diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/actionSystem/impl/ActionMenu.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/actionSystem/impl/ActionMenu.java
index c4f77a784ae0..939e65112e77 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/actionSystem/impl/ActionMenu.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/openapi/actionSystem/impl/ActionMenu.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2000-2011 JetBrains s.r.o.
+ * Copyright 2000-2012 JetBrains s.r.o.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -117,6 +117,11 @@ public final class ActionMenu extends JMenu {
   public void updateUI() {
     if (UIUtil.isStandardMenuLAF()) {
       super.updateUI();
+
+      if (myTopLevel && UIUtil.isUnderGTKLookAndFeel() && "Ambiance".equalsIgnoreCase(UIUtil.getGtkThemeName())) {
+        setForeground(UIUtil.GTK_AMBIANCE_TEXT_COLOR);
+        setBackground(UIUtil.GTK_AMBIANCE_BACKGROUND_COLOR);
+      }
     }
     else {
       setUI(IdeaMenuUI.createUI(this));
@@ -131,14 +136,10 @@ public final class ActionMenu extends JMenu {
 
   @Override
   public void setUI(final MenuItemUI ui) {
-    final MenuItemUI newUi = !isTopLevel() && UIUtil.isUnderGTKLookAndFeel() && GtkMenuUI.isUiAcceptable(ui) ? new GtkMenuUI(ui) : ui;
+    final MenuItemUI newUi = !myTopLevel && UIUtil.isUnderGTKLookAndFeel() && GtkMenuUI.isUiAcceptable(ui) ? new GtkMenuUI(ui) : ui;
     super.setUI(newUi);
   }
 
-  private boolean isTopLevel() {
-    return myTopLevel;
-  }
-
   private void init() {
     boolean macSystemMenu = SystemInfo.isMacSystemMenu && myPlace == ActionPlaces.MAIN_MENU;
 
diff --git a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java
index 255ba36442ad..e3dae97e2e1b 100644
--- a/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java
+++ b/platform/util/src/com/intellij/util/ui/UIUtil.java
@@ -828,6 +828,9 @@ public class UIUtil {
     return UIManager.getLookAndFeel().getName().contains("GTK");
   }
 
+  public static final Color GTK_AMBIANCE_TEXT_COLOR = new Color(223, 219, 210);
+  public static final Color GTK_AMBIANCE_BACKGROUND_COLOR = new Color(67, 66, 63);
+
   @SuppressWarnings({"HardCodedStringLiteral"})
   @Nullable
   public static String getGtkThemeName() {