AMBAR Restaurant, Shaw — Restaurant in Washington

Quick version: food was great but service was slow and careless. Trying to celebrate a friends birthday was incredibly disappointing and management took no care to correct things. We were a table of industry folks and have lots of patience, but the ball just kept getting dropped. I would not recommend this location for dining.

Long version: We arrived on time for our 9pm reservation and waited for about 15 minutes to be seated - absolutely no problem since it was a busy Saturday evening. Unfortunately once we were seated, things took a down turn. Our server/bartender Jared waited 10+ minutes to greet us and gave us the spiel about their unlimited option, but didn't allow us to ask questions or invite us to place a drink order. By the time another woman came to get our order another 10+ minutes later, we then had to request a menu with prices to understand whether it made sense for 5 people to do the unlimited offer or just order a la carte (since this version of the menu is not listed online). Thankfully, she took our drink order, but unfortunately it was 10:08 before we got our drinks from Jared and placed our food order. I excused myself to speak with a manager since it had then been over an hour since our reservation time, and I was embarrassed as the person who made the reservation that our birthday celebration was off to such a bad start. He apologized and said he'd look into the issue. The manager ended up coming up as the food came out (food came very quickly and was excellent), took one drink order and promptly returned with said drink, but never came back to the table. We were never asked how we liked things, which is a cardinal rule of food service. Dishes were left stacked on the table along with empty glasses, and a sixth place setting (we were a party of 5) was left through the entire meal. We had to request a dessert menu, and the server waited around the corner with the dessert and candle, while only then a support staff member was sent to clear the table despite the restaurant being nearly empty by this point and us having sat with the empty dishes for another 10-15 minutes. I ended up having to approach the bar myself to request boxes, which were retrieved by another bartender who waived me back over to the bar to get them rather than deliver them to the table. We were given some delicious shots with dessert on the house and the dessert was left off the bill, but it was too little, too late. And again, the manager never came back to see if/how things had improved. The bill got to the table at 11:25pm and was mysteriously listed as being ordered beginning at 8:52pm, before we were even in the building and well before we had ordered the first items. Strange. We were also charged an automatic 20% gratuity that was listed on the menu as only applying to parties of 6 or more, which we were not. I paid the bill anyway as we were eager to leave by this point, but this is deceptive and extra problematic after the service we recieved. Would definitely recommend other locations, but will certainly not return...

First and foremost I love Ambar. The food is incredible… just NOT this location. I had a horrible experience with a server at this location. I have been to the Barrack Row location many times so I knew how the ordering worked. I was bringing friends into town who had never been. When we went to order our server refused to take our food order till we put in for drinks. We weren’t sure what we wanted to drink so instead of allowing us to put in food she walked away. I thought it was strange. When she came back I said we’re not going to get drinks now and we’d like to order food. Again I have been to this restaurant (different location) many times. I order saying we only wanted one of each and she kept insisting we needed more. I said we did not and she continued to correct me. Again and again. I share with her we only wanted one of each so we could try more and not waste. She was so rude and refused to listen to me. When the food started coming out in multiples. I mentioned to the waitress AGAIN - please do not order in multiples. We just want to try and split more of a variety. She again argued with me. When the next round of food came out for our group again in multiples of the same dish I went to the host stand. I think even they were confused by her behavior. We asked for a new server. The original server continued to stare at our table and make for a very awkward dinner. A meal with friends that was supposed to be all about our company became all about the rude and entitled server. That group of friends still refers to that meal as the strangest waitress experience ever. The waitress made our evening of reuniting and celebration all about her. It put it awful taste to the weekend.

Following the evening I reached out to management and explained what happened as I have loved and recommended Ambar to so many people. I never heard anything back from them.

Avoid the Shaw location AT ALL COSTS. Their service staff is...

This was my first time at Ambar. Had a dinner date here tonight, and we had the WORST service from start to finish. We came at 8:30 pm, a Monday. They close at 10, so not unreasonably late at all. First, every time he pours the water, he spills a bunch to where it’s almost getting on us and never offers to wipe it up. We keep wiping it up and taking cloth napkins from the table near us. Then, he takes our appetizer order and leaves for 45 minutes to start closing up the restaurant even though there are at least 6 tables recently sat, 2 servers working the floor, 2 food runners, AND a manager. The runners bring out the apps almost immediately, so we had stopped eating them before finally flagging him down to take our entree order. We get our entrees ordered and the runners bring out mine and my side. My date’s order never comes out. 30 more minutes later, he is quickly walking past us, and we politely ask about my date’s order, which apparently had been sitting in the window since the runners didn’t grab it. We eat our entrees for 20-30 minutes. It’s now a little after 10. We didn’t realize the time but we flag him down again to ask about dessert, and of course he tells us the kitchen has closed. He didn’t give us a last call on food or anything. Just let the kitchen close.

I would add the guy’s name, but he never told it to us.

I’m sure this place is incredible when the service is decent. I’m sure it’s also great for takeout. But that guy was just ready to go and was not afraid to make that clear to us.

I’ve been a server before. Years ago. Did it for a few years during college. I get it. But each guest deserves a decent experience, and this...