I loved this place. It was an all you can eat brunch spot that was amazing for $35. The food was so tasty and flavorful. The service was great, a bit slow but understandable since there was a lot of people. The place had such a chill brunch vibe. Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

I saw this place when I went to DC last year, but missed the opportunity to try it. What a surprise when I found they opened in Chicago's DT, so I had to make some time and try it. This belkan restaurant is set up on an AYCE set up and it have a lot of dishes to try, I like that the style is set up as a Tapas/Dim Sum style, where they bring you small dishes of anything you are ordering on the menu to try and you can ask to repeat if you want to. The dippings were amazing to get with the pita breads (that also were so fluffly and freshly maded), all the veggies dishes I tried were fantastic, my favorite were the asparagus, the corn rib and the baby carrots. On the meat side I loved the lamb, it had a lot of flavor and pairs well with the pita breads. On the seafood, all of them were my favorites, and repeated all of them lol. I would suggest to go for lunch time during week so you can get the most of the experience and wouldn't be so packed. Out of that, I'm happy I tried finally this place read more

See all

It was such a snowy day, but packed by the time we left lunch. The service was excellent from the hostess, waiter, to the team bussing food and clearing the table. We tried the brunch for Restaurant Week. The pita bread was warm and I ate too much of it. Most of the table preferred the Smoked Salmon benedict, shrimp and grits, the NY strip steak, and the beef kabab. They do a very consistent job with the poached egg. We ordered a little bit of everything to try, but they gave us 2 of each so we filled up pretty quickly. Among the waffles, the strawberry waffle was the most popular at the table. This is definitely a great value. The whole family had a lot of fun ordering whatever each wants. read more

See all

Back in June, my sorority sister and I came for unlimited lunch to jumpstart our reunion weekend after an early travel morning. I've been to the DC location so I had some expectations and this location topped them. The large space is bright and beautiful but pretty empty that rainy afternoon. We ordered a few dishes form each of the sections of the menu. The server was attentive, the food came out quickly and well presented even in the their small form. Some highlights were the fried zucchini, lamb medallions, grilled shrimp, and pork shoulder. Centrally located, the price was right, food was delicious so I would recommend and return! read more

See all

Great spot, especially if you come with a group. We went with the unlimited experience. I wish there were more seafood items on the menu, but the food came out quick and tasted delicious. Standouts were the pork belly stuffed cabbage, lamb medallions, stuffed peppers, and vitamin salad. One note was the branzino was over cooked and tasted burnt. Service was on the slower side. It took awhile to get waters refilled and our check. Overall, I enjoyed the meal and would come back. read more

I'll first say that I'm embarrassed that I didn't take more photos on my brunch trip to Ambar..but I was way too busy eating everything in sight. This is a newer Balkan restaurant opened in April 2025. The interior is beautiful! And they have a really nice patio as well. The entire concept is all you can eat small plates for a flat fee. We found everything to be delicious! T he service was extremely fast and our server was super helpful in guiding us on how much to order each round with some dishes being a little smaller than others. We were all thrilled with our experience at Ambar and I will definitely be returning for dinner! read more

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

Shared food with a friend....hummus was not what I expected and we both did not care for the flavor. We've had much better elsewhere. Beet salad, same. We did enjoy the lamb medallions, moist and tasty. read more

I've walked by this place a couple of times and thought they only served small plates for brunch, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they have a lunch deal too! $30 for unlimited small plates for 2 hours! It also includes happy hour priced drinks. I dinned solo this time, but will be back to bring others. It's such a great deal. It reminds me of the unlimited small plates brunches in DC. The decor is lovely and cute. With colorful chairs, cool blue floral wall paper and fake flowers hanging everywhere, giving a modern garden tea party vibe. I like it! The food was good, it did not disappoint. I ordered the beet salad, brussel sprouts, Lamb medallion, pork belly stuffed cabbage, NY strip (premium small plate for an extra $10). Even though the steak was delicious and cooked to perfection, it did come thinly sliced, very small portion. In my opinion, I don't think it was worth the extra $10. I also had the mushroom pilaf, which I found on the salty side. Overall the food was good and the service was great! The bill came with a free tiny glass of cherry brandy to sip of course. I don't know if it's a promotional thing they were pushing or if they always offer free Brandy with the bill, but it was a nice gesture. I will definitely be back again for the food and service alone. I will be back for their brunch!!! Ambar is definitely a resturant in my top 5 in Chicago for small plates/tapas. read more

I'm obsessed. There, I said it. First things first: rideshare if you can. It's smack in the heart of downtown Chicago, folks. You know what that means...traffic and any and all times and pretty much no street parking. (Also if you get the unlimited drinks, you'll be glad you didn't drive!) The decor is STUNNING. Mosaics everywhere you look, very beautiful. I was visiting my hometown with friends and we chose well. Even during lunch rush, the place had this surprisingly calm, almost zen feel. Our server (wish I remembered his name!) was absolutely amazing and we really appreciated him. Suffice it to say, we were STUFFED. If you're doing the unlimited experience, my advice is to keep trying new things even when you find something you love. Trust me on this! The servers give great recommendations too. The dessert was adorable with a little "welcome to Ambar" message in powdered sugar, and the cocktails deserve their own shoutout (strong, balanced, delicious, not overly sweet). So many wonderful touches to make up a great experience. read more

Unique and awesome addition to the River North food scene! In an area full of pricy spots, Ambar steals the show for quality and value. My friend and I visited for lunch, and at $34.99 for ACYE it was a steal! The tapas-style meal started with a complimentary plate of their spreads with freshly wood-fired pita- of the four, the spicy whipped feta and beet tzatziki really stood out for their unique flavors. We moved onto the cheese pies, grilled halloumi, and pepper croquettes, which were all excellent. The cheese pie was buttery and soft, reminding me of a cross between a croissant and baklava, while the halloumi brought a satisfying blend of toasted sesame, salty cheese, and honey flavors. The croquettes were exceptionally crispy and balanced a wonderful sweet and spicy flavor. For proteins, we ordered the lamb medallions, grilled shrimp, almond-fried chicken, Balkan kebab (cevapi), beef short rib goulash, and pork shoulder. You really can't go wrong with any of them! The kebab and pork shoulder really stood out to me though, as both were packed full of flavor and really melted in the mouth. The pureed potatoes alongside the pork were *chef's kiss.* For good measure, we rounded out the meal with the cauliflower and white flatbread, which may have been my favorite dishes of the day! The cauliflower was incredibly crispy, which paired extremely well with the creamy pesto sauce. The flatbread was a warm pile of cheesy goodness and an absolute must-order. Of the meal, the only dish I would skip next time was the eggplant moussaka, which I felt could have used a flavor boost. Throughout the meal, the staff was very attentive and friendly, which made for an all around great experience. Can't recommend Ambar highly enough, and I'm already plotting a return visit! read more

See all

What a fun brunch!!! I'm sad I didn't take any photos because they deserve more but this was a delight. I've traveled in the Balkans and I love coming home and telling others about new foods I tried. This was a perfect way to introduce these new dishes to a less adventurous eater. For a fixed price you can order as many small plates as one would like. They have traditional dishes such as ajvar, cevapi, and burek as well as typical "American cuisine" like bacon and benedicts. It was such fun to try all of the dishes and honestly they were all excellent. My husband said he would return just for the cevapi! We tried about 8 small plates in total; any more and we'd need to be rolled out of there. The place is bright and airy with colorful decor and a cool open kitchen. Our server was from northern Bosnia and she spoke very highly of the food-- pretty good endorsement! We will certainly return and next time we're bringing more people so we can try more food!! read more

An AYCE small plates menu for $55/person and if you use inkind to pay you get even more discount! The small places were all pretty good, but nothing mindblowing. I loved the corn ribs though, so flavorful and crunchy and juicy. Highly recommend. I was able to try almost the whole menu with the $55 deal so it was worth! read more

See all

Had a group of 8 and Marko expertly handled our very hungry table. everyone left stuffed! Wonderful location and none had any issues carrying on conversations. Love AMBAR & so did my cousins read more

See all

Shortly after opening day we visited Ambar Chicago for their unlimited dinner. At $54.99 per person- make sure you arrive with an empty stomach. We sat in the bar area- where you actually had to sit to take advantage of happy hour cocktail specials- 4-6 pm M-F. We ordered the Ambar Old Fashioned & Kiwi Smash. They were both fine cocktails- but not really special. The Kiwi Smash came with a large stalk of basil laid across the top which didn't really add to the drink. We started with mixed spreads and pita bread. The pita bread was fabulous. Warm and airy- it was a standout. We ate a variety of small plate entrees- the Balkan kebab, drunken mussels, grilled halloumi. It was all good, but nothing really memorable. The memorable dish was definitely the Krempita dessert! The layered pasty, the custard, with powdered sugar and raspberries was chef's kiss! The service was interesting- I think I would have called it a bit overly friendly and over-attentive. Some people might like that- we don't particularly. I wish we'd been allowed to sit in the main dining room and still take advantage of the happy hour cocktails. We were celebrating a wedding anniversary and the bar wasn't really the vibe I wanted- but I did want the drink specials- so that's on me. read more

See all

I went to Ambar with a friend for Happy Hour, and it's a really good Happy Hour! We sat outside on the patio, which was lovely. The food was tasty, and Balkan food is new to me. I love a spread sampler, so that was great. Some of the dips were good and some weren't my favorite (eg I don't like beets, but I don't hold that against them!). The cheese flatbread was great. The things I didn't love were still tasty and had a good mix of flavors and textures, just newer flavors to me that I wasn't used to. I took a star off because of the service: we waited over 30 min for the check just waiting and waiting, didn't see our server ever again and ended up getting it from someone else. read more

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

All you can eat brunch is delicious and super worth it!!! Flat breads, cheese breads, mac and cheese, chicken, etc. Food is delicious! And the service is very kind and attentive. Ambiance is casual and lively. Love the simplicity and care of this place! Only thing I am not the biggest fan of is having to go all the way to another floor to a bathroom shared with a hotel. Not the best with lil ones, but totally not a big deal in general. Will be back to try dinner! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - No faces lol - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're in the mood to try out a new place, i highly recommend Ambar's unlimited menu experience which is only for $77 (including food and drinks). Balkan food is new to me and i wasn't entirely sure what to go for but this experience is the best to enjoy their entire menu in a tapas style! They have the most delicious meat preparations have ever eaten. Highly recommend the pork shoulder, roasted lamb. For those who don't eat meat you can't go wrong with their chicken preparations. With an open kitchen, the place feels moody, posh, perfect for a date night! Now that i have some menu favourites, i know exactly what i want when i come back!! read more

See all

This place is so great! The atmosphere is very lively. My friend and I came here and did the all you can unlimited $55 dining experience. Everything was so tasty! My favorites were the grilled shrimp, steak and frites, and the lamb flatbread. Our server was the best I believe his name was Mati he was very attentive and nice. We will definitely be coming back, I think we want to try brunch next time. read more

A great introduction to Balkan food, and a solid AYCE deal for the quality and service provided, plus a very pretty and comfortable ambiance! I'd never been to an AYCE tapas restaurant before (probably because it's pretty expensive and difficult on the restaurant's end to pull it off), but I think Ambar handled it wonderfully! Every dish was freshly made, service was very attentive and fast, so I think the prices were worth it for Restaurant Week ($30 brunch/lunch AYCE). Normally it's a bit more ($38?) but I could see it being worth it if you're a fan of the food and want to eat a lot. Most of the food did end up being just fine (not bad, just not mind blowing), but some standouts were the Grilled Hangar Steak, the Cheese Pie, and the White Bean Hummus Parking is difficult since it's right in downtown River North area, but if you can't find street parking, there's a decent midday SpotHero Lot right across the street (~$10 for 2-3 hours I think) Overall, a fun experience but I'm not sure if I would go again unless someone I'm with really wants to go read more

See all

Absolutely loved this place! It has beautiful decor, lovely food, and great staff! I went for the all you can eat dinner and it was a great experience. As a vegetarian, I was also very pleased by the number of options. They even have a separate vegetarian menu if you don't want to search for vegetarian options in the main one. Overall, an amazing experience! My favorite was probably the croquette and I loved the dessert at the end too! read more

See all

Ambar is an AYCE Balkan restaurant. Think Fogo de chao of Balkan food. But Ambar's format is a bit different. Instead of food circling around the room, you place orders with your server. Then the portions are scaled to the size of your party, which is a great concept and, in theory, makes like easy. I went with a large group of 9. And while some in our group liked Ambar, personally I was not a fan. Atmosphere at Ambar is nice. It's warm, welcoming and just upscale enough for a special occasions at a reasonable price. Service was great in some areas and lacking in others. The hostess was nice. And the server was great. Aggregating our order across a large group was challenging at times. As such, it got a bit chaotic. But thank goodness our server was extremely patient and worked through it. Service fell apart a when it came to bringing and taking a way our food. I suspect they aren't good at working with big groups and that gave them issues. At times, we got food we didn't order. Other times, we got the wrong portions for the table (eg 2 small portions of salmon for 9 people). Lastly, they did a terrible job clearing off the table. After a while, our table would be filled with old plates. And we'd have to flag people to clear them. Finally the food. The menu has range. Short ribs, kebabs, salmon, spreads, etc etc. There's something for everyone. But personally, I thought the food simply was not good. Now of course there were a few standouts. But many dishes were terribly salty and also a bit bland. There's a bit of irony in going to an AYCE restaurant where you don't want to eat the food. All of the above being said, Ambar is a value play. The price is good, and it's AYCE in a nice environment. However, there are other quality AYCE experiences in Chicago. They don't cost much more and would be better options. read more

Can't beat the location in downtown Chicago and it's really nice to have some variety in dishes that are unique. Some of the portions were too small and the service was a little slow but overall a good experience, clean and unique tastes with good presentation and ambiance. read more

See all

Ambar just opened up in River North and it's already a standout. For $55, you get unlimited Balkan small plates--a refined AYCE-style experience perfect for sharing. I went with seven friends and left beyond full. The vibe is cozy yet stylish--pastel pink stenciled walls, moody glowy lighting, and plush, tassel-fringed chairs that make both bar and table seating super comfy and playful. It's a space that feels both intimate and fun. Every table starts with warm hollow bread and dips (delicious--just don't fill up too fast). My favorites included the gooey Cheese & Pepper Croquettes, crispy Almond Fried Chicken, melt-in-your-mouth Atlantic Salmon, and juicy Lamb Medallions with lemon-garlic yogurt. (I don't have any pics, sorry). On the drinks front, their highlight is house Rakia, a 30% ABV fruit brandy that sneaks into many cocktails. Ask for a tasting if you're curious!! Once ordered, the food comes out as it's ready, keeping the vibe casual and flavorful. Bonus points for their Unlimited vegan & vegetarian menu and non-alcoholic options and ability to accommodate gluten-free and allergy-friendly. NOTE: Bathrooms are located on the second floor, so it may be worth calling ahead if you need accessible accommodations. NOTE 2: Check your tab. Groups of 6+ automatically include tip. DO's: * Go with a group and come hungry * Soak in the dreamy interior--it's a vibe * Try a bit of everything, including veggie dishes * Ask about Rakia and their cocktails- I loved their Green Pepper & Plum drinks * Let staff know any dietary restrictions DON'Ts: * Fill up on the bread too soon * Assume it's Indian cause of its name (it's Balkan!) * Skip the croquettes, salmon, or lamb * Underestimate the Rakia--it's strong stuff read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Taste the Rakia (fruit brandy) in potion glasses - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

was on my period and craving something sweet like my life depended on it. Ordering from my hotel was easy, staff was nice, service was fast, all good signs. The restaurant looked all boujee so I thought, yes, this is it--my cravings are about to be cured. I ordered the fried doughnuts with Boston crème dip. The crème? Amazing. The doughnuts? Tasted like someone deep-fried a science experiment. Chemical flavor and all. My sweet tooth went from "feed me" to "nah, I'm good." PMS cravings: 1, fancy restaurant: 0. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Doughnuts with Boston Crème - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 20/50 Month tried: April Favorite dish: Grilled Halloumi, Almond Fried Chicken, Smoked Sausage, Lamb Medallions Oh Ambar, I am happy you're here!! I've been to Ambar in DC, and was so excited to see it open in Chicago. The AYCE style is awesome, and I love that the plates are actually small so you can truly try everything. With a group of 4, I think we tried just about everything on the menu. I narrowed down to my two favorites and my husband's two favorites above, but let me list some other standouts: All the spreads - The whipped feta and the white bean hummus are my faves. Grilled Halloumi Cheese - It's grilled squeaky cheese with honey and sesame. I dare you to tell me that's not good! Vitamin Salad - Trust me, you'll want a salad. And this is a good one. Carrot Ginger Soup - You might not want to go for soup in this format but IT'S WORTH IT!! Stuffed Pepper - Classic Almond Fried Chicken - Unique with the apple-wasabi slaw. Smoked Sausage - I think my husband ate like 6 of these. Lamb Medallions - My husband was still talking about them days later... Trout - For the non-red meat eaters (me). Roasted Carrots - Perfect for breaking up the meat course! Complaints are that service can be slow. ESPECIALLY when you want to pay and leave. They can sense it, and just completely disappear on you. And, cocktails are not very strong. I recommend sticking with wine or beer if you're trying to drink. I've already been twice, and I'm coming back with every out of town visitor for the foreseeable year! read more

I came to this restaurant with high hopes really excited to try Balkan cuisine. However, something that you should know is on the weekend, they only offer the unlimited brunch package which is priced at $36.99/person. There is no other menu offered so you cannot order items a la carte. That said, I enjoyed my food and the restaurant had a beautiful interior. The ajvar and beet dip were delicious and probably my favorite part of the meal. The potatoes were nothing special, and the mushroom pilaf was okay. Do get the donuts for dessert, those were tasty!! They have an unlimited drink package as well for $14.99 where you can try multiple flavors of mimosas. I would recommend the mango! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago - Carrot and ginger soup & and Ajvar (beet dip) - Desserts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The good part was, I was acknowledged by Liz greeted me when I walked in. Liz suggested I try the lunch special so I said OK.and 2 drinks walked me through what I was having and what was coming. everything was wonderful. I pay the bill and I tell Liz I'm going to leave cash for her and she says no they all share. It was 49.00 bill and I left as for a tip of $25. My mistake! When I get home and went through my wallet, I was short. I called your restaurant around 6:15 and spoke with Samara. She says no sorry we can't help you !!!!!what!! Well, I guess I can't go there anymore. Too bad, but just so you know, the food was pretty good..different read more

Good. Not great. Nothing stood out. Some points to note that the bathrooms are up 2 flights of stairs. Also they add a restaurant charge and then the tip comes up on the screen after tax and after the restaurant charge. (Which they did remove when asked). We are local and for the money there are better places. read more

We went to Ambar after hearing all the buzz about their unlimited dinner option. Honestly, we were skeptical about how good "unlimited" could be for around $60. But wow, it completely exceeded our expectations. From the moment we walked in, the restaurant had such a cozy, warm vibe, perfect for a family celebration or even a nice date night. The menu was massive, and truly had something for everyone, especially impressive vegetarian options that looked and tasted amazing. Ambar focuses on Balkan cuisine, and every single dish we tried was beautifully presented and full of flavor. Even though it's an all you can eat format, the quality never dropped. Our favorites were the chicken skewers, lamb flatbread, garlic shrimp, the cabbage pork belly and the almond chicken all outstanding. They also start you off with fresh pita and a variety of dips, which immediately set the tone for a great meal. Honestly, go here with a big group so you can sample as many dishes as possible. Overall, Ambar might just be the best value for money restaurant in the city, great food, great vibe, and an experience that feels anything but buffet style. A must try spot! read more

See all

Came here for the all-inclusive $36 brunch on a Saturday with friends. It was fantastic. It's like Albanian/Bulgarian food (wood fire grilled breads, many types of sausages, eggs, seafood dishes, flatbreads). They have bottomless mimosas for $15. The ambiance was fantastic (like Rose Mary), and the food was excellent for the price. Awesome place for groups. Our server Marko was very knowledgeable about the menu and ordered us multiples of dishes when he knew we would need bigger portions for our group (it's all unlimited so why not?). Will be coming back for sure. read more

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

We came in for dinner and a group of three. Many enticing options on the menu. their service was friendly and checking in on us many times to place orders. We liked many things on the menu. The standouts were the Mousakka, the Balkan sausage, lamb dishes. It was great to try a wide variety of items that we don't normally see. The sorbets were awesome and the brownie with ice cream was very nostalgic. it's better to go in a group of 3 or more for a place like this so you get to try so many things without feeling full too fast. Would come back again in the future to try the brunch or lunch . read more

See all

The whole small plates "All You Can Eat" really blew my mind!! $54.99, per person when you have 2 or more!! You can literally try EVERYTHING ON THE MENU And you can choose a dessert which is included!!! The service was good, but it was brand new- just opened when I went... so we could tell there were some staff communicating things going on a little. Everything was great and all staff members were very friendly. We sat on the porch since it was a beautiful day so it was good vibes out there with upbeat music to listen to. We chose many delicious plates!!! They were honestly ALL really prepared Great! very tasty and I still had to keep asking our waiter if we really could order everything??? We were so full that we didn't even make it to dessert. Now I know how it works. I will definitely be back and figure out a better plan of attack next time. The drinks were also so fabulous and amazing. I had the espresso martini which was to die for! I highly recommend coming here - I have only good things to say! I took more picts., but will post later- Bon appetite!!! read more

See all

We tried Ambar recently for the first time at the recommendation of a local friend. We were not familiar with Balkan cuisine so this was something of a new experience for us. The food is served in an all you can eat style with you being able to order as many of the various small plate options from the menu as you desire. There were several standout items, but I was quite partial to the chicken kebab as well as the cheese and meat pies. Dessert was also quite delicious. Service was prompt and friendly with plates being quickly cleared after you emptied them. There were a handful of items that ended up taking longer than others, but it might have to do with the specific items more than a service issue. Ambience was moderately noisy with a dark aesthetic and an open kitchen. We would probably recommend this location on account of it being a pretty good deal for what it was. At $55 for all you can eat, very much a good deal for the quality of food that you're getting. read more

Balkan restaurant in River north with an unlimited option! I went to Ambar back in Washington DC, absolutely loved it. This just opened and it's a must. They have an unlimited brunch, unlimited lunch and also an unlimited dinner option. They were so gracious that they even seated us three hours earlier than our reservation because we were in the neighborhood and called in. Our waiter was Nicholas, and he was so kind. Our favorites were beef, goulash, kebab, tartare and brownie. I would say the donuts taste more like beignets. I would say that if you get the flatbread, expect a lot of bread, that might make you full. The mussels were good, I got too full, but I did want the grilled shrimp if I wasn't so full. We wanna come back for the brunch option. read more

See all

Decent experience... opted in for the unlimited experience which was probably a mistake. The food was excellent, though when we asked for a second round of chevapi ... it took forever. Other highlights were the Burek, Beet salad and Beet Tzaziki. I saw orders keep coming out, not ours. Whether an intentional attempt to "ice the kicker" or carelessness it was a bit annoying and felt like I hit my "unlimited quota". I think it would have been a better experience to pick à la carte. The ambiance and DJ was the high point - great mix of Yugo tunes and techno. read more

I invited my other neighbor to happy hour at Ambar. My husband's been to happy hour here before and recommended coming here. They have reduced cocktails and bites on Monday - Friday from 4-6pm. We sat at the bar and enjoyed drinks and food. I started with a refreshing kiwi smash, and my neighbor had an on-the-spot drink that our bartender made with carrots and ginger. The marinated cauliflower was so good. My second drink was delicious, mango lemonade. The crispy corn ribs were packed with flavor. The chicken sandwich was like a Milanese. The flatbread was so cheesy. We'll be coming back! read more

Heard this spot is a dc standout, the all you can eat and drink options are the standouts. Although the quality isn't mind blowing, good but nothing memorable. Interesting buildout but the bathroom is in a super funky location. Good luck if you're wearing heels. read more

Nasty... Don't be enticed by the all you can eat and drink. It's cafeteria food. Our waitress was very sweet though. Food lacked major seasoning. read more

Most of my reviews are 4 and 5 stars because I don't enjoy writing negative reviews. But we just returned from an early Saturday night dinner at Ambar, and our disappointment level was high enough that this one was necessary. There were a couple of positives: the space had a comfortable feel, and the food had two or three good items, though nothing memorable or great. But then it went really downhill from there. The two-top tables were uncomfortably tiny, and the lighting was too dim to read the menus, which, inexplicably, were printed in a font so small that we had to take pictures with our phones to enlarge them enough to make them readable. And the music was uncomfortably loud. All of these negatives could have been overlooked if the food had been good, which it was not. Of the six tiny appetizers sitting on a small rack, only the beet tzatziki was good. The other five were meh. The pita that came with this tray was fair. The only delicious dish was the veal soup, which we both enjoyed. The ground beef kabob was fair, nothing I would ever order on its own. We also tried the lamb flatbread, cheese pie, meat pie, Brussels sprouts, crispy corn ribs, grilled shrimp, krempita, brownie skillet, and Balkan donuts--thumbs down on them all. I assume that because of this business model, the food must be prepared well before being served, so it sits around first. The service was friendly, though our server was mostly nowhere to be found when we had questions or wanted to try another small plate. Perhaps because it is in a hotel, or because it was the Saturday night before Mother's Day, there were a surprising number of young children in high chairs, some pretty noisy. We're grandparents, so we get it, but on a Saturday night? In a world-class restaurant city like Chicago, this one does not measure up. They may make it because there are several hotels nearby, making Ambar conveniently located. The fixed price would be a bargain if the food were good, but at 1/2 the cost, this one would be overpriced. Try it if you want, but I can't feel guilty because I told you what I think. read more

Tried their unlimited brunch and was seriously impressed -- flavorful, fresh, and super well-paced. The vibe was energetic but not overwhelming, and the service was excellent from start to finish. Standouts for me: the Urnebes with their bread (so good -- salty, creamy, spicy perfection), the stuffed pepper with orzo and velvety almond sauce, and the Grilled Halloumi with sesame and honey -- simple, but absolutely delicious. Also loved the cheese & pepper croquette -- crispy outside, melty and rich inside, balanced nicely by the cranberry chutney. The kiwi smash cocktail was refreshing and paired perfectly with the brunch vibe. I also appreciated how well all the dips complemented each other -- the beet tzatziki and ajvar were bright and bold, and the marinated olives with pickled veggies added a great tangy crunch. Overall, an amazing experience. The food, drinks, and atmosphere all hit the mark -- I'll definitely be back! read more

See all