Ambar Restaurant, Chicago Reviews

We had a wonderful experience at Ambar Restaurant in Chicago. The food was fresh, warm, and full of flavor. Our server, Nikola, was fantastic—attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal. Highly recommend both the restaurant and the service!

Our server Marco was WONDERFUL! Manager was very helpful. Amazing food. Atmosphere is really nice and reminds me of dining in Europe!

amazing service and food! loved all of the food and the knowledge that our server, Nikola, had about each dish. you can tell the food is made with love!

Great brunch and vibes. It was a great experience and our server Nikola was great! Portions are great and great for a large group

Lovely experience! Unlimited balkan tasting experience is a great way to explore flavors from that part of the World. Super friendly and hospitable service! Highly recommend!

Nikola was fantastic, food, ambiance, and drink were fantastic. Excited to have Balkan cuisine here in downtown Chicago!

So what is a Michelin star all about and why do restauranteurs crave one? Ask the folks at Ambar, a Washington DC favorite for Balkan dining that debuted its first Chicago location last April. Located at 700 North Clark Street, in the city's thriving River North neighborhood, Ambar has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand award, the first step toward a Michelin star. A Michelin star signifies a restaurant's outstanding quality based on five universal criteria: quality of ingredients, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, personality of the chef in the cuisine, value for money and consistency. The Michelin awards began in 1926 and were expanded to three-star rating in 1936. It is rare for a restaurant to be awarded three stars. There are only 137 in the world, 16 in the United States, eight in California. Illinois has only one, Alinea in Chicago. It once had three but Grace and Smyth have closed. Will Ambar join the exclusive fraternity? Open from noon to 3:30 and 4 to 10 Sunday through Thursday and noon to 3:30 and 4 to 11 on Friday and Saturday, it allows diners to discover the whole world of Balkan cuisine by trying a little bit of everything--all for one flat price of $54.99 per person. You may not be able to pronounce the items on the menu but you know a good thing when you eat it. I started with a bowl of veal soup with tender veal meat, root vegetables and creme fraiche, a Sujuk flatbread with Sujuk beef sausage, mozzarella, tomato sauce and oregano and grilled shrimp marinated with garlic and lemon and served with smoked pancetta aioli and cilantro. For my entree, I chose lamb medallions served with lemon/garlic yogurt and drizzled with pomegranate molasses with a fresh cucumber salad. With a side of roasted baby carrots coated in a tangy passionfruit Amarillo glaze and served with creamy tofu cashew cream and topped with herb salsa. For dessert, my waiter recommended the house special, Krempita, a mille-fuille style flaky pastry dough layered with vanilla custard and fresh raspberries. Delicious. A great capper to an evening of discovery.

A Great spot to try all the best from Serbian cuisine. Great service, delicious meals, beautifully decorated cozy space.

Excellent and authentic Balkan food with wonderful atmosphere and service. Definitely not to be missed when you’re in Chicago.

I had a wonderful time at this location. I’ve been to the one in DC and this experienced definitely matched that quality. I highly recommend. Nicola was awesome !

Amazing food, perfect portion. Our server Nikola was great very attentive. The food was great, took me back to my childhood.

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing!! If you’re lucky, get D as a server! The food is exquisite! What a great brunch spot! Go ASAP!

Come in and experience Ambar a Balkan Cuisine. Our server Nocolai gave us plenty of suggestions so I tried the all you can eat and they did not disappoint. The food was great and paired right. The tried the cognac flight and the flavors were spot on. I will be back again. Thank you Ambar staff.

Great atmosphere, great food, Marko-our server, was amazing!! The raspberry coctail was delicious! Will definitely come back! Enjoyed every second!

This was my 6th time here. I was there day one, April 1, and I just fell in love with everything they made. Since then, I have visited with more of my friends and family who saw photos on my Instagram. The staff are all fantastic and conscientious with their service. The Brunch menu IS different from their lunch menu. They only complaint is when I order Cevapi for the table, or meat pie, there are 8 adults, please bring MORE than 2 little pies cut in half. I think this is how they try to keep from oversending or wasting food, but it did get a bit aggravating. My fav depending on if you go for Brunch or Lunch it varies: Veal soup, meat pie,cheese pie, white pizza, beet tzatziki, their pita bread, goulash, and their desserts. Expertly handled my bean, nut and sesame allergy, which anyone within the Anaphylaxis Community understands the dangers of allergen in foods. Marko was our server, and Donato also worked our tables. Donato knows me by now and Marko recognized me from April 1 as his first customer with allergies. Well-played. My cousins LOVED the food and we were easily able to converse.

Great food, reasonable price, excellent service! You will leave full and happy. Nice atmosphere! You definitely get your money’s worth here.

Delicious and vegetarian friendly! First time trying Balkan food and I will be back, Nicolai was a great server. Loved sitting on the patio with beautiful weather

Everything about this place was amazing, food, drinks, and overall atmosphere. Nikola was very helpful and his service was exceptional!

Excellent food. Nikola, our waiter, was amazing! very friendly,and helpful on what to order. Brilliant evening. We will be back!

Stopped by for a quick dessert and espresso and it exceeded our expectations! We had the Krempita and Warm Brownie Skillet. The krempita was delicate and the raspberry was delicious. The brownie skillet was the perfect ratio of brownie to ice cream, and the walnuts were a perfect addition. Would definitely recommend! Ask for Marko if you visit - he was great.

Highly recommend! This place allows you to try tons of new foods all for the same price. The service was amazing. Cocktails were on point.

Food so good. Great variety and great price and taste. Hanger steak was to die for. So good all was excellent And worth the price.

Food was amazing!! Service was wonderful! Marko was a delight! His attention to detail, and recommendations elevated my dining experience! He was extremely knowledgeable about each dish, and even gave us some knowledge on where each dish and cocktail came from. I will 100% be back and am already looking forward to it.

Great meal! Beautiful space! Our server Marco was very nice and welcoming. The unlimited meal is a great deal to fill you up.

Great service from both Ambers. Delicious foods. Love being able to try many different items. Shrimp, lamb, beef, ginger soup, peppers. Try them all.

I had a fantastic evening here; each item was flavorful and tastefully presented. My sea bass was flaky, tasty, and cooked to perfection. The evening was enhanced by the staff's genuine kindness and warmth. It's unfortunate to learn that it might be closing; hopefully, a new location will open up soon! I would strongly advise anyone traveling to the area to do this.

Amazing food and great service - I ate and drank so much! This is my second time here and I will definitely be back. Would recommend for large or small groups. Marko was great!

Everything was amazing from the food to the ambiance to the service. For a party of 8, the service was very well and efficient, and some members of our party who had eating restrictions were well taken care.

This was a lovely evening with a staff that is extremely attentive. Nikola made our experience rememberable. Looking forward to coming back.

What a fabulous experience ! The food was all so flavorful and to have the opportunity to enjoy whatever you wanted off the menu was a dream experience ! Their chef has created dishes with layered depths of flavor! Bravo! Our server O’Shea was wonderful! Personable, knowledgeable and welcoming ! Please treat yourselves to an unforgettable evening

Great food and great service with Nikola. Love the bottomless experience. We’ve been for brunch and lunch and have incredible experiences every time.

Best brunch! The food was awesome and atmosphere was great. Perfect for groups or couples. Would definitely recommend and go back again.

Great service from Marko! Food was delicious and they made my birthday special with a fun dessert. Thanks for a great meal!

"Absolutely amazing! The food was perfect and everything turned out beautifully. Marko was very friendly knowledgable fast and attentive will definitely be back! "

Ambar was terrific. A great concept. One price, all you can eat. But not huge portions, but tapa style portions of many dishes. Allows you to experience all the different types of dishes, sauces, soups, meats, vegetables, seafood, kebabs. A large variety of options. Don’t worry, great waiters like Marco will guide you through your meal. Loved the meal and experience.

I definitely recommend this spot as the tapas style was great. Great overall experience and loved the food. Nikola took great care of us!

We came here with girlfriends after hearing about the brunch specials and it was nothing short of amazing. Our waitress was Diana and she could not have been better. She was charming, knowledgeable, and gave incredible recommendations. She truly made us feel welcomed. I will be making many reservations for the summer and have been non stop bragging to my family and friends. Definitely turned into my number one spot for brunch.

I stumbled upon this Balkan restaurant while exploring River North, and it was one of the best dining surprises I’ve had in Chicago. From the moment I walked in, the warm ambiance and welcoming staff set the tone for an authentic and memorable meal. The food is absolutely phenomenal. The cevapi were perfectly grilled, juicy, and packed with flavor — easily some of the best I’ve had outside of the Balkans. The lepinja bread was fresh and fluffy, and the ajvar had just the right balance of smokiness and spice. I also tried the sarma and grilled lamb, both of which were rich, hearty, and clearly made with care. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable, and the drink menu includes a great selection of Balkan wines and rakija. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the cuisine. If you’re looking to try something different or have a taste of home, this place is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be back — next time with friends in tow.

The food was so good (coming from Balkans so I know my stuff) Nikola C was great and helpful a large variety and great desserts too!

Great food and great ambiance! Everything we tried tasted nice, highly recommend shrimp, mussels, cauliflower and corn! Our sever Nichola was very attentive and service is great!

We first came across Ambar several years ago in DC. Unfortunately, it was right before closing so we were unable to eat there. Fast forward to today. Searching for a dinner spot we saw Ambar which had just opened last month and knew we had to go. The food was outstanding, especially the grilled halloumi cheese, the almond fried chicken, the balkan salad, the carrot ginger soup and the balkan kebab to name a few. The food came out at a nice pace and the table was quickly cleared of empty plates. What could make this experience any better than it was was our server D! D was knowledgeable about the food and seemed excited for us as we tried each dish. Without asking, D even ordered a few dishes based on what he thought we would like. I hadn't planned on ordering the chicken skewers but I'm glad D ordered them for us. They were so flavorful. Food aside, it was such a pleasure talking with D. What a kind and fun man! Thank you, D! The ONLY negative was that there were still many dishes that I wanted to try but could not eat another bite. Oh, well. An excuse to return to Ambar!

If you’re in Chicago and craving something different, run to Ambar. This place is an absolute gem! The pork shoulder was unbelievably tender — it literally melted in my mouth. The Ćevapi? To die for. Pro tip: ask for Kajmak with the dips. It’s a creamy, rich spread that takes the whole experience to another level, especially with their warm, homemade bread. The cocktail menu is a fun surprise — made with Rakija, but don’t let that intimidate you. Even if you’ve never had Rakija before, their drinks are super approachable and full of character. Trust the process and dive in. And whatever you do, don’t leave without taking a shot of Rakija. It’s the perfect way to end a fantastic Balkan adventure. Can’t wait to go back!

Hidden gem! I walked into Ambar out of curiosity, not expecting much—and left completely blown away! Nikola was amazingggggggg.

We were staying for a few days at the Hotel Felix just across the road and popped in here a few times for drinks at the bar. The bartender was friendly and good to chat with. My wife thought the wine was lovely and the beers were good too. We didn’t eat here but the food looked great served in a welcoming environment.

Great ambiance, food, service. Nikola was exceptional! Would recommend for a fun dinner party with friends!!!!!!!!!

Great food. Fresh. Love the atmosphere. The staff is extremely pleasant. The slow roasted pork and lamb were the stars of the night.

Some interesting food, I tried new things and I liked it. The hanger steak, burger, shrimp and grits, salmon egg Benedict, and hash was delicious

Excellent variety of well-made Balkan dishes and great value. The all you can eat menu and small dish concept allows for a fun meal.

Wonderful place. Tasty Balkan tapas, chilled music. Server Marko is knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely will be back soon.

Amazing spot. They just opened and are running the place so smoothly. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is so welcoming. Staff is so kind and professional. Marko B was our server and did an amazing job providing us with excellent service. He is knowledgeable and was very polite. Food portions are good as well.

The ambar full experience is incredible!!! And Nikola is a real nice fella! Try the cevapi, try the Balkan donuts, try everything

Awesome experience to sample Balkan food. Everything was delicious and service was wonderful. Will be back again!!!!

This restaurant was amazing, the staff were nice and helpful and the food came out very quick. I would definitely recommend coming here and trying the amazing Balkan cuisine.

GREAT Service. They go above and beyond, and the food is delicious! The Turkish/Srpska coffee is hard to find at restaurants, and theirs one of the best I have had in the city. 😀

Everything about our experience at Ambar made us feel like we were in Serbia! Our server Marko made sure we had a remarkable experience and even surprised my mom with a Mother’s Day dessert, despite it being after the holiday. He provided such great recommendations and everything was wonderful and authentic! We can’t wait to go back & could not recommend it more!

We went for dinner with family and friends, the food was amazing and Nicolas was great as waiter. He was funny and very friendly

Interesting concept of all you can eat, and every dish was amazing. Great service! I’m going to recommend it to everyone

Great spot for a large group of people! Food came out very fast and the servers were attentive. Awesome variety of food to select from with many vegetarian options!

Got the unlimited brunch. Perfect way to try everything. The food had a lot of flavors and the products were of high quality. The ambience and decoration were very pretty.

Wonderful place for our lovely first wedding anniversary... This is a dining experience like no other. From the almond roasted chicken, slow roasted lamb, to the beet dip, to the fried zucchini, to the incredible desert, the food amazing. Not one dish was bad or even just good, everything was sensational. The service was wonderful; the table was never empty and the waiters were very hospitable. Thanks for the beautiful memories

Absolutely phenomenal! The unlimited tasting menu was so worth it and did not have a single bad dish. Great atmosphere, drinks, and amazing service. Everything came out super quick and the servers were so incredibly nice and had fantastic suggestions. Perfect place if you are wanting to try something new in River North.

Great experience with friends! Good was awesome and Nikola was very helpful! Looking forward to visiting again!!!!!!

SHOUTOUT TO NIKOLA SURPRIOR SERVICE! Absolutely amazing brunch experience! The food was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt like a comforting, homemade meal with a gourmet twist. The service was top-notch—friendly, attentive, and welcoming. It’s clear the staff takes pride in both their cuisine and customer care. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Balkan flavors in a warm atmosphere. Will definitely be back!

Happy hour is only at the bar. Food was good, drinks were pretty good. Nikola was the highlight of the night! Incredible and so kind!

Fantastic dinner dining experience. We are visiting our son in Chicago from the UK - ate here our first night in town and enjoyed it so much we came back with our son and his girlfriend a week later. The fixed price unlimited menu is so varied and of excellent quality. It's Balkan tapas! Just keep ordering taster dishes... Excellent cocktails too. The atmosphere is cosy and busy. Special mention to our servers Stefan (our first visit) and Tyler (our second) who were so helpful with dietary/allergy issues. BTW: We love Chicago!

I had a friend’s birthday brunch here and it was amazing!! The service was top tier. The food was so delicious! Our waiter helped choose a great spread of food, and everything was unbelievable. 10/10 experience. I will definitely be coming back

Great service (Luka), charming atmosphere, great food and a reasonable price. Approved by a beloved Serbian for quality and authenticity.

Great value and quite delicious food. Service was very friendly and efficient. Very pretty decor too. Will be back for more.

Wonderful experience. Unlimited Balkan food for set price is definitely the best way to explore cuisine from that part of the world. Food is great, value unprecedented, and their managers and servers are fueled by endless Balkan hospitality. Great rakia selection and great deals for drinks. Make a reservation now, go armed with an appetite, and thank me later. 🙂

What a gem. Excellent on all fronts. Amazing food which can be enjoyed tapas style. Lovely cocktails and good drinks menu. Staff were excellent, friendly, attentive but not intrusive. Restroom facilities were spotless.

Nice open space for group dining. Variety of foods including many vegetarian options. However have to advise against a few items. Basically, avoid the American breakfast items, they are standard but nothing to rave about. Service is great. Would recommend: The hangar steak The dips Sweet waffle dessert. Also, if your waiter is Dee, you’re in for a treat.

Overall an amazing restaurant. Great Atmosphere and service. Paid its respect to staple balkan dishes. Definitely a must try when in Chicago!

One reviewer seemed to suggest that Ambar is on its way to a Michelin rating? Ambar is far away from a Michelin rating (and to be fair, so are most restaurants). Restaurants can have great food and not have a Michelin rating, but that is not the case at Ambar. Please note, I am Serbian and hate to write this review, but I would not rate Ambar as even the best Serbian food in Chicago. However, there are positives... The restaurant is nicely decorated, with a large bar, and large windows all around, so the atmosphere is nice. The location is good. It's a great concept---small plates (tapas style) where you can try a lot of different dishes. Also, the service is very good, and fast. However, in my opinion, the reason the service is fast is because a lot of the food appears to be pre-made and is just heated up quickly and served to the guests quickly. That includes the Meat pie (which was just ok) and the cheese pie, which was pretty good even though it didn't taste like it was made that day. The cheese pie needed to be heated up some more & then I think it would have tasted better. We did not like the taste of the lamb flatbread (although that did taste fresh). When we asked if the lamb or pork dishes were fresh (off of the slow cooked meats portion of the menu), the waitress explained that they buy their meat on Tuesdays, and slow cook it for 6 hours and then re-heat it to serve to guests. We dined on a Thursday afternoon and that probably explains why the roasted lamb and pork shoulder dishes off the slow cooked meats portion of the menu tasted dry---because they were made on Tuesday and were just re-heated for us on Thursday afternoon. The waitress explained that the grilled meats were fresh and made to order when you order them (from the Hearth menu). Off of that portion of the menu, we tried the lamb medallions, but we did not like the taste of those. I also did not like the preparation of the cauliflower dish on the vegetables portion of the menu. The Balkan salad (sopska salata) was just ok. The same can be said for the veal soup--not bad, but not the best I've ever tasted. However, I did like the small serving of the Beef Short rib goulash and the civapi (traditional Serbian sausages). For desert, we liked the krempita, but the baklava did not taste like baklava, but more like a plum pie wrapped in phillo dough and we liked the krepmita much more. My husband liked the turkish coffee and it was served in a very traditional mini turkish coffee pot, which was very cute. In sum, in my opinion, Ambar is a mixed bag---good and fast service, nice atmosphere, and while we did not like some of the items noted above, our Serbian friends have reported liking the food at Ambar. Maybe the other items on the menu are better than the ones we tried. (For example, we did not try the seafood or stuffed peppers or the balkan kebabs).

Went on a Sunday, the food was great (particular standouts were the hangar steak, shrimp and grits, and the pulled pork Benedict). The service was good and we had a great experience overall.

I came in very last minute but the bartender Mike I think his name was was uh very nice and accommodating Great service 10/10

We really enjoyed our first experience at the brunch at Ambar. Very professional team and it is worth it 100%. You need to tried the steak! 🥩

My colleague and I discovered this restaurant in search of tapas. I love the vibe here. The mood is intimate with lighting at each table, the conversations were boisterous at each table, and the food was delish and it kept on coming! So many foods to try, share, and I can’t pinpoint only one to be my favorite of this experience. Will def come back on my next visit to Chicago!

Food was nice, tailored to the masses. Kebabs were a little tough. Overall great experience and service was a 10 out of ten. Highly recommend the white flatbread it’s the best thing to me.

Everything was amazing, Bozidar was our server and he did an amazing job, checking in with us and making sure that everything was on the table

We came here with our Supper Club group of 7 friends. We go to a different restaurant each month and I had never heard of Ambar but this is now my favorite one! Because the plates are small and the price is fixed we felt free to try many dishes. I thought every single one was delicious. Do not miss the almond fried chicken, the meat pie, or the donuts! And my Serbian wine was outstanding! Our server, Marko, was fun, attentive, and he guided us beautifully as we chose our dishes. You’d be crazy not to come here. But clearly everyone has already heard how good it is—the place was packed!

Amazing family dinner with great service, ambiance, and amazing food! Good food recommendations and enthusiastic service - striving to please. Order the stuffed cabbage!

We had a great night with family, trying out so many different dishes. The individual meals are small, which is perfect as there were so many things we all wanted to try. Nikolas our waiter was great, and had some good recommendations for food and wine. Great all around.

Sometimes the best experiences are the ones you don’t plan—and that’s exactly what happened when my girlfriends and I stumbled upon this incredible restaurant by complete accident. From the moment we stepped in, the atmosphere had a welcoming charm. Simply put: the food was magnificent. Not overdone, not fussy—just *delicious* in the purest sense of the word. What made the night truly unforgettable, though, was our server, Nikola! He’s a champion! We left feeling full—not just from the food, but from the overall experience.

Amazing food here, went for bottomless tapas lunch and was very impressed. Took my whole family for graduation. There were food for people with exquisite taste palette and simple, good for veggie, meat, and seafood lovers!

Nikola was a great server! The food was amazing and the concept they have is very interesting, you can choose whatever you want on the menu for $

D was amazing! The food was amazing! Eddie the manager was amazing! The vibe was great as well. Looking forward to visiting again

We had an unforgettable experience at Ambar Chicago! From the moment we walked in, we were blown away by the phenomenal decor—elegant, modern, and warm with just the right touch of flair. It’s clear that every design detail was carefully curated to create a beautiful, inviting atmosphere. Our group of 12 came in during a busy weekend, and we were amazed at how smoothly everything went. Tyler took incredible care of us—friendly, attentive, and he did a great job taking care of a table of 12 by himself. He made us feel like VIPs from start to finish. Ask for Tyler! The food was absolutely amazing—every dish was bursting with flavor, beautifully presented, and clearly crafted with high-quality ingredients. It’s rare to find a restaurant that nails it on service, ambiance, and cuisine, but Ambar delivers on all fronts. We always look forward to our annual Chicago trips, and Ambar has officially earned a permanent spot on our must-visit list. Can’t wait to come back!

Love the unlimited brunch on weekends. It was a good introduction to Serbian cuisine. Great unlimited sparking wine and drinks.

Everything was absolutely delicious, with interesting and unique flavors. Ambience and music was great as well. I would highly recommend this establishment!

The best food ever! Our waiter Marco was beyond attentive and felt like in the Balkans! I literally tried everything off the menu and went for seconds! Mouth watering food!

Absolutely delicious Krempita and drinks! Service was top notch. Enjoyed our experience, was fantastic for dessert and drinks

If you’re looking for real Balkan flavors, this is the place. The food was amazing, and the atmosphere felt warm and familiar. Our server, Nikola was fantastic—friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from start to finish. He really added to our great experience!

thank you Stefan! and the Balkan staff for making them such a pleasant experience. The food was amazing. The staff were super friendly and helpful and picking out food from the menu. They had such a great time. The food and the drinks were great. We’ll definitely be back and shout out to Ed he was super hospitable

My husband and I went to this restaurant for brunch and we were amazed by how good the food was. Our waiter, Nikola was very kind, explained everything we needed to know about the menu and made sure we had a great experience. Prices are extremely reasonable for the area. I highly recommend this place!