Ambar

2901 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22201

 

After catapulting to fame at its D.C. location, Ambar’s small plates concept spread to thrive in downtown Arlington as well. Since moving from Serbia in 2005, Ivan Iricanin, the mastermind behind Ambar, has since taken the greater Washington D.C. area by storm. Although his numerous restaurants expand beyond his Balkan cuisine, Ambar reigns supreme in the eyes of his vast customer base. As the highest rated restaurant on Yelp (in both locations), it is clear that Ambar is filling a need for Balkan cuisine that many locals and tourists alike might not have known they had.

 

Before jumping out of my comfort zone and booking a reservation at Ambar myself, I had never been to a restaurant that serves anything near Balkan food. However, it had been quite difficult to find a restaurant that serves authentic Balkan food in the first place. Although I was hoping to find a Bulgarian restaurant, a few searches on the internet soon revealed to me that no such thing existed within a several hundred mile radius. However, I had come across Ambar online and was immediately captivated by the beauty of the pictures on its website. Plants hung like drapery throughout the dining room and the restaurant was doused in peaceful blues and earthy greens. Before even looking at the menu, I knew that I had to experience it in person. By some flip of luck, my boyfriend and I had planned a trip to D.C. the following– which just to happens to be where Ambar, one of the only places in the States where Balkan food is served at all, resides.

 

Due to the fact that Balkan food is such a rare commodity in the continent, Ambar invites its guests to “(re)discover Balkan” cuisine. In order to do this, the restaurants operates on an unique small plates concept that encourages guests to explore the many extraordinary flavors Balkan cuisine has to offer. The menu is comprised of a multitude of small plates that fluctuate around the ten dollar mark. Although this price seems quite reasonable, it is important to understand that Ambar means it when they call their dishes “small plates.” In order to get a full meal, one must order at least two small plates… if you’re a small person. However, to combat this, Ambar offers what they call the “Balkan Experience” which allows guests to order an unlimited amount of small plates for thirty-five dollars. I can guarantee you it will be worth your money.

 

Looking back, I wish we had had a better understanding of the literalness of the term “small plates” before we had ordered so we could have gotten the Balkan Experience, but we still had a fantastic dinner. From the moment we rounded the corner towards the restaurant the service was fantastic. The manager went out of his way when he saw us approaching to run out and hold the door open for us as he introduced himself and welcomed us to Ambar. Although we were an hour early for our reservation (I was just too excited to wait any longer), he readily accommodated us and even granted my wish to sit next to a window. Our server greeted us with waters not even a minute after we had reached our table and eagerly explained every item on the menu we asked her about. When I told her that I was studying Bulgarian cuisine for a class her face lit up as she exclaimed “I’m from Serbia! My father is Bulgarian. It is the most fantastic food you will ever eat.”

 

Goodness, was she right. Upon her recommendation, I order the Balkan salad as my appetizer. I am not exaggerating when I say that it was delivered to my table before I even finished speaking my order. (Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but I was astounded with the speed especially when considered how full the restaurant was.) I must admit, however, I was disappointed when I looked down and saw a cucumber salad in the place of what I had mistakenly assumed would be mixed greens. Before hesitantly taking my first bite, I had believed I hated cucumber. After taking my first bite, a whole new flavor pallet broadened my culinary horizons. The salad features a beautiful medley of colorful peppers and aged cow cheese atop a bed of crisp cucumber and cherry tomatoes that tasted as though they had just been picked from the vine. The minimal oil-based dressing serves only to amplify the natural flavors of the fresh vegetables and melt-in-your-mouth cheese. It was the most succulent salad I have ever experienced.

Encouraged by my new-found culinary bravery, I was eager to try something new once again for my entree. After consulting with our server, I ordered what she described as the most Bulgarian dish on the menu: Stuffed Pepper. It was brought to our table with the impossible speed my salad had been delivered in. Our server explained to me that my dish had spent six hours slow roasting prior to arriving at my table and invited me to take my fork experience the results of such a slow marinate for myself. She didn’t have to tell me twice. This dish was unlike anything I had ever had before. The pepper is stuffed with incredibly tender mixture of beef, pork, and root vegetables. These glorious mountains of flavor are surrounded by a sea of savory dill sauce and topped with fresh green onions. It took every ounce of my self control to slow down and savor it as I was eating, for after the first bite I could not set my fork down.

As soon I had regretfully taken my last bite of my stuffed peppers, our server appeared with a dessert menu and cured my case of finished-food blues. After her first two recommendations exceeded my expectations, I readily ordered the dessert of her choosing: Forest Gnocchi. Now, I will do my best to explain the mastery of such a fantastical dessert, but the only way to truly understand the whimsy of its presentation is to experience it for yourself. Our server brought to our table a bowl of cocoa powder topped with dollops of orange gelee, passion fruit espuma, black tea sauce, and chocolate mousse, and taragon gnocchi. The dessert’s set up is absolutely beautiful. However, I did not have a chance to photograph its lovely medley of colors before our server took some cream and poured it on top. She then beat the mixture until it became what she called “a liquid cake” and then invited us to try a bite. “We mix it imperfectly, you see, so each bite brings you new flavors.” Needless to say, it was by far the most unique and wondrous dish I have ever ordered.

 

As I took my last bite I sat contemplating why I had never stepped outside of my culinary comfort zone until this point. My entire experience at Ambar had been exquisite, and I was heartbroken over the fact that I lived thirteen hours away from it– a little too far of a drive for a dinner date, if you ask me. I would, however, recommend this wonderful establishment to anyone looking for a getaway from the bustle of city life. Ambar is the perfect location to wow a date or splurge a little on a company dinner. It is perfect for anyone looking to stretch outside their comfort zone and never look back.