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Ambar Capitol Hill

Name: Ambar Capitol Hill
Address: 523 8th Street SE, Washington, DC, United States, 20003
Telephone: (202) 813-3039
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.8

4.8

3875 Reviews

$31 to $50

Balkan style

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.

2h time limit wont apply for brunch reservations made after 1:30pm due to service

**For parties of 6 Ambar Capital Hill requests a credit card number to secure the reservation. All credit card information will be processed securely. No-shows or cancellations less than 24 hours in advance may be subject to a charge of $25 per person**

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Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 27, 2022

June 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 125 times today

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
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 4:30 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:30 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
Ivan Zivkovic
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: (855) 993-1691

Location
523 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003
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).<br />
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

Featured in

Popular dishes

Veal Soup
bone broth / root vegetables & crème fraiche
Tomato Soup
house-made pesto / roasted tomatoes
Balkan Salad
tomatoes / onions / cucumbers / peppers / sherry vinaigrette / balkan cheese
Kale Caesar
baby kale / house-made caesar dressing / garlic croutons
Field Greens
seasonal greens / roasted butternut squash / roasted red pepper / caramelized onion / crispy bacon / honey-pomegranate dressing

Baked

Cheese Pie
crispy phyllo dough / aged cheese / roasted pepper cream / yogurt
White Flatbread
sheep's cheese / mozzarella / drizzled with truffle oil
Sudzuk Flatbread
house-made tomato sauce / smoked beef sausage / kajmak / oregano

Vegetables

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

Slow Cooked

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

Chef Delicacies

Lamb Lasagna
Marcho Farms lamb / eggplant / tomato / béchamel & dill
Braised Steak & Frites
hanger steak / house fries & urnebes
Fried Chicken
24-hour marinated chicken breast / panko-almond crusted / apple-wasabi slaw
Steak Tartar
pine nut pesto butter / chili aioli / crispy capers / house-tosted bread
Pepper Croquette
herb-panko coated marinated piquillo pepper / stuffed with kajmak and aged sheep cheese / cranberry chutney

From 'Charcoal' Grill

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

Seafood

Salmon
sesame crusted and seared atlantic salmon served with eggplant jam, harissa and baby arugula
Drunken Mussels
steamed with capers, lemon & house-made rakija garlic cream sauce
Grilled Shrimp
shrimp marinated with house made rub served with corn puree
Rainbow Trout
crispy skin, served with fingerling potato salad and lemon-chilli sauce

Happy Hour Cocktails

Mojito$6.00
Light & Refreshing. Rum / mint / lime / simple syrup / house sour mix
Berry Daisy$6.00
Light & Refreshing. Vodka / mixed berry cordial / house sour mix
Ambar Old Fashioned$6.00
Strong & Boozy. Plum rakia / bourbon / cane syrup / bitters
Mango Lemonade$6.00
Sour & Tangy. Vodka / mango puree / house sour mix
Margarita$6.00
Sour & Tangy. Tequila / lime / agave nectar / house sour mix

Happy Hour Wine

Ambar Sparkling, Moldova$5.00
Ambar Sauvignon Blanc, Moldova$5.00
Ambar Rose, Moldova$5.00
Ambar Cabernet Sauvignon, Moldova$5.00

Happy Hour Beer

Yuengling, Pennsylvania$5.00
Lav, Serbia$6.00
Hard Apple Cider, Austria$5.00

What 3,875 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

District of Columbia
Best Value

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Filters

OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such amazing food and service! Definitely will recommend
m
mskatplay
Cleveland
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service4ambience5
The host took us to a cozy room upstairs lined with wine bottles. Dinner is an all inclusive affair, $45 per person for as many small plates as you want. It was so much fun for our table to share multiple dishes, all of which were awesome. You can add on unlimited drinks for $25, which includes cocktails. Great deal, great experience. Would definitely come back next time we’re in town!
S
Silvio
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service3ambience5
We did the Balkan Experience with all you can drink added on. The food was fantastic as expected. Manager and staff were very polite. The waitress could have been a little more attentive, but with a party of 8 like ours, I assume there was a lot going on.
TO
TeacherOnVacation
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service from Jacob! My party of 7 was seated outdoors. We had a great time. They kept the food coming. The menu offers many different types of food. 34.99 is a great price! There are other brunch spots around DC that charge 60.00, but the food isn't that great! I love this place!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was amazing, and so was the value. A lot of interesting flavors - I enjoyed everything I tried, and the tapas style made it easy to try a lot of things. The service was fast and the staff was very friendly and attentive. I was already thinking about going back halfway through the meal!
BP
BirthdayPartyGroup
Washington DC
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Endless tapas, wonderful wine from the Balkans, super friendly staff and a lovely ambiance. Would recommend them just as much for dinner as everyone does for brunch!
KW
KristinW
Oklahoma City
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Ambar Experience is a great way to try lots of different small plates. Their food is excellent and their wines are some of the best I have had.
MC
MikeC
Washington DC
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food5service4ambience3
A lively, tasty. and varied menu, esp. on the meat dishes. The cabbage roll was a winner, along with the kabob. Also distinctive and rich was the delectable "gnocchi" chocolate dessert. We also had attentive and informative service.
BS
BethS
Baltimore
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love the food and vibe of Ambar. Service was wonderful as well.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
AMAZING service! The manager went above and beyond to compensate for us having to wait 20 mins after our reservation time. Plus the food and drinks were amazing. Definitely recommend.
GR
GaryR
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved everything about our experience.......more than surpassed all of our expectations. Will be back for sure.
G
Gabby
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Still one of my favorite brunch places in DC. Amazing service every single time, loving bringing new people every time.
AV
AndreaV
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on June 18, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
Went to Ambar for brunch on a Saturday. The food was spectacular but the service was a little slow. Would definitely recommend though.
JM
JohnM
Washington DC
56 reviews
vip
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on June 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place! Great outdoor options, and the service is through the roof attentive! We love the menu options and wine selections!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Visiting DC
VE
VESA
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on June 15, 2022
overall2food4service1ambience4
Food was great, service was terrible. Second time going there and the service is terrible. The service people move slow, have a very stressed look on their face like they do not want to be there and they just drop your food on the table with little to no engagement. My glass was not filled with water. Enjoyed the food but will not go back because the service is bad.
SC
StraderC
Washington DC
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2022
overall3food4service4ambience4
The food, service, and ambiance were great but we were very disappointed in the fact that we did not receive several of the items we ordered. We were in the restaurant within the 2 hour time limit and did not receive over 8 items on the all you can eat dining choice. My daughter loves salad and we ordered the kale salad for her 3 times and she never received it. My husband and I never received 2 of our baked items and 3 of our entrees. Our children didn't receive at least 5 items that they ordered. We came to this restaurant 3 years ago while on vacation and loved it so much that we decided to come back. Out of all of the restaurants that we could have eaten at, we selected Ambar again because the food was so delicious. It was very disappointing that we didn't receive the items ordered because we were really looking forward to trying dishes we didn't order the last time we were in DC. I would still come back if I'm ever in DC but I would order my entrees first and soup/salad last.
MF
MFanth
Orlando
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on June 14, 2022
overall1food3service1ambience1
Terrible service and deceptive pricing... Food was fine but nothing special, especially given how poor the rest of the experience was. Would never return.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 14, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience5
Food was ok, not freshly prepared … and some was just ehhh … great service … not as clean as I would expect from a Michelin star Reataurant
AT
AnneT
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Brought friends for their first Ambar experience and as usual everything was fantastic.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on June 12, 2022
overall2food1service5ambience3
We went to brunch and the experience was subpar at best. Tiny plates, not even enough for 2 people let alone four. Badly cooked with no taste and we were not even offered dessert. I only realized after leaving the restaurant that it was a part of the dining experience. I came here before covid and it was a vastly different experience. Disappointing. The only good thing was the mimosa service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great time! Good food! Good vibes!
AS
AudreyS
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and brunch was amazing! Would highly recommend bottomless food/drink.
RC
RickeyC
Charlotte
4 reviews
vip
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall3food4service1ambience5
Service was terrible. We didn’t even get waited on till 30min after we were seated. Then service was very sparse. Didn’t get my money’s worth at all. Still love the place, just not that day.
AS
AnaS
Baltimore
24 reviews
vip
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on June 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Server was excellent. Made my granddaughter feel like a princess on her birthday
MH
MaryH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Had an awesome time , and the Manager was a great help as we’ll DEFINITELY would recommend and definitely will be back soon !
RY
RickY
Washington DC
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on June 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of my favorite restaurants in the city. A perfect place to have a leisurely meal, a unique beverage, and quiet conversation. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Oh! Did I mention the food? The menu items are varied and include food I have not seen elsewhere. Well prepared and delicious. And end your meal with my favorite dessert: Firest Gnocchi.
JU
JablankaU
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Authentic and delicious food from the Balkan region. Our waiter Vuk made us feel at home. Truly enjoyable experience.
e
eandp
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on June 7, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
Food was interesting and enjoyed it; dishes sometimes came quickly, sometimes there was a bit of a wait. Service not particularly attentive—water glasses left unrefilled, a long wait before waitstaff returned to check on us for orders, never asked whether we would like more drinks. Very loud but festive atmosphere—just depends on what you’re looking for.
y
yum212
Portland
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always make a reservation when I’m in town and brought a friend who hadn’t been. Good as always was fantastic and service as well.
TM
ToyenM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I was on the 3rd floor…Paul was excellent, very charismatic and didn’t rush us even though we came a few mins late. He was very accommodating and helped us navigate the menu. Even when the place got busy we didn’t feel neglected. The entire staff on the 3rd floor was phenomenal!!!
L
Lemy
New York Area
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on June 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
This was a great place. Our server Courtney was awesome. The price is well worth it for unlimited tapas. We also did the unlimited alcohol which was great for most, but the beer selection is very limited. Only one beer and a hard cider. Other than that it was a fun dining experience and would definitely go back again.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was our first experience with Balkan food and we highly recommend this place. Vuk was our server and we just asked him to bring us his favorites from the menu and the dinner and experience exceeded our expectations! Otherwise outstanding and highly recommend! The croquettes were amazing!
D
Danny
Charleston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was some of the best food I’ve ever tried. Truly fantastic, and the value of how much food and the quality feels almost like theft.
WB
WilliamB
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Ambar $25 unlimited small plate lunch is one of the best deals in DC, particularly if you're sharing. I particularly recommend the Brussels Sprouts and the Ambar fries. (Looks like they've dropped the mushroom croquettes from the menu, though, alas.)
G
Gobber
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food is always amazing. So much fun taking a tour of their menu!
D
Drock64
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a fantastic experience. Everything was amazing. Our server Melissa was outstanding
MT
MikeT
Washington DC
27 reviews
vip
3.0
27 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall3food5service2ambience3
Very frustrating. We sat outside and a table of 6 youth (college age) sat behind us. They were completely obnoxious, loud, crude language, disrespectful to everyone, and immature. They should have been at Chucky Cheese or McDonalds. As a result our waitress was so frazzled that she ignored us on several occasions. Not want you want when it is unlimited food for two hours. When she came by for the the last time, we asked for the check and told her we had enough of the table behind us and the poor service. She evidently reported it to the manager who came out and made it right which was very gracious of them. But it still ruined what was supposed to be a nice afternoon meal with our friends and we left still hungry since we didn’t get to order all that we wanted to sample. I don’t know why youth can’t seem to behave in a restaurant when they are in a large group. Very disappointing. We love Ambar and will go back again. We will just be cautious about where we sit and who sits next to us.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Every dish was delicious, perfectly sized small plates. Great setting and our server was attentive and informative!
JM
JohnM
Portland
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Ambar is a fantastically unique dining experience! The only thing more outstanding than the food is the fantastic team that graciously serves it. Very friendly atmosphere and am overall top notch experience!!! Highly recommended!!!

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- 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

You can order delivery directly from Ambar Capitol Hill using the Order Online button. Ambar Capitol Hill also 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 4.8 stars by 3875 OpenTable diners.

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