Ambar India: What are the prices like? (Cincinnati, London: fit in, restaurants)

[Timm]

I am coming to Cincinnati for one night -- to see Over The Rhine play a concert the National City Pavilion at the Riverbend Music Center. I have been told that Ambar India is a great place to eat and would like to try it out. I went to their website to look at their menu.
It doesn't show prices.

Anybody been there? Is it uber expensive or can I walk out of there without dropping much more than twenty bucks? (I'll be alone) Any suggestions on what to order? (right now I'm just planning on asking the server for suggestions, or getting the lamb korma, which just sounds tasty to me). Will I be okay in a t-shirt and jeans, or is this a fancy-pants place?

Any first-hand info would be appreciated.

[HuskerDu]

My wife is from London, UK which is pretty much the premier location and a long standing hub for some of the best places on earth to grab a good curry. Unfortunately, Cincinnati, or even Ohio for that matter, does not match up on the culinary-snob scale but what you will find is a standard set of almost identical spices for each and every dish...at almost every establishment you visit. Call it an American-Indian (or Indian-American) if you will, but you are probably safe in your choice. The website looks fancy anyway.

There is one good Brit influenced Indian restaurant downtown on 6th (I think?). We ordered around $80 of stuff one Friday and had constant food for the entire weekend. I forget the name of that place now but google is always helpful.

Cheers.

[Cincy-Rise]

Ambar India is excellent! My wife is a huge Indian food fan ... and this is probably the best in the city!

You're looking between $12-$18 for a curry entree at Ambar. There are many other Indian restaurants too that I would highly recommend.

[Cincy-Rise]

Oh yeah, a tee and jeans are acceptable here. Remember, this place is ran by folks that are actually from India, and their style seems casual, so you're fine.

[Timm]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

Ambar India is excellent! My wife is a huge Indian food fan ... and this is probably the best in the city!

You're looking between $12-$18 for a curry entree at Ambar. There are many other Indian restaurants too that I would highly recommend.

Thankyouverymuch! Very helpful response! !

Originally Posted by HuskerDu

My wife is from London, UK which is pretty much the premier location and a long standing hub for some of the best places on earth to grab a good curry. Unfortunately, Cincinnati, or even Ohio for that matter, does not match up on the culinary-snob scale but what you will find is a standard set of almost identical spices for each and every dish...at almost every establishment you visit. Call it an American-Indian (or Indian-American) if you will, but you are probably safe in your choice. The website looks fancy anyway.

There is one good Brit influenced Indian restaurant downtown on 6th (I think?). We ordered around $80 of stuff one Friday and had constant food for the entire weekend. I forget the name of that place now but google is always helpful.

Cheers.

Um.....
I won't actually be in London, UK though. I asked about a specific place that was recommended to me. I've already looked at their fancy website and decided I'd like to try the place. I'm just wondering about prices and dress codes and such.

Have you actually been there, and weren't impressed, or are you just assuming it's not good because it's in Cincinnati, or what?

[HuskerDu]

Just in case (backup plan)... here ya go.

Akash India Restaurant

[jlrosen]

if you want something different that your standard indian food I would recomend Upidi [which may have changed their name] they do southern indian food.

[Ohiogirl81]

Ambar is delectable and isn't all that expensive. Very casual.

May I suggest the Chicken Tikka. Enjoy!

[Mircea]

Originally Posted by Timm

Have you actually been there, and weren't impressed, or are you just assuming it's not good because it's in Cincinnati, or what?

In Cincinnasti you eat Chinese-American, Japanese-American, Thai-American, Mexican-American, Indian-American foods. If you want to eat the real stuff (ie Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, Indian) you have to specifically ask for it, which means speaking directly to the chef (unless you're a regular and they know you).

I've eaten at Ambar and it's a safe place for those people who have never eaten Paki-Indi cuisine and for the uncouth who have no worldly experiences. There's a place on Ludlow across from Cincinnati State that will give you real Indian food if you ask for it (instead of the watered-down American version).

Also a block from the Ambar are Thai and Italian restaurants, with real Thai chefs and real Italian chefs. Both are good and if you want the real Thai stuff just tell your server.

You can go to Graeter's for desert and after the show come back to Sitwell's for a sandwich or desert or whatever.

[Timm]

Originally Posted by Mircea

In Cincinnasti you eat Chinese-American, Japanese-American, Thai-American, Mexican-American, Indian-American foods. If you want to eat the real stuff (ie Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, Indian) you have to specifically ask for it, which means speaking directly to the chef (unless you're a regular and they know you).

I've eaten at Ambar and it's a safe place for those people who have never eaten Paki-Indi cuisine and for the uncouth who have no worldly experiences. There's a place on Ludlow across from Cincinnati State that will give you real Indian food if you ask for it (instead of the watered-down American version).

Also a block from the Ambar are Thai and Italian restaurants, with real Thai chefs and real Italian chefs. Both are good and if you want the real Thai stuff just tell your server.

You can go to Graeter's for desert and after the show come back to Sitwell's for a sandwich or desert or whatever.

While I thank you ever so much for deigning to advise the likes of me, I fear I am entirely too uncouth to fit in with the worldly crowds that I would surely encounter at such refined places. I had simply been advised by a friend of mine that Ambar might suit me, and my lack of worldy experiences. But again, I am honored that you would take the time to try to expose me to the finer things in life. Thank you.