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We had such a great ladies' night at Ambar on a Monday! My Kiwi Smash was boozy, fresh, and absolutely delicious--I'm already looking forward to having another one. The space was beautiful, spacious, and had a great ambiance. Our table ordered the branzino, steak, and burger, and everyone was pleased with their meal. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back! Service was Ok, they got the job done.
The food had great flavor, but there were some inconsistencies. I ordered the New York strip steak medium, but it first came out well done and was too tough. After sending it back, it came out rare, which was disappointing. The chimichurri sauce and potato wedges were delicious, though, and paired really well with the steak. The corn was a little plain but improved with the sauce it came with. The desserts were definitely the highlight -- the chocolate ganache crepe was rich, delicious, and a 5/5. The coffee brownie skillet was also really good with a great dark chocolate flavor. The main reason for the 3 stars was the service. Our waitress didn't seem very welcoming and appeared frustrated when we asked for more appetizers, especially with a larger party and kids at the table. The ambiance was beautiful with cozy dark lighting and great music, although it was a little warm inside. Overall, the food and atmosphere were enjoyable, but the steak consistency and service could use improvement.
AMAZING! Food,drinks,ambience were fantastic! Came in for happy hour and really enjoyed myself. Great balkan wines offered which is really rare to find at a restaurant. A must order is the balkan kebab (cevapi.) Balkan music really added to the environment. Cant wait to go back with a group. Beautiful patio area as well! Had great service for happy hour!
This is our first time here. We had a reservation for Wednesday night. It was busy. The ambiance of the restaurant was pretty. It also have outdoor dining. We wanted to try this place because for $55 it is all ayce. We ordered the steak tartare, veal soup, balkan kebab, croquettes, corn ribs, almond fried chicken, brussel sprouts, pork belly stuffed cabbage, roasted lamb, lamb medallions, flatbreads, cheese pie, mushroom pilaf, branzino,grilled shrimp, drunken mussels, and lamb flatbread. I like the veal soup, corn ribs, branzino, grilled shrimps, mushroom pilaf, and the kebab. The rest was ok and some food like the flatbread it was a little too salty for me. The fried chicken was a little too dry. The dessert is not included in the $55 ayce. We didn't get any since we were super full. The service was good. The server came back a few times to check on us and see if we needed to order more food. The other staff would come and collect the empty plates. I wouldn't go back again but the $55 is a pretty good deal to try everything on the menu.
I recently visited Ambar to celebrate my birthday, and it had been on my list ever since I came across the menu. Since we were already doing happy hour nearby, it was the perfect restaurant within walking distance to continue the celebration. The moment I saw the menu, I was sold. Before we even arrived, I was impressed by the level of customer service. Because I had booked a larger party, the event coordinator reached out to explain the menu and introduce me to the Ambar Experience--their all-you-can-enjoy tasting menu for just $55 per person. After looking through the selections, I knew this was the right choice because honestly, everything sounded amazing. We had several last-minute cancellations, so our group ended up being much smaller than expected. Even so, the team was incredibly accommodating and gracious, which I really appreciated. The Ambar Experience absolutely lived up to the hype. Every dish we ordered was beautifully prepared, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. I'll definitely be bringing my family back so they can experience it, too. We started with the spicy feta, white bean hummus, roasted pepper spread, marinated olives with pickled vegetables, and beet tzatziki. It was a fantastic way to begin the meal. We had also been looking forward to trying the clotted cream, but it never made it to the table. We assumed it may have been unavailable since it wasn't mentioned. From the vegetable selections, we ordered the Brussels sprouts, baby carrots, crispy corn ribs, and wild mushrooms. Everything was delicious, but the baby carrots completely surprised me--they were easily my favorite vegetable of the evening. The meat, poultry, and seafood selections were where Ambar truly shined. We enjoyed the Balkan kebab, NY strip, lamb medallions, beef goulash, roasted lamb, wood-fired branzino, drunken mussels, grilled shrimp, and the beef tartare from the Chef's Signature menu. While every dish was outstanding, the clear standouts were the lamb medallions, the branzino, and the drunken mussels. They were so good that we kept ordering additional plates long after we were already full! We also added the unlimited beverage package for just $27 per person, which was an incredible value. The house Old Fashioned, white sangria, and strawberry lemonade were all excellent and paired perfectly with the meal. Unfortunately, the service put a significant damper on what was supposed to be a special evening. Throughout dinner, we constantly felt rushed. Every time our server approached the table, we felt like we had to be completely ready with our next order because if we weren't, he would immediately turn and walk away. When bringing drinks, he would place them at the edge of the table and slide them across instead of setting them in front of the person who ordered them. While that may seem like a small detail, it contributed to an overall feeling that the service lacked care and hospitality. His demeanor throughout the evening also wasn't warm or welcoming. To add to that, as our group gathered near the front of the restaurant to take a birthday photo before leaving, another server brushed past my sister, bumping into her without saying "excuse me" or acknowledging what had happened. Had the food not been as exceptional as it was, I'm not sure I would have considered returning based solely on the service we received. That said, the quality of the food easily ranks among the best I've had in Chicago, and it's the reason I'll be back. If the service matched the caliber of the kitchen, this would be an easy five-star experience. Even with the hiccups, I'm looking forward to returning because the Ambar Experience truly is one of the best dining values in the city. #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad
food was overall good, service was quick, and the ambiance was a little noisy but overall all cute and enjoyable. I loved all the different options you're able to chose from when you do the all you can eat option
THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR AYCE BRUNCH I'm disappointed in my experience here. Overall beautiful restaurant. Faux florals everywhere which makes it IG-worthy to post but the food and service were very mediocre. I like the idea of ayce for a set price. It's fun and allows you to try a bunch of things. They should set a minimum of items ordered depending on your party size so servers don't have to keep scrambling around taking multiple orders at once. Or just a better ordering system cause service was very slow and we barely saw our waiter. He seemed stressed and not very enthusiastic about being there. The food at brunch was nothing special. The only dish I really enjoyed was the shrimp and grits. Skip the mushroom pilav! It was so flavorless I couldn't even finish it. I heard dinner service is better but this was just my experience.
My experience at AMBAR was truly outstanding. Everything including the food, service, and atmosphere was amazing. I came with my family to get the unlimited dinner option, and this far exceeded our expectations. At $55 a person, the unlimited menu is certainly worth it. The food at AMBAR is spectacular. With the unlimited dinner menu, this was great value for high quality food. We ordered a large variety of appetizers and entrees, and every dish we ordered was delicious. The cheese pie, meat pie, and lamb flatbread are nice appetizer options. The pies were flaky and crispy while having a flavorful filling. For entrees, the shrimp, mussels, steak, Balkan kebabs, and beef goulash were outstanding. We thought the meats were cooked to perfection. Moreover, the flavor of the sauce for the mussels was rich and creamy. This place is awesome because you can try everything on the menu and order more of your favorite dishes. However, some of the dishes were served in very small quantities, but this isn't a huge problem since you can just order more. The unlimited option truly is unlimited, and the staff had no problem when we ordered multiple portions of the same dish. Our waitress Francis was incredible as well. She came by frequently to take our orders so we didn't have to wait too long. After we ordered, the food came out fairly quickly, allowing us to try many things throughout the meal. The other staff members also cleaned our table often. Other reviews said the food orders took a long time, but this was the opposite of what I experienced. Overall, the unlimited AMBAR dining experience is amazing. The extensive menu options allow everyone to find dishes they like and try a variety of unique flavors. The atmosphere is Ambar is great, and I look forward to coming back again!
I admit I only heard about this place from social media but I had Balkan food many times in the suburbs. I've been to Balkan cafes and restaurants. The "hype" that most of these gen z say in their comments are probably because they don't even know where the Balkans are or where they come from. This is good publicity for the restaurant though. The restaurant is located in River North, across the street from Hotel Felix. I highly recommend making a reservation for any day that you come in, especially at night. We did the $55 ayce dinner. If you don't like something, just put it off to the side. This isn't one of those places that will charge you for wasting food. There is also a restaurant surcharge that you can remove. The surcharge is not a tip. The food is like a 3.5. The service is a 5. Our server was Frances. She was very attentive and nice. The staff in general were all great. They were fast and efficient when clearing off the empty plates and refilling our water. The restrooms are two floors up. Just a short walk upstairs. Not sure if I would return. I could find better quality food closer to home. -steak tartare 5 - ample amount of tartare to share with 3-4 people. It was creamy and savory. -piquillo croquettes 5 - crispy and I like the kajmak and aged sheep milk cheese just oozes out. The cranberry chutney on top was great with it. -veal soup 3 - this tasted like a chicken noodle type of soup without the noodles. Not bad. It was hot and you got big pieces of meat. -Balkan kebab 5 - these were great. Tender, juicy, and flavorful. -crispy corn ribs 5 - these were good. The chimichurri and feta cheese really helped amplify the taste. -almond fried chicken 2 - crunchy but too bland. It was also too dry. They forgot to marinate it. -brussel sprouts 5 - just taste like brussel sprouts. Healthy. -pork belly stuffed cabbage 5 - this reminds me of eating stuffed cabbage at those German/Polish restaurants. The skin was soft to cut, not mushy, and had a hearty taste. -lamb medallions 5 - these were cooked perfectly. Tender, make sure you eat them with the sauce and pickles. -roasted lamb 3 - the veggies were good but most of the lamb was too salty. It was like they poured too much into it. -sujuk flatbread 2 - I love these flatbreads but I don't know why they're too salty. There's a difference between too salty and well seasoned. -cheese pie 4 - the cheese taste is an acquired taste. It's a typical Bosnian cheese pie. It's kind of rich with a slight tart, salty taste. I had this before when I went to one of the Balkan restaurants in the burbs. -wood fire branzino 5 -branzino was crispy and moist. It went well with that potato salad and salsa. -mushroom pilaf 5 - not salty at all. Good balance. Risotto was soft with a little chew. I liked the addition of mushrooms. -drunken mussels 4.5 - I liked the garlic cream sauce with the sourdough bread. It has an acquired smell from the rakija. -grilled shrimp 3.5 - shrimp was perfectly cooked. I didn't really taste much of the Hungarian rub or the smoked aioli. -lamb flatbread 2 - this was the same thing as the sujuk, it was too salty.
Went for Brunch on Sunday and do A La Carte brunch instead of the AYCE. We got seated and no one came to our table with water until 10 minutes later. Once our order was taken one of our plates came and the other one didn't come until 25 minutes later. By the time the other plate came, the initial plate was cold and the second dish that came out wasn't even hot. Felt like they forgot about it. Our waiter barely came by our table to check on anything. Food was just okay. Kind of disappointed since I had seen good things about it.
The concept is good for the unlimited food and drinks for 2 hours at $77 ($55 if not drinking). Food is good overall and there's no harm in trying it all since it's included. Timing can be a bit awkward with nothing coming out or everything at once. I think that's just the nature of the beast, but if you pace the ordering better it probably works smoothly. You'll have to get a reservation or have dinner at a very non-peak time and it's quite busy. Our server wasn't particularly friendly but did the job. We stayed under the 2 hour window but somehow ended up with a much more expensive bill, so watch out/ask specifically when the dessert menu comes.
I really enjoyed the all you can eat the last time I was here, but now the menu has changed and the quality has really dropped. All the portions are much smaller which I thought was good, but the vegetarian options are terrible now. A lot of the vegetable plates are equivalent to something you could quickly make at home and aren't worth a $55 all you can eat meal at all. They even removed dessert from being included in the all you can eat. The dips they give in the beginning are honestly not good. The cauliflower, croquettes, and halloumi were the only sides that seemed good.
We did the all you can eat option and we were pleased with all the tapas! Our server Frances was lovely and attentive. My only complaint was the cost, we ended up with a much larger bill than expected. So I would recommend coming for the food but not necessarily for a night out of drinking.
Wow wow wow! Thank you Yelp for this amazing recommendation! We had no idea about this place until we searched for buffets in Chicago. It seemed unique and we were so glad we gave it a try. The decor and the service were amazing! The server stated that she normally worked the bar but we were glad she had our table. She kept everything clean and coming out. The servers here all worked together efficiently which was nice. The small plates and ability to try so many different flavors is such a win! I was really impressed with the sauces and dips. Nothing was too spicy but it all had great flavor. I enjoyed the fresh bread, olives, the vitamin salad, and the cheese. The mushroom dish tasted like a side at thanksgiving time. The fruit yogurt dish for dessert was fresh and clean tasting without being overly sweet. My pictures don't do the flavor justice. I have nothing but positive things to say about this restaurant. If I was a local I'd be here 2-3 times a month easily. read more
11 months ago
Utter perfection! Recently tried the AYCE Brunch with unlimited premium drinks. The food was delicious! The drinks were delicious! The only thing that wasn't 100% exceptional was the Mac and cheese (TO ME). I'm from the south and not used to Mac and cheese as liquidy as these. The taste was good...but I'm set in my ways! The service from Mia was WONDERFUL! She was on top of my drinks and took additional orders frequently. I have nothing but great things to say about her. The restaurant is also beautiful. The decorations are just fun and beautiful and really add to the great experience. read more
5 months ago
We did the all you can eat for $55 (2 hrs) where you order anything off the menu and it comes out tapas style. I would recommend this because a single dish is already about $20. I never had Balkan cuisine before so this was a great way to sample everything. It was a really fun experience. The atmosphere is very pretty, especially with the dim lighting during dinner. read more
16 days ago
Such amazing food and ambiance, they were incredibly kind to my mom and I for my birthday. There are hundreds of incredible restaurants in Chicago, but few that balance a great deal and luxury dining experience so well. So so so good read more
7 months ago
6 months ago
Great restaurant showcasing a wide menu of Balkan and Mediterranean staples as well as some more unique dishes, all for a reasonable price in their all-you-can-order menus! Went here for the restaurant week lunch which was basically $5 off the normal $35/person price for the all you can order lunch menu, and thought it was a great deal. The menu is pretty large with a wide selection of salad/soups, flatbreads, dips, handhelds/sandwiches, and a nice assortment of meat and seafood plate. The overall taste and presentation of the dishes were great, and for the size of the menu, they didn't skimp on the taste or effort put into any of the dishes. They offered a dip/pickle sampler which included some of the bean hummus, spicy feta dip, and beet salad. The cheese pita was rich and tasty although would've been nice if it was a bit warmer and flakier. The steak tartar was excellent, complemented by a delicious smoky aioli, I could've eaten a bunch more of this but wanted to try more of the menu before I got too full. The cevapi (Balkan finger size sausages) were delicious, juicy, with a nice grilled flavor and pretty close to the cevapi I had during my trip to Serbia! The almond fried chicken was crispy but not too heavy and complemented nicely by the apple slaw, and the mussels had a slightly salty but still delicious garlicky white wine cream sauce, my only issue with that dish is not having more toast to soak up the sauce. The lamb shoulder was roasted nicely but didn't have quite the level of flavor the other dishes had. Overall, while some dishes had a bit better execution than others, the food was tasty and with the all you can eat menu, it's more than worth a visit. Whether you're familiar with or never had Balkan cuisine before, there's enough to please everyone. Hoping to come back to try even more of the menu! read more
This is THE stop. Such a wide array of foods. The atmosphere is delightful and the service is absolutely outstanding. Just is so nice and welcoming. All you can eat $55, all you can drink $22. Shout out to Marko!!! He's the best. Thank you for the encouragement on trying stuff we normally would not have. read more
6 months ago
My friend hosted her birthday brunch here and we had amazing time. We opted for unlimited brunch option with me going for cocktail inclusion. The food was outstanding - really enjoyed the flavors. The service was also very good. The inside of restaurant appeared to be very welcoming and artistic. I would recommend brunches very much to try out their menu items as sampler and you would feel full. read more
Honestly enjoyed everything about this and you truly cannot beat their prices for all you can eat! Everything was flavorful and 100% would go back. Went for their dinner, and would love to check out their brunch menu. read more
I saw this place when I went to DC last year, but missed the opportunity to try it. What a surprise when I found they opened in Chicago's DT, so I had to make some time and try it. This belkan restaurant is set up on an AYCE set up and it have a lot of dishes to try, I like that the style is set up as a Tapas/Dim Sum style, where they bring you small dishes of anything you are ordering on the menu to try and you can ask to repeat if you want to. The dippings were amazing to get with the pita breads (that also were so fluffly and freshly maded), all the veggies dishes I tried were fantastic, my favorite were the asparagus, the corn rib and the baby carrots. On the meat side I loved the lamb, it had a lot of flavor and pairs well with the pita breads. On the seafood, all of them were my favorites, and repeated all of them lol. I would suggest to go for lunch time during week so you can get the most of the experience and wouldn't be so packed. Out of that, I'm happy I tried finally this place read more
2 months ago
The AYCE option never misses! Absolutely love this place. Liz was our server and she made the experience even better. Some recommendations would be the Balkan Kabob is fiiire ! The Balkan salad and the Kiwi Smash (alcoholic bev)! Great place for Happy Hour too. read more
We visited Ámbar for brunch and they have great brunch options. They have an all you eat and drink option. They have a lot of great small plate options which is great to share with somebody. A rustic and chic vibe to the interior with great service. Definitely a spot I would go to again and checkout the dinner menu. read more
Back in June, my sorority sister and I came for unlimited lunch to jumpstart our reunion weekend after an early travel morning. I've been to the DC location so I had some expectations and this location topped them. The large space is bright and beautiful but pretty empty that rainy afternoon. We ordered a few dishes form each of the sections of the menu. The server was attentive, the food came out quickly and well presented even in the their small form. Some highlights were the fried zucchini, lamb medallions, grilled shrimp, and pork shoulder. Centrally located, the price was right, food was delicious so I would recommend and return! read more
Went during restaurant week. Did their try everything on the menu for $30. It was awesome. Plates are small but more than enough food. I ordered close to 20 different dishes. Plus, I got a happy hour $8 sangria. Anyway, an assortment of meats, salads, veggies, potatoes, more meats, spreads and bread made this experience unbeatable. Lots of pics taken, but on many of them, I had already started eating the food. Since I tried virtually everything they had, I can say the good, service and ambiance is fantastic. read more
Food was great. Place was decorated super cutesy too. I liked the portions for the tasting, portion is enough so you have room to try a lot for unlimited tasting. The only thing is it would take a while for server to come and also take a little bit for food to be delivered. It was very busy on the Tuesday night we came for restaurant week. Definitely not the staff's fault though they were most likely understaffed. Other than that everything else was great. read more
7 months ago
7 months ago
I loved this place. It was an all you can eat brunch spot that was amazing for $35. The food was so tasty and flavorful. The service was great, a bit slow but understandable since there was a lot of people. The place had such a chill brunch vibe. Can't wait to come back! read more
It was such a snowy day, but packed by the time we left lunch. The service was excellent from the hostess, waiter, to the team bussing food and clearing the table. We tried the brunch for Restaurant Week. The pita bread was warm and I ate too much of it. Most of the table preferred the Smoked Salmon benedict, shrimp and grits, the NY strip steak, and the beef kabab. They do a very consistent job with the poached egg. We ordered a little bit of everything to try, but they gave us 2 of each so we filled up pretty quickly. Among the waffles, the strawberry waffle was the most popular at the table. This is definitely a great value. The whole family had a lot of fun ordering whatever each wants. read more
I'll first say that I'm embarrassed that I didn't take more photos on my brunch trip to Ambar..but I was way too busy eating everything in sight. This is a newer Balkan restaurant opened in April 2025. The interior is beautiful! And they have a really nice patio as well. The entire concept is all you can eat small plates for a flat fee. We found everything to be delicious! T he service was extremely fast and our server was super helpful in guiding us on how much to order each round with some dishes being a little smaller than others. We were all thrilled with our experience at Ambar and I will definitely be returning for dinner! read more
27 days ago
Unique and awesome addition to the River North food scene! In an area full of pricy spots, Ambar steals the show for quality and value. My friend and I visited for lunch, and at $34.99 for ACYE it was a steal! The tapas-style meal started with a complimentary plate of their spreads with freshly wood-fired pita- of the four, the spicy whipped feta and beet tzatziki really stood out for their unique flavors. We moved onto the cheese pies, grilled halloumi, and pepper croquettes, which were all excellent. The cheese pie was buttery and soft, reminding me of a cross between a croissant and baklava, while the halloumi brought a satisfying blend of toasted sesame, salty cheese, and honey flavors. The croquettes were exceptionally crispy and balanced a wonderful sweet and spicy flavor. For proteins, we ordered the lamb medallions, grilled shrimp, almond-fried chicken, Balkan kebab (cevapi), beef short rib goulash, and pork shoulder. You really can't go wrong with any of them! The kebab and pork shoulder really stood out to me though, as both were packed full of flavor and really melted in the mouth. The pureed potatoes alongside the pork were *chef's kiss.* For good measure, we rounded out the meal with the cauliflower and white flatbread, which may have been my favorite dishes of the day! The cauliflower was incredibly crispy, which paired extremely well with the creamy pesto sauce. The flatbread was a warm pile of cheesy goodness and an absolute must-order. Of the meal, the only dish I would skip next time was the eggplant moussaka, which I felt could have used a flavor boost. Throughout the meal, the staff was very attentive and friendly, which made for an all around great experience. Can't recommend Ambar highly enough, and I'm already plotting a return visit! read more
10 months ago
9 months ago
An AYCE small plates menu for $55/person and if you use inkind to pay you get even more discount! The small places were all pretty good, but nothing mindblowing. I loved the corn ribs though, so flavorful and crunchy and juicy. Highly recommend. I was able to try almost the whole menu with the $55 deal so it was worth! read more
Shortly after opening day we visited Ambar Chicago for their unlimited dinner. At $54.99 per person- make sure you arrive with an empty stomach. We sat in the bar area- where you actually had to sit to take advantage of happy hour cocktail specials- 4-6 pm M-F. We ordered the Ambar Old Fashioned & Kiwi Smash. They were both fine cocktails- but not really special. The Kiwi Smash came with a large stalk of basil laid across the top which didn't really add to the drink. We started with mixed spreads and pita bread. The pita bread was fabulous. Warm and airy- it was a standout. We ate a variety of small plate entrees- the Balkan kebab, drunken mussels, grilled halloumi. It was all good, but nothing really memorable. The memorable dish was definitely the Krempita dessert! The layered pasty, the custard, with powdered sugar and raspberries was chef's kiss! The service was interesting- I think I would have called it a bit overly friendly and over-attentive. Some people might like that- we don't particularly. I wish we'd been allowed to sit in the main dining room and still take advantage of the happy hour cocktails. We were celebrating a wedding anniversary and the bar wasn't really the vibe I wanted- but I did want the drink specials- so that's on me. read more
1 year ago
I went to Ambar with a friend for Happy Hour, and it's a really good Happy Hour! We sat outside on the patio, which was lovely. The food was tasty, and Balkan food is new to me. I love a spread sampler, so that was great. Some of the dips were good and some weren't my favorite (eg I don't like beets, but I don't hold that against them!). The cheese flatbread was great. The things I didn't love were still tasty and had a good mix of flavors and textures, just newer flavors to me that I wasn't used to. I took a star off because of the service: we waited over 30 min for the check just waiting and waiting, didn't see our server ever again and ended up getting it from someone else. read more
All you can eat brunch is delicious and super worth it!!! Flat breads, cheese breads, mac and cheese, chicken, etc. Food is delicious! And the service is very kind and attentive. Ambiance is casual and lively. Love the simplicity and care of this place! Only thing I am not the biggest fan of is having to go all the way to another floor to a bathroom shared with a hotel. Not the best with lil ones, but totally not a big deal in general. Will be back to try dinner! read more
If you're in the mood to try out a new place, i highly recommend Ambar's unlimited menu experience which is only for $77 (including food and drinks). Balkan food is new to me and i wasn't entirely sure what to go for but this experience is the best to enjoy their entire menu in a tapas style! They have the most delicious meat preparations have ever eaten. Highly recommend the pork shoulder, roasted lamb. For those who don't eat meat you can't go wrong with their chicken preparations. With an open kitchen, the place feels moody, posh, perfect for a date night! Now that i have some menu favourites, i know exactly what i want when i come back!! read more
11 days ago
11 months ago
Can't beat the location in downtown Chicago and it's really nice to have some variety in dishes that are unique. Some of the portions were too small and the service was a little slow but overall a good experience, clean and unique tastes with good presentation and ambiance. read more
4 months ago
7 months ago
A great introduction to Balkan food, and a solid AYCE deal for the quality and service provided, plus a very pretty and comfortable ambiance! I'd never been to an AYCE tapas restaurant before (probably because it's pretty expensive and difficult on the restaurant's end to pull it off), but I think Ambar handled it wonderfully! Every dish was freshly made, service was very attentive and fast, so I think the prices were worth it for Restaurant Week ($30 brunch/lunch AYCE). Normally it's a bit more ($38?) but I could see it being worth it if you're a fan of the food and want to eat a lot. Most of the food did end up being just fine (not bad, just not mind blowing), but some standouts were the Grilled Hangar Steak, the Cheese Pie, and the White Bean Hummus Parking is difficult since it's right in downtown River North area, but if you can't find street parking, there's a decent midday SpotHero Lot right across the street (~$10 for 2-3 hours I think) Overall, a fun experience but I'm not sure if I would go again unless someone I'm with really wants to go read more
Ambar just opened up in River North and it's already a standout. For $55, you get unlimited Balkan small plates--a refined AYCE-style experience perfect for sharing. I went with seven friends and left beyond full. The vibe is cozy yet stylish--pastel pink stenciled walls, moody glowy lighting, and plush, tassel-fringed chairs that make both bar and table seating super comfy and playful. It's a space that feels both intimate and fun. Every table starts with warm hollow bread and dips (delicious--just don't fill up too fast). My favorites included the gooey Cheese & Pepper Croquettes, crispy Almond Fried Chicken, melt-in-your-mouth Atlantic Salmon, and juicy Lamb Medallions with lemon-garlic yogurt. (I don't have any pics, sorry). On the drinks front, their highlight is house Rakia, a 30% ABV fruit brandy that sneaks into many cocktails. Ask for a tasting if you're curious!! Once ordered, the food comes out as it's ready, keeping the vibe casual and flavorful. Bonus points for their Unlimited vegan & vegetarian menu and non-alcoholic options and ability to accommodate gluten-free and allergy-friendly. NOTE: Bathrooms are located on the second floor, so it may be worth calling ahead if you need accessible accommodations. NOTE 2: Check your tab. Groups of 6+ automatically include tip. DO's: * Go with a group and come hungry * Soak in the dreamy interior--it's a vibe * Try a bit of everything, including veggie dishes * Ask about Rakia and their cocktails- I loved their Green Pepper & Plum drinks * Let staff know any dietary restrictions DON'Ts: * Fill up on the bread too soon * Assume it's Indian cause of its name (it's Balkan!) * Skip the croquettes, salmon, or lamb * Underestimate the Rakia--it's strong stuff read more
1 month ago
was on my period and craving something sweet like my life depended on it. Ordering from my hotel was easy, staff was nice, service was fast, all good signs. The restaurant looked all boujee so I thought, yes, this is it--my cravings are about to be cured. I ordered the fried doughnuts with Boston crème dip. The crème? Amazing. The doughnuts? Tasted like someone deep-fried a science experiment. Chemical flavor and all. My sweet tooth went from "feed me" to "nah, I'm good." PMS cravings: 1, fancy restaurant: 0. read more
More info about AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago
700 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60654
River North, Near North Side
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(312) 547-1700
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https://ambarrestaurant.com
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