Balthazar Restaurant

My all time favorite NYC restaurant!

The scene is very NY - crowded and busy, yet intimate.

Highly recommended: LeBalthazar (for seafood lovers) - not only is this a delicious cold entree with a nice white wine or champagne but the food presentation is very impressive.

Also, the mussels with frites is amazing as is the bread.

Cannot praise this restaurant enough.

Reservations are recommended unless you are stopping by in the afternoon.

Pros: Le Balthazar, Ambiance

Cons: Crowded

Took me back to a visit to La Coupole in Paris although less formal. Large open seating area. HUGE floral bouquet. Great selection of East and West Coast oysters. Very busy at dinnertime on a Thursday but servers seemed organized and efficient. I started with the warm goat cheese and caramelized onion tart and then had a lamb special. I thought I might finish with a plate of cheese but instead chose to have an almond pastry. My female server was friendly and competent and other servers came by to refill water glass, whisk away finished dishes or replenish utensils. Quite reasonably price and I look forward to a return visit some day--perhaps for shellfish or steak frites.
Recommend.

Pros: oysters/shellfish, Paris bistro atmosphere, hustle & bustle

Cons: Hustle & bustle for those who don't enjoy it

This is my favorite restaurant in NYC. I actually miss it when I'm not there! Fantastic food, great service, fun location!

Pros: Brunch, cocktails, service

Cons: Don't go if you're in a hurry

if you think that this crowed noisy tourist trap with such a poor menu ressembles to any Parisian bistro you are highly mistaken. I live in Paris and I found that the only french was the extremely rude supervisor Stephanie who explained that a 45 min delay is normal because we had an appetizer; We left without eating the rest of our meal.

Cons: worst service ever

I pass-by this restaurant almost everyday while walking to work and it's always packed with ppl outside smoking cigs...the food + frenzy crowd makes this place a hot spot!

Pros: Delicious

We ducked in late afternoon for a snack and ended up sitting in the bar area at an impossibly small table in an atmosphere that felt incredibly French in the most wonderful way! We ordered a plate of oysters and then sat back to soak in the atmosphere, it was ripe for people-watching.

The oysters were amazing, clean-tasting and complemented perfectly by the mignionette. What a great place to stop for a refresher!

MY WAITPERSON WAS TERRIFIC. SHE MADE ME FEEL TOTALLY COMFORTABLE AND WELCOME IMMEDIATELY, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TERRIFIC ADVISE ON THE MENU. THE SERVICE TEAM WAS EXCEEDINGLY ATTENTIVE. LUVED THE LAMB SANDWICH AT LUNCH -- AND THE DESSERT, CARMELIZED RICOTTA BANANA TART WAS TASTY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HOCKEY PUCK FLAVORLESS BANANA ICE CREAM....MINOR MIS-STEP. OVER ALL AN EXCELLENT DINING EXPERIENCE!

Pros: VIBRANT SPACE, GREAT FOOD, EXCELLENT SERVICE!

Cons: TOO DELICIOUS!

Part of me wants to write a bad review of the bakery so that people won't crowd it...as a professional costumer i'm always in the area shopping and i'd sooner die than go to the starbucks down the street. The coffee and the service from the bakery = OUTSTANDING. And, if you're really getting a workout, splurge on a perfect parisian pastry. DIVINE.

Pros: chocolate madelines, best coffee ever, nicest baristas ever

Cons: lines...lines...rude soho biznatches

really - it's always good and the waitstaff is very nice and non-pretentious

Pros: food is always good

Cons: hasn't been re-decorated

Did you just finish shopping and want a classic supurb dining experience with Pumpkin Ravoli, delicious seafood, tuna nicoise, America burgers, and lots of red and white wines to warm your palet? Balthazar is in the heart of Soho across from the Moma museum store and one minute from Prada's flagship downtown store. The ambiance is well dressed and casual with a rich dark wood high ceiling airy New York feel. I strongly recommend Balthazar to families dining in Soho, a date, or friends ready to have delicious French and America food with amazing wines!

Pros: Great Service, Lots of wine to taste, delicious appetizers!

I was really looking forward to brunch in Balthazar after reading all the hype associated with this restaurant.
We ordered a pastry basket which was a total waste of $16. It essentially was full of bread and only one sticky bun and something resembling a donut. There were no croissants or anything exciting there. I am a huge fan of wild mushrooms, so I ordered mushroom eggs in puff pastry. Eggs were average, but the puff pastry was dry and tasteless. My husband ordered poached egg with polenta, which was very average as well. I was really surprised, as we have eaten at Pastis, owned by same people, and loved it. I was expecting Balthazar to be better the Pastis, which it clearly wasn't. Bottom line, skip it!

Pros: location

Cons: average food

We recently had our first experience at Balthazar, but definitely not our last. Atmospher and service were great. Steake frites and creme brulee were delicious.

Great place to bring visitors, a real new york experience. I love dressing up and going for a fancy dinner of oysters & champagne!

Pros: amazing atmosphere

Cons: long waits and pricey

This is one of my favorite places to eat in the whole city. The bread is something i dream about its so good, and having lived in France for a while i can tell you that everything at Balthazars lives up to its sophisticated French menu. Must haves are the croissants (perfectly lamented with beautiful honeycomb texture inside), the french onion soup, with its caramelized onions and cheese, and (when its on the menu) the pumpkin ravioli are too die for, oh and the french fries: pure bliss
and i always finish my meals there off with a fabulous authentic french cappucino

Pros: The BEST bread in Manahattan, High Quality Foods

Cons: Pricy

The cookies and cake here are great.
Daily pastries are not as flavorful and
used to be fresher than they are these days.

Lunch menu is fantastic, a bit over priced but
it's reduced to half price if yo can wait till 6PM!

It is overcrowded though, so be prepared to have you patience tested while waiting for
your selection.

Customers in a rush and servers can both be
quite rude when it's busy.

Pros: everything 1/2 price after 6 PM!

Cons: Crowded, servers can be rude

I don't even care about the restaurant itself (which is a bit overpriced) but I would eat everyday at the bakery, if I could! The croissant and pastries available there are assuredly authentic and delicious! But yes, bring your patience. The crowds can be maddening once they are out of certain items, they are out.

Pros: The pastries!

Cons: No tables in the bakery

The staff is always great and the food is always on point. Steak tartare and lobster risotto are heavenly.....Still is and always will be my favorite of the Mcnally empire.

The service is generally attentive, the food is consistent and it does have buzz. A bit crowded at the entrance.

Each time I have been to Balthazar I have left happy. The service is polite, cordial and CLASSY! The food is amazing. Everything I have ordered has melted in my mouth. I also love that it is open late on the weekends. Highly recommended for a great meal with an energetic atmosphere.

Pros: Great atmosphere, tasty food, french onion soup A++++

Cons: can be a little crowded and overpriced

It's over: too many tourists, loud and fast service. And for sake good:
- the croissant must be warm and not cold
- the European chocolate is very thick and not so waterly. It is not a real French Brasserie.
Boooooooooooooo

Pros: Good steak au poivre

Cons: Worst European hot chocolate

Balthazar was a must on my list of places to eat at while in New York. Had brunch as soon as we arrived in the city & was surprised at how fast & efficient service was. We had barely ordered when the food came. The food is typical bistro fare & since it was early, I opted for the salmon benedict. A lot of people-watching going on, with the crowd a mix of tourists & trendy locals. Inexpensive & quality food.

Pros: lightning fast service, trendy light fare

I have been to Balthazar several times and i can say that this place is one of my favoritte at NYC.Food and ambiance is great prices are little bit high though but it is worthted.

I'm unwinding from a wonderful dinner at your restaurant and couldn't wait to tell you how much I enjoyed myself. This was my first time and everything was so special, thanks to my waiter, Francois! He made sure everything was perfect even down to the last detail.
Our food was delicious, the champagne exquisite and Francois made sure we wanted for nothing! I also had a wonderful dessert with the freshest berries ever. Thanks to the boys who sang out on the street to me-whoever you are!!!

Pros: Nice ambience and excellent service. Food fresh and beautiful!

Cons: A little loud at times

I'll be brief, as this restaurant is hardly worth talking about. Tightly packed, overly snooty, sub-par food. The waiter and his descriptions were great, but the food didn't come close to any reasonable expectation. Ironically, the waiter promised me that the $30 steak was "the steak you're gonna remember" - well he was right. I don't think I've ever had to chew that much. Thankfully the pepper was so thick that it mostly obscured the disappointing taste.

At least the bill was reasonable. Joking, it was ridiculous.
Not worth the buzz.
_AS

Pros: high ceilings, sturdy tables

Cons: everything else, but mostly the food, atmosphere, cost and attitude.

Love Balthazar every time! Food is consistently good. Can be long waits. Always a must go. Enjoy taking friends as often as possible.

Pros: Ambience, food!

Cons: can be crowded and busy

I went here with my fiance last Sunday for Brunch. It was a 30min wait even though it was only 10am. But, it was worth it. We were cramped into a tiny table and the place was so packed they had to pull out the table so that I wouldn't knock over anybody's juice.
The coffee is really good, but good luck getting refills. It is sooo busy that they do the best they can, but it falls short a bit. The bread basket is unbelievably good. It includes raisin cranberry bread, sticky bun, popover, etc. This is enough for two people! It is $16, but well worth it. My fiance got the smocked salmon and it was delicious. It came with toast and shaved egg, as well as really good capers.
I would highly recommend coming here. The food is really good and the decor is charming. But... don't be in a hurry to get anywhere.

Pros: Bread basket

Cons: crowded

If you are looking for a great place to have a quick and delicious breakfast before work, Balthazar is the place. I was seated as soon as I arrived and began eating soon after I sat at the table. I had the Eggs Norwegian, which is basically eggs benedict with smoked salmon. It was mouth-watering delicious. It was so good that when I finished it I didn't want to sip my espresso right away because I wanted the taste to linger in my mouth a little longer. I also had a rich and flavorful double espresso and one of their tasty plain homemade donuts, which was perfect: light and fluffy and sprinkled with the right amount of sugar. (I'm a donut fiend). The service was friendly and attentive, and very prompt. The decor is attractive: you feel like you are in an old school Parisian cafe. The place opens at 7:30am which is perfect because I can eat there before I go to work: a nice way to start the morning.

Pros: Great food, service, atmosphere

Cons: pricey

I have been going to Balthazar for years and have never been disappointed. The ambiance is perfect - it's bustling and busy, but you can sit in your own little corner and have a quiet conversation. It's anything you want it to be: romantic for dinner with someone special, a fun lunch for girls' shopping day out, dinner with the family, whatever. Order a bloody mary with an oyster to start, or a kir royale. I have never once been disappointed with their food- the duck confit is my absolute favorite and the best in Manhattan. The desserts are perfectly proportioned. Their oysters/raw bar is always fresh, and the best selection anywhere. The staff is polite and not overly friendly, but they are just trying not to get in your way and give you your space; but they will accommodate almost any request. Great wine list as well. Also, a great late night menu if you are out late in SoHo. A must go to.

Pros: Delicious food, great ambiance, excellent service

Cons: Nothing!

After hearing all the buzz about Balthazar, I decided to go for lunch with a friend. I ordered the roasted eggplant sandwich, and have to say that it is the absolute best I've eaten in a while. Perfectly roasted eggplant with a delicate fire roasted flavor, with delectable roasted peppers and fresh mozarella between a French baguette. Pure Perfection! The sandwich was accompanied by a mesculin salad with a delicate, flavorful vinegarette; not too bitter, not too oily, not too salty. For dessert, I had an assortment of lemon confections that we equally fabulous. This was easily the best lunch I've had in a long time. Service was outstanding, decor had traditional, old NYC charm. I will definately be back for their brunch!

Pros: Food, Service, Decor

Cons: Very crowded and Noisy

I have to confirm about how this place discriminates their clients.
My friend and I decided to hop in for lunch without reservations and they gave us the worst seats, although the restaurant was empty. I asked if we could sit elsewhere, and the host in the entrance ( I don't know if he was the manager)reluctantly changed our seats to another terrible seat. I made the big mistake in accepting. I should have gone out right then.
Afterwards, I saw many people coming in sitting down without reservations, where I would have prefered to sit. we weren't dressed elegant, but neither were the other people. We were just touristy, maybe. LIke "we'll never come back again "tourists. AS for the food,
it was worse than ever.. Nothing to wooo about. Don't order the grilled chicken . tasted like chinese delivery put on a dish in a fancy way. don't get fooled by the decorations. I live in Italy and eat at the best restaurants so I know what good food is about, but I never immagined a place so highly reviewed to be such a miserable place. The only person who treated us nice was the waitress who wanted a big tip.
Will never go back. Hoping to save other victims from this overly rated restaurant. I really wasted 40 dollars on my lunch. That explains why many people buy something at their bakery shop next door and eat it on the benches in front of the restaurant.
But after my experience wouldn't do that either.

Pros: location in soho

Cons: food, discrimination, teeny tiny tables, tables too close .

I was in the mood for brunch on Sunday and thought Balthazar would be the perfect place to eat with a friend. I had eaten there before and knew the food would be great. I walked in at 3:20p (Brunch is served unitl 4p) and asked how long the wait would be. The male hostess told me that they were "booked' and by the time I would be expected to be seated the kitchen would be closed. All the while looking over his shoulder, I could see two 2-top tables empty. I said okay and walked out. I stood outside and wondered why I was turned away. I was clean and casually dressed. For the first time in my life I felt as though I was denied service because the host and hostess felt I didnt meet a certain criteria for this establishment. This didnt make sense to me because the first time I ate there...I had on jean shorts, the same t-shirt and a ball cap on.
I continued to stand outside and noticed 2 women walk in at random..(based on the conversation they were having outside prior to going in). I expected them to be turned away as well, but recognized that they were soon seated. People continued to enter the establishment and be seated even after I was turned away. Finally, the friend I was waiting for arrived and was seated immediately at 3:40p.
For the first time in my life, I felt like I was being discriminated against b/c of something so superficial. Now, whether it had to do with the way I was causually dressesd or the discretion of the host (possible)... I ended up eating there because of the spectacular brunch menu. But I lost the great experience due to the insensitivty of the host and his interpretation of the seating 'policy'.
A manager was notified and dessert was comped (only b/c the waiter insisted). Regardless, it couldnt make up for the insensitivity of the denied service and feeling slighted due to some type superficial discrimination. Clean the attitudes of your host/hostess staff up.

Pros: Brunch

Cons: Host/ Hostess station... Snooty, very uninviting

I went there with two friends and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The place was packed despite it being a rainy Monday, but we were seated promptly for our 8pm reservation. Each of us ordered one appetizer and one entree, and their sweetbread appetizer & escargot appetizers must have been one of the best I've had in the city. Their seafood ceviche, however, was a disappointment both on the plate and on our palates... It's not their specialty, after all. The entrees were very good, but not as memorable as the appetizers, I wished I had ordered two appetizers instead... We were also excited to read great reviews about their desserts, but the two we shared were a bit too sweet and kind of boring. All 3 of us loved their espresso and coffee, as well as the festive atmosphere and great service. Although I prefer to go somewhere more quiet for a date, it?s a great place to dine with a group of friends.

With a bottle of very tasty and very reasonable red wine (around $40), we spent about $80 per person after tip. Not cheap, but certainly well worth it for their solid performance on food, wine, and service.

Pros: Fun festive atmosphere and solid service

Cons: Tight seating arrangement, might be a bit too loud for a date

Balthazar has always been one of my favorites for a great breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The service is always amazing even with the incredibly hectic environment (especially at brunch). The lamb shank is incredible and the steak au poivre is the best in the city. I wouldn't reccomend the duck confit, both times I've had it its been quite dry and salty. I adore Balthazar's brunches, much more so than the dinner, but that's just me. The wine list is great and the servers know each wine very, very well.

Pros: food, service, steak au poivre, celebs

Cons: brunch can be hectic

The ability for this restaurant to get you in and out of the door in 20 minutes is remarkable. However, whethere you want to or not, you're still rushed out in 20 minutes. Sunday brunch used to be great. But now it's odd that within 2 minutes of ordering, your meal arrives. This place must have several of every dish waiting under warming plates. The bloody mary's are weak and have no taste probably because those too are sitting pre-made getting watered down as the ice melts. I would say that the oysters are pretty darn good though...although not worth the price. There are better places to go for good oysters in NYC.

Pros: eh...nothing

Cons: this place is run like a factory and you feel it while dining.

Best fries on the planet....and the best brasserie in New York City...absolutely no competition. The place is beautiful, the atmosphere perfect so does the service and the food. Have tried for breakfast, lunch & dinner and there is nothing that anyone could complain about

Balthazar is a real french bistro, with real bistro food, service, ambiance and decor. I've been there two times now, and each time i was delected- try the confit or the strogonnof, onion soup or the brandade to start; easy too make yet difficult to be right as the Balthazar makes it. Wine list great, yes its noisy, always full, and the tables are closed to each other, but you know what, your in a french bistro!

I love this place just wish it wasn't so damn hard to get a reservation. The food never dissapoints especially the pate, and the steak frites. Their fries are the best ever. Seating is always cramped I was literally elbow to elbow which the people on either side. Although sitting this close does have it's advantages it seems to bring together New Yorkers who normally would never talk to strangers. Definitely not a good pick for a romantic date.

Pros: Brunch, french food

Cons: hard to get reservations, sit elbow to elbow

went there for brunch a few times during the weekends. crowded mess of people, gets pretty loud and annoying sometimes so it unfortunately does not always entail having a relaxing brunch. the place is pretty hyped up and gotten a little trendy for it's own good in the past couple of years. last time i went i ordered an egg white omlette with peppers but they got the order wrong and got something else. had the omlette anyway because the waitstaff was being mobbed by people and getting chaotic inside. omlette was disappointing though, kind of warm and blah. coffee there is decent. go there once or twice to check it out but i'd say to save your money and go to a diner.

Pros: trendy

Cons: not worth the $

DELICIOUS FRESH CROISSANTS, TARTINE ( WITH THE STRAWBERRY JAM ) ON A REALLY REALLY
GOOD BAGUETTE,; THE BEST CHOCOLATE WALNUT COOKIES EVER; THE APPLE GALETTE AND
THE CARROT CAKE ARE TO DIE FOR. GREAT ASSORTMENT OF SANDWICHES TOO - HAD THE SALMON AND THE CHICKEN CURRY - SUPERB !!

Pros: TASTE, QUALITY, VARIETY, SERVICE

Cons: Parking on Spring, B way.

The food is consistently delicious and never disappointing.
A bit touristy on the weekends and extremely hard to get in to... try going during the week or right before the kitchen closes during the lunch-dinner midday period.

Steak frites!!! One of the bst i've ever had

Pros: the food! choices, crowd, decor

Cons: crowded and overhyped on weekends

I passed by on a weekend and saw the mob of trendy New Yorkers trying to get into the place and thought, perhaps they have something good in here. I stopped by their adjacent bakeshop to pick up a coffee and pastry while I contemplated going into the restaurant. The pastry was okj but the coffee was THE ABSOLUTELY WORST COFFEE I've ever had. I'm talking even the crappiest diner I've stepped into. This was nothing but tinted water. Disgusting. I threw the full cup right into the handy garbage can by the bakeshop door.(Gee, I wonder why it's there?) I then proceeded to Starbucks on the next corner and got a real cup of coffee to get the taste of dishwater from my mouth.
Apparently it's the place to be seen so who cares what they serve.