Best of Citysearch
view & uploadphotos
- Neighborhoods:
- Downtown, SoHo
- Categories:
- Restaurants, Bakeries
- Cuisine:
- French
- Price:
- $$$$
- Restaurant Special Features:
- Payment Methods:
- General Info:
View Less
At a Glance
?
96% ambiance
“Great atmosphere”
83% dessert
“The brioche french toast was great; the sour cream waffles amazing!”
84% drinks
“The waiter was very helpful with a wine recommendation.”
89% food quality
“The ambience of the decorating makes it a delight to enjoy any meal here.”
96% menu variety
“Good scene for celebrity watching and great wine selections.”
100% overall
“It's a great place for drinks at the bar.”
100% return potential
“Would recommend this place to others and will definately be back for more.”
79% service
“Wait staff is extremely friendly, which is impressive given that it was 2 am by the time we left and the place was still crowded.”
81% value
“mac and cheese was great but not really worth the $$.”
66% wait time
“If you are looking for a great place to have a quick and delicious breakfast before work, Balthazar is the place.”
Write a Tip for
Balthazar
From The Owner of Balthazar
What Our Expert Scouts Say
November 07, 2012
What can you say? It never changes, it never falters, and it's always jammed. If it wasn't such a slavish tribute to Paris brasseries, you could even call it the ultimate New York restaurant. Certainly, it's a hell of a lot better than the places in Paris that it emulates.
0
Heart
August 15, 2012
It's still trendy and touristy but the raw bar is still great and some of the French traditional dishes like the Steak au Poive and Moules Frite still stand tall.
0
Heart
Tips for Balthazar
August 26, 2002
Hectic, Loud and Great.. Not here for the quiet romantic dinner. Your whispered sweet nothings will be lost in a jarring mass of banging cutlery, falling plates and half-shouted conversations. It all adds to Balthazar's energetic buzz. You are dining in New York City, remember. We found the waitstaff to be friendly and helpful despite being in the midst of a weekend supper crush. This was our third visit and the food has continually been high quality. The goofy reservation policy reeks of Nineties excess (a table at the far superior Union Square Cafe' is easier to get). But as Balthazar's hipster cache has fallen off in recent years, luckily, little else has.
0
Heart
August 22, 2002
One Hit. Tranformed to Paris. Loud but good. Seafood tower is a great date share. Love the bar snacks. Brunch is never a miss.
0
Heart
August 16, 2002
Hype. I honestly don't see anything special in this place, and don't quite understand how they can justify the price they are charging. I was there for a brunch - maybe the bar scene at night is better ??
0
Heart
August 12, 2002
will not go back. came here for dinner on a thursday night. the service was unattentive. the food was so-so. me and my friend both left half of our entree plates untouched... frites were excellent. balthazar should really consider investing in their glasswares - they looked old and dirty.
0
Heart
August 11, 2002
french jewel in soho. We had no problems making reservations, we were promptly seated the wait staff was very friendly, attentive, the food was excellent
0
Heart
July 21, 2002
Brunch like no other - come early. This is an absolutely divine place to go for a weekend brunch with friends, visiting parents, or your better half that you'll have to nudge to wake up. The service is slightly nose-in-air but they get the job done, if only to serve you some of the most excellent food (try the Eggs Benedict) I've had in fice years of NYC restaurant hopping; the meal we had was continuosly supplemented with exquisite fresh bread which was a plus.
0
Heart
July 19, 2002
Still the best spot in town. Few restaurants keep a sense of excitement and purpose past 6 months. Balthazar just gets better every time. The food is great, the wine well-priced, the staff professional. It works for a date, to take your mom out to brunch or share a shellfish tower with 4 friends.
0
Heart
June 18, 2002
can't beat it. People were outstanding. Could not do enough for us. Best Steak. A little too loud for light conversation.
0
Heart
June 16, 2002
Overrated, Overpriced, Underserved. We went with another couple. Their recommendation. His wife and I had bouillabaisse. Below average, hardly memorable. It was julienne of vegetables in fish stock with 1 mussel, 1/3 of small lobster tail; several pieces of fish and 3 boiled potatoes. My wife and he had steak frite. It was only ok. Worst was service. My wife watched our waiter take unemptied carafes (about 1-2" left in bottle) from tables that were not finished. Before she realized it, he did it to us. Before that, every time we took a sip, he was pouring from the carafe. That wasn't service - - that was pushing booze for a higher bill and tip. Will never go back. Our friends were embarrassed. Too many superior restaurants in NYC to go here....even once! Noisy too, but bearable. It is NY after all.
0
Heart
Write a Tip for
Balthazar
People also viewed
Related Guides
Your Friends
Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Facebook to see what your friends are up to!
Citysearch Mobile
Get the Citysearch Mobile app so you can spend less time searching for great places, and more time enjoying them.
Best of Citysearch
Nominated for:
French Fries
(2010)
Brunch (2009)
French Restaurant (2009)
French Fries (2009)
People Watching (2009)
Brunch (2008)
French Fries (2008)
Morning-After Brunch (2008)
Brunch (2007)
French Fries (2007)
Bakery (2006)
French Fries (2006)
Brunch (2009)
French Restaurant (2009)
French Fries (2009)
People Watching (2009)
Brunch (2008)
French Fries (2008)
Morning-After Brunch (2008)
Brunch (2007)
French Fries (2007)
Bakery (2006)
French Fries (2006)