Balthazar Restaurant

My overall impression of this place is that it’s seriously overrated.
My friend and I shared the chicken liver and foie gras mousse for appetizer. The liver’s unique flavor overpowered the foie gras and the texture was more like that of a paste than mousse, so it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I got the steak frites for entrée, and while it wasn’t bad, it was nothing special either. For $ 41, I could’ve gotten a much nicer cut of steak elsewhere. I got to try my friend’s duck confit as well and it was equally underwhelming.
In sum, the food is nothing spectacular but comes with a high price tag, the noise level is rather high and the ambiance isn’t especially nice, and the wait time can get ridiculously long. I probably wouldn’t return, except maybe for weekend brunch.

We are 4 of those tourist people talk about going to Balthazar, and it was a good visit. We arrived a little before noon on a week day so it was the transition from breakfast to lunch. We were seated, got our drinks and placed our order to wait till noon when the kitchen has completed the transition.
We had just returned from Paris and were completing our themed french vacation. we had the salmon/​lox appetizer it was delightful. i had the Coq Au Vin and and my guest had the
Salade Nioise. Both were great and what a wonderful way to spend our last day in NYC.

Came here after work because I was craving oysters so I dragged my two coworkers here.
We sat at the bar, though there were several tables available, granted we did come at about 11:30 PM.
I ordered two glasses of Pinot Noir which were wonderful and a dozen Bluepoints, which were honestly probably the freshest Bluepoints I have ever had.
It’s so depressing how expensive this place is ($ 24/​half dozen oysters) but they are so delicious, so I will eventually be dragging my coworkers back!

I’ve been coming here for years although not frequently, as I definitely need to budget for a meal out at Balthazar. That being said, it is very much worth it to come here.
I always come for lunch when prices are a bit more in my range but you can still get some great items. I *always* order the lamb sandwich, something I recommend highly because it is very filling, delicious and comes with a nice helping of fries. Other food that is dropped off to surrounding tables always looks excellent and clearly they specialize in seafood.
Service is impeccable and I don’t use that word often. It is a very tightly choreographed dance between servers and busboys, and it can be quite interesting to watch. You don’t sit for more than a minute with an empty glass or dirty dish in front of you at Balthazar.
Overall, this is definitely a place worth visiting in NYC. Is it pricey? Sure, a bit. But it could be worse and it could be overrated. This place is well known (so make a reservation) for a reason. It is excellent.

KenScale: 7.5÷10
If you have lived in New York City for at least a couple of years, you’ll start recognizing all the classic tourist trap establishments in the city. I try to stay away from tourist traps but there are so many in the city that you inevitably visit one or two every once in a while. Nowadays, with the influx of information on all the hottest places in the city for food and drinks, the line on what constitutes a tourist trap has somewhat blurred. It is safe to say, however, that restaurateur Keith McNally’s French brasserie in SoHo has been an enduring institution where hundreds of tourists flock to on a daily basis. Despite the number of restaurants in the city I’ve been to, Balthazar has somewhat evaded me, and probably for good reason. I don’t really hang out in SoHo in the first place unless I’m visiting a restaurant that sits on the quieter side of neighborhood that I’ve been meaning to check out for a long time, and Balthazar clearly doesn’t fit that category, and I wasn’t sure if the dining experience would be worth all the noise coming from tourists. Recently, a friend of mine who had a friend visiting New York City for the first time thought we should take her to a classic establishment instead of some hot place that opened recently, and that’s how I stepped into Balthazar, which was absolutely packed on a Thursday night and I can already tell probably not more than a quarter of the crowd is from New York. Well, is the food at least worth all the hype?
The menu at Balthazar is mostly classic French brasserie food. It doesn’t pretend to add any fancy ingredient, technique or plating to the table, and that’s fine with me as long as the execution is consistently there. At Balthazar, though, the consistency seems to be an issue. The oysters were certainly fresh, but the texture of escargots in garlic butter was somewhat off based on my expectation of how snails should taste like. I did like the frisee salad with warm bacon shallot vinaigrette and soft-​poached egg, showcasing a classic touch that you should have at the beginning of your meal. On the other hand, warm goat cheese and caramelized onion tart, despite its smooth texture, wasn’t nearly satisfying enough. Slow-​roasted Atlantic cod with soft polenta, ramps, hen-​of-​the-​woods mushrooms and bordelaise was another boring dish that I could remember nothing about after a couple of days, even though I vaguely remember the fish was nicely cooked. The steak frites, a classic French dish that everyone seems to be ordering at Balthazar, had juicy, tender steak cooked medium rare, but the uneven seasoning somewhat undermined the texture of the meat. The desserts fared better. The strawberry rhubarb tart that our server highly recommended was delightful, as was the caramelized banana ricotta tart with banana ice cream that had nice touch of sweetness without overpowering my palate.
As noted above, Balthazar is perpetually packed, especially with tourists, so if you’re inclined to check it out, either make a reservation in advance or shoot for quieter times like in the morning for breakfast. The restaurant has an extensive wine list from which you should select a bottle or two to complement your meal. If you want to show your out-​of-​towner friend what a dining scene in New York City is like, Balthazar may be a nice introduction; if you’re a serious foodie looking for serious dining experience, however, it may not necessarily be the right fit. In a way, you can’t really blame the restaurant since I’m sure the kitchen is constantly facing the pressure of mobs looking to cross off their New York tour checklist.

My husband and I went here for breakfast one day during our visit to NYC. We had found it on a «best breakfasts» list so we were very excited to get to try it out. The menu was extensive and looked very delicious.
We made reservations so we got in right away. First things first — coffee! I got a café mocha which was very good. I can be picky with my espressos, so I was very happy with this one.
After much deliberation, we decided to order the Scrambled Eggs in Puff Pastry with mushrooms and asparagus, Avocado and Poached Egg on Toast with tomato and jalapeño salsa, and the French Toast. Everything was delicious. The best out of the three was the scrambled eggs and puff pastry — such a wonderful savory flavor. The avocado toast was good and the best I’ve tried so far, but it’s never as good as you expect it to be — avocado can be «too much» sometimes. But the balance between the bread and avocado was nice and fair, and the poached egg was perfectly runny. It just cools off pretty quick and loses it’s appeal somewhat. Nothing against Balthazar’s version. It was still yummy — I just think I’m over the Avocado Toast quest. French toast was warm, comforting and to-​die-​for.
We did have a very odd server, somewhat, who almost ruined our experience. She was too helpful verging on annoying. I appreciate an expert who can guide you through the menu, but she was rather bossy about it. When she walked past our table and noticed my husband about to cut into the puff pastry for the very first bite, she immediately stopped to tell him he was eating it wrong and to TRY IT THIS WAY INSTEAD. No thanks, lady. Go away now. I know she was only trying to help, but no one likes to be told how to eat their own food.
Overall though, a delicious breakfast and that’s the most important part of any meal. We’d go back if we were locals for sure.

We got in a bit later than brunch time but the waitress was able to assemble a pastry basket for us: whole wheat croissant, almond croissant, cinnamon bun, pecan roll. All were delicious with a spread of jams and butter.
For my entrée, i got the duck confit $ 34. DELICIOUS! The waitress said it’s really good and she wasn’t wrong. It was tender and flavorful and lots of meat! with a frisee salad on top, and mushrooms/​brussel sprout on bottem. So good!
The (new) hubs got the mussel with frites $ 28. OMG — so many mussels~~ good thing he likes them. I don’t think I can eat that many… The broth is white-​wine based but the mussels. they were the star. Super plump and plentiful.
Friends got eggs benedict (at 12:15 on a Monday) and were happy to be able to have brunch items during lunch hour.
Not cheap but definitely delicious food, nice ambiance, and excellent service.

It’s our2nd annual breakfast gathering here and we love it. The food is delicious, French and filling. The service is impeccable and you won’t be disappointed. Foodies — spend the $ and enjoy your meal!

came on a friday night without reservations with 4 others. I was expecting to wait at least an hour at 6:15 but they managed to squeeze us in. :)
we started with a carafe of cotes du rhone. it’s not much wine, but enough for my bf and I. The rest of the group didn’t drink.
appetizers:
— a dozen oysters (mixed) — quite good and fresh.
— chicken liver pâté & foie gras mousse — REALLY good and its a big portion. We asked for extra toast. yum!
— small nettle and ricotta agnolotti (its like a rectagular ravioli) with prosciutto — awesome and fresh! the small is a good amount to share.
main:
— I had the steak au poivre — medium rare with pepper sauce, fries and spinach. the steak itself was good, but i’ve had a better cut of meat. no complaints though. the dish is solid.
— i tried the salmon — REALLY good. i’d order that again on my next visit.
— the bf tried the homemade fettuccini — highly recommended by our waitress. the flavors are super delicate and the pasta is really fresh. there is no meat or noticeable vegetables in this dish — just straight up pasta. I shared my steak with my bf in exchange for some of his pasta which balanced our meals out a bit.
dessert:
orange and sour cream cheesecake — LOVE. it’s lighter than normal and the orange cuts the heaviness of the cheese.
caramalized banana ricotta tart — my favorite. if you love bananas, order this. it comes with banana ice cream. awesome textures!
overall, this place is a treat but not so expensive, that you’d only come on special occasions. will be back!

Service was on point here. I can see why this place has been in business for 18 years now.
Food was typical Parisian, loved their raw seafood platter the best. The mussels were so fresh and soft. The ceviche needed some more seasoning, the clams were gross.
The drinks were delish and the wine was good for what they offer! But the service here is what I fell in love with, the servers here don’t play around. They are well trained and move fast to accommodate your needs.

My boyfriend took me here to celebrate my birthday because he knows I love steak and frites! We made reservations two weeks in advance for a Friday dinner, and were glad we did because the place was packed.
The atmosphere is of a French bistro. We got seated right away, but our table was sandwiched between tables on every side with barely any space to move. We were literally elbow to elbow with our neighbors.
It was a little cramped and felt very uncomfortable. The restaurant was loud so it was hard to carry a conversation, and being so close to the other tables, we were distracted by their conversations. One elderly couple next to us just argued the whole time. It was hard focusing on each other when you’re witnessing an argument happening right next to you.
However, we thoroughly enjoyed the food! We ordered the Lobster Risotto for the appetizer ($ 25), then the Steak Au Poivre ($ 47) and the Pappardelle with Short Rib Ragu ($ 34) for the entrée. The Steak au Poivre was simply amazing — the meat was a little tough, especially since we ordered the steak rare, but it was huge and seasoned well with peppercorn. The dish had a great kick to it. Portions were generous! We were too full for dessert!

Balthazar does Balthazar best. It’s owner, Keith McNally, believes that people eat out for the experience as much as for the food. Balthazar is high on experience. When it opened there was so much buzz you could only make a reservation using an unlisted number, or in person with the hostess. Before you got there you were enGaged.
And it is a beautiful restaurant. The service is perhaps overly attentive, if you can complain about such a thing. It’s the café Flore gone way way Disney. And forgive us, we’re American, some of us NOT from New York. We like friendly and attentive character actors checking in always.
And yes Visually: this place will blow your MIND. The décor, the still — all these years later — sexy weekday crowd. The towers of Oysters. The cones of French fries. The waitresses dressed as French maids.
And the food is tremendous. BUT NOT EXCELLENT. Because Balthazar is after all more commerce than art. Things comes out too quickly, everything is good but mass produced and ultimately for the better masses. (It’s the Coach bag of restaurants. All looks, some craftsmanship. Massssssssssss production).
And we forgive you Balthazar, as you get us in and out as quickly as you can, and charge us much as you can for as little possible.
And we forgive you Balthazar. We always do. Because you’re pretty. And pretty ALWAYS gets another chance.

totally worth the hype — the service is great here and everything on the menu is so good. I came here with a friend not knowing what this place is or even what type of food it served. but it’s breakfast food that’s cooked well. i wasn’t too hungry, so i got a pastry and some eggs.
it’s pretty crowded, but if you make a reservation, you get seated right away. (some restaurants make you wait even if you have a reservation).
this review sucks, but just go here, you won’t regret it

SoHo brunch in all its glory — mimosas flowing, a magnificent mirrored raw bar, tall-​ceilinged, champagne bottles lining the floor-​to-​ceiling bar — if anyone does excess, NY does it best!
Le Panier: Fresh bread/​pastry basket — ours came with croissant (giant), sticky bun (a beautiful sugar high), brioche (perfectly delicious), raisin walnut bread, chocolate bread (subtly sweet)
Scrambled Eggs in Puff Pastry — soft eggs scrambled with savory mushrooms and asparagus, perched on top of puff pastry. A winner for any palate
Eggs Norwegian: Eggs benny with smoked salmon, subbed in frites for house fries. Smoked salmon for the quintessential NY brunch and frites were tasty
Classy service and ambiance. Reservations open 30 days in advance — definitely book to avoid the wait. Too many brunch options in NY, glad finally paid Balthazar a (much overdue) visit!

A New York establishment and tourist magnet, Balthazar does get packed on the weekends for brunch, so do try to make a reservation, otherwise you’ll be waiting for a very long time. They had no reservations on Open Table, but when I called the restaurant directly, I was able to get a reso for six at 2 pm on a Sunday.
We ate kind of late, so I ended up ordering lunch instead of brunch. I went with the cheval (translates to horse) but that’s just the name for the burger with an egg on top (I guess kind of like a rider on top of a horse, get it? I don’t either). But the burger was juicy and good. My friends all liked their food. Everything here is on the pricey side, especially cocktails — sorry, but I’m not paying $ 17 for a mimosa!
The host/​manger was nice. Our waitress was condescending (like I would expect at a French place — sorry I had to get that jab in). She made a mistake on the bill and charged us twice for a burnt French toast my friend had to send back twice! They gave us the smallest table in the middle, got bumped the entire meal. It is cute and quaint, but very loud in here, forget about a conversation, you’ll be shouting. Worth a visit, but better during off peak times.

I have definitely been to this place for at least three times and each time prior to this one, without a reservation. Waiting for food was such a painful experience but food justified all the wait.
This time I learned my lesson and secured a spot one week ahead for brunch. Haven’t brunched for quite a while and craving bacons, I definitely picked the egg meurette. They nailed the poached egg. Carefully cut my poached egg in halves, I watched the half-​melt egg yolk flowing and spreading onto my plate. The thick bacon on the other hand, perfectly paired itself with the crispy bread beneath. I even finished up all the broth — amazing dish!

This place is pretty cool. It has a nice vibe like a small French Bistro. However, this place is not small at all.
For appetizers we had the Escargots and Steak Tartare. The Escargot were amazing. This was the first time I ever had it without cheese and boy did it work. The escargots had only butter, garlic, white wine, and parsley. It was very tasty.
The steak tartare was good too, but it wasn’t out of this world.
For our entrees we had Moules Frites, Duck Confit, Coq Au Vin, and the Grilled Dorade. The Moules Frites were done very well. The mussels tasted very fresh.

MAKE RESERVATIONS!!! :) So glad we did on Valentines day.
PROS:
–The mussel and fries were so good.
–Loved the cheeseburger w/​an egg on top. Why haven’t I been ordering an egg w/​it all this time? Delicious and perfectly cooked burger packed with flavor.
–Great cocktails and wine.
–Profiteroles with ice cream! Excellent.
CONS:
–Tiny tables for us, since we like ordering a lot of food. :))

My favorite destination for when «It’s late and I don’t know where to go.» Always great, always fulfilling!
The menu is vast as you would expect from a French brasserie, full of tartare, butter, and gruyère! Speaking of gruyère, the onion soup is a rich and heavy dish, full of decadence– not to be passed up (weather permitting) Steak frites also delish— and safe to say everything else on the very extensive menu is great too. But to be frank, my favorite part of the menu is the desserts!
Banana tart is fantastic! Chocolate cake just as yum!

Their oatmeal is the best. Anyone who knows not all oatmeal is created equal and it can vary in taste and quality will know oatmeal heaven when they reach Balthazar.
Ask for what toppings are in season (they often have fresh berries, bananas, and nuts to add).

We came on a rainy, Monday night and the restaurant was surprisingly packed. Definitely make a reservation!
The place was filled with classic décor, nothing too fancy but you could tell that Balthazar has been around for some time. After reading the reviews and seeing the prices, I was expecting a meal as good as the ones we had back in Paris. And even though the food was good, I wasn’t blown away. We started with the French Onion Soup ($ 16 for a small bowl!) to share. I couldn’t eat more than a few spoonfuls because of all the salt and cheese. For the entrees, I ordered Lobster Risotto while the bf got Steak Frites. I was underwhelmed with my risotto at first but after the first few bites, I kept wanting more and more. I liked how there were plenty of lobster chunks in there and it wasn’t too heavy. The bf said his steak wasn’t memorable but we both agreed that the fries were perfectly crispy and seasoned. For dessert, we ordered Profiteroles. It comes with 3 for $ 13ish and were standard.
Gave them 3.5+ but rounded up for good measure. I’d take friends and family here if they really like French food but personally won’t be able to afford a second meal here.

Not bad, just pricey. Had the french onion soup and it was just ok. I really expected deep, well developed onion-​y soup and it wasn’t… just a basic broth and ALOT of cheese. For $ 16 I also expected the crock to be alittle bigger but it was regular sized. My husband got the beef tartar and said it was amazing. It was $ 22 though. that’s for an appetizer… wow. For entrée I had the burger, it was pretty good, but again, not huge for it being a $ 23 burger. The fries were pretty good, nothing to write home about. Hubby got the lamb tbones ($ 43) they were cooked well but he seemed a bit underwhelmed. Dessert we got the apple tartin it was really not that good. I guess you really have to like delicate french pastry type desserts to enjoy this. it was just overly bland and boring.
I actually really enjoyed the ambiance. Despite the fact that it IS loud and you are packed in like sardines it’s a cool bustling and fun atmosphere. I would go back if the menu items were $ 8-​$ 10 cheaper. It just honestly isn’t worth the inflated price tag.

BALTHAZAR is an amazing place. I cannot fathom where to start and this is one of the first places which inspire me to start my Unilocaling journey. Bring my girlfriend here for a nice dinner was a great idea and I could not imagine another a wonderful time that I had at this place. The place is felt warm and grand.
What we ordered:
Lobster Bisque with croutons (Creamy and smooth)
Duck Confit with Yukon Gold potatoes, cipollini onions, wild mushrooms and frisée. (Amazing and probably the reason why I keep coming back here. The duck is crispy on the outside but provides a delicate taste that does not overpower the duck. Served over mushrooms and onions compliments the duck fairly well.)
Roasted Amish Chicken Breast with Brussels sprouts, apple cider-​braised onions and shiitake mushrooms (Chicken was moist and felt like the right amount with delicious sweet and sour onions and damn those brussel sprouts were addicting)
Pomme Frites with garlic aioli. (Crispy and the garlic aioli goes perfect with the frites)
Crème Brulee with cookies (Light and full of flavor with carmelized sugar on top to accentuate the crème brûlée. Nothing beats a well executed dessert.)
This was a great dinner and I would recommend this place if you need a nice place to have dinner. Although I recommend making reservations as this place gets pack quite easily.

The food here is really not so special nor delicious. It is definitely not up to par of what any restaurants in France.
The taste is plain in a way — it is lack of the sparkle on the taste bud. On top of this, the price is way too expensive for the quality of food.
The service and ambience of the restaurant is decent, but it can’t overcome my disappointment to the food.
I would not go again.

Could this place be a bit less expensive? Absolutely… it’s a pricey endeavor, no doubt. But it’s delicious and well worth it if there’s an occasion worth celebrating. We came in for a Saturday birthday brunch. The place is chronically busy, but the service is fairly attentive, and the commotion is an indication of the place’s popularity. We were a party of 5.5 (5 adults… and a munchkin in a highchair).
For starters, we ordered 2 orders of the warm goat cheese tart, 2 orders of the chicken liver, and the bread basket. The warm goat cheese tart is a must, especially if you’re a fan of goat cheese like me. My family is ‘of the Tribe’, so naturally the chicken liver went quickly. The bread basket went well with the apps, and had a nice assortment of sweet and savory types — maybe would have wanted a bit more of the savory/​hearty breads at the beginning of meal, but we left more of the sweets for later in the meal.
For mains, two of us got the cheese burgers, one diner got the grilled trout, one got the eggs meurrette, and I got the steak au poivre. I tasted a bit of the trout and burgers — the trout was tender and flaky and the burgers were cooked just right, and not overbearing. I think I won with the steak though — pepper-​crusted with a great brown sauce, and cooked perfectly. Now I’m normally a pretty health-​conscious eater, but you gotta break your normal rules for Balthazar’s fries. Yum. And the steak came with some steamed spinach to balance out the rest of the richness.
I caught a glimpse of another table’s profiteroles earlier on in the meal… and my mission became clear. In addition to those, we also order the caramelized banana tart for dessert. The banana tart was great, especially the banana ice cream. But, the profiteroles were the clear favorite… and all three disappeared from sight in moments.
Again, with drinks… it was a ‘spensive outing. But it was also memorable, decadent, and just really good. Now… back to the elliptical.

Charismatic atmosphere that was a comfortable mix of Paris and New York with a splash of a local dive diner. Wait staff are attentive and helpful, similarly dressed in black and white.
Tremendous French onion soup. My french toast was a bit dry but the extra thick bacon made up for it. Pricey but worth it.
4.55 stars but I rounded up for good measure because my wife thought her coffee was fantastic.

Oh the famous Balthazar. Pictures do not do this place justice. I am a sucker for French and this restaurant delivers. So glad I got a chance to try some tasty food in this classy and beautiful restaurant in the heart of SoHo. Unlike typical LA hot spots, Balthazar is super spacious and beautifully designed. Many people may not know that the space was converted into a restaurant from a leather warehouse a little less than a decade ago. The restaurant was decorated with lights and props for the holidays and the dim, romantic ambiance was perfect for a date night. We were seated promptly upon our arrival for our reservations in a large booth that allowed us space for our coats and accessories. Our server was okay, he seemed a bit rushed and unhappy to be there, but the food overshadowed his lack of enthusiasm. From the dinner menu we ordered: Onion Soup Gratine, Lobster Risotto, Duck Shepherd’s Pie, and Steak Au Poivre. The complimentary bread was not special but definitely baked in house.
Onion Soup Gratine: Let me begin by saying that French onion soup is not one of my favorites. But wow, this soup blew me away. Being that it was a chilly, rainy day outside, my boyfriend suggested we share the onion soup to warm up. Talk about flavors and textures causing fireworks in your mouth. The onion soup had caramelized onions and was baked with bread and lots of cheese. It was not lacking on the cheesy goodness. Once you break into the soup with a spoon, you get the onions and broth and cheese and bread in one bite of heaven. The sweetness of the onions and the saltiness of the cheeses were great compliments of one another. I was told that they serve about 15 gallons of this soup.DAILY.
Lobster risotto: The risotto was cooked perfectly. Served with black truffle, cauliflower cream and chives, the risotto was creamy and flavorful. Though there was not an excessive amount of lobster in the dish, I quite enjoyed the fact that you can taste everything. The lobster was not overpowering to the rest of the ingredients. The dish was savory and creamy and had a wonderful bite to it. It is quite difficult to cook risotto to the right texture and not overcook it; the risotto was not overcooked and the textures were fantastic.
Duck Shepard’s Pie: YUM. Talk about a beautiful dish with explosive flavors. The duck was cooked so well, it was rich and flavorful, but not overpowering. The red wine sauce in the dish was utterly flavorful. The potatoes were starchy and tasty; just an amazing seasoned and delicious twist on a classic dish. The parmesan topping on top of the pie was surprisingly light and crispy, adding a nice texture to the entire dish. Don’t be fooled by the size! Though the pie may look small in the gratin dish, it is quite fulfilling!
Steak Au Poivre: And the icing on the cake! The steak, cooked medium well, served with spinach and pommes frites. The peppery crust on the steak was just delicious and the steak itself was cooked very well. Tender to the knife and soft to the bite. The creamy sauce on top was light and added a nice contrast to the well seasoned steak. The crispy fries were piled high and simply tasty. The sauteed spinach served as a good pallet cleanser and was a nice compliment to the steak and fries.
We went, we ate, we loved. Balthazar is a must when in SoHo. We thoroughly enjoyed all the items we ordered from the dinner menu, the ambiance, and the presentation. This is simple cooking with explosive flavors, done right. In an imitate traditional brasserie atmosphere, this restaurant is busy and loud… but I still felt right at home. This will definitely be a restaurant I will frequent when in the East Coast.

I love this place and can’t wait to comeback.
Price: It’s not cheap obviously but you get your money’s worth.
Taste: I had the Steak Frites and it was amazing. The steak was very well cooked and flavorful. I would definitely put this place as a 5 for steaks on a 1 – 5 scale. The fries are amazing as well. Also try the Goat cheese tart thing for your appetizer it’s addicting and you could literally eat a couple orders of it.
Service: Servers here are awesome.
The only thing I don’t like is that the tables are small. Also it can be crowded so make sure to get a reservation. Also when you get a reservation make sure to get it away from the bar. You’ll understand why once you go there.

Balthazar is an iconic French restaurant in New York and the original brunch spot. The ambiance is atmosphere are a traditional French bistro or Café in Budapest. The wait staff are all immaculate and perfectly capture both the elegance of the French as well as lacking their snootiness. The clientele is largely tourists. Food is good, particularly the dessert and pastries from the bakery, but prices are astronomical. Be prepared to spend $ 12 – 15 on a dessert and over $ 20 for any entrée.

I can’t believe I forgot to review this place! Damn, the weather was still warm when I ate here.
The food was of course fantastic. Me and a friend split a small seafood plateau with oysters, shrimp and calamari and the seafood could not have been fresher.
I know we split a pasta appetizer that I can’t now for the life of me remember the specifics of, but it blew both of us away. She also ordered a pasta dish for her entrée, possibly a pesto cheese based something or other, which had me rolling my eyes right out of my head because c’mon honey, we’re at a French place.
I ordered the duck confit, my first time having the dish. It comes with potatoes, onions and mushrooms, all soaked in delicious, divine, perfect duck fat. Duck fat is my second favorite kind of fat after pork, and like Franks Red Hot you can put that shit on everything. You should. Don’t let your doctor tell you otherwise.
I also got a dessert that I didn’t need after the confit, crème brûlée, and it was great. Cocktails were on point too, with a large selection of dessert wines.
The service was top notch, and the ambiance was absolutely charming. It’s classy without being stuffy or pretentious, very warm and inviting with a bustling main room. They let the food speak for itself and it says wonderful things.

Boy Balthazar doesn’t disappoint!
The hubby wanted to take me and my girls for an early birthday dinner. A lot of places in our Upper East Side neighborhood came to mind but when the hubby said, «we haven’t to been to Balthazar in a while» the decision was made.
When we arrived, we were very quickly shown to our table. The server (smartly) had crayons for my girls to draw with. She also quickly brought us a basket of delicious bread to feed my hungry brood.
We had:
Steak Tartare — delicious, flavored with mustard and capers
Steak Frites — perfectly cooked with béarnaise sauce on the side
Hamburger — my girls enjoyed it
Coq au Vin — absolutely delicious
The food and the wine were terrific. The service was really good. Balthazar is a consistent crowd pleaser!

Went in for an office breakfast. High expectations!
We shared a basket of the bread/​pastries (all good). I had a very tasty cappuccino to start.
I went with the Full English Breakfast. Very good! Everyone enjoyed their meals-​poached eggs, quiche, from what I can remember. Prices were reasonable for the service and quality.
Service was fantastic. Large cappuccinos were comically large (re: soup bowl). I’d definitely go again.

A perfect restaurant. This brasserie has amazing food, attentive service, and just the right ambience. I’ll go in reverse order.
The ambience is very cool here. It’s constantly busy so I definitely recommend reservations, but thanks to the generous square footage, it never feels too crowded. The huge vintage mirrors, red booths, and golden light just makes it feel like the perfect mix between casual and upscale. Expect all kinds here, from fancy tourists to locals in sweats (okay, designer sweats, but still sweats).
Service is great here. The waiter’s job is actually minimal (to take orders, check on food), but there’s a designated person for your area to refill waters and take plates away. So, you don’t ever get too thirsty or have to stare at your inevitably scraped-​clean dish for too long.
Food is phenomenal and rivals comparable places in Paris imo. Everything was done perfectly — heavy when it was supposed to be heavy, light when it was supposed to be light. The standouts are the steak frites (which is, fyi, only $ 40 for lunch even though the online menu quotes a higher price), goat cheese tart (who knew a mound of cheese could taste so clean), and the beef tartar (sweet and creamy).
I’m not a huge fan of bread, which I know is a selling point here, so I can’t speak as much to that, but if you’re looking to sample their bread without paying for the bread basket, they do give you some bread for free, which includes their signature Balthazar B beer bread. I’d suggest nibbling on that first before plunking down for an entire basket.

This is a very popular brunch place and its French! We booked ahead of time and got seated immediately. While the place is nice and cozy, it is very crowded, loud and tight.
Carry on to what we got:
1. Chicken Pâté with cranberry — delicious
2. Fancy bread basket — they will also give u the free regular bread basket
3. Eggs norwegian — poached eggs with smoked salmon *must have*
4. Corned beef hash n eggs (any style)
5. French toast with canadian bacon
6. Sour cream waffle
7. Crème brûlée — delish!
8. Warm chocolate cake
9. Regular OJ mimosa
While the food and service is good, the bill came up to 55 $ per person (with tips). The place is overrated and the food is not that memorable. I sure have eaten better French brunch elsewhere. You come here for the atmosphere (and to be seen).

This place has been here forever, and I finally was able to visit and see what it was like. It was very nice, rustic and cozy environment in a good way, and jampacked in a bad way. Still very nice to feel alive with thousand other people in the restaurant. I think this has been the one of the most famous french establishment of what’s left.
We were told we would wait for 30 – 40 minutes for Sunday lunch, but we were called in 15 – 20 minutes. I don’t remember what my friend ordered now, but i ordered a cheeseburger coming with fries, which was about 22 bucks. I actually really liked the burger. Patty was very juicy and perfectly cooked. Fries were well fried, too. I should say this was one of the best restaurants burgers I have had in recent days.
I would recommend this place for especially breakfast, brunch and lunch. I am pretty sure the dinner would be decent too. I will come back later to see how it is.

Very Busy Spot, when we visited for brunch on a Sunday. Called a week earlier and were able to get a 2:30 reservation.
Place was packed, but we were seated within 10 mins or getting there. Service was good, and so was the food. I had the Steak Au Poivre, which was served with Spinach and Fries. Steak was cooked perfectly, and i loved the peppery crust. Their Bloody Mary was also really good.
Two people in our table of four had poached eggs. they were overcooked, however the staff fixed this promptly, as soon as we brought it to their attention.
Service was really great. Atmosphere was lively, and fun, and food was definitely a hit.

Sat at the bar to avoid a wait and had the moules frites. They were quite good, but a bit pricey at around $ 30. The vibe is very much like a French bistro.
The bread and smooth butter is where it’s at though.

I have been wanting to come here for over a decade (on top of other places) and finally was taken for my birthday! I had mixed expectations because over the years I’ve heard both good and bad things. I am glad to see that I left quite happy (and full) from eating here. The portions are great for sharing, service was very attentive and food was well made and tasty.
Appetizers:
Chicken Liver and Foie Gras Mousse — huge portion, enough to share for 4 people I’d say as the two of us struggled to finish it but it was too good, I couldn’t just waste it. Nice and salty with a good crunch from the toasted bread.
Grilled Octopus — well-​cooked, nice and soft. Leeks were a great complement to the octopus.
Entrees: We were contemplating of getting the steak frites because they are well-​known for their fries and steak, but I felt it was more worth getting steak at a real steakhouse so we settled with the below and got the pommes frites as a side which was more than adequate.
Duck’s Shepards Pie — brown, creamy and saucy with plenty of duck chunks found inside. I would say a tad saltier than I would like it but still good. Plenty to share.
Grilled Lamb T-​Bones — Cooked beautifully, right off the bone.
Overall, it was a great dining experience. The décor is beautifully french and reminds me of one of the restaurants I went to while in Paris a few years back. I would advise making reservations as they seem to be always fully packed for dinners.

I tried Balthazar Restaurant for a late night dinner with one other friend. We shared an order of Little Neck Clams ($ 17 for 6) and Moules Frites ($ 27) as an appetizer. There is a bakery right next to the restaurant by the same name, and the complimentary bread that they give you is from there… it was definitely my favorite part of the meal because the rest of the meal — especially my main entrée (Salade Nicoise) was not satisfying at all.
The Little Neck Clams were plump and juicy, but would I pay that much for them again? Probably not. The cocktail sauce on the side was a bit too sweet, and I wish they had other sauce like some sort of a vinegar sauce.
The Moules Frites ($ 27) is somewhat of a national dish of Belgium/​France. It basically means mussels and fries. The mussels were served in a crock pot with onions and scallions in a clear-​ish broth. I liked the savory broth, but I feel like it just lacked some kick. The fries were crispy and delicious. Not sure if this is how you eat it, but I dipped the crispy fries into the broth. It obviously made the fries a bit soggy, but it retained the savory broth so it was tasty.
For my main, I got the Salade Nicoise ($ 30), and what a mistake it was. It’s super pricey for the food you get. Salade Nicoise had about four pieces of mediocre seared tuna, marinated tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, anchovies, and pickled peppers over a bed of arugula. I can understand paying $ 30 for a hearty meal, but for a couple pieces of tuna and greens? I did enjoy the piece of foccacia bread, but I didn’t come here for a carb overload.
My friend got the chicken. She said the chicken was one of the juiciest chicken she has ever had. Maybe I just got the wrong item… will try something other than salad for my main next time!

un MOST de NY!!! me encanta ya sea para desayunar, lunch o cena este lugar es espectacular!!!, aunque siempre esta lleno vale la pena esperar, se come delicioso!

restaurante frances localizado no soho. Eu acho que esse lugar tem mais fama do que qualidades Aos finas de semana eh melhor fazer reserva Se der sorte vc ate pode cruzar com uns artistas do brasil.

Balthazar!!! Que placer cada vez que paso por esa puerta! A travez de los años y gracias a mis distintos trabajos tuve la oportunidad de comer aca varias veces, al punto de tener mi plato favorito. Los mejillones con papas fritas!!!
En invierno la sopa de cebolla es genial! Sobre todo como almuerzo y para seguir con una caminata en el frio helado de NY!
Recomiendo hacer reservas. Siempre hay mucha gente.

Fui hoy para desayunar.
Nos atendieron rápido. Nos trajeron la comida rápido. Todo 10 puntos.

Ambiance dingue, lieu incontournable, cuisine délicieuse et réconfortante, enclave frenchy au coeur de NY… carte des vins au top, clientele parfois insupportable mais c’est aussi le deal, salade nicoise au top, desserts à se damner
On aimerait que la façade soit enfin terminée, que l’attente soit un peu moins longue (sauf qu’on na pas attendus… ;-))
Budget en conséquence mais c’est à vivre une fois dans sa vie!

Si vous aimez les grandes brasseries parisiennes vous né serez pas dépaysé. Même grande salle, même brouhaha à l’heure du coup de feu qui fait partie du charme de l’endroit, même carte faite de plats traditionnels et d’un excellent banc de fruit de mer.
L’avantage de Balthazar c’est que plus le temps passé plus il reste fidèle à lui même: le service très efficace (parfois trop…), l’ambiance bruyante, une carte qu’on aimerait parfois un peu plus inventive et qui n’a du accueillir que quelques changements en 10 ans. Mais c’est ce coté traditionnel qui en fait un des restaurants «français» inévitables à New York.
Par contre les tarifs sont parfois un peu (beaucoup) élevés pour des plats certes très bien réalisés mais très classiques. Le «bar steak» à $ 29 c’est un peu limite quand même.
Mais c’est peut être ce classicisme qui fait qu’on y revient régulièrement
Mon dernier repas :
— seafood ceviche: rien à redire, fraiche et variée
— confit de canard: classique mais efficace, rien à redire
— Caramelized Banana Ricotta Tart: la seule partie vraiment inventive de ce déjeuner, très bonne.
Service rapide et attentionné, comme à l’habitude. Parfois trop: si on y prend garde on peut terminer un repas de 3 plats en 40 minutes…
Ah dernier point: leur pain et leurs petits déjeuners sont excellents… ils ont leur propre boulangerie…

ich kenne das Balthazar noch pre-​Sex-​And-​The-​City. Habe damals für eine Zeitschrift in Soho gearbeitet, für die das Restaurant in der Spring Street für so gut wie alle Arten der Nahrungsaufnahme oder einen Absacker-​Drink DER Anlaufpunkt war. In der Zwichenzeit scheint es genauso eine Pflichvorstellung für Touristen geworden zu sein wie der Besuch auf dem Empire State Building. Um so überraschter war ich, wie sich sowohl die Qualität des Essens genau wie der freundliche Service und die locker-​gemütliche Stimmung haben halten können! Als ich vorletztes Jahr im Herbst dort seit längerer Zeit zum ersten Mal wieder zum Essen war, hab ich mich sofort gut aufgehoben gefühlt und bekam mein Essen angemessen zügig und aller-​leckerst zubereitet serviert. Allerdings sollte man vorsichtshalber über das Internet oder telefonisch unbedingt vorher reservieren vor Allem, wenn man vor hat, dort mit mehreren Personen aufzuschlagen! Ich hatte es drauf ankommen lassen (hatte nur ums Eck gewohnt) und hab erst beim 3. Anlauf Glück gehabt mit einem Platz.

Overall I have to say, I was not impressed. After getting a reservation, we arrived in the restaurant and got a nice corner table. Interior is really nice, typical french bistro, good lighting, etc.
Staff was extremely attentive and caring.
But: Food was average. I had a chicken on vegetables and gnocci, chicken was good, vegetables were tasteless, gnocci were overcooked. My partner had a steak which was okay but definitely not top of the line, too tough, too stringy even though perfectly medium rare. Fries and sauce was good.
The crowd was horrible: Tourists in shorts …
So, atmosphere is nice, food is okay, but I’d call it overrated.

Das ist New York Feeling. Das erste mal war ich im Balthazar, als man noch an der Bar rauchen konnte, aber auch heute, 12 Jahre später, ist es eine absolute Gaumenfreude, hier zu speisen. French Cuisine auf sehr hohem Niveau und der Service auch erstklassig, da können sich viele deutsche Kellner noch einiges abschneiden. Für einen New York Besuch auf jeden Fall empfehlenswert!

Dieses Restaurant ist ohne Zweifel mein persönlicher Maßstab und ein MUSS bei jedem NYC-​Besuch. Schön Essen gehen scheint hier erfunden worden zu sein. Reinkommen, wohlfühlen und es sich gut gehen lassen. Hier findet man den ansonsten völlig überschätzten amerikanischen Service, verbunden mit europäischer Lebensart vom Feinsten. Letztes Mal nachts gegen zwei Uhr eine schöné Frau zwei Dutzend Austern Blubberwasser. Ein Traum werd ich nie vergessen. Dicke fünf Punkte!

Französisches Ambiente, gutes Essen, netter Service und für New York ein Hotspot

Avez– vous manger les cuisine francais?
What don’t I like about Balthazar’s? It’s this very quaint bristro-​esque restaurant on Spring Street near all the SoHo shopping. It’s so cute inside, quite authentic French. I’ve been here for brunch as well as dinner.
For brunch, there are always different specials to try… like the apple cinnamon pancakes!
One of my favorites here is the steak frites as well as the escargots!
Coming here is like a little trip away from Manhattan without heading to the airport. Make sure to make a reservation because it does get crowded!

Plutot cher, de petites portions et beaucoup trop de monde Nourriture pas si francaise que ca
Mais les produits de la mer sont variés et bons!
Donc restau bien, mais sans plus

Gerade in NYC gewesen und eher zufällig hier hereingestolpert.
Preise sind New York angemessen, also eher teuer für dt. Verhältnisse.
Aber dafür stimmt alles: schönes Brasserie-​Ambiente, guter und schneller Service (in den USA sowieso) und unser Frühstück waren perfekt.
Ich hatte Eggs Florentine: 2 pochierte Eier auf Spinat und Artischocke, mit Parmesan überbacken. Ungewöhnlich, aber sensationell gut.
Volle Punktzahl!

Bei einem Besuch in New Yorks Stadtteil Soho sollte das Restaurant Balthazar nicht fehlen. Im Stil einer Pariser Brasserie und eine Küche wie in Paris mit einer hervorragende Bäckerei. VIP People !

Da muß man bis nach Neu York Stadt fliegen um französisches flair par Excellence zu genießen! Aber das vom feinsten. Die angelaufenen Spiegel verbreiten in dem erst ca. 10 Jahre bestehenden Bistro zwar ein wenig die Atmosphäre einer künstlich erschaffenen Theaterkulisse, gegenüber dem sonst in Neu York so häufig zu findenden ungemütlichen Plätzen ist dieser Platz eine Wohltat für den Europäer auf der Suche nach ein wenig Gemütlichkeit (auch wenn es sich dabei ja eigentlich um ein angeblich typisch deutsches Bedürfnis). Nicht nur die Atmosphäre sondern auch die Qualität von Speisen und Getränken überzeugt. Die Auswahl an Meeresfrüchten wird nur von Bistros in Paris getoppt. Die typischen Meeresfrüchteplatten sind wirklich riesig und sind Ihren Preis wert. Die Austern schmecken hervorragend, wenn auch der dazu dargebotene Meerettich eine amerikanische Angelegenheit zu sein scheint (man kann ihn ja beseite lassen). Die geschmorte Hochrippe vom Rind war ein Genuß, zu dem eine kräftig-​reduzierte Rotweinsauce credenzt wurde. Ein Genuß. Alles in allem 5 Sterne.

Ein Restaurant muss schon ziemlich gut sein, wenn es seit 10 Jahren in NY besteht und das ist das Balthazar letzendlich auch gewesen. Super ist das Reservierungs-​Telefon im Vorraum, allein deswegen muss man da schon Essen gehen. Steak Frites zum Niederknien! Tolles Ambiente, sehr freundlicher Service und die Preise passen für New Yorker-​Verhältnisse auch.

Sehr schönes Restaurant, man kann hier unheimlich gut frühstücken. Sehr schönes Ambiente… in Soho. Immer einen Besuch wert!

Brunch am Samstagmorgen in New York. Will man ins Balthazar, so muss man sich ohne Reservierung auf 45 Minuten Wartezeit einstellen. Hohe Räume, angenehme Einrichtung, rege Unterhaltungen an allen Tischen.
Wir waren zu viert und bekamen einen recht großen Tisch in der Mitte des Raumes zugewiesen (Dank Reservierung ohne Wartezeit!). Ein Brotkorb (Le Panier) für vier Personen ist zu empfehlen. Ich hatte Eggs Norwegian und einen köstlichen Rosted Beet Salad. Gute bis gehobene Qualität der Gerichte, schönes Ambiente und ebenso freundlicher wie schneller Service lassen wenige Wünsche offen.
Rechts neben dem Restaurant gibt es auch einen kleinen Laden, wo man leckere Brote und diverse andere Backwaren erstehen kann. Das ist auch eine Notlösung für den Fall, dass man weder reserviert hat, noch die Wartezeit inkauf nehmen möchte
Allerdings bietet auf der gegenüberliegenden Straßenseite der MoMA-​Designstore eine gute Möglichkeit, die Wartezeit zu überbrücken. Wenn man dann von nervös schaukelnden Salz– und Pfefferstreuern genug hat, kann man sich bei gutem Wetter auch auf eine der Bänke an der Straße vor dem Balthazar setzen und dem Treiben der Passanten zuschauen.
Auf der Internetseite kann man vorab einen Blick auf die Speisekarten werfen. Dort findet man auch die Frühstücks-​, Brunch-​, Lunch– und Dinnerzeiten. Brunch gibt es am Wochenende zwischen 10 und 16 Uhr.

une superbe cuisine a la new yorkaise dans un bon quartier animé la nuit

Wir hatten versucht, für den nächsten Tag zu reservieren. Aber nicht einmal das übliche von dann bis dann Tischchen war noch im Angebot.
Vielleicht weil der nächste Tag Freitag war. Heute gabs aber auch nichts, erst ab neun Uhr. Es war fünf und wir schon fast hungrig.
Wir haben uns von den gleich mehreren Hostessen am Eingang nicht irritieren lassen, in solche Läden muss man reinwollen.
Als wir dann die junge Frau von unseren ernsthaften Absichten hier zu speisen überzeugen konnten setzte sie uns freundlich angetan auf die Warteliste für 18 Uhr.
Pünktlich um sechs mit ner Plastiktüte voller Designkram aus dem Museum of Modern Art Store gegenüber wurden wir wieder vorstellig.
Der Tisch war entgegen unserer Erwartung schon bereit und wir konnten gleich platznehmen.
Aber wie? Eng und winzig, die Stühle wackelig und kurzzeitig überkam mich das Gefühl, im Frühbus zu stecken, so voll und laut war es.
Das Lokal hat ungefähr 180 Plätze, weitere 20 an der Bar und ein Geschwader von bestimmt 20 Kellnern. Dazu ein ständiges Kommen und Gehen von Gästen, man ist hier einer unter vielen.
Wenn auch die Logistik stimmt. Jeder der Kellner hat hier einen ihm beigesellten stummen Commis, der alles erledigt, wozu der Sprechende nicht benötigt wird.
Der macht die Verhandlungen und das Geschäftliche.
Der Andere räumt die Teller ab, bringt frisches Brot, nimmt Überschüssiges und Beendetes von den viel zu kleinen Tischen. Einen der Krümel fegt gibt es auch. Das Ganze schnurrt wie ein gutabgestimmtes Uhrwerk, der Begriff Kellnerballett könnte hier geprägt worden sein.
Brandade de Morue oder doch Steak Tartare? Frisée au lardons für Madame? Der Kellner hat sogar einen leichten Akzent, erste Generation Frankreich. Duck confit oder geschmorten Schweinebauch für mich? Oder doch nicht Steak Tartare vorweg und Steak frites ganz banal? Côte de Boeuf für deux?
Es ist die ganz klassische Brasserieküche hier, mit Meeresfrüchtetheke und allem, was schnell geht und was jeder mag. Nicht mehr, nicht weniger.
Das Essen kommt schnell, die Vorspeise nach knapp zehn, der Hauptgang nach weiteren fünfzehn Minuten.
An guten Tagen tausend Couverts.
Hier ist jeder auf sein Essen wartende Tisch ein Verlust an Umsatz.
Die Nächsten stehen schon.
Wir gehen auf die Weinempfehlung des Kollegen nicht ein und bestellen statt des zu unseren Speisen besser passenden weißen Burgunders für 149 Dollar einen einfachen Graves zu 36 und freuen uns über den emsigen Betrieb. Nach ein paar Minuten gewöhnt man sich an den Umstand, daß die äußere Hektik auch hier nicht an der Türe endet.
So ein Lokal wollte ich auch immer schon mal, das funktioniert wie ein perfektes Krankenhaus: Tupfer, Pinzette, Skalpell.

Dinner was absolutely fantastic. Made a reservation for a Thursday night about a week early and had no problem getting a table. I love the ambiance of the place, you can tell it’s been around for a long time. The wait staff is extremely nice and attentive.
The oysters were delicious and fresh. The steak au poivre was perfection. I got it cooked medium rare and it was spot on. The peppercorn crust and sauce give it an incredible flavor. The spinach and fries that come with it are also delicious. The lamb was tasty and cooked perfectly but could’ve used a little more flavor. The profiteroles were insane — you have to get these. They look dense but they’re light and airy and the chocolate sauce is insane. I found myself eating it straight from the gravy boat.
This isn’t a cheap place for dinner but for a celebration (as was mine), it’s a great spot that everyone will enjoy.