over seasoned with the oregano so much that it ruined the taste of the rest - Caramel Apple waffle was fantastic! However, really wish they would heat up the Apple pie mixture; it's just weird to have a cold filling on top of a warm waffle (maybe personal preference) - Strawberry Waffles could really do without the Nutella! Just make a strawberry filling or chopped strawberries and a maple syrup. - The shakahuka (no pic) was probably the most disappointing; it was really watery, more sauce than anything and oddly nothing served with it. Most of the time you have bread or some potato, but here, nothing so once you break the egg it was a literal soup which was sad - The potato hash (fried potatoes) were bottom of the bin. I think we got the last of what was bulk fried as they were super crunchy and mostly not edible. I'm sure if you get fresh ones they are probably great, but honestly they need a sauce (creme/sour cream/spicy tomato). We actually soaked them in the shakshuka juice which was decent Highlights and Recommended: Mediterranean omelet (no pic), Balkan Salad (I ate 2!), Fried Chicken Sandwich and Caramel Apple Waffle All of the sweet dishes we got were great! Waffles weren't over fried, mini donuts were perfect! Would only decrease the Nutella as they were all swimming in it. We did order the $0.99 mimosa which were better mixed than most bottomless places (you can see the bubbles in the pitchers and glasses) We did order a Mango Lemonade which was basically juice, very limited vodka. As mentioned, overall we had a great experience and majority of the food was good, including the scrambled eggs and bacon which are not pictured (we all know what they look like ). There was only one thing that was confusing to us once we got the bill. We were charged for a food experience and a drink experience (ultimately coming to $42.99/pp). We had no idea what the "drink experience" was since we were still charged 0.99/mimosa or $2.99 for elevated alcoholic drink. It appears that you can order bottomless non-alcoholic drinks (espresso, coffee, soda, tea, etc...) for the drink experience, but this was never communicated to us when we got there (we also said we had never been there). This also seems extreme for people who don't want or don't partake in that option. It was an added $12pp that we didn't even use (and didn't even know about) Had we known we might have had coffee or a latte-- these types of drinks aren't even listed on the menu as an option which feels very undermining when you're being charged for them without a choice. At the bare minimum list your non-alcoholic drinks choices.
7 months ago
This place is always a great date spot. Great tapas and atmosphere. Service very quick and servers very friendly. They have the regular unlimited menu but they also have an a la carte menu as well which was surprise for me since I have been there like 5 times lol. Also near a parking garage so very accessible. Definitely recommend Brussel sprouts and cauliflower every time. read more
The lunch AYCE (all-you-can-eat) tapas here is an absolute hidden gem! Not only is it a fantastic deal, but it also lets you explore quite a bit of small plates inspired by rich Balkan flavors. I highly recommend starting with the velvety veal soup -- it's savory, hearty, and perfect to warm you up. The pan-seared trout is also a delight, beautifully crisp on the outside and flakey and soft within. Don't forget the roasted cauliflower - it's very flavorful with the pesto sauce it comes with. Also, I recommend you get the spread of creamy hummus with their house pita. The ambiance is stunning, especially with the lovely autumn-themed decor. The ceiling is adorned with pretty hanging leaves in warm red and orange hues, creating a cozy, seasonal feel that makes the dining experience even more memorable. It feels like you're dining in the middle of fall foliage! The service is great -- attentive, speedy, and always with a warm smile. A heads-up for groups: parties of six or more have a 20% gratuity automatically added. The service is worth every bit of it read more
Really cool and lovely Balkan restaurant for a special occasion! We visited for my brother's birthday with a large group of 9 (including a toddler) and everyone enjoyed their meals. We did the all you can eat option, which was very fun! I found some of the dishes to be much better and more flavorful than others, and things felt a bit rushed/cramped at times, but it was still a great value for the amount of food we were able to try. The small plates are quite small, so prepare to order a lot of options to fill up! The drinks are just ok, in my opinion, so I'd stick to the food and just get wine or a soft drink (or just water, tbh - Balkan food is quite salty!) to accompany the meal. Service was attentive and friendly, though again, quite hurried at times. The main dining room is gorgeous with its twinkling lights and atmosphere; a word of warning, though, it can get VERY warm in there with the kitchen so close to everyone dining. I'd wear light layers and prepare for heat! Definitely recommend for a fun night out with a date or a group! read more
Ambar has been my long-time favorite ever since it's opening years back. I have celebrated multiple memorable dates here and even my birthday. The interior of Arlington location is very open and cheerful and always gives me positive vibes. I have to admit that over the years the quality of the food has dropped. That said it's still acceptable and there's no other place where you can find many of the dishes offered here. This visit was for lunch which now has an option of unlimited experience too which is a pleasant addition. The price is a steal for an unlimited lunch - just $28 for all-you-can-eat savory items. The service was great as always. The waiter had to close his shift while I was still at the table and he introduced me to the other waiter who will continue helping me. This was a nice warm transfer. The only concern I have is that I did have stomach pain and terrible heartburn for the rest of the day which is not normal. I might have it once a year or so, and only after eating out. I'm suspecting that this is due to the quality of cooking oil or other fats that might be added to the food. I'm hoping for the management to consider healthy alternatives to what they might be using. read more
Mmmm mmmmmm! What a gastronomic adventure! The best way to experience the deliciousness offered is to partake in the endless small plates. The choices are vast, from spreads and charcuterie, to grilled and slow cooked fares. Meats, vegetables, breads, hummus, and breads. So much to enjoy. The portions are appropriately small, and if there is something you fall in love with, you can always asked for another plate. I wish I took more pictures of our food, but quite frankly, I forgot because I was enjoying eating everything we ordered! The staff was excellent in every manner. Helpful, friendly, and accommodating. And the ambience was wonderful. The upstairs was incredibly crowded and noisy, but in a joyful way. People out and about with loved ones, enjoying a meal. It should be loud! We ended up at a table downstairs, which was less noisy but very intimate and middle eastern. I loved it! This will be another place to put in my back pocket to return to when I visit again. read more
My friends and I had a good dinner at ambar. We did the all you can eat special. The dishes that come out are small but they come out really fast. We tried a lot of everything. I think the little ground beef skewers were my favorite. I also liked the dips that we started out with. And the mussels were really good too. Everything was pretty good. I would come hungry so you really get your money's worth. read more
7 months ago
Absolutely horrible food! A complete disaster. That something you see in that plate was definitely not Chevapi, although that is what we ordered. Horrendous quality meat. They served 10 Chevapi with enough meat to make one single, standard Chevap. It was way too salty and it was served with green salad - neither traditional nor tasty. I can't possibly describe that horrible salad dressing. I am from Tuzla, Bosnia and I know how Burek "the meet pie" and how Chevapi or as they refer to it at this restaurant "Balkan Kebab" should taste. There is no such thing as "Balkan Kebab"! That doesn't exist! Kebab is a Turkish word and a Turkish dish and even Adana Kebab resembles nothing of the sorts served at Anbar! Anbar is a disaster design only to make money. It is an embarrassment to allow the owners to attach term "Balkan" to any of it's ambience, completely 100% void of Cheif (keif) which is a must have in Balkan lifestyle, culture, cuisine and restaurants! Do you really think we eat with disco beat music!!!! NO WE DO NOT! What can you improve? The only thing you can do to improve is change the classification of the restaurant to some other cuisine from the Balkan cuisine because that restaurant doesn't make nor sell Balkan dishes, doesn't not offer Balkan ambience or service. If you wish to try Balkan dishes in DMV, with Balkan ambience and servers from Balkan countries speaking Balkan languages go to the only authentic Balkan restaurant in DMV located at the Old Town CosmopolitanGrill in Old Town Alexandria, VA. Order your Chevapi there and you will be served top quality Bosnian Chevapi, Sarma, and other Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, and Southern German dishes https://www.oldhousecosmopolitan.com/ read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
Dropped in for an unplanned lunch and enjoyed my first Balkan experience. Server was very attentive and thoughtful. I enjoyed all the salads I chose. The lasagna was terrific as was the platter of dips and mussels. The brussel sprouts were a bit tough and the chicken stroganoff wasn't very flavorful. There was an older couple with their dog inside which was a bit off-putting. I understand service animals are welcome but this little guy didn't have on a vest. The bathrooms could use some upgrading/TLC. All in all, a good afternoon in a pretty locale. read more
Had lunch with a friend. Given great reviews we were excited but we weren't wowed. Food was good and it's all you can eat tapas so you can't complain too much. It was a trek for both of us and can be hard to find parking. Everything was good to decent except we did not care for the cabbage dish. Nothing super wowed me. Fine place for us to linger a little and catch up but had better tapas. Solid 4. read more
2 months ago
We went to the Ambar Clarendon location. We loved our time here and think it's the perfect restaurant for a fun date night or girls night out. I love the all you can eat small plate option. The atmosphere is cozy , chic and nice without feeling stuffy. The service was attentive and the servers were helpful and friendly. Food came regularly and quickly. The dishes were delicious! We tried about 30 dishes total that we shared between all of us. There were about 3-4 dishes we didn't care for however almost every other dish we tried was well seasoned, full of flavor, beautifully plated and cooked to perfection. We were stuffed and satisfied by the end. I am typically very wary of all you can eat restaurants but this place knocks it out of the park. Highly recommend this place and can't wait to return one day! read more
1 year ago
The food at the restaurant is amazing. There's a variety of options to choose from. The food came out very fast and was hot. The best items are the flatbreads and Brussel sprouts. However, the service was terrible. I had to wait and ask multiple times for water. The restaurant wasn't even busy so it was very frustrating. This location has a small outside patio area which is nice if the weather is good. read more
11 months ago
I recently visited Ambar for their unlimited brunch, and it was a good brunch experience! This spot is perfect for big groups or anyone looking to sample a variety of dishes so that everyone can find something. The selection was impressive, with a great mix of Balkan cuisine and American brunch favorites. I particularly loved the mushroom flatbread, and both the pork and salmon Benedicts were delicious. The meat and cheese pies were a standout; I couldn't resist ordering two! The kebabs and other house-made meats were equally delightful. The fun atmosphere, enhanced by autumn decor hanging from the ceiling, added to the overall vibe. I appreciated that they had dollar mimosas on their menu, though you can't opt out of the $10 mimosa surcharge even if you don't order any. However, I understand the reasoning behind it. Service was attentive, and the staff guided us through the menu expertly, helping us try a variety of dishes. I personally enjoy Ambar's lunch more since there's more options but it's a good Mediterranean unlimited brunch spot read more
Goodness - overall, I love Ambar!!! I will say that my partner and I did not have a great experience here on New Years (we signed up for their specialty event, and found the service and quality to be subpar). However, in general, we enjoy coming here! Food: obviously plentiful when you get the all-you-can-eat option, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Sometimes we find this location to be a tiny bit saltier than the other locations (we've noticed it a few times - nothing too crazy). Service: usually good - sometimes the servers are very busy, understandably so. Ambiance: this location has one of the best ambiances compared to the other locations! Very photo worthy and cute with a flowery aesthetic. read more
2 months ago
Finally tried Ambar as I have heard so many great things about it! I have never had Balkin food and didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly impressed. I attended for a friend's birthday and a large party so service may have not been the best because of the large table. It did take a lot of time for dishes to come out but we ordered a lot. We did the unlimited food option and it was a lot more food than I expected. My favorite was the salad with feta, beet salad, and cauliflower. It's also a cute place with lots of parking options nearby. read more
My first Balkan dining experience and it was awesome! Great decor, great vibes and great food. My friend and I had a reservation for outdoor dining as I had my dog with me. We chose the unlimited brunch experience with added Bellinis. We ordered several of their dishes - Fried Chicken sliders, Smoked Salmon Benedict, Balkan Salad, Kale Caesar Salad, Balkan Kebab, Mushroom Pilav, Potato Hash, and Shrimp Omelette. My favorites were the fried chicken sliders, potato hash, and shrimp omelette. So much flavor in the dishes and so good. Looking forward to my next visit! read more
The food is AMAZING! We went here for NYE and also had a reservation. Definitely recommend booking on the weekend as it gets crowded. My favorite foods were the meat pie and the Lamb TarTar. OMG I'm drooling typing this. The service was great and even made a few suggestions for our table of 6. Can't wait to come back! read more
Absolutely loved my first Balkan food experience at Ambar. My friend from Arlington, VA brought me here for their All You Can Eat 2 hr limit for $49.99 experience. We got extremely lucky to just walk in and getting a table for dinner right before Valentines Day without a reservation. The ambiance is quite festive, colorful, and pretty huge with good amount of seating. It's Tapas style unlimited food. So go hungry!!! The menu was huge with so many vegetarian, meat and sea food options. We ordered almost 3/4th of the menu. Some of my favorites were mezze ajvar with roasted pepper and eggplant, beet tzatziki, veal soup, Brussels sprouts, fried chicken, pepper croquettes, cauliflower in parsley tahini sauce, chicken skewers, drunken mussels. Everything tasted OUTSTANDING apart from sudzuk flat bread, wasn't a big fan of that. It was a bit overdone and cheese was falling off. Next time, I'd prolly skip the bread options since it fills you up quickly. If you're more than one person dining in, you can order à la carte menu but it does not end up being any cheaper than AYCE option and since it's a tapas style menu, you don't overeat as compared to one might, in buffet style. The service was top notch, fast and quick. Can't wait to visit again when I'm in the area. I absolutely recommend this place! read more
Let's start from the top! Parking-you'll find plenty of paid parking near the restaurant. Expect to pay 8$ per hour and yes they use park mobile. Make a reservation, this place stays packed. Brunch menu is now 43$ per person and you get a tapas style serving. I personally recommend just ordering what you like on the menu. The waitress sent over items that our table didn't care for. I wasn't a fan of the traditional foods but score they had American breakfast items. Overall, decent prices for brunch! Would definitely come again! Just a note: if you're not a huge eater this is probably too much food. read more
Finally! I'm writing the Ambar Review!! On a side note, before Ambar exists, when people used to ask me what your favorite restaurant is, my answer was: no favorite, I love all restaurants and all kinds of food! Where are you going for your birthday? I would be very confused between so many restaurants. After Ambar , the answer is always Ambar and Ambar ! I won't sugarcoat it. It's the concept first, the uniqueness of the items, the quality, the customer service, and the ambiance! The concept: unlimited small plates and any time of the day! Lunch, dinner, and brunch! Lunch & Dinner are the same menu, but Brunch is different! The uniqueness of the menu: items on Ambar's menu are either very unique to them or you have to tour 3 different restaurants in 3 different areas to eat the same! The Balkan cuisine is very rich, and Ambar brings a lot more than any restaurant in that cuisine! The Quality & Customer service: no need to talk about it! Never failed me! Always delicious and well presented! High quality! You need to try it! Everyone here is so friendly and nice! I have never had a bad experience for so many years now! The Ambiance is very cool here, and from the photos, I can tell they are looking like their Serbia location ( I've never been) . They have 2 more locations in DC and other Restaurants on their group! BaBa is located downstairs, and Buena Vida across the street! Buena Vida is also another tale! Same concept, but in Mexican cuisine! Items that I love! ( warning! Could be the whole menu!) : The bread, all the spreads , stuffed peppers, pork belly stuffed cabbage leaves, lamb lasagna, cheese pie , meat pie , Balkan salad , The Civapi or Civapcici ( Balkan kebab) , chicken skewers, grilled shrimp , lamb shoulder & potato, short ribs goulash and a few items that unfortunately no longer on the menu! I'm so sad that no longer make the Forest Gnocchi dessert, but they told me they will bring it on Valentine's Day! This is a must go restaurant! Reservations are highly recommended and could be easily done thru open table . Parking is a bit tough in this city, but you can easily pay and park at the lot right next to Ambar on N Filmore side. 2 hours cost me $15, paid it thru the Park Mobile app Try it, vote for the review , message me, or compliment me with any comment or question, and don't forget to ... Pray for me ;) read more
3 years ago
Came here for their unlimited lunch deal $25pp and it was a great value for the money! This is my second time here for lunch and I've been able to try most of the lunch menu now. They have a variety of of options which I appreciated and the service was pretty fast. My favorites were the steak tartare and shrimp! The stuffed pepper and drunken mussels were also delicious. The mussel sauce was a little too creamy for me though. I would recommend getting the mezze platter as it allows you to sample their breads, sauces, and pickles. We liked the Urnebes spread the best! The interior is also nicely decorated. I liked the hanging plants decor on the ceiling. Cozy atmosphere but the 2 person table was a little too small. read more
Ambar Clarendon was a fun experience with a wide variety of food and drinks! When at this location, I tried all of the items I've usually overlooked - from soups to meat pies and pilafs. I especially loved the Veal and Tomato Soups. So flavorful, rich, and paired well with the bread heavy dishes. I was not a fan of the vegetable pie - a bit too dull for my tastebuds. The pilaf was a bit soupy, but was a nice pairing in between bites of meat pie. The drinks were tasty, but left me with a great headache a few hours later. Just like any Ambar location, I recommend pacing yourself on the bottomless mimosas while you eat to avoid getting dehydrated! Overall, friendly wait staff and a beautifully decorated interior. Loved the cherry blossoms and close proximity to the metro stop. While it does get busy on the weekends, be sure to make a reservation and indicate if you want to sit upstairs, downstairs, or at the bar. Great place for groups! read more
1 year ago
We have eaten at ambar Clarendon upwards of 10 times in the past 2 years. Until tonight it was one of our favorite restaurants in the area. Tonight's experience was terrible from the start. We were seated at a high top, we requested to move to one of the 15 empty tables and were told it could not be accommodated. We decided to just stay at the high top as we could see they were clearly understaffed. It took nearly 30 minutes to receive any food. Which understandably is annoying when you only have a 2 hour limit. Between courses the waitress walked past us with empty plates and cups upwards of 8 times making eye contact without checking in. The prices have increased for the second time in a year and we noticed right away the menu has been changed. The only thing we enjoyed tonight was the bread. The food has been altered. It is heavy and the portion sizes have been decreased significantly. We were disappointed with the discontinuation of the beef tar tar. Our Brussels sprouts were soggy and overcooked with chewy bacon, the mussels were served only 4 in the dish and one wasn't even open. The grilled shrimp were severely overcooked and black in color. For 50 dollars a person, there are far better options in the area. We are saddened but will not be returning. read more
6 months ago
Delicious Balkan cuisine and happy hour spot with cocktails and apps in high tops! I enjoyed 3 cocktails and 2 apps under $30! Of the 3 cocktails (save the best for last!) my favorite was hands-down the Mango Lemonade well-balanced and not too sweet or sour. The TG Grapefruit juice had a nice citrus flavor and not too tart. The Mojito was surprisingly my least favorite and fell flat, it didn't have the sweetness that I was looking for. The Urnebes cheese and red pepper dip was tasty and paired well with the scrumptious cornbread muffins and fluffy pita bread! The Ambar potato wedge fries with smoked mayo was quite tasty! The Happy Hour is a great sneak peak to the main menu of unlimited tapas - will come back to try the unlimited lunch tapas (cheaper than brunch and dinner tapas!). read more
Came here and had the all you can eat menu (they didn't offer us aka carte). The good thing with that is we then tried about 1/2 of the entire menu. Dessert is an extra charge so didn't go for that since I'm not supposed to be eating sugar anyway! The decor's festive, the food comes out quickly, and it's a great mix of different tastes and dishes. The shrimp, and the salmon especially stood out as extra delicious. Because each small plate is really small, we didn't get as overstuffed as an all you can eat place usually does, but if you're the type who wants to overstuff, you have two hours to do it! read more
2 years ago
Wonderful experience for dinner here. The all you can eat small plates is a great option and let's you try all different things. We started with some of the spreads, marinated olives, roasted peppers, and halloumi cheese. They were all very tasty, but our favorites were the kajmak and the urnebes. We then had some brussel sprouts, asparagus, cevapi, and lamb medallions. All of it was really good! We then ended with the cheese pie, the mushroom flatbread, and the drunken mussels. They were also all good, but the cheese pie was the best. Our server was great and service was quick and efficient, but didn't feel rushed. The restaurant is averagely noisy, but pleasant. If you're in the area, this is a nice experience and good food. read more
This place is so good! Love that my first review of 2025 gets to be a 5*. Lets chat food first. We did the all you can eat brunch, oh my god it was amazing. The food came out fast, and was absolutely delicious. Every dish was the perfect kind of savory or sweet, it was beautifully presented, and perfectly cooked. One warning if it comes out on a silver bowl, the bowl is very hot. Be aware you need to order a lot, it's not portioned for your party its largely an individual serving, sliders come with 1 for instance. The service was spectacular, fast and attentive our server made sure we were happy the whole time. The plates are quickly removed from the table with no problem. Drinks came out fast and wete exceptionally tasty. There's also optional patio seating for summer. Finally lets end on Ambiance, it was a lovely place. The wood is beautiful, the seasonal foliage in the rafters was wonderful. I the wood is welcoming, and everything just screams hello, welcome in how can we help you today! Forget 5/5 this is more like a 10/5. Give em a shot! read more
Unlimited tapas.... yes! I'm very much a fan of this place. Went here for the first time during Restaurant Week 2024, and the value is great for $55! We get to the restaurant and we were in awe of the decorations. There are plants around the whole restaurant that create a nice relaxing atmosphere. Our waiter provided excellence service throughout the evening and even provided us with recommendations on how many dishes to order at a time and which ones are great to start with. We ended up ordering perhaps 3/4 of the menu (yeah we were hungry lol). The steak tartar was probably the favorite dish of the evening. I would definitely recommend ordering the lamb lasagna, Balkan kebab, Brussels sprouts, short rib goulash, mussels, and shrimp YES I'll be going back in the future! read more
I didn't realize this was an all you can eat tapas bar. I did like the fact I can sample Balkan food. Service was good, food came out quickly and prices were reasonable. Pepper croquette- sweet and flavorful. Grilled shrimp- was ok Rainbow trout- wasn't crispy Istrian Gnocchi- I wasn't impressed with the mushroom sauce. They also use that same sauce for their mushroom flatbread. Kale Caesar- it was good: I'd get it again Cheese pie-I liked the dough Stuffed pepper is good but filling Hand cut fries- crispy and tasty We would return... We liked the atmosphere and it would be a great place for cocktails and tapas. read more
3 years ago
Parking is a challenge..please do not skip out on paying for parking they will tow you IMMEDIATELY! First time goer and the staff did not explain anything even after we stated we had never been here. Our waitress didn't really explain the process either. Food was ok not sure why people rave about them. We were here for brunch and its small and you an only order a bout 3 plates per person... now let me give you plate size reference about 3.5-4in. The bites are slithers of meat, 1/4 of a waffle, 2 strips of bacon, a scoop of potatoes. If you are planning to have a whole breakfast on your plate it would be cold waiting on all the items. The place is kinda cute not completely IG worthy but its cute. We had to keep asking for drinks (mimosas .99 each). Don't go if you're starving and expect a meal. read more
2 years ago
It is with regret that I write this review. I've had Ambar in DC for brunch and it was really good but I was extremely disappointed in my dinner experience at Ambar Arlington. The food 2/10: I'm not sure if it's the items we chose but I was underwhelmed by the food. We started with the pepper and cheese croquettes which had an odd taste. We also had the Brussels sprouts which were ok nothing to rave about. We also had the kebab which again was pretty mid. We had the roasted lamb which was the best thing we had that was a 7/10 because it was tender and flavorful. Service 10/10: the service was great! Even tho we did not like the items the waitress suggested she seemed to be well versed in the menu. The ambiance 10/10: this is a beautiful restaurant. The ambiance makes it a great spot for a night date. I would probably recommend sticking to going here for brunch or drinks only. read more
More info about AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon
2901 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201
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(703) 875-9663
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https://www.ambarrestaurant.com
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Ask the Community - AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon
Do you have MUCH quieter PRIVATE dining spaces, for parties up to 15 people?
I did not see this available today. They do have larger tables that are available and I would say the earlier you go the better.
How does unlimited dinner work?
You have two hours to order an unlimited amount of small plates.
What is different between unlimited lunch($25) and unlimited brunch($39)?
The brunch menu will have selections of egg dishes such as omelettes and scrambled eggs in various forms. While the lunch menu is a bit more standard of the vegetables, grilled dishes, seafood, baked items, chef's choice, etc. Check the menus to…
Hi is the food halal?
I called and asked the Arlington location and they said no.
How does all you can eat work with kids? Can you bring kids along but just order off of the menu for them?
Yes! You can buy a la carte as well.
Do you still have the meat pies?
The Meat Pie (and cheese pie) were still available on the bottomless menu today (12/28/25)
Is this restaurant good for group HH or is there only seating at the actual bar?
Great for any kind of happy hour! Bar and high top seating are firsts-come, first-served so for a larger group I'd probably try to get there a bit earlier to snag tables and combine.
What is the difference between the $34 and $44 unlimited brunch menus?
One is without alcohol.
How does the unlimited option work? Can you order anything from the menu unlimited times or you pick certain dishes and only get those unlimited?
You pick anything off the brunch menu and they come in tapa-size portions. The server will check in often to take more orders so you'll have a stream of fresh food coming!
It's hard to reserve a table through open table. Is there any other way to reserve a table?
How many are you reserving for? I've never had trouble. It is a busy place so you have to reserve in advance.
What are the top 5 must have from the balkan experience?
For brunch I'd say the meat pie, salmon Benedict, strawberry waffle, meeze platter and creamy chicken spread
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