Went just after the the re opening so wasn't sure how it would be. You go in, get your temperature scanned and you are seated if you pass (I don't know what happens if your temp looks suspicious). We get seated between 2 tables with people on them that don't really look a safe distance. We wanted to try the Scrambled Eggs and Cornish Crab however due to the reduction in items available, this was not on the menu but when we asked about it, our waiter went to the kitchen and got them to make it. Would highly recommend them for their quality of food and top-notch service!
Wonderful fresh experience. Absolutely delicious
, indulging and filling at reasonable prices, optimal hygienic conditions and with a really friendly and professional staff as well.
Balthazar is a beautiful restaurant. The very numerous staff do their best to take special care. We were just there for an early lunch with my two year old grandson who has little patience. The staff served him quickly and understood the predicament of eating with a toddler. Unprompted, they served my son a plate of macaroons with Happy Birthday inscribed in chocolate. I recommend this restaurant but it's essential to reserve a table in advance.
"I had so much fun during my pub crawl experience. Met so many people and danced all night. Cheap drinks and free shots at all 5 places we went to. Special thanks to Matthew, our AMAZING guide on this tour 😄🔥"
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Amazing place in London. I love the food. can’t wait to come back here again. Congratulations to the staff.
Krishna Kasturi Kataki
+5
We love this restaurant for French cuisine in the Covent Garden area!
The last time we were there, we had the Escargots with garlic and parsley butter, Omelette Arnold Bennett and finished off with a delicious Creme Brulee!
Definitely recommended!
My home away from home. Food done exceptionally well no mistakes. A must visit to have the Moules and Frits then a steak and Frits with pepper sauce then a finish of cheese or and a serve of soberts.
Love this place!!!!!!!
It has the best interiors and dining. Loved the food and friendly staff. This place can be recommend for parties and concerts as well.
Balthazar ke sandwiches bhot hui lajawab or swaadisht hai maine cheese sandwhich khaya tha or bhot yummy tha or yaha ke log bhi bhot ache hai
I have been here many times for cocktails or coffee and cake but this was my first visit for lunch. I visit London a few times a year and chose to dine here before we went to the theatre. The service was efficient and pleasant and the restaurant is charming inside. Imagine a French restaurant in the 1930's. My friend had a seared tuna salad which was amazing and I had lobster spagetti which was fabulous. It isn't the cheapest of places but you get what you pay for. You can pre book a table on their website which I would recommend as it is always very busy.
Tried their almond waffle and believe me taste was so great that I ate this type of waffle for the first time in my life and will definitely try again and again. Price was also considerable ($8.50).
One of the best french cuisine restaurants in London.
Amazing atmosphere, great service and delicious food. Try the steak tartar (awesome awesome), the fillet de boeuf (full of mushrooms) and the chicken milanese. For side options, the pommes frites, the gratin dauphonois and the sautéed spinach!
Located in heart of London this place is easy to reach with some amazing food cuisine being offered along with friendly service. They have Impeccable food and beautiful environment
Went for dinner with my sister in the noon and all we can see there was Balthazar and we just checked in to have our food..
We ordered Eggs benedict, tge crab with noodles, oyesters, mac n cheese, pancake and waffles ....
Go and must try them all that I have mentioned..
The food quality and the service is excellent..
I visited this place with my family since my brother loves snails, he ordered the butter garlic snails, I tried it, but I think I've developed the taste for it yet, I ordered the salmon with bagel while my ordered a risotto, we all enjoyed the food the complimentary bread basket was delightful, the staff was friendly, the ambience was simple and classy, really had a nice time and the taste was on point.
One of the best restaurant for the breakfast .I really appreciate there sandwich and coffee .staff service is good.ambiance is excellent.its very huge restaurant..
Visited Balthazar at around 10:30 PM after watching "the women in black" at fortune theatre. Really nice Ambience. Huge french restaurant. Helpful and decent staff. Quick service.
Must visit restaurant.
They have a good veg options too.
Nearest underground station- Covent Garden.
I found it very strange that someone was glassed in this restaurant at 9am and then knocked unconscious. The belligerent then left, and NO ONE in the restaurant did anything about this. The diners kept eating and the serving staff kept on with their jobs. All throughout our breakfast we dined while overlooking the body on the floor, a trail of (thankfully still-warm) blood trickling down the aisle. We returned for dinner the same evening and the person had simply been moved to a leather booth and was reading a book while waiting for the ambulance. Good menu.
My experience in Balthazar in NYC has always been good, and visited it for the first in London this month. The service is impeccable.
Only went for a quick snack so I can only recommend the salmon tartar.
After enjoying Balthazar in New Your I had to go in London. I walloped in the door to be delighted that it looked the same and the staff were just as wonderful. Balthazar has an amazingly warm feeling about it. The menu is just so lovely in a true French bistro with something for everyone. The beef stroganoff was spot on and the table also ordered a cheeseburger which was excellent. Serving sizes are generous. Presentation is perfect. Table staff are so precessional, polite and attentive without being intrusive. The creme brulee was 10/10. One of my favourite restaurants in both New York and London.
We were a big group of people and had a great time. The atmosphere is lovely, the staff are really nice and their food (specifically the stroganoff) exceeded expectations. Definitely recommend
I went to Balthazar with couple of friends. We enjoyed the mood. The venue is beautifully designed and decorated. The food is delicious and nicely presented. There is a plenty of options. Chocolate fondant is a must try. Excellent service.
Afternoon English tea with sandwiches,scones and cake. The theme was Bobbi Brown makeup which was cutely designed desserts. The chicken is halal according to the waiter. The sandwiches were delicious and overall a nice tea. The seating arrangement was a bit tight and the place does get busy due to its location in Covent Garden.
Great experience!
We went there for brunch on a sunny day, covent garden is perfect for a good weather day in London!
We had scones, poached eggs with avocado toast and juices!
The food was really good, but the avocado toast could have less coriander.
The service was great and our waitress was very nice and friendly.
The place was packed and it had a great vibe!
Came for breakfast which is served daily (M-F) until 11am. Ordered the Breakfast Salad which was a wonderful, tasty and filling way to have breakfast. Mother ordered a Ham&Gruyere Croissant which she said was fabulous. Coffee is good too. Service is efficient and friendly. Price is a bit on the more expensive side. Worth it though.
Fast and attentive service. We enjoyed the eggplant and other vegetarian options. The bread was great. The duck shepherds pie was great. The desserts were classic. All was great French flair.
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What we went for: Breakfast
Ambience: a French inspired American joint that decided to duplicate itself across the Atlantic, closer to its muse..
you are definitely transported back to the glamorous past! loved the antiquated, burnished mirrors and the servers in their crisp white uniforms.
What we ordered: traditional English breakfast, poached eggs and avocado on toast and the usual coffees.
Verdict: My first tryst with Balthazar was in Tallinn- I loved the garlic restaurant and the food!
And when we were looking for breakfast and found Balthazar in Covent garden at our door step I had to go just to see if this one was as good!
They are not associated with each other in any way except for the name:)
service was extremely polite and quick.
Food was great, I especially loved the sausage and maple cured ham in my traditional brekkie, the poached eggs, avocado on rye toast was nicely made with more than a hint of lime in the smoothened avocado.
Great conversation over a filling breakfast right in the heart of covent garden!
Would I return again? I think Balthazar does get it right for me! And I would love to return to the one in Tallinn; though there is a higher likelihood of me returning to the one in Covent Garden.. but it would be for dinner to enjoy one of the many wines along with a great meal:)
Nice big Classic ambiance restaurant located in Covent Garden London. Excellent service, friendly staff and delicious food. I had my breakfast there and was very delicious and fresh. I had Avocado with scrambled eggs. Highly recommended and definitely I will visit again.
Balthazar is an all day brassiere restaurant based in Covent Garden offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with a French influence. Beautiful spacious interior with high ceilings makes a visit here a little special. We visited for a Bobbi Brown inspired afternoon tea – good value at £37.50 including a glass of champagne or a gin, elderflower and champagne cocktail.
Beautiful French café in the heart of Covent Garden, frequented by locals and tourists. We were looking for a place for a full English breakfast, and they did not disappoint. Staff were polite and service was quick. The restaurant has a nice ambiance, with high ceiling and classical French décor, classical music playing in the background.
The venue is large so reservations should not be necessary (on a weekday at least..)
Balthazar all the way from the states is a buzzing place in covent garden.
Breakfast and lunch tried it both at this place, lunch was good we were seven people and got to just fit in the round table.
We ordered onion soup ( Not bad at all the cheese is gewy), Burrata ( was very simple not bad ), and kale salad ( was good but tried better kale salads ).
Mains we ordered the entrocote steak ( Not bad although nothing waw ), garlic Shrimps ( was not bad ), and Salmon Tartare ( was good as well ).
Food 3.5/5
Service 3/5
Ambience 3.5/5
A staple at covent garden, and a regular for me everytime I visit London. Although not very flavorful, the portions are generous, and they are consistent with their quality. The service is always on point, and the prices reasonable for the overall experience and ambience that comes with dining at Balthazar. Highly recommend the French Onion Soup.
Dear Diary,
Balthazar is a great French bistro which is open all day long, 7 days of the week! They are particularly famous for their amazing weekend brunch which we had this afternoon and their Bobbi Brown Afternoon Tea which I will be going for next week!
It's got amazing french decor and a vibe to the place but given its popularity, is always super packed. We were three of us and got a tiny table but once the food was served, we didn't complain! We ordered a Burrata with roasted vine cherry tomatoes, balsamic and basil to start with. For mains we ordered the Eggs Royale which came with muffins and smoked salmon, Omlette Arnold Bennet and Grilled Fillet of Salmon with a Lentil Salad. The Salmon was done to perfection😍. For dessert we had the Chocolate Fondant which had warm chocolate oozing out with vanilla ice cream. Make a prior booking for sure before you go!
Been twice and the food are not bad, it's one of the recommended places to have brunch and the egg Benedict seem to be many ppl' favourite. Quality of food ok I had the egg benefits twice and I was satisfied.
Memoirs Of A Metro Girl
+5
Balthazar is a long-standing New York institution, that finally came over the Pond in February 2013. I heard rave reviews from friends and colleagues that had visited, particularly about the brunch, so it had been on my wish list for some time. Finally, I had some relatives visiting so thought it would be a nice treat for go for brunch.
Balthazar is an absolutely gorgeous Art Deco style restaurant. Everything in Balthazar is perfect right down to the very last detail. All the servers are impeccably dressed and not a single plate or glass goes unnoticed not even for a second. The staff are wonderful and extremely polite. We visited Balthazar for breakfast and the food was delicious and presented so beautifully.
TIP: Do try the Eggs Florentine or the Hazelnut Waffles- both are divine.
Place was nice, felt like you were in Paris. Food was good. If I had to choose between Wolseley and Balthazar, I'd go for the former. Tried the scrambled egg with cornish crab, yum. Pasta was nice. Eggs Ben too.
Came here for dessert and was amazed! Food coma! The profiteroles were amazingggg and so were all of the other desserts that we ordered. Highly recommend. No comment on regular food though.
Great restaurant! Just like the NY one. The quality is very good. I had the steak frites and loved it. The pavlova and soufflé for dessert didn't amaze us.
Just like in New York or Paris but in Covent Garden of London! Focaccio bread is great, fruit cakes are so tasty! Also if you are hurry, I advice espresso to take away.
Went here for some breakfast the morning of my birthday. As usual, the restaurant was full so we took up two seats at the bar. Always enjoy sitting at the bar here as the staff are always so friendly and have a chat with you making you feel so welcome. So many options on the menu it's hard to choose, but I went for the Cornish crab with scrambled eggs and creme fraiche. Absolutely amazing. Some of the best scrambled eggs I've ever had and the creme fraiche was the perfect accompaniment. Highly recommended.
Escargot, sweet potato agnolotti and the baked aubergine tart were all outstanding appetizers. My friends enjoyed the onion soup as well. I had the duck confit which was above average, the medium well steak frites was delicious yet the ones who had the medium rare steak frites said it was impossible to chew. My sister loved the burger too. The profiteroles were not one of the best ones I have had. The service was very friendly and I loved the ambiance. I want to try its brunch out next time.
Bir Kahve Molası (Bahar Anahmias)
+3.5
A fine dining French restaurant. We stopped by before the Lion King show. Onion soup and steak with fries were perfect. Duck was so so. Music is too loud. Toilettes were clean.
Alexis Assimacopoulos
+4.5
In the hub of eccentric London is a restaurant and Sandwich Shop which takes the cake for best restaurant in the area: Balthazar. The food is French inspired, and lives up to the reputation very well. Quite expensive, but worth the price you pay. Only go if you have about £30-40 (per person)
One of London's most popular brunch spots!
Had their famous pancakes, eggs benedict, avocado and egg toast and a lovely Mimosa to compliment the food.
The desserts were fantastic but the best part of my meal had to be the smooth, soft delicious but not too overly sweet Raspberry soufflé!
The staff were helpful and ambience well was busy as its a Sunday afternoon.
Its a really good place at a great location, but not one of the best or overhyped and slightly overpriced for what it has to offer
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The food:
grilled langoustines (yabbies) with green tomato salsa, chives and aromatic oil served with Jacob's Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2013 – a very light white wine that makes it a great companion to shellfish and white meat seafood – I think I just came up with the term, white meat seafood. I am thinking sea bream, bass, monkfish and halibut. Probably mackarel and tuna would be too strong and cloud the taste of the wine. The wine has also a very strong oak aroma and smoky bouquet that is not present in it's taste. I was glad otherwise it could all be a little too much.
hot smoked duck with cherries, beetroot and braised lettuce accompanied with an Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir and cherry sauce served with Jacob's Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2013 – with some serious buttered vegetables together with the layer of fat in the duck was, to some, delightful. I only managed one and had to take the other two off because it was just too much. The meat was a little tough and chewy but the intensity of the deep dark cherry sauce was very nice. The wine was easy to drink, very mild tannin that brought out the gameness in the duck.
kangaroo with pepper, cabbage, pancetta and carrot with Barossa Shiraz sauce served with Jacob's Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz 2013 – It was the best kangaroo meat I've had but I can only compare to Iceland supermarket's frozen kangaroo meat (there, I said it!) and I thought that it was a slightly unfair comparison so I referred to a true Aussie foodie that was there that night. She confirmed that it was very good indeed; so lean and cooked to perfection. It was good with the suggested Barossa but I thought that it was equally good with the Pinot Noir too.
dark chocolate sphere with mint, eucalyptus and a hot chocolate sauce served with Jacob's Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – after seeing so many media videos of chocolate desserts melting when sauce is poured, this was my reality moment. But chocolate sphere did not entirely melt and the waiter was not going to wait for my silly phone camera to come on. Shame...
tea, coffee and petit fours – macaroons, lemon meringue and chocolate were delicious. The cold coffee was not great but these petit fours, especially the lemon meringue, were delicious! I had the last sip of my Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut NV with this sweet tangy dessert and to mark the end of a wonderful evening.
Popped in as a walk in to this fantastic looking building, service was excellent, had the steak sandwich which was cooked perfectly which came with a mixed lettuce salad but my only complaint was it had no dressing so did not compliment the dish. My wife had the burger and this was cooked perfectly to medium rare nd served with chips and salad. The restaurant also had a lot more to offer on the menu but we were only having a quick bite.
@not that
A very lovely brunch for friends and family was had at Balthazar - poached eggs and avocado, scrambled egg with crab, the full English and pancakes were all superb, with lovely sourdough and salty butter. Bloody Mary too big but nicely spicy. Champagne nothing to complain about :)
The staff are lovely and went out of their way to help - I had my wedding dress with me and they unpacked it and put it the carrier thing that my mum brought, and they were super patient with 10 gossipy girls who couldn't decide. Also reasonable for the quality.
Big thumbs up.
Very nice little breakfast spot, just off the square. The coffee was good, the Eggs Royal was magnificent. A little bit pricey, especially when you convert to South African Rand, but worth the experience!
Balthazar has been a restaurant that I have wanted to visit since it opened its doors. But I have either never had the opportunity or when I did, then there are not booking tables left. The closest to getting to Balthazar would be their bakery that is next door. But some time it is when you least expect it that the unexpected happens.
Steak frites. Great steak. Chicken liver / foie gras pate starter was also a stand out. Lovely red wine by the glass. Service was not quite to the level expected which was the only downside. The room is very impressive, especially with the Xmas decorations still up.
A must come to! A double must must come to if you've been to Balthazar in NYC. Service is faultless, food is unpretentious but adventurous and delicious french. Love it
Yet another New York restaurant has arrived London recently. This time it’s Balthazar, a stylish brasserie breathing golden orange tones. It’s almost an exact replica of the New York restaurant from mirrors to pillars and it’s equally busy during peak hours. I love the tilted mirrors on the walls which allows you to see more of the action and people than the ceiling. The food is French and so are some of the staff. The big one page menu is slightly weighted towards seafood with a few French classics slotted in here and there. It was a pure impulse that pushed me and J into the restaurant when walking by this Sunday evening. We were early and seated on a small table before the crowd caught up. Balthazar Bar Bread Basket The bread was good and probably provided by the inhouse bakery next door. It’s the first impression in the mouth at restaurants providing bread but yet many fail to deliver proper ones. This was not love at first sight but definitely a sign of a promising evening ahead.
This has to be one of my favourite breakfasts in London. It's not quite as good as Thomas Keller's Bouchon, but it's the closest thing I have found so far. Elegant and understated, these dishes were all about flavour.
Two steps from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is the carbon copy of a New York City restaurant, Balthazar. After ten years, Keith McNally decided that dinners this side of the Atlantic needed to experience his version of a Parisian brasserie....
Restaurateur Keith McNally has brought his legendary New York Balthazar to London. Partnered with the Caprice’s Richard Caring, no expense has been spared to recreate the restaurant’s French ambience: you could almost believe that you have been temporarily transported to Paris with its high ceilings, red banquettes, huge mirrors and sepia-tinted walls and lighting. There was a slight delay when we arrived as we waited for our table to be cleared but we were encourage to sit at the bar and order a drink. It wasn’t a long wait and we were fairly soon taken through the huge and buzzing restaurant.
So we recently had the pleasure of trying out the new hot table in town Balthazar as well as the slightly more established Delaunay. Balthazar doesn't need much of an introduction from me, as you probably know it's one of the most hyped openings of the year so far and notoriously difficult to get a table for (one long day of repeated calling got us a table at 5.45 pm on the third day after opening).
Usually, a massive menu is a massive no-no for me, but here it feels right and it doesn't feel like the kitchen is stretched. The food is simple, straightforward and veers towards all things comfort-food and the fact that I had narrowed my choices down to about only about ten possibles for the main course, tells you everything you need to know
One of the most popular French Brasseries in NYC is now in London. Balthazar a place that brings opposite opinions for locals, some flag it as a tourist traps others as a true gem. Keith McNally not only brought the concept and the name, the place is a pretty close replica of the Soho venue in Manhattan, similar décor, layout, and menu
Having heard great things about Balthazar, we booked ourselves a table for 2 a few months ahead, for brunch.
The breakfast was delicious; between us we had salmon and eggs and an all day breakfast, plus teas and coffees. The issue was the service; I know they are super busy but the waiter loitered around, took my plate before my husband had finished and plonked the bill on us as he took away our plates, leaving us feeling that we couldnt order more as our table was needed. After such a build up, it was so disappointing, and the tables of 2 are so closely crammed that you feel you are in a big group.
It looked like the larger groups had a better experience and the dinner is said to be amazing, but personally I won't be going again for brunch.
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Went to Balthazar last October, Balthazar is originally from New York and as it happens I have been to both of the outlets, situated in the heart of London Balthazar is an amazing place to go hang out have a drink and some amazing food with your loved ones.
I have to say that they have maintained their excellent service and quality, the New York and the London outlets both are absolutely fantastic.
I had the French onion soup, it was absolutely amazing bursting with flavour and cheese, the soup was hot and satisfying. after the soup I had the molten chocolate cake i.e fondant with vanilla bean ice cream, it was remarkable I mean just fabulous the chocolate oozed out perfectly and the ice cream complimented the cake very well.
In the end I will say that if you guys have not been here till now you must it is a nice chill place with excellent service, ambience and food.
P.S- make sure that you guys make a reservation before hand, this place is always full and bursting with crowds of people trying to enter.
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When we thought of trying out brunch in London for the first time, we Googled a list of restaurants & cafes and Balthazar topped the list of brunches on most websites. What was also mentioned about this place was that it is impossible to get a table at any time, unless you walk-in on a weekend for breakfast and that's what we precisely did!
We were seated at a rather dingy table, in the corner, but given that we had no reservation, we didn't complain. Also, the ambiance of the place soon made us forget this small worry. The high ceiling with rustic walls and rising bar shelves does make for a fancy setup for brunch.
We started with the La Panier basket, which is a specialty of this place and features freshly bakes breads and pastries served with marmalade and the hazel nut chocolate spread. Despite not being a chocolate lover, I must say the chocolate spread was delicious. We were lucky to get the last basket left for the day (at 1200hrs) since these go like hot cakes (pun intended) when the brunch commences.
From the Hors D'oeuvres menu, we picked the Eggs Florentine along with the Chicken Liver with Fois Gras Mousse. The former's poached eggs were brilliantly done and the hollandaise sauce, served with almost every egg dish on their menu was wonderful. The oozy dish was pretty filling by itself. The Chicken Liver had a strong flavor and left a healthy taste in your mouth with a tiny mouthful. Combined with the red onion confit, it went astonishingly well with grilled toast.
After having stuffed ourselves with the hors d'oeuvres, we couldn't resist ourselves when presented with the desserts menu. So after spending a good 10 minutes deciding if we should give in to self-indulgence, we did give in and ordered a Raspberry Souffle. The souffle was perfectly done in terms of the softness and rise. However, we felt that it could have been more pronounced on taste. The creme anglasie served as a side dish with the souffle, did however make up for the lack of flavour.
The service throughout was warm and attentive. Our glasses were refilled the moment they reached 1/4th of their fill. We spent a total of 5 hours here. The table next to us saw 6 sets of people turnover while we sat there.
Overall- great experience. Must try, if you're looking to have a good lazy long brunchy time!
Balthazar has certainly made a name for itself in New York, so when I heard they were opening here I decided to pop by for a visit. The food was good but not good enough for me to come back again. If you need a break from your long day of shopping in the nearby Covent Garden market, Balthazar will definitely be adequate.
Love the place mostly for the old style environment and for the decoration (it remembers me some wonderful still old coffees in Oporto - Portugal).
I ordered scramble eggs (very good yes but nothing coming from heaven) and my bf ordered Benedict Eggs (according to him the best in the world!! Hehe). Orange juice and flat white were ok.
Again, the place is beautiful!! You should at least go there for a hot drink and cake if allowed. Enjoy!!!
This venue is known for hosting the best university parties on thursday nights! Apartment Barcelona Tip: Go here if you want to meet local university students!Bite Me Pizza Kids
Was excited to see the number of people in the restaurant . An indication that it is a popular joint with good food.
The tables were quite cozy.
I would say the service to start with was extremely poor which improved after we handed the feedback.
Not a great place for veg lovers.
I got a good choice in pumpkin ravioli. Fantastic preparation. The choice of
dessert was excellent.
My friends who loves to eat meat enjoyed thoroughly so I would rate this quite high on the food .
Great food, it certainly lives up to its reputation. But it can be quite pricey for a south African pocket. But definitely worth a visit. Yum...
A very busy place on Saturday night (as any popular restaurants are in Central London) but I managed to get a table near the bar without reservation! I had steak tartare for my starter and they were so tasty just like the one I had in Paris. Then I had the seafood platter (size: grand) for 2 people to share and YES they are big portion (2 tiered platter) and there was lots of oysters to try!!! All the seafood are cooked perfectly and seasoned very well. Ended the meal with the earl grey mousse with warm chocolate which was divine as I could taste the earl grey flavour but it's not overpowering and works really well with the subtle flavour of the warm chocolate. I'd definitely come back for special occasion!
Had a really enjoyable breakfast here today. Eggs Florentine perfectly executed. For those that have not been to this recently opened establishment, the menu is French/US. This place oozes class and no expense has been spared on the renovation. The staff are polite, very attentive and friendly.
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A place with a great atmosphere.
Usually greatly recommended for breakfasts and brunches, I however went to dinner and was still very satisfied with the restaurant. Balthazar attracted with with its reputation and once I went it, I was no disappointed. You can notice the classy atmosphere the moment you walk in, automatically getting hungry.
It's menu is filled with traditional dishes, including the classics that everybody loves. I started with the Onion Soup, which is one of their well known dishes which was delicious (almost like I was suddenly in Paris). For my main I took the Grilled Var Salmon (salad) which was heavenly. Balthazar is known for its sea food, but seeing as I'm not the biggest fan of that, going with fish was definitely the second best choice. The salad was full of flavor and the salon was very fresh, melting in my mouth (am getting hungry just by remembering it). Usually I am no the salad-type of girl, however that one charmed me and makes me come back.
My friend took the Steak Frites and she devoured it in seconds too. I managed to taste the homemade fries, which I served with the steak, and those were made to perfection too.
The service was outstanding, not hovering over us, however managed to suddenly appear the moment we needed something. We stayed for a longer while after we finished our food and did not feel rushed to leave in any way, which is often the case in these well known places.
A very cozy place, which makes you feel like you're in Paris for the night.
Why Waste Annual Leave?
+3.5
After never successfully managing to bag a weekend brunch table without plenty of advance planning, I finally ventured here one Monday morning and realised that is the secret for how to get a table here!
The room is large and grand and you do get the feel that it's a special-occasion sort of place. Feels very New York City which is not unsurprising since Balthazar NYC is also famed and loved.
Ever since I first heard about this place, I've been dreaming of trying out the hazelnut waffles and I held true to my word to enjoy these - they came with a refreshing fruit compote on the side and surprisingly, they weren't to sweet either, which is nice for those with a lesser sweet tooth but the texture of the nuttiness came through nicely. My sister opted for the scrambled eggs with potted crab but didn't seem quite so impressed. I dabbled in her scrambled eggs, which were creamy and cooked perfectly but I think her bug bear was with the small portion of crab and the fact that she felt like it didn't taste much different to the tinned stuff you can buy in supermarkets.
Service was friendly, not rushed at all and there were certainly other items on the menu that I would want to return a try. It was a good brunch. Not the best brunch I've ever had but I would go back again and it would be nice to see the vibe it assumes either on a bustling Saturday morning or a Friday night dinner.
If you're one who loves to eat with a bit of buzz and atmosphere, the this is the ideal place for you. I would definitely recommend this place for breakfast. It also has another outlet in New York which is very similar in terms of décor. In terms of having a coffee/pasty breakfast, I can think of no better place to eat breakfast at in London. Good value for money and well worth a try.
I recommend this place for brunch, and less for lunch and dinner.
The atmosphere is very nice, very brasserie-like. It's very well situated, so it's really nice to go have brunch there on a sunny day and then walk about Covent Garden. I also found it to be reasonably priced, for approximately 20 pounds per person for a very good meal.
For brunch, I ordered the Eggs Royal, which were very good, and my friend had the waffles which I really enjoyed.
Having gone for dinner at a later time, I was less impressed but the food was nevertheless quite good. I recommend the Lobster spagghetti, which is a little pricey but quite tasty!
This place is pumping with good music and buzzing with people on every Friday night, so I decided to visit it on a Friday eve. As we entered, a lovely server welcomed us and got us a table almost instantly. We had a great and authentic French menu and wine, and had an amazing overall experience.
This is one place that you should visit for it has just the right amount of everything. From the baked goodies to the salami sandwich to the potato onion roll everything was just delicious. I tried this sticky bun and believe me it was worth it. I am definitely going to visit this place for a scone box that a friend of mine tried. It looked tempting. To add to the experience are the staff members who are more than happy to interact with you.
Is it a special occasion? This place is perfect to celebrate it. Yes, the food is delicious. Yes, the ambiance is very exciting and chilled out. Yes, the staff is well coordinated and very friendly. Yes, the food served is very delicious. Yes, you would walk out satisfied. This place is pretty pocket friendly and the portions are good. Cheers.
My visit last night to this wonderful French American place was a memorable one. The servers were so concerned about the show that we had to catch that they hurried up with the preparation of the food. It was so good to know that this did not affect the quality. I had amazing garlic prawns which I savoured till the last bite. The sauces were just right. If you want to order a drink then I would suggest that I should be a Champagne. The sheer liveliness of the place makes you want to go back!
I came here without booking a table and was given one almost immediately. I had oysters for starters which were very refreshing though the bread seemed to be cooked earlier. For the mains, I was recommended a pork belly which I decided to go for. It was so sumptuous and had so many amazing flavours that I fell in love with it after the first look. The staff was very knowledgeable about the menu, quick and very efficient. I highly recommend it to everyone!
I recently tried this place with a couple of friends and had quite a decent experience. The drinks were amazing. The ambience was great with a comfortable seating. The service was pretty efficient with the staff being quite warm and friendly. Thus, I would love to visit this place again.
I went to this place for some brunch to meet a friend who I had not met in a long time. We had booked a table here and found the place to be very busy, speaking a lot about its popularity. The staff was very friendly and amicable without being intrusive. They were also prompt and efficient. I recommend the duck shepherds pie which was very delectable and had amazing flavours. The atmosphere is very comforting and relaxing. Highly recommended!
As we wandered about in the city, not looking for anything in particular, we happened to stumble upon this otherwise unnoticed place in the neighbourhood. It was divinity in its pure form! This place does justice to the price it demands. The good thing is that it has kept the standard same as its other branch in New York. Brilliance overload!
This is a restaurant that you all must try. I recently went there and had a very nice experience. The service was top notch and all the dishes that I tried were of pretty good quality. I must recommend you all to definitely try this place and I am pretty sure that you won't be disappointed after all.
We had some good starters here such as the Chicken liver and foie gras pate. These starters stood out in the entire meal. The steak was well done too and did not let us down. However, the downside of the entire experience was the service which was not up to mark. The ambiance was good though with the a big and impressive room.
This place had first opened up in New York. Having its branch set up only recently in London, this place has food which is prepared to perfection. I would definitely be recommending this place to all my English friends as it serves delicious food at a good price.
Heavenly experience!
I, along with my partner, went to this restaurant and we both had a nice time there. The service was top notch and the quality of food was quite good. I really liked the butter lettuce salad which had all the flavours evenly spread out. We felt quite filling and decided not to have a dessert. The entire meal was an absolute delight but we might just not give it another visit.
I visited this place with my friend and I must say that we had an enjoyable experience. Our starters were cooked to perfection and presented in an utmost brilliant manner. With a good service we also got decently tasting food at a fairly decent price. What more could we ask for?
This place earns great point in the service and the food section but lacks a lot in the atmosphere.
This outlet is different from its foreign outlet and though the interiors are decorated in a particular fashion, the style is too somber for me.The interiors are quite cramped too.
As far as the food is concerned the menu houses some if the best dishes in the city and the wine list pretty extensive,The prices for the same are a little high ,which all the drinks being above 20 pounds. The taste of the food was pretty incredible too.
I recommend trying their out of the world steak tartar and the pleasant bread basket.
I recently tried this place with my wife and had a wonderful time here. The ambience is just awesome with the beautiful interior decorations which catches your attention the moment you enter the place. The foo was excellent, especially the Moules and Steak Frites. The service was quite efficient with the staff being warm and friendly. I would love to visit this place again.
This centrally located restaurant has always been a one I have wanted to visit in a long time. From beautiful decorations in the interiors, the place has a vintage feel to it. You must try the profiteroles and the nicely balanced steak. Don't worry as the staff will make sure it is done up in the exact way as you demand it!
This place is surely worth a visit and I would certainly vouch for its credibility.
I had an amazing brunch here! A must visit. The toast and eggs were done to perfection. In my opinion the quality of the food and service is impeccable and I have gone there to eat on, many breakfast meetings.
The ambiance is more appealing in the afternoons, and is always buzzing wit people. The sea food is always fresh and very tasty.
This is a great place to have your lunch and enjoy with your friends. The atmosphere is very good and the food is also up to the mark.
This place is pretty much famous for Balthazar. The collection of wines that they have is also amazing and the service is also pretty great.
I would love to come here again.
I had a very nice time while dining there. The staff was amiable and the service was top notch. The food was of impeccable quality and whatever I tried tasted absolutely delicious. I would definitely be returning to this one and strongly recommend you to do the same. Trust me, this place is worth it.
We had a very memorable night at this restaurant in their private dining hall. It can hold up to sixty five people very comfortably, and has some very immaculate service. The food tastes great, and they allow you to being your own mix of music. In addition, they don't charge extra if you meet a minimum expenditure limit.
GREAT place for breakfast.
It is located in Covent Garden area.
The atmosphere is quite nice and multicultural.
I have been to Balthazar with a small group of three friends and we ordered a mix of New York Pancakes, Fruit Salads and Bacon Rolls. I had some pancakes, and I thought they were wonderfully made because very soft and palatable. The service is friendly and quick. The menu very well explained.
In terms of prices, 20 £ for two should do. I think it is a cozy and wonderful place to start your day, especially on weekends. Do check availability before going!!
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Balthazar is the London outpost of a New York institution, right down to it's red leather banquettes and soft focus lighting, making everything appear to be straight out of a Instagram shot. It's attractively done and I'm quite happy to call this home for a few hours, a few drinks and a decadent meal.
It's an extensive menu but I've done a bit of homework and the garlic prawns come highly recommended and so it's the prawns for me! The fougasse is warm and fresh and there's no decent way to eat this dish than to tear great bit hunks of bread off and dunk them into the sweet garlicky broth that the prawns are bathed in. The steak tartare is pronounced fresh and light and the octopus salad full of perfectly cooked octopus dressed lightly with tomato and basil.
The most famous dish here is the much lauded lobster risotto and two members of our party have opted for this, so on the assumption that I can sneak in a bite, I go for what I think is the lighter option, all in the hope that I can then fit in dessert - the grilled salmon with a warm spinach salad. It's a bit of false advertising as no other salads I've ever had can compare to this one, it's a rich beautifully cooked piece of salmon, which flakes away at the lightest amount of pressure from my fork.
For dessert, I go for the Raspberry Souffle with Creme anglaise, Others have complained of souffle graininess but about the only complaint I could level is that towards the end, it's starting to be a little bit too rich and sweet. The profiteroles, chosen by another member of our group are light and fluffy with hot chocolate sauce poured all over it.
A wonderful place for a great meal with a stellar dessert end.
If my nickname is Balthazar, there is a good reason for it. Magnifico servizio in altrettanto magnifico locale, curato nei dettagli. Cibo di ottima qualita', veramente bello da vedere. You can see my pics for believe!????????
One of my absolutely favorite places in London. Great for breakfast (and late brunch), OR dinner. N1 sunday brunch choice.
Balthazar established its name in New York quite long time ago. Surprise, surprise…after the opening of its London branch, there were no available tables for weeks. Yep… Londoners love NY restaurants’ openings and it was no different this time. But I must say that this time the love was totally justified.
Oh boy, their food is like heaven in the mouth!
Full review and more pictures at: http://chichangout.org/2013/11/03/balthazar/
http://chichangout.org
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Balthazar in New York is a highly popular brasserie, so iconic that it was even in a scene in the TV series Sex in The City. Its owner Keith McNally is actually British, so his version of Balthazar in London was much anticipated, finally opening in late February 2013. McNally owns not just Balthazar but a host of other well-known New York spots such as Minetta Tavern and Café Luxembourg, so clearly knows a thing or two about running a successful restaurant.
The dining room seats 170 people at one time, and has the expected red banquettes and art-deco styling and pretty mosaic floors, though lighting was rather odd, casting a vaguely orange glow over proceedings even at lunchtime. Starters were priced from £5.50 to £15, main courses £11 to £29 and desserts £7.
The very French wine list was printed on a large laminated card. Examples include Chateau Croix de Rambeaux 2008 at £28 for a wine that you can find in the high street for £12, Chateau Bernadette 2009 at £69 for a wine that retails at £20, and Gerin La Loye 2010 Condrieu at £98 for a wine that will cost you around £31 in a shop. Bread was from Balthazar’s own bakery, which is actually near Waterloo, though you can purchase the bread from a shop next door to the restaurant. Baguette was pleasant (13/20), but sourdough slices were very good indeed, with nice crust (15/20). It was good to see them making an effort with the bread and not buying in cheap baguettes, as many bistros do.
Risotto of lobster with black truffle butter and cauliflower cream (£10) was quite good, the little pieces of lobster tender, a hint of truffle coming through. This was not made in the classical way but was pre-cooked and then finished prior to serving so did not have the texture of the best risotto, but the stock used had reasonable flavour and the rice was cooked properly (14/20). Less good were scallops with celeriac puree, julienned celery, and salad leaves. The vegetable elements were fine but the scallops, though correctly cooked, entirely lacked sweetness and just tasted cheap and bland (11/20). I had a little of this dish and then gave up, and to be fair the staff were very good: they asked what the problem was and insisted on removing it from the bill without my asking.
Better was apple tarte tatin, the pastry at the bottom reasonable, the apples not caramelised as much as I would have liked but still entirely pleasant, the vanilla ice cream having good texture and with plenty of vanilla flavour coming through (13/20). I was impressed with the waiters, who were very attentive and enthusiastic. My bill, with no main course and just water to drink, came to just £21, but this is hardly typical. If you had three courses, coffee and a modest wine then the bill might come to around £65 a head.
The food at Balthazar, scallops aside, was of a decent brasserie standard. Why it was full, apart from a skilled marketing campaign, is I think down to the service, which is clearly unusually well drilled. For most people that dine out the service is at least as important as the food, and they have clearly recognised that at Baltahzar. At the end of the day the food is merely decent, but the service above average and pricing not excessive, so doubtless it will continue to prosper.
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Any global foodie will tell you how exciting it is when popular restaurants from around the world cross over to your city. Balthazar was an old favourite during my NYC days. The French brasserie opened in London almost a year ago and has been on my list of ‘restaurants to visit’ ever since. Finally made it to Balthazar for dinner last Friday with some friends visiting from Hong Kong.
Located in Covent Garden, Balthazar London is an exact replica of the restaurant in New York City. The famous owner, Keith McNally, spent a reported £14 million on recreating the original space – from the huge pillars and mirrors to the sepia lighting that warms the entire dining room making everything (and, everyone!) look beautiful.
The Balthazar London menu includes all the favourite French classics with a clear and heavy bias towards seafood.
It took us all some time to decide what we wanted – everything looked and sounded so good. In the end, my heart chose a decadent bowl of French Onion Soup and the head ordered a much lighter roasted cod fillet for my main.
It had been a few years since I last had French Onion Soup so this was definitely a treat. The cheese was stringy but the soup broth was bursting with flavour and comfort. The soup was quite heavy so I was glad to have a friend share it with me.
The lightness of the cod was needed after the heavy soup and although it was enjoyable, it wasn’t anything special. Oh well.
What was memorable were the few bites I had of Mr. A’s Lobster Spaghetti – the flavours were outstanding and I was left picking away at my cod, with a major case of food envy.
I had done my research before our meal and knew exactly what to order for dessert. The delicious Rhubarb Souffle, a Balthazar specialty, is served with a warm custard and is simply, amazing.
Balthazar was an enjoyable meal, complete with great wine and company. I am already plotting another visit just to indulge in my own plate of lobster spaghetti. Balthazar also offers an brunch menu and a boulangerie next door to the main restaurant where you can get amazing French breads, quiches and more. Yum!
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Yet another New York restaurant has arrived London recently. This time it’s Balthazar, a stylish brasserie breathing golden orange tones. It’s almost an exact replica of the New York restaurant from mirrors to pillars and it’s equally busy during peak hours. I love the tilted mirrors on the walls which allows you to see more of the action and people than the ceiling.
The food is French and so are some of the staff. The big one page menu is slightly weighted towards seafood with a few French classics slotted in here and there.
It was a pure impulse that pushed me and J into the restaurant when walking by this Sunday evening. We were early and seated on a small table before the crowd caught up.
The bread was good and probably provided by the inhouse bakery next door. It’s the first impression in the mouth at restaurants providing bread but yet many fail to deliver proper ones. This was not love at first sight but definitely a sign of a promising evening ahead.
Snails is something I rarely order but this was a reminder of how good it can be. Full of flavour from the garlic butter, which was fine considering we shared this dish and had no more people to meet after. What was left of the garlic butter and parsley was wiped clean with bread.
Both of us ordered the same main, Roasted Fillet of Cod with crushed potatoes, olive tapenade and pistachios. It turned out to be a good choice. The fish was well cooked and portion was generous. The amount of pistachio on the plate made it one of the main characters in the dish. It contributed with texture and weight to the dish while the olive tapenade brought some freshness to the otherwise quite earthy tones. With this we had Lucas & Rieffel 2011 Riesling.
This side dish deserved more attention but the size of the main made it a bit redundant. I regretted ordering something this heavy without realizing that the main was well enough. There nothing much to say than it was alright although a bit on the salty side for me.
The food we had this evening was good. Service-wise we had a very charismatic waitress who probably had enough energy to take care of two sections. She was very nice and offered to let us try the white wines before deciding but was probably in deep water when it got busier later in the night since she printed out the wrong bill for us. I think this place is worth a visit. It’s not an eye-opener but instead offers comfortability and reliability.
For full review and photos visit http://driftingepicure.com/2013/06/02/balthazar/
Just two minutes walking from Convent Garden, the Restaurant is the Identical version of the New York one.
Public visiting the London location are not as classy, one could even use the word tacky.
The food however is good, just as expected a mix of French/American and for the London version - British food.
Oysters were great and so was the dessert : profiteroles.
Great Address.
We were all dying for the London branch to open in the heart of Covent Garden - happily it has happened! It is the latest of a series of exciting New York places that have been so popular in New York that they have opened a sibling in London (Sushi Samba, Milk & Honey, La Bodega Negra, The Standard Hotel soon), so my expectations were high. I went there for lunch a couple of days ago and, if the service was perfect and the place very nice, I was slightly disappointed by the steak Tartare I chose (which, as a typical French dish, was supposed to be excellent) but the Balthazar Bar Steak with French fries seemed to be quite appetising. However, don't hesitate to go there to find a traditional Parisian Brasserie ambiance and style, which is definitely worth it.
Read more reviews here: http://trendyguide.wordpress.com/
Went there for our wedding anniversary. First of all we received a bottle of warm white wine with our oysters, sorry but not good enough. So after telling our waiter, he went to check the seller and managed to find a cool one. The oysters were very good, the lobster not 100% fresh but good enough. The best thing about this experience is our waiter Marco, he made all the difference , if we come back, it would be for him and not for the food which wasn't very special
A nice French restaurant in a very central location. They have all the classics - the steak frites are a must! - and the menu brunch includes also some egg options and the croque monsieur. Most plates come with fries - don’t speak them, they are incredible and worth it! The decor is very pleasing and homey, and the staff is friendly. Not the most veggie friendly place but there are a few options (incl. avocado eggs), vegan is tougher
What we love most about this place is its atmosphere, amber color internal setting coming with sense of magnificence.
Food is ok, there’s 2/3 course set menu on workdays.
Quite busy, better to book table first
What a truly fantastic evening! I joined my colleagues for a work-related dinner, and we were treated to an absolutely delightful meal that exceeded our expectations. Our waiter, the exceptional Adam Stewart, provided unparalleled customer service throughout our dining experience. I was very surprised when Adam presented an unexpected birthday dessert – it genuinely made my evening unforgettable! Just shows how attentive he is! I extend my heartfelt gratitude for crafting such a special atmosphere. Without a doubt, I am eagerly anticipating my next visit to Balthazar.
This is a really fantastic French restaurant. The food is excellent, the staff are friendly and efficient. It is a little pricey, but it is definitely worth it. The decor is outstanding and tasteful. It's absolutely worth a visit and we'd go again.
Been here too many times to mention. Always lovely. Always good food and great service. Whether just a drink in the bar or full meal it's always a fantastic choice.
Their service was great. We forgot to get the receipt, but they provided it to me when I requested it ten days after. Food was good. Recommended.
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The atmosphere was amazing at Balthazar, and the food was very enjoyable.
I ordered a chicken and mash potato with gravy which was very delicious. I think this is suitable for children or fussy people as unlike other dishes on the menu, this wasn’t too experimental.
My sister ordered a macaroni cheese which was really tasty. It was very cheesy and stringy, and it had a really good flavour. Although she ordered the children’s portion, it was very large so that is something to look out for - however she did finish it as it was really good.
My mum ordered a mushroom and cream sauce chicken with mash potato and fine beans. She says it was well cooked, and the chicken was not dry. Although there could have been more sauce. Overall she said it was very tasty.
My dad ordered lemon sole. He said it was really good. It came with half a lemon that you could squeeze juice onto the sole, and a caramel ish unsweetened maple syrup, which complimented the flavour of the capers and lemon well. (The waitress deboned the fish well.)
Overall, the atmosphere was really nice as shown in the photos, and the food was also delicious. The food came quickly and the service was good. There was a lot of staff, and the restaurant was busy. I recommend going to this restaurant.
I didn’t like the menu options, found it very restricted but the beef bourguignon was lovely. Service was excellent. Old fashioned traditional French restaurant style.
Adore this place. Whenever I’m in Covent Garden I have to pop in, even if it’s just for a drink. Love the high tables at the bar. Food always excellent. Bar staff and waiters are welcoming and accommodating. Especially on our last visit on 17/06/2023 the lady who waited on us was beyond lovely and attentive. Also bar staff were able to make us the cocktails we wanted that weren’t on the menu. Will always be back :)
Lovely food, great service and wonderful atmosphere. We did the 3 course pre theatre option which was good value for the area. Probably best to book as it was very busy on a Thursday night. Service is added to the bill automatically so be aware of that.
Amazing seafood with live music when we were there on a Saturday. It was a great vibe and the food was delicious. You pay for what you get!
Old ye is your thing, then a visit to Balthazar is a must.
Classic dishes with a pleasant service. Excellent wine list.
Only negative for me is the staff were not really attentive and hard to get hold of as it does get busy. I don't like my wine glass empty 😞.
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