Ambar India: Authentic cuisine from Northern India
Indian food blends herbs and spices to create exotic foods. The dishes are delicious, but can be intimidating to the uninitiated. Ambar India makes introductions to authentic cuisine from Northern India easy and worthwhile for novice foodies, creating many loyal customers.
Ambar India is located in Clifton’s Historic Gaslight District, and always attracts a crowd. The room buzzes with the hum of U.C students, their parents and friends, professors and people who love the vibrant eclectic area. Despite the crowd though, Ambar usually seats guests quickly at its cozy tables and booths dressed with real tablecloths.
The menu seems vast at first, but simply consists of combinations of vegetarian, chicken, lamb, and seafood dishes. Enjoy a beer or glass of wine while you read over the choices, and know that servers are happy to help with selections.
Many appetizers grace the menu, but the Mattu Special is Ambar’s specialty. First, chefs create chicken tandoori, boneless chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, and spices. The chicken is then finely chopped and tossed with lightly spiced onions. This combination is then stuffed in a pastry shell and deep-fried. Amazing.
Ambar lists four specialties among its entrees, including Lamb and Shrimp Curry. In this dish, a rich and delicious curry sauce covers mildly spiced shrimp and lamb. Diners pour the curry dish over delicate rice, and also enjoy some nan, traditional Indian bread, with the meal.
As they take customer orders, servers always let diners choose how spicy they want their food, asking them to pick a number from 1 (very mild) to 6 (very spicy). Each dish is then specially prepared, ensuring diners thoroughly enjoy Ambar India's delicious exotic cuisine.
HelloCincinnati Tip: Park in the Merchant Lot on Howell Street. Signs throughout Ambar India warn against parking in the lot next door.
Posted by Barbara David
