Bambara Kitchen & Bar

Review summary

1. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Greater Boston3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 1 March 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent all around. It’s connected to the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel so we thought the food would be average but it was not. It was a high end restaurant with a Chef who knew how to infuse flavors, and the attention to detail was amazing. Try the beet salad and salmon entree. You’ll be amazed.
   

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2. A

   Arun

   Kansas City3 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on 23 February 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   Food’s bad, very bland. Not at all worth the price. Long wait time, when the restaurant was half empty on a Saturday night!
   

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3. A

   AJ

   Las Vegas3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 14 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Sensational food and service! Great atmosphere and helpful staff.
   

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4. N

   Natasha VIP

   Greater Boston6 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on 5 January 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   We went for brunch. The food was good nothing amazing but on par with what brunch should be. The pumping bread was yummy! Our server was rather unpleasant. I would not return.
   

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5. R

   Roberta

   Greater Boston6 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on 29 November 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Pleasant, good food, drinks and service. A bit pricey.
   

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6. J

   Jacqueline VIP

   New York City6 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 24 November 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Lovely brunch with terrific options at Kimpton, Marlowe hotel. Food was delicious and great service!
   

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7. B

   Brian

   San Diego8 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 4 November 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Very good food, a very enjoyable experience for our party of four.
   

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8. MT

   MeredithT

   E. Tennessee5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 19 October 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Delicious dinner and good service. Our steaks and scallops were perfect,
   

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9. M

   Michelle VIP

   New York City17 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on 19 October 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The only reason this is getting 2 stars over all is because our server was fantastic. The place is also cute and the menu looked delicious. Then cocktails were also phenomenal but expensive. It ends there. Got the burrata which was sour & disgustung. Totally turned my stomach. Sent it back. We ordered steak- both of us medium. Mine was extremely rare- uncooked in parts completely. Brussels sprouts came out half way through the entrees. Spoke to the waitress about the steak & was like on top of serving bad cheese this is not really acceptable for the price. She was very nice and understanding. Said she was speaking to managers. She came back and said “ My manager said we can only take off the Burata” Like I mean that was a given no? She then said I’ll comp your wine off my own salary bc I think you should have gotten more off. We didn’t want her to do that. Managers never came over.
   

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10. J

    Jennifer

    New York City6 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on 18 October 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3

    Bambara offers an upscale ambiance that sets the stage for an elegant dining experience. The layout creates an inviting space, perfect for both intimate dinners and celebratory gatherings. The menu is a highlight each item seemingly thoughtfully crafted. The drink menu features a range of expertly crafted cocktails, showcasing seasonal flavors that perfectly complement the food. However, my experience at Bambara was marred by significant missteps that overshadowed its potential. I ordered the Burrata, only to find it unexpectedly sour, detracting from the fresh and creamy essence I anticipated. My main course, the Grilled Steak Frites, was another disappointment. I specifically requested a medium cook with a "warm pink center, no red," yet what arrived was a steak that was rare at best, with a red hue throughout. To add to the frustration, my side dish and glass of wine—both ordered to accompany the steak—arrived a full ten minutes after the steak was served, interrupting the flow of the meal. As a former server, I empathized with our attentive and apologetic waitress, who was clearly doing her best under the circumstances. It was disheartening to hear that we were not the first party to encounter similar issues that evening. Even more concerning was the manager's decision not to visit our table personally to apologize or discuss our concerns, leaving a void in customer service that felt particularly glaring during a busy weekend like Head of the Charles. Despite the beautiful setting and promising menu, my experience at Bambara fell short of the standards one expects in the hospitality industry. Further evidence was the server sharing with us that the restaurant rarely sees the traffic which should be reflected by occupancy of the hotel. It’s a shame, as I would have loved to make this a regular spot as a local. With the right attention to detail and management oversight, Bambara has the potential to truly shine, but until then, it’s a mixed bag.
    

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