This restaurant now offers Takeout

Bring the restaurant to you. Order and pay for food directly on OpenTable.

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

3817 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**

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 17, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 p.m.

Booked 126 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout from OpenTableNew

This restaurant is currently not taking orders. Check back soon.

View takeout menu

Delivery

Order online

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

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
Neighbourhood
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

MojitoUS$6.00
Light & Refreshing. Rum / mint / lime / simple syrup / house sour mix
Berry DaisyUS$6.00
Light & Refreshing. Vodka / mixed berry cordial / house sour mix
Ambar Old FashionedUS$6.00
Strong & Boozy. Plum rakia / bourbon / cane syrup / bitters
Mango LemonadeUS$6.00
Sour & Tangy. Vodka / mango puree / house sour mix
MargaritaUS$6.00
Sour & Tangy. Tequila / lime / agave nectar / house sour mix

Happy Hour Wine

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

Happy Hour Beer

Yuengling, PennsylvaniaUS$5.00
Lav, SerbiaUS$6.00
Hard Apple Cider, AustriaUS$5.00

What 3,817 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

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

Filters

AB
AshleyB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service, left full and super happy!
JL
JulianL
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was absolute fire, the place itself was also very cute. Still a little shocked at how affordable the brunch deal is!
J
Jarred
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was fantastic! Really enjoyed the service and the atmosphere.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
David was the best waiter we have had in a long time. He was extremely attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, funny, and kind hearted. He made our anniversary dinner very special!! The food was excellent and for a great price too considering all the options we could get. Thank you David and Ambar!!!
TE
TamE
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service3ambience4
Ambar Experience is very fulfilling and always a treat!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food is always phenomenal, the price for food and the unlimited drinks is really a great deal, and they even gave us a cute little birthday dessert. Truly never disappoints!
JG
JillG
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The three of us loved our experience and will return before we leave DC. The service and good were top notch! Our out door table was wonderful!!
RD
RachelD
Western NC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic food and an incredible variety. The Lamb Lasagna and Cheese Pie were our favorite. Our server Cornelio was accommodating by suggesting menu items. He even made us feel special with a first visit surprise dessert!
S
Sutton
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service! Very attractive waiter! Amazing food!
MW
MiliniW
Las Vegas
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We got the $25 pp deal for all you can eat for 2 hours and it was well worth it!!! The food was delish and fresh! I recommend eating here😋👌🏽
WI
WILLIAMB
Washington DC
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 3 days ago
overall2food1service2ambience2
Food was not great and service was spotty. Much too pricey for a lunch that wasn’t very tasty.
KK
KaitlynK
Baltimore
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful Balkan style small plates. The food was fantastic and the service wonderful. They even gave us a complementary dessert and glass of wine.
MB
MiaB
Tampa
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Incredible service! Our awesome waiter ordered plates for us as we did the unlimited per person tapas in order to try lots of different dishes
L
Love55
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall3food5service1ambience3
Food is absolutely outstanding as always. The service could improve.
CM
CarlaM
Washington DC
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had wonderful service. The food is amazing. The decor and design are very warm and welcoming. Not tacky. Not cheaply done. Wonderful to have an opportunity to try different things with the set price. Highly recommend!!
LH
LoisH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
From out of town didn't know what to expect. Had seen raves on TripAdvisor. Restaurant was in an eclectic neighborhood. Lots of foot traffic had good atmosphere. Our server was Daniel, he explained everything. We told him what we didn't like and he was able to bring us the most wonderful dishes. We loved most and liked a few. Would absolutely recommend this restaurant.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, diverse menu and fantastic service!
DS
DeeS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had an early Mother’s Day dinner and it was wonderful.
A
Alexa
Indiana
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best restaurant hands down in DC. The unlimited experience is the way to go. Our waiter was so nice and attentive, and we just had him pick items for us. They were all gummy! Great for brunch, HH, and dinner.
M
Minnams
San Francisco
77 reviews
vip
5.0
77 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our first time here and we had the chef’s special selection for a fixed price. The food was excellent—similar to Middle Eastern and Greek cuisines—and everything tasted very fresh, especially the breads and the salads and spreads. It was a graduation celebration for my daughter and it was an amazing choice.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely delicious. Our waiter knew just what to start us off with regarding appetizer and small plates. Lots going on but our waiter was always attentive. Fun with a smaller group of people. 100% recommend and will definitely be back
OT
OpenTable Diner
Cancun
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall3food2service2ambience4
Second visit. Our server was great in the beginning but then disappeared. We waited and waited so we could ask for a check, then another long wait for the actual check, then another wait for our card to be taken. Food was fine but nothing special really. Cute place.
BN
BobbyN
Washington DC
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 4, 2022
overall2food2service1ambience3
I really want to like Ambar. This is my second visit and the truth is, the food is mediocre. The popular "Ambar Experience" is nice for trying a wide variety of dishes and there are some decent ones. But nothing, in my opinion, stands out as remarkable in any way. The flat pricing seems like a bargain. But in reality, the food, the drinks, even the dessert choices are just serviceable at best. In fairness, on this visit we sat outside which dampened the overall experience. The recent makeover inside is nicely done. What cannot be excused was the poor service. Our server was seemed rushed and distracted. "The Experience" invites you to order a variety of small plates over the course of the meal, but our server rarely returned to our party of five for us to do so. When dishes arrived they were placed on the table without explanation causing us to guess what we had ordered. Overall, it was a disappointing evening. Probably not worth giving it a third try.
SP
SummerP
Atlanta
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
My friends and I really enjoyed the ambiance and amazing food and drink selection at a set price. Some of our favorites were the brussel sprouts, trout, tomato soup. salads 😋, and beef short rib. We will be back!
A
Annabanana
Philadelphia
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food3service3ambience3
It was a lively and fun experience. Waiter was very friendly.
AJ
ArianJ
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The server really helped up to have a seat outside as we had a dog with us. It was a little busy, so they were a little slow for the Ambar Experience buffet, but it was still okay. The food is of great quality and we enjoyed our night there.
c
cmccollum
New Orleans
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our service from John was incredible! Some of the best service I had on my trip to the city.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I mean??? Unlimited food?! I’ve only gone with large groups (6+) and they just being out an array of small plates and it’s amazing. Each time has been different surprises to the table (you can still request specific items or more of something that was a hit!) Also tasty mimosas (a few flavors)!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Tamara was the sweetest and most kindest person ever! She recommended some very delicious and authentic Serbian dishes. We don’t have anything like this back home so this is great for us and we’re excited to tell our friends about this place! We hope to come back again!
M
Mary
Washington DC
25 reviews
vip
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on April 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food is always terrific, service always outstanding!
JR
JoshuaR
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 25, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
I have been to a lot of great restaurants in DC but this is my new favorite.
MA
MariaA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Amazing food and location. It did take long time to start ordering so we started ordering ~20 after got there
AC
AllieC
Cleveland
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The best brunch in DC. Amazing food and drinks. Great service and location
TG
TamaraG
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall3food4service2ambience5
We went for my boyfriend’s 30th birthday. I reserved a table for 8 and they placed us at a table for 7. We repeatedly asked for our larger table or another table added but all they did was add in another chair. This made the dining experience very cramped. We barely had any food sent out to us. One person with us arrived late into the dinner and no one asked him if he wanted a drink or food for 30 minutes. Very disappointing compared to other experiences we’ve had here.
BB
BunnyBoy86
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall3food5service5ambience5
The salmon benedict was delicious! But it's only available during weekends and during brunch hours. Make sure to get a reservation ahead of time.
D
David
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
My first visit and I'll be back! Great lunch and great atmosphere.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a fun experience for our family on our DC vacation. We truly enjoyed trying all the dishes and each one was prepared fresh. Highly recommend!
JG
JarrodG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always my favorite spot! Great food and drinks, plus the bottomless option is just the best
V
Visiting
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience3
We were seated on the top level dining room that unfortunately was very drafty and cold. By the time our food would reach us it was often cold. Overall experience didn’t live up to the hype we’d read, but our server was super friendly and great. Perhaps our experience will be different if we choose to check it out next time we’re in town.
H
julianH
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience5
i think since it was the easter holiday , The restaurant was really crowded and they ran out of bloody mary. Serive was ok but not as fast as usuall , many dishes just did not arrive timely or sent to the wrong table. the atmosphere was very festive and staff was accomodating

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising
- Surfaces sanitised between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitiser 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 3817 OpenTable diners.

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