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

This is a split review. One for breakfast and the other for dinner. Let me just put this out here first, SKIP the breakfast. It's way overpriced for the mediocre offering. I honestly felt like they hired the laziest chef and the staff just came off as if they were operating on the least amount of effort. I ordered the avocado toast which looked sad and sloppily made from the start. The bread was soggy with already browned avocado along with a few splotches of ricotta that only added to its lackluster. Now to dinner. It was only due to staying here that I was prompted into trying the dinner menu. It was like night vs. day. They must have a different chef that gives a damn about what they're cooking for the evening. We ordered the Pan-roasted chicken, grilled salmon, and grilled asparagus with beet salad. All of it was delicious and well seasoned! Couldn't have been more delicious and not to mention accommodating allowing us to take our drinks up the room while we waited to pick up the food. Breakfast - Absolutely avoid!!!! Dinner - Worth the wait! read more

I really like the environment of this place. Service was okay not bad not too good. Appetizers were delicious especially the pork belly bun. Entrées mmmm not so much... fries were VERY salty and the pasta was a little too overcooked. I was hoping the food to be bomb when I saw the star ratings, but I was disappointed when the entrées were not. Overall, 7/10 read more

We were pleasantly surprised to find such good food next to Cambridgeside Galleria. We ordered the salmon ceviche which was a good portion and a mix of all the right flavors including mango, jalapenos, avocado and cilantro. The chicken breast was very good with a good portion size. The pesto mushroom pasta was also very fresh and tasty - get the appetizer size so you can try other things. Pretty good portion even as an appetizer. read more

See all

Had dinner near Harvard and then came back to the hotel and had this delicious night cap! read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Delicious drinks! - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Pork belly steam buns! Say what?! I said PORK BELLY STEAM BUNS!!! You, your mouth and belly with thank me later. My boyfriend and I stopped in for drinks and an appetizer before catching a show at the planetarium. We had just enough time. The apps were half price (I think between 5-7pm.) $2 each for this deliciousness?! So cheap to make my mouth so happy! Just do it folks! They arrived 2 on the plate. We each had one. The sauce... so tasty! The garnishment did not overpower the sauce. It was a little crispy but soft inside. The bun was s-o-f-t! It was the perfect combination and really hit the spot! My boyfriend liked it so much I gave him the last little nibble of mine. We had drinks. The bartender took it very seriously. His shook his shakers intently and made me a girly drink garnished with pretty dry flowers (which my boyfriend ended up inhaling which caused shock and me with wet jeans!) But he had some old fashions which he said he did a nice job. Made me think how were their meals? read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Ol fashioned and bartenders choice - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Waited outside to be seated for nearly 10 minutes. We asked the guys outside if someone was working. Felt awkward so went inside to eat. Ordered drinks. Those also took a while but were tasty. I ordered the "house made fusilli". I'm posting a photo because I don't think it needs words. Ate a few bites and went to Cheesecake Factory to get the avocado rolls. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - This is the "house made fusilli", wish they told me it would be boxed rotini I would have changed my order. - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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

Go-to spot for nice work lunches. The food is delicious and the interior is nice; it's a bit pricey but perfect for a work meeting. My favorites are the grilled cheese and tomato soup, flatbread, and the seasonal salad with salmon plates. After your lunch, they give out complimentary cookies. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Seasonal chopped salad with salmon - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bambara On memorial drive, right near the science museum. The place here is sadly overlooked because it is in a hotel. The food is out of this world. From the bread that has some nutmeg in it or something to the house made pasta. The chef here really knows how to put ingredients I wouldn't think of together for a perfect bite. The margarita I had was made with grapefruit juice, so a little different, but tasty. The patio is shaded by the building so it stays cool for outdoor dining. I love going here. You should check it out. The pork buns pictured here were the star of this feast- GHOSTFATTY OUT! read more

See all

This restaurant had a great atmosphere. The lighting inside is great and the seating is comfortable. The food came out quick and was absolutely delicious. I got the gem salad and truly enjoyed it. Our server Peter Holmgren was great and checked in on us often. He made sure we had everything we needed to have a great dinner. For dessert I got the warm chocolate cake which was the perfect ending to a great dinner. If you are in the Cambridge area, it is a must to visit this delightful restaurant with great service. read more

Had multiple meals here while staying at the kimpton. The butternut soup and chicken wings were both amazing, as was the French toast for brunch. Good cocktails in a nice space as well. Service is a little slow, but short staffing is the norm these days which I totally get. read more

Nice hotel restaurant in an area without too many choices. Had lunch with the kids. Solid food. Checking on yelp and get a free dessert, which was a chocolate chip cookie today. read more

See all

Came in at 7:30 with a group and was served at 9:30. It was not busy at all, just people at the bar, so this was surprising. The pasta was so underwhelming - no sauce at all? It tasted like just noodles with butter, but even the butter was not salty. Had to add quite a lot of salt. It was still not good after the salt. My friend sent her fettuccine back because it was so bland. Won't return. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Don't be afraid to give Bambara a try. Great atmosphere and food. Enjoyed quick service from our server and the kitchen at 6:30 on a Saturday night. Our server seemed a bit inexperienced but attentive and eager to please. Very comfortable booths with pillows. Cozy lighting and elegant decor with hip ambient music. Started with the lobster sliders, first response from our 9-year-old, "Put me on a cloud because I'm in heaven.". From there on everything kept getting better. The cod with kalamata olives a very nice blending of flavors. The pan seared yellow fin tuna perfectly done. The kids' meals were just right. The deserts were the perfect ending. read more

Hugely convenient for people who stay at the Kimpton Marlowe hotel! I had both dinner and breakfast here (thank heavens for their operating hours! so convenient) and enjoyed both meals thoroughly. For dinner, I made it to their 5-7pm happy hour, where bar apps are half price! Highly recommend the pork steam buns - such fatty and delicious pork!! I also enjoyed their half-size ricotta and goat cheese ravioli (the chestnuts were a bit tough to chew, and things were a tad saltier than I would have liked, but rest assured this half-size portion would probably be enough for you). The persimmon contessa drink was also exquisite. For breakfast, I had two scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, and sourdough. I was not a huge fan of the eggs; ironically, they could have used more salt. But everything else was great! Best of all, they leave you with a pot of coffee to refill for yourself!!!! Yes!!!!! Service is incredibly good here as well! Definitely a fan. read more

Had $20 credit from Kimpton stay, so we decided to pop in to gauge the breakfast. While the view and restaurant decor was nice and clean, the food experience was rather subpar. I ordered an eggs benedict, but 1) my eggs were slightly overcooked (not poached properly) and 2) (never seen this happen before) they forgot my hollandaise sauce. The replacement sauce also seemed a little odd. Not my favorite experience. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Ham Eggs Benedict - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

After a few months of renovations, my team was looking forward to trying out the "new and improved" Bambara! Unfortunately after our visit, I can't say the new Bambara has improved. In my opinion, it has actually gotten worse. Why? No more power lunch. The power lunch special was the main draw of coming out here to this otherwise random hotel restaurant in East Cambridge in the middle of the day. After arriving and learning that there would be no special appetizer, entree, and to-go cookie/coffee combo to power us through our day, we were all disappointed. So we ordered 2 salads and a flatbread for the table and an entree each. The menu offerings haven't changed very much - they still have some of their signatures such as the salmon & crab burger and the bisque as well as other salad, flatbread, and sandwich lunch options. They advertise one larger entree lunch special which changes depending on the day of the week, but unfortunately on this Tuesday at 1 PM they were already out of the fried chicken. Another bummer. Both the chopped salad and arugula salad with goat cheese and beets were large and tasty. Great for sharing! The smoked tomato flatbread was smaller and pretty standard in terms of flavor. As for entrees, they forgot the include the spicy mayo on the salmon & crab burgers. This is one of the main draws of the dish! Bringing it in a cup on the side just doesn't feel the same. The "spicy" squash soup was warm and creamy but definitely not spicy. Still good, but I call this false advertising. Still craving the power lunch ending, we ordered some coffees to go. Overall the food quality of the "new" Bambara is similar to before, the service fine although a bit inconsistent, and the deal worse because they no longer offer the lunch special. Serious bummer. We may need to find another regular lunch spot to power us through the workday. read more

Bambara is a restaurant inside the Hotel Marlowe, a Kimpton property. Although nothing fancy, it is definitely a step above a generic hotel restaurant. Bambara serves regular food and does a decent breakfast, with a la carte as well as buffet. I stopped in on a Saturday evening for drinks and on Sunday for lunch just before checking out. For a hotel bar in Cambridge, it was quite busy on Saturday night. There were a few large parties hanging around the bar, watching the hockey playoffs. The bartenders made some pretty good drinks and were attentive. For my lunch visit, things were a little rocky. There was a very large party (20+ people) at the other end of the restaurant, so I figured I was going to get poor service. I waited 10 minutes to be greeted after being seated, not cool. However, after I was greeted, I was well taken care of by the staff. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The food was good, but nothing special. I would not consider Bambara a destination restaurant, but if you are staying at the Marlowe or across the street at the Royal Sonesta, this is a good, convenient dining option. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I went here for Valentines dinner. The atmosphere was really cozy and unique. There were book shelves and paintings lining the walls. For appetizers we had the gem lettuce salad and warm hummus platter. The gem lettuce salad was a Caesar salad but had delicious super crunchy croutons. The warm hummus platter was AMAZING one of the best hummus platters I have ever had. The pita had beautiful grill marks and was flavored with this unique zatar spice mix. This is a must have. For dinner I had the ricotta and goat cheese ravioli and Jack had the chicken breast. My ravioli were amazing they had large crispy pieces of save and this warm butter sauce. (The one downfall were the sliced chestnuts, when they were thin they were an amazing texture but some of them were not toasted enough and were this weird stick in your teeth texture like taffy). Overall it was really great! I would go back for sure. read more

See all

First and above all, I want to give a HUGH shout out to James, our server. He gets a 5 plus star rating for all his hard work, positive energy and attention to our group but sadly, and to no fault of his own, he was a victim of poor management. Went with a group of 8 for Sunday Brunch. Atmosphere, decor an cleanliness all superb but that wasn't enough to offset the cluster of errors and mistakes our group had to deal with. For the longest time, it appeared, James was the only server to manage many large groups in the restaurant and as I said, he was hustling and working hard. Four of us ordered items including sourdough bread and then we find out, they are out of sourdough!! Small detail, I know, but seriously, it's a Sunday brunch hour and one would think the kitchen would be well stocked. Several of us also ordered cocktails which came out after the food was served. And, our dishes all came out at various times with the last of the 8 ( ironically mine) coming with the wrong side item and the food was tasty but several us us had lukewarm food. But then things really went downhill. Being a yelper, I naturally checked in and was offered a free dessert for my first check in. The offer disappeared from my screen and James sent the manager over who stated "without seeing the offer on my phone" she couldn't authorize the free dessert. I pleaded to her common sense, showing her my phone where I checked in etc but she was firm in in answer. Several minutes later she informed me "I spoke to the chef and we can give you the dessert" ( not that the chef makes the decision but whatever, she tried to make it right I guess). And the final insult, was THEY CHARGED ME for the free dessert and put it on the bill which I then had to once again, have the manager make the adjustment. Unfortunately, this place has a great atmosphere and good potential but they definitely need to work on staffing, management and communication. read more

We came here for an early dinner tonight. We had such a lovely dinner thanks to the yummy food and friendly service at Bambara. The ambiance at this restaurant was beautiful and the seating is spacious and comfortable. We ordered the chickpea fries with aioli dip to start. The fries were not my favorite and could have used more salt and flavor. For dinner, however, I ordered the beet and goat cheese salad with chicken and my husband ordered the goat cheese and arugula flatbread. Both were delicious! I was so happy with the salad size but I should have ordered the dressing on the side because the arugula was covered in too much dressing. Our server was very pleasant and attentive. He answered any questions we had with the menu. I would come back to this restaurant and bring friends with me! read more

See all

Eh, not terrible, but weak in too many areas to consider again. Came here on Christmas with my family. I had the falafel but I knew to order another side because of the photos showing how little you get on Yelp, so I did. My only major complaint was that the portion size on the falafel dish was absurdly small, and it said it came with squash, but that was really more decorative than edible. The entire dish was barely enough for an appetizer for 1, let alone a meal for 1. Fries were listed as herb fries on menu, but were just regular fries. Other people in my party enjoyed the burger and the clam chowder. One person asked for a small side salad, but all that came, was plain lettuce with olive oil. No joke. Not a cucumber. Not a crouton. Service was provided by a reluctant, disinterested server, when we were the server's only customer, and the ONLY CUSTOMERS in the ENTIRE RESTAURANT. not sure what the hell is going on here, but never will return. read more

Drinks and appetizers were very good but for Martini glass. Service was good too, but our server was a little 'spacey': brought a cup of chowder when ordered a bowl; no big deal (brought a second bowl); asked if wanted another martini, forgetting I had already ordered a cappuccino. The worst of it was some patron decided to take off socks and shoes to wiggle toes around on the nice overstuffed chair next to us. Lawless Cambridge? Or is ignorance the mark in the heart of academia? Disgusting to us no matter how interpreted. We would not go back because of arrogant patrons Too bad! We must note however that management was right on top of it when became aware and asked the barefooted fool to put his shoes back on. Five Stars for management. Zero for barefooted buffoon! So gross! Where are we, back in the 'third world? There is a time and place for taking your clothes off. Foot-loose and fancy in a classy Cambridge eatery is not the place to be. SORRY! read more

See all

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

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

Hopeful that this restaurant would be good but again I guess the Post COVID work mentality has taken its toll. Espresso martini with no espresso because the bartender didn't want to make it. The kitchen was visible which usually is a cool attribute but in the case the to go boxes and employee hangout gossip zone was more of an eye sore. Clean it up. read more

I had dinner here a couple of times when I stayed at the Hotel Marlowe. The food was not bad but nothing spectacular, especially for the steep prices. I got the burger which was cooked a little over what I had requested. It was under-seasoned and also didn't have much flavor. I needed to get some fries and ketchup in between bites to keep it going which is unfortunate. Overall, it's ok but probably worth taking the time to go out and explore some nicer options around town. read more

Only came for a drink, but stayed for the thick cut fries, which were great. (Thanks as much to the Harissa Aioli as the fries themselves.) They had a live piano (keyboard) singer who was perfectly food, but given the size of the place, I could have done without the Friday entertainment. MAJOR marks for the bartender - somehow she (Amanda - she rocks!) managed to make an Old Fashioned taste like a candy store in heaven - it was traditional, but the 'juiciest' most refreshing OF I've ever had. It wasn't overly sweet - just rich, complex, and... yes - I'll have another. read more

The service here was a bit slow, but the food made up for that. Every dish we got was very tasty, and we finished all our food with no leftovers. The food was a bit expensive, but it was quite good. read more

See all

I stayed at the Klimpton Hotel for a couple of days. In the morning the server recommended the egg white and potato frittata. It was excellent, topped with cloud of greens with a dressing that complemented the frittata components. This is a great destination for a quiet brunch. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Egg White Potato Fritatta - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

My friends and I made a reservation here originally planning to do their dine-out menu, but when we actually got there and started comparing menu prices we found that it would be more cost-effective to just choose options from their regular menu. We ordered two apps to share in our group of 3 -- the brussel sprouts and the fried calamari. Both were very good, the calamari wasn't oily at all and the texture was very crispy. The brussel sprouts were so good that one of my friends was seriously considering ordering another dish of it. As for my entree, I ordered the bucatini. Unfortunately I wasn't very hungry when I came into the restaurant, so by the time I had finished my share of the two appetizers, I was too full to eat much of my entree. What i did have of it though i enjoyed. The braised short rib came with pasta, which I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed the pasta because I've never had some with texture like that one. Overall, it was a nice experience, the only minor complaint would be that the entrees took a while to come out. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - bucatini and the salmon entree - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This joint is the bar/restaurant attached to The Marlowe (quite possibly my favorite hotel). Having been in many, many hotel bar/restaurants, my expectations were not high. I am happy to say that Bambara exceeded most of them. The service was actually excellent. Attentive but not pushy, always there with the check when I needed to run, and the bartender actually makes an excellent "Manhattan on the Charles." The food is solid overall, and the bar menu is full of snacks that I would happily indulge in. I actually came back a bit late one evening and was looking for a small bite as I watched the Giants lose in heartbreaking fashion to the worst human beings on the planet (read: Philly). The kitchen staff were gracious enough to keep the kitchen open just for me (much appreciated), and I ordered the burger. At $6, I figured it was a little slider type deal. Nope. It was a solid size with a good bun and excellent toppings. This makes absolutely no sense in a restaurant where a standard, two-egg breakfast is $13, but I'll take it. And it hit the spot. And I'd do it again. read more

No, no no no and no. I should have known better, this place clearly is a hotel restaurant and because of it, is in business mostly because of the patrons staying at the hotel. I've driven by it a thousand times and only went there because a friend had one of those social coupons for us to redeem. Upon entering, we were seated right past the bar in this very comfortable booth. The atmosphere is nice, the place sleek and clean; very welcoming. I glanced at the silverware which I thought was absolutely hideous and glanced at the menu; seconds later I settled for an arugula salad which came with a tiny little piece of fried goat cheese and some walnuts. The dressing was great, the walnuts were candied and offered a nice contrast to the arugula but the goat cheese was meager in portion. Tiny! Like... seriously? Why bother? Did the goat run out of milk? Then came my entre. Honestly, I've had bad risottos before, but this one was one of the worst I've had. Their exotic mushroom risotto was absolutely gross. The rice was undercooked and was almost crunchy. My dinning companion sampled it as well and confirmed that it wasn't my taste buds playing a trick on me. At $25 of pop, I was very, very disappointed. And there was supposed to be some kind of foie gras butter, whatever that is. I didn't see any of it or tasted it. The only thing I did notice was a giant, oily ring around the edge of the risotto. A big, green circle of chive pesto. It was more like chive oil and it brought absolutely nothing to the dish except maybe for esthetics - Either way I wasn't thrilled. Add to the fact that the staff brought us the wrong entrees - dumping them and promptly walking away without giving us a chance for them to fix their mistake - It made for an awkward few seconds. This restaurant falls short on quality - and the prices are high for what you get. Honestly, it's a shame considering how well they are located and how plentiful parking is in that area, whether you park at the Cambridge Galleria or near Lechmere. A real shame. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Baby Arugula salad w/ goat cheese croquettes, walnuts and honey dressing - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

We came in tonight (Sunday night) around 730pm to have dinner. We had drinks and apps but our food never came. We left around 9pm hungry. A man with a short sleeved plaid shirt (manager?) rolled napkins while my wine sat at the bar but never made it to our table. The bartender tended to several other tables but never came by ours as we just... sat there waiting to see if our food had even been sent. It appears they need more servers/staff. Very disappointed as this was our last night if a great weekend in the Boston area. Im still hungry and waiting on a pickup order from cheesecake factory around the corner as I type this. Boo read more

Stopped by on a Saturday night for a couple of drinks and found this place desolate, with only a few people around. Perhaps others were driven away by the surly waitress we encountered. She was the only one attending the door and the tables, and was inattentive and rude from the start. She was also poorly dressed in a tank top with a purple bra underneath that showed off more than we wanted to see. She spent more time arguing with one co-worker and talking loudly with another than she did attending to her work. She slapped down the menus, shouted from another table, "Ya wanna get another?" and slammed our drinks down without bringing the water that was asked for. She was unprofessional in a place where we have usually encountered a polite and polished staff. Better staff training needed around here. Our last few visits have made us feel less interested in keeping Bambara in our neighborhood rotation. read more

Solid 3 stars. Food was very pedestrian. But at least it was expensive. Yes. Mixed drink I ordered was so weak I had to send it back. Tap beer selection small and tasteless for the most part. Had all 4. Pasta was not exciting. Undercooked and relies on the cheese for flavor. The Chowder made me wish I was back in California. What?!?! Don't mean to sound mean, but when I'm staying in the hotel and they have my captive audience, I just wish they tried a little harder. Ambience was nice. Seating was comfortable. Service was top notch. Won't be returning unless no one else is open. read more

My husband and I love Bambara. It's super convenient to get to and the happy hour specials are awesome. Our favorite dish is the pork belly buns and the salmon ceviche. The drinks are great and they even have a non-alcoholic cocktail which is delicious. We love bringing our out of town friends here for dinner or drinks after hitting the Museum of Science or coming back from a boat tour. Brunch is great as well! The pancakes were delicious! read more

My friend and I came into lunch recently, as we work nearby and had never been in. Unfortunately we weren't impressed with our experience. Service was laughable and food was only okay. We would not come back. My salmon and crab burger did not taste right, though I will say the fries were awesome. My friend ordered ice cream for dessert and it took the server almost 10 minutes to go ask what the flavors were, and he comes back, VANILLA AND PEANUT....how did that take 10 minutes?! Then he asked how many scoops she wanted. The price on the menu was $7....just give the amount that costs $7??....she said 1 scoop (which ended up being a teeny tiny scoop), and they charged $4? Where did they come up with that? If the price is a set price, just give what the person ordered lol....anywho.. They did give us cookies when we were paying which was nice, unfortunately it took forever to get the check, and once it was time to sign the check we were so over it, and definitely tipped accordingly. Bummed because we thought this could be a new lunch spot for us...not the case. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - burger and fries - good - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

I'm obsessed with this place, and I think it is so underrated. They have a great menu and a great space (right by the Cambridgeside Galleria, inside Hotel Marlowe). They have a lot of fresh seafood dishes and seasonal dishes -- things like raw oysters, lobster slides, clam chowder, braised cod, and so much more. I loved the Tuna Tartare and the Braised Cod with shrimp risotto. The desserts are also spectacular, and they have a huge selection. We tried the Vanilla Bread Pudding and the Warm Caramel Date Cake, both of which were amazing. They also have a TON of flavors of gelato/ice cream/sorbet including nutella, apple cider, chocolate, and olive oil. read more

See all