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    Bambara

    3.9 (734 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Bambara Photos

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    BAMBARA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Bambara

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    Scallops and corn puree
    Katlyn M.

    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

    Ekta P.

    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.

    Sara G.

    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!

    Daniel S.

    Amazing food, service, and ambiance. A gem of the Salt Lake City restaurant scene. Fantastic bar as well if you have the time.

    Duck
    Levi J.

    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.

    House Milk Rolls
    Jacqueline C.

    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.

    Stephen S.

    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.

    Si L.

    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.

    Eggs Benedict with Birria. Comes with house potatoes.
    Sharon B.

    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.

    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

    Dining Area
    Alexandra G.

    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

    Elk loin
    Val R.

    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.

    Hank G.

    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 :-)

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    2 months ago

    So good! We loved the truffle fries. The atmosphere and service was amazing. We will definitely come back again.

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