Ambar adds premium seafood and steak options at Capitol Hill and Clarendon

Ambar is launching a new $20 Premium Menu at its Capitol Hill and Clarendon restaurants in Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va., expanding its signature Balkan Dining Without Limits experience during lunch and dinner. The move adds seafood, steak and lamb options as the brand looks to broaden its appeal for date nights, business meals and group dining.

Why it matters: - Ambar is adding a higher-end tier to a fast-growing Balkan dining concept. - The new menu gives guests more choice without changing the restaurant’s shared-table format. - The launch could help Ambar attract diners looking for a more premium lunch or dinner experience in the DMV.

What happened: - Ambar introduced a new Premium Menu at its Capitol Hill and Clarendon restaurants. - The menu is available during lunch and dinner service for an additional $20 per guest. - The rollout expands Ambar’s signature Dining Without Limits experience with seafood, premium cuts and elevated preparations. - The launch was announced Aug. 27, 2026.

The details: - The Premium Menu includes Fresh Branzino, Tuna Tartare, Scallops, NY Strip Steak and Lamb Chops. - The base Dining Without Limits experience still includes more than 40 dishes. - Guests can reorder favorites throughout the meal. - The menu stays rooted in Balkan communal dining, where food is shared at the center of the table. - Ambar’s concept draws on the Balkan tradition known as Voz. - The restaurant’s core offerings include grilled meats and seafood, slow-cooked dishes, traditional spreads, baked flatbreads and pies. - Ivan Iričanin, founder and CEO of Street Guys Hospitality, said the Premium Menu is meant to evolve the Ambar experience while staying connected to its traditions. - The restaurant said the expanded menu broadens the range of flavors and textures while keeping the communal rhythm intact. - Ambar says the new format is designed for date nights, celebrations, business dinners, group gatherings and guests seeking a more elevated version of Balkan cuisine.

Between the lines: - Ambar is layering premium upsells onto an established all-you-can-experience format instead of replacing the brand’s core proposition. - The move reflects a broader restaurant strategy: keep the communal identity, but add items that can lift check averages and widen the occasion mix. - Capitol Hill’s brunch recognition in the 2026 Best of D.C. Awards and Clarendon’s Michelin Guide recognition help position both locations as destination restaurants. - A recent FOX television feature also gave the brand added visibility beyond its dining rooms.

What's next: - Ambar says guests can preview the Premium Menu in a video commercial. - The company is directing diners to make reservations, find the restaurant on Google and follow Ambar on Instagram for menu introductions and upcoming experiences. - The Premium Menu is now available at Ambar Capitol Hill, 523 8th Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003, and Ambar Clarendon, 2901 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201. - More information is available at AmbarRestaurant.com.