Amber India

Amber quality has gone DOWNHILL. The lunch buffet experience was absolutely terrible. The food was lukewarm, there were not enough chicken or fish pieces in the curries to enjoy, the service was extremely slow where we had to ask for naan multiple times, and they charge an automatic 20% gratuity for large parties for doing little to nothing. TERRIBLE VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY! There are much better indian buffet restaurants elsewhere that are cheaper

Very spacious restaurant, amd wonderfully welcoming too! The buffet spread was great for vegetarians too, with a lot of tasty options. The chicken tikka masala was creamy, and so different from what we are used to eating. The Goan fish curry was cooked to perfection. The paneer corn was comforting and satisfying. The service was genuinely attentive from start to finish. Plenty of room to enjoy your meal without feeling crowded. The outdoor space is a whole mood with brightly colored chairs. The only miss was the gulab jamuns, they were a bit rubbery for my taste. But with everything else shining so bright, that’s easy to forgive. I’d definitely be back!

Nice lunch buffet! It's available only Friday to Sunday. Both meat and vegetable options are available, and the flavor is pretty good. Relatively pricey compared to other Indian buffets nearby.

Visited this place again after a long time and was surprised to find it quite empty. One noticeable issue was the odd smell inside—possibly from non-veg dishes—which made the indoor seating area less appealing. An air freshener or better ventilation would definitely help. The staff was friendly and courteous, which was a plus. The food itself was decent, but the portion sizes—especially for the appetizers—felt quite small for the high prices. The curry was okay, nothing particularly memorable or unique. Ambience also felt a bit dated and could use some updating to match the pricing. Overall, it’s a place with potential but needs some tweaks to feel truly worth the visit.

Great Indian restaurant. Food was good and staff friendly and professional. I had a great time and definitely go back.

The ambiance is welcoming with outdoor seating arranged neatly. We savored numerous dishes, finding them all delightful. While the prices are slightly higher compared to other Indian eateries I've visited, the location warrants it. Improving the authenticity of their bathrooms could enhance the overall experience; during our visit, we noticed a lack of soap shortly after the restaurant opened. Despite this, I recommend it for those seeking a spacious, well-seated dining experience with friends or colleagues, willing to overlook the pricing for atmosphere.

Out of all the 50 states, California has the most Indians. To translate, the Golden State should have the best Indian food. Since we are here during winter break, we are testing this theory. We usually eat in Jersey, but California is giving New Jersey a run for its money. We went here for lunch today, to meet up with family from all around the world. First things first, we obviously met everyone there, but then we got to chowing down on some food. To start off, we had to get the classic, somewhat. Since it was a buffet, you could get whatever you wanted rather than ordering. The classic (butter naan, paneer tikka masala, and mixed vegetable subji), was modified. Like yesterday, we benched paneer tikka masala, and started shahi paneer at the point. That substitution was great, like benching Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart. The gravy was exploding with flavor, and the mixed vegetable subji was perfect. I didn't get the tandoori chicken, but my son and daughter did, so I let them drop a quote in the reveiw. Quote my kids, "The tandoori chicken was good, it didn't have much flavor though. Now can I have my phone back bro?". You heard it from them. For dessert, there weren't many options. They had a table with a few desserts and some chaats. The desserts I got was a chocolate mousse, and a mango mousse. Both of them were a really good sweet treat, and they were probably the best things in the restaurant. All in all, I definitely recommend this restaurant if you are in the area since the food has so much flavor, but it still isn't top tier. That's why, this place gets four stars for food, three for service as the naan and roti came after we finished our first two plates, and three for atmosphere, as it wasn't very packed. So, this place gets four stars in total.

A large restaurant. Plenty of dining place in the first floor and large event space in the second floor. Food was great, especially tandoori chicken. Mutton was pretty good as well. And I like their raita. Service was really good. We asked which dishes contained nuts and they ran back to the kitchen and quickly returned with the answers for us.

We hired Amber (Los Altos) to cater our Lohri festival, and we couldn't have been happier with the experience. The food was authentic and incredibly flavorful - everyone raved about the [Goat curry, Makki di Roti and Sarson da Saag]. They were also very professional and accommodating, handling all the details seamlessly. Their team arrived on time, set everything up beautifully, and were incredibly friendly and helpful throughout the event. We highly recommend Amber for any catering needs.

Thank you, Melvin and everyone here. My family and I came here to eat twice this week! Yes, and counting the leftovers we bring home, we're eating Amber India a whole lot and we love it. Always friendly staff, always great food.

Outstanding food, romantic ambience, and excellent service. I would recommend saving this place for a romantic special occasion, not a place to bring screaming kids to. The food is small portion and expensive, but the quality and depth of flavor is outstanding. I would definitely come back to this place wearing something fancier than a sweater next time!

Came here with a large party, so we had a reservation. The interior is very classy with white tablecloths and pretty decor, giving a higher-end atmosphere. I got the Chicken Biriyani for myself. I loved the small pot it came in, and it was a deceptively large amount of food. It was well-spiced, and the meat was so tender. The servers were also super attentive and kind, happily cleaning up and replacing our tablecloth when a water glass got knocked over. I had a good time here and would recommend it for large parties that need vegetarian options -- there's something for everyone here!

We've been big fans of Amber Los Altos for years and have hosted several parties here. When they opened their speakeasy lounge, Amber at Dusk, it quickly became our favorite Friday night hangout with friends and family. The ambiance is perfect, the service is top-notch, and the food is consistently amazing. We recently celebrated a friend's birthday here and were blown away by the hospitality. Ravi took great care of us, and even the chef, Ajay, came out to personally introduce himself--a testament to the warm and welcoming vibe of this place. If you're looking for a hidden gem with great food, drinks, and a fantastic atmosphere, I highly recommend checking out Amber at Dusk!

Good food - not very spicy and very creamy. I would have liked more flavor, but atleast it's consistent with a previous experience. Ambiance is good. Service was excellent. Came here for an aunts birthday and the staff helped us coordinate a surprise. Will be back!

The food, ambience and service are great. Except that the food is tailored to an American palate. I think every dish is well made and well presented. They also experiment with flavors and so it's an experience to eat at amber india. They also have been around for decades and so have a lot of experience in fine dining. Definitely a place to celebrate a special occasion.

We have been coming here for 20 years. The food is consistently great (flavors have not changed in years) and amazing for our young kids. One of the OG waiter's always helps us navigate the menu and make sure the kitchen makes it super mild for our half Indian/white kids. We always get the palak paneer (they put extra cream in there for the kids), tandoori chicken (spicy for kids but we cut off the exterior and the kids eat it) and navratan korma (ordered as is, zero spice for the kids). The food is fresh and always tasty. The staff is always accommodating and patient.

We booked their speakeasy space for a corporate holiday party and had an exceptional time! Ravi was great help in setting everything up for us- food, bar area, service, and ambiance. Everyone loved the food! A few highlight items to definitely check out were the butter chicken, paneer tikka, chicken biryani and kaju matar potli! The total price for the place and food including taxes and tip was super reasonable! Highly recommend them for parties.

I've been a loyal fan of Amber for over a decade, but sadly, it's not the Amber I fondly remember from years past. The food barely earns 3 stars--missing the bold flavors and quality that once set it apart. The service, unfortunately, mirrored this decline, falling far short of the warm, attentive standard I had anticipated. In Indian culture, a "Jiju" (brother-in-law) is celebrated for being gracious and generous, treating guests with exceptional care. Amber's service didn't reflect that spirit, which was especially disheartening for a restaurant with such a stellar reputation. Perhaps that level of warmth is now reserved for the "immediate family Jiju." To add to the letdown, an 18% service surcharge was applied. I didn't mind paying it--it's Thanksgiving, after all--but I would have appreciated more transparency and better service to justify the charge. That said, I do appreciate their gesture of staying open for a special Thanksgiving lunch--it's a thoughtful touch. I genuinely hope Amber can rise to its former glory with enhanced food and service.

We wanted to try their new speakeasy Amber at Dusk and it was such a vibe. The ambiance was bollywood with an interaction of hollywood. I loved the books and wall decorations. A great spot to come get drinks and read books! The service was quick with a friendly bartender and waiter. The drinks we got were the bengal tiger, cutting chai reloaded, mango mystery and gulabo. All of them were amazing! The food we got was the butter chicken sliders and oh my were they amazing. I frequent the regular Amber India in Los Altos but boy the Amber at Dusk did not disappoint!

They have vegan items clearly marked on the menu. I really wish I had ordered daal cause the food was a bit spicy. I really wish they had decadent vegan options like tofu tikka masala, or a vegan dessert :( Dishes I tried: Appetizers: 1. Hara Bara Kabab (4/5): It's nice 2. Gobi Manchurian: (5/5): It was great. Had a lotta ketchup. I love ketchup. Loved it. 3. Mini Samosas (3/5): I didn't try it but looked decent. Main course: 1. Aalo gobi (2/5): I prefer gobi to be more cooked 2. Mushroom Edamame (3.5/5): Ask them to add mostly mushroom less edamame, add coconut cream, make it less oily and less spicy. Only then it would be 4/5. I'm India and it was too hot for me, my team would've probably died having it. It was tasty though. 3. Chana masala: (4/5): it was decent. Drink: 1. Mango mint mojito: 5/5 Loved it. Custom made not on the menu. It was like a mango shake with some alcohol / very diluted. So ask them for more alcohol if that's how you like it.

Great Indian food, nice ambience, very friendly service. Family dinner - Simple, tasty, no frills desi fare. The Sesame leaf chat was well done, though I missed the unique Palak chat which is/used-to-be served at the SFO location. Chicken tikka with Zaatar(Middle Eastern) spices were very nice & succulent, a welcome change from the Orange stuff we are used to eating, Sheek Kebab pretty good & spicy. For mains, the Chettinad style Lamb curry & Chicken Tikka masala were perfectly done, not too creamy, rightly spiced. Have to compliment the Garlic Naan, it's a baseline dish defining quality. The Jal Jeera though tasted a bit like Panipuri water & needs some fine tuning. All said a hearty meal. Prices are standard for the area, bit on higher side, but portions were as good as any. Lastly, I want to compliment the host & the servers, they were very welcoming, smiling & earnest. Definite try.

Not busy on a Saturday noon. There was a variety of food and drinks, and the staff was courteous and professional.

This is a lunch buffet review. The seating system is ridiculous, we waited while others who came after us were seated. They informed that people made reservation over phone. How did every single group made reservation over phone? We waited for 45 min while around 10 groups got seated who came after us. When we asked again for table, they gave us 2 choices and suddenly the tables were empty. A group came after us got seated by joining tables. When asked, they said they are a group of 6. The lady at the reception is very arrogant. We were seated next to the wall and there was an insect moving around. We had to wait for another 10 min as pani puri was empty. See pic. By the time we were back with pani puri, the naan was on the table, see the pic for the quality of naan. It was dry, we requested for fresh naan and they were dry too. There was no name tags with vegetarian and non-veg called out, see pic. There was a fly on watermelon kept in the corner. The only star is for the gentleman in suit at the reception who was honest in acknowledging the difference between a lunch and dinner quality! $90 for 2, fathers day special lunch buffet. Forget the money, the disappointment is from one of fav restaurant. I had persuaded my wife to dine here much against her wish.

I can't lie, I don't know how the hell this Amber in particular sucks so much compared to the other two Ambers I've tried, the one in Santana Row that got replaced by Fitoor, and the other one in San Francisco. My typical order at Amber is their kadhai paneer, garlic naan, and veg dum biryani. The Santana Row and San Francisco places always did this so well, giving us an incredible smoky and bold kadhai paneer, buttery khasta garlic naan, and a beautiful aromatic biryani second to none. Very surprisingly, this location is a joke in comparison. We went here twice, and both times the food was problematic. It was pretty cold, flavorless, and oily, almost as if someone removed the souls of the dishes we ordered lol. What are you doing? How are you going to charge so much for soulless food? I wonder if this location was good in the past (I see some compelling reviews from years ago), but I suspect the people who think this location is any good at this point probably don't have very high expectations (or expectations at all) for Indian food...

Ordered pickup -- the food is amazing; just be aware that you need to order rice separately (it's not included for free) when you order (for example) Dal.

I have been visiting Amber for decades and now I am saddened to see how they have fallen down to such poor quality and management. I was there Nov 2nd (after Diwali) and saw that they had moved their buffet counter to the hall way and courtyard. Its open area (no screens to protect food) and free for all kinds of things to fly on food -- house fly, dirt... it was PATHETIC. Food quality was so bad that I will say do not go there unless you want to spend $$$ on sub standard food. The craziness continues here...they auto tip themselves 20% for party of 2! Per person $34+tax+tip!!! is not getting you any value compared to what you would get any other good place. Loaded with oil/cream, missing kofta, paneer, vegetables, food spill all over the counter. Totally mismanaged when it came to stocking supply and other details. It has become a low end Dhaba!!

We had Birthday celebration in Amber India party room for about 45 people with an open bar and every one enjoyed the food and drinks. Food was all vegetarian and exceptional in flavour, quality and taste. The spice levels were well balanced for each item- samosas, harara kabab, pakoras, etc. Manager Ravi checked that the event went smoothly and we really appreciate it. Thank you Ravi and your dedicated staff!!! PS: Vijay B, You have an AWESOME team led by Ravi!

This location offers a different menu than the other Amber locations. They have indoor and outdoor seating and a really nice bar. I think ambiance here is a lot nicer than the other locations but I'm used to the other menu so I was a bit thrown off. I got takeout from here and the food was 30 min delayed unfortunately. I recommend calling before picking up the food to get a pulse on when the food might be ready.

Foods are really good. Place is very roomy. Parking is excellent. I do recommend this place.

Pretty unimpressed with this place- over priced and just OK food. For the price, quite disappointed in the flavor and taste of the dishes. Ordered their tikka masala and garlic naan, the chicken being tough and not very tender, with the naan dry and unflavored. Wouldn't recommend unfortunately.

I would love to give this restaurant a 5 star review as all the food we had was excellent. I can't because the menu is so limited - no Vindaloo, no Madras, let alone phaal or any really hot dishes. The butter chicken sauce is really good but there are so many other wonderful Indian spices/dishes that I love to eat.

Fantastic service! Appetizers great! Recommend the tandoori chicken & gobimanchurian! Main courses great! Lovely atmosphere, have tables available indoor & outdoor. 10/10 highly recommend!

Their chickens and sauces are delicious and Malvin's service is great. It's are family's go to restaurant, great for all ages. It's are fifth year there. Highly recommended.

The staff is good , but the food quality is dropped down since it was in Santana row .. The veggies , the chicken, the fish is just not good . The Nan was reheated , the gulab jamun was too hard . The washrooms smelled of mold .

Amber India has excellent food and provides superb service. We dine there a lot and always have enjoyed wonderful Indian cuisine at Amber. We've spent much time in India and believe this restaurant is as good as, if not better than, the best restaurants there. The ambience here is wonderful and adds to an excellent dining experience.

The lunch buffet had quite a bit of variety between Vegi and meat dishes. Desert was pretty good too. Nice clean dinning room with outdoor seating. Service was on point. I def. recommend this place

The food is OK, but the service is terrible. The waiter who took our order was very rude and n'ont helpful at all. The ambiance is cozy, but a little too dark.

The best Indian restaurant for the last 30 years. The food quality, the service is impeccable. Other Indian restaurants have come and gone but this one stands its ground for a simple reason- consistently maintaining food quality. If you are a vegetarian try the Kadhai Paneer and Dal Makhani.

Did a take home. The food was disappointing. I've tried their dine in buffets and they are much better. My review is limited to the takeout deliveries. I ordered hara bhara kabab, which was a 5/10. Next their kadai chicken was an indo-Chinese chicken entree guised as a kadai chicken. Large uneven pieces of pepper dripped in a bowl-full of oil. Chicken was poorly cooked. Overall the dish was an epic disaster. I wish Amber did justice to serving Indian flavors and delicacies consistently. Overall: 5/10 for their takeout meal

Needed to update, as I'm really sad about the recent menu changes and I love this place so much. I only took a star off because I don't want to be unfair or overly harsh. This is still a very good restaurant and people should still give it a try, especially if they're not as hung up on specific favorite dishes as I am. Recently they removed many things that we love from the menu. The food here is *not* cheap, and we were willing to pay the premium for their malai kofta (now it is "malai lotus root kofta" with figs, and I would not get it again as it arrived over-fried and strange tasting), lentil soup, tandoori mixed grill, vindaloo... there is no sweet lassi on the menu anymore, only mango. The kheer is gone. All of our favorites except for the chicken tikka masala, garlic naan, gulab jamun, samosas, and pakora are gone. At least our kiddo's favorite entree is still on the menu, but for me and my husband... I miss my regular malai kofta. It took me so long to find one that I loved locally and now it's gone. Maybe it wasn't a big seller? Still, my motivation to order is a lot lower now. Honestly sad about it. I guess they have a whole new concept happening and I wish them well, but now unfortunately I need to find another place with really good malai kofta.

Alas! Amber has lost a customer of over 20 years. I loved this restaurant, recommended it frequently, and ate in or took out from here with regularity. For its style of Indian food, it was very hard to beat (without traveling much further South). Sadly, while the food remains remarkable, the prices have gone from reasonable ... to restrictive ... to irrational. Case in point: 4 pieces of tandoori chicken (misleadingly described as a "whole" roasted chicken on the menu), is now $24 . Previously you could order a half or whole. Now, it's (less than?) half of a small chicken for more than what a whole (relatively) recently cost. Diners beware -- your favorite dish may similarly now be a cautionary tale. Amber: your rising costs have caused this customer to rise up out of his seat. Your establishment provided years of consistently very good food (with mixed but adequate service for the cost). Now pricing is unquestionably out of touch with reality, and out of reach for many of the loyal customers you served so well for so long.

Went here for a team lunch and we opted for the lunch buffet option. I'm not super familiar with Indian food but I was told that this leans more North Indian food as opposed to South. There's plenty of parking in a lot outside, and a fair variety of food for the buffet - rice, a few curries (veg and non veg, and desserts and fruits), etc. Again, not really familiar with Indian cuisine other than the Americanized kind, so I definitely tried a lot of things I don't know the name of. Everything was flavorful, but not necessarily up my alley. I did enjoy the grated carrot dessert and the curries. The naan was good, and so was the food item where you crack it open and fill it with various toppings and then a tangy juice. The servers came by often to fill up water and take empty plates. Not a ton of people there overall, but we were there from 1-2pm so it may not have been peak hours. At around $30 per person, it was ok. Was definitely full at the end of it, but not sure I'd go again.

I've been visiting Amber for years. When I was travelling to the US for work, it was my regular Saturday night dinner. Now that I live in Mountain View, having Amber a walk away is a real treat. It was great of Ravi the help organise a group meal for me and 16 neighbours. I've always loved Amber's food, and coming in such a large group allowed us to order a huge range of dishes for the table, and I got to sample a much wider range from the menu. Everything tasted fabulous. Service is great and everybody in the group was really impressed. Five stars all round! As a Brit, a "proper curry" really is the taste of home! Oh, and a great Negroni too!

We've been patrons of Amber for over 15 years and kept coming back because we like the food. This weekend, we went for their lunch buffet and were sorely disappointed. We came at 2 pm for the buffet, still well within closing time of 2:30 pm. The rice was almost over. The goat curry only had curry remaining, no goat and other preparations were cold. I'm sorry, but if you're going to provide sub-standard service at 2 pm, perhaps you should just close entry at that time? Something is different. Not the same attention to detail and I hope it isn't going down the same cost cutting and indifference path that so many Indian restaurants in the South Bay have taken on their way to closure. The fire is going out. Amber felt like a dying ember. We talked to a lady on the way out who said she was the manager. She thanked us for the feedback. I hope they do something about it.

Amazing dinner event at Amber! I have been coming here for the past 5 years and the food and service never cease to amaze! Table 41 (by the fireplace outside) is our special spot. Also, the GM Ravi is very helpful and has been instrumental in helping me organize both work and personal events at Amber. Kudos!!

My favorite Indian restaurant, hands down! I've tried others in the area like Sakoon, and they don't compare. They paused the buffet during covid, but it looks like it's back again. There's nice outdoor seating and indoor. Every time I celebrate something, I come here. Graduation? I came here. Birthday? I came here...you get the point. The food is just so consistent and tastes so good every time. I especially love the palak paneer - and I'm not a spinach fan. That alone could turn me vegetarian if I could eat it for every meal. The butter chicken and tandoori chicken are also spot-on and delicious. The rice is also flavorful and so is the butter naan. Nothing I've tried here tasted bad. Can't wait to come back!

My family and I have been going to Amber for many years, and it has always been fantastic. The food is excellent and the service is prompt and always friendly.

HAIR ALERT!! Everything was perfect except the food. We went for lunch buffet. We had two encounter of hair in the food. First was in their bhel puri and the second one was in the gravy. For the first one the server took away the plate after showing him the hair in bhel puri. When the second time this happened the manager came and mentioned that all the cook wear a hair cap and it was mostly some customer's hair that ended up in main pot from where I took the gravy. Beauty is all the dishes of Amber are shielded with a glass screen and the chances of hair falling from a customer's head is next to impossible. Food: 1/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 4/5

I've been visiting Amber India for many years now. It's a must-visit destination for me every time I'm in town. The food is delicious (I really love the Gobi Manchurian appetizer in particular), the service is great (my water is always topped off, and I drink a lot of water!), and the outdoor patio is a great (read: quiet) place to have conversations with friends and family.

service was great, food was nice we were served free lassis as well amazing and streamlined reservation process as well

The buffet is pretty good - lot of varieties in veg and non veg. They have pretty decent chaat counter with different varieties of chaat and gol gappa. The service and ambiance of this place is more of a finer dining experience for Indian food. All in all a good dining experience

We've been going to Amber India in Los Altos for more than 10 years both dining in the restaurant or ordering food to go. The food is always top notch and the staff is quite friendly. We have our favs Somosa's, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Aloo Gobhi for take out, but in the restaurant we've many other dishes and have never been disappointed. We highly recommend this place both for the food and ambiance. Rich M.

Great food and service. We came for the buffet on a Saturday. Great option if you need to satisfy your craving for Indian food :)

Been going here for years and felt that in the last couple of experiences the restaurant has massively stepped up. Food quality and taste is amazing and the service is also equally amazing. So wanted to send the compliments and please keep it up.

We have been dining at Amber for many years on a fairly frequent basis. Nothing about the food, service, and the friendly attitude of the staff has ever been less than perfect. I can honestly say that a dinner at Amber is truly an experience. Check it out. you will love it.

We've been a regular at the weekend buffet for some time now and decided to finally leave this review. Excellent food - the buffet ticks all of the boxes for north Indian cuisine. Great service - everyone is really courteous, kind and accommodating.

Amber is my go-to place for excellent Indian food. The weekend buffet is awesome. You'll find unique dishes, not found in other places.