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Amber Bistro
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife American (New), Nightlife [Edit]
500 Hartz AveDanville, CA 94526
(925) 552-5238
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 10 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Fyrefly H. said: "Great new restaurant with amazing food and friendly, knowledgeable staff! We started with the crab dip and it was wonderful. We enjoyed the rotisserie chicken and the bread salad that came with it was amazing!! The banana bread pudding…" read more »
104 reviews for Amber Bistro
Review Highlights
"white prawn pot stickers- best pot stickers i have had."
(in 5 reviews)
"Do try the fire roasted Salmon Appetizer and Duck Confit."
(in 5 reviews)
"We ordered scallops and ahi tuna tartare for appetizers."
(in 6 reviews)
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104 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie T.
San Ramon, CA
Updated - 2/6/2012
The menu changed a bit since my last visit, but they still have the Pineapple Martinis, thank goddess!!
Appetizers for three completely hit the mark and included:
Gnocchi w/ Braised Spare Rib
Ahi Tuna Tartare
Crab Cakes
Truffle Mac & Cheese
Desserts were equally fantastic:
Mascarpone Cheesecake
Blue Cheese Plate
Trio of Sorbets
The service is professional, yet still not very friendly. Particularly the short woman with the bob, she does a great job, but isn't that friendly.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/1/2010
Try a pineapple martini or two - very yummy!
The main courses are just okay. I am most impressed… Read more »
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Review from John G.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/9/2011
Came here at the suggestion of a friend. Very easy to find (right next to Bridges) and they seated us right away. It was a Tuesday night, so it wasn't exactly crowded. The hostess was nice and showed us to our seats quickly. The interior is nice as well, nothing spectacular, but definitely adequate.
The Good: The server was very attentive.
The bad: The tomato soup tasted basically like Marinara.
The Mediocre: The food.
Overall: If they are going to try to compete with high end foodie restaurants, they need to execute their food way better. You can see from the menu that the chef is trying to make progressive offerings, but it just hasn't lived up to the description. -
Review from Blondie R.
Alamo, CA
12/22/2011
Rikki and I came for Happy Hour. The Niman Ranch Sliders were the bomb! The Sweet Corn Risotto and Lemon Hummus were great. Rikki had the Raspberry Drop and I had the Vine Cliff Chardonnay. They rocked! The bar tender was so unfriendly. Never the less, we survived! We had to ask for a dessert menu. Rikki had the Dark Chocolate Lava Cake, and I took a bite. It was smoken molten lava! 40 bucks for 3 appetizers, drinks and dessert! Tell Mr. Bar Tender to get a personality! He'll get much better tips!!!
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Review from Kristina B.
Dublin, CA
7/14/2011
I've been a customer as long as I can remember....an ex used to bring me here and I've been eating here every since (even after the breakup)
Great soups- Everything is made from scratch....Every steak I've had here has been cooked perfectly and they have a great wine selection.
Great Ambience.
Big Bonus for the ladies (which prompted me to write this review): The Executive Chef is a really nice looking :) -
Review from Rose E.
Castro Valley, CA
7/2/2011
I came for happy hour and yelp incorrectly says it's $4-$6 per appetizer, it's $5 - $8. There's only 5 to pick from that is under $8. Of course we ordered outside of that small selection for appetizers that were $8-$14.
Looks pretty, sounds good on the menu, but did not live up to the hype. Most items were, for a lack of better word, bland.
From Worst to Best
Braised Lamb Rigatoni with red onion, capers, & parmesan = worst appetizer. It wasn't hot or cold, kinda warm. The white sauce was not exactly watery, but might as well be compared to water since it wasn't creamy and it was bland.
Ahi Tuna Tartare with cilantro, lemongrass, tomato, avocado, onion -this one was the one that sounded good and looked good, but I had better. It was too bland for my liking.
Dungeness Crab Cakes with pickled fennel slaw and orange truffle aioli - meh...the aioli saved it from being another bland item
Marinated Beet Salad: red and gold beets with sonoma goat cheese and basil vinaigrette --my friend loved this, I'm not big on beets, but the goat cheese was amazing!
Sliders with mushroom, caramelized onions, cheese with the meat medium rare -kinda oily, but yummy
Truffled Fries with parmesan and herb - long and thin, crispy on the outside, potatoey on the inside. YUMMYyyyyyyyyy
Dark Chocolate Lava Cake with Hazelnut Gelato, Raspberry Coulis, Hazelnut Praline --the gelato was the best, lava cake was good too -
Review from Jenn B.
Danville, CA
12/12/2011
With all the wonderful dining options on Danville, I wouldn't come back to Amber. The food is quite bland and uninspired...especially for the price tag. The service was OK, but the overpriced bland food needs work. Unless the food got better, I won't be coming back.
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Review from Lisa B.
Costa Mesa, CA
5/7/2011
The food was good, the service left something to be desired. We went for lunch the other day, we sat outside. We were waiting for another person in our party, the waiter took our drink orders. It took probably 10 minutes for him to bring the ice tea back. When our last person came, he ordered an ice tea too, this time it had to be about 15 minutes until it got there. Our lunch was 2 hours, if that says anything.
But, the food. I had the crab cake sandwich, it was super good! It was a huge crab cake on top of toasted sourdough bread. My party had a salmon salad, a salmon pasta, and a salad. Everyone enjoyed their meal too.
My suggestion..don't go there on lunch if you are on a schedule, other than that, I'd go back for sure! -
Review from Todd D.
Danville, CA
6/12/2011
Superior choice for dining in Danville. The food is creative, well-prepared and simply great, the bartender is talented, service is usually impeccable. It's very intimate and classy, yet not "fancy."
If anything, I wish they'd experiment with new offerings more often. The menu is pretty varied but having been there maybe 4x this year, I feel like I've tried everything on the menu already. On the plus side, it's always been excellent. -
Review from Michael H.
Lafayette, CA
3/4/2011
Food was good, but i feel I can cook just as well or better. Waiter rushed the appetizer order for my girlfriends mom but other than that the service was good.
Middle of the road meal that costs too much in my opinion but has a good ambiance and was an ok time. -
Review from Alexis M.
1/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I met the amazing Tammy F. for lunch today at Amber Bistro.
I was surprised how large it is inside. I was expecting this tiny little place. It's actually quite modern as well, which was another surprise.
We got there right at 11:30 when they first opened and were the second group there but by 12:40 when we were leaving, every table was full.
The food was delicious (albeit not even close to healthy, but hey, can't always be healthy, right?)
We started with the fried calamari appetizer which was good, but I have had better. It was a little rubbery. Nothing horrible, but not to die for.
I then had the Lunch Trio with green lentil soup, a garden salad, and 1/2 chicken sandwich. It was just the right amount of food. The soup was delicious and the sandwich was sinfully good. I mean ciabatta roll, chicken, grilled onions, cheese and bacon?? What's not to love.
The salad was OK. It was basically just weedy lettuce with a light dressing, no other vegetables. It was a little bit of a let down but the rest of the meal made up for it.
Our waiter was very polite and attentive but it almost seemed like he was manning the entire floor by himself so service did lag a bit, especially for the lunch time hour.
I wound up having to give some cash to Tammy and ran out the door before the bill came so I could pick my kids up from school on time.
Tammy had an amazing looking fire roasted salmon which I'd love to try!
I'll be back with the hubby to try Amber Bistro for dinner. -
Review from Shannon P.
Castro Valley, CA
1/10/2011
Um......no. This dinner was free (gift certificate) and we're still complaining about it. Food for this price should be far far tastier and of much higher quality.
The atmosphere can't decide what it wants to be....except that it was freezing cold in there. Lighting is all off, too bright in some spots, too dim in others.
Chicken dish was hardly edible....seasoned poorly and my husband kept saying I do a much better job on chicken at home.
My Mahi Mahi was edible, except for the bed of noodles it was resting upon, which was like something from Panda Express. My dish was just barely saved from lack of flavor by the lake of wasabi sauce under the noodles....but anyone can squirt wasabi on a plate and call it flavor.
I thought you couldn't go too wrong with creme brulee, but the top was warm and the bottom half freezing cold and rubbery.
The pumpkin soup was dull and under-seasoned.
And a coat check, with a number .... really?
I'm sorry to say, but this restaurant has gone way way down hill. -
Review from Jessica A.
Alamo, CA
2/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
We had a great meal at Amber Bistro and used a Groupon - double bonus points!
We started with the fire roasted salmon appetizer at the recommendation of our server and were not disappointed. The salmon medallions were covered in a red curry sauce and baked/broiled in a cast iron pan. Delicious!
Next we shared two entrees - the almond crusted mahi mahi - light and fresh and the beef short rib bourguignon - savory and rich.
Overall, a delightful meal. Unfortunately, the atmosphere was a bit loud, but we'll be back despite the overly jovial atmosphere. -
Review from Michael H.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2011
My first experience at Amber Bistro was quite good, and I would say it was better than I expected. We end up going to the same places over and over again, so when Amber Bistro came out with their Groupon ($25 for $50 credit), we jumped on the chance to try something new. Well, by "jumped on the chance" I mean we bought the Groupon and finally used it several months later because it was going to expire soon.
We had the crab cakes, prawn potstickers and the ahi tuna. All three were excellent. Our server, Yamo (sp?), was very prompt and friendly. I never felt rushed and our glasses were never empty. I left feeling very satisfied, and that's not just because of the nice little Groupon discount. I definitely enjoyed my experience more than at several other similarly priced restaurants in the Danville/Walnut Creek area.
So, in summary, give it a shot. I hear their happy hour is quite good too! -
Review from Johnny V.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/12/2011
Overcooked my Filet... Service was decent. Wine list looks like the middle shelf at Safeway.... So there's that (yuck).
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Review from braden k.
12/21/2010 Seated via OpenTable
A bit underwhelming.
+1 star for their own private parking lot behind the restaurant next to Bridges.. I found out after I had parked a block away.
+1 star because our waitress was a nice girl and the service was decent, deserving another star.
Came here the other night with a friend, we sat down and chatted for a bit, the bread arrived and i grabbed a piece for my bread plate.. there was a big BUG on it.. half centipede half cockroach? I asked the waitress for another bread plate and she apologized but did nothing else. -1
Dinner for two, a couple glasses of wine.. $58? I had the halibut and she had the burger.. she didn't finish and my halibut was bland and boring.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't come back. for $60? ....I'd try somewhere else. -
Review from David G.
Danville, CA
7/22/2011
Mixed reviews; had a feeling; should have listened to it. RUN for your life.
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Review from Ash P.
Danville, CA
Updated - 12/22/2010
They are very accommodating with their hours for large company groups which we really appreciate.We were there till 12 on a Sunday evening! However, food was sub par. My Risotto was very very bad and my LAVA cake had no lava in it!! Can't go wrong with a Cesar salad, so that was the only thing that i enjoyed eating.
The kitchen crew were so loud that we had to ignore their noise to listen to our conversation.
I am a vegetarian so it's a no no for all the vegetarian dishes.
Last year I gave a 3 star, this years its a 2...I hope we change venue for next years party unless they upgrade the food quality for us!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/10/2010
We went there for a Christmas dinner with maybe more than 25 ppl. The food was Okay and the ambiance… Read more »
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Review from Ron and Aja P.
Napa, CA
9/10/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Came early evening on a Wednesday for their happy hour. We were the only ones there and in somewhat of a hurry. The bartender was really nice and attentive.
We ordered two beers (prohibition ale) and some seafood risotto off the Happy hour menu. While we were waiting for the food, the bartender Chris was fiddling around with new drink ideas. He let us sample his creation and it was AMAZING! It tasted like cucumber water at the spa. It was so smooth with the perfect blend of sweetness and tartness, couldn't even taste any alcohol. It was very very good. We'd go back solely to order that drink... Now named the Koby Collins!
The seafood risotto was a good portion for $5 at a nice place like this. It was very creamy and had a lot of shrimp. We devoured it. It took a little longer than I thought for the risotto seeing as we were the only ones there, but it was yummy so I'm not complaining!
We'll definitely be back! -
Review from Walt L.
San Ramon, CA
8/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Amber B fell short, IMHO, of the good reviews it has been given and probably not my favorite amongst the restaurants its surrounded by. I was sorely disappointed in the service and quality of the food.
We had a 7pm dinner reservation yesterday and I thought the ambiance was nice but not many people dining. After 15 minutes of sitting, no waiter, no water, no bread and no acknowledgment that we were even in the building....NO NOTHING!!!! Finally, our waiter comes by, apologizes for the long wait and gave us menus to review. The selection was limited and they only had one special.
I started off with the baby spinach salad which was good and I ordered the $15 burger which was disappointing in flavor, size and value. Also, it took a while for our dinner to arrive. Worst part of dinner was the anticipation of when the darn things were going to come out. It would have been nice if our waiter actually checked up on us to have made the wait less unbearable.
The dessert menu was unappealing. Nothing stood out as a must try....so we skipped dessert :(
Oh, and don't get me started on the bill..... -
Review from Christopher W.
Danville, CA
7/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
Came to Amber Bistro to celebrate my Mom's 58th birthday! I had come once before and had a good experience, but nothing spectacular comes to mind.
The waiter, Chris, was attentive and pleasant. We ordered scallops and ahi tuna tartare for appetizers. I was disappointed when I saw they were basically using terra chips (correct me if I'm wrong) and tasted the tartare. It really did not have much flavor. The scallops were fine, but were drowning in a mayonnaise-y sauce.
I ordered the duck as the main course. I usually don't like polenta, but thought they prepared theirs nicely. The duck breast wasn't super moist, but the drumstick was great! Crispy and flavorful.
Amber Bistro is good, but in my opinion not top-knotch fine dining. -
Review from Claudia G.
San Ramon, CA
2/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I throughly enjoyed our Valentine's dinner here last Sunday evening. The place was busy, and our waiter was attentive. He enjoyed his TALL glass of beer (nice presentation) and I enjoyed a glass of granache..nice! We opened with the white prawn potstickers, highly recommend them! My husband doesn't typically order chicken at restaurants, he thinks it's simply too typical, but he went for it this night. I even had a taste and we both agreed that their Roasted Petaluma Half Chicken was a pleasant surpise. Tasty and flavorful! I was in the mood for fish (that doesn't happen often) and their Almond Crusted Mahi Mahi was the perfect reponse to that. We ended the night with their creme brulee, acompanied with fresh berries. We don't normally order dessert, but this was a special occasion, so we went for it.
The restaurant was cozy, and provided a romantic ambiance for a lovely dinner with the hubby. We came dressed to impress and found that patrons attire was mixed between dressy and casual. All in all, a great local find for us. -
Review from TOD O.
Concord, CA
6/7/2011
Amber has a great location, ambience, menu, etc. Yet desperately needs to focus on the short cuts and inconsistencies mainly found within the kitchen.
My friend and I ate at the bar which started the incongruous experience. At first the Bartender was attentive and even allowed me to taste a couple of wines before deciding which one I wanted. However, we weren't given any water until after our entrée's arrived. And only my friend had his water refilled even though my empty glass was merely inches away. Also, instead of asking if I wanted another glass of wine, as we were still eating our entrée's, my wine glass was whisked away without mention. My friends cocktail sat empty to the point that no refill was needed since we were about to leave.
Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between what the menu states and what comes out of the kitchen.
Crispy squash blossoms were so heavily battered and over stuffed with ricotta that the blossoms were limp and lacked any of their squash essence.
Pulled BBQ pork salad was more like mixed greens with chunks (not pulled) of pork sloppily arranged around the edge of the plate. BBQ flavor was more like a hoisin sauce.
The hamburger came with slightly raw fries and the bun looked like it had been defrosted in the microwave before being toasted leaving the top both too hard and looking wilted.
Black Truffle pappardelle was under seasoned and over cooked so that the pasta clumped together as opposed to being individual ribbons.
Overall, you're better off spending your money next door at Bridges (with spot on food/service) or the bar menu at The Vine (better everything). -
Review from Lisa B.
Danville, CA
5/9/2011
Don't waste your money here. This place is overpriced for the quality. Now I don't mind spending money on a good meal, but this food was lack lustre and the portions are small. I was there for lunch and had the crab cakes, which is one of my tests of a good restaurant. Crab was off, not super fresh and breading was heavy and oily. Service was slow and not super friendly.
Go to Cafe Esin - price points are lower and food is off the charts fabulous! -
Review from Steven P.
Pleasanton, CA
8/22/2010
Ehhhhh....what to say. Average place. LOUD. The food wasn't very good. The staff kind of knew what they where doing, but seemed like they would rather be somewhere else. I was sitting there wanting to be somewhere else!
I would say skip it if you are really hungry. Try some of the other great places to eat in the area. If you are just strolling by and want a glass of wine and some conversation (or yelling), then it might be ok for that. -
Review from C.M. C.
Danville, CA
5/8/2011
When Amber Bistro opened years ago, it was very good with unique flavors.
The last few times I've been there in the past year, the food has decreased in variety and quality. Tonight we were there for Mother's Day, so I won't comment on the service which was less than mediocre. But for a top restaurant, they should rise to the occasion, IMHO.
The appetizers were good; I've had them before. The ribs and squash blossoms are good. My daughters and I had the filet mignon, both medium. One end of my filet started out as medium well to well done, then the middle was medium, so I was hopeful. But the other end of the filet was medium rare. My daughters' filet they shared was medium all the way through but tough on the outside (as was mine). The menu said the filet was 1/2 lb, but mine was at most 1/3. My husband had the lamb tenderloin, which was not tender, and there wasn't much of it.
We usually don't have enough room for 4 desserts, but even with appetizers and sparse entree amounts, we each had a dessert and finished them too! The profiteroles are good and plentiful, but it is a small creme brulee, about 3.5 inches in diameter, and so is the apple blueberry crisp.
There was another table having an issue with their food too, speaking to the manager about it.
We had an issue with the Groupon not being accepted at first, but when they couldn't find the fine print on the printed coupon I brought, my iPhone app, the computer website AND their agreement, the manager FINALLY agreed to honor it, which was good since it was expiring in 2 days! In my opinion, this reflects on service and good-will, especially since this is a small town.
We won't be returning, since thankfully, we have a good selection of other top restaurants in Danville - Esin and Patrick David's with better food and service. Blackhawk Grille has good food, but their service is snail's pace slow for the last 14 years I've lived here. For the top dollar that one pays here, BOTH the food quality and service should be better. -
Review from Brandon C.
San Ramon, CA
7/1/2010
After receiving several coupons for Amber on the mail in recent months, I figured I'd give it a shot - and use the coupon for some savings too.
We had the prawn pot stickers which were excellent. My beet salad was just okay but was told that the spinach salad was better.
We both ordered the almond crusted halibut and it was excellent. They only had a couple of desserts left so I tried the warm lava cake. It was good but not mind-blowing. I could skip it next time.
Service was polite but somewhat slow. I'd go back again though. -
Review from Tam F.
4/24/2008 2 Check-ins Here
"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. -
Review from Jeff P.
Dublin, CA
8/10/2009
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. -
Review from Katherine F.
Dublin, CA
5/10/2008
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. -
Review from Chris K.
5/10/2008
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!!! -
Review from Carolen M.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/10/2007
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. -
Review from John G.
9/9/2006
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! -
Review from Greg W.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/10/2011
Decent. Good fish, crab cakes, and service. I had the filet mignon and it was OK. The macadamia Mahi Mahi was really good though-I shoul'dve ordered that.
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Review from Arya B.
Washington, DC
7/11/2009
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. -
Review from Kate L.
Livermore, CA
4/18/2011 12 Check-ins Here
Half off drink specials- I'll have the Ambertini!! Food is consistently good and inventive. The soup shows up looking like a firm pile of veggies- until they poor the liquid over it. A little noisy because it's popular with the young crowd and has an open floor plan with not much fabric to absorb the noise.
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Review from Kathleen P.
Pleasanton, CA
8/8/2010
I realize this is a delayed review, but I went here around the time it opened to watch my piano instructor and her jazz band play. The service was not splendid, but the crab cakes made up for it. They were soft inside and crispy on the outside, and the sauce added a fine touch to them. I haven't forgotten how delicious they were because they were some decent crab cakes I have tasted in the East Bay so far. They took forever to be served though - almost an hour. Referring back to the servers, it seemed like they were so busy and were slow for quite an upscale restaurant. I hear they've gotten better now.
The atmosphere is great; it's lively and beautifully decorated. The valet parking makes going out to dine less stressful! I mainly enjoyed the restaurant for its elegant, classy setting and lovely location. -
Review from Jazz C.
Alameda, CA
10/25/2009
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. -
Review from Kelly J.
Danville, CA
8/9/2006
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. -
Review from Bobby M.
Hayward, CA
9/1/2009
I usually don't write reviews but thought I should in this case. I went to Amber with my wife this past Friday to celebrate a promotion I received at work. We didn't have a reservation but they were able to seat us immediately. The decor and staff were great and the food was pretty good too (my wife ordered the steak and I had the salmon). We went home afterward and turned in early...great night.
WRONG...I woke up with the worst case of food poisoning I've EVER had. I consider my stomach to be made of iron but this buckled me over, gave me sweats (along with some other unmentionables) and I've been sick for 4 days now! My wife called and the staff was very apologetic but it doesn't cut it. Just wanted to warn others to stay away from the "Grilled Loch Duart Salmon"! Needless to say, we will never eat here again. -
Review from Susan D.
5/18/2008
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.Listed in: My Neighborhood
