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My favorite Indian food place.
Great food.
Good service.
smallest parking lot ever.
Best rice!
Chicken Tikka Masala FTW!
closed form 2-5pm makes me :(
i cant tell you how many times i found myself pulling on their locked door only to walk across the street for slightly less delicious Indian food.
I LOVE their Chicken Curry and could probably live off of their rice for the rest of my life. This is easily the best Indian I've had in a long time. If you're in a hurry - check out Baba India (owned by the same people) for their lunch buffet.
Also love: Aloo Tikki, Bhatura, and Chicken Tikka Masala.
Ive been having alot of people urge me to go try some indian food. With hesitation i did. And am i glad i did. It's hard to explain the flavoring, exotic,spicy, different? Hard to explain easy to love.I really enjoyed this food even if my stomach did not. Sort of makes it feel the same as eating a half box of prunes. A great find. Will visit this place whenever im in cincinatti. And ill be sure to have my pepto in hand.
My parents used to make us come here when I was in high school and I hated it then. But somewhere along the way I found Indian food that I enjoyed (I am not a big fan of spicy things), and came back during a college break to realize that yes, this IS the best place to have Indian food in Cincinnati. Chicken tikka masala and everything else is awesome. I never know what else to order-- I still rely on mom and dad to figure that stuff out. Parking sucks, yes, but carpool if you're coming with friends, and just deal with it to have a good night of hanging out and eating. Servers are really friendly and nice.
P.S. In my memory, this place used to be more dive-y, but last time I was there it was pretty nice actually!
Dear Ambar,
I moved to Chicago three years ago, and my longing for your delicious delights has not faded in the least. I miss your chicken tikka saag (which, by the way, does not exist in the windy city) and its spinachy goodness. Your aloo choley, level 3, over basmati rice. Polished off with a delightful bowl of kheer.
I miss you so much Ambar. Baba too, since it was closer to my old apartment and had more parking. Please send some family member here to open a restaurant, because I am tired of disappointment.
With love,
Stefanie
So glad I read the Yelp reviews about this place. It's true. The chicken tikka saag is awesome. It's nice to be able to choose your level of spice for each of the dishes, and food in general was reasonably priced and really tasty. Dinner at this restaurant gave me the energy I need to survive an otherwise disastrous business trip to Cincinnati...
I decided to give this place a try based almost entirely off the rave reviews here. Overall, my impression was good food at a good price.
One thing to note is that in this location, parking is in high demand. Be very careful where you park as the business owners are eager to tow those people who do not respect the posted signs. Ambar's primary parking is in the rear of the building. You have to drive into the narrow space to the right of the restaurant as it is one way. Maneuvering in the parking lot is a challenge to say the least unless you have a smaller vehicle. Parking is limited and if the place is full, don't expect to find an open spot. They do have a spillover parking location that is posted only inside the restaurant. The signs indicate that this parking is located in the Clifton business lot at Howell Avenue. It is free and the walk is a short one.
The place is small to be sure which lends itself to the boisterous and bustling crowds. Our wait was not that long which is a good thing considering the meager space allotted to that task. We managed to score a couple seats at the "bar" and share a Taj while waiting.
I will take a moment here to describe the decor. It isn't the worst decor I have ever seen in a restaurant but it would certainly make the honorable mention. Seriously though, this is not a place that inspires you to dress up for a classy night out with a fancy dinner. The attire of the patrons reflects this as it is decidedly casual. That being said, if you walk in in a suit, I doubt you would get any languishing glances of disapproval.
The wait staff. How should I say this, it is not great. They seem rather clueless or oblivious, and less than helpful. However, having said this, we were attended quickly after being seated and everything we ordered arrived as requested and without undue waiting.
The food was quite good. It wasn't the best Indian food I have had, but it was well above the worst and even above average in my opinion. They have a great vegetarian selection so I went with the vegetarian appetizer sampler platter and the vegetarian thali dinner sampler. Something to note, the thali came with poppadam and a breaded mashed potato appetizer. We had already ordered both and since the portions were generous, we were close to gorging so we saved these for later. The point being, if you order the thali, go light on the appetizers unless you have a large table.
The fried cheese appetizer was good but a little bland. The potato cake was good. The samosa was better than many I have had. The pakoras, which I don't always like were surprisingly tasty. We received 3 vegetable pakoras, 1 samosa, 2 paneer pakoras, 2 aloo tikki.
The assortment of chutneys was delivered open air in containers that are used at each table. This was a major turn off for me. After overcoming my concern about this issue, I tasted the corriander which is always my favorite. The consistency was globby and thick. This is not my preference but the taste was good and a nice bit of hot on the finish. The tamarind chutney did not delight.
The naan bread was very good and that is one of it not the most important things to me. The thali portions were generous, the rice was well oiled and seasoned, and the food overall was very good. I ordered mine spicy, which it was and that added greatly to the enjoyable experience. The thali came with a single gulab jamun which is not my favorite, but it was as good as I have had it. As full as we were, there was no ordering dessert. I am eager to taste both their keer and their kulfi on a return visit.
The bottom line is that the food was good, the portions were generous and the prices were reasonable. The service, though lacking, was quick and accurate. I would definitely recommend carry out. This does not rank in my top ten all time Indian restaurants, but in the area it certainly warrants a return visit or two. The website's appearance and claims of fine cuisine and ultimate culinary experience as well as numerous cited accolades sets expectation a bit above what they were able to provide.
My sister-in-law who currently lives in Cincinnati was not kidding when she said that there is some great Indian food around the area! She took us to Ambar and we were very pleased! We had the chicken tikki masala, aloo mata, lamb do piaza?, and the shrimp bhuta. We loved everything except for the shrimp bhuta which is similar to a shrimp jalfrezi but in this case it was a bit bland compared to the rich creaminess of everything else. Also, this restaurant scaled level of spiciness from 1-6. We ordered a 4 and it was not as spicy as I would have thought but it was just right if you like a bit of spice but not overpowering your dish. Fantastic!
The best Indian in town, and would probably compete for some of the best there is to offer in the U.S.A.. I've been to some of the largest cities, and have eaten at the best of what those cities have to offer, and it just does not compare to Ambar.
My faves: Saag, Chicken Tikka, Lamb Saag.
Ambar India is awesome; the food is superb. My wife took me there for our first date ever... I was really nervous because I never had Indian food before and didn't want to make a crappy impression. Well, still ended up making a not-so-great-impression but for a different reason... I did more eating then talking. This is my absolute favorite Indian restaurant. The best dish in my opinion is Chicken Tikka Masala, followed closely by the Chicken Tikka Saag.
Only negatives are the restaurant is relatively small and can get crowded, you often have to wait for a short period of time to be seated. Tiny parking lot in back, be sure NOT to park next door (the feuding family members' business, or so I've heard) you will be quickly towed.
Lastly, I would love to try other Indian restaurants, but my wife has pledged loyalty to Ambar, so she doesn't let me go to other places...
BEST... INDIAN FOOD.... EVER.
Thats about all you need to know. If I had to choose one last meal on earth it would be the chicken curry at its peak spice level with their delish rice and naan from Ambar India.
The awesome thing is that they have opened a few locations outside of Clifton - Raja India in Mason, one in Hyde Park, and another random Indian name in northern kentucky.
Simply put the best Indian in Cincinnati. A lot of other reviews have touched on much about this place, so I won't go into too many details
I'm a huge fan of the chicken saag, and everything I've tried from saag paneer to tandoori chicken to good 'ole chicken curry is fantastic. I also love the naan- its so moist and yet fluffy.
I will also echo the sentiments to watch where you park. Parking is limited and if you go in the adjacent lot and head to the other Indian restaurant, you will be towed!
Great place to go for a casual lunch or dinner with great food.
Remember when Indian food was the hot new thing (sometimes literally, depending on your dish)? How awesome it was to state how spicy you wanted your food? Why don't more restaurants feature that?
Anyway, the Indian craze has faded, but Ambar was around before it and goes on after it, more or less unchanged (except in the ledger, I presume). Very consistent food, quick and respectful service, and plenty of spice if you want it. You probably have your own favorite Indian dish, which is what you should get, but I've always liked the Lamb Rogan Josh. Don't worry about what it is or what that means; just say it. Side of Onion Nan, too. You'll want it to sop up the sauce of whatever you pick. I know that's pretty plain ordering, but millenia of traditional Indian cooking can't be wrong, can they? I'll stick to the basics when thousands of years support it.
As is par for the Clifton course, the ambience here is cozy and comfortable. You can debate where the best Indian food is around town, but this is the best setting for it.
Simply the best! It just is people. I like that you get to choose the hotness of the food, and it's quick! It's crowded the times I have gone, and yes, there is the parking drama. I find the entire parking situation very "Seinfeld" and amusing.
I have tried Indian food while living in NYC and Chicago and have NEVER found anything as delicious as Ambar India. Service - three stars. Value - three stars. But the food? Incredible. Highly recommend the bharta, chicken tikka, and chicken vindaloo.
Ambar is my favorite Indian place in Cincinnati. The saag paneer is just flawless, and I'm a huge fan of the garlic naan. It's also a really great place to take a friend who's not used to Indian food - they ask you how spicy you'd like each dish, so beginners can order a 1 or 2.
Be careful about parking in the wrong lot! The Ambar lot is actually across the street...the one directly next door is for another restaurant, and they WILL tow your car!
A meal at Ambar and a movie at the Esquire - the perfect afternoon/evening out in Cincinnati.
Ambar India is one of the best places in the city to get Indian food by far, that being said it is hard to look at Ambar without seeing Amol next to it. Though it is subjective, there is a long-standing debate amongst fans of Indian cuisine which is better, I will say that I think they are equal. However, this is Ambar that we are talking about, not Amol, so I will stop my digression. The food is flavorful, though that can be said about all Indian cuisine, and the ambiance is about what you would expect: not especially decadent, nor run-down. The only complaint would be that for dinner it can be a little bit pricey, and that parking is simply atrocious. All that aside, it is a staple of the Ludlow area, and definately someplace worth going back to for a reliably good Chicken Makhani.
I am going to have to go with Andrew C on this one. This place (and it's sister restaurant - Baba) has the best Indian food I have ever had in my life! I haven't found anything like it yet here on the West Coast. The Paneer Makhani is the best thing I have ever tasted. And the spice is always perfect at a 5. Although I hate buffets, Baba has a great lunch buffet. I highly recommend!
Most consider Ambar to be the best Indian food in the city. I won't go that far but it does satisfy. The five or six Indian dishes that I've tried tend to be creamier than the dishes at other Indian restaurants I've frequented. The chicken curry is so good for lunch...just thinking about it makes me have a craving. Steer clear of the hot pickles they taste very strange. Dinner portions are great for sharing and for dipping warm garlic naan in. The lamb saag paneer is always a bulls-eye hit.
Had take-out from here last week. I had the Lamb Korma. It was so good i have been craving it in the week since. I can't wait to go again soon :)
A very good indian restaurant in Clifton. A little bit on the pricey side (especially the naans), but worth it. Cons - parking situation is annoying. The owners have another restaurant in Tylersville called Raja, which is very similar.
My first Indian restaurant, and I swear it's better than any Indian food I have had in San Francisco. The chicken makhani was always my favorite, creamy and rich and just spicy enough. They also have a very very good nan--just the right mix of tender, crispy, soft and fluffy, all in one disc. The onion naan is the best but garlic is pretty good too. The saag dishes are also quite worth the wait. And speaking of wait, you will likely have one, as this place is quite popular.
Amazing Indian food... After moving away to Manhattan I figured it would be easy to find great Indian food - little did I know that Ambar in Cincinnati would trump anything I've found in Manhattan. Great place to meet friends for dinner and excellent service.
Great Indian food
I am no longer in Cincy but miss their food
I have yet to find a replacement in San Diego for this place
I miss Ambar! It is a great place to go before or after catching a show at The Esquire or a UC game . Not the first place I ever had Indian but I do think it is one of the best Indian food places I have been to.
Ambar is the best Indian restaurant in Cincinnati, bar none. It is actually, in my experience, one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been to, which includes some of the top Indian restaurants in London, UK.
I second the saag paneer as a top notch dish. The garlic naan is incredible also.
Perhaps their finest quality overall is their consistency. I frequently the Ambar over a ~6-7 year stretch, but moved away from Cincinnati three years ago. Having just returned for a visit and convincing my family we needed to go and I was incredibly impressed that the food spicing and quality was still absolutely top notch.
everyone loves ambar ! it's a nice place to go with friends or a date to get some terriffic indian food. i was once allowed to tour the kitchen and everyone there is really nice.
My preference is Amal which is the restaurant right next door. Apparently these two restaurants are owned by feuding brothers. THAT is why they will tow your car!
Neighborhood: Clifton
Category: Indian
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