Ambria

Happy Hour is the best! Wine is so inexpensive and such a wonderful selection. Not sure about the food since we had other dinner plans but we’ll be back to check it out. Service was fabulous too!

Great late night happy hour!
We dropped in during GABF weekend when we realized that Ling & Louie’s was gone and Ambria was in its place.
This place is definitely upscale. It would be a great place for a date. But, us three girls had a great time sitting at the bar, talking to another couple folks at the bar and the bartender.
They have a late night happy hour menu of inexpensive appetizers (the mussels looked great), glasses of wine and discounts on draft & bottle beer.
We just had drinks, but I think we will definitely be back for the happy hour.

–1 for service. For a Saturday night, only 2 servers were present and it was long waits for refills, bread, and appetizer.
Appetizer: bone marrow was alright. It was something new for us to try. It sounded exciting but was bland at best.
Duck entrée was very good. Probably one of the best entrees during our entire food adventures in Denver.
Also, the lamb chops were flavorful. Bones were thin and the meat was easily accessible with minimal work.
Good selection of beverages at the bar.

We were visiting Denver for the first time and ended up here because it was a Saturday night and we’d neglected to arrange dinner reservations anywhere. Ambria popped up on my friend’s OpenTable app so, hooray!
We shared the brussels sprouts and bone marrow for appetizers. The sprouts were delicious; the bone marrow was scarce and didn’t come with appropriate utensils for scooping it out.
Two of our party had that evening’s specials: a squid ink pasta and a veal chop, both of which were very well-​executed. Oh man, especially the sweet corn purée with pearl onions that came with the veal dish.
My boyfriend had the whole golden trout (amazing!) and I had the scallops with a fennel and citrus salad. Yum! We all were stuffed after that.
The wine list is extensive. We shared one of the cheapest on the menu, a $ 32 bottle of Tempranillo, and it was just dandy.
What really impressed me, though, was the service. We’re from Austin which has its share of excellent restaurants but there’s something always a little laissez-​faire about the service, even when you’re paying $ 50 a head. Our server and all the staff were professional and our server (Travis?) was especially skilled at describing the specials.

Fantastic service! Friendly staff from the bussers, to the water pourers, to the waitstaff and management. It was hands down the best service on the mall.
After that, everything went uphill.
We had the pickles and olive plate to start, with the salmon tartare.
We moved on to the lamb plate, and shared a really subtle bottle of red Zin.
The experience was 100% worth hitting the 16^th St mall.
A great spot for an intimate dinner, an adult family dinner, a business meal and what looked like a girls night out.
Great space. Good décor.

I really WANT to like Ambria… but I just don’t.
The décor is warm and modern and inviting. The staff is friendly and welcoming. The food is beautiful. The drinks are good (and strong), and I love the practice of using organic and locally sourced ingredients.
I went in here thinking it was going to be more affordable than it was. Between two people, we shared an appetizer, an entrée, and two cocktails for about $ 60, and we weren’t full… at all.
We started with the fried brussels sprouts. They were good, if not a tad overdone. Then we got the lobster raviolis for our entrée. There were four raviolis. Two people. Four raviolis. Sad. Sad situation. They were very tasty… but we wanted MORE!
Maybe I’ll come back during happy hour sometime but I won’t be back for normal priced dinner anytime soon.

I’m really loving Ambria!
Their happy hour menu includes $ 5 glasses of decent wines, including a nice prosecco. Score!
Their food has been very good as well. I’ve had fava bean hummus, which was spicy and different, served with crudite and a little bread. The rabbit salad was nice. The rabbit was cooked with bacon, so even those who had never had rabbit before weren’t intimidated. It was very tasty, but the rabbit was a little overdone. The best thing for me is the fresh ricotta, served with nice grilled bread. So good!
The service has always been wonderful. This is my new go-​to happy hour place!
Now I need to try it for dinner…

I dropped in around 9 on a Tuesday night. The restaurant and bar were surprisingly lacking in patrons. The barkeep and hostess were friendly, and the Rockies game was on TV.
To start out I had the Divers scallops with citrus vinaigrette, and small pieces of citrus. The scallops were perfectly cooked (medium), and delicious. There were three large scallops – enough for two (or one), but not three.
To end it I ordered gouda cheese and speck (it’s like salami – not the fish) from the cheese board. There were several cheese and meat choices, but I was a little disappointed that each item was a la carte. I prefer to order the cheese board, and have a sampling of different flavors.

While visiting from Philly I stopped in and had the happy hour burger with sweet potato chips (both were AMAZING!!!) I have a serious obsession with anything sweet potato, and they were the perfect melt-​in-​your-​mouth yet crunchy, just made chip. Food was so fabulous that my brother and I came back for dinner.
It was the most extravagant dinner I’ve ever had and don’t regret a thing! 7 course chef’s selection started with a variety of cheese and cured meats that were the perfect compliment to my wine. The meal continued with literally the best food I’ve ever tasted in my life…
I consider myself a dessert addict and found the first dessert course to be, hands down, the best sweets I’ve eaten thus far. Both the chocolate tart and carrot cheesecake were OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!
If you are in Downtown Denver you owe it to yourself to make the stop, even if it’s just for a glass of wine and delectable dessert =)

I headed downtown with Jenn B and we wanted to try someplace new after walking around the Chalk Festival. Did a search and found Ambria and it was getting great reviews to boot. We sat outside on the patio — only downside is that a big storm was coming but it graciously waited until long after we finished our lunch.
As Jenn said in her review we both ended up ordering the Lamb burger — other reviews had raved about this and they were right.
Here is the part where I should just «That’s what she (Jenn B) said». It was seasoned perfectly and cooked to the perfect temp. The side salad was tasty. It had two different kinds of radishes on it. I’m usually pretty good about figuring out what items are but these had a slightly different taste and weren’t at all like your typical radishes you usually get. They were light and refreshing and were a good add to the salad.
I too am looking forward to going back to try many more items on the menu.

A few choices caught my attention. With the recommendation of our server, I decided on the duck breast entrée which came with mushrooms, natural jus, cherries, and a type of greens. The combination was absolutely delicious. The stalky greens were a little chewy and hard to shallow so I just ate the flower parts. $ 17.95 for the entrée.
We get complimentary bread and butter.
I would love to return to get this entrée and even see about other choices like the lamb chop or the bass fish.

I’ve been wanting to try Ambria for quite some time and have just never made it there. Cheryl L. and I decided we were heading down to the Chalk Art Festival and she asked for a recommendation for lunch and a place I had never been to and Ambria popped into my mind.
After a fabulous time at the Chalk Art Festival we headed straight over to Ambria, seated immediately outside on a beautiful day, everyone was sitting outside, they have a very bright patio great for people watching.
We perused the menu and I have to say I think we were both impressed. It was a nice mix of brunch and lunch options, both of us read some Unilocal reviews and were immediately drawn to the Lamb burger since the reviews were so good. We both ended up getting a Lamb burger. We opted for side salads instead of fries or chips to be healthy, only $ 1 extra, that’s better than almost any other place around for an additional charge.
The food came out and we were both excited to dig right in. The lamb burger was juicy, flavorful and the cucumbers added a much needed texture to the burger. I don’t know if the harissa sauce added a whole lot to the burger and mine had a lot on it. I might opt for it on the side next time. The side salad was divine with grapes, sliced radish and dressed lightly with a fresh vinaigrette.
I was very pleased with lunch and cannot wait to come back and try some of the other menu items. A must stop on the 16^th street Mall.

I went here for dinner back in mid-​March 2012 with someone I met from a conference I was attending. It was more of a tapas restaurant with smaller portions where you order more than one thing.
My friend ordered the Butternut Squash & Sweet Red Pepper Soup, $ 6, from the small plates menu and said it was very good. We split the Hummus, $ 8, from the small plates menu, which was a jalapeño hummus with pita bread. The bread was very good, warm, soft, and just a hint of sea salt on the exterior which blended perfectly with the mild pepper hummus. The hummus itself had a perfect texture and the jalapeño was not overpowering. My friend also ordered the Short Rib Ravioli, $ 15, from the entrees menu, which I think were 3, very large 2″ x 2″ raviolis. She said they very good, but she seemed to be disappointed with the amount of food.
I ordered the Chicken, $ 19. That was all the menu said. When I asked how it was prepared, I was told it was roasted and served with potatoes and other veggies. I wasn’t expecting this, but it was a leg and thigh. I’m not a huge fan of dark meat, but when it comes to roasted chicken, I usually like it. It was skin on, bone in. It was quite good, very moist, and extremely tender. It was served in a bowl with a rich pan sauce, a chunk or two of potatoes, and a few other veggies. The chicken was locally grown and free range (which I fully support!), so it was much smaller than your typical leg and thigh. While it was delicious, it wasn’t very much food for $ 19.
I think I ordered the Gabbiano, Moscato, Italy wine, though I’m not 100% sure. I ordered a 3-​oz serving, unsure if I would like it or not. When the waiter brought it out, he apologized that the bartender accidentally poured a 6-​oz serving, but he would only charge me for the 3-​oz, and I was free to enjoy all of it. I of course did not complain! I ended up really liking it and was glad to have the full 6-​oz serving!
Dinner (½ of the Hummus, Chicken, and the wine) was about $ 30 before tip. While the food was excellent and I do appreciate quality food, it was a bit on the expensive side considering I left hungry. The portions were quite small for the price of each dish. It would have been the perfect amount of lunch, but that would have been one expensive lunch! I ended up going to my hotel bar one and a half hours later to get an appetizer b/​c my stomach was growling and I was hungry.

Honestly, I’ve only sat at the bar for food and happy hour so I can’t make comments about the actually restaurant. However, I REALLY wanted to like this place. I went twice, just to give them a second chance, but both times I was disappointed. I don’t remember what I ordered the first time but the second I just got drinks and hummus, I figure they can’t go wrong with that. But the hummus was such a small amount and a disappointment. And the bartenders have always been (almost weirdly) nice, but super slow.
As much as I want it to succeed, I (have not and) will not be back.

I went to Ambria last night with my two best girlfriends. Unfortunately the experience left a lot to be desired.
I selected Ambria after seeing lots of vegetarian options on their online menu, but when we got there they had a special menu for restaurant week, which sadly had only three vegetarian options on their ENTIRE list (including among the small plates). So perhaps this review won’t be a fair one because it’s not representative of their regular menu choices.
We all started with the butternut squash and pepper soup. It was actually really tasty and sweet. The starter bread was a delicious warm sourdough, but the crust was burnt black. I’m glad I ate the whole course though, because the rest of the meal was a disaster.
I ordered the ONLY vegetarian entrée: the mushroom fettuccine. It was more mushroom than fettuccine, and I quickly grew tired of the overpowering fungus, the scent of which made me feel queasy. The sauce was a very thin liquid which didn’t stick to the noodles, and I never received a spoon. So the effect was one of eating bland sauce-​less noodles. I ate about three bites of the dish before giving up on it (but had to continue to smell it since the server never removed it from the table.)
My girlfriends said that the duck breast was delicious, and even though it was a small plate there was a whole lot of duck. Pink and juicy looking. They also ordered the calamari but said it was inedible because it was way too sweet and tasted like a squid dessert. (We didn’t stay for dessert after this).
We ordered an overpriced bottle of Pinot Noir with a twist off cap which didn’t do much for us.
It was a busy night, they probably needed to have extra staff because our poor server was running around completely stressed out of his mind. Several times we asked each other if he had died or something because he rarely came to our table, even when we looked at him and tried to wave him over. He frequently apologized and complained that he had a large party that was taking up all of his time. He was friendly and probably would have done a better job if he had not been so frazzled.
I was hoping for a better experience, I won’t likely return.
**Update** was just informed by a fellow Unilocaler that Ambria had fired its head chef and sous chef a couple days before my visit, and that the entire kitchen staff had walked out… Who was in the kitchen that night cooking this food?

Sweet Sonova Monkey Spank! This was one of the best experiences I have had dining out in a very long time! Everything from the in door to the out door was perfect! (Granted it was the same door, but I don’t think that makes a difference in this particular case.)
I got there first as an excuse to start drinking, so I ordered an Old Fashioned. As I sipped my cocktail I explored the inventory of the bar as well as the menu. They have a great inventory, but not a massive one. It’s the same with the menu, it’s small and fresh which makes for a much better meal in my experience. Keep it small, simple, and fresh. And they do.
Once we all arrived we were seated immediately and treated like royalty. Our server was phenomenal, completely on his game. No glass of water, wine or whiskey was left empty, (or even half full, for that matter.) And while we’re on the subject of whiskey, The Macallan Ice Ball maker made for a great surprise (and a great way to sip 18 year old scotch.)
To start with we had scallops, meatballs, and warm ricotta, and I highly recommend all of them. My entrée was a tough choice between the lamb bolognese and the spinach falafel. At the high recommendation of our server, I went with the latter, and it was absolutely incredible. I also got to sample the former, anyway, and while the lamb was tender and the sauce was delicious, I was very glad I went with the falafel. They even brought a free dessert for the lady who chose this place, it being her birthday and all. The portions were of a perfect size, not a massive amount and nobody was hungry after,
I was amazed at how much I enjoyed Ambria. It ain’t terribly cheap, but I can’t wait to come back! Well done!

The fifth star is for having the Macallan Ice Ball maker in house (
) so when I order two Macallan 18’s, I feel they’re being treated with the proper respect they’re due.
I tried the ham plate, the seared scallops, had a bite of Lacey’s bolognese (sweet little 8lb 6oz baby Jesus) and the aforementioned single Malt. Had some delicious wine.
And I wish I could remember our server’s name because he was excellent. He had opinions about the wine pairings, the apps, the scotch… but not in a snooty, douchey way. In a way that made you understand he had eaten there and spent actual time and energy learning his craft. Well done, person whose name I can’t recall. Well done.

Loving this restaurant right now! Such a great local addition to the 16^th Street Mall, with fabulous food, beautiful ambiance, and great service.
I’ve been twice now, once for lunch by myself at the bar, and again with group of 7 for dinner. Service both times was excellent. The bartender and server were very knowledgeable about the menu and suggested wine pairings (which were great). Another plus is their extensive wine selection, which you can get by 3oz, 6oz, ½ bottle, or bottle.
And what really keeps me coming back: the food… specifically, the Lamb Bolognese. It’s just so damn good, that I couldn’t bring myself to order something else! The sauce is so flavorful and delicious. I love the chunks of butternut squash in it, and the pappardelle pasta is cooked to perfection. Did I mention the 3 huge lamb meatballs on top? LOVE! Other things I’ve tried are the Caesar Salad (nothing to write home about, little bland), Fried Brussels Sprouts (kind of burnt-​tasting, maybe fried a bit to long), and the Warm Ricotta (delicious and oh so creamy!).
I highly recommend this place… for lunch, brunch, date night, birthday party, celebration dinner, etc. Everyone at your table will be pleased, and will thank you for taking them there! …Oh, and I’m always open to invitations as well :)

While in Denver with the family recently, we were seeking out a place around 16^th that would cater to carnivore tastes of the men of the family, the balanced tastes of my mom, and the vegetarian gluten-​free needs of my sister. In that Mediterranean seemed as though it might satisfy those needs, we gave Ambria a go.
Star 1: How was the service and atmosphere?
With a good balance of seating options varying between a bar with televisions, communal long tables and a formal dining area in the lower tier of the restaurant, Ambria provides a great atmosphere for parties of all shapes and sizes. Additionally, with a knowledgeable staff and relatively quick service, Ambria shines int he service and atmosphere department. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
Ambria’s menu takes a second or two to adjust to, but at the end of the day it makes sense. With Vegetable, Meat and Seafood columns filled with «Small Plates», «Appetizers» and Entrees, you’re really meant to select more than one thing on the menu. Personally, I opted for the Small Plate of Meatballs al Forno and the full Entrée of the Caramelized Mushrooms Fettuccine. The good thing here is you can mix and match small less expensive options to construct a solid and varied meal for easily under $ 20, and with my meatballs costing $ 6 and my Fettuccine $ 14, that’s pretty much what I did. Have a look:
Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
While my meatballs were good, they weren’t the best I’ve ever had, and my Fettuccine dish was a bit on the oily/​buttery side. However, I must point out here that the gluten-​free bread that my sister ordered shattered my preconceived notions associated with all that is gluten-​free. Even if you’re «normal», order the gluten free bread! Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
16^th Street, along with nearby Blake Street, are goldmines for good dining, and largely due to that fact, I can’t say I’d come to Ambria on a regular basis. No Star Granted.

Have been to Ambria twice now, and enjoyed it both times. Once for lunch (incredible lamb-​burger). Once for dinner. At first, having looked at their reviews and seeing a bunch of what looked suspiciously like 501s, I was sceptical. But now that I’ve tried them twice and had very good experiences I’m confident in giving them a solid 4 star rating.
Would I go back? You betcha. Good, creative, and upscale Mediterranean-​styled food, with excellent service. Nice, but not superkool «ambria-​nce,» but definitely one of the more enjoyable and better restaurants on the Larimer-​side of the 16^th Street Mall.
Excellent little green salad with goat cheese and pistachio pistou (don’t ya like sayin’ «pistou» (come on, ya know ya do:)). Super scallops appy matched up perfectly with their neat little riesling (they do the small plates thing so it’s neat that you can order 3oz/​6oz/​half btls of many of their wines). The fettucine with carmelized mushrooms had more ‘shrooms than I’d seen on a plate since college. .. and was extremely good. Had the the ribeye and liked the green chili salsa garnish, but my honey found it a bit too spicy for her tongue. Finished off the dinner with a fantastic chocolate budino (that’s Eye-​tahl-​ean for «pudding.»).
My babe-​ahliciousness and I split everything (including a decently priced prosecco and a truly excellent couple of glasses of a nebbiolo who’s name I’ve forgotten), but the bottomline is that this place is so good I’d consider putting it on the list of more regular spots we hit up. So give it a try. It amazing how well they’re doing for just having been open for less than a month.