Despite being in the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, Balthazar provides a relaxed and friendly environment for a delicious meal - and they even serve decent coffee. It took me quite a bit until I made it to Balthazar in Covent Garden, but one afternoon I finally managed to go there. A few months ago, I read a rather interesting article about the New York company and ever since wanted to gain some first-hand experience. Usually, Balthazar was always very busy when I considered visiting, but on this late Sunday afternoon, it was easy to secure a table. Supposedly, the London branch is almost a 1:1 copy of the New York venture. I cannot verify this, but I can tell you that the main dining room is huge and grand, with heigh ceiling and some vintage coolness. The rose-inspired lamps hanging everywhere are cute, while also pretty kitschy. And in case you want to know, the toilets are beautiful, too. I started my late lunch with a lemonade. And what a lemonade! It was kind of a bespoke service, freshly pressed and delivered with a supply of cold water, like a do-it-yourself drink where I could decide how much water or sugar I wanted to add. The waiter was overly friendly and I instantly liked the place after this great start. He and his colleagues continued to impress by topping up my water seamlessly throughout my stay. I went for the cheese burger with fries and crispy bacon. It was a mighty and pretty messy beast. After I had removed the tomato, the gherkin and the onion, the burger became much more compact and shrank down to a size I could handle. Still messy, but manageably messy. Initially, I wondered why I was offered no condiments. As I ate my way through the massive burger, I noticed that all kinds of delicious juices and sauces were oozing out and my plate quickly became the right place to dip my fries, no need for additional condiments. The fries also deserve a separate mention. The thin-cut potato strips were golden, crispy, superbly spiced and overall delicious. To complete my meal, I ordered the profiteroles. This dessert was surprisingly big, packed with lots of ice cream and a dark, strong chocolate sauce. After all this food, I felt really full and decided to do something about this and concluded my visit with a coffee. I was happy when I learnt that they use Monmouth coffee - a staple choice in the London coffee landscape, and they are almost neighbours in Covent Garden. I must say, that I was very satisfied with the food and service at Balthazar in London. Really a place I can recommend, even though the location makes it come across as a tourist trap. read more

We had a great meal here to celebrate the Christmas holidays. This restaurant is located just outside of Covent Garden Market and had beautiful photo-worthy Christmas decorations outside. Beautiful. Our meals were great and service was impeccable. read more

Came here a few times, though the last time was certainly memorable. As my friend was visiting from abroad and wanted to book a fancy afternoon tea. After trying to balance showing her a good time and me not falling for my usual go-to's including Sanderson and Sketch, I decided to opt for their specialty Bobbi Brown themed experience, since my friend is a huge makeup fan. Usually I try to avoid too touristy cliche French Restaurants that attract people for 'impeccably luxury feel' service and overly prices carbs slapped with sauce on a plate. However Balthazar lives to it's reputation with good service and impeccably classic setting and dishes. The themed afternoon tea brings a little more 'edge' and quirkiness to their concept of elaborate dining. The restaurant very much reminds me of Cheri in Barcelona. With cloudy yellow lighting to create intimacy, mirrored walls and monochrome marble floors give it that 'socialite' feeling of you being in an occasion spot in Paris in the 1920s. The formally dressed staff just add to the classic feeling of being served in something a bit more exciting than you typical urban bistro full of design enthusiasts with their macs. The afternoon tea menu's included savory sandwiches with classic ones such as the cucumber, which is my guilty pleasure. The scones were nearly perfect with a lovely light and airy texture, sweet clotted vanilla team and classic blackberry jam. The highlight of the themed experience were the sweet pastries that were shaped in lips, eyeshadow palette and a mascara. My personal favourite was the yogurt mousse in the shape of lips. The rhubarbs shaped into an eyeshadow in a chocolate cream tart was also a close hit. Overall I think this afternoon tea is wonderful quality, considering the price with the perfect atmosphere of fancy dining and being a hot-spot in Soho. It's amazing if you're looking for something in central that offers the traditional afternoon with a themed twist, though nothing overly strange nor experimental. The unlimited offer of tea, cakes and sandwiches available also to take home was a big plus. The professional staff service and atmosphere makes this place a go-to for any fan of French cuisine. read more

Balthazar - The 'cosmetics' - French Near Me - London, XGL

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While planing to have breakfast in somewhere around Covent Garden we came across this place. In NY Balthazar was in our list, but we did not have time to visit. So without checking the menus outside we just entered in! For breakfast, menu is quite extensive but nothing special in comparison to other French cafes/chains/restaurants/bistros. Ah, maybe more expensive! For single eggs royale in Balthazar, I can get eggs royale (w 2 muffins) and drink in my fav places with same price. I must note that the waiter was so attentive. I was not sure about to order Le panier -selection of mini pastries and bread basket - he brought the basket to show us what we would receive. Pastries were a bit hard but I liked homemade jams and marmalade. Another note is tea pots are big that you can almost have 4 full cups. Nice! Nice ambiance, tasty food, I will arrange my next visit soon for dinner. read more

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I love the NYC location so I had to try this one while I was in London recently. It did not disappoint. I had the chicken Paillard followed by profiteroles for dessert. Everything was excellent and the service was great too. As soon as I sat down the waiter asked if I wanted a glass of wine and he gave it to me on the house! The restaurant itself is in a nice area and the inside looks just like the New York location. It also wasn't overly expensive which I appreciated since I was on a business trip. Remains one of my favorites!! read more

This was one of my top choices when my partner and I visited London. Overall, I was not disappointed. The restaurant, decked out for the holidays, was bright, cheerful and bustling with an energetic crowd (bar was packed). We arrived 20 minutes early and the hostess, without asking, graciously arranged for us to be seated 10 minutes sooner. Started with the French onion soup, which I had read, was highly recommended. The gruyere cheese was bubbling and browned and when my spoon broke through its lovely surface, a flavorful (but not at all salty) broth with plentiful onions and bread awaited. I would have been satisfied eating just this, but I had to try the steak friites, which also did not disappoint. Fries did not overwhelm me, I must confess. They were a little undercooked and not seasoned enough, but the steak itself was fantastic. Of note was also the side of green beans with shallots. I devoured them with the steak. They were the perfect accompaniment to the steak. We did not save room for dessert but the plates looked great we saw going to other tables. London has definitely become more of a destination for dining in recent years and this restaurant is one that helped to turn the tide. I look forward to checking out the New York location and will definitely return to this one next time I am in London. read more

It is just like in New York. They have this French decoration with a really nice food and beautiful decoration.. read more

Balthazar - Café Balthazar - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Delicious breakfast. We started with assorted pastries which were fantastic. 4 varying croissants and some bread. Avocado toast and waffles were great. 4 star because it may be a tad overpriced. read more

Another solid London brunch destination. It's a French brasserie, reminding me a lot of Colbert on Sloane Square and some of my favorite brunch places in the US (Parc in Philadelphia and Left Bank in San Jose, CA). The location could not be better (it is right off the Covent Garden Piazza), and the venue is grand and beautiful, with enormously high ceilings and loud jazz music playing throughout. We had a reservation for 2 people, which we managed to get by emailing the restaurant, despite no availability showing up on the online booking system. This is the second time that I've been able to get a reservation this way, so I would highly recommend it if your desired times are not showing up at first glance. The food and service were also stellar. It was actually just like being back in America. I ordered scrambled eggs & Cornish crab, which came served on a piece of toasted sourdough bread and with a side of creme fraiche. The eggs were wonderfully creamy and the crab was plentiful and just perfect. I could not have been more pleased with it. One piece of toast doesn't seem like an awful lot, but I was so full by the end. My friend got the avocado on toast, but managed to switch out the poached eggs for mushrooms and tomato, since she doesn't really eat eggs. She also asked for some goat cheese, which the staff happily obliged, even though it isn't a standard menu item. I was very impressed by the whole experience. No complaints about Balthazar and would definitely come again... the rest of their menu looks equally amazing. read more

Balthazar is so difficult to book for dinner and brave it by trying to get a table for walk-in. We ended up waiting ovee two hours for a table! So i do recommend to get a table booking. Was it worth it? Well I wouldnt do it again but since it is one of those place I have been wanting to try ever since it open then of course it was worth it for the first time! As a French brasserie you will find steak, French onion soup and one of my favourite Escargots. There are not many places in London that I have tried that does it well. Balthazer escargots was nice and better than other place. But it just does not compare with ones I had at Galvin bistrot de luxe which comes in a wonderful garlic butter sauce that you want to scoop off with bread. Balthazar serves two different pie including a duck pie which is very rich in flavour. The one I recommend and the dish that I give a big thumb up has to be the Fish Pie. This was true comfort food and an indulgent to have for dinner. It has to be my best fish pie I have had in London. You can not leave with out ordering the soufflés. It is £10 each but they are big enough to share between two people. The waiter who was serving was friendly and a laugh. Even before our soufflés arrive he explain how to eat it - make an indentation at the top and pour the creme in to it. Then you ready to enjoy a light raspberry soufflé. I have to say that this was the only reason I have been wanting to visit Balthazar! Fish Pie and Soufflés is what I would want to visit Balthazar! Delicious! read more

It is a pleasure to review a restaurant like Balthazar. In a nutshell, the food is excellent and the service is impeccable. Here are the details: - Bread - I simply have to start with Balthazar's homemade bread. Every single kind of their bread is spectacular, but I'd like to single out the sun dried tomato olive buns. 5 stars all the way. (Btw, their butter is great too). - French Onion Soup - very good. Savory, beefy and with a healthy amount of gryere, very intense. One minus - too much bread in the actual soup, which sucks up a lot of the liquid, making the soup a little dryer than I'd like to. That said, still a solid 4.5 star dish. - Escargots - very good, garlicky, buttery and just yummy. 5 stars. - Garlic Shrimp - the shrimp is good, but the sauce it comes in is out of this world. It has a slight kick due to the addition of chili peppers. 5 stars. - Mac & Cheese. Very creamy and not as intense as I expected it to be. Made with gryere. It deserves 4.5 stars, and the reason I'm not giving it full 5 stars is because it was the least memorable dish I had. - Burgers - Very good burger, cooked to a perfect medium rare but not the best burger (not even in the vicinity) I ever had. The meat was excellent quality but underseasoned. Two other major issues: 1. Bun - too big and 2. the patty is on the smaller side. For that size of the bun, the beef patty has to be at least twice that size. 4 stars. - Beef Tartare - Excellent! Prepared "au couteau" (hand cut), well seasoned with the slightly higher note of acidity. Add some hot sauce a freshly ground black pepper for a heavenly concoction. 5 stars. - Moules Mariniere (mussels) - great. Fresh and fenomenal. 5 stars. - Rubharb Souffle - WOW! With a side of creme anglaise this was the home run of the evening. 5stars and it doesn't do it justice. - Small dessert pastries - every single one was better than the other. The macrons, the cream filled dark chocolate and the chocolate filled cookie cups. 5 stars! I hope you'll enjoy Balthazar as much as I did. read more

It was really just ok....and I cannot understand the hype of this establishment other than the fact it's from New York and therefore that MUST mean we should all love it for the ''New York chicness'' or whatever....... The decor was very French bistro, the lighting all soft and yellow toned so you felt as though you walked right into an instagram photoshot. I'm sure it would be a very ''chic'' place, there is no other word but chic for this place, to hang out for brunch on Sundays. But I was not impressed with the food selection nor the quality of the seafood. The chairs also had no cushions on them so you were sat in this hard wooden chair for the entire evening which makes your bum sore and your skirt sticking to the back of your legs. The tables were tiny and they tried to squeeze as much cutlery, bread plates, bread baskets, glasses and what have you, on this tiny (again hard topped) table. There were also A LOT of tables crammed into the whole place, as if the proprietors were trying to simulate a cosy, vintage style, café atmosphere....but actually, to me, did nothing more than to increase the noise levels and made everthing appear very messy..... Verdict - dislike! read more

Went here with a group of 8 people for dinner on a Tuesday night. Service was attentive and patient with our rowdy lot. We were given bread for the table with some nice tasting butter to accompany it. We started with the oysters which were superb along with ceviche and steak tartare, both delightful. I ordered the sea bass as my main, which I highly recommend! From the silence after we were served, I take it that everyone else enjoyed their meals as well! We ended the night with a few desserts including my fav of the pick which were these cream puff type things filled with ice cream instead of cream...amazing! read more

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We had such a positive experience here, I can't wait to take the rest of our family back. My daughter and I were shopping in Covent Garden and we stopped for lunch at the bar. I had a delicious chopped salad and the manager and bartender were so kind to chat with us and make a special crepe for my daughter who was hoping for the pancakes. I lived in NYC for 7 years and used to love going to Balthazar. This one is equally as great--fabulous atmosphere, staff and food--a few of the people at the bar were clearly regulars and it felt like Cheers--where everybody knows your name. read more

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Delicious brunch. I had the scrambled eggs with sourdough toast and Cornish crab, which was absolutely divine. It's not the cheapest, but certainly not too expensive. It's a popular spot so quite busy, but we still felt like we had our privacy. Bonus points for the posh bathrooms. Would definitely go back and highly recommend. read more

Balthazar - Scrambled eggs, Cornish crab, sourdough toast and creme fraiche. - French Near Me - London, XGL

Every time I visit Balthazar I'm amazed to find that nothing's changed. The same varied menu, the same great quality, the same amazing service. You can't go wrong at Balthazar. read more

After a week of eating solidly mediocre food all over London I realized there was a Balthazar here and I finally got some decent food.

Well get that dialing finger at the ready because you're going to need to book ahead. This isn't a 'let's wander around Covent Garden and see what we find' kind of place, but once you're in, you'll be glad you did. The service is very American, which is lovely and refreshing at times, it's nice to be a bit catered to by an army of staff. The decor, like everyone has noted, is a replica of the NY one with loads of French charm. We did a brunch and aside from one of the best bloody marys I've had, the food was pretty epic. An eggs benedict that will not leave you feeling peckish afterwards.. oysters, baked mac & cheese, soufflé... you can easily go overboard with the decadence meter but you'll have to do it sometime, no? There's a bakery attached where you can take away some of the tempting sweets and fresh breads. It's a must stop for anyone that loves eating, you'll agonize over what to order and end up getting the entire menu like we did. It's not totally overpriced either, for what you get it's actually quite reasonable. read more

I love the fact that this place was totally abuzz at 10:45 on a Friday eve. Most places in London are shutting down and shooing you out, but not here. Here we were welcomed in with open arms to be served and fed and not rushed out even as they were closing. Great traditional French menu and wine. Bring on the escargot, steak tartare and dauphinoise s'il vous plait! read more

Had dinner with a group of friends. It's a beautiful space with great energy. We were seated about half an hour after the reservation time. I had the steak tartare, which was very good. A good place for a social dinner. read more

On a freezing night in November, some friends and I stepped in for what we thought would be one beverage. The ambiance is warm and the wait staff was knowledgeable and enjoyable, so we ended up sticking around for hours. We sat in the bar area so I don't have insight on the food, but I was served good whisky and great conversation. Tip: the bathroom is upstairs and tricky to access with anyone else, so it's not recommended to travel in packs. read more

It was date night and my husband and I have been wanting to try Balthazar in Covent Garden. Balthazar was a classic in NYC and I was very excited to try it here in London. Food: We started off with the onion soup which was ok and the escargots which were top notch. For our mains we ordered the lamb rump and the moules frites. Both were good. I also had a side of onion rings (why not!) and they were delicious! Drinks: We ordered one glass of champagne and one glass of white wine. Price: 100.69 GBP for two people. Ambiance: The restaurant feels just like NYC. Bustling with energy. Service: You felt a good vibe as soon as you walk into the door. Everyone from the hostess, the bartender, and to our server was friendly and attentive. One of the guys dropped a few plates at our table and about five different people came to apologise. They brought us two glasses of champagne which I thought was a nice gesture for the broken plates. Would I go back? Definitely, especially for the escargots. They have so many great things on the menu that I already know what I want to order next time. read more

You know, I expected it to be better, much better. I've been to the one in NYC and it is an institution so was looking forward to trying the London version of this cosmopolitan French styled bistro. It looks very much like the one in downtown New York, but much bigger and along with that it loses some of its intimacy. What was imported across the pond was a good helping of New York type attitude. The service was a bit cold and always seemed to be bored with whatever was said or asked for. Our waitress could barely be bothered to help with the wine when I asked if they had a Bordeaux by the glass she seemed confused. There also seemed to be the bare minimum of interest shown while just getting the job done properly. The food was good but not amazing. You would think that a pretty straight forward Steak Frites with Bearnaise would be delicious in a place like this. It was fine, but lack luster. Starting with the meat which was not cooked the way asked more medium than medium rare, and also not the best cut of meat. The Bearnaise was a bit thin and vinegar-y, overall just a bit off and not what you would expect. Dessert of Tarte Tartin was delicious though. Nice enough, and for Covent Garden Piazza a bit of an oasis if you want something a bit more upmarket. The bar makes a great place for pre opera drinks. read more

I have finally tried Balthazar after lusting after them for some time now. I came late night with no reservations and they where able to squeeze a party of 2 in with only a 20 min wait. The Porn Star cocktail was beautiful. I was not starving so I didn't go for a heavy plate. I ordered the Moules Frites. I feel like I can't give it 5 stars as mussels are pretty easy to make and a place that can't cook Mussels and French fries probably shouldn't be in the food business. It is pretty hard to ruin that dish. I did try a bite of my friends Beef Fillet Stroganoff and it was devine! I have never had Stroganoff before as the name alone never appealed to me but wow! what have I been missing out on?!? I also tried her Chocolate Fondant, I don't even like chocolate but wow! Just wish they served more vanilla ice cream with this dish as I have never seen so little ice cream on a plate. Overall this place is a solid 4 stars in my book! read more

Everyone was talking about it so I decided to check it out for lunch. I must say I have never been to the NYC one. The decor is respecting what the americans probably think it is (or was?) a french posh restaurant, a bit "ville lumiere" with a lot of big mirrors and lamps. the food is good and the service is good and polite. My dad and I had a big steak with french fries, while my mum had an omelette. We were satisfied. I kinda like the place, probably will come back since I have heard that the brunch is very good. read more

I went to Balthazar years ago in New York and really like it, and I was happy to find in in London right at the heart of Covent Garden. You get that French Bistro feel as soon as you walk into the restaurant. They have a lovely display of fresh seafood: lobsters, crabs, shrimps and, of course, oysters. The menu here is big and quite French, so if you are in the mood for steak tartare, escargots, duck and steak and frites, you have come to the right place. Since the restaurant is in London, you can also have some British flair, like a duck shepherd's pie. We must not forget the daily specials. The evening we went was a Sunday, so I went for the ox cheek bourguignon, because the server highly recommended it to me. It was adequate but not great. The sauce was way too heavy and instead of the flavor Burgundy wine, I just tasted salt. However, the meat was well cooked. I think next time I will not ask for the waiter's recommendation and just stick with steak and frites. read more

Great ambience and food. Reservations highly recommended. Wine list was considered a bit pricey by somebody in our party, but had good selection. (Or so I was told). Went for a work function, but seemed like a great date spot, girls night out, or celebrating a special event. read more

Visited this bakery a couple of times now for lunch. They do really tasty sarnies, and normally I'm not a huge sandwich fan. The bread they use is really good and the fillings are quite interesting - I've tried the roast beef and celeriac slaw in a focaccia and the ham and butter baguette - it has hidden tiny gherkins! Yum! They sell salad boxes and lots of different yummy looking cakes (unfortnately haven't sampled any yet). The bakery has a couple of counter style seats inside but not many. The place is quite pricey for a bakery but I would say worth it if you need a lunch time treat to brighten your day! read more

This is a popular spot at all times of day. Great spot to catch up with friends. Atmosphere is lively, classy but not overly pretentious. Visited in the lead up to Xmas so the festive decor was up but even without it it has a dramatic grand appeal. Initially tried to get a table for lunch without a reservation but nothing was free. Turned up again, hopeful, two hours later and got a table for four easily. Front of house was great and waiters were perky and professional. Toilets were very clean but a bit tricky to reach, staff were on hand with helpful directions. Food ranged from usual French options of onion soup to extravagant veal. I opted for a macaroni and cheese dish which was just right. My friends ordered steak and cheeseburger meals all very tasty. Terrific place. read more

Balthazar is a pretty good restaurant that I recommend. They have a large variety of meals and even food that kids will enjoy. Although their portions are very large. This restaurant is good for a big meal. The check took more time than normal to come, which was a little displeasing, but other than that, the food was good and I recommend it. read more

Came to their cafe in search of some awesome baked goodies for lunch -- and walked away thrilled! I had a sticky bun and the salami/mozzarella/tomato (or something like that) sandwich on a potato-onion roll -- loved both of them. The sticky bun is both dense, chewy, and perfectly flaky, with rich flavor and texture. The sandwich was also quite flavorful and the bread certainly unique! A friend bought a scone box (which was actually rather well-priced) and I've a mind to go back to try it later. Staff are very friendly and seem to really enjoy working there (and like interacting with the tourists). Definitely go! read more

We visited this French Brasserie after seeing Mama Mia. Very vibrant atmoshere and the food is stellar! Cool vibe, amazing food, and open late. Perfect for after show or just late night bite to eat! read more

On our recent trip to London, we found that almost all restaurants had a 90 minute limit on dining to accommodate other guests. Understood. That said, we had reservations & ordered our wine, appetizers and mains. A couple on one side of us came in 10-15 minutes later, no appetizers and were served their main dish and out the door before our main came. The couple on the other side of us had their appetizer and were brought the dessert menu before they even had their main course! We waited approximately 30 minutes to get our main course. We were just finishing our meal when we were told that our 90 minutes was up and we had to leave! We explained that we had waited 30 minutes for our food - this was not our fault! The couple still seated to one side of us had been there when we arrived, admitted they were walk-ins and were not asked to leave after 90 minutes. What a disaster. Especially because this had been a place we liked to go in London and had celebrated family occasions here. They continued to make the matter worse by offering us free dessert! We repeatedly told them we did not want dessert and they continued to offer it! BTW - we would have had to stay LONGER to eat our dessert! Staff running all over the place and no one seemed to be in charge. My husband and I have both been in hospitality and were amazed at how this restaurant was run! We won't be back and you know what - they won't even care. Hope it doesn't happen to YOU. Avoid this place. read more

As far as brunch spots go I'd say this place is a safe bet. The service was good and the food was tasty. The eggs Benedict was good but didn't come with a side so I was left hungry. A half order of the NY pancakes finished me off and rounded out the meal. The meal was expensive relative to what you get. That could be a function of the location being next to covent garden square (great place to grab a cup of coffee and listen to the street performers. Exactly what I'm doing as I write this review) or London being expensive...full stop. read more

One of my favorite restaurants EVER, have visited several times! The best food food, great location, good atmosphere, a bit pricey but that's ok, would visit again! read more

On vacation and we have already been here twice for breakfast. The food is delicious and service is excellent. Very attentive and friendly. It is December and the Christmas decor is very tasteful yet festive. Great location, convenient to shopping and entertainment. One of our new favorite spots. read more

Been going to the New York one since the the 90s, never had a bad experience, the one in London is a copy of the NY one intern of atmosphere, service quality, and quality of dishes.. Few dishes are different in the menu in London. Very good wine list reasonably priced. read more

Balthazar - To die for - French Near Me - London, XGL

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As many of my fellow Yelpers have said, it's the perfect Americanized French brasserie brunch spot. Very NYC in Londontown. Very good service, very good eggs, very good champagne. Amazing soufflé, worth it if it's just for that alone! It was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday before catching the matinee performance of The Book of Mormon. read more

Balthazar - Birthday soufflé! - French Near Me - London, XGL

Had the Chopped Salad along with onion rings, my other guests had the Salad Nicoise and the giant Mac and Cheese. The Mac and Cheese was particularly awesome. Great way to transition back from great French vacation food to good US fare... read more

Balthazar - French Near Me - London, XGL

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French restaurant with great food and superb service. I had the Duck Sheppard's Pie and my wife had the filet. Food and service were top notch. Super attentive staff. Tables were close together but that didn't bother us at all. read more