Still loving this hotel owned restaurant and bar. Katherine is our favorite server at breakfast. She is the kindest human and brightens our mornings. Oatmeal and avocado toast are delicious here. The bar is excellent too. Well curated with creative drinks. Open seven days a week, this restaurant and bar is a good spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner or drinks. They also host private parties (I've had one and it turned out so well). read more

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Came here for their dollar oysters and it didn't disappoint! A little hard to find, Bambara is located in a hotel with street parking along the back if you plan on driving. The menu had a good selection of sharables for us as we were only interested in smaller bites to eat along with the oysters; everything was super solid and delicious. Food came out quickly and service was friendly as well as accommodating. I would honestly not mind coming back again - oysters were the main draw, but the corn bread was fantastic! read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Menu - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food at the restaurant while staying at the Kimpton Marlowe. I spent most of my nights exploring Boston so I can't speak for the dinner here, but the breakfast was just fantastic. We had breakfast each morning and all of our selections surpassed my expectations. My favorite was the Avocado Toast on Croissant. My kids loved the Brioche French toast. I did pickup for my breakfast order but the staff were quick and friendly. I did stop by for a drink at the bar in the evening and chatted a bit with the bartender. read more

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We stayed at the hotel where this is located. The dinner menu and choices are fabulous. I had scallops, and they were cooked perfectly and tasted divine. Our waiter was amazing too. I never had to ask for refills. He was attentive and super helpful with recommendations. We will definitely go here again! read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Scallops - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Everything was delicious -- from the cocktails to the rich entrees to the dessert. I'll stay at Kimpton Marlowe again -- if only just to eat at Bambara more than once! read more

Large restaurant, can easily accommodate large groups. We were a table of 12, came around 10:30am on a Sunday with a reservation. It was pretty empty when we first came in. Service was great. Food was also good. -1 star because one of my poached eggs on my eggs Benedict was overcooked and not runny. This turned out to be a just my meal problem, my friends poached eggs were perfect. Overcooked poached egg is a tough one for me to look past though. The eggs Benedict with cod was a very nice variation and I ate the entire thing. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Cod Eggs Benedict - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bambara has a special place in our hearts because it is where we gathered after our wedding in May. We have been here many times from dinner to brunch to happ hour local dollar oysters (everyday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.) and every time the service is amazing and the food is out of this world - curated, seasonal, and delicious! Big shout out to Jasmin the Manager and the amazing server Yvessse - such genuine care, and the awareness where they are available with a glance but not in the way of conversation or privacy. True hospitality. (And shout out to Chanel, oir amazing server from the evening!) The brunch menu is unique and seasonal, I ordered the French Toast with pumpkin custard and it was sweet and delicious! I've never had french toast with pumpkin custard and candied walnuts, now I will in the future! Yum. Chai latte is less sweet than expected but traditional and warm, latte is flavorful. The evening before I had the scallops and I've never had a seasonally fall scallops dish, it was just the right amount of of squash with little pepitas to perfectly pair with a nicely pan seared dish of scallops with risotto. My partner also thinks that the Caesar Salad here is one of the best he has had, especially because of the homemade croutons. If you are a guest at The Marlowe, and want to make sure you try clam chowder in Boston, the chowder here is good, it is creamy but not too thick. 2 cups. Fresh. My partner also said the homemade fusilli pasta dish was delicious, and I had a bite and I agree. Thank you so much to the Bambara team. A nice surprise as I was finishing my meal occurred when a team member named Jessica came by just to say it was so nice to see me back again and we talked about the last time I was here. Just an all around fabulous place, with a beautiful view and calming upscale environment, welcoming intimate dinners, family brunches, and everything in between. read more

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I went to have dinner at Bambara Restaurant inside the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel in Cambridge on my third day at the hotel. I'm glad I did. Their delicious dishes have nice presentation and quality, the server is attentive, and always checking on us. The bar have craft beers, cocktails and nice selection of wines to complement your meal. The spacious dining room have a cozy and lively atmosphere, and the comfortable banquets makes your dining a pleasure. Check it out! read more

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We went to Bambara for breakfast on Thanksgiving day and it did not disappoint! My favorite thing were the breakfast potatoes. They were the optimal level of crispy. We also went back to the restaurant for drinks during our final night and they were perfection! I loved the staff at the restaurant, they were all very kind. I was also able to access the oat milk to make my own latte using the complimentary hotel that they offered me at the hotel. The environment was super chic and I definitely enjoyed being there! read more

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This is my second time visiting Bambara. I took my parents, a brother and a cousin. I ordered same dishes from 1st time and everyone enjoyed all the dishes except for calamari. It was bit too salty. We ordered two dozen $1 oysters(happy hour 5-7). They were small but so good, we ended up ordering four more dozens, 72 oysters all together. We ordered clam chowder, beet salad, ribs, calamari, scallops, oysters and a bottle of wine, Austin Hope. I forgot to get our waitress's name but she was exceptional. Welcoming, bright and went beyond to serve our table. Atmosphere is very pleasant and comfortable. I will definitely visit again and highly recommend Bambara. read more

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The restaurant has so much potential -- the service was warm, attentive, and honestly close to flawless. Our server worked with genuine care, and that deserves recognition. But the kitchen details held the experience back. Oysters should be a luxury, not a bite with tiny shell fragments. Eggs Benedict should arrive hot, rich, and runny -- not on the edge of hard-boiled. The potatoes? They looked and tasted like they had just come out of a microwave, not a chef's pan. These may sound like small things, but together they chip away at the magic. Service is a strong 5-, but the food execution drags the overall feel down to a 3+. With a bit more attention to presentation and precision, this place could easily climb into true 5-star territory. read more

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Stayed at this hotel and had free breakfast here. It is nice that the hotel breakfast is at a sit down restaurant, unfortunately the food was okay only. Everything either tasted salty or bland. I think the safest and best thing to get is the French toast and bagel with cream cheese. Besides that the service was good. read more

We recently went to Boston and were staying at this hotel which houses Bambara. We didn't know where to grab a bite and glad we decided to eat there as the food was amazing. The ambiance is upscale / classy but you do not need to wear a fancy outfit to dine which was nice. We partook in several dishes but what we wanted while in Boston was the CHOWDAaaaah This spot did not disappoint and I think the best deal was the raw oysters which were delicious and a nice compliment to the "chowda". I had some beer which was cold and refreshing. All and all a nice little gem within the hotel and offers god eats, is clean and friendly for family or social gatherings. read more

I had brunch here two days in a row. The ambience is adorable. I love the blue chairs, and everything is chic and well lit. I didn't love standing in the doorway (There isn't really a host stand) waiting to be acknowledged and seated. It happened both times. The people working in the bar area and kitchen just stared at me like I was a freak (I was wearing cute sundresses both times) and finally one of them would decide to greet me, and find a server to seat me. This is a small restaurant and not very busy, so I certainly don't expect them to have a host or hostess just standing there all day, but perhaps greeting customers could be better here. The servers were very friendly and nice and the perfect amount of chatty. The food was delicious and I enjoyed everything I ate. I noticed both times, nobody really came to check on me and my water glass and iced tea weren't refilled. They also missed the opportunity to upsell more product - had I been asked if I wanted a second mimosa or another glass of bubbly, I would have ordered another and the ticket, and tip, would have been thus higher. I do recommend this restaurant for brunch. The veggie omelet and breakfast potatoes were delicious, as were the French toast. read more

I checked out Bambara for Dine Out Boston and it was a great experience! The food is very solid and dependable, everything we had was well executed, across all the dishes we had (clam chowder, calamari, steak frites, salmon, and chocolate cake). The salmon was especially well cooked and paired with Brussels sprouts and a delicious sauce. While nothing felt super unique or unusual, everything was very well executed and made for an excellent meal. Would definitely come back again Additionally, the service was exceptional. Our server was so kind and attentive, was always there when we needed, even on a busy Saturday evening. Had to give him a shout out! read more

My first time staying at a Kimpton property; the Bambara is connected to the Kimpton Marlowe. For the $30 hotel daily amenity fee, you have a $10 credit at Bambara, among other cool perks. We had dinner and breakfast at Bambara. The burger and fries is $28 and the lobster roll is $44. The two egg breakfast with bread and home fries is $19. Coffee and tea are $4 each. Tres leches is $12. The prices are on the high side with moderate portions,but so are most restaurants these days. Service was very good at dinner- warm friendly and efficient. At breakfast, there was no place to put the tea bag which would have been helpful, but service was otherwise fine and the breakfast was very good. The dinner was also overwhelmingly very good. The hamburger was juicy and the Caesar salad side (upgraded at no charge) was good with homemade honey dressing I asked for, which was excellent. My mother, a lobster expert at this point, had the lobster on hot buttered roll. She found it over buttered and said the butter overwhelmed the lobster, which was a small portion. Her homemade coleslaw and thick cut fries, which I tried, were excellent. The tres leches was different than the three milk drenched wonders I have had. This one had pieces of pineapple on top and was on the dry side. They have $1 oysters at happy hour from 5-7 p.m. which were small but very good. It was overall a very good (4 star) experience and I know Bambara has the potential for five stars. read more

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Dollar oysters here are so worth during happy hour!! Also got drinks but they were nothing crazy. Located in a hotel, it's usually pretty quiet and have plenty of seating and good service. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Dollar oysters - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bambara is located in the Kimpton Marlowe hotel, and full disclosure - I came here for a work meeting, so I didn't have to pay for my meal. The bar area was pretty busy, but we had a more private space an a separate but open section. Drinks: - Interlude: rum based but not quite tiki - a bit heavier with oat milk, chai, coffee liqueur - Fifteen Minutes of Fame: more spirit driven but also basically a high ball Food: - Oysters: fresh, served with mignonette (didn't get to catch where they were from) - Chickpea falafel: with a tahini yogurt and greens - the texture was good on the falafel, and it was served hot - Pan roasted chicken: an airline chicken with goat cheese polenta, roasted broccolini, mushrooms - a good fall dish - Dessert sampler: creme brulee and a tres leches cake I didn't expect much from a group dinner, but service was actually surprisingly attentive for a large party, and the food was solid. They actually had a good setup for larger parties, and the menu options included a lot of choices from their regular menu, which I appreciate. read more

Came here for a company outing and the food was amazing! I typically don't go for steaks, but theirs was wonderful, moist and full of flavor. I also enjoyed their chicken dish, I don't think I've ever had a chicken cooked so well and not dry! Even though I really loved their food, I had to knock it down a star because it felt like an eternity before we finally got to eat after ordering. I'm not sure if this was because we were a large party, but as soon as the food came, I ate it up very quickly. Overall, this is a great nice restaurant by the river, and I can see how it'd be a nice after work activity! read more

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horrible horrible service had to leave restaurant to get my own coffee refill becauae server never came back to table mentioned to manager and his response was .. " thats fine" avoid thia place if you can read more

Stopped in to have dinner, and was amazed by the burger and fries! The burger was super juicy and cooked just perfectly. The veggies and pickles on the sandwich was fresh and crispy. The bun, held everything well together. BUT, I would have liked it to be a bit bigger in size... I like to eat, and when something tastes soooo good, I need more of it! The fries were super delicious! Hand cut, thick slices, fried to perfection, seasoned with right amount of salt. Crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Sooooo good! Only gripe is the menu is limited and small. Would have loved to see more items as the burger was delicious. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Dry-Aged Burger - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Went to Boston for a weekend and wanted a low key dinner with my husband! We were totally happy with this place. The ambiance was so nice from before you even walked in. The walls were used as bookshelves and I thought that was so cool. The food was great too! I opted for the chicken parm and my husband got a burger. Staff was also friendly and attentive. Food was great! 10/10 read more

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We were looking for a breakfast place early Saturday morning. We arrived right when it opened so we got a nice table by the window. Our waitress was very nice and took our order. I asked for recommendations on the French toast. She said it was a favorite and very good. I ordered the French toast and my wife ordered an omelet. Both were really good and hit the spot. Great taste. So, good food. Food service. Nice view. Clean restaurant. What else could you ask for. I recommend this place. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Map on the wall. - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Was only here for drinks only. But the drinks were terrible. All Figured Out- the sweet and sour was well balanced but it was so bitter!! Maybe from the lemon rind ? Old fashion- terrible also. Tasteless and diluted. So sad. Service was good ! read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Old fashion. All Figured Out. - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stopped here for a weeknight dinner and enjoyed it. They have $1 oysters during happy hour and a good range of cocktails. Staff were friendly and helpful with sharing their menu favorites. It did feel a bit expensive for elevated bar ambiance but given its connected to the hotel, it made sense. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Efficient | portions | call system Efficient - I ordered breakfast and dinner from bombara. Both were super efficient once I talked with the waitress. They have a good menu online via their website and Google. It took about 20 minutes for my food to be ready once I made my order. Portions - given where you are located and the price point, you get a lot of value with their meals. I had the French toast and breakfast potatoes for breakfast and the chicken Marsala and a side of fries for dinner. I was more than full. Also I need to shoutout their potatoes. They are delicious. I'm not sure if it's the cut or how they are seasoned, but their fires and breakfast potatoes were the highlights of the meal. Definitely top 10 (maybe top 7) all time potatoes for me. Call system - I called the number via Google and their website. Each time I called I got the voicemail after 3-4 rings. I had to call the hotel's front desk and then ask for a transfer for the restaurant and then they answered. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence or standard practice. But it was somewhat annoying. Pro tip - if you stay at Kimpton Marlowe, you can have all your meals charged to your room. Pro tip - if you stay at the Kimpton Marlowe You can call down and order and they will call you back when your food is ready. Pro tip - there is not a lot of parking around there. So I would Uber or walk if you ar going for dinner. read more

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I'm struggling with the rating for this spot. The food was really tasty. We had the beet salad, burger (loved it), and fusilli bolognese (crispy topping took this one up a notch). The service and pace is the issue. We waited to be seated for a reservation for quite some time even though there were tables. The guy in front of us was just trying to confirm his reservation and he had to interact with 3 different people to get that done. Once we were sat, we ordered after a bit. The salad came out within 10-15 minutes and then we waited, and waited, and waited... over an hour for our remaining two items. We could see other tables we're getting food but the orders didn't seem correct and they looked frustrated. To add to the stress, it's marathon Sunday so folks are trying to eat and get to bed. It was also frustrating because it took forever to hear anything about where our food was--no refills on water glasses sitting empty. Nothing to help appease in the meantime. I know things go wrong sometimes and we're pretty understanding. It's a lovely space as well--pretty lighting, a bit noisy, friendly bartender. I would definitely go back, I just would be prepared to wait next time. read more

We tried Bambara for the first time and ordered off the Dine Out (restaurant week) menu. The food was really enjoyable - we got the beet salad, fried calamari, steak frites and lava cake. The service just wasn't great. It felt like we were waiting around to be seated, waiting to order, waiting for our drinks - our apps were brought out before our cocktails and although we really wanted to ordered a bottle of wine with our meal we figured it would take too long. And the restaurant really wasn't very crowded. Altogether a good experience though! Our steaks were cooked perfectly! read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Beet Salad & Fried Calamari - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This restaurant is located adjacent to the lobby of the Kimpton Marlow Hotel. When staying at the Marlow this makes for a very convenient place to grab dinner or drinks and appetizers. From 5-7pm they had a happy hour on Wellfleet MA oysters basically buy one get one. We ended up getting 12 oysters for the price of 6 which was only $18. Also the oysters were superb. I grabbed a quick to go dinner tonight. It was very simple. I ordered at the bar and charged it to the room. I went upstairs to change and the food was ready. Shout out to Chef Adam he is making great food for dinner down there. Check out the wings and burger if that's your jam. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Chicken Wings - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Oysters Pasta Service is inconsistent but seems way understaffed which is not the fault of the servers. Got breakfast to go twice and the avocado toast is amazing with fresh ricotta and banana bread amaz read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Happy hour oysters - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

(Last visited 4/1/2021.) Working in Boston for the week and I'm staying at the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel right on Edwin H. Land Blvd. Inside this hotel is Bambara, a fantastic restaurant... Let me explain... Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right inside the hotel is this gem right off of the main lobby. It's in the shape of an "L" and wraps around the back of the hotel. The kitchen is exposed, there's plenty of big windows letting in lots of natural light and the restaurant gives off a very elegant-modern feel. It's usually pretty quiet inside. Service: I've never actually eaten inside the restaurant, but I've gone in to pick up my food then take it to my room multiple times. Yvelisse or Kellie are usually who I see when I go there (been there 4 times) and they've both been very friendly as well as super helpful. Food: I wasn't even going to do a review on this place but then I had the short-rib. OMG. The gospel of this incredible short-rib needs to be spread around the globe. Lol. It was so succulent, savory, smoky and practically perfect. I also was able to try their burrata and roasted carrots. Funny thing is... none of those things are on the menu anymore. Lol. The menu changes periodically and you can't go wrong. On my next visit I had the grilled salmon over rice with grilled asparagus and that too was fantastic. It was cooked perfectly, smothered in what looked like a pesto sauce of sorts, I don't know, the chefs just knew what they were doing. Again, no longer on the menu, but I'm sure it'll make a comeback! Last, but not least... the WWWIIINNNGGGSSS! These ARE still on the menu! They're lightly breaded with a teriyaki glaze and topped with some sesame seeds. These were fantastic and something I will repeatedly get. Value: Burrata = $12.00 Short Rib = $26.00 Roasted Carrots = $8.00 Grilled Salmon = $26.00 Chicken Wings = $12.00 Asparagus = $8.00 Not cheap here by any means, but this ain't some cheap restaurant. The food is absolutely worth the price. In conclusion I loved this place and it fits the hotel perfectly. I'll be eating here a lot more in the future whenever I'm staying in Boston. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, "The Hungry Road" for more restaurant and car-related content! You can copy and paste the following link into your browser to be taken directly to the channel! Be sure to subscribe, like, comment and turn on notifications! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZJPcprSoq00kgDLUb57yA read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Chicken Wings - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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A great brunch restaurant super conveniently located near the Museum of Science! The prices are extremely low, and the quality is extraordinary. Some of the crispiest breakfast potatoes in Boston! A beautiful location too (in the same building as hotel), this restaurant is a must try. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - French toast - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My young son and I came here for breakfast at 7:30 am. We were greeted and seated quickly upon entry. A warm and friendly waitress took our order and returned with coffee and hot chocolate within 5 minutes of being seated. Our delicious food arrived within 15 minutes. I had a veggie omelette and my son had scrambled eggs. My omelette was fantastic- I've never had Brussel sprouts in an omelette but they were perfect, I would definitely try again. We both had home fries which were a tasty indulgence for me and I enjoyed them. My son ordered the pumpkin bread which came with a lovely spread- cream cheese with a hint of cinnamon and crunchy pumpkin seeds. The spread was sweet and savory and I tried a bit on my toast with jam. The restaurant was beautifully decorated for the Holiday Season. Glittering lights and Santa Hats on chairs. Tasteful white glass ornamental decor could be found through. On our way to the bathroom we found a gorgeous Christmas tree, Santa and some Nutcrackers! My son was enchanted! My thoroughly loved our experience here. Outstanding service, delicious food and excellent ambiance. We definitely recommend and plan to return! read more

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Service was really fab at the bar and I think the wings are actually dope. The $1 happy hour oysters are so yum, but shucked a bit choppily. But in terms of the price point, it's up there I guess cause of the hotel but it's a good place to snack. I would come back all over again! read more

Stopped in a whim with a friend a few weeks ago. We sat at the high tops and were served by a sweet, knowledgeable bartender. We started with a dozen $1 oysters which were super fresh. My friend asked the bartender to come up with a fun tequila cocktail for us. Not only was he up for the challenge but delivered! We also tried the arancini, calamari and hummus. Everything was really delicious. It's a beautiful space, great ambiance. We'll definitely be back soon. read more

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Inside the Kimpton Marlowe hotel, Bambara is quite a find. Full service bar with great entrees and service. They do get busy at prime time so definitely make a reservation. read more

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We got out of work and wanted to skip some traffic so we stayed in the city and came across this place. The setting was very nice and cozy and intimate. Our server was very attentive and friendly which we appreciated. For starters we had the butternut squash soup and my wife had the fried calamari which both were fantastic. For entrees I had the cider porkchop cooked medium which was ok and my wife had the salmon with cous cous which was extremely salty. Food was a bit overpriced as the flavors did not match what we were charged. We didn't notice this restaurant was connected to a hotel which would explain the prices for the plates. Even though the service wad good the was overpriced and probably won't be coming back. read more

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We went here for brunch on a Saturday. Their brunch menu has tons of options especially if you are vegetarian. I go to brunch places a lot and always wonder why they don't have a Veggie Hash option. This place had Veggie Hash and it was so delicious. I finished it all. One issue I had was that the coffee was warm and not hot!!! I got two refills and I was disappointed with the coffee not being hot especially when it was a cold rainy morning. Service though was phenomenal. read more

We tried to dine here for breakfast when staying at the Kimpton hotel. Unfortunately, they've decided to offer takeout only on several days of the week, so they lose some of the upsell opportunities and guest service contact points we are usually suckers for. While the food was hot and fresh, it felt a little awkward to be eating food from takeout containers in the bar area. If they'd have offered a sit-down dining experience, I'm sure we'd have spent more time and money here, because the staff was friendly and the food really tasty. However, the prices are the same for takeout/to go as for dine-in, but without the service Kimpton restaurants are renowned for. I am sure this is typical of late-pandemic breakfast service, but we couldn't help but be disappointed compared to Kimpton's usual high standards. read more

Came in on a Thursday night with a small group of coworkers. Champagne was yummy, oysters were pretty decent, and the entree was delicious. Our waiter was Chris and he was amazing! read more