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    Amara

    4.1 (119 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Amara Photos

    Business Info

    AMARA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Amara

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    Reviews With Photos

    Davide M.

    Me and some friends been trying to do a monthly dinner at a place that is new for everyone or most the group. This months we decided to try Amara after seeing a Instagram reel about it. We have been at this location in the past for Water Dog Tavern and Hola's, so we were all curious what they did with this large nice space. Customer Service was great. We were promptly greeted, a good introduction by the sommelier, and our waiter was a friendly face and super helpful guiding us through the menu making sure we made great decisions. We also met the general manager? Or maybe the owner? He was friendly, but I feel like him not introducing himself was a bit of a blunder. He was a well dressed man that I saw making his way around the restaurant a few times, so I could only assume that was his role. Drinks - This was a hit and miss. I really liked the Moroccan breeze and one other drink a friend had, the the old fashion and another It tried kind of missed the mark. They were easily forgetful and they were kind of drank as not to waste them. Food - Each item we had I would get again. The stand outs are the green hummus, oyster mushrooms, the hot sauce went well with the mushrooms, and hanger steak. We all really enjoyed each thing other than the portion of the ravioli. Yes the Ravioli tasted great, but the item was listed as a large portion to share as a entree. There was only 5 ravioli which I wouldn't consider a sharable entree, more like a portion for one entree. I could probably just have easily finished the hanger steak myself, but at least that seemed more appropriate of a sharable. We all enjoyed the experience overall and will be coming back, hopefully with a larger group so we can try the table of abundance.

    Table seating near fireplace
    Ed D.

    Came here for dinner with my coworkers. Very nice ambiance with a lot of natural lighting. We were seated in a big booth right next to the fireplace. The bathrooms were large and well decorated and i normally don't comment on the bathroom but this was a nice clean well appointed bathroom. They tried to force a meals of abundance preset menu but we just asked for the regular menu. It was good for them because we ordered a lot more and racked up a $1700 bill for 8 people. We actually met the owner Ajay. He was super nice and explained the essence of his menu and dishes. Everything is fresh with locally sourced food and made from scratch. We ordered a lot of cocktails and appetizers, ravioli, oysters, oyster mushrooms, eggplant, pita with baba ganush, caviar toast. I ordered the branzino fish which was delicious. The fish was light and juicy and had a slight oily taste. We also tried a bunch of the desserts of which the pistachio amargo was my favorite.

    Dessert.
    Karne N.

    Came here for the first time recently with a group of 8. The restaurant itself is very attractive so an A for that. The food was extremely flavorful and enjoyable. My hesitation is that the service was beyond slow, the prices high, and the portions fairly small. About the food. The meats were excellent - wonderfully flavored chicken, tender steak, interesting lamb and good kofte. The hummus and various yogurt sauces were all tasty. The charcuterie was quite small given the price and pretty average in taste. Desserts were good. It's lovely to have time to sit and relax but families are hungry and taking almost an hour to get the first food and drink is ridiculous. Our server was attentive when he appeared - and the restaurant was not crowded.

    Kim W.

    I cannot say enough about Amara! From the minute, you walk in the door, the light and bright airy atmosphere is so inviting... The decor is absolutely stunning... It's just such a relaxing and welcoming place to eat. We've done here twice with large parties over the past month because it is so good. We just went right back. Both were business meals and the service was impeccable. The food is very diverse and family style... The caviar was amazing. They make everything in the house, including the bread... The flavor profiles are incredible... The owners own a few restaurants that are all really highly rated on Yelp and I could not say enough positives about the entire experience everything was incredible from start to finish. We're going to try saffron which is a sister restaurant next week!!! can't wait!!!

    Oysters and the dips and pita
    Joshua N.

    Amara is one of those places where every part of the experience just clicks. I went for the tasting menu and it was outstanding from start to finish. The meal began with warm, pillowy pita and an assortment of spreads that were packed with flavor -- the pistachio-topped green dip and the smoky red pepper spread were especially addictive. Simple, vibrant, and the perfect start. The seafood courses were incredible. The grilled branzino was beautifully cooked with citrus, herbs, and just the right amount of char, served alongside fragrant rice with peas that balanced the dish perfectly. The shrimp were sweet, tender, and layered with bright flavors. But the dish I'm still thinking about? The mushrooms. Honestly... stupid good. Deeply savory, perfectly cooked, topped with pine nuts and sitting on a vibrant green puree that tied everything together. I could easily have ordered another plate. We also started with fresh oysters, and the cocktails were spectacular -- balanced, creative, and clearly crafted with care. The vibe of the restaurant is just as good as the food. While we dined, DJ Fantom Cat was spinning smooth chill beats that created such a relaxed, stylish energy in the room. It made the whole evening feel special without feeling pretentious. Beautiful space, excellent service, thoughtful food, and a menu that makes you want to come back and try everything. Amara absolutely deserves the buzz.

    Side of rice
    Nancy C.

    Amazing food and service! We were a party of six celebrating three birthdays. The wait staff was so attentive and made sure we were well taken care of. They even brought over three separate ice cream desserts with a lit candle and sang happy birthday! Really liked green hummus and Muhammara. Lots of flavor for a dip! And the freshly baked pita was so soft that it paired nicely with the two dips that we used it to scrape the bowl clean! Lol! The chicken was very tender and juicy with a crispy skin. So flavorful with the spicy aioli and mashed potatoes. The rice was good too because of the melted butter and spices. Oh and the grilled broccoli was cooked perfectly and tasted great with the sauce! I'm definitely coming back to try other dishes!

    Mixed hummus
    Danica V.

    Great place with nice ambiance. Serves a little upscale Mediterranean food. Wide array of choices, good for sharing . I enjoyed their hummus selection , octopus and they have a good serving of the tomahawk which we got two for our party of 6 which was more than plenty. On the pricey end but good for celebrations

    Interior

    Beautiful restaurant! Enjoyed Sunday Brunch with the family. Delicious and unique dishes. Only wish our food had been serviced at the same time.

    Mirza Ghasemi
    Edward W.

    Beautiful place with amazing warm vibes. Definitely on the pricey side and portions are smaller but the quality was excellent. Would come here just to enjoy the vibes and get a drink. Braised octopus - tender, juicy, good flavor. Mirza Ghasemi (eggplant tomato dip) - a huge hit with the group, definitely would order again. Saffron Marinated roast half chicken - whole piece of chicken was juicy and tasty. branzino - crispy skin with juicy flesh Baba ghanoush and pita - solid option Rabbit tajine - rabbit tasted a bit dry, this was the dish that stood out the least.

    Love my shashuka
    Haiyang H.

    Came in with a friend. Oh wow! What a surprise! Food was absolutely amazing, decoration was top notch. Service was fabulous! We would definitely come back for more! Would love to try their happy hour next time! I ordered shakshuka. Plate was beautiful and flavor was on point. Great find!

    Mezze Platter
    Matty C.

    Amara is a Belmont gem! Parking: Easy and free in a shopping center Seating: Beautiful both indoors and outside, umbrellas outside and it's by a beautiful pond and garden! Inside is gorgeous modern and marble decor Service: Friendly and personable. You can tell they really care. The owners even came by to greet us Food: Delicious, fresh and healthy. Brunch plates are meant to share. Highly recommend the Ciblir, Shakshuka, and Mezze Platter Overall had a great experience here and I'm excited to come back!

    Roasted Cauliflower
    David K.

    From the owners of Rasa and Saffron (two amazing Indian fine dining restaurants on the Peninsula) comes Amara, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with an absolutely gorgeous dining room and garden. The plates here were all creative and beautifully-presented, and we started off with spreads to share including Green Hummus (made with spring onions, pistachios, herb oil, crème fraîche), Black Hummus (charred onions and chilis, topped with crisp garlic, fried anchovies, fried curry leaves, and paprika oil), and Muhammara (red pepper and walnut paste). Maybe I'm a bit of a hummus purist, but I found the Green Hummus dry and gritty, and the Black Hummus, while super tasty, was too savory and funky to be considered hummus. However, the best part of the spreads was the soft, freshly-baked white and wheat pita breads that came on the side! We continued our meal with small plates for sharing including Phyllo-Crusted Petrale Sole fillets served over bouillabaisse tomato sauce; Roasted Cauliflower with cauliflower puree, dates, golden raisins, pine nuts, and dukkah; Braised Octopus with papas bravas; BBQ Lamb Shortribs with garlic tahini sauce; and Goat Gozleme (flatbread stuffed with ground goat). My favorite dishes were the cauliflower, octopus, and lamb ribs, but everything was delicious and tasty in its own way! For our mains, I tried the Saffron Marinated Roast Half Chicken and the Rabbit Tajine (a rabbit leg served over black lentils), both of which were decent but not as memorable as the small plates. Overall, the food here was creative and delicious, but the menu prices were extremely high for the portion sizes. That said, the atmosphere and service were both on point, making this restaurant a worthwhile stop for a special occasion.

    Kimberly N.

    This time around we had an amazing experience at Amara. Ajay the owner reached out shortly after my review and invited us back as guests, however I still want to be honest with my review. We were sat near the window which had a great view of the patio. There were ants around the window, and some food pieces on the floor under the table... not many but maybe 3-4 ants that crawled around the window during our meal. The Muhammara dip with pita - was probably our favorite dish. The walnuts gave the dip an amazing texture. Asparagus salad - was fresh with a light salad dressing. Oysters -- were chilled to perfection, and paired well with the vinaigrette. BBQ lamb - tender, smoky, and fell off the bone easily. Tasted almost like ribs. Branzino - flaky, moist, and enhanced with a touch of olive oil, capers, and hint lemon. It was delicious! Praline Pistachio Opera - tasted as amazing as it looked. Everything was perfect with this dish. We had leftovers that were boxed up, but never brought back to the table? So we just left. Overall this was a good dining experience - we finished the meal in under 2 hours and everything was paced really well. The servers were all so nice, and so was the owner. We tipped $100, because even though the meal was comped we enjoyed our visit.

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    3 days ago

    What a beautiful restaurant! It is stunning! The food and service was excellent! I will go back!

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    Amara Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Amara

    Can you explain what meats are halal?

    All meats we serve are halal except hangar steak on the menu. Hope this helps.

    Do they serve Halal food?

    Yes, most of our meats are Halal.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Faith & Spirits - Our drinks at the bar.

    Faith & Spirits

    4.0(109 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Okay okay okay. So. Listen. San Carlos. Little town. Little sleepy little town on the peninsula,…read moreright? It's 9pm and I'm just walking down Laurel Street, which by the way has some REALLY good spots, they really do, and then. THEN. I hear it. Pianos. Two of them. Are they fighting?? No wait, they're DUELING. Two guys absolutely going at it on the keys, taking requests, and the crowd is just vibing. I mean really vibing. The cocktails are flowing, people are singing, and somewhere in the back of my head a little voice says "this is going to be a late night." I did not listen to that voice. No regrets. The whiskey selection is, and I say this with complete authority and only slightly blurry vision, "surprisingly incredible". The cocktails are also dialed in, they've got concoctions on the menu that you may have never heard of, or just pick the vibe you're going for and trust the process. I trusted the process. Multiple times. I used to go to Savannah Jazz back in the day. RIP, still not over it, but honestly?? This place might actually be BETTER. I said what I said. The music hits different when it's right in the middle of the whole room instead of tucked in the back somewhere. Oh and there's an outdoor area too for when you need some of that cool peninsula night air to... recalibrate. I used it. It helped. Briefly.

    Amazing experience. Great Live music, funny and great show…read moreRecommended! Great for a night out with friends

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    Faith & Spirits
    Faith & Spirits
    Faith & Spirits

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    Molly Os - Western Burger, a savory delight that's sure to satisfy your cravings. We proudly offer a selection of delicious meatless burgers

    Molly Os

    4.5(121 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    There's a reason people from all over the Peninsula make the trip to this Irish pub on weekend…read morenights. it's become one of the few places in San Carlos that truly feels like nightlife. By day, it's warm, welcoming, and family-friendly. You'll see families enjoying dinner, friends catching up over drinks, and locals stopping in for great food and hospitality. But once Friday night hits, the entire atmosphere transforms. The lights dim, the music turns up, the dance floor fills, and the energy becomes something you'd expect to find in a much bigger city. Friday nights bring a fun mix of crowds; from younger groups looking for DJs, dancing, cocktails, and nightlife energy, to older guests enjoying the live music, atmosphere, and social vibe. Honestly, I'm a little older myself and still absolutely love the younger, high-energy scene here. It's fun, welcoming, and never feels out of place no matter your age. That's what makes this place so unique. Everyone fits in and everyone has a great time. Then Saturdays bring a completely different experience with live artists and an incredible variety of music. One weekend you'll hear young country performers getting the crowd singing along, and the next you'll find authentic Irish fiddlers creating that classic pub atmosphere everyone loves. That variety is what keeps people coming back..every weekend offers something different and memorable. The food is outstanding, the beer and cocktail selection is excellent, and the hospitality is second to none. I finally had the chance to meet Molly, the owner, and it's easy to see why this place has built such a loyal following. Her passion for creating a place where everyone feels welcome shows in every detail. From the amazing service to the live entertainment and unforgettable atmosphere, this isn't just another local pub. It's become a destination spot and one of the true nightlife gems in San Carlos. Highly recommend checking it out, especially on the weekends.

    I can't believe I haven't been to MollyO's before. They've been open about 3 years. I feel like I…read morecan really celebrate my Irish heritage here. I like the dark, green colors and of course they were playing some fun Irish pub music. The service was great, but we were also the only people in the pub besides the two people who were working. Today, I came in to try their Irish Breakfast and watch some Rugby! A traditional Irish breakfast must contain Black and White pudding (a ground sausage, oatmeal and spices), Irish sausage (tastes like a banger), Irish bacon (more like thinly sliced ham), eggs. and tomato baked beans. It's delicious! I hope they get more business though! I really like this place!

    Photos
    Molly Os - Pull up a stool and let the good times flow at our lively bar - where every drink tells a story!

    Pull up a stool and let the good times flow at our lively bar - where every drink tells a story!

    Molly Os - Our mouthwatering Irish Nachos - a crowd-pleasing favorite!

    Our mouthwatering Irish Nachos - a crowd-pleasing favorite!

    Molly Os - Weekend bliss: Brunch vibes and bottomless mimosas!

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    Weekend bliss: Brunch vibes and bottomless mimosas!

    St James Gate Bar and Restaurant

    St James Gate Bar and Restaurant

    3.7(436 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$
    20 years in business
    Free WiFi

    What a hidden little gem in Belmont! Now you know I love a good dive bar. Give me a little element…read morewith grit, some colorful regulars, and a potential for nearly anything to happen and I'm a happy girl! This bar was pretty packed on a cold, rainy Friday night. I came for the live music, but was drawn to the promise of tiki drinks. When you first step inside this place, it's got the great energy of Winter's Tavern in Pacifica: very pub forward, tons of seating and screens, lovely chatter from friendly sports voyeurs. Outside is a whole other vibe: cozy firepit seating, tons of tiki bar places to lounge, and a wonderful place to host parties. It was so packed outside, I didn't dare wander around to play photographer. But when I made my way to the bathroom I was surprised to see pool tables (being used), active games of darts, and strangers becoming close friends. The crowd was mixed: barely legal bar goers enjoyed some Taylor Swift on the dance floor, while folks who likely had grandchildren at home also showed us some lovely moves in the front of the bar while listening to Electric X Dance Band. And just as promised, the night ended with a gaggle of Sheriffs to clean up the after effects of intoxication, probably drug use, and a group brawl of some sort in the street. I will say security was quick to respond, and so were the Belmont Sheriffs, and all was handled in a friendly manner. So, not a boring way to kick off the weekend before Christmas. I'll definitely be back.

    Been to St James Gate for many retirement parties but first time for lunch. No problem grabbing a…read moretable. I decided on the carne asada quesadilla which was a decent sized portion and quite filling.

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    St James Gate Bar and Restaurant
    St James Gate Bar and Restaurant
    St James Gate Bar and Restaurant

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    Amara - venues - Updated May 2026

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