Balthazar

Four of us went last night and generally ate very well, the seafood was fresh and well presented, they do one of the better steak tartars in London and the onion soup was pleasingly authentic.

It did seem a bit of a strange place, a re imagined la Coupole with a lot of attention to detail, almost very french but really quite american in feel.

The menu is typical brasserie but throws in the odd surprise like lobster pasta, onion rings and dry aged new york strip, of which the lobster pasta was very good, the steak too aged for my palate ( but fine for my friend who ordered it ) and the onion rings which were beyond dreadful, they were really just deep fried donuts and inedible.

We had good service, the wine list was expensive but had a decent choice, fair enough no grappa but they could at least have put on a marc.

It is though the same money as the delaunay which is a fair bit slicker and some might say better.

really comes down to whether you prefer faux french or faux austrian because you can eat very well in both.
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shane
7 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Terrible!

We had a 3pm reservation time, had to wait at the (very crowded) bar as the table we were due to be on had not left yet. Finally sat at 3.50pm and were told we'd still have to leave the table at 5pm, tables not leaving I understand, kicking us off the table at 5 after being sat almost an hour late with no apology or explanation I do not.

The third person to our party was late, the staff were aware he was running late, though none of them let us know the kitchen took a break in service, so when the third person to our party did turn up, he was unable to eat. Again, I understand this was our fault, though was disappointed no one, not one member of staff, informed us of this.

Our food was mediocre at best. My steak tartare was overly mustardy. My lobster and black truffle risotto was a gluey, salty indelible mess. My friend had a sandwich which she ordered with fries, it came with salad. When her replacement fries did come they were cold and hard. As this was during the break in service, we assumed they were leftover chips from earlier.

The saving grace of this restaurant are the staff. Our waitress was lovely, and was diligent without being too fussy. She had noticed our mains remained untouched, she was polite and asked if we wanted to talk to the manager. The manager, an American who I assume has been shipped over from NY, was nothing but polite, gracious and apologetic. She took our mains off the bill also.

All in all a very disappointing dinner, I certainly won't be returning and I don't want you all to waste your money there either!
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jessie - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Thursday, April 18, 2013

After all the hype, we had to go, albeit at 17.30 before the theatre!

if you like Café Rouge and have lots of money, you may like this. Otherwise, save yourself the bother. The food was OK, the noise levels were high, the staff were amateurish and the fire alarm went off intermittently for the last 40 minutes of our time there, which was bad luck on us and them.

One major weakness - the tables are tiny and too close together.

One serious fault - your bill contains a service charge and then the card machine invites you to add service on top. That is a disgrace, especially in an area so full of tourists, and is the main reason that I will never go there again (at least with my own money). I was told that they couldn't reprogramme the machine, which must be untrue.

I recommend that you boycott it until they correct that dishonest behaviour.
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James - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Disappointing after all the hype. If you like a lot of noise, this place will suit you. Not in any way outstanding

The cooking was mixed. The winter kale salad was quite tasteless. Chicken liver and foie gras pate was pleasant but the frizzy lettuce with it was so salted as to be inedible

Salt was very much in evidence on the duck confit as to be unpleasant to eat. The whole sea bream was perfectly cooked as were the additional sauteed spinach and onion rings,

A credit was given for the duck after we complained

The wine list is wholly French from all regions.

The two types of bread were pleasant without being outstanding.

Service got off to a slow start but improved and was very friendly.
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Roy Mathias
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Saturday, February 23, 2013