I can confidently say that Balthazar is one of my all time favorite New York City restaurants. With such bustling energy, a beautiful, aristocratic-brasserie setting, bright lights and constant action, it’s so quintessentially Manhattan, and I thrive off of its pulse. The food is equally thrilling – with a something-for-everyone menu and a list of to die for desserts, one really can’t complain about its menu options.
Balthazar impresses tourists and locals alike, so I decided to bring my New York native father and my California dreamin’ mother for their first night on the town. They, like I and the rest of our group, had an amazing experience. Though my parents would have appreciated a lower volume level, they adapted to Balthazar’s vivacity quite quickly, and were soon enough yelling over the noise to boast about their dishes. And, our Argentinian server was an angel – on a packed Friday night, she accommodated every one of our requests, gladly took back a cocktail that was not to my liking, and served desserts on the house without explanation. Considering the extreme difficulty in scoring a Balthazar reservation, the place is surprisingly unpretentious, which is best demonstrated by the incredibly friendly wait-staff.
First thing’s first: Balthazar’s bread is melt in your mouth, as is its cold french butter. The bread is as fresh as bread can be – cool, soft, and dense – a great indication of Balthazar’s food quality as a whole. Deciding what to eat was the toughest part of the night, but I narrowed it down to my sister’s favorite frisee aux lardons salad, a chicory salad with warm bacon shallot vinaigrette and a poached egg, and the grilled brook trout with warm spinach and lentil salad. The bacon salad was just about as decadent as a salad could be, and with a perfectly poached egg and crispy pieces of bacon, could be a perfect meal for brunch.
The grilled brook trout was a good light, basic choice, but nothing spectacular. However, I don’t blame the chef for my lack of interest; I blame my decision making skills. I was hoping for something a bit more flavorful, but the trout came out exactly as described on the menu: grilled, simple, and light.
My mother loved her boulliabase (one of the specials); Sonia seemed thrilled with her roasted leg of lamb; my sister described her pumpkin ravioli as “heavenly”; and my dad was more than overwhelmed by the quality and deliciousness of his duck confit (see smiles below).
Unfortunately, my Eli’s steak was undercooked, but the waitress’s profuse apologies and willingness to bring him a new one made up for the damage.
The desserts were more than just the “icing on the cake.” Oh my. They were nothing short of incredible. The profiteroles with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream and hot fudge poured table-side, the warm chocolate cake with white chocolate ice cream, the perfect pot de creme…these all remain in my memory as some of the best, most well-executed desserts I’ve had in New York. I’d return just for dessert and go home a happy camper.
My family is a tough crowd to please, so leaving a restaurant complaint-free is quite a rare occurrence. Balthazar seemed to master the art of becoming a Bellsey favorite, however, which means that for every future NY family gathering, I’ll be on the phone to book a reservation before it’s too late. Wish me luck!
Grade: A
Location: 80 Spring Street between Broadway and Crosby
Website: www.balthazarny.com
I'm considering framing the picture of my favorite salad and putting it by my bedside. Im in loooove.
You perfectly captured the "flavor" of the evening from the standpoint of both taste and ambiance. The company of course was superb (hi, fashion girl), the service solicitous without being intrusive, and my duck was heaven sent. I expect to have many more memorable meals here since there were so many dishes I wanted to try, but was constrained only by stomach space. One of my most enjoyable meals in quite some time. You chose well.
so excited for our trip!