"This tiny, tasting-menu-only spot in Queen Village feels more like a great dinner party than a restaurant. At its core, Ambra is all about rustic Italian, and delivers it unlike anywhere else in the city—with tweezer precision, a dash of molecular gastronomy, and exceptional service. It’s a once-in-a-presidential-term kind of meal that you’ll want to have once a season. You have the option to dine in the kitchen with the chefs, but the best seats are at the single communal table in the candlelit, flower-filled dining room (your only other option). That’s where ten strangers become friends during a wine-, caviar-, and truffle-fueled meal. Warm, seamless service and chatty tablemates make the three-hour experience fly by, but you won’t want it to. Ambra has a community table, dining room, and kitchen counter seating (two to four people). The kitchen counter is the front-row ticket everyone wants. Reservations come out two months in advance, on the first of the month. Also, they have a reservationist who you can call at 267-858-9232 and ask about cancellations or potentially bribe." - candis mclean, alison kessler
