AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill

Reviews

• SF

  sebastien freard

  2 days ago
  1.0
  Unfortunately, we have dined here before but this time was unacceptable. Knowing that it was Sunday and rainy, we decided to walk up and place our names on the waiting list. They said that it was an hour wait, we arrived at 12:50 waited, watched the waitlist to see where we were. We’re number one on the waitlist and then we’re unexpectedly taken off, after that we went over, put our names back on the waitlist and were placed at number one for another 45min. The hostess was dismissive and insensitive, she cut me off multiple times and was unresponsive to our wait time. When asked why we were taken off the waitlist the first time the young lady had no answer. In the end, we had to remove ourselves from the list after two Plus hours and go to matchbox next-dooor. This was very disappointing as being returning customers.
• GG

  gigi

  3 days ago
  1.0
  This was my 3rd (and final) visit to an Ambar restaurant. The first time, we visited the Shaw location. That experience was awesome. This prompted my daughter and I to try the Capitol Hill location. Unfortunately, we both became extremely sick after that underwhelming visit. We do not live together and the Ambar restaurant was our only commonality. That was in 2024. My most recent experience (2026) solidified the fact that I will not return. I made a reservation for 2:45pm on a Friday. Was never told that they close the kitchen at 3:30. We chose the premium option which added $20 per person to the original $33 "unlimited" option. Naturally, we were surprised when our server told us she was doing a "last call" for the table only 45 minutes into our supposed 2 hour experience. When we asked what we are to do with the extra hour and 15 minutes, we were told we could "just chill out" if we wanted. We knew about the extra surcharge early on and would've been fine with it but in this instance we had them remove it considering we did not receive the full amount of time to dine that we were supposed to. Unacceptable. If you have a time limit on your reservations, I suggest you make your patrons aware that the kitchen shuts down at certain times so that they can adjust reservation times accordingly. At the very least, have your hostess/servers make them aware when arriving.
• SW

  Suzi Wear

  4 days ago
  5.0
  I found this place when visiting DC for business. It’s in a cute neighborhood, and I had a great experience. It was hard to narrow my menu selection - everything looked so good. I ended up getting the lamb lasagna which was amazing. My server surprised me with a small plate of the roasted brussel sprouts with bacon and Greek yogurt, which I was considering but worried about being able to eat a full plate. It would be fun to go with a group and sample more of the smaller plates from the tasting menu.
• FF

  FamilyISFIRST2023

  Aug 9, 2026
  2.0
  I celebrated my birthday at Ambar on 8th Street SE in Washington, D.C., with a party of 13. The restaurant was clean, cute, and the upstairs bar was beautifully decorated. The bartender was also extremely friendly and provided excellent service. 🌸🍹 Unfortunately, the brunch experience was very disappointing. Our table was in a tight area near the kitchen, and the music was so loud that it was difficult to hear one another. The food service was extremely disorganized. Some guests never received their meals, while others received meals they didn't order. As the birthday girl, I had to intervene when an argument developed between the waitress and one of my guests over a bowl of potatoes. The waitress insisted my guest had already received them, but she had not. My guest was so hungry from waiting that she eventually began eating from another guest's plate. Honestly, who's going to lie about not receiving a bowl of potatoes during a Saturday brunch? 🥔 My own omelette was not tasty, and I did not care for the white sauce, although the potatoes were good. The mimosas were good as well, except for the hibiscus flavor. We spent over $800 for our party of 13, yet several guests left without receiving their correct meals. We ultimately went next door to Matchbox so everyone could eat and continue the birthday celebration. I want to acknowledge the beautiful atmosphere and excellent bartender, but the overall service and organization were disappointing. Spending over $800 and leaving with hungry guests and incorrect or missing orders is unacceptable. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and improves how large parties are handled.
• AA

  Amarachi

  Jul 28, 2026
  5.0
  Ambar was such a wonderful introduction to Balkan cuisine. Every dish was beautifully presented, thoughtfully prepared, and full of rich, well-balanced flavors. The unlimited dining concept made it easy to explore the menu, and honestly, there wasn’t a single course that disappointed. The atmosphere was warm, stylish, and inviting. The perfect setting whether you’re planning a date night, celebrating, or simply enjoying a great meal. The service was equally impressive. A special shoutout to Bastian, who was hands down the best server. He was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and made excellent recommendations throughout the evening. His hospitality truly elevated the entire experience. If you’re looking to experience authentic Balkan cuisine in Washington, DC, Ambar is absolutely worth a visit. I’ll definitely be recommending it to friends and family.