Hidden Gems: Bambino’s Downtown Bistro
While Bartlesville has been expanding lately with plenty of new fare, there are also a few older gems tucked away that some hungry patrons may be missing out on that I intend to explore in the coming months.
Bambino's Downtown Bistro is one of these places, nestled within the walls of the ITIO Mall in downtown Bartlesville. For full disclosure, I am a huge fan of this lunchtime eatery and typically hit their salad bar, the best in Bartlesville, in my not-so-humble opinion, weekly.
I don't want to keep this delectable delicatessen all to myself, so I'm sharing it with you, dear reader. Bambino's has a small but loyal following of primarily retirees and a fly fishing club, which meets there regularly.
Around 2005, Bambino's was the dream of owner/operator Brian Black. Black previously worked in hospitality at a large hotel in St. Louis for 20 years.
"I was born here, and I always knew I wanted to come back, and I just thought this place, the ITIO mall, was awesome," Black said.
Featuring traditional New York deli food, Bambino's most beloved sandwiches are the classic Reuben, and a specialty deli sandwich called the "spectacular," which lives up to its name. In the interest of science, I decided to try both sandwiches in preparation for this article.
I want to note that Bambino's offers gluten-free options with gluten-free bread on hand for those with intolerances, but even though I usually eat gluten-free for my health, this time, I decided to go gluten-full and try each sandwich in its truest form.
Bambino's Reuben is what puts them on the map. Perfectly balanced, corned beef forward and quite hearty, I think Bambino's version of the Reuben typifies what I want from this classic New York deli sandwich. It is an intensely satisfying sandwich.
I am also a massive fan of the "spectacular" sandwich, which comes on a hoagie bun grilled on a panini press. Featuring roast beef, ham, bologna and salami, in addition to provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and sliced banana peppers (known as "pepperoncini"), you will not go away hungry from this sandwich. It was the "spectacular" sandwich that had me going back to Bambino's over and over again when I first discovered this eatery nearly nine years ago.
When asked what menu item is underrated, Melanie Black, the owner's wife, said, "The chicken salad. There is a secret ingredient that makes our chicken salad really special. We go through about 40 lbs of it a week." That's a lot of chicken salad.
It sounds like I need to try a chicken salad sandwich or a chicken salad salad soon at Bambino's — I've been missing out.
Another fun feature of Bambino's is their steady offering of ooey gooey butter cake. Brian Black included a piece of chocolate cake and lemon butter cake with my order. Both were melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness that I shared with my husband, Andy.
"I will give kids a free slice of ooey gooey butter cake if they come with their parents," Black said. He wants to see more families in the bistro.
I would be remiss if I didn't discuss my current Bambino obsession — their wonderful salad bar.
It is stocked with fresh greens and veggies like pickled beets, pickled okra, diced peppers and mushrooms, potato salad and more, as well as plenty of proteins, including diced ham and turkey, bacon bits, cottage cheese and hardboiled eggs.
My favorite coworker and I are known to show up weekly, each order the "big plate" and load up on all our favorite things. You are missing out if you're a salad person and haven't tried Bambino's salad bar.
Black's Bambino's Downtown Bistro is open 10 am to 2:30 pm Monday-Saturday in the ITIO building at 101 SE Frank Phillips Blvd. Be sure to try the Reuben.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bambino's Downtown Bistro is a hidden gem
