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
Eating Out In DC/NoVA 