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Ambar Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Award-winning

Ambar Capitol Hill

4.7
4.7
5076 Reviews
$30 and under
Balkan style
523 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 93 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups

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 2023-09-08.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 5,076 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 a "wonderful dining experience" with "exceptional service" and "delicious food." Diners rave about the "unlimited small plates," allowing guests to "try nearly everything" on the menu. The "tapas-style" dining and "great variety of flavors" make it a "must-visit" for those seeking "authentic Balkan cuisine."

5,076 Reviews

  1. Jaclyn

    Atlanta6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Unlimited brunch is definitely worth it! Great quality and many options.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Sydney

    Cincinnati3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We’ve been here multiple times and it was our brunch staple. They’ve recently increased prices, which are still reasonable, however multiple things we ordered never came, came out cold, or came very late.
    Ambar Capitol HillResponded 2 days ago
    Hey Sydney, Thank you for your loyalty to Ambar Capitol Hill and for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry to hear that your recent experience wasn't up to our usual standards, especially with the delayed or cold food. We understand how frustrating this can be and we appreciate your patience. We're always looking for ways to improve and your feedback is invaluable to us. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again and provide you with the quality and service you've come to expect from us. Best regards, Ambar Capitol Hill

    Is this helpful?

  3. Erin

    San Diego2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the time at Ambar! Our server, Matthew, provided outstanding service!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Tammy

    Washington DC8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always fabulous at Ambar. Food and service are exceptional every time we are there.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Scott

    Phoenix10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a fun Easter brunch! We sat at the bar, our bar tender was great, the whole experience was something new and different. The food was delicious and we had the bar tender just pick and order for us. The restaurant has a great, light, lively, vibe. We highly recommend the whole experience, you won't be sorry!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Carole VIP

    Washington DC9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We did the fixed price. Loved the variety of dishes. The mushroom crepes are a favorite.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Ben VIP

    Orange County1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    10/10 will go back again…great food! Great service and perfect ambience at lunchtime!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Summer

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding experience from start to finish. Came here with a group during Cherry Blossom festival. We sat on the rooftop which felt like being in a European/mediterranean charming village, beautifully decorated for the Cherry Blossom festival. The food was amazing, the flavors were on point. The staff were friendly and also on point, as soon as we were done one round, they had our next round ready. I highly recommend the unlimited small plates as you get to try most of the menu in one sitting, a unique experience. If you have a little more wiggle room, try desert, which was also very good. We will definitely be coming back.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Katherine

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I was surprised at how tasty the food was given the great variety. I highly recommend the veal soup and the wild mushroom crepe.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Alison

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Loved everything! Great diversity of flavors. Excellent service at lunch.

    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 5076 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 93 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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