Ambra Restaurant

  4.8 – 131 reviews   • Italian restaurant

Social Profile:

A tiny prix fixe dining room from owners of Southwark serving four courses of modern Italian fare.

✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in Ambra Restaurant 19147

Address and Contact Information

Address: 705 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Phone: (267) 858-9232

Website: http://ambraphilly.com/

Menu Photos

Order and Reservations

Reservations: resy.com

Photo Gallery

Related Web Results

Ambra – Philadelphia

Location. 705 S 4th Street Queen Village, Philadelphia 19147 · Hours. Wednesday — Saturday 6:15 pm seating · Contact. (267) 858-9232. [email protected].

Ambra – Philadelphia – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant

Chef Chris D’Ambro engages guests during this leisurely tasting menu that can take upwards of three hours. What’s the rush, anyway? House-made pasta and gnocchi …

Ambra Restaurant (@ambraphilly) · Philadelphia, PA – Instagram

5051 Followers, 1680 Following, 464 Posts – Ambra Restaurant (@ambraphilly) on Instagram: “Experience The Kitchen Table (2-4ppl) + The Communal Dining Room …

Reviews

N J
Very nice experience to sit in the kitchen and observe how the kitchen works with many chefs in it. They are great as a team.

Food. I like the dessert dish of peach very much. The courses showcase some culinary skills, but I am looking for more sophisticated ingredients and transformations at the price point of 300$ per person. Disappointingly, I found the savory dishes are way over powered by butter.

While sitting in the kitchen, I noticed that the chefs are reusing their utensils across that they tasted the dishes, which is disturbingly not hygienic to me.
… more
Jaume
We had a phenomenal experience at this restaurant. The food was outstanding—creative, diverse, and deeply seasonal. Every dish felt thoughtful and inspired, showcasing not just technical skill but a real sense of culinary joy.

One of the highlights was getting to dine in the kitchen. It was a rare treat to experience things up close, and the interaction with the chef was both personal and insightful as each dish was described. You can tell the team takes pride in what they do.

Service was excellent from start to finish—attentive without being overbearing. The wine list was a standout as well: detailed, curated, and refreshingly different. Mostly biodynamic bottle from small family-run wineries in Europe, but they said they also have a domestic selection.

Highly recommend this place! Just make sure to book ahead. We’ll definitely be coming back.
… more
Ilya Hvostikov
Wow – what a night! My wife and I had the pleasure of dining at Ambra, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve ever had in Philly.

Ambra offers a single seating per night, featuring a multi-course tasting menu and wine pairings, with the entire experience lasting approximately 3.5 hours. That might sound long on paper, but trust me – the evening flies by. Every course was beautifully presented and full of flavor, with clear Italian influence but lots of creative, modern touches. The wine pairings were fantastic — each one felt like it elevated the dish in a really thoughtful way.

The setting is also what makes Ambra special. Everyone sits around a communal table, which honestly could have gone either way, but ended up being such a highlight. Besides the couple we came with, we met two other couples during dinner, and we all ended up really hitting it off. It felt more like a dinner party than a restaurant — but with food and wine on another level.

Service was smooth, attentive, and well-paced. The team knew the dishes and wines inside and out, and they explained everything with just the right amount of detail – never too much, never too little. It’s clear they care deeply about what they do, and it shows in every part of the experience.

If you’re looking for a special night out – something beyond the usual dinner – I can’t recommend Ambra enough. Between the food, the wine, the setting, and the great company, it was truly unforgettable. Already looking forward to going back.
… more
Nathan Moeder
One of the best dining experiences in Philadelphia. Such creative food with local connections. The service and attention to detail is unmatched.

Highly recomended!
… more
Bob Brier
The notification text worked in the Resy app, as on Thursday, my phone buzzed, telling me that 2 seats were available on Friday at Ambra, which was perfect as it was my birthday. We snagged the two kitchen counter seats – and I’m so grateful we did as the whole night was fantastic. The food, the service, the ambiance – all top notch.

7 courses plus a few extra small bites were hands down – 100% – delicious. Not one bad note. The dishes were all unique and playful and beautiful. Those who know me know that I don’t like fishy fish (smell of fish turns me off) – but the few fish dishes were perfectly presented and seasoned and delicious. I’m already thinking about how I can get a full entree of their Smoked Swordfish – and their Sourdough Rigatoni Al Limone – as I almost embarrassingly licked the dishes clean. And the dessert! Oy! So good!

We did the wine pairing, of course – all organic and biodynamic wines. Our server described each pairing’s vineyard and producers – providing us an opportunity to learn about each wine. This added a perfect conversational and friendly vibe to the evening.

Our seats were at the kitchen counter, providing another opportunity to talk with the Chef Chris D’Ambro and to learn about each dish and the ingredients. Super sweet friendly passionate chef. There are 4 seats at the counter – and the two other guests and us chatted throughout the evening (maybe too much – sorry Chef!).

The experience was worth every penny. Further proof that Philly’s food scene is insane. Mostly due, to not only the delicious and unique to Philly (chef said one of the dishes that he “italian-ized” that dish ), but to the community-focused and friendly service – a neighborhood vibe – that we are all here at this moment, enjoying this time together. Sappy, I know, but Philly delivers on good food, community and compassion – and Ambra hits that perfectly. I’m already thinking of setting up the Resy notification for the summer when veggie produce is ripe and yummy.
… more
Kristine Burton
I believe that when you are at this price point, some things should be standard — service (wonderful sommelier), vibe (fantastic), and food taste and presentation (should have been better). It’s a mutual respect for one another… an expectation of the exchange. First, it was my daughter’s birthday. Please see plating of her “personalized” dessert (messy and misspelled — really?). When you’re told about it, at least acknowledge your mistake (again, that mutual respect). The dishes were inconsistent in size and presentation throughout the meal (see pics); my husband was a little bitter (his portions were smaller than others; I gave him some of my lamb bc I had about double his portion). Some dishes were interesting (pasta made with sour dough starter), but failed on delivery (gummy, stuck together and starchy). Another guest mentioned seasoning. Still, there were some interesting dishes / tastes and the wine lessons were fun. If we weren’t paying so much of our hard-earned money ($1300) for a special occasion, we’d have better feelings about the experience. Maybe they had new staff in the kitchen for our evening (1.17.25)? I’m sharing this so that other guests can hopefully receive what so many before us seemed to have received / adjustments are made for future guests’ experience.
… more
Brian Mandel
We had a perfect evening at Ambra. We had the opportunity to sit at the kitchen counter to watch the food prep. Our mouths were watering as soon as we walked in! The food was exceptional. Each course had just a terrific balance of flavors. And the wine paring was ideal. Marina and Chris were the perfect hosts and the service from everyone was just great. I promise that you will leave with a highly satisfied palate and a head full of amazing memories.
Updated!!!! We went back to Ambra on Friday evening. Again sat at the kitchen counter and again had an amazing meal! Watching Chris create every course with such care and precision was beyond inspiring. Each taste was exceptional added to by the visual presentations. I just wish I had taken more pictures — but I was so intent on that first bite that I simply forgot. Bravo Chris and Marina!!!! They say that the second time doing anything never meets the memory of the first – but you broke that “rule”. Time two was just as remarkable as the first!!!
… more
Jesse Coletta
Chris and the team set up a perfect space for our small wedding dinner. It was intimate, cozy, and lots of fun. They know so much about the food and wine they serve and they love to share it.

Most importantly, the food (and wine) was truly INCREDIBLE. A meal we and all of our guests will never forget.
Thank you for everything, y’all!

Shannon Collins Photography
… more
Matthew Burst
I would like to share with you about my favorite dining experience that I’ve ever had. It was at Ambra.

For 10+ years my wife and I have been spending our money on food experiences. We’ve been to restaurants of Top Chefs, Iron Chefs, food celebrities, Philly’s Top 50 List, James Beard winners, Michelin Star winners, and even a 3-Star Michelin restaurant in San Francisco.

All those experiences, while delicious, fall behind the experience I had at Ambra. My family and I attended the Chef’s Counter in the kitchen at Ambra. We were five feet away from the magic. We felt like a part of the kitchen. We were the only diners in the room. We had a 7-course menu with wine pairing for each course. The food and wine were a 10/10. This “Philly Fancy” spot had better food and service than all three Michelin restaurants we visited in San Francisco.

We watched Chef Chris, an unpretentious, approachable, and extremely talented chef call tickets, cook food, plate food, mentor his chefs, serve and explain his dishes to us (so cool), and do just about every task you could think of in a kitchen. Chef Chris made the night so memorable for us with his personality alongside the creativity of flavors and ingredients in his menu.

Shannon, our main server, was well versed with the wines being served and was personable. She was in our area, in the kitchen, delivering to the dining hall, and completing random tasks to help the chefs/staff. She was extremely versatile. We thoroughly enjoyed conversing with her all evening. She expertly handled our “feisty guest.”

All the other chefs at their stations were poised and a pleasure to watch. Their talents and attention to detail was admirable.

I got everything I could have asked for and more while dining at Ambra. I had the most spectacular meal in a comfortable and unique setting with a live reality show right in front of me.

Thank you to everyone at Ambra! I wish you all continued success!
… more
Scott Denlinger
Best meal in Philly – hands down. Michelin-level food and service with a casual elegance perfectly reflective of Philly. Each dish is memorable, with bites that I still think about from the first time we ate here in 2019, and they have only gotten better. The wine is exceptional, and pairs with the food incredibly well. Chef Chris D’Ambro is so talented, and also fun and welcoming. Dont miss out!

(also ignore the bots)
… more
… View more

Leave a Comment