As a self-proclaimed connoisseur of diverse and ethnic cuisine, I was disappointed in myself when I realized I had yet to experience Ambar, situated on Barracks Row in DC. Scott and I had heard an overwhelming amount of positivity from those who had been, but little did we know how very much we would relish our experience at this gem of a restaurant in Capitol Hill.

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Complete honesty? I had to research ‘Balkan cuisine’ before our date. Having spent a great deal of time in Istanbul, Turkey, my palette craves any and all Mediterranean inspired fare. When I brushed up on my geography and refined my understanding of the region, the menu tickled my European fancy and was exactly what I have been longing for in this city – authentic, inspired cuisine from SouthEastern Europe.

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Ambar’s atmosphere lends itself well to a romantic dinner-date, and though the dim lights made for difficult photos, they certainly set the right mood. We were seated upstairs overlooking the dining room below – off in a cozy nook adorned with knick knacks (complete with an Arlington Library book…) and candle light completing the scene. It felt exclusive and special – the perfect spot for an intimate evening.

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The cocktails were incredible – but it is the Rakia that is unforgettable. Having never had it before, it definitely packs a punch – and perhaps take a cab home if you plan on driving.  Rakia is a popular beverage in the Balkans, a type of distilled fruit brandy. I sipped on the Honey Rakia, and Scott was daring and attempted a more potent concoction.  If you are up for a challenge, consider participating in the Rakia Challenge 2015 – read all about it here and earn a chance to win a $50 gift card to Ambar.

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The menu is extensive, and as my appetite beckoned me to try everything on the page, I harnessed my excitement and vowed to be back for more. We started with the Mezze Platter, a collection of chef selected meats and cheeses. A wonderful way to start, but we quickly moved on as plates arrived and found ourselves becoming increasingly excited as each dish appeared.  I have several sentimental memories of Turkish food, and I found a kindred spirit in the familiar cheese pie – anything with phyllo and I’m sold.

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We decided to continue the brussel sprout kick we’ve been on this winter, and we definitely didn’t regret it. The dish was drizzled with yogurt and lemon and topped with bacon.  We also took advantage of the flatbread selection, and Scott indulged me and didn’t say no to the Mushroom Flatbread. Though he isn’t usually fond of the fungus (ew…) I can’t get enough. However, that night at Ambar we both enjoyed the mushrooms – and I went home with an inner win for the night.

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The shrimp skewers were delicious, but it was the Meat and Poultry section of the menu where we found our favorite plate of the night. Recommended to us on Twitter prior to the meal by Chef Richard Sandoval himself, we HAD to order the Ambar Burger, which (thanks, Chef!) completely won us over. This burger is comprised of urnebes, lettuce, tomato, roasted pepper and yogurt and was killer with each bite. We also tried the Balkan Kebob (a mix of beef and pork patty) which took me back to my Istanbul days. 

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When you are on a date with Scott (and if you’ve ever been on a date with Scott this is NOT the time to tell me…) you know you always need to order dessert. We left our decision up to one of the best servers we have had to date and he selected the Forest Gnocci – an eclectic combination of chocolate mousse, bitter orange cake, ground chocolate, orange gelee, tarragon gnocchi, passionfruit espuma, and black tea sauce. I realize it sounds far fetched, but it comes neatly arranged in a bowl that once given the go by the server, you mix together until it looks about as appetizing as guacamole (not very). But in the same vein, little in this world is more delicious than a bowl full of the green stuff, and same goes for this Forest Gnocci. It’s an experience, and I’ve yet to try any dessert quite as complex and intricate in this city.

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We left Ambar on an ultimate high – the kind that gets me reeling with excitement at every corner of DC as we make our way back home to Old Town. Rarely can I get Scott to pose for an outside post-dinner selfie, but for Ambar he made the exception so I’d have another “date spot” snapshot to add to our growing scrapbook of Favorite DC Date Nights.

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Trust me on this one, guys – you can do no wrong at Ambar.

Cheers!

-Al
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