AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago

Reviews

• IP

  Ilya Popov

  3 days ago
  5.0
  Ambar is a truly unique spot here. The cuisine stands out from the usual options—you won’t find typical American or Italian dishes. Instead, it offers a rich Balkan menu with a lot of character and interesting flavors you don’t come across every day. It’s absolutely worth visiting if you’re looking for something new and different. The experience feels refreshing, and the food is genuinely delicious. The baklava paired with Turkish coffee is a must-try—an outstanding combination and easily one of the highlights. Special thanks to our server, Marko — he was fantastic. Very friendly, attentive, and gave great recommendations. He really made our experience even better, and we’re grateful to him for such a wonderful lunch.
• MZ

  Martha Zuniga

  5 days ago
  4.0
  I’ll start by saying excellent service. The hosts were very sweet. The servers, food runners, and bussers were wonderful. Food was delicious we were there for happy hour and had the corn, salad, Balkan skewer, cheese pie, and the spread of dips. All were so tasty. We tried the mango and the kiwi drink on the HH menu and both were really well balanced. The only weird thing was they don’t let you take a to go box for the food you don’t finish due to ordering off the happy hour menu. However this was our first time experiencing this so we were a bit thrown off 😂 we thought the busser was joking at first when we asked for a box. It’s not a deal breaker though, that aside all 10s across the board. I want to come back here for brunch!
• VD

  Vlad Dini

  6 days ago
  4.0
  It's our second time at Ambar. First time everything was great, including the staff. This time, we had Nikola as our server. He was unprofessional, distracted and his customer service almost zero. When the customer pays the bill cash you don't sit next to them waiting for the money. I have the paper check, I need to do the math, come back in a few minutes to get the cash from my table. The restaurant was empty when we got there. I am not picky or needy as a customer but I expect proper communication regarding the menu from our server and some professionalism. The rest of the staff was great. Food amazing. I will come back for the food tho.
• KK

  Kayla Pitts Kies

  Apr 14, 2026
  5.0
  Ambar is such a fun spot, one of the only places in the city where you can get all-you-can-eat Balkan food, which makes it feel really unique. The space itself is so cute too, with flowers hanging everywhere and tons of natural light. It’s also surprisingly spacious, which I loved. Also, I can’t wait for the patio! It’s a great deal for what you get, $55 for dinner, and you can add bottomless drinks for $22 more. You have a 2-hour window, but honestly that was more than enough time for us to get completely full. They start you off with a tray of dips, veggies, and pita (the spicy feta was a standout), and then you can really go all in ordering from the menu. Some of our favorites were the NY strip, crispy corn ribs, steak tartare, and the Balkan salad. The portions are perfect, just enough to enjoy each dish while still being able to try a ton of different things. Service was fast and attentive, and our server did a great job walking us through the menu. We can’t wait to come back, such a perfect date night spot!
• EV

  Elena Vor

  Apr 2, 2026
  5.0
  If you’re looking for one of the most fun and satisfying dining experiences in Chicago, Ambar absolutely delivers. The “Dining Without Limits” concept is genius—small plates, beautifully presented, and you can try as many as you want. It’s the perfect way to explore a huge variety of flavors without committing to just one dish. Every plate we tried was packed with flavor and came out quickly, so the experience felt seamless and exciting rather than overwhelming. From savory meats to fresh, vibrant sides, everything tasted thoughtfully prepared and well-balanced. It’s clear the kitchen puts real care into each dish. What really stood out was how easy it was to customize the experience. You can pace yourself, reorder favorites, and keep trying new things the entire time. It never felt rushed, and the staff was incredibly attentive, making sure we always had something new to enjoy. Honestly, this place deserves way more attention—I only found it by accident, and I’m so glad I did. Ambar should definitely invest in more advertising because this is a hidden gem people shouldn’t miss. And one more request: please open a location in Michigan! This is exactly the kind of restaurant we need more of. This is the kind of place that turns dinner into an experience rather than just a meal. Perfect for date night, groups, or anyone who loves trying a little bit of everything. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit.