Ambar Chicago

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

Review summary

1. M

   Mark

   Chicago3 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Great dining experience and option to try a wide variety of Balkan foods
   

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2. S

   Sandeep VIP

   Chicago131 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Our first time at this establishment. It was a pleasant day for outdoor seating. The unlimited food and drinks are an absolute steal. However, the service was slow. I had requested the Meat Pie twice, but it never arrived.
   

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3. E

   ELDAR VIP

   Chicago65 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It’s refreshing to see Balkan cuisine in the heart of downtown Chicago, and Ambar brings it with style. Their all-you-can-eat concept of small plates is the perfect way to experience a wide variety of traditional Balkan flavors in one sitting. Every dish we tried was delicious, thoughtfully prepared, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a great balance between modern and cozy, making it a welcoming space to relax and enjoy the meal. Service was excellent — attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly without ever feeling rushed. Ambar is a fantastic addition to the city’s dining scene
   

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4. A

   Alessio

   Chicago1 review

   5.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing place! The look of the restaurant is great, modern, calm, suiting. The food is GREAT! Service is also fantastic!
   

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5. W

   Wayne VIP

   San Diego26 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Not many Balkan places around, and I can't say that I've ever tried food cooked by someone who knows what it should taste like. Ambar, with a Serbian head chef, was a big surprise! They mostly do “all you can eat” meals, but these are more like tapas than tired Las Vegas casino buffets. Every dish was perfectly cooked and an experience in new flavors. Highlights included a veal soup, wild mushroom stew (bright flavors with strong mushroom umami), urnebes (a dip of mild peppers, other vegetables, garlic, and feta), Balkan salad, a stuffed pepper (with unexpected flavors and texture and a light spiced cream sauce), and sarma (stuffed cabbage with pork belly). Just as delightful were a old fashioned, made Balkan style with the addition of rakia (a fruit brandy) and plum syrup, and several deserts. I had house-made sorbets including one of mango pureé, a second with intense lemon flavor, and a third flavored with rakia and berries. They seem to be doing very well after only 3 weeks in business, and I can see why. The service was outstanding— credit goes to Justin D and his Serbian assistant at the bar the night I was there!) and the decor was comfy but modern. They really do provide an experience that's hard to find outside of the Balkans! I'll be back soon.
   

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6. B

   Beth VIP

   Chicago54 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a fabulous meal! It was fun to select a variety of small plates to try so many different options. Our server was very helpful in guiding us. Wonderful!!
   

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7. D

   Deborah VIP

   Orlando8 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food was served as small plate size which provided the opportunity to try a variety of the tasty food options from the menu. The servers were helpful with providing guidance when choosing items on the menu.
   

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8. L

   L

   Chicago2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Best lunch in Chicago! Food was again epic and filling!!!
   

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9. J

   James VIP

   Chicago85 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   What a fantastic deal, $55 for all you care to eat of some very tasty food - the lamb medallions and the spreads with fresh-baked pita were our favorites. Plus, the service - a shout out to Marko - was top notch. In fact, we just handed our menus back to Marko and asked him to give us a tour. Cool space with a great vibe. Limited wine list but with some decent selections. Finish it off with plum rakia!
   

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10. J

    Joel

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Amazing atmosphere, food and service! Can’t wait to visit again!
    

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