From our friends at Ambar...
This New Lunch is a Healthier Choice for Guests, with Less Carbs, More Flavor and Gluten-Free Options
Ambar, the nation’s capital’s first Balkan restaurant, located at 523 8th Street, SE, Washington, DC, is introducing a healthy lunch featuring soups, salads, and a tempting array of fifteen open face sandwiches served “European Style with a Balkan Twist” created by Chef Ivan Zivkovic. Examples from the new gluten-free sandwich menu will appeal to vegetarians, fish-lovers and carnivores. Plans are underway to add the calorie count for each of the specialty sandwiches this winter. They include an Artisan Mixed Meats with pork neck, beef prosciutto, spicy salami, urnebes spread, goat cheese, pickled vegetable and radish ($8); Fried Chicken with almond, walnut and apple wasabi, slaw mescaline mix, lemon vinaigrette and celery ($6); Marinated Shrimp with ajvar spread, arugula, lemon vinaigrette, blue cheese and crispy prosciutto ($8); Smoked Trout with beet carpaccio, cucumber, dill, mayo and pickled jalapeño ($6); Wild Forest Mushroom, with herb roasted mushrooms, baby arugula, horseradish dressing, hardboiled quail egg and red onion ($6) and the Crispy Cheese of smoked gouda/organic slaw/tartar sauce ajvar emulsion ($7).
Signature salads at lunch round out the menu. Standouts include Spinach Salad with Fried Chicken, organic baby spinach, celery stalk, carrots, cherry tomato, horseradish dressing for $9 and Mixed Green Salad with Shrimp, roasted squash, caramelized red onion, roasted peppers and pomegranate dressing for $10.
Better yet, patrons can take advantage of Ambar’s Lunch Deals featuring a choice of any two sandwiches along with a glass of house wine, a beer or Ambar signature freshly-squeezed lemonade infused with rosemary, house-made soda of ginger beer or Concord grape with tarragon, for only $16 or enjoy one signature salad with a glass of house wine, a beer or lemonade for $13. Those with a heartier appetite can add a cup of soup and dessert for $5.
Savory seasonal soups include Veal Soup with root vegetables and crème fraiche and Zucchini Soup with potato and sundried tomato which sell for $3 for a cup or $5 for a bowl. For traditionalists, the lunch menu also includes an Ambar Burger, ground beef and pork, urnebes spread, roasted peppers yogurt, iceberg lettuce, and tomato ($12); Stuffed Sour Cabbage, pork belly, cabbage juice, jasmine rice, mashed potato and yogurt ($11) and Baked Beans and Sausage, smoked pork sausage, roasted pepper, onion, paprika ($12.)
Delectable desserts served at lunch include Three Chocolate Cake with milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, mascarpone and strawberry yogurt and Capri Cake with fresh raspberries, vanilla pudding, dolcela hit icing for $5 each. Ambar also has steamy warm drinks priced at $5 each to conclude lunch, such as the Nutella, espresso, Nutella, orange, cinnamon with steamed milk and the Spicy Mocha, expresso, dark chocolate, chipotle and steamed milk.
Ambar is also introducing Session lunch cocktails, created by Ambar’s Brand Mixologist Rico Wisner. These libations have a lower alcohol levels, with a one-ounce pour of the featured spirit, for daytime enjoyment, and include a Belgrade Mule, plum rakia, homemade ginger beer, lime, the Pear Daisy with pear rakia, triple sec, lemon, pear and cardamom puree, the Pomegranate Collins, vodka, pomegranate, lemon and soda, and the Grappa Smash, grappa rakia, lemon, mint and soda for $6 each.
Ambar is located at 523 8th Street, SE. It's just steps from the Eastern Market Metro, accessible on the Orange, Silver and Blue Lines. Valet parking is available Wednesday through Saturday from 4 PM to close and is priced at $10 per car. The restaurant takes limited reservations and walk-ins are welcome. Ambar serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM, dinner Sunday through Thursday, from 4 PM to 10 PM, and Friday and Saturday, from 4 PM to 11 PM. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. Happy hour specials are offered from 4 PM to 7 PM Monday through Friday. For additional information, please call (202) 813-3039 and/or visit www.ambarrestaurant.com.
