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Amber
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
13 N Cass AveWestmont, IL 60559
(630) 515-8080
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 4:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 4:30 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Amber
Review Highlights
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"I had lobster bisque for appetizer and filet mignon for the..." In 3 reviews -
"I attended a bridal shower there on a Sunday afternoon and..." In 2 reviews -
"If you find yourself in the western burbs make a point to..." In 3 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Nicole S.
Chicago, IL
1/20/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Always trying to find gems in the Western suburbs that can compete with Chicago-level restaurants. This foot the bill. I have zero complaints. The staff, service, and food were all fantastic and I love having a table near the window.
There is also a bar in the back with high-top tables if you want to drop in, but I wouldnt bank on there being available seats. -
Review from Kathleen J.
Westmont, IL
9/6/2011
Beautiful place with fantastic food & great ambiance--contemporary but still warm and inviting. I had veal medallions and they were melts-in-your-mouth succulent. YUM!
Sat on the covered patio and it was very nice. Was there on a Thurs nite and there was a very good flamenco guitarist playing. -
Review from Gary G.
La Grange, IL
2/3/2012
A major disappointment. The food was tasteless, the room was noisy and the service was poor. We went on a Saturday evening, and chose both fish and chicken. While the chicken was moist, it was tasteless. Laid on a bed of polenta, again, lacking any flavor.
The whitefish was "fishy" tasting. The fish special, that was de-boned table side left a majority of the bones in the filet that was provided.
The wait staff was "pushy" at first, and then we were ignored as the evening progressed. When we voiced our complaints, there was no remorse and an apparent lack of concern for the customer.
All in all a very disappointing evening and one we will not repeat at this restaurant again. -
Review from Karen G.
4/19/2011
I went here years ago when they first opened- I recall liking it - but man it was $$$. Good thing work paid.
It amuses me that this place has been successful cause I remember back in the day when downtown Westmont had nothing.... except Bishop's Chili.
We ended up here after a nameless local indian resturant didn't understand we wanted to drink more and eat dessert.
We sat in the back and had drinks. Got there about 7:30 pm on a weekday.
We ordered a $25 small lot bottle ( fyi, most of the $25 bottles are about $11 retail) and enjoyed several hours of siiting chatting.
The waitress was entertaining and she gave one of us a full free glass of Malbec cause they said they had never tasted it. she also said they have 50% off the bar menu on Tuesdays so we will be back!
very pleasant! -
Review from Kate W.
3/26/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
My mom suggested this place as my last-night-in-Chicagoland dinner, and I'm so happy that this was the note I left on - delicious and classy!
When you walk inside, you're in a small room with maybe 20 tables, but it felt a little stuffy to me - too quiet, only a few tables occupied, too "perfect" and untouchable IMO. The host let us choose our table, so I dragged my mom to the back room, which is even smaller with just a handful of tables and the small bar, but this was more my style - a little livelier just by virtue of having the bar there, and most of the tables and bar stools were occupied.
Our waiter was also the bartender, and he was awesome and adorable.
I had the grilled octopus - fantastic - and one of the specials: skate with apples, swiss chard, and an espresso bbq sauce - totally unique, yummy, and so much fish I couldn't finish it all!
My mom had the lobster ravioli - our only complaint was that the sauce was too tomato-y for the lightness of the seafood, it overpowered that distinct lobster taste that we were waiting for, but it was still a good starter - and then she had the salmon with jasmine cake, ponzu sauce and veggies - excellent. My mom is a sucker for (she might say connoisseur of) sweet potato fries, so we shared an order of those and they were great - crispier than others, which was a great surprise.
We tasted the Zinfandel and the Croatian red (I think it was called Plavec?) but decided to go with the Malbec instead because we wanted something a little fuller, darker. It was great. And our waiter surprised us with white wine & chocolate cocotions for dessert - delightfully indulgent and the perfect end to a wonderful meal. Not a cheap dinner but for a special occasion this is definitely the place to go. -
Review from kathy b.
Downers Grove, IL
11/15/2011
had only one dinning here but def plans for more., don't know why it took me so long to get there. i've always heard good things from ppl i know. I'd give it five stars but idk I think we were in a tent?? the way back room? well if it isn't my bad. the food was excellent, personal and well thought out. whats really selling me is talking to the chef and the owner I was told they purchase truly local produce in season from "the farm" on 63rd and Cass. SOLD now that is smart foodie stuff. after our table stuffed as much as is possible in one meal the owner sent over a complimentary round of port to end our dinning experience - nice touch
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Review from Carol K.
9/3/2010
Tucked away in the suburb of Westmont- is a little place that looks and feels like it should be in some neighborhood in the city. Amber is quite the find located on Main Street, not far from the Metra line. In fact- when I took a friend here on a recent trip to Chicago, he said, "how you find these great little places is a mystery to me!".
Well, it certainly isn't a mystery why this place has been in business since 2004. It's because the food is good, the ambiance simple and charming and the service on it's game.
We came on a rainy Thursday night. There is a large outdoor patio out back but know that it is enclosed and on warm nights- it can be a bit stifling back there. So we chose to sit in the restaurant by the window looking out at the trains going by.
We started with a couple of appetizers- the grilled calamari and the lump crab cakes. A perfect start to our evening.
We then split a bowl of the lobster bisque (one of my favorites) and then moved on to the halibut and salmon as our entrees with some garlic mashed potatoes as a side. Everything was perfectly paced and delicious! And for dessert- their daily bread pudding special was the right choice.
The ambiance is contemporary with dark floors and wooden furniture. Parking is easy as there is street parking out front or a free lot to the south. And dinner for two with drinks ran about $120.
Amber is that perfect place for a celebration, a reunion, or just a mid week dinner to catch up with friends. A bit off the beaten track, but worth looking for. -
Review from Aidas B.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2011
Amazing!!!!!! Love it
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Review from Dan R.
5/10/2010
Excellent food and great wine selection. My only complaint is that the menu never seems to change and that is why I have not been there in a while.
Amber is a good choice if you are looking for fine dining in the western burbs and/or have a special occasion. They are very pricey but worth it.
It's a place that I would love to hang out at more. -
Review from mei s.
4/5/2010
This is a really nice restaurant. I've wanted to try it for a while now but even more so when I realized it was related to Topaz in Burr Ridge.
We made reservations through http://opentable.com last minute on Saturday night. It was 6:30 when I made them, and the offerings were 7, 8 and something a lot later than 8. Because of this, I was expecting a decent crowd, because usually, you are offered multiple choices between the hours. However, when we arrived, there were only two tables occupied. They had a backroom where they have tvs and a bar set up, so we could hear people cheering the games that were on. Later in the evening, more people arrived. It seems more of a late dining crowd.
We ordered the scallop risotto appetizer, the butternut squash curry soup, an arugula salad, the Halibut special with Jamaican BBQ spices and crisp whitefish with cous cous. The service was very attentive. They served olive oil with olives for dipping your bread. I have never seen that. What a great idea!!
We skipped desert as nothing seemed to pop out.
I would definitely return to this place. I wish it was in LaGrange. We could definitely use a nice non-italian place in the downtown area. -
Review from Nancy W.
Hinsdale, IL
12/10/2011
There is no restaurant around here that surpasses Amber. It's my favorite for a romantic dinner or for very, very exceptional food. You are made to feel very special. Wait people so knowledgeable and professional. Prepare to be served with truly exceptional food, prepared perfectly. Personally, I am more than pleased to skip the traffic and parking in Chicago and instead make a reservation for a all around wonderful experience at Amber. Take your visitors, your fanily and most especially, someone you love for a great experience at Amber.
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Review from Ty S.
Downers Grove, IL
1/13/2010
A very pleasant evening. I went with the braised ribs ( actually it was only one) and found it to be very tasty. Wait staff was excellent providing considered recommendations and friendly banter. Our drinks were a mixed bag and bit overpriced but not bad.
Definitely worth a visit. Somewhat pricey but also worth it for a nice night out. -
Review from Lochin S.
Woodridge, IL
2/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Chef Matt did impress. The valentines day menu was flawless. Each course better and better. The pan seared duck was so exquisite, brought tears to my eyes, and I wanted to lick the plate.
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Review from Niel O.
Downers Grove, IL
5/13/2011
I live in Downers Grove and there is no restaurant in all of Lombard, Downers, Oakbrook or Westmont I would rather go to. My wife and I have dined at Amber about 8 times and have left extremely pleased with food, service and ambiance on all occasions. We have had about 6 dishes from their main menu, 4-6 from the nightly special menu and all were excellent. The meal we enjoy the most (not available on Saturday evenings) is the 5 course, chef selection with wine pairing ($75 per person).
You can make reservations with http://www.OpenTable.com if you coordinate dinning with others on-line. -
Review from Charlie P.
Woodridge, IL
2/16/2011
Went on V-Day weekend, restaurant was very busy, service was spot on as was the food. Hats off the the Chef and staff, they never missed a beat and kept the food fresh and exciting.
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Review from elizabeth n.
Chicago, IL
10/25/2006
I've been to Amber twice now and think it's a great restaurant in the Suburbs. I have found all the items on the menu to be exceptionally good, but I have to bump it down to 3 stars because the people who answer the phones and seat you are incredibly rude. I'm talking so rude that you want to leave because they roll their eyes at you if you have a reservation but your entire party isn't there yet. If they could get new hosts/hostesses it'd be a 4 or a 5.
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Review from Michelle B.
Hinsdale, IL
5/14/2007
I highly recommend this restaurant. I've been numerous times for lunch and never had anything less than a great experience. Their crab and lobster cake appetizer is fabulous. I also quite enjoy the southwestern chicken salad. The atmosphere is upscale, but the service is friendly and approachable. There is ample free street parking. The restaurant is also right beside the train station. If you find yourself in the western burbs make a point to check this out.
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Review from Rebecca M.
Villa Park, IL
10/24/2006
I went on a date here recently, and it was pretty nice. It's really small inside, but I tend to prefer that in a restaurant. You are right up next to people at the other table though, which some people may not like. I went on a Saturday and it was packed, so I'd definitely recommend a reservation. I enjoyed the food but I wouldn't say it was remarkable. Our waiter was very slow, but I guess that's understandable because of how full it was. My only gripe was that because it's so small he shouldn't be that slow! I think it's a nice place to go once or twice, but nothing to get overly excited about.
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Review from Lindsay B.
South Elgin, IL
2/14/2011
Chose this restaurant through Opentable, and was glad that it was recommended. The ambiance of the restaurant is perfect- lovely low lighting, nice music, and perfect service. The staff was fantastic- extremely attentive and working as a team.
As for the food, we tried at least one thing from each course on the menu- the calamari appetizer was fantastic, tried the lobster bisque and it was excellent as well. We ate specials for our entrees- my friends duck was phenomenal, but I felt just alright about my risotto. I'd like to go back and try some of their regular dishes sometime. We ended the dinner with the sorbet dessert- and it was light and wonderful.
I would highly recommend this restaurant for a romantic evening, or to try something new outside of the city (it could easily be located in Chicago and fit right in with some of the nicer restaurants). -
Review from Zach T.
1/18/2007
Great patio atmosphere in the right weather, and the first brave upscale choice to anchor Westmont (before Vincitori doubled their prices). Still, I ate there a year ago, and have no recollection of the meal I had and have not been back...
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Review from Kris Z.
Downers Grove, IL
3/7/2006
Great newer restaurant in Westmont by the RR tracks. Highly recommended.
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Review from Anna G.
Wheeling, IL
5/3/2010
I really enjoyed my experience at Amber. I attended a bridal shower there on a Sunday afternoon and the atmosphere there for this event was just perfect. We utilized the outdoor area that comfortably fit around 30 people (it looked like it would fit about 40 or so). Very unique setting that almost looked like a garden! The food options were great as well. The key thing that stood out about the restaurant is the service. Along with a few others, I co-hosted this shower for the bride-to-be and the owner/manager of the restaurant was more than accommodating (anywhere from answering all my e-mails to letting us decorate the place any way we liked). She was also very flexible with food options. The place gets 5 stars from me for the great service, food and the beautiful and unique atmosphere.
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Review from Christine S.
Washington, DC
5/16/2010 1 photo
My bridal shower was held in the outside space at Amber in early May.
The ambiance was truly amazing, you will not find anything similar in the Western suburbs (or at least I have not seen anything). The outside area is like a permanent tented area, the sides can come off during the summer months, and during the spring/fall they have heaters. The day was perfect for us, we did not need the heaters.
The service was very good. We had approximately 30 women who were comfortably seated at 5 tables. The servers were attentive and polite. The price was very reasonable for excellent quality. We went with a package that included: an appetizer, salad (with an excellent balsamic vinaigrette), and a choice of 3 entree's that each woman was able to choose the day of. We chose to bring in our own deserts, which the establishment did not charge an additional fee for (in my research this is very rare, and was a great perk to this venue).
The venue is quite unique, and has a classy elegant look to it, and really requires no additional decorating. However my bridal showers hostess's did add a few table flower centerpieces and wrapped the curtains in a red sting to go with their theme.
As the bride, I had absolutely no complaints, and was so happy with the perfect venue, great food, and wonderful ambience.
Also, the establishments manager/coordinator, was extremely easy to work with and very friendly.
Also, they offered a great Chardonay, Painter Bridge...tasted great!
Thanks again Amber...for a memorable experience! -
Review from Tim H.
Western Springs, IL
7/15/2008
Ordered the Mahi Mahi special - probably the worst fish I've had at a restaurant. Maybe a bad cut or just prepared poorly... flavors were definitely off. Also ordered a salad that was just so so. Rest of the people in our party had decent meals (Filet & Halibut).
Good wine list. Nice ambiance. A bit loud but didn't mind.
Definitely feel that it was way overpriced for what we received - can pay the same amount in Chicago or surrounding suburb & get a much better meal. -
Review from Tiffany S.
Palo Alto, CA
6/27/2010
I went here with my husband to celebrate his birthday. It was our second time here, since we were very pleased with our first visit. So many things on the menu looked delicious, so it was hard to make a decision. My husband had grilled baby octopus for appetizer and seared scallops for the main course. They were both superb. I had lobster bisque for appetizer and filet mignon for the main course. I do not recommend the lobster bisque. It was below average. The filet mignon was good. The chocolate lava cake for dessert was most excellent, with very nice texture and not overly sweet. Amber is a gem in Westmont.
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Review from Jim E.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2009
Visited Amber for the first time for my wife's birthday, and we both were very happily surprised. It all started with a call for directions, I spoke to the bartender/ waiter Craig who was very friendly and helpful. Upon arriving we sat in the bar where he was also are waiter. The service was great and the food was super. I had the hanger steak and my wife had the white fish. The food was very good , tender and flavorful. I will be back many times in the future. I only reason I gave this place four stars instead of five stars is that the portions weren't as large as I would have liked but the prices were very reasonable.
