The food was so delicious! Went here on a Friday night for dinner and we were a party of 2. The restaurant was a bit empty but our reservation was later in the night at 9. The chicken wings were so crispy and delicious. We shared the bolognese and they split it in two dishes for us very delicious and the sauce to pasta rato was perfect definitely needed more salt and pepper thought. Our server was this wonderful girl with amazing braids, she was so amazing and very helpful with picking things out on the menu to try. Definitely check it out if you want some good food for a cute date. read more

This restaurant is located at the Kimpton Cambridge. We were staying at the hotel and have visited Barbara few times a day for a quick snack, drinks and brunch. We enjoyed our experience here. Warm hummus is presented with pita bread that had nice grill marks. East meets east cocktail is a wonderful aperitif if you are good with a pink drink (whisky and bubbly). Hamburger with wedge fries is a hearty meal with all the makings of a great burger. Vietnamese Brunch was a pleasant surprise with delicious fried chicken and pho. The bartender was friendly and accommodating who allowed for several Japanese whiskey tasting. Overall a great experience. read more

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

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Came in for a late lunch and was pleasantly surprised. A lot of times hotel restaurants lack ambiance, service and quality...but not here! We sat at the bar, as per usual, and had excellent service from a bartender who made some killer Mojitos! Ordered a few plates to share including a grilled cheese, soup and a side of their garlic fries (which btw are like crack addicting) which were served promptly & piping hot! Next morning we also came in for breakfast and went with the buffet, which again was right on the money! All the food was fresh, flavorful and there was a variety of options. Table side coffee service and juice options were also a nice touch. Best part is if you are staying at the Hotel Marlowe you can use your Kimpton In Touch Members $10 reward toward your bill! read more

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

Uni Flan was one of the coolest things I've ever tasted. This place is absolutely worth a visit if you're in the area and in the mood for something interesting. Absolutely love that I ate nearly 8 courses and at no point felt as though I needed to hydrate from all the salt in take. These guys understand balance! Bravo! read more

Went with clients for lunch and liked Bambara, but with out a business purpose I wouldn't go there. The place just has an odd atmosphere. I couldn't figure out what makes this place so awkward. On the bright side, all three of us ordered the same lunch: salmon crab burger and it was pretty good, although the bun was too soft. Service was unremarkably okay and much more pleasant than what I remembered from my last trip there for restaurant week a couple of years ago. (It would have been a 1-star if I had written reviews back then. So kudos for an improvement.) Parking at Gallaria Mall is actually reasonable. So the verdict: Good for lunch with clients. Other wise skip. read more

Popped in here for a post-work sponsored dealio. That means-I didn't foot the bill, we had a limited menu, so I can only comment on what I had. Blasphemy, I know, but I ordered steak. It was prepared a perfect medium rare - my salad? Perfect. Desert? A sampler - which was fine. They had a nice selection of scotch, an okay selection for beer. Being a "hotel restaurant" it was better than I expected, but it's not the kind of place that screams "bring a date here!" - except, I guess, from what I'm reading, you want to show off how much money you can spend on dinner. read more

Very poor service. If you want a drink within 30 minutes of arrival, look elsewhere. Parent warning: Came here with two kids, ordered chicken fingers, and 40 minutes later, with hungry children waiting, they told us that this dish was not available. read more

I came here as part of a large group, but I looked online for the prices we would have paid for the meals that we got and I have to say... not worth it. So let's start with the opener... TRADITIONAL CAESAR SALAD - $8 Romaine leaves, garlic croutons, white anchovies, shaved parmesan I got this salad sans the anchovies, and it was good, probably the most satisfying thing I got on the menu. I tried a taste of someones butternut squash soup, and it was pretty bland so I think I made the right choice. SIGNATURE STEAK FRITES - $27 Hanger steak, slow roasted roma tomatoes, arugula, herb butter, peppercorn sauce Here you get your usual Hanger steak (the long one), then you get a pile of tomatoes and a gigantic pile of arugula and a basket of herbed fries. The steak was pretty OK, it came with a decent sauce. The fries were OK, I didn't end up eating very many. The big pile of arugula was just for decoration and served no purpose because nobody can eat that much arugula. I also got to try someone's pasta dish that was mostly just a garlic sauce, and that was just OK as well. A very small portion too. DESSERT TRAY Hot Chocolate Cake, Classic Profiteroles , Warm Caramel Date Cake, Lemon Meringue So I think this dessert tray was special because we were a large group, but luckily since we got to sample all the desserts, I can tell you that the Hot Chocolate Cake and the Date Cake were pretty amazing, while the Profiteroles had espresso ice cream and were bland. The lemon meringue was more of a garnish but it was OK. I also got a hot chocolate with my dessert and was nice that they had it. My main complaint is that the service was slow as hell. Our group took up five tables, but yet we only had two servers. You would think that we would get our own servers for each table like any other party that would have come in. At least three. My particular table had to wait at least 10 minutes longer than any of the other tables for every single course, so I guess it's their bad luck that it was the table with the chronic Yelper. So, considering that I would have paid $27 for that steak dish alone, if I was out on a date in Boston, I'd say thumbs down. The place isn't all that nice and the food wasn't amazing. I might give it four stars if the service was any good, but sadly it wasn't. read more

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Six of us went for brunch - a senior citizen, two adults and 3 young adults. Here's our verdict: this place gets 4.5 stars for food and drink and 2 for the unsmiling and slow service. The two eggs option was great. The Armenian sandwich was good but a bit dry - needed more sauce. The burger was good. The salmon/ salad combo was nice. The ricotta pancakes with an egg on the side was great. They gave a great veggie substitute for the salmon flatbread but the waitress seemed impatient and annoyed. Fries were great. Coffee was good so was the Bloody Mary that one of us ordered. Four of us would not come back again; one would and one said "probably". read more

I have been there about five times now, and there is nothing I have had that I would be super excited about ever having again, except that their fries are really good. Everything else is just....fine. They do have a really good lunch deal though. $16 includes an app, entree, and cookie and coffee. You can get the cookie and coffee to go! read more

Down in Boston celebrating my 30th birthday and the service was awful. We waited 30 mins just for our drinks and finished our appetizer before we even got our drinks. We ordered our main meal and waited atleast 45 mins before getting that. Overpriced and lousy service. Do not come here read more

Food here was okay. Husband got the chicken dinner, and said the chicken tasted good, however the rice it was on had a weird citrus taste to it. I got the apple and beet salad, which was nothing special, until I bit down in to a beet and got a bit of grit in my teeth.. I can only assume it was dirt from not being washed thoroughly. The waiter was kind enough to take the dish off my receipt and instead I got the clam chowder which was much better. This place was decent for coming down from our room to enjoy a quick meal. Wouldn't advise coming here if you don't need a quick bite near the hotel. read more

Good portions for the prices. Conveniently located next to the Cambridge side galleria, inside hotel Marlowe. They offer valet parking at the hotel,but they use the same garage as the galleria which is affordable.Basic brunch menu with enough options to please most. We ate at 1pm, I ordered a smoothie with soy milk it was average. I ate grilled cheese and tomato soup ! Perfect winter comfort food! Big portion! My fiancé ordered a egg, bacon, cheese, burger which looked huge and he said was tasty. Once we ordered food did come out quickly. Our waitress was kind, but lacked basic waitress skills such as checking in on us, or taking our order promptly. Overall the food was good! I'm looking forward to coming her for dinner or drinks. Love the decor! read more

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

Four stars for great service! The order took much longer than it needed to about an hour and 15 minutes and therefore part of my order was comped; I didn't ask for it they offered and I found that really respectful. Because of their customer service I will eat there again this weekend. The Lobster bisque was smooth, delicate, almost velvety with a hint of spice. I wish there was chunks of lobster in it though. The Arancini was the best thing we ordered. Wonderful taste, crispy, and the short rib pairs well with the sauce The Helen's pot roast had incredible mashed potatoes & wonderful vegetables; the sauce was the star but there wasn't enough sauce, and therefore the pot roast ended up being really dry at some points. I wouldn't recommend the pot roast it wasn't bad but I think they have better. read more

Bambara - Cambridge - Arancini balls - delicious - New American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Music and sport channels playing in a intimate lowlight atmosphere. Friendly staff and an awesome unique tasting menu that ranges from vegetarian, seafood, and couple meats. You can tell this menu was created for show and flavor and everything between $8-46$ read more

Bambara is a pretty wonderful place to grab breakfast in the Cambridge area. It's a bit off the beaten path, but I'd encourage you to make your way to that strange back door area of the Galleria to find this gem. The space itself is just that - spacious. The hues of blue throughout the restaurant add to the environment and create a relaxing, comfortable place to enjoy a meal with friends. A few of us came here for a pre-holiday breakfast and from the start, I was impressed with the menu items. They were decently priced, and I struggled to find only one meal to choose because I was debating among a handful. Because I wasn't paying (thank you, company card!), I splurged on the lobster omelet. Usually when I order a dish from the sea, I expect minimal protein. Bambara didn't skimp on the lobster OR the eggs! When my plate came out, I started to sweat a little bit because I didn't think I'd be able to finish the entire omelet. Lucky for me I have an endless pit for a stomach, so none of the delicious meal went to waste. The lobster was fresh and came in nicely sized chunks; the eggs were light and plentiful; the taste was well-balanced and not overly seafoody. Enjoyed with a mimosa, this made for a great start to the work day. So if you live/work/loiter in the area, I'd recommend dropping in for a bite or seven of some on point eats! read more

Private dinner for 30 this weekend went off without a hitch. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres reception in a modern, elegant room off hotel lobby with couches, small tables, etc. Seated dinner in the semi-private dining area of restaurant (which felt sufficiently private). Service was polite, unobtrusive, and paid attention to timing of speeches, etc. Denis was easy to work with on the menu, and the private dining menu options are good and appropriately priced. A winner. read more

Had the opportunity to come here a few times with loved ones and it's really a surprisingly little corner. The decor is lovely and interesting, the general vibe of the restaurant is great as the hotel Marlowe attached is quite fantastic as well. The food is good, nothing terribly amazing or memorable but good. My issue was the service was less than enjoyable to be around and their lack of speed really drags on the evening. It shouldn't take 20 mins for a refill of water, should it? I don't think so! Their flavors are fresh and the food is what you'd expect to pay given it's a hotel venue, though personally not too worth the price. I felt the portions were terribly skimpy and it's quite pricey for non-artistic presentation. If you're going to give the small portions the price should reject and the general ambience doesn't scream expensive so it's strange. Overall I didn't mind it but can't say it will be my go to place! read more

Food was ok but the real pitfall is the service. We had several questions about the menu that the server answered incorrectly, for example the trio tuna appetizer, it was not citrus flavored in the least it was actually served with cucumbers and apple. After being informed that 1 of 2 entree dishes were unavailable we both opted for the lobster roll. One entree was served with the appetizer, the other had not been delivered after 20 minutes. We asked that it be packaged to go, as we were going to a show at 8pm. By 7:50p the item had not arrived and our server asked if we wanted dessert before bringing the check. UM, NO! What we had was ok, but for the price and experience.. don't' bother. Fail. Fail. Fail. read more

My family and I, a party of 6, recently went to Bambara for my mother's birthday dinner. We had never been but were excited to try a new place. The ambiance was very hotel-like and not cozy or charming at all. The menu looked great but there seemed to be something off with every dish we had. I'd say we all agreed it was fairly mediocre. My main qualm was the service. Our waitress was almost comically bad. She was condescending, unprofessional, and overall annoying. She definitely made the restaurant seem much less sophisticated. She would say that the food would be out "any second" and it would come 20 minutes later. But more than that, her personality and comments made us all very uncomfortable. Overall, Bambara was a very underwhelming dining experience. My mother was disappointed with her birthday dinner, and the food and the service both left a bad taste in our mouth. read more

Very good food and very nice waitstaff. Definitely will come back. Not a drop of food was left on our plates!

For a hotel restaurant, this place is alright. When I'm paying $8-$11 for a small dish of vegetables, my expectations go up. I had bread, the braised greens and the chantenay carrots while my date had a few oysters and the mushroom tortelli. The bread was amazing-- basically a dry croissant flavor/texture. The greens I would have preferred to just make at home (to add some flavor and soften up the toughness of them a bit). The carrots were fantastic-- a hint of Indian spices with a beautiful pesto on top. Our service was prompt, the atmosphere quiet, and the booths quite comfy. Definitely worth the trip but probably not worth a repeat. read more

I've come here several times because I love their Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. I have to say that it's always decent to exceptional. Today was a Decent day. One egg was over cooked and the other under cooked (runny whites). They already emptied the fry oil and my friend couldn't get fries with their sandwich, which they told us after they substituted fruit without asking him. And I hate to say it because the people are nice, but the service absolutely sucks. I always have to wait at least five minutes for someone to speak to me after I've sat down, but for some reason they are very attentive to making up the empty tables. It's all about the appearance and less about the actual eating experience. I will come back, just less and less frequently until the service improves. As we continue to wait for my friend's fries 10 minutes after we have finished eating everything else, it makes me change my original 3 stars to 2. read more

We all loved it. Favorite dishes were: Kabocha Squash Falafel, Squash and Ricotta Agnolotti, Roasted Broccolini, Choereg Bread, and the Grilled Pork Chop. Each dish had unique and delicious flavors. The cocktails we got were also very good. read more

I took a chance with this restaurant today and it was the best decision I made. I order teriyaki chicken wings and a burger it was delicious. The service and quality of the food was unbelievable. Peter, definitely provided excellent service. Thank you for the great experience. I will return soon read more

I came here with my MOM. -the bartender became quite smitten with my mother. @$()@*? -We met a prince...ask me from where, I honestly couldn't understand a goddamn word he said. No ...a REAL prince. -we got oysters - I walked into every piece of furniture cause the place is so friguen dark - I got drunk -We met a socialite...yeah she called herself that, that wouldn't shut up about her picture being in the Improper Bostonian -I met a man wearing more gold than Diddy, who gave me the business card of his wife ...she is a psychic -My mom got drunk -Divulged in the cheese plate -Tripped a girl, by accident of course Cheese platter + Oyster + drinks = $88 + tip. Neighborhood hotel bar with a nice atmosphere and the strangest rich folks you will ever meet...priceless. read more

Used my Yelp Passport here and got a free bottle of wine with our dinner last night! Automatically put this restaurant up there in my book, especially since I still dreamed of their lobster mac and cheese from the last yelp event..... This restaurant is oddly connected to a hotel in the kendall area (and just a quick FYI, it is almost a mile walk from the kendall square T stop...we didn't know this before we got off the T, so wear walking shoes heh) Not sure how I feel about it being connected to a hotel, but the inside decor is pretty swanky. BUT their music choice at times were a little distracting from the flavors and aromas of our food....so Bambara you need to step it up in that department a little bit... The department you need no help at all in, is your steak department!! My god, that hanger steak with that peppercorn sauce is literally to die for. Matt J. and I found ourselves thinking about how that steak pretty much reminded us that we could never truly be a vegetarian for life. We just couldn't give up taste like that. This steak was cooked to perfection, was so tender, and that sauce just worked so well with it! I would order that again in a second. Even the arugula on the side was good! The "frites" that everyone seemed to rave about on yelp however, just seemed like normal fries to me. They were good ya, but just like any other fry, so yelpers....might have added a little inflation for that... The steak was a 4 star dish by far, but the fries brought it down a little. We also got their sesame bok choy which was good, but also lacked in overall flavor and seasoning again....which also then carried over into their special halibut dish we also shared....a HUGE filet of hallibut, pan seared a little too much for me on the outside didn't have as much flavor as I was hoping. The garlic spinach paired with it was fabulous and the sauce around the filet and the potatoes was pretty darn tasty, so they should have put more sauce on the plate for the halibut in my opinion....and this dish was $2 more than the steak, so I kind of just wish we had gotten two hanger steaks instead!!! Note to self for next time. And this place really is a bit pricier than we thought, really a 3$ place...they have an appetizer that is $17 (granted it is lobster sliders which I want to go back and order ha ha) but most entrees are around $20-$30 each... But hey, at least I got a free bottle of wine!! Thanks, Yelp for that! :-) read more

Oh. My. God. That Salmon & Crab burger is going to be in my dreams tonight. Can I get another right now? A second lunch is acceptable right? I went with a friend and got the Power Lunch ($16 for an appetizer, entree, cookie and a to-go coffee) and it was a great value. I had the Corn Gazpacho to start and the Salmon & Crab burger as my entree. It was a ton of food, and the Gazpacho wasn't amazing, so next time I might save the $4 and just get an entree and forsake the cookie and coffee. Great time, in and out in 45 minutes (perfect for my lunch break!) and delicious, delicious, delicious. read more

I went during the week for lunch, the had a pre fixe menu which was horrible it barely had any variety. The choices were a salad, salmon or burger and I'm not sure if they had anything with chicken. Will not be going here again because of that. The server was quite nice read more

Ok, so I had reviewed Bambara for happy hour but now I'm back with my lunch review. First of all, it's a really get value for lunch. Sixteen dollars gets you an appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee to go. There's a great selection of apps and entrees to choose from, too. Fried squid, Lobster Bisque, Chopped Salad, Tuna Tartare, Salmon Burgers, veggie burgers, sandwiches, seriously - the menu options are extensive. I loved the chopped salad, the flavor of the salmon burger was a little off to me - but I had never had one before and I'm thinking it's just not my cup of tea. Plus, the fries are amazing and well worth the $16 dollars alone. Definitely coming back. If you work in the East Cambridge area, I suggest that you check it out as soon as possible! read more

Valentines Dinner with a twist! If it wasn't the Calamri, Tuna Tartare or Lobster Bisque appetizers that would bring us back then it would definitely be the decore. How moderately chic is this place!! You know that girl who always looks like she spent a fortune to get ready but she did it in 10 minutes, thats this place! Everything looks so spontaneously meticulously placed; gorgeous. I can't remember what I had for an entree but I know that from the moment the first appetizer hit the table I did not stop eating!! Hats off to a truly great menu and decor. AND SCORE .. a free dessert for "checking in"!! read more

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I heart bambara for being a stone's throw from my job, allowing me and my coworkers to pop in, on break midshift, to enjoy a cocktail and just relax a bit. The decor of the restaurant and the hotel itself is very sexy and the bartenders there always hook us up! And the herb fries are scrumptious! read more

When we checked into the Marlowe they gave us a couple tickets for complimentary drinks at the bar. Ordered the hot-n-dirty martini which is a dirty martini with Tabasco and blue cheese stuffed olives. This is a great drink for those who like spicy. Also ordered the Tuna Tartar which was fantastic. read more

This restaurant is located inside the Hotel Marlowe. Beautiful restaurant with windows, booth seating, bar seating, and a lounge/restaurant feel. I ordered the Steak Frites. The steak was succulent and tender. The sauce was delicious. Fries were garnished with herbs. Service was great and ambiance was relaxing. This is a great place to grab a drink with a friend or to dine in. read more

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

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We stopped into Bambara during restaurant week but opted for their regular menu since the offerings seemed a little dull. It's a very clean and warm space with a beautiful open kitchen. The seems almost a little gloomy, but the lighting plays it off well. I ordered a steak salad while my partner in crime went for the salmon burger. The steak was beautifully prepared over a well dressed salad. His burger was devoured quickly so I can only assume he'd agree on the quality of the food. I removed one star from this review because our waiter was not as attentive as I'd have liked. Our drinks were refilled only shortly before we asked for the check. But all in all, the food was delicious and it's a very enjoyable space for lunch. read more

Definitely an awesome place for a nice, quasi-romantic dinner. The prices, while they of course will make any college couple wince, are not out of the range of what you'd expect for a nice place. So I can't really mark them down for that. Dinner was simply delicious. I had the seared yellow tuna, so it was cooked on the outside, raw in the middle. Delicious. It was on a bed of Ratatouille, which I've never had but was awesome as well. Also came with two fried risotto cakes. Strange sounding but delicious! Something I could actually share with my girlfriend. My girlfriend had a side of garlic spinach and the mushroom risotto, which she said she loved. The vegetarian menu was a bit sparse, but what was there looked good. For drinks, she had tea and was surprised that it came in a ceramic tea kettle with fresh tea leaves instead of bags of tea. That's neat, never seen that before. I had a Rum and Coke. The mix of alcohol to coke tasted just right, which can sometimes be rare in Boston. Also, the waiter gave us a couple of free glasses of dessert wine just because we had been friendly with the guy. Great wine, and an even better treat! Kindness pays! For dessert, at our waiter's suggestion, we split the Vanilla Bread Pudding. Oh dear GOD that was a party in my mouth and EVERYONE was invited. Words cannot describe how tasty that was. Banana and vanilla with I believe a bit of cinnamon and a scoop of french vanilla on the top, it was great. Service at the start was a bit awkward. We were staying at the connecting Hotel Marlowe and when we walked in through the hotel entrance, they asked if we had reservations. Since we did not, they sat us on the other side. So I guess they had different sides depending on reservations. We didn't mind, sitting in our own section was kinda neat actually. Our waiter seemed a bit shy and nervous, but he got everything right and was very friendly and seemed happy to be there; that's all I need out of a waiter. As I said before, he must have liked us too, he brought us those free glasses of wine. The ambiance is nice, no pretentiousness at all. I went in with jeans and a button up shirt, nothing fancy, and they don't care. However it does LOOK like somewhere you'd want to be dressed nice for. Also, the seats were uber comfortable and they even had pillows at the table we sat at. That rocked!. CONS- Nothing's perfect of course, this place is no exception. For one, 10 dollars for a drink is messed up. I don't care HOW high class this place is, Maker's Mark is cheap. Also, someone send these guys a memo. Stale bread is NOT trendy. I don't care if it's special bread that's been triple baked. Go call the Texas Road House, who was honey covered warm buns served with cinnamon butter. And it doesn't break your teeth. THAT is bread. All in all, frigging awesome. I'd come here again. read more

I couldn't agree more with Jayashree (read below). Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was so kind, and very accommodating. I made reservations for 18 two days before and i didn't get a single hesitation. Also, no fixed charges were applied. The menu is not that big, but great service makes up for it. read more

This place was great! As a guest in the hotel it was very convenient. I don't usually expect too much from hotel bars but Bambara is definitely an exception. The food was delicious and fresh, I highly recommend the pork chop. The bartender, Rachel, was delightful. Great conversation and very attentive. I will definitely be back next time I am in Boston. read more

This is a great little place to grab lunch during a work week. I dig their express 3-course lunch option for $14. But, instead of adding more sugar to my waistline with cookies, I opted for their grilled cheese and tomato soup. Super tasty! The portion size was generous, too. Everyone at my table polished off their orders, which is always a good sign. Afterwards, we enjoyed tea and coffee. Service was a bit spotty, but it was understandable since several large groups were in the restaurant. But, all in all, our waitress took good care of us - despite the awkward start with three waters shared among four diners, the late delivery of sugar for our coffee and missing silverware. But, hey; nobody's perfect. But I really enjoyed getting out of the office and heading over to a restaurant that has a delicious-sounding menu with a wide array of options - including lobster chowdah. Mmm! read more

Not a ton to say here. Overall, pretty average. Food was ok, service was ok, ambiance was ok. The presentation was nice, but the waiters shirts were AWFUL. What I did notice, was that the Hotel Marlowe (this restaurant is attached) which I drive by every day but barely notice, is pretty swank inside... So I guess when the hotel lobby upstages the restaurant, it is nothing to write home about. read more