I had an awful experience because of an extremely rude and unprofessional manager who yelled at me when I complained about the service and then refused to give me his name! I have not been able to get in touch with anyone at the restaurant because he would not provide me with an email address and was adamant that he did not have to share his name with me. I have never experienced such appalling rude behaviour by a "manager" in my entire life and will never set foot in Balthazar again! read more

Living away from the US has really made me miss brunch, so one of my agendas in London was to eat brunch (it is no joking matter). As I missed out on going to the SoHo restaurant while I was living in NYC, I redeemed myself (a little bit) by checking out Balthazar in Covent Garden. To me, the interior is expectedly like an "Americanized" French brasserie, and the open dining space with many chatting diners/busy servers made the atmosphere very warm. We were lucky to get a table immediately on a Saturday early afternoon, followed by quick service. We started with the chicken liver & foie gras mousse as starter. My friends described that it was smooth like cheese spread. We then proceeded with scrambled egg & cornish crab with a side of mushroom fricassée, sweetcorn fritters, avocado on toast with poached eggs, and hazelnut waffles. All the entrees were delicious, and we devoured our dishes in no time. I am glad that I got my brunch fix. read more

Balthazar - Scrambled eggs & Cornish crab with a side of mushrooms fricassée - French Near Me - London, XGL

Extremely rude wait staff rushing us to order the entire time. Then when my friend came and joined us in the booth they told us we couldn't have 3 people. Overpriced and over rated. read more

Balthazar is always solid. The Chicken paillard was super thin and very flavorful. The baked scallop appetizer was also great and they have an excellent wine list. read more

Stumbling along with no food plans we came upon an offering of a NYC favorite. Same menu, oddly lower prices, great service and packed as any of Keith McNally's places are. read more

Balthazar - Moules - French Near Me - London, XGL

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This is for the grab and go side which had a beautiful pastry display (wanted it all). Had a Chelsea roll which was delicious. Really friendly staff as well. Particularly love the NY'ers asking if this was the original location. Speaking to the great branding on balthazars part. the staff very politely informed them NY was the original. read more

Balthazar - French Near Me - London, XGL

Best. Eggs. Florentine. Ive. Ever. Had. Gorgeous french looking brasserie. Although an american chain, so included a special 4th july menu and of course pancakes, this is actually supposed to be a french brasserie. With great choice of french dishes. Had the eggs florentine - and honestly best ones ive even had! And ive tried quite a few places! Everything was perfect - the spinach, the muffin , the poached runny eggs and that hollandaise sauce!! Definitly want to go back and try more things, if everything is as good as those eggs!!! Miam miam!! read more

Balthazar - French Near Me - London, XGL

Main reason for the mediocre review is I felt really rushed though my meal. I can appreciate wanting to ensure I made my show time (reservation at 6pm, show at 7:30), but still I had an appetizer and my main in front of me by 6:20pm... and that was after leisurely looking through the menu! Also, the restaurant itself gave a very cramped feeling. So much so the couple next to me and I commented on it. The appetizer (octopus, tomato, basil) wasn't exactly flavorful. The main (stone bass) was more up to par with a delicious artichoke purée. The bottle wine list was very extensive with plenty of French wine to choose from. The wines by the glass had reasonable selection. All-in-all, I'd say a touch above average for this caliber of a restaurant. If someone brought me back here it'd be ok, but I would seek out another place for myself. read more

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Great food, service was great. Our waiter Jorgo was very nice. Tried the duck liver parfait and liked it a lot

Came for breakfast. Had avocado toast with poached egg and green juice. Hit the spot. Service was spot on. Maybe it's because of the time change or maybe it's because the little mister isn't here but that's all I got today. Peace out. read more

My favorite go-to spot in London when I'm feeling indecisive. I love the garlic shrimp and pea shoot salad. The ambience is identical to the one in NY - although this has a second floor and may be a tad bigger - I cannot tell... read more

This is a tourist trap. The food is mediocre, the service abysmal, the prices high. When complaining to the hostess about the service she blamed it on Brexit; the only creative thing about the place. They claim to be connected to NY's Balthasar (but under different ownership, whatever that means) living in NY I can tell you there is no resemblance. read more

A fabulous restaurant with classic decor, and tucked away in Covent Garden. I met a friend here for a late breakfast and catch up and we were not disappointed. We were promptly shown to our table, the waiters are very attentive, and the food came out quickly. My friend had avocado on toast with poached eggs, and I had the scrambled eggs with Cornish crab. Both options were delicious. Tea is served in a large pot, and our water was topped up continuously. They didn't mind that we stayed for a couple of hours talking. This is a good place for intimate dining, though the tables are too close together and you sometimes feel as though the people at the next table can hear everything you say. I would definitely return here. read more

I've been the the NYC location and had high expectations already going in. And let's just say, I was not disappointed. From the friendly service to the food- thumbs up! Ordered the traditional English breakfast and it was worth every bite. The bacon is not fatty like the one back in the states, the sausage was soft (not chewy), the beans weren't as sweet (which was nice), the fried bread was interesting (not my cup of tea, but nice to try), and my eggs were prepared to perfection. They also had green juice, which I desperately needed after eating such a heavy meal. read more

I passed by a week ago and find out they do a good deal of prix menu and promised will treat myself for that. Glad that i booked the restaurant to secure our table for lunch. When i walked in...the interior look so grant with high ceiling with hanging fans.The prix fixe menu is simple and has a good selections and inexpensive. We has three courses only cost £22.50. Lovely Starter including soup of the the day, squid ink risotto..and i love the main course..roasted pollock..thick cod with peas. Desserts of the day look creative..it has peach with creamy white chocolate shell. The meal taste good and we really enjoy it. read more

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The Balthazar Bakery is located next door to the fabulous restaurant Balthazar. There is a beautiful selection of artisan breads, sweet pastries such as cakes and tarts, sandwiches, and salads that you can either take away, eat there, or have delivered which is free within the WC2 area. The majority of the bread and croissants are made in house. The shop is small. This is a traditional French bakery...quality not quantity. Everyone and everything was as wonderful as the restaurant. If you order any fish dishes, ask them to debone the fish...unless you prefer the bones left in the fish. We had the Daily Special...it was too much work and it ruined the dish and the experience for one of my friends. www.balthazarlondon.com read more

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Yummy! Balthazar is a popular choice for me! I usually go in New York, and this was my first time at the London location! It is the same typically as the NY location, but I still love it! The food is great, the staff is friendly, and the wine is flowing! ;) I love it here and it's so yummy! Get the steak frites!! read more

Balthazar - Inside! Beautiful!! - French Near Me - London, XGL

What a wonderful evening -- I owe virtually all of it to the wonderful barman who attended to me. The check says "sam p" was serving, so I'm going to say it was sam. First, he made an absolutely impeccable martini, and even paused to inquire about my preferred dryness. It was wonderful. I noted the wonderful lemon presence, and he cut a fresh lemon peel and squeezed it over the back of my hand to show me the freshness of lemon oils and the difference they make. Then, when I expressed an interest in the vermouth he used, he very enthusiastically shared their house blend (cocchio + standard dry). I mentioned I'd never heard of cocchio, and what followed was a tour de force of making a guest feel special -- he personally walked me through the different kinds of vermouth cocchio makes, their characteristics, their history, their relationship to other aperitifs like Lillet -- and then he gave me a taste of each. I mean, not only did I have a great time, enjoy a spectacular martini (and a perfect rare steak frites), but I actually learned something that I can bring home with me. I will consider my next trip to London incomplete without a visit to Balthazar for a drink with Sam. Sam, you are a gentleman and a scholar. Thanks for a great evening! read more

I was so keen to try out Balthazar in London, as I'm a fan of the NYC Original. I was not let down either. The only blip was slightly slow service between the starters and entrees otherwise, this is a solid 4 star place. They have managed to capture the NYC buzz within the restaurant, likely courtesy of it being in the middle of tourist central or as I also suspect, it's the damn good food and service in here. This is an exact replica of the NYC original and we were seated promptly. I needed to try the Escargot since it's been a while since I had them - queue NYC Balthazar. DELISH!! They were so lovely, I thought each was cooked individually - not one chewy mollusk in the bunch. Onto the scallop & courgette risotto...creamy, morish goodness. The scallops were melt in your mouth goodness. The vodka cocktail washed all of it down nicely. My mates had a variety of dishes and all were tucking in heartily too. Not an empty or unsatisfied stomach among us. Compliments to the chef, the helpful and friendly waitstaff and our lovely waitress. If you haven't been and need a NYC or faux Parisian fix of coolness get in there! read more

I loved the New York version of this restaurant when I lived across the pond, so I was really interested to try out the London version that seemed to be years in the making. I met two friends with whom I had been the NY version - just so we could compare notes! Walking in, I thought I was back in New York. It is almost identical! I had the snails to start with - they were delicious (well, they were unbelievably garlicky - which is about all you want from snails really). I actually swapped a snail or two for a couple of my friend's oysters - also really really scrummy (the oysters, not my friend. although she is pretty hot to be fair). I then followed up with Chicken Paillard, which was damn near perfect. You know what I like most about Balthazar though? It's French cuisine, in London, run by Americans. This means that the food is exquisite, I can get to it without boarding a plane or an international train and the service is bloody excellent. Really, they can't do enough for you - which is such a pleasant change when ordering French food! read more

Classic restaurant that fails to live up to its New York counterpart. I have eaten here three times in the last month, two of the three my filet comes out cold. Not warm, cold. I'm here on business so you'd think sitting at the bar would be easy? No. Hassle at the door with an attitude from maitre'd and slow service by bartenders who spend more time arguing with the waitresses in Italian. Love the atmosphere of the place but there is much better food and service nearby. read more

*Bolsheviks beware, seriously bourgeois review is brewing along with the coffee* ______________ Sometimes I just love being bourgeois. Frothy coffee and pricey pastries quelquefois, really is the only way to start the day, darling. If, like myself you were sheepishly excited at the expansion of Keith McNally's faux-Français New York establishment into exciting new territory (London), yet were NOT terribly thrilled about the prospect of hitting redial on the phone every minute for three days in vain expectation of securing a dining reservation (I mean I have so many better things to do with my precious bourgeois time, right) the Balthazar Bakery located right next the the restaurant proper may be a nice solution for a coy little indulgence - experience the atmosphere sans the wait. Having lived a block away from the original restaurant-bakery duet in Soho NYC (I know, how bourgeois), I was of course excited to relive my (occasional) self-spoiling mornings and thus decided to breakfast à la Balthazar aujourd'hui. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was exuberantly delighted to sample their twist on a classic croque monsieur [soused in béchamel-sauce finished with Lea-and-Perrins lacerations]- the textural experience was sumptuously akin to that initial and rather glorious creme-caramel fracturing moment. I'm afraid biting through the crispy, grilled bread surface into the soft layering of jambon et fromage interior, is simply worth the excessive £4.50 it demands. Bien sûr, the usual boulangerie window-pageant of baked goods is certainly inviting, and the gleaming white-tiled walls bedecked with cursive 'B'-inscribed wholemeal loaves exude a constructed charm one only thought possible in a Hollywood studio (you have ACTUALLY been to Paris, yah). Though I would even be so bold as to suggest that the B-B London even trumps its NYC predecessor in terms of the open space and ability to convince its patrons that they are actually there to shop (market-style) rather than just queuing for a costly caffeine and butter-filled petit déjeuner, distributed in a somewhat nonchalant and brusque manner (although that would probably be the most authentically French thing about it). Bon appetit, comrades. read more

Happy dance for one of my favorite NYC staples making its way to London! For the entire three years that I've been living in London, I've been hearing rumblings of the prodigal son, Keith McNally bringing his French brasserie juggernaut across the Atlantic. And with much fanfare and panache, the will-he-won't-he speculation finally ended last Monday evening. They're currently only open for dinner service, but brunch and lunch service is coming soon. After 137 tries (thanks, iPhone for keeping track) to get through the booking line last Friday morning, my fortitude was rewarded with an opening week dinner spot. So, last night we sat down for an early-ish dinner, that is very much what I remember from back home. The staff is an eclectic mix of London's restaurant service elite; NYC Balthazar linchpins; and an eclectic mix of French servers representing the best of The Hexagon's diverse regions. It's an impressive bunch! The American hospitality smacks you in the face as soon as you walk through the door. At first blush, it can be a bit much for those of us used to the cold shoulder presented at so many London establishments. But we acclimated almost immediately--it sort of made me miss home. Sigh. Water appeared via busboy -- what!?. Our Breton waiter brought us expertly made cocktails (Brian and Tom were both poached from other top London cocktail establishments). Fine de Claires on-the-half-shell were ordered and brought in a flash. Briny and fresh, I was in heaven. Bread from their boulangerie next door was devoured with French butter (of course). I started with the onion soup, which was unctuous and just a little bit sweet. The hubs had a small portion of the beef tartare, which he figures is some of the best he's ever eaten--and he eats it a lot. Another member of the waitstaff recommended a bottle of red from the Jura, her home turf, that was one of the more interesting bottles of wine I've ever had. Slightly effervescent and light in color, it takes a couple of sips to fall in love, but amazing once you get there. It accompanied the whole chicken for two very well. The chicken itself was roasted to perfection and served with jus, a mix of veg, and velvety potato puree. By this point we were stuffed to the gills, but dessert was needed--for research purposes obviously. I ordered the tart du jour, lemon with a raspberry reduction. Lemon tart is my Achilles heel as of late, and this one was very good. Although, it was more of a lemon mousse with crust, than a lemon tart. Even so, still delicious! My partner in crime had the cheesecake. It was a small portion, but it was so rich, there was no reason for more than they served. He nearly licked the plate clean. My only complaint at this point is the timing is a bit off. The coffee came before we had finished our dessert, and after presenting us with the whole chicken, it went back into the kitchen for plating for what seemed like an eternity; I think it was actually more like 15 minutes in human time. But it's their first week, so I imagine things will get smoother with time. For those of you who've fallen for the New York Balthazar, you'll recognize the room as an almost exact replica. Other brilliant American aspects include walk-in seating at the bar, the seafood tower, and a true New Yawka working the door. Did I mention the busboys? Oh, and how could I forget? It's reasonably priced; I mean, for Central London anyway. Yes, as my husband said, it seems like the universe is finally throwing us a bone on the London dining scene. I think a standing weekend reservation may be in order. read more

I came here for a solo lunch on a Tuesday afternoon, with no reservations, and I was seated promptly. I had half a dozen oysters to start, which came with a choice of two salsas/vinaigrette to spoon on the oysters, but I asked for Tabasco anyway. Oysters were fresh - no complaints. I do wish the bread they served prior was freshly baked... I asked for a recommendation for my main, and oh boy! My waiter recommended the plate du jour, which was vaguely described to me as pork belly. I do love a good pork belly so I went along with it. Goodness gracious me! The pork belly arrived, on a bed of poached greens, with the skin crispy and slightly sweet, and there was additional pork crackling on top, and blood pudding on the side. They didn't forget a sauce, and to go with all that goodness, puréed apple was hiding somewhere to complement the pork perfectly. Despite the sheer amount of pork elements on the plate, it wasn't overly porky and there was a lot of difference within these elements to wow me. Party in my mouth, it was. Loads of places can do a decent pork belly. But not many places can combine it with other pork elements, and do the classic pork and apple combination to a T. I didn't get dessert because I was stuffed, but I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch here. read more

My search for a late breakfast led me today Balthazar Boulangerie just moments from Covent Garden. Pleasant vibe of the area is continued inside with the relaxed yet elegant interior. As a bread lover I had to try their bread selection which was presented in a generous basket (Le Panier in the menu). Alongside the baguette, white and dark bread and a variety of croissants came a choice of small jam jars and some delicious butter. The overall quality was very good and coupled with the pleasant vibe there is really no reason to give less than 5 stars. read more

Balthazar - Bread and pastry selection - French Near Me - London, XGL

With Shake Shack, 5 Guys, and Balthazar all in the same area, I wouldn't be surprised if American restaurants slowly infiltrate Covent Garden the way Chinatown did to Little Italy in Manhattan. Bring over Trader Joe's, and then we'll talk. Despite the quick seating and the fabulous service, I never really understood the hype of Balthazar in New York either. I loved its baked goods, but I was never blown away by their food. Same with my experience at Balthazar in London. Bf's Balthazar Bar Steak (16 quid) was tender and juicy, my 22 quid bouillabaisse (a special only on Friday) was delicious, but it's definitely more of a place to be seen and checked out, rather than a place you'd go for your anniversary. Do, however, get the 10 quid raspberry souffle, even if it takes 10 minutes to make. I would skip the clafouftis as it was pretty dense. read more

This was in all likelihood going to be the review that got away. I've spent time in the original Balthazar and had some lovely lunches but, especially in a white hot, can't get a table for love nor money, opening period, I'd resigned myself to forgetting about the London branch. And anyway, who really wants to go to the London branch of a slavish New York recreation of a traditional French bistro? I could be on the Eurostar before they'd answered the reservations line. As it goes, it's reasonably quiet, even on a Thursday lunch, and therefore the perfect spot to slide into a banquette opposite the International Man of Mystery. He's never sure which city he's in at any given point in time, so this level of high class generic internationalism is perfect for him. It's not cheap, their range of French classics, but if you've come here deliberately you know that and are comfortable paying £24 for a plate of Steak Frites and £17 for a burger. If you're a wall-eyed tourist who has just stumbled across its prime Covent Garden location then congratulations. You're going to be fleeced, but in a much more pleasant way than if you'd wound up in the Angus Steak House. Get a back wall booth if you can, perfect for people watching amidst the monied buzz and much, much more room than on the cramped banquettes filling the centre of the room. After being spoilt by their homemade bread, the ceviche starter was utterly underwhelming, a few rings of squid or octopus in a vinegary coleslaw of mandolined bell peppers and onion. From a distance it looked perfectly pleasant, but ended up being pushed around the plate. Confit duck on the other hand was perfect. Rich and unctuous, it fell off the bone like a dark brown silk dressing gown sliding from a dressmakers dummy. Definitely a contender for comfort dish of the year, though at the price it bloody well should be. It's a lovely cavernous space, with decent food slightly over-assiduous staff (that'll be the New York influences rather than the French) but for the money, the ambience and the attitude, I'd much rather be in Zedel, sucking down champagne with the money I've saved on my steak. If it's a power lunch that I need, then I'll be back at the Wolesley first. read more

Done the NY one. Enjoyed the buzz. So when it opened here in London we thought we should give it a try. But getting in at a reasonable time is a different matter. All booked up. Just so happens we had tickets for Charlie and the chocolate factory at Drury Lane on Thursday. 7.30 kick off. Balthazar right outside. Why not try a pre-theatre raid. A 6pm table of 3 was duly booked. We got there on time and the place was already busy. The bar was full and three quarters of the tales were taken. Bags were swiftly taken and we were at our table. Balthazar London feels exactly the same as New York. Loud. Thronging. hot. Nicely decked out in authentic French brasserie tiling and furniture. Serving staff whizz round all over the gaff and there is a big seafood bar at the back to whet the appetite. This is proper tourist London stuff, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Slap bang in the middle of covent garden and full of hip things out for a good time. It feels great. The menu is what you'd expect from a good French brasserie. Nice bread arrived to munch on, plenty of it. Followed by a good moules et frites which was lifted by the inclusion of caramelised fennel. The boy had macaroni cheese sans the bacon and the missus had a skirt steak that was full of taste. My chip were a little soggy was my only complaint on the food. But it was pretty expensive for what we got I thought. However, you're paying for the great atmosphere, not the food. And for a bit of a treat if you're painting good old London Town red, it's definitely got it. Go there and show out. It's fun. Not perfect food and a bit pricey but great fun nonetheless. Not quite a 4 but a high 3 stars well earned. Nb If I did theatre reviews I Would give Charlie and the chocolate factory 6 stars. It was truly brilliant. And I hate the theatre. Book it. And try Balthazar before for a proper night out! The place was heaving by the time we left at 7. So do book. read more

Balthazar is a restaurant that lives off of location and ambience, rather than pride in quality or value. Located in the middle of Covent Garden, surrounded by theater-goers and tourists, Balthazar's rich, colorful ambience lures in non-Londoners in hopes for a delicious French meal. Instead, what they'll find, is a menu lacking in flavor, steaks poorly cooked, staff underprepared, and pricing that rivals the City's finer restaurants. For tourists coming from areas where a nice night out is at the local Olive Garden, this will certainly be an enjoyable, albeit pricey, experience. For anyone living in a city with a decent gastronomy scene, this will be thoroughly disappointing. read more

we had brunch at balthazar and enjoyed our time immensely. our friend was a wee bit late so we started with the champagne and OJ (ok less OJ), and had the chicken liver pate, which was delicious and smooth ! We then went on to order the crab and scrambled eggs, delicious and fresh as well as the duck confit -- OMG that was the star -- fall off the bone yummy!! decor was great -- loved the distressed large mirrors -- beautiful! and the SERVICE! they were so great -- gracious and welcoming. Love that place :) read more

Balthazar - Champagne for breakfast ;) - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Quick Review: A French brasserie with an old school steakhouse type of feeling. Standard dark wood traditional restaurant with great tasting food. Great service, set menu for large groups FOOD Escargots (w/ garlic butter): it came with about 6-8 pieces but its a very rich dish so I would say a good enough portion for 1, maybe 2 if you just want to taste. Shell is included, a little weird if you are not accustomed to eating escargot but very good. Steak Frites: the meat was cooked perfectly and the frites were just as tasty, it was VERY well peppered which I didn't mind at all. Vanilla Creme Brulee: yummy custard goodness. Cracked the torched sugar is always my favorite part of eating creme brulee. SERVICE Excellent! We had a group of 8 very hungry women. Though we had a set menu (standard for parties over 6), we were still indecisive but our server was a good sport. He was french and gave his honest opinion about the menu which I can appreciate. We each got our own dessert but they also brought macarons for the table to share, such a nice gesture. AMBIANCE Quaint Parisian restaurant. Clean, with a good amount of space. read more

Wonderful restaurant, excellent food, wasn't overly heavy. They have an economical 2or 3 course fixed price option with limited choice. Wine by the glass had a reasonable selection and moderate price read more

Balthazar - French Near Me - London, XGL

Classic brunch food with a lovely atmosphere. Good portion sizes and if you get the bread basket they give you four different types of jams/spreads for the bread! read more

Balthazar - French Near Me - London, XGL

Was pretty disappointed by this restaurant, which had positive reviews from GQ London. I'm giving it 2 stars because we did have some good items, but keep reading. The oysters and escargot, as well as the creme bruele were good, but entrees left something to be desired. IMO, overly priced for what you're getting for "fine dining." Waiters were obviously overwhelmed once it got busy. When it was time to pay, our waiter double checked our bill because "we sometimes make mistakes." However, my husband told me after we left that he saw a live roach running along the floor by our table. He didn't want to say anything to me because this was supposed to be a nice night out for us and felt like he would ruin it. I would've preferred he said something because I would've left and gone somewhere better. Unacceptable for a this type of restaurant. read more

This is a fancy food factory. The dining room is quite nice, but there are two main problems with this place: 1) The service: everything goes too fast. It is very clear that they have been instructed to get as many seatings in as possible. You barely get to sit down before someone is there to take your order, the main course comes directly after the first course, and they start clearing the table before you have finished. That being said, the staff are all very nice. 2) The food: I got a steak which wasn't bad, but not something very good either. The chips which came as a side was like McDonald's chips with less salt. An with that came a bernaise sauce which isn't really worth mentioning. I have had far worse dining experiences, but it doesn't change the fact that this is tourist trap although of the better kind. read more

Came in on a Monday evening 7pm with 3 other girlfriends without a reservation. We were seated promptly without a wait-- we're off to a great start! Our waiter was knowledgable about the specials and was helpful without being too pushy. The restaurant itself is grand. High ceilings, chandeliers, wine bottles were lined up on the wall of the bar, and a plethora of fresh oysters and shrimp were displayed on ice. I started off with a chicken liver/foie gras appetizer. Very generous portions and tasty. For the main, I ordered the grilled dover sole and it was perfectly cooked! My friends ordered the lobster spaghetti, salmon, and steak frites and they all enjoyed their dishes as well. If I wasn't a broke college student, I would have ordered the chocolate souffle for dessert-- it sounded divine! Balthazar is a great place to people watch and treat yourself. The ambience is ornate, the service is wonderful and prompt. A little pricy, but I'd definitely come back! 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

After wandering around Covent Garden on a Sunday morning looking for somewhere to have an early lunch we ended up in Balthazar. We were told it would be a 45 minute wait so headed to the bar to get a drink. After an 'interesting encounter' with a couple having brunch at the bar (it was a bit squashed..) we were told our table was already available (less than 10 minutes later!) So, we were seated at a nice table in the central area. Our drinks we ordered at the bar were brought to the table without fuss and our water glasses were immediately filled! The food was great and the staff were extremely accommodating. We stayed for quite a while after we'd eaten (having a good chat) and our glasses were regularly filled and the staff checked in to see if we needed anything else. Reasonably priced, and no complaints with the food or staff. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for somewhere to grab a brunch/early lunch! read more

For breakfast, this place is hard to beat. It is very similar to the NYC restaurant that it is spawned from; in fact I really felt like I was in New York. The portions were very American sized, without sacrificing the quality. I would happily come here every week for brunch. I tired the English Breakfast and was only able to get through about 2/3 or it so make sure you come hungry. read more

So swanky, so glam - the attempted Shoreditch hipster in me was waiting to find something wrong at Balthazar. A lot of the staple London must-eats have disappointed in times past. But alas. This was the real deal. My partner booked us a spot for my Sunday Birthday lunch here. We received a perfect corner table tucked in, in the middle of the restaurant - a perfectly romantic setting. Despite the restaurant being full - of families, couples, etc. the acoustics were great and it was easy to carry on a conversation. From a service perspective, everyone was really attentive, providing space to enjoy our meal but always coming over to keep the champagne flowing. For food, my partner went for the eggs benedict and I opted for the eggs norwegian. We shared escargot to start. The eggs were made absolutely perfect, in fact I'm now convinced that almost every other brunch place I've ever been to needs a lesson on "how to make the proper egg". Once our plates were delivered, we opted to have some bread from the bakery with our meal (as opposed to the basket which just seemed like too much food with everything else) - and yes, save space for the bread if you want a little taste of France with your meal. The escargot in garlic butter was pretty much one of the best starters I've ever tried. I've attempted to now order it (thinking it was my new thing) at other restaurants since, but nothing has compared. Highly recommended even if you don't fancy yourself and escargot eater, or are trying it for the first time (though be warned...it will never be the same after). In short, make a special occasion with someone special and go! read more