696 reviews
#12 of 1,195 Restaurants in Salt Lake City$$$$, American, International, Vegetarian friendly+1 801-363-5454+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Mon
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Tue
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Wed
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thu
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Fri
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM11:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sat
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Reserve a table

What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
PRICE RANGE
$15.00 – $40.00
CUISINES
American, International, Contemporary, Gastropub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Menu
Starters
House Milk Rolls
Seasonal compound butter / evoo / maldon salt
$10
Prime Utah Beef Tartare
House ricotta / calabrian kumquat marmalade / pickled mustard seeds / cured egg yolk / potato chips
$19
Blue Cheese Potato Chips
Blue cheese & jack cheese blend / harissa spice / chives
$11
Intermountain Gourmet Mushrooms Tartine
House ricotta / pickled mustard seeds / pickled mushrooms / seasoned crispy bits / petite greens / LEAVITY bread
$17
Roasted Beets
Sesame vinaigrette / black sesame puree / horseradish yogurt / sunflower beet greens salsa verde
$13
Apple Greens Salad
Charred apple vinaigrette / Beehive smoked cheddar / Lucy apples / pumpkin seed gremolata
$16
Is this an American restaurant?
Details
About
Bambara is a modern bistro renowned for its impeccable service and stylish ambiance. Since its inception and through the extensive renovation in 2023, Bambara continues to set the tone for the Salt Lake culinary landscape, consistently ranking as one of the best places to dine. 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 European-inspired dishes that celebrate the local bounty of fish, game, and vegetable.
PRICE RANGE
$15.00 – $40.00
CUISINES
American, International, Contemporary, Gastropub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Dog Friendly, Non-smoking restaurants
Contribute
4.5
696 reviews
Excellent
427
Very good
159
Average
65
Poor
33
Terrible
13
Paul L
Grand Blanc146 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
Bambara has a new outstanding chef JV Hernandez. There has been a significant improvement in the food quality. For a starter, I ordered the Pork Belly served with house slaw, Calabrian Carmel and tempura hazelnuts.This was superb with contrasting tangy and sweet notes. My wife ordered the Prime Utah Beef tartare that was superb.
For my entree, I ordered the Hazelnut Elk Loin served with a golden beet purée, huckleberry jus, grilled asparagus along with rhubarb. The contrasting flavors were ethereal. Also, my wife enjoyed the Duck accompanied with coriander and a burnt honey fig sauce. I had a taste and felt that dish was wonderful as well.
Finally, we shared a sticky Toffee Cake for dessert which was a fitting end to an evening. Our server, Dylan is great providing great recommendations and service. Bambara is well on its way to becoming the premier restaurant in Salt Lake City with Chef JV its helm !
Written October 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin
Edmonton2 contributions
May 2024 • couples
Booked a birthday supper for my wife on our trip through to enjoy Utahs state parks. Stopped off in SLC to explore the city’s history. Started off with the best old fashioned my wife has had and a nice cocktail for myself. The server Melanie was so enjoyable and was so good in getting us information ( ie secret to their great old fashion). The menu was small but offered a good selection for diners tastes. The appetizers offered some unique choices … the Prosciutto Beignets were very well done. We had the scallops and the walnut crusted halibut. The chef helped narrow the bottle of wine that would complicate the two mains.
For dessert we had the baked Alaska with a blueberry ice cream centre ( thank you Melanie for picking that up as a birthday surprise for my wife).
I rated the restaurant 5 star as the food was well executed and reasonable for price. But a huge contributing factor was Melanie our server. A meal can be made or broken by your interactions with the restaurant staff and Melanie was fantastic. I apologize that I did not get the young man’s name who always checked in for water and clearing the table of courses … he was also a contributor to the experience. I would highly recommend .
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stanley & Jackson Alvey
Salt Lake City6 contributions
Sep 2023 • couples
During our stay at Hotel Monaco, we treated ourselves to an incredible dinner at Bambara. The staff was prompt, professional, and each of them were delightful. The atmosphere was elegant and peaceful, with perfect lighting and layout. The wine was delightful and our dishes were perfectly plated and delicious. We enjoyed seeing the kitchen staff work professionally in the open kitchen and one of the externs even came to our table to present one of his special dishes to us! It was the perfect date for our evening at the hotel. After dinner, we popped by the bar next door, the Vault, and enjoyed chatting with the bartenders over delicious cocktails. Definitely worth a visit!
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DreamsOfMyComrades
Park City440 contributions
Jan 2025 • business
Once upon a time, Bambara was one of the best places in Salt Lake City to go for a special meal. Sadly, this is no longer the case. Six of us went for a business dinner. The food was mediocre and the portions were very small. Specifically, the scallops were an unacceptably small portion. Both individuals who ordered them were hungry at the end of the meal. Three of us ordered the Wagyu short rib, and it was a complete disappointment. Short ribs should be melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with flavor. This dish was dry, tough, and bland. Seriously! Service and atmosphere are pleasant, but the quality of the food has become something south of mediocre. And at these prices, the management should be ashamed of themselves! The cherry on top came when we received the bill. For a party of six, the gratuity was very quietly added to the check automatically. The server didn't mention it, and it was NOT indicated on the credit card slip you sign; there was just a small check mark next to it on the itemized bill. I was very close to inadvertently doubling the tip! And I am a very meticulous person. I'm sure MANY unsuspecting diners make that mistake and add extra expense to an already outrageously pricey meal. I find this to be an unfair business practice and I docked them an additional star because of it. My word of advice: Look at my other reviews for much better options in SLC. But if you do choose to eat at Bambara, look at the check VERY carefully.
Written January 12, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judy N
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • business
Do NOT go here if you are vegan. I have tried it a couple of times and leave starving. There is a mushroom bowl they can make vegan and it’s just okay but it’s not enough food to fill you for lunch. Since I didn’t love that dish (and it was the only option) I asked the server about another option. They suggested a salad. What I received was just lettuce with some tiny shreds of apple on it. I was so so hungry and it cost me $20. I wish they would embrace some Beyond or Impossible Burger or Gardein chicken patty to give a filling vegan lunch option or at the very least throw some beans or chick peas on a salad and offer some bread to go with it. It was insulting to be asked to pay $20 for just lettuce with apple shreds and leave hungry.
Written December 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chawk1872
Jackson Hole61 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
Bambara is a traditional go to when I'm in SLC. However, the last visit the service was terrible, music was blaring, and the food was terrible. I order the classic fillet medium rare plus. It was served absolutely raw. While no entree tastes better after getting cooked a second time, I sent it back and is somehow came back even more raw. I changed my order to the salmon which of course was overcooked. Sadly, the dinner was a complete failure. The server that it was helpful to tell me she was only charging me for what I ate, like I should have have also been paying for two raw steaks.
Written November 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
301vickiek
4 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
We had reservations for a family Christmas dinner for 9 people. 8 out of 9 said they would not go back. We ordered halibut, steak scallops, appetizers sides and a Tomahawk for the table.the Tomahawk was so raw it was not edible, we sent that back to be cooked and it looked exactly the same when they brought it back. The halibut was just lightly warmed and had no flavor. The sides of potato’s and carrots were good. Dessert was good. The cocktails were good. The worst was that this dinner took 3 hours which was ridiculous. A lot of money was spent on this dinner for just sub par food
Written December 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard J
Sheffield1731 contributions
Sep 2024 • couples
This is clearly a highly fashionable restaurant in the centre of Salt lake City. It's busy, and bustling with a lively crowd- and full. But noisy. The bright sound environment leads to competetive shouting across your table and i understand that the younger clientelle will like this.
This is not the place for a quiet dinner. The food? Lots of choice but my rabbit confit was not confit but a sort of pulled rabbit meat in thin gravy on pasta. But I'm from Europe so I shan't criticise this.
The wine list is good.
Need to book.
Written September 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoisSedona
Sedona79 contributions
Jan 2023 • none
I'm actually shocked at the overall rating of this restaurant, as the food was tasteless and the service poor.
We waited over an hour for three Caesar salads, a Ginger Carrot Soup and Grouper. Apparently they had two parties of 20, but we only learned that after placing our order and waiting for an hour. There was no salmon left on the menu and the only other fish was Grouper.
When I say tasteless, I mean tasteless. The worst Caesar salad our party of three ever had; wasn't even prepared with parmesan cheese. And when we asked for more dressing hoping that would help (it didn't), we had to wait again, as the waiter first tended to another table. Not to mention we had to ask for a spoon for the soup.
The grouper was a very thin cut; the thinnest serving of grouper I've ever seen.
I'm not trying to be nit-picky, but our waiter just didn't have a clue. I am a big tipper (minimally 20%) and tonight I left 10%. It wasn't his fault for food quality, but his overall service level was sub par and we had to prompt him every step of the way.
The Ginger Carrot soup was the best dish of the evening, but I would never return here. And I come to Salt Lake City regularly on business.
Written January 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TerryRxyz
Boone126 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
We had a great dinner, with interesting entrees, very good service, and a wine selection that suited the diverse tastes of our group. Not a bargain, but worth the price.
We also had breakfast there since we were staying at the Kimpton hotel there, which was a solid traditional breakfast, convenient to those staying there.
Written January 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bmp68
Arcata177 contributions
Dec 2022 • couples
The menu has potential but execution is suffering from staff and service issues. This led to slow service, cold food and a less than ideal experience. Seasoning was also inconsistent with some items way over salted. The setting and location are nice with an open kitchen so you can see the food being prepared. They just need more help.
Written December 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew W
Greenville7 contributions
May 2022 • none
The entrees were delicious, but the soup de jour was nothing special. With the premium prices charged you would expect to receive bakery quality bread free for the table, but you don’t. We paid extra for that, and it was not very special either. The decor and atmosphere is very nice.
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Zach B
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • family
The food here is absolutely amazing and wonderfully curated. The environment is equally as great, with an great vibe that is both fancy as well as fun. Last and most important, the staff was nothing short of sensational. Our server, Jake, did an amazing job of guiding us through the menu as well being charismatic, personable and beyond friendly. Would highly recommend for any of occasion.
Written August 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BizBag
Phoenix217 contributions
Jun 2022 • couples
We walked over from the Grand America…First time eating here and from start to finish was excellent. Cocktails were well crafted, and the iceberg wedge was perfectly balanced. One thing you will note eating here is if you like meat, there is no shortage. From the bacon on the iceberg wedge, to the bits in the mac & cheese and especially the amount they give you for the steak Frites. I usually don’t show a picture of my food AFTER I’ve eaten it but this is what was left over… And I ate a healthy portion! We’ve also included a picture of the desserts which are excellent. Great addition to downtown SLC!!
Written June 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jrudnits
Big Lake231 contributions
Mar 2023 • family
The menu was bizarre and overpriced. We arrived from out of town and this was the most convenient option, so we gave it a try. I could not find a single option I wanted to eat on the menu, even after deciding I could splurge for one evening. Pan seared snapper sounded OK, but what is chorizo vinaigrette (for $45)? Pasta is usually good, but what is pickled fresno chimichurri? We ended up ordering appetizers, which were acceptable but nothing to speak of. Service was pleasant but slow. Later in our trip we were again faced with the most convenient option being to eat here. Another look at the menu, and I signed up for Doordash so I wouldn’t have to eat there again.
Written March 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Showing results 1-15 of 671
As Featured In
Best fine dining restaurants
See all
Best nearby
We rank these hotels, restaurants, and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Best nearby hotels
See all Best nearby restaurants
See all Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing