Brunch at Ambar

For the 4^th of July we decided to do the $35 unlimited food/drinks brunch at Ambar on Barracks Row in Capitol Hill. We had been to Ambar for drink (post here) back in May, and that visit we had said then that we wanted to come back and try their food.  Their brunch menu is a combination of tapas, sandwiches, eggs, pastries, and crepes.  Plus mimosas and bloody marys. We decided to try a few different things since it was an “endless” selection of all plates.

For an appetizer we got the suckling pig (which I am not sure I had ever tried before) and mezze platter (because we love meat & cheese).

  

For our “main course” we got the roasted mushroom crepe and the ham & cheese crepe.  I fell in love with the mushroom crepe and actually ordered another one.  We also tried the fried chicken sandwich as well, which was the only thing we did not particularly like as it was not flavorful…

 

Finally for dessert we tried the fried apple rings and the strawberry waffle.  The strawberry waffle with nutella is where it’s at and is a must order!
  

Over all we loved the experience.  The food was flavorful, our waitress was super nice, the drinks were good, and the décor of the place with the wood and unique lights makes it feel like an experience and not just a meal.

Next time we will try for the lunch/dinner!

Details:
Ambar
523 8th St SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.813.3039
Serve: Drinks, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Happy Hour
Price: Unlimited Brunch-$35.00

Drinks at Ambar

One day I had a conversation with a bartender about he thought it was a joke that now a lot of his colleagues called themselves mixologist… I laughed along with him because someone that makes a rum and coke or pops the top off your Bud Light definitely doesn’t  deserve the title, but last Saturday evening after the Nats game a few of our friends made our way over to Matchbox on Barracks Row.  Since the wait was supposed to be 30 minutes we decided to take our buzzer and pop over next door to Ambar and grab a drink.  We hopped up on our barstools and took the drink menu for the bartender and listened as he explained that we probably wouldn’t be able to comprehend the menu and to check the glossary at the bottom or ask him if we had questions.  When I heard glossary along with the words cocktails and wine I knew we were in for some kind of treat…not sure if it was going to be good or bad.

With a “I have no idea what I’m ordering” we each asked for one of their specialty cocktails with the basically the only ingredient I recognized being the word lime… after watching the bartender put a drop of this, a splash of that, a shake here, a pour there… he definitely deserves the title of mixologist.  These cocktails were not something you could just produce at home, this man had skill.

I ordered: Podgorica

A guy friend ordered: Zagreb Rakia Sour

And a girl friend ordered: a Skoplje.

Out of the three we all loved mine.  It was slightly sweet/tangy like a margarita but flavorful and not overwhelming.

I think we would definitely go back and try the Balkan tapas and another drink from the menu.  The interior design was beautiful and the menu looked intriguing.  It would certainly be a place to stop in if you find yourself on Barracks Row in need of a unique drink and meal.

Details:
Ambar
523 8th St SE
Washington, DC 20003
202.813.3039
Serve: Drinks, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Happy Hour
Price: Drinks $9.00 – $12.00