Ambar - Arlington

Name: Ambar - Arlington
Address: 2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA, United States, 22201
Telephone: (703) 875-9663
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

3106 Reviews

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Top Tags:

Ambar is the first modern, international Balkan cuisine restaurant in DC. Inside three locations in Belgrade, Arlington and Washington DC, Ambar blends tradition and heritage with creativity and modern design. The result is an unforgettable visitor experience that reaches all the senses with delicious food, unbelievable drinks and an atmosphere that blends comfort and high style. From rich food, fine furniture, interior design and the widest choice of the finest Balkan rakias, to our first class service – every detail is meticulously woven into an unique experience that will leave you breathless. Welcome to the best of the Balkans.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 24, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 95 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(703) 875-9663

Delivery

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
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–10:30 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
Jovana Zdravkovic: (571) 992-7023

Location
2901 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22201
Neighborhood
Arlington
Cross street
N Fillmore St and N Garfield St
Parking details
2h free parking on a limited lot behind the restaurant on Filmore St.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

Popular dishes

Veal Soup$6.00
bone broth / root vegetables & crème fraiche
Tomato Soup$6.00
house-made pesto / roasted tomatoes
Balkan Salad$7.00
tomatoes / onions / cucumbers / peppers / sherry vinaigrette / balkan cheese
Kale Caesar$8.00
baby kale / house-made caesar dressing / garlic croutons
Field Greens$8.00
young harvested seasonal local greens / tofu-pomegranate dressing / caramelized red onions / crunchy bacon

Vegetables

Grilled Vegetables$8.00
herb marinated local seasonal vegetables, warm hummus
Brussel Sprouts$7.00
crispy bacon / lemon-garlic yogurt
Baked Beans$7.00
cannellini beans / smoked roasted peppers / caramelized onion
Hand-Cut Fries$6.00
house-made smoked aioli / chef's spice blend
Cauliflower$7.00
parsley-tahini spread / pine nut crumble
Asparagus$8.00
thyme veloute / roasted squash / fried quail egg

Baked

Cheese Pie$7.00
crispy phyllo dough / aged cheese / roasted pepper cream / yogurt
White Flatbread$8.00
sheep's milk cheese / mozzarella / baby arugula / topped with truffle oil
Sudzuk Flatbread$9.00
house-made tomato sauce / smoked beef sausage / kajmak / oregano

Slow Cooked

Sarma 'Pork Belly Stuffed Cabbage'$8.00
oven-baked for eight hours with root vegetables / rice / smoked peppers
Beef Short Rib Goulash$10.00
Wells Family Farm beef braised for five hours in red wine reduction, served with trofie pasta
Slow Roasted Lamb$12.00
Marcho Farms lamb shoulder roasted for six-hours served with braised potatoes, onions & carrots
Stuffed Pepper$9.00
local harvest bell peppers stuffed with house-ground Wells Family Farm beef and raisin rice, served with creamy dill sauce

Chef Delicacies

Lamb Lasagna$10.00
Marcho Farms lamb / eggplant / tomato / béchamel & dill
Braised Steak & Frites$10.00
hanger steak / house fries & kajmak sauce
Fried Chicken$8.00
24-hour marinated chicken breast / panko-almond crusted / apple-wasabi slaw
Pepper Croquette$8.00
piquillo peppers / kajmak / aged sheep cheese; served with cranberry chutney
Steak Tartar$11.00
pine nut pesto butter / chili aioli / crispy

From 'Charcoal' Grill

Cevapi 'Balkan Kebab'$11.00
house-made Wells Family Farm beef sausages, served with rosted pepper & feta cheese emulsion
Pork Neck$9.00
miso-mustard tarragon sauce / peanut & bacon crumble / potato gratin
Chicken Skewers$8.00
24-hour brined and marinated overnight in spicy ajvar / pickled vegetables / kajmak sauce
Meatballs$11.00
house ground Wells Family Farm beef / bacon / gouda cheese / chili flakes / tomato sauce
Smoked Sausage$10.00
house-smoked pork sausage / Ambar mustard / cabbage slaw

Seafood

Salmon$10.00
sesame crusted and seared atlantic salmon, served with eggplant jam
Drunken Mussels$8.00
steamed with capers, lemon & house-made rakija garlic cream sauce
Grilled Shrimp$9.00
shrimp marinated with house made rub, served with corn puree
Fish of the Day$10.00
fillet of locally sourced fish, crispy skin, served with fingerling potato salad and lemon-chilli sauce

Cold Press Juices

$4.50

Appleberry Lush
apple / carrot / strawberry
Beets & Treats
beet / apple / carrot / orange / lemon
Green Cheer
cucumber / spinach / lemon / apple / orange

Coffee

Espresso$3.25
Drip Coffee$2.95
Macchiato$4.95
Cappuccino$4.95
Turkish Coffee$5.00
with a Turkish delight

Signature Cocktails

Summer Breeze
gin / grapefruit juice / honey syrup
Cosmo Flip
vodka / grapes / cranberry juice

Beer

Bud Light
Goose Island IPA

Hand-Crafted Non Alcoholic

$4.50

Rosemary Lemonade
Arnold Palmer
Berry Hibiscus Soda
Ginger Green Tea Soda

What 3,106 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Virginia - DC Suburbs
Most Booked

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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food is great! The unlimited option is a great experience for large groups!
D
Danielle
Baltimore
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall4food4service4ambience3
On the hottest day of the year so far, the air wasn’t working. There were fans everywhere but it just wasn’t enough. The food was good but the heat kind of ruined it.
YB
YvetteB
Mississippi
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best server and food was delicious!
V
Vickreviews
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Did the all you can eat - everything was delicious!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall4food5service5ambience4
Overall really really loved the experience! The restaurant is beautiful and the food was very good. The only thing we struggled with is that the restaurant was very hot inside.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall3food3service1ambience3
Some of the food was outstanding but some of it was very chewy. Service was pretty bad. We ordered a bottle of prosecco and they didn’t even put it on ice. By the end of dinner it was warm. When we asked for the bill, our waiter just said out loud how much it cost. Call me all fashioned but I felt this was inappropriate. The person who paying for dinner doesn’t necessarily want his/her date to know how much the bill is. Again, some of the food was amazing (the beef tartare was outstanding). With better service, this place would be amazing.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Miami
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was amazing and the recommendations were exquisite and perfect! Highly recommend it!
QU
QUETTAJ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
The service was amazing and good food for the price sample everything on the menu is the best part. The slow cooked lamb was out of this world. My personal favorite and recommendation.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
Female hostess greeted us with annoyance when we came in 10 minutes early. We were seated initially in an empty restaurant near the loud kitchen with the same hostess that treated us with contempt. With much available seats, we asked to be seated elsewhere. Our server however was very accommodating and made the experience better than the beginning.
J
Jordan
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Reliably delicious and good service, even when they’re packed!
TP
TachaP
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Went for brunch. The food was amazing and reminded me of the dishes my parents made growing up. The .25 cent brunch drinks were nice too!
s
steve
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience3
Don't sit in the basement, food arrives in sporadic order, some cold, some hot, feels like you're "forgotten" about downstairs. Been here a few times and upstairs never had an issue and food was always hot and fresh. I really liked my past experiences so I bought into having a house account but I'll never be seated downstairs again. I hope this was just a fluke.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall3food4service2ambience3
Great food. Sat outside which was perfectly comfortable. Inside is very nice. Disengaged server (much different than previously experienced) brought overall experience/rating down. Spent a lot. Didn't even see bill (my fault completely) Think I tipped him a ton which I have no energy/time to confirm which was probably his intent. Bummer that one weak link makes a 4.5 experience a 3.
CL
CLL1
Washington DC
18 reviews
vip
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great date night/special occasion spot. Fantastic service and excellent food.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
24 reviews
vip
3.0
24 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience4
I had an odd experience yesterday. Generally, I find that brunch delicious and served at a good pace. I am not sure what the issue yesterday was - we had to order things multiple times. And some of the food we have had before did not taste good - the sliders had an odd taste and were undercooked and the kale salad was tasteless. I am hoping it was just an off day - but I left feeling pretty disappointed.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything we ordered was amazing, we even had to order two of some dishes we really liked. 10/10 recommend this place.
JT
JohnT
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Definitely get the fixed price menu. It was fun to try each of the different small plates during our time there.
RN
RacheleN
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious! Highly recommend. Went here for a work meeting and it was a great lunch spot.
SW
SandraW
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience3
This place checks all the boxes on service and food, the staff was nice and the small plates great because they allow for mix/match & sharing. If you don‘t take the special were you can taste it all and order a la carte though it gets pretty pricey. The only minus points for us were that they advertise two hours free parking which doesn’t exist so I had to use a paid garage (which was close by though to be fair). And the place is very large, kind of sterile atmosphere and too loud to carry on a conversation. We had specifically booked a table in the restaurant (you can choose between outdoor, bar, high top and restaurant), but we were assigned a small high top across from the loud bar that was too small to even hold four small plates plus our drinks. But for the food I‘d go back when they are less busy.
HH
HolH
Washington DC
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
After being a fan of both the original Ambar on Capitol Hill and its sibling in Clarendon, I'll keep going back, though there's less to cheer about than in previous years. The food and wine options have been reduced due to supply issues, according to servers. And the portions have also been downsized--the spreads are now at most a few tablespoons on a plate. Still, the servers are friendly, the energy is good, and where else can you sample Balkan wines?
J
Jenny
Washington DC
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 11, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Authentic Balkan cuisine in the DC area. As a native Bulgarian, I love the "taste of home" and the variety of familiar dishes.
M
Madeline
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was fantastic and we enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere.
ML
MsLexus
Washington DC
27 reviews
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2022
overall4food4service1ambience4
We enjoyed our lunch at Ambar and our server was excellent. I have two minor complaints an 8oz Diet Coke for $7.00 is a bit excessive and several of our dishes were only lukewarm or at room temperature not hot as one have expected, the lasagna, the short rib goulash, and the cheese bread come to mind.
T
Tracytrackrunner3
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 9, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience3
We couldn't order the Ambar Experience and was forced to pay for the items separately. D.C is way better with food to service. Looks cute inside.
LE
LEF313
Washington DC
45 reviews
5.0
45 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is our 4th trip to Ambar and it was amazing as always. The service is friendly and efficient (I don't know how they do it, with all of the orders flying around). The food is delicious and the small plates allow you to order a variety (we did the Experience, with the unlimited plates). I think we ended up with 20 plates plus the spreads, for the 2 of us. Not a bad dish in the lot but we especially love the Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, chicken skewers, Cevapi Balkan kebabs, veal soup, and lasagna (sadly, they were out of the lamb.). I also enjoyed the Cosmo Flip cockatil. We love this place. It's a little loud and the tables are close together, but there is an outside section if you are uncomfortable with that. Be aware that the parking lot behind it is no longer available for the restaurant. We found street parking a few blocks away and I believe it's walking distance from the Clarendon metro station.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and great service.
MS
MarkS
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The staff was fantastic and we really enjoyed the food. Highly highly recommended
MG
MeganG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was amazing and the service was phenomenal! Cannot wait to come back again.
S
Sunan
Philadelphia
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall3food4service1ambience3
We came on Saturday morning and had the bottomless brunch. The food was okay. Some plates were a bit cold. What I want to complain was the service. Our waiter was chatting and flirting with another waitress, leaving our table completely unattended.
J
Jamie
Washington DC
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
We sat in the downstairs lounge. A hidden gem and a must for any hope of conversation while dining! Food was good and exactly what we expected.
JL
JessicaL
New York Area
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 2, 2022
overall3food2service3ambience3
This is the fourth or fifth time I've been there, sadly will be the last. I ordered a margarita that was NOTHING like a margarita and tasted awful, sent it back. Outdoor seating area allowed a table to smoke, so there was a strong smoke smell the entire time. Ordered the lamb, received a piece that was 70% fat, no meat visible, sent it back. While we received a replacement with much more meat, it was too salty to eat. Other food items were just disappointing and not well done (flatbread was like a cheap bar pizza, field green salad covered in dressing and bacon, and the salmon portion was ridiculously small). I'm not usually one to write reviews at all, but after other not great experiences there and the number of issues yesterday, I think this'll be my last visit to Ambar. The service and ambiance are good, but I'm tired of paying a lot for very average or not so great food.
f
foodiecutie
Chicago
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Delicious food, great value. If two adults order about 8-9 dishes a la carte for dinner, it equates to two all you can eat experiences. Highly recommend the experience. Dessert is so unique.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Met guests in from out of town. Appreciated being given a chance to leisurely talk while eating.
I
Ixela
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Amazing. Just wish the music was quieter. Felt like I was at a club
GI
GIJen
Washington DC
20 reviews
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Ambar never disappoints. I love their dinner and brunch menu's. If I lived closer, I would go twice a month. Best food!
w
whynotletitfly
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server was outstanding, the food was unbelievable, and the dishes came at a constant and quick rate
D
Dcgal
Washington DC
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Food was great our waiter wasn’t the friendliest though
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic eclectic food, very original and delicious!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Richmond
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service was amazing. Dishes were perfectly portioned so that you could try everything and the strawberry lemonade carafe was super refreshing.

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 4.6 stars by 3106 OpenTable diners.

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