Had high expectations before we went, were even considering Amar as the location for our upcoming wedding dinner because of the great reviews. The atmosphere was great and the service was excellent.However, the quality of the food was extremely bland, and frankly, bad. We got the scallops small plate, mushrooms app and the codfish entree and they were all extremely lacking in flavor.Also, we got the pastel de nata for dessert and I was very disappointed at how bad it was baked and how much extra salt was put in.Not sure if we went on an off night, but considering the final price of the meal it was unacceptable and I don’t plan on going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
Robert Wainblat
From the hosts to our server, and the rest of the staff, service was impeccable, with just the right amount of touch. Ambiance and food were excellent as well. You have to try the seafood custard! Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Layers Chocolate Caramel Base, Uni on Toast
Alicia N.
The Amar has an exquisite high ceiling interior and besides the food and service, that is definitely what you are paying for. The service was great, friendly, and efficient. And the appetizers and desert were also really good. However, I was a little disappointed in the cod fish main course. It was quite hard and tasted more toward a grilled fish than cod. But nonetheless I had a good experience, especially with the hospitality I received right when I exited the 17th floor lifts.
Tatyana
I mean how stunning!!! Although I only went for dessert & cocktails. I can't rave enough about how professional and welcoming the staff was. The place is breathe taking, was so happy I took great content!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Layers Chocolate Caramel Base
David Quinn
A thousand pages of compliments wouldn’t be enough to describe the experience I had here. The food was mouthwatering, the cocktails were beautiful and the wine was perfectly paired .On top the of the dining itself the welcoming atmosphere, the view from the table and the warm greeting sets this restaurant apart from any other.What really made my experience what it was though was Tucker and the other wait staff. We were so well taken care of and they were so attentive to the perfect level. We were able to hear where the ingredients themselves came from as well as a bit of history behind them. We asked questions about the Portuguese influence and we were met with educated answers by Tucker who seemed genuinely happy to answer them.All in all 5 stars because I’m not able to choose 10. Thank you for taking such good care of myself and my friends.
Amazing ambiance meets delectable fine dining cuisine right in the heart of Boston. The haute cuisine here is innovative and scrumptious. Amar is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Massachusetts, for sure. It's hard to book a table here though. The Longbar at Raffles is also fantastic and definitely easier to get into.
Stephen G
Save your money.Plenty of places just as good as less cost.Only good if you want to be "seen".
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Sharon Hwang
I’m all about giving credit where credit is due. Taylor, the hostess made us feel so welcome when we walked in and Trevor, our server made us feel right at home and fueled our desire to order something of everything for the table. (Thank you for the judgement free zone for our bottomless pit stomachs). We had an absolute blast eating our way through the menu and had so many leftovers to last us the next few days and remind us why we will keep coming back to Amar. Highly recommend the paella, scallops, Uni toast and custard. I will definitely be coming back here when I feel like splurging a bit and will 100% be back for their delicious dessert, which were all so delicious, considering we ordered one of each dessert :). A million gold starts to the excellent waitstaff who brought over our food, replenished our utensils when we needed them, and to the awesome manager who checked in on us throughout the night. Thank you for a wonderful and memorable night in such a beautiful restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Layers Chocolate Caramel Base, Paella, Mango Passion Fruit, Uni on Toast, Sourdough Bread, Wagyu Beef
R Q
I recently visited AMAR, hoping for an authentic Portuguese dining experience due to my heritage and the restaurant's promising location and reputation. Unfortunately, my experience did not meet my expectations.From the start, the service was lacking. Although very polite and welcoming, the staff took too long between visits to the table, seemed unfamiliar with the menu, and struggled with the pronunciation of dishes and wine names. This could be improved with some effort in learning how to pronounce the wines and dishes in Portuguese. This detracted from the dining experience and made me hesitant to trust their recommendations, which is crucial in a high-quality establishment.The food, expected to be the highlight, also disappointed. Portuguese cuisine is known for its vibrant flavors and unique combinations, but the dishes at AMAR did not live up to this tradition, leading to a forgettable experience in both taste and presentation.Even the restaurant's luxurious setting could not compensate for the shortcomings in service and food quality. In a city known for its excellent gastronomy like Boston, one anticipates a memorable dining experience, but AMAR did not deliver on this expectation.In summary, my visit to AMAR was underwhelming due to the combination of inadequate service and uninspiring food, which did not align with the establishment's prestigious location or justify its prices. I regret to say that I cannot recommend AMAR, and I hope they can address these issues.
Upscale and modern Amar was perfect for a memorable dining experience. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with a warm and welcoming ambiance that was both sophisticated and inviting.The service was exceptionally attentive, with the staff going above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our meal was perfect.The duck and scallops were great, the lobster and mushrooms were ok. Curry didn’t work for me in the lobster dish.The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the breathtaking sunset view. So I highly recommend to book your dinner around the sunset hour.Overall, the combination of the chic atmosphere, impeccable service, mouthwatering food, and the gorgeous sunset view made for an unforgettable dining experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a special night out.
Absolutely loved it! A late Valentines dinner - first the staff directed us from the elevator to avoid confusion. There was coat check-in. The view blew me away! Living in Boston for over 30 years, few restaurants can provide it. There were three clear vegan options plus bread - I had the maitake mushrooms and kombucha squash, and both were decadent and filling. Our server was super pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful. My husband's uni toast and wagyu beef were reported to be outstanding, as well as his Phony Negroni. Dessert was nice. Honestly, I was so full! We look forward to going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marco Ugolotti
This resturant is located at the 17th floor of the hotel building. The location is very nice and luxurious and of course new, since they recently opened. High expectations going to this place and I was hoping to receive a 5 stars meal…. Well …. Amar didn’t meet my expectations: the bar was pretty high then you are going to spend over $150 min per person. The service was ok… they are kind but they didn’t take care as expected (I ran out of wine in my glass for the second course and of course my bottle of wine was far away from the table and the waiters never pour wine until I asked). The food …. They try to be fancy but the the plate have no taste …. Risotto was overcooked and no salt…. The sea urchin has not the strong flavor you expect from it… you have to buy bread (seems it is not complementary in Boston anymore … $11)…. Plates in general are very small …. Very! Wine list is limited and not definitely the list you expect from such a restaurant.For now is 3 stars …. Not sure I will come back …. Definitely not anytime soon!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Risotto
Matthew Litchfield
Amar is an elegant new restaurant located on the 17th floor of the Raffles Hotel in Boston. When you walk in, you definitely feel like you are paying for the great view and atmosphere. However, the food “matched the views” and lived up to the hype. Though not cheap, I think Amar is a great spot to go to for a romantic couples night. You wont be disappointed!
Jea Kim
One of my favorite fine dining spots in Boston at the moment.Amar elegantly stands out in a city celebrated for its homely and rustic Portuguese restaurants. Chef Mendes has introduced an exquisite fine dining experience, infusing modern Portuguese cuisine with a panoramic city view that adds an extra layer of allure.Securing a reservation a month in advance, my anticipation was met with an experience that exceeded expectations. Although we missed out on a window table, our cozy corner spot provided a comfortable and intimate setting.Our evening started with a trio of seafood delights: Portuguese Carabinero Shrimp, Uni Toast, and Octopus Skewers. The shrimp, served with their heads intact, offered a rich, deep flavor, especially when used as a dip – a novel and delicious approach. The Uni Toast, perched on toasted milk bread, married the creaminess of sea urchin with the aromatic shiso leaves. The Octopus Skewers, though not our favorite, still presented an intriguing blend of nutty miso and collard greens.For the entrees, we opted for the Shellfish Custard, Rohan Duck and the Black Bass. The Shellfish Custard was an innovative take on Chawanmushi, steeped in a refined seafood broth that elevated the umami of each ingredient. The interplay of textures from the foie gras, uni, mussels, and clams was divine. The Black Bass, bathed in a herb-infused clam broth, delighted with its crispy skin and tender flesh. The Rohan Duck, while tender and flavorful, played it slightly safe, overshadowed by the boldness of the braised duck leg rice.We closed our evening with some traditional Portuguese desserts - Serradura and Pao de Lao. The Serradura, with its passionfruit sherbet, crunchy Maria cookies, and mango crisps, was a sublime ending to our meal.Overall, Chef Mendes has skillfully woven together modern Portuguese fare with elements from Japanese and French cuisines. Amar changes their menu quite often, so these might not be available in the future, yet I am definitely willing to go back for special occasions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Jenny J
Our waiter started out strong, really played up the menu. He congratulated us for getting a reservation which seemed pretentious, but friendly enough guy. Decor was beautiful. We ordered the bread, the mushrooms and the 2 person paella dish. The mushrooms and the bread were delicious, but It took over an hour and a half to get our food, and the paella dish was heavily salty with no real flavor. The rice was mushy and I have certainly had better street seafood in Central America. We were very disappointed with the food. My boyfriend also politely asked his drink to be refilled twice over a half hour. We will not come back here.
Had high expectations before we went, were even considering Amar as the location for our upcoming wedding dinner because of the great reviews. The atmosphere was great and the service was excellent.However, the quality of the food was extremely bland, and frankly, bad. We got the scallops small plate, mushrooms app and the codfish entree and they were all extremely lacking in flavor.Also, we got the pastel de nata for dessert and I was very disappointed at how bad it was baked and how much extra salt was put in.Not sure if we went on an off night, but considering the final price of the meal it was unacceptable and I don’t plan on going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
From the hosts to our server, and the rest of the staff, service was impeccable, with just the right amount of touch. Ambiance and food were excellent as well. You have to try the seafood custard! Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Layers Chocolate Caramel Base, Uni on Toast
The Amar has an exquisite high ceiling interior and besides the food and service, that is definitely what you are paying for. The service was great, friendly, and efficient. And the appetizers and desert were also really good. However, I was a little disappointed in the cod fish main course. It was quite hard and tasted more toward a grilled fish than cod. But nonetheless I had a good experience, especially with the hospitality I received right when I exited the 17th floor lifts.
I mean how stunning!!! Although I only went for dessert & cocktails. I can't rave enough about how professional and welcoming the staff was. The place is breathe taking, was so happy I took great content!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Layers Chocolate Caramel Base
A thousand pages of compliments wouldn’t be enough to describe the experience I had here. The food was mouthwatering, the cocktails were beautiful and the wine was perfectly paired .On top the of the dining itself the welcoming atmosphere, the view from the table and the warm greeting sets this restaurant apart from any other.What really made my experience what it was though was Tucker and the other wait staff. We were so well taken care of and they were so attentive to the perfect level. We were able to hear where the ingredients themselves came from as well as a bit of history behind them. We asked questions about the Portuguese influence and we were met with educated answers by Tucker who seemed genuinely happy to answer them.All in all 5 stars because I’m not able to choose 10. Thank you for taking such good care of myself and my friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carabinero Shrimp, Mussels Clams, Paella, Duck Breast, Sourdough Bread, Wagyu Beef
Amazing ambiance meets delectable fine dining cuisine right in the heart of Boston. The haute cuisine here is innovative and scrumptious. Amar is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Massachusetts, for sure. It's hard to book a table here though. The Longbar at Raffles is also fantastic and definitely easier to get into.
Save your money.Plenty of places just as good as less cost.Only good if you want to be "seen".
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
I’m all about giving credit where credit is due. Taylor, the hostess made us feel so welcome when we walked in and Trevor, our server made us feel right at home and fueled our desire to order something of everything for the table. (Thank you for the judgement free zone for our bottomless pit stomachs). We had an absolute blast eating our way through the menu and had so many leftovers to last us the next few days and remind us why we will keep coming back to Amar. Highly recommend the paella, scallops, Uni toast and custard. I will definitely be coming back here when I feel like splurging a bit and will 100% be back for their delicious dessert, which were all so delicious, considering we ordered one of each dessert :). A million gold starts to the excellent waitstaff who brought over our food, replenished our utensils when we needed them, and to the awesome manager who checked in on us throughout the night. Thank you for a wonderful and memorable night in such a beautiful restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Layers Chocolate Caramel Base, Paella, Mango Passion Fruit, Uni on Toast, Sourdough Bread, Wagyu Beef
I recently visited AMAR, hoping for an authentic Portuguese dining experience due to my heritage and the restaurant's promising location and reputation. Unfortunately, my experience did not meet my expectations.From the start, the service was lacking. Although very polite and welcoming, the staff took too long between visits to the table, seemed unfamiliar with the menu, and struggled with the pronunciation of dishes and wine names. This could be improved with some effort in learning how to pronounce the wines and dishes in Portuguese. This detracted from the dining experience and made me hesitant to trust their recommendations, which is crucial in a high-quality establishment.The food, expected to be the highlight, also disappointed. Portuguese cuisine is known for its vibrant flavors and unique combinations, but the dishes at AMAR did not live up to this tradition, leading to a forgettable experience in both taste and presentation.Even the restaurant's luxurious setting could not compensate for the shortcomings in service and food quality. In a city known for its excellent gastronomy like Boston, one anticipates a memorable dining experience, but AMAR did not deliver on this expectation.In summary, my visit to AMAR was underwhelming due to the combination of inadequate service and uninspiring food, which did not align with the establishment's prestigious location or justify its prices. I regret to say that I cannot recommend AMAR, and I hope they can address these issues.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Layers Chocolate Caramel Base, Sourdough Bread
Upscale and modern Amar was perfect for a memorable dining experience. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with a warm and welcoming ambiance that was both sophisticated and inviting.The service was exceptionally attentive, with the staff going above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our meal was perfect.The duck and scallops were great, the lobster and mushrooms were ok. Curry didn’t work for me in the lobster dish.The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the breathtaking sunset view. So I highly recommend to book your dinner around the sunset hour.Overall, the combination of the chic atmosphere, impeccable service, mouthwatering food, and the gorgeous sunset view made for an unforgettable dining experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a special night out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast
Restaurantji Recommends
Absolutely loved it! A late Valentines dinner - first the staff directed us from the elevator to avoid confusion. There was coat check-in. The view blew me away! Living in Boston for over 30 years, few restaurants can provide it. There were three clear vegan options plus bread - I had the maitake mushrooms and kombucha squash, and both were decadent and filling. Our server was super pleasant, knowledgeable, and helpful. My husband's uni toast and wagyu beef were reported to be outstanding, as well as his Phony Negroni. Dessert was nice. Honestly, I was so full! We look forward to going back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This resturant is located at the 17th floor of the hotel building. The location is very nice and luxurious and of course new, since they recently opened. High expectations going to this place and I was hoping to receive a 5 stars meal…. Well …. Amar didn’t meet my expectations: the bar was pretty high then you are going to spend over $150 min per person. The service was ok… they are kind but they didn’t take care as expected (I ran out of wine in my glass for the second course and of course my bottle of wine was far away from the table and the waiters never pour wine until I asked). The food …. They try to be fancy but the the plate have no taste …. Risotto was overcooked and no salt…. The sea urchin has not the strong flavor you expect from it… you have to buy bread (seems it is not complementary in Boston anymore … $11)…. Plates in general are very small …. Very! Wine list is limited and not definitely the list you expect from such a restaurant.For now is 3 stars …. Not sure I will come back …. Definitely not anytime soon!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Risotto
Amar is an elegant new restaurant located on the 17th floor of the Raffles Hotel in Boston. When you walk in, you definitely feel like you are paying for the great view and atmosphere. However, the food “matched the views” and lived up to the hype. Though not cheap, I think Amar is a great spot to go to for a romantic couples night. You wont be disappointed!
One of my favorite fine dining spots in Boston at the moment.Amar elegantly stands out in a city celebrated for its homely and rustic Portuguese restaurants. Chef Mendes has introduced an exquisite fine dining experience, infusing modern Portuguese cuisine with a panoramic city view that adds an extra layer of allure.Securing a reservation a month in advance, my anticipation was met with an experience that exceeded expectations. Although we missed out on a window table, our cozy corner spot provided a comfortable and intimate setting.Our evening started with a trio of seafood delights: Portuguese Carabinero Shrimp, Uni Toast, and Octopus Skewers. The shrimp, served with their heads intact, offered a rich, deep flavor, especially when used as a dip – a novel and delicious approach. The Uni Toast, perched on toasted milk bread, married the creaminess of sea urchin with the aromatic shiso leaves. The Octopus Skewers, though not our favorite, still presented an intriguing blend of nutty miso and collard greens.For the entrees, we opted for the Shellfish Custard, Rohan Duck and the Black Bass. The Shellfish Custard was an innovative take on Chawanmushi, steeped in a refined seafood broth that elevated the umami of each ingredient. The interplay of textures from the foie gras, uni, mussels, and clams was divine. The Black Bass, bathed in a herb-infused clam broth, delighted with its crispy skin and tender flesh. The Rohan Duck, while tender and flavorful, played it slightly safe, overshadowed by the boldness of the braised duck leg rice.We closed our evening with some traditional Portuguese desserts - Serradura and Pao de Lao. The Serradura, with its passionfruit sherbet, crunchy Maria cookies, and mango crisps, was a sublime ending to our meal.Overall, Chef Mendes has skillfully woven together modern Portuguese fare with elements from Japanese and French cuisines. Amar changes their menu quite often, so these might not be available in the future, yet I am definitely willing to go back for special occasions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Our waiter started out strong, really played up the menu. He congratulated us for getting a reservation which seemed pretentious, but friendly enough guy. Decor was beautiful. We ordered the bread, the mushrooms and the 2 person paella dish. The mushrooms and the bread were delicious, but It took over an hour and a half to get our food, and the paella dish was heavily salty with no real flavor. The rice was mushy and I have certainly had better street seafood in Central America. We were very disappointed with the food. My boyfriend also politely asked his drink to be refilled twice over a half hour. We will not come back here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Sourdough Bread