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

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

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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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

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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Excellent food, great for group gatherings, superb customer service!!! I recommend it!!!! It a nice environment!

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

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 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

Had an excellent meal here a few nights ago. The food was absolutely amazing and should be considered a standout for Belmont and the surrounding peninsula. I appreciate their attention to detail on the menu, highlighting allergens. As someone who cannot eat dairy, it's nice to see items clearly marked as containing dairy or dairy-free optional. My favorite dishes were the cauliflower, hummus, and half roasted chicken. The service was lovely too - I was checked in on a few times, but not to the point where it felt pushy. My waiter also went the extra mile to confirm with the kitchen about my allergens so that I could eat with peace of mind. Highly recommend checking this spot out! read more

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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

Hostess was friendly. Service was attentive. GM Jason walked around to introduce himself. All made you feel welcomed. Everything we ordered was delicious. Portions were small especially the side dishes. Prices were expensive for the area but the interior of the restaurant is very nicely done. Knocked down one star for the prices. read more

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I visited for lunch with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful interior, lovely view of the small river, and the food was well balanced and delicious. Highly recommend. read more

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

Came with a couple of friends, and while a beautiful setting and attentive service, we left a bit disappointed. Plates are expensive for what you get, value is really not there. Sides are incredibly small! We shared the branzino, lamb and chicken. Had similar comments to a previous review where part of the chicken was still very pink. They claimed it was the marinade and the method of cooking but it only was part of the chicken. They offered to cook it more but my friend declined. It was very flavorful. Branzino was a small serving, it was well cooked but wouldn't order again. Lamb chops were nicely cooked, not gamey and a nice bright sauce to accompany. Desserts were good! Labneh cheesecake and baklava sundae were delicious. For me probably best part of the meal. I'm glad to have experienced it, but we all agreed we weren't sure if we would come back. read more

Great ambience friendly staff beautiful remodeled restaurant. We sat at the bar for a drink and just ordered small plates. Food was good we had the BBQ Lamb and White Hummus. read more

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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

So so good. We had: branzino, bbq lamb, sweet corn stuffed bread, sautéed okra, and caramelized eggplant. The restaurant decor is unmatched in Belmont/San Carlos/San Mateo. Ambient sound is perfect (matters a lot to me). Tables a "little too close together" for my liking...so ask for a corner table, if you reserve. Already telling friends to go. read more

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

Amazing food, great service and lovely ambience! We had the steak, the beef kebabs, and the salmon. Everything was excellent.

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

We really enjoyed our dinner here. Excellent drinks and delicious apps and dinner. 10/10.

Let's start by saying that the restaurant is beautiful inside and out. We celebrated my husband's birthday there, and we had a great time with tasty food as well as service. JAMES was exceptional! His service was beyond our expectations. He was attentive, suggested excellent menu options and engaging with us. James your service will make us come back, and hopefully we are lucky again to have you as our waiter. Thank you for making our first experience at Amara so lovely. read more

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

The taste of the food really average but the portion is small. They have three stars because the surrounding is very nice specially at night time. read more

Really.......mediocre. The remodel of a frequently revolving storefront was nice. However, Amara aspires to be a destination restaurant but doesn't deliver. The food is forgettable, and there are far superior Mediterranean restaurants on the Peninsula that serve delicious food. Where Amara really fails is the oddly disjointed service and poorly trained staff. Food took forever to reach the table, with long waits between courses (the restaurant was about a third full on a Saturday night), dirty dishes weren't changed out, wait staff didn't inform us of the cause for the long delays. Our server just seemed to disappear mid-meal. The servers are pleasant, but poorly trained. I wish the restaurant the best, and I had high hopes, but we won't be returning. read more

Amara has a great upscale atmosphere with beautiful aesthetics meticulously designed throughout the property. The food and service was exceptional as well. A much needed addition to Belmont and San Mateo county as a whole. This will be a new go-to for when friends and family visit the Bay Area! Highly recommend!! read more

Was promised a seat at or near a window by a hostess. Window was important to us, this evening. Waited 10-15m until another hostess started leading us elsewhere. When we again requested the window and said we were told to wait again so we left and never ate. Especially for a Friday night at ~730 the energy was barely above dead and about half of the tables were empty. Not surprisingly, no families or kids were anywhere around, maybe due to the menu choices, reviews of portion size and price. Don't plan to try again. read more

SUPER nice staff Great food Lovely environment My only observation is it is not very friendly for solo dining in the complete absence of any internet in the venue ... and yes, of course I would've brought a magazine, had I known. (probably also problematic for social events where people want to share information in real time.) The staff was nice about it when I closed out my tab to convert my solo experience to to-go order. I must admit to being disappointed because I was looking forward to my fine dining alone time without kids . But still .. it's 2015 (oh wait...) read more

A great place with great service and wonderful food. The ambiance is very cozy and inviting. The outside seating is wonderful.

Beautiful restaurant, great food, and 5-star service. Don't let the mini-mall location fool you. This is the type of restaurant that the Peninsula needs. The owners also own Rasa in Burlingame. I recommend this restaurant--best to go with more than 2 people to sample more of the food. read more

I had been hesitant to try Amara, as some of the reviews made it sound overpriced. Fortunately, it seems that they have made some adjustments to the menu. It still feels like a special occasion kind of place, but there are now more choices on the menu- lots of small plates (fun to share) at fair prices. Favorites included the eggplant dishes and the salmon crudo. We tried two of the larger entrees on separate visits- the grilled fish and the half chicken. Both were very moist and delicious! And the pita is so fluffy! The servers were very capable and friendly, as was the owner who stopped by the table to see how we were doing. The dining room is beautiful with a great view of the outside garden areas. The vibe is celebratory. This is a great addition to Belmont. read more

Unimpressed in comparison to previous owners. Water dog Tavern wasn't great, but at least it was semi affordable and comfortable, especially for happy hour. This place is a similar vibe as to the previous restaurants, however out at a significant price up with out a significant increase in quality. $100+ for four cocktails off their menu that were not special other than their name. Multiple folks I know who live in the area have also dinned in with similar experiences (and haven't posted) sharing that there isn't a desire to step down from their medium quality food to event allows for take out, not that there would be anything left with the small portions serviced. You're in a strip mall trying to charge Michelin star prices. Step down multiple rungs and adjust literally anything. read more

This place was quite cool. The location is awesome and the service was great. Food was very good; one of the better Mediterranean restaurants around here and there are a lot of good ones. Drinks were also cool and their special with a bartender from San Francisco was a pleasant surprise read more

Delicious food , excellent, attentive service, inviting ambiance. Two stars off since the owner was very picky about the lighting on our table and kept coming and dimming it when we had elderly people on the table who needed a bright light to read the menu. Great to be obsessive compulsive for your restaurant but not for the particular table where customers are paying for it. read more

My experience at Amara was so lovely. The staff was so welcoming and attentive throughout my meal. My girlfriend and I got the Muhummara, which was such a rich balance of flavors- love the pomegranates! The pita and hummus was also divine. For our entrees, we got the BBQ lamb small plate which was fantastic, roasted cauliflower, and the half chicken large plate. My girlfriend has a dairy allergy so we were happy that the staff was so accommodating to adjust the dishes as needed. Cannot recommend this restaurant enough, we will be back as soon as we can!!! read more

What a great experience and amazing food. SUMMARY You don't eat and run from here. EXPERIENCE I asked for an outlet to plug into while awaiting my friends and the hostess found one for me. When I left my jacket behind, the hostess put it in safe storage for me and presented me with the ticket at the table. I'm not a fan of knowing the waitstaff names, but they were great: asked how everything was just once, didn't hover. FOOD The sparkling rose was outstanding, left a clean palate. Oysters, warm olives, quail small plate, and pomegranate syrup on a white-shelled cheesecake roll were totally scrumptious. read more

Unique flavors, and the best cheesecake of my lifetime! Appreciate that the staff didn't hover.

Soft opening, but everything we had was super yummy. Octopus was tender and steak cooked perfectly. The kibbeh was delicate and I appreciated the whole pine nuts inside. Branzino was nice and flaky with crispy skin. Potatoes were crunchy and seasoned well. The staff amazing and attentive. read more

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Visited this spot last weekend on a whim. We were really looking for a good cocktail and light snack but we will be back again to enjoy dinner! We ordered the oysters and lamb kebob appetizers. Both were quite tasty, the kebob had some kick! Cocktails were a generous pour with great presentation. Our server was quite friendly, knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. Can't wait to wait to come back! read more