Balthazar

I've been to Balthazar many times with family, friends and business colleagues. It is best when quiet (if it ever is) because week-ends are crazy, and eating in the cafe (bar) area and having numerous people back into your table, food and other parts is offputting. The atmosphere is good, it is obviously in some British tourist guides, the food passable but not brilliant. The wine list is exceptionally good and creme brulee worth having. The waiting staff are great, but the suits and lbd's at the door should understand the customer/establishment relationship. If you go on Sunday try and be there before 10, Saturday mid day is a lottery and you could be almost sitting on someone's lap. Try the bar stools if there are some free. I guess if people are lining up 4 deep to throw money none of that matters for now, but with a recession it will change.

I went to Balthazar for my birthday last Saturday and the food was great. I ordered short ribs with mashed potatoes (the Saturday special) and it was amazing. Even though we sat in the bar area to save on wait time the service was great. I cannot wait to go again!

This place is not worth the money. The portions are very small and the service is a joke. I cannot recommend this place.

I have had 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and a dinner here, each one was worst than the last. Who is writing about this place to give it such a reputation? I know that the atmosphere and people watching is a big part of the appeal for Balthazar but many of these patrons appear to be off-duty clowns trying not to be clowns but failing to do so. I got to give the baker and/or pastry chef a great deal of credit, they have a wonderful, crusty bread, and fabulous deserts.

Yes, this place is a New York landmark, but it gets so overcrowded and loud during lunch, it's impossible to enjoy yourself. The service is great and the food is good. The sea bass salad is fantastic, but the grilled vegetables are really, really oily. Good wine selection, though. You should go to Balthazar at least once, just to say you've been there, but it's too hyped up.

We booked a table for a special meal and were not disappointed. As always, the service was excellent and the food was delicious. The atmosphere remains perfectly Parisian (except the friendliness of the service!). Meat is their specialty and it was up to their usual standard. The servings are large - neither my husband nor I was able to finish ours. The goat cheese tart was light and fluffy. The french fries are crisp and flavorful, and the spinach luscious. The after-dinner list of spirits is first rate I had an excellent madeira at a reasonable price. The place is always hopping, making the large room noisy but full of energy.

On vacation from New Zealand, my brother and I came to Balthazar on his proviso, and was not at all dissapointed. First were aware there would be some waiting time, but what the hey! 20 minutes at the bar was long enough for a beer and listen to some girls at a nearby table talking absolute nonsense. Then to our table. Tiny. Squeezed in between another traveller on his THIRD platter of oysters, and a plain looking couple bitching about who pays most of the mortgage. Who cares, we're in New York! Atmosphere was a-buzzin', waitress vivacious, helpful and foxy. Bro had a big piece of cow. I had the skate wing with capers and long beans. Delicious! Wines outrageous on the senses, then cognac until slightly slurring of the words. Waitress now looked even foxier. Everytime we passed the place it was always full. The reason? Book a table at Balthazar and find out!!