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!
We ate at the Anbar on Barracks Row in DC a few years ago and the food was excellent. The same small plates, Slavic food menu, wonderful. Yesterday we went to the one in Arlington, and having checked the website, expected a similar experience. But...this is the DC area, and a weekend, and it was brunch. It was like a different restaurant. Very few items were Slavic. The music was like being in a dance club. While alcoholic beverages were included, iced tea was not, so we were charged for each glass. If this had been a weekday, and had the regular lunch menu, it would have been different. Just avoid it on the weekend if you are looking for the Slavic food items and choice not to be charged for the alcohol if you do not drink alcohol.More
There was about 60 of us, from all over the US and a few from Bolivia. None of us had ever been here before and we sure got lucky! The food was incredible, and there were many things to choose from. All the breads were...great, as were the veggies. My favorite was the lamb lasagna, which I'd never heard of. The servers were wonderful. Yes, we were all asked about food allergies, very thoughtful. If I lived in the area I would most definitely return!More
We had a wonderful experience at Ámbar! We were a party of five who all chose the fixed-price lunch option ($25). In two hours, we were able to try most of the small plates. Favorites were lamb lasagna, stuffed peppers, shrimp, and the white flatbread,...although everything was tasty. They also offer a variety of unique wines from around the Balkan region, as well as some nice dessert options.More
I have a severe allergy to shellfish. The manager took the time to write on a paper menu which items I should avoid, that may have come in contact with shellfish in the kitchen. The waitress was extremely accommodating with my situation. All the food...was wonderful and I will definitely go back to this restaurant in the future!More
We are new to the area and live nearby. We decided to try Ambar after reading some of the glowing reviews and because they had outdoor seating. Unfortunately, our experience was not a good one. To start with, the high cost of the SMALL plates...(by design) makes it a no-brainer to order the "Ambar Experience," and all-you-can eat of dishes on the menu with the exception of drinks and dessert. We started with our server's recommendations - "everything is delicious," but "get the asparagus, the fried chicken, the drunken mussels, the cheese pie..." We did, along with the slow roasted lamb, and several others. The food was average, at best. The service was OK... servers cleaned up quickly, but apparently (according to our server) part of our order was lost or miscommunicated so that we sat there for about 20+ minutes with no food arriving after we had already begun our meal. The biggest issue is as we were having the last of our dishes, a couple with a VERY large dog (part mastiff, part labrador, part something else the owner told the host) was seated next to us. We heard the owner say "we rescued him about 6 months ago," and that "he loves waiters. But when you deliver the food, be sure to hold it up high.") In fact, after our chicken skewers were delivered to our table and my husband went to try one, the dog jumped up, put his paw on my husband's leg, and went for the chicken. Luckily, my husband was not hurt. The owner offered to pay for our meal, but the damage was done, and we paid our own bill and left. Our bill came to $100+, and we will NOT be back.More
My husband and I had a wonderful date night experience. Our waitress was amazing; food was yummy, quick and hot! We also had the pleasure of meeting the manager D’Mani who shared nothing, but positive vibes. Will definitely be back!
Very poor service. Left waiting for 15 mins - had to find our server. Food has remained the same from its opening over 5 years. Some food served were cold and chewy. Probably will not go again. What a fall for a good restaurant.
Visited Ambar for my daughter’s birthday dinner. The food was good however…durinf our meal, I glanced down and noticed an enormous cockroach directly next to my foot. We immediately notified our server who sent a busser over to get rid of it. As he was...hustling over. He slipped on a rubber glove….as we were sitting there, we noticed this same busser husting over to several other areas around the dining room , in the same manner, slipping that glove on and then hurrying back behind the kitchen. I can only assume he was disposing of other cockroaches throughout the room. It was so unsettling. We left quickly after and would never return! It was then that I looked up similar complaints and found many cockroach complaints dating back to 2019. We dine out frequently in cities around the country and I have never seen cockroaches in a dining area like this! Truly disgusting .More
Seven of us had a fabulous dinner at Ambar. Loved the huge variety of food, with lots of great flavors and so many options. Be sure to get the crazy forest gnocchi dessert too - impossible to describe but incredible! What really put our evening...over the top was our outstanding server, Kristian - the greatest combination of funny helpful and efficient that I've ever seen! Can't wait to come back.More
First time for the Blban food and I was truly amazing. The food is so tasty and presentation looks great. Pricing is more than reasonable to today's market.
Had not only the most delicious meal, but had such excellent service from Ivan. Kind, attentive to detail, handsome - the perfect date for a girls’ night out.
First time visiting this particular branch and first time brunching at Ambar. Very good deal - with drinks included. Was there with one guest - so we were unable/unwilling to explore the full brunch menu - but all was quite good. Sat at the bar...and service was fine.More
"All you can eat" has its place in the dining world, but dining at Ambar is not a heat-lamp warmed buffet picked over by everyone who arrived before you. In fact, the moniker of "all you can eat" should be banned from every Ambar review....My husband and I opted recently for the "Ambar Experience." Technically it is correct that one can eat all they desire, but that does not tell the real story. Rather, the dishes appear one by one at the table as they are requested from the menu. They are beautiful, small plates meant to sample one's way through this delicious cuisine. Having traveled and eaten our way through the Balkans ourselves, we sampled some favorites and tried some new items we had not experienced. Everything was delicious and beautifully plated. This is the kind of restaurant where there is something for everyone from the Balkan food connosieur to adventure foodies to newcomers to different world cuisines who want to dip their toes in the water, figuratively speaking. Whatever you select, be it the "Fried Chicken" (code for delicious fancy Schnitzel) or the Pork Neck, rest assured your taste buds will be happy. The wine list is impressive, as well. Our Serbian Red paired wonderfully with every plate. Dessert was no less impressive; we shared the Nougat Cake--just the right amount of chocolate goodness to end our evening on a sweet note. We'll certainly return,.More
Some friends took us there in honor of our wedding. Neither of us had been there and weren't sure what 'Balkan Cusine' would be like. What a surprise! The food was great. We did the $45 'bottomless' menu. The food just kept coming and it...was all amazing!More
