It was a great experience. The clams were a perfect size for me but the steak was a little too well done. Although we had no reservation they were able to sit us at a high top table by the bar right away during peak dinner time. read more

Balthazar - Clams and steak - French Near Me - London, XGL

I definitely like Balthazar in NYC better. The layout of the restaurant is somewhat similar to NYC, strong French Brassiere feel - which makes sense because, well, it's a French Brassiere. We were seeing a show after dinner so we had to be mindful of what we ordered. We had: - Steak Tartare - very good, comparable to NYC - Salad Lyonnaise - tasty - Pomme Puree (mashed potatoes) - good - Mac n Cheese - bland - Mushroom Risotto - tasty if a bit bland - Paris Brest - tasty if a bit heavy - Christmas Pudding - very good Overall we had a nice meal, just nothing special. read more

Do not come to this place. Trust me....!!! Our visit to Balthazar in London was unfortunately far from what we expected, especially given the restaurant's reputation and premium pricing. From the moment we arrived, the hostesses were noticeably rude and flustered; while the restaurant was busy, professionalism is part of the hospitality industry, and it simply wasn't there. Despite having a reservation, we were seated at a cramped high-top bar table with barely enough room for food or drinks, and the overall atmosphere felt disorganized. We ordered the onion soup without bread and were served what looked like double the bread instead. After finishing our appetizers, the table wasn't cleared until the mains arrived, which made the transition awkward and uncomfortable. The dining room itself was extremely noisy, with loud background music that forced everyone to talk over each other, making the experience even less enjoyable. The only highlight of the evening was the Côte de Bœuf, which was excellent, just a bit cold -- but not good enough to outweigh the service issues, discomfort, and overall lack of value. With so many outstanding dining options in London, we definitely won't be returning and wouldn't recommend Balthazar to others. read more

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I was so happy with every aspect of my meal at Balthazar. Prior to visiting London, I booked a reservation a few weeks out for a 7pm time slot. Of course, with jet lag, we wound up finishing our activities a bit early, and we were pretty hungry. We showed up an hour and a half before our reservation, and the team here was so accommodating and were able to seat us right away. The hostess was so pleasant and welcoming. Upon sitting down, we took in the beautiful ambiance of the restaurant. It's a lovely atmosphere with softer lighting and it just looks and feels classy and sophisticated. Now, the food was something to really write home about! I had the Baked Camembert as an appetizer. It was creamy and drizzled in a honey glaze. It was so delicious! For my main course I indulged in the ultimate comfort food: Mac n' Cheese. This was a tasty version that's all grown up with its blend of cheeses. Finally capping off an incredibly decadent and rich meal- I had the Crème Brûlée FTW. It was absolutely perfect and really hit the spot for an all around gratifying meal. Our waiter was also so nice and was just the perfect amount of attentive. The service and the all-around excellent quality of the meal really made this a standout experience in our London visit. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in town. Well done Balthazar!!! read more

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Loved sitting at a high table in the bar area on a recent Saturday afternoon to have French Onion Soup, crunchy French Fries and a glass of Sancerre. Perfect on a cold overcast day in London. Great vibe and clientele, friendly service and beautiful Parisian atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

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Balthazar is, perhaps, my favorite New York City restaurant and when I spotted London's version a couple years back I vowed to return and try it. I've since learned that Keith McNally, owner of Balthazar NYC, was not affiliated with this one beyond it getting established. Perhaps that's the missing factor or perhaps it's just the difference between NYC and London. Balthazar (London) is an absolute hive of activity; loud, noisy, and swarming with people. On Wednesday evenings they feature live jazz though mine may have been the sole table who cared about such. One could barely hear the music above the overall din. Ending at 7 pm (M-F), Balthazar offers a well-priced (£27.50) prix fixe 3-course meal which seemed a great deal even though the offerings are limited and there's a supplemental £5 charge for my favorite, Moules Mariniere & Frites. Martinis at the bar were followed with a carafe (375ml) of Vin de Table (£15; off the prix fixe menu). It is true that I'd have ordered and consumed less food had I not gone with the prix fixe menu. It's also true that I'd probably have departed less overly stuffed and a lot happier. In addition to the mussels, fries, wine, and cocktail I sampled bread (delicious), Buffalo Mozzarella, and a Creme Brûlée. The prix fixe menu may be a good value proposition but it will likely leave you overly full on very rich fare. Despite appearances and moniker, this iteration of Balthazar fails to evoke the je ne sais quoi as the NYC version so don't go chasing it here. I enjoyed my visit and the food was good but with all that London has to offer a return visit is highly unlikely. P.S. Your bill at Balthazar includes an automatic 15% service charge, the highest I experienced in my 3 weeks in the UK. The somewhat imperfect service did little to merit the upcharge. read more

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Never disappoints! Eclectic crowd with the right positive vibe. Expansive menu, I always get the steak frites and as I mentioned, never disappointed. read more

Balthazar - Steak Frites - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Excellent food. I had the beef bourguignon, ham and melon, baked camembert, and creme brulee. Server was attentive and very polite. Decent ambiance and decor, not memorable but also not offensive. read more

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Celebrating the mega police of London in a quintessential French restaurant! This is not Waterloo where the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon. No, this may be a diplomatic French invasion of Covent Garden. So if you compare Balthazar NY to the restaurant in London you will find mostly the same traditional classic French brasserie concept. They had some really nice dishes like the fruits de mer, their salmon tartare, their bouillabaisse and classic onion soup. The Duck Shepherd's Pie works really well in London, but be aware it is quiet rich. The service was attentive and their formula works quite well. The wine list is rich with some nice champagne options. read more

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First time here and it's a proper French restaurant, even down to the almost rude waitstaff! Food was very nice, as was the wine. Dessert lacked flavor (blackberry souffle). read more

Food is ok, portion is not great but the rose is pretty good. Service is horrible and we waited for so long to order. Feels to me they prioritize anyone before our table and when we try to get their attention again, they acted annoyed. The table next to us got champagne and looks like they have far better service than us. read more

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I was happy and impressed by this place! It looks very inviting from the outside and quite busy inside. We were accommodated right away and just told that we would have a dining time of 2 hours because it was a busy night; this was perfect for us because (1) we're American and don't take that long to dine haha (2) we had a Theater show to watch in an hour. They offer the tourists bottled water and locals tap water (so be careful if you don't want to pay that you specify). They have a fully stocked bar, lively ambiance, and attentive staff. My family thought the food was okay. I, however loved the unique BUTTERNUT SQUASH PIE! It was light and flaky in a unique curry sauce! It was a party of flavors in my mouth! read more

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Had a lovely and filling meal here in the private room for a corporate dinner. I would definitely come back based on the meal we had- crab avocado was refreshing and tasty, the filet was a generous portion, and really flavorful. The crispy potatoes and haricots verts went nicely with it, desserts were yummy too. I was too full to try any of the cheeses in the cheese plate, but people were enjoying those as well. Service was friendly and attentive, and I love the old Parisian ambience. read more

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Inferior in every way to every top brasserie I tried in Paris, Montreal or Philadelphia. Inferior to Brasserie Zedel nor far away. Not really "French". Even the bread wasn't that fresh. Nothing was bad. But nothing was that good either. read more

Wow. Such a cute place, it definitely gave me New York vibes but in the heart of London I felt so spoiled coming here. The service was super friendly and outgoing. They had live music playing which is always a nice touch and really decent deals like champagne and oysters for a decent price. We ordered a variety of plates the the dressed crab was absolutely amazing, and I'm really not a huge fan of pancakes but they were so delicate and flavorful topped with fresh jammu fruit it was the most perfect bite I've had in a while for breakfast. I would recommend this place for anyone looking to treat themselves for a a good time. read more

Balthazar - Oysters and more - French Near Me - London, XGL

Balthazar comes across visually as an upscale restaurant but is a bit more down to earth. We had dinner for 2 here. Although all of the staff was very cordial, there was a lack of coordination and lack of knowledge at times. Examples: for a standard menu item, it want know if it was gluten free; for the (very tasty) baby spinach and rocket salad it was said that it had buckwheat so it was not gluten free - but buckwheat contains no gluten. When I ordered a drink for appetizer and another for dinner (wines), dinner wine can out before the appetizer and had to re-request the appetizer wine. Wines were very good and appropriately priced. The steak tartare was good but the accompanying toast was not freshly toasted. The sea bream was excellent. The cote de boeuf was the highest end steak and it had a lot of gristle and was under cooked (order medium rare, got rare but I went ahead that way). Bernie sauce was really good but a very small serving. Bathrooms are up 1 floor. read more

Had a lunch reservation. Sat promptly then ghosted by server. He finally walked over slowly, end of shift? Turns out yes. We probably sat 20 min without anyone taking a drink order. Drinks came at same time as food. Oysters delayed. The risotto and cod were very good dishes. Wine was bad. It had turned. Our server disappeared after taking our initial order. We had someone check on our food. No offerings for desert or another beverage. Price is high for this poor of service. Auto 15% charge added to bill by someone who had not interacted with us all afternoon. Go somewhere else. read more

Kind of swanky and plenty expensive, but it's certainly up there with some of the best French food I've had in London, thus far. One of the main attractions here seems to be the wine and champagne, so make sure you bring your big boy/ girl wallet, as the prices will add up if you're drinking. I was offered a free glass of champagne on the house, and, while not great, I won't complain about free alcohol. The menu offers a wide variety of authentic French favorites, including some not-so-authentic ones, to please the touristy palate. Soups, salads, burgers, mains, and desserts are all present, as well as some hearty starters and sides to complement your meal. And let's not forget that wine. I always like to go authentic, so I ordered the Chestnut, Pumpkin, & Risotto Tortellini to start, and the Duck Confit as a main. The Tortellini wasn't all that I expected, as it was a bit on the dry side, and the flavors didn't quite blend- probably due to the chestnut- but it wasn't horrible. The Duck Confit was less disappointing, and whilst definitely on the salty side, packed more flavor than most I've had. The duck was practically melting off the bone, and the wine reduction and onions brought out all the flavors wonderfully. The overall atmosphere and seating are comfortable, but the lighting leaves a bit to be desired in the evenings, so you may not be getting those Instagram-worthy shots. Still, I do think it's a place you'll want to visit at least once. Kudos to the friendly staff for being so attentive. read more

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Loved sitting at a high table in the bar area on a recent Saturday afternoon to have French Onion Soup, crunchy French Fries and a glass of Sancerre. Perfect on a cold overcast day in London. Great vibe and clientele! Beautiful Parisian atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

Walked to this restaurant at about 2pm and the decor on the outside was beautiful. It caught my eye. Not sure if this is what it looks like all the time since I went during the holidays! We only had to wait about 5 mins before sitting down. I honestly wasn't too hungry, so I got the garlic prawns. It was very very nice. It wasn't too salty and I enjoyed dipping the bread in the sauce. On the other hand, my boyfriend ordered the English breakfast and the egg was overcooked and the bread was hard as a brick... read more

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Ok. Food was ok -good size portions but heavy. Wine list was ok. Service was good about offering food and drink but didn't seem to be accustomed to fine dining. read more

My husband and I ate dinner here before the Lion King show and had a fantastic time! This French restaurant is clean, classy, and romantic. We were immediately greeted at the door and sat at a table. Our server, Ridas, went above and beyond to make sure that our dinner was amazing! He was such a hard worker and the restaurant is lucky to have him. We started with the Burrata with tomatoes, olive oil and basil. Every ingredient in this appetizer was so fresh, kicking our meal off to a great start. For dinner, I had the veal schnitzel holstein with green beans served with a fried egg on top. This schnitzel was delicious! The veal was tender and flavorful and fried to perfection--crispy and not greasy. The green beans and egg were done perfectly and added to the dish well. My husband is allergic to onions and garlic and was super bummed out when they told him that the side of macaroni and cheese had his allergens. We wanted to split the mac n' cheese. Our server and the chef went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make this mac n' cheese possible for us. Ridas advocated for us and the chef made a special batch of mac n' cheese just for us. We were blown away and the mac n' cheese was so good! It was perfectly cheesy, not oily and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Overall, superb service, outstanding food, fair prices, and great ambiance! We will definitely be back when we go to London again! read more

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had a wonderful time there w my Fiancée Just before New Years. We had no reservations and were pleased to see that seating was available. Food was very good, our server was friendly and accommodating, the ambience was very French, lovely, lively and romantic. Marco, our waiter went out of his way to get everything just right for us. I highly recommend this restaurant for special company. read more

Lovely evening, not planned at all on a Saturday evening. We didn't have a booking but managed to get 2 seats at the bar. Service was fantastic ! And so was the food would definitely recommend! 2nd time here as I tried afternoon Tea here years ago, which was also very nice! read more

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My wife and I were just walking out of Covent Garden and spotted the restaurant. Went in and the atmosphere just felt right. The couple seated next next to us were finishing with some amazing looking desserts. So, we decided to split an entree (I.e., we are retired and ate lunch three hours earlier) and each have a dessert. The beef stroganoff was some of the best we have had anywhere. The desserts were great. Service was attentive and done as a team. This was the best meal we have had in London in over one week. Will do our best to return again. Back again after two years. Still good food. On Thursday evening, it did seem noisy but still at a level where conversations could be held. read more

We had two great meals at Balthazar/Covent Garden. The waiter were attentive, and we selected Jersey oysters which were some of the best we've ever eaten anywhere in the world. The restaurant is nicely elegant and we did decide to come back for a second meal, which was also quite good. I want to thank the team at Jo Malone's on King Street for their recommendation. read more

I really love the atmosphere in this location. We shared everything we ordered, including the soufflé suissesse, prawn and avocado salad, onion soup, beetroot salad, crab appetizer, and the turbot. Everything was phenomenal including our waiter, Marco. He took care of us and made sure everything was perfect. We will definitely be visiting again as soon as we are back in town! read more

Balthazar - Soufflé suissesse and prawn and avocado - French Near Me - London, XGL

We picked this place cause it looked good. It was not just good but FANTASTIC! Johnathan was our server and he was amazing! He doubled checked my food for my allergen and was so incredibly nice. The service was impeccable and fast! They worked together as a team. I had the Lobster Spaghetti and it was amazing. My in-laws had the lemon sole. They loved it as well. Definitely a place to eat 2 times while in London. We are outside and people watched. The bar across the street was slammed and it was a Thursday night. I will definitely come back! read more

preamble: This review is dinner for two at 7pm on a Monday night. I have been enamored by all things Balthazar for years. I'm the guy who has tried almost every recipe (except for Plateau ds Fruits de Mer, who makes that at home?) and read everything about Keith McNally and Robert Reid. This was the first night of a week-long foodie trip to London. My wife and I planned this trip to be able to eat our way through the Balthazar breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner menus. It pains me to say, we did not return. With that out of the way, as you can tell, we were not that enamored by Balthazar Covent Gardens. bar: We stopped at the bar for a Cosmo and a Manhattan before heading to our table. The head bartender was too engrossed in an in-depth conversation with another customer to help us, but one of the other bartenders eventually stepped in. Both of his drinks were amazing; beautifully executed. Later at the table, my wife's glass of Chateauneuf de Pape was good, but not £26 good. service: We made reservations online and Amy(?) called to confirm 24 hours prior. Let me laud and praise the maître d' and the entire host staff. They were exceptional! We asked for a booth and they graciously accommodated us with a perfect table. Once seated, Kuwar was our waitstaff. He was professional. Even though the restaurant was not busy, the service felt rushed. Perhaps Balthazar runs on one speed, whether busy or not? food: My wife had the kale salad and steak frites. The menu only offers a kale salad or a beetroot salad. The kale salad was well-executed but unmemorable. The entrecôte was cooked perfectly but - even for an entrecôte - not that great of a steak. The less we speak of the fries, the better. Perhaps we should have substituted potatoes dauphinoise, but then it most certainly would not have been steak frites. I had escargot and steak tartare. Prior images on Yelp show escargot in shells; my escargot were served on a snail plate. They were OK. The tartare was fantastic. Very high quality and amazing flavor. details: The space is classic upscale brasserie. By that, I mean absolutely beautiful. If you decide to go, I suggest making reservations. read more

Balthazar - escargot and kale salad - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Well this is a well oiled machine with excellent seafood and service above and beyond any expectations. The food is solid and rich with flavor. I'm not sure I've ever been to such a restaurant, vibrant, alive, a wide range of seafood menu. Just fab! read more

Balthazar - Mussels in and endless pit of butter garlic goodness! - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Having been to Balthazar in New York, and experiencing brunch there, I was happy I had the chance to do dinner in London. The area this restaurant sits in is really fun for tourists. So many shops, restaurants around. Everything was great. I really can't say much. It was steak and Mac and cheese, and that's all that's to it. I've had better steaks, but the steak tartare, escargot, and soufflé were really the stars here. read more

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I'd been meaning to go to the NY location for ages and was excited when my friend suggested we grab dinner here. We got here around 7 PM on Friday and there was no wait at all, perfect. Our server was super nice and patient! We hadn't seen each other for years so he let us catch up a bunch and was nice about the fact that we hadn't even opened our menus the first two times he came around. I had the Rocket and Spinach Agnolotti as an entree. Loved the bitterness of the arugula and the simple flavors worked well together. The hazelnut also added a nice tough. It seemed unnecessary oily though and felt heavy in my tummy. My friend and I then split the Creme Brulee. Good thing we did because it was massive. I enjoyed the sugary crust but the rest of it was just okay. It could've been creamier and more flavorful. We left around 10 PM and there were way more people than when we got here. Guessing it attracts the post-theater crowd. Good vibe and nice service, but mediocre food. read more

Balthazar - Rocket and Spinach Agnolotti - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Nice French restaurant right outside Covent Garden. The steak tartar I had was authentic and perfect. But the pre fix menu was just ok. Steak was about 4 oz and was cooked well done. Not much flavor this the need for brown sauce. Cream brûlée was freaky but the crust was thin and clearly pre made. Romantic place but brasserie quality you find in Paris. read more

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My husband and I came here in March 2017 for dinner one night during our time in London. We had reservations (which were relatively easy to secure) and arrived to our table. The restaurant is packed and busy on a weeknight. We ordered: 1) Ribeye steak - my husband ordered this and was underwhelmed. maybe his expectations were too high but he said it was only OK 2) duck confit - I really enjoyed this dish and felt the flavors were tasty and just right. 3) onion soup - my husband ordered this too and again, he thought it was just "eh". Overall, the service was friendly although they were so busy that it didn't feel as welcoming. Even though this place has high marks, we left feeling like the experience was only mediocre. read more

Balthazar - Ribeye steak & frites, duck confit, onion soup - French Near Me - London, XGL

The endive was good. The sole (French fish and chips) and chicken were good -- better than the Baltazar in NYC. The chicken was a bit dry, but the mushroom cream sauce made up for it. The sauce was very good as was the tartar sauce for the fish. Service was good, as were the Manhattan and gin fizz. Lunch for two with drinks and tip was 92 pounds. read more

Nice decor, friendly service. The tables are too close together. I felt I could have easily joined the conversations next to us. I had the chopped salad. It was very good. There were more toppings then actual lettuce which was weird but I enjoyed it. My fiancé had the full breakfast. Great portion size and good food. read more

Balthazar - Full breakfast - French Near Me - London, XGL

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We stopped in at Balthazar because we were looking for French food. The food was quite good. I had the Fillet de Bœuf and really liked the peppercorn sauce. The service was very very slow and including getting the check after dining. The light fixtures were FILTHY and full of dead flies. Not a deal breaker but seriously, do they not see that? read more

This was pretty overrated, from the food to the service. Having been to the Ivy the night before (highly reco), we feel comfortable in this statement about Balthazar. Our server Marco was patronizing at best (at one point waiving the bill over my mother-in-laws head so she couldn't reach it). We had a variety of dishes and the food was heavy, unflavorful. Crispy duck salad was the highlight. Disappointing for a London restaurant. read more

I came here for an Afternoon Tea. For my first trip to England I found there was no way I could leave without enjoying the famous enchanting Afternoon Tea. It's something I dreamt of for weeks before my trip so of course I began my research for somewhere that would make spending a good amount of money worth it. Something about me is that I really love tea so I needed it to be one of a kind. Balthazar gave me the one of a kind experience that I was looking for. As soon as I entered I was flustered. I was late for a reservation for it and was slightly embarrassed having never been to somewhere as visually fancy. The people were very kind, took my coat and sat me down. I waited for not too long for my afternoon tea to come out. It was absolutely delicious AND absolutely gorgeous! I knew it'd be beautiful but not that beautiful. Every part of it was delicious and it filled me up. I got unlimited pots of tea and was floating in tea heaven by the end of my "meal". Truly can't beat that experience. Walking in there you are immediately surrounded, by golds, rose golds, flowers, intricate designs and calligraphy, and yet the environment stays welcoming due to the warm lighting chosen for the restaurant. Even their 'to-go' bag is gorgeous! If I ever come back to London I'll be sure to have their afternoon tea again or even a meal. It's an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life. read more

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I have eaten here over 12 times, but in recent visits, the service has not been great. In the last 2 visits, our waitperson ended their shift and left, but never told us. In fine dining restaurants, usually the waitperson will come over and say they are leaving and introduce the new replacement. Tonight and when I visited in May, our waitperson left and we were left alone. I actually had to go the stand near the front door to ask for someone to attend to our table. Also, the service charge has increased so there appears to be little incentive for the waitpeople to earn their service charge. Food is consistent and the atmosphere is great. read more