The Sunday service is tailored towards all you can eat $42.99 “Ambar Experience.” At least that is how they apparently program their experimental but very human-like AI robot server. It meets you at the table and slightly overenthusiastically says “I’ll be taking care of you,”...and offers a menu with no prices listed other than the $42.99 one. When later told by us that we were not that hungry, and just wanted an entrée, it said “it comes out about the same.” When asked if the Meat Pie was indeed $42.99, a small smoke trail began trickling from its ears, and its eyes went in a circle before acknowledging “no, the Meat Pie does not cost $42.99.” When asked, it was able to deliver a menu with entrée prices listed. About 15 minutes later it returned, beginning by asking if we wanted the “Ambar Experience.” We said no, and stated clearly and slowly that we wanted entrees, which it finally accepted. About 20 minutes later it returned as introduced itself, saying “I’ll be taking care of you.” It appeared to be the same robot in appearance as the earlier one, but if so its memory had been deleted or wiped we assumed. When we noted we had already ordered, it said “no one brought it out yet? Sorry about that.” Fascinating as this all was as an experiment with robotic AI servers, we actually did want a bite to eat, so we left. This place gets good reviews, and we tried the food once before and it was good, and the music was creative and cool (as is the culture from that part of the world), but we cannot recommend the Sunday “Ambar Experience” at least to those who are not in the AI industry. In any event, with service so slow, we suspect the all-you-can-eat bargain is diminished by the slow roll serving, but this is just conjecture.More

Food is excellent and the place was packed tonight on a Saturday night. Tarajee and Ana Sofia worked together to accommodate us and make sure we had the best experience. The amazing customer service and professional staff proves that this place is amazing not just...for its food. I will be returning many more times!More

WARNING: Do not park in the lot that used to be free to restaurant patrons. This was my first time back since before COVID and in the meantime the owners or lessees of the lot, which I assume is the restaurant, must have struck a...deal with Advanced Towing & ParkMobile to earn some extra cash from their patrons. I don't object to paying for parking, but I do object to business owners entering into contractual relationships with predatory towers like Advanced Towing. I will never patronize this establishment again and neither will the 8 or so other guests who were towed that night. A group of us met in the parking lot & realized all our cars had been towed. We carpooled to Advanced Towing and paid $185 each to release our cars. I read the Arlington County Code and the owner has to authorize the tow. This means that someone in Ambar was signing off on each of these tows. Why not warn patrons in the restaurant before signing off? I surmise it's because they make more off that parking lot than they do from the food. I'd be curious to see the contract between Advanced Towing and Ambar to know how much the restaurant received for each tow they authorized. They ought to be ashamed of this despicable practice. One victim was part of a group from Front Royal who had made the trip to Ambar for a special occasion. They came out to the lot 1 minute after ParkMobile expired. They will never come to Arlington again for any reason. Don't blame them. No one is in the habit of leaving $185 tips.More

I had high expectations after dining at the Capitol Hill location five years ago. This time was everything I hoped and better. Made a reservation for five and had no issues checking in. Excellent service. Food was delicious, I highly recommend the Ambar experience

The food and service was amazing. As a girl who longs for ripe and flavorful shopska salat reminiscent of my days in Skopje, I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this place. The decor feels like you’ve just been seated in a...picturesque garden and the menu has so many dishes, all delicious, it’s hard to select your courses. It’s all you care to eat and the plates are small enough you can get through a decent chunk of the menu without feeling too glutinous.More

I came here for brunch with a party of 12. I had to sign a contract in advance. Prices were $7 more than if I didn’t have a large party plus a 20 percent gratuity with a 2 hour window to eat. They told me...I would have to pay for 12 even if less than 12 came. When I arrived they told me that they wouldn’t seat me until at least 6 people had arrived until I pushed back. The price I paid of $49 per person plus 20 percent fees and tax did not include drinks. Food was chosen by the chef instead of us and really slowed down after an hour. As a vegetarian I left hungry. On the positive side the food was good, the server was polite, and my guests left happy. Because of the price I felt disappointed in the overall experience and would not recommend going as a group of 10 or more.More

Great place to eat. I was in town on business. Really enjoyed the service and food. Fast and friendly!

I stopped into Ambar not knowing what to expect; I was early for a meeting and was just looking for a place to kill time and have a bit of lunch. It turned out to be a very fortunate choice. I walked into the restaurant,...was greeted by a friendly hostess, and put in the hands of a staffer who led me to my table, handed me a menu, and explained the "Ambar experience." For $25, I could choose any (and every) item on the menu, with the only limitation being that my meal could not last more than 2 hours. I chose that option, and it provided an excellent introduction to the world of Balkan food. I began with the Veal Soup, a bone broth-based dish with abundant pieces of veal, ample vegetables, and a bit of creme fraiche. From there, I moved on to the Sarma 'Pork Belly Stuffed Cabbage,' which was baked for an extended period and accompanied by root vegetables and smoked peppers; Beef Short Rib Goulash, which was served over pasta; the Stuffed Pepper, which was probably my favorite dish of the entire meal, and had a rich aroma that wafted up from the dish and foretold of excellent flavor, the Slow Roasted Pork, served over mashed potatoes and topped with cabbage salad; and, finally, the Drunken Mussels, served in cream sauce with capers and lemon. The latter two dishes, although well done and enjoyable, did not rise to the same level as the others, but were nonetheless good. Service was polite and attentive. The meal was worth far more than the $25 charged, particularly given the fact that I could have continued to dine had I chosen to do so. My only regret is that I stopped for a pre-meeting lunch, and thus was unwilling to sample what was a very intriguing wine list, which featured rarely offered wines from Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and other Balkan locales. This would be the perfect restaurant for a long, leisurely group dinner, in which all of the diners chose the Ambar experience (it is an all-or-nothing option, which must be chosen by everyone at the table) and sampled a number of the unusual wines. Should I ever have the opportunity to do so in the future, I most certainly will.More

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner eating outside. Having a small group may help with the full dinner experience. We were able to enjoy smaller amounts of a wider variety of dishes. Highly recommend making a reservation. This restaurant is popular for visitors and locals.

The brunch is amazing. The atmosphere is chill and cozy. I definitely recommend it. Remember to make a reservation if you don't wanna wait for amazing food.

Decided to try this Balkan restaurant before my flight out . Just so happens it’s restaurant week! Tried the $25 Ambar experience! We ordered Brussel Sprouts, Lamb lasagna, pepper Croquette, pork neck, mussels, Goulash, stuffed pepper, strawberry Quinoa, beet tzatziki and fried chicken. All were...delicious! Favorites were the brussel sprouts pepper croquette and strawberry quinoa. A must especially during restaurant week! We were able to try so many!More

A new for us place, recommended by a Serbian acquaintance, that provides a wonderful array of Balkan dishes in a tapas all you can eat format. Lunch is $25 and dinner is $40, very reasonable for the quality and variety offered. We highly recommended it!