A wonderful experience! We loved coming here and getting to try lil bites of as much as we wanted. We sat outside which I wouldn't reccomend, the atmosphere wasn't as comfy as inside. But service was efficient and food was excellent! Def come hungry so you can try all the things. Flatbreads and lasagna were a 10/10 read more

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What a great place to dine. This was my first time at this location in SE. The first time I tried Ambar was at the Shaw location. Either way, they never disappoint. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the hostess. She was very friendly and accommodating. We weren't sure if we wanted to sit outside or dine inside. She was very patient with us. After 5 min she took us to our seat where we were greeted by our waitress. She was very nice as well. She explained the menu which was the Ambar experience and she gave us some time to decide what we wanted to order first. She was very attentive and checked on our table very frequently which we enjoyed. The servers bringing us our food were very kind and quick with removing dishes and serving us. The food was great. Like I mentioned earlier we chose to do the Ambar experience so we were able to choose any food item on the menu. We also ordered the bottomless drinks which were amazing. We both ordered the mango habanero mimosa which was delicious. It wasn't too spicy or sweet. It had a good balance. For food we ordered a plethora of items. My favorite food item was the lamb kabob. It was very well seasoned and cooked to perfection. All of their food was very tasty. It was a great experience overall. I really enjoyed the service and the ambiance. I suggest you check out Ambar if you are in the area. Cheers! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Mango Habanero Mimosa - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Honestly and truly some of the worst brunch food I've ever had. I dined at this location on a Sunday with a large group of 22. The organizer had booked the brunch about a week in advance and had coordinated with the restaurant to pay a large group deposit. The reservation was for 1:30 PM, but our table was not ready until 2 PM. When we were finally seated, the table was only set for 20 people. We were in the upstairs room with another large group, so there was no space to really add two more chairs to our table. We had to crowd into the table to accommodate the last two people. Even though the brunch is bottomless with a menu to choose from, the servers decided to just bring random items from the brunch menu to the table. Honestly, some of the worst food I have ever seen. The vegetable vitamin salad looked like slop, as did the rice/salad dish, which I'm not even sure what it was called. We were also brought a trio of three dips as well as pita and cornbread. The dips were very bland, the cornbread was dry and flavorless. As I did not like any of the items that the servers selected, I begin requesting other salads/appetizers off of the menu. I requested the Greek/Mediterranean salad and the pickles, both were very underwhelming. As far as the brunch foods, the menu was literally all over the place. Even though this is a Balkan-inspired restaurant, there were items such as fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and shrimp and grits on the menu, which don't actually make sense in light of what Balkan cuisine is. The best thing I ate was grilled steak, which was on a platter with eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes. There were two Belgian dessert waffles as well which were underwhelming. The only decent thing about the entire experience is that our servers kept the mimosas flowing. Each person in our party paid $75 inclusive of tax and tip-- 100% NOT worth it. read more

Came here saturday for lunch and really enjoyed my time. The food was good but idk if it was busy or what but I felt like they were a bit delayed in bringing our small plates over. The food was impeccable though and our server was nice! read more

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One of my all time favorite dinners! You cannot go wrong, but you must get the beet salad, beet dip, and drunken mussels. The dinner is better than the brunch!! read more

We had an enjoyable experience. The all-you-can-eat small plate style is great for sharing with friends or family and trying a lot of different dishes. The food was overall tasty, especially the dips -- we all really enjoyed the beet dip, and I liked the fresh citrus balance in some of the spreads. The medium rare steak was also cooked well. Some other dishes like the shrimp and grits, sliders, and mac & cheese were more underwhelming and a little lacking in flavor. But overall a solid spot for to come with a group and a good way to try a variety of Balkan-inspired dishes. read more

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Went out with some friends to have brunch in DC and people say Ambar is one of the best. Their brunch has unlimited small plates served tapas style and unlimited mimosa as well. We tried our best to order every single item but got super stuffed. They offer a wide variety ranging from traditional American to Balkan inspired dishes. The food was pretty decent but there are definitely hits and misses here. I would probably avoid the mac and cheese (very bland and dry) and the Balkano (pork was also very dry). However, some of my favorite dishes were the kebabs, steak, meat pies and Balkan donuts! Pairing all this with quick and good service, I can see why this has become a popular brunch spot amongst locals. Small Plates: Pulled Pork Benedict, Salmon Benedict, Balkan Kebab, Balkano Slider, Mushroom Pilav, Hanger Steak, Fried Chicken Slider, Beet Tzatziki, Meat Pie, Sujuk Flatbread, Shakshuka, White Flatbread, Waffles and Balkan Donuts read more

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Visited Ambar for a boozy brunch with some friends. While the price for unlimited food and drinks is reasonable ($52 per person total), the food is a hit or miss. Some of the items are very tasty (kebabs, cheese pie) while others are a major letdown (shakshuka, mini burger). Read reviews in advance to understand what to order. Drinks were unique - I particularly enjoyed the lavender peach mimosa. But the champagne quality is not very good so beware if you are partaking in bottomless drinks. Service was good and fast, ambiance was alright but nothing to write home about. An OK experience overall. read more

Our company division recently hosted a team offsite in the DMV area, and to encourage us to meet new colleagues, we were placed into small groups of 10-12 people where a local colleague selected a restaurant for the group. I chose Ambar for my group, and I'm very pleased with our selection. Food Most of our group had dietary restrictions. Several of us were gluten free, and one person was both nut and seafood free. Ambar did an excellent job curating a menu that worked for everyone without making anyone feel like an afterthought. We opted for the Chef's Table experience, which included a spread tasting with veggie sticks and a variety of dishes that were clearly labeled and thoughtfully prepared: * Bean hummus - GF / DF / NF * Ajvar - GF / DF / NF * Balkan salad - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without feta cheese) * Baby carrots - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without tofu sauce) * Roasted peppers - GF / DF / NF * Cauliflower - GF / DF / NF * Baked beans - GF / DF / NF * Roasted lamb - GF / DF / NF * Stuffed pork belly "Sarma" - GF / DF / NF * Brussels sprouts - GF / DF / NF (one prepared without yogurt and bacon) * Seafood platter Everything was flavorful, well-seasoned, and beautifully presented. The meal was so delicious that I didn't even manage to get photos of everything, which rarely happens for me. Just know we dined very well and left completely satisfied. Service The staff was wonderful from start to finish. From the event team member who served as our account manager, to the chef, to the servers and wait staff, everyone was attentive and accommodating. They handled our dietary needs with care and professionalism and made sure our group felt taken care of throughout the evening. Pricing We paid a set fee that we were able to negotiate, and the final rate wasn't too bad for a group experience like this. Just keep in mind that there is an admin fee, a 20% gratuity, and taxes added on top, so be sure to factor that into your planning if you're booking a group event. Overall, I'd absolutely recommend Ambar for group dining, especially if you have guests with dietary restrictions. They made coordination easy, delivered great food, and created a memorable dining experience for our team. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I always have a great experience at ambar. I have been to all the local locations. I find that the capital hill location has the best food comparative to the others. We did try their new premium unlimited that includes a fish, tuna tartare, scallops, lamb chops and steak. The premium upgrade is very worth it. The scallops and lamb were the table favorites of the night. read more

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We read the reviews and trusted Yelpers and were not disappointed....I had never had Balkan Food and was curious about the menu and its unlimited offer.....we chose to order 3 dishes instead and it was perfect for two people and a lot less $....though myself and my daughter aren't huge eaters, pretty normal ones. We got the beef pie, vitamin salad, and moussaka and all were excellent! They should change the name on the salad though as its cold and crunchy and was delicious, not a vitamin in the bowl! hahaha The beef pie was different too and instead of a lump of meat/potatoes it was a crispy pastry and the meat was distributed throughout it.....very cool. Their yogurt sauce was excellent too and because we were splitting, they cut everything in half without us asking.....much appreciated! We had good service and nice staff the whole time too :) read more

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A Balkan restaurant featuring unlimited tapas service. This is great for tasting different dishes, so I went there twice to try what I was interested in. Here are the dishes I tried: 1. Complimentary pita & cornbread: ~70-75g each. The cornbread has a more moist texture than the cornbread in soul food. 2. Beet Salad: Basically beet carpacio topped with goat cheese crumbles and arugula. 3. Vitamin Salad: a mix of green apple, beets, carrots, cucumber slaw. Refreshing, crispy, and the apples and cucumbers added some juiciness. Perfect for pairing with kebabs. Would be even better if it could be garnished with some chopped parsley or similar herbs! 4. Lamb Medallions: two small lamb meatballs served with yogurt and cucumber salad. It was said to have pomegranate molasses, but I did not find/taste it. 5. Roasted lamb: The meat was mostly tender, but some part was hard, similar to the texture of cured meat. Thus, as you may expect, it was salty -- much saltier than the carrots and potatoes served on the side. 6. Balkan Kebab: Fingerling ground beef kebabs served over spicy Feta sauce. The kebabs were denser and smokier than Koobideh or Adana kebabs; actually it tasted like sausage. The Feta sauce not only paired well with the smoky kebabs, but also the pita. 7. Grilled shrimp: Three shrimps served over corn puree and topped with Feta crumbles and microgreens. The puree was a bit watery, and the combination of (slightly sweet) corn puree with (very salty) Feta tasted weird to me. 8. Lamb Lasagna: Completely disappointing. Not topped with Bechamel as mentioned on the menu, but Feta crumbles instead. I did not find/taste eggplant, either, though my server maintained that it was mixed with the tomato sauce. Worse, the upper-most and lower-most layers of pasta were completely burnt. For serving size guide, most dishes were served on a ~8inch plate. Service needed improvement greatly. First, I waited for a long time for my table, even if I made a reservation for the second time. Second, the dishes came out more slowly after my first order, not sure if this was their strategy to make more profits by "serving less food". But what really made me annoyed was that when I complained about the Lamb Lasagna, my server simply said "OK". It was clearly not OK! In short, I do recommend this restaurant because you can taste many different dishes, but just do not expect to get amazing service there. read more

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The food was delicious and the service was excellent. A really great idea for a restaurant, to have all you can eat small plates. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Valentine's day, we didn't have a reservation, but we were seated outside. There was a little heater in there, made it comfortable. Service was a little slow, but we ordered so many things at one time so we didn't have to keep waiting. Food was alright. Enjoyed my company. Street parking read more

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Brunch at Ambar is unforgettable! The endless tapas styled plates is the way to go as it offers a way to sample the entire menu without overstuffing yourself. And they offer lunch and dinner in the unlimited forms as well, so you not just constricted to the brunch times for the endless options for 2 hours at a time. The venue is spacious with seating available upstairs and downstairs. They even offered mocktails that were not listed on the menu as the server was willing to be very accommodating to our group. The meats were tender, the waffles were soft, the flatbreads were perfectly size, the meat pie was airy, and the donuts were soft. Everything about the experience was immaculate! I would return time and time again. read more

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Just my starters from the all u can eat brunch menu. The food was sensational and so was the service. I had reservations at the bar and still loved every minute of my experience. The staff was so accommodating to ladies that had kids with them as well. I loved the ambience at the bar! Definitely will return. I tried darn near everything on the menu for my 2 hour slot! Job well done! Thank you read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Brunch all you can eat menu - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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After hearing all of the hype, we came here for the $36.99 weekend brunch buffet. The place was packed as expected, so much so that we ended up with bar seating despite having reservations. The restaurant itself has a casual vibe with a touch of upscale. The first round of food, chosen by the waiter, included all the highlights to start with. They were the showstoppers! We especially loved the sampler spread, Balkan kebab, and cheese pie. For the second round, we ordered on our own, but the dishes were just average. The steak was a bit chewy, and the shrimp and grits had only one shrimp and very little flavor. Where the brunch really fell short was dessert. The waffle tasted like it came straight from the freezer and was disappointingly soggy. Overall, the meal started strong but lost momentum. Great for a visit to try Balkan cuisine! read more

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Always a great experience here! It seems like it doesn't matter what you order (we went for the bottomless brunch) and the food will be good. Service was great as the server came back at just the right times to ask if we wanted to put more orders in. We sat outside and enjoyed the weather on a nice spring day! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ambar! This Capitol Hill location never disappoints whether it's brunch or dinner, I always leave with a full belly and a fantastic experience. The service is consistently great, and this time I sat at the bar where I had plenty of space for all the delicious dishes I ordered. My favorite dishes to date are the lamb lasagna and the sausage both incredibly flavorful and so well-prepared. Ambar continues to be one of my go-to spots in DC, and I always look forward to my next visit. read more

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Fun spot and great service with so much space! We were able to get in on a Friday night with no reservation. There are 3 floors, with a different vibe on each floor. No elevator, but there's still an accessible entrance with a ramp. There's an all you can eat experience for $50 - really good deal. We used inKind to pay, so got a deal with that too - use my referral and you will too: HO75U4TN We ended up doing the a la cart menu but I'd go back to try the unlimited another time! read more

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One of my favorite concepts. Love the bottomless food and drink options for both dinner and brunch; allows you to try lots of small plates and share with the table. Service can be hit or miss but overall is generally good! -1 star for the consistently warm mimosas when it's busy :/ read more

What a yummy dinner! We stopped by on our visit to D.C. as my sister had tried this spot before and raved about it. Well, she was totally right! The hype is real. The restaurant has ample indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor area has nice mood lighting and a relaxed atmosphere perfect for any sort of occasion. Our server greeted us promptly and was able to get us an a la carte menu. We decided on the beef short rib goulash, a spread of the different dips, and cheese pie. The dips came first - my favorites were the ajvar and beet tzatziki, though I thoroughly enjoyed them all. The cheese pie was flaky and savory - I can see why it's a favorite! Lastly, the beef short rib was soft and succulent, pairing very well with the vegetables. All the flavors were so unique and interesting - it was my first time trying Balkan food! I have to say I can't wait to try more after such a lovely experience at Ambar. I would certainly come back on my next visit to D.C., though I'll be sure to save enough room for the all you can eat experience! read more

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We. Had a terrific lunch. There is a large selection of small plates in an all you can it setting. Between us we ordered about 8 things. Cauliflower, chicken stroganoff, beet salad, Balkan Kebob and the breads and spreads were particularly good. Carlos Daniel V provided excellent service and suggestions. Inside dining area is very pleasant. We will definitely return. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Lots of selection - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ambar can be quite cost-effective if you plan it right and come hungry. Some dishes are worthwhile, like the lamb lasagna and slow roasted lamb. Others didn't quite hit the mark for me, but that's the nature of exploring a big menu. The ambiance is pleasant and the service is efficient, though it could feel a touch more personal. I'd say try it once, you'll know if it's for you. read more

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Really loved the AYCE lunch here on a Friday. We were seated inside quickly and there were still plenty of seats there and outside. Our server stopped by and got us water and a refill bottle. We ordered a few apps and veg for our first round but plates just came out as it was ready. Fun experience and you didn't know what you'd get next. Quite a deal at $33/person for AYCE lunch!! Definitely recommend! read more

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I love you! Ambar is one of my all time favorite brunch spots in DC. I've been frequenting this establishment for years and recommend to everyone to give it a try. The ambiance, beautiful! They always have upbeat vibes that help you to have a good time. I have never in over a decade of going here had an issue with the service. The all you can eat brunch is tapas style for about $40 per person (unlimited drinks are more). You can order anything on the menu as many times as you want and they even take dietary restrictions into consideration. Everything I've had is so good. My favorites are the steak, Sujuk flatbread, shrimp and grits, mini doughnuts, yogurt granola, and the strawberry waffle. At a MINIMUM, I order these items every time. Plz, plz never take these off the menu! Whenever my girls and I need a reliable brunch spot, Ambar it is haha. When people come to visit from out of town and want an authentic DC experience, Ambar is on my list of must do activities. Keep up the great work!!! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Balkan mini donuts- top S'mores waffle- bottom left Fruit granola- bottom right - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here for a bday! Made a reservation for brunch and was seated with our group very quickly, which was a great start. The food is unlimited, but I do think the quality could be a bit better. Some dishes felt a little underwhelming, like they'd been sitting out too long or weren't crafted with much care. A few things came out cold or a bit tough, and at this price point, I expected a higher standard. For example, some of the brunch plates were super simple (which is fine), but a few strips of bacon or a piece of meat that might not have been particularly tender or flavorful. Nothing was bad, but nothing really wowed me either. That said, it's still a super cute spot. There are a bunch of pretty seating areas, aesthetic plates/cups, and overall great vibes. I def get why people come here in groups, it's fun and cute, which works really well for birthdays or special occasions. Plus, the unlimited mimosas are always nice. Also cute how they bring out a complimentary birthday plate with your name on it though. Nice touch. read more

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Wow! Can't say enough good things about this place- from the service to the ambiance to the food, everything was 100/100. The dishes were flavorful and all had their own unique flavors. My top 3 would be the white flatbread, drunken mussels, and trout. There was also a lamb lasagna that was really good, I think my boyfriend ordered that twice. Highly recommend checking this out at least once if you're visiting DC or just live here. There's several locations but this one seemed a bit more intimate. read more

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I wish I would've taken more photos because this restaurant is great! I didn't take more because our table started devouring everything. We had a table of 12 -- because we had so many people we were given plates recommended by the chef. Such great Balkan foods: KAJMAK rich and creamy traditional Balkan skim milk spread AJVAR roasted pepper, garlic, and eggplant spread WHITE BEAN HUMMUS cannellini beans BEET TZATZIKI refreshing beet yogurt dip with garlic and dill URNEBES feta cheese pureed with chili flakes and a roasted pepper jam My personal favorite were the CHICKEN SKEWERS - chicken breast marinated in a Mediterranean bell pepper sauce and served with a mix of pickled onions and fresno peppers read more

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A culinary experience, to be sure. Tremendous variety, a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. The service is excellent. People will be coming to your table to clear off dishes and bring you new ones with great regularity. This is a high-end restaurant with a casual feel. I recommend that you take the menu slowly and methodically, as it is and all you can eat format. Each time you come back will be better and better because you will know what you do and do not like. read more

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Honestly, I go here so often and I'm never disappointed. Just recently I finally experienced the brunch and that was a fun experience as well. I didn't fill up on waffles the way that I thought I would, but some of them were very tasty. I must say the mocktail menu did leave something to be desired. I got the all you can drink virgin flight and only liked one of the drinks. Ambar is such a cool concept as in all you can eat tapas restaurant. The menu is good and because the food comes out so fast you can really get through a lot in the timeslot. Even though I've never been forced out of the restaurant. There is an awkward time where they close I believe between 3:30 and 5, like most every restaurant at that time on Barracks Row. read more

Best happy hour. We had fantastic service and delicious food on their small plates happy hour menu. Yum- loved the fried chicken and cauliflower. The price of the wine is fantastic. This is definitely a favorite place. read more

Make sure you make a reservation! This place is busy on the weekends. Service is good, it's a little stuffy inside but ambiance is upscale/casual. Cabbage pork belly: the cabbage taste a bit like sauerkraut. It's flavorful and the pork belly inside is moist. Mussels: really good! In a white creamy sauce Balkan kebab: probably my fav dish. Has a smokiness to it. Beet salad: fresh and light. Beef short rib: like a stew, saucy and good. Can't remember other items I tried but overall, it was a good experience and everything tasted great. read more

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This is definitely a place I will bring every visitor to in the future. I was in Latvia earlier this year and I liked this food better! The unlimited small dish concept is wonderful and well executed. We also did the unlimited drinks and they were on top of it--definitely didn't get the sense it was a run the clock situation. Our server was friendly, the vibes inside were great, and just yeah, this place is not to be missed. 95% of the dishes were home runs. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Delicious chicken skewers delivered from Ambar. These travel well and are good the next day. I've been for dine in multiple times and the food is consistently good and atmosphere is nice. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Chicken Skewers - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I can't believe this is my first time writing this review when I have been coming here for years. Ironically, I have only come for brunch but really need to get here for happy hour and dinner. Very few places in DC still have a bottomless food and drink option for brunch but Ambar does! And the drinks included mimosas, blood marys and cocktails. They have a wide range of Balkan cuisine to choose from and select drinks. Its a great mix of small plate items with a Balkan twist. I usually sit at the bar and chop it up with the bartenders. All of them have been amazing! They are on top of all your food and drink orders and the items are served pretty quickly. They have a variety of seating options ranging from indoor to outdoor. Advance reservations are highly recommended because they do get full quickly! read more

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$27.99 for unlimited small plates, pay a little more and you can include dessert, and yes they have unlimited drinks la for a feee as well. Overall...let's start there, I would go back and plan to go back soon. The service was good, not great but good enough to get the job done. The food was coming consistently to the point I feel like we may have ate the tables food next to us...not our fault. But seriously the food was good, the small plate fried chicken. Is the one dish I wouldn't recommend, and the brussel sprouts were below average. But everything else I tried in the variety of choices was delicious. This is a nice looking place, and parking isn't too hard in this area it's also a hop skip and a jump from the Eastern Market metro. Pro Tip: if you do lunch start early 11am or 11:30am, there are less people in at that time. read more

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Tapas style dishes, the food was very good overall, I liked their salmon and lamb in particular. The service we received was surprisingly poor though. Our table was missing several sets of silverware. The waitress had an angry and aggressive tone, rushed us to order, was spent most of the time chatting with other staff members rather than checking on us. For the price point, the service was quite disappointing and I probably wouldn't come back for that reason. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill - Modern European Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My daughter and I came to network with other wedding and event planners and we enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious, the service was great and the swing was amazing. As an event planner, I would recommend Ambar for a rehearsal dinner party, reception, or other event. read more

I reserved a table for a party of 16 for my birthday brunch. The process was super easy and simple thanks to Ms. Jovanovic! The restaurant looks small from the outside but has lots of seating both outside and with two levels inside. We arrived a little early and they were unable to accommodate us until a little after our start time. Our table was upstairs in a semi private area room with beautiful decor and high ceilings. We were right next to the bathrooms which were spacious and clean. The food was AMAZING. The chefs selection was great, my party and I thoroughly enjoyed trying different foods. Every plate that was brought out was something different and tasty. For $34.99 you really can't beat it. After an hour we got to order whatever we wanted, we loved the vitamin salad, cheese pie, and chicken sliders. The steak was also delicious! For $14.99 we got bottomless mimosas as well, the mimosas were strong and tasted great! Jacob was our server, although it seemed like he didn't want to be there (I hate working too I feel ya) he kept the food coming and our drinks full! I appreciated his swiftness for the duration of our brunch. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the added taxes and fees for booking a larger table. There was an automatic 22% tip added, as well as state tax, plus a 3.5% industry tax. The fees added on over $600 to the total bill. Overall Ambar had the best brunch I've ever been to and I can't wait to bring my family here for a brunch once the weather is warmer! If I could give them more than 5 stars I would! Thank you Ambar!! read more

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