Bamba Bistro

Bamba Bistro, at night (04-28-2008)Kobe Beef with Herbed Potatoes; Goat Cheese and Beet Salad (12-31-2007)

Location

282 Alexander Street, Rochester NY, 14607

Hours (as of October 2009)

Lunch:

Monday-Friday: 11:30AM to 2:00OPM

Dinner:

Monday-Thursday: 5:00PM to 10:00PM

Friday/Saturday: 5:00PM to 11:00PM

Phone

585 244 8680

Email

<info AT bambabistro DOT com>

Website

http://www.bambabistro.com

Bamba Bistro is a casual re-incarnation of its previously formal atmosphere, when the upscale restaurant was called the "Rio Bamba." The chef and ownership is the same, however, the price-point and menu theme is different. Dinner entree prices are now in the low $20's. Starting Fall 2005, they started offering lunch Mon-Fri. They take seasonal ingredients into account in their ever-changing menu that includes a raw bar. The location makes it easy to have dinner before walking to the bars across the street on Alexander.

One RocWiki community member said:
The food is pretty rockin' - Chef Cohen is a master of presentation, and offers a variety of solid options. A recent visit involved an arugala salad with a very lightly fried block of goat cheese, over cherries, and home made pasta with a shitake mushroom sauce. Both great, but the pasta is atypical - most dishes here are a little heavier, and substantially meatier. I'll update this with some price information soon, but the quick version is that it isn't cheap. Think salads between $5 and $10, entrees around or over $20.

Comments:

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See Archive Page for comments prior to 2008.

2008-03-31 19:38:30   Who is Chef Cohen? I thought Antinore was still running the kitchen in this place. I have had the pleasure of eating this food for free on many occasions as I know many of the former cooks and the chef was my neighbor. I I just looked at the menu and YOWSA is it expensive, even by my new Californian gourmet standards. Think I'll just ask my friend to make their dishes for me if I ever get a craving. —MayaDriscoll

2009-05-20 14:59:12   i loved my experience here. the ambiance was really nice, while the food & drinks were great. there were a number of party tables seated around us (and by that i don't mean loud, but bachelorette & birthday), which hinted that this was a fun special-occasion place for future visits. —Leisel

2009-05-24 22:51:01   Went for a corporate dinner event. Loved the atmosphere and the food. The Calamari appetizer was out of this world. The Salmon Entree was delicious. I have had better Caesar salads at places less fancy. —ScottHendler

2009-09-07 21:47:04   Had a great appetizers meal here with my wife last weekend. Unfortunately, this place is doomed. It was 8pm on a Saturday night and there were only 3 or 4 tables occupied. It's a shame because it was GREAT! Drove by last Friday night around 7:30pm - prime Rochesterian dinner time - and again, practically empty. Guess it's time to throw a party over there while I still can! —DavidGottfried

2009-10-23 10:42:58   Everyone I know (myself included) seems to really enjoy this place....but why is it always empty? It'a great location too - makes no sense to me. —Leisel

2009-11-17 11:31:38   Went for dinner on a friday a few months ago. Again, the restaurant was empty, which makes you feel kind of uncomfortable. I felt as if the food was seriously underseasoned. The service seemed a bit hesitant, like he wasn't comfortable in his own skin. I'll probably go back for drinks, but I'll pass on dinner, it's a shame, sorry Bamba. —cbcritic