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Shareable Starters - Bambara, Salt Lake City, UT

Bambara

4.5
4.5
2757 Reviews
$50 and over
Modern European
Top Tags:
Bambara, located within the vibrant Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, is a modern bistro renowned for its impeccable service and stylish ambiance. Since its inception and through the extensive renovation and re-haul this year, Bambara continues to set the tone for the Salt Lake culinary landscape, consistently ranking as one of the best places to dine.
An ideal choice for both hotel guests and devoted locals, Bambara offers the ideal setting for celebrating cherished moments with loved ones, indulging with friends, dining with colleagues, or seeking a pre/post-theater bite. Nestled in a historically significant bank lobby adorned with original arched 10ft windows, this centrally located restaurant boasts a seasonal rotation of dishes that celebrate the local bounty of fish, game, and vegetable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Cuisines
    Modern European, Contemporary American, Bistro
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:00 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 7:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (801) 363-5454
  • Website
    http://www.bambara-slc.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Catering
    Have the place to yourself for an unforgettable evening with 180 of your closest friends or colleagues. If your soirée requires a longer guest list, we also have access to three meeting spaces at the adjacent Hotel Monaco, with more than 3,100 square feet ranging from the 14-seat Tokyo Boardroom to the Paris Ballroom, with seating for 225. <br /><br />For more information or to book your event, email Tommy.Girrbach&#64;bambara-slc.com, or fill out the form below.<br />
  • Private party facilities
    Bambara offers 4 elegantly appointed separate rooms for holding business meetings or receptions. They can accommodate groups of 12 – 220.
  • Private party contact
    Bambara Restaurant : (801) 363-5454
  • Location
    202 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    200 South
  • Parking details
    Street parking; valet service that is discounted with validation.
  • Public transit
    TRAX stop on Main Street Between 200-300 South<br />UTA Bus Stop on 200 South at Main Street
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 2,757 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Utah

    Good for business meals

  • Salt Lake City

    Good for business meals

  • Salt Lake City

    Innovative

2,757 Reviews

  1. Dana

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Dinner was fantastic - we had a charcuterie board, bison steak frites and the Idaho trout. The food was exceptional. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend!

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  2. DanH

    Salt Lake City

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and atmosphere. Watermelon salad is amazing, service on point. Dan Hobbs Charlie's Produce.

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  3. RyanE

    Salt Lake City

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Very nice dinner. Service was excellent. The food is presented beautifully. The filet lacked in the potato purée underneath- was very small and I’m not sure why they cut the filet in half. It can dry it out a bit. The charcuterie carrots were not good but everything else was very very good.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    Salt Lake City

    2 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    I love this restaurant and have been coming to it for 15 years. Please bring back the blue cheese chips! They’re iconic and nostalgic for many of us. I understand that seasons change and the menu should too but the chips should be a staple. I’ll keep coming back the experience would be 10/10 with the chips on the menu. 8/10 until they return.

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  5. ElleWoods

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall3food4service2ambience4
    Bambara tries to invoke a fine dining experience with their pricing but falls short with their food and service experience. The food doesn't have that wow factor you'd expect. The scallops are probably the best entree followed by the trout, tomahawk, and chicken, the elk was the worst ordered. The beignets were not your traditional NOLA expected texture but more like croquettes. The whipped goat cheese tartine was underwhelming. While the ambiance tries to seem quiet and romantic, the space echoes with conversation and the open kitchen. The service was nothing special.

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  6. JessicaJ

    New Orleans

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    The food was excellent. The prosciutto beignets and the elk steak were so so good. I loved the grilled watermelon.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 25, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    We were 10 minutes early for 5 PM reservation. Made us wait until they open and that’s ok but the door was already open and a few people were walking up to desk “without reservation” and they would sit them right away even though it’s before 5 PM. The place was practically empty. They did not come to get us even after our reservation time was up and we had to come up to the desk again to see “ if our table was ready now”. It’s a joke; the place is empty mind you. And I know now why; it’s because of bad service, bad food, way over priced. They took their over cooked, zero tasting caramelized onion off the check($ 170 - $ 17) because they felt “sorry” for the “inconvenience”. Don’t need their feeling sorriness, just need good food and a descent service which they did not have.

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  8. LisaL

    Boise

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall1food1service4ambience4
    We picked this restaurant over several other options as we had dined for dinner here before and food was excellent. Sunday brunch had one cook for the entire restaurant. It took 40 minutes to get our food with no table visit or apology from the manager. Our server was as nice as could be but at no time communicated with us why the food was taking so long until i finally asked him where our food was (35 minutes after ordering)The other server just rolled her eyes each time one of her tables would ask what was going on. If the staff had just been upfront with the situation we would have had the chance to come another time when they had enough cooks on. The cook should be rewarded for doing the job solo. Communication is key in the hospitality business.

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  9. ShawnM

    Salt Lake City

    59 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    59 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Really enjoyed the prosciutto beignets and coffee crusted Elk. Great service, love the new brightened look.

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  10. SherryV

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Our food was absolutely amazing. The waiter Jake was fantastic, helpful, and attentive. The chef prepared everything perfect. What a great birthday dinner choice! Highly recommend.

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  11. Dhlove3

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food and the staff very friendly. Great service and the food 10/10 Best night ever

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  12. PennyM

    Vancouver

    32 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on September 21, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience4
    Nice restaurant with great friendly staff. Unfortunately we went to have the Lobster Roll and they were out.

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  13. Realfood23

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was outstanding. Three of us went and everyone was very enthusiastic about their food. Appetizers, main dish, and desserts were all fantastic. This is my third time coming here and each time has been a very high quality food experience.

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    Wilmington

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent location and excellent staff. Menu is pretty well balanced and something for everyone.

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a great time! We will definitely visit next time we are in town.

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  16. LBSLC

    Salt Lake City

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 17, 2023

    overall3food2service2ambience3
    This used to be my favorite restaurant. We would come here for every birthday or anniversary. Menu has changed. The famous blue cheese chips are off the menu. Service wasn’t great. Sad to say it but I’ll never be back.

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  17. OpenTable Diner

    Boise

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful food a great service made our anniversary really special for us.

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  18. MichaelT

    Salt Lake City

    21 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Normally, hotel restaurants are cliche and boring. Not Bambara. The relaunch of this restaurant does not disappoint. The bar area has more than doubled, and is chock full of interesting libations and creations. The appetizers piqued curiosity and oozed with elevated execution. The entrées were engaging, and differentiated, also executed flawlessly. The service was more than I expected, with the server accurately describing selections as if he were a writer for the New York Times food column. If I were forced to make a complaint, it would be that the selections of wines offered were a little mid-range compared to the prices, and, although served professionally enough, not accompanied by the ceremony often expected of wines in similarly priced categories.

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  19. TinaW

    Salt Lake City

    7 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    The redesigned interior is less impressive and feels very casual, less exciting to be there.

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  20. StephenP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent creative cuisine and attentive service.

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  21. PeterB

    Naples

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We came here for a business dinner with a good part of our team. The food was amazing, the ambiance is fantastic and the location is excellent in downtown Salt Lake City.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    Salt Lake City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I had the best anniversary dinner ever! I wanted to dine in here for a long minute. Manager sat us and greeted us for our anniversary ( most restaurants don’t look at the reservation notes) our server then greeted us for the anniversary again. I had the bison tartare which was good, but the chips were not my favorite. My server was very nice and she brought their homemade bread, which was perfect! My wife loved her prosciutto beignets. Then we had the onion tart ( best dish) the fried mushrooms were to die for. Then we shared the steak frites 💯💯💯. Food wise 10/10. Now, service wise 100/10. Melanie was super nice. Her recommendations were good. She made us feel like in a 3 star Michelin restaurant. Thank you so much! We will be back soon

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  23. LAguy

    Los Angeles

    38 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Amazing food from start to finish. Jake the server was perfection. Warm, inviting, knows the menu and wine list top to bottom. Bravo, Jake.

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    Salt Lake City

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience3
    Overall it was good and no complaints. Will I go back? probably not. No complaints just nothing worth going back for.

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  25. RayandBarb

    Minneapolis

    73 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    73 reviews

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was the first time we dined at this restaurant and it certainly won’t be the last! Food was delicious and the service was fantastic. One of is gluten free due to celiac disease. The restaurant was very accommodating.

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  26. giorag

    Salt Lake City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was outstanding. Plan to return many times. Hats off to chef Patrick LeBeau

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  27. OpenTable Diner

    Western NC

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a tremendous meal here and great drinks. The deserts were to die for.

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  28. CHRISS

    Phoenix

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was amazing, the service just as good. My only knock on Bambara is for Utah, their wine is marked up significantly more than other restaurants of this quality. No matter, we'll be back as the food was spectacular and next time we'll bring our own wine and pay the corkage fee:)

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    Tahoe

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing as always, just need the original potato chips with blue cheese crumbles back on the menu.

    1 person found this helpful

  30. CaliC

    Salt Lake City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We came in to celebrate our daughter’s 27th birthday. It was a fantastic evening. The food was outstanding, the service (Jake) was perfect and the experience exceeded all expectations. Thank you!

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  31. Mystic

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great atmosphere. Food was delicious. The cocktails were delicious but the wine was very expensive. I’m not a wine connoisseur, so i shouldn’t have an opinion, but they appeared high priced. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and personable. Overall a wonderful experience.

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  32. LeeC

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall1food2service4ambience1
    We had dinner here last year and had the best salmon ever! So we were prepared to order it again, but, nope, not on the menu. In fact we were not sure what was on the menu. I guess we're just uneducated but what is "roasted Branzino" and Wagyu Tomahawk (yes, beef but Tomahawk?), and Cavatelli (?). We found nothing on the menu that sounded good but the chicken and the Filet Mignon. Not interested in trout, Bison, elk, halibut, Scallops al la Plancha (?), House Made Brioche with bone marrow butter (?). We had the chicken which was a very small piece of the breast meat and a few scattered tiny pieces of the dark meat. Still hungry. we ordered the tiramisu. It was not a tiramisu in our opinion. Yes, it had lady fingers, but lemon curd (?), blueberry jam (?). Umm, no. Sorry but this restaurant is a BIG NO for us.

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  33. CarolW

    Central Coast

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall3food1service4ambience3
    I used to go to Bombara years ago where the food was delicious with a great menu. We heard it should be a Michelin rated restaurant so we decided to check it out. To our utter dismay, the menu has changed and the food selection was limited and disappointing. I always like an option of a salad with fresh greens but they only had a ceasar salad. However, they had a watermelon hair loom tomato salad which was tasty with pine nuts topped with a soft cheese - no fresh greens with this salad. The Brioche rolls were warm but old so were hard and stale. The charcuterie board was very good with flavorful cheeses. There aren’t any sides offered on the menu which we wanted, so we asked our waiter if we could get some and he told us they had asparagus available. We ended up NOT ordering a main course because nothing was appealing to our palate. I was sorely disappointed in Bambara’s menu and cannot believe someone would recommend this restaurant to be a Michelin rated restaurant!!! I will NOT be returning unless their menu changes!

    1 person found this helpful

  34. Jeg1952

    Las Vegas

    31 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on August 17, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience3
    The renovated Bambara is lighted too brightly for dinner service. Dim the lights. Service was good. Is there music in the room? Didn’t hear it. Bison Frites was ok lacked flavor. Frites were not anything special. The Filet was ok. The pasta dish not so much. Appetizer goat cheese blueberry tartin was the best dish of the night and the Tiramiau was good as well. Pricey but not really worth it.

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  35. TThompson

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    OUTSTANDING!!! The food was delectable and the service was amazing. I loved the recommendations and everything about it. We will be coming back to try the brunch as soon as we can! I am craving the grilled watermelon salad right now!

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  36. Julie

    Salt Lake City

    220 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    220 reviews

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    Service was average, we got a cheeseboard with seemingly no knowledge of cheese types. Just blah.

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  37. LindaB

    Salt Lake City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Food was delicious and we can't wait to come back. Our server, Chrit, was outstanding and extremely knowledgeable, both regarding the wine and the food. It was a great experience celebrating our anniversary!

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  38. ChefMX

    Austin

    7 reviews

    2.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience3
    We were fans of Bambara years ago when we lived in SL, but have found the return to our once highly enjoyed restaurant disappointing. The elk was chewy, and the filet unrecognizable as filet. The hostess or manager (not sure) was obviously concerned with customer satisfaction, and really pleasant, however.

    1 person found this helpful

  39. DianeP

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 12, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    I enjoy eating at Bombara, I always do but I wish you had soup options more often. And I really hate that you got rid of the bread. I preferred it better when each table was given a variety of breads by request with out having to buy it.

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  40. ChristyLee

    Salt Lake City

    33 reviews

    4.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on August 8, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    We enjoyed a great dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary at Bambara. Our server was fantastic - very descriptive with food and drinks and attentive. While I did enjoy our dinner, I did feel it was a little high-priced, but it won't stop us from dining there again.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

FAQs

Bambara offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (801) 363-5454.

Bambara is rated 4.5 stars by 2757 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Bambara

202 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    200 South
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 7:00 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 7:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Modern European, Contemporary American, Bistro
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street parking; valet service that is discounted with validation.
  • Public transit
    TRAX stop on Main Street Between 200-300 SouthUTA Bus Stop on 200 South at Main Street
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.bambara-slc.com/
  • Phone number
    (801) 363-5454
  • Catering
    Have the place to yourself for an unforgettable evening with 180 of your closest friends or colleagues. If your soirée requires a longer guest list, we also have access to three meeting spaces at the adjacent Hotel Monaco, with more than 3,100 square feet ranging from the 14-seat Tokyo Boardroom to the Paris Ballroom, with seating for 225. <br /><br />For more information or to book your event, email Tommy.Girrbach&#64;bambara-slc.com, or fill out the form below.<br />
  • Private party facilities
    Bambara offers 4 elegantly appointed separate rooms for holding business meetings or receptions. They can accommodate groups of 12 – 220.
  • Private party contact
    Bambara Restaurant : (801) 363-5454

Featured in

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