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AMBAR Restaurant, Shaw

4.5 (281 reviews)
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AMBAR RESTAURANT, SHAW ATMOSPHERE

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Baran K.

It is unbelievable that you can get 2 hours of unlimited drinks and brunch for $50. The bloody mary was STRONG, might I add. We ordered a host of dishes (hangar steak, mac and cheese, shakshuka, flatbreads, the dips, etc...) and everything tasted good (not necessarily a revolutionary culinary experience but REALLY solid good quality food. The restaurant is also beautiful and our server was so kind and attentive. Loved this brunch.

Kiana M.

Well this was my first time at Ambar and it was an amazing experience. They offered an all you can eat experience which for the low price was great! As well as all you can drink unlimited beverages. It is a Balkan restaurant so I was able to try different foods and known foods just prepared a different way. All the food came out hot and had a delightful flavor. The service was impeccable as expected. Our waiter was very attentive and catered to our every need and want. He made sure our glasses were never empty. The ambiance was nice. The aesthetic was comfortable but also classy. I would 100% recommend. I will be back soon.

Brett R.

First off, Balkan food is accessible, so don't let that scare you. It's not just beets served atop an unexploded land mine. Second, the service is unique. You have a menu of maybe 30 dishes. You can order as many as you want for a set price (50 bucks or so per person). The dishes are served in very small portions which facilitates everyone having a bite or two then moving on to the next dish. Finally, everything was good. We had a party of three and we shared maybe 13 or 14 dishes. It would be VERY difficult to pick the top 3 favorite dishes because all of them were contenders.

TG- Short Rib Goulash
Emily K.

I thought Ambar's restaurant week deal was amazing - $55 for unlimited plates plus a drink and dessert! I didn't even grab pictures of most of our plates because they were coming out so often. We split as many as we could - the spread sampler plus another feta urnebes spread (our fave!), halloumi, croquettes, lamb lasagna (melt in your mouth), Brussels sprouts, short rib goulash, lamb medallions, chicken skewers (would skip next time), and the white flatbread. Needless to say we were stuffed but still had room for a few bites of baklava and raspberry cake! We also tried the NA mango mule which was really delicious. Our server was wonderful and the dining room was beautiful and cozy. Will definitely be back here!

LaShawn G.

First time having I believe Balkan food and will definitely come back if in the area. Me and my friend stopped here before going to an event which was right across the street. I see that have an all you can eat selection, but I knew I wasn't going to be able to eat all that so I decided to try the lamb lasagna, Greek salad for some greenery, and an assortment of dips. I was disappointed that they didn't have babaganosh which I absolutely love. But tried the I believe beet hummus and couple others that slips mind. The complimentary breads/pitas were really fresh and had to control myself so I wouldn't be too full to complete my meal. The waitress was really nice to explain the menu and offered suggestions of drinks as this was our first time here. The drink I believe was a kiwi and mint, but whichever it was really good. Nice interior decor that is airy and full of light which opens up the restaurant and makes the are seem bigger that it actually is. 3.75 stars!

Potato hash with random pickles and carrots that shouldn't be there
Shantal W.

I had a very mid brunch experience at Ambar. The service was just ok. Had to flag our server down serval times. She walked past my empty drink glass and even saw her look at it and keep going. The food was also just ok. I usually go to the capitol hill location and absolutely love it every single time so I'm not sure why the food was different and not as good. You can't ever beat a bottomless brunch with or without drinks. It's always a good time. I was just disappointed in my overall experience. The potato hash had random pickles and carrots that weren't supposed to be in there. The flat bread and apple waffles (not pictured) were the best item we had. The creamy grits are not creamy at all. The mimosas were strong and just a hint of juice how I like it

Lamb Lasagna was delicious
Yuli L.

Since we don't have many Balkan cuisine options on the west coast, my husband thought it'd be fun to celebrate Valentine's Day with a dinner at Ambar. It was easy to get to the Shaw location, as it's only a few minutes walk from the Howard university/shaw street metro exit. Once we arrived, we realized we accidentally booked our reservation at another location, at Capitol Hill! Thankfully the staff were very understanding and told us they could honor our reservation at this location. After everything got figured out, they handed me a long stem rose as part of the Valentine's Day special. At Ambar, the Valentine's Day dinner included a starter bread and spread with an unlimited amount of small plates, unlimited drinks, and a shared dessert within a 2 hour timeframe. The Valentine's Day menu also included special items and was a total of $99 a person. The menu was quite expansive and everything came in small portions. It was a great way to sample a bunch of dishes, as long as you have the stomach to try everything. After 1.5 hours, 16 small plates and 4 drinks, I'm happy to report that everything was quite delicious! Out of all the dishes, our favorites were the Oxtail Wagyu Gnocchi, the YAGA Roasted Lamb, the Lamb Lasagna, the roasted Cauliflower, the Drunken Mussels, and the Grilled Shrimp. To drink we tried a Balkan-style old fashioned made with a Serbian liqueur instead of whiskey, a kiwi smash mock tail, the sangria, and a mango lemonade. I liked the mango lemonade the most as the old fashioned was a little strong. Our server was very attentive and soft spoken, he also made some excellent recommendations and we felt well taken care of. It was a pricey dinner after adding the tax, restaurant surcharge, and the included gratuity, but it was worth it for the experience. Next time we hit DC, we will come back for the less expensive brunch option.

Sydney G.

Ambar is pretty much always my first choice whenever someone asks for a good bottomless brunch option. I like that they have so many different options for drinks as well as a lot of variety on their food menu as well. They can accommodate many different dietary restrictions and nearly every time I've come we've had very good service. With the time limit on brunch it's important to have servers who deliver food and drinks promptly to feel like you're getting your moneys worth and I've never had any issues. I've also been for dinner, which is a much more relaxed, but still extremely pleasant experience

Mushroom crepe
Mary-Ann L.

Definitely a must try place for relaxed yet deliciously seasoned dining. For $28 it's all you can eat Balkan cuisine with tapas like servings from salads to proteins ranging from Chicken, shrimp, beef, pork, etc. and for $4 more you can have all you can eat dessert as well! Service was friendly. Ambiance is simple, inviting (warm) atmosphere. Highly recommended are: ground beef kabob, grilled shrimp on corn mash, goulash, lamb lasagna. The lamb medallions weren't medallions, were too famey and chewy and accompanying potatoes and carrots were too salty. The mushroom crepe looked appealing but the taste of leeks was overpowering. Still with these misses, rating food for value a solid 5 stars.

Kenny J.

This was a vibey spot that was not too busy for a weekday lunch. The waitress that was helping us was so friendly and great at providing us with recommendations. There's quick service, lovely ambiance, and delicious food for a great lunchtime price. I think this is also a great option for people less familiar with Balkan cuisine (like my gf and I) as you get to try a large variety of options. Some standouts from our order included Steak Tartare (which we ordered twice because of how much we liked it) and the beet salad which is a must try!

Creamy mussels and lamb lasagna
Brianna T.

Quite possibly my new favorite spot! You cannot leave without trying the lamb lasagna, creamy mussels, beet dip, and beet salad! They have a lovely outdoor covered patio and the bar upstairs is decorated nicely.

Espresso Martini
My N.

Went to Ambar for bottomless brunch. It started out from the moment we got there. We were waiting for a table to become available and were offered mimosas amongst other drinks while we waited. Once seated, Carlos was our waiter and he is wonderful. What a sweetheart. He asked me if I liked espresso martini's and had made for me on him. Great food options, 100% recommend for weekend brunch. The place is decorated now for cherry blossom season so you can take great pictures

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2 years ago

Amazing food & great price!! Super cute vibe/ambiance. Rosa was our server and she is the best!

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2 years ago

Great Food and amazing Service every time! Thank you Ambar Shaw team. We will be back soon

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2 years ago

Excellent food, atmosphere, waiter was incredible and very attentive, always kept our drinks topped off. Would definitely come back!

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Ambar Bottomless Brunch is the best deal in DC! All you can eat AND drink! Great way to celebrate any occasion.

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2 years ago

had the absolute best brunch with Nemanja as our server, good food, drinks, and service for the best Sunday brunch!

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Food is delicious, service is fast. Juan was the best waiter, so attentive and funny!!

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4 years ago

Amazing food and amazing looking place!! Gotta check it out!! Can't wait to go back!

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4 years ago

Wow what an amazing experience! The energy, ambiance, the staff! We had the best time! I highly recommend this location!

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3 years ago

One of the best spots in Washington DC!!! Always a great experience this was a second location I have tried.

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4 years ago

Mario is an excellent manager. Great food hospitality! We live right next by glad to have this in our neighborhood!

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AMBAR Restaurant, Shaw - modern_european - Updated October 2026

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