I read an article about Amba in the Cleveland Magazine and instantly fell in love with the dark dramatic concept with modern decor that melded with a diverse range of Indian cuisine spanning a variety of regions and subcultures. They don't take reservations, so your wait may be long, especially if you come with a large group. Fortunately, there are bars/beer gardens, art galleries, and shops all within walking distance, so you can pass the time. There is a large counter with bar seating in the front that is first come first serve and offers full service dining. Also the Bar Amba in the back has a bar and lounge seating for small bites and cocktails. My two friends and I ended up sitting at the bar counter in the front and we had an absolutely wonderful experience. The bartenders were attentive and friendly and were knowledgeable about all the drinks and their flavor profiles. To drink, I tried the bourbon and passion fruit-based a1 cocktail and then mango lassie-inspired chai bourbon a5 cocktail. Both were so unique, strong, multifaceted and flavorful. We feasted on a variety of flavorful, expertly executed dishes - all sharing/tapas style - including the crispy puris (make sure to eat it in one bite to get the full flavor punch), chickpea fritters, lentil donuts, popcorn chicken, ghee basted shrimp, roasted eggplant, spicy cauliflower, biryani, and clay bread. For dessert, we had the kulfi and the vegan cashew cheesecake. I wasn't kidding when I said we FEASTED! Every dish was unlike anything I had tasted before, and my favorites were the lentil donuts, crispy puris, and the eggplant. My favorite dessert was the kulfi, which was creamy and a little savory with pistachios and turmeric on top -- genius! I told everyone that would listen about my experience and I cannot wait to come back again. Amba was one of the best and most unique dining experiences I've had in CLE to date! read more

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I've been looking forward to trying Amba since they opened and I'm thrilled that I finally went because all the hype was appropriate! Amba is very beautiful inside with minimalistic decor, romantic lighting, and awesome music playing (lo-fi, hip hop, jazz). They have multiple seating areas including two bars, main dining room, and the lounge where we chose to sit. Parking in this area (Hingetown near Ohio City) kinda sucks but it's worth it. Of course we started with drinks and I don't remember the name of my cocktail but it was on point. Their drink list is complex and long ranging from beer, wine, whiskey, and cocktails. As suggested by the server, my partner and I each ordered two shareable plates. We decided on the crispy puris, popcorn chicken, lamb koftas, and smashed pea samosas. The Puris and lamb were my personal favorites. Puris are such a fun eating adventure with different textures and heat levels in every bite. The koftas were soft and flavored perfectly. I enjoyed every bite I had here. I'm looking forward to coming back to try the paneer, string beans, and the kulfi. 10/10 read more

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If you are looking for an authentic Indian restaurant, this is not it. There is not a single dish, not a single drink, mot a single ingredient is Indian here. Me and my son were visiting Cleveland during his fall break and we wanted a taste of Indian food before we left. So then we found Amba. It looked good and the reviews were good at a glance, so we booked a reservation. When we arrived, I could barely see due to the dimly lighted dining and couldn't hear the waitress through the loud music playing. We could see that the place looked great and was able to plow past the dim lighting and browse through the menu. We ordered what sounded Indian on the menu. But when we got our food, the ghee basted shrimp was shrimp in butter and coconut excessively shaved on top, and tasted nothing like Indian shrimp. The Samosas were peas crushed and stuffed in a puffed pastry and burnt on the edges. It tasted nothing less of grass, and definitely not traditional samosas. The popcorn chicken was basically McDonald chicken nuggets. They were under seasoned and maybe McDonald's could do better. The Clay bread was bland and it tasted like frozen naans from Costco, and the definitely don't have a clay oven in the kitchen, because I know when I taste authentic naans. The lamb kofta, even though it was good, the name is deceiving, because a kofta is suppose to be a curry, but all I got were pieces of lamb that were on a little bit of quinoa that tasted horrible. The pilau was rice and four t fried onions that tasted bland and uninspired. Overall, no Indian will go here another time due to the misleading name and their so called "Indian inspired food". I will never go here again and this restaurant ruined my last night in Cleveland. read more

5/5 ambiance 5/5 food This place is worth the hype. Absolutely stunning interior with a dark classy yet inviting energy. This is an Indian inspired modern restaurant! A lot of their seasoning and spices remind you of Indian food. I think the restaurant does a fantastic job fusing and elevating their food and I love their modern take on food. Pro tip... put your name in once you get there to get on the list (they don't do reservations) and sit at their bar for a drink. Somehow doing this, it seems as if the wait for a table is a lot shorter than the time they initially tell you. We ordered their chef's tasting "amba favorites" for two and added lamb kafta and everything was absolutely amazing and we had plenty of leftovers. Bread was excellent and fresh and warm. The beet ralta was creamy and tasted like a yogurt flavor I wish they boxed and I could eat by itself. Fried zucchini was so crispy with a fantastic Indian spice (I feel that places don't use big enough zucchini pieces and it comes out soggy and limpy). Cauliflower seasoning was bomb and unique. The chicken was good but may have been my least favorite only because it is similar to more classic dishes and I love the other dishes and their unique flavors. Lamb was extremely tender. I can't wait to come back and try everything else this restaurant has to offer. read more

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I wanted to absolutely LOVE this experience. And while I enjoyed it overall, there were several areas needing improvement. I have seen Amba all over tiktok and Instagram so I had to go. When I arrived it was difficult to find parking, and the main entrance is on a side street so we had to walk quite a bit to get there from the main street. When we walked in I was very impressed with the warm and moody atmosphere. We decided to sit at the bar which had ample available seating. All other tables were full and seemed to radiate a more intimate setting. We were just looking for something more casual to grab some food and drinks so the bar worked well for us. Unfortunately the service at the bar left a lot to be desired. We were not greeted, despite the bartender seeing us for at least 5 minutes. At this point he just dropped off some waters and walked away for another 5-7 minutes when we already knew what we wanted to eat and drink. It took about 5 minutes to get drinks despite the bar not seeming to be very busy. To my satisfaction, both drinks I got (A1 and A5) were very good. My only complaint is that both drinks were not full, and I felt a little stinged. When ordering food, I was disappointed to hear everything is a La carte. We had to order the naan (clay bread) separate from the dip, separate from the chicken tikka, separate from the rice. It just seemed like any sort of dip should automatically come with bread, and an entree like chicken tikka should come with rice. This left me feeling further ripped off. Everything we had was really good which left me further at a crossroads whether or not I would return. The food and drinks were good, but the service and lack of appropriate portions and accompaniments hindered our visit greatly. read more

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Our new favorite restaurant in Cleveland! Delicious modern Indian food with an incredible cocktail menu. The chicken tikka was amazing, the rice and naan amazing, cocktails were all perfect. Must visit in Ohio City! read more

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A disclaimer: Mostly just not our kinda place. We had dinner last night at Zhug and had a fabulous dining experience. In contrast, Amba is dark and noisy (loud conversation and booming house music). The menu doesn't offer a lot of variety, most of the dishes are spicy to very spicy. The beer menu is unextraordinary. While Zhug features a number of local brews, there wasn't a Cleveland IPA to be found here. Our server seemed disinterested, much of the time leaning against the wall while talking with us (definitely not as helpful as Janelle (sp?) last night at Zhug!), and service was slow. We ordered two cocktails and one was delivered without the second. When we brought that to our server's attention, she appeared to have forgotten it, perhaps because it had to come from a different bar in the restaurant. I trust the food was well prepared, and I'm not getting into the "authenticity" debate, but the palate of unremitting high spice level was not appreciated by two-thirds of our party. I like hot food myself, but the heat was in everything, even the green beans. All that said, I can understand why other folks might really like Amba for its hip atmosphere. Mini-rant: I've really grown to hate tableside checkout with the card readers. First, one never actually sees an itemized bill. Second, there is no time to consider the bill before payment, the interaction with the server is completely transactional. The pace of the dining experience is rushed as the server waits while one holds this machine. Finally, there is no way for the diners to privately discuss the meal, the bill or the tip without the server hovering, since you have their card reader. I'd do away with them totally. (At Zhug we were presented with a paper bill.) Mini-rant Two: Why can't more restaurants have whiskey lists like they have wine, beer and cocktail lists? Usually I try to divine the whiskey selection from the cocktail list, but that's not always accurate or complete. Too often when I ask a server what they have they'll respond, "oh, we have everything," which is not possible, and always way short of true. Just have a list you can hand the customer! read more

Amba - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Beautiful atmosphere and delicious small plates perfect for sharing! Their pineapple salad was delicious as well as their pilaf rice and lentil donuts! Perfect to go with a group so that you can try all the variety of plates and possibilities that they offer. Also tried the hibiscus cheesecake but it was a bit too intense flavor wise, didn't like it too much but that was just a personal preference. All the rest was delicious and the service was definitely on point! read more

Walking in left like I was walking into a very poorly lit room. But it's a vibe. The food was surprisingly good, it's not typical Indian food so I was skeptical if the flavors were going to hold but they did. Also they have an extensive range of vegan and vegetarian options which is awesome and appreciated. The way things were named on the menu gave us some laughs. It's slightly overpriced in my opinion. No one should be paying $3 for some chili oil or $6 for 2 pieces of undercooked "clay bread" or if we call it what it is -- naan. The service was good. Our server was very nice and understanding. read more

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When you roll into a city you haven't been to in over 20 years, the look, feel and tastes are not what you remember them being! This was the fact here in Cleveland, Ohio with my many many visits here. When I started coming here (for business) back in the 1970's, it was considered home of "The Rust Belt" an unflattering nom de plume which meant a disintegrating area. I am now willing to give it a new signature which would be - Invigorated city. Yes, Cleveland has changed and may I add, way to the better. Housing the incredible Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum and having a sports team in every venue with a fanatical following doesn't hurt. And the food scene here has jumped up in leaps and bounds. Tonight, our wonderful dinner at Amba got my head reeling. This Indian restaurant broke the mold for what I expected was going to be a traditional Indian dinner and wasn't. Au contraire, our dinner was far from traditional and I mean that in a very good way. First off their bar was turning out some bombastic cocktails that in itself a great start. Then our dinner rolled out and we were delighted: *The Popcorn Chicken was better than Hattie B's fried chicken in Nashville, which is considered the best in the USA - the dipping sauce Amba created for this dish was ridiculously good *The Lamb Kofta were these magnificent meatballs that we completely loved *Beet Root Raita was so good, I used my index finger to lap-up every drop of this concoction *Spicy Cauliflower Indian Style was one of the best vegan dishes I've ever consumed *Kulfi we're these truly terrific ice cream bars that had saffron, pistachio, mango, and candied turmeric in and on them. If these were sold in stores I would have one every night after dinner - as they were very satisfying *My "Tall Carlsberg Pilsner" was the perfect beverage for this really amazing dinner. Not only was every dish unique, but also lovely to look at, let alone eat them. The service was stellar and the ambiance is "Young Folk" dark, meaning 10 watt light bulbs were being used not your traditional 60 watt bulbs. I think you can tell by this raving Five Star review, my wife and I really liked Amba! read more

Amba - Lovely Entrance - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Consistently an exceptional experience. Food never fails to surprise and delight, and service has been excellent. Always happy to have visited. read more

Visiting Cleveland for the first time and we drove straight to Amba. We found it on Google reviews and confirmed it on Yelp. Spot on my fellow reviewers. What an epicurean experience!! The cocktails, wine list and menu took time to review. Thank goodness for Sarah, our bartender, who guided us. We ordered 6 items off the menu but you only need 4 to share. We could not decide so we ordered 3 for each. The vibe is luxurious intimacy. Not only in the ambiance but also the service and food. If you're in Cleveland, eat here. You're welcome. read more

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You must go, just to be in the space. Hopefully the night you go it's not overpacked, and you can sit at one of the moodier tables. Spot-on drinks. Delicious, beautiful food. Pleasant service. read more

Amba - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Highly recommend Amba! Ambiance: We went here for date night and everything felt so cozy. The dark lighting might be a negative for some but it really set the mood. Service: Our waiter was very attentive, answered our questions well, and had many recommendations we ended up adding to our meal. The staff seems to be knowledgeable and very helpful! Food: We decided not to go for the set menu and ordered the following: - crispy puris: super refreshing! -warm spinach dip + clay bread: good, but frustrated the dip didn't already come with bread -popcorn chicken: one of my favorites, but i think zhug does it better -samosas -grilled chicken tikka + pilau: great addition and fun twist to a takeout classic. Again, frustrated the chicken didn't come with rice already. Overall, Amba is a hit and must-try in Cleveland. If I had to choose between Amba and its sister Zhug, I think I would have to go for Zhug but both are worth experiencing. read more

Amba - crispy puris, warm spinach dip, clay bread - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Such a cool, sexy vibe. Great for date nights. I love the decor and how dark it is. I tried five different cocktails and they were all so unique and tasted really good. Our bartender was super cool & informative. read more

Amba was #1 on my places to dine at when visiting Cleveland. Although, it was the very last place I ate at...it was SO worth it! Amba is open on Monday's, which is amazing! I wasn't entirely sure what the weekends were going to be like in terms of wait times and to avoid any delays my thought would be to get there right when they open. They do not take reservations, so my thought was to dine in on a weeknight. My husband and I got there shortly after they opened on a Monday and we were sat right away. Let's get into the food. Wow. Our mistake is that we ordered too many plates to share, but it made for some hefty leftovers. Our server recommended 2-3 dishes per person, I'd say do 2 each. The food was out-of-this-world GOOD. Indian food is my comfort go-to and Amba was all that and more. The paneer and coconut shrimp were my favorites. Cocktails...forget about it! Their cocktail program offered something for everyone (mocktails too!). The vibe inside is chill, modern, and quiet. I find the overall ambiance to be relaxing and very enjoyable. The sounds of others conversations are so minimal due to the space being so large. I love the fact that there are communal tables, reminds me of Parachute in Chicago. The tables and the light fixtures are minimalistic and stunning. I highly recommend Amba for a date night or girls night. The vibe is on point and the food needs to be shared with good company. read more

Amba - Paneer - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Finally got around to checking out this restaurant after everyone and their mother recommended it to me. Like with his other restaurant, Zhug, the hold and hype that Chef Douglas Katz has in the Cleveland dining community is stronger than ever! As many people mentioned, Amba does not take reservations so it's best to come earlier rather than later. We arrived around 5:30 on a Friday, and luckily snagged a table before the dinner rush (by 6 pm, the bar was packed with people waiting for a table). The ambience inside definitely makes you feel elevated, with its dim lights, candles at every table, and dark wood accents. For first timers, it may be pretty difficult to choose what drinks and plates to order due to the large selection. Thankfully, the servers are extremely attentive and helpful in providing recommendations based on your flavor profiles, as well as what dishes pair well with one another. In addition, they have "preset" menu combinations (both meat and vegetarian options) per chef recommendations that is a good option for first time visitors. We really enjoyed the cocktails -- in particular the a1 (good for those who like more fruity/ fresh drinks, I liked the black pepper too) and gypsum and flint. As a note, while the a5 is essentially a boozy mango lassi, the bourbon overpowers the drink and is pretty strong. In regards to the food, we were pretty impressed by our plates of the spinach dip, crispy puris, and the clay bread. They also provide the special Amba sauce, which goes well with everything. For the paneer cheese dish, we were a bit disappointed by both the flavor and texture. The paneer was really firm (unlike softer paneers I've had elsewhere), and overall not memorable. I have also heard from others that the chicken tikka was also just an "ok" dish, and that the standouts are the more "appetizer-esque" plates. Overall though, it is a nice venue to check out for date night, small group gatherings, or happy hour. read more

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The food was delicious! I would definitely get the crispy puris and the samosas again. The sloppy Joe was good, but nothing special--same for the clay bread. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere was intriguing. We'll be back to try more items soon! read more

Amba - Clay bread (pita) and crispy puris. - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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I wish Amba had a way to make reservations as having to wait in line for 1+ hour can be a lot on a busy night. Although, I appreciated the link to view where we are in line. The crispy puris was good as was the chickpea fritters, but it could've used a little more flavor. Service was decent. The chicken tikka and lamb kofta took at least a half hour to come out. The chicken tikka was good, but would've been great if it wasn't burned. Unfortunately, I didn't appreciate burned food with the already high prices. The lamb kofta didn't have much flavor and didn't taste fully cooked either. The beet yogurt was good. The waitress didn't come over after we started eating our main meal and took awhile to come by after we got our food so we had to call her over. But it was a busy Saturday night so I understand things can be overwhelming! Overall, decent experience and decent food, but quality of food can improve either in flavor or ensuring the food was properly cooked. read more

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When I visited my boyfriend in Cleveland, I had to go to this place!! As an indian myself, I had never tried indian style tapas before so was definitely intrigued. It was amazing!! The beet root raita (yogurt) was one of my favorite. The food came out quickly and our waitress was friendly. I also am normally not a fan of mango flavor but I did enjoy the mango chutney. I was so full by the time we ordered kulfi but was able to take a few bites of it which was worth it! The shrimp is not pictured but it had an interesting taste. I would definitely go back! read more

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Was in tow for graduation. Brought my LA foodie parents here after much searching in Cleveland for the great restaurants. This place did not disappoint. We sat outside, an ambiance that we MUCH preferred to the dark, moody, loud interior that greeted us when we first came in. Loved the summer patio vibes. My dad is not the biggest fan of indian food, but loved all the things on the menu. Love a small plates, family style moment. My mom thought the cauliflower was a little spicy, which is completely understandable. Would come back here, was delicious. read more

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Really impressed with this place! The inside is really gorgeous and has an intimate vibe even though it's quite spacious. We arrived on a Saturday night around 8 and were hoping to snag a table (there were just two of us). Unfortunately, the wait was 2 hours. Luckily they have 2 bars so we waited about 20 minutes for people to leave at the back bar and were able to eat there. We tried the spinach dip, popcorn chicken, lamb, and the crispy chickpeas. The food was incredible. The best dishes for me were the spinach dip and the lamb which was beyond tender. Rating this place 4/5 because it is a little pricey for small plates and I truly hate that they don't take reservations read more

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CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW GOOD THIS PLACE IS. Between the ambiance, the beyond flavorful food and refreshing drinks.. I was blown away. We asked our server for recommendations and every one was amazing. She was also very accommodating to my nut allergy and took it very seriously (provided me a menu of safe food options). Can't go wrong with any of the food but would very strongly recommend you try the lentil donuts. I am literally still thinking about them to this day. I also highly highly recommend the a9 drink (tequila blanco, ginger, green cardamom, lychee, mint) it was extremely refreshing and tasty. (2 went down very easy). Wish i could give this place a 6/5. We didn't have to wait too long for a table on a Friday night (~30 mins) and we grabbed a drink at the lounge at city goods while waiting. read more

Amba - crispy puris & lentil donuts - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Nice indian fusion tapas place with a modern vibe. Service is friendly and efficient. Have been here twice and what I have realized is most of the menu items tend to have one or the other overpowering spice flavor. The cocktails are strong and again one overpowering flavor in my case the cinnamon drink twice I opted for A5( yogurt based). A2 was floral and A6 was like martini. Lentil donut was a good portion with a sweet spicy sauce which had a nice kick. Fried always tastes good like the popcorn chicken or the chickpea fritters .the plum sauce with the fritters was really tasty. Pilau was flavorful, paneer and dal didn't gel well but individually they were good. The little zesty Turkish eggs went really well with the soft fluffy clay bread. read more

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Amba is so good! When our party of two first walked in, it seemed too dark, but after we were seated, our eyes adjusted and the low lighting had the effect of making the dinner very intimate and cosy. Our server was great - knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. And the food was out of this world! - the lentil donuts are a must try! read more

Amba - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Cannot recommend this place enough. Upon walking through the front doors, you're greeted with the aroma of toasted spices, smells exactly like someone's home kitchen. The ambiance is intimate, with dim lighting and contemporary mood, but also suitable for small groups. Unfortunately, this place is so hyped up and doesn't take reservations, so weekend dinner waits can be like 1.5hrs. However, I'm here to tell you it's def worth the wait!!!! Starting off with some cocktails, I would say they're some of the most unique flavor profiles I've had in a cocktail. The a8 is a savory dish in a glass, but also subtly sweet. The a5 is rich spin on a mango lassi! Sooo delectable and made me so excited to try the food. We ordered the clay bread with warm spinach dip and chickpea fritters to start. -warm spinach dip: recommended by our server and extremely savory, I couldn't get enough of it. -chickpea fritters: crisp and pillowy, goes great with the house special Amba sauce -spicy cauliflower: very spicy but kept me coming back. Had to add on the cucumber raita to cool down my palate that paired very well with it! -paneer: huge chunks of paneer over a bed of curry lentils, a must order!! generous portion packed into a tiny dish -popcorn chicken: honestly reminded me of my favorite Taiwanese popcorn chicken dish, even with the fried basil! The food was so satisfying and flavorful!! We were recommended to order 2-4 dishes a person, but would definitely ere on the 2 dishes per person side, the portions are sizeable for sure. Definitely will be back! read more

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Amazing restaurant! The ambience is perfect for a girls night out or a romantic dinner for two. We enjoyed the fun drinks in the bar, and also more fun drinks at the table! Such a huge selection and something for everyone on the menu. Can't wait to go back! read more

Amba - Rainy night didn't keep us home! - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Excellent food and ambiance! Long wait a lot of the time.... Recommend trying to sit at the bar on busy nights! read more

Everything we tried was great! We loved the small plates so we got to try a lot. Make sure to come early as it gets busy and the wait is long! read more

Doug Katz hits it out of the park once again! Where to start with this establishment? The decor is dark, moody, and chic. A perfect locale for a first date. The main bar was packed when we arrived so we made our way over to the back lounge and were lucky enough to score 2 seats in a secluded alcove. We enjoyed a cocktail before a lounge table cleared and we took it in lieu of our spot on the waitlist. After briefly conferring with the diners that had just left, we ordered: The clay bread ('natch) Crispy puris Paneer Kofta Chicken Tikka Pilau They were all delicious however the puris, paneer, kofta, and chicken especially stood out. We're already earmarking items to try on our next visit - looking at you, ghee shrimp, and spicy cauliflower! We couldn't leave without trying some dessert and we were delightfully surprised with the kulfi with candied turmeric. It is so unique - I've never had anything that even comes close to the flavors of this dish. It takes a moment to take it in but with each bite, it becomes progressively more addictive. They still don't take reservations so get there early. We arrived right at 6 on a Saturday night thinking that was early but still had an hour on the waitlist. Fortunately, a lounge table opened up earlier so we were able to sit there but I'd say arrive at 5 or so on a weekend. Enjoy! read more

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To sum it up- you have to come eat at Amba! I'd heard from friends that this place was super good, so I already had high hopes coming in. I've come twice now on a weekday and there was no wait to get a table at peak dinner time. Now for the helpful information, what to order! - Crispy Puris: GET THESE!!! They're crispy delicious bites of joy and I will be getting these every time I am here - Clay bread: solid add to any meal because the food is all small plates here - Paneer: I love paneer in general, and the paneer here absolutely hit the spot. They give huge pieces that are just so satisfying to eat. (I had tried some other things in my visits, but these were my favorites) The vibes are super relaxing here, but I will say it might be a bit too dark for some. Personally I enjoy how dark it is because it makes for a really calming dinner experience and a great date night spot! They don't have massively large tables set up so keep that in mind as well :) read more

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Amba DELIVERED, after wanting to try it for so long. We went on a Saturday night at 8:00pm and the place was buzzing. It's darker inside than I was expecting but loved the ambience. It was long wait for a table for a walk-in, but they have first come, first serve seating in the back with 2 bars available for bar seating. My girlfriend and I split a few shareable plates - Chicken tikka masala, popcorn chicken, gluten free flatbread, and spicy chili. Everything was excellent. We were impressed with the quality of both chickens. We will be back for more visits! read more

Amba - Chicken tikka, gluten free flatbread, popcorn chicken, and spicy chili. - Indian Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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The attention to detail shines through the decor, service, and of course the food. Vegans and vegetarians rejoice - there are delicious plant based options. Overall a must try. Get there early as they do not take reservations. Went with a group of 4. We were able to start out immediately upon arrival outdoors with drinks and appetizers. Within 20ish minutes we were moved inside when a table became available. I highly recommend dining inside - the decor is to be admired. The textures - from the woven oversized ceiling lights, dark painted walls, mushroom table lamps, the beautiful reddish bathroom tile - transport you to a dark, intimate, chic, dining experience filled with loud music and great food. The whiskey cocktails we tried were all good (a1, a3, a4). My favorite was a4 (rye, lapsang tea jaggery, curry leaf bitters). This was the most whiskey forward. Very smooth. Flavors went together beautifully. Served in a small ceramic tea cup. The benefit of dining with such a large group was the chance to try so many items on the menu. We had the chickpea fritters, herb raita, fried zucchini, crispy puris, lentil donuts, pineapple cucumber salad, spicy sloppy joe keema, ghee basted shrimp, wok fired string beans, spicy cauliflower, and vegan blackberry icebox cake. We could have easily gotten away with 1 or 2 less shareable plates - we were stuffed! Very reasonably sized tapas. The table favorites were the: lentil donuts (this dish is inspired, complex and does not stop giving), crispy puris (all around the best executed dish full of texture and flavor), spicy cauliflower (bring on the heat!), and pineapple cucumber salad (delicious, fresh, crunchy, and truth be told no one loved it as much as I do but I think it's an essential order). I also really enjoyed our dessert. The wine menu is small but mighty. My friend really enjoyed the domaine laroque pinot noir during her meal. We ended the night with a glass of valdo prosecco. At the end of the night Chef Douglas Katz stopped by our table, which was the perfect conclusion to a wonderful evening. read more

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Amba is a gorgeous new Indian-inspired restaurant from the creators of Zhug. They really went dark and moody for the decor and ambience, as it definitely feels like you're walking into a bit of a cave when you first enter. Your eyes quickly adjust however, and the moody lighting really complements the natural wood and woven decor. I came here for a birthday dinner with a party of seven, and we were surprisingly able to be seated quite quickly despite it being 5:30 on a Saturday evening. Zhug is definitely a place to go with a larger party, as they are small plate style. Our server recommended 2 to 3 plates per person, but we opted for fewer, about 11 dishes for seven people. By the end, we were all satisfied, but not stuffed. Below, I added *** next to the table favorites of the night! I got the violet and juniper cocktail which was soo delicious! very light and fresh and super pretty! - Crispy puri *** (incredible, life changing, so crispy and delicious, #1 dish) - Lentil donuts (disappointing for how hyped it was, overall too sweet but texture was good) - Warm spinach dip *** (sooo delicious and savory, a table favorite) - Clay bread (solid, great vehicle for sauces and flavors, nothing to write home about) - Pineapple cucumber salad (surprisingly good but also not particularly unique or special) - Popcorn chicken *** (sooo delicious, gorgeous crispy chicken and basil) - Spicy cauliflower (solid, definitely on the mushier side and pretty spicy! overall not very dimensional flavor) - Ghee basted shrimp (okay, a little over cooked imo but interesting and light coconut flavor) - Samosas (delicious not remarkable, super crispy and flaky, very solid samosa) - Herb grilled Chicken tikka (solid tikka, nothing to write home about) - Roasted eggplant (pretty delicious, good texture, juicy and not mushy, shout-out to the pepper on the eggplant for a nice kick) Amba sauce was a tomato mango chutney which was suuuper delicious! Overall, I just enjoyed my time at Amba. I feel like some of the dishes were pretty underwhelming, but others were incredibly delicious. At the price point, however, I think I would save it for special occasions. The prices came out to around $50-$60 per person, and would've been a lot more if we ordered the 2 to 3 plates suggested by our server. While Amba is gorgeously moody, I felt like the music was too loud, and it made conversation particularly difficult. I would not recommend this for a get to know you date night, but perhaps some thing once you're more established in a relationship, or a fun evening with friends! read more

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We came here to celebrate my birthday on a Monday evening. Parking is on the street and wasn't hard to find on a Monday, but could be more difficult on a weekend. The restaurant does not take reservations, so if it is busy, be prepared to wait. We easily got in and sat at the back bar. Ambiance abounds here with mood lighting and a warm feel. I'd highly recommend this place for a romantic date. The bartender recommended 2-3 plates per person. We started with two speciality cocktails - the Frost and Licorice and the Grain and Sugarcane. Both were nicely balanced and tasty. We ordered the warm cashews, chili crisp with clay bread, spicy cauliflower, fried zucchini, pilau, popcorn chicken, spicy cauliflower, and the lamb kofta. This was the perfect amount for the two of us. The only dishes we didn't enjoy were the spicy cauliflower (so hot we couldn't eat it) and the chili crisp - also very hot. They were nice enough to remove the cauliflower from our bill. Everything else was awesome - great flavor and unique. They said they would space out the items to come out as they were made, but all came out at the same time which was fine with us. The zucchini and kofta were our favorites but everything was great. I would love to come back to try some other options. Lots of choices for those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. Our bill was $113 for all of this (minus the cauliflower). We had two bartenders. One was very friendly and helpful, the other was not. For what we paid and as friendly as we were, I would have expected the service to be a little better, as the second bartender mostly ignored us or acted annoyed if we asked questions. Other than that, the experience was great! Looking forward to returning to celebrate another special date soon. read more

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I went to Amba on a date night and was generally very impressed. The restaurant has a slick, Scandinavian-feeling decor, with modern feeling furniture, dim lighting, and lots of right angles. The wait staff was universally friendly, and even though the restaurant does not take reservations, we moved through the line quickly. As for food, we ordered: -Pineapple/cucumber salad -Chickpea fritters -Paneer (served on a bed of lentils) -Crispy puris -Clay bread (aka naan) The food also comes with the restaurant's signature "Amba" sauce, a tangy, spicy mango based sauce that pairs well with pretty much every menu item. For two people, this was more than enough food, and the portion sizes were generous. My favorite dishes were the perfectly balanced salad, which included jaggery flavored peanuts (excellent touch) and the the crispy puris, a sort of elevated take on the classic Indian street food call pani puri. I would order them again in a heartbeat. My least favorite dish was the chickpea fritters. My date and I found them to be a little too salty and quite dry on the inside--like the texture of dry falafel. We found ourselves scraping the bottom of the amba sauce and tamarind sauce that came with the dish (both delicious) so that we could drown our fritters with flavor and counterbalance the dryness. I would not order these again. The paneer was very interesting! The paneer cubes themselves were heavenly. Perfectly spiced, soft, chewy, and rich--exactly what good paneer should be. The daal (lentils) was also incredible. It reminded me a bit of how Ethiopian lentils taste. I'm not sure I agree with the decision to plate the paneer and daal together, though. While very aesthetically pleasing to see individual cubes resting on top of the daal, I don't think the textures go well together. Part of the joy eating of well-made paneer is the texture of the cheese. When you add lentils to the same bite, no matter how good the lentils are, they necessarily subtract from the experience of the paneer. I would serve these as individual dishes rather than trying to combine them! As for the naan, it was good! Not the best naan I've ever had, but also not drowning in butter and garlic. The texture was firm enough to support the various dips and sauces that came with our food, yet still soft and chewy like naan should be! Overall, 4/5. I'd come again, but I wouldn't order the chickpea fritters. read more

Flavors of India right in Ohio City! If you want epic taste in nice size portions, this is the place to be! I attended this venue with 2 other people and we were not disappointed. At first, you enter this extreme dark restaurant and wonder what the heck did you just walk into. Coming in from a very bright sunny outside to an almost black room, it was tough to see the hostess stand. I guess this was my biggest complaint of this experience. We requested to be outside since it was a beautiful evening. We started off with some drinks. I got the A1 and it was a pretty good drink. The passion fruit and honey was loud and kept the bourbon to a quiet whisper, which is definitely what I prefer. Our server, Isaiah, was attentive and friendly. He gave some good recommendations and had some good conversation. We ended up ordering the chef's tasting: amba favorites as well as a couple of shareable plates: popcorn chicken and samosas. Everything was beautifully seasoned and definitely different from what my taste buds are use to. The raita was not my favorite. It reminded me of a mild chobani fruit yogurt. My favorite bite was the popcorn chicken. Once you put the fried Thai basil, chili and chicken all together, it's the best type of bite: spicy, savory, salty and sometimes sweet (if you add the bbq sauce). The spice on the cauliflower was no joke, but in a very good way. Once you add the sweetness of the pilau with the cauliflower, it comes together in true harmony. The icing on cake of the whole experience is being able to meet Chef Douglas Katz. You can definitely tell he wanted to hear feedback about his creations, but also be part of the party Definitely a place to try! Hope this helps! read more

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This restaurant has really cool concept. It is a modern Indian tapas. My boyfriend and I love Indian foods. We were curious about this place so we tried it out. We got clay breads, fried zucchini, popcorn chickens, pilau, and spicy sloppy Joe. The clay breads were good but a bit oily. The fried zucchini was very fresh but I was not too keen on the dipping sauce. It might need a bit seasoning. The popcorn chickens were good. My boyfriend really loved their bbq sauce. The fried basils didn't bring much to the dish maybe just for presentation. I thought the pilau was ok. My boyfriend did not like the quinoa in it because it brought different texture to the dish. We both were in awe with the spicy sloppy Joe. Additionally, they gave us a mango chutney which we used in everything there lol. It was so good and a flavor that we had not have before. Overall, this place was very unique and had a cool vibe. read more

I'm somewhere between a 3.5 and 4. Obviously this is not the most authentic Indian food, but the chef's modern spin on classic dishes. Some dishes were a little underwhelming, and flavors could be kicked up a notch, but the drinks and ambiance were amazing. Overall, this was an enjoyable dining experience, especially for a special occasion. It was fun to try all the different small plates. I would definitely like to come back to try a few different dishes. We did the Amba favorites for 2 which included: Clay bread - I'm partial to garlic naan so felt like something was missing, but you can't go wrong with any kind of bread Herb Rita - Sleeper hit! Really delicious and great compliment to the meal. Crispy puris - great flavor, but wished the filling was warm Popcorn chicken - can't really go wrong with fried chicken Wok fried green beans - delicious, but seemed a little mismatched with the rest of the meal Ghee basted shrimp - these were a little underwhelming. Spice rub felt grainy, but just ate my left overs with the herb raita which was a good compliment. We added: Samosas - great dough and flavor, but could use a little more heat Tikka - very good, but flavors could be amped up a bit I had the A1 to drink which was amazing! Tried the grain & sugar cane second which was good, but a little too smoky for my taste. Wish I would have stuck with the A1 or tried the A5 instead. read more

Amba is a dining experience. My friend and I went at 4:45 pm on a Wednesday to get an early dinner so obviously it wasn't busy at all and we had no wait. We were familiar with the small plates concept because we have dined at Zhug a few times and were even more excited to try Amba because we both prefer Indian flavors to Mediterranean ones. By far the star of Amba is its vibes. The outside of the restaurant features a very vibrant mural, so it was very surprising when I walked in and found an incredibly dark and dramatic space - so dark that I couldn't even see my friend's face when I first sat down, but luckily my eyes adjusted with the help of the mushroom shaped lamp on our table. The waitress was great at helping us select our dishes for the night, giving us her recommendations and good size references for the dishes we were interested in so we knew how much to order. We used a combination of her suggestions and the pre-curated chef's tasting menus and ordered the lentil donuts, herb raita, clay bread, pilau, and herb grilled chicken tikka. For drinks I got the A7 (which was kind of like a margarita with an additional interesting flavor) and my friend got the A1 (which we both surprisingly loved despite not being bourbon fans). I didn't end up finishing my drink because I got tired of the flavor and I felt it didn't pair well with my food, but I think it's a good option for someone looking for a more traditional drink since the flavors in the cocktails are very unique and maybe not what most people would like. The herb raita was just ok. It didn't have much more flavor than any plain yogurt. The only reason we ordered it was because we wanted something more fresh to balance the heavier items we ordered. If I were to go again, I would pass on this. It's probably my fault because I don't love yogurt to begin with, but the amount that came really was just overwhelming and not very remarkable. The lentil donuts were SO fun. We almost got the chickpea fritters instead because they are more popular, but I'm glad we tried the donuts. There are four donuts in one order and they were quite dense and filling. The flavor is hard to describe because they were neither sweet nor savory. The spicy serrano chili jam made them a bit more savory, and the coconut chutney made them a bit more sweet. I also dipped some into the amba that we were given (a mango chutney that the restaurant is named after) and it was pretty good too. This was the most unique thing we ate tonight. My friend LOVED these and I would definitely order them again, especially if I brought someone to Amba and they had never dined there before. A large portion of our dinner came from the clay bread, pilau, and herb grilled chicken tikka. I love basically any bread and the clay bread was no exception. I just wish that either more than two pieces came in an order or that the pieces were larger. For $5 I just hoped for more, although I enjoyed what we were given. The pilau was good - it had a lot of interesting elements in it. It was fairly sweet with the almonds and raisins, but also savory since there was saffron, herbs, and fried onions. My only complaint is that I would sometimes get only a bite of herbs and not enough other toppings so the ratio of individual components felt a bit off for me - not sure if this is true or if we just didn't mix our dish enough. Finally - the chicken tikka. Rather than being a curry, it was pieces of grilled chicken topped with sauce. The chicken was very well cooked, not dry at all. The sauce wasn't what I was expecting - it almost tasted like a classic chicken tikka masala but there was an extra flavor I couldn't pinpoint. I don't think I loved it but I thought it was fine, and I wish there had been MUCH more sauce because some pieces of our chicken were severely lacking. Next time, I am not sure if I would reorder because I would want to try the paneer or lamb which also is very popular, but it's a safe option. Overall, Amba was very fun. I think it is pretty obvious when you go, you are not going for an authentic Indian meal. Everything is inspired by Indian flavors, and they do not claim at all to be serving traditional food. They have a lot of attention to detail so even though there were some parts of the meal that I didn't love, overall I think I had a positive experience. Would recommend if you want a fancy dinner with friends. read more

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