Cafe Ambrosia

by Jon S.

We went there for happy hour and enjoyed several 1/2 price apps.The food was good, the intestinal upset we both experienced later that evening was not much fun.I'll not be hurrying back there anytime soon.

by Rose S.

Okay, so Khahn makes great cocktails and is a friendly and efficient server.  I didn't catch the name of the guy who seated us tonight, but he was also friendly.  Looks like a good sign.The cocktails were hilariously expensive.  I mean it - I laughed when I saw the bill.  Whatever, they were delicious and gave us just enough of a buzz to make the walk home equally hilarious.  The entrees were nomalicious.  I've never had a meat filled dolma before, but the g/f ordered them, and, uh, yeah four is not enough.  If they would serve like, I dunno, fifteen or twenty of them, that might approach enough. Not to say that she wasn't full after sharing one with me and then scarfing the other three on her plate.  It's just that they were STUPID DELICIOUS.  I went with the old standby, a gyros plate.  The meat was not as I expected.  There were actual hunks of actual meat to put in my actual mouth.  No lame shavings here.  It was tender, with a crisped outer edge that didn't tasted burnt or dry.   And the rice pilaf that came with both plates was fluffy and moist and not overly salty, but not wild and flavorless either.There were also delicious sourdough rolls reminiscent of the rolls they serve at Tony Roma's (ALRIGHT YEAH) and this hummus garlic.  Yes, I meant to say that.  Dude, Liz O. ain't kidding about not knowing if it's straight up garlic or not.  I happen to love garlic (because I love to be garliciciously offensive, so much fun) but HOLY MOTHER OF GARLIC.  When your garlicky dish is spicy from the amount of *garlic*???  That's some serious garlic, dude.  Garlic.lol, I can smell my own tongue.  mmm garlic.

by Erica D.

Ambrosia is oookkkaaayyy...it's no Open Ses, but I can walk to it and I can't walk to Open Ses. I WISH I could walk to Open Ses, because that would mean that I loved in Belmont Shore, but I digress... I would give Ambrosia 3.5 stars to account for the walkability, but I can only give 3 or 4 and I am not feeling 4 stars worth of happy. The service is slow. Not bad, as in, nothing has ever been wrong, or distasteful, or cold, no one has ever been rude to me, etc. It just takes forever to get service and then for the food to arrive, even when the place appears to be dead.The first time I went, my falafel was dry and kind of hard, but the second time I went it was yummy. It's a log of falafel to fit inside the pita sandwich, which I though was kind of funny. I was calling it a fa-log-fel. I like all of the birds hoping around, but yeaahh...I went with Jeff V and there was bird poop on one of the menus. Yuck.

by Carm S.

Saturday night was my second time having dinner at Ambrosia and I cant figure out why I didnt review this place in the first place. But both times were most enjoyable! The setting here is very cozy and romantic with an open dim lit patio with candles and xmas lights. They had these little fire place pits around the tables which helped on a slightly chilly night like saturday not to mention added to the charm. Now for the service I have to give it 5 stars. Both times our waiters were very attentive and great at recommending dishes, wines, and checking up on us throughout the meal. The portions are good enough for 2 so Id recommend sharing for dinner.. Both times I had the Ambrosia platter which comes with calamari, gyro meat, pita bread, greek salad, and your choice of mashed potatoes, rice, or fries. I shared the plate with the gf and there was still food left on the plate! For dessert we had the Apple Loukemades (apples deep fried in a batter then covered in honey and walnuts) which were freshly made and a generous portion as well! Overall: great place for a date! wine prices are better if you get a bottle, food is amazing and a lot of it!Oh and I have to say that I was very impressed the other night that I left my wallet at the restaurant. I called the next day when I noticed it missing and the manager or owner, not sure said they had stored it in the cash register for safe keeping and offered to drive it out to me since she lived in the same city as me! I thought that was very commendable and I'll definitely be returning here!

by Carm S.Christina S.Denise V.Jerry F.Janet P.

Saturday night was my second time having dinner at Ambrosia and I cant figure out why I didnt review this place in the first place. But both times were most enjoyable! The setting here is very cozy and romantic with an open dim lit patio with candles and xmas lights. They had these little fire place pits around the tables which helped on a slightly chilly night like saturday not to mention added to the charm. Now for the service I have to give it 5 stars. Both times our waiters were very attentive and great at recommending dishes, wines, and checking up on us throughout the meal. The portions are good enough for 2 so Id recommend sharing for dinner.. Both times I had the Ambrosia platter which comes with calamari, gyro meat, pita bread, greek salad, and your choice of mashed potatoes, rice, or fries. I shared the plate with the gf and there was still food left on the plate! For dessert we had the Apple Loukemades (apples deep fried in a batter then covered in honey and walnuts) which were freshly made and a generous portion as well! Overall: great place for a date! wine prices are better if you get a bottle, food is amazing and a lot of it!Oh and I have to say that I was very impressed the other night that I left my wallet at the restaurant. I called the next day when I noticed it missing and the manager or owner, not sure said they had stored it in the cash register for safe keeping and offered to drive it out to me since she lived in the same city as me! I thought that was very commendable and I'll definitely be returning here!Met my friends here for a Sunday brunch after a day at the Long Beach Flea Market recently. I was feeling like 212 Bistro but unfortunately they close at 2pm and it was 2:15 when we left the flea market so everyone decided to meet here. I love the patio. Any restaurant boasting a beautiful patio get extra points in my book!!Bummer about this place is that they stop breakfast at a certain hour. I forgot but I just know that they stop early. I love brunch at 3 on a Sunday which means I love eggs at 3 not some pita sandwich. It just took the joy out of brunch for me. But, I was still content. The service was up to par. Friendly and attentive. Best part bottomless Mimosa at $8 (per bottle of Champagne) .. Don't expect some fancy stuff. It's simple cheap champagne.  The food was decent. I wasn't too thrilled with my meal but I was in good company which what brunch for us is about.. Spending the day with the girls and obviously consuming far too much Mimosas!! If you look carefully you will see Bambi hiding amongst the bushes in the patio... Feels like a jungle. Note.. Please don't feed the birds. They are cute overly feed and plump birds which like to hang around waiting for someone to feed them. Please don't! They fly so close that I was in fear that we could get our eyes poked out with those beaks of theirs!Definitely enjoyable. Though it could have been due to the munchies.Cafe Ambrosia is cool enough to have a vegan section in their menu-- not bad, not bad at all. I had the falafel pita plate with steak fries. Pretty standard fare, but even a falafel can be fucked up if you don't know what you're doing. These falafels were flavorful, well seasoned, crunchy on the outside, hot and moist on the inside; all stuffed into a big ass pita with romaine lettuce, tomato and extremely garlicky hummus. Yum! Good job, guys. I've had too many ho-hum falafels (CoughGeorge'sCough) in recent times, so I look forward to ordering this again. The steak fries, albeit a little bland, have an amazing texture and real potato-y flavor (what a concept! Real potatoes!). Fries are another one of those things that can go either way... really good or really bad (and soggy.) These had a great crunchy exterior with a fluffy, piping hot center.Another thing I liked about this place is their portions. The amount of food you get is pretty ridiculous and easily becomes 2 meals... unfortunately for this falafel plate, he didn't stand a chance to the munchies.Food is good. Maybe too much, I'm not a big foodie. But, if you like large portions, you'll be happy. The atmosphere is nice. And the servers we had were fantantistic. The food itself is absolutely great. I gave 3 stars because my preference would be less food and cheaper price. The prices were a little up there for what it is. The key is that I would go back.Some mixed reviews from others on  this restaurant, but my husband and I decided to try it.  I read no more free pita and garlic dip, but I guess it is back because our server brought us a generous portion.  My husband loved it; I just thought it had way too much garlic for my taste.  We also ordered the calamari which was standard fare, nothing really special.  The dolmas were swimming in oil, wish they had cleaned that up a bit, but they were decent tasting.  Love the fact they have a vegan menu, but maybe a little bit more variety without the use of tofu with 80% of the dishes.The server was very good--I think his name was Johnny or at least that is what is on the receipt.  He was attentive enough without hovering.I am a fan, but cautiously.

by Tram N.

I was never really a fan of Greek cuisine until I ate here.  I used to eat here weekly when I lived across the street.  Oh, how I miss those days.  I would walk across the street and order pita and garlic hummus when I wanted a snack- yum!My favorite dish there was the gyro platter.  Their salads were especially good as well.  Service was always excellent- mostly male servers, and they were always super accomodating and polite.  However, one time we had a female server (with short blonde hair- don't think she is employed there anymore, but if she is, beware!), she wouldn't pay attention to us because we didn't order wine like her other table did.  She never once came by to check on our meals, and when we were clearly done and waiting for the bill and some to-go boxes, she walked by us, and gave us a dirty look!  Unbelievable!  Of course, management was notified, but who knows if they even did anything about it.  That one bad experience never stopped me from going there.  I still got great service afterwards, just never sat with that witch of a server again, lol.  Oh well, there's always one bad seed!  It's a nice, romantic place if you happen to catch one of the slow nights, with the fireplace, lights, and "The Wave" type music. Overall, it is a nice place, although slightly pricey, but the waiters will take extreme good care of you- just not female ones with short blonde hair if you don't order wine.  Great-tasting Greek food if that is you crave.  It's definitely a lot better than the chain Greek places.  I wish I could eat here weekly again!

by Christina S.

Met my friends here for a Sunday brunch after a day at the Long Beach Flea Market recently. I was feeling like 212 Bistro but unfortunately they close at 2pm and it was 2:15 when we left the flea market so everyone decided to meet here. I love the patio. Any restaurant boasting a beautiful patio get extra points in my book!!Bummer about this place is that they stop breakfast at a certain hour. I forgot but I just know that they stop early. I love brunch at 3 on a Sunday which means I love eggs at 3 not some pita sandwich. It just took the joy out of brunch for me. But, I was still content. The service was up to par. Friendly and attentive. Best part bottomless Mimosa at $8 (per bottle of Champagne) .. Don't expect some fancy stuff. It's simple cheap champagne.  The food was decent. I wasn't too thrilled with my meal but I was in good company which what brunch for us is about.. Spending the day with the girls and obviously consuming far too much Mimosas!! If you look carefully you will see Bambi hiding amongst the bushes in the patio... Feels like a jungle. Note.. Please don't feed the birds. They are cute overly feed and plump birds which like to hang around waiting for someone to feed them. Please don't! They fly so close that I was in fear that we could get our eyes poked out with those beaks of theirs!

by B G.

There's something so charming about this place when it gets dark: the cute lights that make it feel like Christmas all year round. The subtle music playing in the background. The fire pits. The open-roof patio. This is what initially drew me to Cafe Ambrosia. I did go once for brunch, but the effect just wasn't the same. The place simply lends itself to dinner around 7:30pm.I usually get the same dish when I go: the grilled veggie platter. Delicioso. Now they charge extra for soup, but it's worth every spoonful. They always have the lemon chicken with rice. Today, however, they had a vegetarian lentil. I was torn. Seriously, I agonized for a good 30 seconds over the decision. Then our waiter, who obviously took pity on me, brought us a small sample of the lentil soup. Tasty, but I knew there was a reason my gut was saying "chicken!"Oh, and you must try the bread with the garlic dip/sauce. You won't want to kiss anyone for about 3 days, but sometimes a little garlic is all a girl needs. If anyone likes wine, I had a decent glass of a Spanish red (OK, I had two glasses. Satisfied??). I think it was a shiraz (at least that's what they told me; the variety wasn't in the description). Overall, I just like this place. I feel comfortable, never rushed, relaxed. Kind of like sitting in the backyard under the lawn umbrella I don't have!

by Monica W.

Food is decent.  Service is uneven.  This is a great place to sit outside and yet have an indoor experience.  On cold nights opt to sit in the back near the patio fireplace or one of the fire pits or inside.  Extra items come with at a hefty price (asking for extra feta added $2 to the bill.  Portions are a decent size and it's fine if you are on Broadway vs 2nd Street (where you can get EXCELLENT lamb at Open Sesame or George's Greek Cafe).  Free parking lot across the street, too, only for Ambrosia customers.

by Hazel Q.

I've gotta write a review of Ambrosia...lemme log in and take a look at what people are saying. ....  ....  Say whaaaa?! There are people who DON'T like this place? Craziness.I can sum up the amazingness that is Cafe Ambrosia in a just a few words...-1/2 off Wine-Awesome service-One of the best patios in Long Beach-Lemon/Chicken/Rice Soup...but we all know I like to use more words than that, so here I go playing defense attorney for one of my fave LB lunch spots.Exhibit A - awesome waitresses. I've never had bad service here. Unlike *ahem* Open Sesame and their eye-rolling. Exhibit B - I'd like the jury to note how goddamn tasty that soup is. I have evidence. Bank records that show I once ordered that soup everyday for a week. I'll swear on a stack of bibles for that soup. Exhibit C - Uh, photographic evidence of a firepit and an rad covered patio. It don't get much better than this. Exhibit D - My five star Yelp review.  ;)