Ambar definitely lives up to the hype. When they say all you can eat and drink .. nothing is off limits ! What I noticed most was staff constantly made sure our table was clear for more plates, the branding and logo everywhere was smart, the food was timed perfectly and was always the Perfect temperature, and I will always request an armchair with a pillow. The pillows in the armchair at the table made the whole experience comfortable as hell !!! The entire place is family friendly but it's also a drink and laugh with friends place. It's a good spot for a first date as well. There are some regular things like chicken sliders and shrimp and grits. But there were also some surprising things I loved like the beet garnish / salad / dip and the salmon Benedict was incredible. I went for brunch but I'll be back for dinner. Although I feel the staff was a little all over the place- my waitress Ti was on point and knew when we needed her. I didn't get to meet him - but the chef/ owner walks around in a white coat and clearly cared that the customers are happy and the front of the house is moving. Even though the area is busy. It's in a part of the block that is walkable and easy to hop in an out of the car or uber before parking. I genuinely enjoyed myself read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went around 4 PM. It wasn't busy at all we were seated right away. The host at the front, Morgan was very helpful and polite! We chose the all you can eat special. With unlimited drinks. The drinks were my favorite part. Every drink was a hit! The food was lackluster, I was disappointed. Half of the things we tried were good and the other half not the best. The dishes I would recommend are the New York strip, the Bronzino, and the beet dip. The Naan here is fresh! Delicious. Every dish you order is SAMPLE SIZE... not your typical ayce portion size. To make this experience better I do wish minimized the selection because there tons of options we wanted to try everything within the two hour time limit. Impossible, everything is made fresh to order and their service was intentionally slow....I didn't appreciate how our server barely came to our table to take our orders. He was okay and then after our first hour a new waitress came and her name was Francis she had the worst attitude ever. Her demeanor really tainted the second half of our experience. The ambience was beautiful. The lighting was chill. On camera this is the place you want to go to for the content and a nice drink. Our total was $97 each (we ordered still water) -- they do surcharges here of 3.5%, be sure to request that they take it off. Keep in mind, everyone at the table has to pay for the all you can eat special. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was such a fun spot for my monthly dinner club with friends! You get a lot of bang for your buck -- highly recommend the all you can eat and drink dining options. Note that everyone in your party must participate. The interior was really beautiful and had great lighting. Our waitress was really sweet and helped us properly order enough food for the table as we went through the menu. The dishes come out in waves, so highly recommend chatting with the staff to figure out your best ordering options. The entire group agreed there were really no 10/10 no notes dishes, as well as nothing that was really bad. Most things were just okay, ranking between 5-8 out of a ten scale. Some favorites were the potatoes, almond fried chicken, kebabs, pork shoulder, and spicy feta. We weren't a fan of the brussel sprouts, which could've been cooked longer, or the shrimp, which had too much liquid smoke. Overall, the experience was fun, we felt like we got our moneys worth, and we discussed wanting to come back for unlimited brunch this fall! My biggest critique of the entire night is that there was a lot of food waste which we weren't allowed to take home. There were a few times extra dishes were brought out when we only ordered 1 or 2. It would be great to have a few or something to get a small take home box. read more

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Ambar is a fun, nicely decorated restaurant. Brunch has the $37 all you can eat option with a ton of selections. The salmon benedict and tomato soup were great, the New York strip was tasty but overcooked, the beet tzatziki was light and fresh, the Mediterranean omelette definitely needed salt, and the mushroom pilav was flavorful and nicely cooked. read more

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Absolutely love it here. Great options with the all you can eat and its all fantastic quality!! The cocktials are great, service is fast and the space is a vibe. All in all perfect for a date or girls night! read more

Thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Ambar. All of the food was excellent and the service was attentive without being overbearing. We opted for the $55 AYCE and portion sizes were perfect we got to sample many items. They even brought out a special treat for my birthday! Only slightly off putting part of the meal was after we paid the server came over and asked us to write a Google review mentioning his name. Now it makes sense why there are so many Google reviews for this place ha. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Menu - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really good tapas style all you can eat place. Not too expensive and you'll definitely get your moneys worth. Service was great and the food was just as good, everything came out hot and fast. read more

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We went to Ambar for brunch and overall had a really good experience. They have a huge variety of food, and the all you can eat menu is only $37, with $15 or $25 add ons for champagne or premium cocktails plus champagne. What impressed me most was the quality. A lot of all you can eat places sacrifice quality for quantity, but everything we ordered was flavorful and genuinely good. Food came out quickly for the most part, and my highlights were the waffles, NY strip, sliders, and flatbreads. The ambiance was also really nice, lively and upscale without feeling too formal. It's a great spot for pretty much any occasion, whether you're with friends, family, or on a date. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars was the service. It wasn't terrible, but it could have been more attentive and consistent throughout the meal. Overall, great food, tons of variety, nice atmosphere, and excellent value. I'd definitely come back! read more

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We had such a great ladies' night at Ambar on a Monday! My Kiwi Smash was boozy, fresh, and absolutely delicious--I'm already looking forward to having another one. The space was beautiful, spacious, and had a great ambiance. Our table ordered the branzino, steak, and burger, and everyone was pleased with their meal. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back! Service was Ok, they got the job done. read more

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This is our first time here. We had a reservation for Wednesday night. It was busy. The ambiance of the restaurant was pretty. It also have outdoor dining. We wanted to try this place because for $55 it is all ayce. We ordered the steak tartare, veal soup, balkan kebab, croquettes, corn ribs, almond fried chicken, brussel sprouts, pork belly stuffed cabbage, roasted lamb, lamb medallions, flatbreads, cheese pie, mushroom pilaf, branzino,grilled shrimp, drunken mussels, and lamb flatbread. I like the veal soup, corn ribs, branzino, grilled shrimps, mushroom pilaf, and the kebab. The rest was ok and some food like the flatbread it was a little too salty for me. The fried chicken was a little too dry. The dessert is not included in the $55 ayce. We didn't get any since we were super full. The service was good. The server came back a few times to check on us and see if we needed to order more food. The other staff would come and collect the empty plates. I wouldn't go back again but the $55 is a pretty good deal to try everything on the menu. read more

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We did the ayce dinner and shared plates such as Sujuk Flatbread, Balkan Salad, Steak Tartare, Crispy Corn Ribs, Brussel Sprouts, Wild Mushrooms, Cauliflower, Pork Belly Stuffed Cabbage, Grilled Shrimp, Roasted Lamb, Lamb Medallions, etc. I can't speak to authenticity of Balkan food but can only confirm the overall quality and portions are very well worth $55. Nothing was bad but there are weaker and favorite dishes. Favorites were cauliflower, stuffed cabbage, corn ribs, Balkan kebab, and both lamb dishes. Brussel sprouts and mushrooms were cooked right but weaker in flavor. Sujuk flatbread was literally a tasty pepperoni pizza...idk if you want to order that for the sake of stomach space. To each their own. Service was good. Ambience was classy and relaxing. read more

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I recently visited Ambar to celebrate my birthday, and it had been on my list ever since I came across the menu. Since we were already doing happy hour nearby, it was the perfect restaurant within walking distance to continue the celebration. The moment I saw the menu, I was sold. Before we even arrived, I was impressed by the level of customer service. Because I had booked a larger party, the event coordinator reached out to explain the menu and introduce me to the Ambar Experience--their all-you-can-enjoy tasting menu for just $55 per person. After looking through the selections, I knew this was the right choice because honestly, everything sounded amazing. We had several last-minute cancellations, so our group ended up being much smaller than expected. Even so, the team was incredibly accommodating and gracious, which I really appreciated. The Ambar Experience absolutely lived up to the hype. Every dish we ordered was beautifully prepared, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. I'll definitely be bringing my family back so they can experience it, too. We started with the spicy feta, white bean hummus, roasted pepper spread, marinated olives with pickled vegetables, and beet tzatziki. It was a fantastic way to begin the meal. We had also been looking forward to trying the clotted cream, but it never made it to the table. We assumed it may have been unavailable since it wasn't mentioned. From the vegetable selections, we ordered the Brussels sprouts, baby carrots, crispy corn ribs, and wild mushrooms. Everything was delicious, but the baby carrots completely surprised me--they were easily my favorite vegetable of the evening. The meat, poultry, and seafood selections were where Ambar truly shined. We enjoyed the Balkan kebab, NY strip, lamb medallions, beef goulash, roasted lamb, wood-fired branzino, drunken mussels, grilled shrimp, and the beef tartare from the Chef's Signature menu. While every dish was outstanding, the clear standouts were the lamb medallions, the branzino, and the drunken mussels. They were so good that we kept ordering additional plates long after we were already full! We also added the unlimited beverage package for just $27 per person, which was an incredible value. The house Old Fashioned, white sangria, and strawberry lemonade were all excellent and paired perfectly with the meal. Unfortunately, the service put a significant damper on what was supposed to be a special evening. Throughout dinner, we constantly felt rushed. Every time our server approached the table, we felt like we had to be completely ready with our next order because if we weren't, he would immediately turn and walk away. When bringing drinks, he would place them at the edge of the table and slide them across instead of setting them in front of the person who ordered them. While that may seem like a small detail, it contributed to an overall feeling that the service lacked care and hospitality. His demeanor throughout the evening also wasn't warm or welcoming. To add to that, as our group gathered near the front of the restaurant to take a birthday photo before leaving, another server brushed past my sister, bumping into her without saying "excuse me" or acknowledging what had happened. Had the food not been as exceptional as it was, I'm not sure I would have considered returning based solely on the service we received. That said, the quality of the food easily ranks among the best I've had in Chicago, and it's the reason I'll be back. If the service matched the caliber of the kitchen, this would be an easy five-star experience. Even with the hiccups, I'm looking forward to returning because the Ambar Experience truly is one of the best dining values in the city. #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad read more

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I'm so glad I was recommended to try Ambar on my next adventure in Chicago!! The service was wonderful, my waiter never had my glass empty and the small plates were delicious and plentiful! I loved the steak, wedge potatoes and marinated olives. The place had the best romantic feel. I adored it!! read more

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THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR AYCE BRUNCH I'm disappointed in my experience here. Overall beautiful restaurant. Faux florals everywhere which makes it IG-worthy to post but the food and service were very mediocre. I like the idea of ayce for a set price. It's fun and allows you to try a bunch of things. They should set a minimum of items ordered depending on your party size so servers don't have to keep scrambling around taking multiple orders at once. Or just a better ordering system cause service was very slow and we barely saw our waiter. He seemed stressed and not very enthusiastic about being there. The food at brunch was nothing special. The only dish I really enjoyed was the shrimp and grits. Skip the mushroom pilav! It was so flavorless I couldn't even finish it. I heard dinner service is better but this was just my experience. read more

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10/10 experience at Ambar. Our waiter Nikola was fantastic. Food was ridiculously good and thanks to the Ambar experience we were able to try so many different plates! Very fun experience and highly recommend. They also sent out a really cool dessert for my wife's birthday. Very nice of them. Ambar is awesome and a must visit! Thank you - we will be back! read more

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My experience at AMBAR was truly outstanding. Everything including the food, service, and atmosphere was amazing. I came with my family to get the unlimited dinner option, and this far exceeded our expectations. At $55 a person, the unlimited menu is certainly worth it. The food at AMBAR is spectacular. With the unlimited dinner menu, this was great value for high quality food. We ordered a large variety of appetizers and entrees, and every dish we ordered was delicious. The cheese pie, meat pie, and lamb flatbread are nice appetizer options. The pies were flaky and crispy while having a flavorful filling. For entrees, the shrimp, mussels, steak, Balkan kebabs, and beef goulash were outstanding. We thought the meats were cooked to perfection. Moreover, the flavor of the sauce for the mussels was rich and creamy. This place is awesome because you can try everything on the menu and order more of your favorite dishes. However, some of the dishes were served in very small quantities, but this isn't a huge problem since you can just order more. The unlimited option truly is unlimited, and the staff had no problem when we ordered multiple portions of the same dish. Our waitress Francis was incredible as well. She came by frequently to take our orders so we didn't have to wait too long. After we ordered, the food came out fairly quickly, allowing us to try many things throughout the meal. The other staff members also cleaned our table often. Other reviews said the food orders took a long time, but this was the opposite of what I experienced. Overall, the unlimited AMBAR dining experience is amazing. The extensive menu options allow everyone to find dishes they like and try a variety of unique flavors. The atmosphere is Ambar is great, and I look forward to coming back again! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went for Brunch on Sunday and do A La Carte brunch instead of the AYCE. We got seated and no one came to our table with water until 10 minutes later. Once our order was taken one of our plates came and the other one didn't come until 25 minutes later. By the time the other plate came, the initial plate was cold and the second dish that came out wasn't even hot. Felt like they forgot about it. Our waiter barely came by our table to check on anything. Food was just okay. Kind of disappointed since I had seen good things about it. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Kebab pita - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

AMAZING! Food,drinks,ambience were fantastic! Came in for happy hour and really enjoyed myself. Great balkan wines offered which is really rare to find at a restaurant. A must order is the balkan kebab (cevapi.) Balkan music really added to the environment. Cant wait to go back with a group. Beautiful patio area as well! Had great service for happy hour! read more

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The concept is good for the unlimited food and drinks for 2 hours at $77 ($55 if not drinking). Food is good overall and there's no harm in trying it all since it's included. Timing can be a bit awkward with nothing coming out or everything at once. I think that's just the nature of the beast, but if you pace the ordering better it probably works smoothly. You'll have to get a reservation or have dinner at a very non-peak time and it's quite busy. Our server wasn't particularly friendly but did the job. We stayed under the 2 hour window but somehow ended up with a much more expensive bill, so watch out/ask specifically when the dessert menu comes. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Dessert selection - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried today for Birthday brunch. We were sat immediately in a small area just outside the main dining room. The room was not as decorated or lively as the main area but it was OK. Our server explained how to order and we ordered quite a few dishes. To start the spreads, olives, veggies and bread are bought out. You order as much as you want of any brunch items. The steak was really good as well as the chicken sandwich and the flatbread. The grits fell short as they were unseasoned and very gritty in texture, also the Ambar slider could have used a sauce or seasoning. Overall it was a good time with lots of options. It is definitely a must try! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Starter Breads - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I admit I only heard about this place from social media but I had Balkan food many times in the suburbs. I've been to Balkan cafes and restaurants. The "hype" that most of these gen z say in their comments are probably because they don't even know where the Balkans are or where they come from. This is good publicity for the restaurant though. The restaurant is located in River North, across the street from Hotel Felix. I highly recommend making a reservation for any day that you come in, especially at night. We did the $55 ayce dinner. If you don't like something, just put it off to the side. This isn't one of those places that will charge you for wasting food. There is also a restaurant surcharge that you can remove. The surcharge is not a tip. The food is like a 3.5. The service is a 5. Our server was Frances. She was very attentive and nice. The staff in general were all great. They were fast and efficient when clearing off the empty plates and refilling our water. The restrooms are two floors up. Just a short walk upstairs. Not sure if I would return. I could find better quality food closer to home. -steak tartare 5 - ample amount of tartare to share with 3-4 people. It was creamy and savory. -piquillo croquettes 5 - crispy and I like the kajmak and aged sheep milk cheese just oozes out. The cranberry chutney on top was great with it. -veal soup 3 - this tasted like a chicken noodle type of soup without the noodles. Not bad. It was hot and you got big pieces of meat. -Balkan kebab 5 - these were great. Tender, juicy, and flavorful. -crispy corn ribs 5 - these were good. The chimichurri and feta cheese really helped amplify the taste. -almond fried chicken 2 - crunchy but too bland. It was also too dry. They forgot to marinate it. -brussel sprouts 5 - just taste like brussel sprouts. Healthy. -pork belly stuffed cabbage 5 - this reminds me of eating stuffed cabbage at those German/Polish restaurants. The skin was soft to cut, not mushy, and had a hearty taste. -lamb medallions 5 - these were cooked perfectly. Tender, make sure you eat them with the sauce and pickles. -roasted lamb 3 - the veggies were good but most of the lamb was too salty. It was like they poured too much into it. -sujuk flatbread 2 - I love these flatbreads but I don't know why they're too salty. There's a difference between too salty and well seasoned. -cheese pie 4 - the cheese taste is an acquired taste. It's a typical Bosnian cheese pie. It's kind of rich with a slight tart, salty taste. I had this before when I went to one of the Balkan restaurants in the burbs. -wood fire branzino 5 -branzino was crispy and moist. It went well with that potato salad and salsa. -mushroom pilaf 5 - not salty at all. Good balance. Risotto was soft with a little chew. I liked the addition of mushrooms. -drunken mussels 4.5 - I liked the garlic cream sauce with the sourdough bread. It has an acquired smell from the rakija. -grilled shrimp 3.5 - shrimp was perfectly cooked. I didn't really taste much of the Hungarian rub or the smoked aioli. -lamb flatbread 2 - this was the same thing as the sujuk, it was too salty. read more

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What a lovely night we had at AMBAR"s Chicago location! In town for my bday, we decided to come for the Unlimited Dining experience. From the moment we stepped in and were welcomed by Michael, our evening was fantastic. There were four of us which is a good number to try many of the dishes available on the menu. We especially loved the cauliflower, lamb medallions, the salmon, and the stuffed pepper. The only dish that was just okay were the Brussels. We added unlimited drinks cuz after all, it was a celebration! The Old Fashioned was beautifully crafted. Our server, Sonia, provided excellent service - she checked in often was kind enough to bring a platter of pistachio baklava to finish the meal. The interior offers a lively ambiance without being excruciatingly loud like some places are these days. While the unlimited dining is a bit of a splurge, it's a fun and worthwhile dining experience. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Pistachio Baklava - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came again for dinner and this time was much better! The first time was restaurant week which also lowers service and food quality imo The space itself is so cute too, with flowers hanging everywhere and tons of natural light. It's also surprisingly spacious, which I loved. It's a great deal for what you get, $55 for dinner, and you can add bottomless drinks for $22 more. You have a 2-hour window, but honestly that was more than enough time for us to get completely full. They start you off with a tray of dips, veggies, and pita (the spicy feta was a standout), and then you can really go all in ordering from the menu. Some of our favorites were the NY strip, crispy corn ribs, steak tartare, and the Balkan salad. The portions are perfect, just enough to enjoy each dish while still being able to try a ton of different things. Service was fast and attentive, and our server did a great job walking us through the menu. We can't wait to come back, such a perfect date night spot! read more

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I really enjoyed the all you can eat the last time I was here, but now the menu has changed and the quality has really dropped. All the portions are much smaller which I thought was good, but the vegetarian options are terrible now. A lot of the vegetable plates are equivalent to something you could quickly make at home and aren't worth a $55 all you can eat meal at all. They even removed dessert from being included in the all you can eat. The dips they give in the beginning are honestly not good. The cauliflower, croquettes, and halloumi were the only sides that seemed good. read more

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We did the all you can eat option and we were pleased with all the tapas! Our server Frances was lovely and attentive. My only complaint was the cost, we ended up with a much larger bill than expected. So I would recommend coming for the food but not necessarily for a night out of drinking. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Bill - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had a wonderful first visit to Ambar! We stopped in for the unlimited brunch. Now to clarify, we are talking unlimited FOOD. Now that's my kind of brunch! Our fave item overall was the Benedict with very delicious and tender pork, and we actually also loved the spreads that started off our meal. The plate that the waffle came on was such a nice and cute touch - shoutout to our server Carly for this awesome detail! Also we loved the mango mule N/a drink -- we can't wait to return for cocktails and dinner next time! read more

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Yes yes yes!!!!! Had our monthly girls night and Ámbar had been on the top of all of our lists!! In typical us fashion, we went out on a rainy Thursday night! (You know the night we had tornado warnings! Yeah that night!) We were able to find parking around the corner and then were told they validated parking at a garage down the street! Call the restaurant and get the address! We all did the Ambar experience! For $55 you get bottomless plates and for an additional $22, we got unlimited drinks!! Now I'm not sure if we were all drunk/buzzed from two drinks because most of us had a light lunch or if it's because the drinks were STRONG!! Haha I didn't finish my third drink because it was too strong, a small hint! All the food was amazing! I'd say the most disappointing was the pork belly cabbage roll, and it wasn't bad at all!! The brownie Sunday is a must, if you love chocolate! Otherwise the baklava is amazing!!! (Dessert is also included in the experience!) In conclusion, go here, eat your little heart out!! read more

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Such a great place! It is huge!! Everything comes outs very fast. I wish the tables were a bit bigger as they were very tight with all the food coming out. I think this would be a great spot before going out with all you can drink! Some of my favorites were the corns ribs, ny strip and the almond chicken! These were all very flavorful! So many good options to try! read more

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Ambar was great! I sat at the bar here on a Saturday night and had no problem getting a seat. The bartenders were very friendly as well. The portions here were pretty small, but also very affordable which was great. I got a beat salad and hummus and pita and was able to eat both myself. The inside was fun & seems like a good place to come back with a group of friends. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Beat salad - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I think AMBAR needs to properly advertise how their menu works. We saw the menu online and were excited cz of the many vegetarian options and decided to give ambar a try. Upon arriving there, the server informed that the items on the top were a part of the unlimited food menu which is for $55 per person and consists of small plates. There is a separate section for a la carte items which didn't have many vegetarian options. We had to go with the $55 pp option even though we weren't that hungry. Keeping this confusion aside, the service, ambience and the food were good. We got the Mac and cheese, the white flatbread, the cheese sliders, tomato soup, chicken slider, salad, etc. I will be back but only when I am hungry enough to reap the benefits of the $55 pp menu. read more

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I had dinner here and opted for the unlimited Balkan plates. The restaurant is really pretty., The food was delicious, the options were varied and my favorite dishes were the steak, the grilled halloumi and bread. The service was alright, it was a full night so it was sometimes hard getting the attention of the waiting staff. Overall, it was a good experience and I will be visiting again. read more

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What a lovely evening at Ambar! The food, the service the ambience were superb. I spoke with Michael the manager/host a couple of weeks ago and explained what happened the first time I was there. That Evening was great, but when I called back that evening there was a rude young lady that answered the phone. My friend and I decided to schedule a dinner there last night and we're glad we did. Michael was a wonderful host, charming and attentive. He even poured us water while we chatted. We had their appetizer tray with bread to start. We had shrimp and salmon with wonderful sauces and sides. Desserts were yummy. Lemon sherbet and the Krempita was to die for!! Yes, we will be back. We recommend Amber. read more

Tyler, our server, was amazing. We did the all you can eat food + drinks. We went for my birthday and he was very engaging and we felt like he timed his check ins perfectly. He even surprised me with a dessert (and didn't sing) which was very appreciated :) The food was great and the portions were perfect for trying many dishes. We will be back! I couldn't find this on their website, but the whole table does not have to participate in the all you can drink portion. Everyone at the table must participate in the all you can eat, which is labeled on their website. We went with a sober friend and were worried that they may be forced to order the all you can drink, but they were not! read more

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Went to Ambar last night to kick off Chicago Restaurant Week and ordered the tasting menu. Usually, $55 with dessert included, we paid $45 for the unlimited dinner menu. You have the ENTIRE menu at your disposal for two hours, and everything on it comes out tapas-style with light bites to share (but because you do have the whole menu at play, you will get full rather quickly). I have not been to a place that does Balkan tapas, and so I was super excited about that unique offering! We started with the spreads with freshly made pita, which were a good palate cleanser. Though, might I suggest you just start ordering next dishes from the jump because we ended up waiting like 40 minutes between the spreads and the next time we saw our server (which felt super European style - but just err on the side of caution and order more with your spreads). From that point on, dishes came out constantly as we continued to order more. We ordered the steak tartare, Ambar burger, grilled halloumi, meat pie, cheese pie, balkan caesar (which came out wedge style), balkan kebab, beef goulash, pork belly stuffed cabbage, potato wedges, and brussels sprouts. To say we were full at the end of it all was an understatement, but it was all very good, authentic, and flavorful. My better half, who is from Albania, particularly said that the goulash brought back fond memories of childhood. I loved the tartare and the stuffed cabbage the most. The kebabs were extremely flavorful as well, and I loved the cheese pie, which was super similar to burek. We ended the night with the krempita dessert (very creamy, very good!) and turkish coffee, which came with a bit of turkish delight. Over the last few years, I have come to LOVE Balkan food, and Ambar was exceptional in that regard. The interior of the restaurant was also super cool, with cool lighting and an amazing playlist that elevated everything to a very vibey level. Will be back! read more

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If you're looking for prime Balkan food, this place is it! Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had reservations and although I've seen many ads flying around on Instagram (someone give Ambar's marketing person a raise), I have been really trying not to read comments about it so I can try things without keeping in mind comments I've read. It was my first time here, I really loved how quickly we got seated, how quickly the bus boys served us water and how quickly our waiter came over to our table. Our waiter was extremely nice, very amicable and knew the details of the menu really well. Although I wasn't for it, my friends really wanted to go the ambar unlimited dinner menu experience which in order to do it, everyone has to agree to it and it's $55 per person. I have acid reflux so I can't try everything but my friends went out on town with trying the roasted pepper salad, the beef tzatziki and spicy feta appetizers. They said everything was absolutely delicious. I had the veal soup which was absolutely phenomenal but it was a small serving- all of the entrees for the unlimited dinner menu were smaller servings but you could ask for as many as you wish once you were done with the one in front of you. My friends had the Balkan salad aka "shopska salata" which included pepper, onions, cherry tomatoes, feta and sherry vinaigrette - if you never tried this, it just hits different than any other salad you've ever had! Highly recommend trying it. My friends ordered the steak tartare, piquillo croquettes and wood fire branzino. I tried a bit of the branzino and it was fire. I'm a lamb girl so I had the roasted lamb which was absolute chefs kiss, Svaka cast as Balkan people would say! I also tried the lamb medallion and was even more impressed. We ordered the Balkan kebab but I had no more room left to eat after that. I will say, as someone who doesn't eat pork- I REALLY appreciated how much variety and selection there is to choose from for those that have dietary restrictions and that all of the food description was included. I appreciate how attentive the bus boys were- as soon as we were done with a plate, they are were there to pick it up. Our waiter checked in routinely to see if we needed anything else which is really nice because when you have an unlimited menu that is not self-serve, you rely heavily on the waiter to check- in and he did just that. We didn't have to search for him or ask another waiter to find him- which is a plus in my book, he had a very good eye on his customers. The ambiance was beautiful, very full and lively. I don't know if I would do the unlimited again because I'm a woman that cant eat so much but I do want to come back here again with my husband to try some of the stable dishes again. The only reason I am giving 4 star for this review is because of the bathroom situation- I had to go up the stairs to the hotel that's above Ambar to use the bathroom. A little inconvenient but also there was no toilet paper in the bathroom and when I told the hotel staff, he was like, "Ambar needs to restock, not my problem" I was like oh okay this is a little dysfunctional. I did tell the front staff about it at Ambar and they said they would take care of it but I thought it was rude that the hotel staff was so standoffish. Regardless of this interaction, I still highly recommend Ambar the restaurant and highly encourage you to check it out for yourselves! There is valet parking along with plenty of street parking and also easily accessible by CTA train and bus! read more

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I had this place on my list for a while. It didn't live up to the hype. I'll keep it short as I don't like to be rude especially to small businesses. I felt the food was greasy and way too heavy. I ordered a good handful of dishes. In general, I felt they seasoned very lightly and they overused the yogurt sauce. Felt like it was slathered on every dish I got. Also the salmon I ordered came raw. The brownie dessert was like sand. 75 dollars for an experimental experience? Hard pass. They also charged me for still water so you can guarantee that I took that bottle! read more

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