Balthazar is definitely a Manhattan staple for the ambience and experience, but the food is not as good as it was a few years ago. We were able to make reservations for Sunday brunch on the phone on the day of, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the egg dishes were forgettable. The bread and pain de chocolate were cold and not toasted. We did enjoy the escargot. Overall, it’s worth a visit once or twice, but if you want a really great brunch, I would look elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Howard Herman
Great service, good is reliably good. Nicoise Salad is better than one would think.
S P.
We hadn't been here since Covid. The food quality deteriorated. Our French Onion soups were terribly oversalted to the point we couldn't eat them. Same held for my halibut. My husband's steak frites was not oversalted but it was a disappointing selection of steak. The seafood tower remained the hit and was of expected high quality. Overall for the crammed experience that is Balthazar, the food quality is overpriced for what you get now. Hopefully it was just a bad night in the kitchen. Go to Pastis instead.
Chris Bhutani
Overall a mediocre french bistro, overpriced compared to its modern competition. Trades heavily on its heyday reputation.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Alex S.
Everything we ate from the past is ruined from there It has been for a while since they served excellent food Since, Lee Hanson & Riad Nasser left it has been on this downslide. However, my mother always comes for my birthday and this has been my birthday dinner spot for 20 years, since returning to the city. As a chef, I didn't want to go, but my mother wanted it for nostalgia. I always agree for nostalgia as well, but the ability not to make a complaint to managers whom have your name while the owner has the ability to cancel you is new. I'm a chef, if Keith McNally can call people to not hire me, my life is effectively over. We always get the two same apps, plus a random. 1) steak tartare...which now tastes like ketchup 2) foie gras terine...which was always cut with chicken liver, understandably, because of the cost. However, it's now a lie, it's all chicken liver AND GRAINY Our random was the the escargot. I love escargot. And for those who don't do this for a living, it now comes de-shelled in a can..which is fine...it means it precooked. Which is understandable, concerning labor. It's also a wonderful product, I use it myself It means just heat it up..you don't hammer it. It was the equivalent of a super ball you get at a grocery store back in the day. As a customer & someone who does this for a living, I have an understanding that problems happen. Concerning, what I said is correct. The service and drinks were great. I know GMs read this before owners do, if ever I didn't want to go because I know the food has taken a turn...that's fine. What is reprehensible, is that your owner (who has 3 restaurants left to his name left, after an empire ) can call out James Cordon and the richest man in the worlds fiancé, Jeff Bezos How can a regular customer expect to be able to complain, let alone someone whom does this for a living. If I feel terrified in your restaurant, imagine how famous people with the ability to dine wherever they can and have everything to lose do whenever your owner feels the right to call people out. I can only imagine the defamation suit Bezos can bring...he won't ever press charges....he will file motion after motion to drain your limited finances. A DISGRACE
Alexandra Shuntova
Stopped by for lunch. The restaurant was busy. Ordered the steak frites and Chicken paillard. A waste of money. I ordered the steak to be medium. The steak did come medium , but was dry for 60$ a genuine dissatisfaction. The chicken was OK, not good not bad. For a place with such hype extremely disappointing.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
perry dhulesia
Your own little paris experience in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Giovanna Brito
Love this classic in NY, one of my
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Moules Frites
M Lee
No lines if you stop in for dinner on a Saturday afternoon at 5pm like we did. After a late brunch, it was a little early so we only ordered 2 entrees. Their presentations were good, but both were underwhelming. The halibut was under seasoned, thin, overdone and dry, The braised short rib was very fatty, also overdone, braised to the point that the beef became stringy and no longer "beefy", could've been a hunk of braised pork, but mostly fat and less flavorful. Service was good, water was refilled frequently and the bread was very good, probably the best food we had here. The tables are tiny and inches apart. If you enjoy tight quarters that make you feel like you're in a cozy brasserie in Paris, Balthazar's your place.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Enrique Vasquez
Excellent French bistro in the hearth of Manhattan. Very nice ambiance, excellent food and good service. The streak frites and the modules are a must. The crème brûlée is excellent.
This was my favorite restaurant I visited during my last trip to NYC! I was wondering around Soho, got hungry, and popped in to see if I could grab a seat at the bar. The bar vibe is where it’s at! Plus the bartenders rock, the food and drinks are spectacular, and the atmosphere is spot on.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hector Miguel Quailey Canario
A unique experience at the level of French Gastronomy!!!!!! Without waste!!!!!.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard Greensted
An institution, and rightly so! Gorgeous dining room, and it really bustles! Great service and a wonderful menu. I was tempted by the confit but couldn't resist the steak au poivre. Delicious. Very good cheese plate too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Federico Lopez
The place was packed. The service was super fast. The food was good, but i'm not sure if it's worth the price. Also I was't too keen on the $60 dollar no show fee. The atmosphere was nice and all but boy was it loud.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Alyssa Kaplan
Fantastic place to relax and unwind (maybe too noisy for a child). Great food and service!
Balthazar is definitely a Manhattan staple for the ambience and experience, but the food is not as good as it was a few years ago. We were able to make reservations for Sunday brunch on the phone on the day of, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the egg dishes were forgettable. The bread and pain de chocolate were cold and not toasted. We did enjoy the escargot. Overall, it’s worth a visit once or twice, but if you want a really great brunch, I would look elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Great service, good is reliably good. Nicoise Salad is better than one would think.
We hadn't been here since Covid. The food quality deteriorated. Our French Onion soups were terribly oversalted to the point we couldn't eat them. Same held for my halibut. My husband's steak frites was not oversalted but it was a disappointing selection of steak. The seafood tower remained the hit and was of expected high quality. Overall for the crammed experience that is Balthazar, the food quality is overpriced for what you get now. Hopefully it was just a bad night in the kitchen. Go to Pastis instead.
Overall a mediocre french bistro, overpriced compared to its modern competition. Trades heavily on its heyday reputation.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Everything we ate from the past is ruined from there It has been for a while since they served excellent food Since, Lee Hanson & Riad Nasser left it has been on this downslide. However, my mother always comes for my birthday and this has been my birthday dinner spot for 20 years, since returning to the city. As a chef, I didn't want to go, but my mother wanted it for nostalgia. I always agree for nostalgia as well, but the ability not to make a complaint to managers whom have your name while the owner has the ability to cancel you is new. I'm a chef, if Keith McNally can call people to not hire me, my life is effectively over. We always get the two same apps, plus a random. 1) steak tartare...which now tastes like ketchup 2) foie gras terine...which was always cut with chicken liver, understandably, because of the cost. However, it's now a lie, it's all chicken liver AND GRAINY Our random was the the escargot. I love escargot. And for those who don't do this for a living, it now comes de-shelled in a can..which is fine...it means it precooked. Which is understandable, concerning labor. It's also a wonderful product, I use it myself It means just heat it up..you don't hammer it. It was the equivalent of a super ball you get at a grocery store back in the day. As a customer & someone who does this for a living, I have an understanding that problems happen. Concerning, what I said is correct. The service and drinks were great. I know GMs read this before owners do, if ever I didn't want to go because I know the food has taken a turn...that's fine. What is reprehensible, is that your owner (who has 3 restaurants left to his name left, after an empire ) can call out James Cordon and the richest man in the worlds fiancé, Jeff Bezos How can a regular customer expect to be able to complain, let alone someone whom does this for a living. If I feel terrified in your restaurant, imagine how famous people with the ability to dine wherever they can and have everything to lose do whenever your owner feels the right to call people out. I can only imagine the defamation suit Bezos can bring...he won't ever press charges....he will file motion after motion to drain your limited finances. A DISGRACE
Stopped by for lunch. The restaurant was busy. Ordered the steak frites and Chicken paillard. A waste of money. I ordered the steak to be medium. The steak did come medium , but was dry for 60$ a genuine dissatisfaction. The chicken was OK, not good not bad. For a place with such hype extremely disappointing.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Your own little paris experience in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this classic in NY, one of my
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Moules Frites
No lines if you stop in for dinner on a Saturday afternoon at 5pm like we did. After a late brunch, it was a little early so we only ordered 2 entrees. Their presentations were good, but both were underwhelming. The halibut was under seasoned, thin, overdone and dry, The braised short rib was very fatty, also overdone, braised to the point that the beef became stringy and no longer "beefy", could've been a hunk of braised pork, but mostly fat and less flavorful. Service was good, water was refilled frequently and the bread was very good, probably the best food we had here. The tables are tiny and inches apart. If you enjoy tight quarters that make you feel like you're in a cozy brasserie in Paris, Balthazar's your place.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Excellent French bistro in the hearth of Manhattan. Very nice ambiance, excellent food and good service. The streak frites and the modules are a must. The crème brûlée is excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Moules Frites
Restaurantji Recommends
This was my favorite restaurant I visited during my last trip to NYC! I was wondering around Soho, got hungry, and popped in to see if I could grab a seat at the bar. The bar vibe is where it’s at! Plus the bartenders rock, the food and drinks are spectacular, and the atmosphere is spot on.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A unique experience at the level of French Gastronomy!!!!!! Without waste!!!!!.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An institution, and rightly so! Gorgeous dining room, and it really bustles! Great service and a wonderful menu. I was tempted by the confit but couldn't resist the steak au poivre. Delicious. Very good cheese plate too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The place was packed. The service was super fast. The food was good, but i'm not sure if it's worth the price. Also I was't too keen on the $60 dollar no show fee. The atmosphere was nice and all but boy was it loud.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Fantastic place to relax and unwind (maybe too noisy for a child). Great food and service!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5