Balthazar is a French bistro in Soho, a bit of an NYC institution. This being the case it's also incredibly hard to get into. I didn't get there on my last trip to NYC so this time I went twice! (that's fair right?)
It's a hive of activity, especially on the weekends. People are lining up at the door and cramming around the bar waiting for their table. For my Brissy peeps out there, Belle Epoque at Emporium in the Valley is definitely channeling this place. High ceilings, traditional french brasserie booth seating, lots of mirrors and a grandiose bar with an extensive wine list.
My first visit was for brunch. The eggs benedict are highly regarded so the choice was clear. I should mention that I'm not usually a benedict orderer for breakfast, but it was great. The eggs and hollandaise were perfect and it was all served atop crunchy potatoes which was a nice touch. Even the latte was good.
My second visit (today) was for a late lunch. I had heard that the salads and french fries were also a definite 'must try' so that's what I ordered. The roasted beet salad with walnuts and blue cheese was divine. And the fries were great too. Much the same in size to McDonalds (how dare I blaspheme with this comparison but you get the gist) but super crunchy as I believe they're double fried, and served in a cute paper cone.
And to top it all off, a table of strangers across from me sent their waitress over with a glass of champagne for me. They couldn't finish their bottle and were leaving. How cute! I enjoyed every last drop. Salut!