Bambara Salt Lake City — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

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...

We came here for our 10-year anniversary based on a list that it was a good restaurant to celebrate a romantic evening, anniversary or special occasion at. I left in the special instructions that were were celebrating our 10-year anniversary here and I'd like to make it special. Flowers, flower petals, or a dessert that said happy anniversary is what I was expecting since those are the kinds of things we've had added at other restaurants. The servers were very nice, but they did absolutely nothing to accommodate a special evening. Didn't even wish us a happy anniversary. Did they even read the special instructions? Probably not. Will definitely be calling restaurants after this to see what they do and not rely on OpenTable to forward information on.

The server started out saying there were no specials and they only had what was on the menu, which was a bit of a downer to start the night off with. I tried to order a holiday cocktail that was on the menu, but she turned me down saying holiday drinks weren't being served anymore. I asked what cocktails they had and she said it was an open bar so they could make anything. I looked at the ingredients for the holiday cocktail and the only special flavor was a spiced syrup. I asked if they could just substitute the syrup for a regular syrup and of course they could! I was a little astonished that she didn't offer that solution to begin with.

Otherwise, the food was good, but not $200 for 2 people good. We ordered the prosciutto beignets and salmon tartar to start. Both were very good.

I got the elk and my husband the striploin for our entrees. My elk was perfect, but the fried mushrooms as a side were very heavy and very rich. I think roasted vegetables and a salad or quinoa would have been a better pairing. My husband's steak wasn't rendered or trimmed properly so about 1/3 was fat. We weren't impressed (except for the elk).

The desserts were good. My husband ordered the banana crème brûlée with burnt cinnamon and the flavors were excellent. They were very skimpy on the sugar topping so it didn't have a nice break when digging in, but that was the only negative. I ordered the double chocolate Panna Cotta with graham cracker crumbs and a roasted marshmallow and it was also good.

Overall, we won't be coming back. I can pay $200 at Current Fish and Oyster or La Caille and have them make it a special celebration like we've done with previous anniversaries, which is what we should have done to begin with....

My partner and I had spent years wanting to visit this restaurant and could never find a time to do it. We finally managed to visit for a date night. We were very happy with the evening and regret not visiting sooner!

The food was the highlight of the trip, and we shared everything between the two of us. All of the items we ordered were delicious and in some cases surprising how well the textures and flavors complemented each other. The cocktails made in-house are well worth a try. The mocktails are equally as tasty. The blue cheese chips are just as amazing as everyone claimed to be; crispy, cheesy, umami bombs akin to nachos. The Bambara salad was a welcome palate cleanser for the chips and a nice light plate before our heavy main. We asked for the Bison Wellington ahead of time, and we highly recommend it. It was perfectly medium rare, the kale and potatoes were good enough to be a main dish, and the duxelle and pastry added more flavor and texture to an otherwise spectacular plate. Dessert cannot be skipped either. The black forest pana cotta with hazelnuts is one of the most surprisingly flavorful desserts I have ever had with the texture alone being worth a try. The tiramisu was unique, tangy, light, and equally worth a shot. The caliber of food was some of the best in all of Utah.

The service was friendly and attentive with the pacing of the meal being timed nicely. The decor and ambiance for a Tuesday night remained mildly quiet throughout our visit, with more business meetings than dates at the time, but that worked for us who prefer more chill, intimate settings. It is an excellent spot for dates!

Overall, it is an expensive restaurant for a reason. You're paying for a higher class of food, service, and attention to detail. The ambiance and decor complement the aesthetic with the staff doing a great job of providing a great experience. If you're able, we highly recommend visiting, especially if it's just for a meal; you will...