Balthazar

My wife & I arrived 5 minutes before our reservation time and were promptly seated within 30 seconds. The place was noisy but in a good, everyone is enjoing themselves kind of way. The martinis were good, the onion soup incredible. One thing I noticed was that the refilling of glasses (wine, water) was done not only by our waiter but by nearby waiters who were helping/serving other diners. So even if our waiter wasn't present, our dirty plates were removed, our glasses were constantly refilled. I wish more places were like that. The main course (steak for me, chicken for my wife) was delicious. Whoever mentioned "try the the chocolate bread" in their review was on point. It was scrumptious. (I didn't know such a thing existed!) . Within the restaurant, resides a bakery; which is nice because in some places the bread is really good & makes you wonder "where did they get it from?" In this place, you can buy it. (I will return for that chocolate bread!) We will definitely be back.

My wife and I spent the weekend in the city to get away from it all. We love going out to eat and were norowing down our option of were we would dine. My brother had been to Balthazar before and highly recommended it. Most of the time we prefer steakhouses and italian but we gave it a try. It was a great dinning exsperiance. The waiter was teriffic, the food was top notch, and the atmosphere was exciting. We went on a saturday night and had the short rib dinner, it was out of this world the meat was so tender and we feel in love with the mashed potatoes that were served with it. The seafood appitizer for two was so fresh and the presentation was wonderful. We also had dessert and drinks and compared to some of the high end steakhouses the bill was very resonable. We loved it, and will be back!

Reading reviews and seeing what people get pissed at is always a hoot. That guy asked for a newspaper and got one thats day old? You're in a restaurant and a damn good one at that! What are you asking for a newspaper for? Eat your food and look at the beautiful decor. Perhaps have a meaningful conversation with the person you're dining with..ok got that out of my system. Balthazar is expensive, crowded and consistently GREAT. Perhaps that is why its expensive and crowded. Excellent food and atmosphere. I have a tradition of going there every Christmas Eve with the same group of friends. Highly recommended.

My girlfriend and I have been visiting Balthazar for the past four or so years and every time have a wonderful experience. Part of the experience is the hustle-bustle of NY's "in" crowd assimilating with the "common" folk, but overall, every time we've been there the wait staff has been friendly, efficient, helpful and attentive. The food is French bistro at its best -- which means it's a bit salty, very heavy, prepared with lots of cheese, butter and other fats, and anything but forgettable. There's very few bistro places in this city that do it perfectly (Les Halles is an excellent choice, though it pales in comparison); Balthazar does it perfectly. The person who posted a review of Balthazar as "Disappointed Foodies" under the caption "Poor experience" is obviously being less than genuine (to put it mildly). He/she begins his review by suggesting "We have been loyal customers of Balthazar for some time now" and conclude same with "Balthazar certainly didn't live up to its reputation." Which is it -- how many times did you have to visit the restaurant to reach this conclusion? It sounds to me like that particular review was written by someone who was never there and is posting in favor of a competitor. I guess it's a credit and a testament to Balthazar's consistent high quality that they get people posing as actual foodies to complain about experiences they've never experienced. In my opinion, there are two legitimate complaints against Balthazar: first, having to wait for thirty minutes for a reserved table is not wonderful (though this problem is typical at high-end restaurants all over NYC); second, the prices are astronomical. But we've been there at least a dozen times and every time we leave happy and sated with the knowledge we'll return. To wit: if one can afford to drive a Ferrari, complaining about the pricetag is only something one does until one gets in and drives off. Balthazar is pricey but worth the wait and the experience, period.

I nearly rated the food as 3.5 until I remembered the desserts. My plum tart was sweet and tart. The others in my party were equally impressed with this part of the meal. However, I objected to having to wait 50 minutes to be seated especially when there were NO seats at the bar. We had to weave our way between customers and waiters whilst we waited. Once seated the service was efficient but unfriendly. The food was good but not as outstanding as I had been lead to believe. Worth a visit but be prepared for the flaws and you will enjoy the experience more.

I've never eaten at the restaurant, but I can comment on the bakery. I've been a loyal customer for about 4 years now, and every time I'm in Soho, I need to drop by. The croissants are to-die-for and are light and airy without being overly greasy (they also sell out very quickly). Scones are good too. Baguettes are tasty as well and are good as the basis for a sandwich or alone. Who am I kidding? I honestly don't think the bakery fails at anything! Also, on another note, I got to use the bathroom (in the restaurant) and found it to be beautiful. It was like being in a Lautrec painting! Finally, the interior of the restaurant is fabulous as well (but I can't attest to the food as I have not tried it yet.)

One of the enjoyments of dining out is a positive experience with the wait staff. Our waiter (I wish I remembered his name) was subpar and when the manager came over to try and save his tip, he failed miserably too. The food is not good. It is salty, over rated and, unless you are a rock star or a model, forget about getting a good seat, even if you make the reservation 1 month in advance.