Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bambara - Cambridge

    3.6 (377 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM - 1:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Bambara - Cambridge Photos

    BAMBARA - CAMBRIDGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Bambara - Cambridge

    Recommended Reviews - Bambara - Cambridge

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cod Eggs Benedict
    Lisa D.

    Large restaurant, can easily accommodate large groups. We were a table of 12, came around 10:30am on a Sunday with a reservation. It was pretty empty when we first came in. Service was great. Food was also good. -1 star because one of my poached eggs on my eggs Benedict was overcooked and not runny. This turned out to be a just my meal problem, my friends poached eggs were perfect. Overcooked poached egg is a tough one for me to look past though. The eggs Benedict with cod was a very nice variation and I ate the entire thing.

    By Chef Adam Resnick!
    Court N.

    Bambara has a special place in our hearts because it is where we gathered after our wedding in May. We have been here many times from dinner to brunch to happ hour local dollar oysters (everyday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.) and every time the service is amazing and the food is out of this world - curated, seasonal, and delicious! Big shout out to Jasmin the Manager and the amazing server Yvessse - such genuine care, and the awareness where they are available with a glance but not in the way of conversation or privacy. True hospitality. (And shout out to Chanel, oir amazing server from the evening!) The brunch menu is unique and seasonal, I ordered the French Toast with pumpkin custard and it was sweet and delicious! I've never had french toast with pumpkin custard and candied walnuts, now I will in the future! Yum. Chai latte is less sweet than expected but traditional and warm, latte is flavorful. The evening before I had the scallops and I've never had a seasonally fall scallops dish, it was just the right amount of of squash with little pepitas to perfectly pair with a nicely pan seared dish of scallops with risotto. My partner also thinks that the Caesar Salad here is one of the best he has had, especially because of the homemade croutons. If you are a guest at The Marlowe, and want to make sure you try clam chowder in Boston, the chowder here is good, it is creamy but not too thick. 2 cups. Fresh. My partner also said the homemade fusilli pasta dish was delicious, and I had a bite and I agree. Thank you so much to the Bambara team. A nice surprise as I was finishing my meal occurred when a team member named Jessica came by just to say it was so nice to see me back again and we talked about the last time I was here. Just an all around fabulous place, with a beautiful view and calming upscale environment, welcoming intimate dinners, family brunches, and everything in between.

    Restaurant Entrance from the hotel lobby
    Genesis T.

    I went to have dinner at Bambara Restaurant inside the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel in Cambridge on my third day at the hotel. I'm glad I did. Their delicious dishes have nice presentation and quality, the server is attentive, and always checking on us. The bar have craft beers, cocktails and nice selection of wines to complement your meal. The spacious dining room have a cozy and lively atmosphere, and the comfortable banquets makes your dining a pleasure. Check it out!

    Ariana M.

    We went to Bambara for breakfast on Thanksgiving day and it did not disappoint! My favorite thing were the breakfast potatoes. They were the optimal level of crispy. We also went back to the restaurant for drinks during our final night and they were perfection! I loved the staff at the restaurant, they were all very kind. I was also able to access the oat milk to make my own latte using the complimentary hotel that they offered me at the hotel. The environment was super chic and I definitely enjoyed being there!

    Smoked St. Louis Ribs
    Saerom K.

    This is my second time visiting Bambara. I took my parents, a brother and a cousin. I ordered same dishes from 1st time and everyone enjoyed all the dishes except for calamari. It was bit too salty. We ordered two dozen $1 oysters(happy hour 5-7). They were small but so good, we ended up ordering four more dozens, 72 oysters all together. We ordered clam chowder, beet salad, ribs, calamari, scallops, oysters and a bottle of wine, Austin Hope. I forgot to get our waitress's name but she was exceptional. Welcoming, bright and went beyond to serve our table. Atmosphere is very pleasant and comfortable. I will definitely visit again and highly recommend Bambara.

    Menu
    Siarhei Z.

    The restaurant has so much potential -- the service was warm, attentive, and honestly close to flawless. Our server worked with genuine care, and that deserves recognition. But the kitchen details held the experience back. Oysters should be a luxury, not a bite with tiny shell fragments. Eggs Benedict should arrive hot, rich, and runny -- not on the edge of hard-boiled. The potatoes? They looked and tasted like they had just come out of a microwave, not a chef's pan. These may sound like small things, but together they chip away at the magic. Service is a strong 5-, but the food execution drags the overall feel down to a 3+. With a bit more attention to presentation and precision, this place could easily climb into true 5-star territory.

    Alcohol Menu
    Gajtana S.

    My first time staying at a Kimpton property; the Bambara is connected to the Kimpton Marlowe. For the $30 hotel daily amenity fee, you have a $10 credit at Bambara, among other cool perks. We had dinner and breakfast at Bambara. The burger and fries is $28 and the lobster roll is $44. The two egg breakfast with bread and home fries is $19. Coffee and tea are $4 each. Tres leches is $12. The prices are on the high side with moderate portions,but so are most restaurants these days. Service was very good at dinner- warm friendly and efficient. At breakfast, there was no place to put the tea bag which would have been helpful, but service was otherwise fine and the breakfast was very good. The dinner was also overwhelmingly very good. The hamburger was juicy and the Caesar salad side (upgraded at no charge) was good with homemade honey dressing I asked for, which was excellent. My mother, a lobster expert at this point, had the lobster on hot buttered roll. She found it over buttered and said the butter overwhelmed the lobster, which was a small portion. Her homemade coleslaw and thick cut fries, which I tried, were excellent. The tres leches was different than the three milk drenched wonders I have had. This one had pieces of pineapple on top and was on the dry side. They have $1 oysters at happy hour from 5-7 p.m. which were small but very good. It was overall a very good (4 star) experience and I know Bambara has the potential for five stars.

    Dollar oysters
    Alice Z.

    Dollar oysters here are so worth during happy hour!! Also got drinks but they were nothing crazy. Located in a hotel, it's usually pretty quiet and have plenty of seating and good service.

    Sonya F.

    Came here for a company outing and the food was amazing! I typically don't go for steaks, but theirs was wonderful, moist and full of flavor. I also enjoyed their chicken dish, I don't think I've ever had a chicken cooked so well and not dry! Even though I really loved their food, I had to knock it down a star because it felt like an eternity before we finally got to eat after ordering. I'm not sure if this was because we were a large party, but as soon as the food came, I ate it up very quickly. Overall, this is a great nice restaurant by the river, and I can see how it'd be a nice after work activity!

    Dry-Aged Burger
    Sama C.

    Stopped in to have dinner, and was amazed by the burger and fries! The burger was super juicy and cooked just perfectly. The veggies and pickles on the sandwich was fresh and crispy. The bun, held everything well together. BUT, I would have liked it to be a bit bigger in size... I like to eat, and when something tastes soooo good, I need more of it! The fries were super delicious! Hand cut, thick slices, fried to perfection, seasoned with right amount of salt. Crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Sooooo good! Only gripe is the menu is limited and small. Would have loved to see more items as the burger was delicious.

    Amelia M.

    Went to Boston for a weekend and wanted a low key dinner with my husband! We were totally happy with this place. The ambiance was so nice from before you even walked in. The walls were used as bookshelves and I thought that was so cool. The food was great too! I opted for the chicken parm and my husband got a burger. Staff was also friendly and attentive. Food was great! 10/10

    Map on the wall.
    Eddie R.

    We were looking for a breakfast place early Saturday morning. We arrived right when it opened so we got a nice table by the window. Our waitress was very nice and took our order. I asked for recommendations on the French toast. She said it was a favorite and very good. I ordered the French toast and my wife ordered an omelet. Both were really good and hit the spot. Great taste. So, good food. Food service. Nice view. Clean restaurant. What else could you ask for. I recommend this place.

    rachel m.

    Stopped here for a weeknight dinner and enjoyed it. They have $1 oysters during happy hour and a good range of cocktails. Staff were friendly and helpful with sharing their menu favorites. It did feel a bit expensive for elevated bar ambiance but given its connected to the hotel, it made sense.

    Old fashion.  All Figured Out.

    See all

    Photo of Ren T.
    9
    155
    13

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Doug M.
    41
    81
    1

    3 years ago

    Service is great. Bar staff is top notch. But $28 for a burger??? I saw it. It was a burger. I ate elsewhere.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Holly W.
    104
    1372
    3740

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah M.
    57
    146
    90

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Colin C.
    485
    42
    12

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The service was outstanding for a Saturday morning breakfast and the food was a good value.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie G.

    Katie G.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John T.
    3
    53
    68

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John F.
    205
    1
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan C.
    1088
    1425
    782

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bambara Kitchen And Bar Y.

    Bambara Kitchen And Bar Y.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tuyen N.
    513
    377
    1407

    7 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Not special but not bad. Decent choice if near the mall but wouldn't go out of my way for it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Oyster is good in quality and price (1 dollar each for happy hour), they also got good service.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jason S.
    233
    123
    2

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Bambara Kitchen And Bar Y.

    Bambara Kitchen And Bar Y.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Katie G.

    Katie G.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 10

    Bambara - Cambridge Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bambara - Cambridge

    You might also consider

    Oak Bistro - Sriracha Buttermilk Fried Oysters

    Oak Bistro

    4.7(140 reviews)
    1.3 miInman Square

    What a fun little hidden gem!!! Sat at the bar in between lunch and dinner. Good selection of beer…read more The food was really excellent! We tried the artichoke potato fritter things which were quite good. The Old Bay Fried Oysters were super good as were the duck toasts! Definitely going back to try the potato pave and the burger. Service as great also, bartender was very attentive!

    Wow talk about a hidden gem!…read more I hadn't heard much about this place so I wasn't sure what to expect-- located in Inman square with nearby limited street parking (there's a metered lot on Springfield street nearby!), Oak Bistro is a medium sized restaurant with a simple but chic decor and true focus on hospitality. When we came in we were greeted and our coats were taken and put away. They have rotating specials that our server walked us through. We ordered all three of the mock tails on the menu -- Odin's Oracle was a sparkling elderflower and passion fruit drink, the Northern Rose was fruity with a slight thick cream of coconut base (and the tables favorite!) and the last drink was a warm ginger drink. They all came out looking beautiful. For food, we started with the Halloumi Cheese which was delicious and perfect for sharing (comes with four pieces), then tried the Blueberry Ricotta Cornbread (really well made and yummy but needed a little more butter spread) and the fried burrata (huge serving of burrata with balsamic, fig jam, warm bread, just as good as it sounds). We tried the Braised Short Rib Croquettes which were stuffed with short rib and topped with sooo much yummy cheese. We also had the Pappardelle braised shore rib Ragu which was truly delicious-- would highly recommend. For dessert we tried a special menu bread pudding which was a perfect end to the night. Our leftovers came perfectly packaged in little baggies with dish names and dates written on them which is so cute and thoughtful! Overall I would order everything we got again and was so pleasantly surprised by the caliber of food at Oak Bistro-- get in and try it before it gets too popular!

    Photos
    Oak Bistro - Interior

    Interior

    Oak Bistro - Citrus Arugula Salad

    Citrus Arugula Salad

    Oak Bistro - Long Island Duck Confit Leg

    See all

    Long Island Duck Confit Leg

    Sarma - Zucchini fritters - incredible flavors, highly recommend

    Sarma

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$$

    2026 Boston. Dinner review. Mediterranean…read more (Highlight - Best) BLACK SEA CORNBREAD jalapeno, feta, honey, sesame 19 DEVILED EGG DIP shakshuka-style, zhug, harissa potato chips 17 HONEY ROASTED FIGS red pepper, tabbouleh, arugula, walnuts 25 ARTICHOKES OREGANATA goat cheese polenta, tomato, orange, chiles 24 (Highlight) CAULIFLOWER ZAALOUK chermoula, dates, preserved lemon yogurt 23 MERGUEZ MANTI grilled corn, yogurt, red pepper butter, poached egg 34 (Highlight) HARISSA BBQ DUCK* carrot brown butter, orange blossom, fried almonds 38 Overall, the black sea cornbread is just incredible. Could eat many of these. "As good as it gets."

    Why so salty? Everything on the menu sounded so amazing on paper! I was prepared to love this…read moreplace, especially after trying the cornbread as an appetizer, but my husband and I both left feeling a bit disillusioned. The cornbread was phenomenal!!! Hands down, one of the best things I have tasted, period. It's crunchy, creamy, sweet, salty, savory, amazing in every way. The restaurant is worth a try for the cornbread alone. Unfortunately, everything else we tried was way over-salted, and I usually love salt! It was so salty that none of the other flavors stood out. The duck was cooked well, but a bit challenging to slice with the butter knife provided. The carrot puree was quite tasty, and everything was very beautiful and appetizing based on appearances. Such a shame that the flavors fell short, this place could be truly amazing if they dialed in the seasoning a bit. I will return, but just for drinks and cornbread next time. The cornbread truly is spectacular! Deducting another star for service as our waitress was a bit short with us. She seemed to be spread a bit thin so I understand being in a hurry, but for a meal over $100 (not even including drinks) we are used to more attentive service.

    Photos
    Sarma - Douggy, our bartender/waiter

    Douggy, our bartender/waiter

    Sarma - Sugarsnaps - wonderfully fresh, lovely textures

    Sugarsnaps - wonderfully fresh, lovely textures

    Sarma - Tacos

    See all

    Tacos

    La Brasa - Beet salad

    La Brasa

    3.6(394 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    The menu looked interesting so we thought we'd give it a try. Can you make an espresso martini?…read moreNo, we don't have coffee. And we're also out of these 4 signature drinks. Ok we'll have a beer and a wine. What can I get you to eat? I'd like the roasted carrots.... No we're out. I'd like the oysters.... We don't have any. Could we share the whole fish? No, we don't have any fish. I'm sorry but we're out of a lot of things..... Buy the restaurant is empty and it's only 6:00 on a Saturday night. Can I have the check? Sure.

    Love this spot in Somerville. I remember when it first opened, it was one of the few places that I…read moregot excited for. It's like elevated/fusion Mexican food -- great for both dinner & brunch, and very suitable for larger groups. I've had a handful of dishes here & I'd recommend everything I've tried. Steak & eggs, pancake in a skillet, vegetarian crepe, fried rice, deviled eggs, the flan. They have a nice wine selection and rotating cocktail menu. The restaurant is like a high end cabin, with very cool murals throughout. I think one of my former roommates actually worked on a mural here, so I might be biased. Staff is welcoming and fun to chat with, they're very knowledgeable about their menu. Pricing tends to be around $50 per person. There's street parking. It's also a shared space with fat hen, which is an Italian restaurant -- I'll review that separately, but it is also worth checking out.

    Photos
    La Brasa
    La Brasa - Deviled eggs

    Deviled eggs

    La Brasa - Cured salmon tostada

    See all

    Cured salmon tostada

    Highland Kitchen - Blackened Catfish Po'Boy, Spicy Jambalaya

    Highland Kitchen

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    So I've been going to this place since it first opened my father Reggie was a bartender at the blue…read moreroom, and I believe the original owner was one of the chefs there that was working with him and we would go in there all the time and it's always been great and I've been away from the area for a long time and I've recently come back and my girlfriend was trying to plan a great dinner for me knowing my favorite thing is bread pudding This unbelievable banana bread bread pudding they have on their menu is phenomenal. I got it as an appetizer. It was so good then we got the steak tips that came with fries and a Caesar salad we also got crabcakes for dinner steak was cooked perfectly. Had a great taste fries were good. Good amount of salad. My girlfriend got the crabcakes. Also good and then we got the peach and blueberry crisp for dessert which was also phenomenal. I would definitely recommend this to anyone they had some other things on the menu that I definitely wanted to try. They had a barbecue shrimp appetizer and a swordfish dish as a special as well was really packed but we still got in and got seated right away. great ambience, even though it was loud and busy could still hear my girlfriend perfectly great place for a date night great place to go and get a meal by yourself or just get a drink at the bar all the staff was very attentive constantly refill in the water asking if we need anything offering great suggestions.

    What a great place! Our family was looking for a place for dinner after moving our daughter into…read moreher new home. This neighborhood pub was in the area. It had a fun vibe, specials written on a large chalkboard and great food. We started with margaritas and a gimlet at the bar, delicious! Dinner we had the special tomato salad, wow this was amazing. It tasted like fresh summer on my plate. I had the jambalaya . My daughter had the buffalo fried chicken sandwich, she said it had a kick and was very good. I would go again if in the area.

    Photos
    Highland Kitchen
    Highland Kitchen
    Highland Kitchen

    See all

    Bambara - Cambridge - newamerican - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...