New American Bistro Opens in Salt Lake City
Nicole Sforza
Posted: September 18, 1999
San Francisco's Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, known for coupling European-style boutique hotels with fine restaurants, has unveiled its latest venture, Bambara, a bistro adjacent to the group's Hotel Monaco, in Salt Lake City's financial district.
Executive chef Scott Blackerby, previously of Dallas' Nana Grill and Atlanta's Peachtree Cafe, presides over the kitchen, turning out new American regional cuisine with Italian, French and Asian influences. Entrees include tea-cured duck in a ginger plum glaze, grilled salmon on Israeli couscous with baby artichokes and olives, and grilled Colorado lamb sirloin. Dinner entrees range from $14 to $25. Daily breakfast and weekend brunch is served, and late-night fare is available in the 35-seat bar area.
The 60-wine list, selected by general manager Fred Boutwell, includes numerous bottlings from California, Washington, Australia, France, Italy and Spain. The list is "a work in progress," said Virginia Rainey, public relations spokeswoman for Bambara.
Created under the eye of designer Bob Puccini of San Francisco's Puccini Design Development, the 180-seat restaurant houses an eclectic mix of old and new. "The restaurant was converted from the Continental Bank, a historical landmark building," said Rainey. "What was once the bank's lobby now contains a big exhibition kitchen. Bob Puccini worked with the state's historical society to maintain the marble floor, glass of the original teller line and high windows, but added custom light fixtures, artisan iron and whimsical, swirly artwork."
Bambara marks the Kimpton Group's first dining operation in Salt Lake City. "Downtown Salt Lake is finally coming back to life," noted Rainey. "And the city as a whole is preparing for the Winter Olympics in 2002."
Bambara
202 South St.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Telephone: (801) 363-5454
Open: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, daily; brunch, Saturday and Sunday
For past reports on other Kimpton properties:
Aug. 11, 1997
Top Wine Country Chef Opens Seattle Restaurant Oct. 15, 1996
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