AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago
Quick info
About AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago
AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago is an Eastern European restaurant at 700 N Clark St in Chicago, IL, serving a small plates menu of traditional Balkan dishes in a rustic-chic setting. Much of its character comes from the focus on regional spirits and the shared-plate format, which turns a meal into a tour of the Balkans. The menu is built for grazing across the region's staples, letting diners sample a range of flavors in one sitting. Reservations are advised, especially for weekend brunch and evening service.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating · Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsHigh chairs available
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
40 dishes · mains $9–62- Grilled Mixed Meat Platter$59.00
- Grilled Seafood Platter$62.00
- Slow-Cooked Meats$59.00
- Roasted Lamb Experience$62.00
- Ajvar$9.00
- Beet Tzatziki$9.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention unlimited small plates, steak tartare, spicy feta spread and meat pie.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention unlimited small plates, steak tartare, spicy feta spread and meat pie.
Customer Review Summary
Ambar draws diners in with its unlimited small plates concept, letting guests order anything from the menu in smaller portions so they can sample widely. Reviewers consistently praise the steak tartare, NY strip, and spreads like the spicy feta and kajmak with homemade bread, alongside brunch standouts such as shakshouka, meat pies, and the strawberry waffle. Service is repeatedly described as attentive and friendly, with several noting that servers walk guests through the menu and keep drinks flowing. The all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink deals are called a great value, and the vibrant, flower-filled space earns frequent compliments. A few caveats surface, though: some find certain dishes overpowered by spicy sauce that masks the natural flavor of fish or meat, and a handful mention items like ćevapi arriving slightly undercooked or a dessert that was not house-made. One reviewer also notes that during peak brunch hours, servers can be slow to check in.
Customer Review Summary
Ambar draws diners in with its unlimited small plates concept, letting guests order anything from the menu in smaller portions so they can sample widely. Reviewers consistently praise the steak tartare, NY strip, and spreads like the spicy feta and kajmak with homemade bread, alongside brunch standouts such as shakshouka, meat pies, and the strawberry waffle. Service is repeatedly described as attentive and friendly, with several noting that servers walk guests through the menu and keep drinks flowing. The all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink deals are called a great value, and the vibrant, flower-filled space earns frequent compliments. A few caveats surface, though: some find certain dishes overpowered by spicy sauce that masks the natural flavor of fish or meat, and a handful mention items like ćevapi arriving slightly undercooked or a dessert that was not house-made. One reviewer also notes that during peak brunch hours, servers can be slow to check in.
Featured reviews
- Andrew (Fox Cat)
“The unlimited tasting style dishes at Ambar were such a fun experience, especially for a group. There was so much to try, but the meat dishes were definitely my favorites. the steak and meat pie were the clear standouts. The service was super attentive and friendly the whole time. They really took great care of us, and I loved that they surprised us with a special birthday dessert. Made the day even better!”
- Issabelle Frial
“If you’re like me and you’re the type of person who wants to try everything on a menu, then look no further, because Ambar is the place to do just that. One of my girlfriends and I came for the all you can eat and all you can drink mimosa brunch deal and it is 10000% worth it. The portions are the perfect size so you don’t get full off 3 items and you’re actually able to try everything. When I say we ordered everything off the brunch menu, I’m not joking. Our favorites had to be the shakshouka, meat and cheese pies, strawberry waffle, and the fried chicken slider. The restaurant was packed and the decor was full of florals, perfect for spring and summer. I also want to give a huge shoutout to our server Marco, who was such a rockstar and kept our mimosa glasses full and had great recommendations on what we should order. Thank you for a delicious brunch! I can’t wait to come back and enjoy cocktails on the patio and try their dinner menu!”
- Zaghum Khawaja
“We had an incredible experience at Ambar! The food was absolutely delicious, each dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. A big shoutout to the entire team for their outstanding service. Everyone was attentive, friendly, and truly made our morning even more enjoyable. The non-alcoholic drinks were just as impressive and perfectly crafted. I highly recommend Ambar for brunch. The vibrant atmosphere was fun, energetic, and filled with a great crowd. It’s definitely a place I’ll be returning to!”
- Kayla Pitts Kies
“Ambar is such a fun spot, one of the only places in the city where you can get all-you-can-eat Balkan food, which makes it feel really unique. The space itself is so cute too, with flowers hanging everywhere and tons of natural light. It’s also surprisingly spacious, which I loved. Also, I can’t wait for the patio! It’s a great deal for what you get, $55 for dinner, and you can add bottomless drinks for $22 more. You have a 2-hour window, but honestly that was more than enough time for us to get completely full. They start you off with a tray of dips, veggies, and pita (the spicy feta was a standout), and then you can really go all in ordering from the menu. Some of our favorites were the NY strip, crispy corn ribs, steak tartare, and the Balkan salad. The portions are perfect, just enough to enjoy each dish while still being able to try a ton of different things. Service was fast and attentive, and our server did a great job walking us through the menu. We can’t wait to come back, such a perfect date night spot!”
- Valeriia Levchenko
“We had an absolutely amazing experience. The food was outstanding — incredibly вкусно, diverse, and honestly surprisingly high-level for the U.S. It truly felt like a real European dining experience, and my husband and I were genuinely impressed. Every dish was top quality, and the cocktails and desserts were just as exceptional. A special thank you to our waiter Marco — he made our evening unforgettable. Attentive, professional, and truly excellent at what he does. We will definitely be coming back!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Small plates menu of traditional Balkan dishes, plus regional spirits, offered in rustic-chic digs.”
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Serves local speciality
- Popular for popular for lunch
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed outside
Show more amenities
- Has no-contact delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Serves vegan dishes
- Has bar on site
- Casual
- Offerings· 14
- Serves alcohol
- Always offers all that you can eat
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves happy-hour drinks
- Serves happy-hour food
- Serves healthy options
- Has private dining room
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Family-friendly· 1
- High chairs available
- Dining options· 8
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has catering
- Has counter service
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Planning· 1
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Service options· 3
- Offers kerbside pickup
- Offers delivery
- On-site services available
- Highlights· 5
- Has fast service
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Serves local speciality
- Atmosphere· 3
- Cosy
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Accessibility· 2
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Parking· 1
- Paid street parking
Location
How AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago compares to nearby restaurants
- AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago · This shop4.82,346 reviews
Mentioned in reviews: unlimited small plates, steak tartare, spicy feta spread
- 3,509 reviews0.2 mi
Mentioned in reviews: ceviche, pisco sour, lomo saltado
- Crying Tiger4.81,764 reviews0.4 mi
Mentioned in reviews: crying tiger dessert, pork belly, lobster pad thai
- Havana Grill4.52,305 reviews0.4 mi
Mentioned in reviews: mojitos, carne asada, cuban food
AMBAR Restaurant, Chicago This shop | Tanta Cocina Peruana | Crying Tiger | Havana Grill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8(2,346) | 4.5(3,509) | 4.8(1,764) | 4.5(2,305) | |
| Price | $40–90 | $50–100 | $50–100 | $20–30 |
| Distance | — | 0.2 mi | 0.4 mi | 0.4 mi |
| Open today | ||||
| Vegan options | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Vegetarian options | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Good for kids | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
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How this listing is sourced
Hours, contact details, and amenities are sourced from publicly available business data and re-checked regularly. Listings are ranked independently — no paid placement.