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Ambar - Arlington, Arlington, VA
Ambar - Arlington, Arlington, VA
Ambar - Arlington, Arlington, VA
Ambar - Arlington, Arlington, VA
Ambar - Arlington, Arlington, VA

Ambar - Arlington

4.5
4.5
3749 Reviews
$30 and under
Tapas / Small Plates
Top Tags:
Welcome to Ambar, the gem of Arlington, where you are invited to explore the dynamic flavors of Balkan cuisine. What distinguishes us, is our well-curated, exclusive 'Dining Without Limits' experience, which brings you the soul of Balkan dining traditions. Our extensive menu boasts a variety of shareable small plates, perfectly paired with a vast selection of premium Balkan wines. Whether joining us for a leisurely lunch, celebratory weekend brunch, or an evening of indulgence, our unlimited dining menu promises to deliver an unparalleled culinary journey. We excel in serving individual guests, as well as larger groups, and private events. At Ambar, our custom catering services add that extra sparkle to your events. At Ambar, we are revolutionizing dining with inventive Balkan cuisine that blends tradition and innovation, seamlessly. We ensure an unforgettable gastronomic experience with award-winning, extraordinary hospitality. Step into Ambar, the pinnacle of Balkan dining.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 66 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Tapas / Small Plates, Balkan style, Eastern European
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 9:30 am–3:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 3:30 pm–10:30 pm Fri 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 4:30 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (703) 875-9663
  • Website
    http://www.ambarrestaurant.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Dejan Pilovic
  • Catering
    Please check the menu and options online<br />https://www.ambarrestaurant.com/catering-clarendon/
  • Private party facilities
    Ambar is a perfect place for all types of private and corporate events. With our exceptional food and well trained staff, Ambar is the place of choice when it comes to your celebration. From small family gatherings to huge corporate events, we host your friends and business partners with equal care.
  • Private party contact
    Marijana Skerlic: (703) 875-9663
  • Location
    2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
  • Neighborhood
    Arlington
  • Cross street
    N Fillmore St and N Garfield St
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Clarendon Metro station - Orange and Silver lines
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 3,749 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Virginia - DC Suburbs

    Most Booked

3,749 Reviews

  1. mreid510

    Washington DC

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Not a bad dish on the menu! Such a fun vibe for date night too

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food5service4ambience5
    We enjoyed Ambar in the past and love the food and atmosphere. I would give fives all around if we had done our own ordering of the small plates. We asked our server to recommend and she offered up some that were more starchy, not our thing. Also, We would have passed on the bread and dips at the start as there are SO many awesome dishes. The meat and cheese pies are awesome, mussels are the best, and more. I would suggest trying everything and writing down what you like. great place, we will be back many times in the future.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was our second visit and we had a great time. Food was delicious, service was excellent. Can’t wait to go back!

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  4. Adam

    Baltimore

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food, and great service. Unique experience. Highly recommend

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  5. PatrickB

    Washington DC

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    For lunch: all the dishes are very good, excellent value with the same menu as dinner at around half the price. At lunch, much less crowded, so less noise, better service, and easier parking. So dinner is great, but lunch is even better.

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    New Orleans

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great restaurant with the freshest food made! Great customer service too!

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  7. Jenn

    Philadelphia

    34 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Mario (our server) was amazing and I can’t wait to go back!!!!

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  8. Turk

    Washington DC

    8 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great food, great service and great environment. I've ate at Ambar a number of time and will be going back soon!

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  9. ChristineB

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Exceptional food, great service and amazing value for what you pay. We had the Thanksgiving lunch special which included unlimited small plates for $35 each. There were over 40 options to choose from, and you could order as much as you wanted.

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  10. JasonL

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Great food!! Such nice presentation. Will return for sure.

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  11. Kristenw

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Ambar was excellent as always - amazing food, attentive staff, what's not to love?

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  12. Catman

    San Diego

    56 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    56 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Went for Thanksgiving lunch. They had turkey as well as the great mezze they always have. Would go again for a holiday meal when it’s just a few people.

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  13. BrianF

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was very good in all respects, as is usual. Morgan and the other wait staff were prompt, courteous, and informative with recommendations.

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  14. KelleeK

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A cozy place for great conversations with friends while eating your way through a hearty and delicious cuisine.

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  15. pleasecomeagain

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall5food4service2ambience3
    The food was good but the waiter was not paying attention to our orders. I wanted to split the bill and it went all on my friend’s card

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    Springfield

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Would definitely would go back!! I loved the Ambar experience. Was a bit nosey but truly great food

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  17. OpenTable Diner

    Baltimore

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall3food4service1ambience4
    We met a friend for dinner. I have food allergies, dairy and gluten, so I did research prior to booking our reservation. They have an allergy menu and it looked great in advance of our visit. Once there, I learned that the actual options available to me were very minimal. I could pay $50 for an all you could eat tapas menu, or basically order just Brussels sprouts as all of the other GF/DF options were not available on the a la carte menu. When we asked to speak to manager, we found him to be extremely rude and condescending. He reluctantly agreed to allow me to order grilled shrimp a la cart for a $17 open item charge. The food quality, wine and waitress were all great, but the manager ruined our experience! Beware of this restaurant if you have food allergies, it’s not easy to navigate and has super limited options once you dig into their menus.

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  18. DLee

    San Francisco

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience3
    We had reservations and waited 20 minutes after our check-in time before being seated. After being seated, no one greeted us for 15 minutes (no water, no welcome, no eye contact). There was server who was greeting tables next to use and never made eye contact with us. We finally called her over and she noticed water and walked away without speaking. The then called over another server who was very unpleasant. She was short, negative, and rolled her eyes when walking away after taking our order. She didn’t check in on us for another 40 minutes, after all of our dishes were gone and drinks were completely empty. She only checked in after we flagged down another server to get her attention. After placing another round for our bottomless brunch, she only returned to bring us a check under the 2hr minimum. We felt discriminated against as an openly queer black couple and the service was terrible. We felt neglected.

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  19. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Food was great but service seemed to slow down with their response time as we neared our 2 hour time limit

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  20. MirandaH

    Richmond

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Loved it! Can't wait to return and try more of the menu

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  21. Alsvball

    Washington DC

    63 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    63 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Such a great place to try new foods and enjoy wonderful flavors. The service was very good - they came by frequently and our food came out hot and fresh. The menu has a lot of variety and everything was delicious. The cocktails we quite small for the price, but overall it was a lovely experience.

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  22. SM11

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience3
    We went with the Anbar Experience, and an endless array of delectable treats selected by the chef arrived at our table. The food was amazing, and my guests were excited to taste the variety of Balkan cuisine. My only issue with the food was the pacing. So much arrived at once that we ran out of space on the table, forcing us to inhale the food instead of savoring it. The staff would not provide any help in this area, whether it be with a slower pace or an extra table or some other solution. We felt like we were being rushed into a speed-eating contest. Since my guests were beer drinkers, they were a little disappointed to find out that the taps were all broken and so only two kinds of bottled beer were available. That said, these things happen so I didn't hold that against the restaurant. The wine selection, on the other hand, was very good! The noise level was not too bad at first, but it did get progressively louder as the restaurant got more crowded. The noise was from the clientele though and not music or staff, so I'm not sure how much control the restaurant has over that. Hope to come back again to enjoy the food at a more reasonable pace.

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  23. JS2020

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Overall, I was very impressed with Ambar! This was my first time visiting the restaurant and I will definitely visit again. The staff is what stands out the most! They were amazing, attentive, very polite and welcoming. To add to that, the drinks and food were great too. Their happy hour menu and pricing is pretty good!

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  24. Mariad

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 14, 2023

    overall3food2service5ambience2
    I have been a customer of Ambar for many years but I feel like the quality of the food has decreased immensely. I ordered a la carte. Also, it was so so loud that I could barely hear myself at the restaurant. The service was great but I don’t think I’ll be going back again.

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  25. BillD

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Ambar was a fantastic experience! The service was very good, the plates kept coming with not too much delay in between. This was an interesting experience for an all you can eat menu. They do offer individual à la carte meals as well. The atmosphere was quite loud though, and it was difficult to hear each other. Speak at the table without having to almost shout. We would definitely go back though, but may be during a non-peak time.

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    If you have a sense of adventure regarding food you'll enjoy the Experience.

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  27. BrittanyG

    Washington DC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was great as always. The service was perfect. A great way to celebrate.

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  28. Wegek

    Minneapolis

    9 reviews

    4.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 11, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    The food was pretty good for brunch. The downside was it was usually served luke warm or cold. A couple of items were hot and delish, but a majority of the food was barely warm….translates to not freshly made. But, given the nature of their brunch, I managed my expectations which is why they got 4 stars. LOVE the beef Benedict. The mini-burger was good. The drinks were yummy. The one thing that hurt the ambiance, it was a smidge loud, but whatever, was the hostess took our menus from us. We were using them to reorder food, but then she was like , “can I have your menu?” We were like ok….then had to start using our phones to look at the menu. It was just annoying. Print more menus and get some menu shields for crying out loud, or print them and leave the menu on a table tent. Again, it was just annoying. Overall, we had a great time.

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  29. ISSAMS

    Washington DC

    25 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience1
    very noisy indoors, food is nothing special. very poor service, salad was never delivered.

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  30. TMOT

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service, wonderful dishes and drinks. Most came out super quick. We go once a year about and its always a good time.

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  31. Queenoculture

    Washington DC

    45 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food is delicious, interesting yet filling small plates off tasting menu, friendly staff.

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  32. Jassie

    Washington DC

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on November 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The restaurant is small but very quaint. The ambiance, music, food, and drinks were amazing! Highly recommend an Uber or Lyft because parking is limited

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  33. Shane

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was such a great experience! The food is very good, the drinks are good and the service was good! We ended up being seated in the basement, which I thought was a bit strange at first, but the space is so cute and romantic. The basement lounge feels almost like a speakeasy and was such a wonderful vibe. I will very likely ask to sit in the basement specifically next time!

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  34. OpenTable Diner

    Raleigh

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    This was a great brunch experience with cheap drinks. The food was really good and we sat in a cool area with comfortable seats. The brunch drinks weren’t that good though.

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  35. Waleed

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I already wrote one, but briefly again, this place hits the high marks in everything. From the wonderful hostess AnnaSophia was was tremendously helpful in changing our reservation time, to allowing us inside seating and just overall a wonderful, courteous person. The food was amazing, the small plates concept is just the right thing, you get to try almost all the menu, the drinks were also delicious and fresh. The service was another level of excellence. Marrio (Marris) was just a breath of fresh air, being a native of the Balkan region, he recommended and was on point in everything... his service was impecable and his demeanor was superb. Well definitely be going back again.

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  36. OpenTable Diner

    Louisville

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One of my favorite brunch spots that we tried for dinner - the Ambar Dinner experience, similar to their bottomless brunch, was the best value to sample whatever we could eat on the menu.

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  37. EatyBoBeety

    Washington DC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience2
    Firstly, our server was fantastic and wish there was an option to rate the server as a stand-alone. She would get 5 stars. Food was excellent (as always). Problems: host/hostess/professionalism/business acumen. Had reservations and stood there waiting patiently for minutes to be acknowledged by the host/hostess while they engaged in conversation. Early reservations with fairly open tables. They tried to sit us immediately next to another family with a toddler which would have made us the only two adjacent sat tables in a wide-open set of tables. Asked for a “better” seat, and the host essentially made us plead and we were eventually put at a two-top a few tables away. If another seat is possible, I’d suggest erring on the side of restaurant-goer experience/ambiance over server area or some other convenience factor. And definitely recommend against creating discomfort with the patrons. Make it easier. Give them a good experience without them asking or stating a case. We were originally offered the “basement”. Food was great but did not outweigh the experience this time.

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  38. Flip

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience2
    Made a reservation only for them to seat someone else under my name and reservation. Then had to figure out another table for us since they stuck us in a dark corner. The only saving grace was the wonderful server who was very attentive and pleasant. If not for her, I would have given Ambar a 1 rating. The brunch isn't even Balkan related; it's very americanized. Maybe the dinner is tied closer to Balkan food. Won't be returning.

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  39. Rose

    Dallas

    2 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall2food3service2ambience3
    We weren't able to make a reservation for 7 the day before, so I made a reservation for Saturday at 12:15 PM for 4 and had my friend make a reservation for 12 PM for 3. We messaged them via OpenTable asking if we could combine the two high top tables and they said yes. We arrive at 11:50 AM and the hostess (didn't catch her name/I don't think she wore a name tag, but she had very short hair) was very rude to us, telling us we should've made a reservation for 7 - I tried to tell her that we weren't able to make a reservation for 7 online but we had two reservations and contacted them through the app, but she kept interrupting me and said "next time, call us" which, fair, but 1, they responded in the app and 2, I find that many restaurants don't take reservations over the phone and prefer it done online. Honestly I understand the frustration, but what I really disliked was that I kept getting talked over and wasn't listened to. I posted my full review on Yelp and Google, don’t have enough space here. Food was fine but nothing blew our minds. The potatoes were actually our favorite and not the actual entrees.

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  40. Inna

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall2food5service2ambience2
    We were placed in basement in the beginning, though we made reservation ahead of time. We almost left because we don’t want to spend $80/person and a friday dinner in a basement. Right before we were about to leave, we were told we can stay on the first floor. Throughout the whole dinner, we saw plenty of empty tables on the first fl.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Ambar - Arlington does offer delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. Ambar - Arlington also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (703) 875-9663.

Ambar - Arlington is rated 4.5 stars by 3749 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 66 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Ambar - Arlington

2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Additional information

  • Cross street
    N Fillmore St and N Garfield St
  • Neighborhood
    Arlington
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 9:30 am–3:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 3:30 pm–10:30 pm Fri 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 4:30 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Tapas / Small Plates, Balkan style, Eastern European
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Clarendon Metro station - Orange and Silver lines
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Dejan Pilovic
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.ambarrestaurant.com/
  • Phone number
    (703) 875-9663
  • Catering
    Please check the menu and options online<br />https://www.ambarrestaurant.com/catering-clarendon/
  • Private party facilities
    Ambar is a perfect place for all types of private and corporate events. With our exceptional food and well trained staff, Ambar is the place of choice when it comes to your celebration. From small family gatherings to huge corporate events, we host your friends and business partners with equal care.
  • Private party contact
    Marijana Skerlic: (703) 875-9663

Featured in

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