The Perfect French Bistro...And Friendly!!!
Written: Jan 02 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Authentic and Incredible French Bistro Cuisine
Cons: Indulgently Expensive
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| caconti's Full Review: Balthazar |
During my recent trip home for Christmas, my parents surprise me with an overnight trip to the Big Apple. The best part of the trip? I could choose whatever I wanted to do while we were there, I was calling the shots.
And I knew exactly what I wanted...10pm reservations at Balthazars, one of New York's hottest and most praised restaurants. A French Bistro right in fatally hip SoHo, who could ask for more?
As if the restaurant's own buzz wasn't enough to keep it packed night after night, the place oozes publicity. Its accompanying bakery, also named Balthazar, has gained quite a bit of attention for some of the best French bread in the city, bread that is generously heaped on the tables of the restaurant.
And don't forget to add celebrities to the pot. Martha Stewart wears by it, and the restaurant makes its way onto her show at least once a month. The first time my parents went to the restaurant, with noted actress Karen Duffy, they were seated next to the divine Miss Bette Midler. While we were there, we saw a few members of the cast of Boston Public dining together. Not a huge sighting, but encouraging nonetheless.
What makes Balthazar such a once in a lifetime experience? Read and learn...
Food:
Here are a few of the culinary highlights we experienced that night:
1.Oysters-Strange as it might sound, Balthazar is famous for its selection of oysters. The restaurant usually serves between 8 and 10 different types of oysters each night, with a heavy bias for the West Coast varieties. For only $23 you can try 8 different kinds, all incredibly fresh and moist, served ice cold with cocktail sauce, lemon and a garlic-vinegar sauce. Pure heaven!
2.Steak Tartare-I am a huge fan of raw meat, and my sister thinks that it's the most disgusting substance on earth. The one thing we can agree on is that the steak tartare here is a completely different beast, magnificent and not at all reminiscent of cow flesh. Light and soft as a down pillow with a delicate flavoring of onion and fresh herbs, the silky smooth concoction is served with lightly toasted bread (fresh from the restaurant's famous ovens) to make a perfect appetizer that leaves your stomach happy but screaming for more.
3.Sauteed Skate-Skate is such a fine fish, strange but still familiar enough to be pleasant and comforting. The perfectly fresh fish is served with a generous pond of "brown butter" and sprinkled with herbs and lightly toasted ground hazelnut. All of this perection is then balanced upon a bed of barely wilted French beans. It was fabulous!
4.Steak Au Poivre-With a rich sauce and the most incredible pommes frites (french fried) that you've ever layed eyes on, this dish is a trademark of the restaurant. The meat is, of course, served European style with blood dripping from it even when ordered Medium. But don't be discouraged, that's how God intended it to be eaten...
Service:
While Balthazar does it's darndest to recreate the feel of a French Bistro, it does compromise a bit in the service department, for the sake of the diners. Unlike real French waiters, the staff here are incredibly friendly, competent and dedicated to making your dinner the best experience possible. Whether that means making educated recommendations or keeping a hawk's eye on your water glass, the overall feeling you get is that you are the most important table in the whole restaurant.
Wonder what I mean? Halfway through our meal the waitress herself noticed that we'd sullied the table with a plethora of bread crumbs, and insisted that we allow her to scrape the table clean before serving us dinner. Then, between dinner and dessert, she actually changed the parchment paper that serves as tablecloths. You don't see that kind of behavior in other trendy restaurants these days, guaranteed...
For those who feel overwhelmed by the now ubiquitous mile-long wine lists and intimidating cheese courses, wise advice is not far away. Both service captains are also wine experts, and all of the waiters and waitresses are intimately familiar with the generous cheese selection.
Decor:
Made to accurately reproduce the homey and old feel of a real French bistro. With giant antique mirrors, lush red leather circular booths and miles of indulgent dark wood tables and chairs. Add to that the authentic bistro tile floor, with a sweeping B for emphasis, and you have the back streets of Paris on SoHo's main drag.
I actually saw a full Martha Stewart episode on the "creation" of Balthazar, and all of the antique qualities of the restaurant were actually faked by hand, done by the owners in an impressive display of creative prowess. Now if only I could work some of that magic on my apartment...
As for the people "decor", Balthazar is packed and gently buzzing from opening to late-night close. Everyone in hear is beautiful and the place oozes class and trendiness, and therein lies the charm for many of us. A great deal of the Balthazar experience is the bourgeois high you get when you're nestled comfortably in a booth and the world seems to be watching you.
Special Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations:
The one thing really worth noting even before you book a reservation to Balthazar is the price. With two appetizers, entrees, cocktails and a $28 bottle of wine with dinner, the total cost for four people was $320 including tip. That's quite a hit to the wallet, so be prepared to have your bank account drained if you're really hungry.
While we're kind of on the subject of reservations, it's really a good idea to book a few weeks ahead of time, especially if you're looking for prime time reservations towards the end of the week or on the weekend. You won't have to fight or drop names to get one, but a bit of patience and flexibility sure helps.
I hope that this helps you make up your mind, and I do highly recommend that you try the Balthazar experience...
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
caconti
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Christian Conti
Location: Washington, DC
Reviews written: 636
Trusted by: 481 members
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