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Ambar Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Award-winning

Ambar Capitol Hill

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Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (5095)
$30 and under
Balkan style
523 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 104 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for groups
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions

Welcome to Ambar, the gem of Capitol Hill, 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.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Balkan style, Modern European, Eastern European
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (202) 813-3039
  • Website
    http://www.ambarrestaurant.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Nenad Petrovic
  • Private party facilities
    Ambar is a modern Balkan tapas-style restaurant. With a desire to introduce Washington, D.C. to cutting edge Balkan cuisine, proprietor Ivan Iricanin has created a dining space that will delight and indulge the senses.
  • Private party contact
    Tamara Jovanovic: (202) 813-3039
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Location
    523 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Capitol Hill
  • Cross street
    E Street
  • Parking details
    Public metered parking via parking station is available along 8th Street, SE from E Street to our north to I street to our south. 2 hour residential parking located nearby in the surrounding neighborhood at E Street, G Street, 7th Street, and 9th StreetOrange, Blue and Silver Lines exiting at the Eastern Market metro station are next to Ambar.
  • Public transit
    We are metro accessible via the Orange, Blue and Silver Lines exiting at the Eastern Market metro station. Walk east to 8th Street and then proceed south 1 and a half blocks to our location at 523 8th Street (west side of the block).
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Private dining

Menu

Ambar Capitol Hill's menu was last updated on 9/8/2023.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 5,095 people are saying

Ambar Capitol Hill reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Ambar Capitol Hill offers "amazing food" and "exceptional service" with a unique Balkan-inspired small plate dining experience. Guests rave about the "unlimited plates" deal, highlighting the "delicious variety" and "fantastic value." The atmosphere is lively, making it an excellent choice for brunch, group outings, or special occasions.
5,095 Reviews

  1. jan

    Austin2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Just go. I’ve sampled Balkan cuisine throughout Eastern Europe and this rivals any meal I’ve eaten anywhere. We loved it.

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  2. Matraisha

    Nebraska1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the food, the atmosphere, and the service. Our waitress took take of us.

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  3. August

    Las Vegas6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience and the food was amazing! The staff were awesome as well

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  4. Elizabeth

    Washington, D.C. Area21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Exceptional service, solid value, extensive menu, very enjoyable dishes. Our only gripe was need for serving spoons with the tapas so everyone isn't having to use their own in communal dishes. We will be back.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Pam

    Coastal North Carolina1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is an all you can eat small plate restaurant. Our party of 4 was able to taste many dishes on the menu. Every plate was delicious. We appreciated the excellent service and great food. The restaurant was busy but the noise level was good....we could easily talk in normal voices. Highly recommend this restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Nicholas

    Washington, D.C. Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Undoubtedly one of the best meals my girlfriend and I have had in recent memory. Every item on the menu was excellent and well-portioned. The highlights of the meal were the mussels, the lasagna, and the white flatbread. We will definitely be returning soon, but with more friends!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Barbara

    Washington, D.C. Area4 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Interesting concept. Beet salad was good, and my companions liked a few dishes, but shakshuka and some other dishes were bland and forgettable. Maybe an attractive place for groups who want to linger and drink on the weekend. Service was good. Noisy environment (Sunday Brunch).
    Ambar Capitol HillResponded on June 4, 2025
    Thanks for visiting us, Barbara. We appreciate your feedback. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the dishes, such as the beet salad, and found the service good. We also appreciate your comments about the shakshuka and the brunch dishes. We will be sure to share them with our kitchen team. We hope to see you again soon and aim to provide a more enjoyable dining experience. Best, Ambar Capitol Hill

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  8. Vaseema

    Washington, D.C. Area10 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 30, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Quality has significantly gone down since I last visited last year. For the price, the quality is as important as quantity. The brussel sprouts were small and tasteless, kebabs too salty, and the bread basket now is mostly pita bread. The best dishes were the croquettes and chicken skewers.
    Ambar Capitol HillResponded on June 1, 2025
    Hi Vaseema, Thank you for this thoughtful review. We’re sorry to hear that your recent visit didn’t meet your expectations. It’s always disheartening when a returning guest feels a decline in quality. Your feedback is incredibly valuable as we work to maintain the consistency and care you’ve come to expect from us over the years. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know and hope to welcome you back for a much better experience. Best, Ambar Capitol Hill

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  9. Jessica VIP

    Washington, D.C. Area5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Perfectly prepared and delicious food. Amazing staff.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Ky'ree

    Atlanta13 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on May 29, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Nothing spectacular, food was edible, no standout dishes
    Ambar Capitol HillResponded on June 4, 2025
    Hello Ky'ree, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Ambar Capitol Hill. We're sorry to hear that the experience was unremarkable. Our goal is to create a unique and enjoyable dining experience for our guests and we're disappointed to hear that we missed the mark. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve our menu and overall dining experience. Should you decide to visit again in the future, we hope we can provide a much better experience. Best, Ambar Capitol Hill

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Ambar Capitol Hill offers delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. Ambar Capitol Hill also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 813-3039.

Ambar Capitol Hill is rated 4.7 stars by 5095 OpenTable diners.

Ambar Capitol Hill does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Washington, D.C. Area
  4. District of Columbia
  5. Capitol Hill

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 104 times today
Google Map for Ambar Capitol Hill

523 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross street
    E Street
  • Neighborhood
    Capitol Hill
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 12:00 pm–3:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Balkan style, Modern European, Eastern European
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public metered parking via parking station is available along 8th Street, SE from E Street to our north to I street to our south. 2 hour residential parking located nearby in the surrounding neighborhood at E Street, G Street, 7th Street, and 9th StreetOrange, Blue and Silver Lines exiting at the Eastern Market metro station are next to Ambar.
  • Public transit
    We are metro accessible via the Orange, Blue and Silver Lines exiting at the Eastern Market metro station. Walk east to 8th Street and then proceed south 1 and a half blocks to our location at 523 8th Street (west side of the block).
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Nenad Petrovic
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Website
    http://www.ambarrestaurant.com/
  • Phone number
    (202) 813-3039
  • Private party facilities
    Ambar is a modern Balkan tapas-style restaurant. With a desire to introduce Washington, D.C. to cutting edge Balkan cuisine, proprietor Ivan Iricanin has created a dining space that will delight and indulge the senses.
  • Private party contact
    Tamara Jovanovic: (202) 813-3039

Featured in

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Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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