Wow what an amazing place!! The food, vibes and service were impeccable! Went here on a Saturday night and it was not too busy. You are offered still or sparkling water, note the sparkling water is $7 and not free. My friends and I started off with a few of their smaller bites ( Mezzes) like the delicious fresh pistachio hummus, juicy beef kebabs, salmón crudo, and the grilled prawns. You must try the basmati rice, it was so fluffy and flavorful, I have never had it like this anywhere else. You can tell these food items are crafted with love and I highly highly recommend the place. I cannot wait to go back and try more menu items and their larger dinner plates. The cocktail menu is also great and has some unique personalized drinks. We tried the spritz and the margarita. read more

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Very unique flavors to each of the dishes. My son and I really enjoyed the family style presentation. The location is very near where I used to work and the garden below is beautiful. The staff is highly attentive and quite delightful, I was looking forward to the opening and so glad I had an opportunity to such amazing sensations. Well worth the small bit of travel from San Jose. A real gem! read more

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This restaurant is a hidden gem in Belmont, it is tucked away in a rather unassuming complex near a supermarket (but hey easy parking) so I was surprised to step inside and discover a lush and sunlit oasis. The plush furniture, gold finishes, plenty of natural lighting and elevated decor evoke the rich sunny Mediterranean from which the dishes take inspiration. We ordered the mezzes platter and the muhammara (roasted red pepper dip) really stood out - I just wish the dish came with more pita (we ordered more) but the dips were so good that I used a spoon to eat the rest anyway. The grilled broccoli was recommended by our server James and this dish did not disappoint, the duck prosciutto was flavorful and complemented the perfectly grilled broccoli nicely. The lamb kebabs were delectably spicy and satisfied my Korean tastebuds. The branzino was crispy on the outside and very fresh and flavorful as well. We finished off the meal with the baklava sundae which had these delightful crunchy honeycomb chunks in it. The food was a bit slow to come out but we didn't mind for a leisurely date night dinner. James was very attentive and we appreciated his recommendations and company. Overall we really enjoyed our first experience here and are keen to return! read more

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I haven't been genuinely impressed by a restaurant for quite some time & Amara did just that. The atmosphere, the food, the drinks, the service were all absolutely outstanding. The passion the owners have is so evident in all aspects. The ambiance is stunning & the food was extremely flavorful. My friend & I couldn't stop raving about it. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Good morning Oscar , Amara Menu was amazing, the food preparation was so different than what I tasted, very cleverly announced , the Avocado Tartare had a sparkling tangy taste and a little pinch of fire but I enjoyed it , your Mom Loved the lamb and the sweet savory taste of the Sauce was delicious. I had the Hanger Steak also Delicious! I have to admit I was envious of your Mom's Lamb , but next time ! We wished we had the doublling portions of the Chocolate Pate ! James , was an excellent server, very friendly and attentive ! We had Marvelous, Delectable experience!! Thanks again read more

June 2025. I dropped by Amara for brunch with my family (kids 6 & 4) after a hike at water dog lake. My first impression of Amara is that it seems new and modern and fresh for Belmont. The ambiance is great and the view from the window into their terrace is very nice. The terrace wasn't open, but I could imagine it being full on a nice warm day. Service was solid and friendly, but it wasn't very busy. There were attentive and engaged with my kids. Cute. The food is good. It's not what you would call standard Greek or Middle Eastern Mediterranean fare. They blend different regions and offer special flat breads and unique dishes. Definitely a cut above. When we visited, they had two special hummus on the menu: green and black. The hummus came with pita chips, but I wish they just had fresh puffy pita instead. Special nod to their zero proof cocktails which were very good. My wife and I were impressed. Pricing, as you can imagine, is steeper given the experience, service, food, drink menu etc. I haven't visited for dinner, but this would be a great date spot. The restaurant feels fancy and with this price point likely requires a visit to be a bit more special. I'm only saying this because I feel like for lunch or brunch, it felt like a missed opportunity to create lines out the door. Theres nothing like Amara in the Peninsula and a few menu tweaks and must-eat dishes at the right price point would drive many more families in. read more

Service was friendly and attentive. Casual atmosphere and the food was very good. The lamb ribs were tender. read more

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Amara will take you on a culinary journey that you won't forget! You need to try this place!

tldr; This place scammed us by adding extra bottles of wine onto our dinner without asking us. ---------- I live on the peninsula and frequently find myself in the Carlmont shopping center. So I was pretty excited to see a new restaurant here. Peeking through the window, the remodel looked great and the website looked like they had a tasty menu. However, I noted that prices are higher than is typical and that they seemed to be trying to position themselves as a high-class restaurant. I came here with a big party. After we sat, I immediately noticed 2 red flags. First, their "sommelier" immediately recommended the expensive bottles of wine. Typically, even a waiter will just recommend different options, usually spanning a price range. Secondly, I found it a bit odd given their wine menu wasn't so extensive that you needed a dedicated sommelier. In my experience, sommeliers will actually tell you about the region where the wine comes from. The second odd thing was that the waiter said he could "curate" a menu for us since we had a big party. So I asked him what that would look like and the first thing he says is that we should get the tomahawk steak. Of course, tomahawk steaks are typically very pricey. (In my personal opinion, they're also very gimmicky because they look cool and they're expensive but I'd prefer a better cut of meat for quality and taste.). And then he just rambled through a number of dishes saying "this is good, that is good." What kind of curation was this? No questions like: Are there any dietary restrictions? Do you like seafood? How do you feel about spice? His rambling was just typical of what any waiter would say. Looking back, I could tell they were trying to give a haute-cuisine experience to justify their haute-cuisine prices. But both of these people seemed inexperienced in actually providing that experience. The food was good and my credit goes to the back of the house. The dishes were interesting, tasty, well-cooked and well-prepared. The presentation was good. The night seemed to be going well and the sommelier kept coming by and refilling people's glasses. Looking back, I should've noticed that he didn't leave the bottle and kept pouring. But we were having a good time as one does with friends. We had ordered 2 bottles of wine for our group -- a red and a white. But when we got our bill, it had 5 bottles of wine!!! Each bottle was at least $100, so this was about $300 they added to our bill. Looking back, we realized that that's why he kept pouring. But in a large group, we couldn't keep track of who was drinking what. Also, in our group, a few people did not drink at all and or had very little. I'm actually quite skeptical we even drank 5 bottles unless the last 2 bottles still had a lot of wine in them (they never even showed us). I have never had this kind of experience. I have always been asked by waiters even the table wants to order more wine, even at Michelin-starred restaurants. I'm not sure if this shady behavior was the work of the staff or the owners, but given how they seemed to try to upsell us elsewhere I'm guessing that they've been told to do this. (It's well known in the industry that much of the profit for restaurants come from beverages and that people have been drinking less.) I'm terribly disappointed. It looks like they invested a lot in the decor and they hired good chefs and have a nice menu. And the peninsula could use more, nice restaurants. However, I don't think they can justify these prices when the experience is not up to par. I'd rather go to Evvia in Palo Alto or Kokkari in SF for high-quality Mediterranean. If I want actual high quality service, I'd rather go to The Village Pub in Woodside where the staff is very well trained and knowledgable. Also, this shady incident with the wine should never happen to a patron. I'm hoping that the owners read this and stop this from happening again. I will tell all my friends in the area about this experience. The owners still have time to rectify their restaurant. read more

We have heard a good bit about Amara in the carlmont shopping center neighborhood so eventually (tonight) decided to check out. Definitely a trifecta in terms of food, service, and ambiance! The restaurant takes over the same location as waterdog tavern, and before that Ola, and even before that the German restaurant pine brook! Now we are talking a 40+ year history of the location: which with the large dining room, big bar area, and awesome outdoor (downstairs) seating is quite expansive Amara has done a great job "refacing" the look and feel : pretty impressive to say the least The food was exquisite: the kitchen does a little (a lot?) extra to give the dishes a unique flavor and we got the small plates : 3 of them between the two of us, plus a couple appetizers! They had a very good wine selection (we got the French rose) and our host, Albert was spot on with the service and the recommendations My only ask would be if they could set up some beer on tap: presently they were all bottled beer! Though, they do have a "full" cocktail bar! All in all a great experience! Everyone in the wait staff went over and above their service to make our experience great! Not that expensive either Will definitely return!! read more

Amara - Menu - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Belmont, California

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Ajay Walia and his lovely wife Reena greeted us as if we were their family. We spoke for a long time about their love of Amara restaurant and their vision of brining LOVE, Amara to all. This is a place where people go if they want to feel like they are on vacation, a beautiful spot inside and out. Each area of the restaurant is like a different part of your house, a living room, dining room, parlor and the outside is gorgeous. A place to really feel like getting away. Water ponds with steaming sounds to soothe you, couches you'll want to lounge on, and beautiful large plants like being in the Amazon. The large square bar was inviting with detailed touches of beauty that I had to photograph. This gem of a restaurant has not been discovered yet cause it's only 5 months old. But forget about going to San Francisco for a yummy meal, come here! For sure. The cocktails had their distinct flavors with a creative touch made by Jonathan the bartender who smiled while appreciating to share this delight with us. . I don't know the name of the drink I started with but James our waiter highly recommended it. It was a take on the corpse Reviver but better- the ingredients were babied the night before. And even though it was a small glass they didn't skimp on the alcohol. I only needed one. The mezzos hummus plate was to die for. I would have been happy with. The pita bread was better than any pita bread I have ever tasted. James our waiter kept taking care of us and suggesting specific dishes to try. I felt like I was enjoying a superb tasting menu, But wait there is more, BBQ LAMB Short ribs with garlic tahini sauce that melted off of the bone, I wasn't crazy about the sauce but the lamb was tender and perfectly cooked. Loved the shrimp on a bed of noodle and zucchini cut like pasta. The WHOLE BRANZINO Grilled with roasted lemon chermoula was amazingly flavorful and perfectly cooked- loved it. And usually I wouldn't order that fish. We had an okra dish thinly sliced and a cous cous with vegetables which I think they call a Tangine. There was an aldante broccoli with a unique sauce. I usually like my broccoli cooked more but hubby was happy. I suggest every age should come here- I can see college age and young adults on the couches outside with heaters gathering with laughter sipping a great cocktail. I can see parents getting away for a date, older adults coming here to get away from the crowds. This restaurant has a mission of bringing community together at a time when we need to be together. I highly encourage you to try Amara. it's a secret place that should not stay a secret, read more

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What a lovely addition to Belmont. It's clear that the staff really care about giving their customers a lovely experience. We've had the chance to speak with owners Ajay and Reena, and they're passionate about not just the food and drink, but the atmosphere of their restaurant. I do miss having something a little more casual in the space, but selfishly, my kids are grown up enough that we can leave them at home while my husband and I enjoy a grown up brunch / cocktail / night out, so I really can't complain. The pita and hummus (any kind) are delicious, and be sure to add zhug to everything. read more

My sister and I had dinner at Amara on Sunday evening, Amara is a real gem tucked into Belmont. The first thing I noticed was how beautiful the restaurant is, when you walk in you're greeted by the 360 bar. Every wall is beautifully curated with attention paid to the small details. They also offer outdoor seating and there's a nice water feature as well. They have a large room in the back with chandeliers and a fireplace that can be booked for larger parties as well! The service is fantastic! From the moment we walked in we were promptly sat, checked on, and it felt like we were amongst friends. Reena also came and checked on us, when we mentioned how beautiful the restaurant is ( trust me, if you love aesthetic restaurants this is the one!) she told us about how she and her husband sourced the small details. You can tell she really is passionate about creating something special. Now for the food, to put it simply it was great. We took suggestions from our servers on what to order and honestly, when you visit let them surprise you it won't disappoint! My favorite dish was the salmon it was beautifully seasoned, moist and the okra side dish was so yummy! I normally go for mashed potatoes but the okra was a 10/10. The drinks are unique and complement the spices in the dishes, the cake we had with pistachios was *chefs kiss*. I took a peak at their brunch menu, and trust me I'll be back! If you're a fan of unique flavors, great service and aesthetics this is the place! read more

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Beautiful delicious food, served in a gorgeous space by friendly people who care about your happiness. What more could you ask for from a restaurant? Black hummus amped up by a layer of cumin, garlic and spice was excellent. Petrale sole filets fried with a phyllo crust was fun. A perfectly cooked half rack of lamb had a green sauce (herbs and spring peas?) was phenomenal. And the praline pistachio opera dessert? Perfection. The pistachio mousse was alive with flavor. Great experience and can't wait to return! read more

We were disappointed by our dining experience at Amara on the 22nd August at approx. 6pm. The restaurant was modestly attended at that time. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice (with updated interior seating/fixtures) with an overview of the creek from certain tables (ours included). We ordered the Branzino (too salty) and half chicken (no flavor profile and underdone- left the majority of the chicken uneaten) as mains- along with the eggplant (excellent) and lamb ribblets (overcooked). There was a very limited wine selection and the single-glass red that I did select was, simply, terrible ( I was given a Willamette Cab. as a sub- meh). The service to the table was disorganized and initially provided by the bartender. It then became unclear as to who had responsibility for table attendance. "Upsell" suggestions trumped service. We concluded with the bill- which upon inspection (after we had left the restaurant) was for another table. The bottom line is that Amara is charging a premium for their dining experience- but the experience falls short. Prices are on par with Evvia (and others) whom I would sooner recommend. Frankly, I don't understand how they have acquired such favorable reviews. read more

What a wonderful and unexpected night we had at Amara. Ajay and Reena created a new environment in a legendary spot in Belmont. Not only is it everything you would expect based on the 23+ year of running successful restaurants on the Peninsula but this place is extra special. The ambiance is incredible, the food and drinks spectacular and the service from every staff member was impeccable. We decided to come on a Friday night to finally try this delightful spot. We enjoyed several appetizers, a salad, and the salmon entree. All were divine. The cocktails were tasty and the dessert was exceptional. The pastry chef blew us away by the flavors and presentation. We will be back and can't wait to try the weekend brunch. Thanks for a very memorable evening. read more

The service here is extremely rude which takes joy out of dining out. The owner treated us really badly and seemed like they didn't care if they loose customers. read more

Fantastic, flavorful brunch/lunch. Beautiful interior decor. Looking forward to dining in outdoors when weather warms up. Our server, Antonio, was friendly, attentive, and had great recommendations. read more

Came here for my birthday dinner and sat outside in the garden. The atmosphere outside was lovely even though it was a little chilly. We shared the mezzes platter to start which was delicious. The sweetbread and gulf shrimp was also great! It was so nice to meet the owners and service was attentive. They even brought out some deserts for us to sample at the end. The basil ice cream was so good and I hope they add it to their menu. All in all an amazing experience. read more

Amara - Garden - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Belmont, California

Would give negative stars if I could. I've gotten lazy to review on Yelp in the past years, but this was such a terrible experience I felt obliged to write about. 6:30PM reservation Ordered: 6:36 PM Ordered the hummus which came out in ~20min, well after drinks. Our full order were 2 small plates (appetizer) and one large plate as the "main". After finishing the appetizer, we stared at an empty table until 7:30PM. Multiple waiters came to check on us with confusing AF service: * Waiter 1 asked if we'd like to order since he noticed us sitting there for a long time without food -- hello, I put in my full order long ago and been waiting on food that has not shown up * Waiter 2 checks on us and says "10 more min"... 20 minutes pass... 30 minutes pass... our original waiter comes by and says food will be out shortly, it's being plated. 10minutes pass.. the small plates we ordered of shrimp and caulliflower finally come out. At this point, because it came out, we told them to kill the entree and apps and we're ready to leave -- in fact, a 2-top that came in after us lost patience well before us and were on their way out by the time these apps came. That is how slow service was. And *drumroll* ... we were served: -- undercooked shrimp -- caulliflower that has no taste and is cold (it's oven roasted... and likely has been sitting out for who knows how long while it's being "plated"). It's literally a sauce smear placing caulliflower on top, not sure how it takes so long to plate that it's cold We signed and left at 8PM, having lost patience to wait for worse than mediocre food. What made things worse was that there's no apologies from the manager, nor comp of anything for the ridiculously long wait that everyone had to endure. I saw some other reviews mentioning service, but this is beyond acceptable IMO to the point people are opting to leave the restaurant in search of other places to eat. read more

It seems like they're trying, and it feels brand new - so hopefully it will improve as they get more into the swing of things. However, I will not be returning. The staff was pushy and overbearing throughout the meal, with countless different people coming to our table to deliver food, clear plates, ask us how things were going, etc. - rarely introducing themselves. It was suffocating, like we were being watched the whole time. The explanations of the dishes were lengthy and it felt like they were trying to sell us on how good the food was. It seemed very inauthentic and forced. Likewise, whenever something was delivered to the table, it was once again explained. At the beginning of the meal, two different servers came over to introduce themselves as our server, and when the second one did so, the first one was a few feet away and was visibly shocked, which doesn't reflect very well. From the bathroom, I could hear the staff talking about the customers and the night of service, which was also very unprofessional. At one point someone else's dish was delivered to our table. The drinks are whimsical and very expensive. The food was good, but not great overall. Hummus was excellent. BBQ lamb was tender but problematically greasy. Carrots were nothing special, mushrooms were a mixed bag. Saffron chicken was a small portion (well, everything was a small portion in the small plates). Dessert was probably the best part. Some great dessert options. They run the credit card at the table and then watch you tap the button for tip amount. This is not an inexpensive restaurant and I would have expected more time and privacy to complete that. After selecting one of the prepopulated tip options, the server made a comment (about the tip selection) which made the whole table very uncomfortable. Would not recommend. read more

Enjoyed our Thursday day night in this beautiful restaurant. The restaurant inside was very sleek and modern with plenty of seating. We sat inside as it is February but outdoor looked beautiful with an amazing water feature. The cocktails were unique and tasty. We ordered the green hummus which was a perfect balance of creamy and flavorful. We shared the vegetables and couscous which were great even for those who may not be eggplant fans. The beef kofta was amazing. Also really enjoyed the homemade pita. We also shared the braised octopus which was incredible. We were celebrating a birthday and they generously gave us a free scoop of delicious ice cream. Our server was so attentive and kind and gave great recommendations on the menu. Will definitely be back! read more

The ambiance, the food, the bar, and the service are all wonderful. Came here after work to grab a bite before they closed. The staff at Amara are genuinely warm and knowledgeable, eager to guide you through the menu and suggest wine pairings that elevate your dining experience. Their attentiveness ensures that you feel valued without being intrusive. The atmosphere is beautiful. The walls are adorned with vibrant murals setting the stage for an enchanting evening. The leather seats are super comfortable. Really. You don't want to get up. Everything about the space is perfect. Food is full of flavor. Get mushroom kibbeh and the lamb. Yum! This place is a gem. read more

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This was my first time here at Amara. I did not make a reservation but c'mon for a party of 1 when the restaurant opens it's not like I can't be accommodated really?? The vibe of this place is great! I did a small plate tasting meal thank you Ben for the assist with that The food was divine: lamb ribs, olive oil mashed potatoes, carrots & broccolini Washed downed with Clase Azul Tequila palate cleanser & Pinot Noir Sangria concoction delish btw Dessert was Tawny port & praline pistachio opera The owners wife Reena came by to say hello which conveyed a sense of connection with customers which I appreciated I told her to put me on her VIP mailing list for special events at her restaurant Will I come back you betcha I totally support small businesses owners walking distance from my home It was worth it read more

Wow. I love having new flavors in the Bay Area. We got the top sirloin (perfect temperature and crust), Branzino (soft, deep flavor), octopus (wow, supple!), baba ganoush (so smooth), and pickles (sweet and tart!). Everything had distinctive flavors with little surprises like the construction tapenade on the top sirloin. Times visited: 1 read more

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We were a party of 9. The kitchen was apparently not functioning well. We received our entrees in shifts, with several of us waiting and watching as others ate. 25 minutes later our first "shift" was completely finished eating, including the plates being cleared, when the 2nd half of our group received their entrees. The quality of the entrees was not consistent either, with two of the same looking very different. Prices are high considering quantities are small. It was a very awkward 3+ hour long dinner. No explanation, no apology, no compensation. It wasn't a situation of them being too busy, the place was empty. One star for ease of parking. read more

The restaurant has a lovely ambiance, with beautiful views of the nursery, and the staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting--or the price. A non-alcoholic drink was $15, a vodka martini $19, and dessert $17. The small plates were very small and lacked flavor. I ordered the saffron chicken, which came as three cold, dry pieces. It was edible, but nothing special--my husband even said he would have sent it back. While the presentation was nice, the food itself was underwhelming. For these prices, I expected something far more memorable. I wouldn't come back or recommend it. read more

A mix of traditional and very Service was very attentive and the decor felt very upscale yet comfortable. We had a large groups so we each could try a bite of items off the menu. Everything was pretty delicious - this is a place to savor small bites. Portions are not huge but very enjoyable. My favorites were the black hummus and pita, braised octopus, peas and fava beans, grilled broccoli, and the citrus solstice dessert. read more

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Pros: Beautiful restaurant, spacious, with modern decor Easy to make reservations Very attentive and friendly staff Cons: Food was ok. I don't tend to gravitate to Mediterranean, and while nothing was bad, nothing really stood out as great either. I typically enjoy lamb but somehow it was a bit gamey for my taste. Vegetables also tend to be a bit too tender and not as crisp as I typically like. Prices are pretty high for portion and cuisine quality. Ultimately, I'm glad to see this space taken over by thoughtful owners who put it to good use. However, it wouldn't be my first choice to come back given the notes above. Still a good spot if you are looking for a lovely place to grab a drink and some small bites. read more

Amara is a beautiful oasis in the middle of Belmont. We went for a birthday celebration and enjoyed all the dishes. To start with the warm olives and pickled vegetables are very flavorful. The branzino was done well. I really liked the Muhammara and both black and regular hummus. The service is impeccable and the place has a great vibe . We will be returning for more celebrations . read more

The restaurant is beautiful decorated. The food was delicious and our server was very attentive. We met their Sommelier, a very knowledgeable person, who helped us paired the correct wine with our meal. Giving us choices in the different prices. Make sure to try their sinful desserts. They are beautiful display and very delicious. We had a beautiful experience and look forward to our next dinning. read more

Really wanted to like this place as we need some more local, innovative restaurants but sadly this is not it. I don't think this place will last long. Don't recommend. - Food: portions small, plates lacking, roasted chicken was pink and bloody even after asking them to heat it again (they claimed it was sous vide and normal but it was bloody on the inside even after the second time). Couldn't eat it and they didn't even ask us anything about it or offer to take it off the check. Spread came with ONE pita. For four people. Every extra pita is $5. Honestly. There's a difference between fine dining and just nickle and diming. I would expect for a place like this they'd offer some pickled vegetables or garnishes w plates given it's Mediterranean but hardly anything. It was missing something. I should have known when they described their menu as Mediterranean theme but not regionally specific. This is def not Mazra, evvia, kokkari etc. octopus plate was the best but two or three small pieces only per shared plate. Steak was good but forgettable (and not for 2 people as they said - it was like 8oz). Cocktails: read better than they taste. For $20+ a cocktail I'd hope they were more complex. All cocktails also seemed to be served in the same small glass - strange and again felt like they were trying to maximize the profit rather than focus on a good drink. I was hoping even if the food wasn't great I could keep this in mind for cocktails but now, I don't think I'd even do that. Service: initially warm but server was very slow. We had two kids w us and they asked several times if we were here for a special occasion (no). And seemed surprised we didn't have a reservation even though the place was half empty when we went for dinner. I would not bring kids here. No kids menu and service too slow. Especially given the chicken had to come out twice and was still inedible. I don't know if I'd even come here for a business lunch since the service was just too slow and unpredictable. Sommelier came and greeted us for awhile, server was too busy, drinks came out slowly. Manager or owner spent a lot of time schmoozing at one table while we waited and waited for food. Value: definitely not there. Bill came to almost $300 for 2 adults and 2 kids and all shared plates. Had some drinks, several large and small plates and still left hungry after over 2 hours of slow service. Decor: nice but honestly they didn't change much from water dog tavern. The setup is pretty much the same w new lighting, upholstery and wallpaper. read more

Amara - My bloody twice cooked half roasted chicken from Amara. Left hungry with a bill of $290. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Belmont, California

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Wow. Too expensive. Not worth the cost. Other than that it is a beautiful restaurant.

Attended a private event at Amara and the food and service was wonderful. Great atmosphere and the selection of dishes was amazing. Everything was delicious. Highly recommend. read more

I hope the food here will rise, elevate, stabilize, especially as it gets off the ground more. They're relatively new and maybe the kitchen needs more time to get the food to sparkle. The stuff we ordered, some tapas anchovy boquerones and greek bread salad, roasted potatoes, artichoke on grilled bread ... all of it, was everything I easily could've done at home (and I'm no great cook). Feedback for the chef: little details matter a lot, e.g. the avocado on the toast was very browned and not only is it unappetizing to look at and immediately is a 'no,' but it's also sub-optimal for taste. It's not a lot of trouble to simply serve an avocado at peak ripeness, especially when in CA, it's as good as it ever gets for avocados--it's not as if we're on the East Coast and can't easily grow it. When I go out, I want something I could've not done myself. On the plus side, the vibe and customer service here is awesome, super sweet and warm and welcoming. Our server cracking jokes with energy in spades. The ambience is beautiful, polished, sparkling lighting, greenery from the expansive windows, the long bar glamorous and there's also a back room for either a private party or more general seating. They have a garden that's unlike any I've seen, incredibly serene with little foot paths and babbling brook, little tables set up for dining, with vines and trellis tumbling down, flowers galore. In the restaurant that was here before, we sat outside and it was magical. read more

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Delicious food and lovely atmosphere. The branzino was perfect as was the grilled cabbage. We tried a lot of small plates and mezze and overall, really enjoyed everything. The chef has a talent for sauces. We had a wonderful table where we could hear each other speak. Our waiter, James, provided perfect "curation" of the meal. We also enjoyed meeting the chef/owner as we were leaving. The only down sides--it was a bit expensive and the sommelier was hyper-present, interrupting conversation as if he were a member of the party :-/ read more

Our friends recommended we dine at Amara, and I'm glad we finally did! Wife and I enjoyed cocktails that were on point with some lovely apps. For mains we had the Moroccan-spiced chicken (amazing flavors and the pickled veggies elevate the dish even more) & the braised kale ravioli which was fantastic. Service was great as well. We are thrilled to have such a nice place in our neighborhood in Belmont. read more

Ive had some fantastic meals at Saffron and Rasa so I had high hopes for Amara. We dined here during their soft opening. Food and Drinks: - Charcuterie & Cheese: nice mix of interesting meats and cheeses. This was a nice starter. - Muhammara: good flavors, served with pita. The first piece we were served was whole wheat and was just ok. We ordered another piece to eat with the charcuterie platter which turned out to be white pita. This was much more fluffy and moist. Amara should give customers the option for which they'd like. - Braised Octopus: this was fantastic. Perfectly cooked, very tender, and the papas bravas were great. This was the star of the meal. - Whole Branzino: well cooked, very moist with crispy skin. - Saffron Marinated Roasted Half Chicken: I was excited for this dish but it was a bit frustrating to eat/share. It is served as two large pieces and is left to be separated at the joints by the customer. This is messy to do at the table and really needs a chefs knife to be done properly, not the small steak knife we were provided. I would like to see this done in the kitchen or be served completely deboned. It was well cooked with interesting flavors. - Meshmesh Cocktail: from the description this sounded like a complex, bitter non-alcoholic cocktail. It was closer to apricot juice - very sweet and slightly syrupy. Also...$17!! Their cocktail menu is very unique so I'm hopefully some of their other options are better. Service: - We ordered our drinks and food at the same time, however our food began arriving before our drinks. - The shared plate execution could use some work. The individual plates provided are very small leading to many of the dishes mixing together. Some of the dishes (Chicken) are difficult and messy to split up at the table if they're being shared. - After the previously mentioned mess was created our table was never wiped down. - Auto-suggested tips are calculated off the after tax total, which includes a 3% living wage adjustment. I'm hoping the issues I've mentioned are just soft opening hiccups and can be addressed by the Amara team. The decor is beautifully done and their upcoming outdoor dining will be very nice. I look forward to giving Amara another try in the future. read more

The food here is very good. My wife and I have been here twice and enjoyed the food each time. It's the service that I'm not crazy about. You're greeted by a guy in a suit who puts on an ostentatious show of trying to make you seem like the most special people who ever walked into the place. He says he's the sommelier. The wine list is okay - but who needs a sommelier? There are a lot of servers running around and each one puts on an act. I think it's very ostentatious for a restaurant in a strip mall in Belmont. Last night wasn't very busy but we had a hard time getting service. Three times I had to stand up and go find our waiter to ask for something. One of the times I asked for extra bread and I think they had to make it from scratch it took so long. I had to get up and ask where was the bread. The interior of the restaurant has been updated and looks very nice and the food is very good. This location has had a hard time sustaining restaurants. I hope this one succeeds. My suggestion is that the owners tone down the phony attempts to be classy and focus on attentive and prompt service. read more

As much as I love the food , I am beyond disappointed that their garden outdoor area does NOT ALLOWED dogs After a long morning of hiking we were rejected to go sit in their outdoor space with our baby puppy. Just saying that in a city of many many dog owners this outdoor space that once used to be a neighborhood fav is now anti-animals . Not cool and I won't be endorsing it though I am a huge fan of their food . Disappointing beyond words . read more