Amber India Restaurant

I love their tasty food.Service is great.

I would say the worst Hyderabad-i Biryani i had ever had. It lacks the basics of Biryani, taste and flavor. I think this is an outcome of an in-experienced cook....... they think adding lots of spices makes food tasty. Finally we had to leave most of the food over there.......

I had a great expectation from a restaurant which claims to be one the best Indian restaurant in the bay area. Not at all worth the price. Not at all recommended.

Pros: ambience,

Cons: quality, service (too slow)

I am 500% convinced that the positive reviews written here are written by the staff themselves! This has to be WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE.of my LIFE. I'll keep it short and to the point.The food is okie types but overtly prized and the Manager is EXTREMELY RUDE. They are over their head due to making so much money but do not care for customers. If you object to something they are very rude and say absurd things like "I can challenge you" and this comes from the manager himself. Being an Indian read more >I am complaining about this Indian restaurant and I feel sorry to say that they are DISCRIMINATORY against Indians. I have had great food and exceptional service at various other Indian restaurants and this was undobtedly my WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE.

Pros: NONE

Cons: Rude manager, Bad experience. will never ever visit again

I went there twice both the times i made reservations. First time even after reaching there on time we got a table after waiting for 45 min. Second time again the same thing happened and i left the place after waiting for 30 min. Their waiting area is awefully small and right in front of the restrooms.
Food is ok types not that good and service is very very slow and poor.

I am 100% convinced that the positive reviews written here were written by the staff themselves! This has to be one of the worst restaurant experiences of my LIFE. I'll keep it short and to the point. We ordered Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala. Butter Chicken: Barely average at best. Chicken Tikka Masala was not even Chicken Tikka Masala. They brought out Karahi Chicken! I informed the waiter (one of the 2 or 3 times he visited our table the whole evening) and he said it's "Punjabi style". This is complete NONSENSE. It took about 20 minutes for our waiter to come to our table. While we waited we watched as 3-4 waiters were idle and flirting playfully with the cute Hispanic receptionist. Finally, when the waiter did come to our table, we saw him maybe 3 times the entire evening. Finally, the food was so horrible that my stomach was hurting while eating it. The Naan bread was paper thin. The erroneously called "Chicken Tikka Masala" was filled with fatty sinewy dark meat that was more connective tissue and cartilage than actual meat.

You might be thinking "It can't be THAT bad" and be tempted to try it out anyways. Do so at your own peril. The only positive thing that can come out of it is that you'll learn for yourself exactly why you should never set foot in this place ever again.

Pros: Cute receptionist.

Cons: HORRIBLE food. NOT authentic. RIDICULOUSLY overpriced. TERRIBLE service...Too many cons to list.

Due to traffic, we arrived late but were seated immediately. We ordered quickly and were served within minutes. Food was wonderful. Service was outstanding. Chai was perfect. We spent approximately 1 hour total and left in time to catch our Cirque du Soleil show. Next time, we'll plan to spend more time enjoying the food, the wine, the ambiance, and the service.

Cons: Location. Traffic is so bad in this area.

So after being told repeatedly that this is the Bay Area's finest Indian restaurant I gave it a try. I was completely underwhelmed. It is average at best. There is nothing all that unique on the menu. The food is fresh, the seasoning and spices are okay. Service is okay and the ambiance is slightly better than the average Indian restaurant. Basically, nothing at Amber justifies the high prices. I'm sure their rent is high, but that's their problem and I'm not going to pay for it.

I think the best food to be had anywhere for dinner in the world right now is in our very own Amber in San tana row.
I know that not every body like Indian food.
I recommend you buttery chicken and keshmiri lamb, these are the only food I tried, you are free to discover rest.
I bet it is not easy to find these rare combinations of spacious, romantic, neat atmosphere, good interior design, delicious food, friendly environment, great service, average price and great location
When you enter the ceiling catches your attention, you see falling star that gives feeling of being in mysterious, ancient environment.
It has many tables so is good for going as a group or have a romantic night.
Food are served in traditional dishes.

best service ever .they had a long wait but we were finally seated, our server arrived within seconds greeted us and poured water .he was a tall slim good looking guy of Indian decent, neatly dressed .he was back after some time to take our order ,he asked us whether we would like to start with some drinks and appetizers ,he showed us some of his favorites and also helped pick a good pinot. When asked about his fluency in the English language he mentioned that he is a grad back home and he currently studies at City College. Most of the time in Indian or Asian restaurants it is very difficult to communicate with the servers this was pleasant exception. The food suggestions were great and the service extraordinary from start to finish

Pros: took time to seat

Cons: service and knowdlege of food and wine

Had tried ala carte dinner and lunch buffet. Place was not crowded. Good place for going as a group.Buffet was ok, choices seemed limited compared to mountain view. Fodd is not spicy, but some of the curries were creamy. Definitely worth trying.

i have been dining in the best of indian restaurants all over the world(all thanx to my travelling job)...when i am in my new home town sanjose amber india in santanarow is my favourite restaurant.my view is this is one of the best indian restaurants in the bay area.
we were group of 4 in our last visit,it was a saturday night ..but were seated in a nice corner,our waiter was knowledgable about the menu....the menu has lots of thought behind it,the dishes found here is not to be found in any other indian restaurants in this side of the country,i had the calamari......which was sauteed with bellpeppers & tangy tomato sauce...this is the best calamari i had in long time...the others in our group seemed very happy with their appetizers....for entree i had the kohlapuri chicken ...wow it was spot on ....this is from a foodie who has eaetn in kohlapur in india and it was as if i was eating back home just great...my friends ordered various other dishes including few from the contemprory section ...they were these plated entree which had all the indian elements in them...like the spice roasted halibut,with shrimp coconut sauce ...the perfectly roasted halibut lay over lemon rice and was well presented ,the plate by itself is sufficient for a person,the presentation can compete with any of the western restaurants in bay area...that is the beauty of thus restaurants menu...there is traditional stuff as well as contemprory cuisine.......it really uplifts indian cuisine to a new level
for dessert i had the mango strawberry kulfi....kudos to chef what a brilliant combination....the kulfi had two layers one of mango & other was of strawberry.. it was marriage made in heaven...finally there is an alternative for the boring malai kulfi.
before heading to amber i had checked out citysearch ...it says this as an expensive restaurant
but according to me if u want exclusive food good service and posh restaurant then this is not that expensive....

Pros: creative cucine, efficient service

Cons: noisy

Many reviewers say that Amber India Restaurant in Santana Row is the Best Indian Restaurant in San Jose and I respectfully disagree. For full disclosure I should state that when myself and 3 of my friends ate dinner at Amber, we were treated to a well decorated but ultimately stomach wrenching experience. Something went drastically wrong in the kitchen at Amber that night, because after dinner, all four of us were left flat on our backs and running to the commode with upset stomachs. However, since everyone else I've talked to about this restaurant says that they've had no stomach problems, I must assume it was just an off night.

So, let me talk about their food. The small portion sizes are going to be an issue for many at Amber, especially when flavor, taste and originality is absent. The Samosa was small and uninspired as a starter. The Tandoori Chicken was also extremely pedestrian in taste (compare the Tandoori offering at Zaika Indian Restaurant in Berkeley which uses the finest cuts of meats and uses an abundance of seasonings). Additionally, a crucial test for an Indian restaurant is its Naan; Amber's was plain. The Butter Chicken is equally unmemorable at Amber (compare the Butter Chicken served at Straits Cafe around the corner in Santana Row; Strait's version is supple, well-balanced, flavorful and a delight with each bite). The bottom line - pass on Amber India in Santana Row; stick with your neighborhood Indian Restaurant that charges you reasonable prices. For the special occasion Indian Restaurant that uses plenty of the best spices and the best cuts of meat and produce, travel north to Berkeley to Zaika and experience what Amber claims to offer, but doesn't (look Zaika up in CitySearch for more details.).

Pros: Decor

Cons: Food & Service

I had never had Indian food before and was pleasantly surprised. The menu has a large variety and does not forget the vegetarian patrons. The most impressive thing about Amber is the ambience. Although, it can be loud at times it is almost mystical. The decor is impeccable. We had a large party and our server was very accomodating with all of our needs. He was eager to offer up suggestions as well. I would definitely return.

Pros: ambience, service and eclectic menu

Cons: hard to find parking at the santana row location

This is a good high end Indian restaurant. The stuffed tandoori portabello is terriffic. The eggplant was also great! The cauliflower was overcooked and mushy, which is unfortunetly very common in indian restaurants. The breads were light and fluffy, right out of the oven. It's a nisce place inside and the service is professional.

Pros: food

Cons: a bit pricey

I have lived in the United States and London for more than 30 years and I have finally found a restaurant that can compete with the 5 star restaurants in India. The staff was highly knowledgable about the cuisine and recommended the butter chicken. This item at Amber is actually BETTER than anything I have had in India! The food was absolutely amazing and I highly recommend this restaurant.
This is also probably the most beautiful restaurant I have been been inside! The door man told me that they spent more than $2 million giving it an urban feel!

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: Corwded

Nice indian food. But, expensive. Just a vegeterian dish costs about
$13.00 and non-vegetarian dish about $17.00. Ironically, there is no
other indian resturant in south Bay which serves food of that quality.
We felt like we ate in Hyderabad, India.

Pros: tasy food, nice ambience

Cons: expensive, Long wait

We loved the food and our server was very attentive. I haven't eaten at any local restraunt where the wait staff actually "serves" the food, meaning they put it on your plate for you. I was impressed!

Pros: Fresh ingredients, Good portions, Excellent waiter

Cons: A bit pricey

I had set up an event for a group of people to go to this restaurant based on a friend's recommendation. So much for taking his advice in the future! This place looks nice, the food is average (I've had better, honestly)...but the service is probably the worst I've ever had for a fairly upscale restaurant. It took about 20 minutes for us (a group of 8) to even see a waiter, took another 20 to get our appetizers, 20 more to get the drinks we ordered (I AM NOT KIDDING), and it was well past an hour after arriving that we got our main courses. It was a terrible experience, as far as the dining itself. And, to the surprise of everyone, the restaurant had tacked on a $40 gratuity (for our group of 8)!! Terrible, terrible dining experience...fortunately, my company was much better.

Pros: Food good

Cons: POOR SERVICE!!, BLASE MANAGEMENT, OVERPRICED

I liked the food and ambiance. I had been here for a Lunch buffet, lots of interesting options. Food is delicious. I noticed one thing that in the buffet there wasn't much choice for people who eat chicken . The restuarant is clean and has an attentive staff.

I enjoyed my dinner at Amber. Great "frontier lamb". I enjoyed the special Nan with raisins. Very clean and good service. Full coctail bar as well.

Pros: Great food!

Cons: pricey

I LOVE Indian food, and found this to be an all around wonderful restaurant! I am used to the smaller, more traditional Indian restaurants, but was very pleased with my experience here! The ambiance is great (check out the shooting star ceilings!!!) and the twists on the food were amazing! I'll definatly be back!

I was excited about my dinner plans in Amber,but it turned out to be an utter disappointment. We were received by a very snobbish person who refused to(even)smile. Food was tasteless and we had to shout around for water.The menu was limited and overall it was an unhappy experience. We were not even greeted 'goodbye' at the door.A total waste of money and my precious special day was spoilt!
You should work on the customer skills of the person who receives(the servers were nice) and give more value for the moolah.I am not planning to go back again!

Pros: The Bar

Cons: Customer Service, Taste of food

I like the setup and ambience at amber as long as it is crowded, when it's not crowded the restaurant is unomfortably large. It is set up nicely and the full bar is a big plus. The food is okay, the portabello mushrooms are good and so is the stiffed tandoori potato. Their basic indian dishes are overpriced and of average quality.

Pros: bar, decor

Cons: prices

I went during lunch, so I ate from the buffet. The food was not that good. They all kind of looked and tasted the same. The only thing I liked was the fried bread you get for free. Maybe the food from the menu is better. Nice place and location though.

Pros: looks pretty, location, bread

Cons: food

Amber does some things well. The have designed a beuatiful restaurant with a fast and attentive staff. The have a good variety of dishes. The prices are higher than normal Indian restaurants but than again not many Indian restaurants are this nice. The naan is nice and light and has a good flavor. The dry dishes, especially the rack of lamb are great. the problem is with the curries. The all taste pretty much the same, and the flavor isn't all that good. This is a good place to go for drinks, bread and anything from the tandoor.

Pros: decor, service, tandoori dishes

Cons: , pricy... but deserved

I have lived in the Bay over 30 years, after moving from India and this is easily the best Indian restaurant I have been to outside of India. I have tried almost everything on their menu and highly recommend both their signature dishes: Butter Chicken and Rack of Lamb. Both these dishes rival anything you would find even in India.
Their service is also outstanding with a great wine list and knowledgable and helpful staff.

Pros: FOOD, Decor, Service