Bia Kitchen is a quaint Irish restaurant/pub that has lots of buzz on social media and comes highly…read morerecommended. According to one of the lovely staff,"Bia" means food in Irish, in case you were curious. They have a full bar with lots of quality spirits to choose from. The beer selection is all draught, no bottled beer. We decided to share some appetizers with our drinks. We ordered PEI mussels, champagne peppercorn patè and fried calamari. All the appetizers were excellent. The patè was presented nicely with accoutrements of fig jam, cornichon, macerated tomatoes and bread. The mussels were offered in a Thai curry sauce but we asked for another serving option due to an allergy concerns. They offered us a white wine and garlic option and we gladly took it. The mussels were cooked very well, the flavor was clean and mild but could have used stronger seasoning, The fried calamari was executed perfectly. It was crispy, tender, flavorful with zero greasiness. The garlic tomato aioli accompanied the dish well. We shared the beef medallions as our entree and a side of fries because I spotted a server carrying fish and chips and the steak fries style potatoes were speaking to me. The steak was tender and flavorful and the Demi glaze brought the dish together. The fries were crispy and salty and wonderful, I'm glad I was inspired. We saved room for dessert and chose churros and Dubai chocolate. Both were a great finish to our dining experience.

We booked a reservation for Saturday evening at 7 PM and had no issues getting a reservation. We…read moreparked in a public parking lot but there is some street parking around. They were moderately busy and let us know to head up the stairs. They escorted us to our table. My husband ordered the French Riviera cocktail which was really good. For our appetizers - we started with the Rabbit Sausage and the Tuna Tartare - both were delicious - definitely recommend. The Tuna Tartare was cut into pretty large cubes though - I do wish it was slightly smaller but the flavor was really good. Both my husband and my friends got the Short Rib Ravioli and my friend also ordered the Baby Spinach Salad. I really enjoyed the Short Rib Ravioli and my friend said she also enjoyed the Baby Spinach Salad. Our ravioli was delicious but my friend did indicate this his was slightly undercooked and the ravioli was a little tough. I ordered the Seafood Cioppino. While I did expect bread to use for the Saffron Broth, I ordered it on the side for an upcharge. I wish it was a little more toasted and warm. The Seafood Cioppino itself was pretty good but not sure if I would order again as it wasn't very filling by itself. I also ordered a side of the Spinach & Oyster Mushrooms in Garlic Butter. It didn't have too much of a garlic flavor and just tasted like sauteed Spinach and Mushrooms. Overall, things were good and as it got busier, service did have some lags. I liked the warm ambience of the restaurant and would consider coming back trying some of the other items on the menu.

My husband surprised me with brunch at Ambar because he always researches menus before making…read morereservations to make sure there are enough options for my food intolerances. That thoughtfulness is one of the many reasons I was excited to try it. When we arrived, I was initially concerned after learning that the "G" on the menu indicated dishes **containing** gluten rather than being gluten-free. Since many menu items were marked with a "G," I worried my options would be very limited, especially for the unlimited brunch experience. Thankfully, our server, Emma, immediately put me at ease. She brought me the food allergy menu, answered my questions with patience, and made sure I understood what was safe for me to enjoy. While my husband and I were deciding whether to stay, the manager, Antonio, came to our table after Emma shared my dietary concerns. His kindness completely changed the experience. He took the time to explain my options, offered to have the kitchen modify several dishes, and reassured me that their goal was for me to feel safe and enjoy my meal. Thanks to Emma and Antonio, what started with uncertainty became one of the most enjoyable brunch experiences I've had. I was able to enjoy a variety of delicious dishes, the mimosas were a great value, and the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with natural light. What I'll remember most, though, is how genuinely cared for I felt. Before we left, Antonio stopped by one last time to make sure I was happy with my meal and that all of my needs had been met. My husband had put so much love and intention into choosing this restaurant, and thanks to Emma and Antonio, we both left with happy hearts and full bellies. If you have food intolerances or dietary restrictions, I hope this review gives you confidence to visit Ambar. Their team didn't just accommodate my needs. They made me feel welcome, respected, and cared for. That's the kind of hospitality that earns five stars from me.

New: TG corn ribs. Delicious and creative (see my picture). It's a new interpretation of corn on…read morethe cob. Mixed grill is now more expensive (as part of the Ambar Experience at Home set: grill). Though now you can choose individual ingredients (chicken, lamb and so on as opposed to mixed grill which is no + $4) Baklava shrunk! In the past the portion was generous. Now: only 3 tiny pieces.

This was my second visit to this restaurant. My companion and i ordered from the happy hour menu…read morewhich is on the back of the full menu. It is a $24.95 flat price offering an appetizer, entree and dessert for that price. (Only available Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5-6:30 pm). There were about 6 choices each for appetizers and entrees and 3 for dessert. My companion had a mussel appetizer and I had French Onion soup. My soup was a great example of the classic preparation. Bubbly and browned cheese over a deeply flavorful broth of onions and a slice of French bread. My companion loved the mussels. As to the entree I had what was called Beef Diane, a twist on the classic Steak Diane. It consisted of tips of filet in a delicious gravy flavored with cognac. My companion had Rainbow Trout and was very happy with it. For dessert we both had cheesecake with strawberry sauce. A good example of a New York style cheesecake. Both entrees were served with well cooked mixed vegetables. The portions were not a scaled down size but normal size. The meal comes with fresh baked toasted bread served warm. Delicious. The service was attentive which was to be expected because there were only 3 tables occupied. A complimentary shot of a what I think was kahlua was served at the end of the meal. The atmosphere is lots of dark wood and a classic bar. Great food and a great experience. Don't pass up this great value!!

Came here last night and it took an hour and a half for our entrees to come out. There was no…read moreapology or acknowledgement at all. The place was emptying out by the time we got our meals. They tried to appease the pair of diners next to us with free shots of something, but nothing for us because we went an acquaintance and his sister who are regulars, so they knew it didn't matter if we were happy or not. Food was terrible. I had the rainbow trout which seemed like it might have come frozen. Topped with dull brown gravy and canned mushrooms. Got a large dollop of bland mashed potatoes with it and a few green beans. TLDR: this place is for senior citizens who take comfort in familiar cafeteria level food. I'm perplexed how it's in business with high ratings. I've come here numerous times because the person I know (who's about 25 years my senior) comes here every Friday night.

A wonderful experience! We loved coming here and getting to try lil bites of as much as we wanted…read more We sat outside which I wouldn't reccomend, the atmosphere wasn't as comfy as inside. But service was efficient and food was excellent! Def come hungry so you can try all the things. Flatbreads and lasagna were a 10/10

Honestly and truly some of the worst brunch food I've ever had. I dined at this location on a…read moreSunday with a large group of 22. The organizer had booked the brunch about a week in advance and had coordinated with the restaurant to pay a large group deposit. The reservation was for 1:30 PM, but our table was not ready until 2 PM. When we were finally seated, the table was only set for 20 people. We were in the upstairs room with another large group, so there was no space to really add two more chairs to our table. We had to crowd into the table to accommodate the last two people. Even though the brunch is bottomless with a menu to choose from, the servers decided to just bring random items from the brunch menu to the table. Honestly, some of the worst food I have ever seen. The vegetable vitamin salad looked like slop, as did the rice/salad dish, which I'm not even sure what it was called. We were also brought a trio of three dips as well as pita and cornbread. The dips were very bland, the cornbread was dry and flavorless. As I did not like any of the items that the servers selected, I begin requesting other salads/appetizers off of the menu. I requested the Greek/Mediterranean salad and the pickles, both were very underwhelming. As far as the brunch foods, the menu was literally all over the place. Even though this is a Balkan-inspired restaurant, there were items such as fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and shrimp and grits on the menu, which don't actually make sense in light of what Balkan cuisine is. The best thing I ate was grilled steak, which was on a platter with eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes. There were two Belgian dessert waffles as well which were underwhelming. The only decent thing about the entire experience is that our servers kept the mimosas flowing. Each person in our party paid $75 inclusive of tax and tip-- 100% NOT worth it.

This was our first visit to The Henri. We had 75 minutes before a show across the street at the…read moreWarner Theatre, and we had three criteria: nothing too loud and crowded, service had to be swift and attentive, and we wanted a full bar to enjoy a cocktail before the show. The Henri checked off these criteria, and then some! One friend got there early and started at the bar. When we arrived 15 minutes later, we were seated in the dining room room right away. This was about 5:45 PM on a Wednesday night. The dining room room was maybe half full, and we could easily have a conversation without straining to hear each other. When one of us was scooting in our chair toward the table, we noticed soundproofing pads mounted under the tables...so that might account for the ability to hear one another. (Smart design!) I had The Henri Margarita, which was a beet infused casa del sol tequila with beet agave. OMG it was fantastic! My two friends tried mine and ordered one for themselves. Refreshing and delightful. They brought a small bread basket while we waited for entrees, and the sliced bread tasted homemade with a crisp crust and soft interior. Two of us had the Rockfish Imperial: rockfish with a seared crust, topped with lump crab meat, seasonal vegetables and potatoes, with a beet buerre blanc sauce. (Wouldn't that technically be a buerre rouge, then?) It was very well prepared, the seared crust excellent and well seasoned, fish cooked to perfection, and the caulilini (part of the vege medley) was a new vegetable that I've never had before and enjoyed! Not a crumb left on the plate when I was done. Our other friend had the classic Orange Glazed Duck Breast that came with fingerling potatoes and sunchokes. He enjoyed his very much as well. For dessert (and I'm sorry I didn't get the actual name of it) we shared a chocolate mousse cake with banana gelato. The cake was good, the gelato was delicious and refreshing, and the pairing was outstanding. The service was very attentive, and we didn't need to flag anyone down for anything. We even forgot to warn ahead that we had a show to go to! They were able to split the check in thirds, and we were able to check out with plenty of time to head across the street to the theater. I'm still thinking about that beet margarita, five days later! This will definitely be my go-to spot for a deliciously prepared meal and the ability to have audible conversation with friends before any shows at the Warner or National.

I had some time before the theater and had always been curious about this beautiful entrance of…read morethis restaurant. I decided to pop in and sat myself at the bar. I didn't have much time so ordered an espresso martini and a crab roll. I must say, bartender Stiven served up one of the best I've had in this city! Stiven was also just absolutely delightful to talk to. The crab rolls were also a great snack. They were hot and crunchy, and perfect for my appetite needs. I liked them without the dipping sauce, but try it and see if you like it. I would like to go back and try dinner. In looking at their menu, they accommodate may allergies and eating preferences, which is always a bonus. I will note this restaurant is a little on the pricier side, but very on par with restaurants in this area. They also have a great happy hour in looking at their website. I'm happy to now have a good pre theater spot!

Looking for a good espresso martini but close proximity to our brunch venue, a girlfriend and I…read morefound our way to Kafe Leopold--and it did not disappoint. The location is super cute (both inside and outside). If you don't know it's there, you'll easily miss it as it's down alleyway and down the stairs. It did take a while for someone to acknowledge us, but we went at the start of brunch. So the place was packed! Once we did get the attention of the bartender, things were fine. I would definitely go back for their food. It all looked delicious as it was coming out the kitchen.

I've heard good things about Kafe Leopold, but I wasn't impressed with my lunch today…read more I started with an omelette, adding ham. It was OK but not memorable. The sachertorte I had for dessert looked great but wasn't nearly as good as I'd hoped.

I went to CHLOE in DC and honestly, I've walked past this place so many times and had no idea there…read morewas a gym inside. I love that they have a whole fried fish because the presentation alone is spectacular. They also had a featured menu, I'm not sure if it changes weekly or monthly, and my date got the curry shrimp which was honestly a really good size portion. I was super tired that day so we were kind of in and out, but I'd definitely go back. The drinks were good too. Cute place and solid service - loved the bread as well

Casual neighborhood vibe - great outdoor atmosphere although the best seat is at the bar where you…read morecan see the kitchen prep the most delectable sharables. Friendly for dg owners, great service, and fresh, tasty food carefully curated. The spices are creatively woven into the Newell plated dishes. Great for groups, take out and for a local meal. Vegan options! My favs by far - the penne pasta with pork ragout, and the Flat iron Minute Steak with shiitakes and the caramelized Cauliflower.

This place reminded me of home. We ordered the Veal Zürich Style and it was fantastic. My mother…read moreused to make this dish for me growing up, and I haven't had it since she passed away two years ago. It was so good that I am inspired to try my hand at this in my own kitchen. Thank you, Silvan and David, for bringing back those memories with your amazing food! The fondue was also exceptional. We enjoyed the Belper Knolle fondue and ordered the potatoes to accompany the bread for dipping. Speaking of bread, the basket of bread and butter they brought us while we waited for our food was wonderful. If you are looking for really good bread, take home a loaf of the Wurzelbrot. (We did!) Drinks were incredible and served to us by Silvan himself. We enjoyed the hot spiked apple cider and the Smoking Mirrors. Service was excellent and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. We spent the first snowy night of the season at Stable DC and boy, was it the perfect place to be! Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu. Vielen Herzlichen Dank!

I appreciate Swiss culture being part of the DC food scene! I came here for both brunch and dinner…read moreservice, and I'll say the drinks/food I had were amazing. Especially with the fondue service, they did everything right and I felt like I was back in Switzerland! Would highly recommend for dining here, especially in the back rooms indoors where it feels like you're in a lodge. I will say I am not giving this place 5 stars because of the quality of service I received here. It was disappointing for brunch, the server kept on messing up mine/my friend's orders, and eventually we gave up trying to correct him because we didn't want to inconvenience him anymore. Furthermore, for dinner, we were only served when we did our initial order, when the food came out, and when we were presented the bill. Overall, I very much enjoyed coming here. Perhaps I went on off days, but would be willing to do the dining experience again.

Owners are wonderful. Food always on point and tasty along with the cool vibe that makes for a good…read moreambience.

We've been here twice now and it has impressed both times. The pasta is very good and the pesto…read moregnocchi. I enjoyed the duck lentil soup. The Ethiopian tibs is a unique dish that we've enjoyed both times. Servers are very friendly and helpful. The gelato is a must have treat!

First off, Balkan food is accessible, so don't let that scare you. It's not just beets served atop…read morean unexploded land mine. Second, the service is unique. You have a menu of maybe 30 dishes. You can order as many as you want for a set price (50 bucks or so per person). The dishes are served in very small portions which facilitates everyone having a bite or two then moving on to the next dish. Finally, everything was good. We had a party of three and we shared maybe 13 or 14 dishes. It would be VERY difficult to pick the top 3 favorite dishes because all of them were contenders.

My son and I enjoyed a lovely Sunday brunch at Ambar Shaw the last weekend of March 2026. I was sad…read moreto learn that 6 days after we dined here, a city bus crashed into the restaurant rendering it temporarily closed. I'm thankful it happened early in the morning and no one was seriously injured. I hope that the owners can repair the damage allowing them to reopen this location! My understanding is that they have two other locations in the DC area. During our visit, our service was friendly, quick and efficient. We had the all-you-can eat brunch for about $37/person. We didn't elect the bottomless mimosas though I was seriously tempted! We ate inside since I was worried about the chilly morning, but the enclosed patio looked delightful. I kinda wish we'd eaten out there! Noise levels inside were manageable. The food was wonderful and some dishes like the flatbread pizza were larger than I expected. I'll say I think bottomless brunches are best enjoyed by a group of 3 minimum, ideally 4-6. For two of us, it was hard to sample as much as we'd like, especially if we want to try different things. One gets full faster than you'd expect and I hate to waste food! A couple dishes that stood out to me: the little donut holes were a treat as was the white flatbread. The beet tzatziki served with pita bread tasted amazing! I'm less of a poached egg person, so I can't comment on those options. I didn't take pics of each dish, too busy enjoying them! Definitely worth working AMBAR into your brunch rotation!