Balans
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We came here on a Sunday afternoon. We are tourists and decided to check out Lincoln Road. This place did not disappoint for our outdoor patio experience and people watching! We started with a Bellini and Bloody Mary. The bloody Mary's certainly got me going with a gentle buzz. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with cole slaw and fries and my husband ordered the huevos rachos scrambled. The food was delish! We were both delighted with the food and drinks. The patio is a perfect dining backdrop. Check this place out.
We had a good lunch here today. A positive was then honoring the yelp 10% discount. A negative is that they automatically put a 15% service charge on the bill. There's also a note that they hope if you like the service you'll increase the tip... and if you don't you can decrease it. We probably would have tipped more. But this just rankled, so we left it as is. Onto the service -- very good; very fast. Orders came exactly as requested: sauce on the side; well done fries, etc. The food was good. I had their blackened grouper sandwich. I asked for it cooked lightly blackened with the chipotle aioli on the side. Perfect. It was served on a whole wheat multi grain ciabatta roll, lightly toasted, with arugula, and a thick slice of very red ripe tomato. My fries were well done and crispy. My husband had a bacon omelet. The portion was huge. It came with home style potatoes. And 2 very large slices of toast. A bowl of jam/jelly selections and butter pats came on the side. The room itself is definitely a throw back to old Florida. And it's showing it's age -- don't look too closely. It looks like it might have been a hotel lobby. There's a huge bar along one wall. A big flat screen TV hangs over it. In the middle of the room is a mini grand staircase. You walk up it to the bathrooms. You can picture silent black and white movies being filmed here...as the former star made her big entrance. Prices were decent. They also had a 2 course lunch special for $15 and with added dessert $20. They have salads, burgers, sandwiches, breakfast items, and regular entrees.
Last Tuesday night we stopped by Balans and as usual we loved it. The place was super upbeat and the coolest thing is that they have happy hour until midnight!!! So it was perfect. Service was awesome , always on point and great food. We ordered wine, their famous crab cakes and my favorite whole wheat toast with avocado and veggies! #delicious So if you are looking to eat late during the week on Lincoln Road this is your place. So check it out
The happy hour at Balans was awesome. I ordered a bunch of different options. They had the best quesadilla I've ever had in my life. The wings were awesome.. the happy hour drink options were good as well. The ribs were so good! The bartender made me a chocolate martini I was craving and it was delicious. The service was awesome and everyone was really nice. I came when it was really quiet. Everything I ordered was $7. Had a great time! Next time I go to Miami I'll go back!
As my friend and I walked through Lincoln Road mall a storm was approaching and we were hungry. We happened upon this spot because a waiter dropped a credit card as he walked from the outdoor seating into the restaurant and I picked it up to hand to the host. We then noticed that their Happy Hour was starting. We reviewed the menu and they had some yummy looking items. We walked to a few other places that were either closed, hadn't started their happy hour our the menu wasn't appealing, so we went back. Drinks were $5 and small plates were $7. It included ALL drinks and appetizers which was awesome. I got the Grapefruit Lychee Fizz and my friend got a Mint Mango Margarita. They were NOT watered down and were very good! For food we ordered the Salmon Croquettes, Sriracha wings, Tuna Tartar and Chicken Quesadilla. ALL VERY VERY GOOD. I am a food snob and somewhat hard to please. The outdoor area was well covered so once it began to rain we were good. The waiter was responsive and timely. I will definitely be back. My daughter will be in Miami for Memorial Day so I told her she must go.
Came here with a group of friends. It was my first restaurant in Miami to try. The food was great. I had the Thai chili salad with lump crab meat, the pork dumplings, and the lychee fizz. Our sever Bruno was great. Everything came out on time and our sever was very attentive.
It was 11:45am on a Friday and I couldn't find any where on Lincoln Road that serves breakfast, to me that was odd seeing Miami Beach is known for being a party town. Luckily I found Balans! We were seated right away and our food only took 10 minutes to bring out. The waitress offered us a $25 pitcher of my mimosas which made sense at $10.00 a glass. Delicious breakfast for $15.00 and the service was amazing I will definitely be back!!! I also checked in and got 10% off my bill!
I was greeted by the hostess outside and she was very nice. I wanted breakfast food but it's very hard to find after 12:00. She was nice enough to bring me the breakfast menu and assured me that they have brunch after regular brunch hours. I like that their menu was very varied and you had all types of food choices: American, Asian, and much more! We were quickly seated and ordered our food. My breakfast was cooked to my specifications and my server was attentive. I will definitely be visiting again and I recommend this to anyone looking for a place with good food and good services on the beach.
A quaint cafe restaurant on Lincoln Road. The interior is rather Art Deco and cozy. We dined outside on Lincoln road strip. Beautiful serene ambience, to sit outside and enjoy drinks and dining. I had the Eggs Benedict with spinach and bacon which was delicious but could've used a little more flavor with the hollandaise sauce. My friends had the Balans breakfast and the California roll toast. All very filling and satisfying!
Staying in a hotel close by we were looking for a sit down breakfast option. After to go breakfast for a few days I needed a minute to sit down, hold a menu in my hand and enjoy a real breakfast. We strolled along Lincoln Road and found this without issue. There was a movie or something being filmed a few doors away and there was quite a commotion. We opted to escape the added noise and dine inside. The front door was wide open but the A/C was blasting so the temperature never really felt regulated. While glancing through the menu my wife stepped away to use the restroom. She found it unclean (i'll spare you the details) and spoke to one of the staff members about getting it cleaned so she could use it. We ordered and waited for our food. Bathroom still was filthy. Food arrived and my wife couldn't wait. My brother told her to use the mens room. She said the mens room was quite clean while the women's room still remain uncleaned. We set that aside and tried to enjoy our breakfast. I ordered a basic breakfast - scrambled eggs, tomato, bacon, sausage, potatoes and upgraded to a bagel and cream cheese instead of toast. When the meal arrived I was underwhelmed. The bacon looked like it had been cooked and allowed to sit for a bit of time. The eggs were cooked well and still warm which was nice. The potatoes lacked a seasoning or dominating flavor profile and were chewier than I expected. I don't like sausage but my brother took it off my plate and after a few bites opted not to continue eating it. The bagel and cream cheese were fine and good to have since the rest of my meal was underwhelming. The prices charged for dining on Lincoln Road relative to what was delivered were not on par. I would take the extra time, jump in the car and dine away from the area. This place was not worth it. Especially when the customer service was just as lacking as the flavor of the food.
Balans is in a great location on Lincoln Rd. I saw it on a list of great places to have cocktails in Miami. We came here for pre-dinner drinks our last night in Miami. Happy hour is 4pm-7pm. The cocktails are $7 instead of $12. I had the electric lemonade, but it didn't wow me so I moved on to the mint mango margarita. That was delicious. I had two of those. The chicken quesadilla has great reviews, and our waitress gave it a thumbs up so I ordered it also. Do yourself a favor and order it. Very tasty. At 6pm the lady who "does the hookah" arrived so we tried the watermelon flavor. It was nice and smooth. Balans is a good place to relax and people watch while enjoying great conversation with friends.
This is the best place for everything. I can't believe I never shared my love for this place before! It is probably due to me wanting to keep it in secret for myself. You come, sit and chill and enjoy people watching and amazing food and service. They offer breakfast until 3pm, happy hour every day 4-7 Music always is the best for the time of the day (because they change it) And manager Victor is always present (well sometimes he does take breaks because we all deserve life) but most probably he will be receiving you with his contagious smile. Many locals come here regularly and that means a lot! No overpriced food No overpriced drinks Huge portions Fresh food People watching Smiles!
The atmosphere is nice and laid back. I was drawn in by the people eating outside and the food looked great. The host at the front was super nice & got my a booth inside. Great start. It took 10minutes while I was sitting down before anyone came to me and asked me if I wanted a drink. fine. I ordered the full breakfast and the photo is what I received. The meal was OKAY. My toast was burnt, the bacon & eggs weren't hot but I sure was hungry after working out and needed a meal. I might consider going ok because maybe it was a one time half-decent experience but I have to imagine that we can do better.
11 years ago
This is the 3rd time that I come to enjoy this restaurant. It the ratings had a 4 1/2 star I would of gave it to them. But alas, 4 star must be. Located on the hip Lincoln Road in SOBE (a place to be seen and to be seen with). Balan's is poised for greatness! Service here is great always looking to make you feel as comfortable as possible. There is hounding for you to finish nor is there anyone that is hovering over you. They just want you to feel at home to enjoy the cuisine, the focus here is good food, great service. ASK FOR NESTOR, wonderful smile and personality to match; he was at the top of the game, always watching our table and meeting our every needs. The menu was not vast just clean and full of creative dishes from the Grouper bites to the Asian noodles to the poached Salmon, you are encouraged to explore. They always have dishes that are not on the menu so be sure to ask what they are from Nestor. Have a great time! read more
Excellent waitstaff, great teamwork, high quality breakfast foods. Granted, it wasn't overly crowded on a early Saturday morning (10am) Miami people don't seem to be early risers. Getting here, and getting a nice inside booth in the air-conditioned room was the start of it. Scoring a quick mimosa, and EXCELLENT French toast, pasted in a carmelized syrup, with a side of sliced banana was the best. The waitress was attentive, and almost every single person in the place contributed to making it a fine meal. The staff also made sure that they were helping each other out, in seating new patrons as they arrived. (going out of their way to do so) I like the interior space, and bar area, and there is ample room outside. Price at about $8 was fair. $7.50 for the mimosa. Tip is automatically included in your check. read more
8 years ago
Dope service, awesome hookah, customer service . Def recommended for a great adult beverage and chill scene. read more
This is really more like a 3.5 (for location, service, and menu variety), but I'm rounding down (because of my bland food) instead of up on this one. Balans is located in a prime spot on the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall, and is perfect for people watching! We met a friend here for brunch after he arrived back in Miami from a cruise, and really enjoyed the ambiance and vibe, and the simple ability to just relax under an umbrella and take in the sights and sounds around us. As for the food...hmm...mediocre is probably the best way to describe. I ordered the breakfast burrito -- mistake. Booooring and bland. The weirdest part is that the pepper jack cheese wasn't INSIDE the burrito. They stuck 2 cheese slices on top of the burrito and melted it. I'm not kidding. It just cheapened it and made it appear to be thrown together. For the price, I expected a nicer presentation and some flavor. It was such a bland meal. I paid the extra $1.50 for them to add spinach. What a waste. My tasteless $9.50 burrito turned into an $11 burrito that tasted like air. The drizzle of sour cream zig zagged on the top of it added SOME flavor, but not much. My husband ordered eggs benedict florentine and said it was great. He devoured it before I was 1/4 of the way through my boring meal. The menu here is HUGE! Because it's in such a great location, and the service was good, I will come back and just order something different next time. There are SO MANY options, so I guess I just picked a bad one. read more
14 years ago
Dinner and a movie night started at Balans with drinks. The MaiTai was pretty tasty, it really hit the spot. The seared scallops & roasted pork belly gets the GET IN MY BELLY! award for the night. I have had the lobster spegetti here before yet tonight it was much creamier. I really did enjoyed the entire dnner. The service was typical MiBeach service. But th pork bellies made up for it. read more
7 years ago
14 years ago
Got the Eggs Benedict.. Nothing spectacular.. but the poached eggs looked more like white out than the soft smooth texture they're supposed to have.. i've had better eggs benedict before. Service was ok. Had to ask for utensils though. Probably won't be coming back here again. Interesting artwork around the place.. i think there was one of a naked lady. read more
12 years ago
Business owner information
Jonathan B.
Sorry to hear of your experience, which doesn't meet up to our usual…
Pretty much a random place to drop in. Nothing screams unique here, but the food is flavorful AND plentiful. Came during lunch hours and the outdoor seating was busy but we were seated fairly quickly. Quick service, friendly waitress and attentive table boy. Food: 4/5 Huevos Rancheros: spicy, seasoned to perfection and just right! The beans were excellent, perfect egg yolk dripping into the dish and the chips were nice and crunchy. THIS IS A BIG PORTION and all you really need. It seems their popular dish is the crab, which looked excellent on my company's plate! I suggest that if your looking for something on the lighter side as far as an early meal goes. PS* check in for 10% off! read more
9 years ago
Perfect service... the waite (Alex) was really friendly also he help me with the menu.. the food is delicious and the portions are good.. we had a perfect Mother's Day... thanks you guy For sure we come back read more
7 years ago
Balans is the best brunch on Lincoln Road!!! I highly recommend the huevos rancheros. It's hard to find places that have these on their menu and it's harder to find a place that makes them well. This is the place. You will spend a lovely Sunday afternoon outside watching the people passing by while enjoying your favorite drink in hand, for me the mimosa is a classic. Again, they do do all things good here. Their menu has an amazing selection of food for everyone's taste. This is a must try place and one of my favorites!!! read more
7 years ago
The best restaurant in town. Beautiful location beautiful people great intention I mean you can ask for too much breakfast is excellent I love my breakfast and this was the best breakfast ever thank you balance for the attention to me and my husband read more
16 years ago
Pros: Good selection for food for any meal. The waitress we had was attentive. Cons: Takeaway bag and container was practically useless. We walked Lincoln Rd with a greasy bag that lacked the flat bottom that could hold the usual aluminum circular takeout tin. I had gotten the oatmeal and a side of bananas and strawberries, which was overall good. (How exciting can oatmeal get?) They were kind enough to give me the option of water or milk in it. My girlfriend had gotten the lobster spaghetti, which was filling and delish -- the leftovers were still good cold. We opted for outdoor seating, which was luckily shaded by huge umbrellas, and we remained undisturbed by the avian wildlife. read more
Great service! Our waiter was extremely nice and even took pictures for my friends and I. They have indoor and outdoor seating which is very nice and the outdoor seating area does have fans so it's not too hot. The breakfast burrito with the chipotle aioli was very good and filling definitely worth the $13. They also offer bread which is a huge plus for me. Overall I enjoyed my experience at this restaurant and the food was very good read more
17 years ago
7 years ago
This is probably one of my favorite places on Lincoln road in south beach. The Manager by the name of Bruno was very attentive and accommodating. Even though there were inconsistencies with service, at least Bruno was able to correct the issues. We ordered the coconut mojito and that was no bueno , even though usually it's delicious. The cocktail was warm and no alcohol was added. After a discussion with Bruno he actually went behind the bar and made us the best drinks ever. I will say that the busser for the evening named Arnoux was out of this world! So I would like to give Bruno and Arnoux 5 stars! read more
7 years ago
Came here for lunch / brunch on Friday Ambiance: 5/5 Great location on Lincoln road - like others said great place to relax and people watch, make sure to get patio seating! - Seating is far away enough from the walking path that pedestrians are not brushing up by your table. Food: 4/5 No complaints here, they have a decent brunch selection and all of the dishes we ordered were good. I had the Smoked salmon eggs benedict, cooked to perfection, yolks were good and runny. Smoked salmon portion was generous (see photo) Service: 3/5 Service was great until it got a little busy, the waiter forgot my coffee refill, we had to ask twice, and then we didn't see him again until he gave us the bill. TIP: Coffee and Soda pop refills are bottomless read more
I was on a mission to find a swimsuit so I headed to Lincoln Road Mall (recommended by a local) to shop and I got hungry as soon as I set foot on the strip. It was lunch time and I fancied something light, like a salad or seafood or both. I saw the menu for Balans, spotted exactly what I wanted, but didn't want to stop at the first of the few menus I'd seen. I walked the entire strip from Alton Road down to Washington Avenue, found my swimsuit, looked at all the menus, and you guessed it, ended up back at Balans. I sat outside by a fan. I was greeted promptly. I ordered the Lump Crab Salad right away. I had known all along that that's what I wanted. I then ordered a Red Lotus to drink (pretty tasty with a sweet lychee in it). My salad arrived pretty quickly. It was definitely pretty. It had grapefruit, orange, and watermelon on it over a bed of mixed greens with a mango lime dressing. And a nice sized portion of lump crab meat. Overall, very tasty salad. Light. Refreshing. Never knew crab and grapefruit would pair so nicely. The 3 things that made me rate this 3/5 stars: 1) If you're going to serve citrus in a salad, please make sure it's segmented. 2) I shouldn't have to use a knife to make my mouthfuls bite-sized. 3) Make sure there are NO SEEDS from the orange or grapefruit in the salad!! I found 2. read more
Business owner information
Jonathan B.
Hi Kadia, thanks for stopping by our Lincoln Road location. Your…
10 years ago
In a pedestrian zone (yay, Lincoln Rd), under nice palm trees and generally in a nice shade - perfect Good service, friendly, discrete and effective (and food came fast) We were there for standard breakfast fare: scrambled eggs, potatoes (delicious), bacon (crisp), sausage, pancakes (fluffy) and side of fruit (fresh cut)... that was really good! Very slight margin for improvement on beverages: fresh pressed OJ would have been great (but you can't expect for 3usd in SoBe), and refill of hot water for tea (I did not ask but the waiter did not ask either) So bottomline: very very good experience... not the superwow type! Nothing super incredible, but definitely above average read more
8 years ago
My very first huevos rancheros... OMG!!! Delicious! Nice casual place! Good service and food came very fast read more
Business owner information
Jonathan B.
Hey Devonne, thanks for stopping by and leaving your feedback. I’m so…
16 years ago
This place was abso AMAZING !!! I had dinner for my birthday with my girls on Sunday 5/2. EVERYTHING we ordered was finger licking GOOD!!!! I had the Crab cake and the Thai red Curry with Scrimp both got 10 thumbs up !!!! Paul the Manager was the sweetest man ever!! (adored his British accent btw) he made my heart melt when u brought me a giant birthday brownie and sang Happy Birthday This is a must from now on whenever I visit!!! read more
10 years ago
My first time here Lovely place we sat outside. Confortable couch. I went with a friend during the happy hour. I took the crab cake during this special hour they sell it for 7$ and the white wine was 5$ the glass. My cake was really good but take care if u don't like spicy food. The crab is not spicy by itself but the sauce is. I loved it so much and finally took another one. Our waitress Carly was wonderful and Profesional as well. I highly recommend her. Will come back soon read more
i came here to watch the fifa world cup croatia vs russia. they had a happy hour which was fantastic and great food. i like how the vibes was. i wouldn't come here for anytime other than a sporting event. i also noticed that waiters will only help their own table and not go the distance for anyone else's. i needed a bottle opener for my bucket and no one helped when i asked. the seating is good and inside is trendy. the food is mediocre as well but drink specials is glorious for the area! read more
Came here for dinner before bar hopping. Great place to sit outside, enjoy the weather, and people watch. The food was pretty good with generous portions. We tried their crab cakes, salmon salad, and Chilean sea bass. All were good. The restaurant is in a great location. Lincoln street is a great place to walk around and window shop. It's surrounded by a lot of stores, bars, and clubs. Very lively area. read more
12 years ago
The server was pretty good. I have gone there before usually for drinks but never dinner. I ordered the salmon fettuccine and God was I disappointed. It was so ugh not tasty whatsoever. It needed more spices/salt. I'm not saying that I wouldn't go back because it's such a chill restaurant to go to especially now with this weather. It's nice to sit outside and enjoy great company, conversations. As I've said before. I have no complains about the servers because it was pretty amazing. But I do Not recommend anyone to buy the salmon fettuccine unless you like tasteless food. read more
Business owner information
Jonathan B.
We appreciate the feedback Nanny and apologize for the meal. Perhaps…
8 years ago
9 years ago
Business owner information
Jonathan B.
Hello Daniel,…
11 years ago
This is our favorite place ever! In spite of being located in South Beach, Balans is a place that anyone can afford. Happy hours on weekends from 3-7 and some 10 pm (M-F) and on weekends after 11 pm. You can always find delicious food and great wine -at very reduced prices during happy hours- and the best service. If you fall in server Hugo's hands, you will enjoy a great evening. I visited the one in Mary Brickell last night, but unfortunately Balans there succumbed to the ridiculous prices and attitude of that area. The happy hours are not repeated in evening. At SOBE, Balans is never empty. Congrats for a good job and great management. If you look for StudioNous at SOBE come to Balans! Luis M Rodriguez read more
8 years ago
Business owner information
Jonathan B.
Hello there, thanks for stopping by. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed…
9 years ago
Business owner information
Jonathan B.
Hello Rob,…
8 years ago
The food was great!!! I love the crab linguine! My husband had the fried chicken salad. They were generous with the chicken. It wasn't just 1 piece over fried fried chicken breast like some places. Now that we're back home in NJ...I'm really having this bad craving for the crab linguini. Wish to find some place near here that have this dish that's so full of flavors! read more
6 years ago
9 years ago
Where to begin?! The food here is fantastic---the crab cake has lump, fresh crab and the margarita pizza's cheese is so garden fresh. Alessandro, our waiter, kept up pace and kept the drinks pouring. Fisher, the hookah expert, brought us handcrafted flavors that tailored the night. We spent 2 out of our 3 nights here and it felt like home. The music is epic: house and EDM mixes. Management is incredibly friendly. This was the highlight of our trip. read more
More info about Balans
1022 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
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(305) 534-9191
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https://dev.balansrestaurants.com
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