August 2025 | Vol. 22 Iss. 8
FREE
od Special Fo n io Edit
Midvale
See Inside...
When the cafeteria closes
Dealing with the reality of summer hunger for kids Page 9
Food Truck League
How these trucks changed the local dining
Page 16
The Bambino hits it out of the park with a unique spin on pizza classics By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
New pizzeria brings a fun vibe to Midvale’s Main Street. Editor’s note: In this special edition you’ll find articles related to all things food. he Bambino is more than just a pizza shop; it’s a local gathering place in Midvale that invites community connection with bold flavors, live music, specialty desserts and wood-fired pizza. “We were hoping to create a third place, somewhere the community could come together,” said owner Morgan Gardiner. “We wanted to create an amazing ambience, which I think we did pretty well. Our patio is incredible. We worked hard on our interiors to make it feel like somewhere you want to hang out and meet up with friends and family.” Gardiner and her husband, David, opened The Bambino on Midvale’s Historic Main Street at the end of October 2024. Their neighbors, Jeff and Caitlin Beck, own property in Midvale and were looking for someone to open a restaurant on Main Street. The Gardiners were all in. It’s the second restaurant they have operated, the first being Gladys’ Pizza in the Bear Lake Valley, offering woodfired pies since 2023. From mushroom ricotta to peach jalapeno, The Bambino offers unique pizza toppings that change with the season to ensure a fresh and distinctive flavor. The Mexican Street pizza features locally-grown corn with mozzarella, radish, cilantro and chipotle crema. For arugula fans, the greens are paired with a four-cheese blend and balsamic glaze to create a healthy pizza option. Paying tribute to its Idaho roots, the Spud pizza uses smashed new potatoes, pancetta
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and shallots. “We like to keep the classics on the menu, but there’s also an interpretive twist on some new ideas that people probably don’t try on pizza,” Gardiner said. “We also have a dessert bar called Setties. We have housemade gelato and we make everything from scratch. The macaron ice cream sandwiches are unique to us. No one else sells them in the valley. They’re delicious and they’re big and they’re gluten free.” The Bambino is a nod to “The Sandlot,” a 1993 movie that filmed scenes on Midvale’s Historic Main Street. On most weekend nights, the restaurant features live music on the brightly lit patio where patrons can enjoy pizza, sandwiches, salad or a sweet treat. There’s even a secret menu inspired by “The Sandlot” characters and a gluten-free crust, made in-house, so everyone can find something to enjoy. “As the sun starts to go down, it’s a place for people to enjoy some good food with friends and music,” she said. “We’re bringing more of the community out and creating an atmosphere of inclusion and welcoming. I don’t know if that’s what Midvale is hoping for, but I feel like they’re hoping to create connections on Main Street and I feel like we help that in our gathering goals and how we’ve tried to foster community.” The Bambino is located at 7692 Main Street in Midvale. For a complete menu, visit thebambinoslc.com and to learn more about the secret menu, including the Great Hambino, follow @thebambinoslc on Instagram. “It’s all family recipes and we’re having a lot of fun,” Gardiner said. “I would say it’s a real casual vibe that features really good food.”l
The Bambino boasts a colorful, well-lit patio for summer dining on Midvale’s Historic Main Street. Live music is performed at the pizza shop on most weekends. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)