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For our stay at the Kimpton Monaco Hotel, we visited Bambara for breakfast multiple times and had an inconsistent experience during our stay. During our initial visit, I expressed disappointment directly to the staff as our meals (Bambara Breakfast) came out cold across the board. The potatoes were cold, the eggs were lukewarm, the sausage tasted old and dry, and the sourdough toast was cold and hard. It took a lot to get some attention, so I was extremely disappointed as I had ti get up and pull a manager to the side while not trying to make it a big deal. We were on a time constraint so this delay didn't help. I do appreciate that they were prompt to resolve, and when the new plate came out, it was as initially expected. On day 2, I decided to switch it up and go with the Florentine omelette with a Side of Crispy bacon. It was ok, but I was disappointed in the omelette overall as it was bland and overcooked On the 3rd day, I thought of doing the French toast, but then decided to stick to the staples for breakfast. The menu is always changing, so some of the things I was looking forward to were no longer available. After having a really good experience before, this time around was a bit of a letdown. I did appreciate how the services stepped up a notch, but the food didn't leave a memorable impression with us this time around.
Beautiful space. Decent menu including their brunch offerings. Good for a quick bite with family or friends. Not the best solo dining spot.
As usual, it was amazing. Service is always top notch, the food comes out at the right pace and is always amazing. The only thing I wouldn't recommend, and this is the first time in the 6 years we've been coming and 12-15 times we've been, is the broccolini. Just wasn't that good. However, DO get the bison tartare. I don't know why Bambara doesn't get the love it deserves, it's the best place in SLC.
Great luxury spot! The truffle fries and steak were the star. Staff is top notch. Parking is difficult take the train.
I've been dining at Bambara for close to 20 years. Have always found it have consistently high quality food and excellent service. The menu changes throughout the year (that's great if you ask me). The best way to dine here is to share the starters and entrees family style so you can get a more diverse selection of the menu. Tonight, we had the Jamon Ibericoas a starter and the UT47 Short Rib along with an order of the brussel sprouts on the side. All were perfect. This is not an average hotel restaurant. The prices are on the higher side but very fair for the quality of food and portions provided.
Bambara. 10/10. While staying at the Kimpton, we ate here twice. We had the bone marrow tartar & the Caesar salad. The Caesar salad was life changing. As in, before I depart, I'm eating it again. Breakfast was also a 10/10. The most amazing croque monsieur. Buttery, crusty bread, perfectly cooked breaded poached egg, just the right amount of béchamel. Ugh so good!!! Chicken and caviar was also amazing. The chicken was ommmmg. Ricotta scramble- light, fresh, fluffy, delish. Banana French toast- just order it. Had a lemon blueberry dessert that came out sizzling. Highly recommend this establishment.
Service was incredible and the staff was friendly and quick. Our issue was unfortunately the food. For the prices they have, you'd think it would be amazing. Scallops were fine but not even warm, puree was not warm and portions are extremely small. The ribeye was tasty but was ordered medium rare and came out closer to medium well. Somehow it was still super tender so we didn't complain since we didn't want to wait for another. Also, the side of asparagus with the steak was like 3 asparagus tips sitting atop the steak.... One other note is the I assume manager or owner came up and greeted tables but then hovered around all of the room and staff the entire time and it was a weird vibe. I rarely write negative reviews, but just try to be accurate as possible
we came here both mornings of our stay at the Kimpton because we loved the food so much. great service and quick seating no matter how busy they are. i absolutely loved the salmon eggs benedict. I'm not the biggest fan of breakfast potatoes, but these ones were seasoned and super tasty. Highly recommend for brunch. I like their hazelnut coffee too.
If you're looking for a great lunch spot in Salt Lake City, Bambara is it! I had the blue cheese chips, and they were absolutely amazing--something you definitely don't want to miss. The Main Street salad was also excellent, with the addition of farro giving it a hearty and satisfying texture. To top it off, I saw Utah's governor dining there, so you know it's a place worth visiting! The atmosphere is classy yet welcoming, making it perfect for a business meeting. Stop in and check it out!
Branden's service was incredible and truly made our experience that much better. The food was great, and he went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect from start to finish. Highly recommend coming here whether you're staying at the hotel or just visiting the Salt Lake area. We will definitely be back!
Bambara was such a unique experience! Upon entry, we were greeted by the Host and got us seated swiftly and kindly, kept us in consideration and made sure the seating was to our liking, and offered to relocate if it was not seemed satisfactory. Our waitress came by and was extremely respectful and was able to answer all of our questions in a simple and quick manner. The menu selection did initially catch us off guard with the limited amount of dishes to consider, but regardless of that, the items were carefully mastered in taste and presentation. We started our meal with two appetizers. The House Milk Rolls and the Blue Cheese Potato Chips. The Rolls were absolutely incredible. Something so simple by nature, had such a level of depth in its flavor and had us genuinely shocked at just how delectable it was. The Blue Cheese Potatos were intimidating at first, but after our first bite, it all just made sense. Carefully proportioned so you didn't feel overwhelmed with the strong taste of Blue Cheese, but just enough to greatly appreciate its accompaniment with the Chips. Our main dishes arrived shortly after. The Tagliatelle Pasta and Duck. The Pasta was that of a Pesto based sauce, and my word it was just such an amazing dish! Normally I am quite particular about certain flavors in combination, but this Pasta just made sense! The plate was completely clean by the end of our meal. The Duck was also an amazing and first time experience for us! We were worried at first that it was going to be too much for us to handle or mentally prepare for, but we must say that goes into our top list of meats. Bambara is that of a Fine Dining decor, but can still be approached in a formal casual manner. The staff is friendly, proper, and the decor on the inside matches such a beautiful consistent style! The price range is that of Middle to High end, but I have to say that it's worth it! We were looking to just experience it once to know what it's all about, but we're definitely expecting us to return soon and expose ourselves to the rest of what the Menu has to offer.
Amazing food, service, and ambiance. A gem of the Salt Lake City restaurant scene. Fantastic bar as well if you have the time.
We ended up eating at Bambara several times since we were staying at Hotel Monaco for a long weekend and had some complimentary food credit to play around with. We came for both breakfast and dinner, and the food was solid overall. Breakfast has plenty to choose from, and with around $30 per person per day to spend, we got to try a few different things. The crab cakes were probably my favorite. The Bambara Breakfast was also a solid way to start the day with eggs, potatoes, and your choice of sausage or bacon. Nothing overly complicated, just a good hearty breakfast before heading out to explore Salt Lake City. My only complaint is me being a coffee snob lol. It was pretty clear the latte came from a machine where you push a button and let it do its thing. You could literally see the two distinct areas in the foamed milk where the coffee poured in. It got the job done, but at a restaurant this nice I was hoping for something a little classier. Otherwise, service was solid, the ambiance was nice, and we enjoyed eating here throughout our stay. read more
14 days ago
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Kayla L.
Xavy, thank you for sharing your candid feedback with us following…
4 months ago
For our stay at the Kimpton Monaco Hotel, we visited Bambara for breakfast multiple times and had an inconsistent experience during our stay. During our initial visit, I expressed disappointment directly to the staff as our meals (Bambara Breakfast) came out cold across the board. The potatoes were cold, the eggs were lukewarm, the sausage tasted old and dry, and the sourdough toast was cold and hard. It took a lot to get some attention, so I was extremely disappointed as I had ti get up and pull a manager to the side while not trying to make it a big deal. We were on a time constraint so this delay didn't help. I do appreciate that they were prompt to resolve, and when the new plate came out, it was as initially expected. On day 2, I decided to switch it up and go with the Florentine omelette with a Side of Crispy bacon. It was ok, but I was disappointed in the omelette overall as it was bland and overcooked On the 3rd day, I thought of doing the French toast, but then decided to stick to the staples for breakfast. The menu is always changing, so some of the things I was looking forward to were no longer available. After having a really good experience before, this time around was a bit of a letdown. I did appreciate how the services stepped up a notch, but the food didn't leave a memorable impression with us this time around. read more
As usual, it was amazing. Service is always top notch, the food comes out at the right pace and is always amazing. The only thing I wouldn't recommend, and this is the first time in the 6 years we've been coming and 12-15 times we've been, is the broccolini. Just wasn't that good. However, DO get the bison tartare. I don't know why Bambara doesn't get the love it deserves, it's the best place in SLC. read more
I've been dining at Bambara for close to 20 years. Have always found it have consistently high quality food and excellent service. The menu changes throughout the year (that's great if you ask me). The best way to dine here is to share the starters and entrees family style so you can get a more diverse selection of the menu. Tonight, we had the Jamon Ibericoas a starter and the UT47 Short Rib along with an order of the brussel sprouts on the side. All were perfect. This is not an average hotel restaurant. The prices are on the higher side but very fair for the quality of food and portions provided. read more
27 days ago
2 months ago
Great wine list and delicious food. Service was good and the atmosphere was lively and energetic. read more
7 months ago
Bambara. 10/10. While staying at the Kimpton, we ate here twice. We had the bone marrow tartar & the Caesar salad. The Caesar salad was life changing. As in, before I depart, I'm eating it again. Breakfast was also a 10/10. The most amazing croque monsieur. Buttery, crusty bread, perfectly cooked breaded poached egg, just the right amount of béchamel. Ugh so good!!! Chicken and caviar was also amazing. The chicken was ommmmg. Ricotta scramble- light, fresh, fluffy, delish. Banana French toast- just order it. Had a lemon blueberry dessert that came out sizzling. Highly recommend this establishment. read more
Service was incredible and the staff was friendly and quick. Our issue was unfortunately the food. For the prices they have, you'd think it would be amazing. Scallops were fine but not even warm, puree was not warm and portions are extremely small. The ribeye was tasty but was ordered medium rare and came out closer to medium well. Somehow it was still super tender so we didn't complain since we didn't want to wait for another. Also, the side of asparagus with the steak was like 3 asparagus tips sitting atop the steak.... One other note is the I assume manager or owner came up and greeted tables but then hovered around all of the room and staff the entire time and it was a weird vibe. I rarely write negative reviews, but just try to be accurate as possible read more
2 months ago
we came here both mornings of our stay at the Kimpton because we loved the food so much. great service and quick seating no matter how busy they are. i absolutely loved the salmon eggs benedict. I'm not the biggest fan of breakfast potatoes, but these ones were seasoned and super tasty. Highly recommend for brunch. I like their hazelnut coffee too. read more
If you're looking for a great lunch spot in Salt Lake City, Bambara is it! I had the blue cheese chips, and they were absolutely amazing--something you definitely don't want to miss. The Main Street salad was also excellent, with the addition of farro giving it a hearty and satisfying texture. To top it off, I saw Utah's governor dining there, so you know it's a place worth visiting! The atmosphere is classy yet welcoming, making it perfect for a business meeting. Stop in and check it out! read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
Branden's service was incredible and truly made our experience that much better. The food was great, and he went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect from start to finish. Highly recommend coming here whether you're staying at the hotel or just visiting the Salt Lake area. We will definitely be back! read more
1 year ago
Bambara was such a unique experience! Upon entry, we were greeted by the Host and got us seated swiftly and kindly, kept us in consideration and made sure the seating was to our liking, and offered to relocate if it was not seemed satisfactory. Our waitress came by and was extremely respectful and was able to answer all of our questions in a simple and quick manner. The menu selection did initially catch us off guard with the limited amount of dishes to consider, but regardless of that, the items were carefully mastered in taste and presentation. We started our meal with two appetizers. The House Milk Rolls and the Blue Cheese Potato Chips. The Rolls were absolutely incredible. Something so simple by nature, had such a level of depth in its flavor and had us genuinely shocked at just how delectable it was. The Blue Cheese Potatos were intimidating at first, but after our first bite, it all just made sense. Carefully proportioned so you didn't feel overwhelmed with the strong taste of Blue Cheese, but just enough to greatly appreciate its accompaniment with the Chips. Our main dishes arrived shortly after. The Tagliatelle Pasta and Duck. The Pasta was that of a Pesto based sauce, and my word it was just such an amazing dish! Normally I am quite particular about certain flavors in combination, but this Pasta just made sense! The plate was completely clean by the end of our meal. The Duck was also an amazing and first time experience for us! We were worried at first that it was going to be too much for us to handle or mentally prepare for, but we must say that goes into our top list of meats. Bambara is that of a Fine Dining decor, but can still be approached in a formal casual manner. The staff is friendly, proper, and the decor on the inside matches such a beautiful consistent style! The price range is that of Middle to High end, but I have to say that it's worth it! We were looking to just experience it once to know what it's all about, but we're definitely expecting us to return soon and expose ourselves to the rest of what the Menu has to offer. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
We enjoyed Bambara. They have a rotating menu so it was a little disappointing to find out that the dishes I was looking at on yelp were no longer available. However, I got the ribeye steak and really enjoyed it. It was interesting with a bunch of edible flowers on it. I didn't realize it was just the steak so you'll definitely want to order a side. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really cool. This is definitely a place you would want to go to celebrate something really important. We parked in the parking garage next-door only to find out that they do not validate parking. I think they'll validate your valet parking, but obviously you'll need to tip. read more
1 year ago
Had a quick dinner here and was pleasantly surprised we were able to get a same-day reservation. Parking is available on the street or through the hotel with a discounted rate. The ambiance strikes a nice balance--elegant and classy, yet still relaxed enough for a casual night out. Service was attentive and friendly throughout. The menu is short and focused, which I appreciate. The standout for me was the shrimp ajillo--perfectly cooked with bold, garlicky flavor. The ribeye was also excellent--juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. Don't skip the Caulilini on the side--it was a great complement to the mains. Oh, they also offer simple butter pasta for the kids which was actually pretty tasty Overall, this spot works equally well for a laid-back dinner or a more special date night. read more
11 months ago
I am visiting from CA and i decided to have brunch somewhere close to where im staying. I saw bambara and decided to try it. From going in to the hotel to welcoming by the host-Jude to leading to my seat. Service was great!! Ambiance of the resto as well was cozy, not too crowded.. Now when the food came out-i had a birria eggs benedict ( my first time ever to try this type of eggs benedict) and i also tried the french toast Very unique to my taste for the birria eggs benedict and had a very delicious consome on the side -goodness! flavors burts in your mouth. French toast was fluffy warmly served with chantilly cream loved every bite. Mylo our server- excellent anticipatory service ! Thank you for the experience read more
I had high expectations but was quite disappointed. We first got the Kohlrabi Caesar as an appetizer. I've never tried or heard of this before; it's pretty interesting, but I liked other salads more. The duck was pretty good, but the skin was a bit too thick and rubbery to me. At first, I thought the puree was mashed potatoes, so I was surprised by the taste. Turned out it was celery root puree. I liked it and wished there would be more of that and the sauce to go with the duck. We also got the ribeye. I was impressed by the presentation. We ordered medium-rare, but it was more on the rare side and a lot more chewy than we'd like it to be. Overall, the food was decent and the plating was amazing, but everything was overpriced. I've had fine dining many times so I understand they're more expensive, but the food quality was not worth the price. There just wasn't any dish that really wowed me and made me want to come back for more. Also, the portions were small and I was surprised to find that the $51 ribeye did not come with any side. For this price, I'd at least expect there to be some vegetables on the side. The rating dropped to a 3-star because of the service. The server didn't seem very friendly. After taking our orders, he also never came once to check on us and asked how we liked the food, so we didn't get the chance to tell him about the undercooked steak. He's probably busy though because he seemed to be the only server taking orders. We waited for a while before we could get the check. I was also disappointed because it was our anniversary, and I chose Bambara because I saw some positive reviews about celebrating special occasions at this place, but they didn't do anything for us, and the overall experience wasn't that great. I'd find a different restaurant next time. read more
11 months ago
I had the eggs Benedict with Birria to go with the house potatoes. The food was delicious! And my waiter Grace was such a sweetheart! Would definitely recommend coming here! And getting the Eggs Benedict with Birria. read more
11 months ago
It was my first coming here.. food+service+ambiance is a complete package.. Everything is really good! The best service by our server (Milo) A+++! We will be coming back for sure.. you guys need to try their french toast read more
2 months ago
Bambara has been our go-to place for well over 5 years. They have a wonderful ever evolving menu & serve a beautiful plate of delectable delicacies each time we go. I usually get the elk lion, but this time my husband opted for it. The elk is done to perfection medium and the cardamom port reduction sauce is incredible. The accompanied veg makes for a nice nibble between the tender cuts. I ordered the filet which melted in my mouth. I wasn't a giant fan of the puffy potatoes, but it had a nice crunch. The non-alcoholic cocktails are always a fun treat to go with our meals. We do wish there was more variety in this arena, but the tastes of the ones we ordered were satisfactory. The steak tartare was a bit bland, but this is the first appetizer we ever had that didn't hit right. We've previously enjoyed their charcuterie, duck croquettes, etc. - all of which had been wonderful & exciting. Their desserts do not disappoint either. If they ever decide to bring back their lemon & watermelon sorbets, we promise to make a special trip to have them. Of course, we anticipate coming to Bambara for their food, flare, & top knotch service for many years to come. read more
3 months ago
The service was absolutely impeccable. Brendan was a great host and was very kind and attentive, even offered me a cup of coffee when it was time for dessert. It was a very nice palate cleanser. Now let's get down to the food. We got the charred octopus and blue cheese chips not pictured, the octopus was great and had a great balance of savory and sweet from the corn. A beautiful dish. The blue cheese chips were good too but the plating felt a little lazy. The mains were great as well. I got the duck and is the reason for the 4 stars instead of the 5. I wish it was a little crispier and warmer instead it was a little bit on the colder side and didn't have the best sear. It was very flavorful however. The elk loin was amazing and had all the points of a perfect dish. The deserts were great, the cotton cake was okay in our opinion, very light, nothing to brag about. The Parmesan ice cream and caviar was the real star. An amazing combination of flavors and a good way to end the night. The ambiance of this place was very quiet and a good intimate atmosphere. Will definitely be visiting again. read more
Recently we enjoyed an amazing dining experience at Bambara. The staff knows their stuff - they all seem both professional and delightful :-) The venue is situated inside the Hotel Monaco, with a truly elegant atmosphere with exceptional lighting and a great layout. All the food we tried was delicious and beautifully presented. The kitchen is open, and we very much enjoyed watching the kitchen staff working their magic ;-) Next door there's a bar called the Vault. When we finished dining we stopped in there, enjoyed some after-dinner cocktails, and chatted with their very friendly bartenders. We had a very memorable visit, and I look forward to returning again soon :-) read more
6 months ago
7 months ago
Bambara is an elegant restaurant nestled within a hotel that offers great service and quality food. I visited for breakfast with a group of friends and we were greeted and seated by friendly staff. All breakfasts come with complementary pastries, which is a nice touch. The biggest disappointment, however, was the coffee. Very mild and weak and belies the atmosphere the restaurant transmits. An elegant place should have elegant coffee. I ordered the eggs Benedict with lump crab. It was good and worth a try. The plate came with perfectly cooked potatoes that have caramelized onions and bell peppers mixed in, the real winner on the plate. A 3.5/5 for the meal. Slightly above average Benedicts but not world class. One of my friends ordered the chicken and waffles. He thought the chicken was fantastic and his only complaint was that his waffle was cold. He really enjoyed the herb infused syrup. A solid 4.5/5 Second friend ordered the biscuits and gravy and enjoyed them except for the preparation of the eggs--a bit runny for their taste. Despite that hiccup the plate earned a 5/5! Third friend ordered the Madame Croquet. She found it a little bready with too much gravy, nearly a carbon copy of the biscuits and gravy. She was looking for something a tad lighter. Nonetheless the flavors were still good. Solid 4/5. Overall Bambara is a nice spot for a good breakfast. The service is truly world class and they make you feel comfortable and like you're at home. It's the service that really pulls the rating up to a 4/5. read more
I had a great dining experience at Bambara. The group I was having diner with shared most of the plates because we wanted to try as much as possible. We started with an amazing cheese board with the Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Silver Queen Goat Cheese and Roque Smoked Blue Cheese. The blue cheese is what really blew me away when paired with the strawberry jam. I recommend playing with paring with all the accoutrements to bring out different flavors in the cheeses. The prosciutto beignets came out next. It came with a fantastic pear compote that was sweet against the salty prosciutto. The beignets were light and crispy and a great base. I could have eaten another serving by myself. The caramelized onion tart was a hearty follow up. My favorite part was the crispy oyster mushroom on top. I finished out my mains with the grilled watermelon salad. It was incredible. Topped with a basil marinated feta and crunchy pine nuts, it was a refreshing salad with the most flavorful tomatoes. For dessert, we got the lemon blueberry tiramisu and the Neapolitan cakes. The tiramisu is what absolutely stood out to me. It was light with the lady fingers soaked in lemoncello giving it a sweet kick. Our server Chrit was wonderful. He took care of with humor and gave great recommendations. I would absolutely dine here again. read more
I booked Bambara for my anniversary at 6pm so I think we successfully avoided all the crowds on the weekend. I reserved on Opentable and put it in the instruction that I would like to order bison wellington in advance, they only take this order 48 hours in advance. The general experience was good and I would recommend it for special occasions. Interior looks new due to recent renovations; carpet on the floor helped lower the noise of the restaurant. Highlights: - Grilled tomatoes and brioche with bone marrow butter was very good! Good appertizers always suggest a good meal to come. - The bison wellington. Bison is a very lean meat and they executed it so well, medium rare and it's still juicy. Chef's salt on the pastry made it shine. - The tiramisu with blueberry and limoncello was great, might send you to a food coma because of the creaminess and sweetness. - Our server was attentive to us, and kept checking on us throughout the meal. Low lights: - A day before my appointment I called in to make sure they got my preorder right. 2 hours before my appointment, they called to verify that I still wanted my wellington because somehow they got another note to cancel it (?) - Kale that went with wellington came out so so salty and I had to send it back to the kitchen. Luckily they got it right the second time, despite it being noticeably spicier and the mashed potatoes were much cremier and tastier as well. I think they have the talents, but might want to look into quality control to keep the consistency. - This can be nitpicky; after we had the brioche buns, our table was filled with crumbs and our server didn't clean those up until we were done with entrees. read more
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More info about Bambara
202 S Main St
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Downtown
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(801) 363-5454
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https://bambara-slc.com
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