Overrated French food experience: Restaurant Balthazar (1. February 2020)
I had been recommended the Balthazar a couple of times before and finally managed to pay it a visit. First word which comes to my mind is ‘overrated’. It is a traditional French brasserie and in that aspect it isn’t all that bad. However, it is rather loud, the tables are super close to each other, and the seating comfort is very limited. Furthermore, you have to be a bit patient as it is very crowded. Luckily, the waiter responsible for my table was not only friendly but also generally competent making it a pleasant experience nonetheless.
As a starter I went for the “kale salad (with butternut squash, Marcona almonds, buttermilk dressing)” (GBP 9.00) which was quite a huge portion really – but given the richness of the ingredients, it was also a very enjoyable dish.
The “short rib of beef, mustard and horseradish purée” (GBP 24.00) on the other hand was not as satisfying. The meat peeled off the bone easily but it was not even remotely comparable to the pork ribs I have had for lunch. So, really a bit of a disappointment.
The fact that I had ordered bread (GBP 4.00) which was then served after the starter came made the whole idea rather pointless. I mean, why would I want bread after the starter. The idea is that you bring the bread before so one can actually start nibbling away and bridge the waiting time. In any case, the place is okay overall but I don’t get the fuzz about it.
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Contact Details:
Restaurant Balthazar
Russell Street 4-6
Covent Garden
WC2B 5HZ London (UK)
Tel.: +44 20 33 01 11 55
Homepage: http://www.balthazarlondon.com
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
