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Category: Asian Fusion
500 Hartz AveAll Wines by the Glass 1/2 Off / $5 Cocktails / $4-$6…
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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months back i had won a contest from diablo magazine and as a prize i won $100 in gift certificates for amber bistro. since winning i had wanted to use them for so long but i wanted to use them for dinner and take my parents out for a special night.
yesterday i went with my mom to the harvest festival to look at alot of jewelry and expensive art. i'm not too much into all of that but i went along for the ride because i knew they would have some of your good festival grub. corn dogs, cheese steaks, roasted corn and my ultimate favorite- the smoked turkey leg. while we were looking around my mom was just curious where amber bistro was located and we happened to be just near the front. her eye caught the chalkboard out front and we knew we had the certificates and were going to be coming into use them soon but we said to hell with it and grabbed a table on the patio out front.
after looking over the salads and starters we both decided we really liked the size and price of the trio plates. there was a niman ranch slider, half chicken sandwich and half crab melt. each plate came with a baby salad and cup of soup. we immediately both decided we wanted the crab melt that came with a caesar salad and lentil soup of the day. within minutes we were given a small basket of sourdough bread and sweet cream butter. the bread was really soft with a great crust but i just had to save some to dip into my soup.
when our lunch arrived we were both surprised at the size of the servings and the wonderful presentation. at $10 this is by far the best deal for lunch i have had in a very long time. the caesar was pretty simple and didn't have any croutons but i have to say it was one of the best i have had in a long time. the creamy lentil soup was amazing. the flavor was so intense and was much more than i would've ever expected. it seemed to have a creme fraiche on top that just intensified the flavors. now for the crab melt. i have to say i was expecting something totally different as they served it open face but it made the meal for both of us. one bite and i knew this place was a 5 star review. it was a huge crab cake and served on a toasted baguette with creamy melted cheese. i could really tell this was top notch high quality crab. you could just see the big lumps of meat in each bite. the entire combination was so darn scrumptious.
so for around a $20 lunch for the two of us we were very fulfilled and are excited for our next visit but next time for dinner and $100 to spend. i can say we are really gonna go all out next time.
People thought this was:
Zero stars, actually. Not sure one can experience worse service anywhere else. If you want to pay to be insulted, go to Amber Bistro and wait...and wait...and wait. About 40 minutes in you'll get the most unbelievably RUDE, obnoxious, mean, dismissive server ever, who will insult you and then not bring your bottle of wine. (A chubby brunette guy, for reference.) I've waited tables--- his behavior was inexcusable. The tables behind us complained of the same treatment.
I've been to really snooty places (and snooty places in Paris) and had better treatment. I can forgive mediocre food if the service is good, but no amount of yummy goodness could compensate for the horrible, horrible service here. Never again!
For your hard-earned money, there are many other dining establishments around. Amber Bistro, do yourself a favor and can this guy (hint: he worked lunch during the craft fair). He's killing your business.
People thought this was:
After we returned to town following the Tao House tour, it was time for lunch. We walked over to Sideboard, but it was so crowded we walked right out. Down the block and across the street was Amber Bistro, which we've not tried, so we walked over. The soup special on the board outside was tomato basil, which sounded good.
We sat outside, facing Bridges. It was pleasant, warm w/ a slight breeze. A month or two ago it would have been hot. The lunch menu was extensive, w/ lots of choices and very reasonable prices. There were three trio plates which offered half sandwiches, salads and a cup of soup. Larry chose the chicken sandwich, which came w/ a baby lettuce salad and the soup for $9. I chose the crab melt sandwich w/ Caesar salad and the soup for $10. Alan decided on the grilled chicken sandwich on a ciabatta roll w/ cheddar, bacon, grilled onion and lemon aioli w/ side of baby greens for $11. Nina ordered the grilled prawns over chilled rice noodles w / nuoc cham (a chili, garlic and fish sauce), cilantro and tomato. for $9. Everybody was happy w/ what he or she ordered and we agreed it was a good value. The soup was flavorful and there was plenty of crab on my sandwich. The salad was fine too. Service was friendly and just attentive enough, not intrusive, not neglectful. We'll go back.
People thought this was:
I loved this restaurant!! The food was so good, I highly recommend the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and can't wait to go back and try more. Our server was EXTREMELY helpful, he suggested a great white wine for me and knew a lot about the menu. I believe his name was Chris?! The day we went the Danville Arts Festival was going on right outside the restaurant so it was incredibly busy but he remained calm the whole time and did not make us feel like he didn't have time to help us. He joked with us the whole time and made our experience that much more memorable. They have a great patio seating area and on a nice day, it is a perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine and a great lunch.
Five stars for great service, great wine and excellent food! Try it! :)
People thought this was:
I had the crab cakes, white prawn potstickers, poached pear salad, chicken yakitori, and butternut squash risotto
Pros: The crab cakes were amazing. Large amounts of crab and not overly seasoned. The potstickers were tasty as well. However, I would have preferred them without the cilantro. The poached pear salad was better than the barbeque pork salad which I had on a previous visit. The risotto was rich and creamy and the serving size was huge!
Cons: The chicken was average. The majority of my party wasn't very impressed
It seems like their strongest dishes are their appetizers. If I were to return, I may just skip their entrees!
People thought this was:
I had the crispy calamari, warm oriental barbecue pork salad, almond crusted halibut, and dark… Read more »
My dad and I go here a few times a month so they kind of recognize us. We always sit in the same spot and have the same waiter who is friendly but not overbearing. Food is always good, we've never had a bad meal here, but a few years ago we stopped coming for a while because we became a bit bored with the menu. Then we saw they finally changed it up so we started coming back.
3.5 Stars (Why wont you let me use half star ratings Yelp?)
It's surprising how bad timing at a restaurant can over shadow the entire experience. I was here last Saturday night after my family's quest to find a rehearsal dinner spot for my sisters wedding in October. I haven't really been to other Danville restaurants before and was pleasantly surprised with Amber. The decor was modern and it had a casual laid back feel. Much more so than Bridges across the street.
We were seated promptly and our server was very friendly. We ordered some drinks and I got a pineapple martini which had their house infused pineapple vodka. I know its kind of a girley drink but it was so good. I had the pear salad to start but it was just OK. Too much dressing and not enough pear and prosciutto. The ahi tuna I ordered for my main course was delicious. This is pretty much my reason for giving Amber 4 stars. I would highly recommend it.
I think my main gripe with this place was the timing of when they brought out the food. It seemed that some people got their salads and entrees at different times and it always felt like we were waiting for something before we could dig in. Pretty much cast a negative shadow on our first experience. Hopefully it was an off night because I wouldn't mind coming back.
People thought this was:
3.5 Stars
I like to write these reviews a few weeks after I eat a restaurant so that I only write about things that really stood out to me. At Amber, the one item that I and the people I dined with really enjoyed and still talk about is the desert, Affagato.
The Affagato was simply a delicious vanilla bean gelato with a shot of espresso that the waiter poured on the Ice Cream tableside. This is seemingly such a simple and unrefined desert but it was absolutely phenomenal. The combination of the Ice Cream and hot espresso blended perfectly together to create a memorable desert that everyone at the table enjoyed.
If you were to go to Amber I would recommend only going to get drinks at the bar and to enjoy the delicious Affagato.
People thought this was:
8 o'clock on a Thursday night, the restaurant was pretty empty. We were seated and then coached through the wine options. My friend created her own wine flight with the help of our waitress. The waitress' suggestions were great. My other friend had a couple of their pineapple infused vodka drinks, both were delicious. They even infuse their tequila (with strawberries) and rum (with cucumbers, i think).
We started with the tuna tartare, which was decent. Before our main courses arrived we received an amuse bouche of bruschetta, which was tasty.
I had the tuna for my main course. The tuna was cold but the asparagus was DELICIOUS. My friend's salmon, however, was PERECTLY cooked! And his horseradish mashed potatoes were great. His dish was by far the best. He could not stop praising it. While I agree it was good, the quality of taste didn't translate throughout the entire meal. (- After receiving a rude message on yelp, I'd like to acknowledge that Ahi tuna is served cold. That said this dish still really underwhelmed.)
For 2 orders of tuna tartare, 2 main entrees, 1 flight, 1 glass of wine and 2 cocktails our bill came to $133.
The restaurant itself had a nice ambiance, even though it was empty while we were there.
All in all it was a great experience, even though the food was average. The service was friendly and very very hospitable.
Came here with my husband and another couple because of the good reviews I read on Yelp. For starters we had Fried Calamari and Ahi Tuna Tartare, both were good, but not outstanding. For the main course we ordered the Crusted Halibut and Ahi Tuna with Bok Choy. Both were only "okay". Half of the entrees were not eaten because it was not that great. For dessert we ordered the Affogoto since it got such rave review. I was so disappointed to find that it was basically coffee-flavored ice cream...expresso poured over vanilla icecream....what a joke! I expected to be blown away for the price we paid. Next time I will be spending my money somewhere else.
Amber is consistently good! Good food, service, and atmosphere! Complimentary valet parking is nice too! We were a party of 4 and sat outside on the patio - gorgeous night! Started with an Heirloom tomatoe salad with shaved parmesean and balsamic vinegar. Really good! For dinner I had almond crusted halibut on a bed of asian noodles with a wasabi sauce. Cooked to perfection! Affogoto for dessert completed the yummy dinner! We did have to pour our own 2nd round of wine (which I don't like), but other than that the service was great! The comedy of the night was the horrible lounge singer across the street at Bridges...it was BAD!
This place is right across the street/way from Bridges. It's a nice location, the environment is nice and the service is fantastic.
My girlfriend had the vegetable risotto and I have to say that it was a deliciously, flavorful dish that wasn't overpriced. It was of a great consistency, not too watery nor too thick. I had the tuna and it was presented in a sushi like fashion. A bed of rice was rolled like a specialty roll you'll find at a sushi restaurant with the tuna sliced and placed on top. There were also vegetables on the side. I'd have to say that I didn't think this would fill me up, but the combination of this, bread and a drink definitely left me satisfied (not stuffed).
I would definitely come back, though it can be a bit pricey.
Though I've lived in Danville for years now, I never knew about Amber Bistro. My mom chose this restaurant for mother's day dinner from the list of restaurants on http://Opentable.com. Boy, am I glad I finally got to try it out!
I was a little worried, because I have a peanut allergy, and Amber Bistro is Asian fusion. However, the waitress was cautious for me, and I had a satisfying meal with no allergic reaction!
We started off with the fried calamari and shrimp/zucchini/asparagus tempura. Then I shared the bbq pork salad. Very interesting salad...although I have to say the vinaigrette was slightly tasteless. I ordered the Niman Ranch Pork Chop with Chinese Sausage/Artichoke Hearts, Mashed Potatoes, and Leeks. I loved the assortment of food on my plate. The sausage was crispy, though slightly oily. The leeks were absolutely delicious and crisp. The pork chop was mediocre, tough to cut through, but surprisingly fairly moist in the inside. I cleaned off the plate, and then ordered a roasted strawberry tart. It was not what I expected, and it tasted better than it looked. But probably a bit pricey for the small dessert.
Overall, tasty food, and I would come back again!
slightly dissappointing in pretty much every respect. the food is good, not great. the service is friendly, but slow and a little confused. and the prices (small salad is $9, entrees are about $28) make those failures ultimately not worth the trip. plenty of other great food is available in danville or walnut creek.
Very good, well-prepared food, and a large wine list. Service is great! Good atmosphere also.
I told you I'd be going back to this place and man, was I not sorry that I did! Valentine's Day 2009, first course: Ahi Tuna Tartare with crème fraîche, pickled ginger, avocado and wasabi puree - seriously, how can raw fish taste so damn good? Every time I drive by now I think, "Must...have...more of the buttery tuna tartare wonderfulness". Second Course: Braised Pork Belly with spaetzle, blood orange, dijon, thai caramel sauce - all kinds of savory, decadent deliciousness with a twist. Third course: Grilled Beef Tenderloin with black trumpet mushrooms, potato puree, horseradish and Cognac cream - prepared *just* how I ordered it, medium rare (so many places get medium rare wrong). I admit I couldn't finish this course, though the sizes were reasonable, it's still a lot of food! I finished my meal off with: Tapioca Pudding Parfait with Szechuan peppercorn strawberry coulis - a nice play on an old standby (plus never in the history of dessert could I say no to Tapioca).
The hubs had: Wild Baby Arugula Salad with yuzu and honey vinaigrette, pomelo supremes, candied cashews and blue cheese, House Made Basil Pappardelle with oven roasted tomatoes, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, confit garlic, and goat cheese butter, Tea Spiced Duck Breast with leg confit croquette, baby bok choy, five spice and foie gras bordelaise, and for dessert: Chocolate Brownie Cake with caramel peanuts and a side of banana gelato.
Are you hungry yet?
The service was really friendly and efficient, though they were slammed because of the holiday. The atmosphere was really lively and the energy in the room was definitely up (And can you blame us? we were glutting ourselves on a feast!) It was a lovely way to spend the loviest day of all :)
People thought this was:
Ok, disclaimer, I didn't really "dine" here like normal folks do. My friend used to work here as a… Read more »
3.5 it is...I definitely like Peasant and the Pear better.
It is a lovely room..big windows, high ceilings.
The calamari appetizer was good...crispy with a tasty sauce.
The grilled asparagus was very overdone....mushy!
I had the Scallops with soba noodles...the fish was nice and buttery, but it had no connection to the tart noodles, and seemed like 2 dishes.
DH's halibut with panko and almond crust was perfect..he loved it.
They had a nice wine list...and desserts sounded good, but we were too full.
People thought this was:
"Dining Out For Life 2008"
This is one of two restaurants in all of Danville to donate to this mighty cause, and since I had never eaten at Amber, I volunteered at Amici's for lunch time and asked my man take my daughter and I here for dinner.
My man works in Milpitas and was running late for our reservation (http://opentable.com rules), so my daughter and I walked over to Amber and he met us there (this is about a 5 minute walk from our house).
We were greeted right away and shown to our table. The atmosphere is nice-dark woods, full bar, etc. Great wait staff-our waiter "Greg" not only had a sense of humor, he was laid back and professional all at the same time.
I ordered a pineapple cosmo. I don't usually partake in the adult beverage, but since it was "for a good cause", I figured I would. Daughter had a Shirley Temple. We ordered calamari while we were waiting for the man, and he arrived just as it was delivered to our table. Nice mixture of rings and tentacles with a yogurt sauce that was delicious. Definitely a 5 star calamari experience.
This is what was ordered:
-Ahi Tartar (as a starter). Even I liked this as it was plated beautifully with wonton strips, tangerine segments and a bit of caviar on top. The tuna was chopped with a bit of avocado, tomato and red onion.
-Grilled Asparagus Salad: This was nice, but the lowest on the scale of deliciousness. Grilled asparagus, some baby spinach, fresh Parmesan, balsamic and truffle oil.
Entrees:
I had the roasted half chicken with Peruvian potatoes and green beans. This came with onion compote and a mustard sauce. The chicken was amazing. Tender and juicy and full of flavor. The onion compote was fantastic and a perfect pairing with the chicken. The potatoes were good, but they were mostly there for color and to help with plating-didn't eat much of them.
Daughter had the pork tenderloin that had a mango chutney. She really liked it and subbed rice for the potatoes.
The man had the fillet and ordered it rare. It came with mashed potatoes and a Madeira reduction. His meat came out just as ordered-RARE....he was in heaven.
Last but not least, the daughter ordered a peanut butter chocolate ice cream torte. She ordered it by asking for the "tor-tay". Our waiter, stifled a giggle and said "excellent choice". We told her the correct pronunciation and instead of being embarrassed, she took it in stride. The man and she said it was delicious and since it was one of two desserts on the menu that didn't have alcohol in it, I was glad it was so good.
All in all, I am very happy with our meal and our experience. We wouldn't typically go "all out" on a non-special occasion weekday meal, but for this great cause, we went large.
People thought this was:
More like 3.5 stars. Nice ambience and good service. It was a bit loud b/c of the high ceilings, which makes it difficult to converse across a largish table. The pineapple martini is a must have. The calamari appetizer was yummy as were the wontons. I had the filet, which was a bit overdone and under-seasoned. DH had the roasted chicken, which he reported to be pretty good.
What really irked me however, was that they charged us tip as if we werea a large party. We didn't realize it until we'd left, but I believe they consider 6 to be a large party. We were 5 adults and a baby. Now, I would only count the people who ate....granted DD did have a bottle while we were there, but c'mon!!!
People thought this was:
Unfortunately there isn't any outdoor seating so I prefer it on a cooler day. For my first visit I had the mango salmon salad which wasn't really a salad but good none the less even though Salmon is not something I normally eat. The duck pot stickers were fabulous and even if you don't think you like duck you should give these a try. I went by yesterday and the menu still looks good so I will be going back. On this day however the great outdoors was calling me so I didn't stay.
Had dinner last night on the recommendations of many yelpers also have driven by thinking "we should try it". We are such creature of habit and always get drawn to what we know, plus my husband will say "what do you want". No input at all...but that's a whole other story.
So we went early because we both forgot to eat lunch and I was starving. It was a Saturday evening around 5pm. Parking was relatively easy on the street. Walked right in and was seated, no one else eating yet just a few folks at the bar. The atmosphere is warm and inviting with a large bar in the back. We started with white prawn pot stickers very tasty served over a shaved cucumber. My husband and I both decided on the pan seared almond crusted Halibut with stir fried egg noodles and a wasabi sauce. The halibut was perfectly cooked and flakey moist. The portion size was generous and the touch of wasabi sauce had a nice "kick" to the meal. We then shared a Chocolate Grand Marnier cake with vanilla bean ice cream and raspberries wow very rich glad we shared. As we finished our meal around 6pm more folks started to fill the place up so reservations may be needed.
All in all the service was on the spot, our meal was delicious and I'd probably go back. It's a bit pricier than some of our meals out, but I definitely feel we got our money's worth.
People thought this was:
We've been wanting to try this restaurant for quite some time. By chance our friends made reservations here for last Saturday evening. The ambiance and decor were a good sign of things to come. Three of us decided to try the fixed menu which proved to be excellent by all accounts and the soloist was pleased as well. The tempura shrimp was delicate and tasty; the flat iron steak was tender and carefully prepared as was the salmon and wasabe noodles (yummy). The halibut was expertly rendered and thoroughly enjoyed. All in all a perfect dining experience.
Right next to the famous Bridges Restaurant (as I like to call it..."the-mrs-doubtfire-heimlich-maneuver-scene-pl ace") My friends/coworkers and a hopefully soon to be coworker dined at this magnificent restaurant. We arrived and someone took the car...complimentary valet. You know you've entered up-scale when that happens. The owner of the restaurant greeted us at the door and took our jackets and on our way out, he put them on each of us. I felt like a million bucks. The atmosphere was casual up scale if you know what I mean. Loved the interior with red and brown tints. Menu seems to change depending on the season. Here is what I devoured that night:
Starters
~ Filet Mignon Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce ~
I've never had such a fancy Satay before! It was so tender and not well done. The peanut sauce didn't do anything much to the already flavorful slice of beef. 4 sticks in all!
~ Crispy Monterey Calamari with Cilantro Yogurt Dipping Sauce ~
This was good as well. The crispier pieces were the ones with the tentacles...mmm tentacaligoodness. The only thing about this starter is you need to eat it while it's hot. Otherwise the oil makes it soggy.
~ Dungeness Crab Cakes with Spicy Pineapple Aoli ~
Awesome. That's all I need to say. It only comes with 2 cakes, but half is all you need for 4 people. Or...if you're greedy, just eat them all =) There was a lot of crab meat and corn I think? There was a lot going on and it was like a party in my mouth.
Entree
~ Pan Seared Almond Crusted Salmon & Stir Fried Egg Noodles with Julienne Squash, Carrots and Wasabi Vinaigrette ~
Thinking perhaps this would be good....all the pieces sounded delicious, but I guess the magic of this dish is to eat it all together cause alone each piece is not that flavorful. The wasabi vinaigrette was quite pleasant. I think I might experiment with this idea. The salmon was slightly dry so everytime I ate it, I had to slather the wasabi vinaigrette on it.
Dessert
~ Pecan Bread Pudding with Cinnamon Gelato and Caramel Sauce~
What can I say...I'm a bread pudding junkie. Everything melded together like it was some sinful ice cream sandwich. the gelato came quasi-melted due to the caramel sauce. The bread pudding needed the ice cream and the caramel sauce to help enhance its flavor. I would just get the gelato and caramel sauce by itself if I had the option. The bread pudding's just a bonus.
My other friend had the grilled ahi tuna which was my first choice and I regret not just having it as well.
The service was a bit slow though. It took a long time for us to order and get our food, but the water was plentiful. The price was a bit out of my range, but since it was on the company dollar, why not splurge a little ;) Or go so you can experience complimentary valet parking.
People thought this was:
This place is great for a first date... or at least it was for me. The food here is Asian inspired, with what I feel is a obvious Chinese flavor, but has an American/Italian feel. I guess it is what one might call Asian fusion. I started out my evening with a glass red wine and a light and delicious spinach salad. For my main I had prawns and scallops with jasmine rice and vegetables, while my date ordered the Opah special that came over a edamame potato cake and green beans. All of the seafood was cooked to perfection, and the flavor of the dishes in general proved to be worth many return visits.
I visited Amber on a Friday evening when there was a band playing, of which I think happens every Friday, and the music was perfect for the mood of a date or relaxed evening.
People thought this was:
Great starters: prawn pot stickers, crab cakes and duck spring rolls. All of them were very tasty.
Would be a solid five star experience if my rack of lamb turned out to be awesome as well. It was okay but I guess I was expecting something more. You can blame the delicious appetizers for setting the bar high.
Complementary valet parking was nice but largely unnecessary.
Yum!!!! My friend and I came here for a light bite after a mixer where we had already nibbled. I had the Ahi Tuna Tartare and Baby Spinach Salad while my friend had the Warm Oriental Barbecue Pork Salad. My salad was AMAZING!!! I loved everything about it and should have only ordered that since the portion was HUGE! The Ahi was great too but by the time I got to it, I was full. My friend really enjoyed his salad too. We didn't look at the dinner menu but next time around, I'll definitely keep some room to try it!!
People thought this was:
A Danville delight. On the main street of downtown Danville, the Amber Bistro dazzled our party of four with every selection we made. We chose to use the 1st course menu, and order several of the smaller plates/appetizers as our meal. What a great choice, as we got to taste many of their specialties.
We started with a fig and blue cheese salad that was very tasty and had a unique raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Delicious!
Next we shared the fried calamari. Cooked very nicely with a touch of spice and great sauce. Yummy!
The cucumber tower of crabmeat was one of my favorites. You have to see and taste it to understand. I believe it was a cucumber outer peel stuffed with and Asian fusion crabmeat mix. Superb!
Let's see what else. The pot stickers, of course. Some of the most unique and best tasting ones I have had. Bravo!
On to the filet mignon satay with a tasty peanut sauce. Very good!
Finished with a brownie and espresso ice cream dessert. Excellent!
Had some nice chardonnay by the glass which was chilled just right, and an excellent companion to our food.
The place is clean and nicely decorated. Service was superb. Not to pushy, not too distant, but just right. Server was very friendly and attentive throughout the dinner.
What more can I say. A great new find for Yelpers. Just off the 680 in the old Danville town area. A great food adventure in Asian fusion cooking. Can't wait to go back and try some of the 2nd course main meals.
Tally Ho!
People thought this was:
Amber Bistro is right next door to Bridges, they came in and replaced some foo foo Asian fusion restaurant that had high prices and small portions. The first thing you will notice is the complimentary valet, who did a good job from what I could see juggling cars and taking care of the parking business while avoiding stretch limos pulling into Bridges.
Amber Bistro does have a nice interior, and nice ambiance. Everything inside is easy on the eyes. They have a nice bar that appears to serve a lot of different kinds of mixed drinks.
However the food did not impress me; I had the Grilled Fillet Mignon with Bearnaise Sauce and Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes. If they had a T-bone steak I probably would have been happier. I'm not a fan of Fillet Mignon, the meat is nice and soft but has no flavor.. I need the taste of COW in my steaks!
To add insult to injury it was quite pricey. The portions are larger than the previous restaurant, and I'd even go so far as to say it was quite hearty . Service was good as to be expected in a classy joint like this.
I just couldn't put my finger on anything that would make me want to go back.
People thought this was:
Can you say BEST SALMON EVER!!!!!!!!
Had a Valentines Day date with the hubby at this exquisite restaurant in downtown Danville. From the cocktails to the dessert, my husband and I couldnt get enough.
I was kinda iffy about sitting at the bar but was quite pleased and preferred this over a regualr table. Great view of the restaurant, great intermitent conversation with the staff and still room for a private conversation.
The atmosphere is sooooo warm and inviting. The conversation with our charming bartender, Alfredo, was HILARIOUS and the food was TOO DIE FOR.
We will be returning again and again and again.
I have been to Amber several times. The most recent was for dinner with my sister and our good friend. The food has always been delicious. I usually get the fillet but this time I tried their prix fixe menu. I had the flat iron steak which was perfectly cooked and flavored. Our server and bartender were very friendly and took great care of us. I will for sure be back soon!!
I enjoyed a late night dinner on a Wednesday night. The staff was polite and made some great suggestions about the menu. I had the special: grouper on a bed of spinach and a polenta cake. I also had the chocolate raspberry cake. Everything was wonderful. Sure, a little pricey, but for good service and great food, it's well worth the indulgence once in awhile.
As far as the noise goes, it was quiet, until a gaggle of 20 women came in to have a late dessert. I do think the high ceilings have something to do with the noise increase. I could see it it being loud during peak hours. The party looked like they were having a fun time and the "boss" even came over to combine tables so they could all sit together. All in all, a great restaurant.
Been several times, never disappointed. Nice atmosphere and service, food is good asian fusion. Fried calamari was great. Nice place for special occasions.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Danville. I am just as comfortable going there by myself or with friends. I f I am on my own, I get a nice glass of wine and order the Fire Roasted Salmon appetizer, which is baked in a Thai clay pot with artichoke hearts and a yummy red curry sauce. I usually order a number of appetizers when I go with friends. I would highly recommend the Beet Napoleon (when it is available), Fillet Mignon Satay and the Ahi Tuna tartare (and of course, the salmon). I think in the 4 years I have been going there, I only ordered an entree once. The desserts are excellent as well. I am allergic to shellfish so can't really comment on any of those dishes but friends who have had the calamari say it is excellent.
The atmosphere is always great and some times you definitely need reservations as it is a popular spot.
I kind of want to say 3.5 stars, but there aren't many good places to eat in Danville for younger people, so I suppose it gets the full 4 stars.
There is free valet parking, so that's always a plus.
Easy reservations on Opentable (prime dining hours seem to be easily available) another plus.
If possible, ask for a table the windows (opened if on a really nice night) otherwise your table might be near the bar area which can be rowdy.
Food is Asian fusion and I didn't really have anything eye-opening but the food seemed well executed with no serious flaws. Service is eager and friendly.
The wine list is also decently priced with some good finds, like a 2004 Flowers Pinot Noir I've wanted to try.
Erik, the owner, is the coolest owner ive ever met. Havent eaten here but amazing cocktails and Erik will take care of you. Love the location, ownership, and mixing.
People thought this was:
Great little restaurant and perfect for special occasions- I have come here for two of my birthdays. Not a place to bring your kids but good for groups or just couples. Delicious food, nice atmosphere, right next to the famed Bridges restaurant.
People thought this was:
Amber hits the spot with us! It is small and a bit intimate. The food is outstanding. We've been here twice for dinner and everything has been superb, including the service. We like the fairly diverse selection of appetizers. There are not a lot of main courses but there is enough to make a good choice and it is seasonal so it will be made with the best of ingredients.
There are only two negatives - the bread is pretty plain - really fresh but not terribly interesting in either texture or taste. I would prefer something rustic with an interesting crust. The salted butter is fine. The other negative is - don't sit near the front door on cold winter nights. Every time the door opens, you will feel the draft!
Other than that, it's a great place to dine - good food, fine service, reasonably priced. What's not to like?
Jim
Eric Jansen, owner of Amber Bistro, has done a great job of bringing a new relaxed place to wine and dine to Danville, CA. The food is wonderful - I've tried three salads and a sandwich so far. The lemonade is perfect.
Eric and his staff are friendly and efficient. I understand that Eric knows his wine and has a primo selection. Amber Bistro is busy getting their outside cafe dining ready for the summer season.
My husband and I went here this past week-end and were quite pleased. We dine early and were the first to arrive on what was soon to be a very busy Saturday night.
Dustin, our server was very personable, down to earth guy. I had a pineapple infused vodka cocktail (well, actually 3) that were absolutely delicious. Hubby had a couple of ice cold hef's. I decided to go with some appetizers instead of an entree. I had the Carpaccio of Roasted Beets, which was delicious but quite definitely on the skimpy side - hmm, maybe 4 bites. I then had the crab cakes w/pineapple aioli which were probably the best I ever had. I finished off with the filet mignon satay which I ended up eating the next day because between the salad and crab cakes I had quite a few pieces of yummy french bread. Oh, they also brought us two complementary bruchetta's which were amazing. Back to the satay, it was quite good too. Even with reheating, the steak was very tender. My husband had the caesar salad which, like other people have stated, was heavy with anchovies but he really enjoyed it. He had a pork dish which he thoroughly enjoyed as well. We shared a cobbler dessert which was good too, nothing special, but good. The coffee was excellent, which is huge to us.
By the time we left, an hour and a half later, the place was packed. The valet parking attendents serve Bridges Restaurant too and the guys were super friendly.
I booked through http://www.opentable.com and got 1000 bonus points!
People thought this was:
Three stars because of the past dining experiences. The main menu hasn't changed since they opened and everything here is a bit tired since the main chef left. Kinda feels like "Groundhog Day" where nothing new is happening. Someone needs to shake things up here a bit. In the past I would rave about the salmon clay pot appetizer but that has even gotten old. Really a great restaurant that needs an update. I really want to go back, come on give me a reason (sounds like Clint Eastwood, no?)
Danville, CA
Category: Italian
Danville, CA
Category: American (New)
Danville, CA
Category: Italian
Danville, CA
Category: Italian
Danville, CA
Category: American (New)
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