Bambara Restaurant

Recommends

lsarao

Joined 4 years ago

Great Lunch Spot!. Bambara is definitely one of my favorite go-to lunch spots when I want a nice escape from the office and those typical everyday lunches. The interior is super modern and hip and the menu is very creative.

They have a great express power lunch - 3 courses in 30 minutes or less for only $14 - and amazing homemade lemonades!

Their entree salads are huge and filled with fresh ingredients. Their soups are really delicious and their sandwiches are very generous and come with either fries or a mixed green salad.

My favorites are the grilled cheese & tomato soup - perfect on a cold day and the grilled eggplant panini, which is full of greens and fresh mozarella served on a toasted focaccia bread. Mmmm...

Recommends

missteeq

Joined 5 years ago

Great location, Great service, Great food. Went here last night. Food was excellent, waiter was attentive and eager to please. I couldn't decide on a side and the waiter surprised me with a sample of their fried rice and mashed potatoes. Both very delicious. Waiter said he'd tell chef to put half/half on my plate. My friend had seared tuna with coleslaw- Also great choice, very tasty!!!! Drinks were good at avg Boston prices - $10 - $12 a martini. At the end of the meal, the chef sent us complimentary dessert wine. Thought that was really nice. We had a great time and can't wait to return again!

Recommends

Eric Grossman

Joined 10 years ago

Cambridge singles and hotel guests check out American brasserie cuisine, served in handsome environs.. Bambara's interior matches the hip environment of the chic Hotel Marlowe, to which it's connected. The warmly lit dining room contains several high-backed banquettes (great for intimate dining), and is split in two by a bar that features its own menu of small plates, a lengthy, international wine list and a creative cocktail menu (pomegranate-ginger martinis, kiwi mojitos). Classy servers keep an eye on water glasses and are well-versed in the menu's intricate ingredients. Best described as specializing in modern American comfort fare, Bambara offers stylish interpretations of familiar brasserie favorites like pan-seared scallops and braised short ribs. Menu highlights include warm lobster sliders, orcchiette Bolognese and the kitchen's signature steak frites. Leave room for sinful desserts like chocolate bread pudding with vanilla-bean ice cream or a cinnamon-pear tartlet.

High Marks
* "...The bar is great, good food and service. I always recommend it..." (mahlman, Citysearch user)

* "Overall we were very happy with the experience. Good service, very good food for the prices they charge. Great interior too. We were greeted like friends..." (dimab, Citysearch user)

Low Marks
* "...don't go to the bar to watch a sox game, you'll probably be disappointed with the TVs." (baileye, Citysearch user)

* "...I ordered the "Signature Steak Frite". The Frites were nice, but the steak and associated sauce were not very good..." (dhart000, Citysearch user)

Doesn't Recommend

dhart000

Joined 5 years ago

Extremely Disappointing. I had really high hopes for this place, but the food was extemely poor. First, my mixed greens salad had a moldy tomato in it. This tomato was 2/3s brown. No self respecting chef would let this piece of garbage out of his kitchen!!!!!!!!! Where is the quality control? Then two of the people in our party ordered the salmon. One of them asked for it done medium. Both orders came out over done. These pieces of fish looked like something that had been sitting in a warming tray for hrs. Unacceptable!! I ordered the "Signature Steak Frite". The Frites were nice, but the steak and associated sauce were not very good. If the "signature" dish tis supposed to be their best then they are in big trouble. For the money go to the Blue Room, Highland Kitchen, or East Coast Grill and avoid this place like the plague. I wil.

Recommends

mahlman

Joined 7 years ago

A consisten go-to spot for me.... I go back and forth between Boston & New York every month and I almost always land at Bambara. The bar is great, good food and service. I always recommend it...

Doesn't Recommend

nomaivlys

Joined 7 years ago

Not Impressed. I suggested Bambara for a small family get together and I apologized for it after. The atmosphere was excellent but the decor did not atone for the quality of food. We were all very disappointed. The risotto was hard in the middle and the meat was not cooked to specifications. There are so many better choices in Cambridge.

Recommends

dmibur

Joined 10 years ago

very good overall value. Overall we were very happy with the experience. Good service, very good food for the prices they charge. Great interior too. We were greeted like friends. Our waitress was very polite, but sounded a little unexperienced. No one liked risotto she suggested as special. Wine we ordered was not available, but she quickly offered a comparable replacement. The rest of the experience was excellent.

Recommends

baileye2

Joined 8 years ago

my favorite!. This is one of my favorite restaurants! The dishes are always great, try the duck with great sauce and mashed potatoes- it's to die for. The quality is unbeatable and the wine list is pretty good too. Great for a nice night out or a great dinner with friends. Only problem- don't go to the bar to watch a sox game, you'll probably be disappointed with the TVs.