Amara

Amara is a new place near my house. It's truly a world-class dining experience. There are a lot of pros to that because Belmont has a lot of nail salons and sandwich shops, and we need a little class around here. I dined at Amara during the soft opening and again recently (Dryuary prevented me from enjoying a cocktail, so I had to go back). The service at Amara is excellent. They have hired adorable young waitstaff who are well-mannered and well-spoken. Wow, I sound old. I am not young, let's say, but I notice this sort of stuff. What stands out to me at Amara is their attention to flavors. I began with a cocktail (pictured) that boasted flavors of rose and fennel. I mean, unusual. It's hard to execute. But they did it. It was as soft as a rose and had the brightness of fennel without being overpowering. I did not want to drink this too fast. I also didn't want to order two because the prices are steep (sorry). It's a one-drink place. Or a special occasion place. Foodwise, I split three small plates and a spread with my friend. The pomegranate spread is exquisite. They give you freshly baked pita, which is not your grandmother's pita bread, ok? It's hyped up with unique ingredients (I will not divulge here, but the waiter knew I was interested and that I was into cooking, so he told me). The roasted cauliflower is perfectly cooked with a well-crafted sauce underneath it. The flavors, again, are clearly thought out. Nobody slapped this stuff on a plate. The mushroom kibbeh was well-prepared but lacked enough flavor for us to enjoy it, although the texture was really well-executed. I think that was more of a preference on our part. The item was perfectly cooked. We also enjoyed the soft-poached lobster with harissa and grape relish - it was divine and a grand savory finale. We didn't get dessert. Believe it or not, we were satiated with three small plates and one spread. Let me close by saying this is an exceptional experience, and so I'm a little bummed that I can't just "go grab lunch here" because I'd go bankrupt in a few days. However, if you have the means and appreciate fine food, then try Amara.

An unexpected elevated Mediterranean place in Belmont . The jazzy music , red velvet chairs and well dressed staff made it worth to dine based on first impression . On-site parking was easy to find . Service was great . Staff kept coming back to check on us if we needed anything . They were nice enough to change our plates.Dishes we had :BLACK HUMMUS-Charred onions and chilis, fried smelt, curry leaves, paprika oil-dish comes with pita bread . Extra pita bread will cost you . Pita bread was super fluffy and acts as a sponge for the hummus . Black hummus is has a more bitter smd fragrant taste . White hummus is usually creamier . This was still delicious .CHICORY SALAD -Winter citrus, dried cherries, green olives, shaved fennel, candied sunflower seeds, tahini dressingAfter doing research , chicory salad ironically does not have chicory in it . I was disappointed at first but they did it right. Salad was ok and refreshing DUNGENESS CRAB BÖREK.. Bouillabaisse tomato sauce, crispy leeks, toasted leek oil, crème fraîcheThe BÖREK was super flakey and crispy . You can hear the crispy as I cut it open . The portion of crab to BÖREK was unfortunately small . We tasted more of the BÖREK than the meat . I was not able to taste the crispy leeks . SAFFRON MARINATED ROAST HALF CHICKEN -Charred Persian cucumbers, tzatzikiThis was by far the best dish . Chicken was juicy and tender with the rich coat of saffron tingling after every bite . The cucumber and tzatziki added a refreshing tat to the rich saffron flavor and juicy chicken . Chicken might if been sous vide.

When Water Dog closed, my husband and I were initially bummed. We loved the atmosphere and stunning waterfront views, but if we're being honest, the food never quite lived up to the setting. We couldn't imagine another restaurant capturing that same beautiful ambiance--let alone exceeding it.Then Amara opened, and everything changed. We decided to give it a try on New Year's Eve, and by the end of the night, we looked at each other and declared it the best restaurant in town. Hands down.From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable--warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The owners are incredibly kind, and it's clear they've poured their hearts into this place. But the real star? The food.Every dish is Michelin-quality--thoughtfully crafted, beautifully plated, and bursting with flavor. The ingredients are clearly top-notch, and the execution is flawless. Whether you're indulging in their expertly prepared seafood, savoring a perfectly cooked steak, or diving into one of their creative, vibrant small plates, every bite is a revelation.We've been back multiple times since that first visit, and each experience has been just as exceptional. If you haven't been to Amara yet, you are seriously missing out. This isn't just another restaurant--it's a culinary gem that has truly elevated the dining scene in town.

My sister brought me here for my birthday dinner. Omg. I love how lovely this place looks. Theres also a very nice view outside. Loving their interior design. We ordered a few cocktails, honestly, they were all well made so you won't regret ordering any on the menu. We got a few small plates, cauliflower, Octopus the pita bread with hummus. We also got the fish and tohohawk, everything came out delicious! The plates were all shareable so I love that we can try out a few different dishes. Our server nick was top notch! Super happy guy with brilliant service! But everyone else who approached us was very friendly too! I highly recommend this place because not only was the food good, the service here is more then beyond. Thanks for the wonderful experience Amara!

Great experience during soft opening. Amara brings some much needed flavor and variety to Belmont. We were greeted with the nicest staff, and were served by some of the nicest staff we've ever met where we ate at the bar. Everyone was immensely polite and helpful, as well as knowledgeable of the menu; impressive for day 3! We ordered: Lamb small plateOctopus small plate (favorite!)Lobster small platePita side Fingerling potato sideLabneh Cheesecake dessert (favorite!) Food was delicious and flavorful without being too abstract, new interior was great to look at and had perfect lighting for dinner. We could come here again just for drinks and a bite because it's such a nice atmosphere. What can be worked on: -It's COLD inside. AC was on almost the entire dinner. No reason for this in the end of December. A neighbor also mentioned it was very cold. -Music could be louder to match the amazing interior-timing of food could improve but this is expected during a soft opening. Well done!

Wow. I love having new flavors in the Bay Area. We got the top sirloin (perfect temperature and crust), Branzino (soft, deep flavor), octopus (wow, supple!), baba ganoush (so smooth), and pickles (sweet and tart!). Everything had distinctive flavors with little surprises like the construction tapenade on the top sirloin. Times visited: 1

The ambiance, the food, the bar, and the service are all wonderful. Came here after work to grab a bite before they closed. The staff at Amara are genuinely warm and knowledgeable, eager to guide you through the menu and suggest wine pairings that elevate your dining experience. Their attentiveness ensures that you feel valued without being intrusive.The atmosphere is beautiful. The walls are adorned with vibrant murals setting the stage for an enchanting evening. The leather seats are super comfortable. Really. You don't want to get up. Everything about the space is perfect. Food is full of flavor. Get mushroom kibbeh and the lamb. Yum! This place is a gem.

Very unique flavors to each of the dishes. My son and I really enjoyed the family style presentation. The location is very near where I used to work and the garden below is beautiful. The staff is highly attentive and quite delightful, I was looking forward to the opening and so glad I had an opportunity to such amazing sensations. Well worth the small bit of travel from San Jose. A real gem!

Delicious food , excellent, attentive service, inviting ambiance. Two stars off since the owner was very picky about the lighting on our table and kept coming and dimming it when we had elderly people on the table who needed a bright light to read the menu. Great to be obsessive compulsive for your restaurant but not for the particular table where customers are paying for it.

Hostess was friendly. Service was attentive. GM Jason walked around to introduce himself. All made you feel welcomed.Everything we ordered was delicious. Portions were small especially the side dishes. Prices were expensive for the area but the interior of the restaurant is very nicely done. Knocked down one star for the prices.