Bambara Salt Lake City

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 Google 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.

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.

Great atmosphere service! They had a fun Wicked theme brunch happening during our stay. Everything we ate was excellently prepared! Would highly recommend dining here no matter what time of day!

**Review 1, original review. Followed by review 2, the turnaround.** Bambara – A Refined Atmosphere with Solid Service, but the Food Didn’t Quite Hit the Mark Stopped in for lunch at Bambara, and first impressions were great — this is a classy spot with a sleek, upscale vibe. The dining room was quiet with only about five customers at the time, which made for a calm atmosphere and very attentive service. Our server was absolutely wonderful — warm, smiling, and genuinely gave the impression that she wanted to be there and take care of us. Honestly, she was one of the highlights of the experience and deserves a full 5 stars on her own. I ordered the Steak Frites, medium rare, and to their credit, it was cooked exactly to that temperature. The meat was tender and paired with a rich brown sauce, which had a good flavor, but was very mild — almost too mild. I found myself having to add salt and pepper to nearly every bite, which isn’t a dealbreaker, but definitely not what I’d expect at this price point or from a place of this caliber. The fries that came with it were... fine. Crisp, fresh, no complaints — but nothing that stood out. The real curiosity was the elk pasta special. Flavor-wise, I really enjoyed it. It had that slightly gamey flavor that I personally like, though I recognize it’s not for everyone. The pasta was cooked well, and the overall balance was satisfying, but it didn’t blow me away. What did surprise me was the portion size — it was fairly small considering it’s a pasta dish, which is usually inexpensive and served more generously. It left me wanting a bit more, which wouldn’t be a problem if the dish itself had delivered more depth. Overall, I’d give the food a 3 out of 5 — nothing bad, but it just didn’t impress me the way I hoped it would. The service and atmosphere, on the other hand, were easily a 5/5. If you’re looking for a quiet, elegant lunch spot with genuinely kind staff and a relaxing setting, Bambara is a great choice. Just go in with measured expectations on the food, and you’ll probably enjoy the experience like I did. Second Visit Update – A Delightful Turnaround I returned to Bambara for a second visit, and I'm thrilled to report a significantly improved dining experience. I started with the cinnamon rolls, which were absolutely exceptional. The toppings tasted freshly made from scratch, and they melted in my mouth with each bite. Following that, I tried the birria grilled cheese, and it was equally impressive. The flavors were rich and well-balanced, making it a standout dish. This visit truly showcased Bambara's culinary potential, prompting me to revise my initial food rating from 3 stars to a well-deserved 5 stars.

We went to Bambara to celebrate our 5-year anniversary. They left us a lovely note congratulating us, which was a thoughtful touch and really appreciated. The restaurant itself is beautiful and has a great atmosphere. The gnocchi was absolutely delicious — definitely a highlight of the meal. The duck had great flavor, but unfortunately, it wasn’t as tender as we’d hoped and was a bit difficult to cut through. Service was a bit mixed — our server wasn’t very attentive, though the busser was great and really made an effort to make our night special.

A lovely atmosphere, we went for dinner and it was perfect for a date. The server was really nice and attentive. The food was delicious and plated very pretty. Expensive of course, but that's too be expected. The velveteen rabbit was the best cocktail we had out of the four we tried.

Went here for my birthday. The service was excellent, they even had a hand written note and the dessert was complimentary. However, the food, I thought was not great. It's good but for the prices, I expected more. My trout was not seasoned at all. The puffy potatoes were good. Shrimp appetizer was the best among the ones we ordered. Gnocchi was not for my taste buds either. On a Friday night, the restaurant had a few tables full but most of them were empty. Overall, it's decent but nothing extraordinary.

This was our second time dining at bambara and it has become one of our favorite places to go for special occasions. The service there is absolutely lovely and the food is incredibly flavorful and decadent. I highly recommend trying the beef tartar. It was exquisite! Thank you to all the lovely people there that helped make our 12th anniversary so special.

We stayed at the Kimpton Hotel twice with our dogs. I feel very valid in offering this 2 star review for this restaurant. They were the only restaurant accommodating us outside the restaurant with our dogs. The first night, we started with the blue cheese chips. Basically it was kettle chips with a few blue cheese melted sprinkles for $12. Not worth it and not good. Then, I had the short ribs and my friend had the elk medallions. The elk looked good but mine was a bit salty and of the two pieces one was all fat. It was tender but definitely nothing earth shattering. On our return trip through SLC, we ate again. This time we each had the shrimp appetizer and the papparadelle. The shrimp were very large (10/20)and came with 5 shrimp, sauce was good. but three of the shrimp were raw inside. It takes a "special" chef to make it raw, since most times shrimp is ruined when it is overcooked, so I guess this was a unique dining experience to say the least. The papparadelle came out and tasted ok. but pasta was still curled up just as it was cooked and the overall presentation did not look appetizing at all. The two stars are for the Tequila Temptress cocktail that was inventive and the service was kind and accomodating to my dog. Next time, I will be in Salt Lake I will choose another dog friendly hotel, door dash, or try to get in early enough to eat elsewhere. T

Overall had a good time. Came here as part of a corporate event and the food was pretty good. My menu was a 4 course meal consisting of Kohlrabi Caesar, Prime Utah Beef Tartare (and a couple other starters I forgot, shared with the table), Some Utah Ranch Prime Beef Tenderloin, and a Chocolate Lava Cake. Almost everything was very good, except my side for the main. The beef tenderloin plate came with a side of some sort of fried potato or rice? brick I can't remember. It was tasteless and oily and basically inedible. I was very jealous of other diners who had their charred carrots or other sides. Restaurant never got too loud and I enjoyed the service. Would highly suggest the restaurant/chef modify the menu to serve some sort of vegetable with all of their steak dishes. Whatever it was that was served with the tenderloin just didn't hit the mark.

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!

Food was amazing but our waitress was absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend asking for Christina if you plan on trying Bambara. She was wonderful and answered our million questions and had the most infectious personality. I would come back just to have her as my waitress again!

This upscale restaurant is a hidden gem located in the Monaco hotel. I loved the open kitchen where you can see your meal being prepared. Our waiters were Brandon and Dylan & they were attentive & very personable. Everything on the menu looked delicious so we opted to share many of our items so we could taste them all. The chips were surprisingly fantastic and definitely a must have if you enjoy blue cheese, and the cheese board had a great mix of local flavors. The walnut crusted halibut did not disappoint. Overall it was a fantastic dining experience.

Stopped in for lunch while in SLC. The rabbit croquettes were my favorite item on the menu for sure. The wait staff was friendly and the setting in a boutique hotel with open kitchen was very classy.

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 :-)

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.

After arriving late and feeling too tired to venture out for dinner, we opted to dine at the hotel restaurant. The ambiance was bustling, filled with business people enjoying drinks and meals. The servers were notably helpful and friendly throughout the evening. The food, while generally good for a hotel restaurant, had one dish that leaned towards the salty side. Overall, it's a decent spot to grab a bite if you're staying at the hotel and in need of convenient dining options.

The food was fair at best. The pastry table you're allowed when ordering a main is minimal. The chocolate croissant was good, but would've been better if there was a way to warm it up. The biscuits and gravy was interesting. The elk meat is lean and could use a little seasoning. Otherwise it's literally elk with basic gravy on top. The biscuits were green, maybe broccoli ? The casserole was a bust. The hash browns were basically raw sitting atop of mushroom soup. Tried this restaurant because we're staying in the hotel, but otherwise, I won't be trying it again.

Went for Sunday brunch. All the servers were kind and helpful. They made great suggestions and the bendeict with salmon was perfect and exactly the brunch I was craving. Nice, calm atmosphere and everything was just nice.

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.

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.

HOLY COW! This place is simply amazing! I had no idea what to order on the menu, but our kind server explained and recommended things and HE WAS RIGHT! Everything was so delicious. I had the pasta with an exquisite Butternut Squash sauce. My husband had the filet and loved it. We were treated like royalty. Loved every second and morsel. We will be back. I don't think you'd find one bad thing on this menu. The chefs are extraordinary.

Food was fantastic! Our sever Conner gave us awesome recommendations, and fantastic service. Highly recommend the elk loin. We will be coming back.

Visiting and ate here for dinner. Wow, the food is fresh, tasty and phenomenal in all senses. Started with the Caesar salad and that was very nice, fresh greens and great dressing. For dinner I ate the trout. That was the best dish of trout I've had in a very long time, cooked to perfection. If you love the classic baked Alaska alas on fire. Well there is flames and then-some. The staff were friendly, personable and helpful. I enjoyed it!

Meh. We decided to give this place a second chance, but no real flavor in the food. Very basic for the price.

I have been here probably 4-5 times and have never had a bad experience. I will always recommend this place to anyone and everyone. The food is always immaculate and the service is top notch.

I shouldn't have come an hour and a half before closing time, because the food and service were subpar at best. The bison tartare was very gamey. The mushroom and polenta dish was bland. The 30 oz wagyu tomahawk was undercooked and cold. We ordered this to be medium rare and it was practically still alive while the kale that accompanied the dish was extremely salty. The waiter didn't check back to see if the meal was good, so I wasn't able to address any of our concerns. I had to flag him down when we were ready to go in order to pay for the awful meal. It's sad that one of slc's better restaurants has gone downhill so much. I wish the ambiance could've made up for the lack of service & poor food, but I definitely won't be back.

NOTE: we were just here for dessert so we didn't try any of the food That said, the dessert was great! We had a baked alaska, some lattes + espresso, & a pear cake which I can't remember the name of. Everything was delicious. The icecream that came in the baked alaska was incredible and the base was a sweet potato cake which really tasted nothing like sweet potato but had an amazing gritty texture to it that was really enjoyable to bite into. The pear cake was the same way, the texture of the cake itself was so full and enjoyable to bite, had a very big crumb. Coffees & espressos were good all around. Staff was super nice despite us walking in an hour before close. Loved the interior as well, felt very put together but casual enough at the same time.

Wonderful lunch at the hotel. Brunch on weekends including breakfast items and yummy salads. I had the market street salad with shrimp - arugula, cranberry, cherry tomatoes, some sort of grain, avocado. All so yummy and perfect for a fall lunch meal. Great service and lovely setting.

I typically venture away from my hotel when it comes to eating (I was staying at the Kimpton) but as we made our way to the elevators I got a front-row look (large glass wall) at the staff cooking & preparing food and it captured my interest. When I went in to check out the menu, the nearby guest had just received an order of the Eggs Benedict & Flatiron Steak Frites. The first thing they said was "You won't be disappointed buddy as we returned ourselves." We laughed together and I let them enjoy. We had a business meeting and decided that was a good excuse to use the restaurant. Brunch runs from 10am to 2pm so I decided to go with the Egg White Frittata.... it had tomatoes, feta, avocado & spinach... I opted out of the breakfast potatoes as I've been cutting back on carbs, but man, what a winner!!! Unexpected goodness best sums it up. The service was great. I wasn't there long enough to indulge more over the next few days, but the table of 4 across from me got a few of the Bam Burger and they looked good as I was wrapping up. A bit pricey @ $23 but a good business write-off if needed :-)

Overall, Bambara was a pleasant experience. We opted for this place because it was in our hotel and there was a snow storm outside and we didn't want to leave. My glass of Erath Pinot was a tasty compliment to my perfectly prepared filet. The main course was the standout and mouthwatering from start to finish. The mustard in the mashed potatoes were so good and unexpected. The kale was great as well, just a tad salty. I would highly recommend the filet. Our appetizers were okay, but felt like they were trying a tad too hard to make them unique. The beet salad was nice with the whipped ricotta, but we weren't fans of the granola/sweetness that was sprinkled around it. The whipped feta with sourdough was also great, but the sweetness from the Apple Butter wasn't needed in our opinion. The service here was exceptional and they split all of our items without us asking, which was so nice.

You know that moment in Ratatouille when the food critic takes a bite and is transported, yeah that is this restaurant. The best food and dining experience I've had in the past decade, if not ever. (Get the duck! Wow.) Branden was a delight to be served by and made our anniversary extra special!

BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANT AND TOP NOTCH SERVICE!! My guy did a great job making reservations here for our first Christmas weekend together . Our waitress Shay was amazing. She checked on us, refilled our drinks naturally and was pleasant. She had a very welcoming demeanor and a comforting smile Shay was very knowledgeable of the menu and her service was top tier. It was truly a blessing having her as our waitress. We had a bit of a hiccup initially but once management intervened they ensured everything was smooth and perfect. The restaurant is inside of the Monaco. The entire hotel is beautiful and the restrooms are very clean. Oops, I do not have the names of the food. But we enjoyed it and it was a nice end to our evening. I totally recommend this restaurant for a date night. Make reservations! Enjoy!

The first time we came here was 16 years ago and we always remembered it as our favorite restaurant in the world. The food was on point with the flavor combos, quality ingredients but cooked to perfection. Here we are 16 years later and it's still as outstanding as usual. There hasn't been a place to (and I travel a lot) top it.

We always stop by when we come through SLC. Our most recent stop: Salmon tartare - good light appetizer Elk- very good! Comes in two pieces. The mushrooms that came with them were perfect Steak- perfectly cooked, very flavorful. They came with the skinny fries Drinks were okay, but you're here for the food anyway.

Food was boring, not much flavor, the sides of carrots and potatoes were good. Dessert was good. But we ordered 9 main courses, appetizers and a Tomahawk for he table that was not edible it was so raw, sent back I think they just rearranged and sent back to table. 8 out of 9 people said they would not return. Plus if took the3 hours for dinner

Do not go here if you are vegan. You will leave starving. They have one mushroom bowl option that they can make vegan but it's pretty bland and not very filling. I tried a salad last time as recommended by the server but I just got a plate with lettuce on it topped with a small amount of apple shreds. I wish they would have at least added some beans or chickpeas or a gardein chicken patty or something or even a slice of bread. Vegan impossible or beyond burger or even vegan feta is readily available and would not be hard to sub in for some of the dishes. I ended up paying $20 for lettuce with apple shreds and left starving. If you're in the area and need vegan food, go to Eva's Bakery or Green Pig Pub.

I went to Bambara on Thanksgiving and they had a buffet with a variety of foods--turkey, ham, salmon, mashed and sweet potatoes, etc. Food was super disappointing for the price and upscale environment. The food tasted like it had been overcooked and left out all day. The brussel sprouts were burnt (literally black), ham was dried out, apple cheesecake had a film around it from being left out, etc. Our server was amazing and the house rolls were good but I won't be returning to try their other menus.

Having eaten here several times, the food has always been outstanding until last night. We ordered the Osso Bucco. It was barely warm, extremely tough, so much so that we had to saw it w the steak knife. It was sent back and I got the Chicken Roulade dish w farro and broccolini instead. That dish was worse. The chicken was dry, the entire dish tasted like tap water. The broccolini was tiny, thin and tasted bitter and burned. I could only eat a few bites of the entire dish. We were sat at a small two top, the neighboring tables were extremely close, their coats/items were touching me and we could hear their entire conversations. It was difficult to squeeze out of the table w my coat and bag. We were extremely disappointed and it all made for an awkward evening. I know the staff could tell bc they removed our entrees from our check w/o us asking for that and we were only charged for our drinks. Our server and all the staff we encountered were exceptional. They made up for it the best they could which is appreciated. I'm sorry to leave such a sad review but hopefully the cook staff steps it up.

Went here by myself for my 33rd Birthday and I cried otw home. I went fairly late bc i was visiting from Houston. I wanted an Elk Steak so bad. And I got it. They served me one hr before closing and made me feel extremely special. There were two other parties with birthdays there and they all had friends with them. I was ok with being alone but the manager came and wanted to wished me a Happy Birthday. They celebrated with me and I enjoyed every second. I have to go back! The food was amazing! The environment was awesome also. I need everyone to know this place is worth a try!! Definitely recommend as the staff is thoughtful and friendly knowledgeable and professional!

Went with a group on Friday night. I am Celiac, and very allergic to gluten. There is no Gluten free menu. The waiter suggested 2 dishes that obviously had gluten (wheat berries). So I needed to confirm that the chef could make my dishes gluten free. They assured me that would be easy to do. Ended up with Gluten Poison, and was extremely sick for 36 hours. The food was good, but if you have any special dietary requirements I would avoid.

Lunch menu is greatly reduced from dinner options Went with work group and had very poor service. Nice server but either not listening or not organized. Lobster roll is a joke size. Maybe 2 tablespoons of meat on the standard hot dog roll. Burger is amazing. Wagyu steak salad is ok. Probably won't be back but would pickup the burger to go

Hmmmm... I'm gonna say yes because the food is good and it is a restaurant. The room is lovely. I just can't get over the fact that in my youth, I worked there as a server. When the management is this stupid, it's hard to support a business, but they seem to do some things right in spite of themselves. I was once called into the office and disciplined for something that I did not do. As a remedy they made me sit and watch a video of Bill Cosby doing a standup act. This was in an attempt to teach me how to be a better person by absorbing the wisdom of Bill Cosby. This was supposed to fix me and mercifully save me from being fired. After my viewing, they wanted to have a discussion with me about what I'd seen and said video presentation. They didn't like my answers so they fired me anyway and escorted me out of the building with three people as though I had just shoplifted. A funny story now, but man it's hard to take them seriously. I chuckle just driving by so being invited to a party and having dinner the other night was a real flashback weekend.

Great service, great food and beautiful ambiance. Looking for a fun night out? Stop here, you won't be sorry!

Bambara was a-ok! We were killing time in downtown Salt Lake prior to our flight home and found Bambara on Yelp. Despite being located within the Kimpton Hotel, it was fairly quiet when we visited on a Saturday morning. The ambiance of the space was very formal and a bit more of an old school vibe complete with white table cloths. Unfortunately, I felt as though the service fell a bit short of the atmosphere. While our waitress was friendly, we were seated in the back corner of the restaurant (despite it being one of just a few tables), and found that we were often overlooked or forgotten. I started with a latte which was very delicious and cozy. My friends and I shared the bread pudding French toast and this was definitely the star of the show! The bread was thick and crunchy on the outside, but the soft and fluffy on the inside. The crème anglaise it was served with was perfectly sweet. I order the huevos rancheros and it was definitely the most interesting version of this meal I've seen. The scrambled(ish) eggs were served under a pile of tortilla chips that ended up being pretty soggy by the time I reached them. On top of that, I wasn't a huge fan of the salsa used. The experience overall had some highs and lows. Definitely get the French toast if you give Bambara a visit for brunch!

Delish food & great vibe! I had the opportunity to sit at the Chefs table & see the food come & go....what a treat!! Scallops al la Plancha were over the top in flavor. Try the Braised Lions Mane Mushrooms if you love mushrooms - again full of flavor & great texture. I'm not usually a fan of restaurants in a hotel.....not sure why??? But this was the right choice first my one evening in SLC. The service was impeccable. Book a table here!

This was a great place to eat! Our group really enjoyed the food and the service was superb. It is a little pricey if you don't mind that, but the high-end menu was amazing and just varied enough that anyone can find something amazing to eat. I would definitely recommend it for a nice special occasion dinner.

Bambara has a good location on Main in an old building with loads of character. We were seated a few minute before our reservation and were given the choice of a table or booth. Service was quick but not rushed. The space was nicely lit on a rainy night but I bet it's bright in daylight. It IS loud but we could still talk. We chose a couple of interesting sounding cocktails that were ok but not great. We switched to beer for the meal. I felt wine had a fairly large markup, even for Utah. Our charcuterie and cheese board was delightful. Whiskey marinated carrots may be my new favorite accompaniment! We ordered the filet mignon and the halibut. The filet arrived sliced in half (interesting) on a bed of very dense potatoes called funeral potato purée. It came with a giant corn flake. Fun touch. That was enjoyable. It also included a chunk of mushroom. Not sure what kind. The marcona almond crusted halibut was a fishy salt lick. The inside of the fish was less salty but desperately needed acid, or anything other than salt. It was well cooked. It was not what I expected and I didn't like it, but that was my choice, my taste, and I declined a replacement. The accompanying veg was potatoes confit and what was either burned green beans or burned asparagus. The menu was not as listed online and in reading other reviews I now understand there have been many recent changes, including the decor. I think I may try this place again after they find their pace given the changes. Many good things but just as many mediocre or odd items.

Date night and special occasion restaurants are always on my radar and I think I've found one that is definitely worth a try soon! This is Bambara and can be found on the ground level of the Monaco Hotel in Downtown Salt Lake City. They are still undergoing a bit of renovation - but I wouldn't let that deter you from stopping by. The atmosphere and aesthetic of the hotel/restaurant overall is very intimate and old money feeling. It's definitely a place that you will be paying top dollar for, but I feel it was VERY much worth it. THE FOOD. Let's just talk about how inventive and imaginative the chef is! They pair these familiar dishes with a local and Utah native twist. My favorite was the seasonal watermelon salad. It was a sweeter take on a caprese salad with a sweet yellow watermelon that was not only amazing to look at but absolutely delicious to eat! We also enjoyed the fresh Brioche Bread with bone marrow butter, and a 3 cheese charcuterie board as additional appetizers. For our Entrees, we went with the crowd-favorite Filet Mignon & Crusted Halibut. Both were sumptuous and perfectly cooked, but the Filet Mignon really took our breath away! It was perfectly tender and was paired with this mouthwatering mushroom bordelaise sauce that I just wanted to bottle up and put on everything! The mashed potatoes were also SO creamy and had the most perfect consistency. You can tell the chefs are putting in the time and effort to really make each dish so special. We ended the night with a classic yet showy dessert - Baked Alaska! I will say, this is the one thing I was probably slightly disappointed by but I should have known just based on the fact that I'm not the biggest rum fan. The banana bread base paired with the sweet yet tangy rum ice cream was delicious on its own, but when you add in that caramelized and sweet smoked meringue it was SO yummy! I just found the rum flavor was a bit strong at times. Definitely would recommend it for a fancy dinner date in Salt Lake City! Be sure to make a reservation in advance too.

To me, Bambara is a spot to dip your toes into "fine dining". They offer dishes (with prices to match) that you would expect somewhere fancy, but the ambience of the establishment is not like that. There's a large bar in the center, plenty of windows for natural sunlight. It feels almost bistro-like to me and it was one of the reasons I loved coming here. My partner and I have had multiple date night dinners here. We have a great experience every time, even during some rough months of the pandemic. There have been dishes I can't get out of my mind and others that were good but forgettable also. Since their menu is always changing, it's hard to recommend top favorites. However, the blackberry cobbler I had one time is the best cobbler I've ever had. If you see cobbler on the dessert list, order it. Bambara is definitely a restaurant I miss in SLC.

It was alright. Food was straightforward- I found myself reaching for the salt shaker (something I typically don't do). Breakfast burrito was simple. The service was a little behind the ball- but I suppose it was a busy(ish) morning and there was really only two people working the room. The bread pudding French toast was A+. Absolutely great.

Amazing food and ambiance. Was in SLC for a conference and they really took good care of us. A definite recommendation for visitors and locals.

The food was excellent! The Heirloom Tomato & Watermelon Salad was very good. Bison was cooked properly and very flavorful.

The food was incredible. The portions were a little small, especially for the pricing that they have. The bar is always open. However, the restaurant does not start seating until 530 every night. So you'll have to sit outside in the lobby area of the hotel it is attached to. I really loved their cocktails and the server we had was absolutely incredible, I would definitely come back here. I just wish that there was a better parking situation because it's downtown and that the portion sizes were bigger!

Very nice upscale restaurant tucked away in Hotel Monaco. My wife and I came here for a dinner date and we were not disappointed. For appetizers I got the carrot and ginger soup, which was delicious. I will say the soup was actually the highlight of my meal. My wife got the steak tartar, something she has always wanted to try, and she did like it. For dinner I got the wagyu steak and it was cooked perfectly, But the steak itself was very chewy. I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I had to chew on some of the pieces for quite a while and my wife tried a piece and ended up spitting it out because she couldn't break it down. My wife ordered the lamb shank and it was also cooked perfectly. Very tender piece of meat. My wife loves lamb but this particular cut did taste a bit gamey. For dessert we were recommended the banana Crème brûlée and we got the apple spiced rum cake. The server said the banana Crème brûlée was their most popular dessert, but the apple rum cake was delicious! Hands down would recommend that dessert. All in all we had a great experience and would recommend this for a special dinner experience.

Food: The goat cheese shareable app was amazing! Great favors, very different. Really fresh and creamy and citrusy, if that's a word. Also great bread to spread ratio. Plenty of sourdough to dip. The carrot and ginger purée sour was OUTSTANDING! So yummy and unique. I would highly highly recommend even though it sounds weird. It's chefs kiss. Dinner was decent. I got the salmon and husband got the lamb shank. The salmon was just okay. Nothing mind blowing. My husband loved the lamb though. Ambiance: Decent. Could use dimmer lighting for more of a moody vibe. Dining chairs look cheap, could use a face life. Price: Pretty pricey. For the two of us it was $200 including tip. But we did get soup, an app, two entrees and 4 drinks. Wine: Extremely small pours for the expensive cost. Service: Fast, Friendly and knowledgeable. First timers here. Great food recommendations. Straightforward. Overall very enjoyable experience and would recommend!

This was such a fun way to celebrate Christmas Eve! We have the caesar salad, charcuterie and bison wellington as well as some fun drinks. All of the food was well cooked and flavorful. Our server was so sweet and great at making recommendations. Will be returning!