Great ambiance & delicious food!!!! Def a must try!! Servers need to work on their attitude though.

Everything listed on the menu sounds amazing. Thankfully they also offer an Unlimited Lunch ($27.99 per person) whereby you can try all the dishes, tapas style. We tried the Brussels sprouts, shrimp, lamb, short ribs, steak tartare, gnocchi, lasagna, sausage, and mussels. All the dishes were delicious and perfectly sized for tasting so we had room to try several. Service was good, neither inattentive nor intrusive. The decor was clean and modern, and there is also outdoor seating. Would definitely go again. read more

Went for restaurant week. All you can eat for $35, what a deal and what a lovely experience. Decor- lots of bright colors, airy feel, many plants and simple decor. Staff- service was good. Food came out quickly and the food runners are definitely working harder than the servers. We had Madrid, he was personable and attentive. Food- small tapas, super flavorful and creative options. Some of our favorites were the Brussel sprouts, mussels, salami and cheese, sliders, short ribs, and the chicken skewers. The punch by the carafe was tasty, but didn't feel like it had much alcohol in it. All in all, the experience was good. Food was on point, service was standard, and the decor/vibe is fabulous. read more

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Mario was a fire server I would highly recommend him he took care of us and he was fire . Period. You have to go to the Arlington location period. My Serbian friend thought it was authentic as f**k and wanted everyone to enjoy the red dip. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Ambar delivered some of the best food I have ever had at a smaller restaurant - the ingredients were of the highest quality and the flavors were really strong. I never knew that Servian food could be so good! The meat kabobs were beautifully grilled and the dip was a perfect accompaniment. I was impressed by the vegetarian selections and, again, the veggies all seemed fresh with great flavor. How did they get such high quality veggies in the winter??? The atmosphere did nothing to suggest Serbia or the Balkan peninsula and that was a small bit disappointing. The service was the most disappointing thing, although it was not terrible. I would say the service was just adequate. Someone who greeted us without a smile, did not suffer too many questions from us about the food, delivered food without comment and became very smily/friendly when they brought us the check. Checking in was also sub-par - no hostess or anyone to greet you and handle the incoming patrons. This is one of those restaurants that could benefit from robot waiters. read more

What a fantastic experience. Our waiter, Mauro, was incredibly attentive as soon as we sat down. He personally made sure our pineapple mojito pitcher was taken care of and it certainly set the right tone. The food came out perfectly paced and kept me from bursting at the seams. We enjoyed every bite that Mauro suggested. My personal standouts were the drunken mussels, steak tartare, stuffed pepper, and the Balkan salad. Everything else was spot on as well. We will absolutely come back as repeat offenders. I swear people were giving me funny looks..... I live by the Chinese buffet mentality, so I scrape every plate clean. Definitely need to bougie-fy myself a little more and leave some scraps. read more

Definitely make a reservation if you plan to go! We did the brunch experience menu and as it's a tapas restaurant, we ended up ordering mostly everything on the menu. Everything was really good and the staff were really friendly! Recommend the egg benedicts if you go. read more

We had a lovely dinner here. Garage and street parking is available. B made reservations awhile back. The hostess was super sweet and we were seated immediately since we had reservations. Ambar was definitely packed on a Friday night. It can get quite loud in here, so if you're looking for a quiet spot you may want to try another restaurant out. Our server was kind and helpful. We did have to ask for more water a couple times, but the restaurant was very busy on the day we visited. This was our first time trying Balkan food and we really enjoyed all the flavors. Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and quality ingredients are used. Each dish came out in a timely manner. Ambar offers small plates (tapas style), perfect for sharing and being able to try a variety of dishes. Our favorite dishes were the Beef Short Rib Goulash and Slow Roasted Lamb. I'm so glad we got a chance to visit. read more

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Came here for a special treat with a friend visiting from out of town. We got the unlimited menu (I forget what's it called) and were not disappointed. Extremely delicious. I was also eating mostly low carb at the time and the menu was very low carb friendly! read more

Our server "Marina S" was terrific - we felt very well attended to, and she offered honest, helpful advice on what and how much to order for our mixed table of adults, teens, and small children. We had the perfect combination and amount. The hostess serving this evening (6/24/24) was also super helpful in fielding our questions and requests. This is the type of service that makes us want to come back. We'll certainly be back. read more

Was happy to see that the food is still delicious at Ambar years after opening (though Baba below will always be my favorite in the area). The goulash, chicken kabobs, white bread, and meatballs blew my mind. Only thing to fall short was the cauliflower and grilled veggies. Unfortunately, our server Dunja was cold and unpleasant for no apparent reason. Our friend has severe food intolerances so we had to get specific about when ordering, but if that's the reason for her rudeness then that's unacceptable. She blamed us for giving the friend the wrong plates instead of taking responsibility for the fact that she made no effort to point out which were for her vs ours, so the runners ended up making the mistakes. She really tainted the experience. It was the first time I was ever annoyed to tip 20% out of respect for servers in general. Needs an attitude check, including how learning how to say thank you instead of grabbing the check from the table silently without a word. I also had to ask for water five times from runners since she never checked in with us throughout the meal. I wish my tip could've gone to them. read more

Still a crowd favorite and the quality is always consistent! We like going for lunch as the options are still good and it's less crowded/busy in the Clarendon location. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Similar to Palette 22...where you can pay about $30 or so for unlimited try's of everything on the menu! The menu is different but so good! Went for my birthday lunch and throughly enjoyed! Parking is weird but hey that's Arlington ! Can't wait to return ! read more

This was such a great experience! Three of us went in on the Amber Experience - which is unlimited food for $40!! (Everyone at the table has to buy in and you have a 2 hour limit.) All of the food was phenomenally done. So good that we forgot to take many photos! Our favorites were: Brussel Sprouts, pork neck, fried chicken, lamb lasagna (very rich), and the charcuterie platter. Wait staff can make or break an experience sometimes. Man, did our waitress Paris MAKE our whole night! She was fantastic. Perfectly attentive, offered great suggestions on wine, food and the like. She never steered us wrong or left us feeling pressured to change our order. We'll be back! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - Drunken Mussels & Seabass - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This place is wonderful! I came here with a friend not knowing what to expect. Us being novices did not have a reservation; however the staff were able to squeeze us in. Which we were happy about. The menu itself confused us. So I asked the waiter to bring us his favorites. A bold and sometimes risky move. ;) We were amazed! Never did I know a simple Brussel sprout dish with an interesting sour cream could be so tasty! And to think I was the child who hated Brussels sprouts with a passion! I'm really bummed we forgot to take pictures but we were having way too much fun stuffing our faces,drinking and talking.. We also ordered 2 pivos that were wonderful. I'm not a beer fan in general but this thing was delicious. The beer and food had me feeling so nice I decided to oder some rajika. Wow, that stuff was strong! It was like a cross between vodka and corn liquor with a unique flavor. It's definitely an acquired taste. But I would gladly order it again! If you want to treat yourself and have a nice night out this is defiantly the place! read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - A nice beer to try. - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Ambar Brunch Review: The Ambar brunch experience will give you everything you'd expect from a typical brunch spot in the DMV. If you're set out to get drunk with your friends while feasting, that's exactly what you are going to get here. You'll be able to eat as much as your stomach can contain while tasting a large variety of flavors--all beautifully presented. You'll enjoy everything they rush out to you and you'll leave with a full stomach. Even if you are the pickiest of eaters or have dietary restrictions, there will be something just for you on the menu. I think the American/Balkan fusion is a fun and tasty gimmick, but lacks the boldness I was hoping for. The brunch menu exemplifies a wide array of flavors and shows that they put effort into how their food is presented. However I am assuming the fast pace used to prepare these dishes compromises the quality that can be achieved with more time. Knowing the chef's attention to detail evidenced by the food's presentation, I would love to try something that has been given more time to prepare. On the other side of the coin, I would love to try more dishes that are a bit more bold and experimental like their fried chicken slider with an apple wasabi coleslaw. Please check out my full detailed review here! I even review items dish by dish. https://delicious-dc.wixsite.com/website/post/ambar-s-new-brunch-menu-brings-more-to-the-table read more

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I weMy here for dinner with a friend on a Saturday night before going into DC for a show so we had a 5 p.m. reservation. She had been before and really liked it. It was a great experience. It was slow at 5 so it wasn't too loud, and the atmosphere with the plants hanging from the ceiling planters gave it a cozy feeling. We did the one price all you care to eat. I wish I had more room in my stomach. We enjoyed nearly everything we ordered. We tried every spread. We recommend the beet tzatziki and the Ajvar ( eggplant and roasted red pepper. The stand out dishes were short rib goulash, pepper croquets, and meatballs. The cheese pie and cevapi were good. The chicken skewers were a bit lack luster, but they had a high bar with everything else. They were just "fine." However, the asparagus and Brussels sprouts were divine. There were so many other interesting things on the menu that I will have to come back and try more. I am impressed with the price for what you get. Great place. I can't wait to return. read more

Brunch menu including all you can eat was certainly generous and encompassed everything on the menu and a range of drinks for a fair price. That was different and pleasantly surprising. The dishes themselves were just okay-no standouts. read more

I very much enjoyed the brunch here...we did not have reservations but were still able to get a table outside. The server was attentive and courteous (and encouraged us to try several dishes, without rushing us) and all the plates were tasty and well presented...great experience overall. read more

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Highly recommend!! I'll keep this short and sweet because I don't usually write a review for a place that has already been inundated with countless yelp reviews..especially if the majority of the reviews are accurate... But I do give credit when credit is due, so bravo to our server Marko..he was personable, charming, and attentive! He must be a favorite because I saw conversing with several patrons in between servicing his tables. Along with Marko, the other food bussers kept our plates coming and our table clear...definitely executing the unlimited dinner option beautifully. The food is sooo tasty: my favorites are the meat pie, lamb medallions, and lamb flatbread pizza. Overall, I think this spot is always a solid choice for a tapas style meal, and kudos to the company behind bringing these restaurants to the DMV area. read more

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My friend and I went to Ambar for brunch one Saturday in February 2022. This place was packed so make a reservation. Our reservation was at 11:30AM and there was about a 20 minute wait for our table. The waiting area is pretty much non-existent. There were three other parties waiting and we were all kind of in the way and standing on top of each other. Décor: Ambar has a picturesque aesthetic which makes the experience more enjoyable, but the seating is tight and the tables are close together. I mostly saw smaller groups of two to three people dining together but there were a few larger groups as well. Food: We both chose the Ambar Experience which comes with endless tapas and 25 cent drinks. I tried a Traditional Mimosa, Peach Bellini, and a Mixed Berry Mimosa. Of the three I liked the Peach Bellini the most. For the endless tapas I ordered the Strawberry Waffle more than once. It was really good. I also liked the Prosciutto Benedict and the Smoked Sausage. I did not enjoy the Salmon Benedict. I felt it was too salty. I also did not enjoy the Applewood Smoked Bacon. It was not crispy enough. Service: The Ambar Experience comes with a 2 hour time limit. Although we ordered multiple things at one time, our food took a long time to come out every time we ordered. Even the waffles took a while. We had to flag our waiter down more than once to ask him about the orders we placed and to order more drinks. My tip would be to keep track of your waiter. Bathrooms: The bathrooms are downstairs in the restaurant. There are two stalls in the women's bathroom. One is bigger than the other so it can fit a stroller. I'm not sure if there was a changing table in the stall though. The bathrooms were clean. Overall: I would come back here again for brunch but it would not be my first suggestion to someone looking for a brunch spot in the area. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - Strawberry Waffle - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Took a friend for Sunday brunch. Guess I forgot about their brunch menu vs regular before getting there. I had made reservations weeks beforehand. I was looking forward to the many small plate options, but brunch had a limited ones vs the ones I was seeking. Note to self, go for non-brunch hours. Food was still very flavorful and delicious. Server was slow at times, but noticed she was serving the people at the bar area as well. When she did come by, she was nice and friendly. Lots of seating outdoors, but we had indoor seating. The decorations inside is nice so didn't mind being indoors. Too many dishes to list that I enjoy here, so I would definitely recommend trying this place. read more

My go-to for when folks come to town. Everything on the menu is excellent, and you get a chance to sample it all based on their structure. The waiters are efficient, bringing plates at a good pace while not rushing. The interior is brilliant with the flower theme, though I've been eating here since COVID when they had the parking lot in the back in makeshift bubbles to eat in. read more

Ambar was a good experience overall. The decor and ambience is pleasant, I liked the vintage pictures of Belgrade (or Beograd if you prefer) and the furnishings were comfortable. Our server was solid - we had an issue with a drink early on, but she did not seem to hold it against us and the rest of the experience was efficient and effective. The food ran the gamut from meh to mesmerizing. While a few dishes (strawberry quinoa salad, fried chicken) fell short on flavor, there were some exceptional dishes. The meat pie and the cauliflower were excellent, I liked the baked beans, my partner enjoyed the white cheese flatbread. I think there were a number of standout dishes in the selection. We had the non-alcoholic strawberry lemonade and it was pleasantly sour. I suspect the desserts are great but we ate too much and won't get to them for a few hours. Definitely recommend Ambar, and we will return. ORDERED: $50 all you can eat tapas, beverages. read more

My friends and I booked a 9:30 am Sunday brunch here (yes, early, but wanted to beat the brunch card and actually find parking)! Everything was delicious on the menu, and we particularly loved the traditional Balkan options (cheese pie, spreads, and their meats). Also don't sleep on their fried chicken sliders... that wasabi slaw is such a good topping on it. Service was quick and friendly. Our waiter Paris was awesome, and came through with great recommendations. Will be back! read more

Super cute restaurant with beautiful interior decor. One can tell that they pay attention to detail and cleanliness. The service was great; we went during the lunch rush on a Friday and we're well-attended to. We came for the unlimited tapas for just $25/person; it was a really good deal! The presentation of the food was beautiful and the timing of food coming out was also great; but, overall the flavors/taste of the food was just good, not spectacular. Highlights: hummus/spreads platter with bread (their bread basket came with three different types; the cornbread and wheat doughnut-things were so good); field greens and Balkan salads (both had nice dressings and fresh ingredients); steak tartar was yummy; and the drunken mussels had a great sauce. Items that we maybe wouldn't get again, but aren't sad about trying: salmon (overcooked); Balkan kabob (salty sausages); Sudzuk flatbread (it's just a small pepperoni flatbread pizza); braised steak and frites (good beef texture, but way too much peppercorn). read more

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Service - 4/5. not bad but not stellar. Friendly server but multiple orders that were incorrect were brought out. Food - 2/5. This is specific to the unlimited experience. Waaaay too expensive considering the quality of the food. Some of it was good, but generally felt similar to hotel breakfast food. Ambiance - 4/5. Really nice indoor and outdoor seating. On a corner street with lots of movement and people. Overall, I wouldn't come again. read more

Came here with my Bosnian bestie back in April to check it out and we had a great time! I've been here before, and I enjoyed it thoroughly, and this second time around did not disappoint either! From the decor to the food, definitely makes for a great brunch spot. Also, you pay $34 for plata style dining, meaning you get to try little plates of everything off the menu. Such a great deal and a great dining experience. read more

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My table of 4 out our full trust in Blair, who brought us dish after delicious dish at the perfect pace. A great balance of savory and sweet options on the unlimited brunch deal ($34 plus .25 cents per drink). From the sauce on the charcuterie board to the veal soup and waffles, each small plate had a fun presentation and a taste that makes you want to order another one. Already looking at my calendar to see when I can make another reservation with a request for Blair's section. She helped make brunch more than just a meal, but a fun experience. Which was perfect for celebrating a birthday! Pictures don't do the food justice. Was seated in the basement, with a speakeasy style. COVID precautions clearly in place, frequent cleaning and well spaced. read more

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Went to the Baba bar section downstairs of the restaurant with 4 people. The food is very tasty and it's a unique experience. The meat pie, the lam lasagna, the red peppers, excellent! On the other hand, in our opinion desserts were not good at all. Neither the hostess nor the servers were friendly or helpful. The drinks were not tasty or presented as you would expect on a speakeasy type of bar. read more

The food was GREAT! The service was amazing. The server helped guide us through our meal and made some amazing recommendations for us. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

It's my first time visiting Ambar for lunch buffet and the unlimited dishes for $25 was a fantastic deal. My favorite dishes were the pork neck, muscles, chicken skewers, and meatballs. The staff were very quick in taking away the finished plates and getting us our orders. The parking here can be tricky since it's mostly street parking. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This was my first time trying Balkan food and I really enjoyed this place. The trick here is to do the $35 unlimited menu since the items are small and priced around $10 each so you'll get your money's worth on the unlimited menu. I liked pretty much everything I tried but the beef short rib goulash, wild boar patty, and grilled shrimp were the best. The beef prosciutto, garlic bean spread, Kajmak selection, squash salad, cabbage casuela, and mushroom pilav were also really tasty. The baked beans, balkan zucchini, and pepper croquet were just okay. Be sure and try a variety of stuff and come hungry to get your money's worth. This place can be packed and kinda loud but I was able to talk at my table without much of an issue. Service was prompt and friendly but remember to order a few items at once since they're cooked to order and the wait staff can be pretty busy. I really enjoyed this place and will come back for sure. read more

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I love Ambar! My friend Arra L. recommended we eat here for Saturday brunch and I'm so glad we did. Ambar is this hip restaurant that serves unlimited small plates for about $35. I loved everything, but my favorite plate was the cheese pie and the fried sour dough. I've never eaten Balkan cuisine before, but I noticed a lot of the menu was identical to American brunch. There was salmon Benedict, omelets, eggs and sausage, catfish sliders, burgers and so on. My least favorite small plate was the catfish slider. It was bland and didn't end up taking another bite. But everything else was top notch. The desserts were fantastic as well! I loved their granola, strawberry waffles and sour dough bites with Nutella. I'll be back again! Make sure to make a reservation because they are a busy place. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - Cheese pie. My favorite! - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I remember coming here some years back & was blown away. Now I'm returning after marrying into an Eastern European family whose mama cooks amazing & authentic balkan cuisine so I was skeptical about coming back. I was still blown away! We came for lunch on Friday & did the balkan experience (unlimited plates) for $25. The spreads are great. I particularly love the roasted red pepper & eggplant one. The accompanying bread is a DELICIOUS assortment of corn bread & sourdough bites. Cheese pie, stuffed peppers, & pepper croquettes, & lamb lasagna are must-gets. The short rib goulash was unbelievably tender. Overall the experience was just as magical as my 1st! Each dish was wonderfully executed & came out in good time. Service was great. read more

Amazing food and ambience! I will be back and highly recommend for lunch for dinner.

This was a great experience. I went here with a friend and we always like to go overboard when it comes to eateries. We decided to go for the all you could eat tapas for $35. This does exclude drinks and dessert. It was worth it! We had fun trying a good portion of the dishes on the menu and of course we still had to get dessert. Each dish was packed full of flavor! You definitely get your money's worth by doing the unlimited verses a la crate. We had some cocktails too. I'd definitely go back. read more

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Brunch experience only. 3.5 stars. Service is top notch. Friendly and efficient service despite the almost full house weekend brunch service. $34/person for AYCE option + $25 for drinks. The food is ok. Mostly egg dishes and other variations of eggs and potatoes. I enjoyed the squash salad. The Balkan burger slider was kinda dry and overdone. At the end of the service, bill came and we were overcharged. I guess it was an honest mistake but make sure to double check your bill before handing over your credit card. We were charged the dinner price instead of the brunch price. Reservation is a must specially for party of more than 4 read more

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Well prepared Balkan comfort food, served by a friendly, knowledgeable and attentive staff. The menu is primarily all you can eat, so come hungry. But be warned, much of the food is on the heavy side and some dishes have relatively strong flavors. read more

First time visitor. We are not fans of small plate restaurants even though for $35 you can order anything from the menu as often as you want. Food is ethnic Serbian which includes a lot across the food spectrum - meat, lamb, fish, veggies. We tried about 15 or more dishes reordering when the dish warranted - mussels, pepper tray. Also had steak tartare, beef and cheese pies, kabobs, salad, pork belly, salmon, smelts. You get the 411 - lots to choose from and all very good. I'm not sure if we got all of the dishes ordered since we ordered randomly and received food in that same fashion. Not complaining; just saying. We certainly had enough to eat. Friends with us lived in Serbia and thus know the cuisine. They thought many dishes to be better here than there. Service was excellent after getting a table. Empty plates were removed promptly. The place is crowded and popular. We sat for about 3.5 hours, eating drinking wine and talking. Fun time. read more

AMBAR Restaurant, Clarendon - Table filled with small plates. - Modern European Near Me - Arlington, Virginia